"זו הצורה": Brain Diagrams in Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts and Their Visual and Textual Sources

• In Event: Beyond textual analysis: Diagrams in Jewish and Hebrew medieval manuscripts

Abstract

A unique diagram from 15th century Italy, labeled "This figure is drawn to show all the faculties of the soul," serves as the focal point for discussing brain diagrams in Hebrew medical manuscripts. The uniqueness of this diagram, echoed in only one similar example, lies in its textual composition synthesizing various textual and visual sources related to the soul and the brain. In contrast to its elegant visual representation, which does not accompany "known" text, there are several "crude" brain diagrams inserted between the text lines of Hebrew translations of the Arabic text Kitab Al Mansuri Fi al-Tibb by Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Al Razi (Rhazes, c. 865–925 CE). These diagrams are often preceded by the reference "this is the figure." Through analysis of the texts, visual and textual sources, and forms of these different diagrams, we can see the difference and the resemblance and elucidate the process of transitioning from written text to visual representation and observe how every one of these diagrams create a new form of text.

Author

• Sivan Gottlieb, UGR