E.L. Meszaros
LightNews LightNews
banner
iastranger.bsky.social
E.L. Meszaros
@iastranger.bsky.social
79 followers 100 following 77 posts
Ph.D. in the History of the Exact Sciences in Antiquity from Brown University (2025). Algorithms, astronomy, mathematics, circus, cats, spiders.
Posts Replies Media Videos
iastranger.bsky.social
Remy picked up his first Neugebauer yesterday (Mathematical Cuneiform Texts, natch)
16-month-old boy in bluey PJs sits on a couch holding a full-sized book in the air in front of his face. 16-month-old boy wearing bluey PJs sits on a couch with a full-sized book open in front of him.
August 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
Public presentation of my dissertation is July 10 @ 11:00 a.m. on zoom! Come listen if you wanna hear what I've been up to or ask me difficult questions to prepare me for my defense.

brown.zoom.us/j/91231155478

(but lmk if you're coming so I can give the department admin a heads up)
Poster titled "Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy and the Algorithmic Lens" with text reading "Join us for a public presentation of dissertation research by Erica L. Meszaros on Thursday, July 10, at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom. The presentation will be followed by a discussion." Background of the poster is a black and white collage, and a headshot of the author is included in the body.
June 29, 2025 at 12:58 AM
iastranger.bsky.social
I just got back from the master class on the philosophy of mathematical practices in Brussels, and on my way to the airport this morning, after reading this post, I saw my first chronogram in the wild! Behold, the Grand Place in Brussels.
Front of an old European building with big gold lettering that reads "haeC statVIt pIstor VICtrICIa sIgna trophaeI qVo CaroLVs pLena LaVDe seCVndVs oVat"
June 23, 2025 at 1:58 AM
iastranger.bsky.social
Full draft of the dissertation due May 9. Three chapters still awaiting feedback. Current stats:
Screenshot of a google doc that reads "Current Dissertation Totals. Words: 65,193. Pages: 163. References: 161. Comments to respond to: 109"
April 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
My mother-in-law having a real normal one out there in response to me cutting my own child's hair.
Screenshot of a text reading "Please don't send any more pictures of him until his hair grows back. I mean it. Love you, but I loved his blond hair and was anxious to see how it looked as it grows out. This makes me cry."
April 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
Anyway, here's a transliteration/translation of the chunk I've zoomed in on. "Numbers" are pretty cool. Always have been.

Based on Friberg's "A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Text" p. 445
Text reading Problem 7a 10. IGI u IGI-bu-u2 2 : : 33 20 IGI u IGI-bu-u2 [ki-ma-a ma-ṣi … … … … … ] 11. GAM 30 RA2-ma 1 : : 16 40 : 1 : : 16 40 [GAM 1 : : 16 40 RA2-ma 1 : : 33 20 04 37 46 40 :] 12. 1 TA lib-bi LA2-ma re-ḫe 33 <20> 04 37 46 40 mi [GAM mi lu-RA2-ma 33 <20> 04 37 46 40 :] 13. 44 43 20 GAM 44 43 20 RA2-ma 33 <20> 04 37 4[6 40 : 44 43 20 a-na 1 : : 16 40 TAB-ma] 14. 1 : 45 IGI-u2 44 04 43 20 TA 1 : : 16 40 LA2[-ma 59 15 33 20 IGI-bu-u2] Problem 7a 10. IGI and IGI.BI 2,0,0,33,20. IGI and IGI.BI how much... 11. Times 30 go, then 1,0,0,16,40. 1,0,0,16,40 times 1,0,0,16,40 go, then 1,0,0,33,20,04,57,46,40. 12. 1 from inside remove, then remains 33 <20> 4 37 46 40. What times what may I go, then 33 <20> 4 37 46 40? 13. 44,43,20 times 44,43,20 go, then 33,<20>,04,37,46,40. 44,43,20 to 1,00,00,16,40 repeat, then 14. 1,00,45, the IGI. 44,04,43,20 from 1,00,00,16,40 remove, then 59,15,33,20, the IGI.BI.
February 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
Looking at lines 10-14 on the reverse, what's traditionally been called procedure 7a, we can see multiple examples of multiple placeholders used right next to each other in long strings of numbers! This includes the sexagesimal numbers 2,0,0,33,20 and 1,0,0,16,40.
A close up of five lines of cuneiform text from the reverse of AO 6484. Five red circles highlight five instances where two placeholders are used right next to eachother in the text.
February 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
Relatable lawn art on the RISD campus this morning #imnotokay
Lawn with words spelled out in sticks that say "I'm not okay"
February 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
I may not have a lot going for me, but I do really and truly have an Erdős number, and that's not nothing!
Screen shot from an Erdos number calculator showing an Erdos number of 5. The connections are: Paul Erdos coauthored with Ralph Philip Boas, Jr., who coauthored with John Wilder Turkey, who coauthored with Peter J. Huber, who coauthored with John M. Steele, who coauthored with me!
February 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
iastranger.bsky.social
Casual ice sculpture donated to the fountain.
Image of an ice sculpture saying Nabsys with double helices on either side and something scientific on top sits on the circular cement base of a fountain that is not currently running
January 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM