, commonly called IbnHaklma, son to Aaron a Christian physician, was born
, commonly called IbnHaklma, son to Aaron a Christian physician, was born in
1226, in the city of Malatia. near the source of the Euphrates in Armenia. He is said by some to have followed
the profession of his father, and practised with great success, numbers of people coming from the most remote
parts to ask his advice; but others doubt this account.
However, he would hardly have been known at this time,
had his knowledge been confined to physic; but he applied
himself to the study of the Greek, Syriac, and Arabic
languages, as well as philosophy and divinity; and he
wrote a history, which does honour to his memory. It is
written in Arabic, and divided into dynasties. It consists
of ten parts, being an epitome of universal history from
the creation of the world to his own time. Dr. Pococke
published it, with a Latin translation in 1663, Oxford,
2 vols. 4to, and added, by way of supplement, a short
continuation relating to the history of the Eastern princes.
Dr. Pococke had published in 1650, an abridgment of the
ninth dynasty, as a “Specimen Histories Arabian.
”