Classical Studies 2700A/B Lecture 7: Classics 2700B Lecture 7
1 Feb 2017
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Earth measurement (geometry): by hellenistic period (323-30 bc) the earth was known to be a sphere. Background on history of mouseion (grk for temple of the muses ) and its library. Geo is greek word for earth or land. So geometry is the measuring the earth. Eclipse is the earth shadow falling on the moon and it is always curved (so easiest way to know the earth was a sphere, generally known) Easiest way to tell the earth is a sphere is b/c of horizons. All males in the ptolemy family were called ptolemy i, ii, etc. Temple of the muses, the muses were gods of learning and knowledge. The mouseion was originally a place to do all sorts of research. Ptolemy, one of alexander(cid:495)s men, seized egypt after alexander(cid:495)s death. There was a database attached to it called a (cid:494)bibliotecque(cid:495), pretty much a. It was more a think-tank rather than a university library.
