The content of the Mishnat ha-Middot resembles the work of this 1st Century AD Egyptian mathematician.
Hero of Alexandria Hero of Alexandria ( ; Greek: Ἥρων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς , "Heron ho Alexandreus"; also known as Heron of Alexandria ; c. 10 AD – c. 70 AD) was a mathematician and engineer who was active in his native city of Alexandria, Roman Egypt. He is considered the greatest experimenter of antiquity and his work is representative of the Hellenistic scientific tradition.
Rav Mesharshiya Rav Mesharshiya (or R. Mesharshya, or Rav Mesharsheya, or Rav Mesharshia; Hebrew: רב משרשיא) was a fifth generation Amora sage of Babylon. His Teacher par excellence was Rava, and they are mentioned together dozens of times in the Talmud. It is possible he was also a pupil of Abaye. He was a close colleague of Rav Papa, who was also a pupil of Rava, and he even sent his son to study under Rav Papa. R. Joseph the son of R. Ila'i was also among his colleagues. His father-in-law is reminded on his name as "R. Kahana the father-in-law of R. Mesharshya". Three of his sons were Amora sages, and studied at Rav Ashi's Beth midrash. Their name: Raba, R. Sama, and R. Isaac who was an honorable and dignified man. The Talmud states that Rav Mesharshiya himself encouraged them to learn in this Beth midrash.