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DEGREE SYMBOL Google Doodle today: Elena Cornaro Piscopia was first woman to get PhD.

GOOGLE Doodle has unveiled another piece of artwork today celebrating Italian philosopher and academic Elena Cornaro Piscopia.

But who was she and what did she accomplish?


Elena Cornaro Piscopia


          Who was Elena Cornaro Piscopia?                     
Born in Venice on June 5, 1646, Elena Cornaro Piscopia was a Venetian philosopher of noble descent.

She was also known as Helen Cornaro - an Italian philosopher and academic.

Elena was born into a noble family and recognised as a prodigy at just seven years old.

She is one of the first women in the world to receive an academic degree from a university.

In 1678, she became the first woman in the world to receive a PhD degree.

Elena spoke a total of seven languages fluently.

When she was seven, she began receiving tutoring in Latin and Greek.

Elena came to be an expert musician as she mastered the harpsichord, the clavichord, the harp and the violin.

She also took a vow of celibacy at the young age of 11, although she did not tell anyone of her vow.

She turned down many marriage proposals, and later became a Benedictine oblate, a person dedicated to God's service but not a nun.

She devoted the final seven years of her life to charity and working with the poor.

Elena was widely acknowledged to be the most learned woman in Italy when she was just a teenager at 19 years old.

The philosopher and academic tragically died at the young age of 38 of tuberculosis on July 26, 1684.

 Google Doodle celebrates the 373rd birthday of Elena Cornaro Piscopia

Elena Cornaro Piscopia
Google Doodle celebrates the 373rd birthday of Elena Cornaro Piscopia Credit: Google



What does her Google Doodle show?

In her Doodle Elena is depicted reading, with shelves of books behind her.

The letters G-O-G-L-E are placed on the shelves, with the centre O on the back cover of her book.

The bookish design is a nod to her place in academia.

The Doodle celebrates her 373rd birthday.

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