Mathematician:Posidonius

Mathematician

Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian and teacher.

Acclaimed as the greatest polymath of his age.

One of the first to attempt to prove Euclid's fifth postulate.

Nationality

Greek

History

• Born: c. 135 BCE in Apameia, near Shaizar, Syria
• Died: c. 51 BCE in Rhodes

Publications

Only fragments remain.

Also known as

In Greek: Ποσειδώνιος ("of Poseidon")

Known both as Posidonius of Rhodes and Posidonius of Apameia. Note that these refer to the same person.

Sources

• John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "Posidonius": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive