ERATOSTHENES

Ancient Greek scholar and writer who flourished in the 3rd century BC. He was born in Cyrene during the 16th Olympiad. One of the most important intellectual people of antiquity for the breadth of their education and the versatility of his scientific works. He served as director of the famous library of Alexandria, and dealt with both positive sciences (Geography, Mathematics, Astronomy) and theoretical ones (Chronology, Grammar). He also wrote poetry. For these performances he was called "Pentathlete", "Philosopher" and "New Plato". He died at the age of 82 from voluntary starvation. Because he suffered from amblyopia he was possessed by the fear that he would lose his sight.