David Gans

David (ben Solomon ) Goose ( * 1541 in Lippstadt, † 1613 in Prague) was a Jewish historian, astronomer and geographer. Since he was also formed theologically and mathematically describe him as some polymath.

Life

David Gans intercourse with the most eminent scholars of his time, including with Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, was in 1599 appointed the Emperor Rudolf II at his court in Prague. He was a pupil of the famous Rabbi Loew, which he, inter alia, known with Tycho made ​​.

In his historical treatise Tzemach David ( offspring of David ) Goose held all the events in Prague's Jewish quarter fixed. So he reported for the year 1592 by a mysterious meeting today between Emperor Rudolf and Rabbi Judah Loew, in which the Emperor spoke to him " ... face to face, as if to a friend (Ex. 33:11 ). And the way her words were mysterious, sealed and hidden. And this happened here in the holy community in Prague, on the first day ( of the week, Sunday), the 3rd of Adar ( 5) 352 " About the " Tzemach David " says Ctibor Rybár he was " undoubtedly the most widely read Scripture in Hebrew with secular content ".

David Gans also wrote the script Nechamat weNaim ( sweet and pleasant) on astronomical and geographical themes. It can be assumed that he was about to Tycho Brahe in contact, the end of the 1580s - years at his " Tychonic world system " worked (see also Nicolaus Reimers ).

Goose was buried in the old Jewish cemetery; is at the top of his grave stone as a personal symbol of a goose engraved.