Eratosthenes, a scholar of the Hellenistic interval residing in Alexandria, Egypt, calculated the Earth’s circumference with exceptional accuracy utilizing easy geometric rules and observations. He in contrast the angle of the solar’s rays at midday on the summer season solstice in two totally different areas, Alexandria and Syene (modern-day Aswan). Realizing the space between these areas, he extrapolated this to a full circle, offering an impressively shut approximation of Earth’s true dimension.
This calculation stands as a testomony to the ability of human ingenuity and scientific commentary in antiquity. It demonstrates an early understanding of Earth’s spherical nature and represents a major milestone within the historical past of geodesy and astronomy. His work laid the inspiration for additional geographic exploration and cartography, shaping our understanding of the planet’s dimensions and our place throughout the cosmos.
