Serafina Cuomo (born May 21, 1966) is an Italian historian who is currently the A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. Cuomo specialises in ancient mathematics and the

history of technology The history of technology is the history of the invention of tools and techniques by humans. Technology includes methods ranging from simple stone tools to the complex genetic engineering and information technology that has emerged since the 19 ...

Education

Cuomo achieved a bachelor's degree in Philosophy at the

University of Naples The University of Naples Federico II (; , ) is a public university, public research university in Naples, Campania, Italy. Established in 1224 and named after its founder, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, it is the oldest public, s ...

. She received a doctorate in

History and Philosophy of Science The history and philosophy of science (HPS) is an academic discipline that encompasses the philosophy of science and the history of science. Although many scholars in the field are trained primarily as either historians or as philosophers, there ...

from the

in 1995, with a PhD thesis titled "The ghost of mathematicians past: tradition and innovation in Pappus' ''Collectio Mathematica''".

Career

Cuomo has published on topics in ancient mathematics, including computing practices in ancient

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and the mathematician

Pappus of Alexandria Pappus of Alexandria (; ; AD) was a Greek mathematics, Greek mathematician of late antiquity known for his ''Synagoge'' (Συναγωγή) or ''Collection'' (), and for Pappus's hexagon theorem in projective geometry. Almost nothing is known a ...

, and the history of technology. Cuomo formerly worked as a lecturer at

Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...

Birkbeck University of London Birkbeck, University of London (formally Birkbeck College, University of London), is a public research university located in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. Established in 1823 as the London Mechanics' ...

, and

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

. In March 2024, she was elected A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the

, taking up the post from September 2024. In 2019, Cuomo participated in the EHESS
École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
.

Books

* ''Pappus of Alexandria and the Mathematics of Late Antiquity'' (Cambridge Classical Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2000) * ''Ancient Mathematics'' (Sciences of Antiquity, Routledge, 2001) * ''Technology and Culture in Greek and Roman Antiquity'' (Key Themes in Ancient History, Cambridge University Press, 2007)Reviews of ''Technology and Culture in Greek and Roman Antiquity'': * * * * * * * * *

Articles and chapters

*''“Skills and virtues in Vitruvius’ book 10”'', in M. Formisano (ed.), War in Words, Leiden: Brill 2011, 309-32 *''“All the proconsul’s men: Cicero, Verres and account-keeping”'', Annali dell’Università degli studi di Napoli ‘L’ Orientale’. Sezione filologico-letteraria. Quaderni 15, Naples 2011, 165-85 *''“A Roman engineer’s tales”'', Journal of Roman Studies 101 (2011), 143-65 *''“Measures for an emperor: Volusius Maecianus’ monetary pamphlet for Marcus Aurelius”, in J. König & T. Whitmarsh (eds.), Ordering Knowledge in the Roman Empire'', Cambridge University Press 2007, 206-228 *''“The machine and the city: Hero of Alexandria's Belopoeica”'', in C. J. Tuplin & T. E. Rihll (eds.), Science and Mathematics in Ancient Greek Culture, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2002, 165-77 *''“Divide and rule: Frontinus and Roman land-surveying”'', Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 31 (2000), 189-202 *''“Shooting by the book: Notes on Tartaglia's ‘Scientia Nova’”'', History of Science 35 (1997), 155-88

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuomo, Serafina 1966 births Living people Classical scholars of the University of Durham Alumni of the University of Cambridge 21st-century Italian historians University of Naples Federico II alumni Classical scholars of the University of Cambridge