Origins & Early Life

Pappus of Alexandria ( ; Ancient Greek: Πάππος ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; c. 290 – c. 350 AD) was a Greek mathematician of late antiquity known for his Synagoge (Συναγωγή) or Collection (c. 340), and for Pappus's hexagon theorem in projective geometry.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Almost nothing is known about his life except for what can be found in his own writings, many of which are lost. Pappus apparently lived in Alexandria, where he worked as a mathematics teacher to higher level students, one of whom was named Hermodorus. The Collection, his best-known work, is a compendium of mathematics in eight volumes, the bulk of which survives. It covers a wide range of topics that were part of the ancient mathematics curriculum, including geometry, astronomy, and mechanics. Pappus was active in a period generally considered one of stagnation in mathematical studies, where, to some, he stands out as a remarkable exception and, to others, as an exemplar of ills that halted the progress of Greek science.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In many respects, his fate strikingly resembles that of Diophantus', originally of limited importance but becoming very influential in the late Renaissance and Early Modern periods. In his surviving writings, Pappus...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Liu Hui — Contemporary figure (Died in 295) (295): Influential Chinese mathematician known for his commentary on The Nine Chapters.
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