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date: 27 March 2023

Hypsicles, of Alexandria (1), mathematician and astronomer, fl. c. 190 bcelocked

Hypsicles, of Alexandria (1), mathematician and astronomer, fl. c. 190 bcelocked

  • Clemency Montelle

Summary

Hypsicles of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician and astronomer who flourished around 190 bce. Two of his works are known to us: the first sets out a linear arithmetical scheme for computing the rising times of zodiacal signs (ascensions) and the second is a continuation of Euclid’s Elements which became known as Book XIV. The latter work contains a detailed study, in eight propositions and various lemmas, of the comparison between a dodecahedron and an icosahedron inscribed in the same sphere. This work was close to Euclid’s work in style and format and, because of this, became a part of the textual tradition of the Elements.

Subjects

  • Science, Technology, and Medicine

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