Euclid's Elements Euclid's Elements The Elements ( "Stoicheia") is a mathematical treatise consisting of 13 books attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt c. 300 BC. It is a collection of definitions, postulates, propositions (theorems and constructions), and mathematical proofs of the propositions. The books cover plane and solid Euclidean geometry, elementary number theory, and incommensurable lines. "Elements" is the oldest extant large-scale deductive treatment of mathematics. It has proven instrumental in the development of logic and modern science, and its logical rigor was not surpassed until the 19th century. Euclid's "Elements" has been referred to as the
Ptolemy II of Telmessos Telmessos, as he ruled from 206 BC to until at least 181 BC. According to surviving inscriptions at Telmessos, Ptolemy II didn’t seem to have a royal title nor it is clear his relationship with the Pharaohs in Alexandria. It seems likely that his family had relative autonomy from Ptolemaic control increased. As Ptolemaic power declined rapidly and dramatically outside of Egypt after the death of Ptolemy III Euergetes in 222 BC, probably Ptolemy II’s father with his family had the motive and opportunity for divorcing themselves from Ptolemaic suzerainty. At an unknown date during his father’s reign, Lysimachus with