Elmacin (or Elmakyn), George
an Egyptian historian, known in the East by the name of Ibn-Amid, was born in 1223. He was a Christian, and occupied the place of ketib, or, secretary, at the court of the sultans of Egypt, an office usually filled by Christians. In 1238 he succeeded his father, Yaser el-Amid, who had held the office of secretary to the council of war under the sultans of Egypt for forty-five years. Elmacin died at Damascus in 1273. He wrote a History of the Saracens, consisting of annals which extend from the time of Mohammed to the year 1117. It is principally occupied with the affairs of the Saracen empire, but contains some passages relating to the eastern Christians. It was published, in Arabic and Latin, at Leyden, in 1625. Other editions have also appeared. See Encyclop. Brit. 9th ed. s.v.