Ibn-Gabirol, Solomon ben-Judah
- Ibn-Gabirol, Solomon ben-Judah
(c. 1020–c. 1057)
Spanish philosopher and poet. Ibn-Gabirol was born in Moslem Spain, probably in Malaga, and as a child moved with his family to Saragossa. Consumptive and ill-tempered, he was an avid student, and was soon well versed in the Bible and the Talmud, Hebrew and Arabic. He also studied astronomy, mathematics and logic, and wrote his first poems when he was sixteen.
The date and circumstances of his death are obscure. Later legend recounted his murder at the hands of a Turk who coveted his wisdom. After killing him, he buried the body under a fig tree in an orchard. The tree immediately blossomed although it was mid-winter. This came to the notice of the caliph, who had the tree uprooted to investigate the miracle. The body was then discovered and the murderer executed.
Solomon’s great philosophical work, ‘The Fountain of Life’, was originally written in Arabic, but only a few fragments of the original remain. It survived in a medieval Latin version made around the middle of the 12 century and entitled Fons Vitae, and in a Hebrew version made about a century later. His system conceives the universe as a product of the Divine Will and he is clearly in line with the Arab and Jewish Neoplatonist group of metaphysicians. ‘The Fountain of Life’ had considerable influence on medieval Christian scholars, such as Albert Magnus, Duns Scotus and Thomas Aquinas, who did not know that the author was Jewish but simply described him as ‘an Arab’. It was generally felt by Jewish scholars that his system came too close to pantheism; MAIMONIDES in fact was firmly opposed to the work.
However, Solomon ibn-Gabirol was deeply revered by Jews as a poet, and his religious and secular poems were preserved throughout the ages. His secular verses, written in Hebrew and Arabic, consist of panegyrics in honour of patrons, and ethical, introspective works. They reveal his evident scientific knowledge and yet show undoubted mystical leanings. Messianic fervour is evident in many of his religious poems, which are written in Hebrew in the metre of Arabic verse. Many of them were incorporated into prayer books. His philosophical poem, Keter Malchut (The Kingly Crown, 1961), based on similar ideas to the ‘Fountain of Life’, was in some rites included in the prayer book for the Day of Atonement.
Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament.
Joan Comay .
2012.
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Ibn Gabirol, Solomon ben Judah — (1021–58) Chiefly remembered as one of the greatest Sephardic poets, Ibn Gabirol was also one of the most original and resourceful of the medieval Jewish philosophers. As an inhabitant of Andalusia, he wrote in Arabic and was deeply influenced … Islamic philosophy dictionary
GABIROL, SOLOMON BEN JUDAH, IBN — (c. 1021–c. 1057; Ar. Abu Ayyub Sulayman ibn Yahya ibn Gabirul; Lat. Avicebron), Spanish poet and philosopher. His Life The main source of information on Ibn Gabirol s life is his poems, although frequently they offer no more than hints. A number … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Gabirol, Solomon ben Judah ibn — See Jewish philosophy … History of philosophy
Ibn Gabirol — Ibn Gabirol. Šelomoh ben Yehudah ibn Gabirol (hebreo: שלמה בן יהודה אבן גבירול), Sulaymān ibn Yaḥyà ibn Ŷabīrūl (árabe: سليمان بن يحيى بن جبيرول) para los árabes, o Avicebrón como era conocido por los latinos, fue un filósofo y poeta judío… … Wikipedia Español
Solomon ibn Gabirol — Solomon ibn Gabirol, also Solomon ben Judah ( he. שלמה בן יהודה אבן גבירול, Shelomo ben Yehuda ibn Gevirol ; ar. أبو أيوب سليمان بن يحيى بن جبيرول, Abu Ayyūb Suleiman ibn Yahya ibn Jabirūl ; la. Avicebron, a corruption of Ibn Gabirol ) was an… … Wikipedia
Ibn Gabirol — Solomon ben Jehuda ibn Gabirol, kurz Solomon (Salomo) ibn Gabirol (* 1021 oder 1022 in Málaga; † um 1057 in Valencia) war ein jüdischer Philosoph und Dichter im muslimischen Spanien (al Andalus). In der lateinischsprachigen christlichen… … Deutsch Wikipedia
IBN DAUD, ABRAHAM BEN DAVID HALEVI — (known as Rabad I; c. 1110–1180), Spanish historian, philosopher, physician, and astronomer. Ibn Daud, the grandson of isaac b. baruch albalia , was born in Córdoba, and spent his formative years in the home of his maternal uncle, who was his… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Solomon ben Abraham ibn Parhon — was a Spanish philologist of the 12th century, a native of Ḳal ah (Ḳal at Ayyub, Calatayud), Aragon. In the preface to his lexicon he mentions as his teachers, besides a certain R. Ephraim of whom nothing more is known, the two great Spanish… … Wikipedia
IBN ALTABBAN, LEVI BEN JACOB — (Abu l Fahm; late 11th century in Saragossa), poet and grammarian. Little is known of his life. Though extensively praised by contemporary poets, including moses ibn ezra and judah halevi , the same as by Al Ḥarizi , his poems were forgotten for… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
IBN EZRA, MOSES BEN JACOB — (also known as Abu Harun; c. 1055–after 1135), Spanish Hebrew poet and philosopher. Born in Granada, he was a pupil of Isaac ibn Ghayyat in Lucena, the city of poetry. In his youth Moses acquired a very comprehensive Jewish and Arabic education.… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
