Editing Jabir ibn Hayyan (section)

=== Writings on magic (talismans, specific properties) ===
Among the surviving Jabirian treatises, there are also a number of relatively independent treatises dealing with "the science of [[talisman]]s" (''ʿilm al-ṭilasmāt'', a form of [[theurgy]]) and with "the science of specific properties" (''ʿilm al-khawāṣṣ'', i.e., the science dealing with the hidden powers of mineral, vegetable and animal substances, and with their practical applications in medical and various other pursuits).<ref>A number of non-extant treatises (Kr. nos. 1750, 1778, 1795, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1994) are also discussed by {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. 142–154}}. Kraus refers to ''ʿilm al-ṭilasmāt'' as "théurgie" (theurgy) throughout; see, e.g., {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. 75, 143, ''et pass.''}} On "the science of specific properties" (''ʿilm al-khawāṣṣ''), see {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. II, pp. 61–95}}.</ref> These are:

* '''The Book of the Search''' (''Kitāb al-Baḥth'', also known as ''The Book of Extracts'', ''Kitāb al-Nukhab'', Kr. no. 1800): This long work deals with the philosophical foundations of [[theurgy]] or "the science of talismans" (''ʿilm al-ṭilasmāt''). It is also notable for citing a significant number of Greek authors: there are references to (the works of) [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], [[Archimedes]], [[Galen]], [[Alexander of Aphrodisias]], [[Porphyry (philosopher)|Porphyry]], [[Themistius]], ([[Pseudepigrapha|pseudo]]-)[[Apollonius of Tyana]], and others.<ref>{{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. 142–143}}.</ref>
* '''The Book of Fifty''' (''Kitāb al-Khamsīn'', perhaps identical to ''The Great Book on Talismans'', ''Kitāb al-Ṭilasmāt al-kabīr'', Kr. nos. 1825–1874): This work, only extracts of which are extant, deals with subjects such as the theoretical basis of [[theurgy]], specific properties, [[astrology]], and [[demonology]].<ref>{{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. 146–147}}.</ref>
* '''The Great Book on Specific Properties''' (''Kitāb al-Khawāṣṣ al-kabīr'', Kr. nos. 1900–1970): This is Jabir's main work on "the science of specific properties" (''ʿilm al-khawāṣṣ''), i.e., the science dealing with the hidden powers of mineral, vegetable and animal substances, and with their practical applications in medical and various other pursuits.<ref>On "the science of specific properties" (''ʿilm al-khawāṣṣ''), see {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. II, pp. 61–95}}.</ref> However, it also contains a number of chapters on "the science of the balance" (''ʿilm al-mīzān'', a theory which aims at reducing all phenomena to a system of measures and quantitative proportions).<ref>{{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, pp. 148–152}}. The theory of the balance, which is mainly expounded in ''The Books of the Balances'' (Kr. nos. 303–446, see above), is extensively discussed by {{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. II, pp. 187–303}}; see also {{harvnb|Lory|1989|pp=130–150}}.</ref>
* '''The Book of the King''' (''Kitāb al-Malik'', kr. no. 1985): Short treatise on the effectiveness of [[talisman]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, p. 153}}.</ref>
* '''The Book of Black Magic''' (''Kitāb al-Jafr al-aswad'', Kr. no. 1996): This treatise is not mentioned in any other Jabirian work.<ref>{{harvnb|Kraus|1942–1943|loc=vol. I, p. 154}}.</ref>