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A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical TextsHow to Get a Better Understanding of Mathematical Cuneiform Texts

A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Texts: How to Get a Better Understanding of... How to Get a Better Understanding of Mathematical Cuneiform Texts 0.1. On Avoiding Anachronisms in Translations of Mathematical Terms The terminology used in modern elementary mathematics has a mixed origin, which may be characterized as Greek/Latin/early modern. The terminology used in Babylonian mathematical cuneiform texts, on the other hand, is pre-Greek. Therefore, the use of Greek and Latin words in a discussion of a mathematical cuneiform text is in itself an anachronism. If one wants to convey a proper understanding of the essence of Mesopotamian mathematics, one should try to avoid anachronisms by using literal translations of technical terms in cuneiform mathematical texts, whenever possible. A clear example is the seemingly self-evident term triangle. It is derived from the Latin word triangulum which, like its Greek predecessor τργωνον, means ‘three-cornered’ or ‘three-angled’. However, the idea of an angle between two sides in a rectilinear plane figure can be traced no further back than to classical Greek geometry. More specifically, in classical Greek geometry, a triangle was referred to as ‘the triangle ABC’ where A, B, C are the three corners of the triangle. In Old Babylonian geometry, on the other hand, a triangle was always specified in terms of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical TextsHow to Get a Better Understanding of Mathematical Cuneiform Texts

Part of the Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Book Series
Editors: Friberg, Jöran
Friberg, Jöran
Springer Journals — Jan 1, 2007
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10 pages

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Publisher
Springer New York
Copyright
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
ISBN
978-0-387-34543-7
Pages
1 –11
DOI
10.1007/978-0-387-48977-3_0
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

How to Get a Better Understanding of Mathematical Cuneiform Texts 0.1. On Avoiding Anachronisms in Translations of Mathematical Terms The terminology used in modern elementary mathematics has a mixed origin, which may be characterized as Greek/Latin/early modern. The terminology used in Babylonian mathematical cuneiform texts, on the other hand, is pre-Greek. Therefore, the use of Greek and Latin words in a discussion of a mathematical cuneiform text is in itself an anachronism. If one wants to convey a proper understanding of the essence of Mesopotamian mathematics, one should try to avoid anachronisms by using literal translations of technical terms in cuneiform mathematical texts, whenever possible. A clear example is the seemingly self-evident term triangle. It is derived from the Latin word triangulum which, like its Greek predecessor τργωνον, means ‘three-cornered’ or ‘three-angled’. However, the idea of an angle between two sides in a rectilinear plane figure can be traced no further back than to classical Greek geometry. More specifically, in classical Greek geometry, a triangle was referred to as ‘the triangle ABC’ where A, B, C are the three corners of the triangle. In Old Babylonian geometry, on the other hand, a triangle was always specified in terms of

Published: Jan 1, 2007

Keywords: Original Text; Relative Place; Decimal Number; Literal Translation; Mathematical Text

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