Abstract:

When discussing notable female mathematicians, the names of Hypatia, Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Emma Castelnuovo, and Maryam Mirzakhani immediately come to mind. Unfortunately, due to cultural factors that have persisted over time, there have been relatively few prominent female figures, not just in the scientific realm, but in various fields. Although they were not able to be active themselves, nevertheless women have consistently served as a wellspring of inspiration for artists and writers throughout history.

This paper aims to explore an interdisciplinary path centered around Queen Dido, a prominent symbol of femininity who has captivated and influenced distinguished artists across various fields of knowledge for centuries.

The didactic activity outlined in this paper is specifically designed as a component of the Mathematical High School Project (MHS) and can be developed in high school classes at the 12th and 13th levels. The MHS project encompasses 26 universities and over 160 schools throughout Italy. This innovative educational initiative aims to restore the interdisciplinary nature of mathematics within the Italian school curriculum.

The laboratory starts with a literary examination of how different authors have portrayed and sculpted the figure of this woman from Virgil and Ovid to Louise Glück, Nobel Prize winner for literature. Then we will proceed to analyze the principal artworks in which she is the protagonist, studying the spatial geometries and perspectives used in the paintings, the frescoes of Pompeii, the miniatures of the fourteenth century, then in the various paintings from the seventeenth century, including Rubens, Tiepolo... until the twentieth century.

Next, we will examine the symmetries and mathematical transformations present in the lyrical musical compositions dedicated to our focal point, Dido. Our analysis will encompass the mathematical properties exhibited in works ranging from the Baroque canons to the deviation from symmetries commonly observed in the Romantic period and subsequent eras.

The paper will delve into a thorough examination of isoperimetric problems: beginning with the analysis of the first sing of Virgil's Aeneid and the exploration of the renowned ox skin that played a significant role in the founding of the city of Carthage, the description will progress towards the investigation and experimental reconstruction of various isoperimetric problems that have arisen throughout history, which will be presented both through laboratories carried out with didactic artifacts and through the use of dynamic geometry software. Ultimately, the paper will culminate with a thorough examination of Steiner's demonstration.

From the point of view of history, images will be presented of some medieval towns whose walls respond to the problem of maximizing the area to have the minimum exposure to possible enemies, effectively answering the isoperimetric problem.

The paper will provide the readers with a curated selection of materials, including literary texts, paintings, musical pieces, and mathematical documents. These resources are designed to support teachers in proposing engaging activities to their students.

Additionally, it will be demonstrated how new technologies, such as dynamic geometry software can be effectively utilized to solve mathematical problems. These tools are essential for approaching topics in an experimental and heuristic manner, even without a deep understanding of mathematical theory.

Keywords:

Interdisciplinarity, educational path, technologies in education, Queen Dido, isoperimetric problem.