Flavio Gioia or Gioja, also known as Ioannes Gira Amalphensis (Italian pronunciation: [ˈflaːvjo ˈdʒɔːja]; c. 1300 – ?) is reputed to have been an Italian mariner, inventor, and supposedly a marine pilot. He has traditionally been credited with developing the sailor's compass, but this has been debated. However, he is credited with perfecting it by suspending its needle over a wind rose design with north designed by a fleur-de-lys, and enclosing it in a box with a glass cover. He was also said to have introduced such design, which pointed North, to defend against Charles of Anjou, the French king of Naples.[1][2]
Although the surname "Gioia" is true, the name "Flavio" has been demonstrated to be a translation error. His real name was probably Giovanni; and his birthplace has been found to be Positano, in the Amalfi Coast.[3]
It is also likely that Flavio Gioja did not exist at all. In the middle of the XVth century historian Flavio Biondo wrote that compass had been invented in Amalfi. Then in 1511 Giambatista Pio wrote: "In Amalfi, Campania, the use of the magnet was invented, according to Flavio". But later due to a misplaced comma this was narrated as "the use of the magnet was invented by Flavio, it is said"[4]
The lunar crater Gioja is named after him.[5]
References
[edit]- Si trattò soltanto di un errore dovuto ad una virgola (It was just a mistake caused by a comma) (found at sapere.it, stored at archive.org)
- ^ "Manners, Customs, and Observances: Their Origin and Significance: Naval and Military". sacred-texts.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ^ Winter, Henrich. "Who invented the compass?." The Mariner's Mirror 23, no. 1 (1937): 95-102.
- ^ Gargano, Giovanni. Storia della Bussola.
- ^ "Magnetic compass". Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Gioja crater". www.esa.int. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction