The Sultan's Sex Potions

Arab Aphrodisiacs in the Middle Ages

The Sultan's Sex Potions by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, a 13th-century scientific text, explores aphrodisiacs, sexual practices and potency. Written for a ruler, it offers a guide to desire without a physician. This bilingual edition includes key manuscripts, a translation and an introduction to Arabic erotic literature.

Arabic erotic literature has a long and rich history, which goes back as far as the ninth century. Far from being the pursuit of prurient pornographers, eroticism and sexuality received considerable attention from scholars.

Written by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201 - 1274), one of the leading scientists of the age, The Sultan's Sex Potions is part of a relatively small group of works devoted to aphrodisiacs, as well as sexual stimulants, sexual practices and positions. Sober and measured in tone, the work was intended to be a manual, which would allow the patient to dispense with the services of a physician. Written at the request of the ruler, its potions, electuaries, syrups and enemas enjoyed a 'royal warrant of appointment' to arouse the lust for coitus and enhance sexual potency.

This bilingual volume includes a critical edition of three manuscripts (Berlin, Cairo and Glasgow) and is accompanied by a translation, as well as an introduction to Arabic erotic literature, a biography of the author and extensive indexes.

Contributor: Daniel L. Newman (Edited by)

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