Codex Vindobonensis S.N. 2641 – Chirurgia

Item

Page of an open book, showing three illustrations a man kneeling while another man tends to him. Text surrounds these images.
Title
Codex Vindobonensis S.N. 2641 – Chirurgia
Description
Codex Vindobonensis S.N. 2641, the illuminated manuscript held by Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna, was created in Southern Italy in the second quarter of 14th century. It was written by Abu´l Qasim Halaf ibn Abbas al-Zahrawi, the court physician to the Caliph al-Hakam II in 9th century and translated from Arabic to Latin by Gerard of Cremona in 12th-century. Al-Zahrawi is known as the greatest surgeon of the Middle Ages: he introduced 200 surgical instruments, used ligature for bleeding vessels, described ectopic pregnancy and his translated work on surgery became the standard textbook for the next 500 years. The manuscript is adorned by 68 miniatures showing different surgical procedures, and also includes spectacular gilded initials.
Creator
Abu´l Qasim Halaf ibn Abbas al-Zahrawi, 936-1013
Date
ca. 14th century [original text published]
1979 [facsimile published]
Format
29.8cm x 41.9cm x 3.3cm
Publisher
Akademische Druck-u. Werlagsandstalt (Gratz, AT)
Type
Book
Original Format
Book
Tag
10th-century physicians
11th-century physicians
14th-century texts
Arab physicians
Arab surgeons
Facsimiles
Surgeons
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