Kitāb al-ukar كتاب الأكر Theodosius ثاودوسيوس

Content

Arabic version of the De sphaericis (كتاب الأكر) by Theodosius of Bithynia (ثاودوسيوس; Θεοδόσιος; c 160-c 100 BC). The preface (f. 1v, lines 3-5, transcribed below) states that it was translated from Greek into Arabic by Qusṭā ibn Lūqā (قسطا بن لوقا; c 820-912), up to Chapter 3, figure 5, at the order of Abū al-‘Abbās Aḥmad (أبو العباس أحمد) son of the caliph al-Mu‘taṣim bi-llāh (المعتصم بالله; reg. 833-842), that the rest was translated by another, and that the translation was corrected by Thābit ibn Qurrah (ثابت ابن قرة; d. 901).

The text is divided into three chapters (مقالات):

• Chapter 1 (المقالة الأولى ; ff. 1v-8r);
• Chapter 2 (المقالة الثانية ; ff. 8r-20v);
• Chapter 3 (المقالة الثالثة ; ff. 20v-33r).

Numerous diagrams.

Begins (f. 1v, lines 2-6):

هذا كتاب الأكر لثاودوسيوس وهو ثلث مقالات وتسعة وخمسون شكلًا

وفي بعض النسخ بنقصان شكل في العدد وقد أمر بنقله من اليونانية إلى العربية

أبو العباس أحمد بن المعتصم بالله فتولى نقله قسطا بن لوقا البعلبكي إلى الشكل

الخامس من المقالة الثالثة ثم تولى ما فيه غيره وأصلحه ثابت بن قرة المقالة

الأولى اثنان وعشرون شكلًا الحدود الكرة شكل يحيط به سطح واحد في داخله نقطة

Ends (fol. 33, lines 11-13):

نصف دائرة س يح لا يمقي نصف اح ل فيكون قوس ص ح شبيهة

يقوس ك ل فقوس ه ح أعظم من قوس من دائرتهما بنسبة قوس

ه ر وذلك ما أردناه ...

Colophon Section at the end of a manuscript text. (fol. 33, line 13):

... تمت المقالة وبتمامها تم كتاب الأكر لثاودوسيوس

Extent and format

Codex A collection of pages, usually gathered into quires, and bound between covers. ; ff. iii+34+ii

Physical characteristics

Material: Paper

Dimensions: 177 x 113 mm leaf [117 x 60 mm written]

Foliation: Western Arabic numerals stamped in black ink

Ruling: Misṭarah ; 17 lines per page; vertical spacing 14 lines per 10 cm

Script: Nasta‘līq

Ink: Black ink, with rubricated headings and overlinings in red

Decoration: Numerous diagrams, some spaces for them left blank

Binding: Western-style binding, with mottled red paper-covered boards

Condition: Spine cracked, wormholes, water damage to tops of leaves and most have been replaced

Marginalia: Very few

Seals: ff. 1r and 33v

Written in

Arabic in Arabic script

Type

Manuscript

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: Oriental Manuscripts

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Delhi Arabic 1926

History of this record

Date(s)

18th century (CE, Gregorian)

Context of creation

India?

Provenance

The Government of India, Delhi MSS, its seal (ff. 1r and 33v)

Related material

Finding aids

Unpublished catalogue of the Delhi Arabic collection

Select Bibliography

Edition:

• Theodosius, Sphaerica: Arabic and medieval Latin translations , Paul Kunitzsch and Richard Lorch, eds (Stuttgart: Steiner, 2010)

Edition of original Greek text:

• Theodosius, Sphaerica , J.L. Heiberg, ed. (Berlin: Weidmannsche, 1927)

Subjects

Geometry--Early works to 1800Theodosius, c 160-c 100 BC. De sphaericis

People & organisations

Thābit ibn Qurrah al-ḤarrānīTheodosiusQusṭā ibn Lūqā

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Kitāb al-ukar كتاب الأكر Theodosius ثاودوسيوس, British Library: Oriental Manuscripts, Delhi Arabic 1926, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/304> [accessed 28 August 2024]

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