Pontanus, Georg-barthold Von Braitenberg

Pontanus, Georg-Barthold von Braitenberg a learned Bohemian prelate, was born at Brux about the middle of the 16th century. He had scarcely taken orders when he achieved a reputation by his eloquence in the pulpit, as well as for his remarkable Latin verses, for which last-named attainment he was in 1588 crowned with the poetical laurels by the emperor Rudolph. Appointed canon of the cathedral of Prague in 1582, he afterwards became provost and vicar-general in the same city. He exercised a great and happy influence on the important questions then under debate in Bohemia. He died in 1616. His works are, Der Triumph des Podagra (Frankf. 1605, 4to): — Bibliothek der Pedigten aus alien und neuen Schriftstellern (Cologne, 1608. fol.): — Dasfromme Bohmen (Frankf. 1608, fil.); a selection of the most remarkable acts of piety of the princes and prelates of Bohemia: — Scanderbeugus, seu vita Georgii Castriotce (Hanau, 1609. 8vo): — a number of Latin poems: — a good edition of the treatise De geminis rerum proprietatibus of Bartholomeus Anglicus (Frankf. 1601, 8vo). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.