Donald,
Maybe there is no written proof that they knew the earth was round, but they could see the moon was round so it isn't that much of a stretch. In any event, I would not be surprised if people figured out how to make dead straight edges and flat surfaces as soon as they found that it was of some value to them.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com [mailto:gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Donald Qualls
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 2:57 PM
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] Chord height Was new article: Making it Dead Flat and Square
Rick Sparber wrote:
>
> I never thought of that but it does make sense. Gravity will be
> pulling straight towards the center of the earth so the water is
> coating the earth. So if the Egyptians wanted their pyramid to also
> follow the curvature of the earth, then this would not be an issue
> ;-))
>
Of course, there's no evidence that anyone prior to the Greeks actually
knew the Earth was round (Eratosthenes calculated the size of the Earth
fairly accurately around the 3rd century BCE by measuring the sun's
height at noon on the same day in Athens and, IIRC, Memphis -- though
you could argue that he thought he was calculating the distance to the Sun).
--
If, through hard work and perseverance, you finally get what you want,
it's probably a sign you weren't dreaming big enough.
Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/app/peoplemap/view/map
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