Kitab al-wahshiyyat

The Arab poet and anthologist Abu Tammam (d. 231/845) was born in Jasim in Syria, between Damascus and Dar?a. After a first period as a weavers' assistant in Damascus and as a water-seller in Cairo, studying poetry on the side, he had his breakthough as a poet after his return to Syria in the time of al-Mu?tasim billah (r. 218-27/833-42). Considered as the greatest panegyrist of his time, he sang the praises of the caliph and many other public figures of his age. Besides Egypt, Abu Tammam also travelled to other regions, his most celebrated sojourn being in Hamadan where he compiled his famous poetic anthology the Kitab al-hamasa. The present work is a similar compilation by him, though smaller and much less known. Edited previously on the basis of one manuscript from Istanbul, the present facsimile edition is of a second manuscript, this time from Yazd. Some folios missing but good readings, interesting marginalia.