Celia Grillo Borromeo
Encyclopedia
Clelia Grillo Borromeo Arese or Celia Grillo Borromeo (Genoa, 1684 – Milan, 23 August 1777), was an Italian (Genovese) mathematician
and scientist
.
Borromeo was a resident of Genoa
, the daughter of duke Marcantonio of Mondragone and Maria Antonia Imperial. In 1707, she married count Giovanni Borromeo Arese Benedict (1679–1744), and became the mother of eight children. Borromeo was educated in several languages, mathematics, natural science
and mechanics. She spoke eight languages and was interested in geometri, natural science and mathematics. She was educated first by her mother and then in a convent, but it is unknown where she received education in the subjects she became known for. She was famous for her ability to solve every mathemathical problem presented to her. Borromeo was described as an independent person, which was regarded as excentic because it was not considered natural for her gender. She was criticized for entertaining many scientists, both foreign and Italian, who was known as atheists. One of her guests was Antonio Vallisneri
(1661–1730). She founded the academy nell'Academia Vigilantium Clelia in her salon in Milan, which was active in 1719-1726. During the war in 1746, Borromeo took the side of Spain against Austria and was therefore exiled. When she was allowed to return to Milan, she was celebrated as a heroine.
In 1728, Borromeo discovered the so called Clelie curve
: q = mƒ.
When the longitude
and co-latitude
of a point P on a sphere is denoted by q and ƒ and if P moves so that q = mƒ, where m is a constant, then the locus of P is called a clelie.
The city of Genua honored her with a medal with the inscription Genuensium Gloria (The Honor of Genoa).
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
.
Borromeo was a resident of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, the daughter of duke Marcantonio of Mondragone and Maria Antonia Imperial. In 1707, she married count Giovanni Borromeo Arese Benedict (1679–1744), and became the mother of eight children. Borromeo was educated in several languages, mathematics, natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
and mechanics. She spoke eight languages and was interested in geometri, natural science and mathematics. She was educated first by her mother and then in a convent, but it is unknown where she received education in the subjects she became known for. She was famous for her ability to solve every mathemathical problem presented to her. Borromeo was described as an independent person, which was regarded as excentic because it was not considered natural for her gender. She was criticized for entertaining many scientists, both foreign and Italian, who was known as atheists. One of her guests was Antonio Vallisneri
Antonio Vallisneri
Antonio Vallisneri was an Italian medical scientist, physician and naturalist.-Life:Vallisneri was born in Trassilico, a small village in Garfagnana, and graduated in medicine in 1684, in Reggio Emilia, under the guidance of Marcello Malpighi.He studied at Bologna, Venice, Padua and Parma and held...
(1661–1730). She founded the academy nell'Academia Vigilantium Clelia in her salon in Milan, which was active in 1719-1726. During the war in 1746, Borromeo took the side of Spain against Austria and was therefore exiled. When she was allowed to return to Milan, she was celebrated as a heroine.
In 1728, Borromeo discovered the so called Clelie curve
Curve
In mathematics, a curve is, generally speaking, an object similar to a line but which is not required to be straight...
: q = mƒ.
When the longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
and co-latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
of a point P on a sphere is denoted by q and ƒ and if P moves so that q = mƒ, where m is a constant, then the locus of P is called a clelie.
The city of Genua honored her with a medal with the inscription Genuensium Gloria (The Honor of Genoa).