Masawaiyh

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Masawaiyh (also known as Mesue the Elder) was a Persian physician from the 9th century. He was born in 777 AD and died in 857 AD. He was a Nestorian Christian who served as the personal physician to the Abbasid caliphs Al-Ma'mun and Al-Mu'tasim. He is known for his works on ophthalmology and his medical recipes.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Masawaiyh was born in 777 AD in Samarkand, a city in modern-day Uzbekistan. He was a Nestorian Christian, a sect of Christianity that was prevalent in the Middle East during the early centuries of Islam.

Career[edit | edit source]

Masawaiyh served as the personal physician to the Abbasid caliphs Al-Ma'mun and Al-Mu'tasim. He was known for his works on ophthalmology and his medical recipes. His works were translated into Latin and were used in Europe until the 17th century.

Works[edit | edit source]

Masawaiyh wrote several medical works, including:

  • De Medicinis Universalibus et Particularibus - A book on general and specific medicines.
  • De Oculis - A book on ophthalmology.
  • Liber Medicinarum Particularium - A book on specific medicines.
  • Liber de Simplicibus Medicinis - A book on simple medicines.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Masawaiyh's works were translated into Latin and were used in Europe until the 17th century. His work on ophthalmology, De Oculis, was particularly influential and was used as a standard text in European medical schools for several centuries.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Masawaiyh Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD