Beremiz Samir
Encyclopedia
Beremiz Samir, nicknamed The Man Who Counted or The Man who Calculated, was a fictitious Persian
mathematician
of the 13th century, created by Brazilian writer Júlio César de Mello e Souza
.
The life and teachings of Beremiz Samir are the subject of the book The Man Who Counted
, written by his equally fictitious friend Malba Tahan
. In spite of his humble origins, Beremiz was well-versed in all branches of geometry and mathematics, a prodigious calculator, an a genial problem-solver. To him, numbers and mathematical concepts were living beings. He claimed that there are happy and good-natured numbers, sad fractions, grumpy multiplications, and sleepy tables.
Throughout his life, Beremiz used his abilities with calculation like a magic wand
to amaze and entertain people, settle disputes, find just and wise solutions to seemingly intractable problems — and, ultimately, to secure his own happiness.
, about 40 km from Mount Ararat
(today in Northwest Iran
, about 20 km from the Turkish
border). While still a young boy he started working as a shepherd
for a rich landowner in the city of Khamat. It was there that he learned to count things at a glance — first his sheep, then the bird
s in the flocks that flew overhead, then ant
s and other insects, and even the bees in a bee swarm.
While still a young boy, he happened to save the life of an old and wise dervish
called Noh-Elim, who had been caught in a sand storm
. The old man responded by teaching young Beremiz many things that would later change the course of his life, including the geometry
of Euclid
.
to take care of his date plantations. Beremiz worked there for ten years, counting the fruits as they were still on the trees. Pleased with the profits accrued by the young manager, his employer then gave him a four-month vacation; which Beremiz decided to spend on a trip to Baghdad
, by foot — to visit some relatives and see the town's fabled wonders.
At one point along the road, while he was taking a short rest from his arduous journey, he attracted the attention of Malba Tahan, a well-to-do citizen of Baghdad who was returning home from a trip to Samarra
. Malba was much intrigued by this young man, who every now and then would come out of his deep thoughts, stand up, shout some large number — Two million, three hundred and twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and sixty six! — and then sit down and resume his meditation. After hearing Beremiz's story, Malba proposed to the lad that they travel together to Baghdad, where he could use his connections to find a suitable employment for his mathematical abilities.
Malba recounts in great detail the various incidents that befell the two men along the road and in Baghdad.
The task, which other sages had scornfully turned down — It is easier for a whale
to go to Mecca
than for a woman to learn mathematics! — was gladly accepted by Beremiz, who promptly began his lessons. But the heavy screen that the prudent father had set up by to separate Telassim from his tutor proved to be no real obstacle — neither to the learning of mathematics, nor to the flourishing of a seemingly impossible love.
Nevertheless, after many dealings and many mathematical puzzles and curiosities, Beremiz had the occasion to solve a particularly baffling problem at the Caliph's Court. Impressed by the man's wisdom, the Caliph asked him to pick his reward — whether that be twenty thousand dinars in gold, or a palace in Baghdad, or a post of governor of one of his provinces. But Beremiz already had his choice ready. After some hesitation, the Caliph and Telassim's father agreed to their marriage, provided that Beremiz would solve one last mathematical problem, the hardest of them all — which he of course did with his usual genius.
Telassim was a Christian, and, after their marriage, the couple decided to move to Constantinople; and their mutual friend Malba Tahan agreed to accompany them. The move proved to be their fortune, since three years later, in 1258, Baghdad was conquered and utterly destroyed by the Mongols.
In Constantinople, for the love of his wife, Beremiz too converted to Christianity (demanding however to be baptized
by a bishop
who knew Euclidean geometry). Beremiz and Telassim had three children, and lived the rest of their lives happily together in Constantinople.
As aptly observed by Malba Tahan: "Of all the problems that Beremiz ever tackled, the one he solved best was that of Life and Love."
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
of the 13th century, created by Brazilian writer Júlio César de Mello e Souza
Júlio César de Mello e Souza
Júlio César de Mello e Souza , was a Brazilian writer and mathematics professor. He is well known in Brazil and abroad by his books on recreational mathematics, most of them published under the pen names of Malba Tahan and Breno de Alencar Bianco.He has been called by one biographer "the only...
.
The life and teachings of Beremiz Samir are the subject of the book The Man Who Counted
The Man Who Counted
The Man Who Counted is a book on recreational mathematics and curious word problems by Brazilian writer Júlio César de Mello e Souza, published under the pen name Malba Tahan...
, written by his equally fictitious friend Malba Tahan
Malba Tahan
Malba Tahan, full name Ali Yezzid Izz-Edin ibn-Salim Hanak Malba Tahan, was a fictitious Persian scholar. He was the creation and frequent pen name of Brazilian author Júlio César de Mello e Souza.-Biography:...
. In spite of his humble origins, Beremiz was well-versed in all branches of geometry and mathematics, a prodigious calculator, an a genial problem-solver. To him, numbers and mathematical concepts were living beings. He claimed that there are happy and good-natured numbers, sad fractions, grumpy multiplications, and sleepy tables.
Throughout his life, Beremiz used his abilities with calculation like a magic wand
Wand
A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar...
to amaze and entertain people, settle disputes, find just and wise solutions to seemingly intractable problems — and, ultimately, to secure his own happiness.
Early years
According to Tahan's account, Beremiz was born in the small village of KhoyKhoy
Khoy is a city in and the capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 178,708, in 45,090 families....
, about 40 km from Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
(today in Northwest Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, about 20 km from the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
border). While still a young boy he started working as a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
for a rich landowner in the city of Khamat. It was there that he learned to count things at a glance — first his sheep, then the bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the flocks that flew overhead, then ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s and other insects, and even the bees in a bee swarm.
While still a young boy, he happened to save the life of an old and wise dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
called Noh-Elim, who had been caught in a sand storm
Sand Storm
Sand Storm is a 1992 action game in which you are shooting an anti-air ballistic weapon. The premise of the game is similar to that of Sabotage. You must defend your home base from planes , Patriot Missiles, and Scuds. If a missile or bomb touches the ground, some of the buildings in the base are...
. The old man responded by teaching young Beremiz many things that would later change the course of his life, including the geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
of Euclid
Euclid
Euclid , fl. 300 BC, also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry". He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I...
.
Meeting with Malba Tahan
When he was about sixteen years old, his employer came to know of his abilities, and sent him to some far away oasesOasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
to take care of his date plantations. Beremiz worked there for ten years, counting the fruits as they were still on the trees. Pleased with the profits accrued by the young manager, his employer then gave him a four-month vacation; which Beremiz decided to spend on a trip to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, by foot — to visit some relatives and see the town's fabled wonders.
At one point along the road, while he was taking a short rest from his arduous journey, he attracted the attention of Malba Tahan, a well-to-do citizen of Baghdad who was returning home from a trip to Samarra
Samarra
Sāmarrā is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah ad-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700....
. Malba was much intrigued by this young man, who every now and then would come out of his deep thoughts, stand up, shout some large number — Two million, three hundred and twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and sixty six! — and then sit down and resume his meditation. After hearing Beremiz's story, Malba proposed to the lad that they travel together to Baghdad, where he could use his connections to find a suitable employment for his mathematical abilities.
Malba recounts in great detail the various incidents that befell the two men along the road and in Baghdad.
Beremiz's toughest problem
Shortly after their arrival in Baghdad, Beremiz was visited by a prominent member of the Caliph's Court, who offered to hire the Man Who Could Count as a tutor to his 17 year old daughter, Telassim. The harried father told Beremiz that an astrologer once predicted terrible things would happen to the girl after her 18th birthday — unless she could by that time master the art of Al-Khowarizmi.The task, which other sages had scornfully turned down — It is easier for a whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
to go to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
than for a woman to learn mathematics! — was gladly accepted by Beremiz, who promptly began his lessons. But the heavy screen that the prudent father had set up by to separate Telassim from his tutor proved to be no real obstacle — neither to the learning of mathematics, nor to the flourishing of a seemingly impossible love.
Nevertheless, after many dealings and many mathematical puzzles and curiosities, Beremiz had the occasion to solve a particularly baffling problem at the Caliph's Court. Impressed by the man's wisdom, the Caliph asked him to pick his reward — whether that be twenty thousand dinars in gold, or a palace in Baghdad, or a post of governor of one of his provinces. But Beremiz already had his choice ready. After some hesitation, the Caliph and Telassim's father agreed to their marriage, provided that Beremiz would solve one last mathematical problem, the hardest of them all — which he of course did with his usual genius.
Telassim was a Christian, and, after their marriage, the couple decided to move to Constantinople; and their mutual friend Malba Tahan agreed to accompany them. The move proved to be their fortune, since three years later, in 1258, Baghdad was conquered and utterly destroyed by the Mongols.
In Constantinople, for the love of his wife, Beremiz too converted to Christianity (demanding however to be baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
who knew Euclidean geometry). Beremiz and Telassim had three children, and lived the rest of their lives happily together in Constantinople.
As aptly observed by Malba Tahan: "Of all the problems that Beremiz ever tackled, the one he solved best was that of Life and Love."