1st Edition

Thaddaeus Hagecius, or Hájek, 1526-1600 Bohemian Polymath of the Rudolfine Period

Edited By Martin Zemla Copyright 2025
294 Pages
by Routledge

294 Pages
by Routledge

308 Pages
by Routledge

Tadeas Hajek of Hajek (1526–1600), Latinized as Thaddaeus Hagecius ab Hagek/Hayek, was a key figure in early scientific debates not only in his native Bohemia. A versatile scholar and polymath, he was prolific in medicine, botany, mathematics and astronomy. Modern interpreters tended to point out his astronomical interpretations to emphasize his greatest achievements and his “modernity.” However,... Read more
Introduction: Hagecius, a Renaissance Man - Martin Zemla, I. Medicine: Hajek's Lifelong Practice - Bohdana Divisova, II. Social Role: Physician in Renaissance Society - Zdenek Zalud, III. Botany: Mattioli, Handsch, and Hajek - Lucie Strnadova, IV. Astrology: The Hermetic Context of Hajek's Work - Vojtech Hladky, V. Metoposcopy: Cardano, Physiognomy, and the Signatura Rerum - Jakub Hlavacek, VI. Alchemy: The Czech Lands and Rudolfine Prague - Ivo Purs, VII. Chymiatry: Hajek's Way into Alchemy - Ivo Purs, VIII. Astronomy: New Cosmology and Lutheran Theology - Tomas Nejeschleba, Resume - Martin Zemla, Works of Tadeas Hajek, General Bibliography, Index, Note on the Authors.

Biography

Martin Zemla, PhD, research fellow at the Centre for Renaissance Texts, Palacky University, Olomouc, and head of the publishing department OIKOYMENH at the Institute of Philosophy, Prague. He has been working on German Mysticism, Renaissance Platonism and Paracelsianism.