Who was archytas?

Archytas of Tarentum (/ɑːrˈkɪtəs/; Greek: Ἀρχύτας; c. 428–347 BC) was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, statesman, and strategist. He was a Pythagorean philosopher who lived in the city of Tarentum in Magna Graecia (in what is now southern Italy). Archytas is known for his contributions to mathematics, particularly in the field of geometry, where he is credited with discovering the duplication of the cube. He also made important contributions to astronomy, proposing a model of the universe that included a central Earth surrounded by concentric spheres containing the Sun, Moon, planets, and fixed stars.

Archytas was a highly respected figure in his time, and he held several important political and military positions in Tarentum. He is said to have been the teacher of the philosopher Plato, who was deeply influenced by his ideas. Archytas was also known for his practical inventions, including a flying wooden pigeon, which is considered one of the earliest examples of a flying machine.

Despite his many accomplishments, much of Archytas's work has been lost to history, and we know about him primarily through the writings of other philosophers and historians. Nevertheless, his influence on mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy can still be felt today, and he remains one of the most important figures in the history of Western thought.