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Four Surveyors of Caesar: Mapping the World!
Just came across this:
http://www.fig.net/pub/monthly_articles/january_2012/january_2012_brock.html
Cheers,
Derek
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3 Replies
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Cool! I loved this:
“Augustus made a complete survey of the whole ‘Orbis Romanus’, in order
that each taxpayer should know exactly his resources and obligations. The
results of this survey were tabulated by the author Hyrummetricus. The
Professors of this Science [of land surveying] are honoured with a more earnest
attention than falls to the lot of any other philosophers. Arithmetic, Theoretical
Geometry, Astronomy, and Music are discoursed upon to listless audiences,
sometimes to empty benches. But the agrimensor (land surveyor) is like a
judge: the deserted fields become his forum, crowded with eager
spectators. You would fancy him a madman when you see him walking
along the most devious paths. But in truth he is seeking for the traces of
lost facts in rough woods and thickets. He walks not as other men
walk. His path is the book from which he reads; he shows what he is
saying; he proves what he hath learned; by his steps he divides the rights
of the hostile claimants; and like a mighty river he takes away the fields of
one side to bestow them on the other.” -
Very cool link.
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At the end of the story they name the four surveyors of the world. The first on the listis Nicodemus. My first job surveying was for one Mr. T. Nicodemus.
Man, do I suddenly feel old.
Willy
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