Geminus of Rhodes (Greek:
Geminus | |
---|---|
Nationality | Greek |
Known for | Astronomer and mathematician |
Scientific career | |
Academic advisors | Posidonius |
Life
editNothing is known about the life of Geminus. It is not even certain that he was born in Rhodes, but references to mountains on Rhodes in his astronomical works suggests that he worked there. His dates are not known with any certainty either. A passage in his works referring to the Annus Vagus (Wandering Year) of the Egyptian calendar of 120 years before his own time, has been used to imply a date of c. 70 BC for the time of writing,[1] which would be consistent with the idea that he may have been a pupil of Posidonius, but a date as late as 50 AD has also been suggested.[2]
The crater Geminus on the Moon is named after him.[citation needed]
Astronomy
editThe only work of Geminus to survive is his Introduction to the Phenomena (Greek:
He also wrote a commentary on Posidonius' work On Meteorology. Fragments of this commentary are preserved by Simplicius in his commentary on Aristotle's Physics.
Mathematics
editGeminus also wrote extensively on mathematics, including a comprehensive Doctrine, (or Theory) of Mathematics.[4] Although this work has not survived, many extracts are preserved by Proclus, Eutocius, and others. He divided mathematics into two parts: Mental (Greek: νοητά) and Observable (Greek:
Notes
edit- ^ Dicks, D., Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York. (1970).[ISBN missing]
- ^ Neugebauer, O., A History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy. New York. (1975).[ISBN missing]
- ^ Evans, J., The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, p. 91. Oxford University Press. (1998).[ISBN missing]
- ^ Heath, T., A Manual of Greek Mathematics, Dover Publications. (2003).
Bibliography
edit- Evans, J., Berggren, J.L., Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena: A Translation and Study of a Hellenistic Survey of Astronomy. (Princeton University Press, 2006.)
External links
edit- Greek text of Manitius' Teubner edition of
Ε ἰσαγωγήε ἰςτ ὰ Φαινόμενα (Introduction to Phaenomena/Elements of Astronomy) - Technology Museum of Thessaloniki Entry
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Geminus", MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St Andrews
- Geminus' section at wilbourhall.org with scans of Manitius' edition of
Ε ἰσαγωγήε ἰςτ ὰ Φαινόμενα including a German translation and an 1895 dissertation on Geminus by Carolus Tittel.