"Chances are you've seen this symbol before, because it's one of the most well-known Egyptian symbols. It's called the Eye of Horus. It's been in the background of plenty of mummy movies, and been turned into a lot of necklace charms. Some people think it's writing. Actually, it's math."
Prolific science writer Aczel offers a grab bag of biographical sketches of important mathematicians: starting with the "rope-pullers" in ancient Egypt, who determined property lines for farmers