POSTPONED: Translating Euclid into Hebrew: Ben Makhir's Translation of Data

Please note that this event has had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Euclid's Data was translated into Hebrew in 1272 by Jacob ben Makhir ibn Tibbon (1236-1304), known also as Profatius Judaeus. Titled as Seffer ha-Mattanot, it is the only known Hebrew translation of Data. My analysis of the text considers both mathematical and cultural aspects. I examine the mathematical content of the book, including changes in propositions and proofs as well as the order of the propositions. The cultural perspective refers to themes such as ben Makhir's introduction of new Hebrew terms for the unique mathematical language of the Data and the influence of Arabic mathematical tradition on his choice of terms. I compare how the notions of analysis, synthesis and given are treated in ben Makhir's work and other known translations of Data and discuss his contribution to the tradition of Data translations.