A long-lost page of Archimedes’ writings has been rediscovered in France, adding to the Archimedes Palimpsest, a significant medieval manuscript containing texts from the Greek mathematician Archimedes. The Archimedes Palimpsest is a treasure of antiquity, dating back to the 10th century, and includes copies of Archimedes’ groundbreaking work in mathematics and science.
The recently recovered page, known as page 123, was found in the Museum of Fine Arts in Blois, France, according to the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). One side of the page contains writings from Archimedes’ treatise “On the Sphere and the Cylinder,” with much of the text being legible. The discovery of this missing page sheds new light on Archimedes’ mathematical insights and contributions.
The other side of the page features a gilded illustration of the Biblical prophet Daniel, covering up any text that may be hidden underneath. Researchers are planning to use advanced imaging methods, such as x-rays, to uncover the obscured text and gain further insights into Archimedes’ work.
Archimedes, who lived around 250 B.C.E. in Syracuse, ancient Greece, was a pioneering figure in the fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering. His theories, experiments, and inventions continue to fascinate scientists to this day. Legend has it that Archimedes met his demise while engrossed in a mathematical calculation in the sand, at the hands of a Roman soldier. However, this account remains unconfirmed.
The rest of the Archimedes Palimpsest is currently housed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. It is yet to be determined if the recently discovered page will be added to the existing collection. The recovery of this lost page is a significant development in the study of Archimedes’ work and will provide valuable insights into the mind of one of history’s greatest thinkers.
