Kitab al Kanuz
Encyclopedia
Kitab al Kanuz was a mysterious medieval Arabic manuscript from the 15th century, supposedly a treasure hunter's guide noted for its mention of the Zerzura
oasis
http://www.pisces-press.com/C-Nav/zerzura.html. The author is unknown as well as the exact date of the manuscript's existence , but it is certain that it first appeared in the 15th century.
that hold hidden treasure. It also details the many spells and incantations needed to ward off supposed evil spirits who guard the treasures. However, the manuscript is known mostly for its mention of the Zerzura oasis actually being a white city full of treasure with a sleeping king and queen and which was threatened by black giants who would emerge from the desert and attack oases in Egypt. The guide instructs the treasure hunter to take the key to the city from the mouth of a bird carved into the wall above the gates, unlock them, and take the king's and queen's riches without approaching them http://www.passionfruit.com/zerzura.html.
It is difficult to know if the Kitab al Kanuz still exists or whether it has become an anitiquity in a museum or not, though archaeologists and explorers seem to be well-acquainted with it. E.A. Johnson Pasha, a member of the Royal Geographical Society
in the 20th century, claimed to have had the manuscript in his possession for several years in the 19th century through 20th century [jstor.org/stable/1783755]. Austria
n count Ladislaus Almasy also read the manuscript and became enchanted by its Zerzura tale, which inspired him to help British
explorers make expeditions into the Sahara
desert for the Zerzura oasis in the 1930s.
Zerzura
-The rumor:Zerzura was long rumored to have existed deep in the desert west of the Nile River in Egypt or Libya. In writings dating back to the 13th century, the authors spoke of a city which was "white as a dove" and called it "The Oasis of Little Birds". In the Kitab al Kanuz, Zerzura is said to...
oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
http://www.pisces-press.com/C-Nav/zerzura.html. The author is unknown as well as the exact date of the manuscript's existence , but it is certain that it first appeared in the 15th century.
Content
The Kitab al Kanuz is a collection of mystic fables and lists over four hundred sites in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
that hold hidden treasure. It also details the many spells and incantations needed to ward off supposed evil spirits who guard the treasures. However, the manuscript is known mostly for its mention of the Zerzura oasis actually being a white city full of treasure with a sleeping king and queen and which was threatened by black giants who would emerge from the desert and attack oases in Egypt. The guide instructs the treasure hunter to take the key to the city from the mouth of a bird carved into the wall above the gates, unlock them, and take the king's and queen's riches without approaching them http://www.passionfruit.com/zerzura.html.
It is difficult to know if the Kitab al Kanuz still exists or whether it has become an anitiquity in a museum or not, though archaeologists and explorers seem to be well-acquainted with it. E.A. Johnson Pasha, a member of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in the 20th century, claimed to have had the manuscript in his possession for several years in the 19th century through 20th century [jstor.org/stable/1783755]. Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n count Ladislaus Almasy also read the manuscript and became enchanted by its Zerzura tale, which inspired him to help British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
explorers make expeditions into the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
desert for the Zerzura oasis in the 1930s.