Translated : By Dr. Matti Moosa
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY (AL-HAYA, THE FORM, I.E., OF THE HEAVENS); GEOGRAPHY, MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY
Bar Daysan was the first to write on astronomy, but his work was lost. It is perhaps the same work to which George, bishop of the Arabs, alluded in his treatise on Aphrahat’s discourses. By Sergius of Ras Ayn we have a treatise addressed to Theodore showing the action or influence of the moon to which he appended another treatise on the motion of the sun. This tract was published by Sachau.1 From the astronomical compositions of Severus Sabukht we have Signs of the Zodiacs of which remained the extracts on the habitable and inhabitable portions of the earth, the measurement of the heaven and the earth and the space between them, the astrolabe and a treatise on the 14th of Nisan (April), Greek 976 (665 A.D.).2 Further we have other geographical works such as the interesting discourse of Jacob of Edessa on the six days of creation in which he used the work of Ptolemy as his source, the discourse of David bar Paul on the Definitions of Regions and the Alternations of Days and Nights, and a large work on the six days of creation by Moses bar Kipha. Moreover, the author of Causa Causarum incorporated in part II of this book which consists of four chapters diverse scientific information including original as well as quoted definitions as they were known in the land of the East in the tenth century. These chapters also contain pictures illustrating the text.
The Book of Treasures by Jacob of Bartulli contains chapters on the form and geography. The same author also incorporated in part four of the second volume of his work The Dialogue short discourses on astronomy, arithmetic, surveying and music. He drew his sources from Nicomachus, an anonymous Pythagorean as well as Arab sciences. His purpose was to elevate the reader through the knowledge of mathematics to the highest peak of philosophical thinking, namely theology. The two works of Bar Hebraeus, The Lamp of the Sanctuaries and the Book of Rays contained geographical subjects, while his noble work entitled Ascent of the Mind contained a treatise on astronomy and cosmography. He also taught mathematics in Maragha in 1268 and wrote a commentary on the Megiste by Euclid.3 Further, the second volume of P.E.M. Berthelot’s Chemistry in the Middle Ages4 contained short tracts or Syriac canons by a goldsmith discussing the mixing of minerals, their coloring and the transformation of substances. These tracts are originally Greek but the Syrian hand changed them according to the method of experiment.5 As for the ancient pseudo-alchemy, the Syrians were motivated by the Christian teaching and practice to reject it as they also rejected the absurdities of astrology.
THE SCIENCE OF ASTRONOMY (AL-HAYA, THE FORM, I.E., OF THE HEAVENS); GEOGRAPHY, MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY
– Mor Ignatius Aphram Barsoum