David of Beth Rabban

[pp. 49-50]

DAVID OF BETH RABBAN

(about 800 A.D.)

Patriarch of the Syrian Church.

Poem "Treatise on the Seven Climates"

Ed.: Cardahi, Liber Thesauri de arte poetica Syrorum, Rome 1875, pp. 41-43; R. Gottheil, in: Hebraica 8, Chicago 1891/2, pp. 66-73.

T.: MC 510 (Gottheil) S:1

The Kushâyê, [dwell in the Second Climate, together] with other peoples. They, too, are very black, but less repugnant than the Hindûyê. They are concerned with sorcery and the science of roots. They know mysterious [p. 50] secrets and the power of the roots. In this country there are (precious) stones and pearls of all kinds, because this climate is near to the land where emeralds are found. It lies south-west of Aegyptos, the powerful. (MC fol. 510 r).