MATHEMATICIAN, ASTRONOMER

Life
Theano was the daughter of a physician called Brontinus and the wife and pupil of Pythagoras (36 years her senior). She taught mathematics in his schools in Samos and Croton; and after his death became the head of his school and, with the help of her daughters (Damo, Myria and Arignote) introduced his teachings to metropolitan Greece and Egypt. There were also two sons of the marriage, Mnesarchus and Telauges. Theano is the best-known female astronomer/cosmologist, and is cited by Athenaeus, Suidas, Diogenes Laertius and Iamblichus.


Work
Her principal works are:

"Life of Pythagoras": Lost.

"Cosmology"

"Theorem of the golden mean"

"Theory of numbers"

"Construction of the universe": The universe is constructed of numbers and simple proportions. It is made up of ten concentric spheres corresponding to the Sun, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Earth, Counter-Earth and the stars. The Sun, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury move in a uniform circular motion around a "central fire". The fixed stars do not move. According to Theano the distances between the concentric spheres and the central fire are in the same arithmetic proportion as the intervals of the musical scale.

"On virtue": Dedicated to the great architect and city-planner Hippodamus.