Ibn Iyas (1442–1523) begins his most celebrated work, “The Beautiful Flowers in the Chronicle of the Ages” (الدهور وقائع في الزهور بدائع), with a reflection on the marvels of Egypt, most of which relate to the natural world. He says that, “There is no marvel in any country that is not matched or surpassed by the wonders of Egypt,” and then goes on to list 30 wonders thought to exist nowhere else in the world.
“Emeralds, which are not to be found anywhere else in the world, and said to be found near Bahnassa; and alum and salt, which are not to be found anywhere else; and ebony, and pistachio, and sumac-coloured marble, and others; and opium, which is the juice of the poppy and whose benefits cannot be denied; and the balsam of Matariyya, which is only to be found in Egypt and which is highly regarded by the Christian kings; and stingrays, which, when held over somebody suffering from fever, cure them; and the snakes whose poison produces useful antidotes; and lizards whose benefits are many; and acacia firewood, which is fast-flammable and slow-burning; and yusufi wheat; and rapeseed oil; and egg incubators that produce chickens, which are among Egypt’s most delicious foods and which are not found outside Egypt; and oranges and lemons that are said to have been brought from India in the third century after the Hijra; and a type of green almond called bing, which disappeared from Egypt in the seventh century; and mastic, whose benefits are many; and red peaches that cannot be found anywhere else; and Egyptian honey, which is better than that of other places; and it has horses and mules and donkeys that are finer than those from elsewhere; and it has Assiuti weaving that is not to be found anywhere else; and drinking cups from Damietta, not to be found anywhere else; and it has weasels and mongooses, which eat snakes. Without them, Egypt would be unlivable. It has summer watermelons, which have many benefits and are said to have been imported from India at the time of the Copts; and it has porphyry; and hay that is fed to the horses in spring; and it has linen and shanbar cucumbers. Among its qualities is the blessed Nile, which is good for digestion. Had it not been for the lemon water that the people of Egypt drink, they would have sung the praises of the sweetness of the water of Egypt.”
Dimensions: 190 × 210 cm
The Marvels of Egypt