Diodorus of Alexandria

For other people named Diodorus, see Diodorus (disambiguation).

Diodorus of Alexandria or Diodorus Alexandrinus was a gnomonicist, astronomer [1] and a pupil of Posidonius.[2][3][4]

Writings

He wrote the first discourse on the principles of the sundial, known as Analemma.[5] a commentary on this having later been written by Pappus of Alexandria,[6] that is no longer extant.[7] A small number of sentences having survived the centuries and attributed to him are known; these comment on: the differences between astronomy and natural science, the word meanings for cosmos and star, the nature of stars and the Milky Way. He was known to Eudoros. A few surviving passages might come from a commentary on Aratus. In his dealings with astronomy he was known to Marinus in his commentary on Euclid's Data containing quotes of Diodorus's opinions on the meaning of a term.[8]

See also

• Alexandria
• Analemma
• Euclid
• History of sundials

References

1. Diodorus of Alexandria." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 4 Dec. 2011 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. [Retrieved 2011-09-15]
2. Aristarchus of Samos and Sir Thomas Little Heath ...the ancient Copernicus; a history of Greek astronomy to Aristarchus, together with Aristarchus's Treatise on the sizes and distances of the sun and moon: a new Greek text with translation and notes (1913) archive.org [Retrieved 2011-09-15]
3. John Antonakos amazon.com website page 92 of Noted Greeks of Antiquity [Retrieved 2011-09-15] ISBN 1-4033-2565-0
4. thefreedictionary.com
5. encyclopedia.com retrieved 15/09/2011
6. Thomas Heath (1981). A History of Greek Mathematics: From Aristarchus to Diophantus. Courier Corporation. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-486-24074-9.
7. Heike Sefrin-Weis (2010). Pappus of Alexandria: Book 4 of the Collection: Edited With Translation and Commentary by Heike Sefrin-Weis. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-84996-005-2.
8. O. Neugebauer (2004). A History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy. Vol. 2. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 840. ISBN 978-3-540-06995-9.