Eratosthenes

Calculated Earth's circumference

Ancient influential 69 sayings

Sayings by Eratosthenes

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.

c. 250 BCE — Often attributed to Archimedes, but Eratosthenes also made significant contributions to mechanics an…
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The circumference of the Earth is 250,000 stadia.

c. 240 BCE — His famous calculation of the Earth's circumference, astonishingly accurate for his time.
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I have found a way to measure the size of the Earth with considerable accuracy.

c. 240 BCE — Describing his method using shadows and distances between cities.
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I am the second to the best.

c. 230 BCE — A self-deprecating but proud statement, acknowledging his broad knowledge but not claiming absolute …
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He who knows the positions of the stars knows the circumference of the Earth.

c. 240 BCE — Connecting astronomy with geodetic measurements.
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The world is one, and it is governed by a single reason.

c. 250 BCE — Philosophical statement reflecting Stoic influence and a unified view of the cosmos.
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I have devised a method for accurately identifying prime numbers.

c. 240 BCE — Referring to his 'Sieve of Eratosthenes'.
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Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.

c. 250 BCE — General philosophical reflection on knowledge, though precise attribution is difficult.
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The Earth is a sphere, and its size can be determined.

c. 240 BCE — Fundamental premise for his geodetic work.
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I am a 'philologos,' a lover of learning.

c. 230 BCE — His self-description, indicating his wide range of intellectual interests.
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There are five planets, and they all orbit the sun.

c. 250 BCE — While he accepted a geocentric model, some sources suggest he was aware of heliocentric ideas and co…
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Mathematics is the language of the universe.

c. 250 BCE — Common sentiment among ancient Greek mathematicians, likely held by Eratosthenes.
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The world is not flat; it is a globe.

c. 240 BCE — Reinforcing the established Greek understanding of the Earth's shape.
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I have mapped the known world with greater precision than any before me.

c. 230 BCE — Referring to his work in geography and cartography.
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The sun's rays are parallel at great distances.

c. 240 BCE — Crucial assumption for his calculation of the Earth's circumference.
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One must observe the world carefully to understand its secrets.

c. 250 BCE — General scientific philosophy, reflecting his empirical approach.
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The Nile flows from the south, from unknown sources.

c. 230 BCE — His geographical interest in the sources of the Nile, a mystery in his time.
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I have cataloged the stars, and their movements reveal the cosmic order.

c. 240 BCE — His work in astronomy, including a lost star catalog.
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The Earth is not the center of everything, but it is a significant part of the cosmos.

c. 250 BCE — While he held a geocentric view, he might have pondered alternative models given the intellectual cl…
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The measurement of shadows can unlock great truths.

c. 240 BCE — Referring to his method for measuring the Earth.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable