SOURCE: The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements, translated by Sir Thomas L. Heath, revised edition, Cambridge at the University Press, 1926, 432 p.

In the following introductory chapters to the translated text of Elements, Heath offers an overview of Euclid's life; provides a brief survey of his writings; and reviews early commentary on Elements.

Euclid and the Traditions About Him

As in the case of the other great mathematicians of Greece, so in Euclid's case, we have only the most meagre particulars of the life and personality of the man.

Most of what we have is contained in the passage of Proclus' summary relating to him, which is as follows¹:

"Not much younger than these (sc. Hermotimus of Colophon and Philippus of Medma) is Euclid, who put together the Elements, collecting many of Eudoxus' theorems, perfecting many of Theaetetus', and also bringing to irrefragable demonstration the things which were only...