Caltech Library News

Archimedes and the Recovery of Greek Mathematics

Early printed editions of classical Greek mathematics from the Caltech Archives’ collection are on exhibit from April 7 through July 31, 2014. Beginning with the first edition of the complete known works of Archimedes in both Greek and Latin published in Basel in 1544, the display includes 16th-century Italian editions of Euclid and Archimedes that were used by Galileo in his mathematical studies.

Portrait of Archimedes from the 1792 Oxford edition of his works in Greek and Latin.  Caltech Archives Rare Book Collection.

The first English translation of Euclid’s Elements from 1570 and editions of Archimedes and Apollonius of Perga published in the 18 ^th century by the Oxford press are shown, as well as the 17th-century French edition of Diophantus of Alexandria’s Arithmetica —the work that inspired Pierre de Fermat’s last conjecture. The exhibit is located on the second floor of Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration and may be viewed during weekdays, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. The Caltech exhibit complements the Huntington Library’s “Lost & Found: The Secrets of Archimedes” (March 15-June 22, 2014). Visit the online exhibit . Posted 4-16-2014