View source for Biography:Metrodorus (grammarian)

'''Metrodorus''' ({{lang-grc-gre|Μητρόδωρος}}; fl. c. 6th century) was a Greek grammarian and [[Biography:Mathematician|mathematician]], who collected mathematical epigrams which appear in the ''Greek Anthology''.
Nothing is known about the life of Metrodorus. The time he lived is not certain: he may have lived as early as the 3rd century AD, but it is more likely that he lived in the time of the emperors Anastasius I and Justin I, in the early 6th century.<ref name="midonick">Henrietta Midonick, (1965), ''The Treasury of Mathematics, Volume 2'', pages 51–2. Penguin Books.</ref>

His name occurs in connection with 45 mathematical epigrams which are to be found in book 14 of the ''Greek Anthology''.<ref>''Greek Anthology'', xiv. 1–4, 6–7, 11–13, 48–51, 116–147</ref> Although he may have authored some of the epigrams, it is generally accepted that he collected most of them, and some of them may predate the 5th century BC.<ref name="midonick"/> Many of the epigrams lead to simple equations, and they are of the same type as those found in the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (17th century BC).<ref name="heath">Sir Thomas Little Heath, (1921), [https://archive.org/details/historyofgreekma029268mbp ''A history of Greek mathematics, Volume 2, From Aristarchus to Diophantus''], pages 441–3. Oxford</ref> Among the problems Metrodorus collected are:<ref name="heath"/>
*Twenty-three simple equations with one unknown, one of which is the famous epigram which reveals the age of [[Biography:Diophantus|Diophantus]].<ref>''Greek Anthology'', xiv. 126</ref>
*Twelve are easy simultaneous equations with two unknowns.
*One gives a simultaneous equation with three unknowns.<ref>''Greek Anthology'', xiv. 51</ref>
*Six are problems about filling and emptying vessels by pipes.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://archive.org/details/greekanthology05newyuoft ''The Greek anthology, Volume 5''], containing books 13–16, at the [[Internet Archive]]

{{Ancient Greek mathematics}}


[[Category:Ancient Greek mathematicians]]
[[Category:6th-century mathematicians]]

{{Sourceattribution|Metrodorus (grammarian)}}