literature (Pliny 12.20 and 28.54). Pliny’s numerous references suggest real scientific inquiry
(on tide: 2.224, on winds: 2.121, on corn rust: 18.276) as well as plain curiosity (9.24; 23.62).
RE 18.3 (#54) 1056–1059, W. Kroll; DPA 3 (2000) 413, M. Ducos; BNP 10 (2007) 489 (#II.3),
B. Inwood.
Arnaud Zucker
Pappos of Alexandria (ca 285 – 320 CE)
Influential polymath, astronomically dated to 320 CE; although a marginal note places
him under Diocletian. He wrote on theoretical and computational astronomy, classical
geometry, practical arithmetic, geography, and perhaps astrology. Many of his works are
known only through later quotations (in P, M, E or scholia to
P’s Almagest), heavily interpolated commentaries (e.g., on E’s Elements, Book
10 = IE), and the collection of originally separate treatises later known as the Mathematical
Collection (MC), probably compiled after the 6th c. CE (Decorps 47–51) and much inter-
polated. His geography (kho ̄rographia oikoumenike ̄) is known through an Armenian trans-
lation (see Jones 3–15), and Books 5 and 6 of his commentary on the Almagest are extant
(IA). Pappos’ scientific contribution consists not in any substantial innovation but in the way
he used, organized and compared an impressive mass of scientific texts. He claims original-
ity usually only for variations on traditional inventions, according to his own values (see his
revealing criticism of A’ alleged attitude toward Euclid, MC 7, pp. 119.16–
120.12 Jones). It is therefore necessary to outline Pappos’ social and intellectual context as
well as the scope of his sources to assess his key interests and contributions.
Biography and Intellectual Context: Pappos’ tracts addressed various audiences,
interested either in philosophy (MC 5; Cuomo 57–90), mechanics or architecture (MC 8;
Cuomo 91–103), astronomy (MC 6, IA), geometry (MC 3, 4, 5, 7). In MC 3, Pappos
addresses his competitor P, her students and some of his own friends (including
H “the philosopher,” perhaps among I’ followers, Jones 5) and thereby
tries to attract new students by displaying his mathematical knowledge and skill, plausibly
implying he worked as a private teacher. He also cleverly shows Pandrosion’s students how
to improve their own propositions and consequently their geometrical knowledge and skill,
especially in analysis. In general Pappos seems to situate himself as a professional mathe-
matician or at best as a teacher of liberal arts, seemingly confirmed by the scope and variety
of his interests, his care for learning and his Atticist language.
Pappos’ Sources: In computational and theoretical astronomy, Pappos utilized Ptolemy’s
Almagest, Geography, Planispherium, the lost Meteo ̄roskopeion, the Handy Tables, repeatedly alluded
to in IA, and introductory works belonging to the corpus of “little astronomy,” some of
which are criticized or amplified in MC 6. Repeated allusion to the Handy Tables, lost works
on the interpretation of dreams as well as the building of a hydroscope suggest ( plausibly
but conjecturally) astrological interests.
In arithmetic and logistic, Pappos paid interest to practical calculations (IA, MC 3 and 8)
and Apollo ̄nios’ system of notation for large numbers (MC 2). Neo-Pythagorean hints
contained in MC 3 and IE are probably interpolated: Pappos’ approach to mesotai seems
predominantly geometrical, in the tradition of T and E.
In practical and theoretical mechanics, Pappos heavily uses H (esp. in MC 8; see
also IA and MC 3); A, K, P B and Ptolemy are also
mentioned.
PAPPOS OF ALEXANDRIA