LOKIIAN (Ann AmAx?), a fabulous personage; the supposed author of a certain number of Arabic fables. He is by some Arabic writers called a nephew of Job or Abraham; by others a councilor of David or Solomon; others again identify him with Balaam, whose name signifies, like that of Lokmfin, the Devourer. Equal uncertainty reigns respecting his native place and occupation. Thus, he is variously held to have been an Ethiopian slave, conspicuous for his ugliness, a king of Yemen, an Arabic tailor, a carpenter, a shepherd, and the like. Most probably, the circumstances and sayings of several men living at different periods have been fathered upon Lokmiln, of whom Mohammed (Surah 31) says that to him " has been given the wisdom." There is also a great likeness to be recognized between himself and his fables and lEsop and those current under the latter's name, According- to the Arabic writers, to Lokintlu, as the ideal of wisdom, the kingdom of the world was offered, but was by him declined— provided this was no offense against piety—because he felt much happier as he was;. and that when asked what was the secret of the goodness and wisdom of all his deeds, he replied; "It is this: I always adhere to the truth; I always keep my word; and I never mix myself up with other people's affairs." The fables that go by LokmAn's name are for Ale most part Indian apologues, which were first rendered into Greek, thence into Syriac, and finally into Arabic. They are,
in this last form, of a comparatively recent date, and thus unknown to all the classical writers. The language is very corrupt, and it is highly to be regretted that the book, for want of anything better, still holds its rank as an elementary book for Arabic stu dents. Its first redaction is, according to a note to a manuscript in the imperial library in Paris (Suppl. No. 58), due to an Egyptian Christian, Barsuma, who probably lived towards the end of the 13th century. The first edition, with a Latin translation by Erpemius, appeared at Leyden (1615). The book has been frequently translated into European languages—into French, by Tanneguy, Schier, etc.; into Spanish, by 3liguel Garcia Ascensio, etc.; into Danish, by Rask; into German, by Olearius, Schaller, etc. Recent editions are by Bernstein (Gan. 1817), Caussin de Perceval (Paris, 1818), Freytag (Bonn, 1823), Rtkliger (Leip. 1830, etc.), Schier (Dres. 1831), Rasch (Copenh. 1832), Derenburg (Berl. 1850), etc.
A book, Amthdl (Parables), ascribed to Lokinftn, and supposed to contain more than a thousand apologues, maxims, parables, sentences, etc., has never been discovered. Loktnan's supposed grave is shown at Ramlah, near Jerusalem.