Nicomachus of Gerasa

Nicomachus (c. 60-c. 120, born in Gerasa, Roman Syria, now Jerash, Jordan). He was one of the most important mathematicians of the ancient world.

He was strongly influenced by Aristotle and is best known for his works Introduction to Arithmetic (Arithmetike eisagoge) and The Manual of Harmonics in Greek. He was a Pythagorean. In Introduction to Arithmetic, Nicomachus writes extensively on number, especially on the significance of prime numbers and perfect numbers and argues that arithmetic is the starting point that makes it possible to do the other mathematical sciences: geometry, music, and astronomy.