Hamdani
Encyclopedia
was an Arab
Muslim
geographer
, poet
, grammarian, historian
, and astronomer
, from the tribe of Banu Hamadan, western 'Amran/Yemen
. He was one of the best representatives of Islamic culture during the last effective years of the Abbasid caliphate
.
Before he was born his family lived in al-Marashi (المراشي). Then they moved to Sanaa' (صنعاء) and settled down there. Thus, he was born there, year 893. His father was a voyager and had been to Kufa, Baghdad, Basra, Oman and Egypt. At around the age of seven, he started to talk himself into voyaging. He had left to Makkah and stayed there for more than six years and studied there. Then he left to Sa'dah (صعدة) and stayed there. Over there he gathered news on Khawlaan (خولان). Later, he went back to San'a and gathered news on Himyar (حمْير). Although, his bold thoughts and his opposition to the politics lead him to prison, he stayed there for about two years. When he got out of prison, he left to Rayda (ريدة) to be in the protection of his tribe, he compiled most of his books there and stayed there until he died, year 945.
His Geography of the Arabian Peninsula (Sifat Jazirat ul-Arab) is by far the most important work on the subject. After being used in manuscript by A. Sprenger in his Post- und Reiserouten des Orients (Leipzig, 1864) and further in his Alte Geographie Arabiens (Bern, 1875), it was edited by D.H. Müller (Leiden, 1884; cf. Sprenger's criticism in Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol. 45, pp. 361–394).
Much has also been written on this work by E. Glaser in his various publications on ancient Arabia. The other great work of al-Hamdānī is the Iklil (Crown) concerning the genealogies of the Himyar
ites and the wars of their kings in ten volumes. Of this, part 8, on the citadels and castles of south Arabia, has been edited and annotated by Müller in Die Burgen und Schlösser Sudarabiens (Vienna, 1879–1881).
For other works said to have been written by al-Hamdānī see G. L. Flügel
's Die grammatischen Schulen der Araber (Leipzig, 1862), pp. 220–221.
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, grammarian, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, from the tribe of Banu Hamadan, western 'Amran/Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. He was one of the best representatives of Islamic culture during the last effective years of the Abbasid caliphate
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
.
Biography
The biographic data of al-Hamdānī is hardly well-known, despite his extensive scientific work. He was held in repute as a grammarian, wrote much poetry, compiled astronomical tables, devoted most of his life to the study of the ancient history and geography of Arabia.Before he was born his family lived in al-Marashi (المراشي). Then they moved to Sanaa' (صنعاء) and settled down there. Thus, he was born there, year 893. His father was a voyager and had been to Kufa, Baghdad, Basra, Oman and Egypt. At around the age of seven, he started to talk himself into voyaging. He had left to Makkah and stayed there for more than six years and studied there. Then he left to Sa'dah (صعدة) and stayed there. Over there he gathered news on Khawlaan (خولان). Later, he went back to San'a and gathered news on Himyar (حمْير). Although, his bold thoughts and his opposition to the politics lead him to prison, he stayed there for about two years. When he got out of prison, he left to Rayda (ريدة) to be in the protection of his tribe, he compiled most of his books there and stayed there until he died, year 945.
His Geography of the Arabian Peninsula (Sifat Jazirat ul-Arab) is by far the most important work on the subject. After being used in manuscript by A. Sprenger in his Post- und Reiserouten des Orients (Leipzig, 1864) and further in his Alte Geographie Arabiens (Bern, 1875), it was edited by D.H. Müller (Leiden, 1884; cf. Sprenger's criticism in Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol. 45, pp. 361–394).
Much has also been written on this work by E. Glaser in his various publications on ancient Arabia. The other great work of al-Hamdānī is the Iklil (Crown) concerning the genealogies of the Himyar
Himyar
The Himyarite Kingdom or Himyar , historically referred to as the Homerite Kingdom by the Greeks and the Romans, was a kingdom in ancient Yemen. Established in 110 BC, it took as its capital the modern day city of Sana'a after the ancient city of Zafar...
ites and the wars of their kings in ten volumes. Of this, part 8, on the citadels and castles of south Arabia, has been edited and annotated by Müller in Die Burgen und Schlösser Sudarabiens (Vienna, 1879–1881).
For other works said to have been written by al-Hamdānī see G. L. Flügel
Gustav Leberecht Flügel
Gustav Leberecht Flügel was a German orientalist.Born at Bautzen, he received his early education at the gymnasium of his native town, and studied theology and philology at Leipzig. Gradually he devoted his attention chiefly to Oriental languages, which he studied in Vienna and Paris...
's Die grammatischen Schulen der Araber (Leipzig, 1862), pp. 220–221.