History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s17.1

v1.c7.s17.1

**Syrian Reference.** The following reference to a passage³ in a work of Severus Sebokht (662) shows that the fame of the Hindu numerals had reached the banks of the Euphrates in the beginning of the seventh century. Sebokht was a learned Syrian scholar who lived in the convent of Kenneshre on the Euphrates, in the time of the patriarch Athanasius Gam̄enale (died 631) and his successor John.¹ Sebokht seems to have been hurt by the arrogance of certain Greek scholars who looked down on the Syrians, and in defending the latter, he claims for them the invention of astronomy. He asserts that the Greeks were merely the pupils of the Chaldeans of Babylon and claims that these same Chaldeans were the very Syrians whom his opponents condemned. It is in this connection that he mentions the Hindus by way of illustration, using the following words: