1230-1294

Italian encyclopedist who in his Tesoro (1260) made an early mention of the compass's use at sea, as well as superstitions surrounding the compass's seemingly magical powers. A prominent Florentine, Latini greatly influenced Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Though in the Inferno section of Dante's major work, The Divine Comedy, Latini is shown suffering, condemned because of his homosexuality, Dante's persona in the work addresses Latini with obvious respect.