11-16-2007, 04:27 PM
To follow up on my previous post:
The "father of mechanics" I was referring to is the Pythagorean contemporary of Plato Archytas of Taras. There is a new book about this truly interesting fellow by carl Huffman, "Archytas of Tarentum: Pythagorean, philosopher and mathematician king". He rejects the the idea that he was in fact the founder, but notes that his theorem became integral to the science of artillery. I only read a review of the book so if anyone knows more I'd love to hear it.
The other fellow I discussed was Zopyrus. He is also a contemporary of Plato and is mentioned by Biton as as a designer of "flexion catapults". Though contemporary, he did probably work after the Dionysian think-tank at Syracuse, so you are right about the origin. But I don't know for sure.
The "father of mechanics" I was referring to is the Pythagorean contemporary of Plato Archytas of Taras. There is a new book about this truly interesting fellow by carl Huffman, "Archytas of Tarentum: Pythagorean, philosopher and mathematician king". He rejects the the idea that he was in fact the founder, but notes that his theorem became integral to the science of artillery. I only read a review of the book so if anyone knows more I'd love to hear it.
The other fellow I discussed was Zopyrus. He is also a contemporary of Plato and is mentioned by Biton as as a designer of "flexion catapults". Though contemporary, he did probably work after the Dionysian think-tank at Syracuse, so you are right about the origin. But I don't know for sure.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
