Theon of Alexandria

For other Theons (some of whom also worked in Alexandria), see Theon (disambiguation).

Theon of Alexandria (/ˌθiːənˌ -ɒn/; Ancient Greek: Θέων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; c. AD 335 – c. 405) was a Greek[1] scholar and mathematician who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. He edited and arranged Euclid's Elements and wrote commentaries on works by Euclid and Ptolemy. His daughter Hypatia also won fame as a mathematician.

Life

Little is known about the life of Theon. He made predictions and observances of solar and lunar eclipses in 364 which show he was active at that time, and he is said to have lived during the reign of Theodosius I (379–395).[2] The biographical tradition of the tenth century Byzantine Suda defines Theon as "the man from the Mouseion";[3] however, both the Library of Alexandria and the original Mouseion were probably destroyed by the fourth century, although there may have been a new Mouseion established on a different site.[4] Theon was the father of the mathematician Hypatia who was killed by a Christian mob in 415 during a period of religious and sectarian conflict.[5] Theon dedicated his commentary on the Almagest to a boy named Epiphanius, who may have been his son.[6]

A lunar crater, Theon Junior, now bears Theon's name.

Works

Edited works

It is known that Theon edited the Elements of Euclid. He may also have edited some other works by Euclid and Ptolemy, although here the evidence is less certain. The editions ascribed to Theon are:

Commentaries

Of his commentaries, those which are extant are:

Original works

Among Theon's lost works, the Suda mentions On Signs and Observation of Birds and the Sound of Crows; On the Rising of the Dog[-Star]; and On the Inundation of the Nile.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 John M. McMahon, "Theon of Alexandria" entry in Virginia Trimble, Thomas Williams, Katherine Bracher (2007), Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers, pages 1133-4. Springer
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Theon of Alexandria", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, University of St Andrews.
  3. 1 2 Suda, Theon θ205
  4. ↑ Edward Jay Watts, (2008), City and School in Late Antique Athens and Alexandria, page 150. University of California Press
  5. ↑ Edward Jay Watts, (2006), City and School in Late Antique Athens and Alexandria. "Hypatia and pagan philosophical culture in the later fourth century", pages 197–198. University of California Press
  6. 1 2 Smith, William; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). "Theon"
  7. ↑ Frank J. Swetz, (1994), Learning Activities from the History of Mathematics, page 18
  8. ↑ T L Heath, (1921), A History of Greek Mathematics, Vol. 1, page 57. Oxford
  9. 1 2 James Evans, (1998), The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, page 240 and footnote 35. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509539-1
  10. 1 2 Anne Tihon, "Theon of Alexandria and Ptolemy's Handy Tables" in Noel M. Swerdlow, (1999), Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination, page 359. MIT Press. ISBN 0262194228
  11. 1 2 Alan Cameron, Jacqueline Long, (1993), Barbarians and Politics at the Court of Arcadius, page 45. University of California Press. ISBN 0520065506
  12. ↑ A. Mark Smith, (1999), Ptolemy and the Foundations of Ancient Mathematical Optics, page 16. American Philosophical Society. ISBN 0871698935
  13. 1 2 James Evans, (1998), The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, page 276. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509539-1
  14. ↑ James Evans, (1998), The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, page 156. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509539-1
  15. 1 2 James Evans, (1998), The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, page 90. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509539-1

Further reading

External links

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