Numbers and numeracy in the Greek polis / edited by Robert Sing, Tazuko Angela van Berkel, Robin Osborne.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sing, Robert, editor.

Berkel, Tazuko Angela van, 1979- editor.

Osborne, Robin, 1957- editor.

Series:

Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava. Supplementum ; v. 446.

Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava. Supplementum. History and archaeology of classical antiquity

Mnemosyne. Supplements. History and archaeology of classical antiquity, 2352-8656 ; volume 446

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mathematics, Greek.

Numeration--History--To 1500.

Numeration.

Numerals--History--To 1500.

Numerals.

Greek language--Numerals.

Greek language.

History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xiii, 283 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2022]

Summary:

"We tend to think of numbers as inherently objective and precise. Yet the diverse ways in which ancient Greeks used numbers illustrates that counting is actually shaped by context-specific and culturally-dependent choices: what should be counted and how, who should count, and how should the results be shared? This volume is the first to focus on the generation and use of numbers in the polis to quantify, communicate and persuade. Its papers demonstrate the rich insights that can be gained into ancient Greek societies by reappraising seemingly straightforward examples of quantification as reflections of daily life and cultural understanding"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A counting people: valuing numeracy in democratic Athens / Lisa Kallet

The appearance of numbers / Robin Osborne

Punishing and valuing / Steve Johnstone

Ten thousand: fines, numbers and institutional change in fifth-century Athens / Josine Blok

Numeric communication in the Greek historians: quantification and qualification / Catherine Rubincam

Creative accounting? Strategies of enumeration in Epinician texts / Daniel Mahendra Jan Sicka

Hidden judgments and failing figures: Nicias' number rhetoric / Tazuko Angela van Berkel

Performing numbers in the Attic orators / Robert Sing

Numbers, ontologically speaking: Plato on numerosity / George Florin Calian

Doing geometry without numbers: re-reading Euclid's Elements / Eunsoo Lee.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Other Format:

Online version: Numbers and numeracy in the Greek polis.

ISBN:

9789004467217

9004467211

OCLC:

1284921018