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Sharaf al-Dīn Mūsā Firdawsī – The Great Book of Chess

The Turkish poet Sharaf al-Dīn Mūsā Firdawsī completed his remarkable work, The Great Book of Chess, in 1503. He dedicated it to the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II, and it stands as one of the most impressive examples of Ottoman-Persian chess literature.

The manuscript features numerous graphically arranged chess problems, laid out in symmetrical diagrams. The dual-sided inscriptions allow two players seated opposite each other to use the book simultaneously—a functional and artistic design choice.

Three miniatures from the manuscript are preserved, including a scene in which the bathing Shirin is observed by Khusrau, the Sasanian prince. In Islamic-Persian tradition, Khusrau is regarded as the legendary ruler who brought the game of chess from India to the West.

Firdawsī’s work masterfully combines strategic thinking, courtly culture, and literary symbolism—a striking testament to the intellectual and artistic flowering of the era under Bayezid II.

The Constellation Pegasus

The constellation Pegasus is named after the winged horse from Greek mythology. It is one of the most prominent autumn constellations in the Northern Hemisphere and has been known since ancient times.

Its most striking feature is the so-called “Great Square of Pegasus,” a large square formed by four bright stars that represent the body of the horse. The head, neck, and legs are suggested by additional stars, with the constellation stretching imaginatively toward the east.

In mythology, Pegasus was the magical horse of the hero Perseus and is said to have sprung from the blood of Medusa. Like many ancient constellations, Pegasus was associated with legends, heroes, and divine forces.

Pegasus is located near the constellations Andromeda, Pisces, and Delphinus, and offers a spectacular view in the night sky on clear autumn evenings.

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Petrus of Ebulo – Chronicler at the Hohenstaufen Court

Petrus of Ebulo was a southern Italian monk and poet who worked around 1196 at the court of Emperor Henry VI. He is best known for his Latin verse epic, the “Liber ad honorem Augusti” (“Book in Honor of the Emperor”), written at the emperor’s request.

This work is not only a political panegyric but also a valuable historical source on Hohenstaufen rule in Italy. In elaborate poetic language, Petrus praises Henry VI and recounts the emperor’s claim to power over Sicily and southern Italy. Particularly notable is the richly illustrated manuscript that survives today, containing over 100 miniatures depicting scenes of imperial life, military campaigns, and courtly ceremony.

Petrus of Ebulo masterfully combined literature, propaganda, and visual art, creating a striking example of medieval historiography in the service of imperial authority.

Pedanius Dioscorides – De materia medica

The Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides wrote his influential work De materia medica in the 1st century AD. Comprising five books, it became the foundational text of pharmacology for over a millennium.

Dioscorides describes around 600 plants, as well as various minerals and animal-derived substances, detailing their medicinal properties, uses, and methods of preparation. Unlike earlier compilations, his work is based on first-hand observation and practical experience, not just theoretical knowledge.

De materia medica was widely copied and transmitted throughout the centuries, with beautifully illustrated manuscripts—such as the famous Vienna Dioscorides (ca. 512 AD)—preserving its legacy. The text remained a key reference in medicine, pharmacy, and botany across both the Eastern and Western worlds well into the early modern period.

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Pedanios Dioskurides

Pedanius Dioscorides was a prominent Greek physician and naturalist of the 1st century AD, best known for his comprehensive work "De materia medica." This five-volume herbal compendium described hundreds of medicinal plants, minerals, and animal substances, along with their medical uses.

Among the many plants Dioscorides discussed is the Malabathron leaf, believed to be the leaf of the Indian cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum tamala). Valued for its spicy aroma and healing properties, Dioscorides classified Malabathron as a warming and soothing remedy. It was used for digestive issues, to strengthen the senses, and even to relieve eye conditions — for example, by gently placing the leaf on the eye.

The inclusion of Malabathron highlights how Dioscorides gathered and systematized healing knowledge from various cultures. His work remained a cornerstone of medicinal botany for many centuries — and Malabathron stands as a symbol of the connection between natural observation, healing practices, and cross-cultural exchange in antiquity.

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