author
Benedetto Castelli
1577–1643
A Benedictine monk, mathematician, and close disciple of Galileo, he helped shape early modern science while also laying foundations for the study of flowing water. His work connects big ideas in astronomy, mathematics, and practical engineering.
1 Audiobook
Discorso sopra la calamita
by Benedetto Castelli
About the author
Born Antonio Castelli in Brescia around 1577 or 1578, he entered the Benedictine order in 1595 and took the name Benedetto. He later studied under Galileo in Padua and became one of Galileo's most trusted students and supporters.
Castelli went on to teach mathematics at the University of Pisa, succeeding Galileo there, and later held a chair at La Sapienza in Rome. He is especially remembered for his work in hydraulics: his 1628 book Della misura dell’acque correnti is widely treated as a landmark in the development of modern fluid mechanics.
He also played a part in the scientific and religious debates of his time. Galileo addressed his famous 1613 letter on science and Scripture to Castelli, which shows how closely the two men worked together. Castelli died in 1643, leaving a reputation as both a serious scholar and an important link in Galileo's circle.