The engraving we are examining is contained in “Senioris Zadith Fillii Hamuelis Tabula Chimica”, or the chemical table of the old Zadith son of Hamuel,
in both Theatrum Chemicum and Biblioteca Chemica Curiosa. The same picture seems to have been also the subject of “ The Book of the Silvery Water and the Starry Earth” by ibn-Umail.
Muhammad ibn Umail al Tamimi, was born and lived in Spain (Cordoba) in tenth century as a son of arabian parents. He seems to have become an isolated representation, and had few students, perhaps only one, to pass on his works. He was called al-Sadik, which supposedly become Zadith in Europe, while ibn-Umail was apparently translated as “son of Hamuel”. His most famed treatise was indeed the afore mentioned“ The Book of the Silvery Water and the Starry Earth”, or Kitab al-ma’ al-waraqi wal-ard an-najmyah (1), which was taken by later researchers as a commentary on “ the Letter of the Sun to the Crescent Moon”, or Risalah ash-shams ila ’l-hilal. To be more precise “The Silvery Water” was known in Europe as “ The Book of Senior or Tabula Chimica”, while the poem “ Letter of the Sun” is found separately as “ Epistola Solis ad Lunam Crescentem”. The former is alleged to be the inspiration for Aurora Consurgens.
Ibn-Umail was also mentioned by the egyptian Aidamur al-Jildaki, who lived in the first half of the fourteenth century, in his book “ The End of the Search”, as an alchemical authority together with Al Jabair, Avicenna and Razi. In fact it is said that a quite sure datation for Turba Philosophorum to have been written before 900 A.D was reliably attested by Ibn-Umail quoting it. It is not an exaggeration to describe ibn-Umayl as an important presence both in arabic and western hermetic literature.
I must take for granted the assertion of ibn Umayl manuscripts acceptably fitting into the latin translations from arabic under the name Senior Zadith. In fact I have always restricted myself to read Senior Zadith from latin. But in this case a comparison between arabic and latin versions should be of extreme interest, allowing that the two mentioned authors were the same person. In fact my opinion is that the first translator to latin had really mess things up. And I’m not too much surprised, because precision and accuracy are only nowadays requirements in western world. For example, and always concerning Senior Zadith-ibn Umayl, in fourteenth century Geoffrey Chaucer in his “Canterbury Tales” wrote the “ Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale” in which Senior was the title given to an alchemical treatise attributed to an arabian scholar of the tenth century. In this piece Chaucer was said to have copied some verses of a latin translation (2) from the original arabic of ibn-Umail, trying to impress his audience of pilgrims with his knowledge of alchemical doctrines. But Chaucer apparently did not follow any accurate arrangement.
In the latin version in Theatrum Chemicum, which is more comprehensive of titles than BCC, we find another interesting witness of this lack of accuracy. In fact in addition of the presentation : Philosophiae Chimicae Duo Vetustissima Scripta. Two very ancient scripts of chemical philosophy.
That’s to say: I Senioris Zadith, Filii Hamuelis Tabula Chimica. Chemical Table by Senior Zadith, son of Hamuel.
II Anonimi Veteris Philosophi Consilium conjungii, seu massa Solis & Luna, Libri Tres, vore aurei. Anonymous aged philosophers joined in consultation, or on the mass of sun and moon, three books, really golden.
In the end we can read: Ex Arabico Sermone Latina Facta, cum diversis manuscriptis collata, & marginalibus ornata. Or Made in latin from arabic speeches, with different manuscripts tied and side quoted.
Not to mention the transmission of Ibn-Umail conspicuous parts in such works as “Anonymi Veteri Philosophi Consilium Coniugii, seu De Massa Solis & Luna, libri III…..ex arabico in latinum sermonem reducti”, that’s to say the Joined Council of ancient philosophers, or on the mass of sun and moon, books 3….from the arabic to a latin sermon reduced, in Biblioteca Chemico Curiosa following the most fameus aforementioned treatises (3).