Dicuil

Dicuil ( in older writings Dikuil; Latin Dicuilus ) was an iro -Scottish monk and scholar who was born in the second half of the 8th century and the first half of the 9th century written important scientific writings for posterity. His date of death is unknown.

Operation

Dicuil probably belonged to one of the numerous iro -Scottish monasteries of the Frankish Empire and was familiar through their own experience with the islands in the north of Britain.

Scientifically operated Dicuil on the one hand as an astronomer and wrote 814-816 an astronomical book. This four-volume work is a kind of astronomical Computus, ie a system for determining the date of Easter. Only one manuscript is received thereof, originally owned by the library of the monastery in Elno Amandus, she is now in Valenciennes. Due to an indirect Location in this work the Carolingian Palace School at Aachen is considered as a site of action Dicuils.

On the other hand, he also worked as a geographer and wrote a 825 geographical work with the Latin title ' De mensura Orbis terrae '. This book contains the earliest known report on the settlement of Iceland. Also from him a hitherto unknown group of islands in the North Atlantic mentioned in it is probably around the Faeroe Islands. Furthermore, it provides in the clearest western Report on the channel that once connected the Nile with the Red Sea.

De mensura Orbis terrae

' De mensura Orbis terrae ' is a summary of geography which contains precise information about different countries. The work is based on the ' Mensuratio orbis ', which was created 435 on behalf of Theodosius II, and a copy of which had found its way to the Carolingian court. Godescalc had already made ​​781-783 of this manuscript use, when he had his famous ' Evangelistarium ' written. Sources Dicuil also Pliny the Elder, Paul Orosius, Isidore of Seville and other authors, as well as his own investigations served.

In nine sections he treats successively Europe, Asia, Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the extent of the earth's surface, the five great rivers, certain islands, the length and width of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the six ( highest ) mountains.

Although the work mainly represents a summary, it is not without value. Dicuil is our only source, the details of the land surveys made ​​under Theodosius II contains. His exact quotes are generally useful for the textual criticism of the mentioned authors. Of great interest are the few reports that he has received from our community of his time - (? In the year 762 ), such as by the monk Fidelis, along traveled the then still existing canal between the Nile and the Red Sea, and by the clergy, the six months had lived in Iceland. The handwriting was known to the Welser, Isaac Vossius, Salmasius, Hardouin, and Schöpflin. In printing the work first appeared under the title ' Liber de Dicuili orbis terrae ex mensura Duo bus codd. mss. Bibliothecae imperialis nunc primum in lucem editus a Car. Athan. Walckenaer ' (Paris, 1807). More recent editions are those of G. Parthey (Berlin, 1870), and JJ Tierney, ' Dicuil: Liber de orbis terrae mensura ', 6th volume of the series Scriptores Latini Hiberniae (Dublin 1967).

Source Note

This article incorporates text from the Catholic Encyclopedia.