Eratosthenes’ Letter to Ptolemy: the Literary Mechanics of Empire
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
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Article
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Authors
Leventhal, M
Abstract
Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276–194 b.c.e.), the third head of the Alexandrian Library, sent a letter to King Ptolemy outlining his solution for the geometric problem, the doubling of the cube. Although traditionally the preserve of historians of mathematics, the text quotes from tragedy, recounts mathematical research at Plato's Academy, and concludes with an epigram. Here, I address each generic gesture and its particular audience and aim. This article reads the letter not only as a dynamic unified whole which innovatively integrates mathematics and literature, but as a text which lays out the mechanics of the Ptolemaic empire for its readership.
Description
Keywords
43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 47 Language, Communication and Culture, 4303 Historical Studies, 4705 Literary Studies
Journal Title
American Journal of Philology
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0002-9475
1086-3168
1086-3168
Volume Title
138
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press