Mathematician:Archytas of Tarentum

Mathematician

Greek philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, statesman, and strategist.

He was a scientist of the Pythagorean school.

Reputedly the founder of mathematical mechanics.

Much of book $\text{VII}$ and book $\text{VIII}$ of Euclid's The Elements can be attributed to him.

Invented the Archytas curve: a curve in three-dimensional space which can be used for Doubling the Cube.

A good friend of Plato.

Nationality

Greek

History

• Born: about 428 BC in Tarentum (now Taranto), Magna Graecia (now Italy)
• Died: about 350 BC

Theorems and Definitions

• Archytas Curve

Definitions of concepts named for Archytas of Tarentum can be found here.

Works

Several lost works, though some fragments remain.

Sources

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

• 1937: Eric Temple Bell: Men of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{II}$: Modern Minds in Ancient Bodies
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): A List of Mathematicians in Chronological Sequence
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $1 \cdotp 25992 \, 10498 \, 94873 \, 16476 \ldots$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): A List of Mathematicians in Chronological Sequence
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1 \cdotp 25992 \, 10498 \, 94873 \, 16476 \ldots$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Archytas of Tarentum (c.428-c.365 bc)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Archytas of Tarentum (c.428-c.365 bc)