Ṣan‘at al-juljul صنعة الجلجل Mūrisṭus مورسطس

Content

Treatise on the construction of a rattling instrument called the juljul (الجلجل), which produces distressing (شجيّة) sounds. The instrument, which is oval in shape and made of copper and glass, is said to have been made in ancient Egypt by a certain Sā‘āṭis (ساعاطس القديم في بلاد مصر العتيقة; f. 12v, lines 3-4). It is claimed that Sā‘āṭis used the instrument to drive vermin from the land where he then built a temple of Zeus at which the juljul was played at festivals before the offering was sacrificed (f. 12v, lines 4-9).

A diagram of the instrument appears on f. 13r.

Begins (f. 11v, lines 2-6):

هذه رسالة أخرى لمورسطس

صنعة الجلجل الذي إذا حرك خرجت منه أصوات شجية تتخذ

آلة شبيهة بنصف بيضة من شبه طالقون معجون مع الزجاج

الفرعوني ثم تتخذ نصفًا آخر مثل هذا النصف سواء حتى يكون

إذا ركب أحد النصفين على الآخر صار في هيئة الجلجل ...

Ends (f. 12v, lines 9-11):

فكانوا يحركون الجلجل في يوم عيدهم ويذبحون ويتقربون

وحركوا ويكون قد سدوا آذانهم بالقطن نعمًا فإنه يخرج منه

أصوات عجيبة على ما وصفنا فإفهم فقد ...

Colophon Section at the end of a manuscript text. (f. 12v, lines 11-12):

... تم عمله على ما تقدم

فيه القول إن شاء الله تعالى

Extent and format

Ff. 11v-13r

It is part of

Three treatises on musical organs by Mūrisṭus مورسطس

84 images

Ref: Or 9649

Written in

Arabic in Arabic script

Type

Manuscript item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: Oriental Manuscripts

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Or 9649, ff 11v-13r

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), 26-28

Subjects

Mechanics--Early works to 1800Organ (Musical instrument)--Construction--Early works to 1800

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Ṣan‘at al-juljul صنعة الجلجل Mūrisṭus مورسطس, British Library: Oriental Manuscripts, Or 9649, ff 11v-13r, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023512842.0x000003> [accessed 14 November 2024]

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