Miles of Marseilles

Who is Miles of Marseilles?

Miles of Marseilles was a Provençal-Jewish physician and philosopher of the Middle Ages. He was born at Marseille around 1294. In some manuscripts he is designated by the name "Bongodos," the Provençal language equivalent of "ben Judah."

From early youth he devoted himself to the study of science and philosophy. While still young he left his native place for Salon-de-Provence, where he studied astronomy under the direction of Abba Mari Senior Astruc de Noves. In 1322 he is met with at Beaucaire as a prisoner together with other Jews in the tower of Rodorte. Later he sojourned successively at Murcia, Tarascon, Aix, and Montélimar.

Miles became known through his Hebrew language translations from the Arabic of scientific and philosophical works. These include:

Ha-She'elot ha-Dibriyyot meha-Derushim Asher le-Filusufim, translation of questions or dissertations concerning some obscure points in the commentary of Averroes on certain parts of the "Organon," finished May 8, 1320;

translation of the Middle Commentary of Averroes on Aristotle's Ethics completed at Beaucaire Feb. 9, 1321;