Search

[German version] [1] Mathematician, c. AD 200 (Σπόρος; Spóros) or Porus (Πόρος; Póros). It is unclear whether the two individuals of this name living around AD 200 are in fact the same person (v. [5]). S. or Porus wrote a (lost) compilation, Κηρία ( Keria), with extracts on the quadrature of the circle and the duplication of the cube [4. 226]. He criticized Archimedes' [1] approximation of the number pi (thus [1. 258,22]), provided his own solution to the problem of the duplication of the cube [1. 76-78; 4. 266-268] and rejected the Quadratrix of Hippias [5] of …

Almost all we know about the mathematics of the pre-Greek cultures of the Ancient Near East, essentially Mesopotamian and Egyptian mathematics, originates from written sources. These are mainly from the scribal traditions, even though some sources give a glimpse of the mathematics of ‘lay’ practitioners. When scribes were concerned with the properties of mathematical objects, the purpose was always to calculate something. That is always true in professional practice, but it also holds for school texts, even when these deal with situations …

(Αρισταιο̃ς; Aristaîos). [German version] [1] Greek rural deity Rural deity linked with sheep, the discovery of olive oil and honey, hunting, healing, prophecy and the end- ing of a period of drought on Ceos (cf. Apoll. Rhod. 2,500 ff.). In literature he is famous for the death of his bees, which occurred because he was responsible for the death of  Euridices, and he successfully searched for ways to restore the bee populations (Verg. G. 4,315-558). A. is a complex figure who can be found in Central Greece, in Arcadia, on Ceos and in Cyrene. He was the husband of Auto…

[German version] [1] Prisoner of war from Pedasa Prisoner of war from Pedasa, who, according to Hdt. 8,104f., as a eunuch, had become one of the closest confidants of  Xerxes I and is said to have taken his revenge on the slave trader Panionius (Ath. 6,266e attests that the story was well known).  Eunuchs Wiesehöfer, Josef (Kiel) Bibliography 1 P. Briant, Histoire de l'empire perse de Cyrus à Alexandre, 1996, 283-288 2 P. Guyot, Eunuchen als Sklaven und Freigelassene, 1980, Register s.v. [German version] [2] Mathematician from Colophon of Colophon, mathematician. He continued …

(Λεωδάμας; Leōdámas). [German version] [1] Athenian orator, c. 400 BC The Athenian L. of Acharnae, a skilful orator (Aristot. Rh. 2,23,25 1400a 31-35), was rejected at his dokimasia of 382 BC to assess his candidacy for the eponymous archonship ( Archontes) because of his political role prior to 403 (Lys. 26,13f.). Engels, Johannes (Cologne) Bibliography PA 9076 Davies 13921, p. 523 LGPN 2, s.v. Leodamas (2) Traill, PAA 605085. [German version] [2] Athenian rhetor, 4th cent. BC Son of Erasistratus of Acharnae, outstanding Athenian rhetor, student of Isocrates (Plut. Mor…

(Θεαίτητος; Theaítētos). [German version] [1] T. of Athens, mathematician, c. 400 BC Mathematician, a native of Athens, pupil of Theodorus [2] of Cyrene and later a member of Plato's Academy ( Akadḗmeia ). In Plato's [1] dialogue named after him, T. appears (together with the aged Theodorus [2]) as about fifteen years old in 399 BC; he was therefore born c. 414. Plato describes him as gentle, courageous and quick to apprehend. After he had been wounded in the battle of Corinth, T. contracted dysentery and died in 369. T. contributed substantially to the theory of irrational quantiti…

[German version] [1] Of Alexandria, mathematician and engineer, 1st cent. AD (Ἥρων; Hḗrōn). [German version] A. Life H. of Alexandria, mathematician and engineer. No details of his life are known. He lived after  Archimedes [1], whom he quotes, and before  Pappus, who quotes him. In the Dioptra, ch. 35, H. describes a method for determining the time difference between Rome and Alexandria by observing the same eclipse of the moon at both locations. It is quite likely that this eclipse occurred in AD 62 and that H. probably observed it himself in Alexandria [10. 21-24]. Folkerts, Menso (Mu…

(Αὐτόλυκος; Autólykos). [German version] [1] Son of Hermes and Chione Son of Hermes and Chione (or Philonis, who also bore the singer  Philammon to Apollo, Hes. fr. 64,14). He was included in various mythical family circles, as the father of  Odysseus' mother Anticlea (Hom. Od. 11,85), of  Jason's mother Polymede (Apollod. 1,107) and of Aesimus, the father of  Sinon. He gives the newborn Odysseus his name, and it is whilst hunting with his sons on Mount Parnassus that Odysseus receives the wound in his th…

(Κάρπος; Kárpos). [German version] [1] Son of Zephyrus and a certain Hore Handsome youth, son of Zephyrus and of a certain Hore ( Horae). He organizes a swimming race with  Calamus, his best friend, but drowns in the event. In mourning, his friend kills himself and is turned into reeds. C. is turned into a crop of the field (Nonnus, Dion. 11,385-481). Frey, Alexandra (Basle) [German version] [2] C. of Antioch Mathematician A mathematician, who lived presumably in the 1st or 2nd cent. AD. Information on him is given in four fragments by Pappus (8,3), Proclus (in Euc…

[1] of Syracuse C. 287-232 BC [German version] A. Life A. was born in 287 BC in Syracuse, son of the astronomer Phidias. He was friends with King Hieron II, and later with his son Gelon. A. probably spent some time in Alexandria; he later sent on his writings to the mathematicians (Conon, Dositheus, Eratosthenes) who were working there. In Syracuse, A. studied problems of mathematical and physical theory, but also their practical applications; the machines and physical apparatus which he built (e.g. the s…

[English version] I. Mesopotamien Die Existenz math. Könnens wird aus den ersten Schriftzeugnissen aus Uruk in den Urkunden einer komplexen Verwaltungsorganisation greifbar. Aus der Zeit um 2700 v.Chr. stammen außer den ersten lit. Texten auch Beispiele von nicht-praxisbezogenen math. Aufgaben, z.B. Divisionen von sehr großen runden Zahlen oder Maßen mit Divisoren, die mit der Struktur von Zahlensystem und Metrologie nicht harmonieren. Nicht-praxisbezogene Aufgaben finden sich auch unter den Texten …

(Γέμινος). [English version] [1] Astronom und Mathematiker, um 70 v. Chr. Astronom und Mathematiker aus der Schule des Poseidonios. Über sein Leben ist fast nichts bekannt. Die Blütezeit seines Schaffens war um 70 v.Chr. Allg. wird angenommen, daß er auf Rhodos lebte. Die einzige vollständig erh. Schrift des G. ist die ‘Einführung in die Astronomie (Εἰσαγωγὴ εἰς τὰ φαινόμενα). Sie steht in der Trad. des Eudoxos und des Aratos [4]. Ähnlich wie die spätere Schrift des Kleomedes ist sie ein elementares astron…

(Κάρπος). [English version] [1] Sohn des Zephyros und einer Hore Schöner Jüngling, Sohn des Zephyros und einer Hore (Horai). Mit Kalamos, seinem besten Freund, veranstaltet er ein Wettschwimmen, bei dem er ertrinkt. Aus Trauer tötet sich sein Freund und verwandelt sich in Schilfrohr. K. wird in eine Feldfrucht verwandelt (Nonn. Dion. 11,385-481). Frey, Alexandra (Basel) [English version] [2] K. aus Antiocheia Mathematiker, 1./2. Jh.? Mathematiker, lebte verm. im 1. oder 2. Jh.n.Chr. Über K.' Schriften informieren vier Fr. bei Pappos (8,3), Proklos (in Eucl. …

(Λεωδάμας). [English version] [1] athen. Redner, um 400 v. Chr. Der Athener L. aus Acharnai, ein geschickter Redner (Aristot. rhet. 2,23,25 1400a 31-35), wurde 382 v.Chr. in der dokimasía als Kandidat für das eponyme Archontat ( árchontes ) wegen seiner polit. Rolle vor 403 zurückgewiesen (Lys. 26,13f.). Engels, Johannes (Köln) Bibliography PA 9076  Davies 13921, S. 523  LGPN 2, s.v. Leodamas (2)  Traill, PAA 605085. [English version] [2] athen. Rhetor, 4. Jh. v. Chr. Sohn des Erasistratos aus Acharnai, hervorragender athen. Rhetor, Schüler des Isokrates (Plut. mor. 8…

[1] aus Syrakus ca. 287-232 v. Chr. [English version] A. Leben A. wurde als Sohn des Astronomen Pheidias um 287 v. Chr. in Syrakus geboren. Er war mit König Hieron II. und seinem Sohn Gelon befreundet. A. lebte wahrscheinlich zeitweise in Alexandreia; den dort wirkenden Mathematikern (Konon, Dositheos, Eratosthenes) sandte er später seine Schriften zu. In Syrakus beschäftigte sich A. mit Fragen der theoretischen Mathematik und Physik, aber auch mit Anwendungen; die von ihm gebauten Maschinen und physikalis…

[English version] [1] Kriegsgefangener aus Pedasa Kriegsgefangener aus Pedasa, der nach Hdt. 8,104f. als verschnittener Eunuch zu einem der engsten Vertrauten des Xerxes I. geworden sein und sich am Sklavenhändler Panionios gerächt haben soll (Athen. 6,266e bezeugt die Bekanntheit der Geschichte). Eunuch Wiesehöfer, Josef (Kiel) Bibliography 1 Briant, 283-288 2 P. Guyot, Eunuchen als Sklaven und Freigelassene, 1980, Register s.v. [English version] [2] Mathematiker aus Kolophon von Kolophon, Mathematiker. Er hat (nach Eudemos) die Stud. des Eudoxos [1] und Th…

(Αὐτόλυκος). [English version] [1] Sohn von Hermes und Chione Sohn von Hermes und Chione (oder Philonis, die von Apollon auch den Sänger Philammon gebar, Hes. fr. 64,14). Er wurde in verschiedene Mythenkreise einbezogen, als Vater von Odysseus' Mutter Antikleia (Hom. Od. 11,85), von Iasons Mutter Polymede (Apollod. 1,107) sowie von Aisimos, Vater des Sinon. Er gibt dem neugeborenen Odysseus seinen Namen, und auf der Jagd mit seinen Söhnen am Parnassos erhält Odysseus seine Schenkelwunde (Od. 19,392-466).…

(Αρισταιο̃ς). [English version] [1] griech. ländliche Gottheit Ländliche Gottheit, die mit Schafen, dem Auffinden von Olivenöl und Honig, Jagen, Heilen, Weissagen und dem Beenden einer Dürreperiode auf Keos verbunden ist (vgl. Apoll. Rhod. 2,500 ff.). Lit. bekannt ist er dadurch, daß seine Bienen starben, weil er an Euridikes' Tod Schuld trug und er erfolgreich nach Wegen zur Regeneration der Bienenvölker suchte (Verg. georg. 4,315-558). A. ist eine komplexe Figur, die in Zentralgriechenland, in Arkadien, auf Keos und in Kyrene beheimatet ist. Er war Gatte d…

(Διοφαντός; Diophantós). [German version] [1] Writer of comedies Author of comedies, dates unknown; one fragment and the title of one play (Μετοικιζόμενος) have been preserved. Nesselrath, Heinz-Günther (Göttingen) Bibliography 1 PCG V, 42. [German version] [2] Commander under Mithridates VI Eupator From Sinope, son of Asclepiodotus, commander to Mithridates VI Eupator. In 110 BC he provided skilful military and diplomatic support to the inhabitants of the city of Chersonesus and thus enabled them to withstand the Scythians (Str. 7,3,1…

[German version] [1] Praefectus praetorio Orientis 405-414 AD Probably sent to Persia as an envoy in AD 383, comes sacrarum larg. (eastern region) in AD 400; magister officiorum (eastern region) at the latest in AD 404, cos. 405; at the latest from AD 406 patricius. A. gained considerable political influence in his role as praefectus praetorio Orientis from AD 405-414, initially under Arcadius, later under the underage Theodosius II. He was a Christian, but looked upon pagan culture with an open mind [1. 82 f.]. Through the building of walls, he took…