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Who was Philippe de Thaon, and which scientific works did he write?
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Philippe de Thaon (or Thaün) was one of the earliest writers of Anglo-Norman literature.
He is noted for his contributions to early scientific and didactic writing in the vernacular. His works include:
- Li Cumpoz (The Computus): A technical treatise on the calendar and the calculation of dates, such as Easter.
- Bestiary: He authored the first French bestiary, a popular medieval genre that described animals and often attributed moral or religious symbolism to them.
- Lapidary: He also wrote a work concerning the properties of precious stones.
These writings reflect the 12th-century interest in compiling technical and natural knowledge for a broader audience in England.1