Nallino, Carlo Alfonso

NALLINO, CARLO ALFONSO. - Arabist and Islamicist, b. in Turin on 16 Feb. 1872, d. in Rome on 25 July 1938. Having graduated in letters in Turin in 1893, he was professor of Arabic at the Oriental Institute of Naples (1894-1902) and at the University of Palermo (1902-13) and then of Muslim history and institutions at the University of Rome (1914-38). He held courses in Arabic at the Egyptian University of Cairo (1909-12 and 1927-31).

In his works he embraced all the fields of Arab-Muslim civilization, with writings on linguistics, literature, philosophy, history, law, religion, mysticism, geography, astronomy and astrology.

Among his publications mention should be made of: the Chrestomathia Qorani Arabica (Leipzig 1893); L'arabo parlato in Egitto (Milan 1900; 2nd ed. ibid. 1913; reprint 1939); the edition, with Latin translation and notes, of the Opus astronomicum of al-Battani (3 vols., ibid. 1899-1907) and numerous articles, sometimes true monographs, which after his death were for the most part collected by his daughter M. Nallino in the Raccolta di scritti editi e inediti (6 vols., Rome 1939-48). He founded and directed until his death the journal Oriente moderno, impressing upon it that character of scientific seriousness which makes it a useful and important organ of information on the contemporary Muslim East.

Sabatino Moscati