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Celtic Mathematical Mount

Contributed by David

Celtic Mathematical Mount

This pre-Roman Celtic Mount displays British mastery of geometry and mathematics as well as bronze-making technology. The outer shape is an ellipse with two extra dissimilar conical sections that appear to be a parabola and a hyperbola. Accurate design of an ellipse, parabola and hyperbola all require great competence in mathematics. The design appears to incorporate a 3,4,5 triangle. The hyperbola, if extended,crosses the central major axis at the opposite (missing) end of the ellipse. Conics were described by Appolonius of Perga (c200BCE). The elliptical Roman Coliseum amphitheatre (built after 70 CE from wealth pillaged from the Jewish War) is considered among Rome's greatest achievements. This mount shows that at least a century earlier maybe more, Celts mastered the conics not only in theory but in practical application. Ellipses occur in ancient Celtic stone circles. Is this mount just decorative or a high status religious, scientific emblem of a teacher? Ancient Greeks and Romans including Cicero, Caesar, Pliny, Tacitus spoke admiringly of Celtic astronomy. Did the druids know planets moved in ellipses? The object has original patina and has not been cleaned.(c)Bron1410

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About this object

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Location

Warwickshire

Culture
Period

Pre-Roman British

Theme
Size
H:
2.8cm
W:
2.2cm
Colour
Material

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