ABSTRACT
Abu Zakariyya Yahya Ibn ‘Abd Allah (d. 1483–84), Head of the Orthopaedists and Surgeons in Egypt under the Mamluk sultanate, began his career as a barber and circumciser. He nevertheless rose to serve two sultans – al-Zahir Khushqadam (r. 1461–67) and Qaytbay (r. 1468–96) – and several important military office holders (amirs) as their private physician. That he profited handsomely from his career is evident from the many properties listed in the charter for his charitable endowment (waqfiyya). According to his biographer, al-Sakhawi, Abu Zakariyya’s residence was ‘magnificent’, and his wealth was on a scale comparable to that of an amir of the time. 1
