Compilation of texts on logic and astronomy (Hebrew MS 30)
Codex in Sephardi script containing a compilation of texts on logic and astronomy, written and partly authored by Samuel ben Saʿadiah ibn Danan in Fez in 1576.
Information about this document
- Physical Location: The John Rylands Library
- Classmark: Hebrew MS 30
- Alternative Identifier(s): Crawford MS 30
- Origin Place: Fez, Morocco
- Date of Creation: 22 Tammuz 5336 AM [= Tuesday 29 June 1576 CE]
- Language(s): Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic
- Extent: 105 ff. (i+103+i) Leaf height: 270 mm, width: 200 mm.
- Collation:
Horizontal catchwords at the bottom left corner of side b of each folio.
- Material(s): Paper
- Format: Codex
- Binding:
Brown leather binding with cardboard boards and handwritten in ink on spine "רמבם / Maimoni / Dis / Logica / Hebraicè / et / Arabicè / Etc. / MS / פאס / 5336 = 1576.".
- Foliation:
Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio.
- Layout:
Long line with 17 written lines.
- Decoration:
Many initial words are executed in red, yellow or green ink. Especially the last twenty pages have many initial words that contrast in colour, providing a colourful whole.
Folio 98a: Pen-and-ink squares, dots and lines.
Folio 1a: Pen-and-ink geometrical drawing consisting of two partially overlapping circles to explain aspects of the lunar and solar movements.
Folio 1b: Pen-and-ink drawing with a simplified geometrical representation of the geocentric model of the solar system.
Folio 26a: Pen-and-ink tree-like structure: vertical line with words in circles right, left and in the centre, reflecting the hierarchical structure of forms of life with contrasting concepts. - Origin:
Produced in Fez, Morocco on 22 Tammuz 5336 AM [= Tuesday 29 June 1576 CE].
- Provenance:Spine, front and back paste-downs: Printed label reading "גנזי מיליארד בלונדון C".
Front paste-down: Signature of W.H. Black and note reading "(Codex ?Spic. No. 7.)".
Front flyleaf: Handwritten in ink "Liber scriptus apud פאס, i.e. Fez in Africa, AM. 5336, / (i.e. AD. 1576.) uti patet f. 81b.", in pencil "Hebraice Maimonidis Logica, cum parte / textus originalis Arabice / ff. 3-5 [...]" and in black ink "Exhibited to the Chronological Institute, 21/12/53. / WHB.".
Folio 1a: Owner's signature: עבד רחמן [...].
Back paste-down: Handwritten in ink "Hebrew MSS. / No. 30". Bookplate of the "Bibliotheca Lindesiana", with shelfmark "5 / G". Signature of W.H. Black. - Acquisition: Acquired by Enriqueta Rylands in 1901 from James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford of Haigh Hall and later bequeathed to the The John Rylands Library.
- Date of Acquisition: 1901
- Data Source(s): Description based on Alexander Samely's unpublished draft catalogue, description of decorations by Gabrielle Sed-Rajna, revised and expanded by Stefania Silvestri, Renate Smithuis and Nienke Valk.
Revised and enhanced by Zsófia Buda.
Section shown in images 53 to 166
- Title: Tseror ha-Kesef
- Alternative Title(s): צרור הכסף; Bundle of Silver
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
This compendium on logic condenses existing works on Aristotelian logic under sub-headings Porphyry’s Isagoge, Sefer ha-Maʾamarot (ספר המאמרות), Sefer ha-Melitsah (ספר המליצה), Sefer ha-Heḳesh (ספר ההקש), Sefer ha-Mofet (ספר המופת), and so forth. Unsurprisingly therefore, the work carries in some manuscripts the secondary title Ḳitsur sifre ha-higayon le-Arisṭo (קצור ספרי ההגיון לאריסטו) / Abridgment of books on Aristotle’s logic. Kaspi relies heavily on Ibn Rushd, not least on the latter’s Middle Commentary.
Title starts "אלחיל לכתוב ... ... אבן כספי הנקרא צרור הכסף "; text after title starts "אמר אבן כספי כי ראיתי קוצר ידיעת האנשים במושכלות"
- Excerpts:Colophon: Folio 81b: " אני שמואל בכא"א הה"ר סעדיה אבן דנאן [...] כתבתי זאת מלאכת ההגיון לעצמי \ [...]והשלמתי אותו ביום שלישי לשבת שנים ועשרים יום לתמוז י"ל שנת חמשת אלפים ושלש מאות וששה ושלשים לבריאת עולם במדינת פאס ישע יקרב [...].". Followed by an ornamental signature of the scribe.
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- Physical Location: The John Rylands Library
- Classmark: Hebrew MS 30
- Alternative Identifier(s): Crawford MS 30
- Origin Place: Fez, Morocco
- Date of Creation: 22 Tammuz 5336 AM [= Tuesday 29 June 1576 CE]
- Language(s): Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic
- Extent: 105 ff. (i+103+i) Leaf height: 270 mm, width: 200 mm.
- Collation:
Horizontal catchwords at the bottom left corner of side b of each folio.
- Material(s): Paper
- Format: Codex
- Binding:
Brown leather binding with cardboard boards and handwritten in ink on spine "רמבם / Maimoni / Dis / Logica / Hebraicè / et / Arabicè / Etc. / MS / פאס / 5336 = 1576.".
- Foliation:
Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio.
- Layout:
Long line with 17 written lines.
- Decoration:
Many initial words are executed in red, yellow or green ink. Especially the last twenty pages have many initial words that contrast in colour, providing a colourful whole.
Folio 98a: Pen-and-ink squares, dots and lines.
Folio 1a: Pen-and-ink geometrical drawing consisting of two partially overlapping circles to explain aspects of the lunar and solar movements.
Folio 1b: Pen-and-ink drawing with a simplified geometrical representation of the geocentric model of the solar system.
Folio 26a: Pen-and-ink tree-like structure: vertical line with words in circles right, left and in the centre, reflecting the hierarchical structure of forms of life with contrasting concepts. - Origin:
Produced in Fez, Morocco on 22 Tammuz 5336 AM [= Tuesday 29 June 1576 CE].
- Provenance:Spine, front and back paste-downs: Printed label reading "גנזי מיליארד בלונדון C".
Front paste-down: Signature of W.H. Black and note reading "(Codex ?Spic. No. 7.)".
Front flyleaf: Handwritten in ink "Liber scriptus apud פאס, i.e. Fez in Africa, AM. 5336, / (i.e. AD. 1576.) uti patet f. 81b.", in pencil "Hebraice Maimonidis Logica, cum parte / textus originalis Arabice / ff. 3-5 [...]" and in black ink "Exhibited to the Chronological Institute, 21/12/53. / WHB.".
Folio 1a: Owner's signature: עבד רחמן [...].
Back paste-down: Handwritten in ink "Hebrew MSS. / No. 30". Bookplate of the "Bibliotheca Lindesiana", with shelfmark "5 / G". Signature of W.H. Black. - Acquisition: Acquired by Enriqueta Rylands in 1901 from James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford of Haigh Hall and later bequeathed to the The John Rylands Library.
- Date of Acquisition: 1901
- Data Source(s): Description based on Alexander Samely's unpublished draft catalogue, description of decorations by Gabrielle Sed-Rajna, revised and expanded by Stefania Silvestri, Renate Smithuis and Nienke Valk.
Revised and enhanced by Zsófia Buda.
- Title: Astronomical text
- Alternative Title(s): חבור בתכונה
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
Fragmentary text on solar and lunar eclipses (לקות) and related geometrical and astronomical phenomena.
The title in green is hard to decipher and only partially visible, as follows: "[...] הקדמות שהתל [...] הירחי והשמשי ו[...]ן מולד אמיתי".
After the title, the main text starts as "ידוע הוא שלקות השמש הוא מצד הדיבוק ולקות הירח הוא מצד הניגוד".
- Title: Maqāla fi sināʾat al-manṭiq
- Alternative Title(s): מקאלה פי צנאעת אלמנטק
- Descriptive Title(s): Treatise on Logic
- Language(s): Judeo-Arabic
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
Fragment (Chapters 6-7) only.
For Moses ibn Tibbon’s Hebrew translation of the work, entitled Milot ha-higayon (מלות ההגיון, Treatise on Logic) see the next item in this manuscript.
Herbert A. Davidson (in Moses Maimonides: The Man and his Works, OUP 2005) considers the ascription of the work to Maimonides spurious.
- Excerpts:Incipit: זה מה... בערבי ממלות ההגיון - אלפצל אלסדס
- Title: Text on logic
- Alternative Title(s): קטע בהגיון
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Note(s):
Fragment of 13 lines only on three types of syllogism (הקש).
Sefer Ibn Kaspi and Beʾur ha-temunah ha-rishonah mentioned on respectively lines 1 and 2.
Text cut off in outer margin.
Written by a different hand to that of Samuel ibn Danan.
- Excerpts:Incipit: יתבאר ענין מספר ק"ח הקשים היוצאים מהשלש ת... ששה ושלשים לכל ת... מספר ן' כספי
- Title: Milot ha-Higayon
- Alternative Title(s): מלות ההגיון
- Descriptive Title(s): Treatise on Logic
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Note(s):
Attributed to Maimonides and translated by Mosheh ibn Tibon.
Herbert A. Davidson (in Moses Maimonides: The Man and his Works, OUP 2005) considers the ascription of the work to Maimonides spurious.
- Excerpts:Incipit: אתחיל לכתוב מלות מהגיון להרמב"ם זצ"לColophon: Folio 24b: colophon in Hebrew ending with an ornamental signature of the scribe.
- Title: Tseror ha-Kesef
- Alternative Title(s): צרור הכסף; Bundle of Silver
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
This compendium on logic condenses existing works on Aristotelian logic under sub-headings Porphyry’s Isagoge, Sefer ha-Maʾamarot (ספר המאמרות), Sefer ha-Melitsah (ספר המליצה), Sefer ha-Heḳesh (ספר ההקש), Sefer ha-Mofet (ספר המופת), and so forth. Unsurprisingly therefore, the work carries in some manuscripts the secondary title Ḳitsur sifre ha-higayon le-Arisṭo (קצור ספרי ההגיון לאריסטו) / Abridgment of books on Aristotle’s logic. Kaspi relies heavily on Ibn Rushd, not least on the latter’s Middle Commentary.
Title starts "אלחיל לכתוב ... ... אבן כספי הנקרא צרור הכסף "; text after title starts "אמר אבן כספי כי ראיתי קוצר ידיעת האנשים במושכלות"
- Excerpts:Colophon: Folio 81b: " אני שמואל בכא"א הה"ר סעדיה אבן דנאן [...] כתבתי זאת מלאכת ההגיון לעצמי \ [...]והשלמתי אותו ביום שלישי לשבת שנים ועשרים יום לתמוז י"ל שנת חמשת אלפים ושלש מאות וששה ושלשים לבריאת עולם במדינת פאס ישע יקרב [...].". Followed by an ornamental signature of the scribe.
- Title: Perush Milot ha-Higayon la-Rambam
- Alternative Title(s): פרוש מלות ההגיון לרמב"ם; Commentary on Maimonides' Treatise on Logic
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Sa'adyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
The authorship of this treatise is uncertain. It cannot be ascribed to Mordechai Comtino (15th cent.), who wrote a treatise with the same title. Perhaps the commentary was composed by the primary scribe of the manuscript, Samuel ibn Danan, in which case it would be an autograph version of his commentary.
The text has been executed particularly colourfully.
- Excerpts:Colophon: Folio 98a: colophon in Hebrew ending with an ornamental signature of the scribe: "על יד זעירא דמן חברייא תלמידייא עבד ... לחכימייא ...".Incipit: אתחיל לכתוב פירוש שמות מלות ההגיון
- Title: Shaʿar ha-Sirṭuṭin
- Alternative Title(s): שער השרטוטין
- Descriptive Title(s): Chapter on Lines [on the Palm of the Hand]
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Sa'adyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
Folios 98b-102b comprise several magical fragmentary texts.
Strictly speaking, the title Shaʿar ha-sirṭuṭin only seems to relate to folios 98b-100a. Afterwards the following sub-titles are found: Yediʿat ha-sirṭuṭ (ידיעת השרטוט, “Knowledge of Lineation,” folio 100a. and ʿInyan aḥer bi-yediʿat ha-sirṭuṭ (ענין אחר בידיעת השרטוט, “Knowledge of Lineation – Another Interpretation,” folio 101a).
The texts on folios 98b-100a and 102a-102b concentrate on what the features of someone’s fingers can say about their fortune in life.
The text in the middle deals with fortune telling on the basis of reading the palm of the hand. Cf. the explicit of the text in the middle on folio 102a: יורה על מיתה וכו' עד כאן מצאתי בספר ישן.
- Excerpts:Incipit: שער השרטוטין זה הכתב כתבוהו אנשי השכל ונסוהו ומצאוהו אמת
- Title: Astrological text
- Alternative Title(s): קטע באסטרולוגיה
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
On the Hebrew and Arabic terminology for the seven planets (כוכבי לכת) and the twelve zodiacal signs.
Ibn Danan reports that he found the Arabic terms in an old book. He also refers to one of his teachers as a source of information.
- Title: Texts on medicine and logic
- Alternative Title(s): קטעים ברפואה ובהגיון
- Language(s): Hebrew
- Associated Person(s): Ibn Danan, Shemuel ben Saʿadyahאבן דנאן, שמואל בן סעדיה
- Note(s):
Two very short fragments. The first, entitled חשבון ?לחולים ?שתקן ן' סינה, deals very briefly with a simple calculation the outcome of which is indicative of the expected outcome of a disease. Ibn Danan claims to know from experience that Ibn Sina’s method works (בדוק ומנוסה). In the second he returns one last time to the field of logic by listing the Hebrew and Arabic terminology for the ten categories.
- Excerpts:Colophon: Folio 103b: colophon in Hebrew ending with an ornamental signature of the scribe, beginning " זעירא דמן חבריא".
