Moses Maimonides (1138–1204), also known as Rambam, was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher, astronomer, and physician who became one of the most influential Jewish thinkers of the medieval period. Born in Córdoba, his family fled Almohad persecution, eventually settling in Egypt where he became physician to the Sultan's vizier and leader of the Jewish community. His masterwork The Guide for the Perplexed sought to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with Jewish theology, addressing divine attributes, creation, prophecy, and evil. He argued that many biblical descriptions of God are metaphorical and that philosophical reasoning and faith lead to the same truths. His Mishneh Torah was the first comprehensive codification of all Jewish law. His Thirteen Principles of Faith became a foundational statement of Jewish belief. Maimonides influenced not only Jewish thought but also Christian thinkers, particularly Thomas Aquinas.