Walcher of Malvern (died 1135) (also known as Walcher of Lorraine) was the second Prior of Great Malvern Priory in Worcestershire, England, and a noted astronomer, astrologer and mathematician. He has been described as an important transitional figure, whose observations and writings reflected the transformation of the astronomy of the Latin West from its traditional focus on computing dates in the ecclesiastical calendar and studying the rudiments of Roman astronomy to the use of ancient astronomical computational methods learned from Arabic zijes and other Islamic sources.[1][2]
Life and Work
Walcher was from Lotharingia, a region influenced by the new scientific ideas coming from Spain,[3] and arrived in England around 1091. Using an astrolabe to measure the time of several solar and lunar eclipses with an accuracy of about fifteen minutes, he computed a set of tables giving the time of the new moons from 1036 through 1111, which were considered important for medical astrology.[4] His later observations revealed significant errors in his tables,[5] reflecting the limitations of early medieval astronomical theory.[6][1]
In his later De Dracone (ca. 1116), Walcher drew on the knowledge of Arabic astronomy that his master, Petrus Alfonsi, had brought from Spain.[7]De Dracone discussed the motion of the lunar nodes (the head and tail of the dragon) and their significance for the computation of lunar and solar eclipses.[8] In De Dracone, Walcher recorded angles in degrees, minutes, and seconds, although he wrote these numbers using Roman, rather than Arabic numerals.[9]
Walcher was Prior of Malvern Priory from 1120 to 1135. Walcher's gravestone in St Anne's Chapel at the Priory Church records his abilities:
Philosophus dignus, bonus astrologus lotharingus, Vir pius et humilis, monachus, prior hujus ovilis Hic jacet in cista geometricus et abacista, Doctor Walcherus; flet plebs, dolet undique clerus; Huic lux prima mori dedit Octobris seniori; Vivat ut in coelis exoret quisque fidelis. MCXXXV.
"In this chest lies Doctor Walcher, a worthy philosopher, a good astronomer, a Lotharingian, a pious and humble man, a monk, the prior of his sheepfold, a geometer and abacist. The people mourn, the clergy grieve on all sides. The first day of October brought death to this elderly man. May each believer pray that he may live in heaven. 1135."[10]
^ ab McCluskey, Stephen C. (1998), Astromomies and Cultures in Early Medieval Europe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 180–184, ISBN0-521-58361-6
^Haskins, Charles Homer (1927), "The Introduction of Arabic Science into England", Studies in the History of Mediaeval Science, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, pp. 112–117
^Nothaft (2017, p. 10) The date of 1135 was found on the original version of the marker; the present, restored, version has 1125.
References
Nothaft, C. Philipp E., ed. (2017), Walcher of Malvern: De lunationibus and De dracone: study, edition, translation, and commentary, De Diversis artibus, vol. 101, Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, ISBN9782503568768
January 07, 2023
walcher, malvern, died, 1135, also, known, walcher, lorraine, second, prior, great, malvern, priory, worcestershire, england, noted, astronomer, astrologer, mathematician, been, described, important, transitional, figure, whose, observations, writings, reflect. Walcher of Malvern died 1135 also known as Walcher of Lorraine was the second Prior of Great Malvern Priory in Worcestershire England and a noted astronomer astrologer and mathematician He has been described as an important transitional figure whose observations and writings reflected the transformation of the astronomy of the Latin West from its traditional focus on computing dates in the ecclesiastical calendar and studying the rudiments of Roman astronomy to the use of ancient astronomical computational methods learned from Arabic zijes and other Islamic sources 1 2 Life and Work EditWalcher was from Lotharingia a region influenced by the new scientific ideas coming from Spain 3 and arrived in England around 1091 Using an astrolabe to measure the time of several solar and lunar eclipses with an accuracy of about fifteen minutes he computed a set of tables giving the time of the new moons from 1036 through 1111 which were considered important for medical astrology 4 His later observations revealed significant errors in his tables 5 reflecting the limitations of early medieval astronomical theory 6 1 In his later De Dracone ca 1116 Walcher drew on the knowledge of Arabic astronomy that his master Petrus Alfonsi had brought from Spain 7 De Dracone discussed the motion of the lunar nodes the head and tail of the dragon and their significance for the computation of lunar and solar eclipses 8 In De Dracone Walcher recorded angles in degrees minutes and seconds although he wrote these numbers using Roman rather than Arabic numerals 9 Walcher was Prior of Malvern Priory from 1120 to 1135 Walcher s gravestone in St Anne s Chapel at the Priory Church records his abilities Philosophus dignus bonus astrologus lotharingus Vir pius et humilis monachus prior hujus ovilis Hic jacet in cista geometricus et abacista Doctor Walcherus flet plebs dolet undique clerus Huic lux prima mori dedit Octobris seniori Vivat ut in coelis exoret quisque fidelis MCXXXV In this chest lies Doctor Walcher a worthy philosopher a good astronomer a Lotharingian a pious and humble man a monk the prior of his sheepfold a geometer and abacist The people mourn the clergy grieve on all sides The first day of October brought death to this elderly man May each believer pray that he may live in heaven 1135 10 As head of the Priory he would have been a very influential figure in the county of Worcestershire Notes Edit a b McCluskey Stephen C 1998 Astromomies and Cultures in Early Medieval Europe Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 180 184 ISBN 0 521 58361 6 Nothaft 2017 pp 1 7 Nothaft 2017 pp 15 17 Nothaft 2017 pp 114 5 240 5 Nothaft 2017 pp 188 90 268 70 Haskins Charles Homer 1927 The Introduction of Arabic Science into England Studies in the History of Mediaeval Science Cambridge Harvard University Press pp 112 117 Nothaft 2017 pp 46 55 Nothaft 2017 pp 194 5 271 2 Nothaft 2017 pp 194 7 275 7 Nothaft 2017 p 10 The date of 1135 was found on the original version of the marker the present restored version has 1125 References EditNothaft C Philipp E ed 2017 Walcher of Malvern De lunationibus and De dracone study edition translation and commentary De Diversis artibus vol 101 Turnhout Belgium Brepols ISBN 9782503568768 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walcher of Malvern amp oldid 1077531754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
