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Isidore of Seville

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The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers

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Born  Cartagena or Seville, (Spain), circa 560

Died  (Spain), 636

Isidore's major contribution to learning was his activity as an encyclopedist or writer of compendia of Greco–Roman and Christian knowledge, which were used for centuries as textbooks.

Isidore was born in Cartagena, or Seville, Spain, in a highly educated family. His brothers Leander and Fulgentius were Bishop of Seville and Bishop of Astigi respectively, while his sister Florentina was an abbess who governed several communities of nuns. Skilled in languages, Isidore mastered Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. His prolific and popular writings, coupled with his conviction that every bishop in Spain should establish a school to teach the liberal arts, law, and medicine, earned him the title of “Doctor of the Church” and the epithets “Last of the Latin Fathers” and “Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages.” In modern times, it has been suggested that he is a patron saint of the internet.

In 599, Isidore succeeded his brother Leander as...

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Selected References

  • “Isidore of Sevilla, Saint.” In New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Vol. 6, pp. 407–408. 15th ed. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2002.

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  • ——— De natura rerum liber, edited by G. Becker. Amsterdam: Adolf M. Hakkert, 1967.

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  • O'Connor, John B. (1913).“Isidore of Seville.” In Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by Charles G. Herbermann et al. Vol. 8, pp. 186–188. New York: Encyclopedia Press.

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Authors
  1. C. Brown‐Syed
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science, University of Northern Iowa, Office: Latham 112, 50614, Cedar Falls, IA, USA

    Thomas Hockey (Professor of Astronomy) (Professor of Astronomy)

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Brown‐Syed, C. (2007). Isidore of Seville. In: Hockey, T., et al. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30400-7_705

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