Astrologie

1913 · 8197 — London: Humphrey Milford / Oxford University Press 1913. First edition. 2 vols 8vos in English and the original Syriac. clxxviii 614 Syriac text paginated right to left and xxv 804pp. Title pages in 2 colors. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt spine titles in plain printed jackets. Near fine books in very good jackets with some wear and light staining. <br /> <br /> First edition of Budge's important translation of the great Syriac "Book of Medicines" edited from a manuscript that was in his possession and an English translation of the same. The work is uncredited but was translated from Greek into Syriac by a physician who was likely a Nestorian and perhaps attached to one of the great medical schools at Edessa Amid or Nisibis. The first section is a series of lectures which give detailed descriptions of human anatomy prescriptions for and descriptions of various diseases and is fundamentally similar to Hippocrates who is quoted in several places in the text. <br /> <br /> The second section is astrological and includes omens spells divinations and planetary forecasts. The final section contains 400 prescriptions that illustrate folklore of Mesopotamia including legends about birds animals magical roots etc. similar to a medieval Bestiary. <br /> <br /> <br /> A very nice set and quite scarce in the jackets. . Humphrey Milford / Oxford University Press unknown