Zacuto, Abraham ben-Samuel

Zacuto, Abraham ben-Samuel
(1452–c. 1515)
   Astronomer and historian. Zacuto was a professor at the university in his home town of Salamanca and then in Saragossa. He wrote his first work on astronomy (1473–8) for the bishop of Salamanca. It was written in Hebrew and translated into Spanish and Latin. His astronomical tables, vital tools for navigators, were used by COLUMBUS. On the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, Zacuto was appointed court astronomer to King John II of Portugal, serving his successor Manuel I in the same capacity. His advice was sought before Vasco da Gama’s expedition to the New World and Da Gama’s ships carried Zacuto’s metal astrolabe, the first of its kind. When Manuel I determined to convert the Jews of Portugal by force, Zacuto fled in 1497, and after a hazardous journey reached Tunis. There in 1504 he wrote his genealogical history of the Jews from the creation until 1500. While unhistorical by modern standards, the work is of great literary importance.

Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament. . 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ZACUTO, ABRAHAM BEN SAMUEL — (1452–c. 1515), astronomer and historian. His ancestors were French Jewish exiles who had come to Castile in 1306. In his biblical and talmudic studies he was instructed by his father and R. isaac aboab ii , and he attended the University of… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Abraham Ben Samuel Zagut — Abraham Zacuto Abraham Zacuto (hébreu: אברהם זכות, Portugais: Abraão ben Samuel Zacuto) (1450 vers 1510) est un Juif espagnol, astronome, astrologue, mathématicien et historien qui servit comme astronome royal au XVe siècle pour le roi Jean… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • GEDILIAH, ABRAHAM BEN SAMUEL — (d. 1672), rabbi and author. Born in Jerusalem, Abraham journeyed to Italy in 1648 and resided in Leghorn and Verona. On his return journey in 1660, he stayed for a time in Egypt. In Italy he was friendly with samuel aboab and moses b. mordecai… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Zacuto, Abraham (Abraham ben Samuel Zacut) — (1452 C.1515)    Spanish astronomer and historian. His ancestors were French Jewish exiles who went to Castile in 1306. He studied and taught in Salamanica. His Ha Hibbur ha Gadol, a Hebrew work on astronomy, was translated into Spanish and Latin …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Abraham Ben Esra — Abraham ibn Ezra Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ibn Ezra et Ezra (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abraham Ben Ezra — Abraham ibn Ezra Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ibn Ezra et Ezra (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra — Abraham ibn Ezra Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ibn Ezra et Ezra (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abraham ben Nathan — Ha Yarchi (Hebrew: אברהם בן נתן הירחי) was a Provençal rabbi and scholar born in the second half of the twelfth century, probably at Lunel, Languedoc, where he also received his education. It is for this reason that he is sometimes also called Ha …   Wikipedia

  • Abraham ben Elijah of Vilna — Abraham ben Elijah of Wilna was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Lithuania. He was born in Vilna about 1750 and died there on December 14, 1808. He was the son of Elijah, the Vilna Gaon, the most famous Talmudist of modern times. He was educated… …   Wikipedia

  • Isaac ben Samuel of Acre — (fl. 13th 14th century) (Hebrew: יצחק בן שמואל דמן עכו, Yitzhak ben Shmuel d min Akko ) was a kabbalist who lived in the Land of Israel. According to Azulai ( Shem ha Gedolim ) he was a pupil of Nahmanides. He was at Acre when that town was taken …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”