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Eratosthenes: The Ancient Genius Who Measured the Earth

 
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Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes (276–196 B.C.), a Greek geographer and astronomer. He was the first to determine the circumference of the earth. His method, which involved measuring shadows at two points a known distance apart, produced fairly accurate results. Eratosthenes was born in Cyrene, Africa. He was appointed by Egypt's Pharaoh to be head of the great library at Alexandria.