On the Arabic translations of Eutocius' commentary on Book II of Archimedes' \textit{Sphere and cylinder}
The author examines Eutocius' commentary on \textit{On the sphere and cylinder} written by Archimedes, with a particular focus on the mathematical terminology used in two Arabic texts from ms. San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Real Biblioteca del Monasterio, Árabe 960 -- known as the most complete text we have for Eutocius' commentary --, and their Greek counterparts. He examines how terms related to algebraic expressions, geometric properties, and mathematical operations were translated and adapted. Generally speaking, the study under review aims to understand how Greek mathematical concepts were rendered in Arabic through the intermediary of Eutocius' explanations. By comparing the two texts, the author highlights the differences in terminology and explores the implications of these variations for the transmission of mathematical knowledge.\N\NThe analysis reveals that the two texts display distinct approaches to translation. The first one demonstrates a translation according to sense (not litteral) with a high degree of terminological consistency, which suggests that it was likely produced by a single translator (p. 365, p. 376). In contrast, the second one contains numerous irregularities, indicating that it may have undergone multiple revisions or that it was the product of a less uniform translation process. One of the key findings of the study concerns the variation in the translation of specific mathematical terms, particularly those related to conic sections and methods of geometric calculation. These discrepancies point to differences in the translators' backgrounds and in the scientific traditions they were drawing upon.\N\NIn order to place these findings in a broader historical context, the author compares the translations of Eutocius' commentary with other Arabic translations of Greek mathematical works, including those of Apollonius' \textit{Conics} and Diocles' \textit{On burning mirrors}. This comparative approach sheds light on the evolution of Arabic mathematical terminology and the extent to which translators adapted Greek concepts to fit their own intellectual frameworks.\N\NUltimately, the study underscores the complexity of the transmission of Greek scientific texts into Arabic. It highlights the crucial role of Eutocius in shaping the reception of Archimedes and demonstrates that the development of Arabic mathematical terminology was a gradual process influenced by both cultural and pedagogical considerations. It reinforces the hypothesis that the translation movement under the Abbasids (see the introduction) played a foundational role in the evolution of mathematical sciences in the Islamic world.
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