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Home , Ibn Tufail, Ibn Zuhr

LEGACY OF

The Caged Birds The concept of physical exercise and health for the of Al-Andulas

– Written by Francisco Gallardo-Rodríguez,

Ibn Rushd’s (’) inert body arrived this is not exclusive to men but also occurs studies in physiology, dietetics or hygiene. at the port of Almeria in 1198. We know with all animals in captivity, like caged birds These treatises are attributed to that it was winter. His disciples placed the and others.” – Ibn Rushd (Averroes). of Kos (460-380 BC). embalmed corpse on the right side of a mule; The allusions to physical exercise in on the left they placed his manuscripts, in THE ANTECEDENTS: HIPPOCRATES AND the corpus are mainly to be found in three order to counteract the weight of his body. treatises on diet, ancient medicine and The great mystic contemplated The physicians of Al-Andalus considered aphorisms respectively. The first treatise on the scene as the procession set course for physical exercise a valuable instrument in diet covers three important dimensions of Cordoba. On seeing the difficulties the mule the conservation of health. Obviously, they medicine still topical today: to help the ill had in advancing, the slow and fatigued were not the first. to recover their health (curative medicine), way in which it bore its load, Ibn Arabi In the field of medicine, the first reference the healthy to strengthen it (preventive wondered: what weighs more, the man or of physical exercise in relation to health is medicine) and athletes to improve their his works? in ‘Corpus Hipocraticum’, where we find a condition (sports medicine). “Exercise is very healthy and the traces of number of allusions to physical exercise. It was fundamental for Hippocrates the lack of exercise are visible in those that are This corpus comprises over 50 treatises, most to know the effects of physical exercise imprisoned, with their yellowing faces, their of them short, containing everything from on the human body “because they show dishevelled appearance and the alteration of a series of general considerations about opposite influences to the ingestion of all of their natural functions. Furthermore, the profession and ethics of a to food, but they complement each other with

186 Image: Imaginary debate between Averroes And Porphyry, Monfredo de Monte Imperiali "Liber de herbis", 14th century. Reproduction in "Inventions et decouvertes au Moyen-Age", Samuel Sadaune. PD-Old-100 Wikimedia Commons. respect to health; while physical exercise game to be the most healthy and complete most important contributions – that of Ibn naturally produces consumption of what form of exercise. Zuhr (Avenzoar) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes), has been accumulated – depletion – food According to Galen, the fundamentals of the two most influential physicians in and drink restore what has been emptied health reside in the adequate use of natural the history of Al-Andalus who lived in the – repletion”. In this healthy equilibrium, things: 12th century; the so-called ‘golden age of between physical exercise and diet, lies the • air and atmosphere, Andalusian medicine’. conservation of health. • food and drink, Claudius Galen of Pergamon (131-200 • physical movement/exercise and rest, THE LIFE OF IBN RUSHD (AVERROES) AD), considered to be the first sports • sleep and wakefulness, Abul-Walid Ibn Rushd, known and physician in history and author of a • excretions and secretions and Latinised as Averroes, was born in Cordoba monumental scientific body of work, had • changes/alterations in mood. in 1127 when Al-Andalus was under a great influence on Arab physicians. He The physician of Pergamon was the first Almoravid rule. He was raised in the shelter held profound convictions on human to classify different types of exercise into of the family’s prestige; his grandfather dignity and, perhaps because of this, hard and easy, depending on its intensity, and father were qadis of Cordoba, carried out a huge amount of work, global or general and analytical or localised, probably of Muladi origin, meaning they providing medical care to slaves and depending on its nature. were Spanish-Roman converts to . also acting as physician to the gladiators These classical works of Hippocrates and His childhood was perhaps a placid in the Pergamese gymnasium. In Rome Galen were translated into Arabic and well- one, learning to read Quranic texts and he had already been the physician of known by the physicians of Al-Andalus, browsing amongst the shelves of the prominent aristocrats and emperors especially in the 12th century, significantly family library. It was at this time that such as Marcus Aurelius, Comodus and influencing their understanding of physical he ‘incubated the Cervantian illness’ – a Septimius Severus. exercise and health. passion for books. It is said that Ibn Rushd Of his extensive medical work, two texts It is not within the scope of this article (Averroes) only stopped studying on two allude to physical activity and its role in to analyse the allusions to physical exercise days of his life: the day his father died and maintaining health: ‘On the conservation and health in medical texts written his wedding day. of health’ and ‘About physical exercise by throughout the time of the Muslim presence During his adolescence Averroes learnt way of ball games’ – he believed this type of in Spain. I will limit the discussion to the Mailiki law with his father. He studied

187 LEGACY OF ARABIC MEDICINE

medicine and philosophy with Ibn Harum suffering the humiliation of being expelled 3 months, so Leon of Africa tells us, to be of Trujillo and . Ibn Harum was from the mosque after going there to pray taken later to Cordoba where he was buried a renowned physician in after he with one of his sons. His books were burnt alongside the family tombs in the Ibn Abbas successfully healed the qadi's brother of an in public. He was barred from Cordoba and cemetery. ocular lesion. Ibn Tufail, the Abentofail, exiled to Lucena, the town acclaimed by wrote The Autodidact , a Jewish nostalgia as being ‘the pearl of the THE LIFE OF (AVENZOAR) philosophical precursor according to Sefarad’. Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik ibn Zuhr specialists in literary genealogy, of Daniel The causes of this persecution are (1091-1161), Latinised as Avenzoar, belonged Defoe’s and Rousseau’s controversial. Some authors have claimed to the clan of the Ibn Zuhr, six consecutive Emile. Ibn Tufail was the one who introduced that Yusuf Al-Mansur expelled him from generations of physicians, who served the Averroes into the vertiginous conspiracy of the palace upon reading in a text of his the Almoravid emirs and the Almohad caliphs. the palace, origin of most of the contentions expression “the king of the Berbers”; an Some contemporary historians consider of his life. However, before this fundamental expression which his old friend used in order Abu Marwan Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) the event in Averroes life, other cares and other to avoid calling him “prince of believers” as greatest Muslim physician after the Persian hazards occupied his time. Such as receiving he liked to be referred to. He was pardoned al-Razi, Rhazes, even perhaps of all time the so-called iyaz, the licence in medicine 3 years later and summoned to the court after Galen. Nicolas Monardes writes that that authorised Averroes to teach the books at , where he died a few months he was born in Peñaflor, between Seville that he had learnt, especially the Canon by later on Thursday 10 December 1198, aged 72. and Cordoba; other authors, amongst them Ibn Sina, between 1141 and 1146. Ibn Rushd (Averroes) was buried in Leon of Africa, affirm that he was born in At a young age Averroes married the cemetery of the gate of Tangazut for the medina of Seville. For many centuries he Zainab. Official biographers do not refer to any daughters when they talk about his descendants. They do vaguely mention various sons, at least four, one of them being a jurist and physician like his father. We know that Ibn Rushd (Averroes) first travelled to the in 1153 where he collaborated in the education reform proposed by the Almohad caliph Abd al- Mumin. From this year on he made frequent trips to and . He had been living in Marrakesh for a number of years when, in 1169 he gained the confidence of the Almohad caliph Yusuf al-Mansur. He was named qadi of Seville and, in 1171, of Cordoba, where he maintained his treasured library. In this period, Ibn Rushd (Averroes) would affirm: “Cordoba was the great land of the wise and Seville of the musicians.” In spite of the relevance of his official role, the personal life of the philosopher in these years is shrouded in mystery. He most likely gave lectures to a select group of disciples and in 1162 he finished writing his great medical work Kulliyyat or The book of general medicine. When Ibn Tufayl stepped down from the post of court physician in 1182, Yusuf al-Manusr designated Ibn Rushd (Averroes) as his successor. At the end of 1195 he was Image: Ibn Rushd (Averroes) - detail cropped from the "The School of Athens" by Raffaello persecuted after falling out with the caliph, Sanzio, 1511. PD-Old-100 Wikimedia Commons.

188 was considered to be a Jewish physician, an uncommon practice. He refused to teach CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND error that the prestigious Bibliotheca Arabic- logic to his students of medicine and in his HEALTH Hispanic (1760) by Casiri perpetuated. al-Taysir he harshly criticises the Sophists. Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) in his Kitab al- He was in no doubt an extraordinary Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) was ahead of his Taysir or Book that facilitates therapeutics clinician, eminently practical compared time. In his writings he describes the and regime argues that moderate exercise, to the more philosophical and theoretical scabies parasite, mediastinal tumours and whether on foot or on horseback, was good approach of Ibn Rushd (Averroes). He the pericardial abscess that he apparently for maintaining health. was the author of a number of medical suffered from himself and treated. He also In another text of his, Kitab al Agdiya treatises, of which Kitab al-Taysir or dealt with intestinal erosions, paralysis or Treatise on food, he gives more details. Book that facilitates therapeutics and of the pharynx and inflammation of the Exercise depends on the type of breathing, regime stands out. The author wrote this middle ear. He was one of the first to being either strong or weak. It should be text unwillingly as it seems it was an recommend and artificial done preferably before breakfast. When imposition of the caliph al-Mumin. Some, feeding via the oesophagus or the breathing gets very fast one must stop and however, believe he was encouraged to rectum. He corrected Galen anatomically, eat immediately. Finally, he agrees with write it by Ibn Rushd (Averroes), who strengthening the view that, rather than Galen that the best exercise is done with a affirms in his Kulliyyat; The book of general relying on mere observation he must have small ball. medicine, that the Taysir was the best for done on animal or human Ibn Rushd in his Kitab al Kulliyyat (The anyone who wants to study treatises on corpses – something that was forbidden book of general medicine), gives a more therapeutics. There is disagreement as to at the time. In his works he alludes to the extensive description. He talks about whether the Cordobese physician was a importance of nutrition in the prevention physical exercise in book VI titled 'Book disciple of Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) or not. They and treatment of illness, with detailed of the preservation' of health. Ibn Rushd surely knew each other and maintained prescriptions and practical advice on the divides it into four parts: physical exercise, a difficult relationship hovering between correct preparation of food. There were massages, bathing and sleeping. competition and mutual admiration, even ecological reflections on the influence The introduction describes the benefits tempered by an age difference of thirty of foul air from bogs on health. of physical exercise, including purifying years. Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) disagreed with Ibn Zuhr’s (Avenzoar) death was caused the body, “Waste is expelled by means of the philosophical speculation, common by a naghla, a tumour, on his back between physical exercise, massages and bathing. It amongst physicians of the time, preferring his shoulder blades, similar to the one that is also expelled with the use of medicine, the way of experimentation and dedicating caused the death of his father, Abu al-Ala especially in the case of complexions that a good part of his time to surgery - an Ibn Zuhr. He was buried in Seville. have no equilibrium.”

The classical works of Hippocrates and Galen were translated into Arabic and well- known by the physicians of Al-Andulas, especially in the 12th century, significantly influencing their understanding of physical exercise and health

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The section on physical exercise begins For Ibn Rushd (Averroes) the ideal exercise in prison: “Exercise is very healthy and the with a definition of exercise: “We say that to maintain health is one that fulfils its traces of a lack of exercise are visible in exercise, in general, consists of the voluntary purifying and toning function “hardening those that are imprisoned, with their yellow movement of the limbs”. He continues to the limbs” in his words. In order to do this, faces, dishevelled look and the alteration of describe the different types of exercise: exercise should be a balance between all their natural functions. And this is not total “which are the movements common “intensity and calm, speed and slowness” exclusive to men but occurs to all animals to all animals” and partial “the voice is the and he recommends “playing with a small in captivity, such as caged birds and others.” exercise of the lungs and standing up and ball or something similar”, in agreement sitting down are exercises of the spine.” with Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) and Galen. One Exercises can be intense or mild, fast should continue with this game until the SPORT IN AL-ANDALUS or slow. Ibn Rushd (Averroes) described body starts to sweat and then immediately The word sport appears for the first time resistance exercises, “such as the lifting of stop, before there is a change of colour to in a poem by Guillermo de Aquitania written rocks and other things” and exercises in the face and the ability of movement is in 1117, with a meaning of delight, fun and power, “sometimes they join together in the reduced. He warns about the health risks of recreation. When used in the context of Al- exercise of speed and strength, as is the case malpractice in physical activity. “An activity Andalus, the word sport means a game or of javelin throwers.” that is difficult to endure due to the physical pastime rather than something regulated, Intense exercise “weakens the body” effort involved, as well as the practice of organised and measured. and mild exercise “does not eliminate inadequate exercise, can cause illness.” The first of the Arab Peninsula everything that should be eliminated and as Kulliyyat has practical advice on physical describe games or sports. Racing is included such a surplus is accumulated in the organs exercise for children and adolescents. From amongst the different ways of travelling that causes the body to fatten”. He suggested the age of 3, when the child can walk, he and even pilgrimaging. As such we have the best time for physical exercise is in the should carry out a number of physical the news that Ibn Badr de Hudhayfah “in expulsive phase and at all times physical exercises in order to induce tiredness. These one night came across as many people activity must be adjusted to temperament. exercises should avoid hardening the body, as he would have done in eight nights by For example, if the person’s complexion is as this would impede natural growth. walking.” hot and dry “exercise should be done with Ibn Rushd (Averroes) contradicts Arab children learnt to ride a horse precaution as their bodies tend to dry and Hippocrates who argued that warm bodies from the age of 8. Legend has it that all produce yellow bile. In this case exercise should rest and not move at all; the complete Arab thoroughbreds are descended from will be mild, such as slow walking or horse lack of exercise is detrimental to health. As the Prophet ’s five favourite riding.” such, he compares sedentariness to being mares. The so-called niqaf was a type of unregulated fencing that was sometimes carried out in the way of a dance inside the mosque. According to chronicles of the time, Al- Jumahi was a wrestler so strong that “if he had his foot on a cow’s hide and ten men tried to drag it away from him, the hide would be ripped apart.” In the context of Al- The high jump was known as al-qafizi. The participants had to jump over a piece of wood following certain rules, it seems. Andulas, the word sport The game of round stones consisted in digging a hole in the ground and then means a game or pastime, throwing stones at it from a distance. The winner was the one who managed to ‘pave’ rather than something the hole. Arab adolescents swam non- competitively, something that was regulated, organised and considered an important part of physical education, like riding and archery. Omar measured bin Al-Khattab, the second caliph, successor to the Prophet Muhammad, is attributed to having said: “Teach your son to swim, archery and horse-riding.”

190 Hunting was carried out with dogs and horses to keep both the horse and rider fit and ready for military action

These sports or games formed part of according to Arab rules where the queen origins were probably from earlier on. The the Islamic culture arriving at the Iberian and the bishop are relatively weak pieces riders, while galloping, had to throw sticks Peninsula and would have been part of the that can only advance square by square. In at a white plank of wood. Not until the daily life of Al-Andalus. 12th century Seville there were other well- decadence of the Cordobese Caliphate did There is hardly any concrete reference known games such as nard or dice and qirq, horse-racing take hold in Al-Andalus. to sport in Andalusi . We cannot which was a type of draughts. Among the ball games we must not to even be sure that polo was an important In Diderot and D’Alembert’s famous forget to mention the Palm, also described sport in Al-Andalus despite the fact that it Encyclopédie written throughout the by Alfonso X The Wise in the 13th century. was considered in medieval times to be the 18th century with contributions from The game took place in two fields of ‘game of kings’. , Rousseau and , one different sizes. The main objective of the Arab-Andalusi contains can read: “it was perhaps these game was to remain in the largest field in beautiful texts on falconry and all the that invented tournaments and on-foot order to win the game more easily. At first aristocracy of the time was obliged to be combats.” In Christian Spain, minstrel the ball was hit by hand, later with a bat and well versed in it. Al-Mutamid, the king of songs refer to these, relating incidents and finally with rackets made from gut string. Seville, believed that the love of hunting praising their protagonists. A net separated both fields. According to was one of the natural qualities of noble Johan Hizinga, a great Dutch philosopher some authors, ball games were mainly for men. Abd al-Rahman II spent many a week of games, mentions in his book Homo common people. hunting deer in the hills of Sierra Morena Ludens that warfare was the only medieval Finally, although in a later period, it and used falcons in the Guadalquivir valley sport and tournaments were simply a is interesting to remember the so-called to catch cranes. Hunting was carried out ceremonial preparation for it. Tournaments Moorish Olympic Games of Purchena with dogs and horses to keep both the horse were a simulated battle with two teams (Almeria) organised by Aben Humeya in and rider fit and ready for military action. whose objective was to knock down the September 1569, according to Ginés Pérez We also know that the expression ‘check most opponents. They used arms, lances or de Hita, author of the Civil wars of . mate’ comes from the Arabic al-shah mat; swords, that – in theory – were not allowed. Amongst the games recalled as Moorish ‘the king is dead’. The game of chess that This type of game had two variants, on foot sporting activities are wrestling, rock lifting, the Arabs inherited from the Persians and or on horseback. The Muslims favoured racing, archery and stone hurling. later exported to Al-Andalus and Christian horseback combat with short lances. The Europe, is the quintessential royal game; duels, probably also in Islamic society, were not only because one plays for the king an exultation of the just, the strong and the piece but also because it is supposed to be a brave; a way to have God by your side. In fact, mathematical metaphor of the mechanisms in Christian society the combat between of life - the struggle on a board of squares two knights on horseback with shields and Francisco Gallardo-Rodríguez, M.D. between action freely taken and inevitable lances were known as jousts, from the latin Sport and Exercise Physician fate. Chess was a game played with passion ‘juxta’, meaning ‘near’. in the courts of Al-Andalus. Witness to A popular game amongst the inhabitants Sato Sport-Santa Justa Sports Medicine Centre Director. this are the texts of Alfonso X The Wise in of Al-Andalus was that of the wooden plank, his Book of chess and the accompanying where horses were also used. There is no Sevilla. Spain illustrations. The game was played evidence of it until Nazari times but its Contact:[email protected]

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