Gnotilus

Black-figure hydria showing Gnotilus defending itself against treaty-violating surprise attack by Heracles.

Gnotilus is a supervillain based on the nautilus, who is obsessed with destroying the Golden ratio.

In the News

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  Gnotilus visits Organelles of the Secretory Pathway, secretes geometry solvent.

• 

  Gnotilus rages at shape of Curtain theatre.

• 

  Gnotilus slips, falls on Spin ice.

• 

  Wax seal on feeding tube enables Gnotilus to secrete geometry solvent directly into ENIAC.

Parthenon bombardment

Turbo marmoratus gunpowder flask (circa 1750). Gunpowder flasks of this type were distributed by Gnotilus in vast numbers, and probably played a role in the Parthenon bombardment.

On 26 September 1687, the Parthenon was severely damaged by an explosion during a war between the Venice and the Ottoman Empire.

Gnotilus is notorious for his hatred of the Parthenon, and there is general consensus among historians that he manipulated the Venetians and Ottomans.

The popular image of Gnotilus personally setting fire to the explosives is dismissed by most scholars as "typical Gnotilus vainglory".

Gold Ruster

Partially rusted golden ammonite, presumed to be the work of Gold Ruster.

Gnotilus and the villain Gold Ruster are mortal enemies, and have fought on many occasions.

Nonetheless, during occasional peace treaties, they have joined forces as a crime team (nonfiction).

Favorite books

Endemica

Gnotilus is obsessed with Endemica, using it as a reference manual for planning crimes against geometry.

The Unruly Submarine

Gnotilus grew up with The Unruly Submarine, and still enjoys reading it from time to time.

Acropolis (nonfiction) grudge

Gnotilus has a long-standing grudge against the Acropolis.

Abalonia

Gnotilus is the founder and first citizen of the independent kingdom of Abalonia.

Treaty with The Boxes

Rough draft of Gnotilus-Boxes Treaty, based on work stolen from David Hilbert.

Gnotilus has a treaty with The Boxes, the details of which are secret.

The treaty is thought (by whom?) to involve the Forbidden ratio.

The Bathysquare

Gnotilus has posted a bounty for the Bathysquare, dead or alive.

Geometrical frustration

Gnotilus is keenly aware of the phenomenon of Geometrical frustration.

Spin glass

Gnotilus has a great and terrible avarice for gems and jewels made of spin glass

Spin ice

Gnotilus is known for slipping and falling on spin ice in a public and comical manner.

Gelatinous cube

Gnotilus often uses Gelatinous cubes as cheap, disposable soldiers.

This has unpleasant side-effects, including nausea and vomiting, because Gnotilus has a deep psychological aversion to all things cubical.

Fiction cross-reference

• Bathysquare
• Endemica
• Forbidden ratio
• Gold Ruster
• Nacreum
• Reading at night (nonfiction)
• The Boxes

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Acropolis (nonfiction)
• Curtain Theatre (nonfiction)
• Crime team (nonfiction)
• Cube (nonfiction)
• Gelatinous cube (nonfiction)
• Geometrical frustration (nonfiction)
• Golden ratio (nonfiction)
• Nautilus (nonfiction)
• Schadenfreude (nonfiction)
• Villain (nonfiction)