Giambattista della Porta, Italian Polymath

Giambattista della Porta (1535 - February 4, 1615) was an Italian scholar, polymath and playwright who lived in Naples at the time of the Scientific Revolution and Reformation. His most famous work, first published in 1558, was entitled Magiae Naturalis (Natural Magic). In this book he covered a variety of the subjects he had investigated, including the study of: occult philosophy, astrology, alchemy, mathematics, meteorology, and natural philosophy. In 1563, della Porta published De Furtivis Literarum Notis, a work about cryptography. In 1586 della Porta published a work on physiognomy, De humana physiognomonia libri IIII. His interest in a variety of disciplines resulted in the technological advances of the following: agriculture, hydraulics, military engineering, instruments, and pharmacology. The 17 theatrical works that have survived comprise 14 comedies, one tragicomedy, one tragedy and one liturgical drama. He died in 1615 at the age of 79 or 80.

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