Menelaus of Alexandria Encyclopedia Article

Menelaus of Alexandria

The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.

(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.

Menelaus of Alexandria

c. 70-c. 130

Greco-Roman astronomer and mathematician who wrote a number of works, of which only his Sphaerica survives. The latter dealt with spherical triangles, and like most of his writings involved the application of mathematics to astronomy. The titles of selected other works by Menelaus have been translated as "On the Knowledge of the Weights and Distribution of Different Bodies," "The Book on the Triangle," and "Three Books on the Elements of Geometry." Ptolemy (c. 100-170) recorded astronomical observations made by Menelaus in Rome on January 14, 98.