Chapter 252
Matticles was completely obsessed with mathematics and did not care about worldly affairs. Mentoticus, on the other hand, was different. He was not averse to spending time dealing with various matters. Moreover, mathematics had given him a meticulous mind, allowing him to manage the research institute, arrange personnel, and formulate plans with ease. This was why Devers appointed him as the dean of the research institute. Matticles raised both hands in agreement.
"I'll think about it," Mentotic-Ells replied cautiously.
"I understand the principle of this ballista!" At this time, Matticles came in front of Devers excitedly, pointed at the blueprint, and said excitedly, "Look at this! Look at this! The most important parts of this ballista are the string made of strong animal tendons, and the pulley that can save effort in pulling the string. Also, look at the longer the chute, the farther the range will be. This is because the string will be pulled as far as possible, and the rebound force will be greater … I think the people of Syracuse are stupid. They only used one pulley, which is too simple and very laborious to use. In fact, if we make a set of pulleys and fix them at the end of the chute, it will be easy to pull the string to the end of the chute. Give me the best carpenters and materials, and I will soon be able to make a better ballista than them! "
Matticles' confident expression satisfied Devers. He smiled and said, "I have just told Mentoticus that I will let the mechanics of the army's engineering battalion go to the mathematics institute to be your assistant. Also, Diónia has the best cattle in the entire Western Mediterranean — the Lucanian cattle. They can provide you with a large amount of high-quality beef tendons at any time."
"That's great!" Matticles said and walked out with the blueprint.
"Matticles, I have an idea." Devers hurriedly stopped him. "If the ballista can accurately know the landing point of the stone before it is shot, it will be very helpful for the operator to accurately hit the target."
"This …" Martikoris and Mentoticus did not feel that Dyvers' suggestion was an extra burden. Instead, they fell into deep thought.
"I have another idea." Devers said seriously, "I think that no matter how much force we use or how much angle we use to throw an object, the trajectory of the object in the air should be like this —" Devers stretched out his finger and drew different arcs in the air.
Martiris and Mentoticus stared at the Devers' fingers as if they were deep in thought.
"If there's no wind and the ground is at the same level, with the highest point of the thrown object's trajectory as the center, the trajectories of the two sides should be able to overlap …" Dyvers said in a calm tone.
However, the two of them seemed to have been struck by lightning, and their expressions suddenly became extremely excited.
"Lord … Lord Consul, is this … is this another revelation from Hades?!" Mentochikels stammered. Similar situations had occurred several times in the past. When Dyvers talked with them, he would occasionally come up with some new ideas. After being verified, they were all correct. Every time, they would achieve breakthroughs in the research of mathematical theory, and it would greatly expand their knowledge.
"You can think of it that way." Devers smiled mysteriously.
"Come! Come! Show me the trajectory now! "Matticles grabbed Devers's hand excitedly and walked out without saying anything.
Devers understood what he meant. The floor of the living room was paved with marble, so of course, it could only be drawn on the mud in the courtyard. Therefore, they followed him out of the living room.
… …
"Mother, come over and look! What is Father doing in the garden with his people? They trampled on your flowers! "Cynthia pointed at the three Devers in the courtyard and shouted from the window of the bedroom on the second floor.
"Shh!" Kristoya made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Don't wake your brother up!"
She came to the window and looked down. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, then she turned around and smiled. "Nothing, it's just your father and a few uncles discussing mathematical problems." Although Kristoya loved flowers, she was a sensible woman and would never embarrass her husband in public.
"What is mathematics?" Adoris asked curiously.
"It's a very interesting knowledge. Your sister will soon learn it," Kristoya said softly with a smile.
"Can I go to school too?" Adoris asked longingly.
"Of course." Kristoya caressed his head. "But you're still young. You have to wait for another year."
"I don't want to! I want to go to school with my sister now! "Adoris said unhappily.
"Brother, stop it! Listen to Mother, or I won't let Father read you stories at night! "Hearing this, although Adoris pouted, he quieted down.
"Mother, is it really okay for me to go to school and study with other boys?" Cynthia said hesitantly to Kristoya. Cynthia was seven years old now. According to Greek tradition, girls could be married at 16. She already knew a lot. Her biological mother had taught her how to be a good woman in a Greek family since she was young. In her memory, her mother had never left the house. Now, she had to study with many boys in public, day after day, year after year. This made her a little uneasy.
Kristoya pulled Cynthia in front of her and combed her slightly messy hair. She said gently, "Child, do you know how lucky you are? Other than Diónia, there are girls like you in other Greek city-states. They spend most of their lives in their houses, busy raising children and managing the house. They don't know what the outside world is like. They haven't watched sports, they haven't enjoyed plays, they haven't even seen the sea. Do you want your life to be like theirs?! "
Cynthia shook her head with a look of fear.
Kristoya continued with emotion, "Your father is a great man! He spent a lot of effort to convince the Senate to let you girls have the same opportunities as boys. At that time, you won't be the only one going to school. There will be girls from other citizen families. Cynthia, you won't be alone in school. You have to study hard and prove that we women are not worse than men. Don't let your father's efforts go to waste! "
Cynthia nodded, not really understanding.
In fact, although the social customs of the newly rising Diónia Union were different from other Greek city-states, and they were more open to women, when the Devers proposed to the Senate to "let girls and boys go to school together", many senators opposed it.
The Devers were able to convince them. There was a paragraph that resonated with everyone: "… let Diónia citizen girls also enter school. Let them learn more knowledge and skills, learn how to live in harmony with boys. Knowledge will make them more cultured, more elegant, and more intelligent. When they grow up and get married, they will have more common topics and hobbies with their husbands. This will reduce the possibility of their husbands going out to seek pleasure in brothels and ensure the stability of the family. They will be more intelligent in managing family affairs and will not be deceived by cunning slaves. They will be able to raise their children better. It is crucial for the future citizens of Diónia to develop good habits at an early age! … "
… …
Since there were no electric lights in this era, most people went to bed when it was dark, except for a few rich people who used candles to continue working. Since they went to bed early, they got up early in the morning. Usually, people would get up after the rooster crowed. But for the hardworking people of Diónia, most of them got up even earlier. They would get up before the sun rose and the stars were still shining in the night sky to prepare for work after sunrise. Only children did not like to get up early. They would only wash up when their parents urged them.
But today, thirteen-year-old Patroclus got up very early. He hurriedly washed up and helped his mother bake bread. This made her very happy: her naughty son had really grown up after experiencing the invasion of Crotone.
At the dining table, his mother asked with concern again, "Cross, you really don't want me to send you to … to school?"
Patroclus shook his head like a rattle. "No! When the bad guys of Crotone came, I was alone sending letters to the nearby villages to report to the police! Even Uncle Agilas praised me as a warrior. I'm already so old, and the school is in the city. How embarrassing it would be if I still need you to send me! "
"But —" As soon as his slightly worried mother said this, she was interrupted by Patroclus's father, Palliandolus. "Let him go alone!"
Palliandolus looked at Patroclus with a serious expression. "When you get to school, listen to the teacher. Do whatever you're told. If you don't perform well, I'll beat you up!" An illiterate father certainly hoped that his son could write and calculate, so that he would have a better future. But he was too vulgar to say any better words of encouragement, so he could only use his usual tone to scare the child. Patroclus, who often talked back, answered obediently today, "Got it, Dad!"
Just when Palliandolus was surprised, there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"It's me."
"It's Uncle Agilas!" Patroclus cheered and immediately rushed to open the door.
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