Helicosophy
Original
Helicosophie, is nere Sister to Trochilike: and is, An Arte
Mathematicall, which demonstrateth the designing of all Spirall lines in Plaine, on Cylinder, Cone, Sphære, Conoid, and Sphæroid, and their properties appertayning. The vse hereof, in Architecture, and diuerse Instrumentes and Engines, is most necessary. For, in many thinges, the Skrue worketh the feate, which, els, could not be performed. By helpe hereof,
(* Atheneus Lib. 5. cap. 8.)
it is * recorded, that, where all the power of the Citie of Syracusa, was not hable to moue a certaine Ship (being on ground) mightie Archimedes, setting to, his Skruish Engine, caused Hiero the king, by him self, at ease, to remoue her, as he would.
(Proclus. Pag. 18.)
Wherat, the King wondring: Απὸ τάυτης τῆς ἡμέρας, περὶ παντὸς, Αρχιμήδει λέγοντι πιϛευτεόν. From this day, forward (said the King) Credit ought to be giuen to Archimedes, what soeuer he sayth.
Musean translation
Modern machine-assisted Musean edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
Helicosophy is near sister to Trochilike, and is a mathematical art which demonstrates the drawing of all spiral lines, in a plane, on a cylinder, cone, sphere, conoid, and spheroid, and the properties belonging to them. Its use in architecture and in diverse instruments and engines is most necessary. For in many things the screw performs the feat which otherwise could not be accomplished. By the help of this,
Athenaeus, book 5, chapter 8.
it is recorded that, whereas all the power of the city of Syracuse could not move a certain ship (being on the ground), mighty Archimedes, applying his screw engine, caused Hiero the king, by himself and at ease, to move her just as he pleased.
Proclus, page 18.
At this the king, wondering, said: Απὸ τάυτης τῆς ἡμέρας, περὶ παντὸς, Αρχιμήδει λέγοντι πιϛευτεόν. "From this day forward (said the king), credit ought to be given to Archimedes, whatever he says."
Plain English translation
Modern machine-assisted Plain English edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
Helicosophy is a near sister to Trochilike. It is the mathematical art that shows how to design all spiral lines on a flat plane, on a cylinder, a cone, a sphere, a conoid, and a spheroid, with the properties that belong to them. Its use in architecture and in various instruments and engines is essential. In many things the screw does the work that could not otherwise be done. With its help,
(Atheneus, Book 5, chapter 8.)
It is recorded that, when all the power of the city of Syracuse could not move a certain ship that lay aground, the mighty Archimedes set his screw engine to work and made King Hiero move it himself, at ease, as he wished.
(Proclus, page 18.)
The king was astonished at this: Απὸ τάυτης τῆς ἡμέρας, περὶ παντὸς, Αρχιμήδει λέγοντι πιϛευτεόν. "From this day forward," said the king, "Archimedes ought to be believed in whatever he says."
About this section
Helicosophy is part of The Mathematicall Praeface to the Elements of Geometrie by John Dee. This page sets the 16th-century English original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 22 of 34 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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