Download PDF (14 MB)

Search within this record

The record is made up of Ff. 1v-5r. It was created in 19th century. It was written in Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: Oriental Manuscripts.

About this record

Content

Treatise on the construction of a hydaulic pipe organ (الأرغين البوقي; lit. 'trumpet organ'). The instrument is said to have been carried into battle and used as a siren capable of emitting a blast the could be heard for sixty miles. The author states that he made such an organ for the 'king of the inner Franks (ملك إفرجة الداخلة; f. 2r, line 1)'.

A diagram of the organ appears on f. 5r.

Begins (f. 1v, lines 2-5):

هذه رسالة لمورسطس

صنعة الأرغين البوقي الذي يذهب صوته ستين ميلًا

قال مورسطس كانت هذه الآلة تحمل معهم في حروبهم لأن

بلدهم كان كثير الأعداء من كل وجه ...

Ends (f. 4v, lines 9-12):

... فعلى قدر ذلك يخرج الصوت

من ألوان تقطيعه من لذيذ مطرب وغير ذلك إلا أن أصل ما

اتخذت له هذه الألة ذهاب الصوت إلى البعد

فاعلم ذلك إن شاء الله تعالى

Extent and format
Ff. 1v-5r
Written in
Arabic in Arabic script
Type
Manuscript item

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: Oriental Manuscripts
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
Or 9649, ff 1v-5r

History of this record

Date(s)
19th century (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Select Bibliography

Edition:

  • Cheikho, Louis, 'Thalāth maqālāt ‘arabīyah fī al-ālāt al-munaghghimah', Al-Machriq , 9, (1906), 21-23

Translation:

  • Farmer, Henry George, The Organ of the Ancients from Eastern Sources: Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic (London: William Reeves, 1931), pp. 128-135

Use and share this record

Share this record
Cite this record in your research

Ṣan‘at al-arghīn al-būqī صنعة الأرغين البوقي Mūrisṭus مورسطس, British Library: Oriental Manuscripts, Or 9649, ff 1v-5r, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023512842.0x000001> [accessed 14 November 2024]

Link to this record
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100022547972.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images