Amirdovlat Amasiatsi ( hy, Ամիրդովլաթ Ամասիացի; -1496), also called Amirdovlat of Amasia, was a 15th-century Armenians, Armenian physician and writer. He wrote several works on medicine and science, some aimed at professional audiences and some at ordinary people. All his works were written in Middle Armenian, making them accessible to ordinary readers and not just to scholars. Amirdovlat was born in Amasya, Amasia around 1420. He travelled extensively. He wrote the majority of his works in Constantinople, where he was chief physician to Mehmed II. He died in Amasya, Amasia or Bursa on December 8, 1496.

Chronology

In Amirdovlat's biography, Vardanyan gives the following chronology of his life: Between 1420 and 1430: born in Amasya, Amasia 1450s: Attended Armenian schools in Amasya, Amasia and Sivas, Sebastia. Wandered as a travelling physician in Asia and Iran collecting plant samples End of 1450s: Moved to Constantinople by sea. Further studies of medicinal arts, natural sciences and philosophy. 1460s: Selected as a chief physician to Mehmed II, and received an honorary title of chief physician-ophthalmologist. Afterwards he had ten years of exile and wanderings around Balkan countries. 1470s: Returned to Constantinople, regained his position of a chief physician to Mehmed II, enjoying his confidence until the ruler's death in 1481. 1480s: Returned to his motherland upon the invitation of the son of Mehmed II, Ahmed, who became a ruler of Amasia. 1490: Journeyed to the city of Bursa for treatment with mineral waters. 1496, December 8: Died in Amasya, Amasia (though other sources suggest Bursa).

Main works

Vardanyan also lists his major works: 1459: ''The Lore of Medicine'' and the first ''Akhrabadin'' (an extensive work on pharmacology), manuscript 8871 in the Matenadaran in Yerevan, Armenia 1466—1469: His major work on clinical medicine, ''The Benefits of Medicine'', written in the city of Phillipopolis, now Plovdiv, in Bulgaria. 1474: ''Folk Medicine'', with elements of magic medicine and astrology. 1481: The second ''Akhrabadin''. 1478-1492: ''Useless for Ignoramuses'', his major compendium of over 3000 plants and plant names, with their medical uses.

References

External links

* * Encyclopædia Iranica online: 1496 deaths Medieval Armenian physicians Armenians from the Ottoman Empire Year of birth uncertain People from Amasya 15th-century physicians 15th-century Armenian writers Court physicians Physicians of the medieval Islamic world Christians from the Ottoman Empire Christians in the medieval Islamic world {{armenia-writer-stub

Chronology

Main works

See also

References

External links