Ali ibn Ridwan

Abu'l Hassan Ali ibn Ridwan Al-Misri (c. 988 - c. 1061) was an Arab of Egyptian origin who was a physician, astrologer and astronomer, born in Giza.

He was a commentator on ancient Greek medicine, and in particular on Galen; his commentary on Galen's Ars Parva was translated by Gerardo Cremonese. However, he is better known for providing the most detailed description of the supernova now known as SN 1006, the brightest stellar event in recorded history, which he observed in the year 1006. This was written in a commentary on Ptolemy's work Tetrabiblos.

He was later cited by European authors as Haly, or Haly Abenrudian. According to Alistair Cameron Crombie he also contributed to the theory of induction. He engaged in a celebrated polemic against another physician, Ibn Butlan of Baghdad.

Works

• A commentary on Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos (the pseudo-Ptolemaic Centiloquy and its commentary, which is sometimes attributed to Ali, is actually the work of Ahmad ibn Yusuf ibn al-Daya)
• De revolutionibus nativitatum (The Revolutions of Nativities), edited by Luca Gaurico, printed in Venice (1524)
• Tractatus de cometarum significationibus per xii signa zodiaci (Treatise on the Significations of Comets in the twelve Signs of the Zodiac), printed in Nürnberg (1563)
• On the Prevention of Bodily Ills in Egypt: a treatise written to refute Ibn al-Jazzar's claim that Egypt was a very unhealthy place. Ibn Ridwan also argues that air (together with other environmental aspects) was fundamental to the health of a population.

Compilation

1.Al-osol fil Teb 2.Tafsire Namoos Al-Teb for Hippocrates 3.Al-resalat fil Aldaf Al-amraz in Egypt 4.Sharhe Al-Senaat Al-Saghirat for Galen 5.article" fi Al-Tarigh Bel teb Ela sa'adat "

6.Al-Nafe fi keifiate Ta'lim Sana'at Al-teb.

Reputation

He was so well known for his skill in medicine that he became president physicians in Egypt.

Death

He died in Egypt in 1039.