• De la pestilence à la fragrance. L’origine de l’ambre gris selon les auteurs arabes

    Author(s):
    Thierry Buquet (see profile)
    Date:
    2016
    Group(s):
    History
    Subject(s):
    Science, History, Middle Ages
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    ambergris, history of zoology, odors, sperm-whale, whale, History of science, Medieval history
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6CW5D
    Abstract:
    The origin of ambergris, an intestinal pathologic secretion of the sperm-whale, used in perfumes and medieval pharmacology, had been long debated among Arab scholars. The paper exposes the various hypotheses related to this origin, and its textual transmission during medieval times. These traditions show a good example of complex relations between good and bad odors, connected to the different colors of ambergris (black, grey, white) and to its animal (whale or fish-dung), mineral or vegetal origin.
    Metadata:
    Published as:
    Journal article    
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    7 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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