Kalonymus ben Kalonymus

Kalonymus ben Meir ben Kalonymus (* 1286 in Arles ();? † after 1328 ) was a Provençal Jewish author and translator. The name is the Gräzisierung of the Hebrew name Shem Tov ben Shem Tov ben Meir.

Probably born in Arles Kalonymus came from the respected Jewish family Kalonymus, he and his father had the title Nasi. He studied in Salon- de -Provence philosophy and rabbinical literature under Astruc de Noves and Moses ben Solomon of Beaucaire. A medical school is also considered likely, although he did not practice as a doctor. He translated already as a teenager Arabic texts into Hebrew.

In 1314 he came as a translator at the court of King Robert of Anjou to Avignon, where he carried out translation work in Latin.

He stayed in the years around 1319 to 1321 on behalf of Robert of Anjou in Rome, where he enjoyed a high reputation in the local Jewish community. Probably in 1322 but he left Rome again, despite protests from the community. 1322 is mentioned a trip to Catalonia. The dating of the journey to Rome is not secured. Maybe they took place only after the Catalonia trip. An indication of this is that Rome is not mentioned in Kalonymus ' main work Eben Bohan.

After he was again mentioned in Arles in 1328 to lose his trail.

Works

In addition to numerous translations Kalonymus wrote four secure personal works in Hebrew, with a larger number of writings attributed to him erroneously.

  • The Eben Bohan ( The Touchstone ), which is considered his major work, explores the moral life. It is an important source on the life of Jewish communities in southern France in the early 14th century. The work was written in the years 1319-1322. The book was first published in 1489 in Naples.
  • Sefer Melakim, a treatise on arithmetic, geometry and astrology. From this work, a fragment is received only. From the fragment shows that Kalonymus had (presumably Robert of Anjou ) written it for a " great king ".
  • Masseket Purim, a parody of Purim. This work created during his stay in Rome as a parody follows the style and language of the Talmud. This kind of parody found numerous imitators.
  • A Hebrew written response to the criticism of the Bible Ḳundreṣim ( Quinterniones ) of the En Bonafoux ibn Caspi.
Rabbinic literature Morality Joseph Caspi Integrated Authority File
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