The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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c. 820-after 861
Due to some confusion over his name, a few historians suggest the lives of a father and son have been mingled. An astronomer-astrologist he also supervised the building of a canal (the Great Nilometer) at Cairo. Legend has it that he made the canal too high at one end preventing water flow. He wrote about sundials, astronomy, the astrolabe, and commentaries on Ptolemy, but most of his writings are now lost. His surviving astronomical work, Elements, was translated into Latin twice, and was very popular.