Archimedes (ePub)

Sir Thomas Little Heath (1861-1940) was a distinguished British civil servant, mathematician, classical scholar, historian of ancient Greek mathematics, and translator. His contributions to the literature on Greek mathematics and science are extensive and deeply valued by academics in various fields of classical studies and the history of mathematics. Heath's scholarly work is most widely recognized in his authoritative books on famous Greek mathematicians. His biography 'Archimedes' delves deeply into the life, inventions, and mathematical contributions of the ancient genius, presenting both the technical aspects of Archimedes' work and its historical context (Heath, 1897). Heath's literary style is marked by precision and clarity, aiming to make accessible the complexities of classical mathematics to both scholars and laypersons. A prominent example of his scholarly writing is 'The Works of Archimedes' (Heath, 1897), which comprises an in-depth analysis of the extant works of Archimedes and includes the famous treatise on 'The Measurement of a Circle'. Heath is praised for his translations of Euclid, Archimedes, and Apollonius of Perga, which have become standard references and enduring contributions to the study of ancient mathematics. Through these meticulous translations, he has provided insight into the mathematical thought of classical antiquity and has preserved the legacy of these mathematical pioneers for future generations.