Johannes Cuno (1462/1463
Nuremberg – 1513
Basel) was a
Dominican humanist and early greek scholar in the
Germanophone
German ( ) is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. It is also a c ...
region. He was also a translator from the
Greek language and collector of manuscripts and books. While living in Basel, he assisted the printer
Johann Amerbach and was teacher for the Greek language to Amerbachs sons and
Beatus Rhenanus.
Early life and education
He was of a humble background and a member of the Dominican Monastery in Nuremberg.
From 1496, Johannes Cuno became a student of
Johann Reuchlin,
the first greek scholar in the Germany.
His aim was to study the greek texts of the early christians.
[Sicherl, Martin (1985).p.148] In 1501 he became a teacher in the
monastery Liebenau In 1504 he settled to
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
, where he followed up on his studies in Greek.
While in Venice, he was employed for some time in the workshop of the printer
Aldus Manutius
Aldus Pius Manutius (; it, Aldo Pio Manuzio; 6 February 1515) was an Italian printer and humanist who founded the Aldine Press. Manutius devoted the later part of his life to publishing and disseminating rare texts. His interest in and preserv ...
, who was publishing several works from Greek authors.
In 1506, he enrolled in the
University of Padua, where he attended the lectures of
Marcus Masuros.
Professional career
In 1510 he moved to Basel with the approval of the Dominican
Master of Order Thomas Cajetan.
He stayed at the Dominican Preachers Monastery in Basel
and was employed as the translator of Greek manuscripts by the printer Johann Amerbach.
He would also assist Amerbach in publishing
Erasmus of Rotterdams edition of the
Hieronymus and the
New Testament.
Cuno also become the private teacher for the greek language to Johann Amerbach's sons
Bonifacius
Bonifatius (or Bonifacius; also known as Count Boniface; died 432) was a Roman general and governor of the diocese of Africa. He campaigned against the Visigoths in Gaul and the Vandals in North Africa. An ally of Galla Placidia, mother and adv ...
, Basilius and Bruno.
Cuno was also a teacher to Beatus Rhenanus, who would become his favorite alumni.
In 1513 Cuno died and left his library to Beathus Rhenanus.
Throughout his life he focused on translating the works of the early authors in christianity like
Gregory of Nazanius,
Chrysostomus or
John of Damascus
John of Damascus ( ar, يوحنا الدمشقي, Yūḥanna ad-Dimashqī; gr, Ἰωάννης ὁ Δαμασκηνός, Ioánnēs ho Damaskēnós, ; la, Ioannes Damascenus) or John Damascene was a Christian monk, priest, hymnographer, and a ...
.
Further reading
* Martin Sicherl: Johannes Cuno. Ein Wegbereiter des Griechischen in Deutschland. Eine biographisch-kodikologische Studie. Heidelberg: Winter 1978
References
{{Authority Control
1460s births
1513 deaths
Members of the Dominican Order
University of Padua alumni
Greek-language books