Definition:Regular Dodecahedron/Historical Note
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Historical Note on the Regular Dodecahedron
In The Elements, this object is referred to just as a dodecahedron.
In the words of Euclid:
- A dodecahedron is a solid figure contained by twelve equal, equilateral, and equiangular pentagons.
(The Elements: Book $\text{XI}$: Definition $28$)
According to the Pythagorean tradition, the regular dodecahedron was the symbol associated with the sphere of the fixed stars, and later with the quintessence of the medieval alchemists.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $4$
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $4$