History of geometry lost. He was brought to the university at Alexandria by Ptolemy I, King of Egypt. "The Elements" began with definitions of terms, fundamental geometric principles (called "axioms" or "postulates"), and general quantitative principles (called "common notions") from which all the rest of geometry could be logically deduced. Following are his five axioms, somewhat paraphrased to make the English easier to read. Concepts, that are now understood as algebra, were expressed geometrically by Euclid, a method referred to as Greek geometric algebra. Archimedes (287-212 BC), of Syracuse, Sicily, when it was a Greek city-state, is often considered to be the greatest
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