Kitāb Al-Diryāq

''Kitāb al-Diryāq'' (, "The Book of Theriac"), also ''Book of Anditodes of Pseudo-Galen'' or in French ''Traité de la thériaque'', is a medieval Arabic book supposedly based on the writings of Galen ("pseudo-Galen"). The work describes the use of Theriac, an ancient medicinal compound initially used as a cure for the bites of poisonous snakes.

Two illustrated manuscript copies are extant, adorned with beautiful miniatures revealing of the social context at the time of their publication. The books describe various physicians of Antiquity, including Greek ones such as Andromachus the Elder, and their medical techniques. These manuscripts are generally attributed to the Jazira region of Syria and northern Iraq.

Manuscripts

Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS. Arabe 2964 (1198–1199)

Copied in 1198–1199, this book with miniatures ( BNF Arabe 2964) is generally attributed to the Jazira (northern Syria or Northern Iraq). It was probably made in Mosul.

The dignitaries described in the miniatures wear the Turkic dress: the stiff coat with diagonal closing and arm bands. Scenes of daily life, such as agricultural work in the fields, are also depicted. Two beautiful moon deities are also depicted, holding the shape of a crescent moon in their hands, but their significance remains conjectural.

The ruler and attendants are similar to those found in the decorated ''Palmer Cup'' and in metalworks from the Mosul or North Jazira area, with their typical ''sharbush'' type of headgear and robes.

File:Kitab al-Dariyaq, folio 24 (royal court detail).jpg, Kitâb al-Diryâq, folio 24 (royal court detail, ruler in Turkic dress, wearing the ''sharbush'' hat).
File:Kitab al-Diryaq BNF View 11 (detail).jpg, Figures in Turkic dress, with '' aqbiya turkiyya'' coat, ''tiraz'' armbands, boots and ''sharbush'' hat.
File:Kitab al-Dariyaq, folio 43.jpg, Kitâb al-Diryâq, folio 43. Moon deity
File:Kitab al-Dariyaq, folio 44.jpg, Kitâb al-Diryâq, folio 44. Moon deity

Vienna, National Library of Austria, A.F. 10 (1225×1250)

This copy, from the second quarter of the 13th century, is thought to have been produced in Mosul. Although there is no mention of a dedication in this edition, the courtly paintings are quite similar to those of the court of Badr al-Din Lu'lu' in the ''Kitab al-Aghani'' (1218–1219), and may be related to this ruler.

The frontispiece shows an intricate courtly scene with figured in Turkic dress: a central king resembling Badr al-Din Lu'lu' (wearing a fur-trimmed, patterned '' qabā' maftūḥ'', with elbow-length ''tirāz'' sleeves and on his head a ''sharbush'' hat), surrounded by numerous attendants (most of them wearing the '' aqbiya turkiyya'' Turkic coat and ''kalawta'' caps). The courtly scene is framed by equestrian scenes, some of the horse-riders wearing the brimmed hat with conical crown known as ''sarāqūj''. "In the paintings the facial cast of these ulingTurks is obviously reflected, and so are the special fashions and accoutrements they favored".

File:Book of Antidotes of Pseudo-Gallen. Scenes of the royal court. Probably northern Iraq (Mosul). Mid 13th century (Turkoman soldiers detail).jpg, Turkoman soldiers (detail). ''Book of Antidotes of Pseudo-Galen''. Probably northern Iraq (Mosul). Mid 13th century.
File:Book of Antidotes of Pseudo-Gallen. Scenes of the royal court. Probably northern Iraq (Mosul). Mid 13th century (huntsmen).jpg, Huntsmen, frontispiece.
File:Galen in Kitab al-diryaq, Vienna AF 10.jpg, Roman physician Galen () in ''Kitāb al-Diryāq'', 1225×1250, Syria. Vienna AF 10

References

{{Islamic manuscripts

12th-century Arabic-language books
Arabic non-fiction books
Encyclopedias in Arabic
Arabic anthologies
Medieval Arabic literature