[First posted in AWOL 17 February 2014, updated 13 March 2025 (new URL)]
A digital corpus for Greco-Arabic studies
Between the 8th and 10th centuries CE, hundreds of
Greek philosophical, medical and scientific works were translated into
Arabic. These translations helped shape the development of philosophy
and science in the Islamic world. Through later Latin translations, they
also exerted some influence in the Latin West.
Most importantly, Arabic translations were crucial
for preserving, transmitting and extending ancient Greek thought: many
Greek texts were lost in the intervening centuries and are now only
extant in Arabic translation. The Arabic translators also had access to
manuscripts that were often several centuries older and potentially
closer to the Greek originals than those available to editors of ancient
Greek texts today.
The Arabic translators’ understanding of their Greek
sources was informed by their historical, cultural, religious and
linguistic background. Their reading of these texts offers a new
perspective on the ancient world that has the potential to enhance our
own understanding.
The Digital Corpus
The Digital Corpus assembles a wide range of Greek
texts and their Arabic counterparts. It also includes a number of Arabic
commentaries and important secondary sources. The texts in the corpus
can be consulted individually or side by side with their translation.
The majority of texts can also be downloaded for further analysis.
al-Ruhāwī
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