Rare Books
< Back
Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.
< Back
Extremely rare: on the bean that killed Pythagoras
WORM, Castanus.Dissertatio. De faba Pythagorica quam superiorum permissu publico examini subjicit Castanus Worm ... respondente ingeniosissimo juvene Johanne Begtrup, in auditorio Collegii Regii anno M.DC. XCVI. die 28. Martii horâ post meridiem prima.    Hafniae, (Copenhagen), Joh. Jac. Bornheinrich, 1696. Sm. 4to. Later half calf with sprinkled boards, red sprinkled edges. (2), 26 pp. Extremely rare copy of an obscure medical/philosophical thesis in Latin by Castanus Worm, the student, Johannes Begtrup being his respondent, on the Pythagorean consultation: 'be far from the fava beans consumption' ('Kyamon apechehesthai' see p. 1) with citations from classical Greek authors. The thesis was defended on 28th March in 1696 at the University of Copenhagen. This phytagorean rule constricts a legume that is named Greek fava bean (Kyamos Hellenikos, vicia fava, Vica Faba) that is cultivated and used in the Mediterranean since Prehistoric times. Some people, however, get sick eating these beans or even from inhaling the pollen. This reaction is called Favism and is a hereditary abnormality. Many classical doctors and authors already had recognised that the fava beans could be poisonous for some people but the hereditary factor was only recognized at the beginning of the 20th century. Whether the basis of Pythagoras avoidance of the beans was poisoning or not remains uncertain. Other philosophers like Aristotle or the Orphics explained Pythagoras rule as having mystical origins. For example, the fava beans would contain the souls of the dead. It is said by his disciples that Pythagoras refused to walk through a field of fava beans and discouraged his disciples from eating them. He is said to have met his death in Crotonia in Ancient Italy. Pythagoras died among his enemies because he would not flee across a bean field when he was pursued by them. As a result he was caught and killed as mentioned by Iamblichus, Duiogenes Laertios, Cicero and others. About the author not much is known. Castanus Worm was the son of Matthias Worm, royal president at Ripen. Castanus donated in 1720 his vast collection of books by classical authors to the school at Ripen. Fine copy.- (Title and last leaf mounted on stub, now loose; title somewhat soiled).
Zedler, Grossen vollst. Universallexicon, 59, 25-26; John Meketis & Kostas Konstantopoulos, 'Favism- from the 'avoid fava beans' of Pythagoras to the present', in: Haema, 7(1) 2004, pp. 17-21; only one copy found recorded: at the Royal Danish library.
Related Subjects: 17th Century Classical Antiquity Medicine Philosophy Universities Add to Shopping cart |
€ 575,00
Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.
< Back
Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
E-mail this to a friend
Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com