Minkowski’s theorem says that if S is a convex set in Rn which is symmetric about the origin and has volume V(S)>2n (or if S is compact and V(S)≥2n) then S contains some nonzero point of Zn.
Minkowski’s theorem can be seen as a simple consequence of Blichfeldt’s theorem. In particular, consider applying its statement to the set S/2:={s/2:s∈S}. Since V(S/2)=V(S)/2n>1 (or if S is compact, V(S/2)≥1) the theorem says that there exist distinct x1, x2∈S/2 with x1−x2∈Zn. Say that these have the form x1=s1/2 and x2=s2/2 where s1, s2∈S.
Since S is symmetric about the origin, it follows that −s2∈S. Additionally, since S is convex, it follows that the midpoint of s1 and −s2 is also in S. But this midpoint (s1−s2)/2=x1−x2 is also in Zn. Since x1≠x2 this point is nonzero, as required.
Using the form of Blichfeldt’s theorem applied to general lattices L of dimension n, one finds that if S is a convex and symmetric set in Rn with volume V(S)>2ndet(L) (or if S is compact and V(S)≥2ndet(L)) then S contains a nonzero point of L.