Hunayn ibn Ishaq

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Hunayn ibn Ishaq

808-873

Arab scholar and physician who translated numerous Greek writings—notably those of Plato (427-347 b.c.) and Aristotle (384-322 b.c.)—on mathematics and science. A member of the House of Wisdom founded by the caliph al-Ma'mun (786-833), Hunayn probably took part in an expedition to purchase manuscripts from Byzantium. Among those with whom he worked in the House of Wisdom were al-Khwarizmi (780-c. 850), al-Kindi (c. 801-873), al-Hajjaj (fl. 786-833), Thabit ibn Qura (826-901), and Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa (800-c. 873).

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