Rafael Mirami (Italian: Raffaele Mirami; fl. 1582) was a 16th-century Jewish author and optical physicist from the city of Ferrara.[1] He is described as having "pioneered" the field of catoptrics.[2]
Rafael Mirami | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16th century |
| Occupations | Author Optical physicist |
| Years active | fl. 1582 |
| Known for | Study of catoptrical sciences |
Biography
editMirami was active in the 16th century in the city of Ferrara. He wrote poetry and studied the science of optics and mirrors.[3] He described little of himself in his writing, but presented himself as Jewish and a physicist.[4] His Treatise, A Concise Introduction to the First Part of the Specularia..., was published in 1582.[5] Some have credited his work around mirrors to have been influential in the development of scientific skepticism using reflective thinking.[6] He also cited the field of catoptrics development and discovery to the thinking of sages, requiring a superior state of mind and wisdom. This has been credited as a fallacy of appeal to ancient wisdom.[7]
Mirami's work in catoptrics allowed him to make astronomical calculations based on reflections,[8] and his research in its applications is credited with having helped Pope Gregory XIII recalculate measurements for the creation of the Gregorian calendar.[2]
He was an admirer of Abramo Colorni, and often cited him in his works.[9][10] He also cited in his treatise the works of Dante, Horace, and Petrarch.[11]
Works
edit- Mirami, Rafael (1582). Compendiosa introduttione alla prima parte della specularia, cioe della scienza de gli specchi. Opera noua, nella quale breuemente, e con facil modo si discorreintorno agli specchi e si rende la cagione, di tutti i loro miracolosieffetti composta da Rafael Mirami (in Italian). Heredi di Francesco Rossi & Paolo Tortorino.
- Mirami, Rafael (1582). Tauole della Prima Parte della Specularia, cioe della Scienza de gli Specchi (in Italian). Heredi di Francesco Rossi & Paolo Tortorino.
References
edit- ↑ Elbogen, Ismar; Jacobs, Joseph; Seligsohn, M. "FERRARA". www.jewishencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- 1 2 Sachar, Abram Leon (1995). Brandeis University: A Host at Last. UPNE. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-87451-585-5.
- ↑ Mirami, Rafael, Compendiosa Introduttione alla Prima Parte della Specularia (in Italian), Heirs of Francesco Rossi and Paolo Tortorino, retrieved 2025-02-21
- ↑ Ader. "MIRAMI (Rafael)". Ader (in French). Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ↑ "Mirami Rafael , Compendiosa introduttione alla prima parte della specularia, cioe della scienza de gli specchi". www.bibliotecauniversitaria.ge.it. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ↑ Castaldini, Alberto (2018). "Rafael Mirami's Specularia (1582)". Transylvanian Review. XXVII (Suppl 1): 197–211. ISSN 1221-1249.
- ↑ Mallez, Isabelle; Milani, Raffaele (2010). Nel cuore della meraviglia: Omaggio a Jurgis Baltrušaitis (PDF) (in Italian). p. 11. ISBN 9788890522406.
- ↑ Sebastian, Matias de Aguierre y (1654). Navidad de Zaragoza repartida en quatro noches (in Spanish). Juan de Ybar. p. 48.
- ↑ Jutte, Daniel (2015-05-26). "Five. Abramo Colorni, Professor of Secrets". The Age of Secrecy: Jews, Christians, and the Economy of Secrets, 1400†“1800. Yale University Press. doi:10.12987/9780300213423-006. ISBN 978-0-300-21342-3.
- ↑ "The Culture of Profession in Late Renaissance Italy 9781442681071". dokumen.pub. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ↑ Reeves, Eileen (2009-07-01). Galileo’s Glassworks: The Telescope and the Mirror. Harvard University Press. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-0-674-04263-6.