Tzemach David / Dittionario Novo Hebraico [trilingual lexicon]

DE POMIS, DAVID

Giovanni di Gara

Venice

1587

FIRST EDITION. Arms of Pope Sixtus V on f. 2r and of the De Pomis (“Min Hatapuchim”) Family on. f. 5v. (Yaari, Hebrew Printers’ Marks, no. 41)

Vinograd, Venice 717; Habermann, di Gara 97a; Adams P-1823

Celebrated Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Italian dictionary presenting definitions from Kimchi’s Shorashim, Levita’s Tishbi, and Nathan ben Yechiel’s Aruch, and adding numerous historical and scientific observations and discourses. Trained as a medical doctor, David de Pomis’ expositions of Biblical and Talmudic terms comprise a good deal of curious and interesting medieval scientific lore. The introductory pages embody the author’s genealogy and autobiography and recount the remakable history of the ancient de Pomis family, brought in chains to Italy from the Land of Israel by Emperor Titus following his siege and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E.