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  • Abelard castrated
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al-Jahiz

Abū ʿUthman ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Kinānī al-Baṣrī, known by his nickname al-Jahiz, was a ninth-century Arabic scholar who wrote learned and witty prose. Born in Basra, he spent most of his life in Baghdad. He was a leading light in the cosmopolitan society of the Abbasid caliphate.

Luxorius: sixth-century African poet against dinner invitations

In a comical reversal, the host Blumarit’s extravagant hospitality pushed the poet Luxorius toward starvation. … Read the post Luxorius: sixth-century African poet against dinner invitations

absurd others: al-Jahiz declares laughing alone safer

Eating colostrum and dates with al-Naqqāsh at his table, al-Jahiz was alone and laughed alone. His experience of absurdity is highly relevant today. … Read the post absurd others: al-Jahiz declares laughing alone safer

al-Jahiz on miser thwarting kid’s pissing ploy for eating dates

Al-Jahiz gave a miser’s response to a kid’s pissing ploy perverse force of reason. Classical Arabic literature accepted outrageous texts. … Read the post al-Jahiz on miser thwarting kid’s pissing ploy for eating dates

misers’ complex, demanding struggles in classical Arabic literature

Just three sentences from al-Jahiz’s book on misers offer much more meaning than subsequent writing about misers has been able to provide. … Read the post misers’ complex, demanding struggles in classical Arabic literature

al-Jahiz’s misers offer rich framework for reading Athenaeus’s banqueters

Al-Jahiz’s readers appreciated literary works like Athenaeus’ Learned Banqueters. Cultural heritage conflicted the Roman Empire like the Abbasid Caliphate. … Read the post al-Jahiz’s misers offer rich framework for reading Athenaeus’s banqueters

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