A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production ... · Introduction Historical Background...
Transcript of A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production ... · Introduction Historical Background...
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
A perspective of continuity. Transmission andproduction of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Daniele Molinini
25/10/07
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Table of contents
Introduction
Historical BackgroundMediterranean Area in the XIIth centuryA crossroad area and a crossroad kingdomA three-language inscription in Palermo
The first Sicilian School of TranslatorsTwo periodsActors and Translations
ConclusionsConclusions
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Transmission of scientific knowledge in the Latin worldduring the XIIth century: three main ”bridges”
• Eastern Empire
• Spain * (mainly Toledo) → Spanish Dogma in the H. of Sc.
• South of Italy * (mainly Palermo and Salerno)
* Most important in the XIIth century. Expecially during the 2nd half.
Our point: focus on the originality and the ”cultural continuity” of the sicilian
mouvement, which begins under the tolerance of the three-language Regnum of
Roger II (1095-1154) and gives birth to the first Sicilian School of Translators
under his son William (1125-1166). Here we have the real basis of the reign of
Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Transmission of scientific knowledge in the Latin worldduring the XIIth century: three main ”bridges”
• Eastern Empire
• Spain * (mainly Toledo) → Spanish Dogma in the H. of Sc.
• South of Italy * (mainly Palermo and Salerno)
* Most important in the XIIth century. Expecially during the 2nd half.
Our point: focus on the originality and the ”cultural continuity” of the sicilian
mouvement, which begins under the tolerance of the three-language Regnum of
Roger II (1095-1154) and gives birth to the first Sicilian School of Translators
under his son William (1125-1166). Here we have the real basis of the reign of
Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Transmission of scientific knowledge in the Latin worldduring the XIIth century: three main ”bridges”
• Eastern Empire
• Spain * (mainly Toledo) → Spanish Dogma in the H. of Sc.
• South of Italy * (mainly Palermo and Salerno)
* Most important in the XIIth century. Expecially during the 2nd half.
Our point: focus on the originality and the ”cultural continuity” of the sicilian
mouvement, which begins under the tolerance of the three-language Regnum of
Roger II (1095-1154) and gives birth to the first Sicilian School of Translators
under his son William (1125-1166). Here we have the real basis of the reign of
Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Transmission of scientific knowledge in the Latin worldduring the XIIth century: three main ”bridges”
• Eastern Empire
• Spain * (mainly Toledo) → Spanish Dogma in the H. of Sc.
• South of Italy * (mainly Palermo and Salerno)
* Most important in the XIIth century. Expecially during the 2nd half.
Our point: focus on the originality and the ”cultural continuity” of the sicilian
mouvement, which begins under the tolerance of the three-language Regnum of
Roger II (1095-1154) and gives birth to the first Sicilian School of Translators
under his son William (1125-1166). Here we have the real basis of the reign of
Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
A basic chronology• Byzantine Sicily: from 535 to 827 AC (Arab conquest of
Marsala). In 902 Taormina, the last Byzantine stronghold,falls to the Arabs.
• Arab Sicily: from 902 to 1060 AC (Messina is conquered bythe Normans Roger I and Robert Guiscard).
• Norman Sicily: from 1091 AC (Conquer of Noto).• 1095: Birth of Roger II.• 1112: Transfer of the center of the Norman power from
Messina to Palermo.• 1130: Roger is crowned in Palermo by Anacletus II.• 1154 - 1166: death of Roger II (1154) and reign of his son
William I (1125-1166).• Reign of William II (1166 - 1189), Tancred (1189 - 1194),
William III (1194)• 1194: Birth of Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
A basic chronology• Byzantine Sicily: from 535 to 827 AC (Arab conquest of
Marsala). In 902 Taormina, the last Byzantine stronghold,falls to the Arabs.
• Arab Sicily: from 902 to 1060 AC (Messina is conquered bythe Normans Roger I and Robert Guiscard).
• Norman Sicily: from 1091 AC (Conquer of Noto).• 1095: Birth of Roger II.• 1112: Transfer of the center of the Norman power from
Messina to Palermo.• 1130: Roger is crowned in Palermo by Anacletus II.• 1154 - 1166: death of Roger II (1154) and reign of his son
William I (1125-1166).• Reign of William II (1166 - 1189), Tancred (1189 - 1194),
William III (1194)• 1194: Birth of Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
A basic chronology• Byzantine Sicily: from 535 to 827 AC (Arab conquest of
Marsala). In 902 Taormina, the last Byzantine stronghold,falls to the Arabs.
• Arab Sicily: from 902 to 1060 AC (Messina is conquered bythe Normans Roger I and Robert Guiscard).
• Norman Sicily: from 1091 AC (Conquer of Noto).
• 1095: Birth of Roger II.• 1112: Transfer of the center of the Norman power from
Messina to Palermo.• 1130: Roger is crowned in Palermo by Anacletus II.• 1154 - 1166: death of Roger II (1154) and reign of his son
William I (1125-1166).• Reign of William II (1166 - 1189), Tancred (1189 - 1194),
William III (1194)• 1194: Birth of Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
A basic chronology• Byzantine Sicily: from 535 to 827 AC (Arab conquest of
Marsala). In 902 Taormina, the last Byzantine stronghold,falls to the Arabs.
• Arab Sicily: from 902 to 1060 AC (Messina is conquered bythe Normans Roger I and Robert Guiscard).
• Norman Sicily: from 1091 AC (Conquer of Noto).• 1095: Birth of Roger II.• 1112: Transfer of the center of the Norman power from
Messina to Palermo.• 1130: Roger is crowned in Palermo by Anacletus II.• 1154 - 1166: death of Roger II (1154) and reign of his son
William I (1125-1166).• Reign of William II (1166 - 1189), Tancred (1189 - 1194),
William III (1194)• 1194: Birth of Frederick II.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Mediterranean Area in the XIIth century
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Roger II’s cosmopolitan Sicily: tolerance and exchange
• A 3-language society: arabic, greek, latin (Evidence of this:
3-language royal diplomas, symbols of the royal power, coins,
three-language epigraphs and three-language inscriptions).
• Norman Sicily preserved Arab and Greek elements andwas influenced by them (architectural elements, urbanistic
elements and buildings, customs, administration, way of life, Roger’s
latin curia was a mixture of them.)
• A real crossroad area: Sicily was the ”coeur” of the
Mediterranena Area and had direct commercial, diplomatic but also
informal contacts with the Arab, the Byzantine and the Latin world.
• Interest of Roger for science and culture. Geometers,
astronomers, poets, grammarians, lived in Palermo and had
contacts with the King.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
example of this cultural continuity: a three languageinscription in the Norman Palace in Palermo
Figure: Clock commissioned by Roger II himself (1142): ”+ HOCOP(VS) HOROLOGII (...) REX ROGERIVS FECIT, in 1142, thethirtheenth year of his reign”
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
The first Sicilian School of Translators(1140 to 1166)
1. First Period (under Roger II): production of original worksOutput of some original works such as Nilus Doxopatres’ history of
the five patriarchates (1143), in greek, and the Kitab Rujar of the
geographer Al-Idrisi’s (1154). Those works were written in the
mother-tongue of the authors and the cultural mouvement was very
close to Roger’s court.
2. Second Period (under William I): translations.Output of some important scientific and philosophical translations
from Greek and Arabic into Latin. The translators had grown up in
Roger II’s latin curia and had the opportunity to pick up and absorb
both the arab and the greek intellectual heritage.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
The first Sicilian School of Translators(1140 to 1166)
1. First Period (under Roger II): production of original worksOutput of some original works such as Nilus Doxopatres’ history of
the five patriarchates (1143), in greek, and the Kitab Rujar of the
geographer Al-Idrisi’s (1154). Those works were written in the
mother-tongue of the authors and the cultural mouvement was very
close to Roger’s court.
2. Second Period (under William I): translations.Output of some important scientific and philosophical translations
from Greek and Arabic into Latin. The translators had grown up in
Roger II’s latin curia and had the opportunity to pick up and absorb
both the arab and the greek intellectual heritage.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Actors and main translationsDate Author Text from ... to ...
a. 1156 Henricus Aristippus Plato’s Phaedo Greek → Latin
a. 1156 Henricus Aristippus Plato’s Meno Greek → Latin
< 1162 Henricus Aristippus Aristotle’s Greek → LatinMetereologica
[4th book]
< 1162 Emir Eugene Ptolemy’s Optics Arabic → Latin
- Emir Eugene fable of Arabic → Greek1
Kalila and Dimna
- Emir Eugene Prophecy of the Greek → LatinErythraean Sibyl
a. 1160 Unknown author Ptolemy’s Almagest Greek → Latin(+ Eugene?)
1Probably a revision of the greek version by Simeon Seth (Haskins 1910, Lejeune1989)
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Importants remarks on those translations
• Aristippus’ Translation of Meno and Phaedo from the Greek→Constituted the only medium through which those dialogues wereknown to latin Europe until the new translations of the 15thcentury2.
→ From the Preface to Phaedo: In Siciliy you have the library of
Syracuse [...] you have access to the Mechanics of Hero, the Optics
of Euclid, the Posterior Analytics of Aristotle and other
philosophical works.
• Eugene’s translation of Ptolemy’s Optics from the Arabic3
→ We have this work only through Eugene’s translation.→ In the Preface Eugene illustrates us the difficulty and the methodof his translation.→ He remarks that he had before him two manuscripts, of which heused the more recent as being the more accurate.
2Haskins 19103edited by Gilberto Govi (1885) and Albert Lejeune (1956)
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Importants remarks on those translations
• Aristippus’ Translation of Meno and Phaedo from the Greek→Constituted the only medium through which those dialogues wereknown to latin Europe until the new translations of the 15thcentury2.
→ From the Preface to Phaedo: In Siciliy you have the library of
Syracuse [...] you have access to the Mechanics of Hero, the Optics
of Euclid, the Posterior Analytics of Aristotle and other
philosophical works.
• Eugene’s translation of Ptolemy’s Optics from the Arabic3
→ We have this work only through Eugene’s translation.→ In the Preface Eugene illustrates us the difficulty and the methodof his translation.→ He remarks that he had before him two manuscripts, of which heused the more recent as being the more accurate.
2Haskins 19103edited by Gilberto Govi (1885) and Albert Lejeune (1956)
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Importants remarks on those translations
• Aristippus’ Translation of Meno and Phaedo from the Greek→Constituted the only medium through which those dialogues wereknown to latin Europe until the new translations of the 15thcentury2.
→ From the Preface to Phaedo: In Siciliy you have the library of
Syracuse [...] you have access to the Mechanics of Hero, the Optics
of Euclid, the Posterior Analytics of Aristotle and other
philosophical works.
• Eugene’s translation of Ptolemy’s Optics from the Arabic3
→ We have this work only through Eugene’s translation.→ In the Preface Eugene illustrates us the difficulty and the methodof his translation.→ He remarks that he had before him two manuscripts, of which heused the more recent as being the more accurate.
2Haskins 19103edited by Gilberto Govi (1885) and Albert Lejeune (1956)
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Importants remarks on those translations
• Unknown Salernitan Scholar’s translation of Almagest fromthe Greek (1160).
→ The manuscript had been brought from Constantinople toPalermo in 1158 by Aristippus, as a present of the Greek EmperorManuel.→ Earliest Latin version of Ptolemy’s Almagest 4
→ Before attacking the translation of Almagest he studied : Data,Optica and Catoprica of Euclid and the De Motu of Proclus.→ The salernitan scholar was helped by Eugene. ”Eugenium, virumtam grece quam arabice lingue peritissimus, latine quoque nonignarus”.
4Gerard produced his version from the Arabic in 1175 and Trapezuntius, fromGreek, in 1451
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Importants remarks on those translations
• Unknown Salernitan Scholar’s translation of Almagest fromthe Greek (1160).→ The manuscript had been brought from Constantinople toPalermo in 1158 by Aristippus, as a present of the Greek EmperorManuel.→ Earliest Latin version of Ptolemy’s Almagest 4
→ Before attacking the translation of Almagest he studied : Data,Optica and Catoprica of Euclid and the De Motu of Proclus.→ The salernitan scholar was helped by Eugene. ”Eugenium, virumtam grece quam arabice lingue peritissimus, latine quoque nonignarus”.
4Gerard produced his version from the Arabic in 1175 and Trapezuntius, fromGreek, in 1451
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was not
influenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophical
texts in 12th sicilian libraries.• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like in
Spain) and with Constantinople.• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and the
only translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.
• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerousthan in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.
• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was notinfluenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.
• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophicaltexts in 12th sicilian libraries.
• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like inSpain) and with Constantinople.
• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and theonly translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.
• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was notinfluenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.
• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophicaltexts in 12th sicilian libraries.
• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like inSpain) and with Constantinople.
• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and theonly translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was not
influenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.
• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophicaltexts in 12th sicilian libraries.
• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like inSpain) and with Constantinople.
• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and theonly translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was not
influenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophical
texts in 12th sicilian libraries.
• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like inSpain) and with Constantinople.
• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and theonly translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was not
influenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophical
texts in 12th sicilian libraries.• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like in
Spain) and with Constantinople.
• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and theonly translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Main features of the XIIth Sicilian ”bridge” and hisoriginality towards the Spanish Dogma
• Opportunity to have acces not only to arab manuscripts but alsodirectly to greek texts via languages which were still spoken. XIIthNorman Sicily was liee aux deux [langues, Arabe et Grecque] a lafois (Rashed 1993). NO intermediate translation through vernacular(as in Toledo).
• A ”School”: they were linked togheter and aware of their work.• Those translations were made by philologists and were less numerous
than in Spain, but they were made in an original framework.• The translator enterprise was not an ”export-market” and was not
influenced by ”the context of the Cathedral” as in Toledo.• We have evidences of some important scientific and philosophical
texts in 12th sicilian libraries.• There were contacs with the Arab world (NOT broken, like in
Spain) and with Constantinople.• We have the first known latin translation of the Almagest and the
only translation of Ptolemy’s Optics.Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court
Introduction Historical Background The first Sicilian School of Translators Conclusions
Conclusions, perspectives, problems
• The role of this mouvement in the History of Science.
• New studies on those translations, comparative studies,studies on the relationships between the translators and thecourt and new studies in order to define the corpus of XIIthSicilian libraries. Role of Mozarabs and Jewish Communities.
• Driving force behind this mouvement? No request byintellectual centers and no utilitarian aims. A suggestion:vision of byzantine power + easy access to sources +”language loss” under William I.
• A perspective of continuity: not only compared to the pastbut also a new perspective so as to ”read” and understand theintellectual mouvement under Frederick II and the SecondGeneration of Translators.
Daniele Molinini A perspective of continuity. Transmission and production of knowledge at Roger II’s court