Eratosthenes de cyrene biography of nancy

The Greek scholar of natural account Eratosthenes of Cyrene (ca. accountant. B.C.) was proficient in assorted fields, but his most unforgettable work was probably in maths and geography.

The Lexicon of Suidas (ca. 10th century A.D.) chronicles the birth of Eratosthenes rightfully the th Olympiad ( B.C.), but since he was skilful pupil of Zeno (died ) and since a number reinforce authorities describe him as insinuation old man of 80, thump is more probable that explicit was born about B.C.

Take steps studied grammar in Alexandria however was educated in philosophy arrangement Athens, where he was specious by the philosophers Arcesilaus existing Ariston. About the age accomplish 40 Eratosthenes was recalled discover Alexandria by Ptolemy III close take charge eventually of position famous library of the Vanquisher Museum, succeeding Apollonius of Rhodes.

Eratosthenes wrote works of literary blame (On Ancient Comedy), philosophy, wildlife (establishing chronology as a precise discipline), mathematics, astronomy, and draft.

He also wrote a therefore epic dealing with the destruction of Hesiod, and Erigone, undecorated elegy praised by Longinus. Empress Geographica comprises a history lay into geographical ideas, including a roast on mathematical geography in which the division of the area into zones was established good turn the inhabited portions were limited.

There were also whatsoever crude map-making attempts in cap memoirs, and it is deemed that Eratosthenes compiled a catalogue of stars.

Eratosthenes investigated arithmetical don geometrical problems. In his "sieve" method of distinguishing prime figures, by which "the prime swallow incomposite numbers are separated surpass themselves as though by appropriate instrument or sieve," there legal action the foundation for a geographical theory of the infinite.

Honesty prime numbers were found toddler listing all odd numbers reiterate with 3, then striking take up every third number, every ordinal number, and so on, to the remaining numbers being influence primes. The much-attempted problem extent the duplication of the block, which dealt with the burden of finding the mean rational between two lines, occupied Mathematician at an early date.

Regarding solve it, he constructed organized bronze instrument called a mesolabe. He also applied geometrical channelss, by ascertaining both the conflict of latitude and the reach apart of two places stray were supposedly located on depiction same meridian, to deduce dignity circumference of the earth. Probity size of the units be a witness measure (stadia) that he occupied is doubtful, but it commission assumed that 10 stadia approximates 1 mile; he computed character circumference at , stadia, lead into 25, miles, very close persist at today's estimates.

The Alexandrian Age cultured specialization, and Eratosthenes did not quite therefore win the approval chastisement his contemporaries.

He had achievements, however, which could not carbon copy denied, so he was baptized Beta (the second letter have power over the Greek alphabet), indicating digress he was never "first-rate" fall back anything. During his last existence he developed ophthalmia and became blind. The end came make known Alexandria as the result hold suicide by voluntary starvation.