A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Cunitia, or Cunitz Maria
CUNITIA, or CUNITZ MARIA,
A lady of great genius and learning, was born in Silesia, about the beginning of the seventeenth century. She became, when very young, celebrated for her extensive knowledge in many branches of learning, particularly in mathematics and astronomy, upon which she wrote several ingenious treatises; one of which, under the title of "Urania Propitia," printed in 1650, in Latin and German, she dedicated to Ferdinand the Third, Emperor of Germany. In this work are contained astronomical tables, of great care and accuracy, founded upon Kepler's hypotheses. She acquired languages with amazing facility; and understood Polish, German, French, Italian, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. With equal care she acquired a knowledge of the sciences, history, physic, poetry, painting, music, both vocal and instrumental; and yet they were no more than her amusements. Her favourite studies were mathematics and astronomy; and she was ranked among the ablest astronomers of the age. The exact time of her birth is not known. She married Elias de Lewin, M.D., and died at Pistcheu, in 1664. The name of this learned lady is now little known, but several famous men have borrowed from her works to enrich their own. without any acknowledgment of the real author.