Arzobispo Raimundo de Toledo Escuela de Traductores [1130-1187]
The three greatest translators whose activities are supported by
Raimundo:
Iohannes Avendehut Hispanus. Hispanic Jew, translator and
compiler-author (also called Iohannes Hyspalensis, Johannes
Hispanicus, Johannes Toletanus, Avendeuth, Juan Hispano,
etc.). It's not totally certain that Juan Hispano (Ibn Dawud)
and Juan Hispalense are one and the same; several critics have
insisted they are not. With Mose Sefardí (Petrus Alphonsus),
and Rabi bar Hiyya of Barcelona, Juan Hispano is one of the
three Hispanic Jews who salvage much of the Arabic scientific
learning that was in danger of disappearing with the fall of
the Taifa Kingdoms. One of the most important translators,
his fields include astrology, philosophy, mathematics and medicine.
In astrology he translates Masallah, al-Fargani, Aby `Ali al
Haiyal, Abu Ma 1shar, al-Kindi, 'Umar ibn al-Farruhan, Ahmad
ibn Yusuf ibn al-Daya, al-Battani, Tabit ibn Qurra, al-Qabisi,
etc. In philosophy he gives Latin translations of Pseudoaristotle,
Ibn Sina (Avicena), Qusta ben Luqa, Al-Farabi, Ibn Gabirol
(Avicebron), al-Gazali, etc. As author his works have the virtue
of being intelligent syntheses, combined with his own observations
and interpretations (the latter, particularly in astrology).
He collaborates closely in Toledo with Domingo Gundisalvo from
1130-1150, although he continues to translate up until his death
in 1180.
Dominicus Gundissalinus (Domingo Gundisalvo, Archdeacon of
Cuéllar). With Juan Hispano and their patron, the
Archbishop, he is one of the founders of the Toledan School.
His activity extends from 1130 to 1180. Unlike his friend, he
limits he focusses exclusively on philosophy, translating Greek
and Arabic works and the commentaries of the earlier Moslem
thinkers in the peninsula. Less faithful to the original texts,
he frequently eliminated passages and added his own commentary.
Gundisalvo depended on Juan Hispano for the translations from
Arabic until late in his career when he controlled Arabic sufficiently
to translate for himself (ex. Avicenas Metaphysics
(Al-sifa). As an author he, but not his Jewish co-worker,
avoided neoplatonism and even attacked it.
Gherardus Cremonensis According to his disciples, he came
to Toledo en 1167 in search of Ptolemy's Almagest. He
didn't know Arabic when he arrived and until 1175 when he finished
the translation of the Almagest, he relied on Jews and
Mozarabs for both translation and teaching. Prolific translator:
seventy one translations (listed by disciples in an appendix
to his Tegni translation) of astronomical works (Greek
and Arabic), physics, astrology, alchemy, medicine, logic and
philosophy. See list of translations.
Although the translating activity in Toledo is less brilliant
and less intensive in the decades following Archbishop Raimundo's
death, it continues on into the next century, overlapping with
Alfonso's School of Translators. At least one translator is
known to have worked in both schools. The three most important
figures from this transitional period are Michael Scot, Marcos
de Toledo and Hernán Alemán (Hermann the German,
Herman. The transitional period also witnesses the first translations
from Arabic into the vernacular.
Michael Scot. Only certain date: 1217. In Toledo he translated
Aristotle's work on homocentric spheres, De verificatione
motuum coelestium, later used by Roger Bacon. Aristotle's
Historia animalium, 19 books, dated Oct 21, 1220, but believed
to have been don in Toledo with the help of a translator. His
is the first Latin translation of this work (used by Alberto
Magno and others until the XIVth cent. De Coelo et Mundo
(Aristotle) with Averroes' commentary. He is probably the
translator of Aristotle's De Anima with Averroes' commentaries.
The ms. is followed by other Aristotelian works, De generatione
et corrputione, Meteora parva naturalia, De substantia
orbis and others of determined authorship. A (fragmentary)
treatise on Divitione Philosophiae, based on al-Farabi,
earlier adapted by Gundisalvo. The strongly averroist Quaestiones
Nicolai Peripatetici was attributed to him by Alberto Magno.
Marcos de Toledo. Spanish physician and Canon of Toledo,
translator (into Latin) around 1191-1234. The Koran (al-Qur'an),
dated 11209. Hippocrates' De aere aquis locis. Hunayn
Ibn Ishaq's versions of four of Galen's treatises: De tactu
pulsus, De utilitate pulsus, Se motu membrorum, De motibus
liquidis. Hunayn Ibn Ishaq's Isagoge ad Tegni Galieni,
a series of Moslem religious treatises, dated 1213 and a greek
treatise on biology.
Hernán Alemán (of Carinthia, Hermannus
Teutonicus or Germanicus). Worked in Toledo between 1240-1256.
In the service of Manfred (Naples) from 1258-66, returned
to Spain where he became a naturalized citizen of the kingdom
of Castile. Bishop of Astorga 1266-72. Translated from Arabic
to Latin with help of muderar translators. Did a Spanish translation
of the Psalterio from the Hebrew text. And translated
Aristotle's Aethica Nichomachea, 1240. Finished Averroes'
Commentario Medio y Poetica to Aristotle's Rhetorica
in 1256.
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