The most frequently translated work from India: a Sanskrit collection of fables originally called *Panchatantra*
Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo
Zaragosa (Spain) — March 30, 1493

Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo
Zaragosa (Spain) — March 30, 1493
This Castilian version of the *Fables of Bidpai* is a source for all subsequent translations into European languages
It was published in 1493 by Pablo Hurus (active 1484–99) in Zaragoza and generously adorned with 117 woodcuts
The fables now appear in 200 versions and 50+ languages ranging from Indonesian to Icelandic
Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo
- Directorium Humanae Vitae
Short Description
This early printed book from Spain is the final result of numerous translations of a work that was written in India ca. 200 BC. This Sanskrit collection of tales has been translated into dozens of languages and appeared in hundreds of versions across the world. More than 1,500 years after it they were first written, a Castillian translation of the stories was printed in Zaragoza, only one specimen of which has survived to the present.
Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo
Although incomplete, this is the only surviving copy of this incunabula, a book printed before 1501. The Calila e Dimna was published by Pablo Hurus (active 1484–99) in Zaragoza on March 30th, 1493 and is generously adorned with 117 woodcuts. It is a Castilian translation of the Fables of Bidpai, a Sanskrit collection of fables from ancient India originally called the Panchatantra. It is the most frequently translated work from India and now appears in 200 versions and 50+ languages ranging from Indonesian to Icelandic.
The Work of Many Translators
An Arabic translation of the work from ca. 750 by the Persian scholar Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa (d. 756/9) titled Kalīla wa Dimna, it is considered to be the first masterpiece of Arabic literary prose, and helped the fables become part of the body of universal literature. It has been translated into numerous languages, including a Hebrew translation by a certain Rabbi Joel from ca. 1200, when the work was also translated into Persian. A Latin translation titled Directorium Humanae Vitae was created from the Hebrew text by Juan de Capua (active 1262–69), an Italian translator and Jewish convert. This version became the source for all subsequent translations into European languages, although a Latin translation had previously been made directly from the authoritative Arabic version at the behest of King Alphonso X of Castile (1221–84) while he was still a prince.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Directorium Humanae Vitae
- Origin
- Zaragosa (Spain)
- Date
- March 30, 1493
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 117 Woodcuts
- Content
- Castilian translation of a Latin version of Calila e Dimna
- Artist / School
- Juan de Capua (traslator)
Pablo Hurus (printer)
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo “
Exemplario contra los Engaños y Peligros del Mundo
- Publisher
- Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1996
- Limited Edition
- 3160 copies
- Binding
- Parchment on wooden board. Contained in a cloth-lined presentation case with gold engraved leather spine.
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Daniel M. Arguedas
Language: Spanish - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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