Theodore Meliteniotes
Byzantine Greek astronomer and teacher
About Theodore Meliteniotes
Lived 1320 – 1393 (aged 72–73). Theodore Meliteniotes was a Byzantine astronomer, astrologer, teacher, writer and exegete.
Theodore Meliteniotes (; Constantinople, c. 1320 - 8 March 1393) was a Byzantine Greek astronomer, a sakellarios (treasurer) in the Byzantine bureaucracy, a supporter of Gregory Palamas and an opponent of the reunion with the Catholic Church. He became didaskalos ton didaskalon, i.e. the director of the Patriarchal School in 1360.
Works Theodore wrote an exegesis on the Gospels and a poem on Sôphrosynè (Temperance) which may be attributed to him.
Tribiblos Theodore's main work is his Astronomical Tribiblos, in three books, whose autograph manuscript is preserved (Vaticanus gr. 792), was composed before 1352. The work deals with an assortment of mathematical and astronomical issues and draws from some earlier Greek authors like George Pachymeres and Theodore Metochites. The second book is devoted to Ptolemy, whose calculations he explained in the manner of Theon of Alexandria. Finally, in book 3 he devotes himself to Persian astronomy, drawing especially from George Chrysokokkes, whose work he corrected in many places. In all of them, he explicitly condemns Astrology, dissociating his Astronomy from the Persian tradition represented by Chrysokokkes.
The pedagogical character of the Tribiblos is obvious and it may have been used to give senior astronomy training to the Byzantine clergy.
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Important facts
People in Theodore Meliteniotes's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Theodore Meliteniotes?
Byzantine Greek astronomer and teacher (c.1320–1393)
When was Theodore Meliteniotes born?
Theodore Meliteniotes was born in 1320 in Constantinople.
When did Theodore Meliteniotes die?
Theodore Meliteniotes died on 8 March 1393 in Constantinople.
What was Theodore Meliteniotes's occupation?
Theodore Meliteniotes was an astronomer, astrologer, teacher, writer and exegete.
What nationality was Theodore Meliteniotes?
Theodore Meliteniotes was Byzantine.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Theodore Meliteniotes
· DBpedia: Theodore Meliteniotes
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Theodore Meliteniotes. https://biography.guide/theodore-meliteniotes/
MLA: "Theodore Meliteniotes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/theodore-meliteniotes/.
Chicago: "Theodore Meliteniotes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/theodore-meliteniotes/.
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