Elena Cornaro Piscopia

The Padua Cathedral was filled with University authorities, the professors of all the faculties, the students, and most of the Venetian Senators, together with many invited guests from the Universities of Bologna, Perugia, Rome, and Naples. Elena Cornaro Piscopia did not show any nervousness during the full hour she spoke in classical Latin to get her degree of doctor of philosophy by explaining random passages from the works of Aristotle. The audience listened with great attention as she spoke, and applauded with fervor as she was awarded the insignia of the doctorate, the book of philosophy, the wreath of laurel on her head, the ring on her finger, and over her shoulders the ermine mozetta placed by Professor Rinaldini. She is the first woman to receive a doctoral degree from a university, which wouldn't have been possible hadn't her family followed the advice of Giovanni Fabris to let her study under distinguished instructors. The title "Oraculum Septilingue" - master of seven languages - is well-earned, for she is proficient in Hebrew, Spanish, French, Latin, Greek, Arabic and Chaldaic besides her native tongue. Besides languages, she is studying mathematics, philosophy, and theology. She is an expert musician, mastering the harpsichord, the clavichord, the harp, and the violin.