A Literary and Gastronomical Conceit

An annotated edition of a hitherto unknown manuscript of an Egyptian Mufakhara (Makama). The importance of this text lies not only in its being a „boasting debate“ (mufakhara) or fictional theatrical and allegorical Mak.a-ma belonging to the tenth AH century (16th century CE), but also in the message it contains. Moreover, a number of material expressions provide us with some important cultural references about Arab cuisine and firearms at the transition period between the Mamluk and Ottoman eras. The annotated manuscript text ist preceded by an exhaustive analysis of questions concerning subject, style, structure and aim of this particular mufakhara and the possible identity of its author. There is also a brief description of the original manuscripts in whose cover it had been tucked away. The editor has also supplied a useful appendix with linguistic idiomatic and historico-cultural explanations of the more problematic terms and expressions.