Well, it is a rough start in life, when your dad fools around with your mom, who happens to be a peasant woman. He gets your mom pregnant — with you — and brings you born into this world, but not really a part of the Royal Family because you are illegitimate.
That’s what happened to little baby Elena, in Venice, in 1646.
Her father was indeed a big fatty when it came to royalty in Venice. Yes. He was Gianbattista Cornaro-Piscopia. I know. This doesn’t mean squat to us these days. But back then, he was a big dog — chosen to become the “Procuratore di San Marco de supra,” the treasurer of St. Mark’s Cathedral. This, I assume, was a coveted position among Venetian nobility. Because at that point, Gianbattista was second only to the “Doge of Venice” in terms of precedence. Doge = Chief Magistrate = Big Kahuna
Back to the debauchery. The mistress-mother was Zanetta, and her family was the poorest of poor. She had gone to Venice to try and find food. And then, “the thing” happened. Many times, in fact. They had several children. Eventually, despite their class difference, they married. But, for the kids, it didn’t matter. Because of Venetian Law, their children were barred from noble privilege, which galled Papa Big Kahuna.
Anyway, I’m talking more about dear old dad, that little Elena. She was, of course, Elena Cornaro Piscopia.
As a young girl, Elena was seen as a prodigy. There was a priest, who was a friend of the family, and he recognized her as such. He recommended that she began a classical education. So it began. She studied Latin and Greek under distinguished instructors. She caught on quick because, by the age of seven, she had become proficient in these languages, as well as French and Spanish She also mastered Hebrew and Arabic, earning the title of Oraculum Septilingue (“Seven-language Oracle”). Her later studies included mathematics, philosophy, and theology.
As if that were not enough, Elena came to be an expert musician. I took up the kazoo at that age. But Elena mastered the harpsichord, the clavichord, the harp, and the violin. Her amazing skills were shown by the music that she composed in her lifetime. But wait. There’s more. In her late teens and early twenties, she became interested in physics, astronomy, and linguistics. And me? Still fiddling around with the nuances of the kazoo.
Anyway. She was a real wizard. And she decided to further her education by earning a degree. After some serious friction, she worked her way through college. In 1678, Elena Cornaro Piscopia was awarded a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Padua. She was the first woman in history to receive a university doctoral degree or Ph.D. (For the record, the next female doctorate was granted by the University of Bologna in 1732 to Laura Bassi.)
Another item of note. She took a vow of celibacy early in her life. And, in 1665, she took the habit of a Benedictine oblate — without becoming a nun. The last seven years of her life were devoted to study and charity.
She died at an early age of 38 of Tuberculosis, in 1684.
There’s not much more about her life. Little questions remain, like, did she enjoy playing kickball at recess? Or, her favorite color dress? Did she like chocolate or vanilla? You know. Some of the important stuff. But we know she was a world-class smarty, in a time when it was frowned upon by all those powerful men in charge.
I might point out here, that the Equal Rights Amendment has not been ratified in the United States, so we women are still not recognized as equals.
But it is a nice story about Elena. Well, except for the part where she dies young.
https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/could-the-equal-rights-amendment-become-a-reality
===========
“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.”
― Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
============
From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor’s rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.
— Carl Shurz
===========
If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.
— Franz Boas
==============
