JOHANNES HISPALENSIS:

(Redirected from JOHANNES (DAVID) TOLETANUS.)

By: Richard Gottheil, Meyer Kayserling

Baptized Jew who flourished between 1135 and 1153; his Jewish name is unknown and has been corrupted into "Avendeut," "Avendehut" = "Aven Daud," "Avendar." He was a native of Toledo, and hence is called also Johannes (David) Toletanus. He was one of the earliest translators from the Arabic. As Steinschneider—who was the first to determine his identity—has shown, he was for a time associated with the archdeacon Dominicus Gundisalvi, for whom he probably interpreted the few translations ascribed to that cleric.

Johannes translated principally astrological and astronomical, likewise some philosophical and a few medical works. With Gundisalvi's assistance he translated Gabirol's "Fons Vitæ" from the Arabic into Latin. In 1142 Johannes compiled from Arabic sources his "Epitome Totius Astrologiæ," Nuremberg, 1548. Johannes Hispalensis must be distinguished from the archbishop John of Seville, who corresponded with Hugo a St. Victor.

G. M. K.