Peter Freyd's writes: It seems that somewhere between 284 and 305 Diocletian proclaimed: Artem geometriae discere atque exercere publice interest, ars autem mathematica damnabilis interdicta est omnino. Does that say what I think it does? Can someone supply an authoritative translation? ------------------------------- In translation, this reads: Learning the art of geometry and furthermore, using it on behalf of the state is of interest - nevertheless, mathematics is altogether worthy of condemnation and is forbidden. Very strongly worded.