In Archimedes' day, close approximations of pi had been known for over 1,000 years. An Egyptian document dated to 1650 B.C., for example, gives a value of 4 (8/9) 2 , or 3.1605.

Inside the Archimedes Palimpsest. By Lexi Krock; Posted 09.30.03; NOVA; In October 1998, a battered manuscript of parchment leaves sold for $2 million to an anonymous bidder at auction.