Mathematician:Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra

Mathematician

Islamic Spanish scholar who wrote books introducing Islamic mathematics and Indian number systems to Europe.

Nationality

Native of Muslim Spain

History

• Born: 1092 in Tudela, Emirate of Saragossa (now Spain)
• Died: 1167 in Calahorra, Spain

Publications

Biblical Commentaries

• Sefer ha-Yashar ("Book of the Straight")

Hebrew Grammar

• 1140: Sefer Moznayim ("Book of Scales")
• 1143: Sefer ha-Yesod, or Yesod Diqduq ("Book of Language Fundamentals")
• 1143: Sefer Haganah 'al R. Sa'adyah Gaon
• 1145: Tzakhoot
• 1146: Sefer Safah Berurah ("Book of Purified Language")

Smaller works

• Sefat Yeter
• Sefer ha-Shem ("Book of the Name")
• 1158: Iggeret Shabbat

Religious Philosophy

• 1158: Yesod Mora Vesod Hatorah

Mathematics

• Sefer ha-Ekhad ("Book of the Unit")
• Sefer ha-Mispar or Yesod Mispar ("Book of the Number")
• Luchot
• Sefer ha-'Ibbur
• Keli ha-Nechoshet
• Shalosh She'elot

Astrology

• Mishpetai ha-Mazzelot ("Judgments of the Zodiacal Signs")

• Reshit Hokhma ("The Beginning of Wisdom")
• Sefer ha-Te'amim ("Book of Reasons")
• Sefer ha-Moladot ("Book of Nativities")
• Sefer ha-Me'orot ("Book of Luminaries" or "Book of Lights")
• Sefer ha-She'elot ("Book of Interrogations")
• Sefer ha-Mivharim ("Book of Elections", also known as "Critical Days")
• Sefer ha-Olam ("Book of the World")

Also known as

Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra is also known as:

in Hebrew: ר׳ אַבְרָהָם בֶּן מֵאִיר אִבְּן עֶזְרָא‎ (ʾAḇrāhām ben Mēʾīr ʾībən ʾĒzrāʾ), often abbreviated as ראב"ע‎

in Arabic: إبراهيم المجيد ابن عزرا (Ibrāhim al-Mājid ibn Ezra)

Also known as Abenezra or simply Ibn Ezra

Sources

• John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive