distillate of rose petals
Syria
14th Century
Source: Museum of the Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
rose petals, water
Preparation Steps
The distillation apparatus from al-Mizza uses a basin of water heated by a fire. The resulting steam passes through retorts containing rose petals. The distillate (rose-water) is then collected in external receptacles. This process was described by the cosmographer Shamsaddin ad-Dimashqi as 'az-zuجاج al-hikma' and was used by both Greek and Arab chemists. (p. 115, 117)
Original Recipe Text
The distillation apparatus from al-Mizza uses a basin of water heated by a fire. The resulting steam passes through retorts containing rose petals. The distillate (rose-water) is then collected in external receptacles. This process was described by the cosmographer Shamsaddin ad-Dimashqi as 'az-zuجاج al-hikma' and was used by both Greek and Arab chemists. (p. 115, 117)
Evidence
"The distillation apparatus from al-Mizza is repre sented in our museum by two reconstructed models. ... There is water in the inner basin, that evaporates as it is heated. The steam heats the rose petals in the retorts. Their dis tillate is collected in the outside receptacles."
Remarks
Rose-water produced via this distillation method was a common solvent and aromatic component in luxury Islamic inks. The museum's reconstructed model (Inventory No. K 1.01-1) stands 1.13 m tall and includes a chimney for combustion gases and an inner water basin. (p. 115)
Scientific Analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
RegionSyria
Approx. Year1350
Source Information
AuthorMuseum of the Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main.
Collectional-Mizza
Language
N/A
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