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158 THE MIDDLE AGES.
and sects distinguished themselves in a similar way.
Numerous Jacobites made themselves known likewise as
translators,* among them notably SERGIUS who lived at
the court of KESRA NUSCHIRWANS. He was a friend of
the Greek historian AGATHIAS, and as familiar with Greek
as with Syriac ; he was distinguished for his learning, and
the best translator of his time.f By him numerous medical
works—and to such, being a doctor, he devoted especial
attention—were rendered into Syriac from the Greek,
among them certain writings of HIPPOKRATES. Moreover
he wrote explanatory notes to ARISTOTLE and completed the *
medical compendium of the Alexandrian doctor AHRON.J
The numerous Jewish men of learning who had settled
in Syria and Persia, were the means of bringing about an
acquaintance with Hebrew culture and, in addition, must
have contributed to an increased extension of Greek
literature, especially in the domain of medicine. The
system of teaching among the Jews was admirably organized
and their high schools at Tiberias in Palestine, at
Sepphoris and Tvfisibis in Syria, and at Sura and Pumbeditha
in Persia acquired great fame.§
By the rendering of Greek works into the SyriacA
Hebrew, and Persian languages, the study of these was put
within easier reach of the Arabs. The mutual relations of
kinship among these tongues facilitated the translation of
the compositions from them into Arabic. This pursuit 1
was systematically exercised and conducted under the
Abbassides. AL MANSUR, the second Caliph of this line
of rulers, the founder of the new capital of Baghdad,
charged his body-physician GEORG BACHTISCHUA with the
translation of medical works from Greek into Arabic, as is
stated by IBN ABU OSEIBIA.[| According to the statement
* WENRICH op. cit. p. 11.
t AGATHIAS: Histor. iv, c. 30.—ASSEMANI op. cit. T. ii, p. ,,- ,2, _
-ABULFARAG op. cit. p. 94, 172. ' ' '' %,.y
X WENRICH op. cit. Index xxxv.-
§ CRAMER op. cit.i, S. 109 et seq.
I WENRICH op. cit. p. 13.—LECLEHC op. cit. i, p. i24 et s,q.