Hippias of Elis c. 470 BC – c. 400 BC

Hippias of Elis was a Greek sophist of the late fifth century BC and one of the most colorful intellectuals of the age of Socrates. He boasted of a complete polymathic competence in mathematics, astronomy, music, grammar, history, and the practical arts and is said to have appeared at the Olympic games wearing only garments and ornaments he had made with his own hands. Plato devoted two dialogues, the Greater and Lesser Hippias, to careful and not uncritical engagement with him. He is credited with the discovery of the curve called the quadratrix, used to trisect the angle and to square the circle.