Definition:Parallelepiped/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Parallelepiped
The term parallelepiped is never actually defined by Euclid, although he specifies the concept:
In the words of Euclid:
- If a solid be contained by parallel planes, the opposite planes in it are equal and parallelogrammic.
(The Elements: Book $\text{XI}$: Proposition $24$)
The proposition that follows this one uses the term in a proof:
In the words of Euclid:
- If a parallelepipedal solid be cut by a plane which is parallel to the opposite planes, then, as the base is to the base, so will the solid be to the solid.