The Book of Curiosities

April 5, 2007 1:21 PM

For anyone with even a passing interest in Islamic history or cartography, 'The Book of Curiosities of the Sciences and Marvels for the Eyes' site at Oxford University's Bodleian Library will provide a thoroughly interesting timesink. This recently discovered 13th/14th century copy of an 11th century Egyptian manuscript was partly based on Ptolemy and includes the oldest rectangular map of the world...not to mention the famed human-bearing Waq-Waq tree. [via]
posted by peacay (7 comments total)

very very cool--thanks!
posted by amberglow at 2:28 PM on April 5, 2007

thank you
posted by Substrata at 4:04 PM on April 5, 2007

wonderful :)
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:29 PM on April 5, 2007

awesome!
posted by pantufla at 4:38 PM on April 5, 2007

This is fantastic. Thank you!
posted by Bageena at 5:08 PM on April 5, 2007

God damn dialup! God damn army jeep!

I can't wait to look later.
posted by OmieWise at 7:41 PM on April 5, 2007

wooo...
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:53 PM on April 6, 2007