> Eberhard Knobloch fully describes the design of the Fields Medal at:
>
> http://elib.zib.de/IMU/medals/
>
> Obverse:
>
> The head represents Archimedes facing right.
>
> (1) In the field is the word APXIMHDOYS in Greek capitals, and
> (2) the artist's monogram and date RTM, MCNXXXIII.
> (3) The inscription reads: TRANSIRE SUUM PECTUS MUNDOQUE POTIRI.
>
>
> The inscriptions mean:
>
> (1) "of Archimedes", namely the face of Archimedes.
> (2) R(obert) T(ait) M(cKenzie), that is the name of the Canadian
> sculptor who designed the medal. The correct date would read:
> "MCMXXXIII" or 1933. The second letter M has to be substituted
> for the false N.
> (3) "To transcend one's spirit and to take hold of (to master) the
> world."
>
> My question: does the Greek word APXIMHDOYS [= "of Archimedes"] just refer
> to Archimedes' face, or also refer to the Latin inscription?
This inscription sounds to me like an allegorical interpretation of the
saying ascribed to Archimedes "Give me a place to stand in and I'll move
the earth".
Avinoam Mann
>
> Greetings from Montevideo,
> Julio.
>
>
> At 05:08 PM 19/08/1998 -0700, Len Berggren wrote:
> | Today's press release concerning the awarding of the Fields Medals says
> | that the Latin Inscription on the obverse, which translates as 'Rise above
> | oneself and grasp the world', is due to Archimedes (whose head is
> | represented along with the inscription). I have never heard of such a
> | saying attributed to Archimedes and I wonder if any of you could enlighten
> | me as to where this statement, attributed to Archimedes, appears in the
> | classical literature.
>
>