Abstract

The Latin translation of the Epistle on Geography of the Ikhw...n al-Ÿaf...’ has been preserved -as far as is actually known- in a single manuscript dated of the fourteenth century, i.e. Palermo 2 Qq D 121. P. Gautier Dalché has of- fered what he himself labels a provisory edition. However, for any compari- son with the original text he was dependent upon Dieterici’s German para- phrases, given his ignorance of Arabic. In this paper the Latin translation is directly compared to the Arabic text. Some of the particularities of the Latin translation are highlighted, both with regard to its vocabulary and its style. Moreover, it is shown that the Latin translation covers almost the complete treatise, and this most of the time in a faithful way. As to the few omissions, which are effectively present, spe- cial attention is paid to the possible reason why they occur. It is hoped that in this way a serious basis is laid for a critical edition of this important Latin translation.