Konon of Samos

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Konon von Samos (* around 280 BC on Samos , † around 220 BC probably in Alexandria ) was a Hellenistic mathematician and astronomer at the court of Ptolemy III. and his wife Berenike in Alexandria.

He was friends with Archimedes and is credited with discovering the Archimedes' spiral . It is known from the traditions of Pappos and Apollonius von Perga that he wrote writings on conics and astronomy , among other things . However, these have all been lost. His pupil was Dositheos , who also corresponded with Archimedes.

His name is best known from the story of the Queen's hair, which dates from around 245 BC. Chr. Has come down and the constellation Coma Berenices (Coma Berenices) owes its origin.

Constellation Haar der Berenike

When Berenike's husband went to the 3rd Syrian War shortly after the wedding because of treason against the Seleucids , the queen is said to have promised her head hair to the goddess of love Aphrodite in order to plead for the safe return of Ptolemy. She brought it to a temple at Cape Zephyrion , where the memory of her mother-in-law Arsinoe II was cultivated. But the head of hair disappeared in an unknown way, which is said to have greatly dismayed Berenike - or the king after his return. But the court astronomer Konon had an explanation at hand:

The sacrifice made the gods so happy that they lifted the strands of hair into the sky, where they could be seen as a new group of stars. In fact, the constellation - although it only consists of weaker stars - gives the impression of a flowing or undulating structure (see thumbnail).

This established the group of stars, as we know today a loose, open star cluster , as a small constellation in the spring sky between Leo and the bear guardian (boats) . Callimachus dedicated his poem Locke der Berenike to this transformation ; Catullus translated it into Latin.

According to the poem of Callimachus, Konon made a star map, but nothing is known about it.

The lunar crater Conon is named after him.

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personal data
SURNAME Konon of Samos
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Hellenistic mathematician and astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH around 280 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH Samos
DATE OF DEATH around 220 BC Chr.
Place of death unsure: Alexandria