Maimonides, Moses (Ben Maimon) (1135-1204)

Spanish-born Jewish rabbi and philosopher, one of the greatest Hebrew scholars. He attempted to reconcile faith and reason. His codification of Jewish law is known as the Mishneh Torah/Torah Reviewed (1180); he also formulated the Thirteen Principles, which summarize the basic beliefs of Judaism.

Maimonides was born in Córdoba, but left Spain 1160 to escape the persecution of the Jews and settled in Fès, and later in Cairo, where he was personal physician to Sultan Saladin. His philosophical classic More nevukhim/The Guide to the Perplexed 1176-91 helped to introduce Aristotelian thought into medieval philosophy.

He also wrote ten books on medicine.