Gebir, or GEBER.

Gebir, or GEBER. Under this name are current several works on alchemy and chemistry. The history of the real author is so shrouded in mystery that his existence has been denied, and Gebir looked upon as a mythical personage. He is usually identified with Jabir ibn Haijan, a celebrated Arabic alchemist in the 8th century. His birthplace is given differently as Harran in Mesopotamia, Tarsus, and Kufa; he is said to have resided at Damascus and Kufa, and to have died in 776. The principal writings which go under the name of Gebir, are Summa Perfectionis (see ALCHEMY); Summa Collectionis Complementi Secretorum Naturæ; Testamentum; Liber Investigationis; and two treatises on spherical triangles and astronomy.