Al-Mahani

"My studies are indeed my life's work. But they are not my life's joy... No, it is you who are my true joy."

―Al-Mahani in a letter to his son, 860s.

Abu-Abdullah Muhammad ibn Īsa Māhānī (died 860s), better known as Al-Mahani—in reference to his birthplace of Mahan—was a Persian astronomer and mathematician who flourished during the 9th century.

In his last years, he was based in Baghdad, where he produced commentaries on Euclid's Elements, Archimedes' On the Sphere and Cylinder, and Menelaus of Alexandria's Sphaerica. Among his other works was an early theory on heliocentrism instead of the long-held geocentric model, a belief that would not be suitably countered until the Renaissance over 600 years later, by the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

Biography

Basim: "Let me find you some help. Perhaps there is a doctor I can take you to?"

Al-Mahani: "Too late ... yet there are still many things I must do. My life's work, a treatise upon the heavenly stars... I must get it to the House of Wisdom before my rivals claim it and steal my glory!"

—Al-Mahani talking to Basim, 860s.

By the 860s, the elderly Al-Mahani's health was fading, and he suffered from heart problems. While at the Observatory in Baghdad's Abbasiyah district, he suddenly began experiencing chest pains and, realizing his end was near, he asked a stranger, the Alamut Hidden One Basim ibn Ishaq, to recover his life's work, to prevent it from being stolen by his rivals.

Basim accepted the request and made his way to the top of the Observatory, where he found Al-Mahani's treatise, alongside a letter addressed to his son. In it, Al-Mahani apologized for their argument earlier that day and admitted that, while his treatise was his life's work, his son was what had truly brought him joy in life. He regretted the way their relationship had soured due to Al-Mahani's focus on his work and mourning his late wife, and hoped that these parting words could bring his son some solace in the event of his death.

The letter proved to be prophetic as, by the time Basim returned with the treatise, Al-Mahani had passed away, his body being discovered by his devastated son. Basim gave him his father's treatise, and the two discussed Al-Mahani's thoughts regarding his work and his family before the Hidden One left.

Behind the scenes

Al-Mahani is a historical character introduced in Assassin's Creed: Mirage as part of the "Tales of Baghdad" side quests. While he did live in Baghdad around the 860s, he historically died roughly two decades later in 880.

Gallery

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  A gravely ill Al-Mahani found by Basim
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  Al-Mahani pleading for Basim to recover his works
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  A deceased Al-Mahani found by his son and Basim

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)