About the Arabian poet and hanif Umaiya ibn Abī s-Salt in al Masoudi’s Work Meadows of Gold and the Mines of Germs (d. 956)

Abstract

Umayya b. Abu 'l-Salt is one of the remarkable personalities of the Arabic historical tradition about Pre-Islamic Arabia. Extremely peculiar are the materials, that are dedicated to him in the «Meadows of Gold and the Mines of Germs» by the great Arabic historian, geographer and man of letters al-Mas‘udi (d. 956). The said work is the main book by the mentioned Author. In organizing these materials al-Mas‘udi displays a high degree of literary skill and artistic taste.