John Argyropoulos
Encyclopedia
John Argyropoulos was a Greek
lecturer, philosopher and humanist, one of the émigré scholars who pioneered
the revival of Classical learning in Western Europe
in the 15th century. He played a prominent role in the revival of Greek philosophy
in Italy and translated Greek philosophical and theological works into Latin besides producing rhetorical and theological works in his own. He divided his time between Italy
and Constantinople.
of Greek
extraction. Argyropoulos studied theology and philosophy in Constantinople. As a teacher there he had amongst his pupils the scholar Constantine Lascaris
. He was an official in the service of one of the rulers of the Byzantine Morea
and was sent on a diplomatic mission to Italy in 1439 to attend the Council of Florence
.
In 1444 he received a degree from the University of Padua before returning to Constantinople.
When Constantinople fell in 1453 he left it for the Peloponnesus and in 1456 took refuge in Italy where he worked as a teacher in the revival of Greek philosophy in the universities of Padua
, Florence
and Rome
and as head of the Greek department at Florence’s ‘Florentine Stadium’ university. In 1471, on the outbreak of the plague
, he moved to Rome, where he continued to act as a teacher of Greek till his death.
He made efforts to transport Greek philosophy to Western Europe
. He had students such as Pietro de' Medici and Lorenzo de' Medici
, Angelo Poliziano and Johann Reuchlin
.
It is well known that students hailing from different parts of Europe came to see and hear him at those classes, when he taught Greek and philosophy courses. Leonardo da Vinci
probably attended the lectures of Argyropoulos
He was a member of the Byzantine delegation to the Council of Ferrara-Florence and left a number of Latin translations, including many of Aristotle
's works. His principal works were translations of the following portions of Aristotle
, Categoriae, De Interpretatione, Analytica Posteriora, Physica, De Caelo, De Anima, Metaphysica, Ethica Nicomachea, Politica; and an Expositio Ethicorum Aristotelis. Several of his writings exist still in manuscript.
He died on June 26, 1487 at Florence.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
lecturer, philosopher and humanist, one of the émigré scholars who pioneered
Greek scholars in the Renaissance
The migration of Byzantine scholars and other émigrés from southern Italy and Byzantium during the decline of the Byzantine Empire and mainly after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 until the 16th century, is considered by some scholars as key to the revival of Greek and Roman studies and...
the revival of Classical learning in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
in the 15th century. He played a prominent role in the revival of Greek philosophy
Greek philosophy
Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BCE and continued through the Hellenistic period, at which point Ancient Greece was incorporated in the Roman Empire...
in Italy and translated Greek philosophical and theological works into Latin besides producing rhetorical and theological works in his own. He divided his time between Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Constantinople.
Early life
John Argyropoulos was born in 1415 in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
extraction. Argyropoulos studied theology and philosophy in Constantinople. As a teacher there he had amongst his pupils the scholar Constantine Lascaris
Constantine Lascaris
Constantine Lascaris was a Greek scholar and grammarian, one of the promoters of the revival of Greek learning in the Italian peninsula, born at Constantinople....
. He was an official in the service of one of the rulers of the Byzantine Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
and was sent on a diplomatic mission to Italy in 1439 to attend the Council of Florence
Council of Florence
The Council of Florence was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It began in 1431 in Basel, Switzerland, and became known as the Council of Ferrara after its transfer to Ferrara was decreed by Pope Eugene IV, to convene in 1438...
.
In 1444 he received a degree from the University of Padua before returning to Constantinople.
When Constantinople fell in 1453 he left it for the Peloponnesus and in 1456 took refuge in Italy where he worked as a teacher in the revival of Greek philosophy in the universities of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
, Florence
University of Florence
The University of Florence is a higher study institute in Florence, central Italy. One of the largest and oldest universities in the country, it consists of 12 faculties...
and Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
and as head of the Greek department at Florence’s ‘Florentine Stadium’ university. In 1471, on the outbreak of the plague
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
, he moved to Rome, where he continued to act as a teacher of Greek till his death.
He made efforts to transport Greek philosophy to Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
. He had students such as Pietro de' Medici and Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
, Angelo Poliziano and Johann Reuchlin
Johann Reuchlin
Johann Reuchlin was a German humanist and a scholar of Greek and Hebrew. For much of his life, he was the real centre of all Greek and Hebrew teaching in Germany.-Early life:...
.
It is well known that students hailing from different parts of Europe came to see and hear him at those classes, when he taught Greek and philosophy courses. Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
probably attended the lectures of Argyropoulos
He was a member of the Byzantine delegation to the Council of Ferrara-Florence and left a number of Latin translations, including many of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's works. His principal works were translations of the following portions of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, Categoriae, De Interpretatione, Analytica Posteriora, Physica, De Caelo, De Anima, Metaphysica, Ethica Nicomachea, Politica; and an Expositio Ethicorum Aristotelis. Several of his writings exist still in manuscript.
He died on June 26, 1487 at Florence.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, “John Argyropoulos”
- Geanakoplos, Deno J., “Constantinople and the West : Essays on the Late Byzantine (Palaeologan) and Italian Renaissances and the Byzantine and Roman Churches”, University of Wisconsin Press, 1989, ISBN 0-299-11884-3
- Geanakoplos, Deno J., 'A Byzantine looks at the Renaissance', Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies
- Harris, Jonathan, 'Byzantines in Renaissance Italy', Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies
- Fotis Vassileiou & Barbara Saribalidou, Short Biographical Lexicon of Byzantine Academics Immigrants to Western Europe, 2007, ISBN 978-960-930-275-3
- Nicholl Charles, “Leonardo Da Vinci: The Flights of the Mind”, Penguin Books Ltd, 2005, ISBN 0-14-029681-6
- Vassileiou Fotis, Saribalidou Barbara, 'John Argyropoulos teacher of Leonardo Da Vinci', Philosophy Pathways Issue 117, 19 May 2006, International Society for Philosophers
- Vassileiou, Fotis & Saribalidou, Barbara, Short Biographical Lexicon of Byzantine Academics Immigrants in Western Europe, 2007.
External links
- http://www.republika.pl/peenef2/angielski/hasla/a/argyropuros.html
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707a.htm seems to have mistakes in the years
- http://www.philosophypathways.com/newsletter/issue117.html
- Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes