Facts

Bath

Bath hides an enormous number of interesting tidbits in its small footprint.

• The Roman Baths bear a Greek inscription: “Ἄριστον μὲν ὕδωρ”. The translation reads “Water is Best”. It was a famous line of the ancient Greek poet Pindar (contemporaneous with the Greco-Persian wars). The fountain near Bath Abbey bears the same inscription in English. This latter work explicitly rebukes the site’s former occupier - a pub. As a fluid dynamicist, I can’t think of a better motto.
• Of the eight planets of our Solar System, on of them was discovered in Bath. William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781. You can visit his house today.
• One of the greatest medieval philosophers, Adelard of Bath, bears the distinction of introducing algebra and Arabic numerals to the west.
• Admiral Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet, and first Governor of Australia, retired and was buried in Bath. He is memorialised in St Nicholas Church Bathampton, as well as in Bath Abbey, were an Australian flag hangs prominently. He directed the settlement to centre on Port Jackson, rather than Botany Bay. Despite growing up in Bayside, I can’t help but concur.