You are here

Mathematical Treasures - Greek Edition of Euclid's Elements

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

Eukleidou Stoicheion (1533) is the first Greek language, printed edition of Euclid’s Elements to appear in Europe. For many years, it was believed that Henry Billingsley, in his first printed English language edition of Euclid's Elements (1570), had translated the work from the Latin; however, it is now known that he used this Greek version for his translation.

 

Title page of 1533 Greek-language edition of Euclid's Elements.

The first page provides basic definitions and concepts with the assistance of diagrams.

Page 1 of 1533 Greek-language edition of Euclid's Elements.

The Greek introduction to this edition is shown below.

Introduction to 1533 Greek-language edition of Euclid's Elements.

For four images from another copy of Eukleidou Stoicheion, see the first article listed below. For more information about Henry Billingsley's translation of Euclid's Elements into English, see:

These images from its George Arthur Plimpton Collection are presented through the courtesy of the Columbia University Libraries.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasures - Greek Edition of Euclid's Elements," Convergence (January 2021)

Mathematical Treasures from the Smith and Plimpton Collections at Columbia University