Jobus Fincelius
Encyclopedia
Job Fincelius (died 1582) was a 16th century humanist
and physician
. Born Hiob Fincel (or Finzel), he studied at Erfurt
, Jena
, and Wittenberg
before becoming a master of philosophy at Wittenberg (1549). In 1562, he was professor and assistant of medicine at Weimar
. In 1568, he was a physician at Zwickau
.
His De miraculis sui temporis (1556) (Latin
"Concerning the Wonders of his Times"; in German
Warhafftige beschreybung und gründlich verzeichnuß schröcklicher Wunderzeichen und Geschichten) contains the oldest printed tale of the Hameln Pied Piper. It was printed in Jena
in 1556. Fincelius identified the Pied Piper with the Devil
.
In Book XI. of his De mirabilibus, Fincelius also touches on the myth of the werewolf
and relates the story of a farmer of Pavia
, who, as a wolf, fell upon many men in the open country and tore them to pieces.
In Nuptiis Davidis Chytraei
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. Born Hiob Fincel (or Finzel), he studied at Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
, Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
, and 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....
before becoming a master of philosophy at Wittenberg (1549). In 1562, he was professor and assistant of medicine at Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
. In 1568, he was a physician at Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
.
His De miraculis sui temporis (1556) (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
"Concerning the Wonders of his Times"; in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Warhafftige beschreybung und gründlich verzeichnuß schröcklicher Wunderzeichen und Geschichten) contains the oldest printed tale of the Hameln Pied Piper. It was printed in Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
in 1556. Fincelius identified the Pied Piper with the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
.
In Book XI. of his De mirabilibus, Fincelius also touches on the myth of the werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
and relates the story of a farmer of Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, who, as a wolf, fell upon many men in the open country and tore them to pieces.
External links
Fincelius Sacred Texts: Werewolf (reference to Fincelius) Sources (mentions Jobus Fincel) Camena: Fincel, HiobIn Nuptiis Davidis Chytraei