Abū Maʿshar al-Balkhi was an influential Persian astrologer, astronomer, and philosopher. He is often referred to as “The Great Astrologer” and “The Master of Astrology” in the Islamic world.
Abū Maʿshar was born in Balkh, a city in modern-day Afghanistan. He was educated in the sciences, mathematics, and the occult in Baghdad, where he developed an interest in astrology. He then traveled to Egypt, where he studied with the famous astronomer and astrologer al-Kindi.
Abū Maʿshar is best known for his astrological works, particularly his Kitab al-Mudkhal and Kitab al-Mawalid. In these works, he developed a complex system of astrological analysis that incorporates both Indian and Persian astrological techniques. He argued that astrology could be used to predict both character and events, and that this knowledge could be used to improve people’s lives.
Albumasar Flores astrologie. [Venezia, per Giovanni Battista I Sessa, ca 1503] D➤
Flores astrologiae. Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 18 November 1488 ➤ | ➤
Flores astrologiae. Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 14 September 1495 ➤
Introductorium in astronomiam. Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 7 February 1489 ➤
Introductorium in astronomiam Albumasaris abachi octo continens libros partiales. Venezia, per Giacomo Penzio mandato & expensis Melchiorre I Sessa, 1506 D➤
De magnis coniunctionibus. Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 31 March 1489 ➤ | ➤
De magnis coniunctionibus annorum reuolutionibus ac eorum profectionibus octo continens tractatus. Venezia, per Giacomo Penzio mandato et expensis Melchiorre I Sessa, 1515 ➤
The Book of Nativities ➤
The Book of Religions and Dynasties ➤
On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities ➤
The Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology ➤
Abū Maʿšar al-Balḥī, Ğaʿfar ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿUmar (-). Auteur du texte, and Djaʿfar ibn Mohammad ibn ʿOmar al-Balkhi (Abou Maʿshar). Auteur du texte. Kitab al-madkhal al-kabir fi ʿilm ahkam al-noudjoum, traité d’astrologie judiciaire, par Abou Maʿshar Djaʿfar ibn Mohammad ibn ʿOmar al-Balkhi. N.p. Print. ➤
Burnett, Charles. “Agency and Effect in the Astrology of Abū Maʿshar of Balkh (Albumasar).” Oriens 2019.3-4 (2019): 348–364. Web. ➤
Burnett, Charles. “The Certitude of Astrology: The Scientific Methodology of Al-Qabīṣī and Abū Maʿshar.” Early science and medicine 7.3 (2002): 198–213. Web. ➤
“Abū Ma‘shar.” Hermetica II. N.p., 2018. 298–301. Web. ➤
Tourkin, Sergei. “Compositions Attributed to Abū Ma’shar Balkʿhī in the Manuscript Collection of the Institute of Oriental Studies, St Petersburg.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 9.3 (1999): 389–401. Web. ➤
Burnett, Charles S. F. “The Legend of the Three Hermes and Abū Ma’shar’s Kitāb Al-Ulūf in the Latin Middle Ages.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 39.1 (1976): 231–234. Web. ➤
Rosenthal, Franz. “From Arabic Books and Manuscripts X: A List of Astrological Works from the ‘Discussions’ of Abû Ma’shar and Shâdhân.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 83.4 (1963): 452–. Print. ➤