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Pappus of Alexandria
Pappus of Alexandria (290 - 350), was a Hellenized Egyptian born in Alexandria. Very little is known about his life, but the written records suggest he was probably a teacher.
Pappus of alexandria biography channel
His main contribution to mathematics was primarily as an encyclopedist. Pappus summarized and enlarged all of Greek mathematics in his work Synagoge (The (Mathematical) Collection) of which eight volumes survived (perhaps originally in twelve) of which the first and part of the second are missing.
The Collection is sometimes the only source for our knowledge of his predecessors' achievements. Pappus' other works include also a commentary on Ptolemy’s Almagest. For instance, in his commentary to Almagest he determined the eclipse in 320 AD.
For his own originality, even if his chief importance is as the preserver of Greek scientific knowledge, Pappus stands (with Diophantus) as the last of the long and distinguished line of