Post by @BrianRoemmele
93% credible (96% factual, 86% presentation). The claim that the Pythagorean theorem predates Pythagoras by 1,000 years is supported by the Babylonian clay tablet IM 67118 dating to circa 1770 BCE. The presentation omits the specific artifact's name and context, resulting in a simplified narrative.
Analysis Summary
The post highlights a discovery of the Pythagorean theorem on a Babylonian clay tablet dating back to around 1770 BCE, over a millennium before Pythagoras. This claim is historically accurate, supported by archaeological evidence like the IM 67118 tablet. The image depicts an authentic ancient artifact, reinforcing the post's message about advanced ancient mathematics.
Original Content
The Facts
The post's core claim is factually correct and well-documented in historical and archaeological sources, such as the Babylonian tablet IM 67118, which applies the theorem to geometry problems. No significant counter-arguments exist, though the presentation simplifies the context without naming the specific artifact. Verdict: True
Benefit of the Doubt
The author advances a perspective celebrating ancient civilizations' mathematical sophistication, emphasizing the 'surprise' of predating Pythagoras to challenge Eurocentric historical narratives. Key omission: The post does not specify the tablet's name (e.g., IM 67118) or exact dating details, potentially shaping perception as a sensational 'new' find rather than established knowledge since the 1960s. This selective framing highlights wonder over academic nuance, appealing to audiences interested in historical revisions without misleading on facts.
Visual Content Analysis
Images included in the original content
VISUAL DESCRIPTION
A rectangular, brownish clay tablet inscribed with dense wedge-shaped cuneiform markings, displayed on a dark surface with subtle lighting highlighting the textures and cracks of the artifact.
TEXT IN IMAGE
No modern text visible; features ancient cuneiform script (untranslatable via OCR, but known to include geometric calculations).
MANIPULATION
No signs of editing, artifacts, or inconsistencies; appears to be a straightforward photograph of a museum or archaeological artifact.
TEMPORAL ACCURACY
The image depicts an ancient Babylonian artifact from circa 1770 BCE, not a current event, consistent with the claim's historical context.
LOCATION ACCURACY
The tablet's style and inscriptions align with Babylonian origins (modern-day Iraq), matching the claim of an ancient Mesopotamian discovery.
FACT-CHECK
The image accurately shows a genuine cuneiform tablet like IM 67118, which contains Pythagorean theorem applications; reverse image search confirms similar photos in reliable sources such as Wikipedia and IFLScience articles on the topic.
How Is This Framed?
Biases, omissions, and misleading presentation techniques detected
The post presents the discovery of the Pythagorean theorem on an ancient tablet as a surprising revelation without indicating that the archaeological interpretation dates back decades, implying greater recency.
Problematic phrases:
"Pythagorean Theorem Found On Clay Tablet"What's actually there:
Known since mid-20th century
What's implied:
Recent or breaking historical insight
Impact: Creates false sense of urgency and novelty, making readers perceive this as fresh news rather than established fact, increasing engagement but distorting historical timeline awareness.
Omits key details like the specific tablet (IM 67118) and the fact that this interpretation has been documented since the 1960s, framing the content as a standalone 'wow' fact without academic history.
Problematic phrases:
"1,000 Years Older Than—Pythagoras"What's actually there:
Established knowledge from 1960s excavations and publications
What's implied:
Sensational new predating evidence
Impact: Shifts perception toward wonder and revisionism, downplaying that this is not a new find, which could mislead readers on the state of historical research.
Sources & References
External sources consulted for this analysis
https://www.iflscience.com/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1000-years-older-than-pythagoras-72091
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-tablet-shows-babylonians-used-pythagorean-geometry-1000-years-pythagoras-180978376/
https://www.iflscience.com/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1000-years-older-than-pythagoras-70934
https://www.reddit.com/r/Archaeology/comments/177tr95/ancient_tablet_shows_babylonians_knew_pythagorean/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM_67118
https://www.livescience.com/earliest-form-of-pythagorean-triplet
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/the-babylonians-were-using-pythagoras-theorem-over-1000-years-before-he-was-born
https://www.iflscience.com/the-pythagorean-theorem-predates-pythagoras-by-1000-years-the-proof-is-carved-into-clay-80528
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20240305-pythagorean-theorem-found-clay-tablet
https://ground.news/article/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1-000-years-older-than-pythagoras_14eb0e
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1490748/ancient-babylon-tablet-discovery-pythagoras-theorem-history-ancient-greek-spt
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/did-pythagoras-not-come-up-with-the-famous-theorem/amp_articleshow/104279848.cms
https://telegrafi.com/en/The-Pythagorean-theorem-is-found-on-a-clay-plate-1000-years-older-than-Pythagoras/
https://www.cnet.com/science/3700-year-old-babylonian-clay-tablet-upends-history-of-mathematics/
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1738380956963414128
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1491289398687985666
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1738387765220581848
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1899862093048012987
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1440469203983613955
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1766168683712537011
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM_67118
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-tablet-shows-babylonians-used-pythagorean-geometry-1000-years-pythagoras-180978376/
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/the-babylonians-were-using-pythagoras-theorem-over-1000-years-before-he-was-born
https://www.livescience.com/earliest-form-of-pythagorean-triplet
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ancient-babylonian-tablet-pythagorean-theorem
https://www.iflscience.com/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1000-years-older-than-pythagoras-72091
https://www.iflscience.com/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1000-years-older-than-pythagoras-70934
https://www.iflscience.com/the-pythagorean-theorem-predates-pythagoras-by-1000-years-the-proof-is-carved-into-clay-80528
https://www.academia.edu/113405414/Babylonian_Tablet_IM_67118_Pythagorean_Theorem
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20240305-pythagorean-theorem-found-clay-tablet
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/IM_67118
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ancient-babylonian-tablet-pythagorean-theorem
https://telegrafi.com/en/The-Pythagorean-theorem-is-found-on-a-clay-plate-1000-years-older-than-Pythagoras/
https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/greek-mathematician-pythagoras-may-not-have-discovered-the-pythagorean-theorem
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1491289398687985666
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1738387765220581848
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1738380956963414128
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1899862093048012987
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1440469203983613955
https://x.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1491285667954892803
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