The Almagest, Politics, and Apocalypticism in the Conflict between George of Trebizond and Cardinal Bessarion

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleThe Almagest, Politics, and Apocalypticism in the Conflict between George of Trebizond and Cardinal Bessarion
3. Language term English
4. lemma author Tampakis, Kostas
5. lemma category History and philosophy of science
6. Publication date 13-11-2018
7. lemma work Shank, Michael H. [Author]. The Almagest, Politics, and Apocalypticism in the Conflict between George of Trebizond and Cardinal Bessarion
8. lemma manifestations Almagest
9. Keywords Flagellation of Christ - Regiomontanus
10. Lemma body

    1. This article concerns the mid-15th century conflict between Cardinal Bessarion, former Greek orthodox metropolitan, and the Cretan-born George of Trebizond, which is best known for its philosophical dimensions. Crucially, however, it also involved serious tensions surrounding Ptolemy's Almagest that shaped the history of astronomy through the writings and career of Regiomontanus. These conflicts eventually mixed powerfully with geopolitics and religion. In two letters to Mehmed II, George of Trebizond used his commentary on and translation of the Almagest to entice the Conqueror to convert to Christianity, take Rome, become the World Emperor, and thus hasten the end of time. The reactions of Bessarion and his circle to the letters in turn extended the controversy over the Almagest. This chapter concludes by arguing that the condemnation of George of Trebizond's views and letters is the context of the scene on the left side of Piero della Francesca's "Flagellation of Christ."