hut when deposed in 937,
Saadia hen- Joseph was again incumbent 937-942
When Saadia died, the deposed anti-gaon was
airaiu elected 942-94S
But with Saadia's death the last snu-et light of the Soranic academy had passed away; and the dilapidated state of that once so famous school obliged Joseph beu-Satia to relinquish Sora, and to emigrate to Bassra, in 948. The school founded by Kab, after ii had flourished for more than seven hundred years, was now closed. But the Soranians, it seems, could not get over the downfall of the venerable academy, and used all their endeavors to continue the same. Tiiey sent four famous Talmudisis outside of Babylo- nia to interest the Jewish congregations for "this old alma mater. Bui these hiessengers never returned; they fell into the hands of a Spanish corsair. Among these captives was Moses ben- Charlock (q. v.), who was brought to Spain, where he propagated Jewish learning on the peninsula. In the meantime there was an
Interrerfnnm at Sora from 948-1009
when Samuel ben-Chufni lOO'J-10^4
was elected to the presidency, to close up the list of presidents of that old school.
See Griitz, Gesck, d. Juden, iv, v, vi. See Schools, jEWISIi. (B. P.)
Soranus, in old Italian mythology, was a name of Plulo in use among the Sabines. Koman poets some- times idcntilied Soranus with the Greek Ajiollo (Virgil. ^neid, xi, 78G).
Soracte, a mountain in ancient Italy which, accord- ing to Scrvius, was sacred to the infernal gods, es]>ecial- ly to Diespiter. It was a custoin among the Hirpi (or llirpini) that at a festival held on jNIount Soracte they walked with bare feet upon glowing coals of fir-wood, carrying about the entrails of victims which had l)ecn sacrificed. This ceremony is coiniectcd by Strabo with the worship of Feronia. — (ia.i<\vi<^v, Faiths of the World, s. V.
Sorbin, de Sainte-Foi, A'RXArn. a French prelate, was born at Montech-en-yuerci, July 14, 1537. From a child he possessed an insatiable thirst for knowledge, which he pursued at Toulouse, where he finally became doctor of theology; and in loo7 he obtained the neigh- boring curacy of Sainte-Foi de Peyrolieres. At the in- vitation of the archbishop of Auch he preached in the churches of Toulouse, Narbonne. Lyons, and Paris; anil in 1o(j7 became court preacher of Catherine de Medicis. lie spent a laborious life in public labors, controversies, and hist<irical writings (a list of which is given in lloe- fer, Xtiiir. liiaij. Generalv, s. v.), ami ilicd at Nevers, IMarch 1, lOOti.'
Sorbon, Kobeut pe, founder of the famous French institute of the Sorhoime (q. v.), was born at Sorbon, Oct. 9, 12t)l. From the position of an almoner student he became successively priest, doctor of theology, and canon of the Church of Cambray. His piety and sermons gained him the notice of Louis IX, who made him his
SORBONNE
885
SORBONNE
chaplain and confessor. For the aid of poor students he formed a society of secular ecclesiastics, who lived in common, and gave gratuitous instruction. Out of this, under royal and papal patronage, eventually grew the school of theology known by his name. He died at Paris, Aug. 15, 1274, leaving all his property to the in- stitution. The Sorbonne formed one part only of the faculty of theology in the University of Paris; but its name became so famous that it was often given to the wliole, and gra<kiates were proud to name themselves of the Sorbonne rather than the university. See Hoefer, Aoiiv. Biorj. Geaende, s. v.
Sorbonne, The, of Paris, originally a seminary for indigent young men preparing for the secular priest- hood, but in course of time a college of learned men whose influence over theological thought was widely recognised. This body of scholars has frequently, but erroneously, been identitied with the theological facidty of the Universitj' of Paris, and also with the university itself.
The University of Paris may trace its origin to the time of Alcuin, inasmuch as an uninterrupted current of teaching extends from that period until the present. Put there was then no organization of faculties. Will- iam of Cliampeaux and Abelard taught philosophy and theology, and especially dialectics, at the beginning of the 12th century, but in any place where opportunity was afforded. During that century the Corpus Uni- versitatis was founded, and it was fully organized, be- ing divided into three faculties, etc., when the Sorbonne was opened. The founder of this college, the canon Pobert of Sorbon or Sorbonne, in Champagne, was cliaplain to Louis IX. His purpose was to assist poor young men in securing a theological education by af- fording them free tuition and training for the service of the Church. He obtained a site with a few build- ings from the crown-domains in the street Coupe-gorge, and there built his school. The proper spiritual au- thorities granted the necessary license for the institu- tion of a Conyregatio pauperuni maiiistrorum studentium ill fkeolof/ica J'acultute, and pope Clement confirmed it in A.D. 1268. The school began with sixteen students, four taken from each of the four parts into which the university was divided ; but its fame grew so rapidly that in a brief time over four hundred pupils thronged its halls. Eminent men were called to occupy its the- ological chairs, the first being William of Saint-Amour, Endes of Douai, and Laurent L'Anglois; and finally a preparatory school was added, called the CoUeye de Cal- 91, and more generally known as the Little iSorbonne, de- signed for five hundred boys.