Conrad Dasypodius
Encyclopedia
Conrad Dasypodius was a professor of mathematics
in Strasbourg
, Alsace
. He was born in Frauenfeld
, Thurgau
, Switzerland
. His first name was also rendered as Konrad or Conradus or Cunradus, and his last name has been alternatively stated as Rauchfuss, Rauchfuß, and Hasenfratz. He was the son of Petrus Dasypodius (Peter Hasenfuss) (1490–1559, or Peter Hasenfratz), a humanist
and lexicographer.
In 1564, Dasypodius edited various parts of the Elements
of Euclid
. In the preface, he says that for 26 years it had been the rule at his school that all who were promoted from the classes to public lectures should learn Book I of the Elements, but there were no longer any copies to be had so he was bringing out a new edition so as to maintain a good and fruitful regulation of his school.
In 1568, Dasypodius published a work about the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus
, Hypotyposes orbium coelestium congruentes cum tabulis Alfonsinis
et Copernici seu etiam tabulis Prutenicis editae a Cunrado Dasypodio. It is unclear whether Dasypodius was a heliocentrist himself or rather followed the "Wittenberg
interpretation."
Dasypodius designed an astronomical clock
for the Strasbourg Cathedral
; that clock was built in 1572-1574 by Isaac Habrecht and Josia Habrecht. This monumental clock represented the synthesis of the most advanced scientific knowledge of the era, in the domains of astronomy, mathematics, and physics. That mechanism remained in the Cathedral until 1842, when it was replaced by a clock built by Jean Baptiste Schwilgué.
Dasypodius translated writings of Hero of Alexandria
from Greek into Latin: one source says it was Hero's Automata; but more likely it was the Mechanica.
Dasypodius died in Strasbourg
.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. He was born in Frauenfeld
Frauenfeld
Frauenfeld is the capital of the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.-Early history:The earliest trace of human settlement are several La Tène era graves to the east of Langdorf. The Roman road from Oberwinterthur to Pfyn ran through what is now the Allmend in Frauenfeld. Two Roman villas were...
, Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. His first name was also rendered as Konrad or Conradus or Cunradus, and his last name has been alternatively stated as Rauchfuss, Rauchfuß, and Hasenfratz. He was the son of Petrus Dasypodius (Peter Hasenfuss) (1490–1559, or Peter Hasenfratz), a humanist
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
and lexicographer.
In 1564, Dasypodius edited various parts of the Elements
Euclid's Elements
Euclid's Elements is a mathematical and geometric treatise consisting of 13 books written by the Greek mathematician Euclid in Alexandria c. 300 BC. It is a collection of definitions, postulates , propositions , and mathematical proofs of the propositions...
of Euclid
Euclid
Euclid , fl. 300 BC, also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry". He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I...
. In the preface, he says that for 26 years it had been the rule at his school that all who were promoted from the classes to public lectures should learn Book I of the Elements, but there were no longer any copies to be had so he was bringing out a new edition so as to maintain a good and fruitful regulation of his school.
In 1568, Dasypodius published a work about the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer and the first person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe....
, Hypotyposes orbium coelestium congruentes cum tabulis Alfonsinis
Alfonsine tables
The Alfonsine tables provided data for computing the position of the Sun, Moon and planets relative to the fixed stars....
et Copernici seu etiam tabulis Prutenicis editae a Cunrado Dasypodio. It is unclear whether Dasypodius was a heliocentrist himself or rather followed the "Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
interpretation."
Dasypodius designed an astronomical clock
Astronomical clock
An astronomical clock is a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information, such as the relative positions of the sun, moon, zodiacal constellations, and sometimes major planets.-Definition:...
for the Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely consideredSusan Bernstein: , The Johns Hopkins University Press to be among the finest...
; that clock was built in 1572-1574 by Isaac Habrecht and Josia Habrecht. This monumental clock represented the synthesis of the most advanced scientific knowledge of the era, in the domains of astronomy, mathematics, and physics. That mechanism remained in the Cathedral until 1842, when it was replaced by a clock built by Jean Baptiste Schwilgué.
Dasypodius translated writings of Hero of Alexandria
Hero of Alexandria
Hero of Alexandria was an ancient Greek mathematician and engineerEnc. Britannica 2007, "Heron of Alexandria" who was active in his native city of Alexandria, Roman Egypt...
from Greek into Latin: one source says it was Hero's Automata; but more likely it was the Mechanica.
Dasypodius died in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.