Autolycus of Pitane Biography
Friday March 3, 2006
Autolycus of Pitane is a bit hard to pin down. Using various sources and references, we can guess that he was born about 360 BC in Pitane, Aeolis, Asia Minor (now Turkey). Little is known about his life, but Euclid references some of his work and he taught Arcesilaus.
Autolycus's main claim to fame is that his book, On the Moving Sphere, is said to be the oldest completely preserved Greek treatise on a mathematical subject.
Autolycus's main claim to fame is that his book, On the Moving Sphere, is said to be the oldest completely preserved Greek treatise on a mathematical subject.
- Related Article: Discover another ancient astronomer, Thales of Miletus.
- Pictures Gallery: Take a closer look at another ancient astronomer with this Pythagoras Pictures Gallery.
- Related Definition: Seven Sages.
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