Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them August 10, 1957 Issue

Euclid, circa 300 B.C.

[Mentioned in Science and Health, p. 329: Miscellaneous Writings, p. 78; Unity of Good, p. 6]

Euclid, the father of geometry, was a Greek by birth. Although there is no record of his academic training, he doubtless attended the Academy, which was flourishing then. His works on music, on celestial phenomena, and on optics were responsible for his contemporary fame, having more general appeal than his mathematical works.

Ptolemy I invited Euclid to Alexandria to help found the celebrated Museum and to be its first professor of mathematics. Archimedes was one of his pupils. Out of Euclid's teaching grew the "Elements." a compilation of all mathematical learning since Pythagoras, with additions by Euclid. The "Elements," consisting of thirteen books, became known in Western Europe through translations from the Arabic. The first English translation was published in 1570. The material in this textbook has been in use for more than two thousand years.

The only recorded utterance of Euclid is, "There is no royal road to geometry," his reply to Ptolemy, who asked if there were a short cut in learning geometry.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them

Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secunous) A.D. 62-113