Giulia Ammannati

Giulia Ammannati Historical Figure Nationality: Italy Year of Birth: 1538 Year of Death: 1620 Cause of Death: Natural causes Religion: Catholicism Occupation: Housewife Spouse: Vincenzo Galilei (d. 1591) Children: Galileo Galilei, plus six others Fictional Appearances: "But It Does Move" POD: c. 1633 (?) Type of Appearance: Posthumous Reference

Giulia di Cosimo Ammannati (1538 - August 1620) was the mother of Galileo Galilei. She bore her husband, Vincenzo Galilei seven children, Galileo included. After Vincenzo died in 1591 it fell to Galileo to support his mother and siblings. The fact that he was attending university made the burden that much heavier. Some evidence indicates that Giulia Ammannati was a difficult person to deal with, and surviving letters indicate that she reported her son to the Roman Inquisition on more than one occasion for failing to perform his religious duties.

She died of natural causes in 1620.

Giulia Ammannati in "But It Does Move"

Giulia Ammannati was long dead when her son was investigated by the Inquisition in 1633. She was a topic of conversation between Galileo and Cardinal Sigismondo Gioioso. Galileo described her as a dutiful and loving mother. The Cardinal wondered if Galileo had ever wished his father was out of the picture so he might have had more attention from his mother. Galileo could not recall such feelings at first.