Apollonios of Rhodes

Apollonius of Rhodes was an ancient Greek mathematician and geometer from Rhodes, renowned for his work on conic sections—curves formed by slicing a cone with a plane. His most famous contribution, the "Conics," systematically studied ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas, fundamental to understanding planetary motion and optics. His work laid the groundwork for later mathematicians and influenced fields like astronomy and engineering. Although little is known about his life, his mathematical achievements remain highly influential, bridging geometry and astronomy and shaping the way we understand complex curves today.