1. By Anjali Doshi

2.  Known as Girolamo Cardano  Born in Pavia, 1501  Died in Rome, 1576

3.  A scientist, physician, mathematician and wizard  Professor of Medicine in Milan, Pavia and Bologna  Wrote Moral, Medicine and Mathematic texts  Contributed much to algebra

4.  Foolish writings, from demons to chiromancy  Little Devil  Torture  Dreamed of the future and heard demons  Autobiography: De propria vita  An inherited spirit at his side

5.  Hermeticist  Hermetic magic fused with alchemical thought into a single intellectual framework  The world=living embodiment of divinity  Believed humans could use magic  Great names associated with Hermeticism  Galileo and Newton

6.  London: King Edward VI asked for an astrological prediction on himself and England  Disproved by Edward VI’s death the following year

7.  1554: Commentary on Ptolemy’s “Quadripartitus”  Wanted to improve Astrology  Ventured to interpret Jesus Christ’s birth astrological chart  Objected by the Inquisition Court

8.  Cardan: Christ was destined to die on the Cross  October 6, 1570: Cardan arrested and charged for being a heretic  Jailed by the Roman Inquisition for casting Jesus Christ’s horoscope

9.  Stayed in prison till December 22nd  Forced to spend 3 more months at home

10.  Interrupted teaching  Pension by Pope Gregory XIII in 1574

11.  1 daughter and 2 sons  Sons had bad fate  Elder son, Giambattista, beheaded for poisoning his wife and his in-laws  2 nd son: a thief and harassed Cardan for money

12.  May 14, 1574: burned all manuscripts and books about astrology, magic and theological matters  Avoided more trouble with the Catholic Church

13.  Revival of science in Europe  Contributions to mathematics  Biographies to honor him  Buried in Milan, Italy  Influenced many important figures of the Renaissance