Mansur ibn Ilyas

Mansur ibn Ilyas (c. 1380 – 1422) was a Persian physician from Shiraz, in what is now Iran. He is most renowned for his anatomical atlas, Tashrih-i Mansuri, which he completed in 1396. This work is significant for its detailed illustrations and descriptions of the human body, making it a landmark in the history of anatomy and medical illustration.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Little is known about the life of Mansur ibn Ilyas. He hailed from a family of physicians in Shiraz and was a contemporary of the Timurid ruler, Timur, who reigned over a vast empire in the region. Mansur ibn Ilyas's work suggests he had access to a wide range of Islamic and possibly Ancient Greek medical knowledge, which he integrated into his own observations and practices.

Tashrih-i Mansuri[edit | edit source]

The Tashrih-i Mansuri is Mansur ibn Ilyas's most significant contribution to medicine and anatomy. The work is divided into five chapters, covering the bones, nerves, muscles, veins, and arteries, respectively, with a final section on the formation of the fetus. Each chapter is accompanied by detailed illustrations, which are among the earliest examples of coloured anatomical drawings in Islamic medicine.

The illustrations in the Tashrih-i Mansuri are notable for their clarity and attention to detail. Mansur ibn Ilyas depicted the human body in various views, including frontal, rear, and side perspectives, providing a comprehensive visual guide to human anatomy. His work predates the anatomical drawings of the Renaissance in Europe and represents a significant contribution to the global history of medical illustration.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Mansur ibn Ilyas's work had a lasting impact on the field of medicine, both in the Islamic world and beyond. The Tashrih-i Mansuri was widely copied and translated, disseminating his anatomical knowledge throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and eventually Europe. His approach to illustrating the human body influenced subsequent generations of physicians and artists, bridging the gap between medical knowledge and visual representation.