Robert of Ketton

Robert of Ketton (Latin: Robertus Ketenensis ) ( * 1110, † 1160? ) Was an English medieval theologian, astronomer and Arabist.

Ketton, where Robert was either born or his first vows, is a small village in Rutland, a few miles from Stamford.

It is believed that Robert was educated at the cathedral school of Paris.

1134 he traveled with his friend and fellow student Hermann of Carinthia, also known as Herman Dalmatians, in the Middle East. They visited the Byzantine Empire, the Crusader states in Palestine and Damascus. That was the basis for their later fame as Arabists.

1141 there was Robert in Spain, whose separation made ​​it into a Christian and a Muslim part of a natural base for translators. Some sources identify him with Robert of Chester, who worked at the same time as a translator in Spain.

Although supported by the Church - he was Archdeacon of Pamplona - Robert devoted himself rather the translation of scientific and mathematical as theological texts. It is known that he studied Euclid and translated works by Al- Battani.

He became famous for his translation of the Qur'an, to the abbot of Cluny, Peter the Venerable encouraged him when he had come in person to Spain in 1142. The translation was completed in 1143 and published under the title " Lex Mahumet pseudo prophets " ( "The law of the false prophet Mohammed "). She stayed until the 16th century the main reference point of Western Islamic studies.

The last mention of Roberts concerning his appointment as canon in Tudela 1157th

Sometimes he was identified to me by Robert Chester.