I also sent this to HASTRO-L, this came in. Bill Thayer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 22:51:08 PDT Reply-To: History of Astronomy Discussion Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sender: History of Astronomy Discussion Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Keith Pickering <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: a thread on Classics-L To: HASTRO-L Rawlins has suggested that the entire shadow-measuring method may be apocryphal (Rawlins, Dennis [1985] 'Ancient Geodesy: Achievement and Corruption' _Vistas in Astronomy_). He bases this on the coincidental fact that Eratosthenes' result is 6% too large, just what one would expect from the error due to atmospheric refraction -- provided that one measured the circumference by measuring the dip of the horizon from a high point. By coincidence, Alexandia had a very high point (Pharos lighthouse) right on the sea. Keith Pickering [EMAIL PROTECTED]
