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| Part of Galileo - His Fifth Lumbar Vertebra |
While walking in the footsteps of mathematicians in northern Italy, I couldn't help but also come across religious relics housed in churches and cathedrals - the tongue of St. Anthony in Padua, the skeleton of St. Ambrose flanked by skeletons of two other saints in a glass coffin in Milan, various bones of Beothius the Martyr in Pavia, the ossuary of St. Augustine also in Pavia. But in Padua I learned that even in the sciences we have our relics. The image above and the two below are of a vertebra of Galileo Galilei. From what I understand, one of Galileo's teeth and three of his fingers are on display elsewhere.
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| Display of Galileo's Fifth Lumbar Vertebra, University of Padova |
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Display of Galileo's Fifth Lumbar Vertebra, University of Padova
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This display wasn't actually pointed out on our tour, but as we were all looking at the podium that Galileo had taught from, I turned around briefly and noticed that part of Galileo himself was right there outside his classroom as well. I found a translation online of the Latin incription above:
"I am the fifth lumbar vertebra and I permitted the flexion of the back of Galileo Galilei, who taught the new philosophy at this great University."
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| Galileo's Teaching Lectern, Pallazo Bo, University of Padua |
In the days before projection units and microphones and speakers and screens, such a lectern was a way in which a professor could best be heard and seen. My understanding is that it would have been covered by decorative fabrics rather than having been merely bare wood at the time.
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| Galileo's Teaching Lectern, Pallazo Bo, University of Padua |
Initially this classroom belonged to the law faculty of Padua University, but because Galielo had such a large following, the university extended the extraordinary privilege of making this classroom, which was the largest and is known as
Aula Maga (The Great Hall), available for his classes.
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| Looking Toward the Door of the Aula Magna across the Plazzo Bo Quandrangle |
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| Door of the Aula Magna |
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| Detail in Palazzo Bo |
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| Door of the Aula Magna |
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| Door of the Aula Magna |
During Galileo's time here (1595), the famous anatomy theatre - the first permanent anatomical theatre in the world - was constructed just across the quad. Galileo was a mathematician and astronomer, not a physician, but since the room is so close, I thought it would make for an interesting inclusion here. Given the timing and the proximity, I imagine Galileo saw the inside of this room, though I cannot positively state that as a certainty.
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| View Across Palazzo Bo from Galileo's Classroom Door |
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| Modeo of Padua's Anatomical Theatre |
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| Looking Up from the Bottom of Padua's Anatomical Theatre |
On a narrow street a 10-minute's walk away from Palazzo Bo is Galileo's house, Casa di Galileo Galilei. It is well-marked and is on a street that is now named for him: Via Galileo Galilei.
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| House of Galileo Galilei, Padua, Italy |
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| House of Galileo Galilei, Padua, Italy |
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| House of Galileo Galilei, Padua, Italy |
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| House of Galileo Galilei, Padua, Italy |
On my way back to my hotel from Galileo's house, I walked through the city gate that was part of my route every day, but on this day, I noticed some signage that I hadn't notice before - signage relating to Galileo - a nice discovery for me that rounded out the day very well.
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| Porta di Ponte Molino |
Google Translate tells me that this plaque says "From this tower Galileo reveals many ways of the heavens," so I take it that Galileo used this tower for astronomical observations
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| Porta di Ponte Molino |
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