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Dido: Continuing tradition
Remembrance of the story of the bull's hide and the foundation of Carthage is preserved in mathematics in connection with the Isoperimetric problem which is sometimes called Dido's Problem (and similarly the Isoperimetric theorem is sometimes called Dido's Theorem). It is sometimes stated in such discussion that Dido caused her thong to be placed as a half circle touching the sea coast at each end (which would add greatly to the perimeter) but the sources mention the thong only and say nothing about the sea.
Carthage was republican Rome's greatest rival and enemy and Virgil's Dido in part symbolises this. Even though no Rome existed in her day, Virgil's Dido curses the future progeny of the Trojans. In Italy, during the fascist Regime, her figure was demonized, perhaps not only as an anti-Roman figure but because she represented together at least three other
unpleasant qualities: feminine virtue, Semitic ethnic origin, and African civilization. Her name and her memory were very feared.
As an innocuous example: when Mussolini's regime named the streets of new quarters in Rome with the characters of Virgil's
Aeneid, only the name Dido did not appear.
In tragic compensation (in a sadly curious way), the British Royal Navy employed
Dido-class cruisers against Italian objectives during the Second World War, seemingly a devastating justification of fascist fears.
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Later Roman tradition -
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EntertainmentPop star Dido announces comeback
Best-selling singer Dido announces that her third album, Safe Trip Home, will be released in November.
Published: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:44:29 GMT - Source: News.Bbc.Co.Uk - Read the article
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