Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio Traditional Cache
Hidden : 6/22/2015
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A visit to Gartness, birthplace of logarithms and many other ground-breaking mathematical and scientific advancements.

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The mathematical treasure that is Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Description (A Description of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms) was written by John Napier of Merchiston (1550-1617) and published in 1614.
Napier was a renowned mathematician, physicist, theologian, astronomer and inventor nicknamed “Marvelous Merchiston” who is most famous as the discoverer of logarithms, and the inventor of the so-called “Napier’s Bones” the first modern age calculator.
He also introduced and made common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics.
Napier's discoveries produced the vital tools needed by mankind to explore the globe and fathom the universe.
Without the invention of logarithms and the decimal notation for complex fractions, the discoveries of others such as Galileo, Kepler and Newton would have been hindered by years of long and complex calculations.

To put the importance of Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Description into context, its publication has been called:
“one of the great events in the history of science” and “a work which embodies one of the greatest discoveries made by mankind”.
It is regarded in the history of British science as second in importance only to Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia which describes his laws of motion and universal gravitation, a ground-breaking publication which would never have been realised without the tools provided by Napier.

As Laird of Merchiston, Napier is invariably linked in a historical sense with Edinburgh where he spent his childhood and later years whilst at the height of his renown.
However, in 1574 he commenced the most important and productive period of his life when he took up residence with his new wife in a castle he had built on one of the family estates at Gartness, and, for a period believed to have been about twenty years, lived as a semi-recluse whilst carrying out the calculations which led to his incredible discovery.

The Statistical Accounts of Scotland published in 1791 contains the following:
“Adjoining the mill at Gartness are the remains of an old house in which John Napier of Merchiston, inventor of logarithms, resided a great part of his time (some years) when he was making his calculations. It is reported that the noise of the cascade, being constant, never gave him uneasiness, but that the clack of the mill, which was only occasional, greatly disturbed his thoughts. He was therefore, when in deep study, sometimes under the necessity of desiring the miller to stop the mill that the train of his ideas might not be interrupted”.
 It also makes comment on the way he was perceived by his contemporaries:
“[Napier] used frequently to walk out in his nightgown and cap. This, with some things which to the vulgar appear rather odd, fixed on him the character of a warlock. It was formerly believed and currently reported that he was in compact with the devil; and that the time he spent in study was spent in learning the black art and holding conversation with Old Nick”.

This is the location of the site of Napier's castle at Gartness, although nothing now remains of the building.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

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Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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