Secretum secretorum

In the pseudo- Aristotelian letter Secretum Secretorum is an encyclopedic Secret Doctrine, which was from different sources, in the form of plant and distinctly oriental features including compiled. Characteristic are contradictions and repetitions in the text. It was conceived and compiled in the 10th century by Syrian, Persian -influenced hermetic circles. Those Arabic version, which is known as Kitab as siyasah tadbiri fi -r -ri Asati 'l- maruf bi- Sirri L asrar is fully translated in the first half of the 13th century in the Latin; a partial translation that was made 1135-1142, circulating under the name Epistula ad Alexandrum.

In their preface the Secreta are called secret teachings of Aristotle to his closest disciples. Since no one doubted this author attribution, this scripture was like the authentic writings of famous philosophers have a strong influence on the thinking in the Latin West. Only in the context of the general reception of the Aristotelian work as a whole in the High Middle Ages, the meaning can be understood especially the pseudoaristotelischen Dietetics for the late medieval literature.

The nun Hiltgart of Hürnheim from the Cistercian monastery rooms in the district of Nördlingen developed the presumably oldest complete translation in Middle High German. However, this 1282 finished work was of weak effect. Most vernacular Secreta from the late Middle Ages are based on little Latin text. Therefore, the direct translation or translations usually are no longer observed. A function of the Arabic original is often no longer detectable. Finally, the season teachings of the Secreta end of the Middle Ages begin to become independent completely; there is a tradition shared with the popular twelve-month rules. The textual history of the Secreta Secretorum is extremely confused both for the Latin, as well as the vernacular tradition.