Abraham of Sarteano

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ABRAHAM OF SARTEANO

ABRAHAM OF SARTEANO (late 15th century), Italian Hebrew poet. Abraham was born in Sarteano, Tuscany. He wrote a poem of 50 tercets entitled "Sone ha-Nashim" ("The Woman Hater") in which he denounces women, drawing examples from the Bible, from rabbinic legends, and from Greek and Roman history and mythology. The poem aroused a spirited literary controversy over the merit of women which continued into the 16th century. Abraham's remarks were challenged by Avigdor Fano in Oẓer Nashim and by Elijah *Genazzano in Meliẓot.

bibliography:

H.J. Schirmann, Ha-Maḥazeh ha-Ivri ha-Rishon (19652), 122 ff.; Schirmann, Italyah, 210–5; Neubauer, in: Israelietische Letterbode, 10 (1884–85), 98–101; Steinschneider, ibid., 12 (1886–87), 55–56; Davidson, Oẓar, 1 (1924), 184, n. 1825.

[Jefim (Hayyim) Schirmann]

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Abraham of Sarteano

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