OK, this is a rather juvenile sentiment to express, but I have to confess that I love Wikipedia. The other day I was looking up information on pre-Capernican systems for explaining observed planetary motion, and came across the remarkable entry for Tycho Brahe. Brahe was a noseless 16th Century Danish nobleman known for important contributions to alchemy and the mechanics of an earth-centered solar system, none of which turned out to be even vaguely correct, of course.
So first, there is the nose issue. Wikipedia explains that while studying in the German city of Rostock in 1566, Tycho lost his nose in a duel, the dispute arising with his cousin over the veracity of a mathematical formula. As neither gentleman was sufficiently mathematically equipped to prove his opinion on the matter, they decided to have a duel in order to settle the argument. In the dark. If more math controversies were resolved in this way, think of the epidemic of noselessness that might befall university math departments! "For the rest of his life, he was said to have worn a replacement made of silver and gold, using a paste or glue to keep it attached", explains Wikipedia, along with a photo of a nose similar to that which Tycho wore (but not Tycho's actual nose):
So first, there is the nose issue. Wikipedia explains that while studying in the German city of Rostock in 1566, Tycho lost his nose in a duel, the dispute arising with his cousin over the veracity of a mathematical formula. As neither gentleman was sufficiently mathematically equipped to prove his opinion on the matter, they decided to have a duel in order to settle the argument. In the dark. If more math controversies were resolved in this way, think of the epidemic of noselessness that might befall university math departments! "For the rest of his life, he was said to have worn a replacement made of silver and gold, using a paste or glue to keep it attached", explains Wikipedia, along with a photo of a nose similar to that which Tycho wore (but not Tycho's actual nose):
The other issue of interest is Tycho's Elk. Wikipedia cites someone named Pierre Gassendi to the effect that Tycho kept a domesticated elk in his castle. The text then explains:
"[H]is mentor the Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (Hesse-Cassel) asked whether there was an animal faster than a deer. Tycho replied, writing that there was none, but he could send his tame elk. When Wilhelm replied he would accept one in exchange for a horse, Tycho replied with the sad news that the elk had just died on a visit to entertain a nobleman at Landskrona. Apparently during dinner the elk had drunk a lot of beer, fallen down the stairs, and died."
There is no accompanying photo of an elk, similar to the kind owned by Tycho, but not his actual elk.
"[H]is mentor the Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (Hesse-Cassel) asked whether there was an animal faster than a deer. Tycho replied, writing that there was none, but he could send his tame elk. When Wilhelm replied he would accept one in exchange for a horse, Tycho replied with the sad news that the elk had just died on a visit to entertain a nobleman at Landskrona. Apparently during dinner the elk had drunk a lot of beer, fallen down the stairs, and died."
There is no accompanying photo of an elk, similar to the kind owned by Tycho, but not his actual elk.
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