Cleo (mathematician)

Cleo (flourished circa 460 BCE) is a name associated with one of the first known female mathematicians. Virtually nothing is known about her life. The primary source mentioning her is Plutarch's Nicias, where he discusses a delay in launching a Sicilian expedition, attributing it to an astronomer named Meton. Plutarch then mentions that some believed Meton feigned madness to avoid the expedition, and claims that Meton was already well-known for his mathematical skills. Plutarch continues by saying that Cleo and Meton had calculated the crucial date using geometry.

Her contribution, even if indirect or collaborative, places her among the earliest known figures to have engaged in mathematical pursuits. It is important to acknowledge the scarcity of information and potential for misattribution or legend surrounding the figure of Cleo. The passage from Plutarch is the sole basis for identifying her as a mathematician. Further research is needed to substantiate her existence and mathematical contributions. Due to the lack of corroborating evidence, the historical validity of Cleo as a specific, identifiable mathematician remains debated.