Abulafia, Samuel Ha-Levi

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ABULAFIA, SAMUEL HA-LEVI

ABULAFIA, SAMUEL HA-LEVI (13th century), scientist and engineer employed by King Alfonso x of Castile (1252–84). Abulafia constructed a water clock for Alfonso and translated for him from the Arabic a manual on the manufacture and uses of the candle clock, Fábrica y usos del Relox de la Candela. He also perfected hoisting devices and wrote a treatise about them, still extant in manuscript.

bibliography:

G. Sarton, Introduction to the History of Science, 2 (1931), 843; Baer, Spain, index, s.v.Samuel Halevi of Toledo; Millás, in: G.S. Métraux and F. Grouzet, The Evolution of Science (1963), 160–2.

[Zvi Avneri]