Nicolaus Copernicus buried in Poland

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the recent reburial of Nicolaus Copernicus in Poland, highlighting the historical context of his original burial and the significance of the ceremony at Frombork Cathedral. Participants explore various aspects of Copernicus' life, his contributions to astronomy, and the identification of his remains.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that Copernicus was buried in an unmarked grave due to the Church's view of his theories as heretical.
  • One participant expresses a humorous sentiment, suggesting that Copernicus might be "rolling over in his grave" regarding the recent attention to his burial.
  • Another participant shares detailed biographical information about Copernicus, including his education, the influence of his uncle, and his heliocentric theory, while emphasizing that he lacked the tools to prove his theories during his lifetime.
  • There is interest in the methods used to identify Copernicus' remains, including forensic reconstruction and DNA matching with hairs found in his books.
  • Several posts reiterate the information about Copernicus' reburial, indicating a shared interest in the event and its historical significance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the significance of Copernicus' reburial and the historical context surrounding it. However, there are varying tones and interpretations regarding the implications of this event, with some expressing humor and others focusing on the historical narrative.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about Copernicus' theories and their acceptance are presented without consensus on their historical accuracy or the implications of his work in the context of later developments in astronomy.

lisab
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Copernicus has been given a proper, respectful burial in Poland.

The Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was buried in an unmarked grave nearly 500 years ago, because the Church believed his theories were heretical, was reburied and honoured in a ceremony at Frombork Cathedral on Saturday.

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=16197
 
Science news on Phys.org
Something tells me Copernicus is rolling over in his grave.
 
NASA has an article about Nicolaus Copernicus. I hope everybody knows by now that I love NASA!:biggrin: "Nicolaus Copernicus died more than 450 years ago but is still considered the founder of modern astronomy!"


"
Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Thorn, Poland on February 19, 1473. He was the son of a wealthy merchant. After his father's death, he was raised by his mother's brother, a bishop in the Catholic Church. Copernicus studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Krakow. Through his uncle's influence Copernicus was appointed a canon (church official) of the Catholic Church. He used the income from the position to help pay for additional studies. Copernicus studied law and medicine at the universities of Bologna, Padua, and Ferrara in Italy. While he was studying at the University of Bologna, his interest in astronomy was stimulated. He lived in the home of a mathematics professor who influenced him to question the astronomy beliefs of the day.

After his return to Poland, Copernicus lived in his uncle's bishopric palace. While there he performed church duties, practiced medicine and studied astronomy. In Copernicus' time most astronomers believed the theory the Greek astronomer Ptolomy had developed more than 1,000 years earlier. Ptolomy said the Earth was the center of the universe and was motionless. He believed all other heavenly bodies moved in complicated patterns around the Earth. Copernicus felt that Ptolomy's theory was incorrect. Sometime between 1507 and 1515, he first circulated the principles of his heliocentric or Sun-centered astronomy. Copernicus' observations of the heavens were made with the naked eye. He died more than fifty years before Galileo became the first person to study the skies with a telescope. From his observations, Copernicus concluded that every planet, including Earth, revolved around the Sun. He also determined that the Earth rotates daily on its axis and that the Earth's motion affected what people saw in the heavens. Copernicus did not have the tools to prove his theories. By the 1600s, astronomers such as Galileo would develop the physics that would prove he was correct. Copernicus died on May 24, 1543.
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/copernicus.html
"
 
It's pretty fascinating how they identified his remains.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100522/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_copernicus_reburied;_ylt=AkIcGZQH29TbrJVfYACvIJis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQxMmY3cmR2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNTIyL2V1X3BvbGFuZF9jb3Blcm5pY3VzX3JlYnVyaWVkBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2FzdHJvbm9tZXJjbw--

At the urging of a local bishop, scientists began searching in 2004 for the astronomer's remains and eventually turned up a skull and bones of a 70-year-old man — the age Copernicus was when he died. A reconstruction made by forensic police based on the skull showed a broken nose and other features that resemble a self-portrait of Copernicus.

In a later stage of the investigation, DNA taken from teeth and bones matched that from hairs found in one of his books, leading the scientists to conclude with great probability that they had finally found Copernicus.
 
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lisab said:
Copernicus has been given a proper, respectful burial in Poland.

Ah, I was wondering if you had just heard about his passing.
 
lisab said:
Copernicus has been given a proper, respectful burial in Poland.

The Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was buried in an unmarked grave nearly 500 years ago, because the Church believed his theories were heretical, was reburied and honoured in a ceremony at Frombork Cathedral on Saturday.

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=16197

we have been there:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2487453&postcount=4008
 
Last edited by a moderator:
lisab said:
Copernicus has been given a proper, respectful burial in Poland.



http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=16197

I was just about to feel sad. Good thing it was just a moving thing, because, otherwise, you know, you just never know what might happen.