AURISPA, GIOVANNI (c. 1370-1459), Italian scholar, who did much to promote the revival of the study of Greek in Italy, was born at Noto, in Sicily. In 1418 he visited Constanti nople, where he remained for some years, perfecting his knowledge of Greek and searching for ancient mss. His efforts were rewarded by the acquisition of some 25o mss., with which he returned to Venice. Here he is said to have been obliged to pawn his treasures for so gold florins to provide for his immediate wants. Cosimo de' Medici, hearing of his embarrassment, redeemed the mss. and summoned the owner to Florence. Aurispa was secretary to Pope Eugenius IV., and afterwards to Nicholas V., who presented him to two lucrative abbacies. He died at Ferrara.