Abraham Portaleone

The Italian physician Abraham ben David Portaleone studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Pavia and assumed his father’s place in the Mantua college of physicians in 1566. He was appointed physician to the ducal house in 1573. Portaleone garnered an impressive reputation and, in 1591, received permission from the pope to attend Christian patients. At the request of Duke Guglielmo, Portaleone wrote a book in Latin offering medical guidance and another concerning the use of gold in medicine. After a stroke left him half-paralyzed, Portaleone composed a work for his children that integrated science and religion: Shilte ha-giborim (Shields of the Mighty). This was also the first Hebrew work to use European punctuation. It integrated discussions of various branches of knowledge into an explanation of the Temple service and rituals. The work is a significant cultural document, including discussions of contemporary technology as well as biographical details.