Nicolò Partenio Giannettasio

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Nicolò Partenio Giannettasio SJ (born March 5, 1648 in Naples , † September 10, 1715 ) was a polymath and neo-Latin poet.

Life

Giannettasio lost the whole family to an epidemic in 1656. Because of this, he could hardly get regular lessons. Nevertheless, he easily learned grammar and Latin and also acquired a good knowledge of mathematics. He then turned to studying Greek and Hebrew and enrolled at the age of fifteen to study philosophy and jurisprudence. On September 7, 1666 he joined the Society of Jesus and became a teacher at the Jesuit college in Amantea ( Calabria ), where he taught Latin and Greek, then theology in Palermo and Naples and finally philosophy in Reggio Calabria . In 1679 he was called to Naples, where he taught mathematics until 1705.

An anonymous author, allegedly a Jesuit, made him the main character in the dialogue “Giannettasius, vel De animarum transmigratione pythagorica”, from which one can infer a certain degree of familiarity.

During his time in Naples he wrote most of his writings. Among others: Universalis Cosmographiae elementa (Naples 1688), Universalis Geographiae elementa (1692), Piscatoria et nautica (1685), Halieutica (1689), Bellica (1697), as well as poems about the three seasons: Aestates Surrentinae (1696), Autumni Surrentini (1698) and Ver Herculanum (1704). A fourth poem on the winter of Hyemes Puteolanae was published posthumously in the edition Eruditus Annus (1722).

Giannettasio presents himself as a learned poet; his verses are full of historical, geographical and topographical references, but he uses a simple style.

In 1705 he stopped teaching and retired to Sorrento . There he devoted himself to his studies and the publication of his works. He was supported by Count Antonio Rambaldo.

As early as 1701 he had begun the Historia Neapolitana , which was published in three volumes in 1713, a work commissioned by Archbishop Cardinal Giacomo Cantelmo . In it he deals with the history of the city from the beginning to 1582. A second part, which he had announced, remained unfinished.

Works

  • Piscatoria et Nautica , Naples 1685 (second, expanded edition Naples 1686, further editions 1692 and 1715).
  • Universalis cosmographiae elementa , Naples 1688 (didactic work)
  • Halieutica , Naples 1689
  • Universalis geographiae elementa , Naples 1692 (didactic work)
  • Aestates Surrentinae , Naples 1696 (part 1 of the poems about the seasons)
  • Bellica , Naples 1697
  • Autumni Surrentini , Naples 1698 (part 2 of the poems about the seasons)
  • Ver Herculanum , Naples 1704 ((Part 3 of Poems about the Seasons))
  • Historia Neapolitana , Naples 1713 (in 3 parts, criticized by contemporaries as not very independent)
  • Naumachica, Seu De Bello Navali Libri V , Naples 1715
  • Opera omnia poetica , Naples 1715 (complete edition of the poetic work, financed by Antonio Rambaldo, Gianettasio's patron)
  • Annus eruditus , Naples 1722 (posthumous edition; also contains the 14 poems Hyemes Puteolanae = part 4 of the poems about the seasons)

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personal data
SURNAME Giannettasio, Nicolò Partenio
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Giannettasius, Nicolaus Parthenius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian Jesuit, polymath and neo-Latin poet
DATE OF BIRTH March 5, 1648
PLACE OF BIRTH Naples
DATE OF DEATH September 10, 1715