|
Abraham bar Hiyya Ha-Nasi (1070 - 1136) was a Spanish Jewish mathematician and astronomer, also known as Savasorda (from the Arabic Sâhib as-Shurta). He lived in Barcelona; and is remembered for his role in the dissemination of the quadratic equation. Bar Hiyya wrote several scientific works in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, land surveying and calendar calculations, as well as two religious works, Hegyon ha-Nefesh on repentance and Megillat ha-Megalleh on redemption. Even these religious works contain scientific and philosophical speculation. Bar Hiyya wrote all his works in Hebrew, not in Judaeo-Arabic of the earlier Jewish scientific literature, which makes him a pioneer in the use of the Hebrew language for scientific purposes. He also co-operated with Plato of Tivoli in the translation of scientific works from Arabic into Latin.
His Megillat ha-Megalleh (Scroll of the Revealer) was also astrological in nature. It claimed to forecast the messianic future.
External links
|
