TEODOR METOHIT I NjEGOV UČENIK NIĆIFOR GRIGORA NA DVOROVIMA KRALjA MILUTINA I STEFANA DEČANSKOG

Abstract

Theodore Metochites (Θεόδωρος Μετοχίτης; 1270–1332), a Byzantine Greek statesman and polymath, and his student, the greatest Byzantine astronomer Nicephoros Gregoras (1295-1360) were in several diplomatic missions on the courts of King Milutin and his son, King Stefan Dečanski. Both gave significant contributions in astronomy. Metochites, considered as the one of the greatest forerunners of the Renaissance in the Greek world, was a Platonist philosopher, astronomer and patron of the arts. From 1305 to 1328 he held the position of personal adviser (mesazon) to emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos. During his long political career he was also Great Logothetes (a kind of Prime Minister) of the Byzantine Empire. His teacher in astronomy was Manuel Bryennius. His known astronomical writting is an introduction to the study of Ptolemaic astronomy (Στοιχείωσις επί τη αστρονομική επιστήμη). Related to astronomy is also his paraphrases of Aristotle's works on natural philosophy and Σημειώσεις γνωμικαί (Annotations), where he provided an important critique of Aristotle. Metochites was five times on the court of King Milutin as the envoy of Andronikos II to make the peace with Serbia and to arrange the mariage of King Milutin with Simonida, grand daughter of the Byzantine emperor. He wrote a writting about his travels to Serbia (Пρεσβευτικός) which is translated to Serbian.