from "Mathematicians of Ancient Greece"
editorsV.SpandagouR.Spandagou & D.Travlou
editions Aithra, ISBN 960-7007-57-3
written in modern greek,a compilation
mathematicians of the greek era

It is interesting to note that

• of the 330 or so indexed as mathematicians of ancient Greece, about 12% are women.
• the majority are students of Pythagoras, and their percentage in the student body reaches the level of 25%
• The majority is of Ionian origin. It seems this culture had more strong and independent women
• most thrived before the so called "golden age of Athens" that has pitifully few women mathematicians
• a number of them are remembered as wives daughters or mothers of other mathematicians
• the first "known" mathematician Aithra ,leads the list of both men and women. Her name could mean "Clarity"
• the last important mathematician in the greek line is Hypatia. The men recorded after her are of much lower caliber

Aithra (10th-9th B.C.), mythical mother of Theseus but also a real person. A teacher of arithmetic and logistics, the use of the abacus. Mentioned in Plutarch and Strabon.It so happens that the next in time recorded mathematician ( if we skip Homer who according to some was also a mathematician) is Thales of Miletus (643-548 B.C)

Themistocleia (6th century B.C.) She is a Delphic priestess, the teacher/mentor of Pythagoras. Myth has it that Pythagoras admired Themistocleia to such an extent he kept his school open to women also.

Theano (6th century B.C.), from Kroton, daughter of the doctor Brontinos, a student of Pythagoras, who married him and succeeded him in the direction of his school. Their three daughters, also mathematicians, spread the teachings of the school. She wrote a biography of Pythagoras which has been lost.

Damo (6th century B.C.) daughter of Theano and Pythagoras

Arignote (6th century B.C.) possibly daughter of Theano and Pythagoras

Muia, or Myria, (6th century B.C.) daughter of Theano and Pythagoras

Deino (6th century B.C.) Mother in law and student of Pythagoras

Eloris (6th century B.C.) student of Pythagoras

Phintys or Philtys (6th century B.C.) student of Pythagoras

Melissa (6th century B.C.) student of Pythagoras

Tymicha (6th century B.C.) student of Pythagoras, of Spartan origin. Pressed by the tyrant of Syracuse to reveal the Pythagorean secrets , she cut her tongue with her teeth and spat it on the tyrant

Ptolemais (6th century B.C.) student of Pythagoras

Lysis (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Ryndako(6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Okkelo (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Ekkelo (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Cheilonis (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Kratesicleia (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Lastheneia from Arcadia (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Avroteleia (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Echekrateia from Phliasos(6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Theano (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean, wife of Broninos

Tyrsinis from Sybaris (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Peisirrode from Taras (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Theadousa from Lakon(6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Boio from Argos (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Babelyka from Argos (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Kleaichma (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Nisthaiadousa (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Diotima (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean, mentioned in Plato's Symposium as a teacher of Socrates.

Bitale (6th-5th cenury B.C.) Pythagorean

Periktione (5th century B.C.)Pythagorean, possibly Plato's mother

Lasthenia ( 4th century B.C.) from Arcady,student of Plato in the academy

Axiothea (4th century B.C) from Phleious, a student in the academy, taught in Corinth.

Nikarete of Korinth (4th century B.C.) geometrist

Arete from Kyreneia (4-3d century B.C) Studied in Plato's academy.
in J.Morans book "woman in Science", Cambridge 1913
the following is quoted as her epitaph:
The grandness of Greece
the beauty of Helen
the pen of Aristippos
the soul of Socrates
and the language of Homer

Pythais (2nd century B.C) Geometrician, daughter of mathematician Zenodoros

Ypatia (370-415 A.D) Her life is well recorded. Daughter of Theon, director of the Museum in Alexandria, continued her studies in Athens and Rome, took the chair of philosophy in the Museum in Alexandria at 400 A.D. worked in mathematics, astronomy and had extensive writings, most of which were destroyed when the library of Alexandria burned. She constructed a water distiller, a hygrometer etc etc. A neoplatonist. Had a tragic end, at the hands of a mob. Her death coincides with the death of the pagan world, and the end of progress in science for 1000 yrs.

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