Jan Marek Marci facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Marek Marci
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| Born | 13 June 1595 Lanškroun
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| Died | 10 April 1667 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Alma mater | University of Olomouc, Olomouc Charles University, Prague |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medicine, Mechanics, Optics, Mathematics |
| Institutions | Charles University, Prague |
Jan Marek Marci (born June 13, 1595 – died April 10, 1667) was a famous Czech doctor and scientist. He was also the head (rector) of the Charles University in Prague. He served as a personal doctor to the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. A crater on the far side of the Moon is named Marci after him!
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Jan Marci's Life and Work
Jan Marek Marci was born in Lanškroun. This town is near the border between Bohemia and Moravia. These areas are now part of the Czech Republic. He studied under a famous scholar named Athanasius Kircher.
What Did Marci Do at Charles University?
Marci spent most of his career as a professor at Charles University in Prague. He taught medicine for over 30 years. He was chosen as the Dean of the medical school eight times. In 1662, he became the Rector (head) of the university.
Marci's Role as a Doctor and Nobleman
Jan Marci was the personal doctor for two emperors. These were Ferdinand III and Leopold I. He also helped defend Prague against the Swedish armies in 1648. In 1654, he received a special title. He became "de Kronland," which was a noble title.
Marci's Scientific Discoveries
Jan Marci studied many different things. He looked into how objects hit each other (mechanics). He also studied epilepsy and how light bends (refraction).
How Did Marci Understand Light and Color?
Before Marci, many scientists thought that light changed into colors. They believed colors were just different shades between white and black. But Marci had a different idea. He thought that light only changed into colors when it bent. This bending happened when light passed through something thick.
He believed that different colors were created by light bending in specific ways. He said that each color, like red, green, blue, and purple, was a basic color. He also stated that these basic colors could not be changed further by bending them again. This idea was similar to what Isaac Newton later discovered.
Marci and the Voynich Manuscript
Jan Marci once owned a very mysterious book. It is called the Voynich Manuscript. He got the book after its previous owner, an alchemist named Georg Baresch, died. Marci sent this strange book to his friend, Athanasius Kircher. He sent a letter with it in 1666 (or maybe 1665). This letter is still with the manuscript today.
Honoring Jan Marci
Today, Jan Marci is remembered for his important work. The Slovak-Czech Spectroscopy Society gives out an annual medal. This medal is given to great scientists in his honor.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Jan Marek Marci.
