JEKUTHIEL IBN ḤASAN:
(Redirected from KUSSIEL.)Statesman and scientist of the eleventh century; lived in Saragossa. According to Geiger, he is identical with the astronomer Ḥasan ben Ḥasan, who lived as dayyan in Cordova, where he wrote a work on astronomy, and later settled in Saragossa, where he filled a high position under the emir. "The government was upon his shoulders, and by his word princes ruled," sings Solomon ibn Gabirol, who found in Jekuthiel a benefactor and true friend, and who continually praises his learning, modesty, and generosity. In the revolution under Abdallah ibn Ḥakam, who conspired against his uncle, King Mundhir of Saragossa, and beheaded him (1039), Jekuthiel also was beheaded (Nisan, 1039), notwithstanding his great age; a year later, however, the murderers met their punishment. Jekuthiel's death was lamented by the foremost Jewish poets of his age, especially by Gabirol in a poem of more than 200 verses.
- Grätz, Gesch. vi. 26;
- idem. in Monatsschrift, vii. 453 et seq.;
- Geiger, in Z. D. M. G. xii. 514 et seq.;
- idem. Salomo Gabirol, pp. 38 et seq., 118 et seq., Dukes, Shire Shelomoh, pp. 29 et seq.;
- Senior Sachs, Salomo Gabirol, pp. 29-36.
