- The client
Working group
The scientific committee of the institution “Edizione Nazionale dell’Opera Matematica di Maurolico”, chaired by Prof. Pier Daniele Napolitani from the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pisa, aimed to digitize the national edition of the works of mathematician and astronomer Francesco Maurolico (1494–1575).
- Needs
The challenge to be faced
The main goal was to create a critical edition of the scientific works of Renaissance mathematician Francesco Maurolico, based on approximately 5000 pages of manuscripts and printed texts. This project was initiated due to growing interest in Maurolico’s work and legacy, especially following the workshops “At the Dawn of Modern Mathematics: Francesco Maurolico and the Return of the Classics” (1993–96), held at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Pisa. This interest culminated in the launch of a national edition in 2009.
- The project
Innovation in critical editing: the MauroTeX language for historical texts
eLabor developed advanced IT tools for the creation and use of the electronic edition of Maurolico’s works. Among these innovative tools, a new language called MauroTeX was created, derived from LaTeX, for the transcription and critical editing of texts. This language makes it possible to build a uniform critical apparatus, adaptable to any number of witnesses, and allows for the extraction of texts for printing in paper, PDF, and HTML formats.
How the site works
The website is designed as a work in progress, with Maurolico’s works being published as soon as they reach a minimum level of editing. This progressive implementation allows for the continuous enrichment of the site, with the goal of eventually producing a complete
Results and impact of the Maurolico project
The first major result of the project was the printed publication in 2017 of the first two volumes, “Musica” and “Optica”, followed by additional volumes and the ongoing publication and refinement of the electronic edition. Over the years, we have collaborated with researchers from prestigious national and international universities, meeting all the needs of modern scholars working on ancient topics. This has enabled the creation of an accurate, accessible, and continuously improvable edition.
Digital access to the works of Maurolico
Users can now explore the electronic edition of the
published volumes on the website, study the disciplines addressed by Maurolico—such as geometry and optics—and delve into the mathematician’s scientific work through an interactive digital platform.