Leo the Mathematician

Leon the Mathematician was an important Byzantine scholar, mathematician and philosopher of the 9th century. He played a significant role in strengthening the study of Greek knowledge in Byzantium under the so-called Macedonian Renaissance.

Leon was born in the last decade of the 8th century and belonged to a well-known Byzantine family. He received a rudimentary education in Constantinople Opel in rhetoric, philosophy, and arithmetic, but taught himself extensive knowledge of classical Greek literature. Above all, geometry, astronomy and astrology seem to have interested him here. He first worked as a private scholar and mediated, gaining his knowledge.

By a student Leon, who was captured by the Arabs, the Caliph al-Ma'mun became aware of the great mathematical knowledge Leons. The Caliph then offered him a job in Baghdad. Then Emperor Theophilos called him to his court, where Leon may have counted in the 830 years to the narrower advisers of the emperor. Anyway, he gave public teachings and supervise the construction of fire alarm stations. 840 Leon was well appointed of Thessalonica because of its good political connections to the Archbishop, but returned just 843 back to Konstantin Opel, possibly related to the end of the iconoclastic controversy. Leon gave to the mid- 850s years teaching again. He was then rector of the newly established College Magnaura Palace, where geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, grammar and philosophy was taught. He is mentioned in the sources the last time 869.

Leon collected astronomical and mathematical writings of Archimedes and was an issue out, which included almost all of his writings. He also commented on various works; as a note Leon is mentioned in a copy of Euclid's Elements. The obtained scientific writings Leons are astrological Art

A student Leon was Cyril of Salonica. In the literature, the mathematician Leon was often confused with Leon Magistros Choirosphaktes, who died after 919.