PROCLUSONTHETIMAEUSOFPLATO

Books15,withextendednotes

ProclusDiadochus,thePlatonicsuccessor

TranslatedbyThomasTaylor
EditedbyMartinEuser,June,2010

Directoryofcontents
Introduction
NamesofthephilosophersquotedbyProclus
Anexplanationofcertainterms
BookOne
BookTwo
BookThree
BookFour
BookFive
Extendednotes
Listofimportantterms
SomeimportantGreekGods

INTRODUCTIONTOPROCLUSONTHETIMAEUSOFPLATO

ThomasTaylor

Ofthatgoldenchainofphilosophers,who,havingthemselveshappily
penetrated,luminouslyunfoldedtootherstheprofunditiesofthe
philosophyofPlato,Proclusisindisputablythelargestandmostrefulgent
link.Bornwithageniustranscendentlygreat,andaccompaniedthroughlife
withafortunesingularlygood,heexhibitedinhisownpersonaunionof
therarestkind,inwhichpowerconcurredwithwill,thebenefitresulting
fromgenuinephilosophywiththeabilityofimpartingit,andinwhich
WisdomwasinseparablefromProsperity.Theeulogiumthereforeof
AmmoniusHermeas,"thatProcluspossessedthepowerofunfoldingthe
opinionsoftheancients,andascientificjudgementofthenatureofthings,
inthehighestperfectionpossibletohumanity,"*willbeimmediately
assentedtobyeveryone,whoisanadeptinthewritingsofthis
incomparableman.
Irejoicetherefore,intheopportunitywhichisnowaffordedmeof
presentingtotheEnglishreaderatranslationofoneofthegreatest
productionsofthisCorypheanphilosopher;thoughunfortunatelylikemost
ofhisotherworks,ithasbeentransmittedtousinamutilatedstate.For
theseCommentariesscarcelyexplainathirdpartoftheTimaeus;andfrom
apassageinOlympiodorusOntheMeteorsofAristotle,*thereisevery
reasontobelievethatProclusleftnopartoftheTimaeuswithouthis
masterlyelucidations.Thisislikewisemorethanprobable,fromwhat
Marinussaysinhislifeofhim,"thathewasamanlaborioustoamiracle;"

foritcannotbesupposedthatsuchamanwouldleavethegreaterpartof
oneofthemostimportantdialoguesofPlatounelucidated,andparticularly
astheseCommentarieswerewrittenbyhim(asthesameMarinusinforms
us)intheflowerofhisage,andthathepreferredthembeyondallhisother
tEi6enmiijfteic&r\vi\dai\\Ltveuseveyiceivirepirr\vTOV0I/3XIOUacupyvtuxv,
aiTovriixovevaavTegTUVe^riyrjaeuvTOVdeuovTJ^IWC8idctOKo\ovIIpo/cXouTOV
irXaruviKov&ia8oxov,TOVei<;otupovr?;cavBpwnvriq(pvatuqTT\Vre7771)71x77
TWV5OKOVVTUVTOII;iraXaioic6vvap.iv,/cmTTJVeirio~T7}poviKr\vTTJC(pvoeut;
TUVOVTUVnpioivaoKt\oavT0CiroWrivavrepX071CPBeqsxttpfopo\oyr\oaipv.
Amnion,deInterpret,p.1,713
Forimportantparticularsrespectingthisextraordinaryman,seemytranslationofthe
LifeofProclusbyMarinus.Hewasbornabouttheyear412ofChrist.
$Seethispassageinnote42tomytranslationoftheMeteorsofAristotle[TTSvol.
XXV.TheWorksofAristotleVII,p.5612].
works.*Fortunatelyhowever,themostimportantpartofthisworkis
preserved;orthatpartinwhichthedemiurgic,paradigmatic,andfinal
causesoftheuniverseareunfolded;thecorporealnatureofitisrepresented
asfabricatedwithformsanddemiurgicsections,anddistributedwithdivine
numbers;andsoulisproducedfromtheDemiurgus,andisfilledwith
harmonicratios,anddivineandfabricativesymbols.Thewholemundane
animaltoo,ishereshowntobeconnected,accordingtotheunited
comprehensionwhichsubsistsintheintelligibleworld;andthepartswhich
itcontainsaresodisposedastoharmonizewiththewhole,bothsuchasare
corporeal,andsuchasarevital.Forpartialsoulssuchasours,are
introducedintoitsspaciousreceptacle,areplacedaboutthemundaneGods,
andbecomemundanethroughtheluciformvehicleswithwhichtheyare
connected.Theprogressionoftheelementslikewisefromtheirfirst
incorporealsubsistencetotheirsubterraneantermination,andthenatureof
theheavensandheavenlybodies,arebeautifullydeveloped.Andasthe
resultofthemostscientificreasoning,itisshownthateveryplanetis
surroundedwithsatellites,*thatthefixedstarshaveperiodicrevolutionson
theiraxes,thoughthelengthoftheirdurationistousunknown;andthat
thestars,whichattimesdisappearandagainbecomevisible,arethesatellites
ofotherfixedstarsofamoreprimarydignity,behindthesplendoursof
whichtheyareoccasionallyconcealed.5Theseandmanyothermost
interestingparticulars,areunfoldedintheseCommentaries,withan
accuracyandperspicuitywhichhaveseldombeenequalled,andhavenever
beenexcelled.
WhenIspeakhowever,oftheperspicuitywithwhichtheseparticularsare
developed,Idonotmeanthattheyaredeliveredinsuchaway,astobe
obvioustoeveryone,orthattheymaybeapprehendedassoonasread;for

thispertainsonlytothefungousandfrivolousproductionsofthepresent
day;butmymeaningis,thattheyarewrittenwithalltheclearness,which
theyarenaturallycapableofadmitting,orwhichagenuinestudentofthe
fThelateDr.CharlesBurney,onbeingaskedbyme,whetherhehadeverread
theseCommentaries,candidlyreplied,"thattheyweretoomuchforhim;"atthesame
timeexclaiming,"WhatagiantwasProcluscomparedtoLonginus!"Thisconfession,
astheDoctorhadneverstudiedthephilosophyofPlato,displayedadegreeofgood
sense,whichisseldomtobemetwithinagrammarianandphilologist,onsuchan
occasion;andhiscandourisstillmoreremarkable,whenitisconsideredthathehad
beenaReviewer.
$Seep.830,inwhichitissaid,"thatineachoftheplanetaryspheres,anumber
analogoustothechoirofthefixedstars,subsistswithappropriatecirculations."See
alsop.841and842,inwhichthisismorefullyasserted.
Seep.861.
philosophy*ofPlatocandesire.Andthisleadsmetomakesomeremarks
ontheiniquitousopinionwhich,sincetherevivalofletters,hasbeen
generallyentertainedofthewritingsofProclusandotherphilosophers,who
aredistinguishedbytheappellationofthelatterPlatonists,andtoshowthe
causefromwhichitoriginated.
TheopiniontowhichIalludeisthis,thatPlotinusandhisfollowers,or
inotherwords,allthePlatoniststhatexistedfromhistimetothefallofthe
Romanempire,andthedestructionoftheschoolsofthephilosophersby
Justinian,corruptedthephilosophyofPlato,byfillingitwithjargonand
revery,andbyascribingdogmastohim,whicharenottobefoundinhis
writings,andwhichareperfectlyabsurd.Itmightnaturallybesupposed
thattheauthorsofthiscalumnyweremendeeplyskilledinthephilosophy,
thecorruptorsofwhichtheyprofesstohavedetected;andthattheyhad
studiedthewritingsofthemenwhomtheysogrosslydefame.This
howeverisveryfarfrombeingthecase.ForsincethephilosophyofPlato,
asIhaveelsewhereshown,istheoffspringofthemostconsummatescience,
allthedogmasofitbeingdeducedbyaseriesofgeometricalreasoning,some
ofthemrankingasprior,andothersasposterior,andthelatterdepending
ontheformer,likethepropositionsinEuclid,certainpreparatory
disciplinesarerequisitetotheperfectcomprehensionofthesedoctrines.
Hencealegitimatestudentofthisphilosophymustbeskilledin
mathematics,havebeenexercisedinallthelogicalmethods,andnotbe
unacquaintedwithphysics.Hemustalsobeanadeptinthewritingsof
Aristotle,aspreparatorytothemoresublimespeculationsofPlato.Andin
additiontoallthis,hemustpossessthosequalificationsenumeratedbyPlato
intheRepublic[VII,535a];viz.hemusthavenaturallyagoodmemory,
learnwithfacility,bemagnificentandorderly,andthefriendandallyof
justice,truth,fortitude,andtemperance.Sincetherevivalofletters
however,thisphilosophyhasnotbeenstudiedbymen,whohavehadthe

smallestconceptionthattheserequisiteswereindispensablynecessary,or
whohaveattemptedtheacquisitionofit,inthisregularandscientific
method.Hence,theyhavepresumedtodecideontheexcellenceofworks,
withthetruemeritsofwhich,astheywerethusunqualified,theywere
whollyunacquainted,andtocalumniatewhattheycouldnotunderstand.
Theyappearlikewisetohavebeenignorant,thatPlato,conformablytoall
theothergreatphilosophersofantiquity,wroteinsuchawayastoconceal
thesublimestofhisdoctrinesfromthevulgar,aswellknowing,thatthey
tItiswellsaidbyPetwin,alludingtothisphilosophy,"thattherearecertaintruths
acquiredbyalongexerciseofreason,bothinparticular,andlikewiseinthosesubjects
thataremostgeneral,asmuch,perhaps,outofthereachofthegreatest
mathematician,asthespeculationsofNewtonareabovethecapacityofsomethatare
nowcalledmathematicians."
wouldonlybeprofanedbythemwithoutbeingunderstood;theeyeofthe
multitude,ashesays,notbeingsufficientlystrongtobearthelightoftruth.
Hence,asProcluswellobserves,1"itisneedlesstomention,thatitis
unbecomingtospeakofthemostdivineofdogmasbeforethemultitude,
Platohimselfassertingthatalltheseareridiculoustothemany,butinan
admirablemannerareesteemedbythewise.Thusalso,thePythagoreans
said,thatofdiscourses,somearemystical,butothersadaptedtobedelivered
openly.WiththePeripateticslikewise,someareesoteric,andothers
exoteric;andParmenideshimself,wrotesomethingsconformabletotruth,
butotherstoopinion;andZenocallssomeassertionstrue,butothers
adaptedtothenecessarypurposesoflife."Thementherefore,whohave
defamedthelatterPlatonists,beingthusunqualified,andthusignorantof
themodeofwritingadoptedbythegreatancients,findingfromasuperficial
perusalofthemostgenuinedisciplesofPlatomanydogmaswhichwerenot
immediatelyobviousinhiswritings,andwhichweretothem
incomprehensible,confidentlyassertedthatthesedogmaswerespurious,that
theauthorsofthemweredelirious,andthattheyhadcompletelycorrupted
andpollutedthephilosophyoftheirmaster.Itmayalsobeadded,as
Olympiodorusjustlyobserves,thatthewritingsofPlatolikethoseof
Homer,aretobeconsideredphysically,ethically,theologically,andin
short,multifariously;andthathewhodoesnotconsiderthem,willinvain
attempttounfoldthelatentmeaningtheycontain.BythelatterPlatonists
however,theyhavebeenexploredinthisway,andhewhoiscapableof
availinghimselfoftheelucidationsofthesemostbenevolentandmost
sagaciousmen,willfindthearduoussublimitiesofPlatoaccessible,his
mysticnarrationsconformabletoscientificdeductions,andhisapparent
obscurity,theveilofconceptions,trulyluminousanddivine.Andthus
muchastothecauseoftheprevailinginiquitousopinion,respectingthe
writingsofthelatterPlatonists;fortheauthorsofit,Ihavenotbeenable
todiscover.ButofthisIamcertain,andposteritywillconfirmthe
decision,thatwhoevertheywere,theywerenolessignorantthanarrogant

nolesscontemptiblethanobscure.
Withrespecttothefollowingtranslation,Ihaveonlytoobserve,thatI
haveendeavouredtotheutmostofmyabilitytouniteinitfaithfulnesswith
perspicuity;andtopreservethemanneraswellasthematteroftheoriginal
tOnbeairpeTrirceBewraraTUVboyparuveonv,eiccxKoac.(pepopevaTUVTTOXXOP
ovSevbeiXeyeiv,ctvrovirXctTuvoc.eiirovroc,wexacTaravraKarayeXaorapeveortTOL
'TTOXXCUC,BcwpaoTuc.beaiaroic<ro<oic.OVTUbeKm01TlvBctyopeioiTUV
XoyuvT0VpevupuoKoveivcapvoTucovg,TOVQbevircuBpLovc.,KmmKTOV
UepLirarov,TOV$uevtaurepiKOVt;,rouebee^UTepiKOVC,,KmoniTocUappevibqi;,roc
pevirpocaXrjBeiuveypa^7abewpoc,bo^av,KmoZyvuvbeTOVCpevaXritfaceKaXei
TUVXoyuv,TOUCbexpeiubei
Procl.MS.Comment,inParmenid.V,1024ff
Independentofthedifficultiesinseparablefromsuchanundertaking,and
whicharisefromtheabstrusenessofthesubjectsthatarediscussedinthis
work,theoriginalaboundswitherrors,notofatrifling,butofthemost
importantnature;errors,whichsomateriallyaffectthesense,thatnoone
canreadtheseCommentaries,unlesshecorrectsthem,andyetnoonecan
correctthegreaterpartofthem,unlessheiswellacquaintedwiththe
philosophyofPlato.Ofthisthereadermaybeconvincedbyperusingthe
noteswhichaccompanythistranslation,inwhichhewillfindupwardsof
elevenhundrednecessaryemendations.Icallthemnecessarybecausetheyare
nottheoffspringofconjecture,butsuchasthesenseindubitablydemands.
Oftranslationstoo,ofthiswork,Icouldnotavailmyself;forofthewhole
ofittherearenone;andaLatintranslationofapartofthe3dbook,by
NicholaeusLeonicusThomaeus,*istheonlyaidthathasbeenaffordedme
inthisarduousundertaking.FromthistranslationIhavebeenable,asthe
learnedreaderwillperceive,togivemanyimportantemendationsofthe
printedoriginal,andnotunfrequentlytoaddtoit,notonlyparticular
words,butentiresentencesthatwerewanting.
AndnowIshallconcludewithobserving,thatthoughlikemostothers
whohavelabouredgreatlyforthegood,notmerelyoftheircountry,but
ofallmankind,Ihaveonlymetwithingratitudefromthepublicforthose
labours;andthatthoughonthisaccountIamnotmuchindebted,*yetI
sincerelywishwelltomynativeland,andtoeveryindividualinit.That
Ihaveneitherbeeninfluencedbytheexpectationofsordidemolument,nor
ofthehonoursofthemultitude,intheprosecutionoftheselabours,must
beevidentfromthenatureofthem,tothemostcarelessobserver.The
mostperfectconvictionindeed,thatagreatergoodthanthephilosophyof
PlatoandAristotlewasneverimpartedbydivinitytoman,andthe
consequentpersuasion,thatIcouldnotconferamorerealbenefitonthe
presentageandposteritythanbyadisseminationofitinmynativetongue,

astheyinducedmetoengageinsuchadifficultundertaking,havealsobeea
attendedwiththepurestdelight,fromaconvictionthatIwasactingrightly,
andthereforeinawaypleasingtodivinity.Henceinaccomplishingthis
Herculeantask,Ihavebeensatisfiedwithexploringmyself,andimparting
toothers,thetreasuresofancientwisdom;andwithendeavouringto
deservethefavourableregardofthatineffableprinciple,whoseapprobation
isnotonlythehighesthonourthateithermortalsorimmortalscanobtain,
butthemostdurableandsubstantialgain.
tThistranslationformsthelastpartoftheOpusculaofThomaeus,printedat
Veniceintheyear1525;whichworkissoscarce,thatFabriciusinhisaccountofthe
LifeandWritingsofProclus,(Biblioth.Graec.Tom.8.)says,heneversawit.
$AccordingtoPlatointhe7thBookofhisRepublic[520b],"thatwhichspringsup
spontaneously,shouldnotbeforwardtopayanyoneforitsnurture."

NAMESOFTHEPHILOSOPHERSQUOTEDBYPROCLUS
INTHESECOMMENTARIES.
ADRASTUSAPHRODISIENSIS,oneofthegenuinePeripatetics,according
toSimpliciusOnthecategoriesofAristotle.
AGLAOPHEMUS,onewhoinitiatedPythagorasinthemysteriesof
Orpheus.
ALBINUS,aPlatonicphilosopher,whoflourishedaboutthetimeof
Galen.
ALEXANDERAPHRODISIENSIS,aPeripateticphilosopher,whoflourished
undertheEmperorSeverus.
AMELIUS,aPlatonicphilosopher,andadiscipleofPlotinus.
AMMONIUSSACCAS,thepreceptorofPlotinus.
ANAXAGORAS,theClazomenian,flourishedaboutthe70thOlympiad.
ANTONINUS,adiscipleofAmmoniusSaccas.
ARISTOTLE,thediscipleofPlato,wasborninthefirstyearofthe99th
Olympiad.
ARISTOTLE,theRhodian.
ATTICUS,aPlatonicphilosopher,whoflourishedunderMarcus
Antoninus.
CHRYSIPPUS,acelebratedStoicphilosopher,diedinthe143rdOlympiad.
GRANTORSOLENSIS,thefirstinterpreterofPlato,alsoafellowdisciple
withXenocratesofPlato,andanauditorofPolemo.
DEMOCRITUS,thecelebratedphilosopherofAbdera,flourishedabout
the80thOlympiad.
EMPEDOCLES,thecelebratedPythagoreanphilosopher,wasanauditor
whenayoungmanofPythagoras.
EPICURUS,wasborninthe109thOlympiad.

EUDEMUS,theRhodian,adiscipleofAristotle,andtowhomAristotle
inscribedhisEudemianEthics.
EURYMACHUS,theEpicurean.
GALEN,thephysician,whowasalsoaPlatonist.Hewrote200
Volumes,mostofwhichwereburntinthetempleofPeace,and
flourishedundertheEmperorAdrian.
HARPOCRATIAN,thePlatonist,anArgive,andthefamiliarofAugustus
Caesar.
HERACLIDESPONTICUS,adiscipleofPlatoandSpeusippus.
HERACLITUSEPHESIUS,surnamedtheobscure,flourishedaboutthe70th
Olympiad.
HERMESTRISMEGISTUS.
JULIAN,theTheurgist,whoflourishedunderMarcusAntoninus.
IAMBLICHUS,aPlatonicphilosopher,surnamedthedivine,flourished
undertheEmperorConstantine.
NlCOMACHUS,thePythagorean,was,accordingtoFabricius,somewhat
posteriortotheageofAntoninusPius.
NUMENIUS,aPythagoricandPlatonicphilosopher,flourishedpriorto
Plotinus.
OCELLUSLUCANUS,anauditorofPythagoras,andoneofhismod
eminentdisciples.
ORIGEN,(notafatheroftheChurch,)adiscipleofPlotinus.
PARMENIDES,theElean,aPythagoricphilosopher,flourishedaboutthe
70thOlympiad.
PHERECYDES,theSyrian,thepreceptorofPythagoras.
PHILOLAUS,ofTarentum,aneminentPythagoreanphilosopher,andan
auditorofPythagoras.
PLATO,wasborninthe4thyearofthe88thOlympiad,anddiedinthe
108thOlympiad.
PLOTINUS,oneofthemosteminentofthePlatonicphilosophers,
flourishedundertheEmperorsGordianandGalienus.
PLUTARCH,ofChaeronea,inBoeotia,thepreceptorofTrajan,andthe
celebratedbiographer.
PORPHYRY,adiscipleofPlotinus,anddistinguishedbytheappellation
ofthephilosopher.
POSIDONIUS,aStoicphilosopher,flourishedunderthereignofJulius
Caesar.
PRAXIPHANES,adiscipleofTheophrastus.
PROCLUSMALLOTES,ismentionedbyourProclusasoneoftheancient
philosophers.
PYTHAGORAS,thefatherofphilosophy,flourishedaboutthe60th.
Olympiad.
SEVERUS,aPlatonist,butthetimeinwhichheflourishedisnotknown.
SOCRATES,thecelebratedpreceptorofPlato,wasborninthe4thyear
ofthe77thOlympiad.
SOCRATES,thePlatonist,wasposteriorintimetoAmelius.

SOLON,theLegislator,flourishedaboutthe46thOlympiad.
STRATOLAMPSACENUS,anauditorandsuccessorofTheophrastus.
SYRIANUS,thepreceptorofProclus.Seethenotestothiswork.
THALES,wasborninthefirstyearofthe35thOlympiad,anddiedin
the58thOlympiad.
THEODORUS,ASINAEUS,adiscipleofPlotinus,andsurnamedthegreat.
THEOPHRASTUS,thecelebrateddiscipleandsuccessorofAristotle.
XENARCHUS,aPeripateticphilosopher,andthefriendofAugustus
Caesar.
XENOCRATES,adisciple,andsuccessorofPlato.
XENOPHANES,theColophonian,authoroftheEleaticmethodof
masoning,flourishedinthe60thOlympiad.Foranaccountofthis
method,seetheadditionalnotesonthiswork.
ZENOELEATESwasanauditorofParmenides,andflourishedaboutthe
30thOlympiad.
N.B.TheOlympicgameswererestoredbyIphicus,442yearsaftertheir
firstinstitution,andabout777yearsbeforeChrist.Fromthislast
institutiontheGreeksbegantoreckonbyOlympiads,eachofwhich
containedthespaceof4years.Andthiscontinuedeventothereignof
Constantine.

ANEXPLANATIONOFCERTAINTERMSUSEDBY
PROCLUSINTHISWORK.
THEANAGOGIC.Thatwhichelevatesthesoulfrom
sensiblestointelligibles.
ALLIATION.Changeinquality.
APOCATASTASIS.Restitutiontoapristineform,or
conditionofbeing.
THEGENESIURGIC.Thatwhichiseffectiveof
generation.
THEDEMONIACALARISTOTLE.This
philosopherwasthusdenominatedbytheancients,fromhis
transcendentphysiologicalknowledge;naturebeingproximately
governedbydaemons,orthosepowersthatsubsistbetweenGodsand
men.
GENERATION.Aflowingconditionofbeing,orasubsistence
inbecomingtobe.Hence,togignesthaisignifiesanextensionin
subsistence,oratendencytobeing.
THEDEMIURGUSOFWHOLES.Themakerofthe
universeisthusdenominated,becauseheproducestheuniverse,sofar

asitisawhole,andlikewiseallthewholesitcontains,byHisown
immediateenergy,othersubordinatepowerscooperatingwithhimin
theproductionofparts.Henceheproducestheuniversetotallyandat
once.
DlANOIA.Thediscursiveenergyofreason;oritisthatpower
whichreasonsscientifically,derivingtheprinciplesofitsreasoningfrom
intellect.
OPINION.(doxa)Isthelastofthegnosticpowersoftherationalsoul;
andknowsthatathingis,butisignorantofthecauseofit,orwhyitis.
Fortheknowledgeofthedioti,orwhyathingis,belongstodianoia.
THEEPITHYMETICPARTOFTHEvSOUL,orthatpartofthesoul
whichistheprincipleofallvariousdesires.Butdesireiswelldefined,
bythePythagoreans,tobeacertaintendency,impulse,andappetite
ofthesoul,inordertobefilledwithsomething,ortoenjoysomething
present,ortobedisposedaccordingtosomesensitiveenergy.
Theyadd,thatthereisalsoadesireofthe
contrariestothese,andthisisadesireoftheevacuationandabsence,
andofhavingnosensibleperceptionofcertainthings.
ICONICALLY.Athingissaidtosubsisticonically,whenit
subsistsafterthemannerofanimage.
IDOLICALLY.Adumbratively.
ENTHEASTICALLY.Inadivinelyinspiredmanner.
UNICALLY.InawayconformabletothenatureofTheOne.
THEALTERMOTIVE.Thatwhichismovedbyanother
thing,andnotbyitself.
ANGER.(thymos)Anappetiteofthesouldirectedtotheavengementof
incidentalmolestations.
REASONS.(logoi)Productiveprinciplesorpowers;andtheyalsosignify
forms.
MORPHE.Pertainstothecolour,figure,andmagnitudeof
superficies.
MULTIPOTENT.Possessingmuchpower.
INTELLECTUALPROJECTION.Theimmediateenergyof
intellectisthusdenominated,becauseitisanintuitiveperception,oran
immediatedartingforth,asitwere,toitsproperobject,theintelligible.
INTELLECT.(nous)Inthehumansoulisthesummitofdianoia,andis
thatpowerbythelightproceedingfromwhich,weperceivethetruth
ofaxioms.Butindivinenaturesitisaselfsubsistent,impartible,eternal
essence,perceivingallthingsatonce.
WHOLENESS.Awholewhichhasaperpetualsubsistence,and
whichcomprehendsinitselfallthemultitudeofwhichitisthecause.
PLENITUDE(pleroma),ORCOMPLETENESS.Isawholewhichgives
completiontotheuniverse.
THEINTELLIGIBLE,OR
INTELLECTUAL,ORPSYCHICALBREADTH;i.e.theextentofthe
progressionoftheintelligible,ofintellectandofsoul,andofeachof

theseaccordingtoitsownorder,andnotaccordingtoaprogressioninto
aninferiororder.
THECOMPOSITE.(syntheton)Ihaveusedthewordcompositeinstead
ofcompounded,becausethelatterratherdenotesthemingling,thanthe
contiguousunionofonethingwithanother,whichtheformerthrough
itsderivationfromtheLatinwordcompositus,solelydenotes.
THETELESTICART.IStheartpertainingtomystic
operations.
PHILOPOLEMIC.AnepithetofMinerva,signifyingthat
sheisaloverofwar;justassheisalsocalledphilosophic,asbeingalover
ofwisdom.
HYPARXIS.Thefirstprinciple,orfoundation,asitwere,of
theessenceofathing.Hencealso,itisthesummitofessence.

PROCLUS
on
THETIMAEUSOFPLATO
BOOKI
1,1ThatthedesignofthePlatonicTimaeusembracesthewholeof
1Aphysiology,andthatitpertainstothetheoryoftheuniverse,discussing
thisfromthebeginningtotheend,appearstometobeclearlyevident
tothosewhoarenotentirelyilliterate.Forthisverytreatiseofthe
PythagoricTimasusConcerningNature,iswrittenafterthePythagoric
manner;andPlatobeingthenceimpelled,appliedhimselftowritethe
Timaeus,accordingtoSillographus.*Onthisaccountwehaveprefixed
thetreatiseofTimaeustotheseCommentaries,*inorderthatwemay
knowwhattheTimaeusofPlatosaysthatisthesamewithwhatis
assertedinthetreatiseofTimaeus[theLocrian],whatitadds,andin
Bwhatitdissents.Andthatwemayinvestigatenotinacarelessmanner
thecauseofthisdisagreement.Allthisdialogue,likewise,throughthe
wholeofitself,hasphysiologyforitsscope,surveyingthesamethings
inimagesandinparadigms,inwholesandinparts.Foritisfilledwith
allthemostbeautifulboundaries5ofphysiology,assumingthingssimple
forthesakeofsuchasarecomposite,partsforthesakeofwholes,and
imagesforthesakeofparadigms,leavingnoneoftheprincipalcausesof
natureuninvestigated.
Butthatthedialoguedeservedlyembracesadesignofthiskind,and
thatPlatoalonepreservingthePythagoricmodeinthetheory
concerningnature,hasprosecutedwithgreatsubtiltytheproposed
1,2doctrine,oughttobeconsideredbythosewhoaremoresagaciousand
tViz.Timon,whowassocalledfromwritingscurrilouscomicpoems[fr.54,3

Diehls].
XThistreatiseofTimaeus,whichhasbeentransmittedtousthroughProclus,isnot
howeverprefixedtotheprintededitionoftheseCommentaries.Butthereadermay
finditinGales'OpusculaMythologica.
i.e.Finalintentions.
acute.Forsince,inshort,physiologyreceivesathreefolddivision,and
onepartofitisconversantwithmatterandmaterialcauses,butanother
partalsoaddstheinvestigationofform,andevincesthatthisisthemore
Cprincipalcause;andagain,sinceathirdpartdemonstratesthatthesehave
nottherelationofcauses,butofconcauses,andadmitsthatthereare
othercauses,whichareproperlysocalled,ofthingsgeneratedbynature,
viz.theeffective,paradigmaticandfinalcause;thisbeingthecase,
amongthemultitudeofphysiologistspriortoPlato,thatdirectedtheir
attentiontomatter,therewasadiversityofopinionrespectingthe
subjectofthings.ForAnaxagoras,whoappearstohaveseen,whilethe
nestwereasleep,thatintellectisthefirstcauseofgeneratednatures,*
madenouseofintellectinhisexplanationofthings,butrather
employedcertainairsandaethersasthecausesofthingsthatare
generated,asSocratessaysinthePhaedo.}Butofthoseposteriorto
Plato,whowerethepatronsofasect,notall,butsuchofthemaswere
moreaccuratethantherest,5thoughtfittosurveyphysicalformin
conjunctionwithmatter,referringtheprinciplesofbodiestomatterand
form.Foriftheyanywherementiontheproducingcause,aswhenthey
saythatnatureisaprincipleofmotion,0theyrathertakeawayits
efficaciousandproperlyeffectivepower[thanallowtheexistenceofit]
bynotgrantingthatitcontainsthereasons[orproductiveprinciples]of
Dthethingseffectedbyit,butadmittingthatmanythingsaregenerated
casually.Towhichwemayadd,thattheydonotacknowledgethat
thereisapreexistingproducingcauseof,inshort,allphysicalthings,
butofthoseonlythatarebornealongingeneration.Forofeternal
naturestheyclearlysay,thatthereisnoeffectivecause;0inasserting
whichtheyareignorantthattheymusteithergivesubsistencetothe
wholeofheavenfromchance,orevincethatwhatiscausalisitself
productiveofitself.
1,3Platohoweveralone,followingthePythagoreans,deliversindeed,as
theconcausesofnaturalthings,auniversalrecipient,andmaterial
form,**whicharesubservienttocausesproperlysocalled,inthe
tRep.III,390b12.
XPhaedo98c.
Viz.Aristotle,andhisfollowers.
e.g.Aristotle,Phys.II,192b13ff.
oEpicureans,

ttTim.51a.
generationofthings.*Butpriortothese,heinvestigatesprincipal
causes,viz.theproducingcause,theparadigm,andthefinalcause.
Hencealso,heplacesademiurgicintellectovertheuniverse,andan
intelligiblecauseinwhichtheuniverseprimarilysubsists,andTheGood,
whichisestablishedpriortotheproducingcause,intheorderofthe
desirable.Forsincethatwhichismovedbyanotherthing,issuspended
fromthepowerofthatwhichmoves,asitisevidentlynotadapted
eithertoproduce,orperfect,orsaveitself,inalltheseitisinwantof
Eaproducingcause,andisconductedbyit.Itisfit,therefore,thatthe
concausesofnaturalthings,shouldbesuspendedfromtruecauses,from
whichtheyareproduced,withaviewtowhichtheyarefabricatedby
thefatherofallthings,andforthesakeofwhichtheyweregenerated.
Justly,therefore,areallthesedelivered,andinvestigatedwithaccuracy
byPlato;andtheremainingtwo,formandthesubjectmatter,suspended
fromthese.Forthisworldisnotthesamewiththeintelligibleor
intellectualworlds,which,accordingtosome,subsistinpureforms;but
onethinginithastherelationofreasonandform,andanother,ofa
subject.ButthatPlatoveryproperlydeliversallthesecausesofthe
fabricationoftheworld,viz.TheGood,theintelligibleparadigm,the
maker,form,andthesubjectnature,isevidentfromthefollowing
considerations.ForifhehadspokenconcerningtheintelligibleGods,
hewouldhaveevincedthatTheGoodaloneisthecauseofthese;forthe
intelligiblenumberisfromthiscause.Butifconcerningtheintellectual
Gods,hewouldhaveshownthatTheGoodandtheintelligiblearethe
causes*ofthese.Fortheintellectualmultitudeproceedsfromthe
intelligibleunities,andtheonefountainofbeings.Andifhehad
2AspokenconcerningthesupermundaneGods,hewouldhaveproduced
themfromtheintellectualandtotalfabrication,fromtheintelligible
Gods,andfromthecauseofallthings.Forthiscausegivessubsistence
toallthingsofwhichsecondarynaturesaregenerative,butinaprimary,
ineffable,andinconceivablemanner.Butsincehediscussesmundane
1,4affairsandthewholeworld,hegivestoitmatterandform,descending
intoitfromthesupermundaneGods,suspendsitfromthetotal5
fabrication,assimilatesittointelligibleanimal,anddemonstratesittobe
aGodbytheparticipationofTheGood;andthusherendersthewhole
tPhil.27a.
XInsteadofavnTOVTUVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadainacTOVTUV.
ForVXTJChere,itisnecessarytoreadOXTJC.
worldanintellectual,animatedGod.*This,therefore,andsuchasthis,
is,aswehavesaid,thescopeoftheTimaeus.
Thishoweverbeingthecase,theorderoftheuniverseisappropriately

indicatedinthebeginningofthedialogue,throughimages;butinthe
middleofit,thewholefabricationoftheworldisdelivered;andinthe
end,partialnatures,andtheextremitiesoffabrication,arewoven
togetherwithwholes.Fortheresumptionofthediscourseabouta
Bpolity,andthenarrationrespectingtheAtlanticisland,unfoldthrough
imagesthetheoryoftheworld.Forifwedirectourattentiontothe
unionandmultitudeofmundanenatures,wemustsaythatthepolity
whichSocratessummarilydiscusses,isanimageoftheirunion,
establishingasitsendthecommunionwhichpervadesthroughallthings;
butthatthewaroftheAtlanticswiththeAthenians,whichCritias
narrates,isanimageofthedivisionofmundanenatures,andespecially
oftheopposition*accordingtothetwocoordinationsofthings.5But
ifwedividetheuniverseintothecelestialandsublunaryregions,we
mustsaythatthe[Socratic]polity,isassimilatedtothecelestialorder;
forSocratessays,thattheparadigmofitisestablishedintheheavens;0
butthewaroftheAtlantics,togeneration,whichsubsiststhrough
contrarietyandmutation.Thesethingstherefore,forthereasonswe
havementioned,precedethewholeofphysiology.
Butafterthis,thedemiurgic,paradigmaticandfinalcausesofthe
universeareunfolded,inconsequenceofthepreexistenceofwhich,the
universeisfabricatedbothaccordingtothewholeandthepartsofit.
CForthecorporealnatureofitisfashionedwithforms,anddividedby
divinenumbers;soulalsoisproducedfromtheDemiurgus,andisfilled
withharmonicreasons,anddivineanddemiurgicsymbols;0andthe
1,5wholeanimaliswoventogetherconformablytotheunited
comprehensionofitintheintelligibleworld.Thepartslikewiseofit,
arearrangedinabecomingmannerinthewhole,bothsuchasare
corporealandsuchasarevital.Forpartialsoulsbeingintroducedinto
tTim.30b&34b.
%ForavTiBeoac,here,itisobviouslyrequisitetoreadavTiBeoewc,.
Thesetwocoordinationsarethefollowing:bound,theinfinite;theodd,theeven;
theone,multitude;therighthand,thelefthand;themasculine,thefeminine;the
quiescent,thatwhichisinmotion;thestraight,thecurved;light,darkness;good,evil;
thesquare,theoblong.
Rep.IX,592b.
oChald.Orac.fr108.
theworld,arearrangedabouttheirleadingGods,andthroughtheir
vehiclesbecomemundane,*imitatingtheirpresidingdeities.Mortal
animalslikewise,arefabricatedandvivifiedbythecelestialGods;where
alsomanissurveyed,andthemodeofhissubsistence,andthroughwhat
causeshewasconstituted.Manindeedisconsideredpriortoother
things,eitherbecausethetheoryrespectinghimpertainstouswhomake
himthesubjectofdiscussion,andareourselvesmen;orbecausemanis

amicrocosm,*andallsuchthingssubsistinhimpartially,astheworld
containsdivinelyandtotally.Forthereisanintellectinuswhichisin
energy,andarationalsoulproceedingfromthesame5father,andthe
DsamevivificGoddess,asthesouloftheuniverse;0alsoanetherial
vehicleanalogoustotheheavens,andaterrestrialbodyderivedfromthe
fourelements,0andwithwhichlikewiseitiscoordinate.Iftherefore,
itisnecessarythattheuniverseshouldbesurveyedmultifariously,inthe
intelligible,andinthesensibleworld,paradigmatically,iconically,totally
andpartially,itwillbewell,ifthenatureofmanisperfectlydiscussed
inthetheoryoftheuniverse.
YoumayalsosaythatconformablytothePythagoriccustom,itis
necessarytoconnectthediscussionofthatwhichsurveyswiththat
whichissurveyed.Forsinceweareinformedwhattheworldis,itis
requisiteIthinktoaddalso,whatthatiswhichconsidersthesethings,
andmakesthemthesubjectofrationalanimadversion.ButthatPlato
directshisattentionlikewisetothis,isevidentfromwhathesaysnear
theendofthedialogue,**thatitisnecessarythattheintellectofhim
whointendstoobtainahappylife,shouldbeassimilatedtotheobject
ofhisintellection.Fortheuniverseisalwayshappy;andoursoulwill
likewisebehappy,whenitisassimilatedtotheuniverse;forthusitwill
beledbacktoitscause.Forasthesensiblemanistotheuniverse,so
1,6istheintelligiblemantoanimalitself.Buttheresecondarynatures
Ealwaysadheretosuchasarefirst,andpartssubsistinunproceeding
unionwiththeirwholes,andareestablishedinthem.Hence,whenthe
sensiblemanisassimilatedtotheuniverse,healsoimitateshisparadigm
tChald.Orac.fr40,201.
*Phil.29a.
Foravrrfqirarpochere,itisnecessarytoreadctvrovirarpoc.
Chald.Oracl.fr.96.
oTim.73e.
ttTim.90d.
afteranappropriatemanner,becomingaworldthroughsimilitudetothe
world,andhappythroughresemblancetothatblessedgod[the
universe.]TheendsalsooffabricationaresubtilelyelaboratedbyPlato,
accordingtogenusandspecies,andalsowhatpertainstometeors,
togetherwithproductionsintheearth,andinanimals,suchthingsasare
preternatural,andsuchasareaccordingtonature;inwhichpartofthe
Timaeus,likewise,theprinciplesofmedicineareunfolded.Forthe
physiologistendsatthese;sinceheisasurveyorofnature.Fora
subsistenceaccordingtonature,existstogetherwithnature;butthe
preternaturalisadeparturefromnature.Itisthebusiness,therefore,of
thephysiologisttounderstandinhowmanymodesthisaberration

subsists,andhowitbecomesterminatedinmoderationandanatural
condition.Butitistheprovinceofthemedicalarttounfoldsuch
particularsasareconsequenttothese.Andinthesethingsespecially,
Platohassomethingincommonwithotherphysiologists.Forthey
Fwereconversantwiththemostmaterial,andtheultimateworksof
nature,neglectingthewholeheaven,andtheordersofthemundane
Gods,inconsequenceofdirectingtheirattentiontomatter;butthey
badefarewelltoformsandprimarycauses.
ItalsoappearstomethatthedaemoniacalAristotle,emulatingasmuch
aspossiblethedoctrineofPlato,thusarrangesthewholeofhis
discussionconcerningnature,perceivingthatthethingswhichare
commontoeverythingthathasanaturalsubsistenceare,formanda
3Asubject,thatfromwhencetheprincipleofmotionisderived,motion,
lime,andplace;allwhicharedeliveredbyPlatointhisdialogue,viz.
interval,andtimewhichistheimageofeternity,andisconsubsistent
withtheuniverse;thevariousspeciesofmotion;andtheconcausesof
thingswhichhaveanaturalsubsistence.Butwithrespecttothethings
peculiartosubstancesaccordingtoanessentialdivision,ofthese
Aristotlediscussesinthefirstplacesuchaspertaintotheheavens,ina
wayconformablytoPlato;*sofarashecallstheheavenunbegotten,
andafifthessence.Forwhatdifferenceistherebetweencallingitafifth
1,7element,orafifthworld,andafifthfigure,asPlatodenominatesit?*
Butinthesecondplace,hediscussessuchthingsasarecommontoevery
thingthathasageneratedsubsistence.Andwithrespecttothingsof
ihiskind,Platodeservestobeadmired,forhavingsurveyedwithmuch
accuracytheessenceandpowersofthem,andforhavingrightly
tArist.DeCoeloI,iii,270b22;andSimplicius'Com.onthis399,2;TTSvol.XXV.
XTim.55c.
preservedtheirharmonyandcontrarieties.Andofthese,suchindeed
Baspertaintometeors,Platohasdeliveredtheprinciples,butAristotlehas
extendedthedoctrinerespectingthembeyondwhatisfit.Butsuchas
pertaintothetheoryofanimals,aredistinguishedbyPlatoaccordingto
allfinalcausesandconcauses,butbyAristotlearescarcely,andbutin
fewinstances,surveyedaccordingtoform.Forhisdiscussionforthe
mostpartstopsatmatter;andmakinghisexpositionofthingsthathave
anaturalsubsistencefromthis,heshowstousthathedesertsthe
doctrineofhispreceptor.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
Inthenextplaceitisrequisitetospeakoftheformandcharacterof
thedialogue,andtoshowwhattheyare.Itisuniversallyacknowledged,
then,thatPlatoreceivingthetreatiseofthePythagoricTimaeus,which
wascomposedbyhimafterthePythagoricmanner,begantowritehis
Timaeus.Again,itisalsoacknowledgedbythosewhoareinthesmallest

degreeconversantwiththewritingsofPlato,thathismannerisSocratic,
philanthropic,anddemonstrative.If,therefore,hehasanywhere
mingledthePythagoricandSocraticpeculiarity,heappearstohavedona
Cthisinthepresentdialogue.ForthereareinitfromthePythagoric
custom,elevationofconception,theintellectual,thedivinelyinspired,
thesuspendingeverythingfromintelligibles,theboundingwholesit
numbers,theindicatingthingsmysticallyandsymbolically,theanagogic,
thetranscendingpartialconceptions,andtheenunciativeorunfolding
1,8intolight.ButfromtheSocraticphilanthropy,thesociable,themild,
thedemonstrative,thecontemplatingbeingsthroughimages,theethical,
andeverythingofthiskind.Henceitisavenerabledialogue;formsits
conceptionssupernallyfromthefirstprinciples;andminglesthe
demonstrativewiththeenunciative.Italsopreparesustounderstand
physics,notonlyphysically,butlikewisetheologically.ForNature
herselfwhoistheleaderoftheuniverse,beingsuspendedfrom,and
inspiredbytheGods,governsthecorporealformedessence.Andshe
neitherranksasaGoddess,noriswithoutadivinepeculiarity,butis
illuminatedbythetrulyexistingGods.
If,likewise,itberequisitethatdiscoursesshouldbeassimilatedtothe
thingsofwhichtheyaretheinterpreters,asTimaeushimselfsays,*it
willbefitthatthisdialoguealsoshouldhavethephysical,andshould
Dalsohavethetheological;imitatingnature,whichistheobjectofits
contemplation.Fartherstill,accordingtothePythagoricdoctrine,
thingsreceiveathreefolddivisionintointelligibles,thingsphysical,and
suchasarethemediabetweenthese,andwhichareusuallycalled
t29b.
18
mathematical.Butallthingsmaybeappropriatelysurveyedinall.For
suchthingsasaremedia,andsuchasarelast,presubsistinintelligibles
afteraprimordialmanner,andboththesesubsistinthemathematical
genera;firstnaturesindeediconically,butsuchasrankasthethird,
paradigmatically.Inphysicalentities,also,thereareimagesofthe
essencespriortothem.This,therefore,beingthecase,Timaeus,when
heconstitutesthesoul,veryproperlyindicatesitspowers,itsproductive
principles,anditselementsthroughmathematicalnames.ButPlato
definesitspeculiaritiesbygeometricalfigures,andleavesthecausesofall
theseprimordiallypreexistingintheintelligibleanddemiurgicintellect.
Andthusmuchconcerningthesethings;sincewhenwedescendto
particulars,weshallbeabletoknowmoreperfectlythemannerofthe
dialogue.Butthehypothesisofitisasfollows:
ESocrateshavingcometothePiraeusforthesakeoftheBendidian
festival*andsolemnprocession,discoursedthereconcerningapolity
1,9withPolemarchus,thesonofCephalus,GlaucoandAdimantus,and

likewiseThrasymachusthesophist.Butonthedayafterthis,he
narratestheconferenceinthePiraeus,asitislaiddownintheRepublic,
inthecity,toTimaeus,HermocratesandCriteas,andtoanotherfourth
anonymousperson.Having,however,madethisnarration,hecalls
upontheotherassociates,tofeasthiminreturnonthedayafterthis,
withthebanquetofdiscourse.Theauditorsthereforeandspeakers
assembledtogetheronthisday,whichwasthethirdfromtheconference
inthePiraeus.ForintheRepublicitissaid,*"Iwentdownyesterday
tothePiraeus;"butinthisdialogue,5"Ofthosewhowerereceivedby
meyesterdayatabanquetofdiscourse,butwhooughtnowintheirturn
torepaymewithasimilarrepast."Notallofthemhowever,were
presentatthisaudition,butthefourthwaswantingthrough
indisposition.What,therefore,youwillsay,arethesethreeauditorsof
adiscussionaboutthewholeworld?Ireply,thatitisfitthefatherof
thediscussionshouldbeconsideredasanalogousto[theDemiurgus,or]
thefatherofworks.0Forthefabricationoftheworldinwords,isthe
Fimageofthefabricationofitaccordingtointellect.Butthetriadof
thosethatreceivethediscussionofTimaeus,isanalogoustothe
demiurgictriadwhichreceivestheoneandtotalmotionofthefather;
tRep.I,327a,f;354a30,f.
$Rep.I,327a.
17a.
Chald.Oracl.fr.39.
ofwhichtriadSocratesisthesummit,throughanallianceoflife
immediatelyconjoininghimselftoTimaeus,justasthefirstofthe
paradigmatictriadisunitedtothefather,whoispriortothetriad.
Thesethings,however,iftheGodsplease,weshallrendermoremanifest
throughwhatfollows.Aswehavethereforespokenconcerningthe
scopeandmanagementofthedialogue,haveshownhowadmirablethe
4Acharacterofitis,andwhatisthewholeofthehypothesis,andhave
indicatedtheadaptationofthepersonstothepresentdiscussion,itwill
beproperthat,betakingourselvestothewordsofTimaeus,weshould
investigateeveryparticulartotheutmostofourpower.
Since,however,thewordnature,beingdifferentlyunderstoodbydifferent
persons,disturbsthosewholovetocontemplatethe
conceptionsofPlato,letusinthefirstplaceshowwhatitappearedto
1,10himtobe,andwhathisopinionwasofitsessence.Fortheknowledge
ofwhatnatureis,whenceitproceeds,andhowfaritextendsto
productions,willbeadaptedtothedialogue,whichhasforitsobjectthe
physicaltheory.Foroftheancients,someindeed,asAntipho,called
matternature;butothersform,asAristotle,inmanyplaces.*Others
againcalledthewholeofthingsnature,assomepriortoPlato,ofwhom
hespeaksintheLaws.}Others5denominatednaturethingswhich

subsistbynature.Butothersgavetheappellationofnaturetophysical
Bpowers,suchasgravityandlevity,rarityanddensity,assomeofthe
Peripatetics,andstillmoreancientphysiologists.Otherscalledthings
whichhaveanaturalsubsistencetheartofGod;otherssoul;andothers
somethingelseofthiskind.Plato,however,doesnotthinkfittogive
theappellationofnatureprimarily,eithertomatter,ormaterialform,
orbody,orphysicalpowers,butisaversetocallitimmediatelysoul.
Placing,however,theessenceofitinthemiddleofboth,Imean,
betweensoulandcorporealpowers,thelatterbeinginferiortoit,in
consequenceofbeingdividedaboutbodies,andincapableofbeing
convertedtothemselves,butnaturesurpassingthingsposteriortoh,
throughcontainingthereasonsorproductiveprinciplesofallofthem,
andgeneratingandvivifyingallthings,hehasdeliveredtousthemost
accuratetheoryconcerningit.For,accordingtocommonconceptions,
natureisonething,andthatwhichsubsistsaccordingto,andbynature,
another.Forthatwhichisartificial,issomethingdifferentfromart,and
te.g.PhysicsII,1,193a30ff.
LawsX,892b.
Foron5TJhere,itisnecessarytoreadoi5rj.
theintellectualsoulisonething,andnatureanother.Fornature,
indeed,vergestobodies,andisinseparablefromthem.Butthe
intellectualsoulisseparatefrombodies,isestablishedinherself,andat
oneandthesametimebelongstoherselfandtoanother.Shebelongs
toanother,indeed,inconsequenceofbeingparticipated,buttoherself,
Cthroughnotvergingtotheparticipant;justasthefatherofsoulisof
himselfbeingimparticipable,and,ifyouarewilling,priortohimthe
1,11Intelligibleparadigmitselfofthewholeworld.Forthesefolloweach
other,viz.itself;ofitself;ofitselfandofanother;ofanother;another.And
withrespecttothelastofthese,itisevidentthatitiseverything
sensible,inwhichthereisintervalandallvariousdivision.Butofthe
nexttothis,[viz.thatwhichisofanother,]itisnaturewhichis
inseparablefrombodies.Thatwhichimmediatelyprecedesthis[viz.that
whichisbothofitselfandofanother,]issoulwhichsubsistsinherself,
andimpartsbyilluminationasecondarylifetoanotherthing.Thenext
tothis[orthatwhichisofitself,]isthedemiurgicintellectwhoabides
[asPlatosays]*inhimselfinhisownaccustomedmanner.Andthenext
tothis"[oritself,]istheintelligiblecauseofallthings,whichisthe
paradigmoftheproductionsoftheDemiurgus,andwhichPlatoonthis
accountthinksfittocallanimalitself.*
Nature,therefore,isthelastofthecauseswhichfabricatethis
corporealformedandsensibleessence.Sheisalsotheboundaryofthe
extentofincorporealessences,andisfullofreasonsandpowersthrough

whichshedirectsandgovernsmundanebeings.AndsheisaGoddess
indeed,inconsequenceofbeingdeified,butshehasnotimmediatelythe
subsistenceofadeity.ForwecalldivinebodiesGods,asbeingstatues
DofGods.Butshegovernsthewholeworldbyherpowers,containing
theheavensindeedinthesummitofherself,butrulingovergeneration
throughtheheavens;andeverywhereweavingtogetherpartialnatures
withwholes.Beinghoweversuch,sheproceedsfromthevivific
Goddess[Rhea.][ForaccordingtotheChaldaeanoracle]"Immense
NatureissuspendedfromthebackoftheGoddess;"5fromwhomalllife
isderived,boththatwhichisintellectual,andthatwhichisinseparable
fromthesubjectsofitsgovernment.Hence,beingsuspendedfrom
thence,shepervadeswithoutimpedimentthrough,andinspiresall
things;sothatthroughher,themostinanimatebeingsparticipateofa
fTim.42e.
$Tim.30cd.
Fr.54.
certainsoul,andsuchthingsasarecorruptible,remainperpetuallyinthe
world,beingheldtogetherbythecausesofformswhichshecontains.
ForagaintheOraclesays,"UnweariedNaturerulesovertheworldsand
1,12works,anddrawsdownward,thatHeavenmayrunaneternalcourse,"
etc.tSothatifsomeoneofthosewhoassertthattherearethree
demiurgi,iswillingtoreferthemtotheseprinciples,viz.tothe
demiurgicintellect,tosoul,andtototalnature[ortonatureconsidered
asawhole,]hewillspeakrightly,throughthecauseswhichhavebeen
alreadyenumerated.*Buthewillspeakerroneously,ifhesupposesthat
Etherearethreeotherdemiurgioftheuniverse,beyondsoul.Forthe
Demiurgusofwholesisone,butmorepartialpowers,distributehis
wholefabricationintoparts.Wemustnotthereforeadmitsuchan
assertion,whetheritbeAmeliusorTheodorus[Asinaeus]5whowishes
tomakethisarrangement;butwemustbecarefultoremaininPlatonic
andOrphichypotheses.
Moreover,thosewhocallnaturedemiurgicart,ifindeedtheymeanthe
naturewhichabidesintheDemiurgus,theydonotspeakrightly;but
theirassertionisright,iftheymeanthenaturewhichproceedsfrom
him.Forwemustconceivethatartistriple,onekindsubsistinginthe
artist,inunproceedingunion;another,proceedingindeed,butbeing
convertedtohim;andathirdbeingthatwhichhasnowproceededfromthe
artist,andsubsistsinanotherthing.Thearttherefore,whichisinthe
Demiurgus,abidesinhim,andishimself,accordingtowhichthe
sensibleworld0isdenominatedtheworkoftheartificer,andthework
oftheartificerofthefieryworld.0Buttheintellectualsoulisart
indeed,yetartwhichatthesametimebothabidesandproceeds.And

natureisartwhichproceedsalone;onwhichaccountalsoitissaidtobe
theorganoftheGods,notdestituteoflife,noralonealtermotive,but
havinginacertainrespecttheselfmotive,throughtheabilityof
energizingfromitself.FortheorgansoftheGodsareessentializedin
Fefficaciousreasons,arevital,andconcurwiththeenergiesoftheGods.
tFr.70;&Orph.fr.2968,Lobeck,Aglaophemus,225.
XTheol.Plat.V,14.
Tim.42d.
Itappearstome,thatthewordsTOVaioOrjTOVKoapov,arewantinghereintte
original.
Chald.Oracl.fr.32.
AswehavethereforeshownwhatnatureisaccordingtoPlato,thatit
isanincorporealessence,inseparablefrombodies,containingthereasons
orproductiveprinciplesofthem,andincapableofperceivingitself,and
asitisevidentfromthesethingsthatthedialogueisphysical,which
reachesusconcerningthewholemundanefabrication,itremainsthat
1,13weshouldconnectwhatisconsequentwithwhathasbeensaid.For
sincethewholeofphilosophyisdividedintothetheoryconcerning
intelligible*andmundanenatures,andthisveryproperly,becausethere
isalsoatwofoldworld,theintelligibleandthesensible,asPlatohimself
5Asaysinthecourseofthedialogue,*thisbeingthecase,theParmenides
comprehendsthediscussionofintelligibles,buttheTimaeusthatof
mundanenatures.Fortheformerdeliverstousallthedivineorders,
butthelatteralltheprogressionsofmundaneessences.Butneitherdoes
theformerentirelyomitthetheoryofthenaturescontainedinthe
universe,northelatterthetheoryofintelligibles;becausesensiblesare
inintelligiblesparadigmatically,andintelligiblesinsensiblesiconically.
Buttheoneisexuberantaboutthatwhichisphysical,andtheother
tboutthatwhichistheological,inamannerappropriatetothemen
fromwhomthedialoguesaredenominated:toTimaeus,forhewrotea
treatiseofthiskindabouttheuniverse;andtoParmenides,forhewrote
abouttrulyexistingbeings.ThedivineIamblichus,therefore,says
rightly,thatthewholetheoryofPlatoiscomprehendedinthesetwo
dialogues,theTimaeusandParmenides.Foreverythingpertainingto
mundaneandsupermundanenatures,obtainsitsmostexcellentendin
these,andnoorderofbeingsisleftuninvestigated.Tothosealsowho
donotcarelesslyinspectthesedialogues,thesimilitudeofdiscussionin
theTimaeustothatintheParmenides,willbeapparent.ForasTimaeus
refersthecauseofeverythingintheworldtothefirstDemiurgus,so
ParmenidessuspendstheprogressionofallbeingsfromTheOne.And
thisiseffectedbytheformer,sofarasallthingsparticipateofthe
demiurgicprovidence;butbythelatter,sofarasbeingsparticipateofa
uniformhyparxis,[orofanhyparxiswhichhastheformofTheOne.]

Fartherstill,asTimaeus,priortophysiology,extendsthroughimagesthe
theoryofmundanenatures,soParmenidesexcitestheinvestigationof
immaterialforms,priortotheology.Foritisrequisiteafterhavingbeen
exercisedindiscussionsaboutthebestpolity,tobeledtotheknowledge
oftheuniverse;andafterhavingcontendedwithstrenuousdoubtsabout
tcf.Proclus'Comm.onParmen.,641,16ff.(Morrow&Dillon,Princeton).
X30c.
1,14forms,tobesenttothemystictheoryoftheunities[ofbeings.]Having
however,saidthusmuch,itisnowtimetoconsiderthewordsofPlato,
andinvestigatetheirmeaningtotheutmostofourability.
17a"[Isee]One,two,three,butwhere,friendTimaeus,*isthefourth
Cpersonofthosewhohavingbeenreceivedbymeyesterdayatabanquet
ofdiscussion,oughtnowtorepaymeasimilarrepast?"
Platohere,togetherwiththegraceandbeautyofthewords,raisesand
exaltsthewholeperiod.Praxiphaneshowever,thediscipleof
Theophrastus,blamesPlato,firstbecausehemakesanenumerationof
one,two,three,inathingwhichismanifesttosenseandknownto
Socrates.ForwhatoccasionhadSocratestonumerate,inorderthathe
mightknowthemultitudeofthosethatassembledtothisconference?
Inthesecondplaceheblameshim,becausehemakesachangeinusing
thewordfourth,andinsodoing,doesnotaccordwithwhathadbeen
saidbefore.Forthewordfour,isconsequenttoone,two,three;butto
thefourth,thefirst,second,andthirdareconsequent.These,therefore,
aretheobjectionsofPraxiphanes.ThephilosopherPorphyryhowever
directlyrepliestohim,andinanswertohissecondobjectionobserves,
1,15thatthisistheGreciancustom,forthepurposeofproducingbeautyin
thediction.Homer*thereforehassaidmanythingsofthiskind:
Fullonthebrassdescendingfromabove,
Throughsixbullhidesthefuriousweapondrove,
Tillintheseventhitfix'd.
DAndinasimilarmannerinmanyotherplaces.Herealsothemutation
hasacause.Fortonumeratethepersonsthatwerepresent,wasto
pointthemout.Fortosayone,two,three,isindicative;buthesignifies
thepersonthatwasabsent(sinceitwasimpossibletopointhimout)
throughthefourth.Forweusethetermthefourth,ofonethatisabsent.
ButtotheformerobjectionPorphyryreplies,thatifasmanyhadbeen
presentaswasrequisite,itwouldhavebeensuperfluoustonumerale
them,butoneofthembeingabsent,ofwhosenameweareignorant,the
enumerationofthosethatarepresentcontainsarepresentationofthe

onethatiswanting,asdesiringthatwhichremains,andasbeinginwant
ofapartofthewholenumber.Platothereforeindicatingthis,
representsSocratesenumeratingthepersonsthatwerepresent,and
tInalltheeditionsoftheTimaeus,qpU>followsafterco<pi\eTi/*ai,butiswantirg
mthesecommentariesofProclus.
XIliadvii,247.
requiringhimwhowaswanting.Forifhehadknownhim,andhad
beenabletomanifesthimbyname,hewouldperhapshavesaid,Isee
Critias,andTimaeus,andHermocrates,butthatmanIdonotsee.Since
however,hewhowasabsentwasastranger,andunknowntohim,he
onlyknewthroughnumberthathewaswanting,andmanifeststous
thatsomanywerepresent.Alltheseobservations,therefore,are
elegant,andsuchothersofthelikekindasmaybedevisedbysomein
Esubserviencytothetheoryofthewordsbeforeus.Butitisnecessary
torememberthatthedialogueisPythagorean,andthatitisrequisite
interpretationsshouldbemadeinawayadaptedtothephilosophersof
thatsect.
SuchethicalPythagoricdogmastherefore,asthefollowing,*maybe
derivedfromthepresenttext:Thosemenestablishedfriendshipanda
concordantlife,asthescopeofalltheirphilosophy.HenceSocrates
priortoeverythingelseadducesthis,bygivingTimaeustheappellation
offriend.Inthesecondplace,theythoughtthatthecompactswhich
theymadewitheachother,shouldbestablypreservedbythem;*and
1,16forthefulfillmentofthese,Socratesdesiresthepresenceofthefourth
person.Inthethirdplace,theyembracedcommunionintheinvention
ofdogmas,andthewritingsofone,werecommontoallofthem.This
alsoSocratesestablishes,callingonthemtobecomebothguestsand
hosts,thosethatfill,andthosethatarefilled,thosethatteach,andthose
thatlearn.Others,therefore,havewrittenartsconcerningdisciplines
throughwhichtheythinktheyshallimprovethemannersofthosethat
areinstructedbythem;butPlatodelineatestheformsofappropriate
manners,throughtheimitationofthemostexcellentmen,whichhave
muchgreaterefficacythanthosewhicharedepositedinmererules
Falone.Forimitationdisposesthelivesoftheauditors,conformablyto
itsownpeculiarity.Hence,throughthesethingsitisevidentwhatthat
isaboutwhichthephilosopherisespeciallyabundant,thatitisabout
thehearingofdiscussions,andwhatheconceivedtobeatruefeast;that
itisnotsuchasthemultitudefancyittobe;forthisisofananimaland
brutalnature;butthatwhichbanquetsinusthe[true]man.5Hence
6Atoo,thereismuchinPlatoaboutthefeastofdiscourse.Thesetherefore,
andsuchparticularsasthese,areethical.

tcf.Iamblicus'LifeofPythagoras,230ff;TTSvol.XVII.
XLawsVIII,840e.
Rep.IX,589a.
ButthephysicalPythagoricdogmasareasfollow:theysaidthatevery
physicalproductionwasheldtogetherbynumbers,andthatallthe
fabricationsofnaturesubsistedconformablytonumbers.These
numbershoweverareparticipated,justasallmundaneformsare
participable.Veryproperly,therefore,doesthedialogueatits
commencementproceedthroughnumbers,andusenumbersasthings
numbered,andnotthoseverythingsthemselvesofwhichthey
participate.Forthemonad,duad,andtriadareonething,andone,two,
three,another.Fortheformeraresimple,andeachofthesesubsists
itself'byitself;butthelatterparticipateoftheformer.Aristotle
therefore,isnotrightinasserting,*thatthesemenconsiderednumbers
assubsistinginsensibles.Forhowcouldthisbeadmittedbythosewho
celebratenumberasthefatherofGodsandmen,andthetetractys,*as
Bthefountainofeverflowingnature?5Butsincethedialogueisphysical,
1,17itmakesitscommencementfromparticipatednumbers,suchasareall
numbersthatarephysical.Fartherstill,thesemenveneratedphysical
communion,0boththatwhichisingeneration,accordingtowhichall
thingsarerenderedeffableandcommensuratewitheachother,andthat
whichisincelestialnatures.Fortheseimparttoeachothertheirproper
powers.Rightlytherefore,andinawayadaptedtothethingproposed,
doesSocratesthinkfit,thatthesamepersonsshouldbecomebothhosts
andguests.
Fromthesethingsalso,youmaysurveysuchtheologicalconceptions
asthefollowing:Thesemengeneratedallthingsthroughthefirst
numbers,andwhichalsorankasrulersandleaders;andfromthree
Gods,gavesubsistencetoallmundanenatures.Ofthesethree,the
monad,duadandtriad,areindicative;sothatitisrequisitetobegin
fromthese,andthathewhosurveysnatureinwardlyshouldlookto
these.Fartherstill,theconcausesofnaturalthingswerealso
contemplatedbyotherphilosophers,asbyAnaxagorasandZeno;but
thefinal,theparadigmatic,andtheproducing0cause,werepeculiarly
CinvestigatedbyPlato.Thesecausethereforearemanifestedthroughthe
tMetaphysicsXIII,8,1083b11.
XForadevelopmentofthemannerinwhichthePythagoreansphilosophized
aboutnumber,andalsoconcerningthetetractys,seemyTheoreticArithmetic.
Iambl.LifeofPythagorasIX,234;TTSvol.XVII.
Rep.VIII,546c.
ForircxTpo'iKOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadjKOir\nKov.

abovenumbers.Thefinal,indeed,throughthemonad;foritpresides
overnumbersintheorderofTheGood.Buttheparadigmaticthrough
theduad;forthedifferenceofbeingsseparatestheprimarycausesof
wholes.Andbesidesthis,theduadistheprincipleofthetetractysof
intelligibleparadigms.Buttheproducingcauseissignifiedthroughthe
triad.Forintellectisadaptedtothetriad,sinceitisthethirdfrom
beingthroughlifeasthemedium,orfromthefatherthroughpower,*
orfromtheintelligiblethroughintelligence.Forasthemonadistothe
duad,soisbeingtolife,*fathertopower,andtheintelligibleto
intelligence.Butastheduadistothetriad,soislife,andalsopower
andintelligence,tointellect.Again,alldivinenaturesareinall,andare
1,18unitedtoeachother,sothatallofthemareinone,andeachisinall,
andtheyareconnectedtogetherthroughdivinefriendship.Thesphere
alsowhichisthere,5comprehendstheoneunionofGods.Hence
DSocrateswholookstodivinity,veryproperlybeginsfromcommunion
andconcord,andlikewisecallstheotherpersonsofthedialoguetothis.
Moreover,thewordsfeastingandbanquet,arewordsadaptedtothe
Gods,andespeciallytothemundaneGods.Fortheyproceedtogether
withtheliberatedGodstothebanquetanddelicatefood,asSocrates
saysinthePhaedrus:PandthefeastingonthenativityofVenus,wasin
conjunctionwiththegreatJupiter.0Thesethingstherefore,Socrates
thinksshouldsubsistanalogouslywiththem,intheirmutual
participationsofdivineconceptions.Anditisnotatallwonderfulthat
Timaeusshouldfeastothers,andbefeastedbythem.Fartherstill,
communicationsandparticipationsofpowersarecelebratedby
theologists,divinenaturesfillingandbeingfilledbyeachother.For
thuswehearfrompoetsinspiredbyPhoebus,thattheGods
communicatewitheachotherinintellectualorprovidentialenergiesin
theworkswhichtheyeffectintheuniverse.
tChald.Oracl.fr.4;&Theol.Plat.III,21.
%cf.29c.
cf.Empedoclesfr.27d;Procl.Comm.Alkibiad.I,414,16,andComm.Parmen
723,23.
247a.
ocf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus434ff.
IngoldencupstheGodseachotherpledge,
Andwhiletheydrinktheireyesarefix'donTroy.*
Theyalsoknowandintellectuallyperceiveeachother.
ForGodsaretoeachothernotunknown.*
ButtheintelligibleaccordingtotheChaldaeanoracleisnutrimenttothat

Ewhichisintellective.5Fromallwhichitisevident,thatareciprocation
ofbanqueting,subsistsprimarilyintheGods.Andofmen,thosethat
aremorewise,imitatinginthisrespecttheGods,imparttoeachother
inunenvyingabundance,theirownproperintellectualconceptions.
17a"TlM.Acertaininfirmityhasbefallenhim,Socrates:forhewouldnot
willinglybeabsentfromsuchanassociationasthepresent."
1,19ThephilosopherPorphyrysays,thatwhatisdelineatedinthesewords:
thatthisistheonecausewithwisemenofrelinquishingsuchlike
associations,viz.infirmityofbody;andthatitisrequisitetothinkthat
everythingofthiskinddependsoncircumstancesandisinvoluntary.
Anotherthingalsoisdelineated,thatfriendsshouldmakefitapologies
forfriends,whentheyappeartohavedoneanythingrightly,whichis
contrarytocommonopinion.Thepresentwordstherefore,
comprehendboththese,indicatingthemannersofTimaeus,andthe
necessityofonebeingabsent;exhibitingtheformerasmildandfriendly
totruth,butthelatter,asanimpedimenttothelifeofaloverof
learning.ButthedivineIamblichusspeakingloftilyonthesewords,says
thatthosewhoareexercisedinthesurveyofintelligibles,areunadapted
Ftothediscussionofsensibles;asalsoSocrateshimselfsaysinthe
Republic,0"thatthosewhoarenurturedinpuresplendour,havetheir
eyesdarkenedwhentheydescendintothecavern,throughtheobscurity
whichisthere;justasitlikewisehappenstothosewhoascendfromthe
cavern,throughtheirinabilitytolookdirectlytothelight."Through
thiscausetherefore,thefourthpersoniswanting,asbeingadaptedto
anothercontemplation,thatofintelligibles.Itisalsonecessarythatthis
hisinfirmity,shouldbeatranscendencyofpower,accordingtowhich
tIliadiv,2seq.
tOdysseyv,79.
Fr.17.
Seethebeginningofthe7thbookoftheRepublic[516e,andseealsoPhaedrus
250bc].
hesurpassesthepresenttheory.Forasthepowerofthewicked,is
7Aratherimpotencythanpower,thusalsoimbecilitywithrespecttothings
ofasecondarynature,istranscendencyofpower.Accordingto
Iamblichustherefore,thepersonwhoiswanting,isabsentin
consequenceofbeingincommensuratetophysicaldiscussions;buthe
wouldhavebeenwillinglypresent,ifintelligiblesweretohavebeen
considered.Andnearlywithrespecttoeverything[inthisdialogue]
priortophysiology,oneofthese,i.e.Porphyry,interpretseverything
inamorepoliticalmanner,referringwhatissaidtovirtues,butthe
other,Iamblichus,inamorephysicalway.Foritisnecessary,that

everythingshouldaccordwiththeproposedscope:butthedialogueis
physical,andnotethical.Suchtherefore,aretheconclusionsofthe
philosophersabouttheseparticulars.ForIomittomentionthosewho
labourtoevince,thatthisfourthpersonwasTheaetetus,becausehewas
1,20knowntothosewhocameoutoftheEleatic*school,andbecauseweare
informed[elsewhere]thathewasill.Henceheissaidtohavebeennow
absentonaccountofillness.ForthusAristoclesinfers,thattheabsent
BpersonwasTheaetetus,whoalittlebeforethedeathofSocrates,became
knowntoSocrates,*andtotheEleanstranger.5Butadmittingthathe
hadbeenlongbeforeknowntothelatter,whatisthereincommon
betweenTimaeusandhim?ThePlatonicPtolomyhowever,thinksthat
theabsentpersonwasClitophon:forinthedialoguewhichbearshis
name,heisnotthoughtdeservingofananswerbySocrates.But
DercyllidesisofopinionthatitwasPlato:forhewasabsentthrough
illness,whenSocratesdied.0These,therefore,asIhavesaid,Iomit;
sinceitiswellobservedbythosepriortous,thatthesemenneither
investigatewhatisworthyofinvestigation,norassertanythingthatcan
bedependedon.Allofthem,likewise,attemptathingwhichisofa
slipperynature,andwhichisnothingtothepurpose,evenifweshould
discoverthatwhichistheobjectoftheirsearch.Fortosaythatitwas
eitherTheaetetusorPlato,onaccountofillness,doesnotaccordwith
thetimes.Forofthese,theformerissaidtohavebeenillwhenSocrates
wasjudged,butthelatterwhenSocrateswasdead.Buttosayitwas
Clitophonisperfectlyabsurd.Forhewasnotpresentonthepreceding
day,whenSocratesnarrateswhatClitophonsaidthedaybefore,during
tFortXeynTiKovhere,itappearstometobenecessarytoreadEXeariKoe.
tTheaetetus142b.
Theaetetus142c,andPoliticus258a.
Phaedo59b.
CtheconferenceinthePiraeus;*exceptthatthusmuchisrightlysignified
byAtticus,thattheabsentpersonappearstohavebeenoneofthose
strangers['orguests]thatwerewithTimaeus.HenceSocratesasks
Timaeuswherethatfourthpersonwas;andTimaeusapologizesforhim,
asafriend,andshowsthathisabsencewasnecessary,andcontraryto
hiswill.Andthusmuchforwhatisaidbytheancientinterpreters.
What,however,ourpreceptor[Syrianus*]hasdecidedonthissubjecl,
mustbenarratedbyus,sinceitisremarkablyconformabletothemind
1,21ofPlato.Hesays,therefore,thatinproportionastheauditionsare
aboutthingsofamorevenerableandelevatednature,insuchproportion
themultitudeofhearersisdiminished.ButthediscussionintheTimaeus
becomes,asitproceeds,moremysticandarcane.Henceintheformer
discussionofapolityduringtheconferenceinthePiraeus,thehearers
weremany,andthosewhohadnamesweresix.Butinthesecond

conference,whichisnarratedbySocrates,5thosewhoreceivethe
narrationarefourinnumber.Andinthepresentconference,thefourth
personiswanting;buttheauditorsarethree.Andbyhowmuchthe
discussionismorepure,andmoreintellectual,bysomuchthemoreis
Dthenumberofauditorscontracted.Foreverywherethatwhichis
discussedisamonad.Butatonetime,itisaccompaniedwith
contention;onwhichaccountalso,theauditorshavetheindefinite,and
thedefiniteisextendedintomultitude,inwhichtheoddiscomplicated
withtheeven.Atanothertome,however,thediscussionisnarrative,
yetisnotliberatedfromopposition,anddialecticcontests.Hencealso,
theauditorsarefourinnumber;thetetradthroughitstetragonicnature,
andalliancetothemonad,possessingsimilitudeandsameness;but
throughthenatureoftheeven,possessingdifferenceandmultitude.
Andatanothertime0thediscussionisexemptfromallagonistic
doctrines,thetheorybeingunfoldedenunciatively,andnarratively.
Hence,thetriadisadaptedtotherecipientsofit,sincethisnumberis
ineveryrespectconnascentwiththemonad,isthefirstoddnumber,
tRep.I,340ab.
XThisveryextraordinarymanwasthefirstthatthoroughlypenetratedinto,and
developedthelatentdoctrinesofphilosophersandtheologistsofthehighestantiquity.
Hedidnotwritemuchhimself,butcommittedthepromulgationofhisdogmasto
Proclus.
Rep.I,328b.
dItisnecessarytosupplyinthisplace,thewordsoirov8e.
andisperfect.Forasofthevirtues,someofthemsubsistinsoulsthe
partsofwhichareinastateofhostilitytoeachother,andmeasurethe
hostilityoftheseparts;butothersseparateindeedfromthishostility,yet
Earenotperfectlyliberatedfromit;andotherareentirelyseparatedfrom
it;thusalsoofdiscussions,someindeedareagonistic,othersare
enunciative,andothersareinacertainrespectmediabetweenboth.
Some,indeed,beingadaptedtointellectualtranquillity,andtothe
intellectualenergyofthesoul;butotherstodoxasticenergies;andothers
tothelivesthatsubsistbetweenthese.Moreover,ofauditorslikewise,
somearecommensuratetomoreelevatedauditions,butotherstosuch
asareofamoregrovellingnature.Andtheauditorsindeedofgrander
subjects,arealsocapableofattendingtosuchasaresubordinate;but
thosewhoarenaturallyadaptedtosubjectsoflessimportance,are
unabletounderstandsuchasaremorevenerable.Thusalsowithrespect
1,22tothevirtues,hewhohasthegreaterpossesseslikewisetheless;buthe
whoisadornedwiththeinferior,isnotentirelyapartakeralsoofthe
moreperfectvirtues.
Why,therefore,isitanylongerwonderful,ifanauditorofdiscussions

aboutapolity,shouldnotbeadmittedtohearthediscussionaboutthe
universe?Orrather,isitnotnecessarythatinmoreprofound
disquisitions,theauditorsshouldbefewerinnumber?Isitnotlikewise
Pythagoric,todefinedifferentmeasuresofauditions?Forofthosewho
cametothehomacoion1[orcommonauditoryofthePythagoreans]
Fsomewerepartakersofmoreprofound,butothersofmoresuperficial
dogmas.DoesnotthisalsoaccordwithPlato,whoassignsinfirmityas
thecauseoftheabsenceofthisfourthperson?Fortheimbecilityofthe
soulwithrespecttomoredivineconceptions,separatesusfrommore
elevatedconferences,inwhichcasetheinvoluntaryalsotakesplace.For
everythingwhichbenefitsusinalessdegree,isnotconformabletoour
will.Butthefallingofffrommoreperfectgoodisinvoluntary;orrather
itisitselfnotvoluntary.Butthefallingoffwhichnotonlyseparatesus
fromgreatergoods,butleadsustotheinfinityofvice,isinvoluntary.
HencealsoTimaeussays,thatthisfourthpersonwasabsentnotwillingly
fromthisconference.Forhewasnotabsentinsuchawayastobe
8Aperfectlyabhorrentfromthetheory,butasunabletobeinitiatedin
greaterspeculations.Itispossible,therefore,foranauditorof
disquisitionsaboutthefabricationoftheworld,tobealsoanauditorof
discussionsaboutapolity.Butitisamongthenumberofthings
impossible,thatonewhoisadaptedtoreceivepoliticaldiscourses,should
tcf.Iambl.LifeofPythagoras,30;TTSvol.XVII.
throughtranscendencyofpower,omittobepresentatauditionsabout
theuniverse.Thisfourthperson,therefore,wasabsentthrough
indigence,andnotassomesay,throughtranscendencyofpower.And
itmustbesaid,thattheimbecilitywasnottheincommensurationofthe
otherstohim,buttheinferiorityofhimtotheothers.Forlettherebe
animbecilitybothofthosethatdescendfromtheintelligible,andof
thosethatascendfromthespeculationofsensibles,suchasSocrates
relatesintheRepublic;}yethewhobecomesanauditorofpoliticaldiscussions,
1,23cannotthroughatranscendencyunknowntothosethataie
present,beabsentfromthetheoryofphysics.Itlikewiseappearstome,
thatthewords"hasbefallenhim,"sufficientlyrepresenttousthe
differencebetweenhimandthosethatwerepresent,withrespectto
Bdiscussions,andnotwithrespecttotranscendency.Hisbeing
anonymousalso,seemstosignify,nothisbeingexemptfromand
circumscribedbythosethatwerepresent,buttheindefinitenessand
inferiorityofhishabit.Plato,therefore,isaccustomedtodothisin
manyplaces.ThusinthePhaedo,}hedoesnotthinkhimdeservingof
aname,whointhatdialogueansweredbadly.Healsomentions
indefinitely,5thefatherofCritobulus,whowasabsentfromthe
discussionofthesubjectsthatwerethenconsidered;andlikewisevery
manyothers.Anauditorthereforeofthiskindwouldinvain*have
beenpresentatthesediscussions;sinceofthosethatwerepresent,Critias

indeedhimselfsayssomething;butHermocratesissilentlypresent,
differingonlyfromhimwhoisabsentinagreateraptitudetohear,but
beinginferiortoalltherest,throughhisinabilitytospeak.
17a"SOC.Itisyourbusiness,therefore,OTimaeus,andthatofthe
companypresent,tofillupthepartofthisabsentperson."
Thisalsoaccordswithwhatwehavesaid.Forinnatureswhichare
morecausalanddivine,quantityisalwayscontracted,andmultitude
diminished,butpowertranscends.Andthisalsoisadogmaofthe
Pythagoreans,withwhomthetriadismorevenerablethanthetetrad,
thetetradthanthedecad,andallthenumberswithin,thanthose
posteriortothedecad.Andinshort,thatwhichisnearertothe
tRep.VII,518ab.
tPhaedo103a(andProcl.Comm.Parmen.671,28).
Forapiorwqhere,itisnecessarytoreadctoptaruq.[cf.Phcedrus59b].
Insteadofo6rjTOIOVTOQmpoarqt;,ovpctTijvavirapeyeveroroiqX0701C,1
appearstometobenecessarytoread08r)TowvroqaKpoarrtgovv,paTHfVK.X.
tForTOCKHVUVhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOeWenrov.
Cprinciple,hasamoreprimordialnature.Butthatwhichismore
primordialismorepowerful;sinceallpowerisantecedently
comprehendedintheprinciple,andfromtheprincipleisimpartedto
otherthings.If,therefore,theprincipleofthingswasmultitude,it
wouldberequisitethatwhatismoremultitudinous,shouldbemore
primordialandpowerfulthanwhatislessso.Since,however,the
principleisamonad,thatwhichismoremonadic,ismoreexcellentand
morepowerfulthanthingswhicharemoreseparatedfromtheircause.
HenceSocratesveryproperlymakesadiminutionofnumbertobea
symbolofsuperiorperfection,whichantecedentlycomprehends
accordingtopowerallsecondarynatures,andfillsuptheirdeficiency.
1,24Butsince,aswehaveobserved,Socratesisthesummitofthistriadof
auditors,andheconjoinshimselftothemonadthatdisposesthe
conference,conformablytotheimageofdemiurgicGods,itisworth
whiletoobserve,howheexemptsTimaeusfromtherest,andhowheis
extendedtohim,astothedispensatorofthewholediscussion.He
conjoins,however,theotherauditorstohimself,asbeinginferiortohim
indesert.Forthesethingsmaybereferredtodivinecauses,inwhich
thefirstofthe[demiurgic]triadisunitedtotheprimarymonad,and
Dextendstheotherpartsofthetriadtoit.Italsocallsforth,indeed,the
productiveenergyofthemonad,butexcitestheenergiesoftherestto
fabrication.Thesethings,therefore,areconformabletowhathasbeen
beforesaid.ButaccordingtoPorphyry,theethicaldoctrinecontained
inthesewordsisthis,thatfriendsoughttoendureallthingsforeach

other,bothinwordsanddeeds,andtosupplytheirwants,andcause
themtobeunindigent,byfillinguptheirdeficiency.*Forthesearethe
peculiaritiesofpureandgenuinefriendship.lamblichus,however,
havingsupposedthattheanonymouspersonwassuperiortothosethat
werepresent,andwasaloverofthecontemplationofintelligibles,says,
thatSocratesindicatesbythesewords,thatthoughgeneratedfallshort
ofthenatureoftrulyexistingbeings,yetacertainsimilitudeisdivulsed
fromthesebeings.Andconformablytothis,thetheorywhichis
conversantwithnature,participatesinacertainrespectofthescienceof
intelligibles,andthisthefillingupthepartoftheabsentperson
manifests.
17b"TlM.Entirelyso,Socrates.Andweshallendeavourtotheutmostof
ourability,toleavenothingbelongingtosuchanemployment
unaccomplished.Foritwouldnotbejust,thatwe,whowereyesterday
entertainedbyyou,insuchamannerasguestsoughttobereceived,
shouldnotreturnthehospitalitywithreadinessanddelight."
EThemannersofTimaeusareindicatedbythesewords;fortheyate
1,25showntobesuperbandmodest,elevatedandelegant,friendlyand
philanthropic.Forthewords"Entirelyso,"indicatehispromptitude
respectingtheabsentperson,andtheperfectionofthescienceaccording
towhichheisreadilydisposedtofillupwhatiswantinginothers;and
theyalsoindicatehisgenuinesincerity.Butthewords,"Weshall
endeavourtotheutmostofourability,toleavenothingbelongingtosuch
anemploymentunaccomplished,"sufficientlypresenttoourview,his
firmnessinthefulfilmentofhispromises,andhismodestyinspeaking
ofhimself.Such,therefore,aretheethicalindicationsthatmaybe
surveyedinthesewords.Butthephysicalindicationsarethese,thatthe
remunerationofdiscussion,conveysanimageofthecommunionand
compensationofpowers,throughwhichallthingsarecoordinated,and
contributetotheoneharmonyoftheuniverse.Likewise,thatthe
energiesofnaturearechangedaccordingtotime,differentenergies
operatingatdifferenttimesondifferentsubjects.Fortothese
indicationsthewords,"returnthehospitalitytoyou,bywhomwewere
yesterdayentertainedinsuchamannerasguestsoughttobereceived,"are
similar.Thatwhichistheologicallyindicatedisthis,thatthedemiurgic
causeproceedsthrough,andfillsallthings,andcutsoffeverydeficiency
throughhisownpower,andhisprolificabundance,accordingtowhich
Fheleavesnothingdestituteofhimself.Forheischaracterisedbythe
superplenary,thesufficient,andtheallperfect.Moreover,the
expression,returnthehospitality,isderivedfromthebanquetingindivine
fables,accordingtowhichtheGodspledgeeachother:
Ingoldengobletstheyeachotherpledge.
Iliadiv,2.

beingfilledwithnectarfromthemightyJupiter.Norisitsimplysaid,
tofeast,buttoreturnthehospitality(ortofeastinreturn).Fora
reciprocationoffeasting,*comprehendstheentire,andcompletely
perfectplenitudeofbanqueting.Butthisalsoisseeninwholes.Forthe
9Avisibleordersofthingscallforthinvisiblepowers,throughtheirown
consummateaptitude;andthelatterthroughtranscendencyofgoodness
perfecttheformer.Alltheselikewise,areconjoinedwitheachother,
andthecommunicationofperfection,becomestheretributionofcalling
tForctepeoTUXOic,here,itisnecessarytoreadavTCtfaoTUxoic..
forth.Fartherstill,todoallthesethings,accompaniedwithjustice,
conveysanimageofJusticewhicharrangesallthingsinconjunction
1.26withJupiter.Butthebecoming[orinsuchamannerasguestsoughtto
bereceived]isanimageofthecausewhichilluminateswholeswith
demiurgicbeauty.Andthetermguests,isanimageofthevarietywhich
isdefinedaccordingtodivinepeculiarities.Foreachofthedivine
naturespossessesappropriatepowersandenergies.AsthereforeSocrates
feastedTimaeuswiththediscoursesofhisownphilosophy,thusalso
eachoftheGods,energizingconformablytohisproperpowers,
contributestotheoneandtranscendentprovidentialattentionofthe
Demiurgustothewholeofthings.Andtheseparticularsareexhibited
asanexercisetothetheoryofthings,whichpresentsitselftotheview*
afterthemannerofanimage,intheintroductiontothedialogue.
BFromthesethingslikewise,thetimesofthedialogues,theRepublic,
andtheTimaeus,aremanifest;sincetheoneissupposedtohavetaken
placeduringtheBendidianfestivalinthePiraeus,buttheotheronthe
allowingdayofthefestival.ForthattheBendidianfestivalwas
celebratedinthePiraeusonthe19thofApril,*isacknowledgedbythose
whohavewrittenconcerningfestivals,sothattheTimaeusmustbe
supposedtohavetakenplaceonthe20thofthesamemonth.Butif,as
willbeobservedinwhatfollows,5thisdialogueissupposedtohave
takenplaceduringthePanathenaeanfestival,itisevidentthatthiswas
thelessPanathenaea.Forthegreaterwerecelebratedonthe28thof
June,accordingtothenarrationofthosewhomwehavejustmentioned.
17b"SOC.Doyouremember,therefore,themagnitudeandqualityofthe
thingswhichIproposedtoyoutoexplain?"
Inthefirstplace,itisrequisitetoattendtotheorderoftheheadsof
whatissaid,ofwhich,thatconcerningthemultitudeofthosethatform
theconference,istheleader.Thenexttothispertainstothefillingup
thepartofhimwhoisabsent.Andthethirdisthatwhichisnow

added,andrespectstheexplicationofthethingsproposedtobe
1.27discussed.Buttheseareincontinuitywitheachother.Andwith
referencetotheorder,itisrequisitetounderstandtheaccuracyofthe
Cwords.Forthewords"Doyouremember,"exhibitdistributed
knowledgeintheparticipationsofdiscourse.ForintheDemiurgusthe
tForeiHpuivonevainthisplace,Ireaden<jxxLV0ixV7]<;.
$cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,18,17.
26E27A,p.85.
recollectionofallthings,isaseparate,exempt,anduniformknowledge,
accordingtotheMnemosynewhichhecontains,*andwhichisthefirm
establishmentofdivineintelligence.AndthisinthesecondaryGods,is
asubordinateintellection;ofbothwhichthepresentpersonsareimages.
Throughthismemorylikewise,whichpreexistsintheuniverse,whole
soulsareestablishedinintelligibles,andthedemiurgicreasons,[or
productiveprinciples]possessanimmutableandanimmoveablenature;
sothatsuch*beingsasaredeprivedofit,asisthecasewithpartial
souls,andthenaturesofthingsthataregenerated,fallofffromtheir
propercauses.Buttheterms"suchthings,"and"aboutwhich,"are
indicativeofthequantityandqualityoftheproductiveprinciples,which
proceedindeedfromthetotalfabrication,andalsoproceedfrommore
partialGods.Andwithrespecttothewords"whichIproposedtoyouto
explain,"iftheywereaddressedtoCritiasandHermocrates,itisevident
howtheyaretobereferredtothings,andtotheprinciplesofthe
fabricationoftheworld;butifalsotoTimaeus,theyarenotasymbol
oftranscendency[inSocrates],butofanevocationoftheintellectual
DconceptionsofTimaeus.Besidesthesethings,however,letussurveythe
answerofTimaeus.
17b"TlM.Somethingsindeed,Irecollect;butsuchasIhaveforgotten,do
yourecallintomymemory."
Thatwhichisethicalinthesewords,youwillfindtobethis,as
Porphyrysays,thattheyareamediumbetweenironyandarrogance.
ForTimaeusdoesnotsaythatherecollectseverything,northathe
recollectsnothing;butthatherecollectssomethings,andnotothers.
Thatwhichislogicalinthemis,thattheyaffordapretextforthe
summaryrepetitionoftheproblems:fortodothisistheprovincecf
dialectic.Thephysicalindicationofthewordsisthis,thatphysical
productiveprinciplesalwaysremain,andarealwaysrefluxive,justasthe
presentremembrance[ofTimaeus]ispartlypreserved,andpartlylost..
Forwhatissaidbythemanmustbetransferredtothewholeofnature.
Andthetheologicalindicationis,thattheonefabrication[whichisthat
1,28oftheDemiurgus]possessesindeedfromitself,theimmutableand

undefiledinitsgenerations;butthroughsecondaryandthirdpowers,is
sustainedasitproceeds,andisinitselfseparate;thesepowersattending
hasguards,andrunningasitwerebeforeitrepressthetumultof
tOrphicHymn76,1;77,1[seeTTSvolV.]
tForoffTjchere,itisnecessarytoreadooot.
generatednatures.Orrather,thatthisfabricationissuch,through
placingsecondarypowersoverthesubjectsofitsgovernment.Farther
still,therecallingintothememory,bringswithitanimageofthe
Erenovationoftheproductiveprinciplesintheuniverse.Forthatwhich
iseffluxiveinthem,iscircularlyrecalledtothesame,andthesimilar.
Andtheorderofgenerationremainsneverfailing,throughthecircular
motionoftheheavens.Butthismotionsubsistsalwaysafterthesame
mannerthroughintellectwhichconnectedlycontainsandadornsallits
circulation,byintellectualpowers.Itisveryproperly,therefore,
Socratesthatrecallsintothememorythediscussions,whoisthenarrator
ofthepolity,ofwhichthecelestialistheparadigm.*
17b"Orrather,ifitbenottoomuchtrouble,runoverthewholeina
cursorymannerfromthebeginning,thatitmaybemorefirmly
establishedinourmemory."
Thepolity[ofSocrates]beingtriple,thefirstdescriptionofitwastruly
difficultonaccountofsophisticalcontests;thesecondwaseasierthan
thatwhichprecededit;butthethirdwas[perfectly]easy;containingin
itselfcontractedlyeveryspeciesofapolity.Therecapitulationhowever
ofitpertainstophysicalthings,throughtheregenerationwhichisin
them,andthecircularreturntothesameform;fromwhichalso,forms
Fpermanentlyremainintheworld,revolutionrecallingtheireffluxand
theirdestruction.Throughthiscauselikewise,theheavensare
perpetuallymoved,andevolvingmanyperiods,returntothesamelife.
What,however,isthereasonthatinthe[first]narrationofapolity,
Socratesneithermakesmentionofthepersons,northepromises,but
hereaddsboththese?Itisbecauseinwholes,paradigmsindeed
1,29comprehendalltheproductiveprinciplesofimages,butthethingswhich
proceedfromthem,havenotstrengthsufficienttocomprehendallthe
poweroftheircauses.As,therefore,intheseconddescriptionofa
10Apolity,mentionismadeofthepersonsthatwereinthefirstconference
inthePiraeus,thusalsointhethird,hecommemoratesthosethatwere
passedoverinsilenceinthefirst.Foreffectsmaybesurveyedmore
perfectlyintheirmoresuperiorcauses.Youmayalsosaytheologically,
thatTimaeus,asbeingestablishedanalogoustothetotalfabrication,
comprehendsallthepersons,thepromises,andthediscussions
themselves.ButSocratesintheRepublic,beingarrangedanalogousto

tRep.IX,592b.
thesummit*ofthetriplefabrication,fashionsonlytheformofapolity,
thisformbeingcelestial.Here,therefore,asinoneallperfectanimal,
allthingsarecomprehended,viz.thingsfirst,middle,andlast,andall
theevolutionofwholes.Buthow,andthroughwhatcauseisapolity
narratedthethirdtime?Isitbecausethelifealso*ofthesoulistriple?
Thefirstindeed,beingthatwhichrepressesandadornstheirrational**
partbyjustice,andgovernsitinabecomingmanner.Butthesecond
beingthatwhichisconvertedtoitself,anddesirestoperceiveitself
intellectually,inconsequenceofsubsistingaccordingtoitsown
Bjustice.Andthethirdascendingtoitscauses,andestablishinginthem
itsproperenergies.Towhichmaybeadded,that"tospeak"inacursory
manner,"bringswithitanimageofalifeconspiringtooneintellect,
whichcomprehendsallthingsthroughanintelligibleessence.The
wordsalso"runoverthewhole"affordanadmirableindicationofan
elevationtothehighestend,ofperfection,andifyouarewillingsoto
speak,ofamoreeternalintelligence.Forthissignifiestobemote
established,andtopossessthatwhichismorefirmandmoreeternal
aboutthesamethings.
17bc"SOC.Letitbeso.Andtobegin:thesumofwhatwassaidbyme
yesterdayisthis,Whatkindofpolityappearedtometobethebest,and
ofwhatsortofmensuchapolityoughttoconsist."
Some,consideringtheresumptionofapolityinamoreethicalpoint
1,30ofview,saythatitindicatestous,thatthosewhoapplythemselvesto
thetheoryofwholes,oughttobeadornedintheirmanners.Butothers
thinkthatitisplacedbeforeusasanimageoftheorderlydistribution
oftheuniverse.Andothers,asanindication0ofthewholeof
theology.ForitwasusualwiththePythagoreans,priortoscientific
doctrine,torendermanifesttheproposedobjectsofenquiry,through
Csimilitudesandimages;andafterthis,tointroducethroughsymbolstie
arcaneindicationrespectingthem.0Forthus,aftertheexcitationofthe
tForairXorrjTi,itisnecessarytoreadOLKpOTqn.
tForm77jc^i>xiC>>srequisitetoreadmirr\c.\l/v\r)q.
ForTOV\oyovhere,wemustreadTOVaXoyov.
OIntheoriginaloi8eaiovoivo>ceinovattjcTOVtckctocdiotKoopticrewc,TpoKia6m
TViovpiraoi}qdeoXoywtc,.Butthis,inthelatterpart,isevidentlydefective.After
TtpoKtiodaitherefore,itappearstometobenecessarytoaddthewords,oi5euc
ev5ei!i',agreeablytotheabovetranslation.
Ocf.Iambi.LifeofPythagoras,66;TTSvol.XVII.

intellectionofthesoul,andthepurificationofitseye,itisrequisiteto
introducethewholescienceofthethingswhicharethesubjectsof
discussion.Here,therefore,theconcisenarrationofapolity,priorto
physiology,iconicallyplacesusinthefabricationoftheuniverse;but
thehistoryoftheAtlanticsaccomplishesthissymbolically.Foritis
usualwithfablestoindicatemanythingsthroughsymbols.Sothatthe
physiologiccharacterpervadesthroughthewholeofthedialogue;but
differentlyindifferentplaces,accordingtothedifferentmodesofthe
doctrinewhichisdelivered.Andthusmuchconcerningthescopeofthe
proposedwords.
Thatinthepresentdiscussion,however,thesummaryrepetitionofa
polityveryproperlytakesplace,maybemultifariouslyinferred.Forthe
politicalsciencesubsistsprimarilyintheDemiurgusoftheuniverse,as
wemaylearnintheProtagoras.}Andtruevirtueshinesforthinthis
Dsensibleworld.HencealsoTimaeussays,thatthe*worldisknownand
isfriendlytoitselfthroughvirtue.5Fartherstill,thepolityofSocrates
beingtriple,andthefirstbeingreferredtothetotalfabrication,aswe
haveelsewhereshown,0theformofthisisveryproperlydelivered
herecontractedly,whereitisproposedtosurveythewholeDemiurgus,
generatingandadorningtheuniverse.Thesethings,therefore,are
1,31capableofbeingstillfartherdiscussed.Letushoweverreturntothe
text,andthewordsofSocrates.Butinthese,thereismuchcontention
amongtheinterpreters,whoopposeeachotheraboutacertain
punctuation,andwithreferencetothisdifferentlyexplainthescopeof
thediscussion.Forsome,makingastopatthewordpolity,definethe
scopeofittobeconformabletotheinscription,andadducePlatoasa
witnessthatitisconcerningapolity.Othersagain,makingastopatthe
Ewordswhatwassaid,evincethatthescopeofitisaboutjustice;andthat
Socrateshasgivenacertainsummaryofwhatwassaidaboutjustice,
whichisconcerningapolity.If,however,itisrequisitenottotriflein
assertingandcontradicting,itmustbesaidthatbothconcurwitheach
other.Forthediscourseconcerningjustice,isadisquisitionofthe
politywhichiswithinthesoul.Foritrightlydisposesthecommunion
ofthepowersthatwecontain.Thediscourse,likewise,aboutapolity,
fProtag.3Id.
$ByanunaccountablemistaketheoriginalhasY,mpctTr\vinsteadofKOOpovinthis
place,whichlatterisevidentlythetruereading.
Tim.34b.
cf.Prod.Comm.Rep.II,8,15.22.Also135Ffinfra,p.408.
isadiscussionofthejusticewhichsubsistsinmultitude.Both,
therefore,pertaintothesamething.Andthesamethingisindeedjustice
inthesoul,apolityinacity,andgracefulnessintheworld.Norisitfit

toseparatefromeachother,thingswhichareconjoinedbynature.And
thusmuchforthisparticular.
LonginushoweverandOrigencontendwitheachotherfromanother
principle,aboutwhatkindofpolitySocratesspeaks,inthesewords;
whetheraboutthefirst,orthemiddlepolity.Forinthelatter,the
polityisseenlivingphysically,politicallyandintellectually.Longinus
thereforethinks,thatwhatisheresaidpertainstothemiddlepolity,
becauseSocratescallstheassistantsguardians,andsaysthattheguardians
arewarriors.ButOrigenisofopinionthatwhatissaidrespectsthefirst
polity.ForinthisSocratesdeliversdisciplinestotheguardians.We
Fhoweversayinanswertosuchlikeassertions,thatitisnotproperto
divulsetheonepolity;nortoseparatethecontinuityoflifefromitself.
Forthepolityisone,perfectingitself,andcoaugmentingitselfbymore
perfectadditions.Butthewholepolitypossessesthephysicalinthe
mercenaries,thewarlikeintheauxiliaries,andtheintellectualinthe
1,32guardians.Sothatthediscussionisaboutthewholepolity.Anditis
notpropertocontendaboutthesethings,butrathertoconsiderthis,
howthepolitymayveryproperlybesaidtobebothsubordinateto,and
superiortophysiology.*Forsofarasithasforitsmatterhuman
11Aconcerns,andisdesirousofadorningthese,ithasanordersecondaryto,
andmorepartialthanphysiology.Butsofarasitsubsistsinuniversal
reasonings,andisarrangedincorporeally,andimmaterially,itissuperior
to,andmoretotalthanphysiology.Theworldalsoisacertainpolity,
andapartialpolity[withreferencetotheintelligibleworld],because
everybodyispartial.Inshort,thepolitypreexistsindeedinthe
intelligible,butexistsintheheavens,andsubsistsinthelastplacein
humanlives.Sothatifitissuperiortophysicalfabrication,itwasvery
properlydiscussedpriortotheTimaeus;butifitisinferiortoit,because
itisanethicalworld,buttheotherismundaneandallperfect,weare
veryproperlyrequiredtorecurfromthingssubordinatetosuchasare
ofamorevenerablenature.Andbotharetrue,throughtheabovementioned
causes.Since,however,aswehavesaid,theformofthe
polityisuniversal,andisimpressedinapartialmatter,hencealso
Socratesemploysthewordswhatkindforthesakeoftheform,butthe
wordsofwhatsortofmenonaccountofthematter.
tHerealsotheoriginalhaserroneouslyeeoXoyiac.insteadof<pvaio\oyuxc..
17c"TlM.Andwhatwassaid,Socrates,wasintheopinionofallofus
veryconformabletointellect."
Anarrationconformabletointellect,butneitherconformableto
Bpleasure,northedecisionofthevulgar,indicatestheadmirable
perfectionandintellectualnatureofthediscussion[containedinit].
Andpriortothis,itobscurelysignifiestheconcordantcongressofall

secondarycausesaboutoneintellect,andoneunitedfabrication.The
wordverytoo,whichisadded,unfoldsthetranscendentunion,through
whichalldemiurgiccausesconvergeastoonecentre,andonepaternal
causeofallthings.
17c"SOC.Didwenotthen,*inthefirstplace,separatehusbandmenand
1,33otherartificersfromthebelligerentgenus?"
Thediscourseaboutapolity,andtheconglomeratedandconcise
repetition,inasummaryway,ofthegeneracontainedinit,contributes
tothewholenarrationofthemundanefabrication.Foritispossible
fromtheseasimagestorecurtowholes.Thisverythingalsowasina
remarkabledegreeadoptedbythePythagoreans,whoinvestigatedthe
similitudesofbeingsfromanalogies,andbetookthemselvesfromimages
toparadigms;whichlikewiseisnowinaprefatorymannereffectedby
CPlato,whopointsouttous,andgivesustosurveyinhumanlivesthose
thingswhichtakeplaceintheuniverse.Forthepolitiesofworthymen
areassimilatedtothecelestialorder.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatwe
alsoshouldrefertheimageswhicharenowmentioned[totheir
paradigms],andinthefirstplace,whatissaidaboutthedivisionofthe
genera.Forthissectionofgenera,imitatesthedemiurgicdivisioninthe
world,accordingtowhichincorporealnaturesarenotabletopassinto
thenatureofbodies,normortalbodiestoleavetheirownessenceand
migrateintoanincorporealhypostasis.Accordingtowhich,also,mortal
naturesremainmortal;immortalnatureseternallycontinuetobeneverfailing;
andthedifferentordersofthemhaveparadigmaticcausespresubsisting
inwholes.Forifyouarewillingtoarrangethewholecity
analogoustothewholeworld;sinceitmustnotbesaidthatmanisa
microcosm,andacitynot;andtodivideitintotwoparts,theupper
cityandthelower,andtoassimilatetheformertotheheavens,andthe
lattertogeneration,youwillfindthattheanalogyisperfectly
appropriate.Likewise,accordingtoadivisionofitintothreeparts,you
Dmayassumeinthecity,themercenary,themilitary,andtheguardian:
tcf.Rep.II,369dff.
butinthesoul,theepithymeticpart,whichprocuresthenecessitiesof
1,34thebody;theirasciblepart,whoseofficeistoexpelwhateverisinjurious
totheanimal,andisalsoministranttoourrulingpower;andthe
rationalpart,whichisessentiallyphilosophicandhasaregalauthority
overthewholeofourlife.Ineverymultitudeofsouls,however,there
arethatwhichperformsthepartofamercenaryaboutgeneration,that
whichisministranttothemundaneprovidenceoftheGods,andthat
whichiselevatedtotheintelligible.Butinallmundanenatures,there
are,inshort,thetribeofmortals,thetribeofdaemons,*andtheorder

ofthecelestialGods;fortheyaretrulytheguardiansandsavioursofthe
wholeofthings.Andagain,daemonsprecedeasinasolemnprocession
thefabricationofthecelestialGods,andsuppressalltheconfusionand
disorderintheworld.Thereislikewiseacertainphysicalprovidence
ofmortalnatures,whichgeneratesandcomprehendsthemconformably
toadivineintellect.
Fartherstillaccordingtoanotherdivision,theagriculturaltribeofthe
cityisanalogoustotheMoon,whichcomprehendsthesacredlawsof
nature,thecauseofgeneration.Buttheinspectiveguardianofthe
commonmarriages,isanalogoustoVenus,whoisthecauseofall
harmony,andoftheunionofthemalewiththefemale,andofform
withmatter.Thatwhichprovidentiallyattendstoelegantallotments,
isanalogoustoHermes,onaccountofthelotsofwhichtheGodisthe
guardian,andalsoonaccountofthefraudwhichtheycontain.Butthat
whichisdisciplinativeandjudicialinthecity,isanalogoustotheSun,
withwhom,accordingtotheologists,themundaneDice,theelevatorand
thesevenfold}reside.Andthatwhichisbelligerent,isanalogoustothe
orderproceedingfromMars,5whichgovernsallthecontrarietiesofthe
world,andthediversityoftheuniverse.Thatwhichisroyal,is
analogoustoJupiter,whoisthesupplierofrulingprudence,andofthe
practicalandadorningintellect.Butthatwhichisphilosophic,is
analogoustoSaturn,sofarasheisanintellectualGod,andascendsas
farastothefirstcause.Thesethings,therefore,maythusbeassumed
throughanalogies.Plato,however,appearstohavedividedthecityinto
twoparts,andtohaveestablishedasonegenus,thatwhichis
tForTObcapov<pv\ovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTOBmpovuv<pv\ov.
tChald.Oracl.fr.194,&cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,99;JulianOrationsV172d,
Aglaophemus,101.
SForyeupyiKrj,whichoccursherebyastrangemistake,itisobviouslynecessary
toreadaprfucri.
agriculturalandthatwhichpertainstothearts,whichiscalled
demiurgic;butthatwhichisbelligerent,asanother;notthathenow
1.35recapitulatesthemilitarypolity,asLonginussays,butbecausethrough
thewordbelligerent,hecomprehendstheauxiliariesandtheguardians.
Forofthese,theformerwarwiththeirhands,butthelatterbytheir
Fcounsels.JustasalsoamongtheGreeks,Ajaxindeedfights,*asbeing
thebarrieroftheGreeks,andNestorlikewisefights,whoisthe
guardianoftheGreeks;thelatterasadefender,repellingtheenemyby
hiscounsels;buttheformer,byemployinghishands.Unlessitshould
besaid,thatPlatonowpeculiarlymakesmentionofthemilitarytribe,
becausehewishestonarratethewarlikeactionsofapolityofthiskind.

17cd"SOC.Andwhenwehadassignedtoeveryonethatwhichis
accommodatedtohisnature,andhadprescribedoneemploymentonly
toeachofthearts,*welikewiseassignedtothemilitarytribeone
provinceonly."5
Inthefirstplace,thereisatwofoldreadingofthesewords.Forit
12Aeitheris"Andwhenwehadprescribedoneemploymentconformableto
naturetoeachofthecitizens,inorderthateachmightperformhis
properwork,"or,"Whenwehadprescribedtoeachtopursuean
employmentconformabletonature,whichisadaptedtoeachaccording
tothepresentaptitudeofhisnature."Inthenextplace,itmustbe
enquiredthroughwhatcauseSocratesmakessuchadivision,oronwhat
accounthesays,"thateachemploymentisrightlypursuedbyhimwhois
naturallyadaptedtoit,andwhoinabecomingmannerengagesinit."For
neitherisdiligentattention,whendeprivedofaptitude,ableto
accomplishwithrectitudeanythingperfect,norcandexteritywithout
diligentattentionproceedintoenergy.Theend,therefore,isfromboth.
If,however,thisbethecase,itisnotpossibleforhimwhoengagesin
manyworks,tobesimilarlyadaptedtoallofthem,ortopayattention
similarlytoall;inconsequenceofhisardorbeingdividedabouta
multitudeofthings.Henceinthiscase,thepursuitsofthecitizensmust
Bnecessarilyappeartobeofavilernature.Butifthisisnotright,one
employmentshouldbeassignedtoeachofthecitizens,towhichheto
1.36whomitisdistributedisadapted,andheshouldbeorderedtoextendall
hiscareandattentiontoonething.Forhewhoisproperlyadaptedto
tIliadII,229,XIII,814,etc.
%ThewordstmoTrjrexvigareomittedinthetextofProclus.
cf.alsoRep.III,394e.
thisparticularlife,andpursuesitinabecomingmannerconformablyto
nature,will,itislikely,performinthebestwayhisproperwork.In
humanpolities,therefore,itiseasytosurveyadivisionofthiskind;for
ournatureispartible.ButhowisthistruewithrespecttotheGods?
Foradivinenatureisallpowerfulandallperfect.Ormaywenotsay
thatwiththeGodsallthingsareinallofthem,butthateachisall
thingsaccordingtothepeculiarityofhimself,andpossessesthecauseof
allthings,oneafteraSolar,butanotherafteraMercurialmanner?For
peculiarityoriginatingfromthedivineunities,proceedsthrough
intellectualessences,throughdivinesouls,andthroughthebodiesof
thesesouls.Henceofthese,someparticipateofdemiurgic,othersof
prolific,othersofconnective,andothersofadividingpower.Andafter
thismannertheyenergizeaboutgeneration.Indivinenatures
themselvesthereforepeculiaritypreexists,definingtheunitiesaccording
Ctotheinfinitywhichisthere,andthedivineduad.Butinintellects,

differenceispreexistent,whichseparateswholesandparts,and
distributesintellectualpowers,impartingadifferentpeculiarordertoa
differentintellect,throughwhichthepurityofintellectsisnot
confounded.Insoulsprogressionanddivisionpresubsist,accordingto
adifferentlifeindifferentsouls,someofthembeingallottedadivine,
othersanangelic,othersadaemoniacal,andothersadifferenthyparxis.
Butinbodies,intervalpreexists,producingdifferentpowersindifferent
bodies.Forinthese,thereareultimaterepresentationsofintelligibles,
accordingtowhichthisparticularbodyiseffectiveofthisthing,but
anotherofthat.Andthisbodyhasasympathywiththisthing,but
anothersympathizeswithsomethingelse.As,therefore,inthisuniverse,
eachthingactsaccordingtonatureuponthatwhichitwasarrangedby
thefabricationofthingstoactupon;thusalsointhecity,the
employmentsofthecitizensaredivided,andeachisarrangedtoperform
thatforwhichheisnaturallyadapted.What,therefore,theworksare
1,37ofthemilitarytribe,Timaeusclearlyshowsinwhatfollows:
17d"Imeanthattheyoughttobeonlyguardiansofthecity,soasto
18aprotectitfromthehostileincursionsbothofexternalandinternal
enemies;butyetinsuchamannerastoadministerjusticemildlytothe
Dsubjectsoftheirgovernment,asbeingnaturallyfriends,andtobehave
withwarlikefiercenesstowardstheirenemiesinbattle."*
InthesewordsPlatoiswillingthattheguardiansandauxiliariesshould
bejudgesofthosethatactillwithinthecity,butcontendersagainst
tcf.alsoRep.II,375bc;andIII,415dff.
thosethatareoutofit;inonewaytheauxiliaries,andinanotherthe
guardians,aswehavebeforeobserved.Tobeonlyguardians,however,
isnotadiminutionofpower.Forwhenweassertofthefirstcausethat
heisonealone,wedonotbythisdiminishhim,andentirelyenclose
himwithinnarrowbounds;sinceneitheristhatwhichisonlythemost
excellent,diminishedbybeingso.Butonthecontrary,everyaddition
toathingofthiskindisadiminution;sothatbyassertingnotonlyof
athingwhichwassuchfromthebeginning,youdiminishitsexcellence.
Andthusmuchforsuchlikeparticulars.
Again,however,itisrequisitetoconsiderhowwemaysurveywhat
isnowsaidinwholes.Forwhatisthatwhichisexternalinthe
universe?Andhowcanitbesaidthattheuniversedoesnot
comprehendallthings?Maywenotreply,thatevilhasatwofold
subsistenceintheworld,viz.insoulsandinbodies?Anditisnecessary
thatthosewhoexterminateconfusionanddisorderfromtheuniverse,
shouldextendjusticeandmeasuretosouls,butshouldbeantagoniststo

Etheunstablenatureofmatter.Forsomesouls,indeed,arenaturally
adaptedtotheintelligible,onwhichaccount,also,theymaybesaidto
beinternal,andtobelongtotheextentoftheintelligibleuniverse;but
others,beingmaterialandremotefromtheGods,areinacertainrespect
aliens,strangers,andexternal.Hence,thosewhoaretheaccomplishers
ofjustice,usetheformermildly,asbeingnaturallyfriends;butare
1,38severetothosethatarebornealonginbodiesinaconfusedand
disorderlymanner,}asbeingincommensuratetowardsthem,andas
entirelyabolishingtheirprivationoforder,andamputatingthe
inexhaustibleavidityofmatter.Forsomethings,indeed,cannotsustain
ornamentofthiskind,butimmediatelyvanishintononentity.But
otherswhicharemovedconfusedlyanddisorderly,arerepressedbythe
justicewhichprevailsintheuniverse,andbytheinvincible*strengthof
theorderofguardianpowers.Hencehenowsays,thattheyaresevere
tothosewhoarehostiletothecity.Fortheyaresuchascannotendure
tobeholdthem.Inshort,thereareelevatingandcatharticpowersabout
souls,andalsoinspectiveguardiansofjudgementandjustice.Anditis
Fevident,thatsomeoftheseareanalogoustoguardians,butothersto
auxiliaries.Aboutbodies,too,someareconnective,butothers
dissolvingpowers:anditismanifestthatsomeoftheseareanalogousto
guardians,butotherstothosethatarebelligerent.Forthesepowers
tChald.Oracl.fr.122.
%ForavTayuviOTOvhere,itisnecessarytoreadavavrayuviawv.
expandintotheuniverse,thingswhicharenolongerabletoremainin
theirproperseries,inorderthatallthingsmayhaveanarrangement,
andthatnothingmaybeindefiniteorconfused.If,likewise,youdirect
yourattentiontotheDemiurgushimselfofwholes,andtothe
immutableandinvariablenatureoftheintellects,whichdivinepoetry
callstheguardsofJupiter,*youwillalsohaveinthefather[ofthe
13Auniverse]thepreexistentcauseofthesetwofoldgenera.Forthroughthe
demiurgicbeingwhichhecontains,headornsallthings;butthroughthe
immutableguardwhichisestablishedinhimself,everyeternalorder
remains,alldisorderbeingentirelyabolished.Youmayalsoseethere
JusticegoverningallthingsinconjunctionwithJupiter.*ForJustice
followshim,beingtheavengerofthedivinelaw.Atthesametimetoo,
youmayperceivethearmedorderwithwhichhearrangestheuniverse,
asthoseassertwhohavewrittenthewarsoftheTitansandGiants.
Thesethings,however,weshallhereafterdiscuss.
1,39Thewords,however,externalandinternal,maybeunderstoodas
follows:Theconfusedanddisorderedfluxofbodies,atonetimearises
fromtheimpotenceofthereasons,[orproductiveprinciplesparticipated
bybodies,]andatanother,fromtheinexhaustibleavidityofmatter.

Reasons,however,arefamiliarandalliedtoproducingcauses;but
matter,throughtheindefinitenessofitself,andtheremotenessofits
diminution,isastrangertoitsadorningcauses.Hence,theinvincible
strengthoftheGods,andtheimmutableguardoffabrication,all
Bvariouslysubvertingitsconfusion,renovatesthereasonsofmatter,and
remediestheirimbecility;butvanquishestheavariceofmatter.Notthat
matterresiststheGodswhoproducedit,butthatbecauseonaccountof
itsindefinitenessitfliesfromornament,itisvanquishedbyforms
throughthedemiurgicguard,againstwhichnothingisabletoprevail.
Butitisnecessarythatallthingsintheworldshouldbeobedienttoit,
inorderthattheymayperpetuallyremain,andthattheDemiurgusmay
bethefatherofeternalnatures.
18a"SOC.Forweasserted,Ithink,thatthesoulsoftheguardiansshould
beofsuchanature,asatthesametimetobebothirascibleand
philosophicinaremarkabledegree;sothattheymightbemildtotheir
friends,andseveretotheirenemies."5
tChald.Oracl.fr.36.
*cf.LawsIV,716a;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.I,98.12&II,144,f.
cf.Rep.II,375c376c.
Thephilosophicandtheirasciblecomprehendboththegenera,viz.the
auxiliary,andthatwhichispeculiarlycalledtheguardiangenus,justas
theepithymeticaccordswiththethirdgenus,whichiscalledthe
mercenary.*ForbecauseSocratesdistinguishestheupperfromthe
lowercity,hemanifestsbythesetwofoldnamesthedifferencesofthe
orderscontainedinthecity;justasifsomeonehavingdividedthe
Cworldintoheavenandgeneration,shouldsaythatintheformerthere
aredaemoniacalanddivineorders,andshouldcallbothofthemthe
guardiansofgenerationandtheuniverse.Fortheuniverseisguardedby
theGods,anditisalsoguardedbydaemons.Bytheformerindeed
1,40totally,unically,andexemptly;butbythelatterpartially,
multitudinously,andinamannermoreproximatetothenaturesthatare
guardedbythem.ForabouteveryGodamultitudeofdaemonsis
arranged,whichdivideshisoneandtotalprovidence.Theterm
philosophic,therefore,pertainstotheGods,sofarastheyareunitedto
theintelligible,andsofarastheyarefilledwithbeing.Buttheirascible
pertainstodaemons,sofarastheyexterminateallconfusionfromthe
universe,andsofarastheyarethesavioursofthedivinelaws,*andof
thesacredinstitutionsofAdrastia.Throughthesecauses,however,they
aremildtotheirfamiliars,aptlyapplyingaremedytotheirimbecility,
asbeingalliedtothembynature,butseveretothosethatareexternal
[i.e.tothosethatarestrangerstothem]asabolishingtheindefiniteness
oftheirnature,inanexemptmanner,andaccordingtosupreme

transcendency.
18a"SOC.Butwhatdidweassertconcerningtheireducation?Wasitnot
Dthattheyshouldbeinstructedingymnasticexercises,inmusic,andall
otherbecomingdisciplines?"*
Theassertionsthathavebeenalreadymade,arecertaincommontypes,
extendingtoallthings,accordingtothedemiurgicallotment,anddivine
difference,definingemploymentsadaptedtoeveryone,anddistributing
powersappropriatelytotherecipients.Butinthepresentwords,thelife
ofthecitizensisunfolded,througheducation,employments,
communion,andtheprocreationofchildren,proceedinginabecoming
mannerfromthebeginningtotheend.Whattheniseducation,and
howisitassimilatedtotheuniverse?Forinthe[Socratic]city,itisthe
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,11,16.
Xcf.Phaedrus248c.
cf.Rep.III,401a,ff.
disciplineofthesoul,rightlyadorningtheirrationalpartthroughmusic
andgymnastic,theformergivingremissiontothestrengthofanger,but
thelatterexcitingdesire,andrenderingitasitwereelegantand
commensuratewithanger,inconsequenceofitsbeingvehemently
1,41remiss,andthroughitsdescenttoamaterialnature,filledfromthence
withaprivationoflife.Butthisdisciplineadornsreasonthroughthe
mathematicalsciences/whichhavesomethingofanattractivenature,
arecapableofexcitinginustherecollectionoftruebeing,andelevate
Eourintellectualparttothatwhichisitselfthemostsplendidofbeing.
Allwhichisevidenttothosewhoarenotentirelyforgetfulofthe
arrangementsintheSocraticrepublic.
Itisnow,however,ourbusinesstoinvestigate,whateducation,
gymnasticandmusicareintheuniverse,andwhatthedisciplinesareof
theguardiansoftheuniverse.Perhaps,therefore,weshallspeakrightly
ifwesay,thateducationistheperfectionwhichfillseachthingwiththe
goodpertainingtoit,andcausesittobesufficienttoitself,accordingto
intellectualperceptionsandprovidentialenergies.Butwithrespectto
musicandgymnastic,thattheformercausesthelivesintheuniverseto
beharmonious,andthelatterrendersdivinemotionrhythmicaland
elegant,soasalwaystopreservethesameform,andthesameimmutable
habitofthedivinevehicles.ForthroughthesethingsPlatoelsewhere*
callsdivinesoulsSirens,1andshowsthatthecelestialmotionis
harmoniouslyelegant;forgymnasticisindeedinthem.Butmedicineis
inthingssublunaryisconsequenceoftheirreceivingthatwhichis
preternatural.If,therefore,weassertthesethings,weshall,asIhave

beforeobserved,perhapsspeakrightly.Forpowersproceedsupernally
fromintelligiblestoallheaven,andimparttothecelestiallivesby
illuminationthemostexcellentharmony,andtotheirvehicles
Fundecayingstrength.Butthedisciplineswhichareintheuniverse,are
theintellectualperceptionsofsouls,5andofcelestialnatures,+
accordingtowhichtheyrunbacktotheintelligible,followingthe
mightyJupiter,andsurveyingnumbercharacterizedbyunity,thetrulyexisting
heaven,andintellectualfigure.0Henceyoumaysay,thatthe
tRep.VII,521d,ff.
XRep.X,617bc;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,237,16ff.
cf.AristotleMetaph.V,9,1051a30,andPost.An.I,12,77b31.
Phaedrus250b.
Rep.VII,524d529d;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,18,3.
mosttruearithmetic,astronomyandgeometryareinthem.Forthey
beholdswiftnessitself,andslownessitself,whicharetheparadigmsof
1,42thecelestialperiods.And,inshort,theysurveytheprimordialand
intellectualcirculation,divinenumber,andintellectualfigures.Youmay
14Alikewisesay,thatpriortothese,theycontaindialectic,2accordingto
whichtheyintellectuallyperceivethewholeofanintelligibleessence,*
andareunitedtotheonecauseofalltheunities.Andifitisnecessary
tospeakbymakingadivision,wemaysay,thatthroughsuchlike
disciplinestheyenergizeaboutfirstnatures;butthroughgymnastic,
presideoverthingssecondarywithundefiledpurity;andthroughmusic,
harmonicallycontainthecolligation*ofwholes.
18a"SOC.Welikewiseestablished,thatthosewhoweresoeducated,
shouldneitherconsidergold,norsilver,noranyotherpossessionsofa
similarkind,astheirownprivateproperty."
Thosethingswhicharetobeordainedinacitygovernedbythemost
equitablelaws,haveanevidentcause,5andwerementionedbySocrates
intheRepublic.0Buthowcanwetransferthemtotheheavens?Must
itnotbebysurveyingthroughwhatcausemenpursuetheacquisition
ofgoldandsilver,andfromwhatconceptionstheyareinducedto
cherishthisinfinitelove?Itisevidentthatitisbecausetheywishto
supplytheirwants,anddesiretoprocuresuchthingsasmayadminister
totheirpleasures.Foronthisaccount,theyarestupidlyastonishedabout
muchbelovedwealth.Theysay,therefore,conformablytoCephalus,0
Bthattherichhavemanyconsolations.If,however,thesethingsthus
subsist,theperfectionofthecelestialGods,sinceitissufficienttoitself,
andisconvertedtothebeautifulandthegood,isnotatallinwantof
thisadventitiousandapparentselfsufficiency,nordoesitlookto
convenience,orregardasitsscopevulgarutility;butbeingestablished

remotefromallindigenceandmaterialnecessity,andrepletewithgood,
ithasaleadingandrulingorderintheuniverse.Moreover,itdoesnot
admitpartibleanddividedgood.Butitpursuesthatwhichiscommon
andimpartible,andextendstowholes,andisespeciallycharacterized
tRep.VII,534e.
%i.e.unitedlyholdtogether.PT.
Tim.23c.
Rep.III,416dff.
oRep.I,329e.
accordingtothis.Henceitharmonizeswithwhatisnowsaid,"that
thosewhoaresoeducatedshouldneitherconsidergold,norsilver,norany
otherpossessionsofasimilarkind,astheirownprivateproperty."
1,43Ifyouarewillingalso,itmaybesaid,thatgoldandsilver,andeachof
themetals,aslikewiseotherthings,growintheearth,fromthecelestial
Gods,andfromaneffluxionthencederived.Itissaidthereforethatgold
pertainstotheSun,silvertotheMoon,leadtoSaturnandirontoMars.
CHencethesearegeneratedfromthence.Buttheysubsistintheearth,
andnotinthecelestialGodswhoemittheeffluxions.Fortheydonot
receiveanythingfrommaterialnatures.Andallthingsthere,areindeed
fromall,butatthesametimeadifferentpeculiarityhasdominionina
differentdivinity,here,inaSaturnian,butthere,inasolarmanner;to
whichthosewholovetocontemplatethesethingsdirectingtheir
attention,referonematerialsubstancetothis,butanothertoadifferent
power.Thesethings,therefore,arenottheprivate,butthecommon
propertyoftheGods;fortheyaretheprogenyofallofthem.Nordo
theysubsistinthem.Forastheyproducedthem,theyarenotinwant
ofthem;butthemetalswhicharehere,derivetheirconcretionfromthe
effluxionsofthecelestialGods.Why,therefore,arethesethingsearnestly
pursuedbymeninapartiblemanner?Itisbecausetheyhaveamaterial
life,andareextendedtoapartialnature,apostatizingfromthewhole.
Foronthisaccountthereismuchamongthemofmineandnotmine.
Buttheyabandontheunionandcommunionoflife.
18b"Butthatrather,afterthemannerofauxiliaries,theyshouldreceivethe
wagesofguardianshipfromthosewhomtheydefendandpreserve;and
thattheirrecompenseshouldbeasmuchasissufficientfortemperate
men.Thatbesidesthis,theyshouldspendtheirstipendincommon,and
livecohabitingwitheachother,andneglectingotherpursuitsshouldpay
attentiontovirtuealone."*
Itisnotatallwonderfulthatinhumanlivesthereshouldbedonation
andretribution,andarewardofbeneficence.Foritiswellsaidby

SocratesintheRepublic,**thatthemarkatwhichheaimsistorender
thewholecityhappy,butnotoneparticulargenusofit,suchasthe
guardian.If,however,thisberight,itwillberequisitethatsome
personsinthecityshouldbethesavioursofitbytheirprovidentialcare
tcf.Rep.II,347eff.
*Rep.IV,420b.
andprudence,*butthatothersbyministrantaidandservitude,should
supplythesavioursofthepolitywiththenecessariesoflife;justasthe
naturewhichisinus,byfashioningandpreservingtheorgan,prepares
milkfortheenergiesadaptedtoit.Butintheworld,whatretribution
cantherebe,orwhatrecompensecanbemadebymortalstothe
celestialGods?Formaywenotsaythatthesearethepeculiaritiesof
humanimbecility,inconsequenceofnotpossessingselfsufficiency,but
thateveryGodissufficienttohimself,andinconjunctionwiththeselfsufficient
issuperfull?*Hencethroughtheunionofsuperplenitudewith
selfsufficiency,hefillsallsecondarynatureswithgood,butreceives
nothingfromthem.Oritmaybesaid,thatthoughdivinityreceives
nothing,asbeingsufficientandunindigent,yetatthesametimehe
requirescertainremunerationsfromus,retributionsofbeneficence,the
acknowledgementofthanks,andequity,throughwhichweare
Econvertedtohim,andarefilledwithgreatergood.Forbeinggood,5he
isdesirousthatallthingsshouldlooktohim,andshouldrememberthat
allthingsarefromhimandonaccountofhim.Forthepreservationof
thenaturesposteriortohim,isforeachofthemtobesuspendedfrom
adivinecause.If,however,weinterpretthesethingsafterthismanner,
referringremunerationstoconversions,andtheacknowledgementof
thanks,howcanitstillfurtherbeinferred,thattheGodscohabitwith
usincommon,andspendaremunerationofthiskind?Itisbetter,
therefore,tounderstandremunerationinamorephysicalway.For
sinceeffluxionsproceedfromtheheavenstothemortalplace,but
exhalationsascendthither,andthroughthesethefabricationoftheGods
aboutmortalnaturesreceivesitscompletion,henceSocratescalls
suchlikemutationsandtransitionsofterrestrialnatures,remunerations
orwagesfromsublunarymatter,0whichareperfectedbytheheavens,
inorderthatgenerationmayneverfail.Butitmustbesaid,thatthe
1,45cohabitingincommon,istheoneconspirationofdivinefabrication,and
theconcordantprovidenceofthecelestialGods,throughwhichevery
chingthatundergoesamutationfromtheearthisconsumed,and
generationisvariouslychangedthroughtheharmoniousdanceofthe
tPhaedo84a.
XItisnecessaryaftermavTupmheretosupplythewordvirepwXnipec.
ForayccBuvyapov,itisobviouslyrequisitetoreadayaBov,K.X.

insteadofaxon/coXijc;inthisplace,IreadairoTTJC,UXTJCTTJC;virooekqvyc,.

Fcelestialdivinities;*towhichalsoTimasuslookingsays,"thatthewhole
worldisfriendlyandknowntoitselfthroughvirtue,andthatitscorruption
isthesourceofitsnutriment,inconsequenceofeffectingallthingsin,and
sufferingallthingsfromitself"
Whatthenistheendofthisoneandcommonlifeofthecitizens.
Socratessaysvirtue,viz.divinevirtue.Forvirtuesubsistsfirstwiththe
Gods;afterwardsfromthem,inthegenerasuperiortoman;anda
certainportionofitdescendsalsotous.Theguardiansoftheworld,
15Atherefore,livingconformablytothis,arealsounoccupiedbyother
pursuits.Fortheydonotlooktoconvenience,nortoexternals;forall
thingsare'withinthemselves.Theylikewisearethesavioursofall
things,andfillthemwithwhatisbeautifulandgood,beingministrant
to,andcooperatingwiththeonefatherandDemiurgusofwholes.
Since,however,theygivemeasuretothemutationsoftheearth,notin
sodoingdepartingfrom,butbeingconvertedtothemselves,and
subsistinginthemselves,onthisaccountSocratessays,"arecompensesuch
asissufficientfortemperatemen."Forbeingtemperateandprudentin
whatrelatestothemselves,theymeasuresecondarynatures,
comprehendingtheirallvariousmutationsinthesimplicityoftheirown
life.Thusthereforewhatissaidmaybeexplainedinthisway.Butin
anotherwaywemaysay,thatpietyandaconversiontotheGods,
especiallycontainameasure,andareoccupiedbyTheGood.This
measure,however,isdefinedbytheGodsthemselvesaccordingtodivine
prudence,sincetheGodsareablebothtosavethemselvesandothers.
18c"SOC.Ofwomentooweasserted,thattheyshouldbeeducatedin
suchamannerthattheirnaturesmightbeaptlyconformedsoastobe
similartothoseofmen;withwhomtheyshouldperformincommon
boththedutiesofwar,andwhateverelsebelongstothebusinessof
life."*
1,46Platoveryproperlythoughtthatthevirtuesofmenandwomenarc
common,5sinceheevincesthatbothhaveonehumanform,butnotthe
maleone,andthefemaleanother.Forthingswhichhaveadifferent
perfectionaccordingtoform,arealsodifferentinspecies.Butthings
whicharethesameinspecies,havelikewiseoneandthesame
perfection.This,however,isdeniedbyothers,whoassertthatthereis
tTim.40c.
Xcf.Rep.V453bff.

cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,236.
adifferenceaccordingtoformbetweenmenandwomen,thoughPlato
hasshownthatitisbothpossibleandadvantageousforwomentohave
thesamevirtuesasmen.Itispossible,indeed,becausethis,historyconfirms.
Fortherehavebeenfoundwelleducatedwomen,whohave
beensuperiortomen.Butitisadvantageous,becauseitisbettertohave
doublethanhalfthenumberofthosewhoexhibitvirtueintheirworks.
Asthereforeweformthemaleguardiansfromsuchaparticular
education,andfromsuchparticulardisciplines,thusalsoweformthe
femaleguardiansfromthesame:andinasimilarmanner,thefemale
warriorsfromthesameinstitutesasthemale.
Inorder,however,thatwemayadmireinagreaterdegreethe
CconceptionsofPlato,wemustbetakeourselvestowholes,andtothe
orderoftheuniverse,wherewemaysurveyawonderfulconspiration
ofthemaleandfemalenature.ForintheGods,indeed,theseareso
connascentwitheachother,thatthesamedivinityiscalledbothmale
andfemale,asisthecasewiththeSunandMercury,andcertainother
Gods.Wherealsotheyaredistinguishedfromeachother,theworksof
themaleandfemalethatareofthesameorder,arecommon,soasthat
theyprimarilyproceedfromthemale,butinaninferiordegreefromthe
female.Hence,likewise,inmortals,natureevincesthatthefemaleis
moreimbecileinallthingsthanthemale.Whatever,therefore,proceeds
fromthemale,thisthefemalealsocanproduceinadiminisheddegree.
HenceJunoproceedstogetherwithJupiter,generatingallthingsin
1,47conjunctionwiththefather.*Hence,too,sheissaidtobeequalinrank
withJupiter,asislikewiseRheawithSaturn.ForthisGoddessisthe
bosomofalltheSaturnianpower.Earthalsoisequalin.dignitywith
Heaven.*ForEarthisthemotherofallthings,ofwhichHeavenisthe
father.Andpriortotheseelements,ifwedirectourattentiontobound
andinfinity,whichrankintheorderofprinciples,weshallfindthatall
thingswhatever,whichproceedintoexistence,aregeneratedfromboth
these.Youhavetherefore,intheintelligible,intheintellectual,andin
DthesupermundaneGods,theharmoniousconjunctionofthemalewith
thefemale.Youmayalsoseethesameintheheavens.Forthewhole
ofgenerationisgovernedbytheSunandMoon;inagreaterand
paternaldegreebytheformer;butsecondarily,bythelatter.Hence
also,theMoonisdenominatedbysome,alesserSun.5Andamongthe
t67EF,infrap.205;and137Binfrap.413;andalsoTim.40e,f.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.189.
cf.volII,265a;alsoAristode,DeAnimalCreat.IV,777b25;TTSvol.XXIV.
maledivinitiesintheSun,therearelikewiselunarGods,andanalogous

orders.Butifyoudirectyourattentiontodaemons,youwillevery
whereseetheprovidenceofthesetwofoldgeneraconjoined.Fordivine
femaledaemons,unitedlyeffectallthingsinasecondarydegree,which
areaccomplishedbydivinemaledaemonsprimarily.Femalepsychical
likewise,andfemalecorporealdaemons,havetothemalestherelation
ofmotherstofathers,andofduadstomonads.Fortheygenerateall
thingswithdiminution,whichthemalesproducepaternallyand
unitedly.Ifthereforewebeforerightlyassimilatedtheguardianstothe
celestialGods,buttheauxiliariestodaemonstheirattendants,andwho
areministranttotheirprovidentialenergies,Platoveryproperly
embracesinthesegenera,asimilarconjunctionofthemalewiththe
Efemale,andimpartstobothcommonvirtue,andcommonemployments;
justasNaturebindsthesegenerato,andcausesthemtoprocreatethe
samethingsinconjunctionwitheachother.Butshedoesnotdividethe
1,48onefromtheother,sincewhateverisgeneratedfrombothisunprolific,
wheneitherofthemisseparated;thoughthereisagreaterdifferencein
thephysicalorgansthaninthelivesofthese;yetatthesametimein
thesealso,Naturemakestheworkofthemtobecommon.Muchmore,
therefore,doesthecommunionofthemintheiremployments,andthe
wholeoftheirlife,deservetobehonoured.
I8cd"SOC.Butwhatdidweestablishconcerningtheprocreationof
children?Thoughperhapsyoueasilyrememberthisonaccountofits
novelty.*Forweorderedthatthemarriagesandchildrenshouldbe
common;aswewereparticularlycarefulthatnonemightbeableto
distinguishtheirownchildren,butthatallmightconsiderallastheir
kindred.Thathencethoseofanequalagemightregardthemselvesas
brothersandsisters;butthattheyoungermightreverencetheelderas
theirparentsandgrandfathers,andtheeldermightesteemtheyounger
astheirchildrenandgrandsons.
"TlM.Thesethingsindeed,asyousay,areeasilyremembered."*
Ifsomeoneshouldinquirewhythatwhichisunusualiseasily
remembered,itisnotdifficulttoreply,thatitexcitesourphantasyin
agreaterdegreeasbeingunexpected;andinsertsinusaclearer
impressionofitself.Moreover,itiseasyconformablytoPlato,toshow
howwhatisheresaidofmarriagesandchildrenbeingcommon,applies
tInthetextofProclus,aATjflaaeiserroneouslyprintedforar)0eiav.
tRep.V454d461e.
towomen.Forhewished,accordingtotheintentionoftherulers,that
Ftheirconnexionwithmenshouldtakeplaceindefinitetimes,
accompaniedwithsacrificesandprayers;*andthatthewomanthathad
connexionwithaman,shouldnotbethepropertyofanyoneman,but

shouldbeseparatedafterconnexion,anddwellapart,andagainatother
timesshouldbecopulatedwiththatmanwhomtheguardiansmight
approve.Butthesethingsarethusindicatedinwhatissaidinthe
Republic.
Referring,however,thetheoryoftheseparticularstonature,letus
showhowtheypertaintotheorderoftheuniverse.Forthesethings
byamuchgreaterpriorityexistintheGods,onaccountoftheunion
ofthedivinities.Forallthings*aretheprogenyofalltheGods,
16Athoughdifferentthingsarecharacterizedbyadifferentpeculiarity.All
theGodslikewiseareinall,andallareunitedtoall,inconjunctionwith
anunmingledpurityadaptedtoall,towhichSocratesdirectinghis
attention,embracesthiscommunion,andthisdistributionof
1,49employments,assigningonetoeachofthearts,conformablytonature.
Fornottoknowtheirownprogenyaspeculiarlytheirown,takesplace
withtheGods.Onwhichaccount,indeed,theirintellectualperceptions,
andalsotheirproductionsarecommon.Eachofthem,however,
benefitsandpreservesthatwhichisgenerated,asbeingthecommon
offspringofallofthem.Moreover,toconsiderallthoseasbrothersand
sistersthatareofanequalage,thosethatareelderasfathersand
grandfathers,andtheyoungeraschildrenandgrandsons,originatesfrom
theGods,andistransferredfromthencetothispolity.Forsimilitude
ofessence,derivedfromthesamecause,isthatwhichisfraternalin
them.Butprolificcause,isinthemthatwhichisanalogoustofather
andgrandfather.Andaneffluxofessenceproceedingintoasecondand
thirdseries,exhibitstheformofoffspring.ForthatthesameGoddess
BisconjoinedwithdifferentGods,orthesameGodwithmany
Goddesses,maybeassumedfrommysticaltreatises,5andfromwhatare
calledSacredMarriagesinthemysteries,whichPlatoasmuchaspossible
imitatinginwhatheordainsaboutpoliticsandmarriages,callsthe
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,7,3.
$ForTOLVrahere,itisnecessarytoreadwavTa.
cf.293C,p.882&315B,p.947;alsoProcl.Comm.Parmen.775,24,andLobeck
Aglaophemus608;Orph.fr.91.

marriagessacred.1Inphysicalproductivepowersalso,wemayseethat
thereisoneandthesamerecipientofdifferentpowers;andone
productivepowerpresentingitselftotheviewinamultitudeof
recipients,andpervadingthroughmanyreceptacles.Butformsare
analogoustomales,andreceptaclestofemales.Whythereforeisthis
verythingbeheldintheuniverse,butisparadoxicalinhumanlives?I
sayitisbecausetheselivesarecutofffromwholes,andeveryhuman
soulispartible.Hencethedogmaswhichembracethiscommunion

appeartoitmostdifficulttobeadmitted.If,therefore,someoneshould
takeawaytheconditionofhispresentsubsistence,andelevatehimself
tothewholeofthings,hewouldimmediatelyadmitthiscommunion,
1,50anddespisethesympathywhichisdividedbythemultitude.Sofar,
however,aseachofusisextended,andminutelydistributedabouta
Cpart,andthusrelinquishesthewholeandone,sofaralsoheleapstoa
lifeofthiskind,whichisanunrestrainedhabitude,adisorderly
arrangement,andaninvisibledivision.
18de"SOC.Butthattheymightfromtheirbirthacquireanatural
dispositionasfaraspossiblethebest,wedecreedthattherulerswhom
weplacedoverthemarriageritesshould,throughthemeansofcertain
lots,takecarethatinthenuptialleague,theworthyweremingledwith
theworthy;thatnodiscordmayariseinthisconnexion,whenitdoes
notproveprosperousintheend,butthatalltheblamemaybereferred
tofortune,andnottotheguardiansofsuchaconjunction."*
PlatoparticularlyassumesinhisRepublicsimilitude,sameness,and
geometrical,inconjunctionwitharithmeticalequality,5inorderthatthe
similitudeofittotheheavens,asinsensibles,ortotheintelligible,asin
supercelestiallives,maybeperfectlypreserved.Forthroughthiscause,
inmarriagesalso,hepreservestheunionofthebestwomanwiththe
bestman,andofthelessexcellentwomanwiththelessexcellentman.
ForintheGodslikewise,primarynaturesaremoreconnascentwith
thoseofthefirstrank,andsecondarywiththoseofthesecondrank;and
togetherwithunionthereisunmingledpurity.Henceinthesecond
generaaftertheGods,adistributionofthiskindconformablytothe
intentionoftheGods,iseffectedaccordingtodesert.Onthisaccount,
divinefemaledaemonsarecoarrangedwithdivinemaledaemons,
tcf.Rep.V,458e.
tcf.Rep.V459d460a.
Rep.VII524dff.
psychicalfemalewithpsychicalmale,andmaterialfemalewith
Dmaterialmaledaemons.Andeverywhere,theanalogousinorder
proceedsasfarastothelastofthings.Towhichwemayaddthatthe
rulerscontrivingthatthisconnexionmaytakeplacelatently,sufficiently
adumbratestousthatthecauseofsuchaconjunctionofgenerasubsists
unapparentlywiththeGods;beingthenceprimarilyderived,but
secondarilyfromdaemons,*andfromtheorderofeach,whichthelot
indicates;possessingthepowerofcolligationfromsimilitudeoflife,
accordingtowhicheachiscoarrangedwiththesimilar,thedivinewith
thedivine,thematerialwiththematerial,andthatwhichhasamiddle
subsistence,withthemiddle.Onthisaccount,likewise,allseditionand

dissensionisremovedfromdivinenatures,eachlovingthatwhichis
alliedtoitself,accordingtoitsownorder,perceivingthatthisorderis
1,51spontaneous,andnotadventitiousanddevised;ofallwhich,thecitizens
beingconjoinedinmarriagebylot,andnotlookingtoeleganceand
ornamentintheconnexion,isanimage.Forinnaturalthings,also,
receptaclesaredistributedtoformsappropriately;*andeachformmay
ascribethecauseofitsowncoordinationtomaterialvariety.Atthe
sametime,likewise,thisiseffectedaccordingtocauses5whichpreside
Eoverthewholefabricationofthings,andwhichareanalogousto
guardians.Andthusmuch,therefore,hasbeensaid,forthesakeofthe
theoryofwholes.
Longinus,however,doubtshere,whetherPlatowasofopinion,that
soulsareemittedtogetherwiththeseed:*forinorderthattheymay
becomemostexcellent,heconjoinssimilarswithsimilars.And
Porphyryrepliesindeedtothedoubt,butnotsatisfactorily.Our
preceptor,however,thinksthatinthefirstplaceitshouldbeobserved,
thatPlatohimselfadds,"Inorderthattheymightacquireanatural
dispositionasfaraspossiblethebest."Forchildrenreceiveaphysical
similitudefromtheirparents,andparticipateofacertaindignityand
excellencefromtheirbegetters,accordingtothephysicalvirtues.3Inthe
nextplace,itmustbeobserved,thatthoughitisnottruethatsoulsare
emittedtogetherwiththeseed,yetthereisadistributionoftheorgans
accordingtodesert.Forallsoulsarenotintroducedintocasualorgans,
buteachintothatorganwhichisadaptedtoit.
tItisnecessaryheretoinsertthewords,ontoTUVbcupovuv.
tProcl.Comm.Rep.II,7,3.
ForrotaiTiaTOthere,itisrequisitetoreadrotamcx.
cf.AristotleDeAnimalCreat.II1,773b33735b5.

esthlamenesthlosedune,cheironidosken,1
saysHomer.Fartherstill,asaninitiatorintothemysteries,*byplacing
certainsymbolsaboutstatues,rendersthemmoreadaptedtothe
participationofsuperiorpowers;thusalsototalnaturefashioningbodies,by
Fphysicalproductivepowers,thestatuesofsouls,disseminatesadifferent
aptitudeindifferentbodiesforthereceptionofdifferentsouls,thebetterand
theworse;whichthepoliticianlikewiserightlyunderstanding,pays
attentiontotheemissionofseedinthecity,andtoallphysicalaptitude,
1,52inorderthatthemostexcellentsoulsmaybegeneratedforhiminthe
mostexcellentnatures.Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubtof
Longinus.ButwhydoesPlatoconceiveitisbettertothinkthat
17AFortuneisthecauseofthisdistributiontothecitizens?Shallwesayit

isbecauseitisadvantageoustoustoknowthecauseofthingswhichwe
thinktobegood,butbettertoconceivethepresenceofsuchaswe
apprehendtobeevil,tobecauseless,thantoaccusethecausewhich
distributesthese[seemingevils]foragoodpurpose?Forthisexcitesto
acontempt,orrathertoahatredofthegiver;becauseeveryoneavoids
thatwhichbecomestohimproductiveofevil.
19a"SOC.Moreover,weorderedthatthechildrenofthegoodshouldbe
educated,butthatthoseofthebadshouldbesecretlysenttosomeother
city."
ThesethingsalsoareestablishedintheRepublic,butbyamuchgreater
prioritytakeplaceintheuniverse.Withrespect,therefore,tothe
productionsofGodsandDaemons,somegeneraabideinthem,pureand
remotefromgeneration,whichonthisaccountarecalledundefiled;but
othersdescendintogeneration,notbeingabletoremainintheheavens
withoutadownwardinclination.Andsomeofthesearetheoffspring
ofgood,butothersoflessexcellentpowers.Forthetermbadis
Bindicativeoflessexcellent.Thehorses,therefore,andcharioteersofthe
Gods,5areallofthemgood;4butthoseofpartialsoulsareofamixed
nature.0Henceinthese,thereispreponderation,avergingdownward,
tIliad,xiv,382.ie."Hegavethegood[i.e.thebrave]man,goodthings,butthe
lessexcellentcharacter,thingsofalessexcellentnature.InthetextofProclusitis
erroneouslyeoBXapeveo6\aedvve,K.X.
tcf.64Finfra,p.197.
Phaedrus246a.
ThisisassertedinthePhaedrus[247b248c].Seethisexplained,inthenotesat
theendofthisTranslation.

andadefluxionofwings,whichthecelestialGodssendintogeneration,
anddaemonswhopresideoverthedescentofsouls.fThecelestialand
undefiledgeneraofsouls,therefore,arenourishedfollowingtheGods
tothebanquetanddeliciousfood,asitissaidinthePhaedrus.}And
thosethataresubservienttogeneration,communicatewithit,being
1,53latentlysentintoitfromtheheavens,asSocratessays,indicatingbythe
wordlatenttheinvisibleandoccultcauseintheGodsofthepsychical
descents,andthatsoulswhichthencedescend,becomesubject[latently]
toanotherprovidentialinspection,andtootherguardianswhopreside
overgeneration.
19a"Yetsothatsuchoftheadultamongtheseasshouldbefoundtobeof
agooddisposition,shouldberecalledfromexile;while,onthecontrary,
thosewhowereretainedfromthefirstinthecityasgood,butproved

afterwardsbad,shouldbesimilarlybanished."
IntheRepublic,*Socratesmakesatransitionnotonlyfromthosethat
weredistributedfromtheupperintothelowercity,butalsofromthose
ofthegoldenracethatwerebornthere.Here,however,thereference
Cismadetothosewhoarerecalledfromexile.Dothesethings,therefore,
accordwitheachother?Perhaps,indeed,itispossibletoreconcilewhat
isheresaid,withwhatistheredetermined,ifweunderstandtheword
adult,asnotonlypertainingtothosesentfromtheuppercity,but
likewisetoallthosethatareeducatedinthelowercity.For,inshort,
thenaturaldispositionistobeconsideredofthoseadultswhowereborn
inthelowercity,orofthosewhoweresentfromtheupperintothe
lowercity,andthusthosethatareworthyaretoberecalledfromexile.
Butifsomeoneiswillingtounderstandthewordsaccordingtoourfirst
explanationofthem,itmustbesaid,thatwhatSocratesnowdeliversis
conformabletothethingsproposedtobeconsidered.Fordescending
[rational]soulsagainascend,butnotsuchsoulsashadtheirhypostasis
fromthebeginningingeneration,andaboutmatter,suchasarethe
multitudeofirrationalsouls.Andthusmuchforthewordsthemselves.
See,however,howthesamethingstakeplaceinwholes,asthosewhich
Socratesordainsinhispolity.Forsomethingsalwayshavethesame
orderintheheavens,remainingdivineandimmutable;butothersare
Dalwaysconversantwithgeneration;andothersareinacertainrespect
tcf.Phaedrus247b248e.
%Phaedrus247a.
Rep.III,415bc.
themediabetweenboth;atonetime,indeed,beingsuspendedfrom
divinenaturesthemselves,butatanotherbeingmingledwiththosethat
embracegeneration.Itisnot,therefore,thedaemoniacalgenuswhich
ascendsordescends,noristhistobeassertedofmultiformlives,norare
1,54daemonssubjecttodeath,butpartialsouls,whichareatonetime
conversantwithgeneration,andatanotheraretransferredintoadivine
daemoniacalallotment;whichthingsbeingknownbySocratesinthe
Republic,helegislativelyordainsthatwhichisanalogoustothem.For
thecelestialJupiterpresidesovertheGodsintheheavens,overdaemons
thatelevatepartialsouls[totheirpaternalport],andalsooverothers
thatleadsoulsintogeneration,inorderthattheascentsanddescentsof
soulsmaybeneverfailingintheuniverse."Forthoughyoushouldsee
thisparticularsoulrestorestoitspristineperfection,yetthefathersend;
anothertobeannumerated,"accordingtothedivinelyinspired
indication1aboutthesethings.
19a"SOC.Havewe,therefore,againsufficientlyresumedtheepitomeof

thediscussionofyesterday,ordowerequireanythingfurther,friend
Timaeus,whichhasbeenomitted?"
Theresumptionofthepolityteachesus,throughimages,howthe
Euniverseisfilledwiththemostexcellentproductivepowers.For
generatednaturesinitareseparatedfromeachother,andeach
communicatingwithotherthings,energizesaccordingtoitsown
peculiarity.Andprimary,indeed,areexemptfromsecondarynatures,
yetemploytheirenergies,asnecessarytothecompletionoftheuniverse.
Butsecondaryareadornedbyprimarynatures.Themostexcellent,
however,ofmundanebeings,areconnascentlyconjoinedwiththemost
excellent,middlewithmiddle,andlastwithsuchasarelast.Butthe
sameproductivepowerspervadethroughmanysubjects,andthesame
recipientsparticipateofmanyproductivepowers.Lives,also,at
differenttimeshavedifferentallotments,accordingtotheirdesert.All
theseparticulars,therefore,sufficientlyplacebeforeourviewtheorder
oftheuniverse.Forindefiniteheads,Socrateshas,inabecoming
manner,epitomizedeveryformofthepolity,recurringtointellectual
1,55impartibility,inorderthathemightimitatetheGodwhoadornsthe
celestialpolityintelligiblyandpaternally.Butsinceeverywhere
measuresandperfectionaredefinitelyimpartedtosecondarynatures
from[primary]causes,onthisaccountalsoSocratesrequestsTimaeusto
informhim,whetherhehascomprehended[inhisepitome]everyform
ti.e.AccordingtotheChaldeanOracles[seeTTSvol.VII,p.46;alsoIliadXI,65].
Fofthepolity.Foreveryintellectbeingfirmlyfixedinthedeityprior
toitself,definesitselfbylookingtoit.Towhichwemayadd,thatto
speaksummarilyisasymbolofthefirstparts,andtheheadofthe
universebeingadornedbythefabricatoroftheheavens;whichthe
Demiurgusoftheuniverseadornsinamoreperfectmanner,lookingto
thewhole,andtheonelifeoftheworld.Andthusmuchrespectingthe
analogyofpartialnaturestowholes.
Theinvestigation,however,isnotattendedwithanydifficulty,
whetherthewordsmean,"Havewenowepitomizedthepolitywhichwe
discussedyesterday?"or"Haveweagainepitomizedtoday,thepolitywhich
weepitomizedyesterday?"ForwhetheryesterdaySocratesspokemore
18Adiffusely,butnowsummarily,orhespokesummarilyinboth,thedivine
Iamblichusapprovesofeitherofthereadings,andwedonotatalldiffer
fromhim.Perhaps,however,thelatterconstructionismoreconsonant.
Foragaintodiscussthepolitysummarily,manifeststhatitwas
summarilydiscussedyesterday.Anditisnotatallwonderful,thatthe
summarydiscussionwhichtookplaceintheRepublic,shouldnotbe
broughttolight.Formanyotherthingswhichareassertedhere,as
beingsaidontheformerday,arenottobefoundinthatdialogue.

Unlessitshouldbesaidthatthewordagain,doesnotrefertothe
epitomizing,buttoresumingthediscussion.Forheresumes,whonarrates
atgreatlengthwhathadbeenbeforesaid;butheagainresumes,who
summarilycontractsthenarration.Butwhicheveroftheconstructions
isadopted,neitherofthemisattendedwithanydifficulty.
19b"SOC.Hearnow,then,howIamaffectedtowardsthispolitywhich
wehavediscussed."
1,56WhatSocratessaysinthewordsthatfollow,comprehends,thatImay
Bspeaksummarily,thesefiveparticulars.First,whatthatiswhichin
whathasbeensaid,hedesiresshouldtakeplace,afterthenarrationof
thepolity.Secondly,thatheisnotsufficienttoeffectthishimself.
Thirdly,thatneitherisanyoneofthepoetssufficient.Fourthly,that
itisnotpropertocommitaworkofthiskindtothesophists.Fifthly,
thattheauditorsalonecanaccomplishthatwhichisearnestlydesiredby
Socrates,inabecomingmanner.What,therefore,isthis?Foritis
necessary,inthefirstplace,tospeakconcerningthatwhichSocrates
desirestoseeafterthispolity,viz.tosee,ashesays,acityofthiskind
inmotion,*engagingincontestsandlabours,andwarlikeactions,in
orderthatafterthepeacefullifewhichhehaddelivered,hemighthave
tcf.Tim.19bc.
tonarratetheenergiesofthecityarisingfromcircumstancesoftimes
andplaces.This,therefore,iswhathewishestoseeaccomplished.
Someone,however,maydoubttowhatthedesireofSocratesis
directed,andonwhataccounthewishesthistobeaccomplished.
Porphyrythereforedissolvesthedoubtbysaying,thatenergiesperfect
habits,notonlythoseenergiesthatarepriortohabits,butalsothose
thatproceedfromthem.Fortheperfectioninhabit,isinconjunction
withenergy,sinceotherwisehabitwillbeinacertainrespectin
Ccapacity,andatrestthroughremissionofenergy.Socratestherefore,in
orderthathemaysurveythepolitytrulyperfect,requiresthatinwords
itmaybebeheldinmotion,engagedinwarlikeactions,andcontending
withothers.Anditappears,sayshe,fromhence,tobemanifestthat
Platodoesnotadmitthatthehabitofvirtuebyitself,butwhen
energizing,issufficienttofelicity.Itmay,however,besaid,inanswer
toPorphyry,thatiftheendwasmilitary,itwouldberequisitetoassert
thatwargivesperfectiontothepolity.Butiftheendofitispeace,
whatoccasionistheretosolvePlatonicdoubtsbyintroducing
Peripateticexplanations?Orthoughtheendisnotmilitary,yetwar
exhibitsthemagnitudeofvirtueinagreaterdegreethanpeace,justas
mightywavesandatempest,showinastrongerlighttheskillofthe
pilot'sart.Andinshort,thisiseffectedbycircumstances,astheStoics

1,57alsoareaccustomedtosay,"Givecircumstances,andtaketheman."For
thatwhichisnotsubduedbythingswhichenslaveothers,manifestsa
lifeineveryrespectworthy.Perhaps,however,itisabsurdtoreferthe
causetothesethingsalone,thoughtheyhaveapoliticalreason,andnot
tolooktothewholescopeofPlato,accordingtowhichtheGod
Dwhoadornsthepolityintheheavens,iswillingalsothatgeneration
shouldbegovernedbythecelestialGods,andthatthewarofformsin
mattershouldalwayssubsist;inorderthatthecircleofgenerationmay
adumbratethecelestialcirculation.Andthisitistoseethecityexcited
towar,toseegenerationcoarrangedwiththecelestialregions,andthe
wholeofitgovernedfromthence.Itappearslikewise,thatthisis
analogoustowhatisshortlyaftersaid*bytheDemiurgusofthe
universe,"Thatwhenthegeneratingfatherunderstoodthatthisgenerated
resemblance[theworld]oftheeternalGodsmovedandlived,hewas
delightedwithhiswork."Inasimilarmanner,therefore,Socrateswished
toseehiscitymovingandenergizing;justastheGodwhocomprehends
thecelestialpolitywishedtobeholdthenatureswhichitcontains
tat37c.
energizing,andadorningthecontrarietyproducedbygeneration.Such
ananalogy,therefore,asthis,takesplaceinthepresentinstance.
If,however,wearrangedbefore,thelowercityasanalogousto
generation,butnowasanalogoustowar,youmustnotwonder.For
thesamethingsmaybesafelyarrangedamongdifferentthingsaccording
todifferentanalogies.Forgenerationalso,accordingtothelivesinit
whichareinseparablefrommatter,resemblesthelowercity;but
Eaccordingtoitscontrarietiesandmaterialtumult,itissimilartowar,
andwarlikedissensions.Thatwemay,however,coadapteverything
tothetheoryofmundanewholes,priortotheconsiderationofevery
particular,letusdirectourattentiontothesecondthingsaidby
Socrates,andseehowitaccordswiththistheory.ForsinceSocratesis
1,58analogoustothefirstofthethreefatherswhoadornthefirstofthings,
hesaysheisnotsufficienttofashionwhatfollows.Forthedivinity
whogivessubsistencetoallthings,isdifferentfromhimwhoconstitutes
thingsofamiddlenature;andthisGodagainisdifferentfromhimwho
isthecauseofthingsthatrankasthethird.Butthethirdparticularis,
thatneitherarethepoetssufficientforthispurpose.Nor,inthefourth
place,thesophists.Theformer,indeed,becausetheyimitatethethings
inwhichtheyhavebeennourished;butthelatter,becausetheyare
wanderers,andnotatoneandthesametime,philosophersand
politicians.
Again,therefore,letusseehowthesethingsareconformabletowhat
hasbeenbeforesaid.Foritisnecessarythatthepowersthatareto

presideovergenerationshouldnotbeseparable*frommaterialnatures,
butconversantwiththem.Forthesepowersareanalogoustopoetswho
inventfables,andtoimitators.Fortheseareemployedaboutimages,
alonepraisematerialandpartiblenatureswhichtheyonlyknow,andare
Funabletoascendfrommatter.Norisitfitthatthesepowersshouldbe
inseparable,*andverymutable,atdifferenttimesascendingor
descendingtodifferentorders,suchasarepartialsouls,whoare
assimilatedtosophists;becausetheyalsopossessallbeautifulproductive
powers,butatdifferenttimeswandertodifferentpartsoftheworld.
Henceitisnecessarythatthepowersthatconnectedlycontain
generation,whichisgovernedbytheheavens,shouldatoneandthe
sametimebephilosophicalandpolitical;inorderthatthroughthe
tForaxupiawvc;here,itisnecessarytoreadxwptorouc,andtosupplyaXka,so
asinsteadofovreaxupiarovqavruvavm8ei,Kmevavrmc,arpt^opevac.,toreadovre
xuptarovqavruvavm8a,aWaKmK.X.
$Henceforxwp'oracinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadaxoipiarag.
philosophiccharacteristic,theymaybeseparatefromthesubjectsof
theirgovernment,butmayenergizeprovidentiallythroughthepolitical
peculiarity,performingthedutiespertainingtotheirallotments
19Aaccordingtointellect.Forthatwhichisphysical,beingproductive,is
inseparablefrommatter;buttheformofpartialsoulsbeingsophistical,
isabundantlywandering.Itisnecessary,however,priortothingswhich
aremoved,thatthereshouldbetheinvariableandperpetuallypermanent
providenceoftheGods,andimmutablepriortomutable
allotments.Inthefifthplace,therefore,Socratesdeliverstouswho
theseare,thatareabletoeffectthis.Forthesethingsaretobe
transferredfromwordstodeeds;becausetheDemiurgusoftheuniverse,
andtherestofthefathers,fabricatetotallyandexemptly;thesecondof
1,59whichfathersgivessubsistencetomiddle,butthethirdtolastnatures.
AndtotheseTimaeus,Critias,andHermocrates,areanalogous.Butof
these,thefirstispraisedinanadmirablemanner,Socratesalsoadding,t
"inmyopinion;"butthesecond,inamiddleway,conformablytohis
order;andthethird,inthelastdegree,i.e.accordingtothetestimony
ofothers.
19b"ForIwillillustratetheaffairbyasimilitude.Supposethenthatsome
one,onbeholdingbeautifulanimals,whetherrepresentedinapictureor
reallyalive,butinastateofrest,shoulddesiretobeholdthemin
motion,andengaginginsomeoneofthosecontestswhichpertainto
bodies."*
BLonginussays,thatPlatoheredecoratesandbeautifieshisdiction,
throughsimilitudesandthegracefulnessofthewords.ButLonginus

saysthisinanswertocertainPlatonists,whocontend,thatthismodecf
expressionisspontaneous,andnottheresultofart.ForPlato,he
observes,paysattentiontotheselectionofwords,anddoesnotemploy
themcasually.Itmay,however,besaid,thatPlatomadechoiceofthis
formofwordsfromamodeofdictionwhichwasatthattimecommon
andusual,andthathewasveryattentivetowhatwascustomary.For
theatomsofEpicurus5wouldmorerapidlybytheirconcurrence
producetheworld,thannounsandverbswouldformacorrectsentence
tTim.20a.
$ThetextofProclushas,erroneously,KmroiTUVTOIL;aupaai8OKOVVTUVavt\Ka'
KaraTT\Vayuviava6\ovvruv,insteadofKmnTUVroiqaupaaiSOKOVVTUVitpoariKa
>KaraTT\Vayuviavad\ovvTa.
cf.TheHellenisticPhilosophers,p.37ff,ed.&trans.Long&Sedley,CUP1992.
byacasualcomposition.ButsomeblamePlatoforemploying
metaphorsintheuseofwords;thoughwithrespecttocomposition,all
admirehim.Atthesametime,however,itmaybeinferred,notfrom
thiscircumstancealone,butfromsuchcareandindustryasareexhibited
inthepresentwords,thathepaidgreatattentiontodiction.For
Socratesdoesnotsimplysay,thathedesirestoseethisaccomplishedby
CthosethatwerewithTimaeus;buthespeakslikeonedecoratinghis
wordsandalluringthehearer,whenhesays:"ForIwillillustratethe
affairbyasimilitude.Supposethatsomeoneonbeholdingbeautiful
animals,whetherrepresentedinapicture,orreallyalive,"&c.Andthus
muchforLonginus.
1,60Origen,however,grantsindeed,thatPlatoisattentivetothegraceof
diction,notasregardingthatwhichispleasing,astheendofit,butthat
heemploysthisimageforthesakeofexhibitingthemannerinwhich
hewashimselfaffected.Andwesay,thatthissimilitudewaswrittenfor
thesakeoftheimitationofdivinenatures;thatthegraceofthewords
presentstousanimageofthegraceimpartedbytheDemiurgusto
celestialnatures;andthattheartificeofthediction,whichismingled
withthespontaneous,adumbratesdivineproduction,whichhasindeed
aboundaryfromitself,andalsoaprogressionfrombeingandessence.
If,likewise,youdirectyourattentiontotheimageitself,beautiful
animalsmanifestthosenaturesthatareresplendentwith[divine]beauty;
butthoserepresentedinapicture,orreallyalive,indicatecorporalimages,
Dandtruelivespriortotheseimitations.ForthefiguresoftheGodsare
resemblancesoftheanimalsthatareinthem.Butthosethatareina
stateofrestexhibittousthenaturesthatarefullofintellectual
arrangement,andofanequableandcontinuedlife;thosethatarein
motionsuchasproceedintoanotherorder,andasecondfabrication;and
thosewhichengageinsomeoneofthecontestspertainingtobodies,are

imagesofthosethatimparttomoreimperfectnaturestheirownproper
effluxionsandpowers,andoperatebytheirownpowersonotherthings.
Andthusmuchrespectingtheimage.Butthewordswhetherrepresented
inapictureorreallyalive,arerightlyassertedinbothrespectsofdivine
bodies.Fortheyaredepictedbythedodecahedron,1andtheythus
possessefficaciousanddemiurgiclives.If,however,youconsiderthe
wordsseparately,theywillsignifythatthebeforementionedpolityis
indeedfashionedinwords,andisassimilatedtotheheavens,butexists,
ifnotinhuman,yetintrueordaemoniacallives.Fartherstill,todesireto
tTim.55c.

seethecityinmotion,isanalogoustothewords[inanotherpart*ofthe
dialogue]"assoonasthefathersawtheuniversemoving,hewasdelighted,
1,61andwishedtoassimilateitinastillgreaterdegreetoitsparadigm."For
thusalsotheadorneroftheheavenswishedtoseetheminmotion,and
Ethroughmotiongoverningthewarofgeneration.Butthewords
"engaginginsomeoneofthecontestspertainingtobodies,"areemployed,
becauseofcontestssomebelongtosouls,butotherstobodies;andthe
latteraresuchasrunning,wrestling,andgymnastic.
19c"InsuchamanneramIalsoaffectedtowardsthecitywhichwehave
discussed.ForIshouldgladlyhearanyonerelatingthecontestsofour
citywithothercities,whenitengagesinabecomingmannerinwar,and
actsduringsuchanengagementinawayworthyofitseducationand
discipline,bothwithrespecttopracticalachievements,andverbal
negotiations."
Wehavebeforeshownthroughwhatcause,andwithreferencetowhat
paradigm,Socrateswishedtoseehisrepubliccontendinginwar.
Becausecities,however,employagainsttheirenemiesbothworksand
words;wordsindeedinembassies,incompacts,inexhortationstobattle,
andineverythingofthiskind;butworksinthepitchingofcamps,in
Fspears,andthehurlingofmissiveweapons;onthisaccountSocrates
wishesthatacityofthiskindshouldbecelebratedaccordingtoboth
these.Inwordsindeed,asprudent,cautious,magnanimous,and
strenuous;butindeeds,asbrave,vehement,andwellexercised.For
thus,accordingtoboth,itwillimitateitsparadigm,who,shiningwith
physicalandintellectualproductions,adornsallthewarofgeneration
l9cd"For,indeed,OCritiasandHermocrates,Iamconsciousofmyown
1,62inabilitytopraisesuchmenandsuchacityaccordingtotheirdesert."
20AThisisthesecondoftheproposedheads,ofwhichwehavebefore

assignedthecause,andshallnowagainexploreitaccordingtoanother
method.Fornowsomeofthemoreancient[interpreters]havesaid,that
theencomiasticformofwritingisrobust,superb,andmagnificent;but
theSocraticcharacterofdictionisslender,accurate,anddialectic.The
latter,therefore,iscontrarytotheformer.Hence[saythey]Socrates
avoidspanegyric,asknowingthepowerhepossessed,andthesubjects
towhichitwasnaturallyadapted.Those,however,whoassertthis,in
tTim.37c.
additiontotheirbeingdirectlyrefutedbytheMenexenus,}appeartome
nottohaveperceivedthemagnificenceofthedictionofSocratesinthe
Phaedrus.Therearealsothosewhosayitisfitthattheartificerofsuchlike
encomiums,shouldbeskilledinwarlikeaffairs.Hencemany
historianserrintheirdispositionofarmies,throughignoranceoftactics.
ButSocrateshavingfoughtatDelosandPotidaea,wasnotunskilledin
Ballsuchlikeparticulars.Othersagainassert,thatSocratesspeaks
ironically,justashesaidwithrespecttootherthings,thathewas
ignorantofthem,soherehesays,thathedidnotknowhowtopraise
thiscityaccordingtoitsdesert.Theirony,however,ofSocrateswas
employedagainstsophistsandyoungmen,andnotagainstwiseand
scientificmen.Itisbetter,therefore,insteadofthesethingstosay,that
heguardsagainstbecomingthethirdfromthetruth.*Fortheworks
ofarightlyinstitutedcity,arethethirdfromtheparadigmoftruth[i.e.
ofthetrueorintelligiblepolity].Hence,wishingtoremaininthe
secondfromthetruth,hesays,heisnotabletobearthedescenttothe
thirdspeciesoflife.Andanimpotencyofthiskindisanabundanceof
1,63power.Fortobeabletoabideinparadigms,iseffectedthroughpower
whichistranscendent.Youmaylikewiseseehowthisaccordswith
whathasbeenbeforesaidbyusrespectingtheanalogyofthesethings
towholes.Forthesecondfabricationisassimilatedtothefirst,andon
thisaccountisproximatetoit.Forthewholedemiurgicseriesisone,
possessinguniontogetherwithseparation.Veryproperly,therefore,is
CSocratesprecedaneouslyextendedtoCritiasandHermocrates,andhe
rightlythinksitfitthattheyshouldweavetogethertheparticularsthat
arenextinorder.ForTimaeusisabouttodeliverthesethingsinamore
universalandelevatedmanner,andnotthroughimages,inconsequence
ofdirectlypreservinghisanalogytotheDemiurgusofwholes,who
paintstheheavenswiththedodecahedron,butgenerationwith
appropriatefigures.
19de"Indeed,thatIshouldbeincapableofsuchanundertakingisnot
wonderful,sincethesameimbecilityseemstohaveattendedpoets,both
ofthepastandpresentage.NotthatIdespisethepoeticgenus;butit
isperfectlyevident,thattheimitativetribeeasilyandinthebestmanner
imitatethingsinwhichtheyhavebeeneducated.Butthatwhichis

foreigntotheeducationofanyone,itisdifficulttoimitatewellin
deeds,andstillmoredifficultinwords."

tcf.Menexenus236dff.
|Rep.X599d.

Thisisthethirdofthebeforementionedheadsofdiscussion,inwhich
Socratesshowsthatnoneofthepoetshavebeenadequatetothepraise
ofmenandcitiesofthiskind,whichhavecasuallybeenengagedin
warlikeactions.Longinus,however,andOrigen,doubt,whetherPlato
comprehendsHomeramongthepoets,whenhesays,thathehasnot
Donlythesameopinionofthepoetsthenexisting(forthisisnothing
novel),butlikewiseofthoseofformertimes,sothatPorphyryinforms
1,64usthatOrigenpassedthreewholedaysexclaiming,blushingandtoiling,
assertingthatthehypothesisandthedoubtweregreat,andbeing
ambitioustoshowthattheimitationinthepoetryofHomeris
sufficientforvirtuousactions.Forwhospeaksmoremagnificentlythan
Homer,who,representingtheGodsascontendingandfightingwith
eachother,doesnoterrinhisimitation,butspeaksloftilyconformably
tothenatureofthings?Porphyry,however,inreply,says,thatHomer
isindeedsufficienttogivemagnitudeandelevationtothepassions,and
toexciteactionstoanimaginativebulk,butthatheisnotcapableof
deliveringanimpassivitywhichisintellectual,andwhichenergizes
accordingtoaphilosophiclife.ButIshouldwonderifHomerisnot
sufficientforthesethings,butCritiasis,orHermocrates,andshouldbe
thoughtfittospeakaboutthem.Itappears,therefore,tome,thatPlato
dividespoetryintothedivinelyinspired,andtheartificial.5Andhaving
Emadethisdivision,herefersthemagnificentdictionandsublimity
derivedfrominspiration,totheGods.Fororaclesinaremarkable
degreepossessgrandeur,vehemence,andmagnificenceoflanguage.But
heevincesthatthepoetryproceedingfromhumanart,isnotadequate
tothepraiseofthefortitudeofthiscity,andofthegreatdeedsofthe
menthatareeducatedinit.Forifthereisanyartificialsublimityin
someoneofthepoets,ithasmuchofcontrivanceinit,andgrandeurof
diction,andmakesgreatuseofmetaphors,asisthecasewith
Antimachus.ButSocratesrequiresapanegyrist,whoexhibitsinhis
praiseaspontaneoussublimity,andamagnificenceoflanguage,which
isfreefromcompulsionandpure;justasactions[inhisRepublic]have
magnificence,notcasually,butadaptedtotheeducationanddiscipline
ofthemen.ThatSocrates,however,doesnotrejectthedivinelyinspired
poet,northewholeofpoetry,butthatonlywhichisartificial,
hemanifests,Ithink,whenhesays,"thathedoesnotdespisethepoetic
Fgenus."Thepoeticgenus,therefore,isdivine,asheelsewheresays.*

Buthedespisestheimitativespeciesofpoetry;noryetthissimply;but
thatwhichisnourishedindepravedmannersandlaws.Forthis,in
tRep.III682a.
consequenceofvergingtothingsofalessexcellentnature,isnot
naturallyadaptedtobeimitativeofmoreexaltedmanners.Andthus
muchinanswertothedoubt.
Thelastpart,howeverofthewordsofSocrates,beinginacertain
respectdifficult,mayberenderedperspicuousasfollows:Butthewords
are,"thatwhichisforeigntotheeducationofanyone,itisdifficultto
imitatewellindeeds,andstillmoredifficultinwords."Foritseemsto
21Abeeasytoimitatewordsordeeds.Notafew,therefore,act
sophistically,byexhibitingvirtueasfaraswords,butindeedsbeing
entirelyalienatedfromit.Willitnot,therefore,bebettertointerpret
thesewordsthus,viz.:Tosupposethemostexcellenteducationisimplied
inthewords,thatwhichisforeigntotheeducationofanyone;butto
assume,indeedsandinwords,asequivalentto,conformablytodeeds,and
conformablytowords;andtoimitatewell,ashavingthesamemeaning
withtobewellimitated?Andthuswemaycollectfromallthese,that
forthatwhichismostexcellenttobewellimitated,itisdifficultindeed
accordingtodeeds,butitisstillmoredifficultforittobewellimitated
accordingtowordsinawrittenwork.Forthisisthethingproposedto
beeffectedinpoetry.Andyoumayseehowthisaccordswiththings
themselves.Forhewhoinawrittenworknarratesthedeedsofthe
mostexcellentmen,composesahistory.Buthewhonarratesthe
speechesofthesemen,ifheintendstopreservethemannersofthe
speaker,assumesadispositionsimilartothespeaker.*Forwordsare
seentodifferaccordingtotheinwarddispositions.Forthuswederide
mostofthose,exceptPlato,whohavewrittentheApologyofSocrates,
BasnotpreservingtheSocraticmannerintheircomposition.Thoughthe
narrationofthisverything,thatSocrateswasaccused,madeanapology,
andwassentencedtodie,wouldnotbethoughtworthyoflaughter,but
thedissimilitudeofimitationinthecomposition,renderstheimitators
ridiculous.Since,also,tosayofAchilles,thathecamefortharmedafter
1,66suchamanner,andthatheperformedsuchdeeds,isnotdifficult;butto
narratecopiouslywhathesaid,whendetainedintheriver,*isnoteasy.
Butthisistheprovinceofonewhoisabletoassumethemannersofthe
hero,andtowriteconformablytowhathewouldhavesaid.Thisalso
isevidentfromSocratesintheRepublic,}verymuchblamingHomer
respectingtheimitationofwords.ButastotheGods,itissaidtobe
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,14,27ff.
%IliadXXI.

Rep.III392cff.
easybylanguagetoimitatethewordsorthedeedsoftheGods.For
whocandelineatetheirworksaccordingtotheirdesert?Oritmaybe
saidthatitisthesamethingwithrespecttotheGods,toimitatetheir
wordsordeeds.Forsincetheirwordsareintellections,andtheir
intellectionsareproductions,theimitatoroftheirwordsisalsothe
imitatoroftheirproductions.Sothatbyhowmuchhefailsintheone,
Cbysomuchalsoishedeficientintheimitationoftheother.Longinus,
however,hasthefollowingdoubtswithrespecttotheproposedwords.
Forifpoetsarenotworthyimitatorsoftheworkspertainingtosucha
cityasthis,becausetheyarenoteducatedinthemannersofthecity,
neitherwillCritiasandhisassociatesbeabletoeffectthis.Forneither
didtheyliveperformingtheofficeofmagistratesinit.Butifitis
becausetheyhavenotscience,butareimitatorsalone,whybyreceiving
typesfromus,maytheynotbeabletoimitate,sincetheypossessan
imitativepower?Inanswertothesedoubts,itmaybesaid,thatthe
imitationofsuchapolityproceedsthroughalifeconcordantwithits
paradigms.Forhewhodoesnotliveaccordingtovirtue,isincapable
ofadducingwordsadaptedtoworthymen.Itisnot,therefore,
sufficientmerelytohearwhatformoflifethepolitypossesses,inorder
toimitateit,asthedoubtofLonginussaysitis.ButPorphyryadds,
thatasallthings,suchforinstanceasthediurnallight,arenotimitated
bypainters,soneitheristhelifeofthemostexcellentpolityimitatedby
Dpoets,inconsequenceoftranscendingtheirpower.
19e"Butwithrespecttothetribeofsophists,thoughIconsiderthemas
1,67skilledbothintheartofspeaking,andinmanyotherbeautifularts,yet
astheyhavenosettledabode,butwanderdailythroughamultitudeof
cities,Iamafraid,lestwithrespecttotheinstitutionsofphilosophers
andpoliticians,theyshouldnotbeabletoconjecturethequalityand
magnitudeofthoseconcerns,whichwiseandpoliticmenareengagedin
withindividualsinwarlikeundertakings,bothindeedsandwords."
Withrespecttothesophists,someofthemfrequentlypretendedtobe
skilledinastronomy,othersingeometry,othersinpolitics,andothers
intheartofdividing.Hencetheyarenowsaidtobeskilledinmany
beautifularts.Since,however,theydidnotpossessascientific:
knowledgeofthese,itisadded,thattheyareskilledinthem.Forskill
manifestsanirrationaloccupationsinmerewords,unaccompaniedwith
theknowledgeofthewhy.*Because,however,theynotonlylivedat
differenttimesindifferentcities,butwerefullofdeception,offalse
tcf.Gorgias501a;alsoApuleiusPlat.Phil.II,8,TTSvolXIV,p.276.

opinion,andunscientificwandering,theyarejustlycalledwanderers.}
Butastheyledadisorderlyandineruditelife,energizingaccordingto
passion,theyareveryproperlysaidnottohaveasettledabode;sinceit
isrequisitethateveryoneshouldarrangehimselfpriortootherthings.
Forallsuchparticulars,asareinafamilyandacity,arelikewisein
manners,andthesepriortoexternalsoughttobefitlygoverned.Who
Ethenaretheproperimitatorsofthedeedsandwordsofthebestpolity,
ifneitherthepoetsnorthesophistsare?Theyaresuchasareboth
politiciansandphilosophers.Fortheunionofboththeseisnecessary,
inorderthatthroughthepoliticalcharactertheymaybeabletoperceive
theworksofthecitizens;butthroughthephilosophic,theirwords,in
consequenceofinwardlypreassumingtheirlife.Andthroughthe
former,indeed,theycomprehendtheirpracticalwisdom,butthrough
thelatter,theintellectualenergyoftherulers.Butfromtheseimages
weshouldmakeatransitiontodemiurgiccauses.Foritisnecessarythat
thesealsoshouldbetotalandintellectual,inorderthattheuniversemay
beconsummatelyperfect,andthatgenerationmaypossessiconically
1,68suchthingsastheheavensprimarilycontain.
19e"Thegenus,therefore,ofyourhabitremains,whichatoneandthe
20asametimeparticipatesofboththese,bynatureandbyeducation."
Longinus,notdisdainingtosurveythesewords,andthosethatprecede
them,says,thatinthatpartofthembeginningwith,"Butwithrespect
tothetribeofsophists,Iamafraid,astheyarewanderers,"&c.thereisa
differenceofexpressionthroughthedesireofdignityandgravityinthe
diction.Thatinthewordsthatfollow,"Lestwithrespecttothe
institutionsofphilosophersandpoliticians,theyshouldnotbeableto
conjecturethequalityandmagnitudeofthoseconcerns,"&c.thereisa
Fdistortionofphrasefromwhatisnatural.Andthatthethirdpart,"The
genusthereforeofyourhabitremains,"&c.isperfectlyunusual.Foritis
notatalldissimilartothestrengthofHercules,to,the
sacredstrengthofTelemachus,*andothersuchlikeexpressions.But
Origenadmits,thattheformofexpressionintheproposedwords,is
conformabletothemannerofhistorians.Forsuchlikeperiphrasesare
adaptedtoanarrationofthiskind,aswellastopoetry.We,however,
say,thatPlatoeverywherechangeshismodeofdiction,soastobe
adaptedtohissubjects;andinunusualthings,studiesmutationsof
tcf.Lachesis196b.
$OdysseyII,409[andIliadII,658.]
22Aexpression.Butwedonotadmitthattheproposedwordsarea
periphrasis.Fortheydonotmanifestthesamethingastheexpression
you,likethestrengthofHercules;fromwhichtherewouldonlybean

abilityofgivingthatwhichisadaptedtotheimitationofthebestpolity.
Forthosewhoarebothphilosophersandpoliticians,byenergizing
accordingtothehabitwhichtheypossess,andwhichdiffersfromthe
poeticalandsophisticalhabit,willbeabletoeffectthatwhichSocrates
desires.Andthusmuchforthewordsthemselves.
Looking,however,totheconceptionswhichtheycontain,wemust
say,thatSocratesexcitesCritiasandHermocratestowhatremainstobe
accomplishedinthepolity.ButlikewisecallsonTimaeustoassistthe
undertaking.Andthisisthefifthheadofthethingsproposedfor
elucidation.YoumayalsoseehowmagnificentlySocratescelebratesthe
menfromtheverybeginning,calling[thewisdomwhichtheypossess]
ahabit,inorderthathemayexemptthemfromsophisticalwandering.
1,69Buthesaysthattheyarepartakersofthepoliticalscience,bothby
natureandeducation,inorderthatyoumaycontradistinguishitfrom
Bpoeticalimitation,whichisnourishedbylessexcellentlaws.Andhe
designatestheperfectfromnatureandeducation;lestdeprivingnatureof
education,youshouldcauseittobelame,*oryoushouldthinkthat
educationoughttobethrownintoanunaptandincongruousrecipient.
Andthusmuchhasbeensaidincommonrespectingthemen.Butif
youwishtospeak,proceedingtoparadigms,thedemiurgicgenus,which
istotalandintellectual,remainstobearrangedaccordingtoa
providentialattentiontowholes.Letus,however,surveyseparately
everyparticular.
20a"ForTimaeushereofLocris,anItaliancity,governedbythebestof
laws,exclusiveofhisnotbeinginferiortoanyofhisfellowcitizensin
wealthandnobility,hasobtainedinhisowncitythegreatesthonours,
andthehighestpostsofgovernment;and,inmyopinion,hasarrivedat
thesummitofallphilosophy."
Whattestimony,therefore,canbemoreadmirablethanthis,orwhat
praisecanbegreater?Doesitnot,inthefirstplace,evincethatTimaeus
wasapoliticalcharacter;inthesecondplace,thathepossessed
intellectualknowledge[inamosteminentdegree],bysaying,thathehad
arrivedatthesummitofallphilosophy;andadding,inmyopinion,
whichplacesacolophononallthepanegyrics?Whatotherimagealso
thanthisamongmen,ismorecapableofbeingassimilatedtotheone
tForXOXJJPhere,itisnecessarytoreadxwXljc.
CDemiurgus?For,inthefirstplace,bythepoliticalandthephilosophic,
theimageisJovian.Inthenextplace,byassertingthatTimaeus
belongedtoacitygovernedbythebestoflaws,itimitatesthegodwho
wasnurturedintheintelligiblebyAdrastia.*AndbyTimaeusexcelling

innobilityofbirth,itadumbratesthetotal,intellectual,andunical
natureofthegod.ForallthesetheDemiurguspossesses,by
participatingofthefatherspriortohimself.Byassertingalsothat
Timaeushadobtainedthehighestpostsofgovernment,itrepresentsto
ustheroyalpoweroftheDemiurgus,andwhichhasdominionover
1,70wholes;hissceptre,accordingtotheologists,*consistingoffourand
twentymeasures.5Buttoaddlikewisethathehadenjoyedthegreatest
honours,presentsuswithanimageofthattranscendencywhichis
exemptfromwholes,bothindignityandpower.ItistheDemiurgus,
therefore,whoalsodistributeshonourstoothers.0Anditmaybe
said,thattheassertionthatTimaeushadarrivedatthesummitof
philosophy,assimilateshimtothegod,whoatonceperfectlycontains
allknowledgeinhimself.Sothat,fromallthathasbeensaid,youmay
apprehend,asfromimages,whotheDemiurgusoftheuniverseis;that
heisanintellectcomprehensiveofmanyintellects,0andarranged
amongtheintellectualGods;thatheisfullofthefirstintelligibles;and
thathehasaroyalestablishment,assurpassingindignitytheother
Ddemiurgicgods.If,however,PlatocallsthecityofTimaeusLocris,it
notbeingusualwiththeGreeksthustodenominateit,buttocallit
Locrionly,inordertodistinguishitfromtheLocrisoppositeto
Euboea,wemustnotwonder.ForPlatochangesmanythingsforthe
purposeofsignifyinginaclearermannerthethingproposed.Butthat
theLocriansweregovernedbythebestlawsisevident;fortheir
legislatorwasZaleucus.tt
i
tcf.LobeckAglaophemos,514.
$cf.Procl.Comm.Crat.99,57;Orph.fr.116.
ThesceptreofJupiter,asweareinformedbyProclusontheCratylus,was,
accordingtoOrpheus,twentyfourmeasuresinlength;bywhichsayshe,thetheologist
signifies,theestablishmentifthosetwodivineordersbyJupiter,thecelestial,and
supercelestial,andhisreigningovertwoseriesofGods,eachofwhichischaracterized
bythenumbertwelve.
Rep.VI,509b.
ocf.Theol.Plat.V,20.
ttcf.AristotlePolit.II,12,1274a22ff.
20a"Besides,weallknowthatCritiasisnotignorantofanyofthe
particularsofwhichwearenowspeaking."
Critias,indeed,wasofagenerousandgrandnature.Helikewise
engagedinphilosophicconferences,andwascalled,ashistoryinforms
us,anidiotamongphilosophers,butaphilosopheramongidiots.He
tyrannizedalso,beingoneofthethirty.Itisnot,however,justto
accuseSocratesonthisaccount,becausehenowthinkshimdeservingof
acertainpraise.For,inthefirstplace,weshouldattendtothemanner

inwhichhepraiseshim.Forhesays,that"heisnotignorantofanyof
theparticularsofwhichwearenowspeaking,"bothonaccountofhis
naturaldisposition,andhisassociationwithphilosophers.Inthenex1:
place,weshouldobserve,thatthetyrannicalcharacterisanargument
Eofanexcellentnature,aswelearnfromthefableintheRepublic,}
1,71whichparticularlyleadssoulsdescendingfromtheheavenstoa
tyrannicallife.ForbeingaccustomedtheretorevolvewiththeGods,
andtogoverntheuniverseinconjunctionwiththem,intheseterrestrial
regionsalso,theypursueapparentpower;justasthosewhopossessthe
remembranceofintelligiblebeauty,embracevisiblebeauty.*That
Critias,however,pertains,accordingtoanalogy,tothemiddle
fabricationofthings,maybelearnt,inthefirstplace,fromhis
succeedingtothediscourseofSocrates;inthenextplace,fromhis
narratingtheAtlantichistory,theAtlanticsbeingtheprogenyof
Neptune;and,inthethirdplace,fromhisownproperlife.Forthe
rulingpeculiarity,andthatwhichextendstomanythings,arethe
characteristicsofthislife.Power,likewisepertainstomedia,and
thereforehepossessesthemiddleplaceintheencomiums.Fortoassert
ofhim,thathewasnotoneofthevulgar,butapartakerofthe
prerogativesofTimaeus,showshisinferioritytothefirstpersonofthe
dialogue.Butthathewasnotentirelyremovedfromhim,indicateshis
alliancetohim.
20ab"NoristhistobedoubtedofHermocrates,sinceamultitudeof
circumstancesevincethatheis,bothbynatureandeducation,adapted
toallsuchconcerns."
HermocrateswasaSyracusangeneral,desirousoflivingconformably
Ftolaw.Hencealsoheparticipates,inacertainrespect,ofthepolitical
tRep.X,619bc.
$Chald.Oracl.fr.118.
scienceandphilosophy.Hemustbefreferred,therefore,accordingto
analogy,tothethirdfabrication*ofthings.Forthecommandofan
armyisapoweralliedtothegod,whoarrangesthelastandmost
disorderlypartsofmundanefabrication;andtobetestifiedbyamultitude
ofcircumstances,indicatesananalogytothepowerthatproduces
fabricationintoallmultitude,andanultimatedivision.Wetherefore
makethisarrangement,inorderthatthemenmayhaveananalogyto
1,72thethings.ButothersarrangeCritiasasinferiortoHermocrates;
23Athoughtheabsentpersonwasneitheradaptedtospeaknortohear,and
ofthosethatarepresent[ataconference],hewhoisanauditor,indeed,
butissilent,issecondarytohimwhoisbothanauditorandaspeaker,
andinthisrespectimitatesthosethatareaboutSocratesandTimaeus.

Inthenextplace,thisalsomustbeconsidered,thatSocratesgivesthe
preferencetoCritias,inwhathesays,praisinghimimmediatelyafter
Timaeus.Therearelikewisethosewhoattributesuchanorderasthe
followingtothesepersons,viz.theyarrangeTimaeusaccordingtothe
paradigmaticcause,Socratesaccordingtotheefficient,andCritias
accordingtotheformalcause;forheleadsintoenergythosethathave
beenrightlyeducated;butHermocratesaccordingtothematerialcause.
Hencealsoheisadaptedindeedtohear,butnottospeak.Formatter
receivesproductivepowersexternally,butisnotnaturallyadaptedto
generate.Andthisarrangementindeedwillbefoundtobevery
reasonable,ifweabandontheformerconceptions[relativetothe
analogyofthemen].
20bc"Hencewhenyouyesterdayrequestedmetodiscusswhatpertainsto
apolity,Ireadilycompliedwithyourrequest;beingpersuadedthatthe
remainderofthediscoursecouldnotbemoreconvenientlyexplainedby
anyonethanbyyou,ifyouwerebutwillingtoengageinitsdiscussion.
Forwhenyouhaveproperlyadaptedthecityforwarlikepurposes,there
isnooneinthepresentagebutyoufromwhomitcanacquireevery
thingfitforittoreceive.AsIhave,therefore,hithertocompliedwith
tInsteadof5ioKmiroXinKricruenereixe,KmcpikooofJHaceveKtvovvK.X.,itis
necessarytoread5toKm7TOXITIKT)?truefieraxtamtpikooocpiuc.tveyuvovvK.X.
%TimaeusisanalogoustoJupiter,theDemiurgusoftheuniverse;butSocrates,
Critias,andHermocrates,areanalogoustothethreerulingfathers,ordemiurgi,
Jupiter,Neptune,andPluto,whoformthesummitofthesupermundaneorderof
Gods.For,accordingtothearcanaoftheGreciantheology,thereisatwofoldJupiter;
onebeingtheDemiurgus,andexistingattheextremityoftheintellectualorder;but
theotherbeingthefirstofthesupermundanedemiurgictriad.Seethe6thBookofmy
translationofProclusontheTheologyofPlato[TTSvol.VIII.
yourrequest,Ishallnowrequireyoutocomplywithmineintheabovementioned
particulars.Norhaveyou,indeed,refusedthisemployment;
buthave,withcommonconsent,determinedtorepaymyhospitality
withthebanquetofdiscourse.Inow,therefore,standprepared,ina
decorousmanner,toreceivethepromisedfeast."
BThesummaryrepetitionofthepolityappears,indeed,asSocratesnow
says,tohavebeenmadeforthesakeofthediscussionofthecontestsin
warofarightlyconstitutedcity.Boththeconcisecomprehension,
however,ofthepolity,andtheAtlanticwar,referustotheone
fabricationoftheworld.For,aswehavebeforeobserved,1itisbetter,
priortothewholefabrication,andalltheformoftheproductionofthe
world,tomakeasurveyfrompartsandimages.*Socrates,therefore,
resumingthepolityincertainforms,and,first,throughthisimitating

theuniverse,veryproperlyestablisheshimself,asitwere,inessence;but
1,73excitesotherstothediscussion,whocelebratethepowerofsuchacity,
andimitatethosewhoarrangetheuniverseaccordingtothemiddle
demiurgicform,anduniformlycomprehendthecontrarietiesand
multiformmotionswhichitcontains.As,therefore,Jupiter,in
Homer,5beingseatedinhiscitadelonthesummitofOlympus,and
abidinginhisaccustomedunity,sendstheGodswhopresideoverthe
CmundanecontrarietytotheGrecianwar;6thusalsoSocrates,being
purelyestablishedintheintelligibleformofapolity,preparesthoseafter
himthatareable,tocelebratethemotionandpowerofthispolity,
callingforth,indeed,thescienceofTimaeus,tothesurveyofwholes
totally,butpreparingtheotherstothetotalandconcisecomprehension
ofpartialnatures.Forashehaddiscussedthepolitytotally,afterthis
manneralso,hewishesthatthepowerofitshouldbecelebratedbythe
rest.Since,however,allthesediscoursesbringwiththemanimageof
demiurgicworks,andthewholeconferenceadumbratesthefabrication
oftheworld,Socratesveryproperlysays,"thathestandsprepared,ina
decorousmanner,toreceivethepromisedfeast,"hiswordsbeinginvested
withmodesty,asaformadaptedtovirtue.
20c"HERM.Butwe,OSocrates,asTimaeusjustnowsignified,shall
cheerfullyengageintheexecutionofyourdesire;forwecannotoffer
anyexcusesufficienttojustifyneglectinthisaffair.Foryesterday,
t10Bsupra,p.37.
XTim.42e.
IliadIII,22.
whenwedepartedfromhence,andwenttothelodgingofCritias,where
weareaccustomedtoreside,bothinhisapartmentandintheway
thither,wediscoursedonthisveryparticular."
ItwasrequisitethatHermocratesshouldsaysomething,andnotbe
Dsilentlypresent,liketheunemployedpersonsinacomedy.Hencealso
heisrepresentedspeakingtoSocrates.Andthisindeedislogographic
[orpertainingtotheartofwriting];butitislikewiseadaptedtowhat
hasbeenbeforesaid.Foritrepresentstous,asinanimage,thatthelast
parts,ofthefabricationofthings,followtheonefatherofwholes,and,
1,74throughsimilitudetohim,convergetotheoneprovidenceoftheworld.
ForHermocrates,followingSocrates,says,thatnothingshallbewanting,
eitherofalacrityorpower,totheaccomplishmentofthenarrations
investigatedbySocrates.Forthesetwothingsbecomeespecially
impedimentstousinourmutualenergies,viz.ourindolence,andany
externalimpediment.Removing,therefore,boththese,hesays,that
therecannotbeanyexcusesufficienttojustifytheirneglect,orprevent

themfromaccomplishingthemandateofSocrates.Veryproperly,
therefore,doeshecalluponCritiasforthenarrationrespectingthecity
oftheancientAthenians,inwhichthemandateofSocratesterminates;
justasSocratescallsonTimaeus,andmakeshimselfapartakerofhis
discourse.Forontheprecedingday,Hermocratessays,theydiscoursed
Eonthisveryparticular*togetherwithCritias,justasthethird
Demiurgusintheuniversecommunicateswiththeproductionofthe
second.Forthewholeofgenerationisentirelyinwantofreturnsfrom
thesubterraneanworld.If,however,thesethingssubsistafterthis
manner,theAtlantichistorywillappeartohavehadthethirdnarration.
Butthosenumbers,theduadandthetriad,aresaidtobeadaptedtothe
middlefabrication,theformerthroughpower,andthelatterthroughits
demiurgicprovidence,andwhichisalsoperfectiveofmundanenatures.
Sothatwhetheryouassigntothishistoryadoubleoratriplenarration
youwill,fromeitherofthenumbers,beabletorecurtotheconception
oftheinterveningmedium.
20d"Hethereforenarratedtousthefollowingparticularsfromancient
1,75rumour,whichIwish,OCritias,youwouldnowrepeattoSocrates,
thathemayjudgewhetheritanywayconducestothefulfilmentofhis
request.
"CRI.Itisrequisitetocomply,ifagreeabletoTimaeus,thethird
associateofourundertaking.
tTheol.Plat.X,xxi,p.348,TTSvol.VIII.
"TlM.Iassenttoyourcompliance."
Youwillfindinthesewordsanadmirableindication,asinimages,of
divinenatures.For,asinthem,suchasaresecondarycallforththe
prolificpowersofsuchasareprimary,andproducethemtothe
providentialinspectionofthesubjectsoftheirgovernment;thusalso
FhereHermocratescallsonCritiastospeak,andgivescompletiontowhat
waspromisedtoSocrates.Andas,amongdivinenatures,effectsconvert
themselvestothereceptionoftheircauses,thusalsohere,Hermocrates
isextendedtoCritias,butCritiaslookstothemandateofSocrates.As
likewisealldemiurgiccausesaresuspendedfromtheonefatherofthe
universe,andgovernallthingsconformablytohiswill;afterthesame
mannerherealsoallthepersonsflytoTimaeus,andtohisnod,or
24Aconsent,orwill,inorderthat,beingimpelledfromthatasfromaroot,
theymaydisposetheirnarrationagreeablytohisdesire.Forthuswhat
isgoingtobesaidwillcontributetothediscourseaboutthewhole
fabricationoftheworld.Moreover,thewords"fromancientrumour,"
ifthenarrationishistorical,signifyancientaccordingtotime.Butif

theyareanindicationofwhattakesplaceintheuniverse,theywill
obscurelysignifythereasonsorproductivepowerswhicharefrom
eternityinherentinsouls.Andif,likewise,theybringwiththeman
imageofdivinecauses,theyshowthatthesedemiurgiccauses,being
supernallyfilledfrommoreancientGods,impartalsotosecondary
naturestheirownprovidentialenergies.
20d"CRI.Hear,then,OSocrates,anarrationsurprisingindeedinthe
extreme,yetineveryrespecttrue,whichwasoncedeliveredbySolon,the
wisestofthesevenwisemen."
WithrespecttothewholeofthisnarrationabouttheAtlantics,some
1,76say,thatitisamerehistory,whichwastheopinionofCrantor,thefirst
interpreterofPlato,whosays,thatPlatowasderidedbythoseofhis
time,asnotbeingtheinventoroftheRepublic,buttranscribingwhatthe
Egyptianshadwrittenonthissubject;andthathesofarregards
BwhatissaidbythesederidersastorefertotheEgyptiansthishistory
abouttheAtheniansandAtlantics,andtobelievethattheAthenians
oncelivedconformablytothispolity.Crantoradds,thatthisistestified
bytheprophetsoftheEgyptians,whoassertthattheseparticulars
[whicharenarratedbyPlato]arewrittenonpillarswhicharestill
preserved.Othersagain,say,thatthisnarrationisafable,anda
fictitiousaccountofthings,whichbynomeanshadanexistence,but
whichbringwiththemanindicationofnatureswhichareperpetual,or
aregeneratedintheworld;notattendingtoPlato,whoexclaims,"that
thenarrationissurprisingintheextreme,yetisineveryrespecttrue."For
thatwhichisineveryrespecttrue,isnotpartlytrue,andpartlynot
true,norisitfalseaccordingtotheapparent,buttrueaccordingtothe
inwardmeaning;sinceathingofthiskindwouldnotbeperfectlytrue.
Othersdonotdenythatthesetransactionstookplaceafterthismanner,
butthinkthattheyarenowassumedasimagesofthecontrarietiesthat
preexistintheuniverse.Forwar,saythey,isthefatherofallthings,
asHeraclitusalsoasserted.1Andofthese,somerefertheanalysistothe
Cfixedstarsandplanets:sothattheyassumetheAtheniansasanalogous
tothefixedstars,buttheAtlanticstotheplanets.Theylikewisesay,
thatthesestarsfightonaccountoftheoppositionintheircirculation,
butthatthefixedstarsvanquishtheplanetsonaccountoftheone
convolutionoftheworld.Ofthisopinion,therefore,istheillustrious
Amelius,whovehementlycontendsthatthismustbethecase,because
itisclearlysaidintheCritias,thattheAtlanticislandwasdividedinto
sevencircles.*ButIdonotknowofanyotherwhoisofthesame
opinion.Others,again,asOrigen,refertheanalysistotheopposition
ofcertaindaemons,someofthembeingmore,butothersless,excellent.
1,77Andsomeofthembeingsuperiorinmultitude,butothersinpower:
someofthemvanquishing,butothersbeingvanquished.Butothers
referittothediscordofsouls,themoreexcellentbeingthepupilsof

Minerva,5buttheinferiorkindbeingsubservienttogeneration;who
alsopertaintotheGodthatpresidesovergeneration[i.e.toNeptune].
AndthisistheinterpretationofNumenius.Others,mingling,asthey
fancy,theopinionsofOrigenandNumeniustogether,say,thatthe
narrationreferstotheoppositionofsoulstodaemons,thelatterdrawing
Ddown,buttheformerbeingdrawndown.Andwiththesemen,daemon
hasatriplesubsistence.Fortheysay,thatonekindisthatofdivine
daemons;another,ofdaemonsaccordingtohabitude,towhichpartial
soulsgivecompletion,whentheyobtainadaemoniacalallotment;and
anotheristhatofdepraveddaemons,whoarealsonoxioustosouls.D
Daemons,therefore,ofthislastkind,wagethiswaragainstsouls,intheir
descentintogeneration.Andthat,saythey,whichancient
tFr.53d.
XCritias113e.
Critias109cd.
Procl.Comm.Rep.I,175,18.
theologists*refertoOsirisandTyphon,ortoBacchusandtheTitans,
this,Plato,frommotivesofpiety,referstotheAtheniansandAtlantics.
Before,however,soulsdescendintosolidbodies,thosetheologistsand
Plato,deliverthewarofthemwithmaterialdaemonswhoareadapted
tothewest;sincethewest,astheEgyptianssay,istheplaceofthenoxious
daemons.*OfthisopinionisthephilosopherPorphyry,respecting
whom,itwouldbewonderful,ifheassertedanythingdifferentfrom
thedoctrineofNumenius.These[philosophers]however,areinmy
opinion,very5excellentlycorrectedbythemostdivineIamblichus.
Accordingtohim,therefore,andalsotoourpreceptorSyrianus,this
contrarietyandoppositionarenotintroducedforthepurposeof
rejectingthenarration,sinceonthecontrary,thisistobeadmittedas
Eanaccountoftransactionsthatactuallyhappened;but,asweare
accustomedtodo,wemustreferthatwhichprecedesthesubjectofthe
1,78dialogue,tothescopeitselfofthedialogue.Hence,theyareofopinion,
thatthiscontrarietywhichisderivedfromhumanaffairs,should,
accordingtoasimilarform,beextendedthroughthewholeworld,and
especiallythroughtherealmsofgeneration.Thatinconsequenceof
this,weshouldsurveyeverywherehowthingsparticipateof
contrariety,accordingtothevarietyofpowers.Forsinceallthingsan;
fromTheOne,andfromtheduadafterTheOne,areinacertainrespect
unitedtoeachother,andhaveanoppositenature;asinthegeneraof
being,thereisacertainoppositionofsamenesstodifference,andof
motiontopermanency,butallthingsparticipateofthesegenera;this
beingthecase,wemustsurveyafterwhatmannermundanenatures
possessthecontrarietywhichpervadesthroughallthings.

Moreover,ifweconsiderthepolityofPlatoasanalogousinevery
respecttotheworld,itisnecessarythatweshouldsurveythiswaras
existingineverynature.Forthepolityisanalogoustoexistenceand
essences,butwar,tothepowersoftheseessences,andasPlatosays,to
Ftheirmotions.Wemust,likewise,referthepolity,bymakingit
commontoallthings,tothewholeunionofthings;butitmustbesaid,
thatwaristobeassimilatedtothemundanedivision,and*tothe
tcf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,713f.
$FoririKmTJ5volc,hereitisnecessarytoreadiraKmr\dvaic,andfor
KdKUTlKOV,KCiKUTlKUV.
InsteadofKOi/i7j5eiinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadkohlBTJ.
Kmisomittedintheoriginal,andtheomissionofit,rendersthelatterpartof
thesentenceveryambiguous.
empireofvictory.Whether,therefore,yougiveatwofolddivisionto
theuniverse,byseparatingitintotheincorporealandthecorporeal;and
againdividetheincorporealintothemoreintellectualandthemore
materialnatures,andthecorporealintoheavenandgeneration;and
heaven,intocontraryperiods,butgenerationintooppositepowers;or
inwhateverwayyouassumethisoppositelife,whetherinthemundane
Gods,orindaemons,insouls,orinbodies,youmayeverywhere
25Atransfertheanalogiesfrommentothings.ForoftheGodsthemselves,
thedivineHomermakesoppositions;*representingApolloashostilely
opposedtoNeptune,MarstoMinerva,theriverXanthustoVulcan,
1,79HermestoLatona,andJunotoDiana.Foritisrequisitetosurvey
generationinincorporealnatures,inbodies,andinboth.Itislikewise
necessarytoconsiderNeptuneandApolloasthefabricatorsofthewholeof
generation,theonetotally,buttheotherpartially.ButJunoandDiana,as
thesuppliersofvivification,theformerrationally,butthelatterphysically.
MinervaandMars,asthecausesofthecontrarietywhichpervadesthrough
bothexistenceandlife;theformer,ofthatwhichisdefinedaccordingto
intellect;butthelatter,ofthatwhichismorematerialandpassive.Hermes
andLatona,aspresidingoverthetwofoldperfectionofsouls;theformer
indeed,overtheperfectionwhichisobtainedthroughthegnosticpowers,*
andtheevolutionintolightofproductiveprinciples;butthelatter,overthe
smooth,spontaneous,andvoluntaryelevationwhichisacquiredthroughthe
Bvitalpowers.VulcanandXanthus,astheprimaryleadersofthewholeof
acorporealconstitution,andofthepowerswhichitcontains;theformer,of
thosethataremoreefficacious;butthelatterofthosethataremorepassive,
andasitweremorematerial.ButheleavesVenusbyherself,inorderthat
shemayilluminateallthingswithunionandharmony,andrepresentsher
asfightingontheworseside,becauseTHEONEinthosethatbelongtothis
side,islessexcellentthanmultitude.Forallcontrarietyissurveyedina
becomingmannerinconjunctionwithaunity,whichiseitherpriorto

it,orconnascentwith,orisinacertainrespectandadjunctposteriorto
it.AndPlato,aswellastheologists,rightlyperceivingthatthisisthe
case,havedeliveredamultitudinouscontrarietypriortotheone
fabricationoftheworld,andpartspriortowholes.Finding,likewise,
thesethingsinimagespriortoparadigms,hesurveysthiscontrarietyin
men,whichalsohasananalogoussubsistenceinwholes,neitherbeing
inwantofTitannicorGiganticwars.Forhowcouldhenarratesuch
tIliadIII,67ff;andProcl.Comm.Rep.I,91,25ff.
%Fordwotfieuc;here,itisrequisitetoreaddvvotfieuv.
warstoSocrates,whoontheprecedingdayhadblamedthepoetsfor
devisingthingsofthiskind?*Receiving,therefore,transactionsfrom
1,80history,inorderthathemightnotassertoftheGodsthattheyfight
witheachother,heascribesthesebattlestomen,butthroughacautious
andpiousanalogy,transfersthemalsototheGods.Forsuchlikewars
aredeliveredbydivinelyinspiredpoets,priortotheoneorderofthings.
Theirmode,however,ofnarratingthem,isadaptedtothem,butthe
presentmodetoPlato;thelatter,inconjunctionwiththepolitical
science,beingmoremoderate,buttheformer,inconjunctionwiththe
telesticart,beingmorerepletewithdivineinspiration.Andthusmuch
concerningthewholeofthetext.
InwhatissaidbyCritias,however,theword"hear"isproverbial,and
isemployedinthosethingstowhichwewishtocalltheattentionofthe
hearer.*Thewordhear,therefore,isequivalenttoreceivewhatis
worthyofattention.Buttheword"surprising"(atopon)manifeststhat
whichhappenscontrarytoexpectation,asintheGorgias,"Itis
surprising,OSocrates,"(atopageoSocrates);5orthatwhichis
paradoxical,asintheCrito,"Whatasurprisingdream,Socrates;"*
orthewonderful,asintheTheaetetus,
"Anditisnotatallsurprising,butitwouldbemuchmorewonderful,if
itwerenotathingofthiskind."+Buthereitisassumedasthat
whichdeservesadmiration.This,however,isevidentfromwhat
Dfollows,**inwhichitissaid,"thatthedeedsofthiscityweregreatand
admirable."Moreover,theword"narration"(logos),manifeststhetruth
ofwhatisgoingtoberelated.ForthusitissaidintheGorgias,thata
fablediffersfromlogos;**[becausethelatteristrue,buttheformeris
not.]Itisalsoveryproperlysaid,that"Solonwasthewisestofthesevenwise
men;"asbeingassertedofonewhowasrelatedtoPlato;asbeing;
saidtoanotherAthenian,andinthePanathenaiae;andasindicatingthat
tRep.II378c.
$cf.Aristotle,RhetoricsIII,14,1415a36.
Gorgias473a.

Crito44b.
Theaetetus142b.
tt20e.
Gorgias523a.
theensuingnarrationextendstoallwisdom.Norisitrequisiteto
wonderhowSolonissaidtobethewisestofallthesevenwisemen,nor
tobeanxioustoknow,howhecanbesaidtobethewisestofother
men,butoneofthewisemen,whenallofthemweremostwise.For
whatabsurdityisthere,incallingamanthewisestofthosethatareof
thesameorderwithhimself?Buthislegislation,hispretendedinsanity
1,81atSalamis,hisarmedattackofPisistratusthetyrant,whosaidhewas
moreprudentthanthosethatwereabsent,andmorebravethanthose
thatwerepresent,hisconferencealsowithCroesus,andhisanswerto
onewhosaid,thathehadestablishedmostbeautifullaws;forhereplied,
thathehadnotestablishedthemostbeautiful,butpowerfullaws,and
thatheknewlawsthatweremoreexcellentthanthese;1allthese
particularsbeartestimonytohiswisdom.Thereis,likewise,astory
Etoldofatripodthatwasdraggedupinanetbycertainyoungmen,
thoughitisnotrelatedbyallhistorians,andthattheoracle[ofApollo]
beingconsultedontheoccasion,theGodanswered,thatitshouldbe
giventothewisestman.Thatinconsequenceofthis,itwasofferedto
Thales,buthesentittoanotherofthesevenwisemen,thisagainto
another,andsoon,tillatlastitcametoSolon,allofthemyieldingit
tohim.Solon,however,sentittotheGod,saying,thathewasthe
wisestofbeings.*Solon,also,issaidtohavefound,thatthelunar
monthdoesnotconsistofthirtydays,andonthisaccounthewasthe
firstthatcalledit*anewone,andnew.And,inshort,the
discovery,thatthenumbersofthedaysrevertfromthetwentiethday,
isascribedtohim.Some,also,assert,thatpriortoAnaxagoras,Solon
showedthatintellectpresidedoverthewholeofthings.Fromallwhich
itisevident,thathewasaparticipantofacertainwisdom.
20e"Solon,then,wasthefamiliarandintimatefriendofourgreatgrandfather
Dropides,ashehimselffrequently0relatesinhispoems.
ButheoncedeclaredtoourgrandfatherCritias(astheoldmanhimself
informedus)thatgreatandadmirableactionshadoncebeenachievedby
thiscity,whichneverthelesswereburiedinoblivionthroughlengthof
time,andthedestructionofmankind."
tcf.PlutarchLifeofSolon.
XThesamestoryisalsotoldofSolon,byDiogenesLaertius,inhislifeofThales.
Intheoriginaltvvv,whichIconceivetobeerroneouslytranscribedforevveav.
iroXkaxovisomittedinthetextofProclus.

FThehistoryoftheraceofSolon,andoftheallianceofPlatotohim,
1,82isasfollows:ThechildrenofExecestideswere,SolonandDropides,and
ofDropidesCritiaswastheson,whoismentionedbySoloninhis
poems,wherehesings,
BidCritiaswiththeyellowlocks,
Attentiontohisfatherpay,
Forbyreveringwhathesays,
Nofaultyleaderhe'llobey.
ButCallaescrusandGlaucowerethesonsofCritias:andagainthe
CritiasofthepresentdialoguewasthesonofCallaescrus.This,
however,isevidentfromCritiasintheCharmides,callingthefatherof
Charmides,hisuncle.*ButCharmidesandPerictioneweretheoffspring
ofGlauco:andPerictionewasthemotherofPlato.SothatGlaucowas
26AtheuncleofCritias,butthefatherofCharmides.AndCharmideswas
theuncleofPlato,butSolonwasthebrotherofthegreatgrandfatherof
Critias.Such,therefore,isthetruth[respectingtheraceofSolon.]
ThedivineIamblichus,however,givesadifferentaccountofthe
successionofhisrace.ForheimmediatelymakesGlaucotobetheson
ofDropides.Butothers,asthePlatonicTheon,assert,thatCritiasand
GlaucowerethesonsofCallaescrus;thoughintheCharmides,Critias
says,that"CharmidesisthesonofGlaucoouruncle,butismycousin."
HenceGlaucoisnotthesonofDropides,northebrotherofthe
youngerCritias.Toaman,however,whopaysattentiontothings,it
isofnoconsequenceinwhatevermannertheseparticularsmaysubsist.
Passingon,therefore,tothings,youmayassumefromtheseparticulars
asimages,thatallthediscordoftheworld,andthetwofoldcoordinations
thatareinit,aresuspendedfromproximatedemiurgic
causes,andarereferredtoothermoreintellectualandancientcauses;
Bthatthecausesofthismotionarecontinuousandunited,andsuspended
fromonecause;thatthesuperiorcausesaremoreancientinintellection;
andthatsecondaryreceivetheproductionofprimarynatures,differ
fromandyethaveaconnascentcommunionwiththem.Inadditionto
1,83thesethingsalso,youmayassume,thatatwofoldoblivionisproducedin
soulsofthetheoryofgreatandadmirablewholes,arisingeitherfromhaving
abandonedforalongtimealifeofthatkind,orthroughhavingfallen
immoderatelyintogeneration.Forthisisfortherealmantobetruly
tCharmides154a.
corrupted.1Butsoulsthathavebeenrecentlyperfected,andretainthe
memoryofthingsintheintelligibleworld,inconsequenceofnotfalling
intomatter,easilyacquireareminiscenceofthetruth.Andthusmuch

fortheseparticulars.Wemustnot,however,wonder,ifCritiascalls
Solonafamiliar.Forwenotonlycallthosewithwhomweassociate,
butalsoourkindred,familiars.Butbylikewiseadding,"andanintimate
friend,"heindicates,thattherewasnotmerelyacommunionofrace,
butasamenessandsimilitudeoflife,intheancestorsofPlato.The
priorCritias,also,iscalledanoldman,whichsignifieshispossessionof
Cprudenceandintellect,andhisbeingadaptedtomanydisciplines.
20e"Inparticular,heinformedmeofoneundertakingsurpassingin
21amagnitudealltherest,whichInowthinkpropertorelatetoyou,both
thatImayrepaymyobligations,andthatbysucharelationImayoffer
mytributeofpraisetotheGoddessinthepresentsolemnity,by
celebratingherdivinity,asitwere,withhymns,justly,andinamanner
agreeabletotruth."
LonginusdoubtswhatwastheintentionofPlatointheinsertionof
thisnarration.Forhedoesnotintroduceiteitherforthepurposeof
givingrespitetotheauditors,orasbeinginwantofit.Andhedissolves
thedoubt,ashethinks,bysaying,thatitisassumedbyPlatopriorto
physiology,inordertoallurethereader,andsoftentheseverityofthat
kindofwriting.ButOrigensays,thatthenarrationisindeedafiction,
andsofarheagreeswithNumeniusandhisfollowers,buthedoesnot
admitwithLonginus,thatitwasdevisedforthesakeofpleasure.He
doesnot,however,addthecauseofthefiction.We,therefore,have
frequentlysaid,thatitcontributestothewholetheoryofnature;andwe
likewisesay,thatinthesewords,Platocallstheoneandcommon
productiveprincipleofthetwofoldcoordinationsintheworld,andthe
1,84onecontrarietywhichpervadesthroughwholes,thegreatestandmost
Dadmirableofworks,ascontainingtheotherfabricationofthingsin
infrangiblebonds,thisfabricationconsistingofparticipationsofthe
contraries,boundandinfinity,asPhilolaussays,*andasPlatoalso
assertsinthePhilebus.}Forhetheresays,"thatthereismuchboundand
muchinfinityintheworld,whicharethingsmostcontrarytoeachother,
andgivecompletiontothisuniverse."Since,however,allthingsthat

tPhaedrus248c250e.
%Fr.lb.
Philebus30c.
contributetotheproductionoftheworld,aresaidtorecompensethe
benefitsbestowedbytotalcauses,Critiassaysveryproperly,thatit
becomeshimtorepayhisobligationstoSocrates,whoexcitedboththe
secondandthirdpowers.Thesethings,therefore,maybeimmediately
assumed[fromthewordsbeforeus.]

Butwillyounotsay,thattheMinervalsolemnityhasanindicationof
demiurgicworks?FortheGoddessherselfindeed,connectedlycontains
allthemundanefabrication,andpossessesintellectuallivesinherself,
accordingtowhichsheweavestogethertheuniverse,andunifying
powers,accordingtowhichshegovernsallthemundaneoppositions.
TheMinervalsolemnity,however,indicatesthegiftoftheGoddess
whichpervadesthroughallthings,andfillsallthingsherself,and
Elikewisetheunionwhichextendsthroughallvariety.Forin
solemnities,weespeciallyembraceacommonandconcordantlife.If,
however,wehaveassertedthesethingsrightly,wemayfromthese
transferourselvestothevariousandonelifeoftheworld,andsurvey
thedifferencebetweentheParmenidesandthisdialogue.Forbothhave
theirhypothesisinthePanathenaea;buttheformerinthegreater,and
thelatterinthelesserofthesesolemnities.*Fortheywerecelebrated
aboutthesametimewiththeBendidianfestival;andthisveryproperly.
ForsincetheproductionsofMinervaaretwofold,totalandpartial,
1,85supermundaneandmundane,intelligibleandsensible;theformerof
thesesolemnities,indeed,pertainstotheexemptproductionsofthe
Goddess,unfoldingintolighttheintelligibleseriesoftheGods,butthe
lattertohersubordinateproductions,interpretingthepowersofthe
Godsabouttheworld.AndtheBendidianfestival,indeed,appearsto
manifestthesuppressionofthecontrarietyexternallyaccedingtothe
universefromaBarbarictempest,bytheGodswhoaretheinspective
guardiansofthefestival.Henceitissaidtohavebeencelebratedinthe
Piraeus,asbeingadaptedtotheextremities,andmaterialpartsofthe
Funiverse.ButthePanathenaeanfestival,exhibitstheestablishedorder
whichproceedsintotheworldfromintellect,andtheunconfused
separationofmundanecontrarieties.ForthisGoddessisatoneandthe
sametime,aloverofwisdom,andaloverofwar.*Anotherveil,
therefore,wasreferredtotheGoddess[intheBendidianfestival,]
representingthewarinwhichthepupilsofMinervawerevictorious;
justastheveilinthePanathenaeansolemnity,representedtheGiants
tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.I,643.
tTim.24d.
vanquishedbytheOlympianGods.TheGoddess,however,is
celebratedwithhymns,justlyandwithtruth;justly,indeed,becauseit
isnecessarythateverythingwhichhasproceeded,shouldbeconverted
27Atoitsproperprinciple;butwithtruth,becausethehymnisassumed
throughthingsandthroughbeings.Andbecauseofhymns,some
celebratetheessence,butotherstheprovidenceoftheGods,andothers
praisetheworksthatproceedfromthem,*andahymnofthiskindis
thelastformofcelebration;(forthepraiseofthedivineessenceprecedes

allotherpanegyrics,asSocratesassertsintheBanquet)*thisbeingthe
case,thewords"celebratingasitwere,"areveryproperlyadded.Forhe
wishestocelebratetheGoddessfromthedeedsperformedbythe
Athenians.ButthatthePanathenaeanfollowedtheBendidianfestivals,
isassertedbothbythecommentators,andbyAristotletheRhodian.
Fortheysay,thattheBendidiawerecelebratedinthePiraeusonthe
twentiethdayofApril;5butthatthefestivalsacredtoMinervafollowed
these.
21a"SOC.Youspeakwell.Butwhatisthisancientachievement,which
1,86CritiasonceheardfromSolon,andwhichisnotnarratedinhistory,but
wasonceactuallyaccomplishedbythiscity."
SocratesexcitingCritiastonarration,requeststhathewouldrelatethe
mightyundertakingwhichtheancientCritiassaidhehadheardfrom
Solon,andwhichthoughnotmuchcelebrated,yetwasreallyperformed.
BInwhich,thisinthefirstplacedeservestobeconsidered,thatmany
thingshappenintheuniverseofwhichthemultitudeareignorant.And
inthis,worthymendifferfromothers,thattheyseethingsofthiskind,
andunderstandtheeventsthattakeplace.Butitisworthwhile
secondlytoobserve,thatthemoreperfectcauses,rejoiceinsimplicity,
andproceedfromthingsofacompositenature,tosuchasarefirst.But
subordinatebeingsonthecontrary,descendfromthingssimpletothings
composite.ForthusalsohereSocratesrecursfromthatwhichis
downwardasfarastoSolon,inanascendingprogression;butCritiason
thecontrary,descendsfromSolontothementionofhimself.
tForair'avrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadairavruv.
tSymposium198dff.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I.18,17.
2la"CRI.Iwillacquaintyouwiththatancienthistory,whichIdidnot
indeedreceivefromayouth,butfromamanverymuchadvancedin
years."
Longinushereagainobserves,thatPlatopaysattentiontoeleganceof
diction,bynarratingthesamethingsdifferently.Forhecallsthe
undertaking,butthenarration,andtheman,nota
youth;thoughashesignifiesthesamethingthroughallthese,hemight
havedenominatedallofthemafterthesamemanner.Longinus,
therefore,asPlotinussaidofhim,wasaphilologist,butnota
philosopher.1Origen,however,doesnotadmitthatPlatoisstudious
Cofartificialdelightandcertainornamentsofdiction,butthathepays
attentiontospontaneousandunadornedcredibility,andaccuracyin
imitations.Thismodealsoofexpressionhasspontaneity,asbeing

1,87adaptedtoerudition.ForitwasrightlysaidbyAristoxenus,thelyric
poet,thatthedispositionsofphilosophersextendasfarastosounds,and
exhibitinallthingsthearrangementwhichtheypossess;justIthink,as
thismightyheaven,exhibitsinitstransfigurationsclearimagesofthe
splendourofintellectualperceptions;beingmovedinconjunctionwiththe
unapparentperiodsofintellectualnatures.}ThegreatIamblichus,
however,thinksthatweshouldratherreferthevarietyofthewordsto
things,andseehowinnaturecontrariesarevanquishedbytheone;how
theoneisvaried,andhowgreatamutationthesameproductive
principlesexhibit;subsistinginonewayintheintellectoftheuniverse,
inanother,insoul,inanother,innature,andinthelastplace,subsisting
inmatter.Andagain,unfoldingaboutmatteramostabundant
differenceinconjunctionwithsimilitude.Fortheseobservationsarc
worthytheconceptionsofPlato,andnotasolicitousattentionto
diction.
21ab"ForatthattimeCritias,ashehimselfdeclared,wasalmostninety
Dyearsold,andIwasaboutten."
Thesethreepersonsareassumed,ashavingpreservedthishistory,or
mythology,Solon,theancientCritias,andthisjuniorCritias;because
perfectcausesprecedethefabricationoftheworld,andperfectivecauses
areantecedenttothesubjectsoftheirgovernment.TheelderCritias,
however,heardthisnarrationfromSolon,onefromone;fromtheelder
tcf.PorphyryLifeofPlotinus,14,TTSvol.III,p.158.
%Insteadofovytavovii.ev<xc,raiqeucovuvOKJxxveoixepioSou;,itisnecessarytoread,
ovynLPovnevat;rmctutivuv,K.X.
Critias,itwasheardbythejuniorCritiasandAmynander;andfromthe
juniorCritiasthreepersonsreceivedit.Forthemonadproceeds
throughtheduadtotheperfectiveprovidenceofwholes.Thenumbers
alsooftheages,havemuchalliancetothethingsthemselves.Forthe
decadmanifeststheconversionofallmundanenaturestotheone;and
ninetytherestitutionagaintothemonad,inconjunctionwithprogression.
1,88Butbothnumbersaresymbolicaloftheworld.Youmaysay,therefore,
thatSolonisanalogoustothecauseofpermanency;buttheformer
Critias,tothecausewhichsuppliesprogression;andthepresentCritias
Etothecausewhichconvertsandconjoinsthingswhichhaveproceeded,
totheircauses.Andthefirstofthese,indeed,preservestherelationof
arulingandleadingcause;thesecond,ofthecausewhichcomesinto
contactwithmundanefabricationinaliberatedmanner;andthethird,
ofthatwhichnowpaysattentiontotheuniverse,andgovernsthe
mundanewar.

21b"When,therefore,thatsolemnitywascelebratedamongus,whichis
knownbythenameofCureotisApaturiorum,nothingwasomitted
whichboysduringthatfestivityareaccustomedtoperform.Forwhen
ourparentshadsetbeforeustherewardsproposedforthecontestof
singingverses,bothamultitudeofversesofmanypoetswererecited,
andmanyofusespeciallysungthepoemsofSolon,becausetheywere
atthattimeentirelynew."
TheApaturiawasafestivalsacredtoBacchus,onaccountoftheduel
betweenMelanthusandXanthustheBoeotian,andthevictoryof
Melanthusthroughdeception;theBoeotiansandAthenianswagingwar
witheachotherforOEnoe.Butthisfestivalwascelebratedforthree
days;ofwhichthefirstdaywascalled,becausemanysacrifices
wereperformedinit;fandthevictimswerecalled,because
theyweredrawnupward,andsacrificed.Theseconddaywascalled
;foronthisdaythereweresplendidbanquetsandmuchfeasting.
Butthethirddaywascalled;foronthisdayboys,threeorfour
yearsold,wereenroledintheirtribes.Onthisdayalso,suchboysaswere
moresagaciousthantherest,sungcertainpoems,andthosewere
victoriouswhoretainedthegreaternumberofthemintheirmemory.
Theysang,however,thepoemsoftheancients.Butwithrespecttothe
Ftribes,itmustbeobserved,thatafterIontherewerefourfamilies,but
fromClisthenesten,andthatafterthese,eachtwelveofthefamilieswas
1,89dividedintothree:thetribeswerearrangedintothesamefamilyand
tcf.SimpliciusComm.Arist.Phys.708,17[TTSvol.XIX,p.383]
company,asbeingalliedtoeachother:+theenrolmentoftheboyswas
intothesetribes;andthisday,aswehavebeforeobserved,wascalled
Cureotis,fromtheboysthatwereenroled.Andsuchistheinformation
derivedfromhistory.
Again,however,letusdirectourattentiontothings,andbeholdthese:
intheparticularsthathavebeennarrated,asinimages.Thefestival,
28Atherefore,oftheApaturia,whichhadforitspretextthevictoryofthe
Athenians,pertainstothehypothesisaccordingtowhichtheAthenians
conquered[theAtlantics],andallintellectualsubduematerialnatures.
Deception,likewise,isadaptedtomundaneforms,whichseparate
themselvesfromimpartibleandimmaterialprinciples,andbecome:
apparent,insteadoftrulyexistingbeings.Buttheenrolmentoftheboys,
imitatesthearrangementsofpartialsoulsintotheirproperallotments,
andtheirdescentsintodifferentgenerations.Thefestivalisanimitation
oftheeternalhilarityintheworld:forifitisfilledwithGods,it
celebratesaperpetualfestival.Butthecontestsofrhapsody,areanalogous
tothecontestswhichsoulssustain,weavingtheirownlifetogetherwith
theuniverse.Andtherhapsodyitself,resemblestheabovementioned

wovenlifeoftheuniverse.Forthishasanimitationofintellectual
forms,inthesamemannerasthecontestsofrhapsodyhaveofheroic
actionsandmanners,possessingtogetherwithanharmonious
conjunction,aconnectedseries.Themanypoemsofmanypoets,
Badumbratethemanynatures,andmanycircummundaneproductive
powers,*and,inshort,thedivisionofphysicalimitations.Butthenew
poems,areimagesofformswhichareperpetuallyflourishing,always
perfectandprolific,andabletooperateefficaciouslyonotherthings.
Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
Mention,however,ismadeofthepoemsofSolon,notasofapoetin
1,90thepopularsenseoftheword,butasofonewhomingledphilosophy
withpoetry.Forofmundaneworkslikewise,andwholeproductions,
aroyalintellectistheleader.Andthepraiseisrelatedasbeing
mentionedtoanotherperson,i.e.toAmynander,because,aswelearnin
thePhaedrus,*thatwhichjudgesdiffersfromthatwhichmakesand
generates.Referring,however,allthathasbeensaid,totheuniverse,we
mayinferasfromimages,thatpartialsouls,partialnatures,andpartible
forms,andofthese,thoseespeciallythatarealwaysnewandefficacious,
tcf.AristotleAthenianConstitutionXXI,41,2.
$ThewordXoyovi;is,Iconceive,omittedintheoriginalinthisplace.
Phaedrus274e.
contributetothemundanewar.Butalltheseareconnectedtogetherby
theGods,whoaretheinspectiveguardiansoffabrication,andarecoarranged
withoneworld,oneharmony,andonekindredlife.
21bd"Butthenoneofourtribe,whetherhewaswillingtogratifyCritias,
orwhetheritwashisrealopinion,affirmedthatSolonappearedtohim
tobemostwiseinotherconcerns,andinthingsrespectingpoetry,the
mostingenuousandfreeofallpoets.Uponhearingthis,theoldman
(forIverywellremember)wasvehementlydelighted;andsaid,laughing
IfSolon,OAmynander,hadnotengagedinpoetryasacasualaffair,
buthadmadeitasothersdoaseriousemployment;andifthrough
seditionsandotherfluctuationsofthestateinwhichhefoundhis
countryinvolved,hehadnotbeencompelledtoneglectthecompletion
ofthehistorywhichhebroughtfromEgypt,Idonotthinkthateither
HesiodorHomer,oranyotherpoet,wouldhaveacquiredgreaterglory
andrenown."
CHereagain,theloversofdictionmayindicatetotheiradmirers,that
PlatocautiouslypraisesthepoetryofSolon,sinceherepresentsthe
praiseasbestowedbyaprivateindividual,andforthesakeofothers,
andnotasgivenbyonewhospokeconformablytointellectandreason.

ForPlato,ifanyone,wasamostexcellentjudgeofpoets,asLonginus
alsoadmits.HeraclidesPonticusthereforesays,thatChoerilusand
Antimachusbeingatthattimemostrenowned,Platopreferredthe
poemsofthelattertothoseoftheformer,andthathepersuaded
HeraclidesatColophon,tocollectthepoemsofAntimachus.Invain,
therefore,isitfutilelyobservedbyCallimachusandDuris,thatPlato
wasnotasufficientjudgeofpoets.*Hence,whatisheresaidmanifests
thejudgementofthephilosopher,anditmaybeconsideredinamore
historicalpointofview.Theinvestigator,however,ofthings,willthink
itrequisitetoshowhowallthecausesoftheorderlydistributionofthe
1,91universe,andalsothecausesthatareconnectiveofcontrariety,are
extendedtooneprinciple,andhowthelastadherethroughmediatothe
firstofthings.Forthusthosewhoreceivethenarrationoftheancient
DCritias,areextendedtohim,buthelookstoSolon.Andhe,indeed,
admiresthepoeticpowerofSolon;butthey,throughCritiasasa
medium,arereferredtothepoetryofSolon.Forgratifyingtheformer
[i.e.Critias],theypraisethepoetryofthelatter.Butwhatisitthat
CritiassaysrespectingSolon?Thathewassubordinatetodivinelyinspired
poets,fromthesetwocauses;becauseheengagedinpoetryas
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,43,12.
acasualaffair;andbecausewhenhecamefromEgypt,hefoundthecity
oftheAtheniansinastateofsedition,andthathewasnotable,his
countrybeinginvolvedindifficulties,tocompletethehistory,whichhe
broughtfromthencehither.Whatthehistorythereforewas,heinforms
usasheproceeds.
Fromthesethings,however,asimages,Platomanifests,thatwhatis
primarilydemiurgic,andeverythingeffective,haveotherprimary
energies;butthattheirsecondaryenergyistheproductionofsecondary
things.Likewise,thattheconfused,disorderly,andunstablenatureof
matter,frequentlydoesnotreceiveornamentfrommoredivinecauses,
butsubsistswithoutsymmetry*tothegiftwhichproceedsfromthem.
Hence,secondandthirdpowersareunfoldedintolight,which
proximatelyadornitsformlessnature.Solon,therefore,beingmost
ingenuous,andimitatingexemptcauses,didnotdeliverthroughpoetry
EtheAtlanticwar.ButCritias,andthoseposteriortohim,transmitthe
accountofthiswartoothers,imitatingsecondandthirdcauses,who
producethevarietyofeffectiveprinciples,andtheorderlydistribution
ofthings,whichisharmonizedfromcontrariesintoavisiblesubsistence
Moreover,theassertionthatSolonwasthewisestofthesevenwisemen,
exhibitshisanalogytothefirstprinciples.Andhisbeingmostfree,
adumbratesthepowerwhichisexempt,andestablishedinitself,and
whichfillsallthingsinaliberatedmanner.Athingofthiskind

1,92likewiseconcurswiththewiseman,asbeingimmaterial,withouta
master,*andofitself.TheancientCritias,also,beingsaidtobeold,
indicatesacausewhichisintellectual,andremotefromgeneration.For
"wisdom,"saysPlato,"andtrueopinionsaremostdesirablethingstohim
whohasarrivedatoldage."Again,theassertionofCritias,thathevery
wellremembers,exhibitstoourviewthesalvationofeternalproductive:
powers,andthestableenergyofsecondarycauses,aboutsuchasan:
first.ButSolonengaginginpoetryasacasualaffair,representstousthat
productionsintosecondarynatures,haveonlyasecondaryrankamongfirst,
causes.Fortheirfirstenergiesareintellectual,accordingtowhichtheyare
unitedtothebeingspriortothemselves.
FIf,however,someoneomittingthesurveyofthings,shouldconsider
throughwhatcausePlatointroduced5theseparticulars,accordingto
theirapparentmeaning,hewillveryproperlyfindthattheycontributed
tForaXXaovuixerpwc.inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,aXX'acw/^frpoc.
Xcf.LawsII,653a.
Forirapei,OK6K\r)KevreadKctpuoKVKhr)KV.
tothethingproposed.ForthedesignofPlatowastonarratethe
Atlanticwar.Butitwasrequisitethatthemessengerofthishistory
shouldneitherdeceivenorbedeceived.Hencealso,Solonissaidto
havebeenmostwise,andintimatelyacquaintedwiththoseaboutCritias.
Forasawiseman,hewasnotdeceived,andasbeinganintimate
acquaintance,hewouldnotdeceive.Itwaslikewiserequisite,thatthe
receiverofthishistoryshouldneitherhavebeenaged,inorderthatthe
narrationmayappeartobeancient,noryetsoyoung,astobe
29Aforgetful.Hence,Critiasissupposedtohavebeenayouth,but
sufficientlyabletoremember,andinconsequenceofthis,tohave
contendedwithothersinrhapsody,inwhichmuchmemoryis
necessary.
Fartherstill,itwasrequisite,thattheancientCritiasshouldnot
commitsuchlikenarrationstoveryyoungmen,lesttheyshouldappear
tothemtobecontemptible.Hence,itisveryproperlysaid,thatsome
oneofthetribes,byenquiryofSolon,heardthehistory.Butitwas
requisitethathealsoshould,inacertainrespect,havebeenfamiliarwith
Solon,inorderthattheoldmanmightopportunelyrelateallthehistory
tohim.Hence,likewise,thepraisesofthepoetryofSolonprecedethe
history;thepraisebeinggivenbyAmynanderinordertogratifyCritias.
Andthusmuchconcerningthedispositionofwhatissaidinthetext.
1,93ThatSolon,however,wenttoEgypt,notonlyforthepurposeof
obtainingtheAtlantichistory,butlikewisethattheAthenians,during

hisabsence,obeyedhislaws,whichhehadboundthembyanoathnot
toviolate,isevident.Forduringthistime,also,heassociatedwith
BCroesus,andsailedtoEgypt;butonhisreturn,hebecamemasterofthe
city,whichwasinatumultuousconditionthroughthePisistratidae.
Andthusmuchwehavederivedfromhistory.Origen,however,doubts
howPlatocallsSolonmostfree:forthisisnotanencomiumadaptedto
apoet.Andhedissolvesthedoubtbysaying,thatheissocalled,either
becausehespenthismoneyliberally,orbecauseheusedthegreatest
freedomofspeech;andthatonthisaccounthewasfree,withoutany
timidityinhispoeticalcompositions.Orhewassodenominated,as
beinginhispoetryremissanduncompelled.ButIamblichussays,that
nooneofthesesolutionsistrue,butthatthroughthisappellation,the
liberatedconditionoftheintellectofSolon,theunservilenatureofhis
virtue,*andthatwhichwasvenerableinhischaracter,andwhich
transcendedallotherthings,aresignified.Thesameinterpreteralso
says,thatthelaughterofCritiasmanifestsagenerativeprogressionfrom
tRep.X,617e.
causes,perfect,andrejoicinginitsprogeny.Buttherememberingwell,
indicatesthesalvationofeffectiveprinciplesintheworld.Why,
therefore,wasSolonanxioustodelivertheAtlanticwarinverse?
CBecause,sayshe,allnaturalworksandthemundanecontrarietysubsist
throughimitation.Forthisisanalogoustoitseffectiveandprimary
causes;justasCritiasisanalogoustoproximateandsecondarycauses.
Butwhywashepreventedbysedition?Becausematerialmotionsand
materialtumultbecomeanimpediment,aswehavebeforeobserved,to
theproductivepowersofmundanecauses.
21d"Inconsequenceofthis,AmynanderenquiredofCritiaswhatthat
historywas.Towhichheanswered,thatitwasconcerninganaffair,
whichoughtmostjustlytobethegreatestandmostrenownedwhich
1,94thiscityeveraccomplished;thoughthroughlengthoftime,andthe
destructionofthosebywhomitwasundertaken,thefameofits
executionhasnotreachedthepresentage."
Longinussays,thatsomethingiswantingheretorenderthesense
complete.Forthewordconsiderediswantingtothewordsmostjustly
tobe,becausethesearerequiredinwhatfollows,butnotthewonl
,being.Porphyry,however,says,thatLonginusdidnotperceive,
that,inconsequenceoftheundertakingbeingthegreatest,butnotyet
celebrated,Platoadds,"oughtmostjustlytobemostrenowned."Butwe,
directingourattentiontothings,say,thatPlatocallsitthegreatest
undertaking,asbringingwithitanimageofallcontrariety,extending
itselfeverywhere.Andthathedenominatesitmostrenowned,as

contributingtothevisiblefabricationofthings.Forthus,also,the
worksofnaturearecalledbyOrpheusrenowned.
DBoundlesseternity,andnature'sworks
Renown'd,remain.*
2ld"Relatethisaffair,OCritias,saysAmynander,fromthebeginning,and
Iinformuswhatthattransactionwas,howitwasaccomplished,andfrom
whomSolonhavingheardit,narrateditasafact."
I.e.Relatewhatthisadmirabledeedwas,how,orafterwhatmanner
itwasperformed,howitbecameknownto,andbywhombeing
preserved,itreachedthehearingofSolon.Platoappears,throughthis,
toinvestigatethewholeformofcontrariety,howitwaseffected,ormay
beknown,andfromwhatcauses,tousinvisible,itissuspended.Before,
tFr.83cf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,500.
therefore,herecurredthroughrelativestothenarrationofSolon;but
nowheinvestigatesthesuperiorhistoriesofit,or,thatImayspeak
clearer,theprinciplesofthefabricationofthiscontrariety.Andby
directingyourattentiontothisnarration,youmaysurvey,asinimages,
throughcertainsymbols,alltheprinciplesofthisfabrication,asfaras
tothefirstcausesofit.
2le"Thereis,then,sayshe,acertainregionofEgypt,calledDelta,about
1,95thesummitofwhichthestreamsoftheNilearedivided,andinwhich
thereisaprovincecalledSaitical."
Inthefirstplace,itisworthwhiletoobservehowthenarration
alwaysdeliversthingscomprehended,proceedingfromsuchasaremore
comprehensive;fromEgypt,indeed,theriver,fromthisDelta,fromthis
EtheSaiticprovince,andfromthisSas,sacredtoMinerva.Inthenext
place,havingobservedthis,itwillbepropertoascendthroughthe
analogyofthesethings,tothefirstandmostcomprehensivecausesof
fabrication.Foryoumayperceivethissupernallycomprehendedby
moretotalcauses,andproceedingasfarastothelastofthings;
comprehendingcauseseverywhereprecedingsuchasarecomprehended,
themoretotal,suchasaremorepartial;andtheimpartiblefabrication,
thatwhichispartible,andisdenominatedrecent;towhichalsothe
presentwordsreferthefatherofthenarration.Andthisfabrication,
indeed,isfilledfromthesecauses,andparticularlyparticipatesofthe
undefiledpowerofMinerva.For,inshort,sincewereferthiswar,for
thesakeofwhichthewholenarrationisexcited,tothemundane
contrariety,*itwillbewell,proceedinginthesameway,toassimilate

alltheknowledgeoftheEgyptianprieststotheformer[orimpartible]
fabrication,whichstablycomprehendstheproductivepowerscontained
intheuniverse;butthehistoryofSolon,whichisalwaysrecent,and
placedinmutations,tothemorenovelfabrication,andwhich
Fadministerstheallvariouscirculationsofmundanenatures.Weshall
alsobebenefitedbyperceivinghow,inimages,thedifferencebetween
humananddivinefabricationsbecomesapparent;andhow,inthese,
Solon,indeed,callsonthepriesttothedevelopmentofancient
transactions,butthepriestknowsbothsucheventsasarereckoned
ancientbytheGreeks,andpriortothese,suchasaretrulyancient.For
thusalso,indivinefabrications,thatwhichisrecentorjunior,is
convertedtothatwhichismoreancient,andisperfectedbyit;butthe
1.96latterantecedentlycomprehendsthecausesoftheformer,andis
tRep.IV,420b.
establishedaboveit,bystillgreaterandmoreperfectintellectual
perceptionsandpowers.Andthusmuchconcerningthewholeofthe
text.
30AItisnecessary,however,todiscusseveryparticular.Withrespectto
Egypt,therefore,somecallitanimageofmatter;othersofthewhole
earth,asbeingdividedanalogouslytoit;andothersoftheintelligible,
andtheintelligibleessence.Butwesay,thatinwhatishereasserted,it
isassimilatedtothewholeinvisibleorder,whichistheprincipleof
visiblenatures.WithrespecttoDeltaalso,itisproducedfromtheNile,
beingdividedabouttheSaiticprovince,soastomakeitsegressfrom
onerightlinetotherightandleft,andtothesea,theseaformingthe
hypotenuseofthetriangle,whichPlatocallstheSai'ticprovince;
indicating,inwhatheheresays,thatitisthataboutwhichthestream
oftheNileisdivided.Itis,however,analogoustotheonevivific
fountainofalldivinelife,and,invisiblenatures,tothecelestialtriangle
whichisconnectiveofallgeneration,beingproximatetotheram,which
theEgyptiansparticularlyhonour,onaccountofAmmonhavingthe
faceofaram,andalsobecausetheramistheprincipleofgeneration,*and
ismovedwiththegreatestcelerity,asbeingamongtheconstellations
Bestablishedabouttheequinoctial.Themention,therefore,ofDeltais
hereveryappropriate;sincethetriangle,asweshalllearninwhat
follows,*istheprincipleofthehypostasisofthemundaneelements.
ButtheNileistobearrangedanalogoustothezodiac,asbeingsituated
underit,havinganinclinationsimilartoit,andimitating,throughits
divisions,theobliquityofit,anditsdivisionabouttheequinoctial
points.TheNilealsoisasymbolofthelifewhichispouredonthewhole
world.Moreover,thetwosidesoftheNile,whichrunintotheseafrom
1,97thesummit[ofDelta],maybe,inacertainrespect,assimilatedtothe

twocoordinations,whichproceedfromonerootasfarastogeneration,
andofwhichgenerationistherecipient.Sothatatriangleisproduced
fromthemandtheircommonreceptacle,intowhichtheyconjointly
flow.ButtheSaiticprovince,whichformsagreatpartofDelta,
participatesalsoofagreatportionofthecelestialregions.Sais,
therefore,mustbesacerdotallyreferredtotheconstellationcalledthe
Bear,notbecauseitissituatedunderit,noronaccountofitscoldness,
butasparticipatingofacertainpeculiareffluxoftheGod[whopreside,
overthatconstellation].HencelikewiseSaisisnotshakenby
tcf.Macrobius'DreamofScipioI,21,24.ed.Stahl.ColumbiaUP,1952,p.179
tTim.53cd.
earthquakes,inconsequenceofreceivingafirmestablishmentonaccount
oftheplaceaboutthepole.
21e"Ofthisprovince,thegreatestcityisSais,fromwhichalsoking
CAmasisderivedhisorigin.Thecityhasapresidingdivinity,whose
nameis,intheEgyptiantongue,Neith,butintheGreekAthena,or
Minerva.Theinhabitantsofthiscitywereveryfriendlytothe
Athenians,towhomalsotheysaidtheywereafteracertainmanner
allied."
Theword,orprovince,deriveditsappellationfromthe
distributionofland.ForthustheEgyptianscalleddivisionsofthegreat
partsofEgypt.Butfromthecitythewholeprovincewasdenominated
Saitic,justasSebennyticisdenominatedfromSebennetus,andCanobic
fromCanobus.Amasis,however,isnowassumedanalogoustoSolon.
Forhepaidattentiontowisdomandjusticebeyondallthe[other
Egyptian]kings.HeisthereforeconjoinedwithSolon,andhasthesame
relationtohim,whichthecityhastoAthens;inorderthatwemay
surveythecitiesandthemenadornedbytheGoddess[Minerva]asfrom
onemonad,andsecondarynaturesalwaysperfectedfromsuchasare
moreperfect.Callisthenes,however,andPhanodemusrelate,thatthe
AthenianswerethefathersofSatae.ButTheopompus,onthecontrary,
1,98says,thattheywereacolonyofthem.ThePlatonicAtticussays,that
Theopompusalteredthehistorythroughenvy.For,accordingtohim,
someoftheinhabitantsofSaiscametorenewtheiralliancewiththe
Athenians.ButPlatoonlysaysthusmuchconcerningthem,"thatthe
SataewereveryfriendlytotheAthenians,andafteracertainmannerallied
tothem."Itispossible,however,thathemightsaythisonaccountof
thetutelarGoddessofthecitybeingthesamewiththeMinervaofthe
Athenians.
Withrespect,however,tothisGoddesstheguardianofthetwocities,
itisrequisitetoknow,thatproceedingfromintelligibleandintellectual

causesthroughthesupercelestialorders,tocertainpartsofthecelestial
regionsandterrenedistributions,sheisallottedplacesadaptedtoherself;
notimpartinganadventitiousgovernmentofherself,butantecedently
comprehendingtheessenceandformofit,andthuspossessingthis
allotmentinamanneradaptedtoherself.Thatthegovernment,
however,ofthisGoddessextendssupernallyasfarastothelastof
things,theGreeksmanifestbyassertingthatshewasgeneratedfromthe
headofJupiter.ButtheEgyptiansrelate,thatintheadytumofthe
Goddesstherewasthisinscription,Iamthethingsthatare,thatwillbe,
andthathavebeen.NoonehaseverlaidopenthegarmentbywhichIam
Econcealed.ThefruitwhichIbroughtforthwasthesun.*TheGoddess,
therefore,beingdemiurgic,andatthesametimeapparentand
unapparent,hasanallotmentintheheavens,andilluminatesgeneration
withforms.Forofthesignsofthezodiac,*theramisascribedtothe
Goddess,andtheequinoctialcircleitself,whereespeciallyapowermotiveof
theuniverseisestablished.Sheisveryproperly,therefore,calledbyPlato
aloverofwisdom,5andaloverofwar,andhenowdenominatesher
theleaderoftheseallotmentsintheearth.Inthefirstplace,likewise,
hehonourstheGoddessinthelanguageofhiscountry.Forthe
AtheniansdenominatethetutelarGoddessofthecityArchegetes,orthe
leader,celebratinghersurname,andherpresidingpower.Inthenext
place,heindicatestheuniformpreestablishedcomprehensioninherself,
oftheallotmentswhicharegovernedbyher.Andbesidesthishe
clearlyrepresentstous,thatitispossibleforthesamethingstobe
signifiedthroughmanywords,sincewordsareimagesofthethings
1,99signifiedbythem.Formanystatuesmaybeformedofonethingfrom
differentmaterials;sothattheEgyptianspreservetheanalogous,0
becausetheycalltheGoddessbyanamewhichhasthesame
FsignificationwiththatoftheGreeks.Norisitatallwonderfulthat
bothshoulddenominateherrightly,inconsequenceofestablishingthe
nameaccordingtoonescience.If,therefore,thereisonetutelar
GoddessofthetwocitiesSasandAthens,theinhabitantsofSasare
veryproperlysaidtobeloversoftheAthenians,asbeinginacertain
respectalliedtothem:fortheaffinityisnotwhollyperfect.Forsome
mayparticipatemoreandotherslessofthesameprovidence.Andsome
mayparticipateofone,butothersofanotherpowercontainedinthe
31AGoddess.Foragain,itislikewisenecessarytoknowthis,thatavariation
isproducedindifferentnationsfromtheplaceswhichtheyseverallyinhabit,
fromthetemperatureoftheair,fromhabitudetotheheavens,andstillmore
partiallyfromspermaticproductivepowers.Butyoumaysay,thatthey
especiallydifferaccordingtothegregal0governmentoftheGods,andthe
tTheformerpartofthisinscriptionistobefoundinPlutarch'streatiseonIsisand
Osiris[inhisMoraliaV,354d,Loeb];butthelatterpartofit,viz.thefruitwhichI
broughtforthwasthesun,isonlytobefoundintheseCommentariesofProclus.The

originalofthispartis,oveyunapirovereKovijAiogeyevero.
Xcf.43Dinfra,p.134.
Tim.24d.
DForbuiaovoivaitdXoyovinthisplace,Ireadou{ovo~ivavakoyov.
ie.Thatwhichpertainstotheflock,orthemultitude.PT.
diversitiesofthetutelarpowers,*fromwhichyou"willfindadifference
incolour,figure,voice,andmotion,indifferentplaces.Sothatthose
whomigrateintoothercountriesfrequentlychange,bydwellingin
thosecountries,theircolourandvoice;justasplantsarechanged
togetherwiththequalityoftheregion,whentheyaretransplantedin
aforeignland.
21e"InthiscountrySolon,onhisarrivalthither,was,ashehimselfrelates,
22averyhonourablyreceived.Andonhisinquiringaboutancientaffairsof
thosepriestswhopossessedaknowledgeofsuchparticularssuperiorto
others,heperceivedthatneitherhimself,noranyoneoftheGreeks(as
hehimselfdeclared),hadanyknowledgeofthingsofthiskind."
Solon,onaccountofhispoliticalwisdom,andonaccountofthe
dignityandworthofhiscity,justlyappearedtobedeservingofhonour
1,100tothepriestsofSas.Buthefound,withrespecttomemoryand
Bhistory,amongtheGreeks,thatneitherhimself,noranyotherGrecian,
hadanyknowledgeofveryancienttransactions.Theremembrance,
however,ofsuchtransactions,contributesindeedtopoliticalvirtue,and
alsocontributestothetheoryofthemundaneperiods,whichSolon
beingdesiroustoknow,andinterrogatingforthispurposethepriests,
foundthathewasperfectlydeficientinknowledgeofthiskind.These
things,likewise,aresymbolsofdivineconcerns.Foracertain
fabricationorworkmanship,iscalledbytheologistsrecent.Butthisis
particularlyhonoured[asbeingsuspended]*fromthefatherofwholes,
andfromtheintelligibleGods,withwhomthereareintellectual
perceptionsexemptfromotherthings,andwhichhavemoreeternal
naturesfortheirobjects.Butthoseintellectualperceptionsaremore
partialandlessexcellent,whichareinsecondarynatures.Andfarther
still,thereissuchadifferenceindemiurgicprinciples,thatsomeofthem
arecomprehensiveofmoretotal,butothersofmorepartialforms.And
someofthemprecedeindignityandpower,butothersarerecentas
withreferencetothem,andpossessasubordinatepower.
22ab"Hence,whenheoncedesiredtoexcitethemtotherelationofpristine
transactions,heforthispurposebegantodiscourseaboutthosemost
ancienteventswhichformerlyhappenedamongus.Imeanthe
traditionsconcerningthefirstPhoroneusandNiobe;andafterthe

tcf.Politicus275e;and324Finfrap.976.
XThewordsuce^riprrinevriappeartometobewantinginthisplaceintheoriginal.
deluge,ofDeucalionandPyrrha(asdescribedbythemythologists),
togetherwiththeirposterity;atthesametimepayingaproperattention
tothedifferentagesinwhichtheseeventsaresaidtohavetakenplace."
Ofsuchanatureasthisarealldivinecauses:fortheycallforthmore
Cdivinepowers,andthroughthisevocation,arefilledfromthemwith
moredivineandtotalintellections;suchasisnoweffectedbySolon.
ForextendingtotheEgyptianprieststhemostancienttransactionsof
theGreeks,heinacertainrespectleadsthemtothenarrationoftheir
antiquities;ofwhichtheEgyptiansparticipateinaremarkabledegree,as
theysurveywithoutimpedimentthecelestialbodies,throughthepurityofthe
air,andpreserveancientmemorials,inconsequenceofnotbeingdestroyed
eitherbywaterorfire.ButtheAssyrians,saysIamblichus,havenotonly
preservedthememorialsofsevenandtwentymyriadsofyears,asHipparchus
saystheyhave,butlikewiseoftheapocatastasesandperiodsoftheseven
rulersoftheworld.*Sothatthisbeingadmitted,thereisstilllessreason
1,101tocomparewiththesememorialsthemuchcelebratedarchaeologyofthe
Greeks:fromwhichlikewiseitisevident,thatthepresentnarrationdoe;
notlooktothatwhichissmall,buttothewholeandtheuniverse.
Fartherstill,thearchaeologyoftheGreeksisdifferentwithdifferent
[Greciancities].ForwiththeAtheniansitproceedsasfarasto
Erichthonius,whowasanativeofAthens:butwiththeArgives,asfa:
astoPhoroneusandNiobe.ForthesetwoarewiththeGreeksthe
Dmostancient.ForArgosdescendedfromNiobe;butfromhimIasosand
Pelasgos,fromwhomArgoswasdenominatedPelasgic.Theparticulars,
however,respectingDeucalionandPyrrha,thatadelugetakingplace,
theywerepreservedinParnassus,andhowmigratingfromthence,they
restoredthehumanrace,aremanifest,andalsothatantiquitywiththe
Thessaliansisasfarastothese.Butaccordingtosome,theArgolicrace
beginsfromInachus,butthatoftheAtheniansfromCecrops,eachof
whomwaspriortoDeucalion.Solon,therefore,relatingtheseandsuchlike
particulars,causestheEgyptianprieststonarratetheirantiquities.
Weshallhoweversee,whatoneoftheancientpriestssaidrespectingthe
narrationofSolon.Andthesethings,indeed,willbeevidentthrough
whatfollows.Solon,however,metatSaswithapriestcalledPateneit;
butatHeliopolis,withapriestcalledOchlapi;andatSebennytus,with
onewhosenamewasEthimon,aswelearnfromthehistoriesofthe
tcf.270Cinfra,p.806.
Egyptians.AndperhapsitwasthepriestofSas,whosaysasfollowsto
Solon:

22b"Butuponthis,oneofthosemoreancientpriestsexclaimed,OSolon,
1,102Solon,youGreeksarealwayschildren,noristhereanagedGreek
amongyou."
TheEgyptianpriestisancient,inorderthatwhilehereproveshemay
notbeintolerable,andmayhaveaprobablereasonforteachingabout
Earchaeology.ButheemploysarepetitionofthenameSolon,notonly
asstrivingbeyondmeasureinwhatheisabouttosay,butalsoforthe
purposeofindicatingthecirculationofthingsfromthesametothe
same,whichthemoretotalcausesofthingsgeneratedintheuniverse,
comprehendstablyandintellectually,throughindelibleknowledge;to
whichcausesthepriestisanalogous.Heaccuses,however,theGreeks
asbeingalwayschildren,becausetheyhavenotacquiredtheallvarious
wisdomoftheEgyptians,butbearservilehairsintheirsoul.*Juvenility,
therefore,indicatestheirwantofwisdom.Orthisprivationofwisdom
arisesfromthefrequentdestructionsofthem,sothatbeforethey
becometrulyancient,theybecomeagainjuvenilethroughdestruction.
Oritisbecauseancientdeedsarenotpreservedbythem;buttheir
knowledgeisalwaysconfinedtopresentevents,andsuchassense
apprehends.ButwiththeEgyptians,pasttransactionsarealwayspresent
throughmemory,asiftheywererecent.Andtheremembranceis
throughhistory.Butthehistoryisfrompillars,inwhichthings
paradoxicalandworthyofadmiration,whetherinactionsorinventions,
Fareinscribed.Why,however,itmaybesaid,doesthispriestaccusethe
Greekswithsuchseverity?Forwhatisthereadmirableinhisnarration,
since,asthenobleHeraclitussays,*averylearnedknowledgeofpast
transactionsdoesnotproduceintellect?ButifthatwhichEudoxussaysis
true,thattheEgyptianscallamonthayear,theenumerationsofmany
oftheseyears,willnotbeattendedwithanythingwonderful.Itwas
idle,therefore,intheEgyptianpriesttothinkhighlyofhimselfforthe
knowledgeoftransactionsinthese.Or,though,asAristotlesays,itis
impossiblethatmemoryandsenseshouldbeeffectiveofscience,yetatthe
sametimeitmustbeadmitted,thattheycontributetothereminiscenceof
tcf.'Thebadgeofslavery',AlcibiadesI,120bTTSvol.IX,andtheaccompanying
notestothatpassage.
$Fr.40d.
wholes.*Forbyrelatinginmanythingsmanysimilarcircumstances,we
1,103produceoneformofthem,andfindingfrequentlyfromhistory
32Aconcordantapocatastasesofmanythings,werecurtotheonecauseof
them.Forthustheobservationsoftheaffectionsoftheairwereframed
byCalippus,*andtheknowledgefromastrologyofthecelestial
motions.Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubt.

Again,however,letusrecurtothetheoryofwholes,andtheresurvey
thejuniorfabrication,heldtogetherbyMinerva,andfilledfrommore
ancientandprimogenialcauses.Forfromthencethisfabrication
possessingstabilityproceeds,5onaccountofanexemptcause,and
contributestothemundanecontrariety.Foreverythinginthe
demiurgicprogressionwhichisdistributedintopartsandmultiplied,
proceedsonaccountofthatprinciple.As,therefore,therearecausesin
theworld,someofwhichareeffectiveoftheregenerationofthings,but
othersareguardiansofthecoherenceofproductivepowers,thepriest,
indeed,mustbeassumedasanalogoustotheselattercauses,butSolon
Btotheformer.Hence,theoneexhibitsatranscendentremembranceof
antiquity,buttheotherissaidtohaverelatedvariousmutations,
generations,andcorruptions.Itlikewiseappearstome,thatthe
arrangementoftheelderpriortotheyoungerperson,isassumedina
wayadaptedtotheorderlydistributionoftheuniverse.Forinthe
fabricationofJupiter,theyhavethisorderwithreferencetoeachother;
justastheEleanguest[inPlato]0says,thatthosewholiveinthe
Saturnianperiod,proceedfrombeingoldertobeingyounger;butthose
thatliveintheperiodofJupiter,proceedinacontrarydirection.And
inthisdialogue,Timaeussays,respectingthesoul,thattheDemiurgus
produceditmoreancientthanthebody,andonthisaccountconstituted
itofamoreprincipalnature.Now,therefore,thepriest,whoisthe
guardianofdivineinstitutions,excelsthroughantiquity,thoughthat
whichisjuniorproceedsfromahigherorder;justasSoloncomesfrom
acity,whichpertainsinagreaterdegreetoMinerva.Inmundane
works,however,thatwhichismoreancientpossessesagreatdignity.
tAristotleOnMemoryI,449bff;alsoMetaph.I,1.
tTheGreektexthas4>L\WKOV(Phillip)inthisplace.PT.
Insteadoficpoc.TOt%i)pi\iievovhere,Iread,Kmirpoaai5iaTOe^prnievovetinor.
Politicus270de.
Tim.34bc.
22b"Towhomthepriest:Becauseallyoursoulsarejuvenile;neither
1,104containinganyancientopinionderivedfromremotetradition,norany
disciplinehoaryfromitsexistenceinformerperiodsoftime."
CJuvenilityofsoul,inwhatisheresaid,isanalogoustorenovationof
life,andtomorepartialcauses;butremotetradition,tostable
intelligence,andtomoreancientprinciples.Andhoarydisciplineis
analogoustothecomprehension,whichisunitedandalwaysthesame,
ofthenatureandcompositionofallthattheworldcontains;through
which,indeed,thefirstandmostdivineofmundanenatures
comprehendtotallyandexemptlythecausesofallgeneratedbeings,and

eternallyandantecedentlycontaininthemselvestemporalnatures;but
comprehendthingsmoreproximatetotheuniversepartiallyand
subordinately,asfallingshortoftheunicalintelligenceofwholes.
HencetosomeoftheGodshoarinessisadapted,buttoothersjuvenility.
Forhoarinessisasymbolofintelligenceandanundefiledlife,andwhich
isremotefromgeneration;butjuvenilityofmorepartialknowledge,and
whichnowcomesintocontactwithgeneratednatures.
22c"Butthereasonofthisisthemultitudeandvarietyofdestructionsof
thehumanrace,whichformerlyhavebeen,andagainwillbe:the
greatestofthese,indeed,arisingfromfireandwater;butthelesserfrom
tenthousandothercontingencies."
Inwhatisheresaid,aninquiryismade,whytheGreeksarealways
children,butthereisnodisciplinewiththemhoaryfromitsexistence
Dinformerperiodsoftime?Or,ifyouwishtosurveytheparadigmsof
thesethings,theenquiryis,throughwhatcausethejuniorfabrication
presidesovervariety,generatednaturesalwaysrisingintoexistence,and
suchasareancientbecomingrenovated?Before,however,hediscovers
thecauseofsuchlikedoubts,hefirstdiscussestheperiodsinthe
universe,andpointsoutthevarietyofthem;ofwhichthefirst
principlesoftheGods,indeed,haveanantecedentknowledge,stablyand
unitedly;butthesecondprinciplespartially,andinsuchawayasto
1.105comeintocontactwiththenatureofthethingswhichtheygovern;for
thisitisalwaystoknowwhatispresent.Buttoretaininthememory
thingsthatareabsent,isanalogoustotheperceptionofwholes
separatelyandstably.Thereare,therefore,certainvariousperiodsof
thingsintheworld;butitmustbeadmitted,thatthereisalways
generationandalwayscorruptionintheuniverse.*Forthatwhichis
tTim.28a.
sensibleisrisingintoexistence,andtendingtocorruption,butnever
trulyis.Thisgeneration,however,anddestruction,mustbesurveyed
inonewayintheheavens,andinanotherinmaterialnatures.For,in
theformer,amutationoffigures,andthemotionofperpetually
Egeneratedbodies,preexist.Butgeneration,beinggovernedthroughthe
mutationsofthesebodies,evolvesitsowncircle.Inthiscircle,however,
differentelementshavedominionatdifferenttimes.Andwholes,
indeed,alwayspreservethesameandasimilarorderaccordingtonature;
butthedifferentpartsofthesewholessubsistatdifferenttimes,either
conformablytonature,orpreternaturally,inabecomingmanner.For*
eitherthewholesandthepartsalwayssubsistaccordingtonature;or
both,onacertaintime,haveapreternaturalsubsistence;ortheonehas
apreternatural,buttheotheranaturalsubsistence,andthisinatwofold

respect.If,therefore,allthings[perpetually]existedaccordingtonature,
thevarietyofgenerationwouldbedissipated,perpetualnatureswould
betheextremitiesofbeings,andthefirstessenceswouldbethelastof
allthings.Butifallthingsweredisposedpreternaturally,therewould
benothingstable;fromwhichaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence
mightbepresentwithmutablenatures;norwouldthecircleof
generationbepreserved.Anditisimpossiblethatwholesshouldhave
apreternatural,butpartsanatural,subsistence;forpartsfollowwholes,
andwholesarecomprehensiveofparts.Henceitisimpossiblethatthe
formershould,atacertaintime,existpreternaturally,butthelatter
remaininaconditionconformabletonature.Forneitherisitpossible,
Fwhenthewholeofouranimalnatureismoved,anditsorderdestroyed,
thatanyoneofitspartsshouldstillexistaccordingtonature.It
remains,therefore,thatwholesbeingestablishedinanaturalsubsistence,
thepartsatonetimefollowingthewholes,aredisposedconformablyto
nature,butatanothertimehaveapreternaturaltendency.Butasof
partialanimals,eachisindeedalwaysgeneratedandcorrupted,on
1,106accountoftheeffluxofthemintheuniverse;butoneismoregenerated,
andanotherismorecorruptedthananother,andoneismoreadaptedto
existence,butanothertocorruption;thusalsotheseveralpartsofthe
33Aearth,receivingbothanaturalandpreternaturalsubsistence,someofthe
partsaremoreabletosubsistconformablytonature,butothersare
moreadaptedtosustaindeviationsintoapreternaturalconditionof
being;this,indeed,onaccountofadifferenttemperament,but
afterwardsonaccountofthepositionbeingdifferentofdifferentparts,
andinthenextplace,onaccountofhabitudetotheheavens.For
tTapisomittedhereintheoriginal.
differentpartsoftheearthareadaptedtodifferentpartsoftheheavens,
thoughtheyarepreservedbyotherfigures[orconfigurations].Andin
additiontoallthathasbeensaid,onaccountofthepowerofthe
inspectiveGods,andofthedivinitieswhopresideoverclimates,and
whoareallotteddifferentpeculiarities;somerejoicingmoreinmotion,
butothersinpermanency,someinsameness,butotherindifference;
abundantcorruptionslikewiseofpartialnaturesbeingproducedin
differentplaces;theformsorspeciesoftheuniversehaveaneverfailing
subsistence.Formanisalways,theearthisalways,andeachofthe
elementsalwaysis.Forsincecorruptionandgenerationproceedfrom
thecelestialfigures;buttheseareimitationsofdivineintellections,and
theintellectionsaresuspendedfromintellectualforms,butfromthese
stabilityisderived;thisbeingthecase,continuityisproducedin
mundaneforms,andthevisiblefiguresarepreservativeofspecies,but
Bcorruptiveofparts,soastocausethingswhicharegeneratedintime,to
bealsodissolvedintime,accordingtoacircularprogression.Forthe

universedoesnotenvysalvationtosuchthingsasareabletoexistin
conjunctionwithit;butthatwhichisincapableofbeingadministered
togetherwiththeuniverse,isnotabletoabideinit.ThelawofJupiter,
however,expels*fromessenceeverythingofthiskindasdisgraceful.
Foritisperfectlyimpossiblethatwhatisdisgracefulshouldremainin
theuniverse.Butthatwhichisdeprivedoforderintheuniverseis
disgraceful.Wehaveshownthereforewhy*abundantandpartial
corruptionsareproducedindifferentplacesoftheearth.
Inthenextplaceitmustbeshownwhythegreatestofdestructionsare
throughthepredominanceoffireandwater,andnotthroughthatofthe
1,107otherelements.Fire,therefore,hasanefficaciousandproductiveorder
intheelements,issufficientlyabletoproceedthroughallotherthings,
andisnaturallyadaptedtodividethem.Butwater,isindeedmoved
withgreaterfacilitythanearth,yetismoredifficultlypassivethanair.
Andbyitsfacilityofmotion,indeed,itisabletooperate;butthrough
beingpassivewithdifficulty,itisnotaffectedbyviolence,norbecomes
imbecilewhendissipated,likeair;sothatitreasonablyfollows,that
Cviolent,andthegreatestdestructionsareeffectedbydelugesand
conflagrations.Youmayalsosay,thattheremainingtwoelementsare
moreadaptedtous.Forwearepedestrious,andalliedtoearth;andas
weareonallsidescomprehendedbyair,inwhichwelive,andwhich
tForep.0a\\eihere,itisnecessarytoreade/c/taXXa.
XForSioninthisplace,read5ian.
werespire,itisevidentthatourbodiesareofakindrednaturewithit.
Hencetheseelements,asbeingmorealliedto,arelessdestructiveofus;
buttheothers,whicharecontrarytothese,bringwiththemmore
violentdestructions.Fartherstill,accordingtoanothermodeofsurvey
also,theseelementsearthandair,togetherwithsufferingthemselves,and
sufferingpriortous,appeartooperateonus.Forairwhenitbecomes
putrid,producespestilence;andearthwhendivulsed,abundant
absorptions.Butpestilenceisapassionofair,andchasmsand
earthquakesarepassionsofearth.Fire,however,andwaterareableto
operateonus,withoutbeingpreviouslyaffectedthemselves;theformer
bypermeating,butthelatterbyexternalimpulsion.Hencetheyare
capableofproducingmoreextendeddestructions,asbeingmorevigorous
andpowerfulthantheotherelements,inconsequenceofnotcorrupting
throughbeingthemselvesdistempered.Deluges,therefore,and
conflagrationsarethegreatestdestructions.Butfamineandpestilence,
Dearthquakesandwars,andothersuchlikepartialcalamities,maybe
producedfromothercauses.Andofallthese,theeffectivecauseindeed
istheorderoftheuniverse,andpriortothis,thejuniorfabrication,
whichalwaysmakesneweffects,andatdifferenttimesproducesthe

generationofdifferentthings.Forthisisassertedbythefablesofthe
Greeks,andisindicatedbythetraditionoftheEgyptians,whichmystically
saysofthesun,thatheassumesdifferentformsinthesignsofthezodiac.*
Itisnot,therefore,atallwonderful,ifthoughtherearemany
destructions,andinmanyplaces,yetmanandeveryformalwaysexist,
throughtheimmutableprogressionofdivineforms.Forthroughthese,
theproductiveprinciplesintheuniversepossessaninvariablesameness
ofsubsistence,becauseeverythingwhichisgeneratedfroman
immoveablecause,isalwayssuspendedfromitscause.
22c"Fortherelationsubsistingamongyou,thatPhaetontheoffspringof
theSun,7onacertaintimeattemptingtodrivethechariotofhisfather,
andnotbeingabletokeepthetrackobservedbyhisparent,burntup
thenaturesbelongingtotheearth,andperishedhimselfblastedby
thunder,isindeedsaidtohavetheformofafable."
Thatthefirstprinciplesofbeingscomprehend*indeedthingswhich
aremoved,stably,thingsmultiplied,unitedly,partialnatures,totally,
andsuchasaredividedaccordingtotime,eternally,isevident.Andit
tSeethisexplainedfurtheron,inadditionalnote2ofthesecondvolume,p.1047;
seealsoIamblichusdeMyst.VII,3.
XForitapexovalhere,itisnecessarytoreadirepiexovm.
Eislikewisewellknown,thattheologistsreferthecausesofperiods,and
ofthepsychicalascentsanddescents,andofallmultipliedanddivided
life,totheprinciplesthatareproximatelyestablishedabovetheworld.
Henceitappearstome,thatwhatisnowsaid,refersthemythology
aboutPhaetontotheGreeks,andtheknowledgeofSolon.Forallsuchlike
corruptionsandgenerationsderivetheircompletionfromthejunior
fabrication,[orthefabricationofthejunior,ormundaneGods,]from
whichalsothecirculationofforms,andthevarietyofcorporealand
psychicalperiods,isperfected.As,however,indivinenatures,things
secondaryremaining,perfectionisimpartedtothemfromsuchasare
first;thusalso,theEgyptianpreservingwhatisrelatedbytheGreeks,
teachesSolonfromthisconcerningthingsofwhichhehadaknowledge
priortoSolon.Whatthereforedoesthisnarrationobscurelysignify?
Thatpsychicallives,andthenatureofbodies,havestillmultiform
mutations.Andoverthese,indeed,thesupermundanepowerspreside;
1,109buttheyareconnectedlycomprehendedbytheintelligibleordersofthe
FGods.Andoftheformer,indeed,theapparentmeaningofthenarration
beinghistoricallydeliveredbytheGreeks,isasymbol;butofthelatter,
thepriestinvestigatingtherealmeaningofthehistory,andunfoldingit
intolight,toSolon.Andthusmuchhasbeensaidbyusforthesakeof
thewholetheory,andinordertoshowthatthenarrationisnot

discordantwiththethingsproposedtobediscussed.
ThefablerespectingPhaeton,however,requiresamanifolddiscussion.
Forinthefirstplace,itisnecessarytoconsiderithistorically;inthe
secondplace,physically;andinthethirdplace,philosophically.History
thereforesays,thatPhaetonwastheoffspringoftheSun,andof
34AClymenethedaughterofOcean,andthatdrivingthechariotofhis
father,hedeviatedfromthepropertrack.ThatJupiteralsofearingfor
thesafetyoftheuniverse,destroyedhimbythunder;buthebeing
blastedbythunder,fellaboutEridanus.Thefirelikewiseproceeding
fromhimburnteverythingthatwasnourishedbytheearth:andhis
sisters,theHeliades,lamentedhisfall.Andsuchisthehistorical
accountofthefable.Itis,however,necessarytoadmitthata
conflagrationtookplace;forthewholenarrationisintroducedforthe
sakeofthis;and,also,thatthecauseofitisneitheranimpossibility,nor
acertainthingwhichmayeasilyhappen.Butitwillbeimpossibleif
someonefanciesthattheSunatonetimedriveshisownchariot,and
atanothertimebeingchangedceasestodriveit,andcommitshisproper
employmenttoanother.Anditwillbeamongthenumberofthings
whichmaybeeasilyaccomplished,ifitissupposedthatthisPhaeton
wasacomet,whichbeingdissolvedproducedanintolerabledryness
fromvehementheat.Forthissuppositionisgenerallyadopted.
Porphyrythereforesays,thatcertainsignsmaybeassumedfromthemotion
ofcomets.Forwhenthismotionistowardsthesouthernparts,itis
Bindicativeoftempests,towardsthenorth,ofdrynessfromexcessiveheat,
towardstheeast,ofpestilence,andtowardsthewest,offertility.The
disappearancelikewiseofthecomet,issaidtobethedestructionby
thunder.
If,however,itberequisitetodissolvethefableinamorephysical
1,110way,itisbettertoadopttheexplanationofourassociateDomninus,
thatsometimessogreataquantityofdryexhalationiscollected
together,astobeeasilyenkindledbythesolarheat.Butthisbeing
enkindled,itisnotatallwonderful,thatitshouldburnallthatpartof
theearthwhichissituatedunderit,andproducesuchaconflagrationas
thatofwhichthefablespeaks.Inconsequence,therefore,ofthe
inflammationbeingproducedbytheSun,theauthorsoffableswen;
inducedtocallPhaetontheoffspringoftheSun;denominatingthis
offspringamale,onaccountoftheefficacyofthepoweroffire,and
becauselikewiseitisusualtocallfireamale,inthesamemanneras
earthafemale;andtodenominatetheonematter,buttheotherform.
Butbecausethisexhalationdidnotproceedinapathparalleltothatof
CtheSun,Mythologistsassert,thatPhaetondidnotdrivethechariot
conformablytothetrackofhisfather.Thedissolutionofthecloud
abouttheearth,wascalledbythem,thefallofPhaeton;andthe
extinctionofthiscloud,thethunderingofJupiter.Buttheabundance

ofrainaftertheextinctionofthecloud,(forthistakesplaceaftergreat
conflagrations)isthelamentationofthesisters,orthewetexhalations,
inasmuchasthosethatweep,pourforthmoisture.Andthe
exhalations,boththedryandthewet,haveonecause,theSun.Butto
thelatterthefemalepertains,andtotheformerthemale.These
explanations,therefore,aremorephysical.
Itishoweverpossible,thatthefablemayindicatesomethingmore
sublime;thatpartialsoulsproceedindeedfromthefatherofwholes,but
aredisseminatedaboutthemundaneGods,inorderthattheymaynot
onlybeintellectual,comeintocontactwithintelligibles,andrecedefrom
bodies,butalsothattheymayhaveamundanehypostasis.As,
therefore,divineanddaemoniacalsoulsarearrangedundersecondary
leaders;someindeedunderthedivinityoftheEarth,othersunderthe
Moon,andothersundertheSun;some,underthegovernmentof
Jupiter,butothersunderthatofMars;thatwhichisdisseminatedbeing
Dofdivineorigin,everywherereceivessomethingfromthenatureofthat
1,111inwhichitissown:*justasthingssownintheearth,receivesomething
fromtheearth;butthosesowninananimal,receivesomethingfromthe
natureoftheanimal:sothatofoffspring,someexpressthepeculiarity
ofplaces,butothersthesimilitudeofthemother.Hencealso,soulsthat
aredisseminatedabouttheirkindredstars,receiveacertainpeculiarity
oflife,fromtheirleaders;*sothateachisnotonlysoul,butasoulof
acertainkind,suchforinstanceasMartial,orJovian,orLunar.For
whethertheGodisofanimmutablecharacteristic,orisdemiurgic,or
vivific,acertainrepresentationofthepeculiarityoftheallotteddeity
accedesto5thesoulsthatarearrangedunderit.Andwhyisthis
wonderful,sincethepeculiarityofpresidingGodsextendsasfarasto
herbsandstones?Andthereisastone,andalsoaherbsuspendedfrom
thesolarpower,whetheryouarewillingtocallthemheliotropes,orby
anyothername.DAsimilarreasoninglikewisemustbeextendedto
theotherGods.
Ofthesesoulstherefore,thoseindeedthatareundefiled,remainalways
suspendedfromtheGodstowhomtheyareallied,andgovernthe
universeinconjunctionwiththem.Butothersdescend,yetarenot
Efilledwithgenesiurgicvice[orthedepravitywhichisoffspringofthe
realmsofgeneration].Andothersreceiveacertaindefilementfromthe
subjectsoftheirgovernment.Forthisisthelastformoflife.Thefirst
ofthesesouls,therefore,aretrulysonsoftheGods,asnotproceeding
outoftheirfathers,being,asitwere,fashionedbyandremainingwithin
them,runningbeforetheGods,andhavingtheorderofguardsor
attendants.Thesoulsthathavethemiddlerank,areindeedcalledsons
oftheGods,butreceivealsoasecondarylife,andbecomethesonsof
Godsandmen.Andsoulsofthethirdrank,arealsosonsoftheGods,
butarenotcalledgenuinesons,asnotpreservingtheformoftheir

properGod,butvergetomatter,andbecomeobliviousoftheirgenuine
fathers.Whether,therefore,theauthorsoffablescallTityusthesonof
Earth,orPhaetontheoffspringoftheSun,orMusaeusthesonofthe
1,112Moon,theythusdenominatethemafterthismanner,andothers
tcf.Tim.41af;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,161,22ff.
$cf.Tim.42b,andalso328binfra,p.986.
ForviroraqvnoTeTaynevac.OVTQipvxuc.,itisrequisitetoreadenraq
virorepaynevaq,K.\.
cf.Procl.DeSacrific.inInd.Gryph.1901,6,21ff;alsonotestoAlcibiadesI,
TTSvol.IX,p.2069;andlamblichusdeMyst.I,10&IV,13.
differentlyconformablytothebeforementionedcauses.Withrespect
toothersonsoftheGods,however,weshallelsewherespeak.
Butagain,PhaetonisindeedtheoffspringoftheSun,asbeingofthe
solarseries.Hencealsohehasasolarname.Sincehowever,abidingon
Fhigh,herevolvedandgovernedtheuniverseinconjunctionwithhis
father,heissaidtohavedriventhechariotofhisfather.Forthevehicle
ofPhaetonbelongstothesolarchariots;sincethatalsoisentirelysolar
form.Butwhenhefellintogeneration,forhedidnotrankamongthe
firstofsouls,heissaidtohavebeendestroyedbythethunderofJupiter.
Forthunder[i.e.lightning]isasymboloffabrication,proceeding
throughallthingswithoutcontact,*andvivifyingallthings;*butisnot
thecauseofthedissolutionofthespiritinwhichthesouliscarried.
Buttherearemanytranspositionsofsoulsintodifferentpolities,and
35Afromoneelementintoanother;somebeingtransferredfromearthtothe
sphereoffire;butothersfromthesphereoffiretoearth;andsomein
order;butothersheapedtogether,andaccompaniedwithmuchtumult
anddisorderlymotion,suchasPhaetonissaidtohavesuffered.For
beingbornealongonhighcollectively,andattractingempyrean
vestments,hewasmovedthroughtheseinadisorderlymanner,when
heproceededtoearth,andproducedincertainpartsofita
conflagration.Forsoulsindescendingbecomeinvestedwithmany
garmentsaerialoraquatic;andsomehaveempyreanvestments.Ofthese
also,somehavethevigorous,5butothersthevehementandthe
percussive,fromfire.Andsomeindeed,whentheybecomesituatedin
air,layasidethesegarments,0andassumeothersthataremoregross,
butotherspreservethemevenasfarastotheearth.0Iknow,
therefore,thattheChaeroneanPlutarchrelates,**thatinoneofthe
islandsofBritain,whichappearstobesacred,andonthisaccountis
consideredbytherulersofitasanasylum,theinhabitantsfrequently
Bassert,whenprodigiousrainsorthunderandlightningtakeplace,that
1.113someoneofthemoreexcellentnaturesfails,theybeingaccustomedto
passionsofthiskind.Buttheydenominatesoulsthataretransferred

tForCKMW/XOChere,itisnecessarytoreaduvcufaq.,
$cf.48Dinfra.
Insteadofap.vbpovinthisplace,Ireadmp.aiov.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.95;115;121.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,159,8,26f.
ttcf.Defacie941ff.
intobodies,andthatrelinquishacertaingeneration,moreexcellent
natures.*Itmustnot,however,bedeniedthatsuchlikecircumstances
befallsoulsdescendingintobodies,andespeciallythosethatare
magnificent,andareallottedamoredaemoniacalessence,suchasthe
fableobscurelysignifiesthesoulofPhaetontohavebeen.Butitisnot
atallwonderful,thatdescendingsoulsshouldbeinagreaterdegreecopassive
withthoseelementswhichareanalogoustotheirpresidingGods,
andshouldattractandbecomeinvestedwithagreaternumberofsuchlike
elementarygarments;sothatSaturniansoulsshouldinagreater
degreerejoiceinhumidandaqueousvestments,andsolarsoulsinsuch
asareempyrean,eachbeingdesirousofobtainingamaterialand
ponderousbody,insteadofimmaterialgarments;theGodsalso
employingtheseasorgans,inthesamemannerastheyusematerial
daemons,intheirproductionsabouttheearth.Throughthesesouls
likewisetheGodsproduceconflagrations,orpestilence,orinflictcertain
othercalamitiesonthosewhodeservetosufferthem,andemploying
soulsthatarealliedtothemasministranttothecausesoftheeffectsthat
Ctakeplaceintheheavens,theyaccomplishthatwhichtheyeffect.For
itisnothingwonderful,thatthereshouldbemanycausesofthesame
things,someproducinginone,andothersinanotherway.Phaeton
therefore,beingbornealongabouttheearth,andafteracertain
daemoniacalmanner,burningthoseplacestowhichheapproached,
throughthestreamoffire(forpartialsoulseffectmanythingsoutofthe
body,beingthentheinstrumentsofavengingorpurifyingdaemons);he
waslamentedbytheHeliades,whowerecertainsolarsouls,whencealso
theyweresaidtobethesistersofPhaeton.Buttheylamentedhim,not
asalonecommiseratinghimonaccountofhisdescentintogeneration,
butprovidentiallyinspectinghim,inorderthattheymightinan
undefiledmannerpayattentiontothingswhicharegeneratedand
corrupted.FortheriverEridanus,*andthefallingintoit,indicatethe
lapseofthesoulintotheriverofgeneration;inwhichbeingsituated,
1,114sherequirestheprovidentialcareofthegeneraalliedtoherself,andthe
aidofsoulsthatareinapermanentcondition.Theologistsalsosignify
theextensionofthesolarprovidencetomortalnaturesthroughtears.
Themuchenduringraceofmenthytears
Excite.

Orphicfr.236.
fPlutarchrelatesthis,inhistreatiseOntheFailureoftheOracles[MoraliaV,419,
18,Loeb.]
|cf.53Finfra
Sothatthefableveryproperlymanifeststhroughtears,inasymbolical
Dmanner,theprovidentialattentiontoPhaetonofsoulsthatareofthe
solarorder.Again,therefore,thiscorollarymaybeassumedfromthe
fable,thatthedescentsofsoulsareeffectedthroughimpotency.And
thatnotonlysouls,butlikewisetheirvehiclesparticipateofthe
peculiarityoftheirleadingGods;sothatfromthesedivinities,someof
themaredenominatedSolar,othersMartial,andothersreceivean
appellationfromsomeotherGod.Itmayalsobeinferredthat
destructionsareeffectedbytheprovidenceoftheGods.*ForJupiter
wasthecauseoftheconflagration,byhurlingthethunderatPhaeton
Andlikewise,thatthedescentsofsoulsaresuspendedfromtheone
fabricationofthings.HenceTimaeusteachesusnotonlyaboutthe
essence,butalsoabouttheascentsanddescents,thelivesandallvarious
electionsofsouls.
22cd"Butthetruthis,thatitindicatesthemutationofthebodiesrevolving
intheheavensabouttheearth;andsignifiesthatthroughlongperiods
oftime,adestructionofterrestrialnaturesensuesfromthedevastations
offire."
ETheEgyptianpriestonlyunfoldsthusmuchofthefablethat
contributestotheproposeddiscussion,thatabundantdestructionsof
terrestrialnaturesareproducedthroughfire,inconsequenceofthe
mutationofthebodiesthatrevolveintheheavensabouttheearth.But
throughmutationhesignifieseithertheincommensurationofthingsin
theearthtocelestialnatures:forallthingswhiletheysubsist
commensuratelytothecelestialeffluxions,areabletoremain,butwhen
theyareincommensuratetothem,arecorrupted.Forthingswhichare
1,115abletosustainthedividingpowerofMars,arepreserved;butsuchasare
tooimbeciletoendurehiseffectiveenergy,areeasilydissolved;justas
ifyoureyenotbeingabletoendurethesolarlight,shouldbeblinded
byitseffulgence,thoughsomeothereyemaybecapableoflooking
directlytoitwithoutpain.Andasimilarreasoningmustbeadopted
withrespecttotheotherGodsandtheirconfigurations.Forthe
universeisoneanimal,anditspartssympathizingwitheachother,it
preservesdifferentthingsbydifferentparts;norisanythingwhichis
generatedinitpreternaturaltothewhole.Forthenatureswhichare
generatedinit,aregeneratedthroughit;anditistheworlditselfwhich
operates,andoperatesonitself.Oritmaybesaidthatthismutationis

tcf.42B,90E91Ainfrap.130and274;andalsoPhaedrus249b.
Fjustasifagoodfather,whoisalwaysbenevolentlydisposedtowardshis
son,shouldonatimechastisehimforthesakeofhisgood;forinso
doinghewillappeartohavechangedhisaccustomedmodeoftreatment.
Orthismutationmaybethevariousconfigurationofthecelestial
bodies.Forthesearethebodiesthatrevolveintheheavensaboutthe
earth,andatdifferenttimesexhibitdifferentfigures,throughthevarious
intellectualperceptionsoftheirinformingsouls.Fortheconfigurations
arethelettersofthesesouls,andcertainefficaciousimpressionsproduced
throughthemAgain,however,boththesearetrue.Forthemutation
ofthesebodies,andtheincommensurationofearthlynatures,arethe
leadingcausesofsuchlikedestructions.Butifitisnecessarytocallthe
36AfallofPhaetonfromtheheavenstotheearth,acertainmutationof
someoneofthebodiesthatrevolveintheheavens,itisnotatall
wonderful.ForthemutationofthecelestialGodsisonething,since
thisisanimpassivetransfiguration;butanother,thatofthesoulsthat
revolvetogetherwiththem,thisbeingahabitudetoterrestrialnatures,
fromalifewithouthabitude:andthatofplacesabouttheearth,is
differentfromeitheroftheformer,sinceitisacertaincorruptive
mutation;accordingtowhichneithersoulsarechanged,normuchless
theGods,theleadersofsouls.Suchlikecorruptions,therefore,of
terrestrialnaturesareeffectedthroughpartialsouls;butarealsoeffected
throughdaemonsalone.Andasthroughthese,destructionsadaptedto
theirseriesareproduced,thelikealsotakesplacethroughsouls.Forthe
soulsthatwhenonhigharedelightedtoilluminateimmaterially,betake
1,116themselvestosublunaryconflagrations.
Why,however,docopiousdestructionsofthehumanracehappen
throughlongperiodsoftime;isitbecauseaconcurrenceofmanythings
isnecessaryinorderthatsuchadestructionmaytakeplace?Foritis
requisitethatthereshouldbeboththepeculiarandcommonhabitof
Bthethingsthatsuffer,andaconspirationoftheagents.Forwhatifthat
whichiscorruptiveofonething,shouldbepreservativeofanother?It
isalsonecessarythatthereshouldbeanaptitudeofmatter,anda
preparationofinstrumentsandtimes.Forthesealsotakeplaceinpartial
destructions,butmorerarelyinsuchasarecommon;andthis
reasonably.Foritisnecessarythattheprogressionfroman
incorruptiblenaturetoonethatiseasilycorruptible,shouldbethrough
thingswhicharecorruptedwithdifficulty.If,therefore,wholesare
alwaysincorruptible,butmorepartialnaturesareeasilycorrupted,the
mediabetweenthesemaybeveryproperlyarrangedamongthingswhich
arecorruptedwithdifficulty,andwhichbecomedestroyedinlong
periodsoftime.Forwholeswhichremainduringthemundaneperiod,

areincorruptibleandindestructible.Fornoconfigurationofthestars
isdestructiveofthem,sinceallthingsareevolvedinthewholeperiod
oftheuniverse.Butpartialnaturesandindividualsreceiveaneasy
dissolution.Copiousdestructions,however,ofpartialnaturesare
effectedthroughlongperiodsoftime;butsuchnaturesarenevertheless
dissolved.Forthereisalifeofacertaingenus,asthereisofoneman.
andofacity,andanation.AndasAristotlesays,*thereareperiodsof
these,ofsome,more,butofothers,lessextended.
22d"Hencethosewhoeitherdwellonmountains,orinloftyanddry
Cplaces,perishmoreabundantlythanthosewhodwellnearriversorthe
sea.
Thisislikelytohappeninthevisibledestructionsthroughfire:for
thosewhodwellnearwater,aredefendedfromthedevastationoffire
ThephilosopherPorphyry,however,transferswhatisheresaid,from
1,117thephaenomenatosouls;andsays,thatinthesetheirasciblepartisat
onetimeeffervescent,andthisinflammationisthedestructionofthe
manwithinus.ThusHomerrepresents*theeyesofAgamemnonwhen
hewasenragedwithAchilles,as"shininglikefire."Butatanothertime,
theepithymeticpart,beingdelugedbygenesiurgicmoisture,isenervated,
andmergedinthestreamsofmatter.5For,asHeraclitussays,0
"anotherdeathofintellectualsoulsisoccasionedbymoisture."Butif
thesethingsarerightlyasserted,thosewillbeinexperiencedinthe
perturbationsarisingfromanger,whohavetheirasciblepartinarelaxed
condition,andcommensuratetoaproperattentiontosecondary
concerns.Forthisissignifiedbyhollowplaces,andsuchasarenearto
water.Butthoseareinexperiencedintheperturbationsofdesire,who
Dhavetheepithymeticpartinamorestrenuouscondition,andexcited
fromthesomnolencyofmatter.Forthisisindicatedbyloftyplaces.
Forinacertainrespect,theirasciblepartisadaptedtobeeasilymoved
andtobeefficacious;butdesireislanguidandimbecile.Amusician,
therefore,willberequisite,inordertorelaxthestrenuousnatureof
anger,andgiveintentiontotheinertnessofdesire.Thephilosopher
tAristotleOnLengthandShortnessofLifeI,464bff.;andalsoRep.VIII,546aff,
andadditionalnotestothispassageinTTSvol.IX.
%IliadI,410.
SChald.Oracl.fr.114.
Fr.77d.
Iamblichus,however,thinksfittosurveythesethingsphysically,and
notethically.Hesays,therefore,thatwhenaconflagrationtakesplace,
thoseperishmoreabundantlythatdwellonloftymountains,asbeing
moreremotefromtheexhalationsarisingfromwater;forthese

exhalationsarenotmuchelevatedonaccountoftheweightofthemoist
substance.Hencetheairthatsurroundsthemisnotwetbutdry,and
becomesfueltofire,whichnaturallytendsupward.Butthecontrary
takesplaceindeluges.Forthosethatdwellinhollowsituations,are
moreabundantlydestroyed,sinceallheavysubstancesnaturallytend
downward.
22d"Tous,indeed,theNileisasaviourinotherrespects,andalsobecause
itliberatesusfromthisdestruction."
1,118Accordingtotheapparentsignificationofwhatisheresaid,theNile
isthecausetotheEgyptiansofmanyandallvariousgoods,viz.of
Egeometry,ofthegenerationoffruits,andlikewiseofavoiding
conflagrations.Itswateralsopreservestheirbodies,andthedivinity
thatconnectedlycontainsthisbody,elevatestheirsouls.Butfromthese
thingsyoumayassume,thatfirstcauses,beingfulloflifeandprolific
power,connectthemselves,andremaineternally,andalsothinkfitto
impartconnexionfromthemselvestootherthings,whichareina
flowinganddissipatedcondition;sothatthenameofsaviour,
adumbratesdivineandexemptprovidence;fromwhichalsothelight
thatisintheintelligible*Gods,illuminatesalltheintellectualand
demiurgiccauses.
22de"ButwhentheGods,purifyingtheearthbywater,delugeitssurface,
thentheherdsmenandshepherdsinhabitingthemountainsare
preserved,whilethosethatdwellinyourcitiesarehurriedawaytothe
sea,bytheimpetuousinundationoftherivers."
Inwhatisheresaid,theefficientcauseisclearlyascribedtotheGods.
Andthisalsomaybeassertedofconflagrations.Forpurificationisat
onetimeeffectedthroughwater,andatanotherthroughfire.Butevery
wherepurificationtosecondaryisfromprimarynatures.Hence
likewiseinOrpheus,*Jupiterisexhortedtobringpurificationsfrom
FCrete.ForitisusualwiththeologiststoarrangeCretefortheintelligible.
Butthematerialcauseofpurificationishereascribedtotheincursionof
tThewordsvot)TOiq(puc,arewantingintheoriginal.
%Fr.183Lobeck,Aglaophemus,383.
water.Foreachofthese[i.e.fireandwater]produceswithout
deliberationandinvoluntarily,beingbornealongaccordingtoitsown
naturaltendency.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatthereshouldbeapreexistent
causewhichemploysthemtobeneficialpurposes,andoperates
forthesakeofgood;whichcauseisbeautifullyascribedtotheGods.
Butiftherearecertainpurificationsinwholes,*therearealsopowers

1,119thatpresideoverthesepurifications,operatingaspurifiersonwholes
priortopartialnatures.Therearelikewisedivinemysteries,some
powersinitiating,andothersbeinginitiated;norwilltheseeverdesert
37Atheuniverse.TheEgyptianpriestlikewiseknowingthistobethecase,
callsthedestructionsthroughwaterandfirebyasacerdotalname,
purifications,butnotcorruptions,ashewouldhavedoneifhealone
physiologized.
22e"Onthecontrary,inourregion,neitherthen,noratanyothertime,
didthewaterdescendingfromonhighpourwithdesolationonthe
plains;but,thewholeofitiscapableofreturningfromthebosomof
theearth.Andhence,andthroughthesecauses,thetraditionswhichare
preservedhere,aresaidtobemostancient."
ThoughrainmaysometimeshappeninEgypt,yetitdoesnothappen
inthewholeofit,butusuallytakesplaceaboutthelowerparts.This,
however,saysAristotle,isevidentlytheworkoftheriver.*Butthe
upperpartsdonotreceiveanaffluxofthiskind.Whence,therefore,
doestheNilereturn?Porphyryindeedsays,itwasanancientopinion
oftheEgyptians,thatthewaterissuedupwardfrombeneath,bythe
ascentoftheNile;onwhichaccountalsotheycalledtheNile,the
watereroftheearth;andthatitreturnedfrombeneath;manifestingby
this,thatwhatisdissolvedinEgyptpreservestheNile.Notthatthe
Bsnowbeingdissolvedproducesthequantityofitswater;butthatitis
loosenedfromitsownfountains,andproceedssoastobecomevisible,
beingpriortothisimpededanddetained.Wehoweverunderstandthe,
termdissolved,withreferencetodoubt:forspeakingAttically,theNile
isdissolved,becauseitliberatesusfromdoubt.Foritisnottruethat
fromsnowbeingdissolvedtheNileisincreased.Forwhereinsouthern
places,suchasthosethroughwhichtheNileflows,isthereacollection
1,120ofsnow?Nordoesthisriveremergefromrarefiedearth.Fortherarity
oftheearth,doesnotgivetothewateramotionupward.Butitis
tcf.Phaedrus244de;andLobeck,Aglaophemus,639.
%AristotleMeteor.I,14,351b2630.
entirelynecessarythatthereshouldbesomethingelse,whichimpelsit
fromcavitiestoloftyplaces.Andthusmuchwithrespecttothe
Egyptianopinion.
Others,however,say,thattheNileisincreasedfromcertainrainsthat
arepouredintoit,asisclearlyassertedbyEratosthenes.Henceto
returndoesnotnowsignifytospringfrombeneath,butforthewater,
beingelsewhereincreased,toproceedabovetheearth;streamsofwater
pouredintotheNilefromotherplaces.ButIamblichussays,itisnot

requisitetoinvestigateathingofthiskind,buttounderstandinamore
Csimplewaythereturnofthewaterfrombeneath,asequivalenttowhat
isusuallycalledtheascentofwater;andheassignsatwofoldcause,
throughwhichtheEgyptiansavoiddryness,fromexcessiveheat,and
deluges.Andthisismanifestfromwhathesayswhenexaminingthe
increasefromrains.Forhesays,thatthefirstcauseofthesalvationof
theEgyptians,isthewilloftheirpresidingGods,andtheboundary
fromthefirstoffabrication.Butthesecondcauseisthetemperatureof
theair.Fortheseasonstherearecontrarytothoseintheantarctic*
regions,fromwhichtheNileflowstotheseplaces;andinthemthe
generationofdrynessfromviolentheat,andofgreatrains,reciprocates.
If,however,someoneshouldblamethisexplanation,becausetherains
beingincreasedtheincreaseisnotregular,itmustbesaid,thatrain
frequentlyhappenswhenthereisnodescent[ordisappearance]ofthe
Nile.Atthesametime,theuninterruptedsuccessionofrain,andthe
magnitudeofthemountainsinwhichthefountainsoftheNileare
contained,arethecausesoftheunceasingincreaseofthewater.For
thesemountains,receivinginalltheirsidestherainimpelledagainst
themfromtheannualclouds,pouritincessantlyintothefountainsof
theNile.Butthesefountainsbecomingexuberantincreasetheriver.
DForthis,saysTheophrastus,isonecauseofrain,viz.thepressureof
1,121cloudsagainstamountain.Moreover,itisnotatallwonderful,ifclouds
arenotseenaboutthecataracts.ForthestreamoftheNileisnotfirst
pouredfromthese,butfromtheLunarmountains,whicharethus
denominatedfromtheiraltitude.Andthecloudswhenpresentbeing
collectedaboutthemountains,impedethecataractsbytheirsuperior
magnitude.AndthusmuchagainsttheEgyptianorationofAristides.
Eratosthenes,however,says,itisnolongerrequisitetoinvestigatethe
causeoftheincreaseoftheNile,whenwedirectourattentiontocertain
watersandrainsthatrunintoit,soastocorroboratewhatissaidby
Aristotle.Thesethings,therefore,wehaveconciselyindicatedonthis
tForavriKoit;here,itisnecessarytoreadavrapKUKOig.
subject.ButfromtheseparticularstheEgyptiansinfer,thattheirland
willneverexperienceeitheradelugeoraconflagration.Thatitshould
howeverfailfromothercauses,isnotatallwonderful;since,as
EAristotlerightlyobserves,*everypartoftheearthbecomesseainthe
infinityoftime,andthesameplaceisatonetimecontinent,andat
another,sea.Andlookingtotheinfinityoftime,itmustnotbedenied
thatthewateroftheNilemayfail.Forwhatiftheannualwinds,
blowinglessvehemently,shouldnotimpelthecloudsagainstthe
mountains?Whatalso,ifthemountainsshouldfall,inwhichthereis
acollectionofclouds;thewindfromsubterraneanplacesburstingthem,
throughwhich,likewise,theoraclessay,*thatsucceedingcitiesshallbe

destroyed?Andthecloudsnotbeingcollected,thestreamalways
becominglessandless,willbeabsorbedbytheearthwhichisdry.
22e"Butthetruthis,thatinallplaces,whereneitherintensecoldnor
immoderateheatprevails,theraceofmenisalwayspreserved,though
itissometimesmore,andatothertimeslessnumerous."
1,122Thepriesthasspokenconcerningthemundaneperiods,andthe
differentmutations[inthem],andhasobservedthatthesafetyofthe
Egyptiansisderivedfromthepositionoftheregion,andtheprovidence
oftheNile.Now,therefore,heinfersincommonrespectingplacesof
theearth,thateveryplacewhichisfreefromdelugesandconflagrations,
hasalwaystheraceofmenremaining,moreorlessnumerous.Forthe
greatestdestructionsarethroughfireandwater,aswasbeforeasserted.5
Someone,however,maysay,thattheraceofmenfailinadifferent
Fway.ForatpresenttherearenonewhoinhabittheseveryplacesoftheAttic
land[whichwereformerlysopopulous],thoughneitheradelugenora
conflagrationhashappened,butacertaindireimpiety,whichhasentirely
obliteratedtheraceofmen.0OritmaybesaidthatPlatonowcalls
climates,places.Hesays,therefore,thateveryclimatehasmen,though
thereshouldnothavebeenadelugeoraconflagration,atonetime
more,andatanotherlessnumerous.Somehoweverwillalsobesaved
inadeluge,asDeucalion,whowaspreserved,whentheclimateof
tAristotleDeMundoVI,400a2527.
tChald.Oracl.fr.170.
cf.24csupra.
InmycopyoftheoriginaloftheseCommentaries,acertainannotatorobserves
inthemargin,that"Proclusalludes,inwhatheheresays,totheChristianreligion.
Greecewasdeluged.Afterthismanner,therefore,someunfoldthe
meaningofthepassage.
Butaccordingtoourassociate[Domninus],Platomeans,thatevery
38Aplacehasalwaysagreaterorlessnumberofmen,whichisnot
excessivelycold,orimmoderatelydrythroughheat.Formathematicians
say,thattherearecertainplaceswhichareuninhabitablethroughexcess
ofheatorcold.Everyplace,therefore,whichisadaptedtothe
habitationofmen,andeveryclimate,hasagreaterorlessnumberof
men.Andthisinterpretationisreasonable,andconformabletothe
wordsofthetext.Forthewords,"whetherneitherintensecold,nor
immoderateheatprevails,"appeartosignify,whereneitherofthe
contrariesbeingexcessive,impedeshabitation.And,inshort,sincePlato
hadbeforeobserved,thatthetransactionsoftheEgyptiansweresaidto
1,123bemostancient,heveryproperlyadds,thatinreality,everyclimate

whichiscommensuratetothehabitationofmen,hasalwaysmenmore
orlessnumerous.Fornotonlymathematiciansassertthatnotevery
climateoftheearthhasmen,butOrpheusalso,whosays:
TheDemiurgusforth'abodeofmen,
Aseatapartfromtheimmortalsgave,
WhereturnstheSun'smidaxisstretchingwide;
Betweenexcessivecoldandheatamean.
Fr.77
BAndthislikewisePlatonowasserts,whenhesays,"whereneitherintense
cold,norimmoderateheatprevails,theraceofmenisalwayspreserved,
thoughitissometimesmore,andatothertimeslessnumerous."Withother
nations,however,thereisanoblivionofancienttransactions,not
throughthefailureofmen,butinconsequenceoffrequentdestructions
takingplace,certainilliterateandrusticpersonsaloneremain.Butwith
us[saysthepriest]manymostancienttransactionsaresaidtobe
preserved,inconsequenceofeverythingbeingcommittedtowritingin
ourtemples.
23a"Butwhateverhasbeentransactedeitherbyus,orbyyou,orinany
otherplace,beautifulorgreat,orcontaininganythinguncommon,of
whichwehaveheardthereport,everythingofthiskindistobefound
describedinourtemples,andpreservedtothepresentday."
AsthesituationofthecountryanditsguardianGoddessimpartsafety
totheEgyptians,thusalsothepreservationofpasttransactionsis
effectedbytheirowncareandattention,throughwhichtheyapplya
remedytotheoblivionproducedbytime.Buttheyareassistedinthis
bytheirtemples,inwhichallgreatandwonderfulactionsarerecorded,
Cbothoftheirownpeopleandofothers,andalsoparadoxicaleventsof
things.Forthisisthemeaningofthewords,"orcontaininganything
uncommon."Thehistory,however,ofthesethingscontributestotheirknowledge
ofsimilarevents;fromwhichthereminiscenceofwholesis
1,124produced,andalsototheknowledgeoffuturity.Forthrough
observationsofthiskind,theydiscovertheeffectivepowersofthecelestial
configurations.Forassumingthatcertainthingshappenfromcertain
thingsexisting,theyareablesyllogisticallytocollect,fromthesame
signs,thecausesoffutureevents.Itappearsalsotome,thatthe
doctrineofthePythagoreanswhichpreparessoulstoremembertheir
formerlives,*imitatessuchahistoryasthisoftheEgyptians.Forasit
isfittoassumedifferentlivesofoneman,orratherofonesoul,thus
alsodifferentperiodsmustbeassumedofonenation.Hence,asinthe
one,therecollectionsofthetransactionsofaformerlifeareperfective
ofsouls,sointheother,thehistoriesofformerperiodsaffordthe

greatestassistancetotheacquisitionofwisdom.Fartherstill,such
observationsareassimilatedtotheorderlydistributionoftheuniverse.
DFortheyimitatethestableproductivepowersofnature,throughwhich
remainingimmoveable,orderisingeneratedinthingsthataremutable.
If,therefore,theworldisamostsacredtemple,inwhichtheproductive
powersthatconnecttheuniverseeternallyremain,therecordingcf
ancientdeedsintempleswillbeanimageofthesubsistenceofthese
powers.AndwhatisassertedbytheEgyptiansmaysignify,that
whateverinsensiblesisstable,ofafirmconsistence,andalways
subsistingafterthesamemanner,proceedsfromtheintelligibleGods;
butthatwhateverismoved,andatdifferenttimesisgeneratedand
corruptedinadifferentmanner,isderivedfromthejuniorfabrication.
Forthesacerdotalgenusbywhichmentionismadeofancient
transactions,conveysanimageofthedivineorder,whichisconnective
ofwholesandofstability,andwhichguardsallthingsbydivine
memory,andfromwhichthejuniorfabricationbeingfilled,impartsby
illuminationtothingsofaverymutablenature,sameness,connexion,
andpermanency.
23a"Whileonthecontrary,youandothernations,commitonlyrecent
transactionstowriting,andtoothercontrivanceswhichcitieshave
employedfortransmittinginformationtoposterity."
tIamblichusLifeofPythagoras63,7ff.
1.125Contrivanceisasymbolofthecausewhichalwaysfabricatesnew
Ethings,producesthingswhicharenotyetinexistence,andcoadaptsall
thingstotheoneperfectionoftheworld.Forinourdomesticconcerns,
wecallthepreparationofeverythingnecessary,contrivance.Andsuch
alsoincities,areliteratureandarts,forumsandbaths,andthelike.But
intheuniverse,contrivancesaresuchthingsasreceiveatemporaland
partialcomposition.As,therefore,templessignifythereceptaclesof
perpetualproductivepowers,andalsoofsuchasareofaconnectiveand
guardiannature;thuslikewisecitiesmanifesthypostasesconsistingof
many,dissimilar,andmortalpowers.Butrecenttransactionsonlybeing
committedtowriting,evincesthattheexistenceofsuchwritingsand
arts,isofamorerecentnature.
23a"Andsoagaininaccustomedyears,acelestialeffluxionrushesonthem
likeadisease."
Thisalsoisevidentinmen.Fordelugesdestroytheirrace,being
Fexcitedindeedfromthecelestialperiods,buthavingwaterfortheir
matter.Hencethewholeofthisiscalledacelestialeffluxion,and,asit
were,adisease,becauseitiscorruptiveofotherthings.That,however,

whichiscorruptive,isindeedtoapartialnatureevil,buttothewhole
ofthingsgood.ButPlatosays,"inaccustomedyears,"becausesuchlike
destructionsareaccomplishedconformablytocertaincirculations,which
alsohavethemselvesacertainconsecutiveorderwithreferencetothe
wholeperiodofadivinelygenerated[orperpetuallycirculating]nature.
Thisalsoseemstobemanifestedthroughtheseparticulars,thatsuch
thingsasarealonegeneratedfromwholesarenecessarilyconsummated
39Aaccordingtomundaneperiods,*whicharedefinedbythesamenumber;
butthatsuchthingsashappenfromcertainpartialcauses,willnot
entirelyhappentobethesame,thoughtheconfigurationsoftheperiod
arethesame.Intheuniverse,however,youmaysurveythesamething,
byunderstandingthatallgeneratednaturesarecorrupted,andyieldto
1,126themundaneperiods,andtothecirculationsofthewholelife[ofthe
world];andthattheperiodsareconjoinedtoeachother,andaccomplish
onecontinuedlife.
23ab"Hencethoseamongyouwhosurvive,areilliterateandunacquainted
withtheMuses.Andthusithappensthatyoubecomejuvenileagain,
tcf.Rep.VIII546b;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,14f.
andignorantofthetransactionsofancienttimes,aswellofthoseamong
us,asofthoseintheregionswhichyouinhabit."*
Forfromadeluge,Platosays,thatherdsmanandshepherdsareleft,
butthattheinhabitantsofcitiesaredestroyed.Hencethosethatremain
areilliterateandwithouttheMuses.Andonaccountoftheformer,
indeed,theyareunablethroughwritingtotransmitmemorialsofthe
preexistentperiod;butonaccountofthelatter,theyarenotsufficiently
capableofpreservinginverseormelodytheeventsthathappenedprior
tothedeluge.Hencetheybecomeobliviousofallthings.Butthrough
Bobliviontheyreturntothelifeofchildren.Foranignorantoldman,
saysAristotle,doesnotatalldifferfromachildinunderstanding.*A
thingofthiskind,however,happenstosoulsthathaverecently
descendedintogeneration.5Forhavingexchangedfortheformer
period,whichwasintellectual,0acertain,secondaryandgenesiurgic
conditionofbeing,theybecomeobliviousofintelligibles,throughthe
delugearisingfrommatter.Suchrepresentationsalsoofintelligibles,
throughthedelugearisingfrommatter.Suchrepresentationsalsoof
intelligibles,astheyoncehadfromthevisionofthemtheyloseinthe
progressionsoftime.Thus,therefore,everythingintheworldreturns
tojuvenilityfromjuvenilitythroughregenerationbeingbornealong
differentlyatdifferenttimes,inconsequenceoftheformofitnaturally
subsistinginmotion.Moreover,theassertionthatmutationstaking
place,thosethatremain,areilliterateandunacquaintedwiththeMuses,

indicatestothosewhoconsideritphysically,thattheanalysisofbodies
takesplaceasfarastothatwhichisformlessandwithoutmorphe;and
alsothatinthismutation,thedestructionoftheelementshappens,
whichismanifestedthroughthewordilliterate,andthedissolutionof
harmony,whichagaintheGodswhoaretheinspectiveguardiansof
renovation,easilyremedy,andrestoretoaconditionaccordingto
1.127nature.
23b"Thetransactionstherefore,OSolon,whichyourelatefromyour
Cantiquities,differverylittlefrompuerilefables."
tcf.Critias109d.
XAristotleNicomacheanEthicsI,1,1095a6.
cf.Phaedrus248cff;Rep.X,621a;andChald.Oracl.fr.114,162.
OForveapaqhere,itisnecessarytoreadvoepoiQ.
TheEgyptianpriestcomparesthevenerableandveryancient
narrationsofSolontothefablesofchildren.Forthefablesofthewise
areaboutthingsofaneternalnature;butthoseofchildrenabout
temporalthingsandwhichareofsmallconsequence.Andtheformer,
indeed,containintellectualconcealedtruth;butthelatter,truthofa
grovellingnature,andwhichindicatesnothingelevated.Tothelatter
fablestherefore,thehistoriesofSolonareanalogous;buttotheformer,
thehistoriesoftheEgyptians.Fortheonelooktothatwhichissmall,
buttheotherhaveamostextendedsurvey.Andtheoneareonly
histories,buttheothercontributetoscience.Fromthesethings,
therefore,theparadigmsalsoofthemaretobesurveyed.Theeffects,
indeed,ofthejuniorfabrication,arecalledthesportsoftheGods,and
resemblefables.Fortheyaretheimagesofbeings,andparticipateof
formsinanultimatedegree.Butthethingswhichprimarilyderivetheir
subsistencefromintelligibles,areintellectual,eternal,andstable,and
havetheessenceofthemselvesconcealed.
23b"For,inthefirstplace,youonlymentiononedelugeoftheearth,
Dthoughinformertimestherehavebeenmany."
ForthedelugeofDeucalionismuchcelebratedbytheGreeks,though
astheEgyptiansays,thereweremanyotherspriortoit.Thusalsoin
wholes,thejuniorfabricationgivescompletiontowholespartially,and
multitudinously,andrendersthatwhichispresentinagoodcondition
throughregeneration.Butinintelligibles,thecausesofthefirst
subsistenceandofthecirculationofforms,areantecedently
comprehendedunically[oraccordingtothenatureofTheOne].
23bc"And,inthenextplace,youareignorantofamostbeautifuland

excellentraceofmen,whoonceinhabitedyourcountry;fromwhence
youandthewholeofyourcitydescended,thoughasmallseedonlyof
thisadmirablepeopleonceremained.Butyourignoranceinthisaffair
isowingtotheposterityofthispeople,whoformanyageswere
destituteofliterature,andbecameasitweredumb."
TheEgyptianwishestoconjointhesecondtotheformerperiod,and
1,128toshowthatthereisoneconnexionandlifeofthefirstAthenians,and
ofthosethatnowexist,throughasmallseed,ashesays,remaining.For
thusalsointheworldtheseedsofaformerperiodconjointhatwhich
succeedsittoitsprinciples,throughtheessenceofcauses,theunceasing
motionoftheuniverse,andassomeonesays,itsimmutablemutation.*
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,109,8ff;and114,28.
Wemustnot,however,wonderifthepriestnowindeedsays,thatSolon
Eistheoffspringofthoseexcellentmen.Forwemustagaindirectour
attentiontothecauseofallmundanecontrariety.ForSolon,sofaras
heisananimal,possessesfromthemthegenus;butsofarasheisa
partialintellect,receivingthenarrationofawar,heisanalogoustothe
divinity,whotransportstheproductiveprincipleofmundane
contrariety,supernallyfromintelligiblestothesensibleregion.Noris
itpropertobedisturbedbysuchlikeobjections,buttoknowthenature
ofanalogies;andthatthesamethingsthroughanalogy,becomefirst,
middle,andlast.
23c"Forpriortothatgreatestdestructionbywater,therewasamost
excellentcityofAthenians,whichsurpassedallothersinwar,andwas
ineveryrespectgovernedbythemostequitablelaws,andwhosedeeds
andpolitiesaresaidtohavebeenthemostbeautifulofallthatwehave
receivedtheknowledgeofbythehearing,undertheheavens."
Platodoesnotperhapsmeanbythegreatestdestruction,thedelugeof
Deucalion,butsomeoneofthedelugespriortoit.Buthecallsthecity
oftheAtheniansmostwarlike,andgovernedbythemostequitablelaws,
asbeinganimitationofitsguardianGoddess,whomheafterwardssays,
isbothphilosophicandphilopolemic*FortheAthenianspartakeof
Fthewarlikefromthephilopolemic,andofequitablelegislationfromthe
philosophic.Bythemostbeautifuldeedshemeansthevictoryoverthe
Atlantics.Butbythemostbeautifulpolitieshedoesnotintendtosignify
thattheychangedmanyofthem,buthethusspeaks,becauseonepolity
1,129maybecalledthenumberofmanypolities;justasoneworldis
connectiveofmanyworlds.Forifthelifeofeachindividualisacertain
polity,butthecommonlifeisthecommunionofmanypartiallives,the
onepolitywillconsistofmanypolities,thebeautyofitdependingon

40Aitsunion.Healsoadds,themostbeautifulofallthatweknowunderthe
heavens,becauseitisthefirstimitationofthepolityoftheworld;so
thatyoumaysay,itisthebestofthoseundertheheavens;forthe
paradigmofitisintheheavens.*Andthusmuchforparticulars.
Again,however,weshouldremindourselvesrespectingthewholedeed
oftheAthenians,thatitisneithercalledafable,noramerehistory;
someindeedreceivingwhatisnarratedasahistory,butothers,asa
fable.Andsomeasserting,that,inthefirstplace,thedevelopmentof
t24d.
tRep.IX,592b.
these,andsuchlikenarrations,appearedtoPlatohimselftobethe
provinceofacertainlaboriousandnotveryfortunateman;*andinthe
secondplace,thatwhatisdeliveredbyPlatoisnotathingofsuchan
enigmaticalnature,asthedoctrineofPherecydes,*butthatheteaches
withperspicuityconcerningmostofhisdogmas.Neither,therefore,say
they,shouldweforcehimtoanalyse,sincethemanproposestoinstruct
uswithoutambiguity.Theyalsoadd,inthethirdplace,thatneitheris
adevelopmentinthepresentinstancenecessary.Forthecauseofthe
insertionofthisnarrationisknowntobethedelightandallurementof
Bthereader.Andinthefourthplace,thatifweanalyseallthings,we
shallsufferthesameasthosewhoinaslipperymannerareconversant
withHomer.Othersagainthinkthatthedevelopmentofthishistory
shouldbereferredtophysicalharmony,fromwhatPlatosaysofthe
narrationaboutPhaeton,5thatithasindeedtheformofafable,butthat
itmanifestsacertainnaturalevent;sincetheEgyptiansalso,who,asPlato
says,werethefathersofthisrelation,obscurelysignifiedthearcanaofnature
throughfable.Sothatthedevelopmentofthisnarrationwillbeadapted
tohim,whospeaksinthepersonoftheEgyptians.ForasTimaeus
himself,conformablytothephilosophyofthePythagoreans,0makeshis
1,130discussionfromnumbersandfigures,asinterpretingnaturethrough
images;thus,also,theEgyptianpriestwillteachthetruthofthings
throughsymbolsadaptedtohimself.Towhichmaybeadded,that
Platohimselfelsewhereaccusesthosewhospeakeverythingfromwhat
isathand,inorder,sayshe,thattheymayrendertheirwisdom
manifest,eventoshoemakers.0Sothathewhodeliverstrueassertions
Cthroughenigmas,isnotforeignfromthemindofPlato.Andsuchare
theargumentsofeach.
Wehowever,say,thatalltheseparticularsareahistory,andalsoan
indicationofthemundanecontrariety,andthewholeorderofthings;
thehistory,indeed,narratingthepasttransactionsofmen,but
symbolicallycomprehendinginitselfthosethingswhichare

comprehendedintheuniverse,andthemundanecontrariety.Forthe
tPlatosaysthisinthePhaedrus[229d]ofthemanwhodoesnotadaptthe
explicationsoffablestodivineconcerns,butinterpretsthemphysically.
%Fr.4.6d.cf.alsoAristotleMetaphysicsXII,8,1091b8.
22csupra.
cf.Iamblichus'LifeofPythagoras,147;alsoProcl.Comm.Parmen.623.
Theaetetus180d.
progressionaccordingtoopposition,commencingfromthefirst
intelligibles,dividestheworldbypowersthatareoppositelyarranged.
Andifyouarewilling,wewilldividetheuniverseaccordingtothe
divineorders,whichareinuninterruptedsuccession,andsurvey,
conformablytothePythagoreans,*thecoordinationsthatitcontains.
Fromthetwoprinciples,therefore,itisdividedintoboundandinfinity,
orratherintothingsalliedtoboundandtheinfinite.Forofthingsthat
aremixed,somepertaintotheformer,*butotherstothelatter
principle.Butfromthatwhichisunfoldedintolightasthethirdafter
theseprinciples,theuniverseisdividedintotheunitedandthe
multiplied.5Fortheremultitudefirstsubsistsunitedly.Fromthetriad
thatisnexttothis,itisdividedintothingsperpetual,andthings
corruptible.0Forthemeasureofexistencetoallthingsisderivedfrom
thence.Fromthethirdtriaditisdividedintothemaleandfemale:0
Dforinthiseachoftheseprimarilysubsists.Butfromthefirsttriadof
thenextorder,itisdividedaccordingtotheevenandtheodd;for
numbercharacterizedbyunitythere.**Fromthesecondtriad,itis
dividedintothepartialandthetotal.**Andfromthethird,55intothe
straightandthecircular.Again,oftheintellectualtriads,itisdivided,
accordingtothefirst,intothingsthatareinthemselves,andthingsthat
1,131areinothers.Accordingtothesecond,intothingsanimatedandthings
inanimate,intothingsstableandthingswhicharemoved.Butaccording
tothethird,intothingsthatarethesameandthingsthatare
different.00AndfromtheorderofRulers,00indeed,itisdivided
tcf.AristotleMetaphysicsI,5,986a15ff.
%cf.Plat.Theol.III,9.
Thisthirdthing,afterthetwoprinciplesboundandinfinity,isbeingitself;
Thistriadconstitutesintelligiblelife,oreternityitself.
oThistriadformsintelligibleintellect,or[autozoon]animalitself.
ttThistriadisthesummitoftheorderwhichiscalledintelligible,andatthesame
timeintellectual.
ttThesecondtriadoftheaboveorderisdenominatedHeaven,byPlatointhe
Phaedrus[247a,ff].
Andthethirdtriadofthisorder,iscalledbyPlatointhePhaedrus,thesubcelestial

arch.
DDTheintellectualtriadconsistsofSaturn,Rhea,andJupiter.
00TheorderofRulers,isthesupermundaneorderofGods.
intothingswhichrejoiceinsimilitude,andthingsalliedtodissimilitude.
Butfromtheliberated*order,itreceivesadivisionintotheseparateand
theinseparable.*Thesethings,therefore,whichhaveanarrangement
elsewhere,havenowalsobeenasitwereexploredbyus.Foraccording
toeachdivision,thegoodnessofbetternatures,desiringtofillthings
subordinate,andtotakeawaydepravity,produceswar.Butthedesire
oflessexcellentnatures,todivulseacertainportionofbeings,ofamore
excellentcondition,excitestheapparentoppositionofthings;sincein
war,also,thosethatcontendagainsteachother,wishtoreduceinto
theirownpowerthepropertyoftheiropponents,andentirelydestroy
them.Thesethings,therefore,areevident.
EWemay,however,understandtheoppositionofpowersinthe
universe,bymakingadivisionafterthefollowingmanner,intothe
adorningandadorned.And,inthefirstplace,indeed,intothingssuperessential
andessences.ForthegenusoftheGodsissuperessential.In
thenextplace,bydividingessencesintoeternallives,andthosewhich
energizeaccordingtotime.Likewise,thosewhichenergizeaccordingto
time,intosoulsandbodies.Andbodies,intosuchasarecelestial,and
suchassubsistingeneration.These,likewise,wemustdivideinto
wholesandparts.Forthedivisionextendsasfarastotheseextremes.
And,again,wemustdividesuperessentialnaturesintothedivine
peculiarities,suchasthemaleandthefemale,theoddandtheeven,that
whichunites,andthatwhichseparates,thestableandthemotive.But
eternalnaturesmustbedividedintototalandpartialessences.Andsuch
asaretotal,intothedivineandangelic.Soulsaretobedividedintothe
divine,andtheattendantsonthedivine.Anddivinesouls,intothe
celestial,andthosethatpayaprovidentialattentiontogeneration.
1,132Souls,likewise,thatfollowtheGods,mustbedividedintothosethat
followthemperpetually,andthosethatarefrequentlyseparatedfrom
them.Andthedivisionofthosethatareseparatedfromthem,isinto
Fthosethatpresideovergenerationwithundefiledpurity,andthosethat
becomedefiledwithvice.Forthedescentisasfarastothese.
Moreover,thecelestialbodiesmustbedividedintotheinerraticand
erratic.Andthese,intosuchasaremovedwithasimple,andsuchas
aremovedwithavariousmotion.Thelatter,also,mustbedividedinto
thepeculiaritiesofpowers.Anduniversallythedivisioninalltheabove
tTheliberatedwhichimmediatelyfollowsthesupermundaneorder,isitself
immediatelyfollowedbythemundaneorderofGods.SeemytranslationofProcluson
theTheologyofPlato[TTSvol.VIII).

tcf.51E&82Einfra.
mentionedorders,isintothatwhichadorns,andthatwhichisadorned,
thatwhichfills,andthatwhichisfilled.
Ifhowever,itberequisite,nottolooktoapart,buttoadheretothe
intellectualconceptionofwholes,itmustbeadmittedthatthis
oppositionsubsistseverywhere.ForitisinGods,andinintellects,in
souls,andinbodies.Forinthefirstofthese,thereisboundand
41Ainfinity;inintellects,samenessanddifference;insouls,thecircleofthe
same,andthecircleofthedifferent;andinbodies,heavenand
generation.Butsecondarynaturesarealwaysarrangedwithreference
to*suchasareexcellent.Hence,also,wesaythatthisnarrationis
usefultothewholetheoryofnature,asindicatingtousthemundane
contrarietyfromenergiesandmotions.Foralltheteachersof
physiologybeginfromcontraries,andmakethesetobeprinciples;
whichPlatoalsoknowing,deliverstous,throughsymbolsandenigmas,
whatthecontrarietyisofthegeneraintheuniverse,andhowlessare
subjugatedtomoreexcellentnatures,throughtheintellectualenergyof
Minerva.Fartherstill,Platoveryproperlycallsthepolitytheworkof
theAthenians,becauseitisrequisitethatsuchananalogyasthiswhich
thejuniorfabricationconnects,shouldproceedthroughallthings;but
thattotalpowersshouldbyamuchgreaterpriorityeffectthis,from
whichalsothejuniorfabricationbeingfilled,givessubsistenceto
mundaneintellects,tosoulsandbodies,conformablytothepeculiarity
ofitself.
23d"Solon,therefore,onhearingthis,saidthathewasastonished,and
Bburningwiththemostardentdesire,entreatedtheprieststonarrate
1,133everythingpertainingtohisancientfellowcitizens."
This,likewise,isthepeculiarityofdivinenatures,viz.forsuchasare
secondary,genuinelytoadheretosuchasarefirst,andtobeestablished
intheirundefiledintellectualperceptions;butforsuchasarefirst,to
impartbyilluminationtheirownplenitudetosuchasaresecondary,
through*unenvyingexuberantpowerandgoodness.Wonder,therefore,
precedes,becauseinus,also,thisisthebeginningoftheknowledgeof
wholes.Butindivinenatures,itconjoinsthatwhichwonderswiththe
objectofwonder.Hence,likewise,thosewhoarewiseindivine
tForitpoTUVap.eivovuv,itisnecessarytoreadTrpocTUVctfieivovuv.
$InsteadofTa5ejpura,bvvaptuva<p6ovuv,naiayadoriin,rotebevrtpou;
iriXaft7rii'rt\vcup'eavruvirXripuOLVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTO;5e
irpuTCiSeaSvvaneuvoupOovuv,KMayaBoTTjTOC;,K.\.
concernscelebrateThaumas,+[whosenameisderivedfromthauma,

wonder,]asoneofthegreatestoftheGods,whothroughwonder
inclinessecondarytoprimarynatures.Butardentrequestfollows,
renderingthatwhichoughttopartakeofmoreperfectgoods,adapted
totheparticipationofthem.
23d"Thatafterwards,oneofthepriestssaid:Nothingofenvy,OSolon,
preventsusfromcomplyingwithyourrequest.Butforyoursakeand
thatofyourcity,Iwillrelatethewhole;andespeciallyonaccountof
theGoddess."
CSolonbeinganAthenian,hasaresemblancetotheTutelarGoddess
Minerva,*sofarasheadherestomoreperfectintellectualperceptions.
Andthepriestresemblesonespeaking,asitwere,fromacertain
adytum.Forheteacheswhatwascommittedtowritinginthetemples;
andpresentstousanimitationofthemiddleordersofthejunior
fabrication,andofthewholepaternalcause;whichorderstransmitting
thegiftsofamoreelevatedtoasubordinatecause,fillfromthatasfrom
acertainfountainthedivineorder.Allthings,likewise,areelegantly
effectedbythespeaker.ForSolonisperfected,thecityispraised,and
theGoddessiscelebrated.5TheascentalsoisfromSolontothe
Goddessthroughthecityasamedium;imitatingtheconvertivepower
1,134oftheGoddess.Andthis,likewise,isindeedbeneficent;viz.toenergize
forthesakeoftheperfectionofsecondarynatures:foritimitates0
providence,andthesuperplenarypowerofdivinebeings.Butitisin
astillgreaterdegreebeneficent,toenergizeforthesakeofthecity:for
theenergyismoreample,andembracesagreaterpower.Besidesthis,
itisstillmoredivinetoextendallthenarrationtotheGoddess,andto
terminatethewholeenergyinher;allwhich,theunenvying
communicationofthepriestgenuinelyrepresentstous,notonlyin
Ddicatingtheprivationofenvy,butthedivineandpromptgenerationof
good.
Again,however,wemustnotbeignorantlydisturbed,ifnowindeed
thepriestasbeingthedispensatorofthenarration,issaidtoadumbrate
agreaterandmoredivinecause;butatanothertime,theAthenians
beingtheancestorsofSolon,aremoreancientthantheinhabitantsof
tcf.56E,296Band297A,infra.
%cf.Theaetetus162a.
cf.52Einfra,p.161.
ForKotiiraihere,itisnecessarytoreadfiiiievrcu.

Sais;theAtheniansbeingarrangedaccordingtothemundanecausesof
thewholecontrarietyofthings.Forsofaraspertainstothenarration,

theyhavethisorder;butsofaraspertainstophysicalprogression,they
bringwiththemanimageofcertainmoreelevatedanddivineorders.
Andifyouarewillingsotospeak,sinceallfabrication,andthe
mundanecontrariety,areantecedentlycomprehendedinthefatherof
wholes,togetherwithadorningcauses,andthingswhichareadorned,
youmaytherealsoassumeaccordingtoanalogy,theparadigmaticcause
oftheAtheniansinintellectuallives.Foragain,theveil[ofMinerva]is
thelastimageofthewholecontrarietyofthings.Butintheuniverse,
thetrueworksoftheGodshaveaprecedency,andlikewiseinthe
productiveandprimarycausesofthem;wherealsoitissaid,Minerva
Ebecameapparent,investedwitharmour.*Orrather,theveilisthelast
workoftheweavingart,containinginitselfanimageofthemundane
war,andofthedemiurgicorderproceedingfromtheGoddessintothe
universe;whichveilshewoveinconjunctionwithherfather.Abetter
imagehoweverofthis,isthatwhichinthenarrationofPlato,andin
enigmas,representstousthewholecontrarietyofthings,andofthe
worksofMinerva;whichnarrationcontributestothewhole[descriptive]
fabricationoftheworld,inthesamemannerastheveiltothesplendid
1,135processionoftheGoddess,andthewholeofthesolemnity.Forthe
PanathenaeaisanimageoftheMinervalfabricationintheuniverse.The
veil,however,issuperiortoboththese,whichiswovenintheuniverse,
intheintellectuallightofMinerva.Forcontrarietyisspreadunderthe
onelifeoftheworld,andthewarisapartofthefabricationofthings,
whichtherulingartofMinervaarrangesinabecomingmanner.And
priortoallthese,istheveil,whichispreestablishedinparadigmatic
causesandtheintelligible,andiscomprehendedintheoneintellectual
perceptionofMinerva.For,
Inweaving,allth'immortalssheexcels,*
saysOrpheus.Hence,theweavingartisthereprimarily,andtheveilof
theessenceofthisGoddess,whichessenceisallthingsintellectually,that
theuniverseisaccordingtoamundanecharacteristic.Forinrulingover
thewaroftheuniverse,shedoesnotlookanywhereelsethaninto
herself.
tcf.51Dinfra,p.158.
$Fr.135.cf.Procl.Comm.Crat.53,24;andLobeck,Aglaophemus,541.
FThatwemayhoweverrecurtothethingproposedtobeconsidered,
theEgyptianpriestdirectlyimitatestheunenvyingprovidenceofthe
Demiurgus,aboutwhichPlatoalittlefartheronsays,*"Hewasgood,
butenvyneversubsistsinhimwhoisgood,aboutanything."Forthe
orderswhichexistproximatelywithhim,havefromhim,andon
accountofhim,anunenvyingparticipationofgood.Andthroughthis
privationofenvy,thepriestfillsindeedthemindofSolon,butpraises

thecity,andcelebratesthetutelarGoddess;conjoiningpartialandtotal*
42Anatures,unitingthingscontainedtothethingsthatcontainthem,and
suspendingallthingsfromtheGoddess,accordingtoonebondandone
series.
23d"Whoisallottedtheguardianshipbothofyourcityandours,andby
whomtheyhavebeennourishedandeducated."
TheEgyptian,afteracertainadmirablemanner,convertsallthingsto
theGoddess,andproducesthemfrom,andagainconvertsthemtoher.
1,136Forrecurringfromacitizenthroughthecitytothepowerwhopresides
overit,hemakesthisconversion.Butagainproceedingfromthe
Goddesstothenaturesthatprimarily,andalsotothosethatsecondarily
participateofher,heimitatestheprogressionofthingsfromher
divinity.Againalsoassertingthattheparticipantsarenourishedand
disciplinedbytheGoddess,helikewiseconvertsthesetoher.Howis
itpossible,therefore,thattheseparticularsshouldnotinanadmirable
mannerimitatedemiurgicpowers,whichareestablishedinnaturesprior
tothemselves,andgeneratethoseposteriorto,andconvertthemtothe
causesofthemselves?Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
What,however,isthemeaningofthisallotment?Andhowarethe
BGodssaidtobedistributedintotheuniverse?Ofallotmentstherefore,
somearethoseofpartialsouls,andothers,oftheundefiledgenera.
Somearedaemoniacal,othersangelic,andothers,oftheGods
themselves.Forifthefatheroftheuniversewasonealone,andthere
wasonlyoneprovidenceandonelaw,therewouldbenoneedof
allotments,norofdivinedistribution.Since,however,aftertheone
fatherthereisatriad,aftertheuniformamultiformprovidence,and
afteronelawamultitudeoffatallaws,itisalsonecessarythatthere
shouldbeadivisionofthesubjectsofgovernment,andanother
providenceandorderaboutotherthings.Throughthiscausethereforethe
tTim.29e.
%ForvKiKCthere,itisnecessarytoreadoXoca.
universeisdividedbydemiurgicnumbers,viz.bytheduad,triad,tetrad,
pentad,hebdomad,anddodecad.Foraftertheonefabrication,thesection
oftheuniverseintotwo,heavenandgeneration,constitutestwofold
allotments,thecelestialandgenesiurgic.Afterthis,thetriaddividesthe
universe,aboutwhichNeptuneinHomer*says,
Tomebylotbelongsthehoarydeep,
ThespaciousheaventoJove,toPluto,Hadesdark.

Thetetradicdistributionfollowsthetripleorder;givingafourfold
Carrangementtotheelementsintheuniverse,asthePythagoreanssay,
1,137celestiallyandethereally,abovetheearth,andundertheearth.Nextto
thisisthefivefolddivision.Fortheworldisone,consistsoffiveparts,
andisappropriatelydividedbycelestial,empyreal,aerial,aquatic,and
terrestrialfigures,andpresidingGods.Afterthisallotment,thedivision
intosevenpartsfollows.Fortheheptadbeginningsupernallyfromthe
inerraticsphere,proceedsthroughalltheelements.Andafterallthese,
istheallotmentoftheuniversedefinedinthedodecad.Fromthedivine
allotments,however,theallotmentsofangelsanddaemonsaresuspended
andhavemorevariousdistributions.Foronedivineallotmentis
comprehensiveofmanyangelical,andofastillgreaternumberof
daemoniacalallotments.Foreveryangelrulesoveramultitudeof
daemons,andeveryangelicalallotmenthasaboutitselfmanydaemoniacal
allotments.ForwhatamonadisintheGods,thatatribeistoeach
allotmentindaemons.Insteadofatriad,therefore,wemustassume
threecompanies,andinsteadofthetetradordodecad,fournumbersand
twelvechoirs,followingtheirrespectiveleaders.*Andthusweshall
Dalwayspreservethehigherallotments.Forasinessences,asinpowers,
asinenergies,progressionsgeneratemultitude,thusalsoinallotments,
thosethatrankasthefirst,haveaprecedencyinpower,butare
diminishedinquantity;asbeingmoreproximatetotheonefather,and
tothetotalandoneprovidence.Butthosethatarethesecondinrank,
areallottedadiminishedpower,andanincreasedmultitude.These
thingsthereforearetobeconsideredincommonaboutallotments.
Since,however,wehavedividedallotmentsaccordingtoasectioninto
two,intothecelestialandsublunary,concerningtheformerindeedthere
canbenodoubtrespectingthenatureofthem,andwhethertheyalways
remaininvariablythesame.Butthesublunaryallotmentsaredeservedly
tIliadxv,190,&c.
$cf.Phaedrus247a.
subjectsofadmiration,whethertheyaresaidtobeperpetual,ornot.
1,138Foriftheyareperpetual,howisthispossible?Forhow,sinceevery
thingingenerationismutableandflowing,cantheenergiesofthe
powersthatprovidentiallyinspectit,beperpetual?Forthethingsthat
areingeneration,arenotperpetual.Andiftheseenergiesarenot
perpetual,howisitthatdivineinspectionsubsistsdifferentlyatdifferent
times?ForanallotmentisneitheracertainseparateenergyofGods,in
orderthatthingsingenerationbeingchangedintoanothercondition,
Ethisenergymayremainexemptandimmutable;norisitalonethat
whichisgoverned,inorderthatnoabsurditymayfollowfromthe
allotmentflowing,andsustainingallvariousmutations;butitisan

assignedstate,providence,andunrestrainedgovernmentofdivinity,
aboutthesesublunaryconcerns.Andonaccountindeedofthesubject
ofgovernment,thedefinitionofperpetuitycannotbeappliedtoit;but
onaccountofitsbeing[always]present,itisdestituteofcorruption,in
orderthatwemaynotascribetotheGodsthepassionofpartialsouls,
byassigningthemdifferentallotmentsatdifferenttimes.Henceit
remainsforustoshow,howallotmentistobeexplained,soasto
preservetheimmutableintheGods,andmutabilitytothingsin
generation.
Perhapsthereforethediscussionofthisaffairwillbeeasy,byhaving
recoursetothattheory,whichwehavefrequentlyelsewhereemployed,
viz.thateverythingingeneration,andgenerationitself,mustnotbe
consideredasaloneconsistingofmutableandflowingthings,butthere
isalsointhesesomethingimmutable,andnaturallyadaptedtoremain
alwaysthesame.Fortheinterval,whichreceivesallthepartsofthe
world,comprehendstheminitself,andisextendedthroughallbodies,
Fisimmovable,lest,ifitbelongedtothingswhicharemoved,itshould
alsoitselfrequireanotherreceptacle,andthisshouldbethecasead
infinitum.Theetherealvehicleslikewiseofdivinesouls,withwhich
thesesoulsarecircularlyinvested,*andwhichimitatethelivesinthe
heavens,haveaperpetualessence,andareeternallysuspendedfrom
divinesouls,beingfullofprolificpower,andperformingacircular
motion,*accordingtoacertainsecondarycircleofthecelestialorbs.
Andinthethirdplace,thewholenessoftheelementsremainsalways
1,139thesame,thoughthepartssustainanallvariouscorruption.Foritis
43Anecessarythateachformoftheuniverseshouldbeneverfailing,inorder
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.61.
XInsteadofovrax\i)pri,Kmyovip.ovdvvotneuc.KIVT)OLVeynviikioviroioviieva,itis
necessarytoreadovrawXrjpriyovip.ov6vvap.eu<;,KmKivrjoiv,K.\.
thattheuniversemaybeperfect,andthatbeinggeneratedfroman
immoveablecauseitmaybeimmoveableaccordingtoessence.Butevery
wholenessisaform,orratheritisthatwhichitissaidtobe,throughthe
participationofoneentireform.
Andhere"youmaysee,howthenatureofbodiesproceedsin[a
becoming]order.Foronething[i.e.theintervaloftheuniverse]is
immoveableaccordingtoeverymotion;butanotherthing,[i.e.the
vehicleofdivinesouls]receivesmotiononlyaccordingtoplace.Forthis
ismostremotefromessentialmutation.Andanotherthing,[i.e.the
wholenessoftheelements]admitsofothermutationsinitsparts,butthe
wholeremainsentirelyimmutable.Andthecelestialallotmentsindeed,
proximatelydividingtheinterval,dividealsotogetherwithitthe

heavens.Butwithrespecttothesublunaryallotments,inthefirstplace
indeedtheyareallottedportionsintheintervaloftheuniverse.Inthe
nextplace,theymakedistributionaccordingtothedefinitevehiclesof
souls.Andinthethird*place,theyremainalwaysinvariablythesame,
accordingtothewholepartsofgeneration.TheallotmentsoftheGods
Bthereforedonotchange,norsubsistdifferentlyatdifferenttimes.For
theyhavenotproximatelytheirhypostasisinthatwhichischanged.
How,therefore,dotheilluminationsoftheGodstakeplaceinthese?
Howarethedissolutionsofsacredriteseffected?Andhowisthesame
place,atdifferenttimesoccupiedbydifferentspirits?Maywenotsay,
thattheGodspossessingperpetualallotments,anddividingtheearth
accordingtodivinenumbers,similarlytothesectionsoftheheavens,
thesedivisionsoftheearthalsoareilluminated,sofarastheypossess
aptitude?Butthecirculationofthecelestialorbsproducesindeedthis
aptitude,throughcertainconfigurations;divineillumination,*atthe
sametime,impartingapowermoreexcellentthantheexistingnature.
Totalnaturelikewise[ornatureconsideredasawhole]producesthis
aptitude,insertingdivineimpressionsineachofthethingsilluminated,
throughwhichthesespontaneouslyparticipateoftheGods.Forshe
insertsdifferentimagesofthedivinitiesindifferentilluminatedparts,in
consequenceofthesepartsbeingsuspendedfromtheGods.Timesalso
effectsomething,accordingtowhichtheconditionsofotherthingsare
governed.Thegoodtemperamentoftheairtoocooperates.And,in
1,140short,everythingaboutuscontributestotheincreaseanddiminution
ofthisaptitude.When,therefore,accordingtoaconcurrenceofthese
Cmanycauses,aptitudetotheparticipationoftheGodsisingeneratedin
tForKpeiTWV,readrpnov.
XItappearstomethatthewordsBtiaQfXXa^euc;arewantinginthisplace.
someoneofthethingsnaturallydisposedtobechanged,thendivinity
isunfoldedintolight,eveninthesemutablenatures,hebeingbefore
concealedthroughtheinaptitudeoftherecipients;possessingindeed
eternallyhisproperallotment,andalwaysextendingtheparticipationof
himself,butnotbeingalwaysreceivedbytheseterrestrialplaces,on
accountoftheirinaptitude.Butinthesamemannerasofpartialsouls,
whichchoosedifferentlivesatdifferenttimes,somechoosesuchasare
adaptedtotheirproperGods,butotherssuchasareforeign,throughan
oblivionofthedivinitiestowhomtheyareallied;thus,also,ofsacred
places,someareadaptedtothepowerthathastherehisallotment,but
othersaresuspendedfromanotherorder.Andonthisaccount,saysthe
Athenianguest,*someareaccustomedtobemoreprosperous,but
othersmoreunfortunate.Whether,therefore,thetelesticorlegislative
artdedicatesthisparticularcitytothedivinitywho,accordingtoan
eternalallotmentfromthebeginning,receivedthisportion[oftheearth],
thelife[oftheinhabitants]isthroughthisinagreaterdegreeassimilated

tothetutelardeity,andtheworksofhim[wholookstothisdivinityin
effectingthem]arerenderedmorecorrectlygreatandadmirablethan
thoseofthemanwhoisnotimpelledtoactionfromaprincipleofthis
kind.*Andhewhochoosesalifeconformabletothatoftheallotted
Ddeity,actswithgreaterrectitudethanhedoeswhotransfershimselfto
anotherorder.
Conformablytothismodetherefore,theEgyptiansays,thatMinerva
isallottedthecitywhichisnamedafterher,andalsohisowncitySais;
inferringthisperhapsfromthegreatsimilitudeofthelifeofthecitizens
totheGoddess;andperhapsalsoperceivingthattherewasanallotment
ofthiskind,fromthetelesticart,andsacerdotalworks.Forasofthe
otherGods,solikewiseofMinerva,thereisanallotmentproceeding
supernallyfromintellectualcausestotheplaceoftheearth.Her
1,141allotmentthereforeisfirstinherfather;butintherulingGods
accordingtoasecondorder.InthetwelveliberatedGods,itmakesa
thirdprogression;butafterthis,itunfoldsitselfintolightinthe
heavens,withunrestrainedauthority.Inonewayindeed,inthe
inerraticsphere.ForthereacertainallotmentofthisGoddessis
expanded,whetheritbetheplaceabouttheRam,orthataboutthe
Virgin,orwhetheritbesomeoneofthenorthernstars,assomesayit
istheElectra,whichisthere.Butinanotherway,itisunfoldedinto
lightintheSun.Forthere,accordingtotheologists,anadmirable
tLawsVI,771b.
$cf.50E,infra.
Epower,andaMinervalorder,governwholesinconjunctionwiththe
Sun.Andagain,inanotherwayintheMoon:forMinervaisthemonad
ofthetriad*whichisthere.Butinanotherwayintheearth,according
tothesimilitudeoftheallotmentsoftheearthtothecelestial
distributions.Andlastly,abouttheearthdifferentlyindifferentplaces,
accordingtothepeculiaritiesofprovidence.Itisnotthereforeatall
wonderful,ifonedivinityshouldbesaidtobeallottedbothAthensand
Sais.Forthesamethingmustnotbesupposedtotakeplaceaboutthe
Gods,asaboutpartialsouls,whicharenotadaptedtodwellintwo
bodiesatthesametime,becausetheyexertaprovidentialenergyin
conjunctionwithhabitude;butthereisindeedaparticipationofthe
samepowerindifferentplaces;andintheonepowerthereisalso
multitude.Thispowerlikewiseisdifferentlyparticipatedbydifferent
places.Andinsome,samenessismoreabundantlyparticipated;butin
others,difference.
Thesethingsthereforearetrulyasserted,andtheallotmentsofthe
Godsareperpetuallyestablishedintheuniverse.Theselikewiseexisting,
therearedifferenttemporalevolutionsofthemintolight,accordingto

differentplaces.Ancienttheologyalsomanifeststheperpetualessence
oftheallotments;aswhenitissaidinHomer,
Tomeinocean'shoarydeepstodwell,
Always,bylotbelongs.*
FForthewordalwaysissignificantofperpetuity.Andinshort,sinceit
isnecessarythatpriortothingswhichsometimes,thereshouldbenatures
whichalways,participateoftheGods,itislikewisenecessarythat
1,142perpetualallotmentsshouldexistpriortosuchasaretemporal.Foras
daemonspriortopartialsoulsfollowtheGods,thusalsothereare
perpetualallotmentssuspendedfromtheGods,priortopartial
illuminations.AndthemundaneGodscomprehendtheseallotments;
theterrestrialGods,suchasareterrestrial;theaquatic,suchasare
aquatic;andtheaerial,suchaspertaintotheair.TheseGodslikewise,
priortovisiblebodies,rideinetherealvehicles,conformablytothe
44AGodsintheheavens.Butwhetheritmustbeadmitted,thatthereare
othersublunaryallotments,proceedingfromonhighinconjunction
withdivinelight,mustbeelsewhereconsidered:5forwhathasbeensaid,
issufficientforthepresent.
tThistriadconsistsofMinerva,Proserpine,andDiana.
tIliadxv,190.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,178,6ff;&II,94,26ff.
23de"Yoursindeed,byaprioritytooursofathousandyears,receivingthe
seedofyourracefromVulcanandtheEarth."
WithrespecttothefabricationofVulcan,howmaysomeonedecide,
soasnotperfectlytofailinhisconceptionsofthepoweroftheGod?
Fortheassertionsofthemultitudeconcerninghim,belongtothings
whichmustbeentirelyrejected.Butthatwhichissaidbythosewhose
notionsaremoreintellectual*isindeedtrue,butrequiresnosmall
degreeofconfirmation.Weshallthereforeintroducetoourdiscussion
fromtheologists,credibilityconcerningthisdivinity.ThatVulcanthen
isofthedemiurgic,butnotofthevivific,orconnective,oranyother
series,ismanifestedbytheologists,*whentheyrepresenthimas
fashioningthingsfrombrass,employingthebellows,and,inshort,
Bwhentheycallhimtheartificer.Butthatheisthefabricatorofsensible,
andnotofpsychical,orintellectualworks,isalsomanifestedbythem.
Fortheformationofamirror,theexerciseofthebrazier'sart,lameness,
andeverythingofthiskind,aresymbolsofhisproductiveenergyabout
asensiblenature.Moreover,thatheisthemakerofallsensibles,is
evidentfromthesametheologists,whosaythathewashurledfrom
Olympusasfarastotheearth,andwhomakeallthereceptaclesofthe

mundaneGods,tohavebeenelaboratedbyVulcan.If,therefore,we
1,143admitthatthesethingsaretrue,thisGodwillbethefabricatortotallyof
everycorporealformedsubstance;preparingfortheGodstheirvisibleseats,
renderingallthingssubservienttotheoneharmonyoftheworld;fillingall
fabricationswithcorporeallife;andadorningandconnectingwithformsthe
resistingandgrossnatureofmatter.Onthisaccountalsoheissaidby
theologiststofashionthingsfrombrass,asbeingtheartificerofresisting
solids.Andbecausetheheavensare[saidtobe]brazen,asbeingan
imitationoftheintelligible,themakeroftheheavensislikewise[fabled
Ctobe]abrazier.Butheislameinbothhisfeet,5asbeingthefabricator
ofthingsthatarelastintheprogressionsofbeing;forsucharebodies;
andalsoasbeingnolongerabletoproceedintoanotherorder.
Likewise,becauseheisthemakeroftheuniverse,which,asTimaeus
tInsteadof01vtunpovinthisplace,itappearstometobenecessarytoreadot
voepurepov.
$cf.101D&227Cinfra,p.308,andp.691;alsoProcl.Comm.Parmen.829,14.
Itmustbecarefullyobserved,thatdefectswhenascribedtodivinenatures
adumbratetranscendencies:justasthosewhoseeyesarefilledwiththesolarlight,are
saidtobeincapableofperceivingmundaneobjects;forthisincapacityisnothingmore
thantranscendencyofvision.Inlikemanner,thelamenessofVulcan,symbolically
indicateshisexemptionfromanydefectiveprogression.
says,iswithoutlegs.*Andhewashurledfromonhightoearth,as
extendinghisfabricationthroughthewholeofthesensibleessence.*
Whether,therefore,therearesaidtobecertainphysicalproductive
principlesintheuniverse,orwhethertherearespermaticprinciples,the
causeofallthesemustbereferredtothisGod.Forthatwhichnature
effectsbyvergingtobodies,thisGodfashionsdivinelyandexemptly,
excitingnature,andusingherasaninstrumenttoherownfabrication.
ForinnateheatisVulcanian,beinggeneratedbyVulcanassubservient
tocorporealproduction.Theproductivecausethereforeofgenerated
naturesisreferred,inwhatPlatosays,tothisGod.
Sincehowevermatterisnecessarytothingsthataregenerated;forthe
Godsintheheavensborrowpartsfromtheuniverse,5asthingswhich
willbeagainreturned,forthegenerationofmortalanimals;thisalso
Platodeliverstous,inaveryadmirablemanner,throughearth.Forin
Dseeditself,thereareproductivepowers,andasubject.Andtheformer
arederivedfromtheartofVulcan;butthelatterfromearth.Forby
earth,wemustnowunderstandeverymaterialcause;notthatthe
1,144Athenianssprungfromtheearth;butbecauseitisusualtocallall
generationearth,andeverythingmaterial,earthly.Fire,therefore,isa
Vulcanianinstrument;butearthismatter,whichisexcitedandvivified
throughfire,sinceitisofitselflifeless.Hencealso,inconsequenceof

thisbeingfilled,thematerialorderisnowassumedinconjunctionwith
Vulcan.AndonthisaccountitissaidthattheseedofVulcan,together
withearth,gavesubsistencetothegenerationoftheAthenians.For
accordingtothefablealso,VulcanbeinginlovewithMinerva,emitted
hisseedontheearth,andfromthencetheraceoftheAthenians
blossomedforth.Inshort,therefore,Vulcanisalwaysinlovewith
Minerva,imitatingherintellectualnature,inthefabrication0of
sensibles.ButMinervalsouls,accordingtothisenergyofVulcan,
especiallyreceivevehiclesfromhim,andareintroducedintobodiesfrom
theproductivepowersofVulcan,andthehypostasis0ofearth;the
productivepowersreceivingMinervalimpressions.ForthisGod,
tTim.34a.
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,82,11.
Tim.42e.
InsteadofTOvoepovCWTTJCTUVUIO8I)TUVmnovnevoq.inthisplace,whichis
evidentlydefective,IreadTOvoeipova.vrr\qevTTJ8i}p.iavpyiaTUVaia0r)TUV
mnovnevoc.
OForTTjc7TjcVTOaraotvTUV\oyuv,aBrjvoiiKOiOVV8T\)IXXTOI\afiovTUV,itseems
necessarytoreadTT/C777cVTtooTaaewQ,TUV\oyuvcdhfK&KO,K.\.
Epriortonature,istheperfecterofbodies,insertingindifferentbodies,
differentsymbolsofthedivinities.
Whathoweverarethethousandyears,accordingtowhichthe
AtheniansarepriortotheinhabitantsofSais?This,therefore,maybe
saidhistorically.Butitseemsalsotosignifythetemporalpriorityofthe
lifeoftheAthenians,andinshort,thatitisnecessarytheirlifeshould
bemoreelevatedthanthatoftheSatans.Forasintheinvisibleorders
ofthings,manygeneraaresuspendedfromthesameleader,someindeed
moreproximately,butothersmoresubordinately;afterthesamemanner
also,ofMinervalsoulsdescendingintogeneration,someareassimilated
toMinerva,accordingtothehighestdegreeofexcellence;butothers
subsistproximatelyafterthese.Athousandyears,therefore,signifythis
excellence.Fortheyarethemeasureofaperfectgenesiurgicperiod,on
accountofathousandbeingacubicnumber.Hencethisnumberisvery
properlyadaptedtoalifesuperioraccordingtogeneration,andwhich
isinagreaterdegreeassimilatedtothetutelarGoddess.Ifalsoyouwish
totransferthesethingstotheuniverse,youmaytherebeholdallthe
visiblefabricationwhichisVulcanian,andadorningcausesandadorned
1,145effects;someofwhicharemoretotal,butothersmorepartial.And
somebeinganalogoustotheAthenians,butotherstotheSatans.For
Fnothinghinders,butthatthesamethingsmaybesurveyedanalogously,
indemiurgiccauses,intheuniverse,andinanhistoricalnarration.

ThedivineIamblichushoweverdoubts,howthegodsaresaidtobe
allottedcertainplaces,accordingtodefinitetimes;asforinstance,
MinervawasfirstallottedAthens,andafterwardsSas.Forif,their
allotmentcommencesfromacertaintime,itwillalsoatacertaintime
cease.Forwhateverismeasuredbytime,isathingofthiskind.
Fartherstill,withrespecttotheplacewhichtheyareallottedatacertain
time,wasitwithoutaruler,whenitfelltotheirlot,orwasitunderthe
dominionofotherGods?Forif,indeed,itwaswithoutaruler,howis
45Aitpossiblethatanythingbelongingtotheuniversecanbeperfectly
destituteofdivinity?How,inshort,cananyplaceremainwithoutthe
guardianprotectionofmoreexcellentnatures?Orhow,ifitissufficient
tothepreservationofitself,canitafterwardsbecometheallotmentof
someoneoftheGods?Butifitisunderthedominionofanother
leader,itwillalsofalltotheallotmentofanotherGod,andthusan
absurditywillensue.ForthesecondGoddoesnotdivulsethe
prefectureandallotmentoftheformerdivinity.NordotheGods
alternatelyreceivetheplacesofeachother;nordodaemonschangetheir
allotments.Iamblichushavingthusdoubted,dissolvesthedoubtsby
saying,thattheallotmentsoftheGodsareperpetuallyestablished,but
thattheparticipantsofthem,atonetimederiveadvantagefromthe
guardianshipoftherulers,andatanotherreapnobenefitfromit.He
adds,thatthesearetheparticipationswhicharemeasuredbytime,and
whichsacredinstitutionsfrequentlycallthebirthdaysoftheGods.Ithas
howeverbeenobservedbyus,thatthisresemblesthatwhichhappens
aboutsouls.ForeverysoulhasentirelyatutelarGod.*Andcertain
soulschooselivesadaptedtootherGods.Thus,therefore,everyplace
BistheallotmentofacertainGod,andthereisatimewhenitbecomes
theallotmentofsomeotherdivinity,whorendersitadaptedthrougha
certainperiod,orthroughcertainmysticritesestablishedbymen.For
allotmentistwofold,theonebeingessential,buttheothersubsisting
accordingtohabitude.Butletusdirectourattentiontowhatfollows.
23e"Butanaccountofthetransactionsofthisourcity,duringthespace
1,146ofeightthousandyears,ispreservedinoursacredwritings."
ThepriestassignstotheAtheniansthenumberninethousand,
receivingthisalsofromhistory;buttotheSatansthenumbereight
thousand;measuringthelivesofthecitizensbythechiliad,conformably
tothewritingsinthetemples.Forbythisnumber,asthephilosopher
Porphyrysays,daemonsalsomeasuretime.Fartherstill,thepriestmakes
thisnarrationfromthesacredwritings;whichmanifests,asIamblichus
wouldsay,thestableguardofthemundanedivineguardians.These
numbers,however,happentolivesaccordingtoaprobablereason.For
eightthousandisacubeonacube;*butninethousandisatetragonic
superficiesonacube.5HencetheoneDgivesdepthtoasuperficies,
andthisthroughtheindefiniteduad;buttheotherpreservesthe

superficiesitselfinitself,insimilitudeandperfectionfromthetriad.**
CButitisthesymbolofabetterlife,toremaininitself,andtoadorn
secondarynatures.Anditisanindicationofamoreimperfectlife,to
tcf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,435.
XFor1000isacube,andsolikewiseis8.
For9isasquare,and1000isacube.
8000givesdepthtothesuperficies20.For20x20x20=8000andthisisthrough
theduad,because20=2x10.
cf.LawsX,904c;Chald.Oracl.fr.8;Procl.Comm.Rep.II,51,26.
ttTheoriginalTaylorprintingofthisnoteread'For9000isthecubeof30.'but
thisisclearlyanerror:followingthepreviousfootnote,wecansaythat9000represents
thesquare(of3)onacube(of10).
descendtosecondarynatures,tobeassimilatedtothem,andtobefilled
withacertainindefiniteness.Sincehoweverevenasecondarynatureis
notentirelydeprivedofsimilitudetodivinity,thedescentisthrougha
cube,inwhichthereisatetradicsimilitude.*Butitisbettertoimitate
moreexcellentnaturethroughamoresimplelife,thanthroughalife
whichismorecompounded.Andasquareismoresimplethanacube.
Ifhoweveryoushouldsay,thatthenumberninethousandisadaptedto
thosethathavetheirhypostasisfromEarthandVulcan;forathousand
isterrestrial,asbeingacube,butninepertainstoVulcan,
WiththemImanyartificialforms
Fornineyearsfashion'd
saysVulcan[inHomer,*]inthusspeaking,youwillnotwanderfrom
1,147thetruth.But,inshort,acubeisadaptedtotheterrestrialallotments
ofMinerva;sincethedecadisattributedtotheheavens,andthelast
progressionofthedecadgivessubsistencetothesolidnumberone
thousand.FortheGodsmaketheirprogressionfromthecelestial
allotmentstotheterrestrial,asthelast.Thisthereforemustbesaidby
us.
DThephilosopherPorphyryhowever,ininterpretingthesethings,
supposesVulcantobetheintellectthatpresidesoverart,butearthtobe
thelunarsphere.5ForthisiscalledbytheEgyptiansetherealearth.He
saysthereforethatsoulswhichderivetheirsubsistencefromdivinity,
butparticipateoftheartificial[orVulcanic]intellect,aredisseminated
inthebodyofthemoon;soulsthatgivethemselvestothearts,dwelling
there;andthattheyhavebodieswhichareeffluxionsoftheethereal
bodies.Thatninethousandyears,also,areadaptedtothesesouls,after
thefollowingmanner.Amyriadofyearsis,sayshe,theperiodofthe
soulwhichascendsanddescendsthroughthefivestars,inorderthat

eachmayhavetwochiliads,yetnotsuccessive.Timeindeedis
successiveaccordingtoconception;foritisnotwithoutcontinuity.
Henceallthestarshaveninelives;whichisobscurelysignifiedthrough
ninethousandyears.Ninthsalsoareperformedtothedead.Andina
similarmanner,somegivenamestothosethatareborn,intheninth
year;employingassymbolstheperiodsofgenerationandproduction.
ti.e.Thedescentisthrough9000,inwhichthereisatetradicsimilitude,because
asProclushadbeforeobserved,itisasquaresuperficiesonacube.
XIliad18,400.
cf.Macrobius'DreamofScipioI,xi,7,Stahl.
Thepriest,however,doesnotnowassumeamyriadofyears,butthe
numberofninethousand,inorderthatthoseofwhomheisspeaking
maystillbeterrene,butapproximatingtotheperiodofamyriadof
Eyears.Allthisinterpretation,however,thedivineIamblichusrejects,
andsaysthatthediscussionhereisnotaboutlives,butaboutthe
differentmeasuresofMinervalparticipation.Itisabsurd,therefore,to
makementionoftheperiodsspokenofinthePhaedrus.1Butifitbe
requisitetonarratewhatfollowsfromtheconceptionofPorphyry,it
1,148mustbesaid,thatthesoullivesindeedintellectuallyandSaturnallyon
high,butdescendsfirsttotheconceptionofapoliticallife,whichis
Jovian.Afterwards,sheexcitesanger,andlivesambitiously.Butanger
isMartial.Inthenextplace,sheproceedsinherdescenttodesire,and
venereallives;andatlast,exertsphysicalreasons[orproductivepowers].
ButallreasonsareHermac.*AndHermesistheinspectiveguardianof
physicalreasons.Throughthese,however,sheisboundtobody.And
again,receivingabody,shefirstlivesphysically,beingthesupplierof
nutrimentandincreasetothebody.Afterwards,shelives
epithymetically,excitinggenesiurgicpowers.Inthenextplace,shelives
undertheinfluenceofanger,risingagainstherformerhabits,but
enteringintoanambitiouslife.Afterwards,shelivespolitically,
moderatingthepassions.Andinthelastplace,shelivesintellectually.
FIfthereforesheisrestoredtoherpristinestate,herlifeisintellectual,*
andthemyriadisterminated.Butingeneration,thoughsheis
conversantwithit,inthebestmanner,shelivesaccordingtoa
deficiencybythechiliad.Andofthisthenumberninethousandisa
symbol,beingadaptedtothebestpolityoftheAthenians.
24a"Iwillthereforebrieflyunfoldtoyouthelaws,andthemostbeautiful
ofthedeedsofthosecitizensthatexistedninethousandyearsago.For
whenwearemoreatleisure,weshallaccuratelydiscusseveryparticular,
receivingforthispurposethesacredwritingsthemselves."
46AIfyouwishtoreferwhatisheresaidtothewholeorderofthings,the

numberninethousandwillmanifestthetotalprogressionasfarastoa
cube,andterrestrialworks,andlikewisethelifewhichpervadesthrough
allthings.Butthroughthewordbriefly,theunionofmanyproductive
powers,andthecomprehensionofthemaccordingtointellect,are
tPhaedrus248d.
Xcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,221,23.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,170,28f.
indicated.Forthesynopticalisanimageofintellectualimpartibility;
butthatwhichdepartsintomultitude,ofprolificpower;multiplying,
producing,anddividingformsintominuteparts,throughdiversity.The
lawsareimagesofthedividedfabrication,whichisunitedaccordingto
intellect.Butthemostbeautifulworkisanadumbrationoftheorderly
1,149distributionofthingswhichisextendedtoonebeautifulend.For
beautysubsistingaccordingtotheunited,proceedsfromintelligiblesto
thevisiblefabrication.Andtheresumptionofthesacredwritings,
indicatestherecurrencetotheparadigmsofthem,fromwhichalsothe
priestbeingfilled,deliversthesethingstoSolon.Thenarration,
therefore,willbeconcerningthedividedandmultipliedfabrication,
whichisconnectedbyintellect,andextendsasfarastoterrestrial
Bworks,asmaybeinferredfromallthathasbeensaid.
24a"Inthefirstplacethen,considerthelawsofthesepeople,andcompare
themwithours.Foryouwillnowfindheremanyparadigmsofthings
whichthensubsistedinyourcity."
AsSocratessummarilydiscussedhisownpolity,thusalsothepriest
brieflydiscussesthelawsoftheancientAthenians,inorderthatthe
lattermayhavediminutionwithreference*totheformer,andalsoa
similitudetoit.Andthisveryproperly.Fortheoneismoreuniversal,
buttheothermorepartial.Andtheoneistheworkofdianoia,butthe
otherofthephantasy.Thisdiminutionindeedmaybesurveyed,sofar
asSocrateshasdescribedapolity,butthepriestlaws.Apolity,however,
istheunionandcommonbondofthelifeofcitizens;butlegislationisorder
proceedingintomultitudeanddivision.Andtheformerismore
analogoustotheprovidentialcause,butthelattertofate.*Butthereis
asimilitudebetweenSocratesandthepriest,sofarasbothassertthat
theydeliverthemultitudeoftheirwordscontractedly.
Again,therefore,thesethingsembracewholesanddivinecauses.For
themiddleissuspendedfromthefirstfabrication,andisassimilatedto
it.Andeachindeedpertainstotheuniverse;butthelatteraccordingto
union,andonesameness;andtheformeraccordingtoprogressionand
thedifferenceofthethingsfabricated.Justasthethird5fabrication

tInsteadofvfempexvravraKatweiva,itseemsnecessarytoreadvtpempe\V
ravraKmicpoc.tKtiva.
%cf.LawsX,904c.
Forirpurt]here,itisnecessarytoreadTpirq.
subsistsaccordingtoconversion.*Andthefirstfabricationconnectsthe
waringenerationcelestially;butthesecondsubordinatelyandaccording
todiminution;justasthethird*connectstheextremitiesoftheuniverse.
VeryproperlythereforedoesSocrates5summarilydeliverthelaws,and
thewholelifeoftheAthenians,inthesamemannerasthepriest.And
1,150thesethingsmaybeassumedfromwhatthepriestnowsays.Buthe
callsimagesparadigms,becausetheSatansparticipatesecondarilyof
thosethings,ofwhichtheAtheniansparticipateprimarily.Forthough
archetypesrankamongthefirstofbeings,yetimageshavethefirstorder
withreferencetoourknowledge.Asthereforethingssecondaryby
naturearesaidtobefirst,thusalsotheyaresaidtobeparadigmstothe
thingsthatareelevatedfromthem,andwhichknowthroughthemthe
naturespriortothem.Herealso,whatpertainstotheAthenians,
indicatesamoretotal,butwhatpertainstotheSatans,amorepartial
order.Thesethingslikewiseareanalogous,bothinpartialnaturesand
inwholes.Sothatthepolitywhichisabouttobedelivered,pertainsto
DthecityoftheAthenians,orrathertothewholeorderlydistributionof
things;andthelawsextendtothewholeworldfromMinerva.For
everylawissaidtobethedistributionofintellect,andisrightlysaidto
beso.ButthelawsoftheAthenians,beingestablishedconformablyto
thetutelarGoddess,0exhibitthedistributionoftheMinervalintellect
Butofthiskindarethelawsintheuniversewhicharedefined
conformablytoonedemiurgicintellect,andtheoneprovidenceof
Minerva.
24a"Fortheraceofthepriestswasseparatedfromtherestofthe
inhabitants."
Thatinacertainrespectallthisorderofthepolityofthepriestis
morepartialandmoredividedthanthatofSocrates,imitatingthe
middlefabrication,maybelearntfromthemultitudeandqualityofthe
generainthecity.ForinthepolityofSocrates,therewerethree
genera,theguardian,theauxiliary,andthemercenary.Forthetriadis
alliedtothedemiurgicmonad.Butheretherearethedoubleofthese,
thesacerdotal,andthemilitary;thedemiurgic,[orpertainingto
1.151artificers]andthepastoral;thevenaticandtheagricultural.Forthe
tThenatureofthesethreefabricationisunfoldedfartheron.
$Herealsoforirpon/,itisnecessarytoreadrpiTT}.

%TheGreektextsherehaveKpmac(Critias).PT.
cf.LawsIV,714a.

Emiddlefabricationhasatoneandthesametimetheduadic,andthe
triadic;andboththesenumbersareadaptedtoMinerva.Butoneof
theseindeed,viz.thetriad,isimmediatelyadaptedtotheGoddess;but
theotheraccordingtogeneration.Forthehexadisatrianglefromthe
triad.*Bythetrigonictherefore,andbythehexadfromthetriad,the
diminutionandatthesametimealliancetotheGoddessaremanifested.
ForthougheveryfabricationparticipatesofMinerva,yetthefirstand
supremepartsoftheuniverse,andthefirstfabrication,andthefirst
father,arefilledfromherinamoreabundantdegree.Thustherefore,
ifyoualoneselectthesegenera,youwillfindthenumberadaptedtothe
Goddess.Butifyouadd,thepresidingoverwisdom,youwillentirely
findtheheptad,whichisofaMinervalcharacteristic.*Andthisisone
ofthethingsthatareofgreatnotoriety.Thefemininenaturelikewise
oftheheptadiscelebrated,andthatitisproducedfromthemonad
alone.5Themonadalso,thetriad,andtheheptad,aresaidtobeespecially
imagesofMinerva;thefirst,indeed,asbeingintellectual;thesecond,as
convertingthemonadtoitself;andthethird,asproceedingfromthefather
alone.Afterthismanner,therefore,youmayinferfromnumbers.
Itisnecessaryhowever,fromthequalityofthegenera,tosurveythe
Fdiminutionandtranscendencyofthese.Forthesacerdotalissubordinate
totheguardiangenus,whichascendsasfarastothefirstcause.0For
PlatohimselfinthePoliticusarrangesthepriestsunderthepolitician,
anddoesnotimparttothempoliticalpower.0Themilitaryalsois
subordinatetotheauxiliarygenus.Forthelatterarrangesinabecoming
manner,andsufficientlydisciplinestheinhabitantsofthecity.Butthe
formerpursueswaralone,andthingspertainingtoit,andparticipates
ofthisstudyalone.Andthemercenarytribeisdividedintothe
remaininggenera.ThepolityofSocratesthereforesurpassesthatofthe
priest,asbeingmorecomprehensive,andafteramannercoadaptedto
47Athegenerapriortoit.Sothatbothfromnumberandquality,it
1,152becomesevidenttousthatthepolity[whichisnowdelivered,is
fFor6isatriangularnumber,andisthedoubleof3.
tcf.168Cinfrap.504;and212Fp.652;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,192,18f.
cf.TheolPlat.250,40ff;andDamasciusII,131,16.
Platoassertsthisoftheguardians,inhisRepublic[III,414b,&IV,428d].
oPoliticus290de.
subordinatetothatofSocrates,andwillrankasthe]*secondafterit.
Weestablish,however,theanalogiesofthepolityofSocratestothe

universe,tobeasfollows.Thegenusofguardianswearrangeas
analogoustothecelestialGods.Theauxiliarygenustothosemore
excellentnatures,theattendantsonthecelestialGods,andthedefenders
oftheuniverse.Andthemercenarygenus,tothosepowersthatconnect
amaterialnaturewithpartialsouls.Thefirstofthesealso,isanalogous
tothefixedstars,thesecondtotheplanets,andthethirdtomaterial
natures.WemaylikewiseassumeinthecelestialGodsthemselves,all
theseaccordingtoanalogy.
Here,however,itisworthwhiletosurveyhow,andafterwhat
manner,thesegenera[enumeratedbythepriest]aretobeassumedinthe
universe.ForthephilosopherPorphyryarrangesthemasfollows:That
thepriestsareanalogoustothearchangelsintheheavens,whoare
convertedtotheGods,ofwhomtheyarethemessengers.Butthe
Bsoldiersareanalogoustosoulsdescendingintobodies.Again,the
shepherdsareanalogoustothepowersthatarearrangedovertheherdsof
animals;whichinarcanenarrationsaresaidtobesoulsthatarefrustrated
ofthehumanintellect,buthaveapropensitytowardsanimals.Forthere
isalsoacertaincuratoroftheherdofmen.Andtherearelikewise
certainpartialcurators;somebeingtheinspectorsofnations;otherof
cities;andothersofindividuals.Butthehuntersareanalogoustothose
powersthathuntaftersouls,andinclosetheminbodies.Thereare
likewisepowerswhodelightinthehuntingofanimals,suchasDianais
saidtobe,andanothermultitudetogetherwithherofvenaticdaemons.
Andthehusbandmenareanalogoustothosepowersthatpresideover
fruits.Allthisadministrationthereforeofsublunarydaemonsissaidby
Platotoreceivemanydemiurgicdistributions,inconsequenceoflooking
totheeffectwhichnowis,orisbecomingtobe.Thedivine
Iamblichus,however,reprehendstheseassertions,asneitherPlatonicnor
true.ForarchangelsarenotanywherementionedbyPlato,nordoes
themilitarygenuspertaintosoulsvergingtobodies.Foritisnot
1,153propertoopposethesetogodsordaemons.Forweshouldactabsurdly,
Cinarrangingtheseinthemiddlegenus,butGodsanddaemonsamongthe
lastartificers.Normustitbeadmitted,thatthoseareshepherds,who
arefrustratedofhumanintellect,buthaveacertainsympathyto
tThesewordsareprintedintheoriginalasthelastlineofp.128(oftheoriginal)
butshould,wethink,beplacedasthefirstline,ashereprinted:neitherthestartor
endofthepagemakessenseotherwise.Seethesecondfollowingfootnoteforthe
originalplacing,PT.
146
animals.Fortheexistenceofdaemonswhogovernthemortalnature,
isnotderivedfrommen;norarethosepowershunters,whoinclosethe
soulinbody,asinanet;*sincethesoulinnotthusconjoined*tothe

body.Noristhismodeoftheoryphilosophic,butfullofBarbaric
arrogance.}NorarehusbandmentobereferredtoCeres:fortheGods
areexemptfromtheproximatecausesofnature.Reprehending,
therefore,theseassertions,heconsidersthepriestsasanalogousthrough
similitudetoallsuchsecondaryessencesandpowers,ashonourand
worshipthecausespriortothemselves.Buttheshepherds,asanalogous
toallthosemundanepowers,thatareallottedthegovernmentofthelife
whichvergestobody,andofthemostirrationalpowers,andwho
distributetheseinanorderlymanner.Thehuntersheplacesas
analogoustothoseuniversalpowerswhoadornsecondarynatures
Dthroughtheinvestigationof[real]being.Butthehusbandmen,as
correspondingtothepowersthatgiveefficacytotheseedsthatdescend
fromtheheavenstotheearth.Andthesoldiers,tothepowersthat
subverteverythingatheistical,andcorroboratethatwhichisdivine.
Afterthismanner,therefore,thedivineIamblichus[interpretswhatis
saidbythepriest.]Butitiscommontoboththesephilosophers,that
theydividethefabricativegenusintothepastoral,thevenatic,andthe
agricultural;buttheydonotproducethefourgenerafromone.Forno
one,whorightlyconsiderstheaffair,canplaceeitherthepastoralorthe
venaticunderthefabricativegenus.
Willitnotthereforebebettertointerpretthepassageconformablyto
ourpreceptor,byadmittingthatthesacerdotalandmilitarytribesform
oneduad,butthefabricativeandagriculturalanother,andthepastoral
andvenaticathirdduad;andassuminganorderofthiskind,to
1,154investigatetheparadigmsofthem.Forthesacerdotalgenussubsistsin
theanagogicGods,themilitaryintheguardian,andthefabricativein
theGodswhoseparatealltheforms,andtheproductiveprinciplesof
mundanenatures.ButtheagriculturalgenussubsistsinthoseGodsthat
supernallyexcitenature,anddisseminatesoulsaboutgeneration.For
EPlato,likewise,denominatesthelapseofthesoulintogeneration,a
dissemination.0Buttosowismostadaptedtohusbandmen,asis,also,
tTim.77c79e.
%Seepreviousfootnoteforthewordswhichwereoriginallyprintedinthisplace.
Itissomewhatsingular,thatPorphyry,whocalledtheChristianreligion
abarbarouslyboldwickedness,shouldhaveadoptedthistheory.
cf.Tim.41e,42d.
tocollectproductionsofnature.ThepastoralgenussubsistsintheGods
thatgoverndistinctlyalltheformsoflifethatrevolveingeneration
ForPlato,inthePoliticus,deliverstouscertaindivineshepherds.*And
thevenaticsubsistsinthedivinitiesthatgiveinorderlydistributiontoall
materialspirits.ForitisusualwiththeologiststocalltheseGodshunters.}
Allthesegeneralikewisepertaintothemiddlefabrication,viz.the

convertivegenus,theguardian,thatwhichadministersthepsychical
allotments,thatwhichgovernsthegenesiurgicformsoflife,everything
whichfabricatesandgivesformtomaterialnatures,andthatwhich
arrangesthelastorderofspirits.That,however,whichpaysattention
towisdom,andthatwhichiscontemplative,mustbeconsideredas
differentfromallthesegenera,andwhichtheEgyptianalsocelebrates
abovethealltherest,makingmentioninthefirstplace,asbeinga
priest,ofthesacerdotalgenus.Allthegenera,therefore,areseven,and
themonadisexemptfromthehexad.Andthemonad,indeed,is
analogoustotheoneintellectwhichconnectsallthefabricationof
Fgeneratednatures;butthehexadisanalogoustothemorepartialorders
underthisintellect,8viz.totheanagogic,guardian,formalizing,and
vivifyingorders,andalsotothosethataretheleadersoftheherdsofa
tamelife,andtothosethatruleoverthebrutalnature,whichordersin
theuniverselikewiseareseparatedfromthefixedstars.Moreover,he
says,thattheseordersmaybeseenamongmen,inthefirstplace,among
theAthenians,butinthesecondplace,amongtheSatans,accordingto
thedivisionofgenera,eachaccomplishingitsproperworkinadefinite
1,155manner.Forhemanifeststhisbysaying,separatefromothers,inorder
48Athatwemayunderstandtheunmingledpurityofthegenera,proceeding
supernallythroughdiminution,asfarastothelastofthings.
24a"Theartificers,also,exercisedtheirartsinsuchamanner,thateach
wasengagedinhisownemploymentwithoutminglingwiththatof
otherartists.Thesamemethodwaslikewiseadoptedbyshepherds,
hunters,andhusbandmen."
Thewholeofthistetractyshas,indeed,thethirdorder,accordingto
asectionofthegeneraintothree,butisnowenumeratedbyPlatoasthe
second;inorderthatthroughthis,whatissaidmayimitatetheuniverse,
inwhichthelastisthemiddle,comprehendedonallsidesbymore
tPoliticus271d.
%cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.153,154.
cf.320Binfra;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,297,24.
divinenatures.Forthatwhichismostmaterialandgross,isenclosedby
fabricationinthemiddle.Forthusalone*canitbepreserved,being
adornedandguardedaccordingtothewholeofitselfbyallthe
comprehendingnatures[intheuniverse].Butagain,itishereadded,
thatthefabricativeartwasnotmingledwiththeotherarts,norina
similarmanneranyoneoftheotherswiththerest,butthateach
remainedbyitself,andinitsownpurity.Forthisnotonlyproduces
accuracyandrectitudeinappropriateworks,butlikewiseeffectsthe
Bsympathyofthecitizens.Forallwillthusbeinwantofall,in

consequenceofeachnotexercisingmanyarts.Forthebuilderwillbe
inwantofthehusbandman,thehusbandmanoftheshepherd,the
shepherdofthehunter,andthehunterofthebuilder;andthuseach
beinginwantoftherest,willnotbeunmingledwiththem;hence,there
issamenessinconjunctionwithdifference,andseparationaccompanied
withunion.
24b"Thewarlikegenustoo,youwillfindwasseparatedfromalltheother
genera,andwasorderedbylawtoengageinnothingbutwhatpertained
towar."
Everywhereindeed,butespeciallyinthewarlikegenus,theunmingled
andtheseparateareappropriate.Fortheyhaveanalliancetothe
1,156highestorder,*whichcutsoffeverythingmaterial,andobliteratesthat
whichisdisorderlyandconfused.Veryproperlythereforedoesthis
genuspayattentiontotheconcernsofwar.Foronaccountofthis,the
cityremainsfreefromexternalandinjuriousincursions;5andthis
investsitwithaguardfromitself,imitatingtheguardianorder.Foras
aguardiandeityispresentwiththefirst,solikewisewiththemiddleof
Cthedemiurgi.This,therefore,maybeassumedfromtheology.Butby
lawintheuniverse,wemustunderstandthedivineinstitutions
proceedingfromtheonedemiurgicintellection.Forpriortomundane
naturesisthedemiurgiclaw,whichisseatedbyJupiter,anddistributes
togetherwithhiminanorderlymanneralltheprovidentialinspection
whichexistsintheuniverse.
tForjUoXiehere,itisnecessarytoreadfiovug.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.190,191.
cf.Tim.17d.
24b"Asimilararmourtoo,suchasthatofshieldsanddartswasemployed
byeach.ThesewefirstusedinAsia;theGoddessinthoseplaces,as
likewisehappenedtoyou,firstpointingthemouttoouruse."
ThenarrationextendstheenergyofMinervasupernallyfrom
paradigms,asfarastothelastgenera.Fortherearethingsconnascent
withthisenergy,participatingofundefiledpowers,moretotalandmore
partial,andwhicharrangethemundanegenerafromthemiddle
fabrication.Analogouslyalsotothis,theycomprehendandare
comprehended,arevanquishedbytheMinervalenergies,andremain
perpetuallyundefiledwithinvariablesamenessthroughit,inthe
universe.Itisrequisite,therefore,toknowthesethingsincommon
aboutalltheseparticulars.Wemusthowevershowwhatthearmour,
theshields,andthespears,are,andhowtheseareantecedently
DcomprehendedintheGoddess.Porphyry,indeed,callingthebodythe

shield,assumesangerforthespear.Butthesepertaintosoulsfalling
intogenerationandtomaterialthings,andarenottheinstrumentsof
immutablesafety,butofagenesiurgiclife,corruptingthepurityof
intellect,anddestroyingthelifewhichsubsistsaccordingtoreason.The
divineIamblichus,however,explainstheseinadivinelyinspiredmanner.
Forsinceitisrequisitethateverythingdivineshouldoperateandnet
1,157suffer,inorderthatbyoperatingitmaynothavetheinefficacious,1
whichisassimilatedtomatter,andthatbynotsufferingitmaynothave
anefficaciouspowerresemblingthatofmaterialnatures,whichactin
conjunctionwithpassion;inorderthatboththesemaybe
accomplished,hesays,thatshieldsarepowersthroughwhichadivine
natureremainsimpassiveandundefiled,surroundingitselfwithan
infrangibleguard.*Butspearsarethepowersaccordingtowhichit
proceedsthroughallthingswithoutcontact,5andoperatesonallthings,
cuttingoffthatwhichismaterial,andgivingaidtoeverygenesiurgic
form.Thesepowers,however,arefirstseenaboutMinerva.Hencein
thestatuesofhersheisrepresentedwithaspearandshield.Forshe
vanquishesallthings,andaccordingtotheologists,remainswithout
declination,andwithundefiledpurity,inherfather.Butthesehavea
Esecondarysubsistence,inboththetotalandpartialMinervalpowers.
ForastheJoviananddemiurgicmultitude,imitatesitsmonad,andas
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,205,3;andProcl.Comm.Parmen.,840,5.
$cf.155DEinfra.
Forava<lx>)<;here,itisnecessarytoread(xva4>i\q.
thepropheticandApolloniacalmultitudeparticipatesoftheApolloniacal
peculiarity;thus,also,theMinervalnumber,adumbratestheundefiled
andunminglednatureofMinerva.This,also,takesplaceinanultimate
degreeinMinervalsouls.*Forinthese,likewise,theshieldisthe
untamedandunincliningpowerofreason;butthespearisthatpower
whichamputatesmatterandliberatesthesoulfromdaemoniacalorfatal
passions;ofwhichpowerstheAtheniansparticipateinapurermanner,
buttheSatansinasecondarydegree,receivingthesethroughthe
measureofalliancetotheGoddess.
24bc"Youmayperceive,too,whatgreatattentionwaspaidimmediately
fromthebeginningbythelawstoprudenceandmodesty,andbesides
these,todivinationandmedicine,assubservienttothepreservationof
health.Andfromthese,whicharedivinegoods,thelaws,proceeding
totheinventionofsuchasaremerelyhuman,procuredallsuchother
disciplinesasfollowfromthosewehavejustenumerated."
Alittlefartheron,*hecallstheGoddessbothaloverofwisdomand
aloverofwar,inorderthatthearrangementofthepolityofthe

AtheniansandSatansmightbeproducedconformablytoherasa
paradigm.Andwhatindeedpertainstotheexerciseofwar,is
sufficientlyindicatedfromwhathasbeensaid;butthatwhichpertains
1,158towisdom,heexhibitstousinthepresentwords;inorderthatbythe
Fone,thephilopolemic,andbytheother,thephilosophicnatureof
Minervamightbeadumbrated.Whatthenisthisprudence?Thetheory
ofwholesandofsupermundanenatures,fromwhich,afterthefirstof
goodswhichareperfectiveofsouls,acertainfacilityisobtainedinthe
concernsofhumanlife,proceedinginconjunctionwithdivinationand
medicine.Andinoneway,indeed,thisprudenceisthesourceof
disciplinesininvisiblecauses,inanotherway,abouttheworld,andin
thelastplace,abouthumanaffairs.ForsincetheGoddessherselfis
49Aimmaterialandseparatewisdom,onthisaccount,tothenaturesthatare
alliedtoher,sheunfoldsintolightallthepartsofdivineandhuman
prudence.Forwithrespecttodivination,also,onekindmustbe
admittedtoexistintheintellectual,andanotherinthemundaneGods.
Andofthelatter,onekindproceedsfromtheGods,anotherfrom
daemons,andanotherfromthediscursiveenergyofthehumansoul,
existingratherassomethingartificialandconjectural.Inasimilar
tcf.168Cinfra,p.504.
tTim.24d.
manneralsowithrespecttomedicine,onekindindeedexistsinthe
Godsthemselves,andthisisofaPaeoniannature;*butanotherkind,in
daemons,beingministrantandsubservienttotheGods,fromwhom
likewisematterandinstrumentsareprocuredfortheadventsofthe
Gods.ForastherearemanydaemonsaboutLove,thusalsoabout
Esculapius,someareallottedtheorderofattendants,butothersthatof
forerunnersoftheGod.Andanotherkindexistsinhumanlives,being
thatwhichisimpartedfromtheoremsandexperience,accordingto
whichsomeareadaptedinagreater,andothersinalessdegreetodivine
medicine.Butthereisalsoamixtureofthesetwokindsofprudence,
Bviz.thepropheticandthemedicinal,withtheEgyptians;becausethe
causesoftheseareantecedentlycomprehendedinonedivinity,andfrom
onefountainmanystreamsaredistributedabouttheworld.Andthus
muchhasbeensaidincommonabouttheprudencewhichisnow
mentioned.
Inorder,however,tounfoldeachparticularmorefully,wemustsay,
thatlaw,indeed,istheorderproceedingfromtheoneintellectof
1,159Minerva;butattention,theprovidencepervadingfromwholesasfaras
tomaterialnatures;andimmediatelyfromthebeginning,thenatural
aptitudeofMinervalsoulstoprudence.Forthatwhichisneither
adventitiousnorforeign,appearstobesignifiedbythesewords.Butif

someoneshouldreferwhatissaidtothemundaneorder,becausethe
distributionofthingsdoesnotproceedfromtheimperfecttotheperfect,
butisalwaysarrangedandaccompaniedinitsprogressionwiththat
whichisexcellent,itappearstomethatthisismanifestedbythewords
immediatelyfromthebeginning.Thewords,however,mustbereferred
totheorderofthewholeworld,becausethereareinvisiblecausesofthe
naturesthatarearrangedintheworld,whichperfectprudence[i.e.
wisdom]primarilycontemplates.Fortheformofprudenceisnot,as
Porphyrysaysitis,artificial,oradaptedtothearts.Forthis,as
Iamblichusobserves,isthegiftofVulcan,butnotofMinerva.But
Cattentionwasalsopaidtodivinationandmedicine,becauseitisfit,inthe
firstplace,tocontemplatetheotherpowersofthemundaneGods,and
thusafterwards,theirpropheticandsanative*production;sinceweare
allottedthegovernmentofageneratedbody,andtouswhoareenclosed
inbody,futurityisimmanifest.Foramateriallifeexhibitsmuchofthe
contingent,andofanhyparxisdifferentlymovedatdifferenttimes.But
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,118,10.
ti.e.curative,orhealing.PT.
bysuchotherdisciplinesasfollowfromthese,hedoubtlessmeans
geometry,astronomy,logistic,arithmetic,andthesciencesalliedto
these;*allwhichthelawhavingestablished,ledtheAtheniansand
Satanstothepossessionofanadmirableprudence.Andthusmuch
concerningtheseparticulars.
Porphyry,however,says,thatmedicineveryproperlyproceedsfrom
Minerva,becauseEsculapiusisthelunarintellect,inthesamemanneras
Apolloisthesolarintellect.ButthedivineIamblichusblamesthis
assertion,asconfoundingtheessencesoftheGods,andasnotalways
1,160rightlydistributingaccordingtopresentcircumstancestheintellectsand
soulsofthemundaneGods.ForitmustbeadmittedthatEsculapius
existsinthesun,andthatheproceedsfromthatluminaryaboutthe
Dgeneratedplace;inorderthatastheheavens,solikewisegenerationmay
beconnectedbythisdivinity,accordingtoasecondparticipation,and
maybefilledfromitwithsymmetry,andgoodtemperament.
24c"Accordingtoallthisorderlydistributiontherefore,andcoarrangement,
theGoddessfirstestablishedandadornedyourcity."
ThewordallmanifeststheunitedcomprehensionintheGoddessofall
thenaturesthatareadornedbyher,andthatneitherisanything
pretermittedbyher,northemultitudeinhersufferedtoexistina
dividedstate.Buttheworddiakosmsis,indicatestheorderly
distributionoftheMinervalprovidence.Andthewordcoarrangement

[syntaxin]signifiestheunionofthese,andtheiralliancetooneworld.
Fartherstill,theworddiakosmsissignifiestheprogressionofwholes
fromtheGoddess;butcoarrangement[syntaxis],theconversionofthem
toherself.Since,however,ofthenaturesintheuniverse,somearetotal,
butothersarepartial,andsomeareanalogoustomonads,butothersto
numbers,andbothparticipateoftheMinervalprovidence,butprimarily
suchasaretotalandmonadic,onthisaccountwhatisatpresentsaid,
attributesthemoreancientandleadingordertotheAthenians,butthat
EwhichissecondaryanddiminishedtotheSatans.
24cd"Choosingforthispurposetheplaceinwhichyouwereborn;asshe
foresaw,thatfromtheexcellenttemperatureoftheseasonsitwould
producethemostsagaciousmen."
tcf.Rep.VII,525ff.

Priortothis,theGoddesswassaidtohavebeenallottedtheAttic
region;*butitisnowsaidthatshechoseit.Both,however,concur,and
neitheristhebeingallottedcontrarytoherwill,norisherchoice
disorderly,asisthecasewithapartialsoul.Fordivinenecessity
1,161concurswithdivinewill,choicewithallotment,andtochoosewithtobe
allotted.Whatthisplace,however,is,hasbeenbeforeshownbyus,viz.
thatitisinterval,andthatwhichistrulyplace.*Forthedivisionsof
divineallotments,aredivisionsofthese,inorderthattheymaybe
establishedwithinvariablesamenesspriortothingswhichsubsist
accordingtotime.Butitmustnowbeadded,thatthesoulofthe
universepossessingtheproductiveprinciplesofalldivine[mundane]
natures,andbeingsuspendedfromtheessencespriortoherself,inserts
indifferentpartsoftheintervalanalliancetodifferentpowers,and
certainsymbolsofthedivineordersintheGods.Forthisintervalis
proximatelysuspendedfromher,andisaninstrumentconnascentwith
her.Assheis,therefore,arationalandpsychicalworld,shealsorenders
Fthis[sensible]worldenduedwithinterval,andvitalthroughdivine
impressions.Hencetheintervalitself,thoughitissaidtobecontinued
andimmoveable,yetisnotentirelywithoutdifferencewithreferenceto
itself;sinceneitheristhesouloftheuniverseperfectlywithout
differenceinitselftowardsitself,butonepart[asitwere]ofit,isthe
circleofthesame,andanother,thecircleofthedifferent.Andwhydo
Iassertthisofthesoul?forneitherismuchcelebratedintellectwithout
differenceinitself,thoughallthingsinitare,asitwere,ofthesame
50Acolour.Forallthingsdonotpossessanequalpowerinintellect,but
somearemoretotal,andothersmorepartial.Noristhiswonderful.
FortheDemiurgushimselfcontainsinhimself,first,middle,andlast
orders.Whence,also,IthinkOrpheus,5indicatingtheorderofhis

powers,says,"thathisheadistherefulgentheaven,buthiseyesarethe
sun,andtheopposingmoon."Though,therefore,thisintervalshould
haveoneessence,unattendedwithdifference,yetthepowerofsoul,and
theallottedordersofdaemons,andpriortothese,theGods,dividingit,
accordingtothedemiurgicorder,andtheallotmentsofjustice,0
demonstratethatthereismuchdifferenceinthepartsofit.Henceit
1.162mustbeadmitted,thatthechoicebecomesinternal,andfromtheessence
t23d.
%cf.42EF;and43.
Fr.123.
cf.Critias109b.
oftheGods,andthatitisnotsuchasweseeinpartialsouls.Forthe
formerisessential;butthelatterisalonedefinedaccordingtothe
presentlife.Andtheformeriseternal,butthelattertemporal.
Byplace,therefore,wemustnotunderstandtheearthorthisair,but
Bpriortothese,theimmoveableinterval,whichisalwaysilluminatedafter
thesamemannerbytheGods,anddividedbytheallotmentsofjustice.
Forthesematerialnaturesareatonetimeadapted,andatanother
unadapted,totheparticipationoftheGods.Anditisnecessarythat
priortothingswhichsometimesparticipate,thereshouldbethosewhich
arealwayssuspendedafterthesamemannerfromtheGods.Andthus
muchmaysufficerespectingtheseparticulars.
Withrespect,however,totheexcellenttemperatureoftheseasons,
whichisproductiveofsagaciousmen,Panaetius,andcertainother
Platonists,understandthewordsaccordingtotheirapparentmeaning,
viz.thattheAtticregion,onaccountoftheexcellenttemperatureofthe
seasonsoftheyear,isadaptedtotheproductionofsagaciousmen.But
Longinusdoubtsthetruthoftheirassertion.Forthecontraryisseen
tobethecase,sinceaboutthisplace,thereisagreatwantofsymmetry
indrynessfromexcessiveheat,andcoldtempestuousweather.Norif
theplacewasofthiskind,wouldtheyyetbeabletopreservethe
immortalityofsouls,ifsagacitywasimplantedinthemthroughthe
excellenttemperatureoftheseasons.Buthesays,thatthisexcellent
temperatureisnottobereferredtotheconditionoftheair,butthatit
Cisacertainnamelesspeculiarityoftheregioncontributingtosagacity.
Forascertainwatersareprophetic,andcertainplacesareproductiveof
disease,andarepestilential,thus,also,itisnotatallwonderfulthata
certainpeculiarityofcountryshouldcontributetoprudenceand
sagacity.Origen,however,refersthisexcellenttemperaturetothe
circulationoftheheavens;forfromthencethefertilityandsterilityof
soulsarederived,asSocratessays,intheRepublic.}He,however,

apprehendsthetruthinamorepartialmanner.*ButLonginusis
ignorantthathemakesthepeculiaritytobecorporeal,andthatheis
1,163entangledinthedoubtswhichPorphyryproposestohim.Forhowcan
onepeculiarityofairrendermenadaptedtodifferentpursuits?Andin
thenextplace,asimilarpeculiaritystillremaining,howcomesittopass
thatthereisnownolongerthesamenaturalexcellenceinthegeniusof
theinhabitants?Butifthepeculiarityiscorruptible,itmustbeshown
tRep.VIII,546a.
$cf.Tim.90c.
whatitisthatiscorruptiveofit.Itishoweverbettertosay,thatthe
Godshavingdividedthewholeofspaceconformablytothedemiurgic
order,eachportionofplacereceivessoulsadaptedtoit;thatportion
indeedwhichisMartial,receivingsoulsofamoreanimatedandirascible
nature;thatwhichisApolloniacal,propheticsouls;thatwhichis
DEsculapian,medical;andthatwhichisMinerval,prudentandsagacious
souls.Butthisiseffectedthroughacertainquality,orrathereach
portionofplacepossessesapowerofthiskindfromitsallotteddivinity;
andPlatocallsthisadaptation,excellenceoftemperature;sincethereare
manyphysical,psychical,daemoniacal,andangelicpowersineach
portionofplace,buteachunityoftheallotteddivinityunitesand
minglesalltheseinanunmingledmanner.SincehowevertheSeasons
areallottedfromtheFather,theguardianshipoftheseportionsofplace
andallotments,towhosecare,asHomer*says,"themightyHeavenand
Olympusarecommitted,"andaccordingtowhich,thecoadaptationscf
soulssimilartoplacesiseffected;hencePlatosuspendsthisexcellent
temperaturefromtheSeasons,thewholeofitderivingfromthenceits
subsistence.
TheGoddessthereforeperceivingthatthe[Attic]portionofinterval
whichisalwaysguardedbytheSeasons,isadaptedtothereceptionof
sagacioussouls,selecteditforthispurpose;notthatthisplacewasonce
deprivedofMinerva,butatanothertimewasunderherallotted
guardianship;forthetextdemonstratesthecontrary;butbecausethere
arealsointheintervalitself,differentaptitudestothereceptionof
Edivineilluminations,accordingtodifferentparts;whichaptitudeswere
insertedbythewholeDemiurgus,whouniformlycomprehendsthe
powersofalltheGodsposteriortohimself.Thesepowers,however,are
corroboratedandperfectedby,orratherproceedfrom,thepresiding
Gods.As,therefore,withrespecttotheelectionsoflives,thesoulthat
1,164choosesitsproperlife,actswithrectitude;afterthesamemanner,also,
thesoulwhichisarrangedinaplaceconformabletothechoiceofits
life,energizesinagreaterdegreethanthesoulwhichisdisseminatedin
aforeignplace.Buttothisarrangement,theonecirculationofthe

heavenscontributes,whichintroducesafertilityandsterilityofsouls.
Infertileperiods,therefore,thereisagreater,butinbarrenperiods,a
lessnumberofsagaciousmen.Hence,aswhenahusbandmanchooses
goodlandfortheefficaciousgrowthoftheseedsknowingthatwhenthe
seasonisfertile,heshallreapgreaterbenefit,butwhenitisbarrenless,
onaccountofthepoweroftheearth;thusalsothetextsays,thatthe
tIliadv,750
Goddesschosethisplace,asproductiveofsagaciousmen,inorderthat
whentheperiodisfertileitmayhavemore;andwhentheperiodis
Fbarren,mayhaveless*ofprudentandsagaciousmen,inconsequenceof
fallingofffromalifeadaptedtotheplace.Wemustnothowever
wonder,ifPlatopraisestheexcellenttemperatureofthevisibleSeasons.
Forthereisoneexcellenttemperaturewithreferencetothehealthof
bodies,andanothercontributingtothereceptionofsagacioussouls,such
asisthatoftheAtticregion.Forthoughthereisnotalwaysthesame
sagacityinthosethatinhabittheregion,yetthereisalwaysacertain
greaterabundanceofitthroughthepeculiarityoftheplace,andthe
aptitudeoftheSeasons.Such,therefore,isouropinionrespectingthese
particulars.
51AThedivineIamblichus,however,doesnotunderstandbyplace,one
corporealformedcondition,butanincorporealcausepervadingthrough
theearth,sustainingbodiesbylife,andcomprehendingallinterval.For
inaplaceofthiskind,hesaystheGoddessfashionstrulygoodmen,and
causesthemtoinhabit.ButwhetherheaccordswiththewordsofPlato,
maybesurveyedfromwhathasbeensaid.If,however,itberequisite,
desistingfromthesethings,tocontemplatewholesaccordingtothe
analogous,itmustbesaidthatthisGoddessfabricatingandweavingthe
1,165universeinconjunctionwithherfather,everywheredistributesto
wholes,andtothingsofthebettercoordination,amoreperfect
allotment.Butthesearemorerepletewithwisdomthantheiropposites,
andaremoreadaptedtotheGoddess.*Weshallshow,therefore,from
thefollowingwordsofPlato,howthatwhichexcelsinprudenceisof
amoreMinervalcharacteristic.
24d"TheGoddess,therefore,beingaloverbothofwarandwisdom,first
selectedthisplaceforthehabitationofmenmostsimilartoherself."
BInwhatisheresaid,Platodeliverstousthemostaccurateconception
respectingthisgreatestdivinity,unfoldingtothosewhoaresufficiently
abletoperceivehismeaning,theindicationsoftheologists.Different
interpretershoweverbetakethemselvestodifferentarrangementsofthe
Goddess;someindeednarratingtheiropinionmoreenigmatically,but

othersmoreclearly,yetnotconfirmingwhattheyassert.ForPorphyry,
placingMinervaintheMoon,saysthatsoulsdescendfromthence,
tInsteadofKaicw^opiae7rXoc,eXurrovotiroTnirTeivrrjcKaraTOPTOJOV
iTtTJjSeiacfw)C,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,Kmu<j>opuxc,T\TTOV,TQ
airoiMTTeiv,K.\.
tcf.SyrianusOnMetaphysics,179,30f.(Kroll).
whichpossessatoneandthesametimeirascibilityandmildness;and
thatonthisaccount,themystagoguesinEleusisareloversofwisdomand
loversofwar;sinceitissaidthattheraceofthosewhoareleadersofthe
mysteriesinEleusis,isderivedfromMusaeus,theoffspringoftheMoon;and
alsothattheHermestheresubsistsabouttheMoon,fromwhichalsotherace
ofCryersisderived.ThedivineIamblichus,however,blamesthese
assertions,asnotwellpreservingtheanalogy.Forheinterpretswaras
thatwhichentirelysubvertsthewholeofadisorderly,confused,and
materialnature;butwisdomasimmaterialandseparateintelligence.He
Calsosays,thatthisGoddess*isthecauseofboththese;whichlikewise
theAtheniansimitatethroughaprudentandwarlikelife.Headds,that
theAthenianregioniswelladaptedtothereceptionofsuchlikesouls.
If,however,itberequisitethattheconceptionsofthesemenshould
1,166becomemanifest,andpriortothese,thatwhatisdeliveredbyPlato
shouldbeshowntoaccordinthehighestdegreewiththeologists,we
mustassertasfollows;derivingwhatwesayfromasupernalorigin.In
theDemiurgusandfatherofthewholeworld,manyordersofGodsthat
havetheformofTheOne,presentthemselvestotheview.Andthese
areofaguardian,*ordemiurgic,orelevating,orconnective,or
perfectivecharacteristic.ButtheundefiledanduntameddeityMinerva,
isoneofthefirstintellectualunitiessubsistingintheDemiurgus,
accordingtowhichhehimselfremainsfirmandimmutable,andall
thingsproceedingfromhimparticipateofinflexiblepower;5and
throughwhich,heintellectuallyperceiveseverything,andisseparatein
anexemptmannerfromallbeings.Alltheologist,therefore,callthis
divinityMinerva,asbeingbroughtforthindeedfromthesummitofherfather,
andabidinginhim;beingademiurgic,separate,andimmaterial
intelligence.
HenceSocrates,intheCratylus,0celebratesherastheonoeor
Ddeificintellection.Buttheologists,also,considerherasinconjunction
withotherdivinitiessustainingallthingsintheoneDemiurgus,and
arrangingwholestogetherwithherfather.Hencethroughthefirstof
these,theydenominateherphilosophic,butthroughthesecond
philopolemic.Forshe,whoaccordingtotheformoftheone,
connectedlycontainsallthepaternalwisdom,isaphilosopher.Andshe,

tInsteadofTUVdeuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadTi)VBtov.
tcf.300ABinfra.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.36.
Crat.407b.
whoinvariablyrulesoverallcontrariety,maybeproperlycalledalover
ofwar.HenceOrpheusspeakingofherbirthsays,thatJupiter
generatedherfromhishead,
Witharmourshininglikeabrazenflower.
Fr.132.t
Since,however,itwasnecessarythatsheshouldproceedintosecond
andthirdorders,sheappearsintheordertowhichProserpinebelongs,
accordingtotheundefiledheptad;butshegenerateseveryvirtuefrom
herself,andelevatingpowers;andilluminatessecondarynatureswith
intellect,andanundefiledlife.HencesheiscalledCoreTritogenes.She
likewiseappearsamongtheliberatedGods,unitingthelunarorderwith
1,167intellectualanddemiurgiclight,*causingtheproductionsofthose
Edivinitiestobeundefiled,anddemonstratingtheoneunityofthemto
beunmingledwiththeirdependingpowers.Shealsoappearsinthe
heavensandthesublunaryregion;andaccordingtotheunitedgiftof
herself,impartsthecausebothofthephilosophicandthephilopolemic
power.Forherinflexibilityisintellectual,andherseparatewisdomis
pureandunmingledwithsecondarynatures;andtheonecharacteristic
peculiarityofMinervalprovidence,extendsasfarastothelastorders.
Forsincewherevertherearepartialsoulsthatresembleherdivinity,
theyexertanadmirableprudence,'andexhibitanunconquerable
strength,whatoughtwetosayofherattendantchoirs0ofdaemons,or
divine,mundane,liberated,andrulingorders?Forallthesereceiveas
fromafountainthetwofoldpeculiarityofthisGoddess.Hencealso,the
divinepoet[Homer]indicatingboththesepowersofMinerva,in
conjunctionwithfabulousdevicessays,
Theradiantveilhersacredfingerswove
Floatsinrichwaves,andspreadsthecourtofJove.
FHerfather'swarlikerobeherlimbsinvest.
IliadVIII,385
Inwhichversesbytheveilwhichshewove,andtowhichshegave
subsistencebyherintellections,herintellectualwisdomissignified.But
bythewarlikerobeofJupiter,wemustunderstandherdemiurgic
tcf.alsoOrphicHymn32.

Xcf.Cratylus396b.
cf.Phaedrus252d.
Forxoptvruvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadxpuvTUV.[See,also,Phaedrus
252d].
providence,whichimmutablytakescareofmundanenatures,and
preparesmoredivinebeingsalwaystohavedominionintheworld.
Hence,also,IthinkHomerrepresentsherasanassociateinbattlewith
theGreeksagainsttheBarbarians;justasPlatohererelatesthatshewas
anassociatewiththeGreeksagainsttheinhabitantsoftheAtlantic
island;inorderthateverywheremoreintellectualanddivinenatures
52Amayruleoversuchasaremoreirrationalandvile.ForMars,also,isa
friendtowarandcontrarieties,butwithaseparationanddivisionmore
1,168adaptedtothethingsthemselves.Minerva,however,connects
contrariety,andilluminatesthesubjectsofhergovernmentwithunion.
Hence,likewise,sheissaidtobephilopolemic.For,
Strife,fighting,war,shealwaysloves.
IliadV,891
Andsheisafriendtowar,indeed,becausesheisallottedthesummit
ofseparation;butsheisaloverofcontrarieties,becausetheseareina
certainrespectcongregatedthroughthisgoddess,inconsequenceof
betternatureshavingdominion.Onthisaccount,likewise,theancients
coarrangedVictorywithMinerva.
If,therefore,thesethingsarerightlyasserted,sheisphilosophicindeed,
asbeingdemiurgicintelligence,andasseparateandimmaterialwisdom.
Hence,also,sheiscalledMetisbytheGods.Butsheisphilopolemic,as
connectingthecontrarietiesinwholes,andasanuntamedandinflexible
deity.Onthisaccount,likewise,shepreservesBacchusundefiled,but
Bvanquishesthegiantsinconjunctionwithherfather.Shetooalone
shakestheaegis,withoutwaitingforthemandateofJupiter.Shealso
hurlsthejavelin;
Shookbyherarm,themassyjavelinbends;
Huge,ponderous,strong!thatwhenherfuryburns,
Wholeranksofheroestamesandoverturns.*
Again,sheisPhosphoros,aseverywayextendingintellectuallight;*the
Saviour,asestablishingeverypartialintellectinthetotalintellectionsof
1,169herfather;Ergane,ortheartificer,aspresidingoverdemiurgicworks.
HencethetheologistOrpheussays,thatthefatherproducedher,
Thatshethequeenmightbeofmightyworks.

Fr.133
tIliadVIII,390.
Xcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,18,20.
ButsheisCalliergos,orthebeautifulfabricator,asconnectingbybeauty
alltheworksofthefather;aVirgin[parthenos],asexertinganundefiled
Candunmingledpurity;andAigiochos,oraegisbearing,asmovingthe
wholeoffate,andbeingtheleaderofitsproductions.Weshould,also,
discusstheremainingappellationsoftheGoddess,if,whatwehave
alreadysaidmightnotappeartobeprolixthroughmysympathywith
thediscussion.Again,therefore,recurringtothethingproposedwe
mustsay,thatPlatocallsboththesedivinities,LoveandMinerva
philosophers,notforthesamereason;buthethusdenominatesthe
former,asbeingthemiddleofwholes,andasleadingtointelligible
wisdom;andthelatterasthesummitofwholes,andastheunionof
demiurgicwisdom.FortheDemiurgusis"Metisthefirstgeneratorand
muchpleasingLove."1AndasMetis,indeed,hebringsforthMinerva;
butasLove,hegeneratestheamatoryseries.
24d"TheancientAthenians,therefore,usingtheselaws,andbeingformed
bygoodinstitutionsinastillgreaterdegreethanIhavementioned,
inhabitedthisregion;surpassingallmenineveryvirtue,asitbecomes
thosetodo,whoaretheprogenyandpupilsoftheGods."
WelearnfromhistorythattheaffairsoftheAtheniansaremore
ancientthanthoseoftheSatans;thattheestablishmentoftheircityis
Dprior;andthattheirlawsaremoreproximatetoMinerva.Butinthe
1,170mundaneparadigms,also,wholesarepriortoparts;andthereisanorder
inthemwhichismoredivine,apowerwhichisgreater,andaformof
virtuewhichistrulyMinerval.Forthegenusofvirtueisadaptedtothis
greatestdivinity,asbeingvirtueherself.ForabidingintheDemiurgus,
sheiswisdomandimmutableintelligence,andintheruling[or
supermundane]Gods,sheunfoldsthepowerofvirtue.
Byvirtue'sworthynameshe'scalled,
Fr.136
saysOrpheus.Itisevident,however,thatthingswhicharemoredivine
intheuniverse,maybecalledtheprogenyandpupilsoftheGods.For
theyderivetheirsubsistenceandareperfected,orrathertheyarealways
perfect,throughthefabricationoftheGods,andtheundefiled
productionofMinerva.Everything,therefore,whichissuspendedand
originatesfromtheGods,andisconvertedtothem,exhibits
transcendentvirtue.Butthis,also,isinwholes;sinceitmustbe

admittedthatthereisdivinevirtueintheuniverse.Anditislikewise
tOrphicfr.71.
Einhumanlives,accordingtoasimilitudetowholes.Hencewhatisnow
saidisappliedtotheAthenians.ButmakingthelifeoftheAthenians
tobeoneandcontinued,itconjoinsSolontotheancientinhabitantsof
Athens.Foritsays,they"inhabitedthisregion."Fortheparadigmof
themisone,"andincontinuitywithitself;sincethewholeofthe
Minervalseriesbeingone,extendsasfarastothelastofthings,and
originatessupernallyfromthesupermundaneorders.
24d"Manyandmightydeeds,therefore,ofyourcityarerecordedinour
temples,andarethesubjectofadmiration;yetthereisonewhich
surpassesalloftheminmagnitudeandvirtue."
Thepriesthavingpromisedsummarilytorelatethelawsanddeedscf
theAthenians,hedelivered,indeed,theirlawsaccordingtoadivisionof
genera;andit,therefore,remainedforhimtocelebratetheirdeeds,
throughwhichanencomiumispassedonthecity,andthetutelar
1,171Goddessispraised.Since,however,ofdeedsthereisanumber,and
thereisalsooneunitycomprehensiveofthem,accordingtowhichthe
wholeformofthepolityisexhibited,heannouncesthatheshallnarrate
thegreatestdeed,andwhichsurpassesalltherestinvirtue;thisdeednot
beingoneofthemany,butonepriortothemany.Forsuchamethod
Fofnarrationsubsistsappropriatelywithreferencetotheuniverse,in
whichwholesaccomplish,andconnectedlycontainonelife,andcollect
manycontrarietiesintooneunionwiththeGoddess.Hence,asthere
weremanyandgreatdeedsofthecity,thepriestveryproperlyrelates
onedeedwhichwasrecordedinthetemples.Forthereis,also,an
intellectualparadigmofit,sofarasitissurveyedintheworld,and
whichtranscendsinmagnitudeandvirtue;transcendencyaccordingto
magnitudepresentingtoourviewthatwhichistotal,butaccordingto
virtuethatwhichisintellectual.Forwholesandthemoredivineof
53Amundanenatureshavemanyenergiesofthegreatestmagnitude,*and
accomplishonelifeandpolity,conformablytowhichfightingunder
Minerva,theyvanquishallsubordinatebeings.Afterthismanner,
therefore,wemustexplainwhatissaid.Porphyry,however,bygreat
andadmirabledeeds,understandssuchasareaccomplishedbysouls
againstmatter,andmaterialmodes.Buthecallsdaemonsmaterialmodes.
For,accordingtohim,therearetwospeciesofdaemons,ofwhichthe
oneconsistsofsouls,buttheotherofmodes:andthesearematerial
fForntpimc,here,itisnecessarytoreadjt^iffrac.

powers,whicharenoxioustothesoul.Forthesedogmas,however,he
iscorrectedbytheinterpreterthatcameafterhim.*
24e"Forthesewritingsrelate,whatamightypoweryourcityoncetamed,
whichrushingfromtheAtlanticsea,spreaditselfwithhostilefuryover
allEuropeandAsia."
Platoinwhatisheresaid,neitheromitsanythingofencomiastic
augment,ifthewaroftheAtheniansagainsttheAtlanticsisconsidered
asamerehistory;norfallsintheologicalaccuracyinconjunctionwith
Bcaution,ifanyoneiswillingtopassfrompartialnaturestowholes,and
1,172toproceedfromimagestoparadigms.Asitisusual,therefore,in
PanathenacorationstocelebratemostamplythePersianexpedition,and
thevictoriesoftheAtheniansbothbylandandsea,withwhichmore
recentoratorsfilltheirorations;PlatoinpraisingtheAthenians,neither
deliversthePersianinvasionnoranyothersimilardeed,butintroducing
theAtlanticwaragainstthepartsinhabitedbyus,andwhichrushed
fromtheexternalseawithaforcecapableofentirelydestroyingthese
parts,heinformsusthattheAthenianswerevictorious,andthatthey
subduedthismightypower.Since,however,thePersianexpedition
camefromtheeastagainsttheGreeks,andparticularlyagainstthe
Athenians,PlatointroducestheAtlanticwarfromthewest,inorder
thatyoumaysurveythecityoftheAtheniansasfromacentre,
castigatingaBarbaricmultitudepouringagainstitoneachsideina
disorderlymanner.Towhichmaybeadded,thatintheinstitutes
deliveredbytheancestorsoftheAthenians,andalsointhemysteries,
theGiganticwariscelebrated,*andthevictoryofMinervaoverthe
CGiants,becauseinconjunctionwithherfathershevanquishedtheseand
theTitans.5Plato,however,doesnotthinkitsafeimmediatelyto
introducewaragainsttheGods;Dforthisistheverythingwhichhe
blamesintheancientpoets;anditwouldbeabsurdthatCritiasor
Timaeus,whowereauditorsofwhatSocratessaidagainstthepoetson
theprecedingday,shouldagainascribewarsandseditionstotheGods.
Butthroughtheanalogyofhumantodivineconcerns,hedeliversthis
Atlanticwarpriortothefabricationoftheworld,assumingthe
AtheniansinsteadofMinervaandtheOlympianGods,andtheAtlantics
ti.e.BythedivineIamblichus.
$cf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,132.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.692,26ff.
Rep.II,379e.
insteadoftheTitansandGiants.Foritispossibletosurveythesame
thingsinimagesasinwholes.AndthatImayremindyouofthe
analogy,throughthenameoftheAthenians,herefershisreaderstothe

OlympiancoordinationwhichfoughtunderthecommandofMinerva;
1,173butthroughthatoftheAtlantics,totheTitanicGods.Forthemighty
AtlaswasoneoftheTitans.Theologists*alsoafterthelacerationof
DBacchus*whichmanifeststhedivisibleprogressionintotheuniverseunder
Jupiterfromtheimpartiblefabrication,saythattheotherTitanshad
differentallotments,butthatAtlaswasestablishedinthewesternparts,
sustainingtheheavens.
Bystrongnecessitythewidespreadheav'n
Inearth'sextremes,byAtlaswassustain'd.
Hesiod,Theogony517f.
Fartherstill,thevictoriesofMinervaarecelebratedbytheAthenians,
andthereisafestivalsacredtotheGoddess,inconsequenceofher
havingvanquishedNeptune,andfromthegenesiurgicbeingsubduedby
theintellectualorder,andthosethatinhabitthisregionbetaking
themselvestoalifeaccordingtointellect,aftertheprocurementcf
necessaries.ForNeptunepresidesovergeneration;butMinervaisthe
inspectiveguardianofanintellectuallife.Thethingsproposedtherefore
willcontributeinthegreatestdegreetotheseanalogies.Forthe
AtheniansbearingthenameoftheGoddess,areanalogoustoher;and
theAtlanticsthroughinhabitinganisland,andthroughbeingcalledthe
progenyofNeptune,preserveananalogytothisGod;sothatitis
EevidentfromthesethingsthattheAtlanticwarindicatesthemiddle
fabrication,accordingtowhichthesecondfather[Neptune]beingfilled
byMinerva,andtheotherinvisiblecauses,governsdivinernaturesina
morepowerfulmanner,andsubjectsallsuchthingsashaveamultiplied,
divisible,andmorematerialhypostasis,tointellectualnatures.Forthe
Godsthemselves,indeed,areeternallyunited;butthebeingswhichare
governedbythem,arefilledwiththiskindofdivision.Afterthis
manner,therefore,thesethingsmustbeseparatelyunderstood.
Inorderhoweverthatwemaypreassumecertaindefiniteforms5of
theproposedanalysis,itmustbeadmitted,thatthehabitations0within
tOrphicfr.205.
tcf.184E&200Cinfra;&Lobeck,Aglaophemus,555ff.
ForTovrovqhere,itisnecessarytoreadTV7rovc.
cf.Tim.24e25a;Politicus273d;Procl.Comm.Rep.II,79.17.
1,174thepillarsofHercules,areanalogoustothewholeofthemoreexcellent,
butthoseexternaltothem,tothewholeoftheinferiorcoordination,
andthatofthis,thereisonecontinued,andvariouslyproceedinglife.
Whether,therefore,beginningfromtheGods,youspeakofthe
OlympianandTitanicdivinities;orbeginningfromintellect,of
permanencyandmotion,orsamenessanddifference;orfromsouls,you

speakoftherationalandirrational;orfrombodies,ofheavenand
generation;orinwhateverotherwayyoumaydivideessences,according
Ftoalldivisions,allthegenusofthosewithinthepillarsofHerculeswill
beanalogoustothebetter,butofthosewithouttothelessexcellentcoordination
ofthings.Forthetrueseaofdissimilitude,andthewholeof
amateriallifewhichproceedsintointervalandmultitudefromTheOne,
arethere.Hence,whetheryouarewillingOrphically*toarrangethe
OlympianandTitanicgenerainoppositiontoeachother,andto
celebratetheformerassubduingthelatter;orPythagorically,toperceive
thetwocoordinationsproceedingfromonhigh,asfarastothelastof
things,andthebetteradorningthesubordinaterank;orPlatonically,to
surveymuchofinfinityandmuchofboundintheuniverse,aswelearn
inthePhilebus*,andthewholeofinfinityinconjunctionwiththe
54Ameasuresofbound,producinggeneration,whichextendsthroughall
mundanenatures,fromallthese,youmayassumeonethingthatthe
wholecompositionoftheworldiscoharmonizedfromthiscontrariety.
AndiftheillustriousHeraclituslookingtothissaid,thatwaristhefather
ofallthings,}hedidnotspeakabsurdly.
Porphyry,therefore,hererefersthetheorytodaemonsandsouls,and
makesmentionofthefabulousTitanicwar,adducingsomethingsto
whatisproposedtobeconsidered,withprobability,butothers,without
it.ThedivineIamblichushowever,againstthosewhoadoptamore
partialassignationofthecauseoftheanalysis,isofopinionaftera
certainwonderfulmanner,thatwhatissaidisonlytobeunderstood
accordingtotheapparentmeaning,thoughintheprefacehehimself
1,175deliverstousauxiliariesforthesolutionofsuchlikenarrations.May
thatdivinemanhowever,whohasinstructedusinmanyother
particulars,andalsointhese,bepropitioustous.Betakingourselves,
Btherefore,totheinterpretationofthewordsofPlato,wethinkitfitto
remindourselves,ofthebeforementionedformsofanalysis;andthatwe
tOrph.fr.205;andDamasciusII,88,12;&254,11,25ff.
%Philebus30c.
Fr.53.
mustarrangetheAtlanticsaccordingtoallthetotalnaturesofthe
inferiorcoordination.Forinthese,also,somethingsarewholes,but
othersparts.Butwemustarrangetheirinsolentinjustice,accordingto
progression,adivisionthroughdiminution,andaproximitytomatter
Formatteristrulyinfinityandbaseness.Hencethroughnearnessto.
andbeinginacertainrespectinit,theyaresaidtohaveacted
injuriouslyfrominsolence.Fortheparadigmofthemismanifestedby
thetheologist,throughthesenames,whenhesaysofthem,"thattheir
mindisrepletewithevilcounsels,andtheirheartisinsolent."*Andwe

mustarrangetherushingfromexternalpartsaccordingtoadefectionand
separationremotefromtheGods,andthingsofadivinernatureinthe
universe.Fortheexternaldoesnotindicatecomprehensionofpowers,
butanhypostasisdepartingfromeverythingstable,immaterial,pure,
andunited.ButtheAtlanticseamustbearrangedaccordingtomatter
itself,whetheryoucallittheabyss,ortheseaofdissimilitude,orin
Cwhateverotherwayyoumaybewillingtodenominateit.Formatter
receivestheappellationsoftheinferiorcoordination,beingcalled
infinityanddarkness,irrationalityandimmoderation,theprincipleof
diversityandtheduad;justasfromtheAtlanticsea,theAtlanticisland
isdenominated.Forthusreceivingtheanalogiesinorder,weshall
understandthatthewholeoftheinferiorcoordination,andthemore
totalandpartialgenerainit,arecharacterisedbyprogressionand
division,andaconversiontomatter,andthatthusitproceedsthrough
allthings,presentingitselftotheviewappropriatelyineach,and
appearinganalogouslyineachnature,viz.thedivineandintellectual,the
psychicalandcorporeal.Beinghoweversuch,itisadornedandarranged
bythebetterorder,whichyoumayproperlysayisMinerval,asbeing
1,176undefiled,andsubduingthroughitspowerthingsofasubordinate;
nature.Buttheinferiorcoordinationbecomingadorned,ceasesfrom
itsabundantdivisionandinfinity;thegenusoftheTitansbeing
connectedbytheOlympianGods;butdifferencebeingunitedby
Dsameness,motionbypermanency,irrationalbyrationalsouls,generation
bytheheavens,andinasimilarmannerinallthings.Itmustnot
howeverbesupposedfromthis,thattwofolddividedprinciplesofthings
aretobeadmitted.Forwesaythatthesetwocoordinationsareofa
kindrednature.ButTheOneprecedesallcontrariety,asthe
Pythagoreansalsosay.Since,however,aftertheonecauseofall,aduad
ofprinciplesisunfoldedintolight,andinthesethemonadismore
tFr.102.
166
excellentthantheduad,or,ifyouwishtospeakOrphically,*aether
thanchaos,thedivisionsareaccomplishedafterthismannerintheGods
priortotheworld,andalsointhemundaneGods,asfarastothe
extremityofthings.ForamongthesupermundaneGodsthedemiurgic
andconnectiveordersareunderthemonad,butthevivificandthe
generativeordersareundertheduad.ButamongthemundaneGodsthe
Olympiangenusisunderthemonad,buttheTitanicundertheduad.
Andsameness,permanency,reasonandform,areunderthemore
ancient,butdifference,motion,irrationality,andmatter,areunderthe
otheroftheseprinciples.Forasfarastothesethediminutionofthe
twoprinciplesproceeds.SincehoweverTheOneisbeyondthefirst
Eduad,thingswhichappeartobecontrariesarecollectedtogether,andare
coarrangedwithaviewtooneorderlydistributionofthings.Forin
theuniversetherearethesetwofoldgeneraofGods,theoppositely

dividedgeneraofbeing,thevariousgeneraofsouls,andthecontrary
generaofbodies.Butthesubordinatearevanquishedbythemore
divine,andtheworldisrenderedone,beingharmonisedfromcontraries,
sinceitsubsistsaccordingtoPhilolaus*fromthingsthatbound,and
fromthingsthatareinfinite.Andaccordingtotheinfinite,indeed,
whichitcontains,itderivesitssubsistencefromtheindefiniteduad,or
thenatureoftheinfinite;butaccordingtothethingsthatbound,from
theintelligiblemonad,orthenatureofbound.Andaccordingtoa
1,177subsistencefromallthese,itbecomesonewholeandallperfectform
fromTheOne.ForitisGod,asSocratessaysinthePhilebus,}who
givessubsistencetothatwhichismixed.
24e"ForatthattimetheAtlanticseawasnavigable,andhadanisland
25abeforethatmouthwhichiscalledbyyouthePillarsofHercules.But
thisislandwasgreaterthanbothLibyaandAsiatogether,andafforded
aneasypassagetootherneighbouringislands;asitwaslikewiseeasyto
passfromthoseislandstoalltheoppositecontinentwhichsurrounded
thattruesea."
FThatsuchandsogreatanislandonceexisted,isevidentfromwhatis
saidbycertainhistoriansrespectingwhatpertainstotheexternalsea.
Foraccordingtothem,thereweresevenislandsinthatsea,intheir
times,sacredtoProserpine,andalsothreeothersofanimmenseextent,
tFr.52.
%Fr.1.2,Diehls.
Philebus61bc.
oneofwhichwassacredtoPluto,anothertoAmmon,andthemiddle
[orsecond]ofthesetoNeptune,themagnitudeofwhichwasathousand
stadia.Theyalsoadd,thattheinhabitantsofitpreservedthe
remembrancefromtheirancestors,oftheAtlanticislandwhichexisted
55Athere,andwastrulyprodigiouslygreat;whichformanyperiodshad
dominionoveralltheislandsintheAtlanticsea,andwasitselflikewise
sacredtoNeptune.Thesethings,therefore,MarcelluswritesinhisEthiopic
History.Ifhoweverthisbethecase,andsuchanislandonceexisted,it
ispossibletoreceivewhatissaidaboutitasahistory,andalsoasan
imageofacertainnatureamongwholes.Unfoldinglikewisethe
similitudeofthis,wemaygraduallyaccustomthosewhosurveythings
ofthiskind,tothewholetheoryofmundanenatures.Foritispossible
tobeholdthesameanalogiesinamorepartial,andinamore
comprehensiveway.Butitisnecessarythatdoctrineproceedingfrom
universalstothesubtleelaborationofparticulars,shouldthusgive
1,178respitetotheory.Youmustnotthereforewonder,ifbeforeweassumed
thisanalogymoregenerally,butnowafteranothermanner,andthatwe

Bexplorethesamethingwithanaccuracyadaptedtothethings
themselves.Forsince,aswehavesaid,thereisatwofoldcoordination
intheuniverse,whichoriginatesfromtheGods,andisterminatedin
matterandmaterialform;andsinceeachpossessesthingsmoretotal,and
thingsmorepartial,[forthiswehavebeforesaid];butotherthingsare
themiddlesofboththesecoordinations;forthedivinegeneraare
comprehensiveofallthings,andthelastelementsarethevilestofall
things;andtheintellectualandpsychicalgenerasubsistbetweenthese;
thisbeingthecase,wethinkfitinthefirstplacetodivideinathreefold
mannertheinferiorcoordination,andtoassumeinitsomethingsas
mosttotalgenera,othersasmiddle,andothersaslastgenera.Andto
somethings,weshallarrangetheAtlanticsasanalogous,toothersthe
otherislands,andtoothersalltheoppositecontinent.Butweshall
considerthedeep,andtheAtlanticsea,asanalogoustomatter.Forall
theinferiorcoordinationismaterial,andproceedsintomultitudeand
division.Butitalsohas,withrespecttoitself,transcendencyand
deficiency.HencePlatosaysthattheAtlanticsspreadthemselves
externally,asbeingmoreremotefromTheOneandnearertomatter;but
CthattheyinhabitedanislandlargerthanbothLibyaandAsia,as
proceedingintobulkandinterval.Forallthingsthatareremotefrom
TheOnearediminishedaccordingtopower,buttranscendaccordingto
quantity;justassuchasarenearertoTheOne,arecontracted*in
tForovveoTOineva.here,itisnecessarytoreadavveaToiktitvot.
quantity,butpossessanadmirablepower.Here,therefore,magnitude
issignificantofdiminution,andofprogressionandextensiontoevery
thing.Buttheseawasthennavigable,sincemoretotalnaturesproceed
asfarastothelastofthings,andadornmatter,buthavingarrivedatthe
endoftheorder,theystop,andthatwhichremainsbeyonditisinfinite.
Forthatwhichinnorespecthasasubsistenceissuccessivetothe
1,179boundariesofbeing.Buttheadditionofthose,hasanindicationthat
totalcausesproceedwithoutimpedimentthroughmatter,andadornit,
butthatwedonotalwayssubdueit,butaremergedinaninfiniteand
indefinitenature.*Sincehowevertheprogressionofthingsis
continued,andnovacuum*anywhereintervenes,butawellordered
diminutionissurveyedfrommoretotaltomiddlenatures,which
comprehendandarecomprehended;andfrommiddlestothelastand
Dvilestnatures,onthisaccounthesays,therewasapassagefromthe
Atlanticislandtotheotherislands,andfromthesetotheopposite
continent.AndthattheAtlanticwasone,buttheotherislandsmany,
andthecontinentwasthegreatest.Forthemonadisadaptedtothefirst
genusineverything;butnumberandmultitudetothesecond.For
multitudesubsiststogetherwiththeduad.Andmagnitudeisadaptedto
thethirdgenus,onaccountoftheprogressionofmagnitudetothetriad.
Since,however,theextremitiesoftheworsecoordinationaremost

material,hemanifeststhroughthetermopposite,thattheyareatthe
greatestpossibledistancefrommoreexcellentnatures.Andhedoesnot
aloneusethetermexternal,ashedoesoftheAtlantics,andwhich
evincesthattheybelongtotheotherpart,buthealsoaddstheword
opposite,thathemayindicatethemostextremediminution.Buthe
signifiesbythewordsaboutthattruesea,thehypostasisofthemabout
Ematter,5andthelastofmundanenatures.Forthetrueseaisanalogous
tothatwhichistrulyfalse,andtrulymatter,whichinthePoliticushe
callstheseaofdissimilitude.0Moreover,becauseitisnecessarythat
thesetwofoldcoordinationsshouldbeseparatedfromeachother
withoutconfusion,andguardedbydemiurgicboundaries,onthis
accounthesays,thatthePillarsofHerculesseparatedtheinternalfrom
theexternalhabitablepart.Forhedenominatesflourishingdemiurgic
production,andthedivineseparationofgeneraintheuniverse,thelatter
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.114,115&116.
$Forntvovinthisplace,thesenserequiresweshouldreaduvov.
cf.Rep.II,382a.
Politicus273d.
ofwhichalwaysremainsstablyandstrenuouslythesame,thePillarsof
Hercules.ThisHerculesthereforeisJovian;buttheonepriortothis,
1,180andwhoisdivine,isallottedtheguardianorderofthegenerativeseries.
Hencefromboth,thedemiurgicdivision,whichguardsthesetwo
separatepartsoftheuniverse,mustbeassumed.
25a"Forthewaterswhicharebeheldwithinthemouthwehavejustnow
mentioned,havetheformofaportwithanarrowentrance;butthe
mouthitselfisatruesea.Andthelandwhichsurroundsitmaybein
everyrespecttrulydenominatedthecontinent."
Thewaterwithinthemouthindicatethegeneraofthebettercoordination,
asbeingconvertedtothemselves,andrejoicinginastable
andunitingpower.Forthemouthsymbolicallymanifeststhecause
Fwhichdefinesandseparatesthetwoportionsofmundanenatures.But
theportwithanarrowentrance,signifiestheconvolved,selfconverging,
arranged,andimmaterialhyparxisofthesemundaneportions.For
throughthenarrowentranceitissignifiedthatintervalandextension
proceedfromtheworsecoordination.Butthroughtheportanhyparxis
isindicated,exemptfromtheconfusedanddisorderlymotionofmaterial
natures.Forsuchareportsaffordingaprotectionfromthetumultsin
thesea.If,however,someoneshouldsay,thatanelevationtothemore
56Aintellectualanddivinenaturesintheuniversebecomesaporttosouls,
hewillnotbefarfromthetruth.

25ab"InthisAtlanticislandtherewasacombinationofkings,whowith
greatandadmirablepowersubduedthewholeisland,togetherwith
manyotherislandsandpartsofthecontinent;andbesidesthissubjected
totheirdominionallLibyaasfarastoEgypt,andEuropeasfarasto
theTyrrhenesea."
InwhatisheresaiditisrequisitetorecollectthePlatonichypotheses
abouttheearth,*thatPlatodoesnotmeasurethemagnitudeofit
conformablytomathematicians;butapprehendstheintervalofittobe
greaterthantheyadmitittobe,asSocratessaysinthePhaedo;*andthat
hesupposestherearemanyhabitablepartssimilartothepartwhichwe
inhabit.Henceherelatesthatthereisanislandandacontinentofso
1,181greatamagnitudeintheexternalsea.Forinshort,iftheearthis
naturallyspherical,itisnecessarythatitshouldbesoaccordingtothe
tSeemoreonthisinterestingsubjectinthenotestomytranslationofthePhaedo
andGorgiasofPlato.
tPhaedo109a.

greaterpartofit.Thatportionofit,however,whichisinhabitedbyus,
exhibitsgreatinequalitybyitscavitiesandprominencies.Hencethere
iselsewhereanexpandedplaneoftheearth,andanintervalextendedon
high.For,accordingtoHeraclitus,hewhopassesthrougharegionvery
difficultofaccess,willarriveattheAtlanticmountain,themagnitude
BofwhichissaidtobesogreatbytheEthiopichistorians,thatitreaches
tothesether,andsendsforthashadowasfarastofivethousandstadia.
Forthesunisconcealedbyitfromtheninthhourofthedaytillit
entirelysets.Noristhisatallwonderful.ForAthos,aMacedonian
mountain,emitsashadowasfarastoLemnos,whichisdistantfromit
sevenhundredstadia.AndMarcellus,whowrotetheEthiopichistory,
notonlyrelatesthattheAtlanticmountainwasofsuchagreatheight,
butPtolemyalsosaysthattheLunarmountainsareimmenselyhigh,and
Aristotleinformsus*thatCaucasusisilluminatedbythesolarrays
duringthethirdpartofthenightafterthesetting,andalsoforthethird
partbeforetherising,ofthesun.Andhewholookstothewhole
magnitudeoftheearth,boundedbyitselevatedparts,willinferthatit
istrulyimmense,accordingtotheassertionofPlato.Sothatwearenot
nowinwantofcertainmathematicalmethodstothedevelopmentof
whatissaidabouttheearth,nordoweattempttorecurtothem.For
thesemethodsmeasuretheearthaccordingtothesurfacewhichisinhabited
Cbyus;butPlatosaysthatwedwellinacavity,*andthatthewholeearth
iselevated,whichalsothesacredrumouroftheEgyptiansasserts.Andthus
1,182muchconcerningwhatisrelatedofthemagnitudeoftheAtlanticisland,

inordertoshowthatitisnotpropertodisbelievewhatissaidbyPlato,
thoughitshouldbereceivedasamerehistory.Butwithrespecttothe
powerofthisisland,thatthereweretenkingsinitwhobegatfivemale
twins,andthatitruledovertheotherislands,certainpartsofthe
continent,andsomepartswithinthePillarsofHercules,allthese
particularsareclearlyrelatedintheCritias.}
Nowhowever,foritisproposedtomakeananalysisoftheparticulars,
thepowerissaidtobegreatandadmirable,accordingtoareferenceto
theuniverse,becauseitproceedstoeverything,andcomprehendstotally
thewholeofthesecondcoordination.Foritisheldtogetherbyten
kings,becausethedecadcomprehendstherulersofthetwoco
Aristotle,MeteoricsI,13,350a31ff.
tPhaedo109d.
Critias113b114b.
ordinations;sincethePythagoreansalsosay,fthatalloppositesare
comprehendedinthedecad.Buttheyweretwins,sothattherearefive
duads,*twinsbeingfivetimesbegottenfromNeptuneandClites;
becauseaccordingtothemeasuresofjustice,thereislikewiseanorderly
Ddistributionofthiscoordination,ofwhichthepentadisanimage.The
progressionofithoweveristhroughtheduad,justasthatofthebetter
coordinationisthroughthemonad.Moreover,allofthemarethe
descendantsofNeptune,becausealltheconnexionofcontraries,andthe
mundanewar,belongtothemiddlefabrication.ForasthisGod
presidesoverthecontrarietywhicheverywhereexists,helikewiserules
overgenerationandcorruption,andallvariousmotion.Butthesekings
subduedtheAtlanticislandascomprehendingallthefirstandmosttotal
generaoftheworsecoordination.Andtheysubduedtheotherislands,
aslikewisecomprehendingmiddlesthroughthewholenessofthem.But
theyalsovanquishedpartsofthecontinent,asadorningasmuchas
possiblethelastofthings.Andtheyhaddominionovercertainparts
oftheinternalhabitableregion,becausethelastpartsofthebetterare
subservienttothefirstpartsoftheworsecoordination.Noristhisatall
wonderful;sincecertaindaemonsareinsubjectiontocertainheroes,and
1,183partialsoulswhichbelongtotheintelligibleportionofthingsarefrequently
slavestofate.}SuchalsoistheTitanicorderwiththeGodstowhich
EAtlasbelongs.AndthefirstofthesetenkingswascalledAtlas,andas
itissaidintheAtlanticusgavethenametotheisland.0Thesummits,
therefore,ofthesecondcoordination,areadornedindeedbythe
OlympianGods,ofwhomMinervaistheleader;buttheysubduethe
wholeoftheessencewhichissubordinatetotheGods,butterminates
intheworsecoordination;suchastheessenceofirrationalsouls,of
materialmasses,andofmatteritself.Platoalsoappearstohavecalled

thepoweroftheAtlanticsgreatandadmirable,becauseThaumasand
Biasaresaidbyancienttheologiststohavebelongedtothisorder.0
Perhapstoo,hesodenominatedit,becausethewholeofthesecondcoordination
istheprogenyofinfinity,whichwesayisthefirst
tcf.Philolausfr.A13,TheonofSmyrna,106,7ff.,&Theol.Arithmetic,p.61.
$cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,93,17,&Theol.Arithmetic,p.27.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.88,99,102.
Critias114a.
OOrph.fr.104.
[power],*justasthebettercoordinationstheoffspringofbound.On
thisaccounthecelebratesthepoweroftheAtlantics,justashedoesthe
virtueoftheAthenians,whichbelongsto*bound:foritisthemeasure
ofthosethatpossessit.Afterthismannertherefore,Ithinkwemaybe
abletomaketheanalysisaccordingtothePythagoreanprinciples.
FThewordsofPlatolikewise,haveagreataugment,inordertoexhibit
theworkofthevictorsinagreaterandmoresplendidpointofview.
Forhesaysdynaminti,throughtheunionoftheparticleteaugmenting
dynaminpower.Andhealsoadds,great,andadmirable.Buteachof
theseisdifferentfromtheother.Forpowermaybegreatthoughitis
nothingelse,butitissaidtobeadmirablefromotherthings.Andby
howmuchthemoreadmirablethatiswhichisvanquished,bysomuch5
greateristhevictordemonstratedtobe.Besidesthisalso,indicating
throughdivisionsthemultitudesubduedbythispower,heevincesthat
itismultitudinousandtranscendent.
25b"Butthenallthispowerbeingcollectedintoone,endeavouredto
1,184enslaveourregionandyours,andlikewiseeveryplacesituatedwithin
themouthoftheAtlanticsea."
57APlatodoesnotsaythattherewasonceseditionamongdivinenatures,
orthatsubordinatesubduedmoreexcellentbeings.Butletthesethings
indeedbetrueinhumanaffairs:thepresentnarrationhowever,indicates,
thatthemosttotalofthegenerainthesecondcoordinationofthings
intheuniverseproceedthroughallthings.Fortherearebothinthe
heavensandeverywhere,aseparatingandunitingpower,andnothing
isdestituteofthese.Inmoreexcellentnatureshowever,thesepowers
donotsubsistwithdivision,normultitudinously,butcollectedintoone,
andwithoneimpulse;butthisis,unitedly,andaccordingtooneanda
continuedlife.Forasintheworsecoordinationtheoneismultiplied,
thusalsointhebetter,multitudeisunited.Hencemultitudeisevery
where,andisvanquishedthroughunion.OfthesethingstheAtlantics
wishingtosubdueeveryplacewithinthemouthoftheAtlanticsea,all

theirpowersbeingcollectedintoone,butatthesametimebeing
BvanquishedbytheAthenians,areanimage.Formultitudeand
separation,thoughtheymaybesurveyedinthebettercoordination,yet
fAvvaiuvisomittedintheoriginal.
$InsteadofirpoTOVireparoeinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirpoc,TOVireparoq.
ForTOTOVTUhere,readToaovrq.
theywillbeseentosubsistthereunitedly;multitudenotbeingthere
victorious,butsameness,andinshort,thebettergenera.
25b"Thenitwas,OSolon,thatthepowerofyourcitywasconspicuous
toallmenforitsvirtueandstrength."
PlatoopposestothepoweroftheAtlantics,thepowerofthe
Athenians;preferringthisappellation,asbeingadaptedtothemiddle
1,185fabrication.Andhecelebratesthemoreexcellentpowerforitsvirtue
andstrength;inorderthatthroughvirtue,hemayindicateitsalliance
tothephilosophicnatureofMinerva;(foranothertheology,*andnot
theOrphiconly,callshervirtue,)butthroughstrengthitsalliancetoher
philopolemicnature.Buthecallsthepowerconspicuous,becauseitis
mundane,andcontributestothefabricationofsensibles:andtothe
Atlanticsindeed,healoneattributespower,andthiscontinually,because
theyarearrangedunderinfinity.ButhesaysthattheAthenians
vanquishedthispower,throughvirtue.Forastheybelongtotheco
Cordinationofbound;theyarecharacterizedbyvirtue,whichmeasure:;
thepassions,andusespowersinabecomingmanner.
25bc"Forasitsarmiessurpassedallothers,bothinmagnanimityand
militaryarts,sowithrespecttoitscontests,whetheritwasassistedby
therestoftheGreeks,overwhomitsometimespresidedinwarlike
affairs,orwhetheritwasdesertedbythemthroughtheincursionsofthe:
enemies,andthuswasinextremedanger,yetstillitremained
triumphant.Inthemeantime,thosewhowerenotyetenslaved,it
liberatedfromdanger;andprocuredtomostamplelibertyforallthose:
ofuswhodwellwithinthePillarsofHercules."
Aswehavetriplydividedtheinferiorcoordination,intofirst,middle,
andlastboundaries,thusalsowemustdividethesuperior,intothemost
total,andthemostpartialgenera,andthosethatsubsistbetweenthese.
Andhavingmadethisdivision,weshallarrangetheAtheniansas
analogoustothefirstgenera;buttheotherGreekswhowerenot
enslaved,tothemiddle;andthosewhowerenowslaves,tothelast
genera.Foraccordingtothisarrangement,thosethatbelongtothe
Minervalseries,vanquishthosethatbelongtotheseriesofNeptune,

thosethatrankasfirst,subduingthosethatrankassecond,*the
monadic,thedyadic,andinshort,thebettervanquishingtheworse.
ti.e.TheChaldeantheology[cf.TTSvol.VII].
tForwpuruvhere,itseemsnecessarytoreadbevrepuv.
Butthemiddlegeneraeternallypreservetheirownorder,andarenot
vanquishedbytheworsecoordination,onaccountoftheunionof
themselves,andthestablegenusofpower.Theylikewiseliberatefrom
slaverythosethatareenslaved,recallingthemtounionandpermanency.
Forsomethingsindeed,arealwaysinmatter,othersarealwaysseparated
fromit,andothers,sometimesbecomesituatedunderthematerial
genera,andsometimeshaveanarrangementinaseparatelife.Justasin
thedramapertainingtous;atonetimewearearrangedunderthe
1,186Titanic,andatanother,undertheOlympianorder;andatonetimeour
courseterminatesingeneration,butatanother,intheheavens.This
howeverhappenstopartialsouls,throughtheinvariablypermanent
providenceoftheGods,whichleadsbacksoulstotheirpristinefelicity.
ForasinconsequenceoftherebeinggenesiurgicGods,soulsdescend,in
subserviencytotheirwill,thusalso,throughthepriorsubsistenceof
anagogiccauses,theascentofoursoulsfromtherealmsofgenerationis
effected.Andthusmuchconcerningthewholemeaningofthewords
beforeus.Letushowever,conciselydiscusseachparticular.
Thewordstherefore,surpassedallothers,manifestthetotal
comprehensionofthefirstgeneraofthemoredivinepart.Butthe
wordsinmagnanimity,andmilitaryarts,havethesamemeaningas
Minervally.Forthroughmagnanimity,theyimitatethephilosophic
characteristicoftheGoddess,butthroughwarlikearts,herphilopolemic
characteristic.Andthewords,whetheritwasassistedbytherestofthe
Greeks,overwhomitsometimespresidedinwarlikeaffairs,orwhetherit
wasdesertedbythemthroughtheincursionsoftheenemies,signifythat
Efirstandtotalcauses,producesomethingsinconjunctionwithsecond
andmiddlecauses,butothersbythemselves,beyondtheproductionof
these,andbeingaloneintheirenergy.ForthegenusoftheGods,and
thatwhichisposteriortotheGods,donotproduceequally,butthe
effectivepoweroftheGodsproceedstoagreaterextent;sinceevery
wheremoredivinecausesenergizepriorto,togetherwith,andposterior
totheireffects.Credibilitythereforeofthismaybemultifariously
produced.Buttheextremedangermanifeststhelastproductionofthe
firstgenera.Andthetrophiessignifythatthesecondcoordinationis
perfectedunderthefirst,beingadornedbyit;thatitisinacertain
respectconvertedbythepowerofit;andthatthereareinthelastof
thingsinvariablypermanentindicationsoftheconversionofless
excellentnatures,proceedingfromthefirstofthings.Forwhateveris
arrangedintheworsecoordination,andinvestedwithform,material

causesreceding,affordsasufficientindicationoftheinspectivecare*of
1,187thebetterorder,whichisespeciallythepeculiarityoftrophies.Butthe
mostampleliberty,isanindicationofthedivineandliberatedorder,
proceedingfromonhightoallthings;whichlibertytheAthenians
FimpartedtotheGreeks,byvanquishingtheAtlantics;orratherthe
Olympic,bysubduingtheTitanicgenera.Forthusthedemiurgicwill
isaccomplished,andtheworseisvanquishedbythebettercoordination;
inpartialnaturesindeedtheAtlanticsbytheAthenians,butinwholes,
theTitanbytheOlympicGods."Thoughtheyarerobust,andoppose
thebetterorder,throughperniciouspride,andinsolentimprobity,"says
thetheologist;*whomPlatoemulating,assertsthattheAtlantics
insolentlyproceededagainsttheAthenians.5
25cd"Butinsucceedingtimesprodigiousearthquakesanddelugestaking
58Aplace,andbringingwiththemdesolation,inthespaceofonedreadful
dayandnight,allthatwarlikeraceofAthenianswasatoncemerged
undertheearth;andtheAtlanticislanditself,beingabsorbedinthesea,
entirelydisappeared.Andhencethatseaisatpresentinnavigable,fromthe
impedingmudwhichthesubsidingislandproduced."
Thatwhatisheresaidhasaphysicaldeduction,isevidenttothose
whoarenotentirelyignorantofthephysicaltheory.Foritisnot
wonderfulthatthereshouldhavebeenanearthquakesogreat,astohave
destroyedsuchalargeisland;sinceanearthquakethathappenedalittle
beforeourtime,shookbothEgyptandBithynia,anditisnotatall
paradoxical,thatadelugeshouldfollowanearthquake.Forthisusually
happensingreatearthquakes,asAristotlerelates,whoatthesametime
1,188addsthecause.0Forwhereadelugetakesplacetogetherwith
earthquakes,thewavesarethecauseofthispassion.Forwhenthespirit
Bwhichproducestheearthquake,doesnotyetflowtowardstheearth,and
isnotabletodrivebackwardtheseawhichisimpelledbyacertain
contraryspirit,urgingitinacontrarydirection,throughthewind
whichpropelsit,butneverthelessstopstheseabyhinderingits
tFor7riff7panachere,itisnecessarytoreadeinaraoiac.
$Orph.fr.103.
24d.
ThetextofPlatointhisplaceisintheCommentariesofProclusveryerroneous,
asthelearnedreaderwillimmediatelyperceivebycomparingitwithanyofthe
editionsoftheTimaeus.
oAristotle,MeteoricsII,8,368a34368b6.
progression,itisthecauseofmuchseawhichisimpelledbythespirit
contrarytothis,becomingcollectedtogether.Thenhowever,thesea
thuscollectedflowingmostabundantly,thespiritimpellingitina

contrarydirection,entersundertheearthandproducesanearthquake.
Buttheseadelugestheplace.ForafterthismanneralsoaboutAchaia,
therewasanearthquakeaccompaniedwithaningressofthewavesof
thesea,whichdelugedthemaritimecities,BourasandHelice;sothat
neitherwillanyphysiologistrejectthisnarration,whoconsidersthe
affairrightly.Moreover,thatthesameplacemaybecomeperviousand
impervious,continentandsea,isamongthethingsadmittedby
physiologists,accordingtoAristotle,andwhichhistorydemonstrates.
Aristotlealsorelates,[inhisMeteors,*]thattherewasmudinthe
externalsea,afterthemouthofit,andthattheplacetherewasmarshy;
Csothatiftopeloukatabracheossignifiesmarshy,itisnotwonderful.
Forevennowrocksconcealedunderthesea,andhavingwaterontheir
surface,arecalledbreakers.Whythereforeshouldanyonecontending
forthetruthofthesethingsbedisturbed?
Thattheseparticularshowever,havereferencetotheadmirableand
orderlydistributionoftheuniverse,weshallbeconvincedby
recollectingwhatissaidbyOrpheus*aboutthehurlingintoTartarus,
1,189neartheendofthefabricationofthings.Forhedeliveringthe
demiurgicoppositionbetweentheOlympianandTitanicGods,5
terminatesthewholeorderlydistributionintheextremitiesofthe
universe,andimpartstothesealsotheundefiledprovidenceoftheGods.
Plato,therefore,knowingthis,anddeliveringtouswholesinimages,
extendsandleadsintotheinvisible,thesetwofoldgenera,andthrough
thisdisappearing,imitatestheOrphicprecipitationintoTartarus.For
inorderthatthelastofthingsmaybeadorned,andparticipateofdivine
providence,itisrequisitethatboththesuperiorandinferiorcoordination,
shouldextendtheirproductionfromonhighasfarastothe
mundaneextremity.Eachhowever,effectsthisinamanneradaptedto
Ditself;theonebeingshaken,andenteringundertheearth,whichisthe
sameasproceedingstablyandsolidly;buttheotherdisappearing,which
isthesameasbecomingmaterial,disorderly,andformless;underthe
earth,beingasymbolofthefirmandthestable;butinthesea,ofthat
tibid.I,14,351a22ff.
%Fr.205.
InsteadofTT)VTUVOXv/xinuvdeuv,KmTT\VHnaviKi\vwapuSovc,SrjfiiovpyiKriv
avndtaivinthisplace,IreadTt)vTWVOXU/JITCUPBeuv,KmTT\VTUVTiraviKuv,K.
whichisverymutable,disorderlyandflowing.Forinthelastofthings,
permanencyandgenerationarefromthebetter;butcorruption,
mutation,anddisorderlymotionarefromtheworsecoordination.
Sincehoweverthesethingsareadorned,boththeinvisibleandvisible
fabricationreceivingtheircompletion,onthisaccountPlatosays,they
happenedinonedreadfuldayandnight,nightindicatingtheinvisible

causes,butdaythevisible,andthedreadfulness,signifyingopposing
power,theinflexible,andthatwhichproceedsthroughallthings.But
becausealltheseareaccomplishedaccordingtodemiurgicpowers,
earthquakesanddelugestookplace,whichareadaptedtothemiddle
fabrication.ForifhewishedtosignifyJovianpowersorenergies,he
wouldhavesaid,thundersandlightningshappened.Butsincehe
EdeliversNeptuniandemiurgicenergies,heassimilatesthemto
1,190earthquakesordeluges.ForitisusualtocallthisGodearthshaker,and
thesourceofmarinewater(kyanachiten).Andbecausetimesignifiesa
progressioninorder,andawellarrangeddiminution,hesaysthatall
theseeventstookplaceinsucceedingtime.Itisnotthereforeproperto
say,thathewhodestroysanargument,takesawayalsothesubjects,as
HomersaysofthePhaeaceans,*andofthewallwhichtheGreeksraised;
sincethethingswhicharenowassertedarenotfictitious,buttrue.For
manypartsoftheeartharedelugedbythesea;andwhathesays
happenedisnotatallimpossible.Noragain,doesherelateitasamere
history;butheintroducesitforthepurposeofindicatingtheprovidence
whichproceedsthroughallthings,andextendseventothelastofthings.
Inshort,itisnecessarytoassert,sincethewholeorderlydistribution
ofthingsreceivesitscompletionfromthevisibleandinvisible
fabrication,thatforthepurposeofgivingperfectiontothedemiurgie
productionsofthesecondfather,thegiftsbothofthebetterandthe
worsecoordination,proceedasfarastothelastofbeings;theformer
vanquishingthesubjects[ofitspower]throughthewarlikegenus,and
Filluminatingastable*power,throughenteringundertheearth,[i.e.
throughproceedingfirmlyandsolidly;]butthelatterproducingultimate
division,andconnectingthemostmaterialandindefinitemotionof
Tartarus.Butthesethingsbeingadorned,itreasonablyfollowsthat
whatremainsisanimpervious5anduninvestigableplaceofthesea.For
thereisnootherpassageandprogressionoftheadorninggeneraofthe
tIliadXX,144.
$Foryoviiwvhere,itisnecessarytoreadii.ovLfi.ov.
Foraircipochere,itisnecessarytoreadaisopoq.
universe,butthisisthatwhichistrulymud;andwhichismentionedby
SocratesinthePhaedo,*whenheisteachingusconcerningthe
subterraneanplaces.Fortheplaceundertheearthobscurelyretainsthe
59Aformsofcorporeity,whichitpossessesthroughtheinferiorcoordination
subsiding,andproceedingtotheendoftheorderly
distributionofthings.FortheTitanicorderbeingdrivenbyJupiteras
farastoTartarus,fillswhatistherecontainedwithdeiformguards.
25de"Andthis,OSocrates,isthesumofwhattheelderCritiasrepeated

1,191fromthenarrationofSolon.Butwhenyesterdayyouwerespeaking
aboutapolityanditscitizens,Iwassurprisedonrecollectingthepresent
history.ForIperceivedhowdivinelyfromacertainfortune,andnot
wanderingfromthemark,youcollectedmanythingsagreeingwiththe
narrationofSolon."
ThatthewaroftheAtlanticsandAthenianscontributesto[thetheory
of]thewholefabricationoftheworld,andthatthemundanecontrariety
isconnectedbythemiddlefabricationproceedingfromonhigh,from
thefirsttothelastofthings,theMinervalseriesadorningallthings
stably,andinarulingandvictoriousmanner,expandingindeedthe
natureswhichareadorningallthingsstably,andinarulingand
victoriousmanner,expandingindeedthenatureswhicharedetainedin
matter,butpreservingthoseundefiledthatareseparated*frommatter;
andalso,thattheotherfabricationimpartsappropriately,5motion,
division,anddifference,tothethingsfabricated,andproceedssupernally
Btotheend;allthishasbeensufficientlyshownandrecalledtothe
memorybyus,inwhatwehavebeforesaid.Sincehowever,heby
whomthisnarrationismade,isanalogoustotheGodwhoconnectsthis
contrariety,he,inacertainrespectimitateshim.Andthrougha
recurrencetothefathersofthenarration,throughwhatwasheardby
CritiasandSolon,heascendstotheEgyptians;conformablytowhatpreexists
intheparadigm,whichisfilledfromfirstcauses,andfillsthings
posteriortoitself,withdemiurgicpower.Fartherstill,sincehebrings
withhimanimageofthesecond,whichproceedsfromanother
fabrication,hencehesays,thatherecollectedthehistorythroughthe
discourseofSocrates.Fortherecollectionitself,isnotatransitionfrom
imagestoparadigms,butfromuniversalconceptionstomorepartial
tPhaedo110a.
%Insteadofmixcopiff/wrareadKexupioneva.
ForirpoacJMvug,readirpoofopuc,.
actions.Hence,alsoitisadaptedtotheprogressionofthewhole
fabricationofthings.Forsinceallthingsareinintelligibles,every
demiurgiccausedistributestotalproductionsaccordingtoitsproper
order.
Again,ifyouconsiderwhatissaidafteranothermanner,youwillfind
thattheAtheniansarepraisedinanadmirablemanner,andthatthe
CpolityofSocratesisfitlycelebrated.Forthatitispossibleforthispolity
toexist,isdemonstratedthroughthelifeofthe[ancient]Athenians,andalso
thatitisproductiveofthegreatestgoodtothosewhobelongtoit;which
alsoSocratesthinksfittodemonstrateinhisRepublic.*Butheis
likewiseofopinionthatthosewholiveaccordingtothebestformofft

1,192polity,shouldbeshowntodeservethegreatestadmiration.Forthose
whoarefashionedaccordingtothefirstparadigmaretrulyadmirable;
sinceofmundanenaturesalso,themoredivinewhichtranscendently
receivethewholeformoftheirparadigms,aresaidtobe,andare
monadic;butmaterialnatureswhichhavethesameforminmany
subjects,possessthelastorder.Thistherefore,whichinthefabrication
ofthings,belongstotheGods,viz.topartaketranscendentlyoftheir
properparadigm,thecityoftheAtheniansalsoexhibits,byapplying
itselfinthemostexcellentmannertothebestmeasureoflife.
Moreover,thecircleofbenefits,imitatesthemundane*circle.Forthe
EgyptiansarebenefitedbytheAthenians,throughwarlikeworks;and
theAtheniansarebenefitedbytheEgyptiansthroughsacerdotal
narrations.Forthecommunicationofanunwrittenaction,wasareturn
Doffavour.Butinadditiontothis,thedoctrinalnarrationofthedeeds
oftheirancestors,exhibitsamultipliedretribution.Thementionalso
offortuneanddivinity,andtheexcitationofourreasoningpowers,are
worthyofthetheoryofPlato.Forfortuneandhergiftsarenotwithout
ascope,orindefinite;butsheisapowercollectiveofmanydispersedcauses,
adorningthingsthatarewithoutarrangement,andgivingcompletionto
whatisallottedtoeachindividualfromtheuniverse.Whythendid
SocratescollectmanythingswhichagreewiththenarrationofSolon?
Ianswer,onaccountofthecausewhichcollectsmanydispersedcauses,
andonaccountoftheonedivinity5whoconnectsthecommonintellect
ofSocratesandSolon.For,beingofaMinervalcharacteristic,theyare
tRep.VIE,543a.
ForTOeynuixiovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOP(jKianiov.
Forp.uxv9euvinthisplace,readfuapdeov.
excitedasitwerefromonefountain,theirtutelarGoddess,tosimilar
conceptions.
25e"YetIwasunwillingtodisclosetheseparticularsimmediately,as,from
26athegreatintervaloftimesinceIfirstreceivedthem,myremembrance
ofthemwasnotsufficientlyaccurateforthepurposeofrepetition.I
consideritthereforenecessary,thatIshouldfirstdiligentlyrevolvethe
wholeinmymind."
Thesethingsmayalsobesurveyedintheuniverse;viz.thatthe
demiurgiccauseofbeingswhicharegeneratedaccordingtotime,gives
1,193subsistencetohisownprogenypriortothatofpartialnatures.*And
Ethatthehypostaticcauseofthingsgenerated,first*intellectually
perceivinghimself,andseeinginhimselfthecausesofhisproductions,
thusgivesalsotootherthingsaprogressionfromhimself;inorderthat
he,beingsufficientandperfect,mayimparthisownpowertosecondary

natures.Conceptionthereforeandresumption,andeverythingofthis
kind,manifestthecomprehensionofdemiurgicproductiveprinciplesin
one.
26ab"Andonthisaccount,Iyesterdayimmediatelycompliedwithyour
demands;forIperceivedthatweshouldnotwanttheabilityof
presentingadiscourseaccommodatedtoyourwishes,whichinthingsof
thiskindisofprincipalimportance.Inconsequenceofthis,as
Hermocrateshasinformedyou,assoonaswedepartedfromhence,by
communicatingtheseparticularswithmyfriendsherepresent,forthe
purposeofrefreshingmymemory,andafterwardsrevolvingtheminmy
mindbynight,Inearlyacquiredacompleterecollectionoftheaffair."
WhydidCritiasnearlyremember?Forhepromisedtoaccomplish
whatwasenjoinedhim.Becausehedidnotaccuratelyremember.But
hefirstrevolvedtheaffairinhismind,conceivingthatinmandatesof
thiskind,suchasthatinwhichSocrateswishedtoseehispolityin
motion,thegreatestundertakingistofindanhypothesisfromwhichit
ispossibletogivewhatisadaptedtothemandates.5AndthisCritias
tTheerroneousnessofthepunctuationhere,pervertsthemeaningofProclus.For
theoriginalis,TOIVTUKmevTWiravnBeareov,irpoTUVpepiKuv.TObtmiovpyiKov
mnovTUVyiyvoiievuvKaraxpovovv<piOT7)oiraeavrovyevvrmotTct.Butthe
punctuationoughttobeasfollows:TavTCtKmevTUiravndeareov.wpoTUV
p.epuciov,TOdrmiovpyiKovmnovk.X.
%InsteadofirpoTWVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadnpuTOV.
cf.Tim.19b;&Rep.VIII,545d.
accomplishes,byreceivingfromhistorythewaroftheAtlanticsand
Athenians,asathingcapableofexhibitingalifeproductiveofthebest
polity.Healsorevolvedthisnarrationbynight,inorderthathemight
impartittohisassociateswithouterror.
FAgaintherefore,fromthesethings,letusbetakeourselvestowholes.
Fortherethedemiurgiccausebeingfilledfromaninvisiblecause(sine:
allintellectualcausesarethereprimarily,towhichheisunited*
accordingtothehighesttranscendency),producesthepowerofhimself
intothevisibleworld,conformablytotheirwillandjudgement.Farther
still,nottogivethenarrationimmediately,butafterwards,isasymbol
ofthepreparatoryapparatusofnature,fromwhichperfectionis
producedinphysicaleffects.Youmayalsoconsiderthecautionof
60ACritiasethically.Foritisnotpropertoattemptthingsofsucha
magnituderashly,withoutfirstrevolvingthewholeundertakingby
1,194ourselves,inorderthatwemaybringthemforthasfromatreasury
throughspeech,whichistrulythemessengerofinternalreasons.

Moreover,therepeatingthenarrationtohimself,imitatestheconversion
ofdemiurgicreasonstothemselves,accordingtowhich[thesoul]surveys
inherself[byparticipation]theproductiveprinciplesofbeings.Andto
presentadiscourseaccommodatedtothewishesofthosewhoenjoinedit,
indicatesinthefabricationofthingsthesuspensionofvisibleeffects
fromtheircauses.
26bc"And,indeed,accordingtotheproverb,whatwelearninchildhood,
abidesinthememorywithawonderfulstability.Forwithrespectto
myself,forinstance,IamnotcertainthatIcouldrecollectthewholeof
yesterday'sdiscourse;yetIshouldbeverymuchastonishedifanything
shouldescapemyremembrance,whichIhadheardinsomepasttime
verydistantfromthepresent.Thus,astothehistorywhichIhavejust
nowrelated,Ireceiveditfromtheoldmanwithgreatpleasureand
delight;whoonhispartveryreadilycompliedwithmyrequest,and
frequentlygratifiedmewitharepetitionofit.Andhence,asthemarks
oflettersdeeplyburntin,remainindelible,soalltheseparticulars
becamefirmlyestablishedinmymemory."
Thatchildrenrememberbetterthanmenisseeninworks,andhas
manyprobablecauses.Oneindeed,asPorphyrysays,becausethesouls
ofchildrenhavenotanexperienceofhumanevils.Hence,astheyare
Bneitherdistractednordisturbedbyexternals,theirimaginationisvoid
ofimpressions;buttheirreasoningpowerismoresluggish.For
tForL0Vi)Tmhere,itisnecessarytoreadevurm.
experiencerendersthispowermoreacute.Butanothercauseisthis,that
therationallifeinchildrenisinagreaterdegreemingledwiththe
phantasy.Astherefore,inconsequenceofthesoulbeingcopassive,and
comingledwiththebody,thebodybecomesstrongerandmorevital;
afterthesamemanneralso,thephantasyisstrengthenedthroughthe
habitudeofreason.Andbeingstrengthened,ithasmorestable
impressions,fromreceivingthroughitsownpowerreasoninagreater
degree;justasthebodyismorepowerful,inconsequenceofbeingmore
vital,throughamoreabundantcommunionwiththesoul.Athird
causeinadditiontotheseis,thatthesamethingsappeartobegreaterto
theimaginationsofchildren.Hencetheyareinagreaterdegreeadmired
bythem,sothattheyaremorecopassivewiththem,andonthis
1,195accountespeciallyrememberthem.Forwedepositinthememory
thingswhichvehementlypain,orvehementlydelightus.They
thereforeoperateonusinagreaterdegree.Henceasthatwhichsuffers
Cinagreaterdegreefromfire,preservesforalongertimetheheat
impartedtoit;afterthesamemanner,thatwhichsuffersmorefromthe
externalobjectofthephantasy,retainstheimpressioninagreater
degree.Moreovertheimaginationofchildrensuffersmore,onaccount

ofthesamethingsappearingtoustobegreaterduringourchildhood.
Hencechildreninagreaterdegreeretaintheimpression,assufferingin
agreaterdegreefromthesamethings.AnditappearstomethatCritias
indicatesthiswhenhesays,thatheheardthishistoryfromtheoldman
withgreatdelight,andthatonthisaccountitbecamefirmlyestablished
inhismemory,likethemarksoflettersdeeplyburntin.ButasSocrates
intherecapitulationofhispolityasserts,*thatthecauseofmemoryto
usistheunusualness*ofthethingswhichwehear,thusCritias,inwhat
isheresaid,ascribesthiscausetotheageofchildren.Foreverything
thatoccurstochildrenatfirst,appearstobeunusual.Andperhapsthis
bringswithitanindication,thattheprolificfabricationofGodsofthe
secondrankissuspendedfromthestablesamenessofthoseofthefirst
order;justasthememoryofaboyisthecauseofmemorytothe
associatesofCritias.5Ifsomeonehowever,inadditiontothese
Dsolutions,shouldadheretothewholetheoryofthings,lethimhear
Iamblichusasserting,thatthememoryofchildrenindicatestheevernew,
flourishing,andstableproductionofreasons;theindelibilityofthe
tTim.18c.
$Fora\i)deuxvhere,itisnecessarytoreadarjdewtv.
cf.Tim.43bc;&Procl.Comm.Rep.II,350,14;also340Dinfra.
letters,theperpetuallyflowingandneverfailingfabrication;andthe
alacrityoftheteacher,theunenvyingandabundantsupplyaffordedby
moreancientcausestosecondarynatures.Forthesethingsalsohavea
placeinconjunctionwiththebeforementionedsolutions.
26ce"Inconsequenceofthis,assoonasitwasday,Irepeatedthenarration
tomyfriends,thattogetherwithmyselftheymightbebetterprepared
forthepurposesofthepresentassociation.Butnowwithrespecttothat,
forwhichthisnarrationwasundertaken,Iamprepared,OSocrates,to
speaknotonlysummarily,butsoastodescendtotheparticularsof
everythingwhichIheard.Weshalltransfer,however,torealitythe
citizensandcitywhichyoufashionedyesterdayasinafable;considering
thatcitywhichyouestablishedasnootherthanthisAtheniancity,and
thecitizenswhichyouconceived,asnootherthanthoseancestorsof
oursdescribedbytheEgyptianpriest.Andindeedtheaffairwill
harmonizeineveryrespect;norwillitbeforeignfromthepurposeto
assert,thatyourcitizensarethoseverypeoplewhoexistedatthattime.
Hence,distributingtheaffairincommonamongus,wewillendeavour,
totheutmostofourability,toaccomplishinabecomingmannerthe
1,196employmentwhichyouhaveassignedus.Itisrequisitethereforeto
consider,OSocrates,whetherthisdiscourseisreasonable,orwhetherwe
shouldlayitaside,andseekafteranother."

Before,Critiasmadehisassociatespartakersofhisnarration;butnow,
hecallsonthemtoaccomplishinconjunctionwithhim,the
employmentassignedthem.Becauseintheparadigmsallthingsindeed
areunitedonhigh,andfilleachotherwithintellectualpowers;butin
thedemiurgicworld[orintheworldintheintellectoftheDemiurgus,]
theysubsistwitheachother,accordingtoacertaindivineandtotal
conspiration;conformablytowhich,andthroughwhich,allthingsare
everywhereappropriatelyineach.Henceintheheavenstheparadigms
ofgeneratednaturespreexist,andingenerationthereareimagesof
Ecelestialnatures.Since,however,wholenesseverywhereprecedesparts,
thisalsomaybeseeninthesecondfabrication.OnthisaccountCritias
firstsummarilydiscussesthewar;butafterwardsheendeavoursto
explainmorecopiouslyeveryparticular,narratingallthepolityofthe
Atlantics,andtheprincipleoftheirgeneration;howtheyturnedto
injustice,howtheAtheniansproceededtowar;fromwhatapparatus,
fromwhatlegations,throughwhatways,withwhomtheywerecoarranged,
andsuchthingsasareconsequenttothese.Thegenuine
polity,therefore,[ofSocrates]isanimitationofthefirstfabrication
Henceindicatingthemysticnatureofit,anditspreexistenceinpure
reason,hesays,thatitwasfashionedasitwereinafable.Butthe
hypothesisoftheAthenianshasanindication,asinimages,*ofthe
secondfabrication;inwhichthatwhichismorepartialpresentsitselfto
theview;andwhatremainsconsistsofcontrarietyandmotion,andthat
whichiscircumscribedinplace.Since,however,thesecondissuspended
fromthefirstfabrication,andisincontinuitywithit,hencehesays,
"thattheaffairwillharmonizeineveryrespect,andthatitwillnotbe
foreigntothepurposetoassert,thatthecitizensintheRepublicofSocrates
aretheverypeoplewhoexistedatthattime."
26e"SOC.Butwhatother,OCritias,shouldwereceiveinpreferenceto
1,197this?Foryourdiscourse,throughacertainaffinity,isparticularly
adaptedtothepresentsacrificetotheGoddess.Andbesidesthis,we
Fshouldconsider,asathingofthegreatestmoment,thatyourrelationis
notamerefable,butatruehistoryoftranscendentmagnitude.Itis
impossible,therefore,tosayhowandfromwhence,neglectingyour
narration,weshouldfindanothermoreconvenient."
SocratesapprovesthenarrationofCritias,inthefirstplaceasadapted
tothefestivaloftheAthenians;forthe[Atlantic]warisanimageof
mundanewars;andasahymnaccommodatedtothesacrificeto
Minerva.Forifspeechisofanyadvantagetomen,itshouldbeemployed
inhymns.Andbesidesthis,sincetheGoddessisthecauseofboth
theoryandaction;throughsacrifice,indeed,weimitateherpractical
61Aenergy,butthroughthehymnhertheoreticenergy.But,inthesecond
place,Socratesapprovesthenarrationasbearingwitnesstothe
possibilityofhispolity.Forthis,inhisdiscourseaboutit,hethought

worthyofdemonstration.*Foritwassufficientforhimthatthis
schemeofapolityexistedintheheavens,andinoneman;sinceall
thingsthathaveanexternal,haveaninternalsubsistence,andthatwhich
istrulylaw,beginsfromtheinternallifeitself.Ifalsoheshows,that
thispolityonceprevailedamongtheAthenians,hecertainly
demonstratesthepossibilityofit.This,therefore,hassuchlikecauses
asthese.Againhoweveritmaybeassumedfromthesethings,thatthe
narrationabouttheAtlanticsisnotafiction,assomehavesupposedit
tobe;butahistoryindeed,yethavinganaffinitytothewhole
fabricationoftheworld.SothatsuchthingsasPlatodiscussesaboutthe
magnitudeoftheAtlanticisland,mustnotberejectedasfabulousand
tForwcKtvuvOVTUVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreaduceiKOVuvOVTUV.
$cf.Rep.V,471c.
fictitiousonaccountofthosewhoenclosetheearthinaverynarrow
space.
26e"HenceitisrequisitethatyoushouldspeakwithgoodFortune,but
27athatIonaccountofmydiscourseyesterday,shouldnowrestfrom
speaking,andbeattentivetowhatyouhavetosay."
BPlatodoesnot,liketheStoics,assert,thattheworthymanhasnoneed
ofFortune;butheisofopinionthatourdianoeticenergies,sincethey
arecomplicatedwithcorporealenergies,accordingtoexternal
1,198progression,shouldbeinspiredbygoodFortune,inorderthattheymay
proceedfortunately,andthattheireffectuponothersmaybefriendly
todivinity*AndasNemesisistheinspectoroflightwords,thusalso
goodFortunedirectsthewordsbothofthosethatreceiveandofhim
thatuttersthem,toagoodpurpose,inorderthattheformermay
receivebenevolentlyandsympathetically,butthelattermayimpartin
adivinelyinspiredmanner,thatwhichisadaptedtoeveryone.Thus,
therefore,inpartialnatures.Butinwholes,goodFortunesignifiesa
divineallotment,accordingtowhicheachthingisallottedanorder
adaptedtoit,fromtheonefather,andthewholefabrication.Moreover,
forSocratestorestfromspeaking,andtobeattentivetowhatmaybe
said,hasindeedanappropriateretribution.Fortheotherpersonsofthe
dialoguedidthis,whenhenarratedhispolity.Butthisshowsfrom
Canalogy,howalldemiurgiccausesbeingunitedtoeachother,haveatthe
sametimeseparateproductions.Fortohearisindicativeofreceiving
througheachother.Andfortheotherstorest,whenonespeaks,
signifiestheunmingledpurityaccordingtowhicheachdemiurgiccause
producesandgeneratessecondarynaturesfromitsownpeculiarity.
27ac"CRIT.Butnowconsider,Socrates,themannerofourdisposingthe

mutualbanquetofdiscussion.ForitseemspropertousthatTimaeus,
whoisthemostastronomicalofusall,andiseminentlyknowinginthe
natureoftheuniverse,shouldspeakthefirst;commencinghisdiscourse
fromthegenerationoftheworld,andendinginthenatureofmen.But
thatIafterhim,receivingthemenwhichhehasmentallyproduced,but
whichhavebeenexcellentlyeducatedbyyou,andintroducingthemto
youaccordingtothenarrationandlawofSolon,astoproperjudges,
shouldrenderthemmembersofthiscity;asbeinginrealitynoother
thanthoseAthenianswhichweredescribedasunknowntous,inthe
tLawsIV,717cd.
reportofthesacredwritings.Andthatinfutureweshalldiscourse
concerningthem,asaboutcitizensandAthenians."
TheintentionofthisarrangementistomakeTimaeusasummit,and
atthesametimeamiddle.ForhespeaksafterSocratesandCritias,and
priortoCritiasandHermocrates.Andthus,indeed,heisamiddle;but
inanotherrespect,heisasummit,accordingtoscience,andbecausehe
generatesthemen,whomSocratesindeededucates,butCritiasarms.
This,however,isalsoamanifestsymboloftotalfabrication,whichisat
oneandthesametimeasummitandamiddle.Foritisexemptfrom
1,199allmundanenatures,andisequallypresenttoall.Thesummits
likewise,andthemiddleoftheuniverse,belongtotheDemiurgus,
accordingtothedoctrineofthePythagoreans.ForthetowerofJupiter
Dis,astheysay,situatedthere.*ButCritias,whospokeasthemiddle
afterSocrates,nowagainsummarilyspeakspriortoHermocrates.For
theduadicpertainstothemiddlefabrication,andalsothewholein
conjunctionwithparts;justasthewhole[priortoparts]belongstothefirst,
butpartstothelastfabrication.HenceSocratessummarilydeliveredhis
polity,andHermocratescontributedtothepartsofthehistorywhich
wasabouttobenarratedbyCritias.Andthusmuchconcerningthe
wholearrangement.
Someone,however,maydoubt,whatwillbeleftforHermocratesto
accomplishafterTimaeushasdeliveredthegenerationofthemen,
Socratestheireducation,andCritiastheiractions.Fortothesethings
thereisnothingsuccessive.MayitnotbesaidthatHermocratesisthe
adjutorofCritiasinhisnarration;fortherelationofthehistorywasa
mixtureofdeedsandwords.AndCritiashimselfpromisedtomakea
discussionoftheactions,butcallsonHermocratestoassisthiminthe
words.Fortheimitationoftheseisdifficult,aswasbeforeobserved.*
HenceintheAtlanticus,}CritiashavingassembledtheGods,as
EconsultingaboutthepunishmentoftheAtlantics,hesays"Jupiterthus
addressedthem"Andhethusterminatesthedialogue,asdeliveringto
Hermocratestheimitationofthewords.Butthereisnoabsurdityinhis

notdiscussing[intheAtlanticus]theremainderofthedeeds.For,in
short,havingassembledtheGods,forthepurposeofchastisingthe
insolenceoftheAtlantics,hehaseverythingconsequenttothis
tcf.172B,infra,p.534;alsoSimpliciusOnAristotle'sPhysicsI,1355,8ff.
$19Esupra,p.65.
Critias121bc.
comprehendedintheGodsbeingthuscollected,viz.thepreparationof
theAthenians,theiregress,andtheirvictory.Timaeus,therefore,
generatesthemen,Socrateseducatesthem,Critiasleadsthemforthto
actions,andHermocratestowords;thefirstofthese,imitatingthe
paternalcause;thesecond,thesupplierofstableintelligence;thethird,
1,200thesupplierofmotionandprogressiontosecondarynatures;andthe
fourth,imitatingthecausewhichconvertsthelastofthingstotheir
principlesthroughtheimitationofreasons[i.e.ofproductivepowers].
Thus,therefore,theseparticularsmaybesymbolicallyunderstood,and,
perhaps,innoverysuperfluousmanner.
Someone,also,maydoubtwhytheTimaeushadnotanarrangement
priortotheRepublic,sinceintheformerdialoguethegenerationofthe
world,andalsoofthehumanrace,isdelivered.Foritisnecessary,as
Timaeussays,thatmenshouldbegenerated;andalso,thattheyshould
Fbeeducated,whichSocrateseffectsintheRepublic;andthattheyshould
energizeinamannerworthyoftheireducation,whichinacertain
respecttheAtlanticusexhibits.Andif,indeed,Platobeginningfromthe
endproceededtotheTimaeus,whichisfirstbynature,itwillbe
asserting,whatisusualtosay,thatforthesakeofdoctrine,thingsthat
arefirsttous,thoughposteriorbynature,arefirstdelivered;butthat
nowheappearstohavearrangedthemiddleasthefirst,andthefirstas
themiddle.Andif,indeed,thisarrangementhadbeenadoptedbythose
whoarestudiousofornament,itwouldhavebeenlesswonderful;but
nowPlatohimselfappearstohaveactedinthismanner.Here,
therefore,thereisarecapitulationofthepolity,ashavingbeenalready
62Asummarilynarratedintheshortestmanner.Inanswertothisdoubtit
mustbesaid,thatifallhypotheseswereassumedfromthenatureof
thingsnowinexistence,orwhichwereformerly,itwouldbenecessary
thatthedoubtshouldbevalid,andthattheTimaeusisnotrightly
rankedinthesecondplace.Ifalso,allthenarrationsweredevisedfrom
hypothesis,itthuswouldberequisitethatsuchthingsasarefirst
accordingtonature,shouldbefirstassumed.Butsincethehypothesis
ofSocratessubsistsinwordsalone,andsurveyingtheuniversal,applies
itselftothenurtureandeducationofmen,butthehypothesis
consequenttothisdiscussesbeingsandthingsingeneration,theseare
veryproperlyconjoinedtoeachother;whilethehypothesisofSocrates,

asonlysubsistinginwords,andbeingonthisaccountaccurate,hasan
arrangementpriortotherest.Perhaps,likewise,Platowishedto
1,201indicatethistous,thatsuchthingsasdivine[human]souls,andwhich
areascendingtotheintelligible,produce,thesearesometimeorother
effectedontheearth,accordingtocertainprosperousvicissitudesof
Bcirculations.AsCritiasthereforeassertsthis,bearingtestimonyto
Socrates,wemustsaythatthosetrueancestorsofoursofwhichthe
priestspoke,perfectlyaccordwiththosecitizenswhichSocrates
mentallyconceived,andouropinionisnottoberejectedthattheywere
thosewhoexistedatthattime.IfhowevertheRepublicisinferiortothe
Timaeus,becauseitisconversantwiththatwhichispartial,andto
discussmortalaffairsistodwellonanimage,yettheuniversalprevails
init.Forthesameformoflifeexhibitsindeedinthesouljustice,butina
cityapolity,andintheworld,fabrication.
Fartherstill,thedeliberatechoiceofvirtueisfree,buttheenergy
whichisdirectedtoexternals,requiresthemundaneorder,andhence
theAtlanticusisposteriortotheTimaeus.Butthehabitofthecitizens
showsthatvirtueiswithoutamaster.*Platoalsomanifeststhrough
thesethings,thatthesoulwhensheisofherself[anddoesnotdependon
another]issuperiortoeveryphysicalhypostasis,andrunsaboveFate;but
whenshevergestoactions,isvanquishedbyphysicallaws,andisin
subjectiontoFate.Inadditionalsotowhathasbeensaid,itisrequisite
toknowthis,thatfromtheorderofhumanlifedeliveredinthe
CRepublic,theconnexionofthesedialogues,maybeobtained.Forinthat
dialoguethemenarefirsteducatedandinstructedthroughdisciplines.
Afterwards,theyascendtothecontemplationof[true]beings;andinthe
thirdplace,descendfromthencetoaprovidentialattentiontothecity.
Conformablytothiscongruity,theRepublichasanarrangementprior
totheTimaeus;andtheTimaeustotheAtlanticus.Forthemenbeing
instructedbytheRepublic,andelevatedaccordingtotheorybythe
Timaeus,will,livinghappily,wisely*performsuchactions,asthe
1,202Atlanticusnarrates.Afterthismannertherefore,wedissolvethedoubt.
ThephilosopherPorphyryhowever,notdirectlyforthesakeofthis
doubt,butdiscussingsomethingelse,affordsusthefollowingaidinits
solution;thatthosewhowish5toapprehendthewholetheory
genuinely,oughtfirsttobeinstructedintheformofit,inorderthat
beingsimilartotheobjectofintellection,theymaybeinabecoming
mannercoadaptedtotheknowledgeofthetruth.Thistherefore,the
orderitselfofthedialoguesdemonstrates.Fortheauditorsofthe
TimaeusoughtfirsttohavebeenbenefitedbytheRepublic,andhaving
Dbeenadornedthroughit,toattendafterwardstothedogmasconcerning
tcf.Rep.X,617e.
$ForeK&VGx;here,Ireade^poewc.

ForiiivovTUC.inthisplace,itappearstometobenecessarytoreadsBtkovTCic,.
theworld,evincingthemselvestobemostsimilarthrougheruditionto
theexcellentorderoftheuniverse.Andthusmuchinanswertothis
doubt.
Eachparticularhoweverofthetextmustbeconsidered.Timaeus
therefore,isnowsaidtobemostastronomical,notasdirectinghis
attentiontotherapidityofthecelestialmotions,norascollectingthe
measuresofthecoursesofthesun,*norasbeingconversantwiththe
worksofFate,butasastronomizingabovetheheavens,conformablyto
thecoryphaeusintheThecetetus*andcontemplatingtheinvisiblecauses
whichareproperlystars.HenceSocratesdoesnotexhibitthevisible
man,butthemanthatispurelyessentializedinreason;andhedoesthis
asimitatingthewholedemiurgus,inwhomtheheavensandallthestars
subsist,asthetheologistsays,intellectually.Timaeusbeginshowever,
fromthegenerationoftheworld,andendsinman;becausemanisa
microcosm,possessingallthingspartially,whichtheuniversedoes
totally,asSocratesdemonstratesinthePhilebus.*Buttherearecertain
personseducatedbySocratesinthemostexcellentmanner,whoalso
Eeducatesthewholecity,andthesearetheguardiansandauxiliaries.For
intheuniverse,thatwhichtranscendentlyparticipatesofintellectis
1,203heaven,whichalsoimitatesintellectthroughitsmotion.Themen
however,areintroducedbyCritias,conformablytothelawand
conceptionsofSolon,becauseSolonnarrates,thattheAthenianswere
oncethusgoverned,andestablishedlawshowchildrenoughttobe
introducedintothepolity,andintothetribes,andhowtheyoughtto
beregistered;andlikewise,bywhatkindofjudges,theyshouldbetried,
inoneplacefromthetribes,butinanother,fromotherappropriate
persons.AsCritiasthereforeadmitsthatthemeneducatedbySocrates
wereAthenians,hefollowstheconceptionsandthelawofSolon,
conformablytowhichcertainpersonsareintroducedintothepolity.
27bSoc."Iseemtobeholdaperfectandsplendidbanquetofdiscussionset
beforeme.Itbelongstherefore,nowtoyou,OTimaeus,tobeginthe
tProclusherealludestothefollowingChaldeanoracle:"Directnotyourattention
totheimmensemeasuresoftheearth;fortheplantoftruthisnotintheearth.Nor
measurethedimensionsofthesunbymeansofcollectedrules;foritrevolvesbythe
eternalwillofthefather,andnotforyoursake.Dismissthesoundingcourseofthe
moon;foritperpetuallyrunsthroughtheexertionsofnecessity.Theadvancing
processionofthe[fixed]stars,wasnotgeneratedforyoursake,"&c.Seemycollection
oftheseOracles[TTSvol.VII,p.78;fr.107].
tTheaetetus173ce.
Philebus29a.

discourse;havingfirstofall,asisfit,invokedtheGodsaccordingto
law."
Theperfectionandthesplendourofthenarrationindicatethe
supernaturalproductionofthingsonaccountoftheirparadigms,and
whichtakesplaceuniversally.AndtothesethewordsofSocratesrefer.
FThebanquetofdiscussionindicatestheperfectplenitudeofdemiurgic
forms;butthecallingonTimaeus,theconversionofpartialcausestothe
whole,andanevocationofthegoodsthencederived;andtheinvocation
oftheGods,thefabricationsupernallysuspendedfromintelligibles.For
theexpressionaccordingtolaw,isnotsuchasmanyoftheItalicorAttic
interpreterssupposeittobe,butithasthesamemeaningasthewords
usuallyemployedbythePythagoreans,*"Honourinthefirstplace,the
immortalGods,astheyaredisposedbylaw."Forlawmanifeststhe
63Adivineorder,accordingtowhichsecondaryarealwayssuspendedfrom
1,204priorcauses,andarefilledfromthem.Butlawthusbeginningfrom
intelligibles,extendstothedemiurgiccause,andfromthisproceeds,and
isdividedabouttheuniverse.Atthesametime,however,Socrates
indicatesthroughthesethings,thatthePythagoricdoctrinerequiresthat
physiologyshouldcommencefromadivinecause,andthatitshouldnot
besuchasthatwhichhereprobatesinthePhaedo,*whichblindstheeye
ofthesoul,byassigningairsandaethersascauses,conformablyto
Anaxagoras.5Foritisnecessarythattruephysiologyshouldbe
suspendedfromtheology,inthesamemannerasnatureissuspended
fromtheGods,andisdividedaccordingtothetotalordersofthem;so
thatwordsmaybeimitatorsofthethingsofwhichtheyare
significant.0FormythologistsalsonarratethatVulcanwhopresides
overnaturewasinlovewithMinerva,whoweavestheorderof
intellectualforms,andisthesupplierofintelligencetoallmundane
essences.Asfarastothistherefore,theprefaceoftheTimaeusreceives
Bitscompletion;ofwhichSeverus,indeed,didnotthinkfittogiveany
interpretation;butLonginusdoesnotsaythatthewholeissuperfluous,
butonlysuchparticularsasareintroducedabouttheAtlantics,andthe
narrationoftheEgyptian;sothatheisaccustomedtoconjoinwiththe
tcf.TheGoldenVerses(CarmenAur.I)inThePythagoreanSourcebook,trans,and
compiledbyKSGuthrie,PhanesPress1987.
%Phaedo98c.
Fr.A47.
Tim.29b.
requestofSocrates,thepromiseofCritias.Imean,heconnectswiththe
words,*"Inowthereforestandpreparedtoreceivethepromisedfeast,the
words,*"Butnowconsider,Socrates,themannerofourdisposingthe

mutualbanquetofdiscussion."ButPorphyryandIamblichusshowthat
thisprefaceaccordswiththewholedesignofthedialogue,andone
indeedmorepartially,buttheotherwithmoreprofoundintuition;so
thatwealsoshallherefinishthebookinconformitytoPlato,having
adoptedtheirorder.

ProcluscommentaryontheTimaeusofPlato
Book2
TheprefaceoftheTimaeusconsistsoftwoheads;arecapitulationof
63CthepolityofSocrates,andaconcisenarrationofthewarofthe
AtheniansagainsttheAtlantics,andthevictorywhichtheyobtained
overthem.Eachofthese,however,contributesinthegreatestdegree
totheconsummationofthewholetheoryoftheworld.Fortheform
ofthe[Socratic]polity,consideredbyitself,isprimarilyadaptedtothe
orderlydistributionoftheheavens.Butthenarrationofthewarand
thevictory,becomesasymboltousofthemundanecontrariety.And
theformerdescribesinimagesthefirstfabrication,butthelatterthe
second.Or,ifyouarewilling,theformerdescribestheformal,butthe
latterthematerialcause.Forallphysiologistsmakeprinciplestobe
contraries,andconstitutetheworldfromtheharmoniousconjunction
ofcontraries.Andharmonyindeed,andorderarederivedfromform,
whichintherecapitulationisshowntoproceedfromthepolityin
common,andtoextendinanorderlyprogressiontoeverymultitude.
Foritisonethingtodeliverthepolitywhichisinthesoul,another,
thatwhichisinmen,andanother,thatwhichismundane.Butthe
1,206recapitulationofSocrates,describingtheformitselfofeverypolity
Dseparately,exhibitstousprimarilythepolityintheuniverse,towhich
alsoitentirelyhastenstorefer[thepolitiesthatrankas]parts.
Fartherstill,ifalsoyouarewillingtoconsidertheaffairafteranother
manner,thepolitymaybearrangedasanalogoustotheheavens,butthe
wartogeneration.Forthepolityextendsasfarastothelastofthings;
sinceallthingsarearrangedconformablytotheserieswhichproceed;
fromthedemiurgusasfarastomundanenatures.Contrarietyalsopreexists
afteramannerintheheavens;eitheraccordingtothetwofold
circulationsofthecelestialbodies,viz.totherighthand,andtotheleft;
oraccordingtothetwofoldcirclesofsouls,*thecircleofsameness,and
thecircleofdifference;oraccordingtothegeneraofbeing,
permanency*andmotion;oraccordingtothedivinepeculiarities,the
maleandthefemale;oraccordingtoanyothersuchlikedivision.The
politytherefore,ismorealliedtotheheavens,butthewartogeneration.
HencetheformerisJovian,butthelatterpertainstotheallotmentof
Neptune.Afterhoweverthetheoryofparts,itisnecessarythrough
t36c.

TForovoTuaivhere,itisnecessarytoreadaraaiv.
imagestobeextendedtotheknowledgeofthewhole.Andafterthe
surveyofimagesthemselves,itisrequisitetoadheretotheirparadigms,
Efromsmallbeinginitiatedingreater[objectsofcontemplation].Forthe
formerhavetherelationofthingspreparatorytoinitiation,andofsmall
mysteries,excitingtheeyeofthesoultothecomprehensionofthe
wholeandtheuniverse,andtothecontemplationoftheonecause,and
theoneprogressionofallmundanenatures.ForeverythingisfromThe
One,andtheuniversewithhavingindifferentpartsofit,morepartial
presidingpowers,proceedsviceversatotheonecauseofitssubsistence.
Timaeushowever,priortoenteringonthewholediscussion,converts
himselftotheinvocationsof,andprayerstotheGods,imitatinginthis
themakeroftheuniverse,whopriortothewholefabricationofthings,
issaidtohaveapproachedtotheoracleofnight,tohavebeenthere
filledwithdivineintellectualconceptions,tohavereceivedtheprinciples
offabrication,andtheretodissolve,ifitbelawfulsotospeak,allhis
1,207doubts.Tonightalso,whocallsonthefather,[Jupiter]toengageinthe
fabricationoftheuniverse,Jupiterisrepresentedbythetheologistas
saying,*
Maia,supremeofallthepowersdivine,
ImmortalNight!howwithunconquer'dmind
MustIthesourceoftheimmortalsfix?
Fr.117
Andreceivesthisanswerfromher,
Allthingsreceiveinclos'donev'ryside,
Inaether'swideineffableembrace;
Theninthemidstofaetherplacetheheav'n.*
Fr.118
FAndheisinstructedbyherinalltheconsequentfabricationofthe
world.ButagaintoSaturn,afterthebonds,Jupiterallbutprayingsays,
Daemon,mostfam'd,ourprogenydirect.
64AAndinallthatfollows,hecallsforththebenevolenceofhisfather.For
howcouldheotherwisefillallthingswithGodsandassimilatethe
sensibleworldtoanimalitself,[ortheintelligibleparadigm]thanby
fcf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,517ff.
XForovpavuhere,itisnecessarytoreadovpavov.
extendinghimselftotheinvisiblecausesofwholes,fromwhichbeing

himselffilled,
Hefromhis[sacred]heartmaygodlikeworks
Againproduce.
Itisnecessarytherefore,priortoallotherthings,thatweshouldknow
somethingmanifestconcerningprayer,*whatitsessenceis,andwhatits
perfection,andwhenceitisimpartedtosouls.Forthephilosopher
Porphyryindeed,describingthoseamongtheancientsthatadmitted
prayer,andthosethatdidnot,leadsusfromoneopiniontoanother,
andsaysinshort,thatneitherthosewhoarediseasedaccordingtothe
firstkindofimpiety,deriveanybenefitfromprayer,sincetheydonot
admitthatthereareGods,northosewholabourunderthesecondkind,
andentirelysubvertprovidence,grantingindeedthatthereareGods,but
1,208denyingtheirprovidentialenergies.Noraretheybenefitedbyit,who
BadmitindeedtheprovidenceoftheGods,butassertthatallthingsare
producedbythemfromnecessity.Forthereisnolongeranyadvantage
tobederivedfromprayer,ifthingsofacontingentnaturehavenot*
anyexistence.ButsuchasassertthattheGodsprovidentiallyattendto
allthings,andthatmanythingsthataregeneratedarecontingentand
maysubsistotherwise,theseveryproperlyadmitthenecessityof
prayers,andacknowledgethattheycorrectourlife.Porphyryalsoadds,
thatprayerespeciallypertainstoworthymen,becauseitisacontact
withdivinity.Butthesimilarlovestobeconjoinedtothesimilar:and
theworthymanismostsimilartotheGods.5Becauselikewisethose
whoembracevirtueareincustody,andareinclosedinthebodyasin
aprison,theyoughttorequesttheGodsthattheymaymigratefrom
hence.DBesides,sinceweareaschildrentornfromourparents,itis
fitweshouldpraythatwemayreturntoourtrueparentstheGods.
Thosealsoresemblesuchasaredeprivedoftheirfathersandmothers,
whodonotthinkitrequisitetoprayandbeconvertedtotheGods.All
nationslikewise,thathaveexcelledinwisdom,havediligentlyapplied
tSeeanadditionaltreasuryofdivinelyluminousconceptionsonthissubject,from
Iamblichus,HieroclesandSimplicius,inthenotestomytranslationoftheSecond
AlcibiadesofPlato;which,ifthereaderhasnotmyPlatoinhispossession,hemayals:>
findintheAdditionalNotestomytranslationofMaximusTyrius[TTSvol.VI.]
%ForaXXucOVTUVhere,itisnecessarytoread,aXXcocyiveadai/ITJOVTWV.
Phxdo62b.
Rep.Vn(MacrobusI,11,3).
themselvestoprayer;amongtheIndianstheBrachmans,amongthe
CPersianstheMagi,andoftheGreeksthemosttheological,who
institutedinitiatoryritesandmysteries.ButtheChaldeansvenerate
everyotherdivinity,andlikewisethevirtueitselfoftheGods,which
theydenominateaGoddess;*sofararetheyfromdespisingsacred

worship,onaccountofthepossessionofvirtue.Andinadditiontoall
this,aswearepartsoftheuniverseitisfitthatweshouldbeinwantof
theuniverse.Foraconversiontothewholeimpartssalvationtoevery
thing.Ifthereforeyoupossessvirtue,youshouldinvokethatwhich
Antecedentlycomprehendsallvirtue.Forthatwhichisallgood,will
alsobethecausetoyouofappropriategood.Orifyouexplorea
certaincorporealgood,thereisapowerintheworldwhich
comprehendsallbody.Itisnecessarythereforethatperfectionshould
fromthencebederivedtotheparts.Andthisisthesumofwhatissaid
byPorphyryonthissubject.
1,209ThedivineIamblichushowever,doesnotthinkthatahistoryofthis
kindpertainstowhatishereproposedtobeconsidered.ForPlatois
notnowspeakingaboutatheisticalmen,butaboutsuchasarewise,and
abletoconversewiththeGods.Nordoeshespeakofsuchasare
Ddubiousabouttheworksofpiety;buttosuchaswishtobesavedbythose
whoarethesavioursofwholes,hedeliversthepowerofprayer,andits
admirableandsupernaturalperfectionwhichtranscendsallexpectation
Itisfithowever,thattransferringwhathesaystowhatismoreusual
andmoreknowntothereader,weshouldrenderhismeaningclear,and
assignargumentsconcerningprayerwhichaccordwiththedoctrineof
Plato.Fromhencethereforewemustbegin:Allbeingsaretheprogeny
oftheGods,bywhomtheyareproducedwithoutamedium,andin
whomtheyarefirmlyestablished.Fortheprogressionofthingswhich
perpetuallysubsist,andcoherefrompermanentcauses,isnotalone
perfectedbyacertaincontinuation,butimmediatelysubsistsfromthe
Gods,fromwhenceallthingsaregenerated,howeverdistanttheymay
befromthedivinities.Andthisisnolesstrue,eventhoughassertedof
matteritself.Foradivinenatureisnotabsentfromanything,butis
equallypresenttoallthings.Hencethoughyoushouldassumethelast
ofbeings,inthesealsoyouwillfinddivinity.ForTheOneisevery
where;andinconsequenceofitsabsolutedominion,everythingreceives
itsnatureandcoherencefromtheGods.Asallthingshoweverproceed,
solikewise,theyarenotseparatedfromtheGods,butradicallyabidein
Ethem,asthecausesandsustainersoftheirexistence.Forwherecanthey
tFordeuvinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadBeov.SeeChald.Oracl.fr.52.
recede,sincetheGodsprimarilycomprehendallthingsintheirembrace?
ForwhateverisplacedasseparatefromtheGodshasnotanykindof
subsistence.ButallbeingsarecontainedbytheGodsandresideintheir
natures,afterthemannerofacircularcomprehension.Hence,bya
wonderfulmodeofsubsistence,allthingsproceed,andyetarenot,nor
indeedcanbeseparatedfromtheGods;becausealloffspringwhentorn
1,210fromtheirparents,immediatelyrecurtotheimmensevastnessofnonentity.
Butinacertainrespecttheyareestablishedinthem;andin

short,proceedinthemselves,butabideintheGods.Sincehowever,
havingproceeded,itisrequisitethattheyshouldbeconvertedand
return,imitatingtheevolutionintolight,andconversionoftheGodsto1
theircause,inorderthatthesebeingarrangedconformablytothe
perfectivetriad,mayagainbecontainedbytheGodsandthefirst
unities,hencetheyreceivefromthemacertainsecondaryperfection,
bywhichtheymaybeabletoconvertthemselvestothegoodnessofthe
divinities,inorderthatbeingatfirstrootedin,theymayagainthrough
conversionbeestablishedinthem,formingacertaincircle,which
originatesfromandterminatesintheGods.
FAllthingstherefore,bothabidein,andconvertthemselvestothe
Gods,receivingthispowerfromthedivinities,togetherwithtwofold
impressionsaccordingtoessence;theone,thattheymayabidethere,but
theotherthat,havingproceeded,theymayconvertthemselves[totheir
causes].Andthesethingswemay*surveynotonlyinsouls,butalso
ininanimatenatures.Forwhatelseingeneratesintheseasympathy
withotherpowers,butthesymbolswhichtheyareallottedbynature,
65Asomeofwhicharealliedtothis,butotherstothatseriesofGods?For
naturebeingsupernallysuspendedfromtheGods,anddistributedfrom
theirorders,insertsalsoinbodiesimpressionsoftheiralliancetothe
divinities.Insomeindeed,insertingsolar,butinotherslunar
impressions,andinothersagain,thesymbolofsomeotherGod.And
theseindeed,convertthemselvestotheGods;some,astotheGods
simply,butothersastoparticularGods;naturethusperfectingher
progenyaccordingtodifferentpeculiaritiesofthedivinities.The
Demiurgusoftheuniversetherefore,byamuchgreaterpriority,
impressedthesesymbolsinsouls,bywhichtheymightbeabletoabide
inthemselves,andagainconvertthemselvestothesourcesoftheirbeing.
Andthroughthesymbolofunityindeedheconferredonthemstability;
butthroughintellect,heimpartedtothemthepowerofconversion.
tForirap'eonhere,readTrapean.
Buttothisconversionprayerisofthegreatestutility.Foritattracts
1.211toitselfthebeneficenceoftheGods,throughthoseineffablesymbols
whichthefatherofsoulshasdisseminatedinthem.*Itlikewiseunites
Bthosewhopraywiththosetowhomprayerisaddressed;conjoinsthe
intellectoftheGodswiththewordsofthosewhopray;excitesthewill
ofthosewhoperfectlycomprehendgoodtotheabundant
communicationofit;isthefabricatorofdivinepersuasion;and
establishesintheGodsallthatwepossess.
Toaperfectandtrueprayerhowever,thereisrequiredinthefirst
place,aknowledgeofallthedivineorderstowhichhewhoprays
approaches.FornoonewillaccedetotheGodsinapropermanner,

unlesshehasaknowledgeoftheirpeculiarities.Hencealsotheoracle
admonishes,thatafireheatedconceptionhasthefirstorderinsacred
worship.}Butinthesecondplace,thereisrequiredaconformationof
ourlifewiththatwhichisdivine;andthisaccompaniedwithallpurity,
chastity,discipline,andorder,throughwhichourconcernsbeing
introducedtotheGods,weshallattracttheirbeneficence,andoursouls
willbecomesubjecttothem.Inthethirdplace,contactisnecessary,
accordingtowhichwetouchthedivineessencewiththesummitofour
soul,andvergetoaunionwithit.Butthereisyetfartherrequired,an
approximatingadhesion:forthustheoraclecallsit,whenhesays,the
mortalapproximatingtofirewillpossessalightfromtheGods.}Forthis
Cimpartstousagreatercommunionwith,andamoremanifest
participationofthelightoftheGods.Inthelastplace,unionsucceeds
establishingtheoneofthesoulinTheOneoftheGods,andcausingour
energytobecomeonewithdivineenergy;accordingtowhichweareno
longerourselves,butareabsorbedasitwereintheGods,abidingin
divinelight,andcircularlycomprehendedbyit.Andthisisthebestend
oftrueprayer,inorderthattheconversionofthesoulmaybeconjoined
withitspermanency,andthateverythingwhichproceedsfromTheOne
oftheGods,mayagainbeestablishedinTheOne,andthelightwhich
1.212isinusmaybecomprehendedinthelightoftheGods.
Prayertherefore,isnosmallpartofthewholeascentofsouls.Noris
hewhopossessesvirtuesuperiortothewantofthegoodwhichproceeds
fromprayer;butonthecontrarytheascentofthesouliseffected
tChald.Oracl.95.
%Chald.Oracl.139.
Chald.Oracl.121,126.
throughit,andtogetherwiththis,pietytotheGods,whichisthe:
summitofvirtue.Norinshort,oughtanyothertopraythanhewhois
transcendentlygood,astheAthenianguest[inPlato]says.Fortosucha
one,conversewiththeGodsbecomesmostefficacioustotheattainmentof
ahappylife.Butthecontraryisnaturallyadaptedtobefalthevicious.
DForitisnotlawfulforthepuretobetouchedbytheimpure.*Hence,
itisnecessarythathewhogenerouslyentersontheexerciseofprayer,
shouldrendertheGodspropitioustohim,andshouldexciteinhimself
conceptionsfullofintellectuallight.Forthefavorandbenignityof
moreexaltedbeings,isthemosteffectualincentivetotheir
communicationwithournatures.Anditisrequisitetocontinue
withoutintermissionintheworshipofdivinity.For[accordingtothe
oracle]therapid5Godsperfectthemortalconstantlyemployedin
prayer.DItisalsonecessarytoobserveastableorderinthe
performanceofdivineworks;toexertthosevirtueswhichpurifyand

elevatethesoulfromgeneration,togetherwithfaith,truth,andlove;c
topreservethistriadandhopeofgood,thisimmutablereceptionof
divinelight,andsegregationfromeveryotherpursuit,thatthus
becomingalone,wemayassociatewithsolitarydeity,andnot+
endeavourtoconjoinourselveswithmultitudetoTheOne.Forhewho
attemptsthis,effectstheverycontrary,andseparateshimselffromthe
Gods.Forasitisnotlawfulinconjunctionwithnonentitytoassociate
withbeing;soneitherisitpossiblewithmultitudetobeconjoinedwith
ETheOne.Suchthereforearetheparticularswhichoughtfirsttobe
knownconcerningprayer;viz.thattheessenceofitcongregatesand
1,213bindssoulstotheGods,orrather,thatitunitesallsecondarytoprimary
natures.ForasthegreatTheodorussays,allthingsprayexceptthefirst.
Theperfectionhoweverofprayer,beginningfrommorecommon**
goods,endsindivineunion,andgraduallyaccustomsthesoultodivine
light.Butitsefficaciousenergybothreplenishesuswithgood,and
tcf.LawsIV,716d.
$cf.Phxdo67b.
i.e.TheintelligibleGods.
Chald.Oracl.fr.140.
oChald.Oracl.fr.46.
ftForKQVfiera7rA7j0oi/chere,itisnecessarytoreadKOU/MJfiera7r\7j0oi;c.
ForKOiXortpuvinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadKoivorepuv.
causesourconcernstobecommonwiththoseoftheGods.With
respecttothecausesofprayertoo,wemayinfer,thatsofarastheyare
effective,theyaretheefficaciouspowersoftheGods,convertingand
callingupwardsthesoultotheGodsthemselves.Butthatsofarasthey
arefinalorperfective,theyaretheimmaculategoodsofthesoul,which
theyderiveasthefruitsofbeingestablishedintheGods.Thatsofar
alsoastheyareparadigmatical,theyaretheprimordialcausesofbeings,
whichproceedfromTheGood,andareunitedtoit,accordingtoone
ineffableunion.Butthatsofarastheyareformal,theyassimilatesouls
totheGods,andgiveperfectiontothewholeoftheirlife.Andthatso
farastheyarematerial,theyaretheimpressionsorsymbolsinsertedby
theDemiurgusintheessencesofsouls,inorderthattheymaybe
FexcitedtoareminiscenceoftheGodswhoproducedthem,andwhatever
elseexists.
Moreover,wemaylikewisedefinethemodesofprayerwhichare
various,accordingtothegeneraandspeciesoftheGods.Forprayeris
eitherdemiurgic,orcathartic,orvivific.Andthedemiurgicissuchas
thatwhichisofferedforthesakeofshowersandwinds.Forthe
demiurgiarethecausesofthegenerationofthese.Andtheprayersof

theAtheniansforwindsprocuringserenityofweatherareaddressedto
theseGods.Butthecatharticprayeristhatwhichisofferedforthe
purposeofavertingdiseasesoriginatingfrompestilence,andother
contagiousdistempers;suchaswehavewritteninourtemples.Andthe
66AvivificprayeristhatwithwhichweworshiptheGods,whoarethe
causesofvivification,onaccountoftheoriginandmaturityoffruits.
Henceprayersareofaperfectivenature,becausetheyelevateustothese
1,214ordersoftheGods.Andhewhoconsiderssuchprayersinadifferent
manner,failsinproperlyapprehendingthenatureandefficacyofprayer.
Butagain,withreferencetothethingsforwhichwepray;thoseprayers,
whichregardthesalvationofthesoul;obtainthefirstplace;thosewhich
pertaintothegoodtemperamentofthebody,thesecond;andthose
rankinthethirdplace,whichareofferedforthesakeofexternal
concerns.Andlastly,withrespecttothedivisionofthetimesinwhich
weofferupprayers,itiseitheraccordingtotheseasonsoftheyear,or
thecentersofthesolarrevolution;orweestablishmultiformprayers
accordingtoothersuchlikeconceptions.
27cTlM."But,OSocrates,allsuchasparticipatebutintheleastdegreeof
temperance,[i.e.wisdom]intheimpulsetoeveryundertaking,whether
smallorgreat,alwaysinvokedivinity."
DoyouseewhatkindofanhypothesisPlatoreferstotheTimxm;
Bwhatkindofanauditorofitheintroduces,viz.Socrates;andwhata
beginningofthediscussionhehasdescribed?Forthehypothesisindeed,
referstothewholefabricationofthings;buttheauditorispreparedto
beledtoitconformablytotheoneintellectandonetheoryofwholes.
HencealsoheexcitesTimaeustoprayer.Butthebeginningofthe
discussion,beingimpelledfromtheinvocationoftheGods,thusimitates
theprogressionofbeings,whichfirstabidingintheGods,arethus
allottedagenerationfromthem.Sincehowever,itissaid,that"allwho
intheleastdegreeparticipateoftemperancealwaysinvokedivinityinthe
impulsetoeveryundertaking,whetheritbesmallorgreat,"letusseefrom
whatkindofconceptiontheymakethisinvocat^noftheGodsinevery
1,215thinginwhichtheyengage.Foritisnotprobablethatthosewhoare
temperatewillnotmakerealbeingthescopetowhichtheytend.And
thosewhoestablishapureintellectastheleaderoftheirtheory;who
depositthebeautifulandthegoodintheprerogativesofthesoul,and
notinhumanaffairs,norinexternalfortunes;andwhoperceive*the
Cpowerofprovidenceextendingthroughallbeings,andharmonizingall
thingstotheuniverse,sothatboththewholeandthepartsmaysubsist
mostbeautifully,andthatnothingmaybedestituteoftheprovidence
whichproceedsfromdeitytoallthings;thesewillgenuinelyapprehend
thescienceconcerningtheGods.Butagain,perceivingthistobethe
case,theywillveryproperlyineachaction,andaccordingtoeach
energy,callondivinityasthecoadjutoroftheirimpulse,introducing

theirproductionstotheuniverseinconjunctionwithwholes,and
establishingthemselvesinthegoodnessoftheGods.Forthingswhich,
appeartobesmall,enjoytheprovidenceoftheGods,andaregreatso
farastheyaresuspendedfromthem;justagain,asthingswhicharegreat
intheirownnature,whentheyseparatethemselvesfromdivinity,are
seentobeperfectlysmall,andofnoworth.
Thesethingstherefore,temperanceimpartstosouls,notbeingacertain
humanhabit,norapproachingtowhatiscalledcontinence,buta
divinelyinspiredenergyofthesoul,convertingherselftoherselfandto
divinity,perceivingthecausesofallthingsintheGods,andfromthence
surveyingbothotherthings,andsuchasproceed[intoavisible
subsistence],throughwhichasauxiliaries,*wealsomaybeabletorecur
totheGods,bymeansofthegiftswhichtheyinsertinus.Thesoul
tFormdapuoihere,readmdopuoi.
$Fora<f)opiiHVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadouJMpfiuv.
Dalso,whenthusconvertedtoherself,findssymbolsoftheGodsineach
evenofthesmallestthings,andthroughtheserenderseverything
familiarandalliedtotheGods.Sincehowever,theGodsproducedthe
1,216wholeofouressenceandgaveusaselfmotivenatureinordertothe
choiceofgood,theirproducingpowerisparticularlymanifestedinour
externalenergies;thoughwhenweconsult,werequiretheirprovidential
mention;(whichtheAtheniansmanifestbyhonoringJupiterthe
Counsellor)andwhenwechoose,weareinwantoftheirassistance;in
orderthatbyconsulting,wemaydiscoverwhatisadvantageous;and
thatinchoosing,wemaynotthroughpassionvergetothatwhichis
worse;butrather,thatbothwhenacting,andwhenimpelled,wemay
perceivethattheselfmotivenaturepossessesthesmallestpower,and
thatthewholeofitissuspendedfromtheprovidenceoftheGods.
HenceTimaeusalsosays,thatthosewhoaretemperatealwaysinvoke
theGods,intheimpulsetoeveryundertaking.Forinourelections
indeed,wearemoreabletoseparateprovidencefromthatwhichisin
ourpower;butweareincapableofdoingthisinourimpulses*because
inthesewehavelessoftheselfmotiveenergy.Forthatwhichisinour
powerisnotsoextendedastheprovidenceoftheGods;butaswehave
Efrequentlysaid,superiorenergizepriortosecondarynatures,and
togetherwithandposteriortothem,andonallsidescomprehendthe
energiesofsubordinatebeings.But,saystheEpicureanEurimachus,
howcanweavoidproceedingtoinfinity,*ifintheimpulsetoevery
smallthing,werequireprayer:forthoughweshouldpray,weshallbe
inwantofanotherprayer,andweshallnowherestop?AndPorphyry
dissolvesthedoubtasfollows:thatitisnotsaiditisnecessarytopray
onaccountofeverything,butintheimpulsetoeverything.Weare
impelledthereforetothings,butwearenotimpelledtoimpulses,sothat

thereisnotaprogressiontoinfinity.Ordoesnotthedoubtstill
remain?Forweareimpelledtoprayer,sothatinthisweshallagain
requireprayer,andanimpulsetothisagaintoinfinity.Henceitis
bettertosay,thathewhopraysrespectinganything,priortothis,
acknowledgestotheGods,thatheisallottedapowerfromthemof
1,217conversiontothem,andthattootherthingsindeedgoodisimparted
throughprayer,buttoprayerthroughitself.Itdoesnottherefore
tInsteadofSiaxpiraiyaptmp.evTUVaiptoiuv,TT\VirpovoiavaroTOVt<t>'if/tir
aSvmrovnev,tri6tTUVopp.uv,paWovbvvaixtdainthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,
ouxKpivaiyaptinfitvTUVaptoiuv,TT\VirpovoiavanoTOV</>'17/uep.a\\ovSwaptBa,
tmStTUVoppuv,abvvanvntv.
$Forairopoi'here,readairtipov.
Frequireanotherprayer,sinceitcomprehendsgoodinitself,andprocures
communionwithadivinenature.
27c"Itisnecessarytherefore,thatweshoulddothis,whoareaboutto
speakinacertainrespectconcerningtheuniverse,whetheritwas
generated,oriswithoutgeneration,unlessweareperfectlyunwise."
Timaeusevinceshowveryadmirablethehypothesisis,butelegantly
preserveshimselfintheorderofaprudentman,pursuingthemedium
betweenironyandarrogance.Forhavingbeforesaid,thatthosewho
inthesmallestdegreeparticipateoftemperance,invokedivinityinthe
impulsetoeverygreatorsmallundertaking,verymuchexaltshis
proposedsubjectofdiscussionbyopposingadiscourseaboutthe
67Auniversetoasmallthing.Buthecautiouslysays,notthathehimself
arrivedatthesummitoftemperance[i.e.ofwisdom];forthisisthe
contrary,totheparticipationoftemperanceinthesmallestdegree;but
thatheisnotperfectlyunwise.Andthishesaysfromthehypothesis,
inorderthathemayhavetoshow,thatthepowerandsciencewhich
hepossesses,arefromtheworkitself,butnotfromhisowndiscussions.
Histheorytherefore,willbeconcerningtheuniverse,sofarasitis
producedbytheGods.Fortheworldmaybemultifariouslysurveyed;
eitheraccordingtoitscorporealformednature,orsofarasitisfullof
partialandtotalsouls;*orsofarasitparticipatesofintellect.Timaeus
however,considersthenatureoftheuniverse,notaccordingtothese
modesonly,butparticularlyaccordingtoitsprogressionfromthe
Demiurgus;wherealsophysiologyappearstobeacertaintheology;
becausethingswhichhaveanaturalsubsistence,haveinacertainrespect
adivinehyparxis,sofarastheyaregeneratedfromtheGods.Andthus
Bthismustbedetermined.
1,218Itisusualhowevertodoubt,whyPlatohereaddsinacertainrespect:
forhesays,"Thosewhoareabouttospeakinacertainrespectconcerning

theuniverse."Andthemoresuperficialindeedoftheinterpreterssay,
thattheuniverseisinacertainrespectunbegotten,andinacertainrespect
generated.Hencethediscussionofitisveryproperlyinacertain
respect,asofthatwhichisunbegotten,andinacertainrespectasofthat
whichisgenerated.ThoughPlatodoesnotcoarrange*TOpeina
certainrespect,withthewordsunbegottenandgenerated,butwiththe
tInsteadofKad'oaovTXrjpectontyvxwuvrtKaioXi&uvinthisplace,itis
necessarytoread,Kad'ooov7rX7)pectontyvxuvfitpiKuvrtaaioXucuv.
$ForKainyt0HXaruvtvTUayevahere,itisrequisitetoreadKairoiyt0
TiXaruvfit)tv,K.\.
wordsabouttospeak.ButthedivineIamblichussaysthatthediscussion
isinacertainrespectabouttheuniverse,andinacertainrespectnot;for
matter,asbeingindefiniteintheworld,maybevariouslyconsidered.
Tothisinterpretationhowever,itmaybesaid,thatiscoarranged
withsomethingelse,andnotwiththeuniverse.Willitnottherefore,
bebettertosaywithourpreceptor,thatwordsaremultifariously
enunciated.Forthedemiurgicwordsproceedingfromintellectareof
onekind,suchastheDemiurgusutterstothejuniorGods:forPlato
says,*"thatthesoulspeaks,beingmovedtoitself."Thosewordswhich
aresurveyedinscience,areofanotherkind.Andthoseareofanother
kindwhichareallottedthethirdhypostasisfromintellect,andwhich
proceedexternallyforthesakeofdisciplineandcommunicationwith
Cothers.HenceTimaeusknowingthatthosearedemiurgicwordswhich
theDemiurgusemploys,butthatthosearescientificwhichheisnow
abouttogenerate,butwhichhepreassumesinhimself,andthathe
makesuseofexternalwordsforthesakeofSocratesalone,onthis
accounthesaysthatheshallemploywordsinacertainrespectaboutthe
universe.Foritisonethingtousethemintellectually,another
scientifically,andanother,forthesakeofdiscipline;andirr;indicates
thesedifferencesofwords.
Againtherefore,withrespecttothewords,"whetheritwasgenerated,
oriswithoutgeneration,"thoseinterpretersreadtheformerwithan
aspirate,butthelatterwithasoftbreathing,whosaythatPlatospeaks
abouttheuniverse,sofarasitwasgeneratedfromacause,oris
1,219unbegotten,inorderthatsurveyingitasgenerated,wemayperceivethe
naturewhichitcontains.AndthePlatonicAlbinusthinks,*that
accordingtoPlatotheworldbeingperpetual,5hasabeginningof
generation,bywhichalsoitismoreredundantthanbeing;sincethis
indeedalwaysis,buttheworldinadditiontoexistingalways,hasa
beginningofgeneration,inorderthatitmayexistalways,andbe
generated.Notthatitisgeneratedaftersuchamannerastobeso
accordingtotime;forinthiscaseitwouldnotalwaysexist;butin
Dshort,ithastherelationofgeneration,onaccountofitscomposition

fromthingsmanyanddissimilar.Anditisnecessarytoreferits
hypostasistoanothercausemoreancientthanitself,throughwhich
alwaysexistingprimarily,theworldisinacertainrespect,andalwaysis,
t37a.
icf.DidaskalikosofAlkinoos,trans,Dillon.
ForayevyTOVhere,Ireada'&iov.
andisnotonlygenerated,butisalsounbegotten.[Thisthereforeis
assertedbyAlbinus],thoughPlatonowhereinwhatfollowssays,that
theuniverseisinacertainrespectgenerated,andinacertainrespect
unbegotten.Othersagain,readboththepartswithanaspirate,inorder
thatTimaeusmaysay,heisabouttospeakconcerningtheuniversesofar
asitisgenerated,andsofarasitisunbegotten;erringinthesamewayas
thosepriortothem;unlessindeedtheyassertthattheuniversewas
generatedaccordingtoform,butunbegottenaccordingtoitsnurse
[matter].ForthusalsoTimaeussays,thatitsnurseisunbegotten,but
thattheworldwasgenerated,asreceivingformfromdivinity.*But
PorphyryandIamblichusreadboththepartswithasoftbreathing,in
orderthatwhatissaidmaybewhethertheuniversewasgeneratedoris
unbegotten.Forthisistobeconsidered,priortoallotherthings;since:
itcontributesinthehighestdegreetotheconsummationofthewhole;
ofphysiology,rightlytoadmitthattheworldwasgeneratedoris
unbegotten.Forfromthishypothesisweshallbeabletoseewhatthe
Enatureisofitsessenceandpowers,aswillbemanifesttousshortlyafter.
Thediscussiontherefore,concerningtheuniverse,willbeforthe
sakeofdiscipline,andwillproceedfromthisprinciple,whetherthe:
worldwasgenerated,oriswithoutgeneration;andfromthis,other
thingsmustbewoventogetherinaconsequentorder.
27c"Itisnecessary,therefore,thatinvokingalltheGodsandGoddesses,
1,220weshouldpraythatwhatweassertmayespeciallybeagreeabletotheir
divinities,andthatintheensuingdiscoursewemaybeconsistentwith
ourselves."
Thedivisionofmaleandfemalecomprehendsinitselfallthe
plenitudesofthedivineorders.Forthecauseofstablepowerand
sameness,thesupplierofbeing,andthatwhichisthefirstprincipleof
conversiontoallthings,arecomprehendedinthemale.Butthatwhich
emitsfromitselfallvariousprogressionsandseparations,measuresoflife
andprolificpowers,iscontainedinthefemale.Hence,Timaeus,
elevatinghimselftoalltheGods,veryproperlycomprehendsthewhole
ordersofthem,inadivisionintothesegenera.Suchadivision,likewise,
ismostadaptedtotheproposedtheory.Forthisuniverseisfullofthese
Ftwofolddivinegenera.Forheavenhastoearth(thatwemayassumethe
extremes)theorderofthemaletothefemale;becausethemotionof

heavenimpartsproductiveprinciplesandpowerstoeverything
[sublunary];andearthreceivingtheeffluxionsthenceproceeding,is
t52a.
parturientwithandgeneratesallvariousanimalsandplants.Ofthe
Godsalsointheheavens,somearedistinguishedaccordingtothemale,
butothersaccordingtothefemale.Andofthosepowersthatgovern
generationinanunbegottenmanner,someareoftheformer,butothers
ofthelattercoordination.Inshort,thedemiurgicchoirisabundantin
theuniverse,andtherearemanyriversoflife,someofwhichexhibit
68Atheformofthemale,butothersofthefemalecharacteristic.1And
whatoccasionistheretosaymuchonthissubject?Forfromthe
liberatedunities,*bothmasculineandfeminine,variousordersproceed
intotheuniverse.Hence,hewhoisenteringonthediscussionofthe
universe,veryproperlyinvokestheGodsandGoddesses,fromboth
whichtheuniversereceivesitscompletion,andbeseechesthemthat
1,221whatheassertsmaybeconsistent,andparticularlythatitmaybe
agreeabletotheirdivinities.Forthisisthesublimestendoftheory,to
runupwardtoadivineintellect;andasallthingsareuniformly
comprehendedinit,toarrangethediscussionofthingsagreeablytothis
causalcomprehension.Butthatwhichisthesecondend,andis
consequenttothisis,forthewholetheorytoreceiveitscompletion
conformablytohumanintellectandthelightofscience.Forthewhole,
theperfect,andtheuniform,preexistinadivineintellect;butthat
whichispartialandfallsshortofdivinesimplicity,subsistsabouta
mortalintellect.
Whyhowever,doesTimaeussay,thatitisnecessarytopray,and
BmagnificentlyproclaimthattheGodsandGoddessesshouldbeinvoked,
yetdoesnotpray,thoughanopportunityforsodoingpresentsitself,
butimmediatelyconvertshimselftotheproposeddiscussion?Wereply,
itisbecausesomethingshavetheirendcomprehendedintheverywill
itself;butothers,distribute5anotherenergyafterthewill,andthrough
actionaccomplishthatwhichwastheobjectofthewill.Andalife
indeed,conformabletophilosophy,dependsonourwill,anda
deficiencyinit,iscontrarytothewill.[Buttheconsequencesresulting
fromalifeconversantwithexternalactions,arenotdependentonour
will;]fortheendofthemisnotplacedinus.Wemayjustly,therefore,
rankprayeramongthenumberofthingswhichhavealltheirperfection
inthewill.Forthewishtopray,isadesireofconversiontotheGods.
Andthisdesireitselfconductsthedesiringsoul,andconjoinsitto
tChald.Oracl.fr.8.
$Foreladuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadeva&uv.
Forairovtveiinthisplace,wemustreadctiroventi.

divinity,whichisthefirstworkofprayer.*Henceitisnotproperfirst
towish,andafterwardstopray,buthethatwishestopray,willatthe
sametimehaveprayerasthemeasureofhiswish,onepersonindeedin
agreater,butanotherinalessdegree.Fartherstill,thisalsoisthework
ofatrueprayer,forthosethingsforwhichwepraytobecommonto
theGods,bothaccordingtopowersandenergies,andforustoeffect
CtheminconjunctionwiththeGods.Thusifsomeoneshouldprayto
thepowersthatamputatematter,andobliteratethestainsarisingfrom
1,222generation,butshouldhimselfparticularlyendeavourtoeffectthis,
throughthecatharticvirtues;suchaoneinconjunctionwiththeGods,
wouldentirelyaccomplishadissolutionofhismaterialbonds.This
thereforeTimaeushereeffects.Forthosethingswhichhepraystothe
Godstoaccomplish,hehimselfcompletes,disposingthewholediscourse
accordingtohumanintellect,butsoastobeinconformitytothe
intellectoftheGods.
27d"AndsuchismyprayertotheGodswithreferencetomyself;butas
towhatrespectsyou,itisrequisitetopraythatyoumayeasilylearn,
andthatImaybeabletoexhibitwhatIscientificallyconceive,inthe
clearestmannerabouttheproposedsubjectsofdiscussion.[According
tomyopiniontherefore,thefollowingdivisionmustfirstbemade.]"*
Theexhortationoftheauditors,isathingconsequenttotheprayers5
[ofTimaeus].Foritisnecessarythatthereplenishingsourcebeing
suspendedfromitspropercauses,shouldpreviouslyexciteitsrecipients,
andconvertthemtoitself,priorDtotheplenitudewhichitconfers;in
orderthatbecomingmoreadapted,theymayhappilyreceivethe
intellectualconceptionswhichitimparts.Forthustheparticipationwill
becomemoreperfecttothem,0andthegiftwillberenderedmoreeasy
tothegiver.Moreover,thisverycircumstanceoffacility,isadaptedto
Dthosethatimitatethewholefabrication;fromwhichabidingand
rejoicinginitself,allthingsproceedtotheeffectswhichitexcites.
Fartherstill,toproduceoneseries,throughthecontactofsecondary
tFor\j/VX<]C,here,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadevxyGt
Theoriginalofthewordswithinthebracketsbelongstothetext,butisnotto
befoundinthecommentariesofProclus,thoughasthereadermaysee,hecomments
onthesewords.
Foripvxaic,herealso,itisnecessarytoreadevxaiq.
InsteadofirpocrrjcirXqpweuc,inthisplace,wemustreadirpoTIJCirXrjpcoffcwc;.
0ForTOyapo/UTOie,readroteyapavToig.
withpriornatures,adumbratesthedemiurgicseries,whichproceedsas
farastothelastofthings.Foriftheauditorsreceivewhatissaid
conformablytotheintellectoftheGods,itwillhappenthatthewhole

conferencewillinrealitybereferredtooneintellect,andoneintellectual
conception.Besidesthisalso,theselfmotivenatureofsoulsis
sufficientlyindicated,thatbeingmovedbytheGods,theyalsomove
1,223themselves,andproducefromthemselvessciences.Forthewords,"what
Iscientificallyconceive,"exhibittheenergywhichisimpelledfromalife
whosepowerisfree.
Accordingtomyopiniontherefore,thesethingsarefirsttobe
considered;thatTimaeusbeingaPythagorean,andpreservingtheform
ofPythagoricdiscussions,isimmediatelyexhibitedtousassuch,from
theverybeginning.ForSocratesdoesnotenunciativelydeclarehis
opinionstoothers,buthavingdialecticallypurifiedtheirconceptions,
Eunfoldstruthintolight;whoalsosaidtothem,thatheknewnothing
excepttomakeanassertion*[orgiveareason]andreceiveone.But
Timaeus,asalsoaddressinghisdiscoursetomen,saysthatheshall
enunciatehisowndogmas,notatallbusyinghimselfwithforeign
opinions,butpursuingonepathofscience.Moreover,thewordedoksa,*
i.e.Iamofopinion,isassumedhereveryaptly,andappropriatelyto
whathasbeenbeforesaid.Forofthewholerationalsoul,onepartis
intellect,anotherisdianoia,andathirdisopinion.Andthefirstofthese
indeed,isconjoinedtotheGods,thesecondproducesthesciences,andthe
thirdimpartsthemtoothers.Thismantherefore,knowingthesethings,
throughprayeradaptshisownintellecttotheintellectoftheGods.For
thisismanifestedbythewords,"thatwhatweassertmayespeciallybe
agreeabletotheirdivinities,andthatintheensuingdiscoursewemaybe
consistentwithourselves."Butthroughexhortations,heexcitesthe
dianoeticpartofthesoulsofhisauditors.Forthewords,whatI
scientificallyconceive,haveanindicationofthiskind.Thedoxasticpart
thereforeremains,whichreceivingascientificdivisionfromdianoia,
Fdeliversthestreamsofittoothers.Thishoweverisnotambiguous,nor
dividedaboutsensibles,nordoestheformaldistinctionofitconsistin
hypolepsis5alone;butitisfilledfromintellectanddianoia,surveysthe
demiurgicreason,anddistinguishesthenatureofthings.These
tForexampleatProtagoras336c,andTheeetetus150cff.
XThiswordisnottobefoundinanyeditionoftheTimaeusofPlato;butfromthis
commentofProclus,itappearsthatitoriginallybelongedtoit.
viz.Intheapprehensionofeachofthetermsofwhichasyllogismconsists.
particularsalso,aresufficientlyassimilatedtotheparadigm*ofthe
1,224speaker.Forthere,aroyalintellectprecedes,*accordingtowhichthe
paradigmisunitedtointelligibles;adianoia,containinginitselfthe
plenitudesofforms;andthefirstanduniformcauseofopinion.Hence,
theparadigmcontainsintelligiblesinintellect,butintroducessensetothe
69Aworlds,astheOraclesays;}orasPlato,"suchideastherefore,asintellect
perceivedtobeinherentinanimalitself,somanyhedianoeticallysawthis

universeoughttopossess."
Moreover,thedistinctionbetweenbeingsandthingsgenerated,is
consentaneoustowhathasbeenbeforesaid.ForaftertheGodsand
Goddesses,andtheineffablepeculiaritywhichisinthem,theseparation
ofthesetwogenera,i.e.ofbeingandgeneration,takesplace.Forbeing
isalliedtothemoreexcellentorderofdivinenatures,whichisalways
establishedininvariablesameness,andisintelligible.Butgenerationis
alliedtotheinferiororder,fromwhich,infiniteprogression,andallvarious
mutation,derivetheirsubsistence.Whatthenisthisdivision,
andafterwhatmannerwasitproduced?Wasitmadeasifitwerethe
sectionofacertainwholeintoparts,orasgenusisdividedintospecies,
orasthedivisionofonewordintomanysignifications,orasthatcf
essenceintoaccidents,orviceversa,thatofaccidentintoessences;for
thesearethespeciesofdivisionwhichsomepersonsareaccustomedto
applaud.Itisridiculoustherefore,todividebeingandgeneration,either
Basaccidentintoessences,orasessenceintoaccidents.Foraccidentby
nomeanspertainstoperpetualbeing.Noragainmusttheybedivided
asawordintoitssignifications.ForwhatwordistherewhichPlato
assumingascommon,dividesintoperpetualbeing,andthatwhichis
generated;unlesssomeoneshouldsaythatTI,i.e.acertainthing,isthus
dividedbyhim?Thisdivisionhowever,isnotPlatonic,butisderived
fromtheStoiccustom.0Isthedivisiontherefore,asthatofawhole
intoparts?Butwhatisthatwholewhichconsistsofperpetualbeing,
1,225andthatwhichisgenerated?Orhowcanparadigmandimagegive
completiontoonecomposition?Howlikewisecanperpetualbeingbe
apartofacertainthing,sinceitisimpartible,united,andsimple?For
theimpartibleisnotapartofanythingwhichdoesnotconsistofall
tie.ToJupitertheDemiurgusoftheworld.
tcf.Philebus30d.
Chald.Oracl.fr.8.
cf.PlotinusEnneadVI,1.
impartibles.Butthatwhichisgeneratedisnotimpartible.Hencethere
isnotacommongenusofperpetualbeing,andthatwhichisgenerated.
Forperpetualbeingprecedesaccordingtocausethatwhichisgenerated;
andtheformeriswhenthelatterisnot.Butperpetualbeingnot
existing,whichitisnotlawfultosuppose,generationalsowouldvanish.
Howlikewise,isthereonegenusofthefirst,andthelastofthings?For
thedivisionofgeneraintospecies,takesplaceinthemiddlepsychical
Creasons[i.e.productivepowers].Butthingspriortosoul,subsistin
moreexcellentgenera;andthingsposteriortosoul,havetheiressencein
coordinatenatures.Howtherefore,canbeingitselfandthatwhichis
generated,bearrangedunderonegenus?Whatalsowillthisgenusbe?
Foritisnotbeing,lestthatwhichisgenerated,andwhichnever[truly]

is,shouldbearrangedinbeing.NorwillbeingitselfbeTheOne.
Becauseeverygenusisdividedbyitsproperdifferences,andantecedently
assumesthedifferences,eitherincapacity,orinenergy.Butitisnot
lawfulthatTheOneshouldhavedifferenceseitherincapacity,lestit
shouldbemoreimperfectthansecondarynatures;orinenergy,lestit
shouldhavemultitude.Butasitisinshortdemonstratedtobesuperior
bothtopowerandenergy,itcannotinanywaywhateverhave
differences;sothatneitherwillthereinshort,beadivisionofTheOne.
Whatthenshallwesay?Mustitnotbethis,thatPlatodoesnotnow
makeanydivisionwhatever,butthatheproposestodefineseparately
whateachofthesetwo,perpetualbeing,andthatwhichisgenerated,is?
ForitappearstomethatthewordSLmpereovhasthesamesignification
with6iaKpivi\T0V.Forsincehediscoursesabouttheworld,the
DDemiurgus,andtheparadigmoftheworld,hewishesseparatelyto
defineperpetualbeing,andseparatelythatwhichisgenerated,inorder
thatthroughthegivendefinitionswemayknowwheretheworld,
1,226wheretheDemiurgus,andwheretheparadigmaretobearranged;and
thatwemaynotconfoundtheordersofthings,butmayseparatethem
fromeachother,sofarastheyareseverallyadaptedtobeseparated.He
likewisedoestheverysamethinginthePhilebus.}Forinquiring
concerningintellect,pleasureandthemixedlife,whichisthebestof
these,heassumesthegeneraofthem,viz.bound,infinity,andthat
whichismingledfromboundandtheinfinite.Forthustheorderof
eachwillbecomeapparent,andhewillmanifestthepeculiarityofthem
fromtheirgenera.Therehowever,boundandinfinitybeginningfrom
theGods,proceedthroughallbeingsofwhateverkindtheymaybe.
tPhilebus23c.
Forthesealsowereinintelligiblesaccordingtothestableandgenerative
causeofintelligibles.Theywerelikewiseintheintellectualorder
accordingtothepaternalandmaterialprincipleoftheintellectualGods.
Andtheywereinthesupermundaneorder,accordingtothedemiurgic
monadandvivificduad,andinthelastplace,accordingtoeffectiveand
prolificpowers.Herehowever,beingandthatwhichisgenerated,do
EnotbeginfromtheGods;fortheunitiesoftheGodsaresuperiorto
being,andpriortotheseTheOneItselfisexemptfromallbeings,
becausethefirstGodisone,}buttheotherGodsareunities.Norare
beingandthatwhichisgeneratedthingswhichareparticipatedbythe
Gods,inthesamemannerastheunitieswhichareposteriortothe
Gods,aresaidtobeandareparticipatedbybeing.Nordotheyextend
asfarastothelastofthings.Forneitherisitpossibletosaythat
matterisperpetualbeing,sinceweareaccustomedtocallitnonbeing;
northatwhichisgenerated,whichisnotabletosufferbeing,lest
perishingbysodoing,itshouldentirelyvanish.Thistherefore,will
againbeassertedbyus.Itishowever,[evident]*thatthedivisionisno

ofonecertainthing,andthattheproposedtheoryhasnecessarily,prior
tootherthings,thedefinitionofthesetwofoldgenera,inorderthatthe
discussionproceedingasiffromgeometricalhypothesestothe
investigationofthingsconsequent,maydiscoverthenatureofthe
universe,andthepaternalandparadigmaticcauseofit.Forifthe
universewasgenerated,itwasgeneratedbyacause.Thereistherefore
ademiurgiccauseoftheuniverse.IfthereisaDemiurgus,thereisalso
aparadigmoftheworld,withreferencetowhichhewhoconstituted
1,227theuniversefabricated.Andthusinaconsequentorderthediscussion
Faboutthesethingsisintroduced,andthephysicaltheorybeautifully
terminatesforusintheology.
27d"Whatthatiswhichisalwaysbeing,butiswithoutgeneration,and
whatthatiswhichisgeneratedindeed,[orconsistsinbecomingtobe]
butisnever[real]being."
Accordingtosome,allbeingswhatever,whethertheysubsist
paradigmaticallyoriconically,arecomprehendedinthisdistinction;but
notallbeingsaccordingtoothers.Andtheinterpreterscontradicteach
otherrespectingthis,notalittle.Wehowever,cannotknowwhichof
theseassertionsitisfittoadopt,unlessweexamineeachofthemby
tForovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadev.
t(jxxvepovisomittedintheoriginal.
70Aitself.Letusthenconsiderfromthebeginning,whatpowereachofthe
words[ofPlato]possessesinitself.
Inthefirstplace,therefore, ,orthewhatisdefinitive.Forweare
accustomedtogiveanantecedentarrangementindefinitions.Butit
isnotagenus,asthePlatonicSeverusthoughtitwas,whosaysthat
isthegenusofbeingandthatwhichisgenerated;andthattheallis
signifiedbyit.Forthusthatwhichisgenerated,andlikewiseperpetual
being,willbeall.Itwasalsodoubtedbysomethatprecededus,why
Platodidnotdemonstratethatthereissuchathingasperpetualbeing,
priortotheenquirywhatitis.Forwhenceisthesubsistenceof
perpetualbeingevident?Anditisthelawindemonstrativediscussions,
toconsiderifathingisprevioustotheinvestigation,whatitis.In
answertothisdoubtitmaybesaid,thatperhapsTimaeusdidnotthink
thiswasrequisitetohispurpose;asthedaybefore,itwasshownby
Socratesinwhathesaidaboutthesoul,thatthesoulisunbegottenand
incorruptible,andthatitphilosophisesthroughitsalliancetorealbeings,
withwhichitcomesintocontact.1
1,228Andlikewise,asitwasshownbyhim,thatwhatisperfectlybeing,
andtrulytheobjectofscience,isonething;thatwhatispartlybeing,
Bandpartlynonbeing,isanother,andonthisaccountisofadoxastic

nature;andthatwhatinnorespectisbeing,andisentirelyunknown,
isanother.ThiswasalsograntedtoTimaeusbySocrates,whenhe
dividesalineintofourparts,theintelligible,thedianoetic,thesensible,
andtheconjectural;wherelikewisespeakingaboutTheGoodhesays,
thatitreignsintheintelligibleplace,inthesamemannerasthesunin
thevisibleregion.*Andfartherstill,theintroductionofprayer
previoustothediscussion,isademonstrationoftheexistenceofbeing
whichalwaysis.ForifthereareGods,itisnecessarythatthereshould
betrulyexistingbeing;forthisisunitedtotheGods;butnotthat
whichisgeneratedandwhichperishes,butisnevertrulybeing.Or
ratherpriortothesethingsitmaybesaid,thattheexistenceof
somethingwhichalwaysis,isdepositedinourcommonconceptions.
Forwhencewasthatwhichisgeneratedproducedexceptfromperpetual
being?Forifthisalsowasgenerated,itmusthavebeengeneratedfrom
someotherbeing.Andthismusteitherbeperpetualbeing,ormust
likewisehavebeenitselfgenerated.Sothatwemusteitherproceedto
infinity,orgenerationisinacircle,orperpetualbeinghasasubsistence.
tRep.X,611de.
$SeetheRepublicVI[509de],whereallthisisasserted.
Butitisnotlawfultoproceedtoinfinity.Forfromoneprinciple
whichisTheOne,allthingsoriginate.Norisgenerationinacircle,lest
Cthesamethingsbebothbetterandworse,causesandeffects.Henceit
remainsthat[true]beingalwaysis.Whythen,itmaybesaid,isnot
generationfromTheOne?Because,wereply,itisabsurdthatmultitude
shouldbeentirelyproducedwithoutbeing.Itisnecessarytherefore,
thatthereshouldbetrulyexistingbeing,whichprimarilyproceedsfrom
TheOne,inorderthatthefirstprinciplemaynotbealonethecauseof
thelastofthings,butpriortothesemaybethecauseofbeing,from
whichgenerationproceeds.Afterallthathasbeensaid,however,the
mosttruesolutionofthedoubtis,whatPlatonowassumingasan
hypothesisthatthereisperpetualbeing,definesit.Butafterthe
discussionaboutthefabricationoftheworld,resumingthisverything,
1,229hedemonstratesthatperpetualbeinghasasubsistence.Preserving
however,whatpertainstophysiology,heproceedsfromthishypothesis,
anddemonstratessuchthingsasareconsequenttoit.Forscienceitself
alsoisfromhypothesis,andrequiresthathypothesesshouldbeassumed
priortoitsdemonstrations.Inwhathesaysthereforeaboutmatter,be
demonstratesnotonlythatmatteris,butalsothatbeingis.Butalittle
after,fromoneofthehypotheses,i.e.fromthethird,demonstratingthat
thereisaDemiurgusoftheworld,heobtainsalsofromthisthat
perpetualbeingsubsistspriortothatwhichisgenerated.Andagain
fromthefourthhypothesisheevinces,thattheDemiurgusfabricatedthe
Duniverse,lookingtoaneternalparadigm.Butintheplacewehave
mentioned,hedemonstratesthatperpetualbeingisitselfbyitselfprior

togeneratednatures.Andthusmuchforthisparticular.
Withrespecthowever,toperpetualbeingitself,whetherdoesitsignify
thewholeintelligibleworld,ortheDemiurgus,ortheparadigmofthe
universe?foritisdifferentlyassumedbydifferentinterpreters.Andif
indeed,itisthewholeintelligibleworld,whencedoestheintelligible
breadthbegin,andwheredoesitproceed?Butifitistheparadigm,how
comesittopassthattheDemiurgusisnotperpetualbeing,ifthe
paradigmisonething,andtheDemiurgusanother?Andifitisthe
Demiurgus,whenceisitthattheparadigmisnotathingofthiskind?
Thattheparadigmaticcause,therefore,istobearrangedinperpetual
being,isclearlyevidentfromPlatowhenhesays,*"Accordingtowhich
oftheparadigmsdidtheartificerfabricatetheworld?Wasitaccordingto
thatwhichsubsistswithinvariablesameness,oraccordingtothatwhichwas
generated?"Andheimmediatelydecidesbysaying,"Iftheworldindeed
t28c,29a.
isbeautiful,andtheDemiurgusisgood,itisevidentthathelookedtoan
eternalparadigm.Butiftheworldisnotbeautiful,andtheDemiurgusis
notgood,whichitisnotlawfultoassert,thenhelookedtoagenerated
paradigm."Ifthereforeitisnotlawfultoassertthis,theparadigmofthe
universeisperpetualbeing.ButthatthisisalsotrueoftheDemiurgus,
Eisevidentfromthis;thatPlatocallsthesoul,whichtheDemiurgus
constitutes,thefirstofgeneratednatures,anddeliversthegenerationof
1,230it.*TheDemiurgus,however,ispriortosoul,sothathebelongsto
eternalbeings.HencealsoPlatosaysconcerninghim,"Afterthismanner
thereforewastheretrulyaneternalreasoningoftheGod."Andhowisit
possiblethatbeingadivineintellectheshouldnotrankamongeternal
beings?Isthereforeeveryintelligibleworldperpetualbeing?Thedivine
Iamblichus,however,strenuouslycontendsonthissubject,evincingthat
eternalbeingissuperiorbothtothegeneraandthespeciesofbeing;and
establishesitatthesummitoftheintelligibleessence,asthatwhich
primarilyparticipatesofTheOne.ButwhatiswrittenintheParmenides
concerningtheonebeing[orbeingcharacterizedbyTheOne],andalso
intheSophista,*bearstestimonytothesethings.FortherePlato
arrangestheonebeingpriortowhole,andpriortotheintelligibleall;
thoughthewholeandtheallareintelligible.Here,however,Plato
clearlycallstheparadigmperpetualbeing,andawhole,andallperfect.
FForhedenominatesitallperfectanimal;andawhole,whenhesays,5
"ofwhichotheranimalsarepartsaccordingtoone,andaccordingto
genera."Sothatiftheparadigmisawholeandallperfect,butthat
whichisprimarilybeingisabovewholeandall,theparadigmandthat
beingwillnotbethesame.
Willitnot,therefore,bebettertosay,thatthereisindeedsuchan

orderofbeing,asthatdivineman[Iamblichus]hasdelivered,andsuch
asPlatoelsewheresurveys;butthatnowPlatothusdenominatesevery
eternalworld?Noristhisatallwonderful.For,atonetime,the
intelligibleisassertedofeveryperpetualandinvisiblenature,aswhenitis
saidthatthesoulalsoisintelligible,asbySocratesinthePhaedo.DBut
atanothertimeitisassertedofthenaturesthataremoreexcellentthan
t34c.
%Sophista244d245a.
30c.
Phtedo80ab.
71Aeverypsychicalessence,asthedivisionintheRepublicmanifests.*And
atanothertime,itisassertedofthefirsttriadsofbeing,asisevident
fromwhatTimaeusalittleaftersaysofthem.*Afterthesamemanner,
therefore,beingintheSophists,indeed,manifeststheorderoftheone
being;buthereitsignifiesthewholeeternalworld.Foritisevident
thatbeingwhichisprimarilybeing,isthesummitoftheintelligible;
1,231breadth,andthemonadofallbeings.Foreverywhere,thatwhichis
primarilybeinginitsownseries,hasthehighestorder;sinceifitranked
asthesecond,itwouldnothavethesameform;foritwouldnolonger
beprimarilythatwhichitis.Astherefore,virtueitselfpossessesthe
highestplaceintheseriesofthevirtues,astheequalitselfinequals,and
animalitselfinanimals,thusalsobeingitselfwhichisprimarilybeing,
isthesummitofallbeings,andfromitallbeingsproceed.5Butevery
intelligibleandintellectualbeing,andwhateverappearstoexist,has+
theappellationofbeing,yetbeingandperpetualbeingarenotthesame.
BFortheonebeingisbeyondeternity.Foreternityparticipatesofbeing.
Henceallsuchthingsasparticipateofeternity,havealsoacertain
portionofbeing,butnotallsuchthingsasparticipateofbeing,
participatelikewiseofeternity.Thenaturesthereforethatexistintime,
participatealsoofbeing,sothatwhatisprimarilybeingisbeyondthe
orderofeternity.Butperpetualbeingiseternal.Hencethereasoning
demonstratestheverycontrary,thateverythingisrathertobeassumed
fromperpetualbeing,thantheonebeing.Forthislatterisbetterthan
theever,assubsistingbetweenTheOneandeternity,andpriorto
eternitybeingdenominatedonebeing.
If,therefore,itberequisitethatIshouldsaywhatappearstometobe
thetruth,Platonowprecedaneouslyassumeseverythingwhichiseternally
being;beginning,indeed,fromthenatureofanimalitself.Forthisis
primarilyeternal;butendinginpartialintellects.Buttheonebeing,he
perhapsomits,inconsequenceofitsexistingasthemonadofthese,
andasbeingineffable,andconjoinedtoTheOne.HencePlatowillnow
speakinrealityofeveryintelligible,ifthatintelligibleisnotassumed

tRep.VI,509be.
X28a.
IntheoriginalOVTUdiyirovKaiTOCWTOOV,OirpuTUc,tonov,oKopvcfrr}TUP
OVTW
tonvavaPTuv,Kaiait'avrovnpoeioiv.Afteraw'avrovtherefore,thewordswavnt
TaovTamustbesupplied.
Dextiiswantinghereintheoriginal.
Fornovahere,readixovaq.
whichisoccult,isthehighest,anddoesnotdepartfromTheOne.He
says,therefore,shortlyafterthis,*thatanimalitselfisthemostbeautiful
ofintelligibles,inconsequenceofthenaturespriortothis,being
throughexcessofunion,superiortoasubsistenceasobjectsofintellect.
CUnlesshesaysthatanimalitselfisthemostbeautifulofalltheobjects
1,232ofintellect,bothanimalitselfandtheonebeingexistingasobjectsof
intellectalso,thelatterasbeingcausallyever,eternityasbeingso
accordingtohyparxis,andanimalitselfortheeternal,asexistingalways,
accordingtoparticipation.Hence,ifthesethingsareadmitted,inthat
whichalwaysexists,eternity,animalitself,andtheDemiurguswillbe
comprehended,andlikewisetheonebeingitself,whichpossessesthe
occultcauseofeternity.Sothatitisevidentfromthis,thatperpetual
beingcomprehendseverynaturepriortosouls,whetheritbeintelligible,
orintellectual;beginningindeedfrombeingitself,butendinginapartial
intellect,andthatitdoesnotalonecomprehend,asIamblichussaysit
does,thesummitofallbeings,suchasthebeingiswhichischaracterized
byTheOne,ortheonebeing,throughwhichallbeingsaresaidtobe
beings,andtowhichTheOneItselfalone,andtheprincipleofbeing
[boundandinfinity]aresuperior.TheOne,therefore,isbetterthanthat
whichisselfsubsistent.Foritisnecessarythatitshouldbeexempt
fromallmultitude.Perpetualbeing,however,isselfsubsistentindeed,
butpossessesthepowerofbeingsothroughTheOne.Butthatwhich
isposteriortoit,suchasisournature,isselfsubsistent,andatthesame
timederivesitssubsistencefromanotherproducingcause.Andthelast
ofthingsproceed*indeedintoexistencefromamoreexcellentcause,
Dbutarenotselfsubsistent.Itisnothoweveryettimeforthese
observations.
Butwithrespecttoperpetualbeing,itmustnotbesupposed,thatitis
partlybeing,andpartlynonbeing;forifitwere,itwouldbea
composite,andconsistingofthingsofthiskind,itwouldbedissimilarly
acomposite.Norisitatonetimebeing,andatanothernonbeing;for
itissaidtobealwaysbeing.Butitissimplyandeternallybeing,andis
unmingledwitheverythingwhateveritmaybe,thatisofacontrary
nature.Foritappearstomethattheadditionofthewords,"butnot
havinggeneration,"indicatestheunmingledandundefiledpurityof
perpetualbeing,accordingtowhichitisexemptfromeveryhypostasis

whichisbornealongintheimagesofbeing,andischangedbytime.
t30d.
XForirapeiffiinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadirpoeiffi.
Notassomeassert,thatperpetualbeingissaid,forthesakeof
perspicuity,tobewithoutgeneration;noraccordingtoothers,thatPlato
waswillingtospeakofitbothaffirmativelyandnegatively;butthatit
isnecessaryperpetualbeingshouldbeintellectuallyperceivedsubsisting
byitself,remotefromalltemporalmutation.Forsoulparticipatesof
time,andtheheavensareallottedalifewhichisevolvedaccordingto
1,233time;buttheintelligiblenaturealoneis,accordingtothewholeofitself,
eternal.Hence,someoftheancientscalltheintelligiblebreadthtruly
existingbeing;thepsychicaltrulyexistingandatthesametimenottruly
Eexistingbeing;}thesensiblenottrulyexistingbeing;andmatter,trulynonbeing.
Afterwhatmanner,however,theymadethisarrangement,we
shallelsewhereinvestigate.Butthattheadditionof"nothaving
generation,"isforthesakeofindicatingtheseparateessenceofperpetual
being,isIthinkevidentfromwhathasbeensaid.
Inthenextplace,withrespecttothatwhichisgenerated,whetherdoes
itsignifythewholeworld,oramaterialandperfectlymutable
composition?Forsomeoftheancientsexplainthisinoneway,and
othersinanother.Butweunderstandbyiteverycorporealformed
nature,andnotthesouloftheuniverse;sofarasthisnatureisofitself
indeedunadorned,butisalwaysoratacertaintime,arrangedby
another.Forthesouloftheuniverseis,inacertainrespect,perpetual
being.Muchlessisintellectthatwhichisgenerated:forthisis
immediatelyperpetualbeing.Butbodyaloneisthatwhichisgenerated,
andistrulyneverrealbeing.Forbodyisalwaysinwantoftheworldproducing
cause,andisalwaysderivingfromittherepresentationof
existence.Whythenitmaybesaid,didnotPlatoadd,always,andthat
whichisgenerated,inthesamemannerasbeing,oratacertaintime,in
orderthathemighthavewhatisgeneratedentirelyopposedtoperpetual
being?MaywenotsaythatPlatodevisedthismodeofexpression,
lookingtothevariousnatureofthatwhichisgenerated,andtaking
awayfrometernalbeingtheexistenceatacertaintime,andthe
Fperpetuityofageneratednature?Forthewholesofsuchanatureare
generatedalways,butthepartsatacertaintime.Andafteranother
manner[ofconsideringtheaffair]withrespecttoforms,someare
inseparablefrommatter,andarealwaysgeneratedfromthatwhichis
trulyalways;butothersareintime,anddepartfrommatter.For
corporeity,indeed,isalwaysgeneratedandisalwaysaboutmatter;butthe
formoffire,orofair,entersintoanddepartsfrommatter,becoming
tAfterovrut;ixevovKCtkovoivTOVOIITOV7rXaroe,insteadofOVKOVTUQ5eovro

VVXMov,itisnecessarytoreadOJTWCKLXIa/xaOVKOVTLOQOP.
separatedfromitandperishing,throughthedominationofacontrary
nature.Butiftheperpetuitywhichdetainsmatterisalwaysgenerated,
1,234itneverthereforeis;andiftheexistenceatacertaintimeisgenerated,it
72Aisneverbeing.Everythinghowever,whichisgenerated,iseitheralways
generated,oratacertaintime.Hence,everythingwhichisgenerated,
isnever[real]being.
Thesethings,therefore,havingbeensaid,letus,recurringtothe
discussionfromthebeginning,showwhetherperpetualbeinginthisplace
isassertedofallbeings,ornotofall.Forif,indeed,weadmitthat
perpetualbeingindicatesaneternalnaturealone,havingtheeternal
accordingtothewholeofitself,itisnotassertedofallbeings.For
neitherthebeingpriortoeternity,northeorderofeternity,noragain,
suchthingsashaveindeedaneternalessence,butproduceenergies
accordingtotime,canbearrangedunderthisbeing.Butifweassume
everythingwhateverthatiseternal,andwhichalwaysis,either
accordingtothewholeofitself,orpartially,thensoulalsoranksamong
eternalnatures,andalsothatwhichcontainsinitselfthecausesofall
things,unically,asitissaid,anduniversally.Forthecaseisasfollows:
onething[i.e.beingitself]issupereternal;[anotherthingiseternity;*]
anotherissimplyeternal,andanotherisinacertainrespecteternal.
Withrespect,however,toeachoftheseperpetualbeings,thefirstisas
thepowerandfountainoftheever;thesecond,asthatwhichis
primarilyalwaysbeing,andtheeveritself,andnotaccordingto
Bparticipation;butthethirdisalways,asparticipatingoftheever,andas
primarilywhollyeternal;andthefourth,isasthatwhichisacertain
respectparticipatesofapeculiarityofthiskind.Foreachthingsubsists
triply,eitheraccordingtocause,oraccordingtohyparxis,oraccording
toparticipation.Andtheonebeing,indeed,isbeingaloneaccordingto
hyparxis,butisperpetualbeingaccordingtocause.Eternityisperpetual
beingaccordingtohyparxis,butbeingaccordingtoparticipation.And
theeternalisperpetualbeingaccordingtoparticipation,butaccordingto
hyparxisisacertainotherintelligible,orintelligibleandintellectual,or
intellectual[only].Andifthelastofthese,itiseithertotalorpartial;
andifthis,itiseithersupermundaneormundane;andifthis,itiseither
divine,orisposteriortotheGods,andiseachoftheseeitheraccording
1,235toexistencealone,oraccordingtopowerandenergy,andasfarastothe
perpetualbeingofthingswhichareinacertainrespecteternal.
tThewordsTOSecuuv,arewantingintheoriginal,butmustnecessarilybe
supplied.
Againtherefore,withrespecttothatwhichisgenerated,ifweassume
theuniversal,wemustassumegenerationallvariouslychanged;butif

everythinggenerated,inwhateverwayitmaybe,weshallfindthatthe
heavensalsoaregenerated,sofarastheypartakeofmotionand
mutation,andthatsoulisthefirstofgeneratednatures,sofarasitlives
intime,andtimeisconnascentwithitsenergies.Andthusascending
frombeneath,weshallendinsoulasthefirstofthingsthatare
generated;anddescendingfromabove,weshallagainterminateour
Cprogressioninsoul,asthelastofeternalnatures.Forthoughacertain
person*rightlysaysthattheheavensalwaysexist,yettheirbeingis
alwaysgeneratedbysomethingelse;butsoulpossessesitsownessence
fromitself.Hencealso,SocratesinthePhaedrussays,*thatitis
unbegotten,andatthesametimeselfmoved,asbeingindeedthe
principleofallgeneration,butgeneratingandvivifyingitself.]f
thereforewesay,thatitisbothunbegottenandgenerated,eternaland
noteternal,weshallspeakrightly.HencetootheAthenianguest5
thinksfittocallthesoulindestructible,butnoteternal,becauseitisin
acertainrespectonlyeternal,andnotaccordingtothewholeofitself,
inthesamemannerastrulyexistingbeing.Foritisonethingtobe
always,andanothertobegeneratedalways.Andtheheavens,indeed,
aregeneratedalways;fortheydonotpossessbeingfromthemselves.
Butsoulisalways;foritpossessesbeingfromitself.Andeverything
priortosoulisnotgeneratedfromacause,butisfromacause.For
generationisaloneinthingswhichderivetheirsubsistencefromothers.
Throughthesethingsthereforeitwillbemanifestafterwhatmanner
thereisacomprehensionofallbeingsinthebeforementionedportions
ofdivision,andafterwhatmannerallbeingsarenotcomprehendedin
Dthem.Thereisnotacomprehensionofallbeings,becausethatwhich
iseternalonly,andthatwhichisgeneratedonly,areassumed;oneof
whichispriorto,buttheotherisposteriortosoul.Andthereisa
comprehensionofallbeings,becausetheextremesbeingassumed,itis
possiblefromthesetofindthemiddle,whichisatoneandthesame
timebothbeingandthatwhichisgenerated.
Thatthesedistinctions,however,ofthatwhichalwaysis,andofthat
1,236whichisgenerated,arenecessarilymadepriortoallotheraxioms,itis
easytolearn;byobservingthatthisisthefirstoftheproblemswhich
tie.Aristotle,deCxloI,9,279a25f.
*Phaedrus245e246a.
Inthe10thbookoftheLaws[904al.
itisrequisitetoconsiderabouttheuniverseinthebeginning,i.e.whether
italwayswas,havingnobeginningofgeneration,orwhetheritwas
generated.Forifthisisthefirstofthethingstobeinvestigated,then
whatthatiswhichisgenerated,andwhatthatiswhichiseternal,have
veryproperlythefirstorderintheaxioms.Fortheotheraxiomsfollow
these,justastheremainingproblemsfollowtheproblemrespectingthe
generationoftheworld.Andifitberequisitethatresumingthe

discussionaboutthehypotheses,Ishouldmorefullyexplainwhat
appearstomeonthesubject,Platointhesamemannerasgeometricians,
employsdefinitionsandhypothesespriortodemonstrations,through
Ewhichheframesdemonstrations,andantecedentlyassumestheprinciples
ofthewholeofphysiology.Forastheprinciplesofmusicaredifferent
fromtheprinciplesofmedicine,andinasimilarmannerthereare
differentprinciplesofarithmeticandmechanics;thusalsothereare
certainprinciplesofthewholeofphysiology,whichPlatonowdelivers
tous;+[andtheseareasfollow:]Trulyexistingbeingisthatwhichmay
becomprehendedbyintelligenceinconjunctionwithreason.Thatwhichis
generatedistobeapprehendedbyopinioninconjunctionwithirrational
sense.Everythinggenerated,isgeneratedbyacause.Thatwhichdoesnot
deriveitssubsistencefromacause,isnotgenerated.Thatofwhichthe
paradigmiseternalbeing,isnecessarilybeautiful.That,ofwhichthe
paradigmisgenerated,isnotbeautiful.Lettheuniversebecalledheaven
ortheworld.Forfromtheseprinciplesheproducesallthatfollows.
Anditappearstome,thatonthisaccountheshowswhatperpetual
beingis,andalsowhatthatiswhichisgenerated,butdoesnotshowus
thateachofthemis.Forthegeometricianinformsuswhatapointis,
andwhatalineis,priortohisdemonstrations,buthebynomeans
teachesusthateachoftheseis.Forhowcanhebeageometrician,ifhe
1,237discusseshisownprinciples?Afterthesamemanneralso,the
Fphysiologistsayswhatperpetualbeingis,forthesakeofthe
demonstrationsheisabouttomake,buthebynomeansshowsthatit
is;forinsodoing,hewouldgobeyondphysiology.Butsince,aswe
havebeforeobserved,Timaeusdoesnotresembleotherphysiologists,
beingaPythagoreanphysiologist,andPlatoexhibitsinthisdialoguethe
highestscience,henceheafterwardsverydivinelyprovesthattruly
existingbeingis.Forhispresentpurpose,however,itissufficientfor
himtoadmitthatitis,preservingtheboundariesofphysiology.He
appearsalsotoinvestigatethedefinitionofperpetualbeingandofthat
whichisgenerated,inorderthathemaydiscoverthecauseswhichgive
t28ab.
73Acompletiontotheuniverse,viz.formandmatter:forthatwhichis
generatedisinwantofthese.Heassumes,however,thethird
hypothesis,inorderthathemaydiscovertheproducingcause;butthe
fourth,thathemaybeabletoinferthattheuniversewasgenerated
accordingtoaparadigmatic*cause;andthefifth,whichisconcerning
thenameoftheuniverse,inorderthathemayinvestigatethe
participationofTheGoodandtheineffablebytheworld,aswillbe
showninwhatfollows.
Itappearsalsotome,thatAristotleinhisPhysics,}imitatingPlato,
assumesonehypothesis,whenhesays,itissupposedbyuswithrespectto

thingswhichhaveanaturalsubsistence,thateitherallorsomeofthemare
moved.Foritisentirelynecessarythatthereshouldbemotion,ifthe
discussionofthephysicaltheoryistoproceedwithsuccess;sincenature
isaprincipleofmotion.ButinhistreatiseOntheHeavens,}priorto
everythingelse,heassumesthosehypothesesconcerningwhichPlotinus
says,DthatAristotlewillfindnodifficultyinhisdiscussionifhis
Bhypothesesaboutthefifthbodyareadmitted,0meaningthesefive;that
themotionissimpleofasimplebody;thatasimplebodyhasacertain
simplemotionaccordingtonature;thattherearetwosimplemotions;that
onemotioniscontrarytoone;andthatthethingwhichhasnotacontrary
hasnotthatwhichcancorruptit.Fromwhichhypotheses,heframeshis
1,238demonstrationsconcerningthefifthbody.Aristotle,however,shows
thattheuniverseisunbegotten,fromthehypotheses;butPlatothatit
isgenerated.Whethertherefore,theyarediscordantornot,willshortlyafter
bemanifesttous.Andthis,indeed,willagainbeconsidered.
Why,however,doesPlato,whoisaccustomedtoemploy,when
speakingofintelligibles,thetermavwitself,andoirepthatwhich,now
assumeneitherofthese,butratherprefersthetermaeialways,as
connascentwithbeing.Forthisalsoisattendedwithadoubt,through
whatcauseheemploysthethirdoftheseterms,i.e.always,asbetter
adaptedtosignifythenatureoftrulyexistingbeing.Inanswertothis
itmaybesaid,thatthetermitselfmanifeststhesimplicityofintelligibles,
asubsistenceaccordingtohyparxis,andanexistencewhichisprimary,which
tForwapudeiynaainovhere,readirupcx8eiypanK0Vmrcov.
XPhysicsI,2,185al2.
SOntheHeavensI,3,302b.
EnneadII,1,2.
MetaphysicsDC,5,1055b30etc.;DeCceloI,3,270al622;&270b28.
isassertedconformablytothepeculiarity,accordingtowhichintelligiblesare
primarilythatwhichtheyare,andfillsecondarynatureswiththe
participationofthemselves.Butthetermthatwhichis,indicatespurity,
theunmingled,andthenotbeingfilledwithacontrarynature.Andthe
evermanifeststheeternal,theimmutable,andtheinvariable,according
Ctohypostasis.Thusforinstance,whenwesaythebeautifulitself,and
thejustitself,wesurveybeautywhichisnotsobytheparticipationof
thebeautiful,andjusticewhichisnotsobytheparticipationofthejust;
butthatwhichisprimarilybeautiful,andthatwhichisprimarilyjust.
Butwhenwesaythatwhichisbeautifulwemeanthatwhichisnot
mingledwithdeformity,norcontaminatedbyitscontrary,suchasis
materialbeauty,whichissituatedindeformity,andisitselfrepletewith
itssubjectnature.Andwhenweusethetermeveroralwaysweindicate
beautywhichisnotatonetimebeautiful,andatanothernot,butwhich
iseternallybeautiful.Sothatthefirstofthesetermsmanifeststhe

simplicityofintelligibles,andthesupplyingallotherthingsfrom
themselves.Forsuchisthebeautifulitself,bywhichallbeautifulthings
arebeautiful,andtheequalitself,bywhichallequalthingsareequal,and
inasimilarmannerinotherthingsofthiskind.Butthesecondofthese
terms,indicatesonlynessandpurity,theunmingledandtheundefiled.
Forthethatwhichisthis,i.e.itissomethingwhichisnotvarious,and
1,239whichdoesnotattracttoitselfanythingofaforeignnature.Andthe
evermanifestsimmutability,fortheeveristhis.Yetitdoesnotsimply
indicateimmutability,butapermanencyineternity.Foratemporalever
isonething,andaneternalever,another;thelatterbeingeverything
Dcollectivelyandatonce;buttheformerbeingcoextendedwiththe
wholecontinuityoftime,andbeinginfinite.Andthelattersubsisting
inthenow,buttheformer,ininterval,theintervalbeingunceasing,and
alwaysingeneration,orbecomingtobe.Thetermthereforeitself,is
derivedtobeingsfromtheparadigm.Forthatisthecauseofsimplicity
tobeings,andofimpartingtootherthingsthatwhichitprimarily
possesses.Butthetermthatwhichis,isderivedfromtheonebeing.For
thatisprimarilyexemptfromnonbeing,andprivation;becauseitis
primarilybeing,andallthingssubsistinitoccultlyandindivisibly.And
thetermever,isderivedfrometernity.Forastheonebeingisthe
supplierofexistence,1soeternityimpartsperpetuitytointelligibles.
Hence,ifPlatohadbeenspeakingaboutparticipantsandthings
participated,andforthispurposehadrequiredbeing,hewouldhave
inquiredwhatbeingitselfis.Andifhehadbeendiscussingthings
tInsteadofucyapiroueivaiTOevov,itisnecessarytoreaducyapTOVeivaiK.X.
unmingled,andthingsthataremingled,hewouldhaveusedtheterm
thatwhichis.ButsincehediscoursesaboutgenerationandtfaeJ
unbegotten,andforthispurposerequiresthesedefinitions,hevery
properlyinquireswhatthatiswhichisalwaysbeing.Forthis
distinguishestheeternalfromthatwhichistemporal,inthesame
mannerastheunbegottendistinguisheseternity.Hencealsothe
Enatureofanimalitself,whichiscomprehensiveofallintelligibleanimals,
iseternal;*buttimewasgeneratedtogetherwithheaven,asPlatosays
inthecourseofthedialogue.*
Moreover,thoughperpetualbeingissaidtoproceedfromacause,yet
itmustnotbeassertedthatitisgeneratedaccordingtoallcauses,but
thatitisaccordingtothem.Foritis ,thatonaccountofwhich,and
,thatwithrelationtowhich,and' ,thatbywhich.For
perpetualbeingisselfsubsistent,andisnotgeneratedbyitself,lestnot
existingatacertaintime,itshouldbegenerated.Forthatwhichis
generated,whenitisbecomingtobeisnot.Norisitgeneratedwith
relationtoitself,lestitshouldbeacomposite.Noronaccountofitself,
lestitshouldbeimperfect.Butthatwhichisgeneratedissuspended

fromanotherthing,andhasitsprogressionfromothercauses;andsuch
1,240iseverycorporealformednature.Afterwhatmannerhowever,isthat
whichisgeneratedneverbeing,concerningwhichPlatospeaks5clearly
intheSophista?Notthatitisnonbeing,Dbutthatitisnevertruly
being.Now,however,itissaidtobeneveratanytimebeing,because
beinghasapriorarrangementinaneternalnature;butthatwhichis
generated,isneverthatwhichalwaysis.If,therefore,existence,sofaras
itisbeing,isunreceptiveofnonexistence,itisevidentthatwhatis
generated,sinceithasthebeingwhichisinit,ofwhateverkinditmay
be,mingledwithnonbeing,isneveratanytimebeing,soastobe
genuinelybeing;andbeingwhichsubsistsbyitself,sincethispertainsto
realexistencealone,whichhasnotinacertainrespectnonexistencein
conjunctionwithexistence,atoneandthesametimebeingandnot
being.
t37d.
*38b.
Sophista28a.
eoriv^V*0U70^Veanv'mPkce>alsrequisitetoreadovxonTOp.i{ov
28a"Theformerofthese,indeed,iscomprehendedbyintelligencein
conjunctionwithreason,sinceitalwayssubsistswithinvariable
sameness.Butthelatterisperceivedbyopinion,inconjunctionwith
irrationalsense,sinceitisgeneratedandcorrupted,andnevertrulyis."
****tTotheseithappens,thattheyerrinmanyotherrespects,and
thattheycomprehendinthedefinitionsthethingsdefined.Forwhat
perpetualbeingis,whichthefirstdefinitionassumesisexplained,andis
saidtobethatwhichalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness;andthis
theseconddefinitionassumes,sayingitisthatwhichisgeneratedand
corrupted,butnevertrulyis.This,however,istoaccuseboth
74AthemselvesandPlatoofunskilfulnessindialectic.Butothersdividing
thesentence,showthatineachofthecolonstherearedefinition,and
thethingdefined.Forintheformercolon,thewords,"thatwhichis
comprehendedbyintelligenceinconjunctionwithreason,"areadefinition;
butthewords,"sinceitalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,"arethe
1,241thingdefined.Andinthesecondcolon,thewords,"isperceivedby
opinioninconjunctionwithirrationalsense,"aregivenasadefinition;but
theremainingpartofthesentence,isthethingdefined.Tothesemen
itwillbefoundourpreceptorhaswellreplied.Forbyalittle
transpositionofthewords,thewholewillbeimmediatelyapparentas
follows:Thatwhichalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,is
comprehendedbyintelligenceinconjunctionwithreason:butthatwhichis
generatedandcorrupted,andnevertrulyis,isperceivedbyopinion,in
conjunctionwithirrationalsense.Forthesethingsareconsequentto
whatwasbeforesaid,"whatisthatwhichisalwaysbeingbutiswithout

generation;"and"whatisthatwhichisgenerated,butisnever[real]being;"
thatwhichalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,signifyingthesame
thingas,thatwhichiswithoutgeneration;andthatwhichisgenerated,but
Bisnever[real]being,havingthesamesignificationas,thatwhichnever
trulyis,thoughtheyaremoreobscurelyannounced.Andthroughthe
additionoftrulyPlatoindicatesthatsofarindeedasitisgenerated,itis
not;butthatsofarasitbringswithitanimageofbeing,sofaritisnot
generated.Forinthedefinitions,herendersthethingsdefinedmore
clearthroughtheadditions.Thus,oneofthedefinitionssays,"whichis
alwaysbeing,"inorderthatbythetermalwayswemaynotunderstand
temporalperpetuity,buttheeternal.Forthisisallatonce,andsubsists
withinvariablesameness.Buttemporalperpetuity,iscoextendedwith
fThebeginningofthiscommentary,isunfortunatelywanting.[ButseeDiehlstext
inTeubner,wherelines17to22arenowextant.PT]
theinfinityoftime.Thus,too,theotherdefinitionhas,"thatwhichis
generated,"andtogetherwithitalsosays,"andiscorrupted,"inorderthat
wemaynotunderstandbygenerationssimplyprogressions,whichan;
alsoascribedtotheGodswhoarebeyondbeing',butprogressionswhich
arecoordinatewithdestruction.Theassigneddefinitions,therefore,an;
suchasfollow:Perpetualbeing,isthatwhichiscomprehendedby
intelligenceinconjunctionwithreason.ThatwhichisgeneratedisperceiveI
byopinioninconjunctionwithirrationalsense.
Forthesedefinitions,however,itisusualtoaccusePlato,inthefirst
place,indeed,thathedoesnotassumegenus,astherulesofdefinitions
1,242require.Inthenextplace,thathedoesnotmanifestwhatthenatureis
Cofthethingsdefined,butdistinguishesthembyourknowledge.Itis
necessary,however,priortothishabitude,toconsiderthingsthemselves
bythemselves.But[indefenceofPlato]weshalldemonstratethevery
contrary,viz.thatthosewhoareaccustomedthustodoubtperfectlyerr.
Forwhatkindofgenushasaplaceinbeing,whichcomprehendsevery
intelligibleessence?Forifessencehasnogenuspriortoitself,nor
definition,sinceitismostgeneric,whatcanyousayrespectingbeing
whichiscomprehensiveofeveryessence,andofallpowersandenergies?
Neither,therefore,isbeingthegenusofeternalbeing:forifitwas,it
wouldnotbesimplybeing,butacertainbeing.Norisnonbeingthe
genusofeternalbeinglestweshouldignorantlymakeeternalnonbeing.
Foreverywheregeneraarepredicatedofspecies.Hence,thereisnota
genusofbeing.Besides,isnotadefinitionderivedfromknowledge;
adaptedtotheory,andtotheproposeddefinitions?*Forif,aswesaid
before,*Platowishedtousetheseaxiomsandhypothesesinthe
demonstrationswhichheintendedtomake,itwasnecessarythatthey
Dshouldbeknownandmanifesttous.If,indeed,hehadexhortedusto
investigatethenatureofthings,itselfinitself,hewouldhaveignorantly

filledthewholeofhisdoctrinedefinitionswithobscurity.Butashe
wishedtomakeknownthroughdefinitionsbeingandthatwhichis
generated,heproducedthedemonstrationsthroughthingsthatare
known,andclearlyrepresentstousthepeculiarityofthem,inorder
thatbeingexcitedandperfected,wemaymoremanifestlysurveywhat
eachofthemis.Forsinceeverythinggnostic,iseitherthethingknown
itself,orperceives,orpossessesthethingknown;forintellect,indeed,isthe
intelligible,butsenseperceiveswhatissensible,anddianoiapossessesinitself
tcf.Aristotle,TopicsII,2,109b6.
t70Csupra,p.213.
thedianoeticobject;andaswearenotnaturallyadaptedtobecomethe
intelligible,butknowitthroughthepowerinuswhichisconjoined
1,243withit;thisbeingthecase,werequirethispower,andthroughthisthe
natureofbeingisknowntous.Afterthismanner,therefore,weanswer
thedoubts.
Itisrequisite,however,toobservehowPlatoproposingtohimselfthe
problems,renderseachofthemmanifest,bothaffirmativelyand
Enegatively.Butgivingananswertoeach,inperpetualbeing,indeed,he
assumestheaffirmativealone,butinthatwhichisgenerated,the
negative,addingtoitalso,"andwhichisdestroyed."He,also,explains
thewords,"butwhichisneverbeing,"throughtheassumptionof,"never
trulyis."Forsincebeingischaracterizedbyexistencealone,butthat
whichisgeneratedbynonexistence,heassumestheone,alonedefining
it,andsays,subsistinginvariablythesame;butheassumestheother
togetherwithnegation,yetnotwithnegationalone,becausedefinitions
respectaffirmations,andsignifythatwhichineachthingisinherent.It
isnot,however,wonderful,ifhenotonlysays"whichisgenerated,"but
also,"andcorrupted."Forasheaddstobeing,thewords"subsistingwith
invariablesameness,"andnotonlysays,itisalways;solikewisetothat
whichisgeneratedheadds,"andcorrupted."Forthissofarasitis
generated,isdifferentfromperpetualbeing;butsofarasitiscorrupted,
itdiffersfromthatwhichisinvariablythesame.Forthatwhichis
generated,sofarasitisgeneratedandcorrupted,isincapableof
connectingitself;sinceifitwere,itwouldalsobeabletoproduceitself.
Assumingthereforeeachbyitself,i.e.beingandthatwhichisgenerated,
Fheassumestheformerasthatwhichisabovegeneration,butthelatter,
asthatwhichisnotindestructible.Sothatwhentherepresentationof
beingaccedestothatwhichisgenerated,itisableafteracertainmanner
toabideinaconditionofalwaysbecomingtobe.

Letushowever,considereachofthewordsbyitself,throughwhich
hecomposesthepropositions;andinthefirstplace,letusseeinhow
manywaysintelligencesubsists,andcollectbyareasoningprocessthe

otherprogressionsofit.Thefirstintelligencetherefore,isthe
intelligible,whichpassesintothesamewiththeintelligible,andisnot
1,244anythingdifferentfromit.Thisalsoisessentialintelligence,and
75Aessenceitself,becauseeverythingintheintelligiblesubsistsafterthis
manner,viz.essentiallyandintelligibly.Thesecondintelligenceisthat
whichconjoinsintellectwiththeintelligible,possessingapeculiarity
whichisconnectiveandcollectiveoftheextremes,andexistingaslife
andpower,fillingindeedintellectfromtheintelligible,butestablishing
itintheintelligible.Thethirdistheconjoinedintelligenceinadivine
intellect1itself,beingtheenergyofintellect,throughwhichit
comprehendstheintelligibleitcontains,andaccordingtowhichit
intellectuallyperceives,andiswhatitis.Forthisintelligenceisenergy,
andintelligenceitself,butisnotintelligibleintelligence.Nordoesit
existaspower,but(aswehavesaid,)asenergy,andintellectual
intelligence.Theintelligenceofpartialintellectshasthefourthorder.
Foreachofthesepossessesthis*andentirelycontainsinitselfacertain
conjoinedintelligibleandintelligence.Orrathereachhasallthese
partially,viz.intellect,intelligence,andtheintelligible,throughwhich
alsoitisconjoinedtototalintellects,intellectuallyperceiveseachof
these,andlikewisethewholeintelligibleworld.Thefifthintelligence
Bisthatoftherationalsoul.Forastherationalsouliscalledintellect,thusalsothe
knowledgeofitisintelligence,andtransitiveintelligence,andhas
timeconnascentwithitself.Butthesixthintelligence,ifyouarewilling
alsotoconnumeratethis,isphantasticknowledge,ortheknowledgeof
theimagination,whichbysomeisdenominatedintelligence;andthe
phantasyiscalledbythempassiveintellect,5becauseitknowssuch
thingsasitdoesknow,inwardly,andaccompaniedwithresemblances
andfigures.Foritiscommontoallintelligencetohavetheobjectsofits
knowledgeinward.Forinthisalsointelligencediffersfromsense.In
oneorderhowever,intelligenceisthethingknownitself.Inanotherit
ranksasthesecond,butseesthatwhichisfirsttotally.Inanotheritis
partiallythethingknown,butseeswholesalsothroughthatwhichis
partial.Inanotheritseesindeedwholes,butatthesametimepartially
andnotatonce.Andinanother,thevisionisaccompaniedwith
passion.Somanytherefore,arethedifferencesofintelligence.
1,245Now,however,phantasticintelligencemustnotbeassumed;sincethis
isnotnaturallyadaptedtoknowtrulyexistingbeing.Foritis
indefinite,becauseitknowstheobjectofitsperceptionaccompanied
withfigureandmorphe.Butperpetualbeingisunfigured.Andin
short,noirrationalknowledgeisabletosurveybeingitself,sinceneither
isadaptedtoperceivethatwhichisuniversal.Normusttheintelligence
intherationalsoulbeassumed.Foritdoesnotpossesstheatoncecollected,
Candthatwhichiscoordinatewitheternalnatures;butit
proceedsaccordingtotime.Nomustweassumetotalintellections;for

tIntheoriginal,rpirt)5eTJevavruBeiuov^vyogvonaiq.Butitisnecessaryafter
VtoSupplyJ/(j).
tForTOVTOVhere,itisrequisitetoreadTavrrjv.
ThephantasyisthuscalledbyAristotle[DeAnimaIII,10,433ab.]
theseareexemptfromourknowledge.ButTimaeuscoarranges
intelligencewithreason.Theintelligence,therefore,ofapartial
intellect,mustnowbeassumed.Foritisinconjunctionwiththis,that
wesometimeorotherperceiverealbeing.Forasenseisinthesecond
duadbelowtherationalsoul,sointelligenceisintheduadaboveit.For
apartialintellectisproximatelyestablishedaboveouressence,elevatingand
perfectingit,towhichweareconvertedwhenpurifiedthroughphilosophy,
andwhenweconjoinourownintellectualpowerwiththeintelligenceofthis
intellect.Butwhatthispartialintellectis,andthatitisnotasonetoone
rationalsoul,butisparticipatedthroughsoulswhichalwaysenergize
accordingtoit,throughwhichalsopartialsoulssometimesparticipateof
intellectuallight,wehaveelsewheredistinctlyandcopiouslydiscussed}
Now,however,thusmuchmustbeassumed,thatitisparticipatedindeedby
allotherproximatedemoniacalsouls,butilluminatesours,whenwe
convertourselvestoit,andrenderthereasonwhichisinusintellectual.
DAndasinthePhaedrusPlatocallsthisthegovernorofthesoul,}andsays
thatitaloneintellectuallyperceivesrealbeing,butthatthesoulperceivesit
togetherwiththisintellect,whensheisnourishedbyintellectandscience;
thusalsoitmustbesaidthatthisintelligenceispriortosoul,andistruly
intelligence[mentionedbyPlato]butthatitisparticipatedbysoulwhen
reasonenergizesintellectually.HencePlatosaysinthefollowingpart
1,246ofthisdialogue,thatintellectisindeedintheGods,butthatacertain
smallgenus[ofmen]participatesofit.}Anditseemsthatinwhathesays
unfoldingtheknowledgeofperpetualbeing,hefirstcallsitintelligence;
butthatwemaynotapprehendittobethatalone,headdsto
intelligencereason,distinguishingbyatransitiveenergythelatterfrom
theformer.Sothatwhenreasonintellectuallyperceivesperpetualbeing,as
reasonindeed,itenergizestransitively,butasperceivingintellectually,with
simplicity;understandingeachthingassimpleatonce,yetnotallthingsat
once,butpassingfromsometoothers.Ittransitivelyhoweverperceives
intellectuallyeverythingwhichitperceivesasonething,andassimple.
Afterthedefinitionofintelligencehowever,letusseewhatreasonis,
andhowitisconnascentwithintelligence.IntheTheaetetustherefore,
logos,reason,issaidtohaveathreefoldsubsistence;0foritiseither
enunciative,oradiscursiveprocessionthroughtheelements[ofspeech];
tcf.32IFinfra,p.967.
$Phaedrus247cd.
51e52a.
Theaetetus206d;207a;208a;208d.

orthatwhichexhibitsthedifferencesofeachthingwithrespectto
Eothers.Allthesesignificationshowever,areconversantwith
compositionsanddivisions,andareunadaptedtothecomprehensionof
eternalbeing.Forthesimilarisnaturallyadaptedtobeapprehendedby
thesimilar.*Buteternalbeingissimpleandindivisible,andisexempt
fromeverythingwhichiscontrarytothese.Again,afteranother
manner,onekindofreasonissaidtobedoxastic,anotherscientific,and
anotherintellectual.Forsincethereareinusopinion,dianoia,and
intellect;butIcallintellecthere,thesummitofdianoia;andsincethe
wholeofouressenceisreason,ineachofthesereasonmustbe
differentlysurveyed.Opinionhowever,isnotnaturallyadaptedtobe
unitedtotheintelligenceofintellectinenergy:foronthecontraryitis
conjoinedtoirrationalknowledge.Norisdianoia,sofarasitproceed)
intomultitudeanddivision,abletorecurtointellect;butonthe
contrarythroughthevarietyofitsdiscursiveenergies,itisseparated
fromintellectualimpartibility.Itremains,therefore,thatthesummitof
thesoul,andthatinitwhichhasmosttheformofTheOne,is
establishedintheintelligenceofapartialintellect,beingthroughalliance
unitedtoit.Hencethisisthereasonwhichintellectuallyperceivesthe
1,247intelligiblescoordinatetoournature,andtheenergyofwhich*Socrates
FintheRepublicsaysisintelligence;5justasdianoiaistheknowledgeof
thingswhichsubsistbetweenintelligiblesandtheobjectsofopinion.If,
however,intelligenceistheenergyofthisreason,itwillbeacertain
intellect.Platointhefollowingpartofthisdialoguesays,thatthis
reasoninthesamemannerasscience,isingeneratedinthesoul,whenitis
movedabouttheintelligible.0Butthatsciencehasamorevarious
energy,apprehendingsomethingsthroughothers,andintellectamore
simpleenergy,intuitivelysurveyingbeingsthemselves.Thishighest
therefore,andmostimpartibleportionofournature,Platonow
denominatesreason,asunfoldingtousintellect,andanintelligiblenature.
76AForwhenthesoulabandonsphantasyandopinion,andvariousand
indefiniteknowledge,butrecurstoitsownimpartibility,accordingto
whichitisrootedinapartialintellect,andhavingrunbacktothis,
conjoinstheenergyofitselfwiththeintelligenceofthatintellect,then
tRep.IV,425c.
,$InsteadofKCKIovOevTcoXireiuEwxparjjc,voqoiveiieen\vevepyeiavinthisplace,
KisnecessarytoreadKaiOVoevToXneiaEujcpaTijcvorjoiveliteTI\Vevepyeiav.
Rep.VI,5lide.
37ac.
itintellectuallyperceiveseternalbeingtogetherwithit,itsenergybeing
bothone,andtwofold,andbothsamenessandseparationbeinginherent
initsintellections.Forthentheintelligenceofthesoulbecomesmore
collected,andnearertoeternalthings,inorderthatitmayapprehend
theintelligibletogetherwithintellect,andthatthereasonwhichisinus

maylikealesslight,energizeinconjunctionwithonethatisgreater.
Forourreasoninconjunctionwithintelligence,seestheintelligible;but
theintelligenceofintellectalwaysseesit,andalwaysis;andconjoins
reasontoit,whenreasonacquirestheformofintellect.
Afterwhatmannerhowever,istrulyexistingbeingcomprehendedby
apartialintellect,orbyreason?Forthisisstillmoreadmirable.May
wenotsay,thatthoughtheintelligibleitselfcannotbecomprehended
byintellectandreason,becauseitissuperiortoallcomprehension,and
Bcomprehendsallthingsexemptly,yetintellectpossessingitsown
intelligible,isalsoonthisaccountsaidtocomprehendthewhole[ofan
intelligiblenature].Butreasonthroughtheintellectwhichiscoordinate
toitself,receivingtheconceptionsofrealbeings,isthusthroughthese
1,248saidtocomprehendbeing.Perhapsalsoitsignifies,thatreasonrunning
roundtheintelligible,andenergizingandbeingmovedasaboutacentre,
thussurveysit;intelligenceindeedknowingitintransitivelyand
impartibly,butreasondancingasitwereroundtheessenceofitina
circle,andevolvingtheunitedhypostasisinitofallthings.
Inthenextplace,letusdirectourattentiontoopinion,andconsider
whatitis.Thatitisthereforetheboundaryofthewholerationallife,
andthatitisconjoinedtothesummitoftheirrationallife,isfrequently
acknowledged.Butweshallnowunfoldsuchthingsasarethe
peculiaritiesofthePlatonicdoctrine;andwhichareasfollow:Thatthe
doxasticpartcomprehendsthereasons*[orproductiveprinciples]of
sensibles;thatitisthisalsowhichknowstheessencesofthem;andthat
itknowstheon,orthatathingis,butisignorantofthecauseofit.For
sincedianoiaknowsatoneandthesametimeboththeessencesandthe
causesofsensibles,butsenseknowsneitherofthese;foritisclearly
shownintheTheaetetusthatsensedoesnotknowtheessenceofa
Cthing,*andthatitisperfectlyignorantofthecauseoftheobjectsofits
knowledge;itisnecessarythatopinionbeingarrangedbetweensenseand
tThesereasonsinadivinesoul,subsistbothgnosticallyandfabricatively,andin
thehumansoulalso,theythussubsist,whenitrevolvesonhighinconjunctionwiththe
Gods:butduringtheunionofthesoulwiththisoutwardbody,theysubsistinit
gnosticallyonly.
XThextetus156d&185,f.
dianoia,shouldknowtheessencesofsensibles,throughthereasons
whichitcontains,butshouldbeignorantofthecausesofthem.For
thusrightopinionwilldifferfromscienceinthis,thatitaloneknows
thatathingis,sciencebeingabletosurveylikewisethecauseofit.But
senseadherestoopinion,beingalsoitselfamediumbetweenthe
instrumentofsenseandopinion.Fortheinstrumentofsense
apprehendssensiblesaccompaniedwithpassion.Hencealsoitis

corruptedthroughtheexcessofsensibles.Butopinionpossesses
knowledgeundefiledwithpassion.Sensehoweverparticipatesina
certainrespectofpassion,buthasalsosomethinggnostic,sofarasitis
establishedinthedoxasticpart,isilluminatedbyit,andpartakesofthe
formofreason,sinceitisinitselfirrational.Inthis,therefore,theseries
ofgnosticpowersisterminated,ofwhichindeedintelligenceisthe
1,249leader,whichisabovereason,andiswithouttransition.Butreasonhas
thesecondorderwhichistheintelligenceofoursoul,transitively
comingintocontactwithrealbeings.Opinionhasthethirdorder,
beingaknowledgeofsensiblesconformabletoreason.Andsensehas
thefourthorder,beinganirrationalknowledgeofsensibles.For
Ddianoia,beingamediumbetweenintelligenceandopinion,isgnosticof
middleforms,whichrequireamoreobscureapprehensionthanthatof
intelligence,butaclearerperceptionthanthatofopinion;asSocrates
saidontheprecedingday,*whenhedefinedthedifferentkindscf
knowledgebytheobjectsofknowledge.
Itmustbesaid,therefore,thatopinionisaccordingtoreason,because
itpossessesgnosticreasonsoftheessencesofthings,butthatitis
otherwiseirrational,asbeingignorantofcauses.ForSocratesinthe
Banquet,*speakingofitsays,"sinceitisanirrationalthing,howcanit
bescience?"Butitmustbeadmittedthatsenseisentirelyirrational.For
inshort,sinceeachofthesensesknowsthepassionproducedaboutthe
animalbytheobjectofsense,henceintelligenceisanintransitive,but
dianoiaandreasonatransitiveknowledge;opinionaknowledgein
conjunctionwithreasonbutwithouttheassignationofcause;sensean
irrationalknowledgeofpassions;andtheinstrumentofsensepassion
only.Thus,forinstance,whenanappleispresentedtous,thesight
indeedknowsthatitisredfromthepassionabouttheeye,thesmell
thatitisfragrantfromthepassionaboutthenostrils,thetastethatitis
sweet,andthetouchthatitissmooth.Whatthenisitwhichsaysthat
tRep.VII,533d.
tSymposium202a.
thethingpresentedtousisanapple?Foritisnotanyoneofthe
Epartialsenses;sinceeachoftheseknowsonecertainthingonlyaboutthe
apple,andnotthewholeofit;nordoeseventhecommonsenseknow
this.Forthisalonedistinguishesthedifferencesofthepassions;butit
doesnotknowthatthethingwhichpossessesanessenceofsuchakind
isthewholething.Hence,itisevidentthatthereisacertainpower
superiortothesenses,whichknowingthewholepriortothethings
whichareasitwereparts,andsurveyingtheformofit,isimpartibly
connectiveofthesemanypowers.Thispower,therefore,Platocalls
opinion,andonthisaccount,hedenominatesthatwhichissensible
doxastic.

Fartherstill,sincethesensesfrequentlyannouncevariouspassions,and
notsuchasthingsofthiskindareinthemselves,whatisitinuswhich
judgesandsays,thatthesightisdeceivedwhenitassertsthatthesunis
butafootindiameter,andthatthetastewhichpronounceshoneytobe
1,250bitter,isthetasteofthosethatarediseased?Foritisentirelyevident
thatinthese,andallsuchlikeparticulars,thesensesannounceindeed
theirownpassions,andarenotperfectlydeceived.Fortheysaywhat
thepassionisabouttheinstrumentsofsense,anditisathingofsucha
kindastheyassertittobe;butthatwhichsayswhatthecauseisofthe
passion,andformsajudgementofit,issomethingdifferentfromsense.
Hence,thereisacertainpowerofthesoulsuperiortosense,whichno
Flongerknowssensiblesthroughaninstrumentbutthroughitself,and
correctsthegrossnessofsensibleinformation.Andthispowerindeed
whichisreasonaswithreferencetosense,isirrationalaswithreference
totheknowledgeoftrulyexistingbeings.Butsenseissimplyirrational.
Onthisaccount,PlatointheRepubliccallingthispoweropinion,*
showsthatitisamediumbetweenknowledgeandignorance:foritis
indeedarationalknowledge,butitismingledwithirrationality,
knowingsensiblesinconjunctionwithsense.Butsenseisalone
irrational,asTimaeusalsodenominatesit;inthefirstplace,becauseitis
77Aalsoinherentinirrationalanimals,andischaracteristicofevery
irrationallife;forbythesethings,whatissaidintheTheaetetus*
distinguishesitfromscience.Inthesecondplace,becausein
contradistinctiontoallthepartsoftheirrationalsoul,itisdisobedient
toreason.Fortheirascibleandepithymeticparts,areobedientto
reasonanditsmandates,andreceivefromiterudition.Butsensethough
tRep.V,478d.
XTheatetus186c.
itshouldhearreasontenthousandtimesassertingthatthesunisgreater
thantheearth,yetwouldstillseeittobeafootindiameter,andwould
nototherwiseannounceittous.Inthethirdplace,becauseneitherdoes
it[accurately]knowthatwhichitknows.Foritisnotnaturallyadapted
toseetheessenceofit.Foritdoesnotknowwhatawhitethingis,but
itknowsthroughpassionthatitiswhite.Itlikewiseisnotseparated
fromtheinstrumentofsense,*andisthereforeonthisaccount
irrational.ForthusintheGorgias,*irrationalknowledgeisdefinedto
1,251benotscientific,butconjectural.Inthefourthplace,senseisalone
irrational,becauseitistheboundaryofthewholeseriesofknowledge,
possessesanessencemostremotefromreasonandintellect,pertainsto
Bexternals,andeffectsitsapprehensionofthingsthroughbody.Forall
theseparticularsdemonstrateitsirrationality.
Everythinggeneratedthereforeisapprehendedbyopinionin

conjunctionwithsense;thelatterannouncingpassions,buttheformer
producingfromitselfthereasonsofthem,andknowingtheessencesof
sensibles.Andasreasonwhenincontactwithintelligenceseesthe
intelligible,thusalsoopinioncoarrangedwithsense,knowsthatwhich
isgenerated.Forsincethesoulisofamiddleessenceitgives
completiontoasubsistencebetweenintellectandirrationality.Forby
itssummititispresentwithintellect,butbyitsultimatepartitverges
tosense.HencealsoTimaeusintheformerconjunction,arranges
intelligencepriortoreason,asbeingmoreexcellent;butinthesecond
heplacesopinionbeforesense.Forthereindeed,reasonisposteriorto
intelligence,asbeingalessintellect;buthereopinionispriortosense,
asbeingrationalsense.Opinionhowever,andreasoncircumscribethe
wholebreadthoftherationalessence.Butintellectisourking,and
senseourmessenger,saysthegreatPlotinus.5Reasonindeed,together
withintellect,seestheintelligible;butbyitselfitsurveysreasonsor
formsthathaveamiddlesubsistence.Andopinioninconjunctionwith
sense,seesthatwhichisgenerated;butbyitselfitcontemplatesallthe
Cformsitcontains,concerningwhichwehaveelsewherespoken,have
shownhowtheseformssubsist,howtheplaceofthemisthedoxastic
partofthesoul,andthattheintelligibleisapprehendedbyreason,but
byopinion,theintelligibleisseenasadoxasticobject.Fortheobject
tInsteadofdiaKeKptTai8eTOaiodriTripiovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadcv
UXK6KPLTUI5(TOVCU06l)TT\piOV.
*Gorgias464c.
SEnneadV,3,3.
ofitsknowledgeisexternalto,andnotwithinit,astheintelligibleis
withinreason.Hencetheobjectisnotcomprehendedbyit,butiscalled
opinableandnotsensible;becauseopinionknowsindeedtheessencesof
things,butsensedoesnot.Hencetoo,itreceivestheappellationofa
clearerknowledge,whichknowswhatathingis,butnotalonethatitis,
whichlatterwesayistheemploymentofsense;andinconsequenceof
thisTimaeusveryproperlycallsthatwhichisgeneratedtheobjectof
1,252opinion.ForthisisPythagoric;sinceParmenidesalsoconsideredthe
discussionofsensibles,*asadiscussionaccordingtoopinion;sensibles
beingintheirownnatureperceptiblebythispowerofthesoul.Hence
itisnotpropertocallthatwhichisgeneratedsensiblealone,because
senseisnotgnosticofanyessence,northeobjectofopinion,without
theadditionofsense.
Herehowever,Aristotle*particularlyblamesthesecondassertionof
Timaeus.Forwhereisit[universally]truethatwhatisperceivedby
Dopinioninconjunctionwithsenseisgeneratedandcorrupted?For
heavenisunbegottenandindestructible,thoughitisperceivedby
opinioninconjunctionwithsense.AndTimaeus,inthecourseofthis

dialogue,inquireswhetherthewholeheavenwasgenerated.Atpresent,
therefore,itmustbesaidbyus,thatgenerationandcorruptionsubsist
accordingtoanalogyintheheavens,notonlyaccordingtothemotions
andmutationsoffigures,butalsobecauseacelestialbodyisnot
producedbyitself,butalonesubsistsfromanothercause.Henceitis
generatedashavingthecauseofitssubsistencesuspendedfromanother
thingdifferentfromitself.Since,however,itnotonlysubsistsfrom,but
isconnectedbyanother,notbeingabletoconnectitself,andis
corruptedaccordingtoitsownproperreason,onthisaccountitassumes
generationcoordinatelywithcorruption.Fortrulyexistingandeternal
beingsgeneratethemselves,andareconnectedbythemselves,whence
alsotheyaresaidtobeintheirownnatureunbegottenand
indestructible.If,however,trulyexistingbeingisunbegotten,and
1.253thereforesubsistsfromitself,thatwhichdoesnotsubsistfromitselfwill
notbetrulyunbegotten.Andifthatwhichistrulyindestructibleis
naturallyadaptedtoconnectitself,thatwhichisnotnaturallyadapted
Etoconnectitselfwillnotbetrulyindestructible.Heaven,however,but
Imeanbyheaventhecorporealformednatureofitalone,isneither
adaptedtoproducenortoconnectitself.Foreverythingofthiskind
tInsteadofewetKMotvUapntviStt,ri\virepimvCLIO~0T\TUVTpaynareitovinthis
place,itisnecessarytoreadeweiKMOUap^evtSiit;,ri\vvepiTWVaiodrjTuv
Ttpayptartvav.
Xcf.Aristotle,OntheHeavensI,10ff;DeMundoIV,396a31.
whichproducesandconnectsitself,isimpartible.Henceitisneither
trulyunbegotten*nortrulyindestructible,butsofaraspertainstoits
corporealnature,itisgeneratedandmade.Fartherstill,asAristotle
himselfsays,andclearlyandgenerouslydemonstrates,nofinitebody
possessesaninfinitepower.*Butthecelestialbodyisfinite,and
thereforedoesnotpossessaninfinitepower.Theindestructible,
however,sofarasindestructible,possessesaninfinitepower.Hence
body,sofarasbody,isnotindestructible.Sothatfromthereasoning
ofAristotleitisdemonstratedtobeathingofthiskind.Butafterwhat
mannertheheavenisunbegottenandperpetual,willbemanifesttous
shortlyafter.5Now,however,thisaloneisevidentfromwhathasbeen
said,thateverythingcorporeal,isofitself,orinitsownnature
generatedandcorrupted,butnevertrulyis,asPlatoalsosaysinthe
Politicus.PForhethereobserves"thattosubsistalwaysinvariablythe
same,alonepertainstothemostdivineofallthings.Butthenatureofbody
isnotofthisorder.That,however,whichwedenominateheavenorthe
world,possessesindeedmanyblessedprerogativesfromitsgenerator;but,as
Fitpartakesofbody,itisimpossiblethatitshouldbeentirelyfreefrom
mutation."Wehaveshown,therefore,howtheheavenfallsunderthe
abovementioneddistinctions.
Ifhowever,thedaemoniacalAristotle,0shouldagaindoubtrespecting

whatitsaidofeternalbeing,notenduringtosaythateverythingwhich
alwaysis,iscomprehendedbyintelligenceinconjunctionwithreason;
sincethemostdivineofvisibleobjectsalways**exist;wethinkitfit,
1,254thatheshouldnotconfoundtheeternal,andthatwhichsubsiststhrough
78athewholeoftime.Forhealsodistinguisheseternityfromtime;and
attributestheformerindeedtointellect,butthelattertoheaven,andthe
motionofheaven.**Thatalwaysexistingbeing,therefore,theeternal,
isathingofsuchakindasTimaeusdefinesittobe.Themostdivine,
however,ofvisibleobjects,areafteranothermannerperpetual,andnot
tInsteadofOVKapaOVTCOC,yev^TOQeanvinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessaryto
readOVKapaovruqayevyToc,eonv.
%cf.AristotlePhysicsV1H,10,266ab25ff.
cf.84Cff,infra,p.255.
Politicus269d.
0cf.AristotlePhysicsII,4,196a33.
ttItisnecessaryhere,tosupplythewordaet.
AristotleMetaphysicsXI,9,1075al0;II,10,337a23.
accordingtoaneternalpermanency.Buttheyareproducedinthe
wholeoftimefromtheircauses,andthewholeoftheirexistenceisin
becomingtobe.ThisalsoissaidbyAristotle,thateternityisconnascent
withintelligibles,possessingandcomprehendinginitselfinfinitetime;
andthereforetheeternalistrulyintelligible.*If,however,thatwhich
alwaysis,signifiestheeternal,whyisitnecessarytoreferthenatureof
heaventothisperpetualbeing,andwhyshouldwenotsaythatitis
alwaysgenerated,orbecomingtobe,asbeingcoextendedwiththe
perpetuityoftime?Sothatweshallthusdissolvetheobjectionsfrom
hisarguments,whichheurgesagainstthesedefinitions.Since,however,
wehaverepliedtothisinquiry,weshalldismissit;foritwillbespoken
ofhereafter.
But,inshort,theopinionofPlatoconcerningcriteria,mayfromthese
thingsbeassumed.Fordifferentpersonsadmittingadifferentcriterion,
Bsomeassertingthatitissense,astheProtagoreans,othersopinion,ashe
whosaid,
Opinionisinallthingsfram'd;
Xenophonfr.34,4d.
othersthatitisreason,andothersthatitisintellect;Platodividesthe
essenceofthecriteriaconformablytothingsthemselves,attributing
intellecttointelligibles,dianoiatodianoeticobjects,opiniontodoxastic
objects,andsensetosensibles.Youmustnothoweverfancythatthe
criteriaareonthisaccountdivulsedaccordingtohimfromeachother.
Forthesoulisbothoneandamultitude.If,therefore,thesoulwhich
1,255judgesisbothone*andamultitude,thejudicialpowerwillalsobeboth

uniformandmultiform.Someonethereforemaysay,whatisthisone
power?Wereply,reason.Forthis,whenitproceedstothesurveyof
intelligibles,usesbothitselfandintelligence;notthatintelligenceindeed
istheinstrument,andreasonthatwhichusesit,asthePlatonicSeverus
thought,consideringintelligenceasinferiortoreason,butthat
intelligenceisthelightofreason,perfectingandelevatingit,and
illuminatingitsgnosticpower.
Butwhenitformsajudgementofmiddlereasons,italoneusesdianoia
Canditself,andthroughthisisconvertedtoitself.Whenalsoitdecides
onobjectsofopinion,itmovesopinion;butinjudgingofobjectsof
tInsteadofTOaiuviovVOH)TOVovroqeonvinthisplace,itappearstomethatwe
shouldreadKaiTOouwvtovapavoyrovOVTUQeonv.cf.AristotleDeCoeloI,9,279a23
ff.
%Itisrequisiteheretosupplythewordtv.
imagination,itexcitesthephantasy,andinjudgingofsensibles,sense.
Forwhenitconsidersthesensibleessenceofforms,suchasisevery
sensibleobject,itusesopinionasthecoadjutorofitsspeculation.For
inthisthereasonsofsensiblessubsist.Butwhenitdirectsitsattention
tothepositionorfigureofacertainthing,asforinstance,tothemanner
inwhichtheearthisposited,whichhasinitssummitahabitudetothe
heavens,itthenexcitesthephantasy,inorderthatitmaysurveythe
objectofitsinquiryaccompaniedwithintervalandmorphe,asitis.
Andwhenitconsidersaneclipse,itemployssenseasanadjutorinits
observations.Atonetimealso,itadmitsthejudgementsofthesecond
powers;butatanother,itblamestheerrorswhichtheyfrequently
happentocommitonaccountoftheinstruments.Concerningthe
criteriatherefore,thusmuchmaysufficeforthepresent;forwehave
discussedthesethingsmorecopiouslyinourCommentariesonthe
Theatetus.Fromwhathasbeensaid,however,thegreataccuracyofthe
beforementioneddefinitionsisevident.
Butifyouarewilling,wewillalsosurveythesamethingaccordingto
anothermethod.Isay,therefore,thatthenaturewhichisprimarily
Dperpetualbeing,isthatwhichiseternalaccordingtoallthings,viz.
1,256accordingtoessence,power,andenergy.Andthatthenaturewhichis
simplygenerated,isthatwhichreceivesall*itsessence,powerand
energyintime.Foritisnecessarythattheformershouldbewholly
eternal,butthelatterwhollytemporal.Andthattheformershouldbe
atonceeverythinginaselfsubsistentmanner,butthatthelattershould
haveitshypostasissuspendedelsewherethanfromitself,andconsisting
inanextension*ofexistence.Sincethese,however,aretheextremes,
themediaare,thingswhichinacertainrespectparticipateofaportion
ofbeing,andinacertainrespectcommunicatewithgeneration.But

again,therearetwonatureswhichparticipateofneitherofthese,onein
consequenceofbeingsuperior,buttheotherthroughbeinginferiorto
them.Formatterisneitherbeing,northatwhichisgenerated.Forit
isneithercomprehendedbyintelligence,norissensible.Andthisalso
istrueofTheOne,asParmenidesdemonstratesofboththese,ofthe
latterinthefirst,andoftheformerinthefifthhypothesis.5Perpetual
being,therefore,isthewholeoftheintelligible,andthewholeofthe
tForxuouvhere,readnaoav.
TForwapaoraotihere,readTraparaoti.
cf.Parmenides187bff;7141aff.;seealsoProd.Comm.Parmen.1032ff,&1219
intellectualgenus,everysupermundaneintellect,everyintellect
participatedbydivinesouls,andeveryintellectwhichiscalledpartial,
andisparticipatedbyangels,anddaemons;andbypartialsouls,through
angelsanddaemonsasmedia.Andasfarastothis,perpetualbeing
Eextends.Foreveryintellectenergizeseternally,andismeasuredinthe
wholeofitselfbyeternity.Butthatwhichisgenerated,iseverything
whichismovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,andwhichin
conceptionissurveyedpriortotheproductionoftheworld;likewise
everythingwhichisproperlygeneratedandcorrupted,heaven,andall
thesesensibleandvisiblenatures.Timaeusalsodefinesthatwhichis
simplygenerated,andthatwhichissimplyperpetualbeing,tobethese.
Buttheintermediatenaturesarethosewhichcommunicatewithboth
these;andoneachsideofthemarethenatureswhichparticipateof
neitherofthese.HenceTimaeusproposesbothofthemaffirmatively
andnegatively,asforinstance,perpetualbeing,andwithoutgeneration,
andagain,thatwhichisgenerated,andisneverrealbeing,inorderthat
throughtheaffirmationshemayseparatethemfromthingswhichare
therecipientsofneither,butthatthroughthenegationstheymaybe
distinguishedfromthingswhichinacertainrespectparticipateofboth.
Asthese,therefore,aretheextremes,viz.everyintelligibleand
intellectualessence,andeverysensibleessence,letusdirectourattention
totheintermediatenature.ForTimaeuscallsbothtimeandthesoul
1,257generated.*Anditisevidentthatthese,asnotbeingsensible,areina
Fcertainrespectbeings,andinacertainrespectgenerated,butperfectly
neitherofthese.Porphyry,therefore,rightlyobserves,thatPlatonow
definestheextremes,viz.thatwhichisprimarilybeing,andthatwhich
isalonegenerated,andthatheomitsthemedia;suchforinstanceas,that
whichisatoneandthesametimebeingandageneratednature,orthat
whichisbothgeneratedandbeing;ofwhichbeingandgeneratedare
adaptedtothenatureofsouls,butviceversathatwhichisgeneratedand
being,arealliedtothesummitofgeneratednatures.Suchasthis,
however,isthenatureoftheuniversewhichvivifiestheuniverse.For
thisnaturesofarasitisdivisibleaboutbodies,isgenerated,butsofar
79Aasitisentirelyincorporeal,isunbegotten.Butitisabsurdtosaythat

matterisbothgeneratedandbeing.Forthusitwouldbesuperiorto
generatedsensiblenatures,sincethesearegeneratedalone,butmatter
wouldalsoparticipateofbeing.Andifyouarewillingseparatelyto
assumethatwhichisaloneperpetualbeing,andthatwhichisalone
generated,bytakingawayfromoneofthedefinitionsintellect,andfrom
t34b39e.
theothersense;youwillproducethedefinitionofthemedium.Forthis
isknownbyreasonandopinion.Forreasonknowsbothitselfand
pinion,andopinionknowsitselfandreason;theformerindeedboth
inconjunctionwithcause;butthelatterboth,withoutcause.Forin
thisreasonandopiniondifferfromeachother.Opinionalsoisknown
byreason,andreasonbyopinion.Andthewhole[rational]soulsubsists
throughboththesewhicharemedia.Thustoo,byassumingtheworse
ofthetwoupwardterms,viz.reason,andmakingittobespurious
reason,andofthetwodownwardtermssense,andmakingittobe
insensiblesense,youwillthenhavethemannerinwhichPlato
Bthoughtmattermaybeknown,viz.byspuriousreason,andinsensible
sense.Assuminglikewiseanalogouslyineach,thatwhichisthebetter
ofthetwo,andmakingittobespuriousaccordingtothatwhichis
moreexcellent,youwillhavethemannerinwhichTheOneisknown,
viz.byaspuriousintellect,andspuriousopinion.Henceitisnot
properlysimple,andisnotknownfromcause.Itisknowntherefore
1.258byaspuriousknowledge,becauseitisknowninasuperiormanner
accordingtoeach.Foropiniondoesnotknowfromcause,andTheOne
isnotknownfromcause,butfromnothavingacause.Andintellect
knowsthatwhichissimple;butaspuriousintellectknowsTheOne,
becauseitissuperiortointellectualperception.Thesuperiortherefore,
here,isspuriousaswithreferencetointellect,asTheOne*alsoismore
excellentthanthatwhichissimple,suchasthatiswhichisintelligible
totrulyexistingintellect,andtowhichintellectisalliedandisnot
spurious.Itperceivestherefore,TheOne,bythatinitselfwhichisnot
intellect.ButthisisTheOneinit,accordingtowhichalsoitisaGod.
28a"Everythinghowever,whichisgenerated,isfromnecessitygenerated
byacertaincause.Foritisperfectlyimpossiblethatitshouldhave
generationwithoutacause."
Timaeus,inamannertrulyconformabletothegeometricmethod,after
thedefinitionsassumestheseaxioms.Forhavingsaidwhatbeingand
whatthatwhichisgeneratedare,headdstheseothercommon
conceptions;thatthethingwhichisgenerated,isentirelygeneratedby
acause;butthatthethingwhichisnotgeneratedbyacause,cannot
Chavegeneration.Fromtheseaxiomsalsoitisevidentthatdiaireton,
doesnotsignifythedividingmethod,butthatthehypothesesaretobe

defined.Fortheassertionthateverythingwhichisgenerated,is
JJ,^eKHV0Sbere,itisnecessarytoreadeKtivo.ForProclusisspeakingofthetoen.
necessarilygeneratedbyacertaincause,andthatitisimpossibleforit
tohavegenerationwithoutacause,andalsothefollowingaxiom,that
whatisgeneratedaccordingtoaneternalparadigmisrenderedbeautiful,
allthesebeingaxioms,aretobeconsideredasbelongingtotheterm
dioristeon,andnottobepartsofdivision.Sincehoweveroneofthe
presentaxiomsismoreclear,buttheotherislessknownandclear,
henceTimaeusplacestheoneasthemiddleterm,buttheotherasthe
conclusion.Fortheaxiom,everythingwhichisgenerated,isnecessarily
generatedbyacertaincause,istheconclusion.Buttheaxiom,itis
entirelyimpossiblethatitshouldhavegenerationwithoutacause,isthe
middle,inorderthatthesyllogismmaybecategoric,andmaybeinthe
firstfigure,asfollows:Itisimpossibleforthatwhichisgeneratedtobe
generatedwithoutacause.Butthisisnecessarilygeneratedbyacertain
1,259cause.Everythingthereforewhichisgenerated,isfromnecessity
generatedbyacertaincause.Foritisbettertocollectwhatissaidafter
thismanner,asthedivineIamblichusalsothinksweought,thanto
Dmake,assomeotherpersonsdo,thesyllogismtobehypothetical.But
howisthemiddlemoreknownthantheconclusion?Foritisevident
thatathingmustnecessarilybe,whichitisimpossibleshouldnotbe,
andthatitisimpossibleathingshouldnotbe,whichnecessarilyis.*
Orinacertainrespecteachoftheseisthesame.Butfrequentlyitisnot
knownthatathingnecessarilyis,butthatitisimpossibleforitnotto
be,isknown.Thusforinstance,thephysiciansays[tohispatient]itis
necessaryyoushouldbenourished,andhewillinalessdegreepersuade
thesickman.Butifhesays,itisimpossibletofivewithoutbeing
nourished,thiswillnowcompelthepatient[totakenutriment].And
again,deathisnecessarythroughacertaincause:foritisimpossiblenot
todie[i.e.toavoiddeath].And,itisnecessarytogivemoneythatis
owingtoatyrant:foritisimpossiblenottogiveit.Andinagreat
varietyofotherinstances,youmayinasimilarmannersee,thatoneof
theseismoreobscure,buttheothermoreknown,thoughbothmay
appeartosignifythesamething.
How,therefore,inthewordsbeforeus,istheoneclearerthanthe
other?Forwhatifinsomethingsthisshouldbetrue,butinothersnot?
Maywenotsay,thatherealsoitiseasytolearnhowthatwhichis
generated,whenitisseparatedfromitscause,ispowerlessandimbecile?
Fornotbeingabletopreserveitself,neitherisitconnectedbyitself.
EButasitderivesfromitscausealoneitspreservationandconnexion,if
itisseparatedfromitscause,itisevidentthatitbecomesofitself
tcf.AristotleDeInterpretationXIII,22al4ff.

powerless,andbeingdissipated,departsintononentity,whichalso
demonstratesthatwhatisgenerated,cannotbegeneratedwithouta
cause.Forifitisgenerated,itisgeneratedbyacertainmaker.Hence
itisrightlysaidinthePhilebus,}thatwhatisgeneratedismade,butthat
whichmakesisthecausetothatwhichismade*[ofitsbeingmade].If,
however,thisbethecase,itiseithergeneratedbyitself,orbyanother.
Butifbyitself,itpassesintothesamewithperpetualbeing;andthus
thatwhichisgenerated,andthatwhichalwaysis,willbethesame,and
1.260ageneratednaturewillrankamongthingsthathaveaneternal
subsistence.Butifitisnotgeneratedbyitself,itisentirelygeneratedby
another.Foritisnecessarythatwhatisgenerated,shouldbegenerated
bysomething,ifitisthatwhichisgenerated,andnot[real]being.For
notconnectingitself,normakingitselfinenergy,itwillsufferthisfrom
somethingelse.Andbeingitselfbyitselfimbecile,itwillderivepower
fromanother.Fartherstill,thoughthesamethingshouldbothactand
suffer,sofarindeedasitisthatwhichsuffers,itsuffersfromanother,
Fandsofarasitisgeneratedsuffers.Butifitsuffers,itsuffersfrom
somethingelse:foritisnotnaturallyadaptedtogenerateitself.Forit
wouldbebeforeitisgenerated,andwouldbeinenergypriorto
subsistingincapacity.Foritisnecessarythatwhatoperatesshould
operateinenergyonthatwhichisincapacity.Plato,therefore,
conjoiningthatwhichisgeneratedtocause,whichhedoesinthe
conclusion,veryproperlyusesthetermfromnecessity.Forfirmnessand
stabilityaccompaniedbypersuasionaccedetothatwhichisgenerated,
fromitscause:justashesaysinthePoliticus,}thatarenovated
80Aimmoralityisimpartedtotheworldfromitsfather.Butseparatingthat
whichisgeneratedfromitscause,whichhedoesinthemiddle,heuses
thetermimpossible.Forthatwhichisgenerated,surveyedbyitself,is
inefficaciousandimperfect.
Moreover,inemployingthewordcause,heindicatestheuniform
powerofthedemiurgicprinciple;callingthedemiurgiccause,notsimply
thatwhichgivessubsistencetoanotherthing;forSocratessaysthatThe
Goodisthecauseofintelligibles,butitisnotthedemiurgiccausecf
them.0ForthedemiurgicisattributedtogenerationasPlatosaysin
tPhilebus26e27a.
tForTWyvyvofiivtohere,itisrequisitetoreadTUiroiovnevu.
Politicus270a.
DRep.VI,509b.
thePhilebus,}"thatthedemiurgicreferstothatwhichisgenerated."
Hence,priortotheworld,therearedifferentcausesofdifferentthings,
buttherearenotdemiurgiccausesofgeneratednatures.If,therefore,
therearemanydemiurgiccauses,thereisalsoonesuchcause[priorto

themany].Forinshort,ifthatwhichisgeneratedisone,unionmust
accedetoitfromitscause,andthereforeitismuchmorenecessarythat
itscauseshouldbeuniformandconnectiveofmultitude,inorderthat
whatisgeneratedmaybecomeoneconformablytotheunionpreexisting
initscause.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
1,261Itishere,however,usualtoenumerateallthecauses,andthe
BdifferencesofcausesaccordingtoAristotle;*noristhisdone
immethodically.Foritisrequisitetosaythateverycauseiseither
essentialoraccidental,[andthisproximatelyorremotely,]andthatthese
subsistinatwofoldrespect,eithersimpleorcomplex.Allthese,
likewise,haveatwofoldsubsistence;astheyareeitherincapacity,orin
energy.Forthusthemultitudeofthemmaybesurveyed.Foron
accountoftheessentialandaccidental,therearetwomodesofthe
explicationofcauses.Butonaccountofthesebeingattributedina
twofoldrespect,eitherproximatelyorremotely,therearefourmodes.
Andagain,onaccountofallthesesubsistinginatwofoldrespect,either
assimpleorcomplicatedwitheachother,thereareeightmodes.
Throughthesealsobeingtwofold,eitherinenergy,orincapacity,there
aresixteenmodes.Butonaccountofcausesbeingpredicatedina
fourfoldrespectaccordingtoAristotle,butaccordingtoPlato,causes
subsistinginathreefold,5andconcausesalso,thoughinadifferentway,
inathreefoldrespect,henceaccordingtotheformer,therewillbe
sixtyfourmodesofcauses;[butaccordingtothelattertherewillbe
fortyeightmodesofcauses,]andthesamenumberofconcauses.For
Cthustheassumptionwillbecomeperfectlymethodical;thoughthatof
Platoisusuallyomittedbytheinterpreters,whohaveenumeratedcauses
accordingtoAristotle,enquirehowitissaidthateverythingwhichis
generated,isgeneratedbyacertaincause.We,however,omittingall
thissuperfluousdiscussion,saythatTimaeusisherespeakingaboutthe
effectivecause.Henceheusesthewords,byacertaincause.Forthe
termbywhich,isadaptedtothatwhichiseffective.Butheaddsa
tPhilebus27ab.
%AristotlePhysicsII.
Thesecausesare,theproducing,theparadigmatic,andthefinal;andtheconcauses
are,matter,materialcauses,andform.
certaincause.Fortheintellectoftheuniverse,soulandnature,aresaid
tobeproducingcauses,andpriortothese,othercauseshavethisdignity,
yetasmanythingsaregenerated,andtherearemanycauses,thoughnot
ofeachparticular,thewordcertainisveryproperlyadded.Foreach
1,262particularisgeneratedbyacertaincause,andnotbyallcauses.These
thingsthereforearemanifest.
Thisaxiom,however,isentirelyderidedbytheEpicureans,*who
makethewholeworld,andthemostdivineofvisiblenaturestobethe

workofchance.ButbytheAristotelians,forthenamealoneitis
thoughtworthyofreverence.*Fortheysayindeed,thatwhatis
generated,isentirelygeneratedbyacertaincause,buttheyundesignedly
makethecausetobecauseless,whentheyenumeratechancewithcauses.
DForchanceisthisverything,thecauseless.ButPlatoalone,following
thePythagoreans,rightlysaysthateverythingwhichisgenerated,is
generatedbyacause,andplacesovergeneratednatures,FateandGod5
Forthoughgeneratednaturesaremany,andseparatedfromeachother,
andwhichalsoonthisaccountaregeneratedfrommanycauses,
producinginadifferentmanner,yetthereisonecausecollectiveand
connectiveofthemakers,inorderthattheremaybenothinginvain,
andadventitiousintheuniverse.Foritisnotproperthatbeingsshould
begovernedbadly.DLetthere,however,beoneruler,onecauseofall
things,oneprovidence,andonechainofbeings;lettherebealso
togetherwiththemonadanappropriatemultitude,manykings,various
causes,amultiformprovidence,andadifferentorder;yeteverywhere
multitudehasacoarrangementaboutthemonad,thingsvariousabout
thatwhichissimple,thingsmultiformaboutthatwhichisuniform,and
thingsdifferentaboutthatwhichiscommon,inorderthatatruly
goldenchainmayhavedominionoverallthings,andthatallthingsmap
beconstitutedinabecomingmanner.Forif,asAristotlesays,allthings
Earecoarrangedwithaviewtoform,itisnecessarythatthereshouldbe
acauseofthecoordination,andthatnothingwhichisinvainshould
haveaplaceintheuniverse,butthatwhatappearstobeinvaintoa
part,shouldbeadvantageoustothewhole.Theseobservations,
however,havebeenmadeelsewhere.
tFr.257vs.
tAristotlePhysicsII,4,196a33.
Scf.LawsX,904c.
CThesearethewordsofAristotle,inhisMetaphysics[XII,10,1076af.]
ButwhatissaidinthePhilebus*appearstobemoreuniversalthanthis
1.263axiom,viz.thateverythingwhichismixed,subsistsfromacertaincause
ofthemixture.Forifthingswhicharemingled,arenottobemingled
casually,itisnecessarythereshouldbeonecausecollectiveofthe
separatednatures,andimpartinguniontothemingledform.Thiscause,
however,isinonemixtureGod,inanotherintellect,inanothersoul,in
anothernature,andinanotheracertainart,imitatingnature.Indeed,
everythingwhichisgenerated,ismingled,butnoteverythingwhich
ismingledisgenerated.Forthefirstofbeings,boundandinfinity,
subsistmingledwitheachother.Fromthese,therefore,Platosaysother
things,andalsobodiesderivetheirsubsistence.*Allthatissaidhere
therefore,isanalogoustoallthatissaidinthePhilebus,viz.the
DemiurgustoTheOne,formtobound,mattertotheinfinite,andthat
whichisgeneratedtothatwhichismixed.Butthelatteraremore

universalthantheformer;becausethelatter[viz.TheOne,bound,the
infinite,andthatwhichismixed,]arebeheldinallthings,butthe
former[viz.theDemiurgus,form,matter,andthatwhichisgenerated]
Fareseeninmundanenaturesonly.Forintellectismixed,asbeing
knowledge,andaspossessinginfinitepower,andalsosoul,asbeingat
oneandthesametimeimpartibleandpartible.Hence,acertaincause,
isthecauseofthatwhichisgenerated,justasthatwhichisgeneratedis
acertainmixture,andnoteverymixture;bywhichalsoitisevidentthat
theDemiurgusissubordinatetoTheOne,sinceheproducesindeeda
mixture,butamixturewhichisgenerated.Forsincethecausesofthe
worldarethese,thefinal,theparadigmatic,theeffective,theorganic,5
theformal,andthematerial,Timaeusindeedpointsouttousafterwards,
fromreasonanddemonstration,thefinalcause,butdeliverstheorganic,
81Atheformal,andthematerialcause,fromthebeforementionedaxioms.
Foriftheuniverseisnot[real]being,butthatwhichisgenerated,itis
aformparticipatedbymatter,andbytheorganic,formal,andmaterial
causesisproximatelymoved.ButTimaeusunfoldstoustheeffective
causefromwhatisnowsaid.Foriftheuniverseisgenerated,thereis
aneffectivecauseofit.Andheunfoldstheparadigmaticcauseinwhat
1.264willbesaidafterwards.Foriftheworldisbeautifulitwasgenerated
accordingtoaneternalparadigm.Sothatthroughtheseaxioms
tPhilebus23d;27b.
Philebus30ab.
Thereisanomissionhere,intheoriginal,ofTOopfaviKOV.
investigatingforusthecausesoftheuniverse,hedeliversallthingsin
order.Andthehypothesesaffordhimthisutility.
28ab"Whentherefore,anartificerlookingtothatwhichpossessesan
invariablesamenessofsubsistence,andalwaysemploying*acertain
paradigm*ofthiskind,expressesinhisworktheideaandpowerofit,
thenitisnecessarythatthewholeshouldbeabeautifuleffect;butwhen
helookstothatwhichisgenerated,employingageneratedparadigm,
thenhisworkwillnotbebeautiful."
Thisalsoisincontinuitywithwhathasbeensaid.Forthe
paradigmaticisinvestigatedaftertheeffectivecause;exceptthatthe
Bbeforementionedaxiomscontributetoourdiscoveringthatthereisa
demiurgiccauseoftheuniverse,butthepresentaxiomsdonot
contributetothediscoverythatthereisaparadigmaticcauseofthe
world,buttotheknowledgeofwhatkindofaparadigmitis,whether
eternalorgenerated.Forfromtherebeinganeffectivecause,itfollows
thatthereisalsoaparadigm,eitherpreexistinginthemakerhimself,or
externaltohim,andeithersuperior,orinferiorto,orofthesamerank
withhim.Foruniversally,thatwhichmakes,beingextendedtoa

certainform,makesthatwhichiswishestoinsertinthethingmade.
Thisthereforefollows.Itisnecessaryhowevertofindthatwhichis
nextinorder,viz.whetherthemundaneparadigmiseternal,or
generated.Buttothistheproposedaxiomscontribute:andthewhole
ofwhatissaid,willbetrulyconsentaneoustoitself.Iftheuniverseis
generated,thereisaDemiurgusofit;ifthereisaDemiurgusofthe
universe,thereisalsoaparadigm.Andifindeedthatwhichisgenerated
isbeautiful,itwasgeneratedonaccountofaneternalparadigm.Butif
itwasnot,thatwhichisgeneratedisnotbeautiful.Sothatacontinued
1.265syllogismsuchasthefollowingisproduced.Theworldwasgenerated.
CEverythinggenerated,hasademiurgiccause.Everythinghavinga
demiurgic,hasalsoaparadigmaticcause.Theworld,therefore,hasboth
ademiurgicandparadigmaticcause.Andasinthefirstaxiomsthere
weretwohypotheses,whatperpetualbeingis,andwhatthatiswhich
|sgenerated,andtwootherinthesecondaxioms,viz.everythingwhich
isgeneratedhasacause,thatwhichhasnotacause,isnotgenerated;
thusalsointhese,therearetwocommonconceptions,thatwhichis
tForirpooxoiievoc,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirpooxpunevoc;.
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,109,28ff.
generatedonaccountofanintelligibleparadigmisbeautiful,thatwhich
isgeneratedonaccountofageneratedparadigmisnotbeautiful.
Eachalsooftheseisperfectlytrue.Forhewhomakesonaccountof
theintelligible,eithersimilarly,ordissimilarly,imitatesit.Andif
indeedsimilarly,hemakestheimitationbeautiful:forthere,thatwhich
isprimarilybeautiful,subsists.Butifdissimilarly,hedoesnotmakeon
accountoftheintelligible:foronthecontrary,hefallsofffrom
similitude.Andhewhomakesanythingonaccountofthatwhichis
generated,ifhetrulydirectshisattentiontoit,evidentlydoesnotmake
thatwhichisbeautiful.Forthisverythingisfullofdissimilitude,and
isnotthatwhichisprimarilybeautiful;whencethatwhichisgenerated
onaccountofit,ismuchmoreseparatedfrombeauty.HencePhidias
also,whomadethe[celebrated]statueofJupiter,*wouldnothave
DarrivedattheconceptionoftheJupiterinHomer,ifhehadlookedat
ageneratedresemblanceoftheGod.Andifhehadbeenabletoextend
himselftotheintellectualJupiter,itisevidentthathewouldhave
renderedhisworkstillmorebeautiful.Forfromtheparadigmindeed,
beautyorthewantofbeautyaccedestotheimage;butfromthemaker,
similitudeordissimilitudetothearchetypeisderived.Withreference
tobothhowever,theimageissaidtobetheimageoftheparadigm,but
theworkaneffectofthemaker.OnthisaccountalsoTimaeus,when
hespeaksoftheparadigm,conjoinswithititsimage:forhesays,*"Thus
thereforewemustspeakconcerningtheparadigmanditsimage."Butwhen
hespeaksoftheDemiurgus,heconjoinswithhimhiswork:forhethen

says,5"OfwhomIamtheDemiurgusandfatherofworks."
Sincehoweverparadigmsaretriple;forthereiseitheraneternal
1,266paradigmofaneternalthing,oraneternalparadigmofagenerated
thing,orageneratedparadigmofageneratedthing;hencewhenthere
isaneternalparadigmofaneternalthing,thatwhichisentirelyeternal
istheparadigmofthatwhichissoinacertainrespect,asintellectof
soul.Butwhenthereisaneternalparadigmofageneratednature,this
paradigmalsoisinacertainrespecteternal,i.e.accordingtoinfinite
time.Andwhenthereisanentirelygeneratedparadigmofagenerated
Enature,thisfallsofffrometernity.Foritisnotpossiblethatwhatis
essentiallygenerated,shouldbeproductiveofeternalnatures.The
former,therefore,participatefromtheirparadigmsofbeautyandorder,
fcf.PlotinusEnneadV,8,1.
*29b.
41a.
asbeingimitationsofastablenature;butthelatter,asderivingtheir
subsistencefromthingsmutableandinmotion,arenotbeautiful,and
yetarenotentirelydeformed,butarealonemanifestedthroughthe
negationofbeauty.Suchthings,therefore,asarethebeautifulprogeny
ofart,arenotbeautifulwhencomparedwiththebeautywhichaccedes
fromaneternalparadigmtosensibleparadigms.*Andperhapsonthis
accountalso,Timaeusdoesnotsaythatwhatderivesitssubsistence
accordingtoageneratedparadigm,isentirelydeformed,butonlythat
itisnotbeautiful.Forthatwhichisconstitutedaccordingtoartificial
reason,doesnotsubsistconformablytoaneternalform,sincethereare
notinintellectparadigmsofthingsartificial.Hence,theyarenot
simplybeautiful,noryetaretheydeformed,becauseinshort,they
derivetheirsubsistenceaccordingtoreason,[orthatproductiveprinciple
whichisinthemind,oftheartist.]Thattheseaxiomsthereforeare
true,wemaythroughtheseobservationsbereminded.
Somehoweverdoubt,howPlatoassumesasathingacknowledged,that
FthereisaDemiurgusoftheuniversewholookstoaparadigm:forthere
isnotaDemiurgusofitsaytheywhodirectshisattentiontothatwhich
isinvariablythesame.Andmanyoftheancientsindeedarethepatrons
ofthisassertion;amongwhomaretheEpicureans,*whoentirelydeny
theexistenceofthatwhichisperfectlyeternal.TheStoicsadmitthat
thereisaDemiurgus,5butassertthatheisinseparablefrommatter.
AndthePeripateticsgrantindeed,thatthereissomethingwhichis
separatefrommatter,yetdonotallowthatitisaproducing,butthat
1,267itisafinalcause.0Hencetheyalsotakeawayparadigms,andplace
overthewholeofthingsanintellectvoidofmultitude.Platohowever
andthePythagoreanscelebrateaseparateandexemptDemiurgusofthe
82Auniverse,aproducingcauseofallthings,andaprovidencethatis

attentivetothewelfareofwholes;0andthiswiththegreatest
propriety;foriftheworld,asAristotlesays,aspiresafterintellect,and
ismovedtowardsit,whencedoesitderivethisdesire?Forsincethe
worldisnotthefirstofthings,itisnecessarythatitshouldpossessth;s
tendency,fromacausewhichexcitesittodesire.Forhealsosaysthat
tForovopctaihere,itseemsnecessarytoread,TCtpuSayiiaoi.
%Fr.257,vs.
Fr.307,v.Arn.
AristotleDeAnimaIII,5,430al7ff.;alsoProcl.Comm.Parmen.842,30ff.
0cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.788,12ff.
theappetibleismotiveofthatwhichisappetitive.*Butifthisistrue,
andtheworldbyitsverybeingandaccordingtonatureisappetitiveof
intellect,itisevidentthatthewholeofitsexistenceisfromthence,
whencealsoitsbeingappetitiveisderived.Whencelikewiseisthe
world,sinceitisfinite,movedadinfinitum?Foreverybodypossesses,
ashesays,afinitepower.Whencethereforedoestheuniversederive
thisinfinitepower,sinceitisnotfromchance,asEpicurus*saysitis?
Inshort,ifintellectisthecauseofamotionwhichisinfinite,
uninterrupted,andone,thereissomethingwhichisproductiveofthe
eternal.Butifthisbethecase,whatshouldhindertheworldfrom
beingperpetual,andderivingitssubsistencefromapaternalcause;for
Basitreceivesaninfinitepowerofbeingmoved,fromtheappetible,
throughwhichitismovedadinfinitum,thusalsoitwillentirelyreceive
fromthenceaninfinitivepowerofexisting,throughtheproposition
whichsays,thatinafinitebodythereisnotatanytimeaninfinite
power.Eithertherefore,ithasnotapowerthroughwhichitis
connected,andhowisthispossible?Foreverythingpartible,has
somethingimpartiblewhichconnectsit,asAristotlehimselfsomewhere
says,andtheuniversealsoisananimal.*HethereforesaysthatGodis
aneternalanimal,buteveryanimalisconnectedbythelifewhichisin
it.Ortheuniversehas,indeed,apowerwhichconnectsit,butthis
1,268powerisfinite.This,however,isimpossible:forifitisfinite,itwill
fail.Oritpossessesaninfinitepower.Andagain,itwillnothavethis
fromitself.Somethingelse,therefore,impartstoitthepowerof
existing,andimpartsnotthewholeatonce.Foritisnotreceptiveof
thewholeatonetime.Henceitimpartsthispowerbyinflux,andthe
influxisperpetual,andalwaysasmuchastheworldisabletoreceive.
Sothattheworldisalwaysbecomingtobe,andneveris.
ButifintellectistheDemiurgusoftheworld,0whetherdoesitmake
thatwhichitmakes,byareasoningprocess,orbyitsverybeing?If
indeedbyconsulting,anabsurdityfollows.Fortherewillbeamutation
Caboutit,andthepassionsofapartialsoul.Itwillnotthereforeconsult.
Andifitshouldconsult,itmustentirelyantecedentlyassumeinitself
theworkaboutwhichitconsults;justaseveryonedoeswhoconsults

beforeheenergizes.Butifitmakesbyitsverybeing,itmakesthat
tcf.AristotleDeMoteAnim.VI,701al.
%Fr.257,vs.
AristotleDeAtom.968alff.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.786,20ff.
whichissimilartoitself.Andifitdoesthis,itwillcontainthe
paradigmsofthethingsthataregenerated.Andagain,wemust
investigate,whethertheseparadigmssubsistprimarilyinit,ornot,and
whenceitderivesthisparadigmaticcauseofwholes.Fartherstill,after
whatmannerdoweseeartificersthatarehereproduce?*Isitnotby
possessingthereasonsorproductiveprinciplesoftheireffects?This,
therefore,thedaemoniacalAristotlewillalsogrant.*Butifartimitates
nature,itisnecessarythatnature,muchpriortoart,shouldcontainthe
reasonsofthethingswhichshegenerates.Andifnaturethis,wemust
enquirewhencesheismoved,andwhencesheisperfected?Forsheis
irrational;andthusascending,wemustsaythatthecausesofallthings
areinintellect.InoppositiontoAristotle,indeed,muchhasbeensaid
bymany;butourbusiness,atpresent,istoexplorewhatPlatosays.
Inthefirstplace,therefore,letusinvestigatefromwhatcausehe
introducestogeneratednaturesthebeautifulandthenotbeautiful,from
Dtheparadigm,andnotfromtheproducingcause.Itmightthenhave
beensaid,thattherearetwofolddemiurgiccauses,viz.thegeneratedand
theintelligible,thelatterbeingeffectiveofbeautifulthings,butthe
formerofthingsthatarenotbeautiful.ButPlatodoesnotspeakafter
thismanner,butsaysthatintelligibleparadigmsaretheparadigmsof
beautifuleffects,butgeneratedparadigms,ofsuchasarenotbeautiful.
Itmayhoweverbesaid,thatwhatishereassertedcontributesto
1,269erudition,exhortingusnottorejectbeautifulactions.Forifhehadsaid
thatwhatisgenerated,isnoteffectiveofbeauty,perhapshemighthave
renderedusmoresluggishwithrespecttobeautifulactions.Butitwill
bebetterandmorephysical,ifwesaythatitispossibleforthesame
effectivecausetolooktotwofoldparadigms,andtomakeacertainthing
beautiful,andacertainthingnotbeautiful.Forsoullookingtointellect,
generatestruthandscience,butlookingtogeneration,sheprocreates
imaginations,andpassiveappetites.Butitisimpossibleforthesame
paradigmtobethecauseofbeautifulandnotbeautifuleffects.Very
properlythereforeitisasserted,thatfromthiscausebeautyand
deformityaccedetogeneratednatures.Astheparadigmhoweverofthis
universeisbeautiful,itisevidentthatitisintelligible,andalways
subsistsinvariablythesame;towhichalsotheDemiurguslooking,
adornstheuniverse.If,therefore,itisthesupplierofbeauty,ithasthe
highestorderamongeternalbeings,andbelongstothefirstintelligibles.

tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.793,31ff.
tcf.AristotlePhysicsII,194a21ff.
Hencethecauseeffectiveofbeautyisthere,throughwhichallthingsare
beautiful,intellect,soul,andthenatureofbody.Again,therefore,the
Demiurgus,indeed,isthecauseofform,buttheparadigmofbeauty,and
TheGoodofunion.Andthelastofthese,suppliesallthingsatonce,
buttheparadigmisthesupplierofbeautyandform,andthedemiurgic
cause,sofarasitisintellectual,offormandessence.
Moreover,thedemiurgiccauselookingtotheintelligibleismultiform.
ForthewholeDemiurgusfabricatesinoneway*lookingtoit.He,
therefore,isunitedtoitaccordingtosupremetranscendency.Butthe
demiurgictriadfabricatesinanotherway.Andofthistriadindeed,the
first[i.e.Jupiter]fabricatesuniformly;thesecond[i.e.Neptune]
generatively,andthelast[i.e.Pluto]convertively.Andinonewayin
theruling,inanotherintheliberatedandinanother,inthemundane
order.Butafterthistriad,wemustsurveyfabricationproceedingafter
FadifferentmannertothemanydemiurgicGods,whofromthesereceive
1,270andareallottedpaternalpowers.Afterthese,also,itproceedsinone
waytodemiurgicangels,butinanothertodemiurgicdaemons,the
attendantsofthisorder.Fartherstill,wemustlikewisesurveythe
undefiledformsoflife,whichcontributetothedemiurgicseries,andthe
generaofpartialsouls,whichfollowthedemiurgicchoir.Forthe
peculiarityandthemodeofproduction,andoflookingtothe
intelligible,extenddifferentlytodifferentnatures,asfarastothese.It
isalsonecessarytoadmirethisinPlato,thathedoesnotsaythatwhat
83Aisgeneratedonaccountof*aneternalparadigmisbeautiful,butthat
whatisgeneratedbytheDemiurguswholookstoit,ismostbeautiful;
sincethatwhichisconfusedanddisorderedisgenerated,foritisvisible
andsensible.Buteverythingofthiskindisandwasgenerated,ashe
saysfurtheron,}receivingfromtheintelligiblecertainvestigesofforms
priortofabrication,andisnotmostbeautiful,thoughitisinacertain
respectbeautiful,aswithreferencetotheformlessnatureofmatter.
Hencethatwhichisgeneratedonaccountofaneternalparadigm,such
forinstanceasthatdisorderlyandconfusednature,isnotsimply
beautiful,butthatwhichwasgeneratedbytheDemiurguslookingtoit.
ForfromthatconfusednaturetheDemiurguswasabsent;butthe
intelligiblepriortotheDemiurgus,illuminatedthatdisorderlyessence.
Sofar,however,asitwasgeneratedbytheDemiurgus,itwasalso
fForaXXahere,itisnecessarytoreado/XXwc.
XForirpoauovLovinthisplace,wemustreadirpocmuviov.
28b;31b.
generatedbytheeternalparadigm,energizingonitthroughthe

Demiurgusasamedium.Andsofarindeedasitwasgeneratedbythe
paradigm,itwasinvestedwithform,butsofarasbytheDemiurgus,it
wasarranged.FortheDemiurgusisthecauseoforder;buttheparadigm
issimplythecauseofformtoitsparticipants.
BFartherstill,fromtheparadigmitselfthedifferenceofdemiurgic
powersmaybeassumed.Forsomeofthesepowers,indeed,lookingto
thewholeofintelligibles,produceaccordingtothewholeofthem;but
othersproducepartially.Andsome,indeed,surveythewholeof
intelligiblesthroughunion;butothersthroughintelligence.Some,
again,donotproduceaccordingtothewholeoftheintelligible;but
somearedividedaccordingtothefourprimarycauses;othersproceed
1,271intoagreaternumber;andothersmakethelastformstheparadigmsof
theirproductions.Hencethroughthese,thereisoneshepherdofmen,
butanotherofhorses,asPlatosaysinthePoliticus,*andinasimilar
mannerinotherforms.Asthedemiurgicseriesthereforeisvarious,and
therearedifferentparadigmsofdifferentthings,someofwhicharemote
total,butothersmorepartial,Timaeusveryproperlydoesnotsay,that
hewhousesthisintelligibleparadigm,makesthatwhichisgeneratedto
bebeautiful,buthewhousesaparadigmofthiskind.Intheintelligible
paradigmstherefore,thepartisinacertainrespectthewhole,on
accountoftheunionofintelligibles;andthemultitudeismostsimilar
tothemonad,throughthedominationofsameness.Sincealsothe
wholeDemiurguslooksindeedtotheintelligibleandallperfectanimal,
Cbutemploystheparadigmwhichisinhimself,possessingintellectually
theintelligible;whichparadigmalsoissuchastheintelligiblethrough
similitudetoit,butisofamorepartialnature;henceTimaeusaddsthe
wordsacertaintoathingofthiskind.Fortheseintelligiblesparticipate
oftheeternalparadigm,andaremorepartialthanallperfectanimal.
Hence,too,hecallsidea,n,acertainthing,assimilatingthatwhichis
generatedtotheparadigm.Butfabricationimpartsessencesandpowers
tothethingsthataregenerated.Why,however,ofeternalbeingdoes
hesay"employingaparadigmofthiskind,"butofthatwhichis
generated,henolongeraddstheexpression"ofthiskind,"butinsteadof
this,adducesthetermgenerated?Isitnotbecausetheintelligiblehas
somethingsimilartoitself,ashavingthehighestrank,butthatwhichis
generatedbeingthelastofthings,hasnothingelsesimilartoitself?For
thatwhichisproducedonaccountofit,isgenerated,andtothisthe
dissimilarisappropriate;buttotheintelligible,thesimilar,thesame,and
tPoliticus267d.
everythingofthiskind,isallied.Andthusmuchconcerningthese
particulars.Butthetermalwaysmustbeconjoinedtoasubsistence
accordingtosameness,inorderthattheremaybethatwhichlooksto
anaturealwayspossessingasamenessofsubsistence.Forthusthe

philosopherPorphyryproperlydecides.ForTimaeusdoesnotsaythat
theDemiurgusinfabricatingallthings,alwaysbeholds,asAtticus
Dthought,butthattheintelligiblealwayssubsistsafterthesamemanner.
1,272Unlessitshouldbesaid,thatonthisaccountheassumesthebeholding
always,lestbyseeingatonetime,butatanothernot,heshouldlatently
introduceintohisproduction,thatwhichisnotbeautiful.The
Demiurgus,therefore,lookstothatwhichiseternal,inorderthathe
mayproducethatwhichissimilartoit,andbeautiful.
28b"Letthereforethisuniversebedenominatedbyus,allheaven,orthe
world,orwhateverotherappellationitmaybeespeciallyadaptedto
receive."
Thisisthelastoftheaxioms,givinganametothesubject[of
discussion]conformablytogeometricians,whentheyspeakaboutthe
gnomoninparallelograms.Fortheysayanyonethingconsistingoftwo
complementsistobecalledagnomon.*Forsince*Platointendstocall
thesamethingbothheavenandtheworld,inorderthatyoumaynot
thinkhedisturbsthedoctrine,byemployingatdifferenttimesdifferent
names,hepreviouslydeterminessomethingaboutthenames.Forit
mustbeobservedthatthesenameshadgreatambiguitywiththe
ancients;someofthemcallingthesublunaryregionalonetheworld,but
Etheregionaboveit,heaven;butothersdenominatingheavenapartof
theworld.Andsomedefinedittoextendasfarastothemoon;but
otherscalledthesummitsofgenerationheaven:
Thewidespreadheav'ninaetherandtheclouds
FelltothelotofJove.
Iliadxv,192.
HencePlatoveryproperlydeterminesconcerningthesenames,priorto
thewholetheory,callingtheuniverseheavenandtheworld,andsaying
1,273allheaven,thatyoumaynotfancyhesays,adivinebodyaloneis
denominatedbyustheworld,orbywhateverothernameitmayrejoiceto
becalled.Anditseems,indeed,thathecallstheuniverseheaven,
fEuclidElementsofGeometry,element2,def.2.
%For7Tiyaphere,readeiretyap.
conformablytotheopinionofallmen,buttheworld,accordingtohis
ownopinion.Forhesays,letitbecalledbyusheavenandtheworld.
Forthenameofworldisadaptedtoitasacertainfabrication;*though
itisalsopossibletocallitbothheavenandtheworld:heaven,indeed,
asbeholdingthethingsabove,assurveyingtheintelligible,andas
participatingofanintellectualessence;buttheworld,asbeingfilledand
adornedbytrulyexistingbeings.Itmayalsobecalledheaven,asbeing

converted[toitsprinciple],buttheworldasproceedingfromit.Forit
isgeneratedby,andisconvertedtorealbeing.Butasofstatues
establishedbythetelesticart,somethingspertainingtothemare
Fmanifest,*butothersareinwardlyconcealed,beingsymbolical5ofthe
presenceoftheGods,andwhichareonlyknowntothemysticartists
themselves;0afterthesamemanner,theworldbeingastatueofthe
intelligible,0andperfectedbythefather,hasindeedsomethingswhich
arevisibleindicationsofitsdivinity;butothers,whicharetheinvisible
impressionsoftheparticipationofbeing**receivedbyitfromthe
fatherwhogaveitperfection,inorderthat**throughtheseitmaybe
eternallyrootedinrealbeing.Heaven,indeed,andtheworld,arenames
significantofthepowersintheuniverse;thelattersofarasitproceeds
84Afromtheintelligible,buttheformersofarasitisconvertedtoit.
Itishowevernecessarytoknowthatthedivinenameofitsabiding
power,andwhichisasymboloftheimpressionoftheDemiurgus,
accordingtowhichitdoesnotproceedoutofbeing,isineffableand
arcane,andknownonlytotheGodsthemselves.Fortherearenames
adaptedtoeveryorderofthings;thoseindeedthatareadaptedtodivine
naturesbeingdivine,totheobjectsofdianoia,beingdianoetic,andto
tcf.Cratylus396c.
$Foratbavrihere,itisnecessarytoreadtiupavi].
InsteadofOD^jSoXocTjcTUV6euvicapovoiac,,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,
W^OXIKCKrrjcTUVdeuvitapovaiaq.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,246,19ff;&Procl.Comm.Parmen.847,26ff.
37c.
ttInsteadofTTJCTOVOVTUI;JI70XJ1Cinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadrnc
WOWoejWTOXJJC.
,^^tnewordsiva5iavruvtppi$Ltp.evoc,gdiaujviugevTLOovn,itisobvious
atMfloughttobeexpunged.

theobjectsofopinion,doxastic.ThisalsoPlatosaysintheCratylus,}
whereheembraceswhatisassertedbyHomeronthissubject,who
admitsthatnamesofthesamethingswiththeGods,aredifferentfrom
thosethatsubsistintheopinionsofmen,
1,274XanthusbyGods,bymenScamandercall'd.
Iliadxx,74.
And,
WhichtheGodsChalcis,menCymindiscall.*
Iliadxiv,291.
Andinasimilarmannerinmanyothernames.Forastheknowledge
oftheGodsisdifferentfromthatofpartialsouls,thusalsothenames
oftheonearedifferentfromthoseoftheother;sincedivinenames

unfoldthewholeessenceofthethingsnamed,butthoseofmenonly
partiallycomeintocontactwiththem.Platothereforeknowingthat
Bthispreexistsintheworld,omitsthedivineandineffablenameitself,
whichisdifferentfromtheapparentname,andwiththegreatestcaution
introducesitasasymbolofthedivineimpressionwhichtheworld
contains.Forthewords,"orwhateverotherappellation,"and"itmay
receive,"arealatenthymnofthemundanename,asineffable,and
allottedadivineessence;inorderthatitmaybecoordinatetowhatis
signifiedbyit.Hence,also,divinemundanenamesaredeliveredby
Theurgists;someofwhicharecalledbythemineffable,butothers
effable;andsomebeingsignificantoftheinvisiblepowersintheworld,
butothersofthevisibleelementsfromwhichitderivesitscompletion.
Throughthesethings,therefore,ashypotheses,themundaneform,the
demiurgiccauseandparadigm,andtheapparentandunapparentname
oftheworld,aredelivered.Andtheformernameindeedisduadic,but
thelattermonadic.Forthewords"whateverother"aresignificantof
oneness.Youmayalsoconsidertheineffablenameoftheuniverse,[as
significant5]ofitsabidinginthefather;butthenameworld,as
indicativeofitsprogression;andheaven,ofitsconversion.Butthrough
thethree,youhavethefinalcause,onaccountofwhichitisfullof
Cgood;abidingineffably,proceedingperfectly,andconvertingitselftoThe
Goodastheantecedentobjectofdesire.Itisfit,however,toengagein
tCraiylus391d392a.
%cf.alsoChald.Oracl.fr.210;&Procl.Comm.Cratyl.35,f.
Intheoriginalinthisplace,otifiuvnicovisomitted.
thediscussionoftherestofthetheory,terminatingwhatfollowsbythe
principles.
28b"Inthefirstplace,therefore,thatasanhypothesis,mustbeconsidered
1,275respectingit,whichoughtinthebeginningtobesurveyedaboutevery
thing."
Aftertheprayer,theexhortationtotheauditors,andthedeliveryof
thehypotheses,nothingelseremainsthantodisposethewhole
discussionconformablytothehypothesesthemselves.Ofthis,however,
thatheadistheleader,whethertheworldwasgenerated,oris
unbegotten,havingnobeginningofgeneration.Forinwhatwas
assertedpriortothehypotheses,Timaeussaid,*"Itisnecessarythatwe
whoareabouttospeakconcerningtheuniverse,whetheritwasgeneratedor
isunbegotten,shouldinvoketheGodsandGoddesses,"asfromhence
commencingthetheory.Andinthehypotheses,*"Whatthatiswhich
isalwaysbeing,butiswithoutgeneration,andwhatthatiswhichis
generated,butisnever[real]being,"werethethingswhichwerefirst
assumed.Thisthereforemustfirstbeconsidered,asitwasthefirstthing

supposedintheprinciples.Itisnecessary,however,asSocrates
DsaysinthePhaedrus,}respectingeverything,toconsiderinthefirst
placewhatitis.Butthisistheformoftheobjectofinvestigation.And
thegeneratedandtheunbegottengivedistinctiontothemundaneform.
Sothatthisisveryproperlythoughttobethefirstthingthatdeserves
anappropriateconsideration,towhichalsoTimaeusimmediatelyafter
thisdirectshisattention.ButsincemostofthePlatonistsunderstandby
thewordsperipantos,thatPlatomeansabouteverything,conformably
towhatissaidinthePhaedrus,butPorphyryunderstandsthewordsas
signifyingabouttheuniverse,itbeingfittospeakfirstconcerningthe
universe,andtoshowwhetheritisnaturallyunbegottenorgenerated,
itisrequisitetoknowthattheformerinterpretationhasinagreater
degreethespontaneous.Fortoassumetopantosfortoperitoupantos,
isaforcedassumption.
That,however,thesethingsaresimplytobeinvestigatedconcerning
everything,wemaypreviouslyassumefromcommonconceptions,and
1.276thefirsthypotheses.Theadditionalsoof"whethertheuniversealways
was,havingnobeginningofgeneration,orwhetheritwasgenerated"
t27c.
*27d.
Phaedrus237bc.
showsthatwhatissaidisassertedmoregenerallyoftheuniverse.For
withreferencetotheworld,itisdemonstratedthatithasabeginning
ofgeneration,andthatitisvisibleandtangible,butnotwithreference
totheuniverse.This,therefore,ismanifest.Butsinceitisalso
Enecessarytodiscoverinthefirstplacethemundaneform,whetheritis
tobearrangedamongeternal,oramonggeneratednatures,letussee
whatargumentsthephilosopheremploys,andfollowhiminhis
demonstrations"whetheritalwayswas,havingnobeginningof
generation,orwasgeneratedfromacertainprinciple;"*forweshallfind
thatheusesallthedialectic*methodsinthehypotheses.Thushe
dividesbeingfromthatwhichisgenerated,anddefinitivelyandalso
analyticallyassignswhateachofthemis.Forherecursfromgenerated
naturestothedemiurgicandparadigmaticcausesofthem.Moreover,
havingindicatedtousthetruthconcerningineffableandeffablenames,
inperfectconformitytothedoctrineofPythagoras,whosaidthat
numberwasthewisestofthings,butthathewasthenextinwisdom
whogavenamestothings,heafterwardsconvertshimselftothe
demonstrationsoftheproblemsconcerningtheworld.Andinthefirst
place,heendeavourstofindtheformofit,andwhetheritmustbe
admittedtobeaportionofperpetualbeing,orofageneratednature.
Andonthisaccountheinquireswhetherithasacertainprincipleof
generation,orhasnone,notaskingwhetheritbelongstoeternalbeings,

ortogeneratednatures;forhemighthavesaidthatitwasamedium
Fbetweenboththese,inthesamemannerassoul.Butheaskswhether
italwayswas,havingnoprinciplewhateverofgeneration,orwhether
itwasinsomewayorothergenerated,inorderthathemightapprehend
themediumbetweenboththesetobethatwhichacertainprincipleof
generation,andyetalwaysis.Afterwardshavingshownthattheworld
isalonegeneratedaccordingtoitsbody,hegrantsitaccordingtoa
certainotherthingtobeunbegotten,accordingtowhichalsoitisa
God,aswillbeevidentasweproceed.5
Suchthereforebeingtheinquiry,Plutarch,Atticus,andmanyotherof
1,277thePlatonists,conceivingthegenerationherementionedtobetemporal,
85Asaythattheinquiryis,whethertheworldisunbegottenorgenerated
f28b.Wehaveaddedthequotationmarksinconformitytotheoriginaltext.PT.
XAsthedialecticofPlatoisperfectlyscientific,aswehaveshowninthenoteson
theParmenides,andemploysthedividing,defining,analysing,anddemonstrative
methods,itisevidentthatinsteadofduxkoyucmc;ixeBodoiqinthisplace,weshouldread
litaXfKrocaicneBoSoig.Thisisalsoevidentfromwhatfollows.
34b.
accordingtotime.Fortheyassertthatpriortothefabricationofthe
world,therewasadisorderlymotion.Buttimeentirelysubsiststogether
withmotion;sothattherewastimepriortotheuniverse.Time,
however,*wasalsogeneratedtogetherwiththeuniverse,beingthe
numberofthemotionoftheuniverse;sothattheformertimewasprior
tothefabricationoftheworld,beingthenumberofadisorderly
motion.ButtheinterpretersofPlatothatfollowCrantor,saythatthe
worldissaidtobegenerated,asbeingproducedbyanothercause,and
notbeingselfbegotten,norselfsubsistent.AndPlotinus,*andthe
philosophersafterPlotinus,viz.PorphyryandIamblichus,saythatthe
compositenatureisherecalledthatwhichisgenerated,andthatwith
this,5generationfromanothercauseisconsubsistent.
Wehoweversay,thatalltheseassertionsaremosttrue;andthatthe
worldisgenerated,bothasacomposite,andasbeingindigentofothercauses
toitsexistence.Foreverythingwhichhasintervalisathingofthis
kind,andthatwhichissensible,isallottedsuchanatureasthis.We
Bthinkitfithowever,thatthesephilosophersshouldlooktoother
generatednatures,Imeantimeandsoul,surveywhatiscommonin
them,andextendittothesesignifications,andsay,that[real]being
indeedisthat,whicheternallypossessesastableessence,powerand
energy.Butthatwhichissimply,orabsolutelygenerated,isthatwhich
receivesalltheseaccordingtotime.Andthatwhichisinacertain
respectgenerated,possessesitsenergyinmotionandextension.Forit
hasbeenbeforeobservedbyus,DthatPlatodefinedtheextremestobe,

thatwhichissimplyperpetualbeing,andthatwhichissimplygenerated.
Butinwhatisheresaid,hecomprehendsthemedia.Hence,thatwhich
doesnotpossessatonce,thewholeofitsessence,orenergyestablishedin
unity,isdenominatedgenerated.Athingofthiskindalso,entirely
subsiststhroughgeneration,anditsexistenceisgenerated,orbecoming
tobe,butisnot[real]being.Thissensibleworldlikewise,timeamong
thingsthataremoved,andthetransitiveintelligenceofsouls,arethings
ofthiskind.Butitismanifestthatallmotionsubsistsaccordingtoa
part,andthatthewholeofitisnotatonce.
1,278If,however,theessenceoftheworldhasgeneration,andthe
perpetuityofitsubsistsaccordingtotemporalinfinity,someoneby
tcf.AristotlePhysicsTV,11,219bff.
*PlotinusEnneadV,9,3.
ForTOVTOhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOVTU.
D72Dsupra,p.219.
Cconsideringthismaysyllogizeasfollows:First,thatitisnecessary
betweenthingsthatareeternallyperpetual,andthingswhichare
generatedinapartoftime,themediumshouldbeanhypostasiswhich
isgeneratedinfinitely.Andthatthisshouldbetwofold,eitherhaving
thewholeperpetual,throughthewholeoftime,butthepartsinthe
partsoftime,asisthecasewiththeseelements,orhavingboththe
wholeandthepartscoextendedwiththeperpetuityofthewholeof
time,asisthecasewiththecelestialbodies.Forthereisnotthesame
perpetuityaccordingtoeternityandthewholeoftime;sinceneitheris
therethesameinfinityoftimeandeternity,becauseeternityandtime
arenotthesame.Inthesecondplace,thatwhatismeasuredby
eternity,andexistsineternity,isnecessarilyimpartible.Forhowcan
thatwhichispartiblebefixed,andhaveitsessenceestablishedinthe
impartible?Inthethirdplace,thatsoulenergizesaccordingtotime,and
thatbodysubsistsentirelyintime.Fortheenergyofsoulisnearerto
eternalnatures,thantheessenceofbody.Whatisitthen,bywhichwe
mayinferthattheessenceofthecelestialbodiesisthusperpetual
accordingtotime?Itisthis,thatitcannotbeseparatedfromthecause
thatadornsit.1Forthismakesitevidentthatitisallottedarenovated
Dperpetuity,andisalwaysgeneratedfromasourceexternaltoitself.For
ifitreceivedthewholeofitsproperessencefromitself,itwouldbe
sufficienttoitself,separatefromthatwhichmakesit,andimpartstoit
essence.TheintentionindeedofPlatoistoshow,thattheworldis
simplygenerated,ashavingitsessence,power,andenergy,andalsoits
perpetuitycoextendedwiththewholeoftime.Butheinquiresfrom
thefirst,whetheritiseternalbeing,orbelongstothingswhichare
perfectedbytime.Fortheexpressionalwayswas,signifieswithPlato
theintelligible,aswehavebeforeobserved.If,however,hesaysfurther
1,279on,*thatthetermwasisnotadaptedtoeternalnatures,butthetermis,

wemustnotbedisturbed.Forpriortoadistinctevolution,hefollows
theaccustomedmodeofspeaking.Hencealso,whencelebratingthe
Demiurgushesays,5"hewasgood,"thoughtheDemiurgusranksamong
eternalnatures.Andspeakingoftheparadigm,hecollectsboththese
togetheratonce:forhesays,0"Thenatureofanimalitselfthereforewas
beingeternal;"togetherwithaioniosousabeingeternal,assumingto
fcf.Politicus270a.
%37e.
29e.
37d.
etunchanewas.Andinadditiontoallthathasbeensaid,becausethe
Epowerofeveryfinitebodyisnotinfinite,asAristotlehasdemonstrated,
buteternityisaninfinitepower,henceeveryfinitebodyisincapableof
receivingeternity.Itisnecessarythereforethatitshouldnotalwaysbe,
butshouldalwaysbegenerated,orbecomingtobe,receivingasmuchas
possibleaflowingexistence.
Beingtherefore,asIhavesaid,andperpetualbeingmanifestthe
eternal.But"thatwhichwasgenerated,"signifiesthebeingallottedan
hypostasis,measuredbytime,suchasisasensiblenature,whichalsois
apprehendedbyopinioninconjunctionwithsense.Ithashoweverbeen
alreadysaidbyus,thattheintelligibleisselfsubsistentandeternal;but
thatthesensiblenatureisproducedbysomethingdifferentfromitself,
andisconsubsistentwithtime.Fortheeternalinnumberisonething,
andthetemporalanother.Andtheformerisinnumber,butthelatter
isgeneratedinnumber.Fortotheformereternityisconjoined,butto
thelattertime.Thatwhichisgeneratedlikewise,thoughitissaidtobe
perpetual,hasanhypostasiscoextendedwithalltime,andwhichis
alwaysgenerated,andalwaysadornedbyitsproducingcause.If
therefore,perpetualbeingmanifeststheeternal,butthatwhichhasa
principleofgenerationsignifiesthatwhichisproducedbyanothercause;
forsuchisthatwhichisalwaysgenerated;butPlatoalwaysinquires,
Fwhethertheworldalwayswas,orhastheprincipleofacertain
generation;thisbeingthecase,aninquiryofthiskindwillbethesame
asaninvestigation,whethertheworldbelongstoeternalnatures,orto
thingswhicharegeneratedaccordingtothewholeoftime;andwhether
itbelongstoselfsubsistentnatures,ortothingswhichareadornedby
anothercause.
Fartherstill,thatwhichisgeneratedbelongstothingswhichare
multifariouslypredicated.Forthisverythingwhichhasatemporal
1,280beginning,andissomuchspokenof,iscalledgenerated,whetherit
arrivesatbeingthroughgeneration,orwithoutgeneration,asAristotle
says.*Everythinglikewisewhichproceedsfromacause,iscalled
86Agenerated,thatalsowhichisessentiallyacomposite,andthatwhichhas

agenerablenature[orwhichisnaturallycapableofbeinggenerated]
thoughitshouldnothavebeengenerated;suchasisthatwhichhasa
visiblenature,thoughitshouldnotbeseen.Thatwhichisgenerated
therefore,beingpredicatedmultifariously,and*whichisgenerated
tcf.AristotleOntheHeavensI,11,280bl5ff.
tWehavechangedtheoriginalprintinghere,substitutingtheword'and'forthe
word'that'.PT.
accordingtotime,hasallthegenerations.Foritproceedsfromacause,
isacomposite,andhasagenerablenature.Itdoesnot,however,
entirelyfollowthatwhatisgeneratedafteranothermanner,hasallthe
generations.[IfthereforePlatohadinquiredwhethertheuniversehas
allthegenerations,]ornotall,+weshouldsaythatheinvestigated
whetheritisgeneratedaccordingtotime,orhasnotatemporal
principleofgeneration.Since,however,thisisnotthecase,butheasks
whetherithasnoprinciplewhateverofgeneration,orhasacertain
principleofit,herendersitmanifesttothosewhohavethesmallest
degreeofintelligence,thathedoesnotdoubtaboutitstemporal
beginning,butwhethertheuniverse,sincetherearemanygenerations,
hasacertainprincipleofgeneration.Forifithasnoprinciplewhatever
ofgeneration,itbelongstoeternalandselfsubsistentnatures,inwhich
thereisnotgeneration,becauseneitheristheretime.Forthoughwe
sometimesspeakofgenerationsoftheGods,*yetwesaythisindicating
Btheirineffableprogression,andthedifferenceofsecondarynatureswith
referencetothecausesofthem.Theologists,however,previously
subvertingallsuchdoubts,inorderthatthegenerationsoftheGods
mayberationallydevisedbythem,callthefirstprincipleofthings
Time,5becauseitisfitthatwherethereisgeneration,timeshould
precede,accordingtowhichandonaccountofwhichgeneration
subsists.Withthese,therefore,causeandtimearethesame;sincealso
withthemprogressionisthesameasgeneration.Thathoweverwhich
istrulygenerated,isthatwhichdoesnotgenerateitself,butisgenerated
1,281byanother,becomestheimageofanotherthing,iscomposedofmany
dissimilarthings,andalwaysreceivesarenovatedhypostasis;withwhich
alsotimeisconjoined.Itlikewisehasaneverfailinggeneration,coextended
withtheinfinityoftime,andisalwaysbecomingtobeone
andthesameinnumber,butisnotoneaccordingtoaneternal
subsistence.Butthatwhichisthusgeneratedyoumaysayproceeds
fromnonbeing.Forthatwhichisselfsubsistent,beinggeneratedby
itself,doesnotproceedfromnonbeing.Forthoughyoumaydivideit
Cbyconceptionintocauseandeffect,yetitproceedsfrombeing.Forthe
makerandthatwhichismadeareone,sothatitproceedsfromthe
beingofitself.Hencealsoitiseternal,neveratanytimedesertingitself.
tItseemsthatthefollowingwordsarewantinginthisplaceintheoriginal:ei

TOIVVPefrrraorXamvrorepovTOicavraoa<;ex"rac.yeveoeit;.
$40de.
Orph.fr.50.
Butthatwhichisalonefromanotherthing,subsistsfromnonbeing,
becauseitnolongeriswhenseparatedfromitscause;andthecauseis
differentfromtheeffect.
Thus,therefore,thephysicalaxiom*maybeadaptedaccordingto
analogytothisgeneratednature:andthatwhichisalwaysgeneratedand
illuminatedbybeing,tothatwhichisalwaysintime.Butthisis
evident;forifyoutakeawaythemaker,theuniverseisimmediately
imperfect;whichislikewisethecasewitheverythingthatisstill
generated.Atoneandthesametime,however,theuniverseisgenerated
andperfect,andisalwaysgenerated.Hencealsoitsperpetuityandits
perfection,areaccordingtothewholeoftime.Fortimewasgenerated
togetherwiththeheaven[ortheuniverse],*notapartoftime,butall
time:sothattheheavenisgeneratedinaninfinitetime,andisneverfailing
bothwithrespecttobeginningandend,inthesamemanneras
time.Thus,therefore,itisalsosaidtohaveaprincipleofgeneration,
andtooriginatefromacertainotherprinciple.Andinthefirstplace,
indeed,itoriginatesashesaysfromthemostproperprinciple,thefinal.
1,282Forfromthis,thegeneratingcausecommencesthegenerationofthe
Dworld.Inthenextplace,thegenerationoftheworldsubsistswith
referencetothefinalprinciple,5andastheworldisalwaysbecomingto
be,itisbeginningtobegenerated,andpossessestheendofit,through
generationinthewholeoftime.Forwithrespecttotheworld,itwas
generated,isnotonething,anditisgeneratedanother;asneitheristhe
beginningofitonething,andtheendanother.That,therefore,which
isgeneratedinapartoftime,beginsatonetime,andisperfectedat
another;butthatwhichisgeneratedinthewholeoftimeisalways
beginning,andisalwaysperfect.Andishasindeed,acertainprincipleof
generation,whichisperfectedbysomethingdifferentfromitself,butit
hasnotacertainprinciple,asnothavingthebeginningofacertain
partialtime.Forsincegenerationismultifarious,theprinciplealsoof
itismultifarious.Sothatthegenerationwhichsubsiststhroughthe
wholeoftimeDisacertaingeneration,andthisprincipleisthe
principleofacertain,andnotofallgeneration.Whatthereforeisthis
tie.Thatthecauseisdifferentfromtheeffect.
*38b.
cf.29e.
DXpovovisomittedintheoriginal.

generation?Thatwhichhasboththebeginning*andtheendcontracted

together[soastobesimultaneous].Becausethereforetheworldisa
body,itisgenerated,andhasaprincipleorbeginningofgeneration.
Throughboth,however,itisrisingintoexistence,andisperfect
accordingtogeneration,wasgenerated,isalwaysbecomingtobe,and
isgenerated.Forthesedonot*subsistatoneandthesametime,in
Ethingswhicharegeneratedinapartoftime.Thusforinstancethe
motionoftheheavens,notbeinggeneratedinapartoftime,isalways,
asAristotlesays,5intheend;butthisisnotthecasewithmotionson
theearth.
28bc"Itwasgenerated.Foritisvisibleandtangible,andhasabody.But
allsuchthingsaresensible.Andsensiblesareapprehendedbyopinion
inconjunctionwithsense,andappeartobethingswhicharebecoming
tobe,andaregenerated."
AstheDemiurgusofwholeslookingtohimself,andalwaysabidingin
hisownaccustomedmanner,producesthewholeworld,totallyandat
oncecollectively,andwitheternallyinvariablesameness;forhedoesnot
makeatonetime,andatanothernot,lestheshoulddepartfrom
1,283eternity;afterthesamemanneralsoTimaeus,beingconvertedtohimself,
deliversthewholetheory,recurringtointellectfromdianoia,and
proceedingintoareasoningprocessfromintellect;doubting,therefore,
andinterrogatinghimself,heenergizesaccordingtotheselfmotive
natureofsoul;butinansweringheimitatestheprojectingenergyof
intellect.Forhefirstcomprehendsthedogmainonewordgegone,it
wasgenerated,andproclaimstheconclusionpriortothedemonstration,
directlyafterthemannerofthosewhoenergizeenthusiastically.For
theseseethewholecollectively,andcontractinintellecttheendprior
Ftotheegress,perceivingallthingsatonce.Butsyllogizing,hedescends
fromintellecttologicalprogressions,andtheinvestigationthrough
demonstrationofthenatureoftheworld.Hence,inamannerperfectly
divine,heshowsfromthehypothesesthewholeformoftheuniverse.
Foriftheworldisvisibleandtangible,andhasabody,butthatwhich
isvisibleandtangible,andhasabody,issensible,andthatwhichis
sensibleisapprehendedbyopinioninconjunctionwithsense,andis
generated,theworldthereforeisgenerated.Henceheshowsthis
tctpxtalsoisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
%Itisnecessarytosupplyovxhere.
cf.AristotleMeteorksI,2,339a26.
demonstrativelyfromthedefinition,accordingtoaconversion*ofthe
87Adefinition;sincegeometriciansalsousedemonstrationsofthiskind*
Andthusmuchconcerningtheformofthewords.
Since,however,aswehavesaid,heaskswhethertheuniverseis

eternal,orhasacertainprincipleofgeneration,heanswers,itwas
generated.}Fromthis,therefore,itisevidentthathegivesacertain
generationtotheworld:forthiswastheotherpartofthebefore
mentionedopposition.If,however,thisbethecase,heestablishesthe
universeremotefromtemporalgeneration;foriftheworldhasacertain,
andnoteveryprincipleofgeneration,butthatwhichisgeneratedintime
hastheprincipleofeverygeneration,theworldwasnotgeneratedin
time.Fartherstill,letusalsoconsiderthewonderfulhypothesesof
Atticus,whosaysthatwhatwasmovedinaconfusedanddisorderly
mannerisunbegotten,butthattheworldwasgeneratedintime,andlet
usspeakconcerningthisassertion,"itwasgenerated."Since,therefore,
1,284Atticusadmitsthatthereisacauseofgeneration,letusseewhatthe
natureofthiscauseisaccordingtohim;fortheworldisvisibleand
tangible.Whether,therefore,waseverythingsensiblegeneratedintime,
Bornoteverything?Ifindeedeverything,thenthatwhichwasmoved
inaconfusedanddisorderlymannerwillbegeneratedintime:forhe
saysthatthisalsowasvisible.Butifnoteverything,thenthereasoning
ofAtticusisunsyllogisticandconclusiveofnothing.Unlessheshould
say,indeed,thattheworldisvisibleandtangible,butthatwhatwas
movedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,isnotnowvisible,butwas
sopriortothefabricationoftheworld;sincePlatoalsospeaksinthis
mannerwhenhesays,D"everysuchthingaswasvisible,andwasmoved
inaconfusedanddisorderlymanner."Butinthewordsbeforeushe
says,"foritisvisibleandtangible,andhasabody."Heshowstherefore
thateverythingwhichisvisibleandtangible,wasgenerated,butnot
thatwhichwasvisibleandtangible.0Though,therefore,thesethings
shouldbeassertedbyAtticus;forthemanisskilfulindefendingwhat
headvances;itmustbesaidinanswertohim,thatthereisnothingof
thiskindinthedefinitionofthatwhichisgenerated,butitissimply
tForenrpowrivhere,itisnecessarytoreadano~Tp<xjyriv.
$Seethisexplainedfartheron.
Feyoveisomittedhereintheoriginal.
Tim.30a.
0cf.Rep.I,336b.
said,thateverythinggeneratedistheobjectofopinioninconjunction
withirrationalsense.Sothatifthereisanythingwhichisentirely
sensible,suchthingwillbegenerated.Buteverythingvisibleissensible;
andthereforethatwhichismovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,
isgenerated.Inadditiontowhichwemayalsosay*thatPlatocallsthis
verydisorderlythingitselfgenerated.Forhesaysthatpriortothe
Cgenerationoftheworld,therewerethreethings,being,placeand
generation,*subsistinginthevestigesofforms.Hencethatdisorderly
naturewasgenerated,aswellasthatwhichisvisible.Itisnotproper
thereforetosaythatitwasunbegottenaccordingtotime,andthatthe

universewasgenerated;buteitherbothweregeneratedaccordingto
Plato,orbothwereunbegotten.Forbotharesimilarlysaidbyhimto
bevisibleandgenerated.Ifhoweverbothweregenerated,theworld
priortobeinggeneratedsuchasitnowiswaschangedintothe
confused:fortoacontrary,thegenerationisentirelyfromacontrary.5
1,285Andifhewhomadetheworldisgood,howisitpossibleheshouldnot
adaptitinabeautifulmanner,orthathavingbeautifullyadaptedit,he
shouldcorruptit?Butifheisnotgood,hownotbeinggood,didhe
makeittobearrangedandadorned?Foritistheprovinceofagood
beingtoadornandarrangeotherthings.If,however,beingvisibleand
generated,itisnotgeneratedaccordingtotime,itisnotnecessary
immediatelytomaketheuniversetobegeneratedintime,becauseitis
visibleandgenerated.AndthusmuchagainstAtticus.
Butletusrecurtoourprinciples,anddiscusstheaffairasfollows:
Whetheristheworldperpetualbeing,inthesamemannerastheeternal,
Dorisitnoteternal,butconsubsistentwithtime?Andwhetherisitselfsubsistent,
orproduced0byanother?Suchthenistheinquiry.But
theansweris,thatitisproducedbyanother,andisconsubsistentwith
time.Athingofthiskindhowever,isgenerated.Forifithasa
compositeform,ithasagenerationaccordingtothecomposition.And
ifitalonesubsistsfromanothercause,itisgenerated,asnotbeingitself
productiveofitself.Iflikewiseitisnoteternal,ithasthewholeof
itshypostasisaccordingtotime.Foritisfabricatedonaccountof
fFor0o)chere,itisnecessarytoread(frufiev.
tcf.Tim.53b.
cf.Phxdo70e.
Foritayonevovhere,readTra.payoii.evov.
oFornevhere,itisrequisitetoreadny.
another,andisgeneratedasaflowingimageofbeing.Hence,asthat
whichiscompositeistothatwhichissimple,andastimeistoeternity,
soisgenerationtoessence.If,therefore,asimpleanduniformessence
iseternal,theessencewhichiscomposite,multiform,andconjoined
withtime,isgeneration.ForitisdivinelysaidbyPlato,thattheworld
originatedfromacertainprinciple.Forthatwhichisgeneratedina
portionoftimebeganfromatemporal,fromaproducing,fromafinal,
fromamaterial,andfromaformalcause.Forsinceprincipleis
multifariouslypredicatedthatwhichwasoncegeneratedhasabeginning
ofgenerationaccordingtoallthesecauses.Theworldhowever
originatedfromacertain,andnotfromeveryprinciple.Whattherefore
Eisthisprinciple?Youmustnotsayitisatemporalprinciple.Forthat
whichoriginatesfromthisisalsoallottedtheprincipleofgeneration
fromalltherest.Butitoriginatedfromthatprinciple,inwhichhe
afterwardsinstructsus,*Imeanthemostproper,orthefinalprinciple.

1,286ForitwasgeneratedonaccountofTheGood;andthisistheprinciple
fromwhichitsgenerationoriginated.Hesaysthereforethatthisisthe
mostproperprinciple,sothatthismaybecalledtheprincipleofthe
generationoftheworld.Henceinthefirstplaceheshowsthatthe
worldisgeneratedfromitscomposition;foritisvisibleandtangible.
These,therefore,aretheextremesoftheuniverse.Forheavenisvisible,
butearthistangible.Andvisibilityisinearthsofarasitparticipatesof
light;andtangibilityinheaven,sofarasaterrestrialnatureis
antecedentlycomprehendedinitaccordingtocause.Buttheworldis
simply[visibleandtangible],*andhasabodyinorderthatyoumayalso
assumethemiddleplenitudeswhichitcontains.Andthisagainis
assertedbyPlatoconformablytotheoracle,5whichsays:Itisan
imitationofintellect,butthatwhichisfabricatedhassomethingofbody.
Sofar,therefore,astheuniversehassomethingcorporeal,itisgenerated;
foraccordingtothisitisvisibleandtangible.Buteverythingvisible
andtangible,issensible;forsenseistouchingandseeing.DThathowever
whichissensibleistheobjectofopinion,asbeingmingledfrom
Fsensibles,andnotabletopreservethepurityofintelligibleforms.But
everythingofthiskindisgenerated,ashavingacompositeessence.
tcf.Tim.29e.
%ThewordsoparovKaianTOvappeartometobeomittedinthisplace.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.69.
Dcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,67,3.
Plato,therefore,doesnotsubverttheperpetuityoftheuniverse,as
somewhofollowtheAristotelianhypothesesfancyhedoes.*Andthat
thisistruewemayeasilylearnfromhence.Hesaysthattimewas
generatedtogetherwiththeheavenoruniverse.*Ifthereforetimeis
perpetual,theuniversealsoisperpetual.Butiftheuniversehada
temporalbeginning,thentimealsohadatemporalbeginning,whichis
ofallthingsthemostimpossible.5Theysay,however,thattimeis
88Atwofold,theonedisorderly,buttheotherproceedingaccordingto
number.Formotionistwofold,theonekinddisorderlyandconfused,
buttheotherorderlyandelegant.ButthereisatimeDcoordinateto
eachofthesemotions.Thatabody,however,maybemovedequably
1,287oranomalouslyispossible;butitisimpossibletoconceiveanequable
andanomaloustime.Forthustheessenceoftimewillbeacomposite.
AndwhydoIsaythis?Forwhenthemotionisanomalous,timeis
equable.Therearenow,therefore,manymotions;andsomeareswifter,
butothersslower,andoneismoreequablethananother;butthereis
onecontinuedtimeofallthese,andwhichproceedsaccordingto
number.Henceitisnotright,thustomakeatwofoldtime.If,
however,timeisoneandcontinued;ifindeeditisunbegotten,the
universealsoisunbegotten,whichisconsubsistentwithtime.Butifit
wasgenerated,anabsurditywillfollow;sincetime,inorderthatitmay

begenerated,willbeinwantoftime,andthis,thoughitdoesnotyet
exist.Forwhentimewasgenerated,timewasnotyet.
Fartherstill,Platoconjoinsthesouloftheuniverseimmediatelyonits
Bbeinggenerated,withbody,anddoesnotgivetoitlifepriortothe
corporealformednature,butassoonasitisconstitutedinclosesitin
body.Moreover,hesaysthatsoulranksamongbeingsthatalwaysexist.
If,therefore,hemakesbodyandsoultobeconsubsistent,butsoul
alwaysexists,accordingtohimbodyalsoisperpetual.Forthatwhich
isatonceconsubsistentwiththeperpetual,isunbegotten.Again,
Timaeusheresays,thatthesoulwasgenerated;butSocratesinthe
Phaedrussays,itisunbegotten.Hence,heafteranothermannercalls
fcf.AristotleOntheHeavensI,279b33.
$cf.Tim.38b.
Insteadofei5eap$T)Vf{xP0VIKT\V,Kmoovpavogapxrive%eixPOVIKIIV,inthis
placeitseemstobenecessarytoread,eiHeovpavot;apxnveX"XPOVMW,Kmoxpovoc.
otpxyvtfaXPOVUCi]V.
ForXPOVQhere,itisrequisitetoreadxpovoc.
oPhadrus246a.
thatgenerated,whichisclearlyunbegottenaccordingtotime.Farther
still,hesaysthattheworldisincorruptible,whichisalsograntedby
thosewhoopposehim.ButintheRepublicheclearlyasserts,*orrather
theMuses,thateverythinggeneratedisnecessarilycorrupted,assuming
inthisplacegenerationaccordingtotime.Fromthesethings,therefore,
youmayunderstandwhatIsay:fortheworldisthusdemonstratedto
beunbegotten.Foriftheworldisincorruptible,butnothingwhichis
1,288generatedaccordingtotimeisincorruptible,theworldisnotgenerated
accordingtotime.Whatoccasionisthere,however,forthese
syllogisms?ForPlatointheLawsclearlysays,*thattimeisinfinite
Caccordingtothepast,andthatinthisinfinitytherehavebeenmyriads
onmyriadsofbarrenandfertileperiodsofmen.Forinvestigatingthe
beginningofapolity,fromwhichcitieschangeintovirtueandvice,he
adds:"Butyouwillsay,fromwhence?Iindeedthinkfromthelengthand
infinityoftime,andthemutationswhichtakeplaceinathingofthis
kind."Orratherwemayarguefromwhatisinourhands,alittleprior
tothis,wemayhearhimsaying,5that"wherethereisneitherextreme
heatorcold,theretheraceofmenalwaysexistsmoreorlessnumerous."
Butiftheraceofmenalwaysexists,theuniversealsoisnecessarily
perpetual.
Again,therefore,iftheDemiurgusranksamongeternalbeings,hedoes
notatonetimefabricate,andatanothernot.Forifhedid,hewould
nothaveaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence,andimmutability.But

ifhealwaysfabricates,thatwhichisfabricatedbyhimalwaysexists.
Forwhy,beingwillinglyatrestforaninfinitetime,didheatlength
converthimselftofabrication?Wasitbecauseheapprehendedittobe
better?Butwashe,priortothis,ignorantthatitwasbetterornot?
Foritisabsurd,beingintellect,thatheshouldbeignorant;sincethere
willbeabouthimbothignoranceandknowledge.Butifheknewthis,
whydidhenotbeforebegintogenerateandproducetheworld?And
Difitwasbetter,whydidhenotpersevereinthisenergy,ifitbelawful
sotospeak?Foritisnotholytoconceivethat,beingintellectanda
God,hewouldpursuethatwhichislessinsteadofthatwhichismore
beautiful.Itisnecessary,however,toadmitthesethings,iftheworld
isgeneratedaccordingtotime,andisnotconsubsistentwiththeinfinity
tRep.Vm546a.
tLawsm,676ab.
Tim.22e.
oftime.*ThosealsoappeartometosinagainsttheDemiurgusofthe
world,inanotherway,whosaythattheworldoncewasnot.Forifit
oncewasnot,therewasatimeinwhichtheDemiurgusdidnotmake
it.Forthatwhichismade,andthatwhichmakes,subsisttogether.But
iftherewasatimeinwhichhedidnotmake,hewasthenamakerin
capacity.Andifhewasincapacity,hewasimperfect,andafterwards
1,289perfectwhenhemade.If,however,thereispriorandposteriorabout
him,itisevidentthathedoesnotbelongtonatureswhichenergize
eternally;butthathepassesfromnotmakingaccordingtotime,to
making.Moreover,heproducestime.Howthereforehavinganenergy
whichisinwantoftime,doesheproduceitthroughthisenergy?For
heonceproducedtime,ofwhichheisindigent,inorderthatbyhis
effectiveenergyhemayproducetime.This,therefore,cannotbe
otherwise.
Afterthisopinion,however,letusdirectourattentiontoSeverus,who
saysthattheworldsimplyconsideredisindeedperpetual,butthatthis
Ewhichnowexists,andisthusmoved,wasgenerated.Forthereare
twofoldcirculations,astheEleanguesthasshown;*oneofwhichisthat
whichtheuniversenowcircumvolves,buttheotherthecontrarytoit.
Theworldthereforeisgenerated,andoriginatedfromacertainprinciple,
whichisthecauseofthiscirculation.Butsimplyconsidereditisnot
generated.Thisinterpretation,however,weshalloppose,byobserving,
thatitisnotpropertotransferfabulousenigmastophysiology.For
howisitpossiblethatthesoulwhichmovestheuniverse,shouldbe
weary,andchangetheancientcirculation?Howalsoistheuniverse
perfect,andsufficienttoitself,ifitdesiresmutation?Howcantherebe
analternatechangeofcirculations,whenboththatwhichismoved,and
thatwhichmoves,preservetheirproperhabit?AndhowdoesTimaeus

say,5thatthecirculationofthenaturewhichischaracterizedby
sameness,ismovedtotherighthand,accordingtothedemiurgicwill,
butthatwhichischaracterizedbydifference,tothelefthand?Forifit
isnecessarythattheworksoftheDemiurgusshouldremaininvariably
thesame,andbeperpetual,itislikewisenecessarythatthecirculations
shouldbealwaysthesame;andthattheperiodcharacterizedby
samenessshouldbemovedtotherighthand,butthatwhichis
tInsteadofctWctTTJcnreipiqtTOVKoopovovvrnJxoTuginthisplace,itisnecessary
toreadaXXaJUJTTJaveipiQTOVxpovovavvvixptOTuq.
%cf.Politicus270b.
cf.Tim.36c.
characterizedbydifference,totheleft.*Fortheyproceededatoneand
thesametimefromtheDemiurgus,andwereallottedthiscirculation.
FFartherstill,isitnotnecessary,thatinequabilitymustthusbe
introducedtothemotionoftheuniverse?Foreverythingwhichis
abouttoceasefromitsformermotion,andtopassontoanother,
hastenstothecontrary,i.e.torest,andcausestheprecedaneousmotion
1,290towasteaway.Forifitcontinuedfixedinthesameenergy,whatisthe
causeofthesecondcirculation?*Bynomeans,therefore,arethese
interpretationswhicharenotphysicaltobeadmitted.Noragain,must
suchexplanationsbeadopted,thoughtheyaremorerational,asthose
whichascribegenerationtotheworld,inconceptiononly.Forthuswe
89Amayalsoinferaccordingtoconception,andnotaccordingtotruth,that
thereisaDemiurgusoftheuniverse.Forfromadmittingthattheworld
wasgenerated,itisdemonstratedthatthereisaproducinganddemiurgic
causeofit.Oritmaybesaid,thattheuniverseisadmittedtobe
generated5forthesakeofperspicuity,andthedoctrinalmethod,in
orderthatwemaylearnwhatthenumerousgoodsare,ofwhichit
participates,fromthedemiurgicprovidence.Forthisisindeedina
certainrespecttrue,yetisnotsufficienttothetheoryofPlato.Forthe
perspicuous,saysIamblichus,isvenerable,whenitisadaptedtoscience.
Foradmittingalsothattheuniverseisperpetual,itispossibletopoint
outthegoodsimpartedtoitbytheGods.Andthusmuchinopposition
totheseinterpretations.
Again,however,letusshowfromthebeginning,afterwhatmanner
theuniverseissaidtobegenerated.Foritisneithersoaccordingto
time,throughthebeforementionedarguments,norsimplybecauseit
proceedsfromacause;sinceitisnotsufficienttosaythis.Forintellect
alsoisfromthefirstcause,andallthingsafterTheOnearefromacause,
Byetallthingsarenotgenerated.Forwheredoestheeternalsubsist,if
allthingsaregenerated?ForTheOneispriortoeternity.Afterwhat
mannertherefore,itmaybesaid,istheuniversegenerated?Asthat
whichnowisalwaysbecomingtobe,andatthesametimealwayswas

becomingtobe,orrisingintoexistence.Foritisnotthatwhichis
tThewordsTI\V5edarepovew'aptorepa,areomittedintheoriginal,but
evidentlyoughttobeinsertedinthisplace.
^Fap*sOIIUtte(lmtnisplace;andthesentenceoughttobeinterrogative.Hence
insteadofcmtijcavTt\qtoruqtvepyeiaq,ncainaTrigStvnpagavaicvKXrioeug,we
fflustreademyapHfCavrrigeorugtvtpytiaqK.\.withanoteofinterrogationatthe
SAftervxederoTOXOP>here,thewordytvriTovmustbesupplied.
partial.Bodytherefore,[i.e.partialbody]isnotonlygenerated,but
thereisalsoatimewhenitwasgenerated.Butthewholeworldalone
subsistsinbecomingtobe,andisnotatthesametimethatwhichwas
generated.ItisalsoaccordingtoAristotle*alwaysintheend,thealways
beingtemporal,accordingtotemporalinfinity.Forasthesolarform
lightproceedsfromitsproperfountain,thusalsotheworldisalways
generated,andalwaysproduced,andisalwaysbecomingtobe,andat
1,291thesametimealwayswasso.Asacompositelikewiseitisgenerated.
Forallcompositionisgeneration.Butifitalwayscomposed,itwas
alwaysbecomingtobe,withwhichtobegeneratedconcurs.Andit
appearstomethatPlatoknowingthis,saysitwasgeneratedinsteadof
itisgenerated,justasof[real]being,hesaysitwas,insteadofitis:for
hiswordsare"whetheritalwayswas."*Forasintheintelligible,the
wasandisarethesame;forallthingsarethereaccordingtosameness,
sinceallthingsareinthenow,whichismoreimpartiblethanthenow
Cwhichisaccordingtotime;thusalsoitisgeneratedanditwasgenerated
proceedtothesamethingineverysensiblenature.Foritwasgenerated,
asthatwhichalwayswasbecomingtobe,andasgenerated,itis.But
thatathinggenerated,whenitisassumedaccordingtoacertaintime,
doesnotindicatethatwhichissimplyacomposite,isevidentfromits
opposite.FortothisPlatoopposesperpetualbeing.If,therefore,
perpetualbeingmanifeststhatwhichissimple,wemustsaythatwhat
isaloneacompositeisgenerated.Butifeternalbeingsignifiedthat
whichisalwaysaccordingtotime,thatwhichisoriginatingfroma
certainthing,wouldbesaidtobebecomingtobe.Forthatwhichis
generatedisnotopposedtotheeternal,sofarasitisgenerated,butso
farasitparticipatesoftime;onwhichaccountalsoitisgenerated.That
perpetualbeing,however,[orthatwhichalwaysis,]manifeststhe
eternal,isevident;sincetheDemiurgusalsowhoproducestime,iscalled
perpetualbeing,andtheparadigmlikewiseisthusdenominated.Hence,
itsignifiesaneternalhypostasis,andnotthatwhichparticipatesof
temporalperpetuity.
Someone,however,whoacknowledgesthismayneverthelessdoubt,
whywehavebeforesaidthattheworldisgenerated,fromhavinga
body?Forasthereareinitabody,whichisalonegenerated,adivine
soul,whichalwaysis,andadivineintellectpriortothis,whydowesay

thatitisgeneratedonaccountofitsbody,andnotdenominateit
fcf.AristotleMeteoricsI,2,339a26.
%Tim.28b.
1,292unbegotten,onaccountofitssoul,oritsintellect?Itissaid,therefore,
Dthatthewholeworldiseverywherecharacterizedfromform,andnot
fromthesubjectnature.FordowenotcallSocratesmortal,thoughhe
hasanimmortalsoul,becausetheanimalwhichisinhimismortal?If,
however,yousaythatwenowconsiderthecorporealformednatureof
theuniverse,notyetcoarrangedwithsoul,youwillspeakrightly.But
whenyouseeitanimatedandenduedwithintellect,youmaycallita
God.ForthusPlatointheRepubliccallsitadivinegeneratedthing.*
Butinthisdialogue,hethinksfittodenominatetheworld,ablessed
God.*Intheverywordsalsobeforeus,heinagreaterdegreecelebrates
theuniverse.Forasheisabouttocallthatwhichisunbegotten[viz.
soul]generated,thoughheattributesanunbegottensubsistencetoeternal
natures,thusalsohecallstheworldgenerated.Foritisnotwhen
denominatedgenerated,diminishedbyajuxtapositionwiththeeternal.
Helikewiseconjoinsthebecomingtobeofit,withitwasgenerated;in
orderthatasallortheuniverse,hemayevincethatitisperfectand
being,butashavingitsessenceintime,thatitisgeneration.And
Eaccordingtoitscorporealformednature,hecallsit,generation.5
omittingthedivinepowersinit,throughwhichitishappy,andiscalled
aGod.
Moreover,thedemonstrationisworthyofadmiration,viz.how
scientificallyitproceedsfromthedefinition.Hencealso,heinvertsthe
order.Forinthehypothesesindeed,hedefinedthatwhichisgenerated
tobetheobjectofopinion;buttothedemonstrationofthatwhichis
generated,heassumestheconverse,inorderthathemaymakethe
definitiontobethemiddleterm,asindemonstrationsisperfectly
requisite.Forthiswillcausewhatissaidtobetrulyademonstration.
Foropinionthrough0possessingthereasonsofgeneratednatures,
introducestheorderofcauseswithreferencetothem.Henceitappears
tomethatPlatoisnotsatisfiedwiththetermsensibleinorderto
1.293demonstratethattheworldisgenerated,butaddsalsothatwhatis
sensibleistheobjectofopinion;sincesenseindeedknowstheenergyof
sensibles,inconsequenceofsufferingbythem,butopinionknowsalso
theiressences.Foritantecedentlycomprehendsthereasonsofthem.
tRep.vm,546b.
*Tim.34b.
STim.29d.
Insteadofi\yapSofaTUTOVQ\oyovqexeivTUVyepr)Tuvinthisplace,itis
essarytoreadijyapSofaTUTOVQ\oyovqk.X.

Inorder,therefore,thathemightevincetheessenceofsensiblestobe
generated,heformshisdemonstrationfromthatwhichistheobjectof
Fopinion.Fartherstill,hisnotaddingthatwhichisdestructibletothat
whichisgenerated,showshisreverentialconceptionsoftheworld;
thoughitisinacertainrespecttruethattheworldisdestructible,aswe
havebeforesaid.fAtthesametime,thisexhibitstousthecautionand
reverenceofPlato:forhavingthatwhichisconsequent[tothebeing
generated],yethedoesnotaddit;whichheoughttoadmirewhothinks
thattheworldwasgeneratedaccordingtoPlatointime.Forthis
generatednaturewhichhecallstheobjectofopinion,isatthesametime
destructible;buttheworldisnotdestructibleatthesametimethatitis
generated.Hencetheworldisbothdestructibleandincorruptible,yet
thephilosopherdoesnotcallitboththeseaccordingtothesame;for
thiswouldberidiculous;buthecallsitincorruptible,inthesame
90Amannerasunbegotten,accordingtotime.Forifthatwhichisgenerated
accordingtotime,iscorruptible,asitissaidtobeintheRepublic*,that
whichisincorruptibleisunbegotten.Buttheworldisdestructible,asnot
beingabletoconnectitself.Forasthatwhichiscorporealsofaras
pertainstoitselfisaltermotive,ormovedbyanother,thusalsosofar
aspertainstoitselfitisdestructible,inconsequenceofbeingconnected
bysomethingelse.Fornobodyiseithergenerativeorconnectiveof
itself;sinceeverythingwhichgenerates,makes;buteverythingwhich
makesisincorporeal.Forthoughitshouldbeabody,yetitmakesby
incorporealpowers.Everything,therefore,whichgeneratesis
incorporeal;andeverythingwhichconnects,iseffectiveofacertain
thing,viz.itiseffectiveofunion,andtheundissipated.Buteverything
whichiseffectiveisimpartible.Everythingthereforeconnectiveis
impartible.Henceitisimpossibleforthatwhichconnectsitselftobe
abody.Foritisnottheprovinceofbodytoconnect;sincesofarasit
isbody,itispartible,asitissaidintheSophista*againstthosewho
1,294assertthatallthingsarebodies.Butthatwhichconnectsisimpartible.
BIf,however,thatwhichisconnectedisbody,butthatwhichconnects
isincorporeal,bodyisnotitselfconnectiveofitself.Hencethatwhich
isconnectedbyitselfisnecessarilyimpartible.Asthereforebodyhasin
itsownnatureafinitepower,solikewiseitisinitsownnature
destructible,notasbeingadaptedtocorruption,butasnotnaturally
tcf.74Esupra,p.226.
tRep.VIII,546a.
Sophista246aff.
capableofpreservingitself,norascorruptibleincapacity,thatyoumay
alsoinvestigatethecorruptibleinenergy,butasincapableofimparting
incorruptibilitytoitself.

Whence,therefore,hasittheperpetual,andwhencedoesitreceive
infinitepower?Wereply,fromitsproducingcause.Forasitismoved
fromthence,solikewiseitisgeneratedfromthence,andisalways
generated.Foreverythingwhichisgeneratedfromanimmoveable
cause,isallottedaneverfailingnature,asalsothedaemoniacalAristotle
says;fsothataccordingtothisreasoninglikewise,theworldwillhave
theperpetualproceedingfromtheimmoveable[i.e.fromtheintellectual]
fabrication.Since,however,accordingtoitsownpropernatureitis
generated,itisalwaysgeneratedfromthefather.Butsincetheworld
beingallandawhole,isnotimperfect,inadditiontobeinggenerated,
orbecomingtobe,italwayswasgenerated,since,likewise,themotion
Cofitisalwaysintheend,asAristotlesays.Muchmore,therefore,isthe
essentialgenerationofitalwaysintheend,imitatingtheperfectionof
itsmaker.Sothatitisalwaysgenerated,andalwayswasgenerated;not
receiving*atoncethewholeinfinityofthegenerativepowerofitsMaker,
butalwaysaccordingtothenowpossessingtheabilityofexistingfromthis
power,andreceivingsomethingfromit,accordingtotheinstantaneous
participationofinfinity.Anditreceivesthesameinfinity,indeed,on
accountofthatwhichisimparted,butonitsownaccountisnotableto
receivethesameatonce.Afterthismanner,therefore,theperpetuity
oftheworldremains,andthegenerationofittakesplace;andinthis
respectthebeforementionedmen[i.e.PlatoandAristotle]arenotat
variance.Andatthesametime,however,theydiffer,becausePlato
says,5thattheessenceoftheuniverseiscoextendedwithalltime,but
1,295Aristotlesupposes0thatitsimplyalwaysexists,infersthistobe
necessarythroughmanyarguments,andascribestoittemporalinfinity,
assertingatthesametimethateternityisstableinfinitepower.He
likewisedemonstratesthatnoinfinitepowerwhatevercanbepresent
withafinitebody.Henceitfollows,thattheworldbeingcorporeal
alwaysreceivesinfinitepower,butneverhasthewholeofit,becauseit
isfinite.Itisthereforealonetruetosay,thatfrominfinitepoweritis
Dgenerated,butisnot,infinitely.Butifitisgenerated,itreceivesinfinity
tAristotleNicomachianEthicsV,10,1134b25ff.
$Itisnecessaryheretosupply/*TJdexonevoc,.
Tim.38bc.
DAristotleDeCoeloI,9,297a25.
onaccountofinfinitetime.Fortobeinfinitepertainsalonetothat
whichiseternal;butageneratedinfinitebelongstothatwhichis
temporal;forgenerationisconjoined,withtime.HenceAristotlehimself
iscompelledtoacknowledgethattheworldisinacertainrespect
generated.*
Bothlikewiseassertthatitisthesameinnumber,butPlato
conformablytoprinciples,saysthatitisgenerated.Forheestablished

priortotheuniverseaproducingcause,fromwhichhegivessubsistence
totheuniverse.ButAristotledoesnotadmitthatanyeternalnatureis
aneffectivecause.*Andtheformer,indeed,generatestimetogether
withtheessenceoftheuniverse,butthelattertogetherwithmotion;for
timeaccordingtohimisthatwhichisnumbered.Aristotle,however,
isaccustomedtodothisinhisotherTreatises.5Forsuchthingsas
PlatoassertsofTheOne,Aristotleascribestointellect,0viz.thenonpossession
ofmultitude,thedesirable,thehavingnointellectual
perceptionofsecondarynatures.ButsuchthingsasPlatoattributesto
thedemiurgicintellect,Aristotleascribestotheheavens,andthecelestial
Gods:foraccordingtohim,fabricationandprovidencearefrom
these.0SuchthingsalsoasPlatoascribestotheessenceoftheheavens,
EAristotleattributestotheircircularmotion;departingindeedfrom
theologicalprinciples,butdwellingmorethanisfitonphysical
productivepowers.**Since,however,thedaemoniacalAristotleisvery
1,296copiousindiscussingthereciprocationsofthegeneratedwithreference
tothecorruptible,andoftheunbegottenwithreferencetothe
incorruptible,hemustbereminded,thatPlatomuchpriortohim
assentstotheseaxioms;intheRepublic**indeedassertingthat
tAristotleDeCoeloI,10,280a21.
4:cf.AristotleMetaphysicsV,3,1091al2.
e.g.DeAnimaI,3,407a6;MetaphysicsXII,7,1072b20f.,&1073a6.
Aristotleinhismetaphysicaldiscussionsascendsnohigherthanintelligible
intellect,whichiswithhimthefirstcause.Andperhapsthiswasinconsequenceof
knowingthatallbeyondthisintellectistrulyineffable.
oAristotleDeCoeloII,6,5,287b26f.
ftThisisbecausehediscussedmetaphysicsphysically,justasPlatodiscussed
physicsmetaphysically.
#Rep.VIII,546a.
corruptionfollowseverythingwhichisgenerated;butinthePhaedrus,}
thattheunbegottenisalsoincorruptible.Howisitpossible,therefore,
sincePlatogivesgenerationtotheuniverse,thatheshouldnotalso
introducecorruptiontoit;orthatcorruptingthatwhichismovedina
confusedanddisorderlymanner,heshouldnotgivegenerationtoit
priortocorruption?Thegenerationoftheuniverse,therefore,was
devisedbyhimafteramannerdifferent[fromitsapparentmeaning].
28c"Butwesaythatwhateverisgenerated,isnecessarilygeneratedbya
certaincause."
Thediscussionaccordswiththehypotheses,orratherwiththeorder
ofthethingsfromwhichthehypothesesareassumed.Forasevery
whereformissuspendedfromtheeffectivecause,solikewise,thefirst

hypothesesareincontinuitywiththesecond,andaffordaprincipleto
Fthedemonstrationswhichareconsequenttothem.Forsinceitwas
demonstratedaccordingtothefirsthypothesis,thattheworldwas
generated,throughtheobjectofopinionasamedium,afterwardsthat
whichisconsequenttothisisdemonstratedaccordingtothesecond
hypothesis,viz.thatitwasgeneratedbyacause.Foriftheworldisa
thinggenerated,orbecomingtobe,buteverythinggeneratedis
generatedbyacertaincause,hencetheworldwasnecessarilygenerated
byacertaincause.Whatthereforeistheproducingcauseofthe
universe?Thatfromwhichthebeinggeneratedispresenttotheworld.
Foritisnecessarytoinvestigatethisimmediatelyafterthepresent
demonstration.Andweshallseeasweproceed,whatkindofarguments
Platousesonthissubject.
91ANow,however,letusbrieflyrecalltoourmemory,[thereasoningby
1.297whichitisshown]thateverythingwhichisgenerated,isnecessarily
generatedbyacertaincause.Everythinggenerated,therefore,isinits
ownnatureimperfect.Butbeingimperfect,itisnotnaturallyadapted
toperfectitself;sinceneitherisanyotherimperfectthing.Forevery
thingwhichisperfected,isperfectedfromthatwhichisinenergy.But
thatwhichisinenergyisperfect;sothateverythingwhichperfects
anotherisalwayswhenitperfectsinenergy*accordingtothatformto
whichitgivesperfection.Thathowever,whichisgenerated,sofaras
itisgenerated,isimperfect.Hencethatwhichisgenerated,sofarasit
isgeneratedisnotnaturallyadaptedtoperfectanotherthing.Butifit
tPhcedrus245d.
XInsteadofOiioveoninthisplace,weshoulddoubtlessreadOLHtvspyncitori..
cannotperfectanotherthing,muchmoreisitincapableofperfecting
itself.Thelatter,therefore,isagreaterundertakingthantheformer.
Forthatwhichperfectsitself,isalsoperfectiveofanotherthing.*But
ifitisnotperfectedbyitself,itisevidentthatitisperfectedbyanother.
Forhowwillitbegenerated,unlessitisperfected?
Again,therefore,itmustbesaid,theworldisgenerated.Butevery
thingwhichisgeneratedbeingimperfect,iseitherperfectedbyanother
Bthing,orbyitself.Henceeverythingwhichisgenerated,iseither
perfectedbyanother,orbyitself.Butitisnotperfectedbyitself.Itis
thereforeperfectedbyanother,sothatitisgeneratedbyacertaincause.
Fartherstill,theworldisacomposite,andhasitshypostasisfrom
dissimilars.Butifitisacomposite,itiseithercomposedbyitself,orby
another.Foritisnecessarythatcompositionshouldbefromacause,
unlessweintendtomakeitanaccidentalthing,andfromchance.If
thereforeitiscomposedbyitself,againitwillperfectitself,andgive
subsistencetoitself,andweshallignorantlytransferittoanincorporeal
essence.Forhowwillitcomposeitself?Willitbefromtheparts

arrangingthemselves?Butthusweshallmakebodiestobeselfmotive.
Orwillitbefromimpellingeachother?Andwhatinthiscaseisthat
whichprimarilymovesthem.Andhowisitholytocommitthewhole
worldtosuchlikeimpulsionsandcontrivances?Howlikewisewill
therebeorderfromthingsdeprivedoforder,andornamentfromthings
unadorned?Foreverywherethatwhichmakesisbetterthanitseffect,
1,298andthatwhichgenerated,thanthethinggenerated.Andifindeedthe
partsarethematerialcausesofthecompositionoftheworld,whatisit
whichmadethem?Forthisiswhatweinvestigate.Butiftheyarethe
efficientcauses,howisitpossiblethatthingsunadornedcanbeeffective
ofthingsthatareadorned,anddisorderlynatures,ofsuchashaveorder
Candarrangement?Ifhowevertheworldisnotcomposedbyitself,itis
evidentthatithasthiscompositionfromanother.Henceiftheworld
isacomposite,*butthatwhichisacompositeiscomposedbyacertain
cause,theworldthereforehasitsgenerationfromacause.Hencetoo,
fromthesethingsitismanifest,thatwhatisgenerated,isgeneratedby
acertaincause.
Itisnothoweverwonderful,ifPlatocallsthecauseofeverything
generated,acertaincause.Forthecauseofallthings,issimplycause,
tInsteadofTOyapeavrovreXeiunKoveonv,whichisevidentlydefective,itseems
requisitetoreadTOyapeavron\eiovv,KaiaXXovTtXetunKoveonv.
$VvvBerovisomittedintheoriginal.
andnotacertaincause;concerningwhichhealsosays,*thatitisthe
causeofallbeautifulthings.ForitissimplyGod.Buteverydivinity
posteriortoitisacertainGod,asforinstance,demiurgicorvivific.The
causethereforeofgeneratednaturesisacertaincause,asdifferingfrom
thecauseofall.Hence,hesays,thatwhatisgenerated,isgeneratedby
acertaincause.ItisalsowellthatPlatosaysonecauseprecedesthe
wholeofgeneration.Formultitudeiscoarrangedaboutoneprinciple,
andthemanyunitiesaboutTheOne.Butwithrespecttoother
physiologists,somerankcausewithconcauses;othersrecurtophysical
powers;otherstodispersedinfiniteprinciples;othersto*nature;and
Dotherstosoul.Plato,however,dismissesindeedthesecauses,but
supposesthatthereisonecausewhichisthefirstofallcauses.Forwith
thiscause,thepsychicalorderindeedcooperates,butnatureis
ministranttoit,andallconcausesaresubservienttoit,andaremoved
conformablytoitswill.Because,therefore,thedemiurgicmonad
precedesmultitude,hedenominatesthismonadacause:forthisis
significantofunity.Because,however,ithasnotthefirstorderamong
causes,norisimparticipable,5headdsthewordcertain.Sothatthe
1,299words"byacertaincause,"havethesamesignificationas,byonecause
indeed,yetnotthefirstcause.Hence,neitherisitreasonableimmediately
toproducethatwhichisgenerated,butthatwhichiseternal,fromThe

One;inorderthatfromTheOne,whichispriortoeternity,every
eternalnaturemayproceed;butfromaneternalnature,thatwhichis
generatedandtemporal.Andthatselfsubsistentnatureslikewisemay
proceedfromthatwhichissuperiortobeingsthatproducethemselves;
butfromthese,thosethataregeneratedbyothers.Fortheseriesand
orderofthingswhichproceedfromTheOne,iscontinued;andthings
nearertotheprinciple,givesubsistencetosuchasaremoreremotefrom
it.
28c"Itisdifficult,therefore,todiscoverthemakerandfatherofthis
Euniverse,andwhenfound,itisimpossibletospeakofhimtoallmen."
Ithasbeenrightlyobservedbysomepriortous,thatPlatohaving
shownthattheworldwasgeneratedbyacause,immediatelyafter
tTim.29e.
%Forwchere,itisrequisitetoreadeie.
^^Thedemiurgicmonad,(ie.JupiterortheDemiurgus,)isnotimparticipable
becauseitimmediatelyilluminates,orisconsubsistentwith,intellectualintellect.See
the6thBook[ch.6&7]ofmyTranslationofProclus'TheologyofPlato[TTSvol.VIII].
ascendstotheGodwhoistheDemiurgusofit,inamannerworthyof
hisintellectualconceptions.Foritseemsthattheartificialnatureofthe
progeny,introducesarationalanddivinecause,andnotaccidentor
chance,whichareneithercauses,norhaveanhypostaticpower,norin
short,sustainthewellorderedprogressionofbeings.Itisrequisite,
however,thatweshouldfirstexaminethewordsthemselves,and
afterwardsthusrecurtothewholetheory.
Fatherandmakertherefore,differfromeachother,sofarasthe
formeristhecauseofmatter,*butthelatteroftheworldandorder,and
inshort,oftheformalcause;andsofarindeedastheformeristhe
supplierofbeingandunion,butthelatterofpowersandamultiform
essence;andsofarastheonestablycontainsallthingsinhimself,but
theotheristhecauseofprogressionandgeneration;andsofarasthe
formersignifiesineffableanddivineprovidence,butthelatteran
Fabundantcommunicationofproductiveprinciples.Porphyryhowever
1,300says,thatfatherishewhogeneratestheuniversefromhimself,but
makerhewhoreceivesthematterofitfromanother.HenceAristo
indeed,issaidtobethefatherofPlato,butthebuilderofahouseisthe
makerorfabricatorofit,asnothimselfgeneratingthematterofwhich
itconsists.Ifhowever,thisistrue,therewasnooccasiontocallthe
Demiurgusfather,because,accordingtoTimaeus,*hedoesnotgive
subsistencetomatter.Isnotthedemiurgustherefore,ratherthemaker
92Aasproducingform?Forwecallallthosemakerswhoproduceanything

fromanonexistentstateintoexistence.ButsofarastheDemiurgus
producesthatwhichheproduces,inconjunctionwithlife,heisfather.
Forfathersarethecausesofanimals,andofcertainlivingbeings,and
impartseedtogetherwithlife.Andthusmuchconcerningthis
particular.
But"thisuniverse"signifiesindeed,thecorporealmasses,andthewhole
spheres[ofwhichitconsists]andtheplenitudesofeach.Italsosignifies
thevitalandintellectualpowers,whichrideasitwereinthecorporeal
masses.Italsocomprehendsallthemundanecauses5andthewhole
divinityoftheworld,aboutwhichthenumberofthemundaneGods
proceeds;likewise,theonedivinity,thedivinesoul,andthewholebulk
oftheworld,togetherwiththedivine,intellectual,psychical,and
tForoXrjchere,itisnecessarytoreaduXijc,becausematteraccordingtoPlato
proceedsfromthefatherPhanes,oranimalitself,andnotfromtheDemiurgus.
$Tim.30a.
ForOIVTOVQ,itisnecessarytoreadcxiTUxg.
corporealformednumberthatisconjoinedwiththeworld.Forevery
monadhasamultitudecoordinatetoitself.Allthesethereforemustbe
assumedfortheuniverse;sinceitsignifiesallthese.Perhapslikewisethe
additionofthepronounthis,issignificantoftheuniversebeingina
certainrespectsensibleandpartial.Fortheintelligibleuniverseisnot
Bthis,becauseitiscomprehensiveofallintellectualforms.Buttheterm
thisisadaptedtothevisibleuniversewhichisallottedasensibleand
materialnature.Itisdifficulttherefore,asPlatosays,todiscoverthe
Demiurgusofthisuniverse.Forsincewithrespecttodiscoveryone
kindproceedsscientificallyfromsuchthingsasarefirst,*butanother
journeysonfromthingsofasecondarynature,accordingto
1,301reminiscence;thediscoveryfromsuchthingsasarefirstmaybesaidto
bedifficult,becausetheinventionoftheintermediatepowers,pertains
tothehighesttheory.Butthediscoveryfromsuchthingsasare
secondary,isnearlymoredifficultthantheformer.Forifweintend
fromthesetosurveytheessenceoftheDemiurgus,andhisother
powers,itisnecessarythatweshouldhavebeheldallthenatureofthe
thingsgeneratedbyhim,allthevisiblepartsoftheworld,andthe
unapparentnaturalpowerswhichitcontains,accordingtowhichthe
sympathyandantipathyofthepartsintheworldsubsist.Priortothese
also,wemusthavesurveyedthestablephysicalreasons,andnatures
themselves,boththemoretotalandthemorepartial,*andagain,the
immaterialandmaterial,thedivineanddaemoniacal,andthenaturesof
Cmortalanimals.Andfartherstill,thegenerawhichareunderlife,the
perpetualandthemortal,theundefiledandthematerial,suchasare
wholes,andsuchasareparts,therationalandtheirrational,andthe
prerogativeswhicharesuperiortoours,throughwhicheverything

betweentheGodsandthemortalnatureareboundtogether.Wemust
likewisehavebeheldtheallvarioussouls,thedifferentnumbersofGods
accordingtothedifferentpartsoftheuniverse,andtheineffableand
effableimpressionsoftheworldthroughwhichitisconjoinedwiththe
father.Forhewhowithouthavingseentheseisimpelledtothesurvey
oftheDemiurgus,ismoreimperfectthanisrequisitetotheintellectual
perceptionofthefather.Butitisnotlawfulforanythingimperfectto
beconjoinedwiththatwhichisallperfect.
tviz.Fromaxiomsanddefinitions.
tMtpiKLdTCpotc,isomittedintheoriginal.
Moreover,itisnecessary,*thatthesoulbecominganintellectual
world,andbeingassimilatedasmuchaspossibletothewholeintelligible
world,shouldintroduceherselftothemakeroftheuniverse;*andfrom
thisintroduction,shouldinacertainrespectbecomefamiliarwithhim
throughacontinuedintellectualenergy.Foruninterruptedenergyabout
anything,callsforthandresuscitatesour[dormant]ideas.5Butthrough
1,302thisfamiliarity,becomingstationedatthedoorofthefather,itis
necessarythatweshouldbeunitedtohim.Fordiscoveryisthis,to
Dmeetwithhim,tobeunitedtohim,toassociatealonewiththealone,
andtoseehimhimself,thesoulhastilywithdrawingherselffromevery
energytohim.Forbeingpresentwithherfather,shethenconsiders
scientificdiscussionstobebutwords,0banquetstogetherwithhimon
thetruthofrealbeing,andinpuresplendorispurelyinitiatedinentire
andstablevisions.0Suchthereforeisthediscoveryofthefather,not
thatwhichisdoxastic;forthisisdubious,andnotveryremotefromthe
irrationallife.Neitherisitscientific;forthisissyllogisticand
composite,anddoesnotcomeintocontactwiththeintellectualessence
oftheintellectualDemiurgus.**Butitisthatwhichsubsistsaccording
tointellectualvisionitself,acontactwiththeintelligible,andaunion
withthedemiurgicintellect.Forthismayproperlybedenominated
difficult,eitherashardtoobtain,presentingitselftosoulsafterevery
evolutionoflife;orasthetruelabourofsouls.Forafterwandering
aboutgeneration,**afterpurification,andthelightifscience,
intellectualenergyandtheintellectwhichisinusshineforth,placing
Ethesoulinthefatherasinaport,purelyestablishingherindemiurgic
intellections,andconjoininglightwithlight,notsuchasthatofscience,
butmorebeautiful,moreintellectual,andpartakingmoreofthenature
ofTheOnethanthis.Forthisisthepaternalport,8andthediscovery
ofthefather,viz.anundefiledunionwithhim.
tForST;here,itisrequisitetoreadbei.
Xcf.Rep.VIII,527d.
Philebus64c.
ThisistheconsequenceofaunionwiththeDemiurgusbeingsomuchsuperior

toscientificperception.
ocf.Phaedrus247e250c.
ftChald.Oracl.fr.41.
XXcf.LawsVIII,831a;andPhaedo67c,81a.
Buttosay"thatwhenfounditisimpossibletospeakofhimtoallmen,"*
perhapsindicatesthecustomofthePythagoreans,whohadarcane
assertionsaboutdivinenatures,anddidnotdivulgethemtoallmen.For
1.303astheEleanguestsays,*theeyesofthemultitudearenotstrongenough
tolooktotruth.Perhapsalsothismaybesaidwhichismuchmore
venerable,thatitisimpossibleforhimwhohasdiscoveredthemaker
andfatheroftheuniversetospeakofhimtocertainpersonssuchashe
hasseenhim.Forthediscoverywasnotmadebythesoulspeaking,but
closinghereyes,andbeingconverted,5tothedivinelight.Norwasit
madebyherbeingmovedwithherownpropermotion,butthrough
beingsilentwithasilencewhichleadstheway[tounion].Forsincethe
essenceofotherthingsisnotnaturallyadaptedtobespokenof,either
throughaname,orthroughdefinition,orthroughscience,butisseen
Fthroughintellectionalone,asPlatosaysinhisEpistles,0inwhatother
waycanitbepossibletodiscovertheessenceoftheDemiurgus,thanby
intellectualenergy?Andhowwhenhavingthusfoundit,isitpossible
totellwhatisseen,andexplainittoothers,throughnounsandverbs?
Fortheevolutionwhichisconversantwithcomposition,cannotexhibit
auniformandsimplenature.Whatthen,someonemaysay,dowenot
assertmanythingsabouttheDemiurgus,andabouttheotherGods,and
evenofTheOneItself?Tothiswereply,wespeakindeedaboutthem,
93Abutwedonotspeakofeachofthemitself.Andweareableindeedto
speakscientificallyofthem,butnotintellectually.Forthis,aswehave
beforeobserved,istodiscoverthem.Butifthediscoveryisasilenceof
thesoul,howcanspeechflowingthroughthemouth,besufficientto
leadthatwhichisdiscoveredintolight.
Afterthesethings,therefore,letus,followingthelightofscience,
surveywhotheDemiurgusis,andtowhatorderofbeingshebelongs.
Fordifferentphilosophersamongtheancientswereledtodifferent
opinionsonthissubject.ForNumenius,0indeed,celebratingthree
Gods,callsthefirstfather,butthesecondmaker,andthethirdthat
1.304whichismade.FortheworldaccordingtohimisthethirdGod.So
tFor/iijSeevpovradvvaraSvvawveivcuXeyeivitisnecessarytoread,jtr/Seevpovrct
airavTaqbvvarov,K.\.
tSophista254ab.
ForaiteoTpaiinevriq,itisrequisitetoreademoTpanixevtiq.
EpistleVII,342ff.
0Fr.36.

thatwithhimtheDemiurgusistwofold,viz.thefirstandthesecond
God,andthatwhichisfabricatedisthethirdGod.Foritisbetterto
saythis,than*tosayashedoesspeakingtragically,grandfather,
offspring,nephew.Hehowever,whoassertsthesethings,inthefirst
placedoesnotrightlyconumerateTheGoodwiththeseothercauses.
Foritisnotnaturallyadaptedtobeconjoinedwithcertainthings,nor
Bhasitanordersecondarytoanother.ButfatherwithPlato[inthetext]
isarrangedasthesecondtomaker.Fartherstill,Numeniuscoarranges
thatwhichisexempt,*fromallhabitude,withthenaturesthatare
underandposteriortoit.Itisnecessary,however,torefertheseindeed
tothefirst,buttotakeawayfromitallhabitude.Neithertherefore,is
thepaternalnatureofthemaker5adaptedtothefirst.Forthese
things0areapparentintheordersofGodsposteriortoit.Inthethird
place;itisnotrighttodividefatherandmaker,sincePlatocelebrates
oneandthesameGodbyboththesenames.Foronedivinefabrication,
andonemakerandfather,areeverywheredeliveredbyPlato.Andby
followingnames,todivulsetheonecause[oftheworld,]isjustasif
someone,becausePlatocallstheuniversebothheavenandtheworld,
shouldsaytherearetwofabrications,theoneheaven,andtheotherthe
world;justashere,NumeniussaysthereisatwofolddemiurgicGod,the
onefather,buttheothermaker.
WithrespecttoHarpocration,itwouldbewonderful,ifhewere
consistentwithhimself,indeterminingthingsofthiskindaboutthe
CDemiurgus.Forthismanisinconsistentinwhathesaysaccordingto
thedoctrineofthreeGodsandsofarashemakestheDemiurgustobe
twofold.ForhecallsthefirstGod,HeavenandSaturn,thesecond,Dia
andZena,andthethird,HeavenandtheWorld.Butagainchangingthe
orderhecallsthefirstGodDia,andthekingoftheintelligible;buthe
1,305denominatesthesecondGod,theruler,andthesamedivinity,iswith
himJupiter,Saturn,andHeaven.ThefirstGodtherefore,isallthese;
fromwhomParmenides0takesawayallthings,everyname,all
language,andallhabitude.Andwe,indeed,cannotenduretocallthe
tItisnecessaryheretosupplyif.
XForeiripTrjuevovinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreade^prnxevov.
InsteadofiravTOChere,thesenseevidentlyrequiresthatweshouldreadTTOITJTOU.
Fatherandmakerarefirstapparentintheintelligibleandintellectual,and
afterwardsintheotherordersofGods.
oParmenides141eff.
firstGodevenfather;buthedenominateshimfather,andoffspring,and
theoffspringofanoffspring.
ButAtticus,thepreceptorofHarpocration,immediatelymakesthe
DemiurgustobethesamewithTheGood,thoughtheDemiurgusis
calledgoodbyPlato,butnotTheGood.Heisalsodenominatedbyhim

intellect,buthesaysthatTheGoodisthecauseofallessence,andis
beyondbeing,aswemaylearnintheRepublic.*WhatthenwillAtticus
sayconcerningtheparadigm?ForitiseitherpriortotheDemiurgus,
andinthiscase,therewillbesomethingmoreancientandhonorable
DthanTheGood;oritisintheDemiurgus,andthefirstGodwillbe
manythings;oritisposteriortotheDemiurgus,andthusTheGood,
whichisnotlawfultoassert,willbeconvertedtothingsposteriorto
itself,andwillintellectuallyperceivethem.
Afterthesemen,Plotinusthephilosopher,*assertsthatthereisa
twofoldDemiurgus,oneintheintelligibleworld,buttheotherthe
leaderandruleroftheuniverse.Andhesaysrightly.Forthemundane
intellectisinacertainrespecttheDemiurgusoftheuniverse.And
Aristotleshows5thatthisisthefirstGod,denominatesitFate,andcalls
itbythenameofJupiter.Butagain,thereisanexemptfatherand
maker,whichPlotinusplacesintheintelligible,0callingeverything
betweenTheOneandtheworld,theintelligible.Forthere,according
tohim,thetrueheaven,thekingofSaturn,andtheJovianintellect
subsist.Justasifsomeoneshouldsay,thatthespheresofSaturn,
Jupiter,andMars,areintheheavens.Forthewholeintelligibleisone
many,andisoneintellectcomprehensiveofmanyintelligibles.Plotinus
thereforephilosophizingassertsthesethings.
1,306Amelius,however,makesathreefoldDemiurgus,threeintellects,and
threekings,onebeinghimthatexists,anotherhimthatpossesses,and
Ethethirdhimthatsees.Butthesediffer,becausethefirstintellect,
indeed,istrulythatwhichitis.Thesecond,istheintelligiblewhichis
init,buthastheintelligiblepriortoitself,participatesentirelyofit,and
onthisaccountisthesecondintellect.Butthethird,isalsothe
intelligiblewhichitcontains;foreveryintellectisthesamewithits
conjoinedintelligible;butitpossessestheintelligiblewhichisinthe
tRep.VI,509b.
tPlotinusEnneadIII,9,1.
AristotleDeMundoVII,401ab.
0EnneadV,5,8.
second,andseesthefirstintellect.Forbyhowmuchgreaterthe
intervalis,bysomuchthemoreobscureisthatwhichispossessed.He
supposes,therefore,thattherearethesethreeintellectsandDemiurgi,
andsaysthatwithPlato1therearethreekings,andwithOrpheus*also
three,Phanes,Heaven,andSaturn.Andhewho,accordingtohim,is
especiallytheDemiurgus,isPhanes.Itisworthwhile,therefore,to
observetohim,thateverywherePlatoisaccustomedtorecurfrom
multitudetotheunities,fromwhichtheorderinthemanyproceeds.
Orrather,priortoPlato,unityalwaysprecedesmultitudeaccordingto

thearrangementitselfofthings.Andeverydivineorderoriginatesfrom
amonad.Foritisnecessary,indeed,thatdivinenumbershouldproceed
fromthetriad;butthemonadispriortothetriad.Where,therefore,
isthedemiurgicmonad,inorderthatthetriadmayproceedfromit?
FHowlikewiseistheworldone,unlessitwasfabricatedbyonecause?
Foritisbyamuchgreaterprioritynecessarythatthecauseitselfshould
beunited,andbemonadic,inorderthattheworldmaybecomeonly
begotten.LettherethenbethreeDemiurgi;butwhoistheone
Demiurguspriortothethree?Fornooneofthedivineorders
originatesfrommultitude.Fartherstill,iftheparadigmisone,andthe
worldisone,howisitpossiblethatthereshouldnotalsobeone
Demiurguspriortothemany,wholooksindeedtotheparadigm,but
makestheworldtobeonlybegotten?Hence,itisnotproperthatthe
demiurgicnumbershouldoriginatefromatriad,butfromamonad.
94AAfterAmelius,PorphyrythinkingtoaccordwithPlotinus,callsthe
1,307supermundanesoultheDemiurgus,buttheintellectofittowhichitis
converted,animalitself,soastobeaccordingtohimtheparadigmofthe
Demiurgus;whomitisworthwhiletoask,inwhichofhiswritings
PlotinusmakessoultobetheDemiurgus.How,likewise,isthis
conformabletoPlato,whocontinuallydenominatestheDemiurgusa
Godandintellect,butnevercallshimsoul?Howalsodoeshecallthe
worldaGod?HowdoestheDemiurgusproceedthroughallmundane
natures?Forallthingsdonotparticipateofsoul,butallthingspartake
ofthedemiurgicprovidence.Anddivineproduction,indeed,isableto
generateintellectandGods,butsoulisnotnaturallyadaptedtoproduce
anythingabovethepsychicalorder.Iomittosaythatthisverything
tTim.40eff.
tOrph.fr.74.
itselfrequiresmuchconfirmation,whetherPlatoknewthatthereisa
certainimparticipable*soul.
Inthenextplace,therefore,thedivineIamblichushaswrittenmuch
againsttheopinionofPorphyry,andhassubverteditasbeingPlotinian;
Bbutdeliveringhisowntheology,hecallsthewholeintelligibleworldthe
Demiurgus;sothatfromwhathasbeensaid,itisevidentthatheasserts
thesamethingasPlotinus.Hesays,therefore,inhisCommentaries*
"Thuswecallthatwhichistrulycause,andtheprincipleofgenerated
natures,andtheintelligibleparadigmsoftheworld,theintelligible
world.Suchcauses,likewise,asweadmittohaveanexistencepriorto
allthingsinnature,these,thedemiurgicGod,whomwenow
investigate,comprehendinginone,possessesinhimself."
If,therefore,inwhatisheresaid,heintendstosignifythatintheDemiurgus

allthingssubsistdemiurgically,andbeingitself,andtheintelligibleworld,
hespeaksconformablybothtohimself,andtoOrpheuswhosays:
ForinJove'sampledwellingallthingslie,
1,308AndinJove'sbellytheytogetherflow.
Fr.123,121.
Andallsuchlikeassertions.Norisitatallwonderful,thateachofthe
Godsshouldbetheuniverse,butafteradifferentmanner,one
demiurgically,anotherconnectively,anotherimmutably,another
convertively,5andanotherinsomeotherwayaccordingtoadivine
peculiarity.Butifhesaysthatthewholeextentbetweentheworldand
CTheOne,istheDemiurgus,thisdeservestobecomethesubjectofdoubt;
andwemayurgeagainstthisassertiontheargumentswhichwederive
fromhim.ForwherearethekingsthatarepriortoJupiter,andarethe
fathersofJupiter?Wherearethekings,accordingtoPlato,whomhe
thinksfittoarrangeabovetheworldnexttoTheOne?Howlikewise
canwesaythatperpetualbeingitselfisthefirstbeing,ifwealsosay
thattheDemiurgusisthewholeintelligibleorder,whoishimself
perpetualbeing,asislikewiseanimalitself?Forshallwenotthusbe
compelledtosay,thattheDemiurgusisnotaneternalbeing?Unless
theDemiurguslikewiseiscomprehendedtogetherwithothereternal
beings.ThatIamblichushimself,however,thoughheherecelebratesthe
demiurgicorderinamoreconfusedmanner,yetspeaksofitmore
tie.Asoulwhichisnotconsubsistentwithbody.
*Fr.34(cf.JMDillonIamblichiChalcidensis,pub.Brill1973).
InsteadofTCOV8erpeirTcoQ,itisnecessarytoreadTOV5eenoTpeirnKUx;.
accuratelyelsewhere,maybefromthenceassumed.Forwriting
concerningthefabricationofJupiterintheTimaeus,aftertheintelligible
triads,andthethreetriadsoftheintelligibleandatthesametime
intellectual*Gods,heattributesthethirdorderintheintellectual
hebdomadtotheDemiurgus.ForhesaysthatthesethreeGodsare
celebratedbythePythagoreans,whoassertthatthefirstofthemisan
Dintellectcomprehendinginitselfwholemonads,thesimple,the
indivisible,theboniform,thatwhichabidesandisunitedinitself,and
whodeliversuchlikeindicationsofitstranscendency.Buttheysaythat
'diesecondiscollectiveoftheperfectionofthingsofthiskind,andthat
themostbeautifulindicationsofitaredivinefecundity,thatwhichis
collectiveofthethreeGods,thatwhichgivescompletiontoenergy,that
1,309whichisgenerativeofdivinelife,thatwhichproceedseverywhere,and
thatwhichisbeneficent.Andtheyteachusthatofthethirdwho
fabricateswholes,themostbeautifulsignaturesare,prolificprogressions,
theproductionsandconnectionsoftotalcauses,togetherwithtotal

causesdefinedbyforms,allproceedingfabrications,andotherthings
similartothese.Itisworthwhile,therefore,toformajudgementofthe
lamblicheantheologyfromthesethings,andtodeterminewhatthe
natureofitisrespectingtheDemiurgusofwholes.Forhowcanthe
Demiurgusbethewhole*ofperpetualbeing,ifindeedperpetualbeing
hasbeenalreadydefinedbyPlato;buthenowsaysthatitisdifficultto
findtheDemiurgus,andwhenfound,impossibletospeakofhimtoall
Emen?Andhowcanthesethingsbeverifiedofthatwhichisdefinitively
delivered,andunfoldedintolighttoallthosethatwerepresent?
AfterIamblichus,therefore,Theodoras,followingAmelius,saysthat
therearethreeDemiurgi.Hearrangesthem,however,notimmediately
afterTheOne,butattheextremity5oftheintelligibleandatthesame
timeintellectualGods.Healsocallsthefirstanessentialintellect,the
second,anintellectualessence,andthethird,thefountainofsouls.He
likewisesays,thatthefirstisindivisible,butthesecond,dividedinto
wholes,andthethirdreceivesadivisionintoparticulars.Again,
therefore,thesamethingsmustbesaidtohimasweresaidtothe
illustriousAmelius;viz.thatweindeedacknowledgethattherearethree
fItisherenecessarytosupplyKaivoepuv.Forthethreetriadsoftheintelligible
andatthesametimeintellectualGods,immediatelyfollowtheintelligibletriads,andthe
intellectualhebdomadfollowsasthethirdinorder.
%Foro\uvhere,itisnecessarytoreado\ov.
InsteadofexiTO;beTUVvorfravTKMvoepuvBeuv,Ireadeir'eaxarovTUV
V0T\TL4V.K.X.
Gods,orGodsanalogoustothese,yetwedonotadmitthatthereare
threeDemiurgi,butthatthefirstistheintelligibleoftheDemiurgus,the
second,hisgenerativepower,andthatthethirdistrulythedemiurgic
intellect.Itislikewiserequisitetoconsiderwhetherthefountainof
soulsistobearrangedasthethird:forpowerpertainstothemiddle,as
hesomewheresays;andthusitmustbedenominatedpartially,andnet
calledtheuniversalfountainoflife.Forthefountainofsouls,isoneof
thefountainscontainedinthismiddle[orgenerativepowerofthe
Demiurgus.]Forlifeisnotinsoulsonly,norinanimatednaturesalone,
1,310butthereisalsoadivine,andanintellectual,priortothepsychicallife,
Fwhichissaidtoproceeddiverselyfromthence,fromdividedrivers.*
Andsuch,inshort,arethedogmas*oftheancientinterpreters
concerningtheDemiurgus.
Letus,however,conciselyrelatetheopinionofourpreceptor
[Syrianus]onthissubject,aswethinkthatitespeciallyaccordswiththe
conceptionsofPlato.TheoneDemiurgus,therefore,accordingtohim,5
subsistsattheextremityoftheintellectualdivinemonads,andthe
95Afountainsoflife.Butheemitsfromhimselfthetotalfabrication,and

presidesoverthemorepartialfatherofwholes.Being,however,himself
immoveable,heiseternallyestablishedonthesummitofOlympus,3
andrulesoverthetwofoldworlds,thesupercelestialandthecelestial,
comprehendingalsothebeginning,middlesandendsofwholes.Forof
the0wholedemiurgicorder,onepartisadistributionofwholes
totally,anotherofwholespartially,anotherofpartstotally,**and
anotherofpartspartially.Fabrication,therefore,beingfourfold,the
demiurgicmonadbindstoitselfthetotalprovidenceofwholes;buta
demiurgictriad,issuspendedfromit,whichrulesoverpartstotally,and
overthedividedpowerofthemonad.**Justagain,asintheother,or
thepartialfabrication,amonadistheleaderofatriad,whichorderly
distributeswholespartially,andpartspartially.Butallthemultitudeof
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.51,&96.AlsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,201f.
tFordoyparuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadSoy/iara.
ForavTijvinthisplace,itisobviouslyrequisitetoreadavrov.
Ci.e.Hedwellseternallyinthehighestintellectualsplendor.
0Insteadofirucyap8r)iuovpyiKric,K.X.,here,itisrequisitetoreadTTJCyapK.X.
ttAfterTO8eTUVO\UViiepiKuq,itisnecessarytosupplythewords,TOdeTUV
VtpuvoXucuc.,inordertorenderthedivisioncomplete.
ttForrpioiSoc;here,wemustread^ovadoq.
thetriaddances[asitwere]roundthemonad,andbeingdividedabout
it,distributesitsproductions,andisfilledfromit.Ofthemany
Demiurgi,therefore,thereisoneDemiurgus[whoisthemonadofthe
Brest],inorderthatallthingsmaybeconsequenttoeachother,viz.The
One,theparadigminintelligibles,theoneintelligibleDemiurgus,the
1,311oneonlybegottenworld.*If,however,thesethingsarerightlyasserted,
theDemiurgusofwholesistheboundaryofintellectuals,established
indeedintheintelligible,butbeingfullofpower,accordingtowhichhe
produceswholes,andconvertingallthingstohimself.Onthisaccount
alsoTimaeuscallshimintellect,andthebestofcauses,*andsaysthathe
lookstotheintelligibleparadigm;inorderthatbythishemayseparate
bimfromthefirstintelligibleGods.Butbycallinghimintellect,he
distinguisheshimfromtheintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectual
Gods.Andbydenominatinghimthebestofcauses,heestablisheshim
abovealltheothersupermundaneDemiurgi.Forhedenominatesthe
causesdemiurgic,asalsohehadbeforesaid,5"Everythinggeneratedis
generatedbyacause,"andadds,"Whenthereforeanartificer,&c."Hence
theDemiurgusisanintellectualGod,exemptfromalltheDemiurgi.If,
however,hewasthefirstamongtheintellectualGods,hewouldalone
abideinhisownaccustomedmanner:forthisistheillustriousproperty
ofthefirst.Ifhewasthesecond,hewouldbeparticularlythecauseof
life.Butnow,whenhegeneratessoul,DheenergizeswiththeCrater
C[i.e.withJuno],butwhenhegeneratesintellect,heenergizesbyhimself.
Henceheisnootherthanthethirdoftheintellectualfathers.Forhis

illustriousandprincipalworkistoproduceintellect,andnottofabricate
body.Forheproducesbodynotalone,buttogetherwithnecessity;but
heproducesintellectthroughhimself.0Nordoeshisprincipalwork
consistinproducingsoul:forhegeneratessoultogetherwiththeCrater.
Buthealonebyhimselfgivessubsistencetointellect,andcausesitto
presideovertheuniverse.
Existing,therefore,astheproducerofintellect,heveryproperlyhas
anintellectualorder.HencealsoheissaidbyPlatotobebothmaker
tcf.Tim.92b.
$Tim.29a.
Tim.28a.
cf.Tim.41d.
ocf.Tim.47e&48a.
andfather,*andneitherfatheralone,normakeralone,noragainfather
andmaker.Fortheextremesindeed,arefatherandmaker;theformer
possessingthesummitofintelligibles,andbeingpriortotheroyalseries
[i.e.toPhanes,Night,Heaven,Saturn,Jupiter,andBacchus];butthe
latterpossessingtheendofthe[intellectual]order.Andtheformer
1,312beingthemonadofpaternaldeity;butthelatterbeingallotteda
producingpowerintheuniverse.Betweenboththese,however,are
fatherandatthesametimemaker,andmakerandatthesametime
father.Foreachoftheseisnotthesame;butinoneorderthepaternal,
andinanothertheeffectivehasdominion.Thepaternal,however,is
Dmoreexcellentthantheeffective.Henceinthemedia,thoughbothare
ineach,yettheformer*ismorefatherthanmaker.Foritisthe
boundaryofthepaternaldepth,5andthefountainofintellectuals.1
Butthesecondismoremakerthanfather.Foritisthemonad,oftotal
fabrication.HenceIthinktheformeriscalledMetis,butthelatter
Metietes.Andtheformerindeedisseen,butthelattersees.The
formeralsoisabsorbed,butthelatterisrepletewiththepowerofthe
former.Andwhattheformerisinintelligibles,thatthelatterisii
intellectuals.Fortheformeristheboundaryoftheintelligible,butthe
latteroftheintellectualGods.Concerningtheformerlikewise,Orpheus
says,
Inadarkcavernthesethefathermade.
Fr.84
ButconcerningthelatterPlatosays,**"OfwhomIamtheDemiurgus
andfatherofworks."InthePoliticuslikewise,**hemakesmentionof
thedoctrineoftheDemiurgusandfather;becausewiththeformer[i.e.
withPhanes]thepaternalismorepredominant,butwiththelatter[i.e.
withJupiter]thedemiurgic.EachoftheGodshoweverisdenominated

fromhispeculiarity,thougheachiscomprehensiveofallthings.And
tChald.Oracl.fr.68.
$Viz.fatherandatthesametimemaker.ThisGodalsoisPhanesoranimalitself,
andsubsistsattheextremityoftheintelligibleorder.
ForQO'CTOVinthisplace,wemustread(JvBov.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.61andHomer,IliadI,175.
0Orph.fr.61.
ttTim.41a.
#Politicus273b.
heindeedwhoisalonemaker,*isthecauseofmundanenatures.He
whoismakerandfather,isthecauseofsupermundaneandmundane
natures.Hewhoisfatherandmaker,isthecauseofintellectual,super
Emundane,andmundanenatures.Buthewhoisalonefather,isthecause
ofintelligibles,ofintellectuals,ofsupermundaneandmundanenatures.
Plato,therefore,admittingaDemiurgusofthiskind,suffershimtobe
ineffableandwithoutaname,ashavinganarrangementpriortowholes
1,313intheportionofTheGood.}ForineveryorderoftheGods,thereis
thatwhichisanalogoustoTheOne.Suchthereforeisthemonadin
eachworld.ButOrpheus5givesanametotheDemiurgus,in
consequenceofbeingmoved[i.e.inspired]fromthence;whomPlato
himselflikewiseelsewherefollows.FortheJupiterwithhim,whois
priortothethreesonsofSaturn,istheDemiurgusofwholes.Afterthe
absorptionthereforeofPhanes,theideasofallthingsshoneforthin
him,asthetheologistsays:
HencewiththeuniversegreatJovecontains,
Extendedasther,heav'n'sexaltedplains;
Thebarrenrestlessdeep,andearthrenown'd,
Oceanimmense,andTartarusprofound;
Fountainsandrivers,andtheboundlessmain,
Withallthatnature'samplerealmscontain;
AndGodsandGoddessesofeachdegree;
Allthatispast,andallthate'ershallbe,
Occultly,andinfairconnectionlies,
InJove'swidebelly,Druleroftheskies.0
FJupiterhowever,beingfullofideas,throughthesecomprehendsin
himselfwholes:whichthetheologistalsoindicatingadds:
tie.Vulcan.
$viz.TheDemiurgushasanarrangementanalogoustoTheGood.ForasTheGood
istheexemptmonadoftheintelligibleorder,sotheDemiurgusistheexemptmonad
ofthesupermundaneorder,[cf.Philebus54c]
Orph.fr.121,122.

Celestialandsublunarycausesandeffects,areveryproperlysaidbyOrpheusto
subsistinthebellyofJupiter,becausethesehaveamiddlesubsistencebetween
supermundaneandTartareannatures,justasthebellyisinthemiddleofthebody.
oTheseversesareverydefectiveintheoriginal;butthelearnedreaderwillfind
theminacorrectstateintheOrpheusofHerman.
Joveisthefirst,andlast,highthunderingking,*
Middleandhead,fromJoveallbeingsspring.
Jovethefoundationoftheearthcontains,
Andthedeepsplendorofthestarryplains.
Joveisakingbynorestraintconfin'd,
AndallthingsflowfromJove'sprolificmind.
Onemightyprinciplewhichneverfails,
Onepower,onedaemon,overallprevails.
ForinJove'sroyalbodyallthingslie,
Fire,nightandday,earth,water,andthesky.
Orph.fr.123
96AJupitertherefore,comprehendinginhimselfwholes,producesin
1,314conjunctionwithNightallthingsmonadicallyandintellectually,
accordingtoheroracles,andlikewiseallmundanenatures,Gods,*and
thepartsoftheuniverse.Nightthereforesaystohimasking,howall
thingswillbeacertainone,andyeteachbeseparateandapartfromthe
rest:
Allthingsreceiveinclosedonev'ryside,
Inaether'swideineffableembrace:
Theninthemidstofaetherplacetheheav'n;
Inwhichletearthofinfiniteextent,
Thesea,andstars,thecrownofheav'n,befixt.
Butaftershehaslaiddownrulesrespectingallotherproductions,she
adds:
Andwhenyourpoweraroundthewholehasspread
Astrongcoercivebond,agoldenchain
Suspendfromaether.
Thisbondwhichisderivedfromnature,soulandintellect,being
perfectlystrongandindissoluble.ForPlatoalsosays,5thatanimals
weregenerated,boundwithanimatedbonds.Orpheus,likewise,
HomericallyDcallsthedivineorderswhichareabovetheworld,0a
tcf.AristotleDeMundoVII,401ab.
tForBtuvhere,itisnecessarytoread8eovc..

Tim.38e.
cf.IliadIV,19.
0InsteadofTUVBevuvvpa^tuvvroTUVeKoaixiwvinthisplace,itisnecessaryto
1ruv8eiuvTCt$euvvtstpTUVeyKOOjiiuv.
goldenchain;whichPlatoemulatingsays,*"ThattheDemiurgusplacing
intellectinsoul,butsoulinbody,fabricatedtheuniverse;"andthathe
BgavesubsistencetothejuniorGods,throughwhomalsoheadornsthe
partsoftheuniverse.Iftherefore,itisJupiterwhopossessestheone
power,whoabsorbsPhanes,inwhomtheintelligiblecausesofwholes
firstsubsist,whoproducesallthings,accordingtothecounselsofNight,
andwhogivesauthoritybothtotheotherGods,andtothethreesons
ofSaturn,heistheoneandwholeDemiurgusofalltheworld,andhas
thefifthorderamongthekings,[i.e.amongtheGodsoftheroyal
1,315series,]asitisdivinelydemonstratedbyourpreceptorinhisOrphic
Conferences.Jupiterlikewise,iscoordinatewithHeavenandPhanes,
andonthisaccountheisbothmakerandfather,andeachofthese
totally.
ThatPlato,however,hadtheseconceptionsrespectingthemighty
Jupiter,ismanifestedbyhimintheCratylus*fromnames:forhethere
showsthatheisthecauseandsupplieroflifetoallthings.Forhesays,
"ThatwedenominatehimDiaandZena,throughwhomlifeispresentto
allthings."ButintheGorgias*hecoarranges,andatthesametime
exemptshimfromthesonsofSaturn,inorderthathemaybepriorto
thethree,andparticipatedbythem.HealsomakesLawtobehis
Cassessor,inthesamemannerasOrpheus.0ForwithhimalsoLawis
placedbythesideofJupiter,accordingtothecounselsofNight.
Fartherstill,PlatointheLawsrepresentstotalJusticetobethe
attendantofJupiter,inthesamemannerasthetheologist.0Butin
thePhilebusheshows,thataroyalsoulandaroyalintellectpreexistin
Jupiteraccordingtothereasonofcause.Andconformablytothishe
nowrepresentshimasgivingsubsistencetointellectandsoul,**
unfoldingthelawsofFate,andproducingalltheordersofthemundane
Gods,andconstitutingallanimalsasfarastothelastthings;some
thingsbeinggeneratedbyhimalone,butothersthroughthecelestial
tTim.30b&42d.
$Cratylus396b.
Gorgias523.
Orph.fr.126.
oLawsIV,716a.ThefollowingreferencetothePhilebusis30d.
ftTim.30b.
Godsasmedia.Towhichwemayalsoadd,thatinthePoliticus*he
allsJupitertheDemiurgusandfatheroftheuniverse,justasinthe

presentdialoguehesaysconcerninghim,"OfwhomIamtheDemiurgus,
andfatherofworks."Helikewise*saysinthePoliticus,thatthepresent
orderoftheworldisJovian,andthattheworldismovedaccordingto
DFate.TheworldthereforelivingaJovianlife,hasJupiterforthe
Demiurgusandfatherofitslife.If,likewise,herepresentsthe
Demiurgusdeliveringaspeech,5thistooisinrealityJovian.DForin
1,316theMeno,heonthisaccountcallshimasophist,asfillingtheGods
posteriortohimwithallvariousreasons.Thisalsothedivineport
[Homer]manifests,whorepresentshimthusspeaking0fromthe
summitofOlympus.
Hear,allyeGodsandGoddesses,mywords.
IliadV,3
Andconvertingthetwofoldcoordinationstohimself.Throughthe
wholeofhispoetry,likewise,hepraiseshimasthesupremeofrulers,
andthefatherofmenandGods,andcelebrateshimwithalldemiurgic
conceptions.As,therefore,wehaveshownthatalltheGreciantheology
attributesthetotalfabricationofthingstoJupiter,whatoughtweto
conceiveofthesewordsofPlato?Isitnot,thatthesameGodking
Jupiter,iswithhimmakerandfather,andisneitherfatheralone,nor
fatherandmaker.Forfatheristhemonad,asthePythagoreanssay,but
thedecadisthedemiurgic**orderofdivinenatures,"towhichdivine
numberarrivesfromthesecretrecessesofthemonad,whichdecadisthe
venerableuniversalrecipient,surroundingallthingswithbound,is
Eimmutableandunwearied,andiscalledthesacreddecad."**Hence,
afterthepaternalmonad,andthepaternalandatthesametimeeffective
tetrad,thedemiurgicdecadproceeds.Anditisindeedimmutable,
becauseanimmutabledeitysubsiststogetherwithit.Butitsurrounds
tPoliticus273b.
$TheTimaeusreferencehereis41a;thePoliticusis272b273b.
SFordriniovpyovvTahere,itisnecessarytoreadhr\n"t)yopovVTa.
nSeeTim.41ae;thefollowingreferencetotheMenois319c.
0Herealsoitisnecessarytomakethesameemendationasabove,
ttArinioupyucriisomittedintheoriginal.
IamblichusLifeofPythagoras,Nuack,p.228.
allthingswithbound,assupplyingwithorderthingsthataredisorderly,
1,317andwithornamentthingsthatareunadorned.Itlikewiseilluminates
soulswithintellect,asbeingintellecttotally,andbodywithsoul,as
possessingandcomprehendingthecauseofsoul,andgeneratesthings
whicharetrulygenerated,bothsuchasaremiddles,andsuchasarelast,
inconsequenceofcomprehendinginitselfdemiurgicbeing.Fromwhat
iswrittenalsointheProtagoras,*wemaycollectwhatthedemiurgic
orderis.ForJupitertherebecomesthecauseofthewholepolitical

science,andofthereasonsessentiallydisseminatedinsouls.This,
however,istobindthewholefabricationofthings,andtoconnectall
thingsbyhisownimmutablepowers.Forasthetheologist*establishes
abouthimtheCureticorder,thusalsoPlatosays,thatheissurrounded
Fwithterribleguards.Andastheformerestablisheshimonthesummit
ofOlympus,sothelatterassignstohimatower,inwhichbeing
eternallyseated,headornsallthingsthroughthemiddleorders.Who
theDemiurgusthereforeis,andthatheisadivineintellect,thecauseof
totalfabrication,isevidentfromwhathasbeensaid;andlikewisethat
JupiterhimselfiscelebratedastheDemiurgusbothbyOrpheusand
Plato.
Whether,however,wemustsaythatheisafontalorarulingGod,or
belongstosomeotherorderofthedemiurgicseries,deservesnottobe
passedoverinsilence.Itappears,therefore,thatsuchthingsasthe
97Atheurgist[Julian]ascribes5tothethirddivinityoftherulers,thesePlato
assignstotheDemiurgus;Dsuchastofabricatetheheavens,inclosing
theminaconvexfigure;toestablishthenumerousmultitudeofinerratic
stars;togivesubsistencetotheheptadofplanetaryanimals;andtoplace
earthinthemiddle,butwaterinthebosomsoftheearth,andairabove
these.If,however,weaccuratelyconsidertheaffair,weshallfindthat
1.318thethirdofthemundanerulersdividestheuniverseintoparts;thatthe
seconddividesitintowholes,andiscelebratedasthedemiurgiccauseof
motion;andthatthefirstbyhiswillalonedisposesallthings,and
constitutesthewholeworldaccordingtounion.ButtheGodwhois
saidbyTimaeustobetheDemiurgus,producesallthingsbyhiswill,
impartstotheuniverseadivisionintowholes,andalsointoparts,which
givecompletiontoallthewholenesses[tasholotetaspasas].Forhe
tProtagoras321d.
XOrph.fr.112.
cf.Tim.40acandChald.Oracl.fr.37,73.
ItappearstobenecessaryheretoreadTU5r)niovpyuinsteadofTUKOO^U.
notonlymakestheuniversetobeawholeofwholes,buthealso
Bproducesthemultitudeofeachwholeness.Onalltheseaccounts
therefore,wethinkitpropertoassertthattheDemiurgusisbeyondthe
triadofrulingfathers;thatheisonefontalcause,andthattheOracles
representhimeradicatingthemultitudeofideasinthefontalsoul,and
constitutingtheworldfromintellect,soulandbody,andproducingour
souls,andsendingthemintogeneration.TheOracleslikewiseassertthe
samethingsofhimasTimaeus.Fortheysay,*"ThefatherofGodsand
menplacedourintellectinsoul,butsoulinsluggishbody."*Butthis
istheadmirablethingcelebratedbytheGreeks,concerninghimwhois
accordingtothem5theDemiurgus.Ifhoweverthesethingsareasserted
conformably0bothtoTimaeusandtheOracles,thosewhoareincited

bythedivinelydeliveredtheology[oftheChaldeans]willsaythatthis
Demiurgusisfontal;thathefabricatesthewholeworldconformablyto
ideas,consideredasone,andasmany,andasdividedbothintowholes
andparts,andthatheiscelebratedasthemakerandfatherofthe
universe,andasthefatherofGodsandmenbyPlato,Orpheus,andthe
Oracles;generatingindeed,themultitudeofGods,butsendingsoulsto
Cthegenerationsofmen,asTimaeushimselfalsosays.Forifheisthe
1,319bestofcauses,ashesays,bywhatcontrivancecanhebearrangedin
thesecondordersofDemiurgi?Forthemostexcellentamongthe
Demiurgiissignificantofthehighesttranscendencyinthedemiurgic
series.Butthehighestsummitofeveryseriesisfontal,sothatthis
Demiurgusisnecessarilyfontal,andnotruling;therulersbeingevery
wheresecondarytotheirproperfountain.**Hencealsoherendersthe
mundaneGodsDemiurgi,orfabricators,asbeingacertaindemiurgic
fountain.Since,however,therearemanyfontalDemiurgi,inwhat
placethisDemiurgusistobearranged,requiresgreaterconsideration.
tChald.Oracl.fr.94.
tTheGreekinthisplaceisveryfaulty.ForitisnareBeroyapvovfievev^vyrj
ennanderineaqeymreBriKeiranjpavdpavreBeuvre.Insteadofwhichitoughttobe,
KUTeBeroyap
Nowp.evevityvx<l,tvxyvB'evioujtcmapyu
HpeuveyKaTeBijiceirarijpavdptovreBeuvre.
Forirap'avryqhere,itisnecessarytoread7rap'avroiq.
QForoiM(j)v\u<;inthisplacereado/io^coewc.
0Tim.29a.
ttChald.Oracl.fr.56.
Butfromwhathasbeensaid,itisevidentinwhatorderofGodsitis
necessarytoinvestigatehim;fromwhichlikewise,itismanifestafter
whatmanneritisdifficulttofindhim,andwhenfoundtospeakofhim
toallmen.Itisalsoevidenthowheisfatherandmaker,andwhathis
effectivepoweris;andthatheisnotassomesay,themakerofinanimate
natures,butthefatherofsuchasareanimated.Forheisboththe
maker*andfatherofallthings.Forheiscalledthefatherofworks,as
Dliehimselfsaysinhisspeech[tothejuniorGods].*Butheismakerand
father,asthecauseofunion,essence,andhypostasis,andthesupplierof
providentialinspectioninallthings.
28c"Again,however,thismustbeconsideredrespectinghim,viz.
29aaccordingtowhichoftheparadigmstheartificerfabricatedtheworld,
whetheraccordingtothatwhichsubsistswithinvariablesameness,or
thatwhichwasgenerated."
Timaeushavingshownwhattheformisofthemundanesystem,that
itisgenerated,andthemannerinwhichitisgenerated,viz.assensible;

forhemakesnomentionwhateveroftime,becausehehasnotyet
constitutedtime;andhavingalsoshownwhatthedemiurgiccauseis,viz.
thatitiseffectiveandatthesametimepaternal,butthisisintellectual,
1,320imparticipableandtotal:henowpassestothethirdobjectofinquiry,
whatthenatureisoftheparadigmoftheuniverse,whethergenerated,
oreternal?Forheperceivedthateveryartificereitherassumesthe
paradigmofthethingswhichhefabricates,externally,orhimself
producesthemfromtheparadigminhimself.Justasofhuman
artificers,someareabletoimitateotherthingsaccurately;butothers
possessthemselvesapowercapableoffashioningadmirableanduseful
Eworks.Thushewhofirstmadeashipformedinhisimaginationthe
paradigmofit.Fartherstill,thisalsomustbeobserved,thateverything
whichmakesinanorderlymanner,hasthescopeandmeasureofthat
whichismade.Forifithasnot,itwillerrinmaking,andwillnot
knowwhetherithasarrivedattheendwhenithas.Forwhencewill
itknowthatthisistheend,sincesomethingmaybedeficientor
redundant,anditmaybenecessarytotakesomethingaway,ortoadd
something?Foronthisaccountbodiesmakeirrationallyandstupidly,
becausetheyhavenomeasure,norcauseofthethingthatismade.For
itisnecessarythatthemedicineshouldbeheatedtoacertaindegree;but
fIIoiijrTjcisomittedhereintheoriginal.
%Tim.41a.
ifartandthemedicalintellectarenotpresent,definingthemeasureof
energytothefire,itwilloperatetooabundantlyanddestroythewhole,
thoughitwasintendedtocontributetotheproductionoftheremedy.
Forithasnottheformofthethingproduced.Everything,therefore,
whichmakesoughttohavethereasonofthethingthatismade,ifit
intendstomakeinanorderlymanner.HencePlatoperceivingthis,at
thesametimethatheadmitstheeffectivecause,introducestheparadigm
oftheuniverse;justasAristotlealsobysubvertingtheparadigm,cosubverts
Flikewisethemaker.Platotherefore,takingitforgrantedthat
thereisaparadigm,investigatesthroughthesethingswhatthenatureof
itis,andemployingthebeforementioneddefinitions,discoversthe
objectofhisinquiry,throughthethreeformerhypotheses.Butinwhat
mannerhemakesthediscovery,andthroughwhatkindof
demonstration,weshallshortlyaftersurvey.*
1,321Inthefirstplace,however,thisverythingmustbeshownbyus,that
theworldwasgeneratedaccordingtoacertainparadigm.Andinthe
nextplace,wemustinvestigatewhatthisparadigmis,andinwhatorder
ofbeingsitsubsists.Ifindeedthefabricationofwholesisindefiniteand
withoutdesign,thereisnotaparadigmaticcauseoftheuniverse;butif
98Aitisnotlawfultoconceivethistobethecase,andtheDemiurgusknows
whatheproduces,andknowingthusproducesthefabricationofthe

world,thecausesofthethingsgeneratedarecontainedinhim,anditis
necessaryeitherthatheshouldprimarilypossessthesecauses,orthat
theyshouldbeimpartedtohimbymoreancientprinciples.But
whicheveroftheseweadmit,thereisaparadigmaticcausepriortothe
world.Fartherstill,sincetheDemiurgusisintellect,ifheproducesby
hisverybeing,heproducesthatwhichismostsimilartohimself.But
thisistoproduceanimageofhimself.If,however,heproducesfrom
deliberation,thisisentirelyandineveryrespectunworthyofthe
demiurgiccause.Andifsomeoneshouldadmitthistobethecase,yet
itwillfollowthattheformofthedemiurgicworkpreexistsinhim.
Foreveryonewhodeliberatesandconsults,antecedentlyassumesin
himselftheparadigmofthataboutwhichhedeliberates.Thistherefore,
maybedemonstratedthroughmanyotherarguments,thatitisnecessary
theparadigmoftheworldshouldhaveanexistencepriortotheworld,
Bandespeciallywhenthedemiurgiccauseispresupposed.Foritis
necessarythattheDemiurgusbeingintellectual,shouldeitherbe
ignorantoftheorderofwhatisfabricated,orthatheshouldknowit.
Butifheisignorantofthis,howcanheprovidentiallyattendtoit?
tcf.100Bff.infra,p.304.
Andhowcanhegivearrangementtotheuniverse?If,therefore,he
knowsit,howisitpossibleheshouldnotcomprehendthatwhichis]
generatedbytheintellectionofit,accordingtoonecause?
Inthenextplace,itmustbeconsideredwhatthisparadigmis,andin
whatorderofbeingsitranks.Forthereisadifferenceofopinion
respectingthisamongthemoreancientinterpreters.Thusaccordingto
thedivineIamblichus,thatwhichisbeingitself,andwhichis
comprehendedbyintelligenceinconjunctionwithreason,isthe
paradigmoftheuniverse.ForheadmitsthatTheOneisbeyondthe
paradigm,butshowsthatwhatisbeingitselfconcurswithit,and
1,322denominateseachthatwhichiscomprehendedbyintelligence.Butthe
philosopherPorphyrysupposes,aswehavebeforeobserved,*that
imparticipablesoulistheDemiurgus,butthatintellectistheparadigm,
thusbeholdinginsubordinate,natureswhichexistinmoreancientand
venerableorders.ForPlatohavingsaidthattheDemiurgusisintellect,
denominatestheparadigmintelligible.Butthisinterpreterassumingsoul
fortheDemiurgus,callstheparadigmintellect.Inthethirdplace,the
CadmirableTheodorasdividingthedemiurgictriad,andperceivingthat
ineachmonadofitthereisafirst,middleandlast,callsthelast*in
eachanimalitself,andthussaysthatintellectlookstoanimalitself;for
accordingtohim,intellectisproximatelysuspendedfromessential
animal.Hence,eithertheessentialDemiurgusdoesnotfabricatelooking
toanimalitself,ortheparadigmaticcausesarenotmany,ornotevery
Demiurguseffectshisproperproductionaccordingtoacertainparadigm,

testthemakershouldmakelookingtothingsposteriortohimself,and
thusshouldignorantlysustainthepassionofapartialsoul.
Ourpreceptor,however,accordingtohisdivineintellectual
conceptions,hasthoughtfittogivethissubjectanappropriate
examination.Foroftheancients,somehavemadetheDemiurgus
himselftopossesstheparadigmsofwholes,asPlotinus;5othersnotthe
Demiurgus,buthaveassertedthattheparadigmispriortohim,as
Porphyry;andothers,asLonginus,thatitisposteriortohim,whom
ourpreceptorasks,whethertheDemiurgusisimmediatelyposteriorto
TheOne,ortherearealsootherintelligibleorders,betweenthe
DDemiurgusandTheOne.ForiftheDemiurgussubsistsimmediately
afterTheOne,itisabsurdthatallthemultitudeofintelligiblesshould
tcf.94Asupra,p.284.
$FortKLXOTOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadeaxawv.
EnneadIII,9,1.
beimmediatelyposteriortothatwhichiswithoutmultitude.For
throughnumbersproximatetoTheOne,theprogressionistothewhole
ofnumber,andthewholeofmultitude.Butifthereareotherorders
1,323betweenTheOneandtheDemiurgus,itmustbeinvestigatedwhether
theparadigmoftheuniverseisintheDemiurgusprimarily,orposterior
toorpriortohim.Forifitisprimarilyinhim,wemustadmitthathe
containseveryintelligiblemultitude.Fortheparadigmisthemost
beautifulofintelligibles,sothatagainhewillbeintelligible,andnot
whatwealittlebeforedemonstratedhimtobe,*intellectual,thoughthe
paradigmhasfourideasalone,buttheDemiurgushasthosewhichare
morepartialthanthese,viz.theideasofthesunandmoon,andeachof
thenaturesthathaveaperpetualsubsistence.Butiftheparadigmis
posteriortohim,hewillbeconvertedtothatwhichislessexcellent,and
lesshonorable,whichitisnotlawfultoadmitofanydivinenature.So
thattheparadigmispriortotheDemiurgus.If,however,itispriorto
theDemiurgus,whetherisitseenbyhim,ornotseenbyhim?Tosay,
therefore,thatitisnotseenbyhim,doesnotaccordwithPlatoandthe
natureofthings.Foritisabsurdthatoursoulshouldseeit,and
Espeakaboutit,butthatitshouldnotbeseenbyintellect,andbyatotal
intellect.ButiftheDemiurgusseestheintelligible,whetherbeing
convertedtohimselfdoesheseeit,ordoeshealoneperceiveitexternal
tohimself?If,however,healoneseesitexternaltohimself,heseesthe
imageofbeing,andpossessessenseinsteadofintelligence.Butif
convertedtohimself,theobjectofhisintellectualperceptionwillbein
himself.Sothattheparadigmispriorto,andintheDemiurgus;
intelligiblyindeedpriortohim,butintellectuallyinhim.
ThewordsofPlatoalsoappearatonetimetomaketheparadigm

differentfrom,andatanotherthesamewiththeDemiurgus.Forwhen
hesays,*"Suchandsomanyideastherefore,asintellectsawinthatwhich
isanimalitself,somanyheconceivedbyadianoeticenergythisuniverse
shouldpossess,"heassertsthattheDemiurgus,asbeingdifferentfromthe
paradigm,isextendedtoanimalitself.Andagain,whenhesays,5"Let
usconsiderafterthesimilitudeofwhatanimalthecomposingartificer
constitutedtheworld.Indeed,wemustbynomeansthinkthathefashioned
itsimilartosuchanimalsassubsistintheformofapart;butwemust
admitthatitisthemostsimilarofallthingstothatanimal,ofwhichother
tcf.94Fff.supra,p.287.
*Tim.39e.
STim.30c.
animals,bothconsideredindividually,andaccordingtogenera,arenothing
morethanparts;"inthesewordsalsoheseparateshimwhoconstituted
Ftheuniversefromtheparadigm.Butwhenagainheclearlysays,*"He
wasgood;butinthatwhichisgood,envycanneverbeinherentaboutany
thingwhatever:beingthereforevoidofthis,hewaswillingthatallthings
shouldbeasmuchaspossiblesimilartohimself;"here,thesamenessofthe
Demiurguswiththeparadigm,appearstobemanifest.Sothatinsome
placesPlatosaysthattheDemiurgusisthesame,andinothers,thathe
isdifferentfromtheparadigm,andveryproperlymakeseachofthese
assertions.Fortheideas,orfourmonadsofideas,priortothe
fabricationofthingssubsistintelligibly;buttheorderofformsproceeds
intotheDemiurgus;andthewholenumberofideasisoneofthemonads
99Awhichhecontains.Orpheusalsoindicatingthesethingssays,*thatthe
intelligibleGod[Phanes]wasabsorbedbytheDemiurgusofwholes.
AndPlatoassertsthattheDemiurguslookstotheparadigm,indicating
throughsightintellectualperception.Accordingtothetheologist,
however,theDemiurgusleapsasitweretotheintelligibleGod,andas
thefablesays,absorbshim.Forifitberequisiteclearlytounfoldthe
doctrineofourpreceptor,theGodwhoiscalledProtogonusby
Orpheus,andwhoisestablishedattheendofintelligibles,isanimal
itself,5withPlato.Henceitiseternal,andthemostbeautifulof
intelligibles,0andisinintelligiblesthatwhichJupiterisinintellectuals.
Eachhoweveristheboundaryoftheseorders.0Andtheformer
indeed,isthefirstofparadigmaticcauses;butthelatteristhemost
monadicofdemiurgiccauses.HenceJupiterisunitedtotheparadigm
throughNightasthemedium,andbeingfilledfromthence,becomesan
intelligibleworld,asinintellectuals.
tTim.29e.
iFr.120.
ForT(j>ocvTOfauhere,readTOavwfaov.
Tim.30d.

Oie.Protogonusistheboundaryoftheintelligible,andJupiteroftheintellectual
order.
BThenofProtogonusthemightystrength
1,325Wasseen;forinhisbellyhecontain'd
Thewhole*ofthings,andmingledwhere'twasfit,
TheforceandpowerfulvigouroftheGod.
Hence,withtheuniversegreatJovecontains,&c.
Veryproperly,therefore,doesPlatonowsaythattheDemiurguslooked
totheparadigm,inorderthatbecomingallthingsthroughthe
intellectualperceptionofit,hemaygivesubsistencetothesensible
world.Fortheparadigmwastheuniverseintelligibly,butthe
Demiurgusintellectually,andtheworldsensibly.Hencealsothe
theologistsays:
Forinhissacredhearthetheseconceal'd,
Andintojoyfullightagainreveal'd.
Thattheworldtherefore,wasgeneratedaccordingtoaparadigm,what
thisparadigmis,afterwhatmanneritisabove,andhowitisin,the
demiurgicintellect,ismanifestthroughwhathasbeensaid.
SomehoweverdoubtwhyPlatoinquireswhethertheworldwas
fabricatedaccordingtothatwhichisgenerated,oraccordingtothat
whichisintelligible;forthereisnotanygeneratednatureinorderthat
theuniversemightbefabricatedwithrelationtoit.Ifthereforethe
inquiryhadbeenconcerningSocrates,oranyotherpartialnature,the
question,saythey,wouldhavebeenreasonable.Butastheinquiryis
Cconcerningtheuniverse,isitnotimpossibleitshouldhavebeen
constitutedwithrelationtothatwhichisgenerated?Forwhatother
generatednatureistherebesidestheuniverse?Wemaydissolvethis
doubthowever,byrecollectingwhathasbeenfrequentlysaid,thatPlato
callssoulgenerated,sofarasitparticipatesoftime.Buttheinquiryhere
is,whatistheparadigmoftheuniverse,whetheritissoul,orintellect,
ortheintelligible?Forthesearetheonlythingsthatareeternal.And
onthisaccountheasks,whethertheworldwasgeneratedwithrelation
toageneratedortoaneternalnature.Afterthismanner,asithas
appearedtosome,thedoubtmaybesolved.Mayitnot,howeverbe
possibletosolveit,byanothermoreperfectmethod,throughwhichit
willalsobeevidentthattheconfusedanddisorderlynaturepriortothe
tIntheoriginalTUVTUVTUVbeSe^ae,thewordbenote,orbodyobviouslysignifying
whole.Inthissensealso,thewordouiicx,whichislikewisebody,isusedbyAristotlein
bj2'^ap'2'*Meteorsl354^1f]Forhetheresays,thattheseaistheprinciple
and

/"tytftUwater,apxyveivaiKmOULWITOVTtavTOQvbenoe,i\b'eon.Thisprincipletoo,
qerwardscallsrjdpoionevoc,oyKoq,acollectedbulkormass.Sothat56/tacwitb.
"pneus,andouncewithAristotle,haveintheseplacesthesamemeaningasOXOTJJCor
wholenesswiththePlatonists.
1.326world,mustnotbesaid,asAtticusandPlutarchthoughtitmust,tobe
unbegotten?Forifnothingwasgeneratedpriortotheuniverse,itwas
ridiculoustoinquirewhethertheworldwasgeneratedwithrelationto
perpetualbeing,ortothatwhichisgenerated.Thishowever,isnow
investigated.Priortotheworldtherefore,therewasacertaingenerated
nature.Andsinceitwasneitherperpetualbeing,norplace;forthree
things[asPlatosays]werepriortothegenerationoftheuniverse,viz.
being,place,andgeneration;itisevidentthatthesomuchcelebrated
confusedanddisorderlynaturewasathingofthiskind.Hencenotthe
Duniverseonly,butthatwhichwasmovedinaconfusedanddisorderly
manner,wasgenerated,aswehavesaid,*andhadapriorsubsistence.
Theworldtherefore,possessingthisconfusednatureasmatter,butthe
intelligiblepreexistingasmoreexcellent,whetherwastheuniverse
assimilatedtothematerialnaturewhichitcontains,ortothatwhichis
essentiallymoredivine?Forbeingamediumbetweenthetwo,itis
necessarilyassimilatedtooneoftheextremes.Foritissupposedthat
theDemiurgusassumedthatdisorderlynature,andperceivesanimal
itself;sothatPlatoveryproperlyinquirestowhichofthesethe
Demiurgusassimilatestheuniverse,whethertothatwhichheassumes,
ortothatwhichhesees.Tothesethingstherefore,thatwhichfollows
isconformable;viz.thattheworldbeingbeautiful,itwasassimilatedto
theintelligible,andnottothatwhichwasmovedinaconfusedand
disorderlymanner.Forthatwhichisassimilatedtothisisdeformed.
Someoftheinterpretershoweversay,thatPlatodoesnotinquire
concerningtheDemiurgus,accordingtowhichoftheparadigmshemade
theworld,butthatheasksaswithreferencetouswhoknowthatthere
aretwofoldparadigms,withrelationtowhichifthesetheuniversewas
generated.Andthisassertionisafteracertainmannerreasonable.For
wearethosewholooktoboththeseparadigms,andnottheDemiurgus.
EForitisnotlawfulforhimtolooktothatwhichislessexcellent;but
weperceivingthenatureswhichareprior,andalsothosewhichare
posteriortohim,interrogateourselves,inwhichofthemitisfittoplace
theparadigm.ButotherssaythatPlatoadducesthatwhichisgenerated,
forthesakeofaperfectdivision,inorderthathemaynotappearto
preventtheobjectofinvestigation,whetherthemundaneparadigmis
1.327eternal.Forsupposingtheparadigmtobegenerated,heshowsthata
certainabsurditywillfollow.Othersagainsay,thatsinceofsensibles,
somearepreternatural,butothersaccordingtonature;andofthese,
somehavetheimagesofcertaingeneratednatures,butothersarethe
tcf.87Csupra,p.264.

similitudesofthem;hencePlatowishingtodemonstratethattheworld
wasgeneratedwithrelationtoaneternalparadigm,makesasubversion
oftheothers,onaccountoftheuniversebeingmostbeautiful.Forthat
whichismostbeautiful,isneitherpreternatural,norisderivedfroma
generatedparadigmaticessence;sincethatwhichisderivedfromthisis
notmostbeautiful.Butbecause,inshort,theuniverseisbeautiful,itis
notpreternatural.Suchtherefore,isthesolutionofthedoubt.
Itisworthwhilehoweverconciselytosurveytheaccuracyofthe
words.Forthewords"again,"and"mustbeconsidered,"indicatethe
Forderoftheproblem;viz.thatitisincontinuitywiththethingswhich
precedeit,andthatthisimmediatelyfollowsthosespeculations.Butthe
words,"respectinghim,"collectalltheinvestigations,andreferthemto
theonetheoryabouttheworld.ForwhatissaidabouttheDemiurgus
andtheparadigm,isassumedforthesakeofthetheoryoftheuniverse.
Thewords,"accordingtowhichoftheparadigms,"separateasextremes,
andasdifferentfromeachother,theintelligible,andthatwhichis
generated;theformerexistingamongthefirst,butthelatteramongthe
100Alastofbeings.Butthewordartificerexhibitstheproductionofformby
itscause,anddemiurgicartproceedingintotheworld.Forasthe
theologistsays,*thefirstmanualartificersgavetoJupiterthedemiurgic
powersofallthemundaneproduction.And,
Whothunder,andthelightningformedforJove.
VulcanandPallasthefirstartists,taught
Joveallthedaedalarts,theworldcontains.
Platothereforefollowingwhatthetheologisthereasserts,continually
usesthewordstekteinamenos;andetekteinato,*whichsignifyfabricative
energy,whenspeakingofthedemiurgicproduction.Butthewords,
"accordingtothatwhichsubsistswithinvariablesameness,"indicatethe
eternalparadigmoftheuniverse,whichisthefirstofeternalnatures,
1.328andisestablishedattheendofthefirstintelligibles.Andagain,"that
whichwasgenerated"signifies,thatwhichwasmovedinaconfusedand
disorderlymanner.Forthisisacomposite,ismuchmingled,andalter
motive,ormovedbyanother;allwhicharetheelementsofagenerated
nature.Hedoesnotthereforesaythatthisdisorderlynatureis
unbegottenandincorruptible,andthattheworldisgeneratedand
corruptible;butthattheformerofthesewasgenerated,asbeingalter
Fr.92.
$Tim.33a.
motiveandcomingled.ForPlatoclearlysays,*thatpriortothe
generationoftheuniversetherewerethesethreethings,place,

generation,andbeing.Anditisevidentthatbygenerationhemeansthe
confusedanddisorderlynature.Generationthereforeisthis;andthe
worldisunbegottenaccording'totemporalgeneration.Hencethese
thingsaremoreconcordantwithPlato,andwithourunperverted
opinionsabouttheuniverse.
29a"Indeed,ifthisworldisbeautiful,andtheDemiurgusofitisgood,it
isevidentthathelookedtoaneternalparadigm;butifheisnotgood,
whichitisnotlawfulforanyonetoassert,helookedtothatwhichwas
generated."
Inthefirstplace,itisrequisitethatweshouldunderstandthelogical
methodofPlato,inorderthatwemayseehowdemonstrativelyit
proceeds.Forfromthehypotheseshehadthesetwofoldaxioms,that
whatisgeneratedaccordingtoaneternalparadigmisbeautiful;butthat
whatisgeneratedaccordingtoageneratedparadigmisnotbeautiful.
Theconversehowevertotheseare,thatwhatisbeautifulwasgenerated
accordingtoaneternalparadigm,butwhatisnotbeautifulwasnot
generatedaccordingtoaneternalparadigm.Foriftotheoppositeof
thatwhichprecedes,theoppositeofthatwhichisconsequentfollows,
Cthenthesereciprocatewitheachother,andthatwhichwasproposed
fromthebeginningisdemonstrated,throughadeductiontoan
impossibility.Forifthatwhichisbeautifulwasgeneratedaccordingto
ageneratedparadigm,butthatwhichissogeneratedisnotbeautiful,
throughoneoftheaxioms,thenitwillfollowthatwhatisnotbeautiful
1,329isbeautiful.Whytherefore,didnotPlatoimmediatelyinthe
hypothesesassumetheseaxioms,viz.thatwhatisbeautifulwasgenerated
accordingtoaneternalparadigm,whatisnotbeautifulwasnotso
generated;butthosetowhichthesearetheconverse,thoughheintended
tousetheformer,andnotthelatterinhisdemonstration?Inanswerto
this,itmustbesaid,thatthelatterwhichcommencesfromcauses,are
moreadaptedtohypotheses,buttheformerwhicharederivedfrom
thingscaused,aremorealliedtothingsposteriortohypotheses.For
whenhesays,"Thatwhichwasgeneratedaccordingtoaneternalparadigm
isbeautiful,"hebeginsfromcauses,butendsinthatwhichiscaused.
Butwhenviceversa,hesays,"Thatisbeautifulwhichwasgenerated
accordingtoaneternalparadigm,"hemakesthebeautifultobe
precedaneous,butthecauseconsequent.Heemploystherefore,the
tTim.52d.
formerofthese,inorderthathemayassumethingsadaptedtoprinciples
andcausesinthehypotheses,butheemploysthelatter,whichisthe
converseoftheformer,inthedemonstrations,selectingthatwhichis
appropriatetothethingsdemonstrated.Hencelayingdownthesefour
Daxioms,heveryproperlyenquiresconcerningtheuniverse,whetherit

isbeautiful,orisnotbeautiful.Butifindeedtheworldisbeautiful,it
wasgeneratedaccordingtoaneternalparadigm;butifitisnotbeautiful,
accordingtoageneratedparadigm.Thattheworldhoweverisbeautiful,
isevidentfromsense.Itwasthereforegeneratedaccordingtoaneternal
paradigm.
Sincehoweverbeautyisimpartedtotheworldfromtheparadigm,
throughthedemiurgiccauseasamedium,inthepropositionwhich
precedes,forthepurposeofshowingthattheworldisbeautiful,he
assumesthattheDemiurgusisgood.Foreveryartificer,whoisagood
artist,hasdominionoverhispropermatter,andsuperinducestheform
whichhewishes,onthesubjectsofhisart.Andthisisaccomplishedin
amuchgreaterdegreebythewholeDemiurgus,whoalsogives
subsistencetonature,the[universal]subjectofthings,asotherassertions
evince;andwhoproducedit,thatitmightcooperate*withhim,in
receivingtheworldandfabricationfromhim.Sincehowever,hehad
addedthisinthesecondproposition,hepassesovertheoppositein
silence.Forthedefamationoftheworldisatrocious,sinceitismost
beautiful,andablessedGod,butthedefamationoftheDemiurgusisstill
moreso.HencePlatoemploysThemis*asaguardtowhathesays,
EwhocollectstheGodsthemselvestotheDemiurgus,anddoesnotsuffer
1,330themtobedivulsedfromthegoodnessofthefather.Andhedoesthis,
inorderthatthroughThemis,hemaynotascribeanythingdisorderly
ordefamatorytotheDemiurgus.Thepropositionstherefore,being
such,andreceivingtheirbeginningfromthedividingart,letusseewhat
Platoafterwardsadds.
29a"Itishowever,manifesttoeveryone,thathelookedtoaneternal
paradigm;fortheworldindeedisthemostbeautifulofgenerated
natures,andtheDemiurgusisthebestofcauses.Butbeingthus
generated,itisfabricatedaccordingtothatwhichmaybeapprehended
byreasonandintelligence,andwhichsubsistsinvariablythesame."
tInsteadofuepyoc;here,itisrequisitetoreadovvepyoq.
XForPlatousestheword0e/uc,orlawful,inthisplace.
Throughwhatisheresaid,inthefirstplace,heantecedentlyassumes
theconclusion,asheisaccustomedtodo,derivingtheprinciplesofhis
demonstrationsfromintellect.Inthenextplace,heintroducesthe
recollectionoftheassumption,andafterwardsaddstherest.*Forthe
words,"Itishowevermanifesttoeveryone,thathelookedtoaneternal
paradigm,"aretheconclusion.Butthewords,"Fortheworldindeedis
themostbeautifulofgeneratednatures,andtheDemiurgusisthebestof
causes,"areanarrationoftheassumption,asthecausalconjunction
indeedmanifests.Andtherestistheconclusionofallthatissaid.Such
Fthereforeisthelogicalarrangementofthewords.Butagain,betaking

ourselvestothetheoryofthethings,letusinthefirstplaceseethrough
whatcausehetransfersthewordbeautifultothewordmostbeautiful,
andgoodtothebest.Inthenextplace,letussurveyhowthesethings
aretrue,andwhatkindofordertheyhavewithreferencetoeachother.
Thatabeautifulfabricationtherefore,wasfabricatedaccordingtoan
eternalparadigmisevident,andwasbeforeasserted.Forwhencecould
itobtainthebeautiful,exceptfromtheimitationofthisparadigm?If
however,thisismostbeautiful,thefabricationwasnotsimplymade
101Aaccordingtoaneternalparadigm,butifitberequisitetosayso,itwas
assimilatedtothemosteternalofeternalnatures.Foreveryimage
whichmoreclearlyparticipatesofform,istheimageofapurer
1,331paradigm.Andasofthestatuesproducedbythetelesticart,somepartaking
ofthepresenceofadivinenaturemoreobscurely,enjoythesecondandthird
powersofthedivinity,butothersparticipatingofitmoreclearly,partake
alsoofthefirstandhighestpowersoftheGod;afterthesamemanner
likewise,theGodwhogivesperfectiontotheworld,hasrenderedit
mostbeautiful,asanimageofthefirstofeternalnatures.Forthat
whichismostbeautifulisderivedtotheworldfromthence,andis
extendedtoasimilitudetowardsit,throughitsownbeauty.Again
therefore,ifthedemiurgiccauseisgood,helookedtothatwhichis
eternal,andnottothatwhichisgenerated;lestbylookingtowhatis
lessexcellent,whichitisnotlawfultoassert,heshouldfallofffrom
goodness.If,however,thisbethecase,notonlyagoodcause,butthe
Bbestamongcauses,lookedtothemosteternalofparadigms.Forby
howmuchtheperceiverismoredivine,bysomuchthemoreelevated
istheobjectofperception.Forthesamethingwillnotbesurveyedby
thebetterandthelessexcellentnature.Platotherefore,indicatingthese
things,andthroughtheselatentlyassistingthepositionthatthe
paradigmoftheuniversedoesnotrankamongthemultitudeofeternal
tInsteadofTO\ijyovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTO\oiiroj>.
natures,butisthemosteternalofallofthem,andprimarilyeternal,
callstheworldindeedmostbeautiful,buttheDemiurgusmostexcellent.
Forthatwhichismostbeautifulwasgeneratedaccordingtothemost
divineparadigm,andthatwhichismostexcellentnecessarilylooksto
thatwhichissupreme.Forifthatwhichismostbeautifulwasnot
derivedfromthefirstparadigm,thisfirstparadigmwilleitherbethe
paradigmofnothing,orofsomethinglessexcellent.Butitisnotlawful
forsuperiornaturestomakethatwhichislessexcellentinsecondary
natures.Andunlessthatwhichisbestlookedtothatwhichisfirst
[eitheritwillnotmakethatwhichismostbeautiful*]ornotlookingto
thatwhichisfirstitwillmakeit.Howlikewise,willthatwhichisthe
firstparadigm,rankasaparadigm,unless*thatwhichisbest
intellectuallyperceivesit?Andhowcanthatwhichisintelligiblestoa
lessexcellentnature,beincomprehensiblethroughtranscendencybythat

Cwhichismoreexcellent?Henceitisnecessarythatwhatismost
beautifulshouldhavebeengeneratedaccordingtothatwhichismost
1,332divine,andthatwhatismostexcellentshouldlooktothatwhichis
mosteternal.Fartherstill,itisnecessarythatwhatismostbeautiful
shouldbefabricatedbythatwhichisbest.Forofwhatisthatwhichis
bestthecause,unlessofthatwhichisthemostbeautifulofgenerated
natures?Forifitisnotthecauseofthemostbeautifuleffect,itisthe
causeofsomethinglessexcellent.If,therefore,thatwhichisbestisthe
causeofthatwhichislessexcellent,thatwhichisnotbestwillbe
entirelythecauseofthatwhichismostbeautiful,andthustheorderof
thingswillberadicallysubverted.Itmustbeadmittedtherefore,that
thesethreethingsare,asitissaid,demonstratedbygeometrical
necessities;5andthroughtheseweareremindedafterwhatmanner
namesareassumedbyPlato.Porphyryhoweveradds,thatifthe
Demiurgusismostexcellent,itfollowsthathelookstoaneternal
nature,orDthathewillnotfabricatewhatisbeautiful.Andinthe
nextplace,0itisnecessarythathewhofabricateswhatis[truly]
tThewordsTJOVTCOUITOKCXWIOTOV,areomittedintheoriginal,butevidently
lughttobeinserted.
$Insteadofr)inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadei/tJj.
Scf.Rep.V,458d.
Insteadofethere,read%
Foreirereadeira.
beautiful,shouldlooktothatwhichiseternal,or*hewillnotmake
whatisbeautifulasthebestoffabricators,buthewillmakeitcasually.
Hencealso,Platoassertsthatthefabricatorsofmortalnaturesare
daemons.Andifindeed,theyaresimplymostexcellent,nothingwill
preventtheartificersandframersofmortalnaturesfrombeinglikewise
mostexcellent,andonthisaccountthefabricatorsofbeautifulimages.
SuchthereforearetheobservationsofPorphyry.
DWemayeasilyhoweverlearn,thatitisrightlysaidtheworldismost
beautiful,andtheDemiurgusthebestofcauses.Inthefirstplace,
indeed,thebeautyoftheheavens,theorderoftheperiods,themeasures
oftheseasons,theharmonyoftheelements,andtheanalogywhich
pervadesthroughallthings,demonstratetothosewhoarenotentirely
blind,thattheuniverseismostbeautiful.Inthenextplace,doesnotthe
orderoftheinvisiblepowersitcontains,accordingtowhichtheparts
oftheworldareconnected,andthegiftoftheintellectualessence,
evincethatitisthemostbeautifulofgeneratednatures?Forthereare
inittheharmoniouschoirofsouls,theparticipationofintellect,the
supplyofadivinelife,theprogression*ofineffabledeity,andthe
numberofhenadsorunities,fromwhichthewholebecomesfullof
beauty.Sincealso,the[partial]soulwhichisassimilatedtotheuniverse,
becomingelegantlyadorned,exhibitsinherselfanadmirablebeauty,

1,333howisitpossiblethattheuniverseshouldnotpossessbeautyinastill
greaterdegree?hencetheologists5conjoiningVenuswithVulcan,say
thathethusfabricatedtheuniverse.Andagain,fromVulcanand
EAglaia,theygenerateEucleiaandEusthenia,Euphemeand
Philophrosune,whorenderthecorporealformednaturedecoratedwith
beauty.Neithertherefore,dothosewhoreviletheDemiurgus,dareto
saythattheworldisnotmostbeautiful,butonthecontrarytheysay
thatthroughthebeautyofitsoulsarealluredandensnared.
ButhowarewetoadmitthattheDemiurgusisthebestofeternal
natures?Forsomethinkthatwemustunderstandbythiswordbest,the
bestcausesofgeneratednatures,inorderthathemaynotbeabsolutely
thebestofthecauses.Forthiswouldbefalse,butthathemaybethe
bestofcausesofthingsthataregenerated;sincethenaturesthatare
abovehimarenotthecausesofthese.Ihowever,shouldbeashamedof
myself,ifIwereinwantofsuchanartificeasthis,forgettingwhatwas
tThesameemendationisalsorequisitehereasabove.
$Itappearstomethatthewordirpoodoc;mustbesuppliedinthisplace.
Orph.fr.140,Lobeck,Aglaophemus,542ff.
alittlebeforesaid,*inwhichtheDemiurgusnowdeliveredtousby
Plato,wasshowntobethefountainandmonadofeverydemiurgic
order.Onaccountofthistherefore,heisthebestofcauses,becausehe
isallottedthefirstorderamongthedemiurgioftheuniverse;Platohere,
FdirectlyemulatingHomer,*whocallstheDemiurgusthefatherof
wholes,andthesupremeofrulers;andhethusdenominateshimthough
hementionstheGodspriortohim,asfarastotheGoddessNight.
BecausethereforeJupiteristhemostancientandvenerableofdemiurgi,
heiscelebratedbyHomerasthesupremeofrulers,butbyPlatoasthe
best5ofcauses.Othershoweverbynomeansdaretoaccusethe
Demiurgus,butblamethisuniverse,andperverttheassertionsofthe
1,334ancients,whocallitacavernandaden.Andothers,asHeraclitus,0
say,thattheDemiurgussportedinfabricatingtheworld.
Totheseobjectionshoweveritiseasytoreply.Forthoughtheworld
102Ais,asPlatosays,mostbeautiful,andablessedGod,yetwhen
comparedwiththeintelligible,andtheplacewhichisthere,itis
deservedlycalledacavernandaden.Anditisespeciallysotopartial
soulswhovergetobodiesandmatter.Butwithrespecttothe
Demiurgus,thoughheisthebestofcauses,yetthewholeofhis
providentialenergiesabouttherecentfabrications,maybecalledsport,
whencomparedwiththeenergieswhichareexemptfromsensibles.For
thesereasonstherefore,theDemiurgusisthuscelebratedinthepresent
wordsbyPlato.Itisrequisitealsotounderstandhowthecoordination
ofthemostbeautifulwiththemostexcellent,issuspendedfromthefirst
principles.ForasinthembeautyissuspendedfromTheGood,andthe

beautifyingcause,fromthefountainofallgood,thusalsohere,the
worldissaidtobemostbeautiful,buttheDemiurgusmostexcellent,
andthemostbeautifulissuspendedfromthatwhichisbest.Inthenext
placeitisrequisitetounderstandhowwhatissaidaboutthefabrication
itself[ofthings]imitatesthisfabrication.Forastheworlditselfwasled
Bfromconfusiontoorder,andasimilitudetotheintelligible,by
fabrication,thusalsothediscussionofitfirstemployedabhorrent
appellations,callingitgeneratedanddestructible,butnowthemost
tcf.96DEsupra,p.293.
*IliadXTV,259.
Forairioehere,itisnecessarytoreadapioroc.
Fr.52d.
0Tim.34b.
venerablenames,denominatingitthebestofgeneratednatures,the
offspringofthemostexcellentfather,andtheimageofthemostdivine
paradigm.Andshortlyafter,*heremindsusofitbythemostsacredof
names.
29b"Butagain,thesethings[thus]subsisting,thereiseverynecessitythat
theworldshouldbetheimageofacertainthing."
Tothosewhoaremoresimple,whatisheresaidmayappeartobethe
samewithwhatwasbeforeasserted.Forsomeonewhodoesnotsurvey
thingsaccuratelymayaskwhatdifferencethereisbetweensaying,that
theworldwasfabricatedaccordingtoaparadigm,andthatitisthe
1,335imageofacertainthing.Inrealityhowever,eachoftheseisseparated
fromtheother.Forsinceitispossibleforanartificertomake
conformablytoaparadigm,butthethingfabricatedmaynotbecomethe
imageoftheparadigminconsequenceofnotbeingvanquishedbythe
fabricatingcause;inorderthatyoumaynotfancythatthisisalsothe
casewiththeworld,PlatohasshownthattheDemiurgusindeed
Clookedtoaparadigm,andthatbeingmostexcellenthelookedtothe
mostdivineparadigm,fromwhathesaidrespectingtheuniversebeing
fabricatedconformablytotheintelligible.Butthattheuniversealsois
vanquishedbyform,andtruly*imitatesitsparadigm,hemanifestsfrom
whatisnowsaid.Foriftheworldisanimage,theuniverseis
assimilatedtotheintelligible.Forthatwhichisnotdissimilarbut
similarandconsentaneous,isanimage.Youhavetherefore,thesensible
universe,themostbeautifulofimages,theintellectualuniverse,thebest
ofcauses,andtheintelligibleuniverse,themostdivineofparadigms.
Eachofthesealsoiseverywhere.Forthesensibleuniverseparticipates
ofintellectandbeing;theintellectualuniversepossessessensibles
uniformly,butintelligibles5secondarily;andtheintelligibleuniverse
antecedentlycomprehends,primordiallyandunitedly,intellectualsand

sensibles.Theuniversehowever,subsistsappropriatelyineachorder.
Andthesensibleuniverseindeed,isplacedbeforeusasafabrication;but
theeternalistwofold,theonebeingasdemiurgic,buttheotheras
paradigmatic;thoughtheparadigmaticisalsointhedemiurgic.Forthe
Demiurgusmakeslookingtohimself;0sinceeveryintellectseesitself,
tTim.29e.
XForovToqhere,readOVTUQ.
ForrotatadriTahere,itisnecessarytoreadrotvor\TCt.
cf.AristotleMetaphysicsXII,7,1072b20.
andisthesamewiththeintelligibleitcontains.Andagainthe
Ddemiurgicisintheparadigmatic;sinceitmakesthatwhichisgenerated.
Foritisnotaparadigmlikeaformimpressedinwax,*norastheimage
ofSocratesistheimageofanotherimage;buttheparadigmaticcauseby
itsverybeingmakessecondarynaturessimilartoitself.Atthesame
timehowever,tofabricateparadigmatically,andtobeaparadigm
demiurgically[i.e.fabricatively]differ.Fortheformeristoenergize
essentially;butthelatteristoimpartessenceenergetically.Andtheformer
istoperceiveintellectually,intelligibly;butthelatteristobeintelligible
1,336intellectually.Forthepeculiarityoftheparadigmistomakebyitsvery
being;butoftheDemiurgus,tomakebyenergizing.Foritisnotthesame
thingtomakebyexisting,andtoknowandenergizethrough
knowledge;sincesoulalsoproduceslifebyexisting,butmakesartificially
throughknowledge.Anditpossessesindeed,theformeressentially,but
thelatteraccordingtoenergy.Andwhyisitrequisitetolengthenthese
observationsphilosophically?Forthetheologist*longbefore,celebrates
thedemiurgiccauseinPhanes.Forthere,ashesays,thegreatBromius,or
allseeingJupiter,was,andantecedentlyexisted;inorderthathemight
haveasitwerethefountainsofthetwofoldfabricationofthings.He
EalsocelebratestheparadigmaticcauseinJupiter.Foragain,helikewise
is,ashesays,Metisthefirstgenerator,andmuchpleasingLove.Heis
alsocontinuallydenominatedbyhim,Dionysius,andPhanes,and
Ericapaeus.Allthecausesthereforeparticipateofeachother,andarein
eachother;sothathewhosaysasthedivineIamblichus,thatthe
Demiurguscomprehendsinhimselftheparadigm,andhewhoevinces,
astheillustriousAmelius,thattheparadigmistheDemiurgus,ina
certainrespectspeakrightly.Forthelattersawthedemiurgic
peculiaritypreexistingintheparadigm;fortherethefirstJupiterexists,
andonthisaccounthemakesPhanestobetheDemiurgus;butthe
formersawtheparadigmintheDemiurgus.ForMetisalsowasinthe
Demiurgus,beingabsorbedbyhim.Andonthisaccountheconsidered
theparadigmatictobethesamewiththedemiurgiccause.Andthus
muchconcerningtheseparticulars.
Weoughtnothowever,towonderifPlatocallstheworldanimage.
Forthoughitismostbeautiful,yetitistheimageofintelligiblebeauty.

Throughthissimilitudealso,itexhibitssuchthingsasadorn5and
tcf.Thecetetus147ab.
tFr.71,Lobeck,Aglaophemus,495ff.
ForeiripoitevovTahere,IreadETtnrpeTrovTot.
1,337beautifygeneration,andreceivesasawholetheformoftheparadigm.
Thusthephilosophercallstheworldtheimageoftheintelligible,as
beingassimilatedtoitsparadigm.Theadditionlikewiseofnecessity,
showsthatthesimilitudeoftheformertothelatterisadmirableand
ineffable.Afterwardsalso,hetestifiesthisbyademonstration
indubitableandfirm.Foritproceedsfromthehypothesesthemselves.
29b"Butineverything,tobeginfromaprincipleaccordingtonature,is
thegreatestofundertakings."
103ASomereadwhatisheresaidbystoppingatthewordpantos,every
thing,accordingtowhomthewordsindicate,thatitisthegreatestofall
things,tomakethatbeginningofthediscussionwhichisaccordingto
nature.Butothers,stoppingatthewordmegiston,greatest,conjointhe
wordpantoswithwhatfollows;sothatwiththemthecolonsignifies
thatitisthegreatestundertaking,tobeginthediscussionofthe
universe,fromaprinciplewhichisaccordingtonature.Othersagain
saythatthesewordsareintroducedforthesakeofthethingspreviously
assumed,thesebeingrightlyconcludedthroughthehypotheseswhich
werenecessary.Butaccordingtoothers,theyareintroducedforthe
sakeofwhatisdirectlyafterasserted,itbeingrequisite,ifweintendto
makeaproperbeginning,todefinepreviouslywhatkindofdiscourses
oughttobeadoptedconcerningsensibles.Andotherssay,theyare
introducedforthesakeofwhatwillafterwardsbedeliveredconcerning
thefinalcause.Forthisisthegreatestprinciple,andaccordingto
nature,whichitisrequisiteespeciallytosurvey,andfromwhich
commencingitisfittodiscusswhatfollows.Butthatprevioustothe
disquisitionofthis,heinformsuswhatthemodewillbeofphysical
discussions.
Tomehowever,thisaxiomappearstoberightlyassertedofallthings.
BForitisuniversal,andisadaptedtowhathasbeenbeforesaid,towhat
immediatelyfollows,andtowhatwillbeagainsaid.Orrather,itisnot
adaptedtothesealone,buttoallfabrication.Forbeginningfroma
principleaccordingtonatureasfromaroot,Platodeliversafterwards
explanationsofcausehomologoustothisprinciple.Andscienceitself,
1,338fromproperhypotheses,collectsappropriateconclusions.Science
thereforefollowstheorderofthings;butdoctrinaldisquisitionfollows
science.Andthisisthegreatestundertaking.Inthefirstplace,because
itimitateswholes,andtheprogressionofbeings.Inthenextplace,

becauseifthesmallestparticularisoverlookedintheprinciple,it
becomesmultipliedasweproceed.Andinthethirdplace,theprinciple
orbeginning,issaidtobethehalfofthewhole.Ifhowever,thisbethe
case,itpossessesthegreatestpower.If,too,assomesay,theprinciple
issomethingmorethanthewhole,itisinanadmirablemannersaidto
bethegreatestthing.Thetruthofthisisalsotestifiedbypoetswho
say,"thateverythingwhichreceivesagoodbeginningusuallyends
well."Andmoreover,onthisaccounttheAthenianguest*callsthe
CprincipleaGod,ifitobtainsthatwhichisfit.Forhesays,"Principle
beingestablishedinmenasaGod,producesallthingsrightlyifitobtains
acongruousportion[orthepartwhichisadaptedtoit]."
Butwhatisthemeaningofthewords"accordingtonature"?Isitthe
receivingeverythingwhichoughttobereceived,orisitthatwhichfirst
proceedsfromthingswhichsubsistessentially?Forthatwhichislastts
aprincipleaswithreferencetous,butnotwithreferencetonature.
Theprincipletherefore,accordingtonature,oftheuniverseindeed,is
thefinalcause,butofdemonstrationsthehypotheses,andofdiscussions
thedefinitionrespectingtheformofthedoctrine,whetheritistobe
1,339receivedasfirm,immutableandaccurate,orasthatwhichismerely
probable,andisnotindeedtruth,butcredible,andassimilatedtotruth.
29b"Afterthismannertherefore,wemustdecideabouttheimage,andthe
paradigmofit."
Thesethreeparticularsareconnascentlyconsequenttoeachother,the
things,theconceptions,andthewords.Accordingtothethingsandthe
conceptionstherefore,Platoassumesthefirsthypothesis;butaccording
Dtothewordshemakesthisdefinition.Forwhenheseparatesthat
whichisgeneratedfrombeing,headherestothetheoryofthethings.
Butwhenhedefinesourknowledgeaccordingtotheobjectsofit,be
adherestothetheoryoftheconceptions.*Andnowdistributingthe
wordsaccordingtothediversityintheknowledgeofthem,be
demonstratestoustheirdefinitenature.Hence,theseareconsentaneous
toeachother;viz.twofoldthings,beingandthatwhichisgenerated;
twofoldknowledges,intelligenceandopinion;andtwofoldwords,the
stableandtheprobable.Forwhenceareknowledgesderived,except
fromtheobjectsofknowledge?Andwhenceisthedifferenceofwords
derived,exceptfromknowledges?Somethereforesay,thatitisthe
logographicarttodefinepreviouslywhatthemodeisofthediction,and
tLawsVII,775e.
"orjuaoriginal,oreberaqTHierepaqypuaeiqbiopifri,eviroiqTcpttypxwivrotetop
Kidm"'Ch"evidentlydefective>butmayberestoredtoitsgenuinemeaning
byft*8'Te56ra?V^repaqypuaeiqbiopifriemroiqirpuynuoiv,ttjcapreiyerodeupuxq
wpv0r\juXTUP.

whatkindofpersontheauditorofitoughttobe;andthatAristotle
emulatedthis,*andalsomanyothersmorerecent.
Ihowevershouldsaythatthediscussionimitatesthefabricationitself
ofthings.Forasthatunfoldsintolighttheinvisiblelivesoftheworld,
butgivessubsistencetothatwhichisapparent,andimpartsaboundary
toitpriortothewholeworld,thusalsoTimaeusadheresindeedtothe
theoryofthethings;butalsomakestheformofthewordstobe
Eadaptedtothethings;andantecedentlyassumes,andpreviouslydefines
themodeofthewholetheoryofthediscussion,inorderthathemay
disposethewholeofthedoctrineconformablytothisdefinition.Why
thereforedoeshedothisnowandnotbefore?Because,afterthe
demonstration,thatitisrequisitetheworldshouldbegenerated,he
necessarilydefineswhatthenatureofthediscussionaboutsensible
thingsoughttobe,butnotpriortothis,thenatureoftheuniverse
1,340beingunknown.Butwhenhecallstheworldanimage,animageof
suchakindisnot*tobeassumed,asweconceivethatofinanimate5
naturestobe,asneitheristheparadigmunprolificandinefficacious,but
anassimilationmustbegiventothisworldtotheintelligible.Inthe
firstplaceindeed,accordingtotheprolificpoweroftheparadigm;for
byitsverybeingitproducestheimagefromitself.Inthesecondplace,
accordingtothedemiurgiccause,whichrenderstheuniversemost
similartotheintelligible,bytheenergiesextendedtoit.Andinthe
thirdplace,accordingtotheconversionoftheworlditselftothe
formingpowerandparticipationofintelligibles.For"itassimilates
Fitself,astheOraclesays,Dhasteningtobeinvestedwiththeimpression
oftheimageswhichtheintelligibleGodsextendtoit."
29b"Aswordsthereforearealliedtothethingsthemselvesofwhichthey
aretheinterpreters."
AstheprogressionofbeingsisfromTheOnewhichisprior0tothe
many,andmundanenaturesproceedfromamonadtotheirproper
number,thusalsothediscourseofTimaeus,beingassimilated,ashesays,
tobeings,commencesfromoneaxiom,andtheuniversal,andthus
tcf.AristotleRhetoricsI,3,1358b2ff.
XOvisomittedintheoriginal.
For\l/vxwvbere,itisnecessarytoreadafaxuv.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.97&108.
Onpoisomittedintheoriginal.
afterwardsintroducesdivisiontohiswords.Whatthereforeistheone
104Acommonaxiom,inthewordsbeforeus?Thatitisnecessarylanguage

shouldbealliedtothethings,ofwhichitistheinterpreter.Andit
seemsthatthePlatonistsAlbinusandGaius,andtheirfollowers,took
occasionfromhencetodefineinhowmanywaysPlatodogmatizes;and
thathedoesthisinatwofoldrespect,eitherscientifically,orfrom
probability,andnotaccordingtoonemode,norasifalldiscussionshad
oneaccuracy,whethertheyareconcerningbeings,orthingswhich
subsistthroughgeneration;butsuchasisthenatureofthings,suchalso
isthatofthewordswhicharedividedinconjunctionwiththings.
1,341Hencetheysubsistinsuchawaywithrespecttoaccuracyandclearness
aboutthethingswhicharetheirsubjects,thatsomewordsassertthe
accuracyofthedogmas,butotherstheirprobability.Foritisnecessary
thatlanguageshouldbesimilartothings;sinceitcouldnototherwise
interprettheirnature,thanbybeingalliedtothem.Foritisrequisite
thatwhatthethingiscontractedly,thatlanguageshouldbeevolvedly;
inorderthatitmayunfoldthethingintolight,andmaybesubordinate
Btothenatureofit.Hence,thedivinecausesoflanguageunfoldafter
thismannertheessencesofthenaturespriortothem,andare
connascentwiththem.IntheGodstherefore,theangelormessengerof
Jupiter[i.e.Hermes],whohastherelationoflogostotheintellectofhis
father,announcesthewillofJupitertosecondarynatures.Butinessences,
soulwhichisthelogosofintelligibles,unfoldstheunitedcauseofwholes
whichisinthem,shereceivingfromthemherhypostasis.*Andinthe
generasuperiortous,theangelicorderhastherelationoflogostotheGods.
Veryproperlytherefore,isitheresaid,thatlanguageisalliedtothe
thingsofwhichitistheinterpreter.Thistherefore,mustbesaidtobe
theone*commonaxiom,priortothedividedparticulars.AndTimaeus
inwhatfollows,distributesdifferentmodesofwordsinconjunction
withthequalityofthethings.
29b"Hence,respectingthatwhichispermanentandstable,and
1,342intellectuallyapparent,itisrequisitethatthewordsshouldbeasmuch
aspossiblepermanent,withoutlapse,irreprehensibleandimmutable.
Butinthis[stability]theparadigmisinnorespectdeficient."
Priortothis,Timaeuscalledtheparadigmperpetualbeing,subsisting
invariablythesame,andapprehendedbyintelligence;butnowhecalls
tForTt\vvitodeoivhere,itisnecessarytoreadrt\vVKOOTOLOIV.
XEJ>isomittedintheoriginal,butevidentlyoughttobeinserted.
itpermanentandstable;theformerindeed,insteadofperpetualbeing,
andwhichisapparentinconjunctionwithintellect,butthelatter,
Cinsteadofthatwhichisapprehendedbyintelligence.Healso
denominatesthewordsrespectingitpermanent,indeed,inorderthat
throughthesamenessofthename,hemayindicatethesimilitudeof
themtothings;butwithoutlapse,inorderthattheymightadumbrate

thefirmnessofthething.Andirreprehensible,inorderthattheymay
imitatethatwhichiscomprehendedbyintelligence,andmay
scientificallyaccede.Foritisnecessarythatwords,inorderthatthey
maybeadaptedtointelligibles,shouldhaveaccuracyandfirmness,as
beingemployedaboutthingsofthiskind.Forastheknowledgeof
eternalnaturesiswithoutlapse,solikewiseisthediscourseaboutthem.
Foritisanevolvedknowledge.Since,however,itproceedsinto
multitude,andisallottedacompositenature,andonthisaccountfalls
shortoftheunionandimpartibilityofthething,hedenominatesthe
thingitselfinthesingularnumberpermanentandstable,and
intellectuallyapparent;butthediscourseaboutitinthepluralnumber,
callingitstablewords,whicharewithoutalapse,andareirreprehensible.
Andsinceinlanguagethereisacertainsimilitudetotheparadigm,but
thereisalsoacertaindissimilitude,andthisabundant,heassumesone
Dwordincommonthepermanent,buttheothersdifferent.Sincealsoa
scientificdiscourseisirreprehensible,aswithreferencetoour
knowledge;forthereisnotanythinginusbetterthanscience;butis
1,343confutedbythethingitself,asnotbeingabletocomprehendthenature
ofit,suchasitreallyis,andasfallingoff1fromitsimpartibility,on
thisaccountheadds,"asmuchaspossible."Forscienceitself,as
subsistinginsouls,isindeedirreprehensible,butisreprehendedby
intellect,forevolvingthatwhichisimpartible,andapprehendingthat
whichissimpleinacompositemanner.Forthephantasyalso
reprehendssense,becauseitsknowledgeisinconjunctionwithpassion,
accordingtoacommixture,fromwhichthephantasyispurified.But
opinionreprehendsthephantasybecauseitsknowledgeisattendedwith
typeandmorphe,fromwhichopinionisfree.Sciencereprehends
opinion,becauseitsknowledgeiswithouttheexplanationofcause,by
whichscienceisespeciallybound.Andintellectaswehavesaid,
reprehendsscience,becauseittransitivelydividestheobjectof
knowledge,butintellectknowsatoncethewholeinconjunctionwith
essence.Henceintellectisaloneunconquerable,butscience,and
tForairo/iejiochere,IreadcmoaTi\aaiiivoc,.
scientificdiscourse,arevanquishedbyintellect,accordingtothe
knowledgeofbeing.
29c"Itisnecessaryhowever,thatwordsrespectingthatwhichisassimilated
tothepermanentandstable,butwhichistheimageofbeingshould
possessprobability[alone]."
EThatthediscussionofgenerated1natures,isadiscussionaboutan
image,andthatonthisaccountitistobecalledprobable,isevident.
Perhapshowever,someonemayinquirewhatwordsremaintobe
assignedtothingswhicharenotassimilatedtotheintelligible,butyet

atthesametimeexistintheuniverse,suchasweassertconjecturaland
artificialthingstobe.Maywenotsay,thatwordsofaconjectural
natureareadaptedtothese,whichwordsaredifferentfromthosethat
areassimilative?Fortoconjectureisonething;sincethisismore
obscurethansense;andtoassimilateanother.Forassimilationpertains
totheinterpretersoftheimagesofbeing.Artificial,therefore,and
conjecturalthings,areunfoldedthroughconjecturalwords.Unlessother
suchlikewordsareadaptedtothingswhicharetrulyconjectural;but
withrespecttoartificialthings,assimilativeorprobablewords,are
1,344adaptedtothosethatarethefirstfromforms,buttothosewhichhave
asecondaryhypostasis,andarethethirdfromtruth,suchwordsare
adaptedaspertaintothingsconjecturalbynature.Forconjectural
thingsaretheimagesofsensibles,inthesamemannerassensiblesarethe
imagesofintelligibles.Thusthepaintedbedistheimageofthatwhich
ismadebythecarpenter.
Fartherstill,thisalsomustbeconsidered,thatPlatoisnowspeaking
Faboutphysicalimages,andthatonthisaccounthegivesatwofold
divisiontowords.Forthingswhichareassimilatedtotheintelligible,
subsistbynatureornaturally;butthisisnotthecasewiththings
artificial.Fortheartistdoesnotmakethatwhichhemakes,according
tocertainideas,thoughSocratesappearstosaythisintheRepublic.}
There,however,whatissaid,isassertedforthesakeoftheparadigm,
andisnotconcerningideasthemselves.ForhesaysthatGodisthe
makerandDemiurgusofthingsartificial,9butheisnottheDemiurgus
ofideas.ButintheProtagoras,*itisclearlyshownbyPlatothatwedo
tForirpoTUVyev7)TUVinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTrepiVUf
ItvriTuv.
tRep.X,596b.
Scf.Protagoras312b319c.
notcontainthereasonsorproductiveprinciplesofthearts,/andmuch
lessofthingsartificial,andthatneitheraretheparadigmsofthem
105AestablishedintheGods.Thesethereforewerenotgeneratedaccording
totheintelligible.Plato,however,nowdivideswordsintothosewhich
pertaintothediscussionoftheintelligible,andthosewhichare
concerningtheimageoftheintelligible.Henceindicatingthishesays,
thatwordsrespectingthatwhichisassimilatedtothepermanentandstable,
butwhichistheimageofbeing,shouldpossessprobability[alone].Butthe
worksofnatureareassimilatedtotheintelligible,andnottheworksof
art;sothatneitherhaveparticularsthisassimilationdefinitely,butthe
universalswhichareinthem.Wehave,however,spokenconcerning
thesethingselsewhere.
29c"Thelatterwordshavingthesamerelationtotheformer[asthatofan

imagetoitsparadigm].Forwhatessenceistogeneration,thattruthis
tofaith."
Priortothis,Timaeusmadetwothingsantecedent,theintelligibleand
thegenerated,ortheparadigmandtheimage,andassumedtwothings
1,345asanalogoustothese,scienceandprobability,ortruthandfaith:sothat
astruthistotheintelligibleparadigm,soisfaithtothegeneratedimage.
Butnowalternatelyhesays,astruthistofaith,soistheintelligibleto
Bthatwhichisgenerated.Andthisperfectlywell.Forhemakesthe
intelligibleandtruthtobeantecedent,butatthesametimebeginsfrom
thatwhichisgeneratedandfaith,thathemayminglethatwhichhasa
referencetouswiththeorderwhichisaccordingtonature,andthathe
maypreservetheproperworthofthethings,andmayarguefromwhat
isknowntous.Plato,therefore,clearlydivideslanguageandknowledge
conformablytotheobjectsofknowledge;andParmenidesthough
obscureonaccountofhiswritingsbeingpoetical,yetatthesametime
indicatingthesethings,hesays,*"thattruthisfullofsplendorand
immutable,butthattheopinionsofmortalshavenorealcredibility."
Andagain,"thattherearetwopaths,oneofwhichhasarealexistence,
sothatitisnotpossibleforitnottoexist.Butthisisthepathof
Persuasion,andisattendedbyTruth.Theother,necessarilyhasnotrue
existence.Theformerofthesepaths,however,thoughrepletewiththe
mostperfectpersuasion,isunpleasant."Andagain,"Neithercanyou
haveanyknowledgeofnonbeing;foritisnotattainable;norcanyou
ti.e.Thesouldoesnotessentiallycontainthereasonsofthoseartswhicharesolely
ministranttothepurposesofthemorallife.
%cf.Parmenides,fr.1,29,K,R&S.
makeitthesubjectofdiscourse."*Thephilosopherthereforesays,that
1,346therearetwofoldknowledges,oftwofoldthings;truthwhichhecalls
fullofsplendor,asshiningwithintellectuallight;andfaith,fromwhich
Chetakesawaystableknowledge.Thefaith,however,whichPlatonow
mentionsappearstobedifferentfromthatspokenofhiminthe
Republic,}inthesectionofaline.Fortherethefaithisanirrational
knowledge;whencealsoitisdividedfromconjecture,butisarranged
accordingtosense.Thefaithhoweverofwhichhenowspeaksis
rational,butismingledwithirrationalknowledge,asitemployssense
andconjecture.Henceitisfilledwithmuchoftheunstable.For
receivingfromsenseorconjecturetheon,orthatathingis,itthus
explainscauses.Butthesekindsofknowledge,havemuchofthe
confusedandunstable.HenceSocratesinthePhaedo*reprehendssense
inmanyrespects,becauseweneitherhearnorseeanythingaccurately.
How,therefore,cantheknowledgewhichoriginatesfromsensepossess
theaccurateandtheirreprehensible?Forthepowerswhichusescience
alone,comprehendthewholeofthethingknownwithaccuracy;but

thosethatenergizewithsense,aredeceived,anddeviatefromaccuracy,
Donaccountofsense,andbecausetheobjectofknowledgeisunstable.
Forwithrespecttothatwhichismaterial,whatcananyonesayofit,
sinceitisalwayschangingandflowing,andisnotnaturallyadaptedto
abideforamoment.Butthatwhichiscelestial,inconsequenceofbeing
remotefromus,isnoteasilyknown,nortobeapprehendedbyscience,
butwemustbesatisfiedinthetheoryofit,withanapproximationto
thetruth,andwithprobability[insteadofcertainty].Foreverything
whichisinplace,requiresthebeingsituatedthere,inordertoaperfect
knowledgeofitsnature.Theintelligible,however,isnotathingofthis
kind;sinceitisnotapprehendedbyusinplace.Forwhereveranyone
establisheshisdianoeticenergy,there,truthbeingeverywherepresent,
hecomesintocontactwithit.Butifitispossibletoassertanything
firmandstableaboutthatwhichiscelestial,thisalsoispossiblesofar
asitparticipatesofbeing,andsofarasitcanbeapprehendedby
intelligence.Forifanythingnecessarycanbecollectedconcerningit,
1,347itisalonethroughgeometricaldemonstrationswhichareuniversal.But
tOwingtotheobscurityoftheoriginal,Ihaveonlygiventhesubstanceofthe
versesofParmenides.
tRep.VI,51le.
Scf.Phaedo83a..
sofarasitissensible,itisdifficulttobeapprehended,anddifficultto
besurveyed.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
Someone,however,maydoubt,howitcanbeanylongersaidtobe
difficulttodiscovertheDemiurgus,andimpossiblewhenfoundtospeak
ofhimtoallmen/sinceweareabletoemploystable,immutable,and
irreprehensiblelanguageabouttheparadigm?Orisnotthatwhichis
saidabouttheDemiurgus,inamuchgreaterdegreeadaptedtothe
paradigmitself?Foritismuchmoredifficulttodiscoverthelatterthan
Etheformer,andwhenfoundtospeakofittoallmen.Neither
however,doesPlatodenythatscientificlanguagemaybeemployed
abouttheDemiurgus,noraboutanyotherofthenaturesthatsubsist
alwaysinvariablythesame.ForinwhatdoesPlatodifferfromother
physiologists,exceptinexhibitingthesciencepertainingtodivine
natures?ButifheparticularlyremindsusofthisintheDemiurgic
cause,thatitisdifficulttofindit,weoughtnottowonder.Forhe
knew,asitappearstome,thatotherphysiologiststransfertheeffective
causetophysicalpowers.Hencethatwemaynotbeaffectedinthe
samewayastheywere,heshowsthattheDemiurgicprincipleis
difficulttobefound,anddifficulttobeknown.Andthismuchin
answertothedoubt.
Platohoweverinmanyplacesadmitsthetruthofbeings,conformably

totheologists.Foruniformtruth[ortruthcharacterizedbyunity]isof
onekind,andisthelightproceedingfromTheGood,which,ashesays
inthePhilebus,impartspurity,andashesaysintheRepublic,*unionto
Fintelligibles.Thetruthproceedingfromintelligibles,isofanotherkind,
andilluminatestheintellectualorders,whichtheessencethatiswithout
figure,10withoutcolour,andwithoutcontactprimarilyreceives,where,
also,asitiswritteninthePhaedrus,}theplainoftruthissituated.
Anotherkindoftruthisthatwhichisconnascentwithsouls,which
comesintocontactwithbeingthroughintelligence,andisconjoined
1,348throughsciencewiththeobjectsofscience.Forthepsychicallight,may
besaidtobeasintheextensionofbreadththethirdfromthe
intelligible;theintellectualbreadthbeingfilledfromtheintelligible,but
thepsychicalfromtheintellectual.Thistruth,therefore,whichisin
souls,isthat,whichmustnowbeassumed,sincewelikewiseassumethis
106Afaith,andnotthatwhichisirrational,andseparatedfromallrational
tTim.28c.
Xcf.Philebus55c58d;andRep.VI,508e509b.
Phaedrus247c248b.
animadversion.Theonealsomustbeconjoinedtointelligibles,butthe
othertosensibles.
29c"Youmustnotwonder,therefore,OSocrates,ifassertingmanythings
aboutmanyconcerningtheGods,andthegenerationoftheuniverse,I
shouldnotbeabletoemploylanguageineveryrespectaccurateand
consistentwithitself."
Timaeusfirstexhibitsthehypothesesofthewholeofphysiology,and
collectsthelemmaspertainingtothetheoryofit;thelatterbeingthree,
buttheformerfive.Inthesecondplace,hedefinesthemodeofthe
discussion.Andinthethirdplace,hepreparestheauditortoreceivein
apropermannerthediscoursewhichheisabouttomake.Foritis
necessarythatheshouldnotexpecttohearperfectlyaccuratearguments
inphysicaldiscussions,norsuchasaretrulyscientific,butsuchasare
assimilatedtothem.Itisbesidesthisrequisiteheshouldknow,thatas
theworldismingledfromphysicalpowersandanintellectualanddivine
essence;for"physicalworks,astheOraclesays,fcosubsistwiththe
Bintellectuallightofthefather;"thusalsothediscussionofit,makesa
commixtureoffaithandtruth.Forthingswhichareassumedfrom
senseparticipatelargelyofconjecturaldiscussion;butthingswhich
commencefromintelligiblespossessthatwhichisirreprehensible,and
1,349cannotbeconfuted.ForwhenwesayoftheDemiurgushimself,that
heconsults,thatheenergizesdianoetically,andthathemakesthe?e
thingspriortothose,werelinquishthetruthofthings.Sothatifwhen
speakingofeternalbeings,andshowinghowtheyprovideforthe

universe,wearecompelledtodividethatwhichisimpartible,andto
makethatwhichiseternaltemporal,muchmorewilltheassertions
respectingsensiblesthemselvesbedeficientinaccuracy[andtruth].
Whatthen,someonemaysay,dowenotspeakaccuratelyconcerning
theheavenswhenwesay,thatthecirclesinthembisecteachother?But
dowenotfallofffromaccuracy,whenwearesatisfied,notwiththe
accurate,butwithanapproximationtoit,inconsequenceofour
imbecility,andnotonaccountofthenatureofthething?Or,also,
whenwereceiveindeed,principlesfromsense,yetisitnotfrom
universalreasons?Theassertionstherefore,respectingtheheavens,.is
Cinintelligibles,exhibittheirreprehensible;butasinobjectsofbelief,
theyalsoarereprehendedthroughimmaterialforms.Considerthenthis
yerythingwhichisnowasserted,thatthegreatestcirclesintheheavens
bisecteachother.Isitnotnecessarythatthesectionshouldbe
tChald.Oracl.fr..210c,&Lobeck,Aglaophemus,220.
accordingtopoints?Butapointisimpartible.What,therefore,isthere
ofthiskindinapartiblenature?Whatistherewithoutintervalina
naturedistendedwithinterval?Foreverythingwhichsubsistsina
physicalbody,iscodividedwithitssubject.What,then,istherenot
likewiseaphysicalpoint?Thishoweverrelinquishesthatwhichistruly
impartible,andisapointindeed,inphysicalsubstances,butisnot
simplyapoint.Sothatwhatissaidofapoint,isnotaccuratelyadapted
toathingofthiskind.Inshort,astheassertionsconcerning
intelligibles,arenotadaptedtodianoeticobjects,soneitheriswhatis
saidofscientificobjectsadaptedtosensibles.Forintelligiblesarethe
paradigmsofdianoeticnatures,anddianoeticnaturesofsensibles.For
itissoulwhichadornsthemightyheaven,andadornsitinconjunction
withthefather.Sothatwhenwespeakofcirclesintheheavens,of
contacts,bisections,andequalities,wespeakaccurately,asnotspeaking
1,350aboutsensibles.Sincethereforethingsofthiskindmaybeassertedof
allmaterialnatures,theobjectionistrifling.
DIf,however,someoneshouldaskus,isnotthatwhichistrulyequal
impartible,andthatwhichistrulyacircle,withoutinterval?Foreach
isauniversal;butuniversalisanimpartiblereasonandform.Butthe
naturesintheheavensarepartible,andnotindivisible,andareina
subject.Hereagain,wedonotsaythateithercircles,orequalities,or
anythingelseofthiskindareinsensibles;andthusweareconsistent
withourselves.Wesummarily,say,therefore,thatPlatoatonetime
definesscience,byanexplanationofcausesalone;atanothertime,bythe
subjectsofit,possessinganessenceperfectlystable,togetherwithan
explanationofcause;andatanother,bytheprinciplesnotbeinghypotheses.
Andaccordingtothislastform,indeed,heassertsthatthereisone
science[i.e.dialectic]whichascendsasfarastotheprincipleofbeing.
Forthissciencepreestablishestheprinciplewhichistrulyprinciple,to

beunhypothetical.Italsohasforitssubjecttrulyexistingbeing,and
producesitsreasoningsfromcause.Butaccordingtothesecondform,
healsocallsdianoeticknowledgescience.Andaccordingtothefirst
alone,heallowstheappellationofsciencetobegiventophysiology.
ENowthereforelookingtothefirst*formhethinksfittocallit
conjecturalknowledge.Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubt,the
wholeofwhatisheresaidbeingattendedwithdifficultyonaccountof
theconstructionofthewords,whichmaythusbecorrectedwithasmall
addition."If,OSocrates,assertingmanythingsaboutmany,"afterwards
fItisevidentlynecessaryinsteadofSevrepoc;eiSocinthisplace,toreadvpuTOV
ci6oc.Fordianoeticknowledgeisbynomeansconjectural.
showingwhatthesemanythingsare,headds,"concerningtheGods,and
thegenerationoftheuniverse."Andthesearethemanyhealludesto.
"Iftherefore,hesays,manythingsbeingassertedaboutmany,concerning
thegenerationoftheuniverse,andtheGodsitcontains,eachofthesebeing
1,351many,weshouldnotbeabletoemployaccuratelanguage,youmustnot
wonder."Hesaysthis,however,becauseitisnotwonderful,tobe
occupiedinthingsofanecessarynature.Butitisnecessarythata
discussionshouldnotbeaccurateinatwofoldrespect,viz.onaccount
ofthethingknown,notbeingstableandclear,andonaccountofour
naturebeinghuman.SogreatthereforeisthecautionwhichPlato
employsinwhathesays.Thishoweverisnotthecasewithothers.But
Heraclitus,*byassertingofhimselfthatheknewallthings,makesall
othermentobedestituteofscience.AndEmpedoclesannouncesthat
heimpartstruthherself,andthat,inwhathewrites.
ToWisdom'ssummitrapidlyheleaps.
Fr.4,8d
FFortheseassertionsarenotconformabletophilosophiccaution.Butthe
StoicssaythatthereisthesamevirtueofGodsandmen,*beingveryfar
fromemulatingthepietyofPlato,andthemodestyofSocrates.
29cd"Ifthereforeweshallaffordargumentsnolessprobablethanothers,it
ispropertobesatisfied,callingtomindthatIwhospeak,andthatyou
whoaremyjudges,havethehumannature[incommon].Sothatifyou
receiveaprobablenarrationconcerningthesethings,itisfittoseekfor
nothingfartherthanthis."
107ATimaeusremindsusinatwofoldrespectoftheprivationofstabilityand
accuracyinphysicaldiscussions;first,fromtheessenceofthethings.
Forfromimmaterialnaturesbecomingmaterial,fromimpartible
partible,fromseparatenatures,suchasaresituatedinaforeignseat,and
fromuniversal,becomingindividualandpartialnatures,theydonot

receivethedefinitionofthingsscientificandirreprehensible,whichis
adaptedtoimmaterialandimpartibleforms.Butinthesecondrespect,
fromtheimbecilityofthatbywhichphysicalobjectsaresurveyed.For
ifitberequisitetoknowanythingconcerningthem,itisalsorequisite
toembraceaknowledgecoordinatetothem.Butthisissense.Andif
indeedwewereintheheavens,weshouldperhapsbelessdeceived;but
tFr.1d.
^tcf.StoicEthicsinTheHellenisticPhilosophers,Long&Sedleyvol.1,Cambridge
1.352heredwellinginthelastpartoftheuniverse,andbeingmostremote
fromthem,weemploysenseinagrossanderroneousmanner.Forwe
areallottedthehumannature.Butthehumannaturebringswithita
lifewhichismaterialanddarkenedbythebody,andwhichispartible,
andinwantofirrationalknowledge.TheGods,however,know*that
whichisgenerated,inawayperfectlyremotefromgeneration,that
Bwhichistemporal,eternally,andthatwhichiscontingent,necessarily.
Forbyintellectuallyperceivingtheygenerateallthings,sothatthey
intellectuallyperceivethemaftertheabovementionedmanner.Forwe
mustnotfancythatknowledgeischaracterizedbythenaturesofthe
thingsknown,orthatwhatisnotstableisalsonotstablewiththe
Gods,asthephilosopherPorphyrysays;forthisisassertedbyhim
whichitwouldhavebeenbetternottohavesaid;butwemustadmit
thatthemodeofknowledgevarieswiththediversitiesofgnosticnatures.
Forthesamethingisknownbydivinityindeedunitedly,byintellect
totally,byreasonuniversally,bythephantasymorphotically,*andby
sensepassively.Nordoesitfollow,thatbecausethethingknownis
one,theknowledgealsoisone.Fartherstill,ifknowledgesareessential
intheGods,andtheirintelligenceisnotadventitious,suchastheyare,
suchalsoistheirknowledge.Buttheyareimmaterial,eternal,united,
andundefiled;and,therefore,theyknowimmaterially,eternally,
unitedly,andwithuncontaminatedpurity.Hencetheyantecedently
comprehendthatwhichismaterial,immaterially;dispersedmultitude,
uniformly;thatwhichischangedaccordingtotime,stablyandeternally;
andeverythingpreternatural,darkandimpure,inamanner
C[transcendentlyluminousand]pure.Woulditnotthereforebe
superfluoustoaddanyfurtherconfirmationofthistruth?
Againhoweverthis5maybeassumedfromwhathasbeensaid,that
thewantofaccuracyinthetheoryoftheimagesofbeing,arisesfrom
ourimbecility.Fortotheknowledgeofthemwerequirephantasy,
sense,andmanyotherorgans.ButtheGodscontractedlycomprehend
1.353theseintheirunity,anddivineintellection.Forinsublunarynatures,
wearesatisfiedinapprehendingthatwhichforthemostparttakes
place,onaccountoftheinstabilityoftheirsubjectmatter.Butagain,in

tThewordyiyvumovaiviswantingintheoriginal.
tThewordmorphe,aswehaveelsewhereobserved,pertainstothecolour,figure,
andmagnitudeofsuperficies.Hence,thephantasyperceivesmorphotically,becauseits
sightisafiguredperception.
Forrpcichere,itseemsnecessarytoreadTOVTO.
celestialnatures,wearefilledwithmuchoftheconjectural,through
employingsense,andmaterialinstruments.Onthisaccount,wemust
besatisfiedwithproximityintheapprehensionofthem,sincewedwell
remotely,atthebottom,asitissaid,oftheuniverse.Thisalsois
evidentfromthosethatareconversantwiththem,whocollectthesame
thingsrespectingthemfromdifferenthypotheses;somethings,indeed,
througheccentrics,othersthroughepicycles,andothersthrough
evolvents,[inallthese]preservingthephenomena.Whatthen,some
onemaysay,arewetobesatisfiedwithPlatoinphysiologizing,andin
Daffordingusargumentsnolessprobablethanothers?Maywenotreply,
thatitespeciallybecomesprudentmenthustospeakaboutthingsofthis
kind,andtopursuethemediumbetweendissimulationandarrogance;
forthelatteristosaymore,buttheformerless,thanallothers,andthe
mediumistosaywhatisinnorespectless.Inthenextplace,thewords
noless,maynotonlybesaidofmeninformertimes,andspeculatorsof
nature,butalsooftheconjecturalthingsthemselves.Asifhehadsaid,
"Iftherefore,weshallaffordargumentsnolessprobablethanthethings
themselves,andshallnotdesertthenatureoftheobjectsofknowledge,we
mustbesatisfied."TheGodsindeedknowthesethingsinamore
excellentmanner,butwemustbesatisfiedwithanapproximating
knowledgeofthem.Forwearemen,areplacedinbody,andexerta
partialformoflife,andarefilledwithmuch1ofaconjecturalnature.
Hence,ourdiscoursesmaybeveryproperlysaidtoresemblefables.For
ourlanguage,whichthewordmythosafable[usedherebyPlato]
indicates,isrepletewithcrassitudeandirrationality,anditisnecessary
1,354topardonhumannature.
29d"Youspeakmostexcellently,OTimaeus,andweshallreceivewhat
yousay,ineveryrespectasyouadvise.Yourprefaceindeedwe
Ewonderfullyapprove.Proceedtherefore,andbringtoaconclusionthe
subsequentmelody.*"
IntheRepublic,whereSocratesdisposesthediscourse,Timaeuswas
silentlypresent,notexhibitinghisownjudgementaboutwhatwassaid.
ButhereSocrates,afteracertainadmirablemanner,receiveswhat
Timaeussays.Forinthethingsalso,ofwhichthepersonsareimages,
whilesecondarynaturesenergize,thosethatarefirstareestablishedin
themselves,anddonotdepartfromthemselves,norvergetoinferior
tForirr)\ovhere,itisnecessarytoreadiroXu.

$InthetextofProclus,iroXwiserroneouslyprintedforvopov.
natures.Butwhenmoredivinebeingsenergize,thenmoresubordinate
naturesareelevatedtotheparticipationofthem,throughtheloveofallvarious
wonder.HenceSocrates,inwhatisheresaid,veryproperly
surroundsTimaeuswithallpossiblepraise.Forthroughwonderitself
heisinagreaterdegreeunitedtohim.Moreover,theword"most
excellent"indicatesindeed,theperfect,intellectual,andscientificnature
ofthedoctrineofTimaeus.Anditalsoindicateshisanalogytothe
FDemiurgus.Forasheisthebestofcausesinworks,thusalsoTimaeus
isthebestindiscourses.Thewordslikewise,"weshallreceivewhatyou
sayineveryrespectasyouadvise,"indicatewhatkindofpersonheought
tobe,whorightlyreceivesdiscussionsconcerningdivinenatures.That
heoughtassiduouslytoadheretotheteacher;toperformwithallhis
mightthatwhichisorderedbyhim;andtopersuadehimself,thatitis
righttobepersuadedbywhattheteachersays.
Fartherstilltheword"preface"indicatesthecomprehensionoftotal
1,355conceptionsinthehypotheses.Allthingstherefore,areinthepreface
108Aitself.*Forinthispreface,itisshownwhattheform*isoftheobject
ofinquiry,onwhathypotheses,5andthingspreviouslydemonstrated
fromthemitdepends,andalsowhatthenatureisofthediscussion,and
whataretherequisitequalificationsoftheauditor.Butthewordnomos
melody,isassumedfrommodulationsadaptedtotheharp.These
therefore,arecertainmelodies,someofwhichareMinerval,butothers
Martial.Andsomeindeed,areentheastic,butothersaredefamatoryof
manners.Prior,however,tothesemelodies,itisusualtoarrangethe
preludes,whichalsoonthisaccountareprecontrectations.Fromthence
therefore,theyareassumed.Butthewordmelodycontributestothe
thingproposedtobeconsidered,becauseallthevisiblepartible0order
ofthings,beingharmonious,eternallyremains,onaccountofthe
goodnessofitsproducingcauses.Andbecauselikewise,itproceeds
from,andsubsistsaccordingtointellect,andpossessestotalpowers
separatedfromeachother,andarrangedinamanneradaptedtoeach.
Formelodiesarecallednomouslaws,becausetheyremainimmutable,and
becausesuchthingsasarefitaredistributedfromeach.
tFor/caranrehere,itseemsrequisitetoreadKaraTOVTO.
$InsteadofnTOVeiSovc;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadnTOeiSoc.
ForKaiiroiui'virodcoeuvreadKaiexrouuvvirodeoeuv.
Theword/i/)lOTi)isomittedintheoriginal.
29d"Letusnarratethenonaccountofwhatcertaincause,thecomposing
Bartificerconstitutedgeneration,andthisuniverse."
Allthathasbeenbeforesaiddeliverstouspreparativesforthewhole

ofphysiology.Andofthese,somethroughimagesandsymbols,exhibit
thetheoryoftheworld.Aprefacealsoofthewholediscussionis
prefixed,andofthedemonstrationthroughimagesorsymbols;onepart
ofwhichunfoldstheunion,butanothertheseparationofmundane
natures.Oftheprefatorypartsalso,somearehypotheses,butothersare
asitwerelemmasdemonstratedthroughthehypotheses.Forthe
particularsrespectingthemodeofdiscussion,maybeplacedamongthe
thingsdemonstrated.Fortothedemonstrationthattheworldis
generated,theassertionthatthediscussionofitiseikotology[or
speakingfromprobability],isconsequent.Butagain,thesethingshaving
receivedanappropriateend.Timaeuscommencingthefabricationofthe
1,356universe,beginsfromTheGood,conceivingthatthediscoveryofthe
finalcausewillbetohimthemostbeautifulincitation.ForasTheGood
isthecauseofallbeings,solikewiseitisfitthatthegenerationofthe
worldshouldproceedfromthisasthefirstprinciple.Forallthingsare
fromTheGood.Andofsuchthingsindeed,asthedemiurgicintellectis
not*thecause,asforinstanceofmatter,oftheseTheGoodisthecause.
Andofsuchthingsastheparadigmisnothypostatic,thesealsoderive
theirsubsistencefromTheGood.Forallthingsareforthesakeofit,
anditisthecauseofallbeautifulthings,asitissaidintheEpistles.*
HenceTimaeusreferstheothercausestothisonecause.Forhaving
foundtheformoftheworldthroughthehypotheses,andalsothe
paradigmatic,andeffectivecause,henowwishestoassignthemost
principal,mostvenerable,andmostancientofcauses,thefinal,which
heparticularlydesiresinthefabricationofthings.Forsincetheman
wholivesaccordingtointellectperformseverythingforthesakeofthe
good,willnotintellectitself,andadivineintellect,inamuchgreater
degreefabricateallthingsforthesakeofthefinalcause?Forthoughthe
worthymanfrequentlyappearstoperformsomethingforthesakeofthe
body,yetthisisnottheendtohimofthething,nordoesheprincipally
regardthegoodofthesubordinatenature;buthedoesthisalsoforthe
Dsakeofasimilitudetodivinity,andmakesthattobehismost
intentionalend.Howmuchmoretherefore,musttheDemiurgusofthe
universefabricateforthesakeofthegood,andthefinalcause?Forhe
tForoouv/xeveonvatriochere,itisnecessarytoreadoouvnVaonvairioc.
$EpistleII,312e.
doesnotenergizewithoutdesign,norindefinitely.Hencealso,asit
appearstome,Platodoesnotinvestigateinthebeginning,ifthereisa
finalcauseofthecompositionoftheworld,butasifthiswas
acknowledgedbyallmen,heinquireswhatthefinalcauseis.Forthe
DemiurgusissupposedtobeintellectandaGod,andnotchance,as
somesay.Butifintellectisthemaker,thereiscertainlythatforthesake
ofwhichinthefabricationofthings.Forasthesoulwhenitisinan
1,357uprightcondition,performsallthingsaccordingtointellect,sointellect

infabricating,givessubsistencetoallthingsconformablytodivinity.
ButthisisthesameasconformablytoTheGood.
Whethertherefore,itberequisitetofollowtheAristotelianproblems,
afterwhattheuniverseis,andwhatkindofathingitis,itisnecessary
toinvestigateonwhataccountitis.Forithasbeensaidthatitis
generatedindeed,butistheimageofbeing.Anditisalsorequisite
besidesthistoconsider,forthesakeofwhatitwasgenerated.Orifit
benecessarytoadoptthePlatoniccauses,itisfitafterthedemiurgic
causeandtheparadigm,todiscoverthefinalcauseofthefabricationof
Etheworld.Foragain,allothercausesaresuspendedfromthis,and
likewisethedivinityoftheparadigm,thegoodnessofthemaker,and
theperfectionofthatwhichisgenerated.Andasfarastothisisthe
ascenttothosewholovetocontemplatetruth.Itisusualhowever,to
callthefinalcausedio,onaccountofwhich;theparadigmaticcausepros'o,
withrelationtowhich,thedemiurgiccauseuph'ou,bywhich;the
instrumentalcausedi'ou,throughwhich;formkath'o,accordingto
which;andmatterexou,orenoi,fromwhich,orinwhich.Thesecauses
alsoreceivedthesameappellationsfromPlatohimself.Fornow
investigatingthefinalcausehesays,onaccountofwhatcause.Inquiring
concerningtheparadigmaticcause,hesays,withrelationtowhichofthe
paradigms.*Butconcerningthedemiurgiccause,hesays,thatwhichis
generated,isfromnecessitygeneratedbyacertaincause.*Andaswe
proceed,weshallpointouttherestfromthewordsthemselvesofPlato;
exceptthatatpresentalsoitmustbesaid,thattheseappellationsare
adaptedtothediscriminatingscienceofthephilosopher.
Whathoweverisgeneration,andwhatistheuniverse?Someindeed
bygenerationunderstandingthesublunaryplace,calltheuniversethe
wholeworld.ButtheseentirelywanderfromthemeaningofPlato.
FortheDemiurgusisnotrepresentedasseparatelyfashioningmaterial
fTim.28c.
%Tim.28a.
Fnatures,andseparatelythewholeworld.Andinthenextplace,
generationitselfisapartoftheuniverse.Ifhowever,itshouldbesaid
thatPlatocallstheheaventheuniverse,becauseitisthegreatestpartof
1,358theworld,fortherestissmall;orbecauseitisthemostdivineand
principalpart,andasitwerethesummitoftheuniverse;forthehead
alsoiscalledthewhole,as,
Teucer,dearhead;
Iliad,viii281
andPlatoalsosays,*thattheworldwassurroundedwiththeremaining

bulkofbodyforthesakeofthis;yetatthesametime,thephilosopher
isaccustomedtocallthislikewisegeneration.Othersagaincallmatter
generation,butthatwhichisadornedfrommatter[asthesubject],they
denominatetheuniverse,bywhommanythingswrittenbyPlato,must
109Anecessarilyberejected.Forhesays,thateverythinggenerated,andall
generation,issensible,ortangible,andvisible.Fartherstill,hegivesa
divisiontogenerationoppositetothatofmatter,aswhenhesays,*
therewerethesethingssubsistingseparately,being,place,and
generation,fromwhichtheuniversewasconstituted.5
Ourpreceptorhoweversays,thatthefabricationoftheworldistobe
understoodinatwofoldrespect.Foronepartofitconsistsinthe
formationofbodies,buttheother,inadaptingbodiestothecompletion
ofoneworld.Foritisonethingtofashionbodiesthemselves,through
figures,butanothertoharmonizethemwhenfashioned,totheuniverse.
Generationtherefore,mustbesaidtobetheformationofbodies,beinga
motionfortendency]tothewholenessandperfectionoftheuniverse.For
thatwhichiscomposedfrompartshasapreconceivedproductionofthe
parts.Hencetheformation,0whichtakesplacebetweenmatter,thewhole
orderlydistributionofthings,andtheonecompletionoftheuniverse,must
becalledgeneration,inorderthatitmaybeapathtothewholeinwhich
thepartsarecomprehended.Forthisistheuniverse,beingconstituted
Bperfectfromperfectpaths,accordingtotheoneharmonyofwholes.
Sincehowever,thiswholeissensible,andnottheintelligibleall,or
universe;forthiswastheparadigm;northeintellectualall;forthiswas
demiurgic;onthisaccountPlatoaddstheparticlethis,manifestingbyit
tTim.44d.
*Tim.28b.
Tim.52d.
DFornceootvhere,itisnecessarytoreadK'Sa.aiv.
thatwhichissensibleandpartial.Foreverythingcorporeal,thoughit
shouldbeawhole,ispartial.Foreverythingcorporeal,thoughit
1,359shouldbeawhole,ispartial.Butthemostprincipalwholeisthat
whichisimmaterialandwithoutinterval,andthatistrulyallwhether
itbeintellectualorintelligible.Andthusmuchconcerningthis
particular.
Butwhatshallwesayismeantbycomposition?Perhapsitindicates
thattheworldiscomposedfrommanythings,andthatthegeneration
ofitisfromdissimilars.Perhapsalso,itsignifiesthatunionandstability
accedetoitfromthetotalfabrication.Forthecollocationofsyn,with,
[inthewordsynistas]issignificantofunion,andtheconspirationof
allthingstoone.Butstasis,permanency,manifeststhefirmnessand
stabilityofthefabricationoftheworld.Fartherstill,withrespectto

thewordssynistasandsynestesato[i.e.hewhocomposedandheconstituted]
employedherebyPlato,theformercopulatesthepresent
andpasttimes,andthelatterindicatestheperfectionandtheperpetuity
Cofthefabrication.Fortheformerofthesewordsmanifestscontinual
production,andwhichisalwaysconsummatelyeffectedwithinvariable
sameness;butthelatterawholenesswhichisallottedanexistencein
fullness.Thesignifyinglikewise,boththepastandthepresenttime
throughthesamenames,indicatesthatthedivinefabricationproceeds
throughsamenessandsimilitude.Forsuchasisnatureofthatwhichis
effective,suchalsoistheenergywhichitpossesses.Andasitis,soit
fabricates;becauseitproducesbyitsverybeing,andfrom*itsown
properessence.
29e"Hewasgood,butinhimwhoisgood,noenvyiseveringenerated
aboutanything."
ThosewhocalltheDemiurgusTheGood,areentirelyridiculous.For
TheGoodandonewhoisgoodarenotthesame.*Fortheformeris
imparticipableitselfbyitself,andisexemptfromallthings;butthe
latterisgoodthroughparticipationoftheformer.Andtheonerules
overallintelligibles;buttheother,ifindeeditisthesamewiththe
paradigm,isintelligiblesthemselves,butisnotthesovereignrulerof
intelligibles;andifitissubordinatetotheparadigmisinamuchgreater
1,360degreeinferiortothekingofallintelligibles.Andinshort,every
certainGodisacertaingood,onebeingademiurgic,anotheravivific,
tForOLVTOhere,readoeiro.
Xcf.Rep.II379a.
Dandanotheraperfectivegood.ButTheGoodisnotacertaingood,but
issimplygood.Andifyousaythatitisdemiurgic,youdiminishits
subsistenceassimplygood.
Thesedistinctionsthereforebeingmade,letusnextconsiderthe
beginningofwhatisheresaid.Inthefirstplace,therefore,asPlato
wheninvestigatingthemundaneform,andinquiringwhethertheworld
wasgenerated,orisunbegotten,addspriortothewhole
demonstration,*"itwasgenerated;"andaswhenexploringthe
paradigmaticcause,hepreviouslyadds,*"itismanifesttoeveryone,that
itwasgeneratedwithrelationtoaneternalparadigm,"adducingthe
conclusionpriortothewholeofthereasoning;thusalsoproposingto
discoverthefinalcauseafteralltheothers,headds,"hewasgood,"
imitatingintellectthroughthisenunciation,andtheatoncecollected
comprehensionoftheassertion.Forinthiscolon,thewholeofwhat
isinvestigatediscomprehended,becausegoodnessisthefinalcause,
whetheritissimplysoandone,orwhether5itisthedemiurgic

goodness.Forastheparadigmistwofold,theonebeingintelligible,but
theotherintellectual;andastheoneispriortotheDemiurgus,being
Eprimarilyeternalandunited,andcomprehensiveofallintelligible
animals,buttheotherwhichisintheDemiurgusofwholes,unically
comprehendsthedemiurgicnumberofforms;thusalsowithrespectto
goodness,onekindissimplyso,butanotherisinthedemiurgic
intellect.Andtheformerindeed,isthefountainofallintelligible,
intellectual,andsupermundanegood;butthelatterbeingacertain
goodness,isthecauseandfountainofsomethings,butisallottedan
ordersubordinatetoothers.Forifwewishtoexplorewhatitiswhich
makesaGod,whetherhebeintelligibleorintellectual,supermundane
ormundane,weshallfindthatitisnothingelsethangoodness.For
whatisitthatmakeseachofthebodiesthatareanimatedtobeso,
excepttheresemblanceofsoul?Whatisitwhichmakesintellectual
1,361soulstobesuch,excepttheintellectthatisinthem,andwhichisan
illuminationoftotalintellect?Whatthereforecandeifyintellect,and
anintelligibleessence,excepttheparticipationofthefirstGod,andthe
forerunningilluminationthatproceedsfromhim?Whatthereforeisthe
first?Ifindeed,hewereintelligible1beautyweshouldsaythat
tTim.28b.
$Tim.29a.
Eireisomittedintheoriginal.
CIForTJTTOVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadPOIJTOJ'.
intellectwasaGodthroughbeauty.ButsincethefirstGodisTheGood,
intellectalsothroughparticipatingofgoodnessisaGod.Hencethisis
thehyparxisoftheGods;andtheveryessenceoftheGods,ifitbe
Flawfulsotospeak,isgoodness.Accordingtothislikewise,everyGod
existsasaGod.Andonaccountofthishehasaprovidential,ora
demiurgic,oravivific,oraconnectivecharacteristic.Forintellect
indeed,sofarasintellect,isnaturallyadaptedtohaveanintellectual
perceptionandknowledgeofbeings;buttoenergizeprovidentiallyis
divine.Sothatthedemiurgicintellectlikewise,possessesitssubsistence
asdemiurgic,onaccountofthegoodnesswhichitcontains.Foron
accountofthis,theintellectwhichisintheDemiurgus,isthemaker,
andisnotonlygnosticofbeing.Thebeingalsowhichisinhim,isan
efficaciousparadigm,andproducesbyitsveryexistence,andisnotalone
perfectiveofintellect.Andintellectindeedinmakingiscorroborated
110Abyboththese;bytheparadigm,becauseitproduceswithrelationtoit;
andbygoodness,becauseitproducesonaccountofit.Buttheparadigm
iscorroboratedbyunity.
Youhavetherefore,thesesuccessive,viz.goodness,theparadigm,
intellect.Andthesesubsistinonewayindeed,intheDemiurgus,and
inanotherpriortotheDemiurgus.Andifyouarewillingsotospeak,

thefirstgoodnessisTheOne,whichisbeyondevenintelligibles
themselves:foritisimparticipable*goodness.Buttheparadigmisthat
intelligiblewhichunitedlycomprehendsallthenumberofforms.And
themakeristheintellectualintellectwhichgivessubsistencetowholes.
SothatifAmeliussaidthattherearethreedemiurgiafterthismanner,
perceivingthistriadintheoneDemiurgus,hesaidrightly.Foroneof
them,sayshe,makes[asitwere]bycontrectation,*anotherbymandate,
andanotherbyhiswillalone.Andthefirstindeed,isarranged
analogouslytothemanualartificer;thesecondpreexists
1,362conformablytothearchitect;butthethirdisestablishedpriortoboth,
Banalogouslytoaking.Sofartherefore,astheDemiurgusisintellect,he
producesallthingsbytheintellectualperceptionsofhimself;butsofarashe
isintelligible,hemakesbyhisverybeing;andsofarasheisaGod,byhis
willalone.IfhoweverAmeliusdivulsesthethreeDemiurgifromthe
oneDemiurgus,wemustnotadmitit,whilewefollowPlato.Forthe
sameDemiurgusisgood,sofarasheisaGod,andonaccountof
fForaixeradeKTOQhere,readctne6eKT0C,.
Xie.handlingortouchingPT.
goodnessheproducesallthingsbyhiswill,andisintelligible*
intellectually;forsuchisthedemiurgicbeing.Heisalsointellect,the
artificeroftheworld.Thewordstherefore,"hewasgood,"havean
explanationofthiskind;inthetermWAS,thesuperplenary,the
consummatelyperfect,andthesupereternalnatureofhisdivinehyparxis,
beingindicated.ForthetermIS,issignificantofeternalthings;theterm
WAS,ofthesupereternalunities;andthetermWILLBE,ofthingswhich
subsistintime.ForifthetermISpertainstoeternalnatures,thetermWAS
willbeadaptedtothenaturespriortothese,andthetermWILLBE,tothe
naturesposteriortothese.Butsucharethebeingswhichareindigentof
time.
SincehowevertheDemiurgusisgood,envyisneveringeneratedin
himaboutanything.Butsomeonemaysay,whatisthere[remarkable]
inintellectnotbeingenvious?Forthis*doesnothappeneventomen
thataremoderatelygood.Thetermthereforenever,issignificantof
Ceternalperfection;sincesoulsareatonetimepassivelyeffected,butat
another,recurtoimpassivity.Butthetermaboutanything,issignificant
ofselfsufficiency;sinceweindeed,forthesakeofotherthings,are
frequentlypurifiedfromenvy,butinthosethingsinwhichwehaveless
thanwethinkweoughttohaveinthesewearefilledwithenvy.What
however,isthemeaningofthetermoudeis,none?*Isitbecausethere
aremanykindsofenvythatheaddsnone?Orisitsaidthrough
transcendency,inconsequenceofmakingaperfectnegationofenvy?
Butwhatkindoftranscendencyisitpossibletofindinassertions
concerningtheGods?Foralltheappellationsandwordswhichare

employedaboutthem,arebeneaththeirdignity.Isnotenvytherefore,
apainarisingfromthegoodsbelongingtoothers,thispassioninus
1,363beingmingledfrompleasureandpain,asSocrateshasshowninthe
Philebus}0Envylikewise,isforamantobeabletobenefit,andyet
notbenefiting,butkeepingthegoodconfinedtohimself.Andenvyis
alsothewantitselfofgood;whichthephilosopherappearstome
especiallytoassumeatpresent,exterminatingitfromadivineessence.
Foritisnaturallyadaptedtobeperfectlyexemptfromthisalone,since
Ditisessentializedingoodnessitself.Fortobepainedfromthegoods
pertainingtoothers,isinherentinallgoodwhichsubsistsaccordingto
tForVOTITUC,eonvoeput;,itisnecessarytoreadinthisplaceVOT\TOQtanvotpuc..
XForTOVyaphere,itisrequisitetoreadrovroyap.
i.e.Ovdeic,<0oeoc,noenvy.
Philebus48b.
participation,andwhichisnotprimarilygood.Foradventitiousgoodis
onething,goodaccordingtohabitanother,andprimarygoodanother.For
thefirstismingledwithitscontrary,andinthesamemanneras
adventitiousbeautyismingledwithdeformity.Butthesecondiswholly
boniform,yetissuchbyparticipation.Andthethird,whichisprimarily
good,isgooditself.Forasintellectitselfisthefirstintellect,andasthe
beautifulitselfisprimarilybeautiful,sogooditselfisprimarilygood.
Whatthereforeisthis?Itisthedeityofeachthing,accordingtowhich
everytrulyexistingbeingisaGod.Foritdiffersinnorespectfrom
goodness.Butifanyoneofthesecondarynaturesshouldbesaidtobe
aGod,orgood,itisamongthenumberofthingsdeified,andrendered
good,andisaGodthroughparticipation,andnotonaccountofitsown
properessence,norfromitself.
Thisparticipationtherefore,Platoisaccustomedtocallindigence;}just
asintheBanquet*hecallsLovethewantofthingsbeautifulandgood.
Hence,adivinenature,sofarasitisdivine,isprimarilygood,andnot
Eaccordingtoparticipation;sothatneitherisitindigentofgood.Hence
too,itissuperiortoallenvy.Forastothesun,whichisgenerativeof
1,364light,itisimpossiblefordarknesstoapproach,butitisexcludedfrom
itatagreatdistance,aboutthecavitiesoftheearth;5afterthesame
manner,itisimpossibleforenvytoapproachtoadivinenature.For
whatkindofindigencecantherebeinsuchtranscendentabundance?
Whatimbecilityisthereinalmightydeity?Whatparticipationinthe
fountainofgood?TheDemiurgustherefore,beinggoodbyhisvery
being,transcendsallindigence,andallparticipationwhichaccedesfrom
anotherthing.ForheisunitedtoTheOneItself,anddoesnotproceed
outofit.Forintellectualunionisofonekind,buttheunionpriorto
intellectofanother,accordingtowhichthegenerativedeityofthe
Demiurgus,andthegoodnesswhichconnectsallthings,areunitedto

TheOneItself.Forthisgoodnessisnotacertainpower,assomesay,
butthemeasureofallpower.Norisitwill,butwillproceedsfromit.
Norisitahabit;forhabitpertainstoanother0thingdifferentfrom
habit;butgoodnessisitselfofitself[i.e.pertainstoitselfalone].Nor,
inshort,isitanessentialhypostasis;butitisthatwhichunitesessence,
Fandisineffable,connectspowers,andisprolificofdemiurgicenergies.
tEvdeuxvisomittedintheoriginal.
XSymposium201bc.
cf.Pheedo109b;&Rep.VII514aff.
ForaWahere,itisnecessarytoreadaWov.
Astherefore,everyintellectisessentializedinexistingasintellect,but
thatwhichisaboveintellectisparticipatedbyit;andaseverysoulis
essentializedinexistingassoul,butintellectisparticipatedbyit;thus
alsoeveryGodisessentializedinbeingaGod,orratheris
superessentialized,butthereisnotanythingwhichisparticipatedby
him;*becausetheGodsarethemostancientandvenerableofallthings.
Thedemiurgicintellecttherefore,sofarasitisaGod,inexistingasa
Godisprimarilyso,andnotaccordingtoparticipation.Thishowever
isthesamewithgood.Astherefore,ifsomeoneshouldsaythatenvy
111Aisthewantofintellect,andapartialintellectissuperiortoenvy,but
soulisnotsuperiortoit,foritisindigentofintellect,becauseitis
adaptedtobecomeintellectualbytheparticipationofintellect;thus
alsoingoodness,envy*istheindigenceofgood;buteverything
indigentisnotprimarilygood.Soulindeedandintellectareindigentof
good,becausetheyarenotprimarilygood.ButaGod,sofarasaGod,
1,365beinggood,isexemptfromallenvy,andtranscendsallindigenceof
whateverkinditmaybe,whetheritsubsistsaccordingtodiminution,
oraccordingtodeviation.Forindigenceistwofold,onekindaswe
havesaidbeingevil,buttheothernot.
29e"Beingthereforeentirelyvoidofthis,hewaswillingthatallthings
shouldbecomeasmuchaspossiblesimilartohimself."
Thisisconsequenttothebeforementionedaxioms.Forthefirstcolon
[orpartofthesentence]manifestedtheorder,andthehyparxisofthe
Demiurgus,thatheisaGod.Andsincewithrespecttodeity,oneGod
isimparticipable,butanotherparticipable,5hemanifeststhatthe
Demiurgusisparticipable.Forhedoesnotsaythathewasgoodness,
butthathewasgood.Buthewhoisgoodparticipatesofgoodness.
BAndgoodnessitselfindeed,isprimarilygood.Butintellectandbeing
aregoodbyparticipation.Again,thesecondcolonshowsthatthe
Demiurgusdoesnotrankamongdeifiednatures.Foronethingis
entirelyimparticipable,such,forinstance,asTheGood;butanotheris

tie.EveryGod,sofarasheisaGod,isaparticipantofnothingsuperiorto
himself.FortheprocessionoftheGodsfromtheprincipleofallthings,isnota
participation,butanappijroc,ew^acotc;,anineffableunfoldingintolight.
$Fora<j)dovo<;here,read<j)6ovoq.
TheDemiurgusisaparticipabledeity,becausehisintellectparticipatesofhis
goodness,whichconstituteshishyparxis.
goodby*theparticipationofsomeothernature,aseverythingwhich
isdeified.*Butthatwhichisprimarilygood,isgooditself.Andthat
whichisparticipated,andisthemediumofboththebeforementioned
naturesisofsuchakindasalltheintelligibleandintellectualordersof
theGodsaresaidtobe.Butthisthirdcoloncomprehendsthe
demiurgicpeculiarity.Fornotonlytobegood,butonaccountofthe
superplenary,andtheextended,toproceedtoallthings,isindicativeof
thedemiurgicandeffectivecause,desiringtofillallthingswithitself,
andtobenefitallthings;inorderthatallthingsmaybecomeasmuch
aspossiblesimilartoitself,byparticipatingofacertaindivinenature,
andofarcaneandineffableimpressions,whichaccedetothemfromthe
wholefabricationofthings.Iftherefore,themakeroftheuniverseis
superiortoallindigence,heisexemptfromallimbecility,andthis
eternally.Forbeingsignifiestheeternal;andbecauseheespecially
1,366benefitsallthings,heimpartstoallthingsbyillumination,themeasure
Cofgood,agreaterthingthanwhicheachoftheparticipantsisbyno
meansadaptedtoreceive.Andthisindicatestheextensionof
providence.Iflikewise,hewishedtosupplyallthingswiththe
participationofgood,thereisnothingintheuniversesolelyevil,sothat
neitheristhereanythingdisorderly,norwithouttheinspectionof
providence,norindefinite;butallthingsparticipateofbeautyandorder,
sofarastheyarenaturallyadaptedtoreceivethem.Hencehemadeall
thingssimilartohimself,sofarasheisaGod,benefitinggenerated
natures;buthecausedthemtobecomeotherthingsbesidesthis,
accordingtootherparadigmaticreasons.ForasAtticussays,asthe
carpentermakesallthathemakestobeartificial,butdifferentthings
accordingtoadifferentreason[orproductiveprinciple],causingone
thingtobealadder,butanotherabed;thusalsotheDemiurgus,sofar
asheisgood,assimilatesallthingstohimself,renderingthemgood;but
accordingtoformswhichdistributetheiressences,hemakesthemwith
relationtoparadigmaticcauses.Porphyryhowever,admittingthese
things,thinksfittoaskwhatitisbythereceptionofwhichgeneraare
good.Andhesaysitisbythereceptionofharmony,symmetry,and
order.Forthesearebeautiful.Buteverything[truly]beautifulisgood.
tInsteadofTOneraoxeivinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTUiieTCWxeiv.
tThussoulisdeifiedbytheparticipationofintellectasamedium;becausedeity
accedestosoulthroughtheinterventionofintellect;andbodyisdeifiedbythe
participationofsoulasamedium.

Platothereforemanifeststhatgoodisinthese,whenhesays,*"That
Godledthatwhichwasdisorderlyintoorder,throughhiswishto
communicategood."
Fromallthathasbeensaid,therefore,itiseasytoinfer,thatthe
Demiurgusproduceseternally;thattheworldisperpetual,accordingto
aperpetuitywhichisextendedthroughthewholeoftime;thatitis
alwaysgeneratedwitharrangement;andthatitisnotalways
incorruptible,butisalwaysgeneratedorbecomingtobeso,in
consequenceofalwaysreceivinggood.Butitisnotimmediatelygood
likeitsgeneratingfather.Forinhimallthingsarecontainedunitedly,
[butintheworlddistributedly],*andnotwithperfectreality,asin
eternalnatures.Foriftheuniversewasgeneratedintime,wasitfrom
theDemiurgusthatitdidnotexistbefore,orfromitssubjectnature
beingwithoutorder?ForiffromtheDemiurgus,wasitbecausehealso
didnotsubsisteternally?Orisitnotunlawfultoassertthis,andin
otherrespectsinvain?Forconcerninghim,thereisthesamemodeof
1,367interrogation,andwhethershallwemakeallthingsgenerated,orwill
therebesomethingprimarilyunbegotten,andtheDemiurgusstillmore
so?Letitthereforebeadmitted,thatitwasinconsequenceofthe
Demiurgusnotenergizing.Whetherthen,didhenotfabricate,because
Ehewasnotwilling,orbecausehewasnotable?Ifindeedwesayitwas
becausehewasnotwilling,weforgetthatwethusdeprivehimof
goodness.Butifhewasnotable,itisabsurdthatheshouldatonetime
havepower,andatanotherimbecility.Forweshalltakeawaythe
eternal.Butifitwasfromitssubjectnaturethattheuniversedidnot
existbefore,whetherwasitfromthisnaturebeingunadaptedor
adapted?Ifthereforeitwasadapted,itwasnotthisnaturewhich
preventedtheuniverseexisting.Butifitwasunadapted,howbeing
unadaptedforaninfinitetime,cameittobenowchanged[intoan
adaptedcondition]?Whetherdiditmoveitself?Butitisnotselfmotive.
WasitthereforemovedbytheDemiurgus?Andwhywasit
notmovedbyhimbefore,ifhealsowasthengood,andwaswillingthat
allthingsshouldbecomesimilartohimself?Theextensionthereforeof
providenceissuspendedfromthegoodnessofthefather;butfromthis
theeternalproductionoftheDemiurgus;andfromthis,theperpetuity
oftheuniverse,whichsubsistsforaninfinitetimeinbecomingtobe,
andisnotastableperpetuity.Andthesameassertionsubvertsthe
tTim.30a.
tThewordsevbeTUKOOJXUIbiripriixevuc,,areomittedintheoriginal.
perpetuityoftheworld,andthegoodnessofhimwhomadeit.Forif
theDemiurguswasgood,healwayswishedtoimpartgoodtoallthings.
FForasthesun,aslongasitexists,illuminates*allthings,andfireheats
aslongasitisfire;fortheoneisessentiallyilluminative,buttheother

calefactive;thuslikewise,thatwhichisalwaysgood,alwayswishesto
impartgood,lestbeingwillingindeed,butunable,itshouldsustainthe
passionofthevilestnatures.Forneitherdoestheworthymanywish
toeffectotherthingsthansuchasheisabletoeffect.Butifthe
Demiurguswasalwaysabletoimpartgood,healwaysimpartsitin
energy,lestheshouldhaveanimperfectpower.Ifhowever,healways
impartsgoodinenergy,healwaysmakesthatwhichisgood.Butifhe
alwaysmakesit,theworldisalwaysgenerated.Hencetheworldis
1,368perpetual;fortheDemiurgusisalwaysgood.Theworldthereforeis
112Aperpetual,notbeingbutbecomingtobeperpetually.Hence,aswehave
said,theperpetuityoftheuniverseissuspendedfromthegoodnessofits
maker.Fortheorderlydistributionoftheuniversesufficiently
manifeststhedemiurgicpower.Formatter,onaccountofitsprivation
offormandmorphe,hasappearedtosometobewithoutGod,*andthe
confusedanddisorderlynature,toberemotefromdivineprovidence.
Sincetheuniversehowever,iswellorderedanddecoratedwithbeauty,
itclearlydemonstratesdivineproduction.Thevisibleorderofthings
therefore,beingtheprogenyofthedemiurgiccause,isconsubsistent
withthegoodnessofthefather.
29e"Hetherefore,whoespeciallyreceivesthismostprincipalorproper
30aandpowerfulprinciplefromprudentmen,willreceiveitwiththe
greatestrectitude."
Timaeusassignsthefinalcausewhichextendsitselftothegoodnessof
theDemiurgus,accordingtowhichunitinghimselftothefirst,and
Bimitatinghim,hegeneratesallthings.Forthefirstprincipleisthat
whichprimarilyproducesallthings,andthisTimaeusdenominatesthe
mostproperandpowerfulprinciple,becauseitismotiveofcauses
themselves.Forthedemiurgicprinciplemovesindeedthatwhichis
generated,butismovedfromthence[i.e.fromthefirstprinciple].And
theparadigmaticprinciplemovesthetotalfabrication,butismovedby
goodness;becauseTheGoodindeed,ispriortointelligibles,butthe
paradigmisintelligible,andtheDemiurgusintellectual.AboutTheGood
tForKarotXipiirawi,itisnecessarytoreadKOtTdkafxKti.
%cf.117Ainfra,p.351.
also,allintelligibleandintellectualnaturessubsist:butaboutthe
intelligible,theorderofintellectuals*subsists.Theeffectivecause
therefore,isaprincipalcause,buttheparadigmaticismoreprincipal,
andthefinalismostprincipal.Foritisthatforthesakeofwhichall
thingssubsist,fromwhichotherthingsaresuspended,andwhichistruly
theendoffabrication.Henceheworldisperfectedindeed,onbecoming
1,369animatedandinspiredwithlife;butitismostperfect,sofarasit
participatesofgood,andoftheunionwhichextendsthroughwholes.

ForasTheGoodistheleaderofallthings,sothegoodnesswhichisin
eachthinghasthefirstdignityineach.Ontheseaccountstherefore,he
callsthefinalcausethemostprincipal,orthemostproperandpowerful
principle.Forthenameofprinciplecomprehendsalsoconcauses.But
Cbytheadditionofmostprincipal,heindicatesthatwhichistruly*cause.
Forthemostprincipalprinciplesarethecausesofgeneratednatures;but
concausesaresubservienttootherthings,andareintheeffects
themselves.Itmustbesaidhowever,thatgenerationandtheworld,as
wehavebeforeobserved,arethepathbetweenmatterandthewhole
arrangementofthings,andtheperfectionitselfoftheuniverse.Sincealso
indogmasconcerningthehighestcausesitisnecessarythatthespeaker
shouldhavetheintellectualhabit,andtheauditoraprudentjudgement,
thisisespeciallyrequisiteindiscussionsconcerningTheGood.For
intellectsubsistsonaccountofTheGood,andtheintellectwhichisin
us,onaccountofthegoodwhichisinus.HencePlatothinksitis
necessary,thatthosewhoassertsomethingconcerningthemostproper
andpowerfulprinciple,shouldbeprudentmen,andthattheirauditors
shouldreceivewhattheysaywiththegreatestrectitude.Whatthen,
maynotanycasualpersonsaysomethingconcerningGodandthefinal
cause?AnddowenoteverydayhearthemultitudeassertingthatGod
isgood?ButGodspokenofwithouttruevirtueisbutaname,asPlotinus
says;andheisspokenofbythemultitude,notaccordingtowisdom,but
accordingtochance.}Donotdaemonsalsoknowthegoodnessofthe
father,whodance[asitwere]roundhim;anddemiurgicangels,who
precedeasinasolemnprocessionthepaternalproductionofthings;and
Godswhoreceivedemiurgicpowersfromtheonefabricativecause?
tInsteadofitepiSeTOvoepov,qTUVVOTJTUV&uxKoo~p.rioic.inthisplace,itis
necessarytoreadirtpi8eTOVOT\TOV,I\TUVvotpuvbiaKoa^aiq.Fortheintelligibleis
superiortotheintellectualorder.
tForTT\VOVTOC.OUTUXVhere,itisrequisitetoreadTT\VOVTOX;airuxv.
EnneadI,2,1ff.
Godshowever,possessthisknowledgeuniformly,angelsintellectually,
daemonswithundefiledpurity,eternally,andinawayalliedtothe
naturespriortothem,butwemustbesatisfiedwithhavingthis
knowledgeprudentlyandwisely,sinceweareinacertainrespectmedia
1,370betweenmoredivinenaturesandthemultitude,betweenintellectual
beings,andthosethataredeprivedofintellect.Forsuchishuman
]prudence,proceedingindeedfromintellectandintelligence,butruling
overalifedestituteofintellect.Hence,whenwespeakconcerningthe
mostproperprinciple,whatweassertmustbereceivedasutteredby
prudentmen.Forprudenceisamediumbetweenintellectandopinion;so
thatarightjudgementwillbeconcordantwithit.Hencetoo,Plato
adds,"hewhoespecially."Fortheassertionconcerningthisprinciple
mustbeespeciallyreceivedfromprudentmen.Butfromthenatures

aboveman,somethingbetterthanthisassertionmustbesought;and
fromthemultitude,acasualassertion.
30a"Forthedivinitywaswillingthatallthingsshouldbegood,andthat
asmuchaspossiblenothingshouldbeevil."
EThedivinefabrication,andintellectualproductionproceedsfrom
impartiblestopartibles,fromthingsunitedtosuchasaremultiplied,and
fromthingswithoutinterval,toeverywayextendedmasses.Thisalso
thediscourseconcerningitadumbrating,inthefirstplace,celebratesthe
finalcauseapophthegmatically;inthenextplace,discursively;andinthe
thirdplace,itdeliversinanevolvedmanner,thewholeorderly
distributionandprogressionfromit.Fortheassertion,"hewasgood,"
uniformlycomprehendseveryfinalandthemostdivineofcauses.But
thewords,"Inhimwhoisgood,noenvyiseveringeneratedaboutany
thing;andbeingentirelyvoidofthis,hewaswillingthatallthingsshould
becomeasmuchaspossiblesimilartohimself,"comprehendthiscause
discursively;tbecause,aftertheonewillofintellect,headdsthedivided
theoryofit.Andwhathenowsaysrepresentstousintelligence
proceedingintoallmultitude,andinterval,andevolvingallthe
demiurgicprovidence,andallthepartsoffabrication.Thethird
assertion,likewise,isincontinuitywiththesecond,andthesecondwith
1,371thefirst.Forsincethefirstdivisionwas,"hewasgood,"onthisaccount
Fthesecondbeginsfromgood,butproceedsasfarastothewillofthe
father.Andthethirdbeginningfromhiswill,deliversthewholeofhis
providentialenergyForifhewasgood,hewishedtomakeallthings
good.Butifhewished,hemadethemtobeso,andtheuniverse
tTheword8ieo6ucweisomittedintheoriginal.
obtainedanelegantarrangement.Forprovidenceindeed,issuspended
fromwill,butwillfromgoodness.Andthusmuchconcerningtheorder
andconnexionoftheassertions.
Letushoweversurveywhatwillis,inorderthatwemayunderstand
113Ahowitisconjoinedwithgoodness.Thesuperessentialunionitself,
therefore,whichisofitselfexemptfrombeings,isone,ineffable,and
uncircumscribed,fromTheOneItselfpossessingitsundefinedand
incomprehensiblenature.Hence,ifitberequisitetosurveyinthis,
fromwhathasbeensaid,thetriadwhichischaracterizedbyunity,or
whichhastheformofTheOne,goodnessindeedprecedes,butthe
secondiswill,andthethirdisprovidence;goodnessproducingtheperfect,
thesufficient,andthedesirable;butwillexhibitingthesuperplenary,the
extended,andthegenerative;andprovidenceimpartingtheefficacious,the
perfectiveofworks,andtheundefiled.Accordinghowever,tothis
ineffableandunitedhyparxisofthetriad,theintelligiblealsoistriply

divided,intoessence,power,andenergy;essenceindeed,beingfirmly
establishedinthistriad,andexistingselfperfect;butpowerpossessing
aneverfailingandinfiniteprogression;andenergybeingallotted
perfectionandessentialproduction.Andagain,intellectanalogously
Breceivesatripledivision,intobeing,life,andtheintellectual.Forthe
firstoftheseisthesupplierofexistence,thesecondofvitality,andthe
thirdofknowledge.Afterthese,soullikewiseisdividedintotheobject
ofscience,intoscience,andthescientific.Forthefirstoftheseindeed,
isthatwhichisknown,thesecondisknowledge,andthethirdisthat
whichreceivesitscompletionfromboth.Thesetriadstherefore,being
1,372fourinnumber,asgoodnessistowill,soisessencetopower,beingto
life,andtheobjectofsciencetoscience.Andaswillistoprovidence,
soispowertoenergy,lifetointellect,andsciencetothatwhichis
scientific.Foressence,being,andtheobjectofscience,haveanorder
analogoustogoodness.Fortheconnective,thestable,theuniform,and
theperfective,pertaintogoodness.Butpower,life,andscience,are
analogoustowill.Fortheselfbegotten,andthatwhichcomprehends
andmeasuresallthings,belongtowill.Andenergy,intellect,andthat
whichisscientific,pertaintoprovidence.Fortheefficacious,andthat
whichproceedsthroughandantecedentlycomprehendsallthings,are
theresemblancesofdivineprovidence.Sincetherefore,theDemiurgus
CalsoisaGod,andanimparticipableintellect,sofarasheisaGod
indeed,hepossessesgoodness,will,andprovidence;butasintelligible,
hehasessence,power,andenergy;andasintellect,heis,andhaslife,
andaknowledgeofwholes.Themonadalsowhichhepossessesis
suspendedfromunity.Andthusmuchconcerningwill.
Consequenttothis,itremainstoinquirehowtheDemiurguswished
allthingstobegood,andifthisispossible,andinwhatmanner.For
itmaybesaid,ifhewaswillingthatthisshouldbethecase,itwouldbe
requisitethattheprogressionofthingsshouldstopattheGodsand
undefiledessences.If,however,henotonlyfabricatedthese,butalso
brutes,andreptiles,andmen,andeverythingmaterial,hewasnot
willingthatallthingsshouldbegood.Forhewasnotwillingthat
betternaturesshouldaloneexist,butalsofabricatedsuchasareworse.
Ifhehadbeenwilling,therefore,thatallthingsshouldbegood,he
wouldhavestoppedhisfabricationattheGods.Wereply,however,
thatiftheprogressionofthingswasonlyasfarastotheGods,allthings
wouldnotbegood.Forfirstnaturesbeingallottedthelastorder,the
goodwouldbedestroyed;sincebeingableandwillingtogenerate
throughtheirgoodness,yetinconsequenceofanarrangementasthelast
ofthings,theywouldbecomeunprolificandnotgood.Ouropponents
thereforesay,ifallthingsaregood,theprogressionisasfarastothe
DGods.Butwesay,iftheprogressionofthingsextendsonlyasfarasto
1,373theGods,allthingsarenotgood.Forifadivinenatureisunprolific
howisitgood?Butitwillbeunprolific,ifitisthelastofthings.For

everythingwhichgeneratesisbetterthanthatwhichisgenerated.But
thelessexcellentnaturenotexisting,thatwhichismoreexcellentwill
havenosubsistence.LettherebetheGods,therefore,andletthemhave
thefirstorder.ButaftertheGods,lettherebeaprogression*asfaras
tomatteritself;andletusgiveatransitiontoallbeings,fromthefirst
tothelastofthings.Andneitherlettherebeanywantingevenofthe
lastofbeings,noranyvacuum.Forwhatvacuumcantherebewhen
thingscharacterizedbyitself*havethefirstsubsistence;thosethatrank
asthesecondproceedfromthese;thoseofthethirdorderproceedfrom
theseandothers;thoseinthefourthrankaregeneratedfromthings
characterizedbythetermanother;andthoseinthefifthrankbeing
othersonly;andoneachsideofthesethosenaturessubsistingwhichare
dissimilarlysimilar?5Such,therefore,beingthecontinuityinthings,
whatcanbedeficient?Immoveablenaturesbeingfirstestablished,selfmotive
natureshavingthesecond,andaltermotivenaturesthethird
tUpoodovisomittedintheoriginal.
Xviz.Selfsubsistentsuperessentialnatures;fortothesetheauto,oritself,primarily
belongs.Thenexttotheseareintellects.Thoseinthethirdrank,aresouls.Thosein
thefourth,thenaturesthataredividedaboutbodies.Andthoseinthefifthandlast
rankarebodies.
viz.TheOne,andmatter.
Erank,allofwhicharethelastofthings.Forallbeingsderivetheir
completionfromtheabovementionedorders.Inshort,theproduction
ofthingsmaybeshowntobecontinuedinmanyways;andifyouare
willingsotospeak,analogysubsistingfromonhighasfarastothelast
ofthings,accordingtothewellorderedprogressionofallbeingsfrom
TheOne.
Let,therefore,allthesethingsbeacknowledged,andletthegeneration
ofbeingsbeextendedasfarastonothing;butwhetheristherenothing
evilinthese,orshallweadmitthatthereisinacertainrespect,andthat
thereiswhatiscalleddepravityinbodies,andinsouls?Forsomehave
beenledbythisdoubttotakeawayevilentirely;butothershavebeea
inducedtodenyaprovidence,inconsequenceofbelieving,thatif
providencehasasubsistence,allthingsaregood.Forif,indeed,divinity
waswillingthereshouldbeevil,howcanhebegood?Foritisthe
provinceofthatwhichisessentiallygoodtobenefiteverything,justas
itisofthatwhichisessentiallyhot,togiveheat.Butitisnotlawfulfor
1,374TheGoodtoeffectanythingelsethanwhatisgood.Andifdivinitywas
not*willingthereshouldbeevil,howcanithaveasubsistence?For
somethingwillexistcontrarytothewillofthefatherofallthings.Such
thereforeisthedoubt.
Wemustsay,however,conformablytothedoctrineofPlato,

Faccordingtoourpreceptor,thatthehabitudeofdivinitywithrespectto
thingssubsistsinadifferentmannerfromthatofours.Andagainthat
thehabitudeofthingswithreferencetodeityisdifferentfromtheir
habitudewithreferencetous.Forwholeshavearelationtoparts
differentfromthatofpartstoeachother.Todivinitythereforenothing
isevil,notevenofthethingswhicharecalledevil.Forheusesthese
alsotoagoodpurpose.Butagain,topartialnaturesthereisacertain
evil,thesebeingnaturallyadaptedtosufferbyit.Andthesamething
istoapartindeedevil,buttotheuniverseandtowholesisnotevilbut
good.Forsofarasitisabeing,andsofarasitparticipatesofacertain
114Aorder,itisgood.Forthisthingwhichissaidtobeevil,ifyou
apprehendittobedestituteofallgood,youwillmakeittobebeyond
eventhatwhichinnorespectwhateveris.ForasTheGoodItselfis
priortobeing,soevilitselfisposteriortothenothingnessofnonentity.
Forthatwhichismostdistantfromthegoodisevil,andnotthatwhich
tMeiswantingintheoriginal.
hasnokindofsubsistence.*If,therefore,thatwhichinnorespect
whateveris,hasmoreofsubsistencethanevilitself,butthisis
impossible,itismuchmoreimpossiblethatthereshouldbesuchathing
asevilitself.
If,however,thatwhichisentirelyevilhasnosubsistence,butevilis
complicatedwithgood,yougiveitaplaceamongbeings,andyoumake
itgoodtootherthings.And,indeed,howisitpossibleitshouldnot,
ifitranksamongbeings?Forthatwhichparticipatesofbeing,
participatesalsoofunity,andthatwhichparticipatesofunity,
participateslikewiseofgood.Henceevil,ifitis,participatesofgood;
becauseevilhasnotanunmingledsubsistence,andisnotentirely
deprivedoforder,andindefinite.Whothereforemadeittobesuch?
Whoimpartedtoitmeasure,andorder,andbound?Itisevidentthat
BitistheDemiurguswhorenderedallthingssimilartohimself.Forhe
filledbothwholesandpartswithgood.Butifhebenefitsallthings,and
coloursevilitselfwithgood,thereisnothingevilaccordingtothe
1,375powerofdivinityandofrecipients.Forpoweristwofold,onebeing
thatofdivinitywhichbenefitsthedepravitythatissoabundantlyseen;*
buttheotherbeingthatofrecipients,whichparticipateofthegoodness
oftheDemiurgusaccordingtothemeasureoftheirorder[inthescale
ofbeings].InconsequencethereforeoftheDemiurgusbeingwillingthat
thereshouldbenothingevil,nothingisevil.Butifcertainpersons
accusehimasthecauseofevil,becausehegavesubsistencetopartial
natures,theytakeawaythefabricationoftheworld,subverttheprolific
powerofwholes,andconfoundthenatureofthingsfirstandlast.
Thatweassertthesethings,however,conformablytotheopinionof
Plato,maybeeasilyseenfromhiswritings.ForinthePoliticus*he

clearlysays,"thattheworldobtainedfrom0itsmakerallbeautiful
things,butfromitsformerhabit,allsuchinjustice,andevil,asare
producedwithintheheavens."Forbecausethereisgeneration,andalso
corruption,thatwhichispreternaturalhasasubsistence.Andbecause
Cthedeformityofmatterfillspartialsoulswithinelegance,throughan
tTheGoodItselfispriortobeing.Nothingornonbeingisnotthatwhichismost
distantfromTheGood;foritisthatinwhichtheprocessionofbeingends,butthat
whichismostdistantfromTheGoodisevilitself.Henceevilitselfisposteriorto
nonentity.
%ForTtoXvapotTov,itisnecessarytoreaditoXvopaTov.
Politicus273bc.
Foritepihere,itisrequisitetoreadTtctpa.
associationwithit,onthisaccountthatwhichisnotconformableto
reasonisallottedacertainresemblanceofsubsistence.Atthesametime
however,alltheseparticularsbecomebeautifulthroughthegoodnessof
themakeroftheuniverse.ButintheRepublic,*Platoassignsnoother
causeofgoodthanGod,andsaysthatcertainothercausesofevilsare
tobeinvestigated;throughwhichhemanifeststhatevilsdonotderive
theirsubsistencefromdivinity.Foritisnot,sayshe,theprovinceof
firetorefrigerate,norofsnowtoheat,norofthatwhichisallgoodto
produceevil.*Andheassertsthatcertainpartialcausesoftheseareto
beadmitted,andsuchasareindefinite.Foritisnotinevilsasinthings
thataregood,viz.thatTheOneandwhatisprimarilygood,precede
multitude;andthisonaccountoftheindefinitediffusionofevil.The
wordsothers,therefore,andcertain,evincethatthecausesofevilare
1,376partialandindefinite.ButintheTheaetetushesays,5"thatitisneither
possibleforevilstobeabolished,norforthemtobeintheGods,but
Dthattheyrevolvefromnecessityaboutthemortalnature,andthisplace
ofourabode."If,therefore,evilrevolvesnecessarilyinthemortalplace,
itwillnotbeaccordingtoPlato,thatwhichinnorespectwhateverhas
asubsistence,andwhichisexemptfromallbeings.Sothataccordingto
himevilexists,isfrompartialcauses,andisbenefitedthroughthe
boniformprovidenceoftheDemiurgus,becausethereisnothingwhich
isentirelyevil,buteverythingisinacertainrespectaccomplished
conformablytojusticeanddivinity.
Forwemaymakethefollowingdivision:Ofallthattheworld
contains,somethingsarewholes,butothersparts.Andofparts,some
eternallypreservetheirowngood,suchasapartialintellect,andpartial
daemons,butothersarenotalwaysabletopreservetheirpropergood.
Andofthese,somearealtermotive,butothersselfmotive.Andofselfmotive
natures,somehaveevilestablishedintheirchoice;butinothers,
itterminatesinactions.Withrespecttowholes,therefore,theyare
perfectlygood,supplyingnotonlythemselves,butalsopartswithgood.

Suchthings,however,asareparts,andyetpreservetheirowngood,
Epossessgoodsecondarilyandpartially.Butsuchasareparts,andaltermotive,
derivingtheirsubsistencefromotherthings,aresuspendedfrom
theprovidenceofthem,andaretransmutedinabecomingmanner,as
isthecasewithsuchbodiesasaregeneratedandcorrupted.Forifitis
tRep.II,379c.
XRep.I,335d.
Theaetetus176a.
necessarythatthereshouldbegeneration,itisalsonecessarythatthere
shouldbecorruption.Forgenerationsubsistsaccordingtomutation,
andisacertainmutation.Butifthereiscorruption,itisnecessarythat
thepreternaturalshouldbesecretlyintroduced.As,therefore,that
1,377whichiscorrupted,isindeedcorruptedwithreferencetoitself,butis
notdestroyedwithreferencetotheuniverse;foritiseitherairorwater,
orsomethingelseintowhichitischanged;thusalsothatwhichis
preternatural,isindeedwithrespecttoitselfdisordered,butwithrespect
totheuniversehasanorderlyarrangement.Forifthoughitshouldbe
destroyedandentirelydeprivedoforder,itwouldnotdissolvetheorder
oftheuniverse,howisitpossiblethatwhenhavingapreternatural
subsistencewhichisofitselfnothingwhendeprivedofallorder,itcan
destroythewholearrangementofthings?Butagain,partialnatures
whichareselfmotiveindeed,andwhoseenergyisdirectedtoexternals,
causethatwhichiseffectedbytheirenergytobeeviltothemselves,yet
inacertainrespectthisalsoisgood,andconformabletodivinity.For
sinceimpulsesandactionsarefromchoice,actionsfollowelections,
Faccordingtojustice,whenhewhochoosesnotonlydeservesthe
retributionconsequenttohischoice,butthatalsowhichfollowsfrom
bisconduct.Andsimply,indeed,theactionisnotgood,buttohim
whochoosesacertainthing,andisimpelledinacertainway,itis
introducedaccordingtojustice;andisgoodtothisindividualandthis
particularlife.Forofgoods,somearegoodtoallthings,otherstosuch
tsdifferaccordingtospecies,andotherstoindividuals,sofarastheyare
individuals.Forhelleboreisnotgoodtoallmen,nortoallbodies,nor
yettoalldiseasedbodies,butitisgoodtoonewhoisdiseasedina
115Aparticularmanner,andissalutaryfromacertainprinciple.Whether,
therefore,theactionisintemperateorunjust,tothosewhoperformit
indeeditisgood,sofarasitisconformabletojustice,butsimplyitis
notgood,nortothosebywhomitisdone,butistothemthegreatest
evil.Andsofarasitproceedsfromthemandisdirectedtothem,itis
evil;butsofarasitproceedsfromtheuniversetothem,itisnotevil.
Andsofarastheirenergyisdirectedtothemselves,theydestroytheir
life,becomingactuallydepraved;butsofarastheysufferfromthe
universe,theyundergothepunishmentoftheirchoice(justasitissaid,
thatthosewhodeliberateaboutbetrayingasuppliant,subvertdivinity);

ortheysufferthepunishmentoftheirwills.
1,378Letus,however,directourattentiontowhatremains,viz.tosuch
partialnaturesasenergizeselfmotively,andwhostoptheirdepravityas
farastotheirchoice.Fortheysufferthepunishmentoftheircogitation
alone.For,asitissaid,thereisacertainpunishmentofmere
imagination,impulseandwill;sincetheGodsgovernusinwardly,and
astheyrewardbeneficentchoice,solikewisetheypunishthecontrary.
BButitmaybesaid,howcanchoiceitselfhavethatwhichisconformable
tojusticeanddivinity?Maywenotreply,becauseitisnecessarythere
shouldbeanessenceofthiskindandapowerofanambiguousnature,
andwhichvergestodifferentlives?Ifthereforethatwhichhas
dominionoverchoiceisfromdivinity,choicealsoisfromdivinity,and
ifthisbethecase,itisgood.Fortheelectingsoulaloneistransferred
toanotherandanotherorder.Forallchoiceeitherelevatesthesoul,cr
drawsitdownward[toaninferiorconditionofbeing].Andifindeed
thechoiceisfromadepraved*soul,itisevil;butifittransfersthat
whichitchoosestoitsproperorder,itisinaccordingtojusticeand
good.Forthechoiceitselfintroducespunishmenttotheelectingsoul.
Orrather,thechoicebecomespunishmentinhimwhochooses,causing
thesoultoapostatizefromgood.Forasabeneficentchoicebecomes
trulytherewardofitself,soadepravedchoicebecomesitsown
punishment.Forthisisthepeculiarityofselfmotivepowers.Hence
thereisnoevil,whichisnotalsoinacertainrespectgood;butallthings
participateofprovidence.
If,however,certainpersonsshouldaskonwhataccountanevilproducing
causehadatfirstasubsistence,thoughitshouldnotrank
amongwholes,butisofapartialnature,totheseitmustbesaid,that
Ctheprogressionofbeingsiscontinued,andthatnovacuumisleftamong
them.Whether,therefore,isitnecessarythatthereshouldnotbeevery
selfmotivelife?Butweshallthustakeawaymanynaturesthatare
divine.Orshallwesayitisnecessarythereshouldbewholesthatare
selfmotive,butthereisnonecessitythereshouldbeselfmotiveparts?
Buthowisitpossibletheyshouldbewholes,ifdeprivedoftheirproper
1,379parts?*Andhowwillthecontinuityofbeingsbepreserved,ifwholes
andselfmotivenatureshaveapriorexistence,andalsopartialandaltermotive
natures,butweentirelydestroytheintermediatenatures,viz.
suchasareselfmotiveindeed,butatthesametimepartial?Andwhich
throughthepartialformbecomeconnectedwithhabitude,butthrough
theselfmotivepower,areatacertaintimeliberatedfromhabitude.It
isnecessarytherefore,thatthereshouldbethislifealso,whichisa
mediuminbeings,andthebondofthingswhichhaveasitwerean
tMoxOripuc,isomittedintheoriginal.
XFortheproperpartsofaselfmotivewhole,arealsoselfmotive.

arrangementcontrary*toeachother.Evil,however,isnotonthis
accountnaturaltothesoul;sincesheisessentiallythemistressofher
choice.Fortheanimatedbodyhasanessentialtendencytodisease;for
itisessentiallycorruptible;andyetdiseaseisnotaccordingtonature.
Hence,diseaseisindeedeviltothepartialnaturewhichisallottedto
Dconnectthisparticularbody,butisgoodtothewholenessofbodies.
Foritisnecessarythatwhatisgeneratedfromotherthings,shouldbe
changedintoanotherthing.As,therefore,tothenaturewhichisinus,
itisgoodforthenutrimenttobechanged,inordertothepreservation
oftheanimal;thusalsotoeverynatureitisgoodforaparttobe
corrupted,inorderthatthewholesmaybepreserved,whicharealways
priortoparts.Forifpartsweregeneratedfromwholes,andthethings
generatedshouldremain,allthingswouldberapidlyconsumed,in
consequenceofwholesbecomingpartialnatures.Foracontinued
ablationtakingplacefromthingsofafinitenature,thewholemust
necessarilyfail.Butwholesnotexisting,eithergenerationwillbe
stopped,ormutationtopartialnatureswillbederivedfromother
things.Hencethatwhichiseviltoapartialnatureisgoodtothewhole
lifeoftheworld.
Fartherstill,therefore,resumingtheinquiryafteranothermanner
fromthebeginning,ifweareaskedwhetherdivinitywaswillingthere
shouldbeevil,orwasnotwilling,wereplythathewasboth.Forhe
waswilling,indeed,consideredasimpartingbeingtoallthings.For
everythingintheuniversewhichhasanykindofbeingproceedsfrom
1,380thedemiurgiccause.Buthewasnotwilling,consideredasproducingall
Ethingsgood.Forheconcealedevilintheuseofgood.Andifyouare
willingtoarguephysically,evilisproducedessentiallyindeedfroma
partialsoul,butaccidentallyfromdivinity,sofarasitisevil,ifitis
admittedthatdivinitygavesubsistencetothesoul.Evilalso,sofaras
itisessentiallygood,originatesfromadivinecause,butaccidentally
fromthesoul.Forsofarasitsubsistsaccordingtojustice,itpossesses
good.Again,PlatointheLaws*defineswhatpunishmentis,viz.that
itappearstoconsumehimwhosuffersit,andresemblestheopeningof
ulcers.Andhewhoisincapable5ofbeinghealedwithoutacertain
action,isincitedtotheperformanceofit,inorderthatthesoulbeing
liberatedfromherpa/turiencyandstupidastonishmentaboutthatwhich
Forair'curiaehere,itisnecessarytoreadaicevctVTUjX;.
cf.LawsV,728c.
ForTOnev8vva/j.evovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,TOfirjbvvuy&vov.
isbase,andrepentingofherownevils,maybegintobepurified.For

baseandunjustactions,whentheyaretheobjectsofhope,arelovelyto
thosethatvehementlyadmirethem,butwhenaccomplished,fillthose
thatperformthemwithrepentance.Andwhen,indeed,theyarethe
subjectsofmeditation,theycausethesoultobelatentlydiseased;but
whentheyhaveproceededintoenergy,theydemonstratetheirown
Fimbecility,butliberatethesoulfromthemostdisgracefulparturition.
Andsome,indeed,exhibitthispunishmentaccordingtothewholeof
theirlife;butothersaccordingtopartialenergies.Forhewhodoesany
thingirrational,doesitfromchoice,isimpelledtothatwhichisthe
objectofhischoice,andleadsintoenergythatwhichpreexistedinhis
imagination.
Inshort,evilisneitherinintellectualnatures;forthewholeintellectual
genusisfreefromallevil;norinwholesouls,orwholebodies;forall
116Awholesareexemptfromevil,asbeingperpetual,andalwayssubsisting
accordingtonature.Itremains,therefore,thatitmustbeinpartial
souls,orinpartialbodies.Butneitherisitintheessencesofthese;for
alltheiressencesarederivedfromdivinity;norintheirpowers;forthese
subsistaccordingtonature.Henceitremains,thatitmustbeintheir
1,381energies.Butwithrespecttosouls,itisneitherinsuchasarerational;
foralltheseaspireaftergood;norinsuchasareirrational;forthese
energizeaccordingtonature.Butitsubsistsintheprivationof
symmetry1ofthesewithreferencetoeachother.Andinbodies,itis
neitherinform;foritwishestoruleovermatter;norinmatter,forit
aspiresafterthesuperveningornamentsofform.Butitconsistsinthe
privationofsymmetrybetweenformandmatter.Fromwhichalsoit
isevident,thateverythingevilexistsaccordingtoaparypostasis,or
resemblanceofsubsistence,andthatatthesametimeitiscolouredby
good;sothatallthingsaregoodthroughthewillofdivinity,andas
muchaspossiblenothingisdestituteofgood.Foritwasnotpossible,
thatgenerationexisting,evilalsoshouldnothaveashadowysubsistence,
Bsinceitisnecessarytotheperfectionofthewholeofthings.Andfrom
whathasbeensaid,itisevident,thatthewillofdivinityisnotvain.
Forallthingsaregoodwithreferencetohim,andthereisnotanybeing
whichisnotvanquishedbyaportionofgood.Norarethewords,"as
muchaspossible,"writtensuperfluously.Fortheydonotsignifyan
imperfectpower,butthatpowerwhichrulesoverallthings,andbenefits
allthingsthroughanabundanceofgood.
tForovunerpujihere,itisnecessarytoread,ctovnnerpiQi.
30a"Thusreceivingeverythingthatwasvisible,andwhichwasnotina
stateofrest,butmovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,heledit
fromdisorderintoorder,conceivingthatthelatterwasineveryrespect
betterthantheformer."

PlutarchofCheronaandhisfollowers,andalsoAtticus,understand
whatisheresaidliterally,astestifyingforthemthegenerationofthe
1,382worldfromacertaintime.Theyalsosaythatunadornedmatterexisted
Cpriortothegenerationoftheuniverse,andlikewiseamalevolentsoul,
whichmovedthismatter.For,[theyadd,]whencewasthemotion
exceptfromsoul;andifthemotionwasdisorderlyitwasfroma
disorderlysoul?Itissaidtherefore,intheLaws,}thatabeneficentsoul
instructsinanuprightandprudentmanner,butthatamalevolentsoul
ismoveddisorderly,andthatwhatisgovernedbyitisconducted
confusedlyandinelegantly.Theyfartheradd,thatwhenthefabrication
oftheworldbytheDemiurguscommenced,matterwasbroughtintoa
stateadaptedtothecompositionotheworld,andthatthemalevolent
soulparticipatingofintellect,wasrenderedprudent,andproducedan
orderlymotion.Fortheparticipationofform,andthepresenceof
intellect,broughtitintoorder.Porphyryhowever,andIamblichus,and
theirfollowers,reprobatethisopinion,asadmittinginwholes,that
whichiswithout,priortothatwhichhasarrangement,theimperfect
priortotheperfect,andthatwhichiswithoutintelligence,priortothat
whichisintellectual.And[theyadd],thatPlutarchandAtticusarenot
onlyguiltyofimpietytowardstheDemiurgus,butlikewise,either
entirelysubverthisbeneficentwill,orhisprolificpower.Forboth
theseconcurring,itisalsonecessarythattheworldshouldbe
perpetuallyfabricatedbyhim.Theylikewisesay,thatPlatowishingto
DindicatetheprovidenceproceedingfromtheDemiurgusintothe
universe,andalsothesupplyofintellect,andthepresenceofsoul,and
thenumerousandmightygoodsofwhichtheyarethecausestothe
world,previouslysurveyshowthewholecorporealformedcomposition
iswhenconsidereditselfbyitself,disorderlyandconfused.Andthathe
doesthis,inorderthatbyperceivingbyitselfthearrangementderived
fromsoul,andthedemiurgusorderlydistributionofthings,wemaybe
abletodeterminewhatthenatureisofthecorporealformedessenceby
itself,andwhatorderitisallottedfromfabrication;theworldindeed,
alwaysexisting,butlanguagedividingthatwhichisgeneratedfromits
tcf.LawsX,897b.
maker,andproducingaccordingtotimethingswhichareconsubsistent
atonce,becauseeverythingwhichisgeneratedisacomposite.
1,383Wemayalsoobserve,inadditiontowhatishererightlyasserted,that
sincethedemiurgicproductionistwofold,theonebeingcorporeal,*but
theotherdecorative,Platobeginningfromthelatter,supposeswiththe
greatestpropriety,thateverythingcorporealismovedinaway
Eperfectlyconfusedanddisorderly.Foritsmotionissuch,sofaras
pertainstoitself,whenitissurveyedasnotyetparticipatingofintellect,
andanimatedbyanintellectualsoul.Forwhentheuniversebecomes

athingofthiskind,thenitparticipatesofsupernaturalpowers.Butif
itismoved,ashesays,neitherbyintellect,norbyaprudentsoul,from
whichorderisderived,itsmotionwillbedisorderly.Alittleafterthis
however,Platodeliverstousthedemiurgicprovidenceaboutthe
fabricationofbodies.ForthentheDemiurgusisrepresented
fashioningthewholeofacorporealnature,whichPlatonowsaysbe
assumed;theDemiurgusbeingthemaker,theadorner,theartist,andthe
manualartificer.Iftherefore,heproducesthefirstbodies,itisevident
thatthegenerationofbodyisapartofhisfabrication,thevisiblenature
receivingcertainvestigesofforms,whicharetheforerunnersoftheir
distinctsubsistence;eachthingwhenthisdistinctiontakesplace,being
perfectlyadorned,andobtaininganappropriatepositionandorderin
theuniverse.Andthereisnooccasionindeed,tosaymuchaboutthat
whichismovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner.ForPlatoclearly
says,*thattheDemiurgusfashionedthewholeofthecorporealnature
withinsoul.Withrespecttosoulhowever,itisevidentthatonething
pertainingtoitwasnotasubject[unproducedbytheDemiurgus],and
Fthathealoneproduceditsdisorderlydistribution.Forhefirst
constitutesitsessence,andthesameandthedifferent;ofwhichas
elementsitconsists.Hence,ifheproducedtheelementsofsoul,andthe
mixtureofthese,heproducedthewholeofit.Sothathedidnot
assumeonepartofitasalreadyexisting,andaddanother.Andofsoul
1,384indeed,whichisincorporeal,thisistrue.Butwithrespecttobody,we
haveshownhowdivinityisthecauseofthefirstforms.
Concerningmatteritself,however,someonemayenquirewhetherit
isunbegotten,notbeinggeneratedbyacause,asPlutarchandAtticus
117Asay,orwhetheritwasgenerated,andifsofromwhatcause.For
tForEwKpanKT|Chere,itisnecessarytoreadffujicmiCTjc.
tTim.36d.
Aristotleindeed,*inanotherwaydemonstratesthatitisunbegotten,as
notbeingacomposite,norconsistingofanothermatter,noragain,being
analyzedintoanother.Thepresentdiscussionhowever,saysthatitis
perpetual,butinvestigateswhetheritisunbegottenandnotgeneratedby
acause,andwhetheraccordingtoPlato,twoprinciplesofwholesareto
beadmitted,matterandGod,neitherGodproducingmatter,normatter
God;inorderthattheonemaybeentirelyperpetual,andwithoutGod,
buttheotherentirelyimmaterialandsimple.Thisthingtherefore,is
amongthenumberofthosewhichareverymuchinvestigated,andhas
beenconsideredbyuselsewhere.Now,however,itisrequisiteto
exhibittothesemen,whattheconceptionofPlatoisonthissubject.
ForthattheDemiurgusisnotthefirstwhogavesubsistencetomatter,
isevidentfromwhatPlatosaysfurtheron,*viz.thatthesethreethings
precededthegenerationoftheworld,being,place,andgeneration;and

thatgenerationisanoffspring,butplaceamother.Heappearstherefore
throughthesethingstodividematteroppositelyasitweretothe
BDemiurgus,accordingtothematernalandpaternalpeculiarity,butto
producegenerationfromtheDemiurgusandmatter.Doeshenot
thereforegivesubsistencetomatterfromanotherorder,whichhasan
arrangementpriortotheDemiurgus?InthePhilebus1therefore,he
clearlywrites,"WesaythatGod0exhibitedthebound,andalsothe
infinityofbeings,fromwhichbodiesandallbeingsderivetheir
composition."Hence,ifbodiesarefromboundandinfinity,whatisthe
boundinthem,andwhattheinfinity?Itisevidentindeed,thatwesay
matterisinfinity,butformbound.Iftherefore,aswehavesaid,0God
1,385givessubsistencetoallinfinity,helikewisegivessubsistencetomatter,
whichisthelastinfinity.Andthisindeed,isthefirstandineffable
causeofmatter.Butsinceeverywheresensiblesareanalogousto
intelligiblecauses,andPlatoconstitutestheformerfromthelatter;asfor
instance,theequalwhichishere,fromtheequalitself,thesimilar,from
similitudeitself,andafterthesamemannerallsublunaryanimalsand
plants,itisevident,thathelikewiseproducestheinfinitywhichis
Chere,fromthefirstinfinity,justasheproducestheboundwhichishere
tcf.DeCaeloI,3,270a24ff.
%Tim.52d.
SPhilebus23c;30ab.
viz.ThehighestGod,orTheOne.
o82ABffsupra,p.248.
fromtheboundwhichisthere.Ithashowever,beendemonstratedby
uselsewhere,thatheestablishesthefirstinfinitywhichispriortothings
thataremingledinthesummitofintelligibles,andfromthenceextends
itsilluminationasfarastothelastofthings;sothataccordingtohim,
matterproceedsfromTheOneandbeing,orifyouarewilling,fromthe
onebeingalso,[orbeingcharacterizedbyTheOne]sofarasitisbeing
inpower.Hencelikewise,itisinacertainrespectgoodandinfinite,
andthemostobscureandformlessbeing.Onthisaccountalsotheseare
priortoforms,andtheevolutionofthemintolight.
Orpheuslikewisedeliverstheverysamethings.*ForasPlato
producestwofoldcausesfromTheOne,viz.boundandinfinity,thustoo
thetheologistgivessubsistencetoetherandchaosfromtime;etherbeing
thecauseofboundeverywhere,butchaosofinfinity.Andfromthese
twoprincipleshegeneratesboththedivineandthevisibleordersof
things;fromthemoreexcellentprincipleindeed,producingeverything
stable,effectiveofsameness,andthesourceofmeasureandconnexion;
butfromthelessexcellent,everythingmotive,effectiveofdifference,
Dneverfailingprogression,thenaturewhichisdefined,andconnectedby

otherthings,andthelastinfinitybywhichmatteralsoiscomprehended.
Hencealsomatterisdissimilarlyassimilatedtothefirstinfinity.*And
itisindeedaseparation(chorisma),asbeingthereceptacle(chora)andplace
1,386offorms;*butthereisneitherbound,norabottom,noraseataboutit,as
beinginfinite,unstable,anindefinite.Butagain,thelastinfinitymaybe
denominatedaperpetualdarkness,asbeingallottedaformlessnature.
Henceconformablytothisassertion,Orpheusproducesmatterfromthe
firsthypostasisofintelligibles.Forthereperpetualdarkness0andthe
tFr.52.
%Forirpoceavrtfvhere,itisnecessarytoreadirpocavrrjv,[i.e.irpoc;avrrv
ocneipuxv.]
cf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,472ff.
Thefirsthypostasisofintelligiblesisbeingitself,whichismingledfrombound
andinfinity.Perpetualdarknesstherefore,maybesaidtoresidehere,becausethis
hypostasisthroughproximitytotheineffablecauseofallbecomesdarkened."Forbeing
verynear,asDamasciusadmirablyobserves,totheimmenseprinciple,ifitbelawfulso
tospeak,itdwellsasitwereintheadytumofthattrulymysticsilence."Thisdarkness,
however,isnotanydeficiency,butatranscendencyofallthatisluminous.Forasthere
isonekindofignorancewhichisbelowknowledgeasbeingthedefectofit,andanother
whichisaboveknowledge,beingthatinwhichourascenttotheineffableterminates;
thusalso,therearetwokindsofdarkness,theonebeingbelow,andtheotherabove
light.
infinitesubsist.Andtheseindeed,subsistthereisawaymoreexcellent
thanthesuccessiveordersofbeing.Inmatterhowever,the
unilluminated,andtheinfiniteareinherent,throughindigence,andnot
accordingtoatranscendency,butadeficiencyofpower.Moreover,the
traditionoftheEgyptiansassertsthesamethingsconcerningit.Forthe
divineIamblichusrelatesthataccordingtoHermesmateriality(hyloteta)
isproducedfromessentiality*(ektesousiotetos).Itisprobable
therefore,thatPlatoderivedfromHermesanopinionofthiskind
concerningmatter.Andmatterindeedprimarilysubsistsfromthese
principles[boundandinfinity].ButPlatoalsoproducesitaccordingto
Esecondandthirdprinciples,viz.intelligibleandintellectual,supercelestial
andmundanecauses.AndwhydoIsaythisoftheGods
themselves?Forthenatureoftheuniverselikewise,producesmatterso
farassheis[aGoddess]*andaccordingtothehyparxisofherself.For
accordingtothissheparticipatesofthefirstcause.TheDemiurgus
therefore,accordingtotheunitywhichhecontains,accordingtowhich
likewiseheisaGod,is5alsothecauseofthelastmatter;butaccording
tohisdemiurgicbeing,heisnotthecauseofmatter,butofbodiessofar
astheyarebodies,andofcorporealqualities.Hencegenerationisthe
offspringofbeing.Accordingtothelifewhichhecontains,heisthe
causeoftheanimationwhichpervadesthroughallthings;butaccording

tohisintellect,heisthecauseoftheintellectualsupplyimpartedtothe
universe.Andallsuchthingsindeed,asheproducesaccordingtohis
secondarypowers,heproducesinconjunctionwiththosethatare
primary.Foreverythingwhichparticipatesofintellect,participatesalso
oflife,ofbeing,andofunion.Thatalsowhichlivesis,andisone;and
beingisconnectedthroughitsownproperunity.Theconverse,
1,387however,isnottrue.ForsuchthingsasheproducesaccordingtoThe
One,0somanyhedoesnotproduceaccordingtobeing.Nordoeshe
Fgivesubsistencetoasmanythingsaccordingtothefountainoflife,as
hedoesaccordingtobeing.0Norasmanythingsaccordingtoaroyal
intellect,ashedoesaccordingtolife;buthegivesthegreatestextentto
tSeeIamblic.DeMysteriis,VIII,8,265[TTSvol.XVII,p.138].
$Thewordtheosisomittedintheoriginal,butoughtevidentlytobeinserted,
becauseProclusintheIntroductiontothisworkobservesthatNatureisaGoddess
throughbeingdeified.
Foronhere,itisrequisitetoreadtan.
InsteadofmraTOT\Vhere,itisnecessarytoreadKaraTOtv.
0cf.Philebus30d.
hisprovidencefromhismoreelevatedpowers.Thesethings,however,
wehaveelsewheremorefullydiscussed.*
LetusthereforereturntothewordsofPlato,andsurveythemeaning
ofeach.Thewordthusthen,suspendsthewholeorderlydistribution
ofthingsfromthegoodnessoftheDemiurgus,viz.fromhisdivinity.
Butthewords,"everythingthatwasvisible,"inthefirstplace,leave*
nothingsolitary;andinthenextplace,theyshowthatthisvisiblenature
iscorporeal.Foritwouldnotbevisibleifitwasincorporealand
118Awithoutquality.Sothattheyneithersignifymatter,northesecond
subject[i.e.bodyvoidofquality].Butthevisiblenatureisthatwhich
nowparticipatesofforms,andpossessescertainvestiges,and
representations,beingmovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner.For
theidolicandindistinctpresenceofformsproducesdifferentmotionsin
it,asTimaeussaysfartheron.5These,however,alltheordersofthe
GodspriortotheDemiurgusilluminate;buttheparadigm
transcendentlyilluminatesthembyhisverybeing,andpriorlo
fabrication.Forsuperiorenergizepriortosecondarycauses,andthe
Demiurgusmakesinconjunctionwiththeparadigm,buttheparadigm,
priortotheDemiurgus,andpermeatestothosethingstowhichthe
energyofdemiurgicprovidencedoesnotextend.Iftherefore,youwish
todisjoinprimordialcauses,andthethingswhichproceedfromthem,*
youwillfindthatTheGoodwhichisthecauseofallthings,isalsothe
causeofmatter.Onthisaccountitislikewisethecauseofitsbeing
investedwithforms;foreveryformisameasure;andofits
Bparticipationoforder.Fororderisthereasonofthingsthatare

arranged.Theparadigm,however,isnotthecauseofmatter,butofthe
productionofform,andoftheorderintheforms.ButtheDemiurgus
isthecauseoforder.HencealsoPlatosays,thattheDemiurgusreceived
matternowadvancingtotheparticipationofforms.Sinceallcauses
1,388therefore,subsistalwaysandatonce,butoftheireffects,some
proceedingasfarastothingsthatarelast[i.e.tobodies],butothersas
farastothingswhicharebeyondboth,throughtheextensionof
superiorcauses;thisbeingthecase,theparadigmindeed,receives
matterfromTheGood,andinvestsitwithform;forforms,sofarasthey
areforms,aretheprogenyoftheparadigm;buttheDemiurgusreceiving
tFort^T]OTCtTCtihere,itisnecessarytoreadintraoral.
%Insteadofatpiorrioivinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadutpu)0iv.
Tim.40b;43b.
ForTCXair'avrovhere,readraair'avruv.
formsfromtheparadigmadornsthemwithnumbers,andinsertsin
themorder.Afterthismannertherefore,youmustconceive,ifyou
disjoincauses.Ifalsoyousay,thattheDemiurgusistheonecauseof
allthings,heproducesindeedinonewayaccordingtohisgoodness[or
TheGoodwhichhederivesfromtheineffable],butinanotherway
accordingtohisownparadigmatic,andaswemaysay,artificial
peculiarity.Asheproduceslikewisecollectively,atonce,andeternally,
differentthingsproceedfromadifferentpeculiaritycontainedinhim.
CForaccordingtoTheGood,heproducesmatter,formandorder;but
accordingtotheparadigminhim,form;andaccordingtohisartificial
peculiarity,order.Hencethisthingwhichisinvestedwithformprior
toorder,hastheserepresentationsofformsfromtheparadigmwhichis
initsownnatureintelligible.Fromthisorderlikewise,theOracles
produceabundantlyvariousmatter.Fortheysay,*"Fromthence
entirelyleapsforththegenerationofabundantlyvariousmatter."For
thefirstmatterdoesnotpossessagreatvariety;noristhereagenerationof
this,butofthatmatterwhichhasvestigestheforerunnersofforms;from
whichitisevidentthattheparadigmandtheDemiurgusdifferfrom
eachother,sincematterindeedparticipatesoftheformerpriortothe
fabricationoftheworld,whenaccordingtothehypothesis,the
Demiurguswasabsent;butitespeciallyreceivessomethingfromthe
latterwhenitisarrangedandadorned,andthentheDemiurgusis
presentwithit.Thewordthereforereceiving,maybesaidtoindicate
theparadigmaticcausewhichisexemptfromthedemiurgicprovidence,
fromwhichtheDemiurgusreceivesthesubjectofthings,nowvariegated
1,389withcertainvestigesofforms.Itmayalsobesaid,thatadifferentwork
participatesofadifferentpower,thoughwemaysurveyallpowersin
theDemiurgus.Forhewillbethesamedivinitywhoreceivesandwho
delivers,essentializing,oradorningthingsbydifferentpowers.

DButthewords,"whichwasnotinastateofrestbutmoved,"showthat
thehypothesisaloneimpartstothesubjectanaturefromwhichmotion
isderived.Forthenatureofitbeingirrationalandnotgovernedby
divinity,whatkindofordercanitbeabletopreserve?Thishowever
isevident,fromthePoliticus,*where,separatingtheDemiurgusfrom
theworld,Platosays,thatitwasmovedbyacertainfate,andan
essentiallyconnascentdesire.Hencesupposinghereinconjunctionwith
fabrication,whathetheresupposedafterit,heintroducestheprivation
tChild.Oracl.fr.34.
$cf.Politicus272e.
ofordertothemotionofthevisiblenature,thismotionbeingproduced
withoutintellect.Andthusmuchforthisparticular.Again,theword;,
"heleditfromdisorderintoorder,"signifytheparticipationofintellect,
andanintellectuallife.Butthewordconceivingindicatesthedemiurgic
intelligence,whichisanalogoustohiswillandpower.Previously
assumingtherefore,willintheexpression"beingwilling,"andpowerin
theexpression"asmuchaspossible,"inthethirdplace,headds
intellectualknowledgeintheterm,"conceiving."ForintheLaws,he
characterizesdivineprovidencebythesethreedyings,viz.bygoodness,power,
andknowledge.*Andgoodnessindeedispaternal,andpertainstothe
firstnatures;butpowerismaternal,andranksinthesecondplace;and
intellect,whichisgnostic,isthethird.Goodnessthereforeisthefirst,
butpoweriswithhim,*viz.withthefirstofthetriad,andintellect,
whichisfromhim,isthethird.Again,thewords,"thatwasinevery
respectbetterthanthis,"signifythatorderisbetterthandisorder.Forit
wasthussaid,viz."thatheled*itfromdisorderintoorder."Theword
thisalsohasanindicationofthedisorderthenpresentwhichthe
Demiurgusreceived;butthewordthatrepresentstoustheorderpre
1,390existentintheDemiurgus,accordingtowhichalsoheisaboutto
arrangedisorderlynatures.Aristotletherefore,0didnotknowthe
orderwhichisintheDemiurgus,butthatwhichisineffects.Heplaces
however,theexcellentinboth;inorderthataccordingtohim,intellect
Fmayabideinitself,butmayinnorespectbeeffectiveofsecondary
natures.ButPlatofollowingOrpheus,says,thatorderisfirstinthe
Demiurgus,andthewholepriortoparts.FortheDemiurgusbeingall
thingsintellectually,madeallthingstoexistsensibly.Forifheproduces
byhisverybeingorexistence;anditisnecessarythatheshould,in
orderthatwemaynotascribetohimdeliberatechoice,whichisan
ambiguoustendency;heeitherproducesbyaseparationofpartsfrom
himself,andbyadiminutionofhisownpowers,inthesamemanneras
fire,orabidingsuchasheis[withoutanyalteration],heproduces
successivenaturesbyhisverybeing.Itishowever,absurdtosay,that
119Aheproducesbyaseparationofpartsfromhimself:forneitherisnature
diminishedinproducingthehairorteeth,oranyotherofthepartsof

thebody.Muchmoretherefore,isitfittopreserveanexemptessence,
tcf.LawsX,900de,ff.
$Chald.Oracl.fr.4.
Forrfxevhere,itisrequisitetoreadrryev.
cf.AristotleMetaphysicsXII,10,1075allff.
andwhichgivessubsistencetoitself,undiminished.Butifremaining
thatwhichheis,heproducesbyhisverybeing,throughthisindeed,he
producesthatwhichissimilartohimself;butthroughaseparationof
parts,hedoesnot*makethatwhichheproduceswhollysimilarto
himself.Forthatwhichisdiminished,doesnotmakeaccordingtothe
wholeofitself.Allthingstherefore,subsistinhimprimarily.But
externalnaturesaretheimagesofhisallness,(pantotetos)andorder
existsinonewayineffects,andinanotherinparadigms.Forthe
formeriscomplicatedwithdisorderlynatures,butthelatterisorder
itself,subsistingin,andbeingofitself;thatitmaybeabletoarrange
thingsdisorderly,andmaybeexemptfromthem,andpreserveitsown
essenceinundefiledpurity.Andthusmuchconcerningthemeaningof
thewords.
Itdeserveshowevernottobeomitted,thatPlatohereimitatesthe
theologists,insupposingtheexistenceofaconfusedanddisorderly
naturepriortothefabricationoftheworld.Forastheyintroducethe
warsandseditionsoftheTitansagainsttheOlympianGods,solikewise
BPlatopresupposesthesetwothings,theunadornedandthatwhichis
1,391effectiveofornament,thattheformerofthesemaybeadorned,and
participateoforder.Theyhoweverspeaktheologically.Fortheyarrange
inoppositiontotheOlympianGods,thepatronsofbodies.ButPlato
philosophicallytransfersorderfromtheGodstothesubjectsoftheir
government.
Inthenextplace,therefore,letusconciselynarratethesacred
conceptionswhichthephilosopherPorphyryheredelivers.Inthefirst
place,then,heopposesAtticusandhisfollowers,whoadmitthatthere
aremanyprinciples,conjoiningtoeachothertheDemiurgusandideas.
Thesealsosay,thatmatterismovedbyanunbegotten,butirrational
andmalevolentsoul,andisbornealonginaconfusedanddisorderly
manner.Thataccordingtotimelikewise,matterexistspriortothat
whichissensible,irrationalitytoreason,anddisordertoorder.Let
therehoweverbe,astheysay,matterandGod,bothbeingwithout
generationfromacause.Hence,theunbegotteniscommontothem.
Atthesametime,theydifferfromeachother.Theydiffertherefore,by
somethingelse,andnotbytheunbegotten.Hence,thatbywhichthey
differfromeachother,willnotbeunbegotten.Itwillthereforebe
generated.Itisimpossible,however,thatthingswithoutgeneration,

Cshoulddifferbythegenerated.Inthenextplace,whatisthecauseto
themoftheirdifference,andwhichmakestheonetobepreservative,
tInsteadofKcrftoXochere,itisnecessarytoreadKaO'o\ov.
buttheothercorruptive?Foritisabsurdtosay,thatitisthe
unbegotten;(foreithereverythingunbegottenispreservative,orevery
thingunbegotteniscorruptive;)iftheunbegottennatureofGodmakes
Godtobepreservative,ortheunbegottennatureofmattermakesmatter
tobecorruptive.Butifsomethingelseisthecauseoftheirdifference,
whetheristhatsomethingelseunbegottenorgenerated?Forifitis
generated,itisabsurdthatitshouldbethecauseofthingsunbegotten;
orifunbegotten,*thatitshouldbethecauseofunbegottennatures.So
thatagain,wemustinvestigatesomethingelsepriortothese,asthecause
oftheirdifference,andtheascentwillbeadinfinitum.Foriftherewill
benocauseofdifferencetothingsthatdiffer,soastorendertheone
preservative,buttheothercorruptive,thecasualwillhavedominion
1,392overtheprinciples;forcausebeingsubverted,theconcurrenceofsuchlike
principleswillbeirrational,andwithoutcause.
Fartherstill,itisabsurdtomakeevileternal,inthesamemanneras
TheGood.ForthatwhichiswithoutGod,isnotsimilarlyhonourable
withthatwhichisdivine;norisitequallyunbegotten,nor,inshort,is
ittobecontrarilydivided.Forwhyistheonemoresufficienttoitself,
ormoreimmutable,orindestructible,thantheother,ifeachofthemis
Dfrometernity,andneitherisinwantoftheother?Again,ifoneof
themisadaptedtobeadorned,buttheothertoadorn,whenceistheir
aptitudederived?Foritisnecessarythereshouldbesomethingwhich
connectsboth,andmakesthemcommensuratetoeachother.Forthese
principlesbeingdivulsedfrom,andsubsistingcontrarytoeachother,
cannotrenderthemselvesadaptedtocoalition.Unlesstheysay,thatthis
alsoarisesfromchance.Norinthusspeakingdotheyattendtothe
Athenianguest,*whosays,thatthisisthefountainofstupidopinion,
toassertthattheirrationalispriortoreason,andthatchancehas
dominionpriortointellectualart.NortoSocratesintheRepublic,}
whosays,thatitisnotpropertoremaininmultitude,buttorecurfrom
themanytotheircommonmonads.Fartherstill,itisnecessaryto
characterizethehighestprinciplenotbythisalone,thatithasnot
anotherprinciple;forthisdoesnotyetdemonstrateitsdignity0[but
thatitistheprincipleofallprinciples].Butifthisbethecase,there
tItisnecessaryheretosupplyayevr]TOVTUV;andthereforeinsteadofreading,as
mtheoriginal,eireaycvqruvOVTUV,wemustread,arecqevi\TOVTUVcqevi\TUV
OVTUI:
$cf.LawsX,891c.
cf.Rep.VTI,523a526a.

QForareolaehere,itisnecessarytoreado/iuv.
willnotbemore[independent]principlesthanone.Foriftherewere,
Godwillnotbethecauseofallthings,butonlyofcertainthings.But
Eifhealsorulesovermatter,thereisoneprinciple,andnotmany
principles.Fartherstill,iftheexistenceofprincipleconsistsinthis,that
itistheprincipleofcertainthings,andthatitadornsthatwhichis
disorderly,itwillbesimultaneouswiththethingsthatproceedfromit,
andtheprinciplewillbenolesssubvertedfromthingsposteriortoit
notexisting,thanthingsposteriortoitwhentheprincipleissubverted.*
Butthiswillbethecase,sincetheyfrequentlysay,thattheprinciplehas
itsexistenceinfabricating.Ifhoweverthisbetrue,itisnotpossiblefor
1,393theprincipletoexist,theworldnotexisting.Butagain,asserting
differentlyfromwhattheydidbefore,theysay,thatGodexistswithout
fabricating.Theyassertthishowever,not*knowingthattruepowers
energizebytheirverybeing,andthattheaugmentativeandnutritive
powers,bytheirverybeing,increaseandnourishthebody.Thusalso
thesoulbyitsveryexistenceanimates,vivifies,andmovesitsinstrument
[thebody].Forthebodydoesnotperceiveorpalpitateinconsequence
ofourpredeliberation;butthepresenceofsoulaloneaccomplishesthese
energies.Again,everythingwhichisalwaysnaturallyadaptedtoa
certainthing,essentiallypossessesthepowereffectingit;butthatwhich
ischangeddifferentlyatdifferenttimes,isadscititious.IfthereforeGod
alwaysfabricates,hewillhaveaconnascentdemiurgicpower;butifhe
doesnot,hispowerwillbeadscititious.Howtherefore,frombeing
imperfect,doeshebecomeperfect,andfromnotbeingartificial,an
artificer?
FThesecondheadthereforeafterthis,isthatwhichshowsthatPlato
refersallthingstooneprinciple.Andthisisevidentfromthe
Republic,*whereheassertsthatthesunisthecauseofvisible,butthe
goodofintelligiblenatures.Againalso,hecallsthesuntheoffspringof
thegood.ThisislikewiseevidentfromhisEpistles,0inwhichhesays
thatallthingsareaboutthekingofall,andthatallthingsareforhis
sake.Forifallthingsareconvertedtohim,andsubsistabouthim,he
istheprincipleofall,andnotonlyofcertainthings;sincewhateveryou
fInsteadofKmovdevpjxWovavriprnxevr]ttjcapxVQ,TtoSuvTOLper'avryv,etc
rovruvhjiOPTUV,avatpeirairiap\ri,Iread,KmovdevfiaWovavriptmevqc.njcapxvc.,
OKiroSuvTCXp.er'OVTI\Vr\enTOVTUV,K.\.
tOi>xisomittedhereintheoriginal.
Rep.VI,508bc.
EpistleII,312e.
mayassumewillbederivedfromthence.Thistooismanifestfromthe

120APhilebus,*inwhichdialogueheclearlysays,thatallthingsarefrom
boundandinfinity,butthatoftheseprinciplesthemselvesthereisone
preexistentcause,whichisGod.Hence,thereisoneprincipleand
manyprinciples;buttheseareperfectedbytheoneprinciple.From
whatissaidalsointhePhilebus*thisisevident,inwhichdialoguehe
confutesthosewhoassertthatbeingsare[alone]many,andlikewise
thosewhoadmittheprincipletobebeingitself.Forhedemonstrates,
thatitisneitherpropertobeginfromthemultitudeofbeings,norfrom
theonebeing,butfromtheoneitself.
1,394Inthethirdplace,therefore,neitherdotheprincipleswhichthey
assumepertainanythingtoPlato.Forideasarenotseparatedfrom
intellect,subsistingbythemselvesapartfromit;butintellectbeing
convertedtoitself,seesallforms.HencetheAthenianguest5assimilates
theenergyofintellecttothecirculationofanaccuratelyfashioned
sphere.Buttheyintroduceideasasthingsinefficacious,resemblingin
themselvesformsimpressedinwax,andsituatedexternaltointellect.
NoristheDemiurgusthefirstGod.ForthefirstGodissuperiorto
Beveryintellectualessence.Nordoesacertainirrationalsoulmovethat
whichisbornealonginaconfusedanddisorderlymanner.Forevery
soulistheoffspringoftheGods.Nor,inshort,didtheuniverse,from
beingwithoutorder,becomearranged.ForifGodwaswillingtobring
allthingsintoorder,howwashewilling?Washealwayswilling,orat
acertaintime?Forifhewaswillingatacertaintime,thiswaseither
fromhimself,orfrommatter.Butiffromhimself,anabsurdityfollows.
Forheisalwaysgood.Everythinggood,however,whichalwaysexists,
isalwayseffective.0Andifthisarosefromtheresistanceofmatter,
howcameittobenowadorned?Because,saythey,itbecameadapted
toreceivethedemiurgicproductivepower.ForGodobservedthis,viz.
theaptitudeofit.Itisnecessarytherefore,thatitshouldhavebeen
broughtintoorder,notbeingitselfdisorderly.Forifithadbeen
disorderly,itwouldnothavebeenadapted;sincethedisorderlymotion
tcf.Philebus23c.
%IntheTeubnertextthisreadsSophistaratherthanPhilebus.
cf.LawsX,898b.
cf.Theaetetus147a.
InsteadofTO8eayadovitav,aeiovitovt\nKOV,itseemsnecessarytoreadTObe
otyudovitavaeiov,aeiTtovt\TiKOV.
ofitisinaptitude.Hencematterisnotthecauseoftheprivationof
orderandornament.Moreover,neitheristhewillofGodthecauseof
this.Forheisalwaysgood,andthereforetheworldisalwaysadorned;
andtheDemiurgusalwaysarrangestheconfusedanddisorderlynature.
Onwhataccount,therefore,didPlatohypotheticallyintroducethis
privationoforder?Itwasthatwemightsurveyhowthegenerationof

Cbodiesisonething,andtheorderofthemwhengenerated,another;
bodiesindeedexisting,butbeingmovedinadisorderlymanner.For
theyareincapableofarrangingthemselves.HencePlato,wishingto
indicatetheorderwhichaccedestobodiesfromsomethingdifferentfrom
themselves,showsthatdisorderisconsubsistentwiththeirmotions,without
adivinecause.Aristotle,*however,blameshimwhoassertsthat1,395
disorderisassumedpriortoorder,merelyaccordingtohypothesis,and
saysthatthosethingswillnotfollowforwhichthehypothesesare
assumed,asisthecaseingeometry.Forthehypothesesofgeometryare
ofthemselvesabletoeffectgeometricalconclusions.Tothiswereply,
thatitisnotsaidafterthismanneraccordingtohypothesis,thatthe
unadornedoughttobeadmittedpriortotheadorned,butthatPlatosaw
thatwhichisformlesspriortoforms,thoughitisneverseparatefrom
them.Thustoo,thatwhichisinvestedwithform,thoughyetwithout
distinction,isassumedpriortoorder,thoughitneverwaspriortoit,
butisconsubsistentwithorder.
Thefourthhead,inadditiontothosethathavebeenalready
considered,isthatinwhichPlatodemonstratesthemodeoffabrication;
adivineintellecteffectingthisbyitsverybeing,whichheinfersthrough
Dmanyarguments.Forartistsareinwantofinstrumentstotheirenergy,
becausetheyhavenotdominionovereverykindofmatter.Butthisis
evidentfromtheinstrumentswhichtheyuse,inordertorendermatter
pliant,boring,orpolishing,orelaboratingitwithawheel;allwhich
operationsdonotinsertform,buttakeawaytheinaptitudeofthe
recipientofform.Thereasonitselfhowever,orform,becomespresentwith
thesubjectfromartinstantaneously,alltheimpedimentsbeingremoved.
Henceiftherewasnoimpediment,formwouldimmediatelyaccedeto
matter,andwouldnotinshortbeinwantofanyinstruments.
Moreover,thephantasyproducesmanypassionsaboutthebodybyits
veryenergyalone.Foramanblushesthroughtheimaginationofwhat
isbase,andbecomesred;andthroughtheconceptionofsomething
dreadfulisterrified,andhisbodyisrenderedpale.Andthese,indeed,
arethepassionsaboutthebody.Butthecauseoftheseisaphantasm,
tcf.AristotleDeMundoVI,399a14.
whichdoesnotemployimpulsionsandmechanicalcontrivances,but
energizesbybeingpresentalone.Fartherstill,theologistsassertthat
therearecertainpowerssuperiortous,whoemployefficacious
imaginations,andwhichbytheirveryexistenceareeffectiveofwhat
1,396theywishtoaccomplish,andwhoarealsoabletoproduce
Eilluminations,andtoexhibitcertaindivineformsbytheirmotions,to
suchasareabletobeholdthevisionswhichtheyexternallypresentto
theview.Ifthereforehumanarts,theimaginationsofpartialsouls,and
theenergiesofdaemons,effectthingsofthiskind,whyisitwonderful

thattheDemiurgus,bytheintellectualintuitionoftheuniverse,should
givesubsistencetothesensiblenature;generating,indeed,thatwhichis
materialimmaterially,thatwhichistangible,withoutcontact;and
extendingimpartiblythatwhichpossessesinterval?And,indeed,it
oughtnottobeconsideredasanadmirablecircumstance,ifsomething
whichisincorporeal,andwithoutinterval,isthefabricatorofthis
universe.Forhumanseedproducesman,whoissomuchlargerthan
theseed,andineachpartofitcontainsallthedifferencesofthesolids;
asforinstanceofthebones,thosethatarecompact,andthosethatare
hollow;ofthesoftparts,suchasthelungsandtheliver;ofthedry
parts,suchasthenailsandthehair;ofthemoistparts,suchastheblood
andthephlegm;oftheadipousparts,asthemarrowandfat;ofthe
bitterparts,asthebile;ofthepartswithoutquality,asthesaliva;ofthe
thicksetparts,asthenerves;andoftheexpandedparts,asthe
Fmembranes.Forallthese,thesubstancesofsimilarparts,andthosethat
inacertainrespectarecomposedofthem,derivetheirsubsistencefrom
asmallbulk;orratherfromthatwhichiswithoutbulk.Forreasons[or
productivepowers]generatethese,andtheyareeverywherevoidof
bulk.Forwhateverpartyoumaytakeoftheseed,youwillfindinit
allthings.Muchmore,therefore,isthedemiurgicreasonableto
produceallthings,beingnotatallinwantofmattertotheirexistence.
Butthefabricatorofallthingsiseternallyestablishedinhimself,and
abidinginhimselfproducestheuniverse.
30a"Butitneitherwas,norislawful,forthatwhichisbest,toeffectany
thingelsethanthatwhichismostbeautiful."
121AThemis*isveryproperlyassumedinthebeginningofthefabrication
oftheuniverse.Forsheisthecauseofthedemiurgicsacredlaws,and
fromhertheorderoftheuniverseisindissolublyconnected.Hencealso
tThiswordwhichisusedherebyPlato,signifiesboththeGoddessofjustice,andlawful.
sheremainsavirgin,priortotheprogressionoftheDemiurgus,
accordingtotheOraclesofNight.Butsheproduces,inconjunction
withJupiter,thetriadoftheSeasons,towhom
OlympusandgreatHeav'naregiv'nincharge,
Andadensecloudtoopen,ortoclose.
IliadV,751
Sheisthereforethemonadofallthemundaneorder;onwhichaccount
alsoSocratesintheRepublic*callsherNecessity,asisdemonstratedin
thatdialogue.Helikewiseconvolvestheworldonherknees,she
preservingtheorderofitperpetuallyimmutableandunshaken.
Conformablythereforetothisdivinecauseoforder,theDemiurgusalso,

leadingthatwhichisdisorderedintoorder,impartsbeautytoallthings,
andrenderstheworldsimilarto,andconnectitwithhimself.Forbeing
Bhimselfmostexcellent,heveryproperlycausestheworldtobemost
beautiful;becausethefirstandintelligiblebeautyitselfissuspended
from,andisingoodness.Hencetheworldlikewise,beingmost
beautiful,issuspendedfromtheDemiurgus,whoisthebest[of
fabricativecauses].AndbecauseTheGoodisthecauseofbeauty,onthis
accountalsothebestoffathersgivessubsistencetothemostbeautiful
offspring.Fartherstill,asThemisistheguardianofthedivinelaws,but
theymakethegenerationsofsecondaryfromfirstnaturestoproceedin
anorderlyseries,andpreservetheconnexionofdivinebeings,andthe
similitudesofthingssecondtosuchasarefirst;onthisaccountalso,
theDemiurgus,energizingwithThemis,renderstheuniversemost
beautiful,beinghimselfmostexcellent.ForifSocrates,beingaman,
saysthatitisnotlawfulforhimtoconcedeanythingthatisfalse,or
1,398toobliteratetruth,*howisitpossibleweshouldsaythatthedemiurgic
intellecteffectsanythingelsethanwhatisbeautiful,andthathedoes
notexterminatedeformity,beingunitedtoThemis,whoislikewise
alwayspresentwithhim?Andthusmuchconcerningthisparticular.
Butthewords"itneitherwasnoris,"areveryappropriatelyassumed
Cwiththatwhichisbest:forbeforethis,hehadcalledtheDemiurgusgood,
andthenalsothetermwas,wasadded.ForTimaeussays;hewasgood.
Forthesimplicitywhichisaboveintellect,andthepeculiarityitselfof
deity,aremoreadaptedtothetermwas,asbeingsupereternal,and
tRep.X,616c;617b.
tcf.Theaetetus151a.
betterthanallintellectualperception.Now*howeverhecallshimthe
mostexcellent,asbeingadeifiedintellect.Forthatwhichparticipates
[ofdeity]ismostexcellent.Thetermsalsowasandis,areadaptedtothe
Demiurgus;astoaGodindeed,thetermwas;butastoanintellect,the
termis,inorderthatatoneandthesametimehisdivineunionand
eternalhypostasismayberenderedmanifest.
30ab"Byareasoningprocess,therefore,hefoundthatamongthethings
whicharenaturallyvisible,nowholeworkdestituteofintellectwould
everbemorebeautifulthanawholeworkwhichpossessesintellect."
AmeliusinawonderfulmannerendeavourstoprovethatPlatoknew
thedifferentdemiurgiccauses,andcontinuallypassesinasilentway
fromoneofthesecausestoanother;exhibiting,onaccountoftheir
connexion,nooneofthedivinecausesthemselves,butdiscoursingabout
themasiftheywereoneandthesame,throughtheunionofthe
demiurgiwitheachother.Forallofthemareone,andoneisall.Since

nowalsohewhowillsisoneDemiurgus,hewhoreasonsisanother,and
Dhewhoassumesorreceivesisanother.Andthefirst,indeed,makesby
hiswillalone,thesecondbyintelligenceandintellectualperception,but
thethirdby[asitwere]manualoperation.Fortheyplacedintellectin
soul,butsoulinbody,andthustogetherfabricated*theuniverse.The
divinelamblichushoweverreprobatesallsuchinterpretations,asvery
superfluouslydevised.Buthedefineslogismos,orareasoningprocess,
tobethatwhichcausallyprecedesbeings,whichisfabricativeofessence
itself,andwhichisaccordingtoenergyinvariablythesame;fromwhich
allreasoningsareconnected,andhavetheirexistence.
1,399Weindeedhavealreadyobserved,thatTimaeusdiscoursesaboutone
andthesameDemiurgus,andshallnowremindthereaderthatthismust
beadmitted.Forifthereisamultitudeinthedemiurgi,[i.e.ifthereare
manydemiurgi,]itisnecessarytoarrangeamonadpriortothe
multitude.Moreover,wethinkitfitthatthedivinelamblichusshould
consider,whethertheoneandwholeDemiurgus,beinganintellectual
world,isnotmultipotent,anddoesnotbydifferentpowersfabricate
differentthings,inadditiontohisbeingthefatherofallthings?Forlet
thesameDemiurgus,sofarasheisgood,andsofarasheisaGod,be
theproducingcauseofallthings;yetsincehecomprehendsinhimself
Ethecauseofallfabrications,andproducesinonewaythewhole,butin
tNouciserroneouslyprintedhereforvvv.
%ForovvtKTtivraiinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadovvrtKrm.vtTa.1.
anothertheparts;theformerindeedcollectivelyandtotally,butthe
latterinadistributedmanner,givingsubsistencetoeachthing,according
toitspropercause;hencebyoneintellectualperception,headornsthe
whole,andgeneratesit,collectively;accordingtowhichalso,theworld
isoneanimal.Butbyareasoningprocess,heproducesthepartsinthe
world,andtheseaswholes;becauseheistheDemiurgusoftotalnatures,
fabricatingtotalintellect,andtotalsoul,andallthebulkofbody.
Hence,ascomposingparts,heissaidtomakethembyareasoning
process.Forlogismos,isadistributedordividedevolutionofparts,and
adistinctivecauseofthings.Foritdoesnotpertaintoonewhodoubts;
sinceneitherdoesart,norsciencedoubt;butartistsandscientificmen
thendoubtwhentheyareindigentofthehabitsbywhichtheformer
becomeartists,andthelattermenofscience.Ifhoweverthesedonot
doubt,noreasoncanbeassignedwhyintellectshoulddoubt.Hencethis
isnotthroughthewantofthatwhichisfittakingplace.But
theDemiurgusproducesthewholeworldbyintelligence.For
intelligenceiscollectiveofmultitudeintoone;justaslogismosis
distributiveoftheoneintomultitude.Suchthereforeisthemeaningof
"byareasoningprocess."

Withrespecthowevertothethingswhicharenaturallyvisible,tosay
Fthattheyaresensiblesisperfectlyabsurd.Forthesearenotyetarranged
inthediscourseofTimaeus,anditisamongthenumberofthings
impossible,thattheDemiurgusshouldbeconvertedtothem.Forhow
1,400canhevergetothatwhichislessexcellent,orwhatkindof
representationcanhereceiveofmaterialthings,towhichitisnot
fortunateevenforapartialsoultoincline?Itisbettertherefore,asthe
divineIamblichusinterpretsthewords,tothinkthatthingsofthiskind
areintelligibles.Forthatthesearevisibleisevidentfromthethings
whichTimaeusshortlyaftersaystheDemiurgusperceives.Forhis
wordsare,*"Asmanytherefore,andsuchideas,asintellectperceivedtobe
inherentinthatwhichisanimal,&c."Thattheyarealsonaturally
122Avisible,willbeevidentifweconsider,thatsomethingsarevisiblewith
relationtous,butothersaccordingtonature.Andthethingsindeed
whicharevisiblewithrelationtous,areintheirownnaturedarkand
immanifest;butthosewhicharenaturallyvisiblearetrulyknown,and
areresplendentwithdivinelight.Butintelligiblesarethingsofthis
kind.Perhapstoo,ashehadcalledthatwhichismovedinaconfused
anddisorderlymannervisible,andwhichsubsistspreternaturallyaswith
referencetofabrication,henowcallstheintelligibleparadigmsofthe
tTim.39e.
Demiurgus,naturallyvisible.Hence,intheintroductionheinquires,
whetheraneternalorageneratedparadigmoftheuniversemustbe
admitted;thesetwothingsexistingpriortothegenerationofthe
universe,beingandgeneration.*AndwhereelsecantheDemiurgus
findthecausesofgeneratednatures,thaninintelligibles?Forinvention
withhimisnotafortuitousthing,norasyllogisticprocess;sincethis
pertainstopartialsouls;butaunionwiththeintelligiblecausesofthe
partsoftheuniverse,andasurveyandplenitudefromthencederived.
BForallthingsexistparadigmaticallyinthenaturespriortohim,both
suchasaretheobjectsofintellection,andsuchasaredeprivedof
intelligence;*sincetrulyexistingbeingcomprehendsuniformlythecause
ofintellectualnatures,andofthosethatdonotparticipateofintellect.
Andtheintellectualbeingswhicharethere,areofasuperior5butthe
rest,ofaninferiororder.Forthoughallthingsthereareobjectsof
intellectualperception,andintellects,yetinsomeofthem,thecause
possessestheintellectualnatureofthethingscaused,butinothers,the
privationofintellectandtheirrational;thecausesthemselvesbeing
intellectual,butthethingswhichproceedfromthem,deprivedof
intellect.HencetheDemiurguslookingthither,veryproperlyadmits
thatwhatpossessesintellectismorevenerablethanthatwhichis
withoutit,thegenusoftheone,thanthegenusoftheother,andthe
individualsoftheone,thantheindividualsoftheother.Formanis
1,401betterthanhorse,andacertainmanthanallhorses,accordingtothe

possessionitselfofintellect.Ifhowever,youassumeacertainpartof
manandacertainpartofhorse,itdoesnotentirelyfollowthattheone
isbetterthantheother.Norifyouassumemanfashionedbynature,
andthemanmadebytheartofthestatuary,istheformerinevery
respectmorevenerableaccordingtofigurethanthelatter.Forartisin
manyrespectsmoreaccurate[inthisinstancethannature].Onewhole
therefore,iseverywherebetterthananother,whentheonepossesses
Cintellect,buttheotherisdeprivedofit.Forthroughwhatotherthing
canbodybeabletoparticipateofintelligiblebeauty[thanintellect]?Let
noonethereforefancythatPlatomakesthedivisionofformstobeinto
thosethatpossessandthosethataredeprivedofintellect.Forallthings
there[i.e.intheintelligibleworld]are,aswehavesaid,*intellects,
tTim.52d.
%ForVOTJTUVhere,itisnecessarytoreadotvorjTUV.
Forvireprepovreadvirtprepuv.
122Bimmediatelyabove.
wherealsoPlatocallsallthingsineveryrespectGods.Butextending
himselftothenatureswhicharethere,helikewiseperceivedthe
separationwhichisherebetweenthebeingswhichpossess,andthose
thataredeprivedofintellect.Hencehethussays,thatnothingdestitute
ofintellect,willbebetterthanthatwhichpossessesit,thedifferenceof
theseexistingasinworks,buttherepreexistingaccordingtocause.
Againhowever,letussurveyhowPlatosays,thatsecondaryenergize
onaccountofmoreprincipalcauses,thelatterbeingmoreperfectthan
theformer,buttheformerbeingsuspendedfromthelatter.Because
indeed,theDemiurgusisgood,onthisaccount,hemadetheworldto
bemostbeautiful.Forgoodnessisthecauseofbeauty.Butbecausehe
madetheuniversetobemostbeautiful,herendereditenduedwith
intellect.Andbeautyfillsthefirstintellectwithitsownpower.
Becausealsohemadetheuniversetobeenduedwithintellect,he
impartedtoitsoul.Forsoulproceedsfromintellect.Becauselikewise
Dherenderedtheworldanimated,heinsertedlifeinthatwhichwas
beforemovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner.Forthisbeingwell
arranged,isabletoparticipateofsoul,soulofintellect,andintellectof
beauty.Thewholeworldhowever,becomesmostbeautifulfromThe
Good,andafterthismannermaybesaidtobeablessedGod.The
1,402Demiurguslikewise,seems,inwhatisheresaid,tobeholdallthe
paradigms,whichPlatocallsnaturallyvisible,notthoseonlywhichare
inanimalitself,butalsosuchasaremorepartialthanthefourideas
whicharethere.Orhowdoesheseesomethingswhicharethe
paradigmsofintellective,butotherswhicharetheparadigmsof
unintellectivenatures,whicharenotseparatedinanimalitself?Buthe
mentionstheformsofthisanimalitself,whenhecausestheuniverseto

beananimal.Forsofarasitisananimal,itistheimageofanimal
itself,andsofaralsoasitconsistsoffourparts[i.e.ofthefour
elements].Sofarhowever,asitisnowdividedintointellectual,and
nonintellectualbeings,sofaritentirelyderivesitssubsistencefrom
otherparadigmsmorepartialthanthosewhichexistaccordingtothe
fourideasinanimalitself.Sothatanimalitselfindeed,isaparadigm,
butevery*paradigmisnot*animalitself.Havingdiscussedthese
particularshowever,letusproceedtowhatfollows.
30b"Itisimpossiblehowever,forintellecttoaccedewithoutsoul."
tInsteadofTO8tvapaSeiypainthisplace,itseemsnecessarytoreadirav8e
Totpadeiynct.
$ForovTOavrofaovhere,itisnecessarytoreadovTOavTofuov.
ETheintellectualessenceindeed,isimpartible,uniformandeternal,but
theessenceofbodiesispartibleandmultiplied,andisconsubsistentwith
temporalrepresentation.Thesetherefore,existcontrarilywithreference
toeachother,andareinwantofamediumwhichmaybeabletocollect
themtogether;amedium,whichisatoneandthesametimepartible
andimpartible,compositeandsimple,eternalandgenerated.But
accordingtoPlato,thepsychicalorderisathingofthiskind,
intelligible,andatthesametimethefirstofgeneratednatures,eternal
andtemporal,impartibleandpartible.Iftherefore,itisnecessarythat
theuniverseshouldbeenduedwithintellect,itisalsonecessarythatit
shouldhaveasoul.Forsoulisthereceptacleofintellect,andthrough
itintellectexhibitsitselftothemassesoftheuniverse.Notthatintellect
isinwantofsoul:forthusitwouldbelesshonourable*thansoul;but
thatbodiesrequiresoul,inordertotheirparticipationofintellect.For
thelast,andnotthefirstofthings,areinwantofsecondary*natures.
Forthefirstofthingsareeverywherepresentwithoutamedium.5
Henceitisnecessarytounderstand,thatthesoulwhichconnects
1,403intellectwithasensiblenature,oughttobeintellectual,andnotdeprived
Fofintellect.Forhowcanthatwhichisdestituteofintellectbe
suspendedfromintellect?Buttotheseanothermediumwillberequisite.
Themediumhowever,beingathingofthiskind,willwiselyand
orderlygoverneverycorporealformednature.Butitwillimitate
intellect,dancingasitwereroundit.*Iftherefore,wholesarebetter
thanparts,thingseternal,thansuchassubsistintime,andefficientsthan
effects,itisnecessarythatthewholeuniverseshouldbemoredivine
thanallthepartsitcontains.Iftherefore,certainanimalsintheworld,
whicharepartial,materialandmortal,arenaturallyadaptedto
123Aparticipateofintellect,whatoughtwetosayofthewholeworld?Isit
not,thatthewholeofitexhibitsthroughthewhole,thepresenceof
intellect?Foritsfigure,itsorder,andthemeasureofitspowers,may
besaidtoaffordclearindicationsofintellectualinspection.Ifhowever,

intellectpresidesoverwholes,andgovernstheuniverse,itisnecessary
thatthereshouldbeanintellectualsoulinthemiddleofit,adorningand
tForevnuuTepoQhere,itisnecessarytoreadannurepoq.
$Insteadofoup.aTUVinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreaddevrepuv.
viz.Theyarenotinwantofamediuminordertobepresenteverywhere:but
thelastofthingsrequiresecondarynaturesasmedia,bywhichalonetheycanreceive
theilluminationsofthefirstofthings.
Tim.37c.
rulingoverbodies,andatthesametimeseparatefromthesubjectsofits
government,andfillingallthingswithlife,inorderthattheworldmay
throughit,befirmlyestablishedinintellect,andthatintellectmay
illuminatetheworld.
Ifyouarewilling,wewillalsorecalltoyourrecollection*whatis
writteninthePhilebus*whereSocratesshowsthattheworldpossesses
intellectandisanimated,becausethatwhichisterrestrialinusisfrom
theuniverse,andthefirewhichisinusisfromthemundanefire,and
inasimilarmannertheairandthewaterwhichwecontain;andthatit
wouldbeabsurdthatthingslessexcellentinusshouldpreexistinthe
whole,butthatthingsmoredivineshouldnotanalogouslypresubsistin
it,andthattotalintellectandtotalsoulshouldnotbecontainedinthe
universe.Foreitheritmustbesaidthatnoanimalpossessesintellect,
orifthereisacertainanimalofthiskind,itisabsurdthatitshould
Bparticipateofintellectpriortotheuniverse.5Fortheuniverseisalways
arranged,andthroughthesamenessofitssubsistence,isnearertoan
intellectualessence.Butmuchofthedisorderlyandconfusedisinherent
inpartialanimals.Muchmoretherefore,mustitbesaid,thatsoulisin
theuniverse.0HencePlatoverydivinelyadmitsthatthereisatwofold
1,404intellect,theonebeingimparticipableanddemiurgic,buttheother
participable,andinseparable0[fromitssubject].Forfromthings
whichareinthemselves,thosewhichareinothers,andarecoarranged
withinferiornatures,arederived.Healsogivestotheuniversea
twofoldlife,theoneconnascent,buttheotherseparate;inorderthatthe
worldmaybeananimalthroughthelifewhichisinit,animated
throughanintellectualsoul,andenduedwithintellectthroughmuchhonoured
intellectitself.ButAristotleonlyadmitsthehalf[ofthis
doctrineofPlato],sincehetakesaway**imparticipableintellectfrom
fForavaniadunevhere,itisnecessarytoreadavaixvrioBunep.
$cf.Philebus29a.
Intheoriginal7/atonrifuoeTOIOVTOV,CXTOTTOV.aWonTpowuttuvTOC,vov
Utrtxeiv.Butitisnecessarytoexpungea\X',andbyalteringthepunctuation,toread
asfollows:i}titannuovTOVOVTOV,(XTOITOVonitporovKCIVTOQ,K.\.
ThewordsftTUvavnuvcu,areomittedintheoriginal.

oForaxupt\TOvhere,itisnecessarytoreadax^ptarov.
ftForwptikthere,readcwfciXt.
hisphilosophy.*Forthefirstintellectwithhim,istheintellectofthe
inerraticsphere;buthecutsofftheintellectualsoul,whichisthe
mediumbetweenintellectandtheanimatedbodyoftheuniverse;and
immediatelyconjoinsintellectwiththelivingbody.Inadditiontothese
thingsalsoheappearstometoerrinanotherparticular.Forhaving
placedintellectoverthespheres,hedoesnotestablishthewholeworld
Cinanyintellect;butthisisthemostabsurdofallthings;forhowisthe
worldone,unlessoneintellecthasdominioninit?Whatcoarrangement
likewiseisthereofintellectualmultitude,unlessitis
suspendedfromapropermonad?Andhowareallthingscoordinated
toanexcellentconditionofbeing,unlessthereisacertaincommon
intellectofallmundanenatures?Fortheintellectoftheinerraticsphere
istheintellectofthatsphere[alone];andthisisalsothecasewiththe
intellectofthesolar,andofthelunarsphere,andinasimilarmannerof
theotherspheres.AgainstAristotlehowever,wehavewrittenapeculiar
treatiseabouttheseparticulars.*
WithrespecttoPlatohowever,isnothismethodadmirable?For
receivingtheworld,dividingitintoparts,andsurveyingbyitselfthat
whichismovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,hestopsitinhis
discussion.JustasintheLaws,}wishingtoshowthattheselfmotive
natureisthecauseofallmotion,hestopsthewholeheaven,andhaving
stoppedit,introducessoulintotheuniverse,inorderthatbypouring
forthanabundanceoflife,shemayanimatetheworld.Helikewise
introducesintellecttosoul,whichgovernstheworld,beingconverted
toitself;throughwhichtheuniverseismovedinacircle,thewholeis
arranged,andthewholeworldisimmovable.Sincehowever,allthese
Dparticularsgivecompletiontooneanimal,andonenature,itisrequisite
1,405thatacollectiveandunitingcauseofthemshouldhaveapriorexistence,
andthatthisshouldbeintellectual.Fortocomprehendwholes
collectivelyandatonce,andtobringthemtogether,tothecompletion
ofonething,istheworkofanintellectualcause.Hence,Plato
establishingimparticipablepriortoparticipableintellect,andplacingthe
causesofallthingsinit,heproducesfromthence,intellects,souls,and
bodies,fromwhichhegivescompletiontothesensibleworld.Thatit
tForanexplanationoftheintellecttowhichAristotleascended,alsowhyhesays
nothingaboutthatwhichisbeyondintellect,andwhyheappearstodissentinmany
thingsfromPlato,butdoesnotinreality,seemyDissertationOnthePhilosophyof
AristotleTTSvol.XXVIII.[AlsoMetaphysicsXII,8,1073bl7ff.]
tcf.226Dinfra,p.689.
cf.LawsX,895a.

isnecessarytherefore,thattheuniverseshouldparticipateofan
intellectualsoul,ifitparticipatesofintellect,isevidentfromwhathas
beensaid.Forthissoulisthebondoftheextremeswhicharecontrary
toeachother.
Butitmustalsobedemonstratedthattheconverseistrue;viz.thatan
intellectualsoulexistingintheuniverse,itisnecessarythatthereshould
beanintellectoftheuniverse.Forsinceitissaidthatthissoulis
intellectual,itislikewisenecessarythatitshouldparticipateofintellect.
Whethertherefore,doesitaloneparticipateofthewholeofintellect,or
doesitparticipateofitthroughacertainthinginitselfderivedfromit?
Butifindeed,thatwhichiscorporealimmediatelyparticipatesofthe
fountainofsouls,andnotthroughthatwhichisinitself,itwillbealso
requisitetoadmit,thatthesamethingtakesplaceinthewholesoul[of
theuniverse].Ifhowever,thereisintheDemiurgusthefountainof
Esouls,andthereisalsothefountainofthesouloftheuniverse,andthe
universeparticipatesthroughthelatteroftheformer,itislikewise
necessarythatthesoulitselfoftheuniverse,shouldbeentirely
suspendedfromimparticipableintellectthroughparticipableintellects.
Forasthebodyoftheuniverseistoitssoul,soisthesoulofitto
intellect.Andifindeed,sofarasitissoulitbecomesintellectual,*it
wouldbenecessarythateverysoulshouldbethesame[i.e.shouldbe
intellectual].Butifitbecomesintellectualthroughtheparticipationof
intellect,itisnecessarythatitshouldparticipateofanintellect
commensuratetoit.Athingofthiskindhowever,isnotintellectitself,
butthatwhichisamediumbetweenintellectitselfandsoul,whichhas
intellectualperceptionadscititious.*Thisintellectalsoisacertain
intellect,andisessentiallyintellect,andnotbecomingtobeso,likesoul;
foritisbetterthansoul.Butbybeing5acertainintellect,itiscoordinate
withsoul.Forintellectitselfisintellectbyexisting,andnotby
becomingtobe,andintellectwhichissimplysobyitsverybeing,is
superiortoacoordinationwithsoul.Ifalsoyouconsider,thatevery
monadconstitutesamultitudesimilartoitself,adivinemonad,adivine
1,406multitude,apsychicalmonad,apsychicalmultitude,justasan
intellectualmonadproducesanintellectualmultitude,andthatsecondary
ordersalwaysparticipateofthenaturespriortothemselves,itis
tInsteadofKaiaiievKOtdavoepa,tyvxnyiverm,inthisplace,itisnecessaryto
iead,KmeiiievmBcxfaxy,voepayiverai.
%i.e.anassumedadditionalassumption.PT.
ForTO8eTIC,eivai,readTU8eTIC;eivai.
necessarythesethingsbeingadmitted,thatthereshouldbeacertain
Fintellectofthewholeworld.Foritisnecessarythatanintellectualsoul
shouldparticipateofintellect.Butifsomeoneshouldsay,itparticipates

oftheintellectwhichranksasawhole,itisabsurd.Forthisintellect
willnotbetheDemiurgusofallthings.*Andifitparticipatesofa
certainotherintellect,thisistheintellectoftheuniverse,andthatwhich
isproperlyparticipated,asgivingcompletiontotheuniversein
conjunctionwithsoul.Buttheintellectwhichranksasawhole,isso
participatedby,asilluminatingthesouloftheuniverse.Iftherefoie
intellectpresidesoverwholes,theuniverseisanimated;butifthe
universeisanimated,itisalsoenduedwithintellect.
30b"Throughthisreasoningprocesstherefore,placingintellectinsoul,but
soulinbody,hefabricatedtheuniverse."
124AInthefirstplace,itisrequisitetoseewhatthisintellectis,and
whetheritisessential,establishedabovesoul,oracertainintellectual
habitofsoul.Fromanalogyhowever,itmaybeinferredthatitis
essential.Forasintellectistosoul,soissoultobody.Butsouldoes
notsosubsistwithreferencetobody,astobeahabitofit;and
thereforeneitherisintellectahabitofsoul.Thislikewise,maybe
inferredfromthefinalcause.ForPlatosaysthatsoulwasconstituted
onaccountofintellect.*Buttheconverseisnottrue.Ifhowever,soul
isforthesakeofintellect,butintellectisthatforthesakeofwhichsoul
subsists,intellectisnotahabit;fornowhere5doesessencesubsiston
accountofhabit.Andinthethirdplace,theDemiurgusconstitutesthis
intellect;butthesoulasPlatosays,givessubsistencetotheintellect
whichisaccordingtohabit,throughthemotionofthecircleof
samenessabouttheintelligible.For[asheadds]Dthroughthismotion,
intellectandsciencearenecessarilyproduced.Howthereforedoesthe
Demiurgusconstitutepriortosoul,thattowhichsoulherselfgives
subsistence?Towhichwemayadd,thatitisrighttoassume,thatin
theDemiurgusthereisaroyalsoul,andaroyalintellect,asSocratessays
tviz.Theintellectparticipatedbysoul,willnotbetheDemiurgusofallthings.
Forthedemiurgicisanimparticipableintellect,orinotherwords,isnotconsubsistent
withsoul.
$For5tO!vovhere,itisnecessarytoreadSic*vow.
Afterovbaiiovinthisplace,itisrequisitetosupplyyap.
Tim.37c.
inthePhilebus*subsistingaccordingtothereasonofcause[orcausally];
Bandthataccordingtothesefountainsofthesetwofoldgenera,the
Demiurgusnowplacesintellectinsoul,andsoulinbody,notbecause
1,407betterareinlessexcellentnatures,northatintellectisinwantofa
certainseat,orthatthesouloftheuniverseisinacertainthing.For
thesethingsareunworthyofwholesanddivineessences;throughwhich
theworldiscalledbyPlato,ablessedGod.Becausehoweverwe
conceiveofthenatureofthingsinatwofoldrespect,eitheraccordingto

theirprogression,oraccordingtotheirconversion;hence,whenwe
surveytheirprogression,webeginfromfirstnatures,andsaythatcauses
areintheireffects.Butweasserttheconverseofthis,whenwesurvey
theirconversion.Forthenwesaythatthethingscaused*existintheir
causes.Thissecondmodetherefore,Platodeliverstousshortlyafter,5
whenheplacesbodyinsoul,andanalogouslysoulinbody.Now,
however,treatingofthemodeofprogression,heplacesintellectinsoul,
becausethewholeofithastheformofintellect,andnothingpertaining
toitcanbeassumed,whichisnotunderthedominionofanintellectual
nature.Butsoulinbody,becausethisaccordingtothewholeofitself
Cparticipatesofsoul,andnopartofitcanbeassumedwhichisinanimate;
buteventhatwhichisdeprivedofitsproperlife,sofarasitisapartof
theuniverse,isanimated.Foraswesaythatprovidenceproceedsevery
where,andiseverywherebecauseitispresentwithallthings,andleaves
nothingdestituteofitself;afterthesamemannerlikewise,wesaythat
intellectisinsoul,ascircularlyilluminatingthewholeofit,andsoulin
body,becauseitispresentwiththewholeofit.
NordoesPlatospeakafterthismanner,andOrpheusafteranother;0
butifitberequisitetogivemyopinion,theconceptionsofthe
theologistbecomemanifestthroughwhatisheresaid.ForIppawhois
thesouloftheuniverse,andisthuscalledbythetheologist,perhaps
becauseherintellectualconceptionsareessentializedinthemost
vigorousmotions,orperhapsonaccountofthemostrapidlationofthe
universe,ofwhichsheisthecause,placingatestaceousvessel0onher
head,andencirclingthefigleavesthatbindhertemples,withadragon,
fPhilebus30d.
XForraCUTUXhere,itisnecessarytoreadraairiara.
Tim.36d.
Orph.fr.207,cf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,581ff.
oForXuctovinthisplace,Iread\IKVOV.
1,408receivesDionysius[orBacchus].Forwiththemostdivinepartof
herself,shebecomesthereceptacleofanintellectualessence,andreceives
Dthemundaneintellect,whichproceedsintoherfromthethighof
Jupiter.ForthereitwasunitedwithJupiter,butproceedingfrom
thenceandbecomingparticipablebyher,itelevateshertothe
intelligible,andtothefountainofhernature.Forshehastenstothe
motheroftheGods,andtomountIda,*fromwhichalltheseriesof
soulsisderived.Hencealso,IppaissaidtohavereceivedDionysius
whenhewasbroughtforthfromJupiter.ForasPlatobeforeobserved,*
itisimpossibleforintellecttoaccedetoanythingwithoutsoul.But
thisissimilartowhatisassertedbyOrpheus;bywhomalsoDionysius
iscalled"thesweetoffspringofJupiter."Thishowever,isthemundane
intellect,whichproceedsintolightconformablytotheintellectthat

abidesinJupiter.Thustoo,thedivinelydeliveredtheology[ofthe
Chaldeans]says,thattheworldderivesitscompletionfromthesethree
things[viz.fromintellect,soulandbody].Soulthereforesays[inthe
ChaldeanOracles,*]concerningJupiterfabricatingtheuniverse:"Isoul
resideafterthepaternalconceptions,hot,andanimatingallthings.+
ForthefatherofGodsandmenplacedourintellectinsoul,butsoulhe
depositedinsluggishbody."Platolikewise,bearstestimonytothe
Oracles,whenhecallstheDemiurgusfather,andrepresentshim
Egeneratingsouls,andsendingthemintothegenerationofmenaccording
tothefirstlife.0Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.Since
however,aswehavesaid,bothsoulandintellectgivecompletiontoone
animal,Platoappearstometouseveryappropriatelythewordsto
1,409constituteandcofabricate,throughthecommonprepositionsyninboth,
exhibitingtheunionoftheuniverse.Forbyalwaysmakingdivinerto
bemorecomprehensivethanlessexcellentnatures,hecausestheworld
tobecomeone;butthroughtheformsineachhemanifestsintheone
composition,butintheotherdemiurgicart.
30b"Inorderthatitmightbecomemostbeautifulaccordingtonature,and
themostexcellentwork."
tie.Totheregionofideas,andanintelligiblenature.
XTim.30b.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.53.
For6ep\l/i)\ovaahere,readdeppy^vxovoa.
OTim.41a.
Inwhatisheresaid,Timaeusrecurstotheprinciplefromwhichallthe
beforementionedparticularswerededuced.Fortheworldhas
arrangementonaccountofsoul,soulsubsistsonaccountofintellect,but
intellectproceedsintotheuniverseonaccountofintelligiblebeauty,and
theworldparticipatesofthisinorderthatitmayalsoparticipateofThe
One;andthisistheendtoitofitscomposition,thatitmayberendered
mostbeautifulandthebest.Butitbecomesmostbeautifulindeed,on
accountofthebeautifyingcausewhichsubsistsintheintelligible,but
Fthebest,ormostexcellent,onaccountofthefountainofgood.ForThe
Goodisthemostexcellentofallthings.Andthroughallthese,the
worldbecomesmostsimilartotheDemiurgus.Forhewascalledby
Timaeusmostexcellent.Hehowever,isthebestofdemiurgiccauses,
justasTheGoodissimplymostexcellent,existingbeyondallthedivine
causes.Buttheworldisthemostexcellentwork;foritisafabrication.
Forherealsotheworldparticipatesofdeity;sincethegoodnesswhich
isaboveintellectisdeity;andonthisaccounttheworldisdenominated
mostexcellent.InanadmirablemannerPlatolikewise,doesnotspeak
125Aofthedeityoftheworldinthesamewayasconcerningintellectand
soul,viz.asaccedingafterintellect.Fortheunionofintellectwithits

properdeityisineffable,andintellectitselfbeingdivineproceedsfrom
thefather,whichalsoisthepeculiarityoftotalproduction.Foras
intellectindeed,itderivesitssubsistencefromthetotalfabrication,but
isadivineintellect,fromdeity.*Platotherefore,doesnotmakea
divisionintodeityandintellect,inconsequenceifconstitutingthe
intellectoftheworldfromthefather.Whathowever,isthemeaning
hereofaccordingtonature?Perhapsthisissignificantoforder,
accordingtowhichtheuniverseislikewiseenabledtoparticipateof
1,410divinebeauty;andthereforewillbethesamewithaccordingtoorder.
Perhapsalsoitmanifeststous,thattheDemiurgusmakeshisverybeing,
andproducesbothintellectandsoulfromhisessence.Anditisnot
improbablethatitisused,becausethisfabrication,theuniverse,is
complicatedwithnature,andthemostbeautifulhereisnotofsucha
kindasthatwhichisbetterthannature;butthatwhichisabovenature,
isasitweremingledwithnature,andintellectualwithphysicalentities.
30bc"Thustherefore,itisnecessarytosay,accordingtoassimilative
Breasoning,thatthisworldwasgeneratedananimal,possessingintruth
[orreality]soulandintellectthroughtheprovidenceofGod."
tInsteadofairoTTJCoXrjchere,IreadanoTT/CBtOTi\Toq.
Astheworlditselfismingled,beingcomposedofimagesanddivine
essences,ofphysicalandsupernaturalthings,thusalsoPlatocallsthe
discussionofitassimilative,andagaintruth.Foraccordingtothatwhich
ismovedinaconfusedanddisorderlymanner,itrequiresassimilative
reasoning,butaccordingtotheintellectualessencewhichisinit,it
requirestruth,andalsoaccordingtothedivinecausefromwhichit
proceeds.HencePlato,whenabouttospeakconcerningtheworldadds
thewordassimilative,orprobable,butthewordtruth,whenaboutto
speakconcerningtheprovidenceofdivinity.Fartherstill,youmay
perceivebothassimilationandtruthinthespeakerhimself;*notonly
dividingtheseconformablytothenatureofthings.Forhefrequently
apprehendsthefabricationofthingsinapartiblemanner,assuming
reasonings,divisionsandcompositions,thoughallthingssubsistatonce
indivineproduction.Andfrequently,herecurstothewhole
Cintelligenceofthefather,asinaxioms,*"hewasgood,"and"itneither
wasnorwillbelawfulforthatwhichismostexcellenttoeffectanything
elsethanthatwhichismostbeautiful."Forintheformerofthesehis
apprehensionisassimilative[butinthelatter,comesintocontactwith
1,411truth].Forfromthemultiformknowledgesthatareinus,heindicates
whatpertainstodivineanddemiurgicintelligence.Buthow,saythey,
doeshedefinetheuniversetobeananimalanimated,orpossessingsoul,
andenduedwithintellect;foritseemsindeed,thatanimalisacertain
part,butanimatedagenus?Inanswertothis,itisnecessarytorecallto
ourmemorythosePlatonistswhosay,5thatanimalextendsasfarasto

plantsthemselves,andtoseehow,accordingtothisdoctrine,every
thinganimatedisananimal,butnoteveryanimalisanimated.For
everyintelligibleanimalisbeyondthecausesofsoul.ForasPlatocalls
therationalsoulananimal0butalsoarrangeslifeaftertherational
soul,heveryproperlydenominateseverythinganimatedananimal,but
notviceversa.Ifhowever,thisbethecase,havingsaidthattheworld
isananimal,sincethereisanintelligibleanimal,andalsoasensible
Danimalparticipatingofarationalsoul,heproperlyadds,thatitis
animated.Andsinceofsouls,onekindisenduedwithintellect,but
anotherisdeprivedofit,inadditiontotheuniversebeinganimated,he
likewiseassertsthatitpossessesintellect.Foritseems,thatanimal
tTim.29bc.
tTim.29eand30a.
Tim.41d;42e;77ab.
DZuovisomittedhereintheoriginal.
indeed,accedesfromthefirstintelligible,*andthusalsofromthe
intelligiblefather,*whoispriortotheintellectualGods.Butthe
animatedaccedesfromthemiddlecause,boththetriadicandthe
hebdomadic.*Andthepossessionofintellectaccedesfromthe
intellectualfather[Jupiter].Forifyousurveytheseaswithreferenceto
theDemiurgusalone,accordingtotheparadigmwhichisinhim,the
universeisrenderedananimal;butaccordingtohisroyalsoul,
animated;*andaccordingtohisroyalintellect,enduedwithintellect.
Allthesehowever,Platocomprehendsunitedlyinthewords,"through
theprovidenceofGod."Forfromthencetheuniverseisrenderedan
animal,andablessedGod,becomingperfectthroughtheprovidence
1,412ofdivinity.Youmayalsoseehowthediscourseproceedsfrom
goodnessthroughwill,andendsinprovidence.Forwillindeed,is
suspendedfromgoodness,andprovidencefromwill.Andtheuniverse
isgenerated,onaccountoftheprovidence,thewill,andthegoodnessof
thefather;thelastofthesebeingessencepriortoessence[i.e.being
superessentialessence],thesecond,beingasitwerepowerpriorto
Epowers,andthefirst,energypriortoenergies.Forthesepertaintothe
GodssofarastheyareGods.Forgoodnessindeedisunificofessence,and
istheflowerofit;butwillisthemeasureofpower;andprovidenceisan
energypriortointellect.ForthisIthink,theverynameitself
manifests.**Wethereforethusdistinguishanimalandanimated.
Iamblichushowever,arrangesanimal,witheverythingthathaslife,
butanimated,withthepeculiarparticipationofsouls.Andperhapshe
also,throughthepossessionoflifeindeed,comprehendsintelligible
animals,butthroughtheanimatedsensibleanimalsalone.Butitmay
beinferred,thattheworldisananimalfromitssympathy;thatitis
animated,fromitsperpetualmotion;andthatitisenduedwithintellect,

tLe.FromTOevov,orfrombeingcharacterizedbyTheOne,andwhichisthe
summitoftheintelligibleorder.
Xi.e.FromanimalitselforPhanes,theextremityoftheintelligibleorder.
i.e.Theanimatedaccedesfromthelife,whichisintheordercalledintelligible,and
atthesametimeintellectual,andalsofromthelifewhichisintheintellectualorder,
whichlifeisthemiddlecauseinboththeseorders.
cf.Philebus30d.
oForKmdatiiuvinthisplace,readevSmnuv.cf.alsoTim.34b.
ttie.pronoiaprovidence,isanenergy7rpovovpriortointellect.
fromitsexcellentorder.Forifaccordingtothis,mortal*arecopassive
withcelestialnatures,andthelatterimpartaneffluxiontotheformer,
theuniverseisoneanimalconnectedandcontainedbyonelife.Forif
thislifewerenotcommontherewouldnotbeasympathyoftheparts
init.Forsympathyiseffectedthroughaparticipationofthesamenature.
Andiftheworldisperpetuallymoved,itisgovernedbysoul.For
everybodywhichisitselfmovedinwardlybyitself,isanimated;*but
thebodywhichismovedexternally,isinanimate.Iftherefore,the
universeisalwaysmoved,whatisitwhichmovesit?Forthisiseither
Fimmoveable,orselfmotive.Butitisnotlawfulfortheimmoveable
causeofmotiontoapproachwithoutamediumtothingswhichare
movedbysomethingdifferentfromthemselves.Hence,itremains,that
theselfmotivenatureisthatwhichalwaysmovestheworld.Butthis
issoul.Theworldthereforeisanimated.
1,413Moreover,inthethirdplace,if*theuniverseisalwaysarranged,and
ifallthingsarecoordinatedtowellbeing,andthereisnothing
adventitiousinthepolityoftheworld,intellectgovernstheworld.For
theconnexion,theorder,andthesacredlawsofthenaturescontained
init,bringwiththemmanifestsymbolsofintellectualgovernment:.
126AAristotlealso,inanotherwayshowsthis,Dwhenhesaysthatof
animatednatures,animalshavethelefthandandtheright,butplants
havetheupwardsanddownwards,andalsotherighthandandtheleft,
sothattheworldisanimatedandananimal.Butitislikewiseendued
withintellect.Forthatwhichmovesitisintellect.Accordingtoboth
philosopherstherefore,theworldisananimalanimatedandenduedwith
intellect;exceptindeed,thataccordingtoAristotle,0itisanimated,as
havinganinseparablelife;forhedoesnotadmitthatithasan
intellectualsoul,butthatithasanintellectabovesoul,andwhichis
essentiallysuspendedfromanotherintelligibleanimal.ForwhatPlato
callsanimalitself,hecallseternalanimal,asinhisMetaphysics,whenhe
says,"WesaythatGodisaneternalanimal."Andinshort,sincethere
areintheworldthingsthataremoved,andthingsthatareimmoveable,
thingswhicharealwaysoneortheotherofthese,andthingswhichare
tItisnecessaryhere,tosupplyra0vr}TCt.

$cf.Phaedrus245e.
SEiisomittedhereintheoriginal.
Qcf.AristotleDeCoeloII,284b285b.
AristotleMetaphysicsXII,7,1072b28f.
sometimesinmotion,andsometimesareimmoveable,itisnecessarythat
ihecausesofboththeseshouldpresideovertheworld.Soultherefore
isthecauseofmotion;onwhichaccountalsoPlatointheLaws*
admitting[forthesakeofargument]theuniversetobeimmoveable,
givesmotiontoitbytheintroductionofsoul.AndinthePhaedrus*
Btakingawaysoul,hemakesallthingstostandstill.Butitisevidentthat
intellectbelongstoimmoveablenatures.Andbeingsthatarealways
moved,aremovedaboutthosethatareimmoveable,andonaccountof
thepermanencyofthelatter,theformerareperpetuallymoved.5Hence
itentirelyfollows,thatthereisamundaneintellectabovesoul.Byno
1,414meanstherefore,mustthatwhichChrysippusdevised,0beascribedto
theworld.Forheconfoundedimparticipablewithparticipable0
causes,bysupposingthemtobethesamewitheachother,andalsothe
divine,andtheintellectual,theimmaterialandthematerial.Forthe
sameGod,andwhoaccordingtohimisthefirstGod,pervadesthrough
theworld,andthroughmatter,andisbothsoulandnatureinseparable
fromthesubjectsofhisgovernment.Platohowever,establishingprior
tothewholeworldthreecauses,goodness,intelligibleanimal,andthe
demiurgicintellect,impartsfromthesetotheworldinthefirstplace,a
perfectintellectalwaysfixedinenergy,exemptfrommatter,andfullof
undefiledintellections.Inthesecondplace,adivineintellectualsoul,
evolvingtheessenceofthisoneintellect,dancingroundit,and
convolvingtheuniverse.Inthethirdplace,aunionofthetotal
Cessencesintheworld,andonedeityandgoodness,connectingallthe
mundanemultitude,andcausingittobeone.Andinthefourthplace,
aprovidenceextendingtoallthingsitsinspectivecare,subsisting
likewisefromitself,andcausingitselftobeexemptfromallthesubjects
ofitsgovernment.
Sincehowever,aswehavebeforeobserved,**itisnecessarytosurvey
theprogressionsandtheconversionsofwholes,boththeseare
accomplishedbyPlato.Forhedeliverstheprogressionsofthemwhen
hesaysthattheDemiurgusplacedintellectinsoul,andsoulinbody;but
tcf.LawsX,895aff.
%cf.Phaedrus245de.
cf.AristotlePhysicsVIII,6,260a3ff.;&MetaphysicsIII,1012b31ff.
Fr.1042v.Arn.
oItisnecessaryheretosupplyKmpediKTOu;.
tt124Bsupra,p.374.

theirconversions,whenbeginningfromtheworld,hecallsitananimal
animated,andenduedwithintellect,andconnectsitthroughsoulwith
intellect,whichisthepeculiarworkofconversion.Andinthelast
place,herefersthecompositionoftheworldtothedemiurgic
providence,throughwhichconversionisimpartedtoallthings.For
goodnessindeed,unitestheDemiurgustoTheOne.Butwillsupplies
wholeswithgood.AndprovidenceconvertsallthingstoTheGood.
1,415Foraswehavesaid,*goodnessisanalogoustoessence,willtopower,
andprovidencetoenergy;becausethefirstindeed,establishesallthings;
thesecondmovesthemtoprogression;andthethirdrecallsthem
accordingtotheretrogressionofallthingstothatwhichispriorto
Dintellect.Ifhowever,theDemiurgusadornstheuniverseonaccountof
goodness,butthroughadorningitcausesittopossessintellect,andto
beanimated,anddoingthesethings,effectsthemonaccountof
providence,(fortheseweregeneratedthroughtheprovidenceofGod)
ifthisbethecase,itisnecessarythatitshouldbethesamethingto
produceonaccountofgoodnessasonaccountofprovidence.Andthis
veryproperly,becauseprovidenceistheenergyofgoodness.Sothat
accordingtoPlato,providenceisnothingelsethananenergy
conformabletogood.Forinourconcernsalso,wesaythattoprovide
forsomeone,istobethecauseofgoodtotheobjectofourprovidential
care.Notonly,therefore,mustprovidencebedefinedtobethatwhich
convertsallthingstothefirst,butalsotobethattheenergyofwhich
extendstoallthings,andwhichadornsallthingsaccordingtoone
union.Andthisisinrealityprovidence,thecommunicationofgoodto
allthings,theconversionofallthingstoandtheparticipationofthe
giver[ofeverygood],whoimpartstoeverythingthatwhichitisable
toreceive.ItisrequisitelikewisetorememberwhattheCheronean
E[Plutarch]saysaboutthenameofprovidence,asthatwhichPlato
exhortsustoconceiveofassomethingdivine.IfalsotheDemiurgusis
intellect,andprovidencesofarashehassomethingwhichisbetterthan
intellect,hehasdeservedlythisname,onaccountofanenergywhichis
aboveintellect.Forallthingsaspireaftergood,butallthingsdonot
aspireafterintellect.Forsuchthingsasareperfectlydestituteof
intellectdonotdesireit,lesttheirdesireshouldbeinvain,orthey
shouldbedeprivedoftheend[whichistheirpropergood].And
becauseheisprovidenceindeed,heissuspendedfromTheGooditself;
butbecauseheisintellectheissuspendedfromthefirstintellect.For
thefirstintellect[i.e.Saturn]isnotthatwhichintellectuallyseesand
t113Asupra,p.341.
fabricates,butthatwhichaloneintellectuallyperceives;andonthis
account,itispureintellect,aswelearnfromtheCratylus.*Hencealso,
accordingtoPlato,thelattermaybesaidtobeonce,*ashavingone

energydirectedtohimself;buttheformertwice,togetherwiththis
energyreceivingalsoapowerfabricativeoftheuniverse,andnotonly
legislativelyregulatingthingsposteriortohimself,butalsoabidinginhis
ownaccustomedmanner,asPlatosaysshortlyafter.5
30c"Thisbeingdetermined,letusconsiderwhatisconsequenttothese
things;viz.accordingtothesimilitudeofwhatanimal,theconstituting
artificerconstitutedtheworld."
Platoclearlyexhibitstousthroughwhatisheresaidtheconnexionof
Ftheproblems,andthesuspensionofsecondaryfromprimarynatures.
Forthewords,"thisbeingdetermined,"and"letusconsiderwhatis
consequenttothesethings,"indicatetheconnexionofwhathasbeenwith
whatwillbesaid;andthatthroughthetruthoftheformer,thelatter
receivetheprincipleofinvestigation.Forsinceithasbeenshownthat
theuniversewasrenderedananimalconformablytotheprovidenceof
God,itisnecessarythatitshouldbeassimilatedtointelligibleanimal.
127AForwheredidtheDemiurguslookwhenhemadetheworldtobean
animal,excepttotheintelligible?Foritwasoneofthethingspredemonstrated,
thattheworldbeingmostbeautiful,wasgenerated
accordingtoaneternalparadigm.Iftherefore,theDemiurgusmaking
ittobeanimageoftheintelligible,constituteditananimal,the
paradigmitselfwillbeanintelligibleanimal.Forifthatwasnotan
animal,howcouldthatwhichwasgeneratedanimageofit*be
renderedananimal?Forsofarasitissimilartothat,itwasgenerated
ananimal.Foritissensibleindeed,notassimilarandseparate[butas
visibleandtangible]0.Thesehowever,[i.e.visibility,andtangibility,]
itobtainsthroughacorporealnature.Butitisananimal,asbeing
similartointelligibleanimal.Andifitissimilar,itisfromthence
tcf.Cratylus396c.
$Proclussaysthis,alludingtotheChaldeanoracles,inwhichSaturniscalledonce
beyond,andJupitertwicebeyond.
Tim.42de.
InsteadofTOCTOVTOeKeivoytyovoqCIKUVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread
TwcTOeKeivovyeyovoqeixwv.
oThewordsaXXwcopanvnaiaitrovareomittedintheoriginal,but,asit
appearstome,oughttobeinserted.
allottedthemorpheofanimal.Forimagesalso,havenotonlytheir
forms,buttheirappellations,sofarastheyareformalized,fromtheir
paradigms.Sothatiflifeisimpartedtotheworldthroughthe
paradigm,itisalsosimilarlycalledananimalandanimatedfromit,
becausethecauseofitswholeanimationpreexistsinintelligibles.For
1,417thesamereasonlikewise,itisenduedwithintellect.Itmayhowever,

inagreaterdegreebecalledananimal,*onaccountofthemostprincipal
Bcause,becausetheparadigmisthecauseofanimation,ofthesupplyof
intellect,andasImaysay,ofalllife.Foreverythingenduedwith
intellect,isalsoanimated,andeverythinganimatedisalsoananimal;but
theconverseisnottrue.Foreveryanimalisnotanimated.Forthatwhich
participatesofarationalsoulisanimated.Noriseverythingwhichis
animatedenduedwithintellect.Forthegenusofmenthatparticipateof
intellect,*issmall;sothatanimalismorecomprehensivethanalltherest.
Andwiththosethingsindeed,withwhichtherestarepresent,animal
alsoispresent;butitisnotnecessarythattherestshouldbeinherentin
thosethingswithwhichthisispresent.Thathowever,whichismore
comprehensive,isnearertothefirstprinciple.Butthatwhichisnearer5
toit,isofamorecausalnature,sincethefirstprincipleisthecauseof
allbeings.ThatPlatoalsonotonlyknewintelligibleanimal,butalso
theintelligibleanimated,ismanifestfromwhathesaysinthe
Sophista.*Forplacinglifeandsoulinbeing,andwishinglikewiseto
givetoitmotion,headds,"Butthatwhichhasintellectandsoul,ifitis
notanimated,mustremainentirelyimmoveable."Hencethereare,
intelligiblelife,andintelligibleanimal;thecauseofsoul,andthe
animated;thecauseofintellect,andthatwhichisenduedwithintellect.
CAndanimalitselfisbeyondalltheintelligibleparadigms.Hence,Plato
says,thatthediscussionofthesimilitudeoftheworldtointelligible
animal,isconsequenttotheproblemconcerningthecompositionofit.
Forbecausetheuniversebeingassimilatedaccordingtotheformitself
ofsimilitude,wasrenderedananimalbytheDemiurgus,thatmaymore
properlybecalledananimal,withreferencetowhichtheuniversewas
generatedananimal.Foritexistsasananimalonaccountofthe
tTim.29e.
tForavBpowuvyapyevoc.,(ipaxvtanvovfierexov,itisnecessarytoread
avdpujUVyapytvoq,fipaxveonvTOVvovpiTtxovFrPlatosaysthisinthelatterpart
ofthisDialogue[51e].
ForaWovhere,itisobviouslyrequisitetoreadeyyvrepov.
cf.Sophista249a.
intelligible,andnotonaccountofthatwhichismovedinaconfused
anddisorderlymanner.Itisnecessaryhowever,thatanimalshouldbe
presentwiththeuniverse,eitherfrommatteroffromform;sothatif
theworldisnotananimalfromitssubjectmatter,itissofromform.
Ifhoweverfromform,thatwhichisprimarilyanimalisthecausetoit
ofform.
1,418Itremainstherefore,tosurveyinthenextplaceafterthisproblem,to
whatanimaltheuniverseisassimilated.Forthatitisassimilated,is
evidentfromwhathasbeenalreadysaid,buttowhatitisassimilated,
mustnextbeconsidered.Forthereisamultitudeofintelligibleanimals,

whichPlatoalsoindicating,inquirestowhatanimaltheDemiurgus
constitutedtheworldsimilar.Forbeginningsupernallyfrom
intelligibles,animalproceedsthroughallthemiddleorders;inoneof
theseorders,subsistingintelligiblyalone;inanotherintelligiblyindeed,
Dbutasinintelligiblesandintellectuals;andinanotherintellectually
alone.Andinoneoftheseordersindeed,animalsubsistsintelligibly
alone,butasinintellectuals;butinanothervitally.Andthusineach
oftheintellectsthereisintelligibleanimal,subsistingappropriatelyin
each.Foreveryintellecthasaconjoinedintelligible.Veryproperly
therefore,doesPlatoinvestigatewhatkindofanimalistheparadigmof
theuniverse,whetheritissupermundane,orintellectualonly,or
intelligible,andatthesametimeintellectual,orintelligibleonly.For
thenatureofanimal*proceedsaccordingtoalltheordersofintellect.
ButPlatoadmitsthatthedifferencesalwayssubsistinthefirstanimal
itselfaccordingtounion,andgivesaprogressiontothemaccordingto
appropriatenumbers.Forasthefirstanimalistetradic,*thusadifferent
animalisdefinedaccordingtoadifferentnumber.Andinthosethings
inwhichthereisthesamenumber,inthesethereisavarietyof
subsistenceaccordingtothepeculiaritiesofanimals.Foritisnecessary
thatinanimalalso,thereshouldbethemonadicpriortothemultiplied;
becausethis5ismorealliedtoTheOne.Anduniversally,everydivine
multitudebeginsfromamonad.Astherefore,theDemiurgusisthe
monadofalleffectivecauses,thoughtheeffectivepeculiarityisinmany
Gods,thusalsoanimalitselfisthemonadofallanimals;inwhich
Elikewisethemosttotalparadigmsofmundanenatures,andtheonecause
ofthewholeworldpreexist.
tForTJTOVvov(pvoiqhere,itisnecessarytoreadrjTOVfaovcbvoiq.
%Tetradicinthistext(MP),butmonadicintheothers.PT.
ForTOVTUhere,readTOVTO.
Why,however,someonemaysay,doesPlatocalltheintelligible
paradigmanimal?Becauseitisthesupplieroflife,asIhavebefore
1,419observed;*andbecauseitgeneratesthecausesofthewholevivificseries,
andthefountainsthemselvesoflife.Becauselikewise,itisrepletewith
thefirstandintelligiblelife.Fortheonebeing,orbeingcharacterized
byTheOne,isbeyondlife.Butthemiddleorderofintelligiblesisthe
firstlife,andisoneandinfinite.Animalitself,however,beingfullof
intelligiblelife,isveryproperlycalledanimal.Forasitiseternal,on
accountofbeingfilledfrometernity,thusalsoitisananimal,on
accountofitsreceptionoflife.Foritisintelligible,asbeingarranged
[immediately]afterintelligiblelife.Itisthereforecalledananimal,not
assensitive,norashavingimpulse,butasbeingvital.Foreverything
whichlives,isaccordingtoPlato,ananimal."Forbecauseithaslife,says
Timaeus,*itmaybejustlycalledananimal."Hencealso,Platocalls

plantsandseedsanimals,characterizingtheanimalbyvitality.Ifthere
Ffore,theintelligibleparadigmlives,asbeingeternal;foreternity,as
Plotinussays,5isthelifeofallthings,sothattheeternallives;andif
everythingthatlivesisananimal,hencetheintelligibleparadigmisan
animal.Andyoumayfromhenceassumethatthisparadigmisinthe
thirdtriadofintelligibles.Foritisnotinthefirsttriad;forthisisprior
tolife.Norisitinthesecond;forthisislife.Henceitisinthethird.
128AForitdoesnotexistoutofintelligibles;sincePlatoonthis*account
alonecallstheparadigmintelligible,thoughheknewthesupermundane
demiurgicintellect.Butneitherdoeshecallthelatterintelligible,nor
theformerintellectual.Beforetherefore,heassumedeverythingwhich
perpetuallyexistsastheparadigmofallgeneration;amongwhich
eternallyexistingbeings,animalitselfandtheDemiurgusareincluded;
foreachofthesealwaysis.Eternitylikewise,whichisthefirstthing
thatalwaysis,andtheonebeingitself,whichiseternalbeingaccording
tocause,areinthenumberofeternallyexistingbeings.Now,however,
hecallsanimalitselftheparadigmoftheworldconsideredasliving.For
perpetualbeingwastheparadigmofdisorderlygeneration;sincefromthence,
formswithoutdistinction,werepresentwiththedisorderlynature,priorto
thegenerationoftheuniverse.Butthoughweshouldassumeanimal
1,420itself,whichhastheformsoftheelements,thisalsoistheparadigmof
t127Asupra,p.382.
tTim.77b.
SEnneadIII,7,4.
DForSiaithere,itisnecessarytoreadSiaTOUTO.
thevestigesoftheelements.Sofar,however,asitisanimal,itisthe
paradigmofthisuniversenowpossessinglife.*Sothatsimply
considered,animalitself,andtheintelligibleparadigmarenotthesame.
Foreternitylikewise,whichalwaysexists,istheparadigmoftime,but
isnotanintelligibleanimal;sincenoteveryparadigmisananimal
belongingtotheintelligibleorder.Butifanimalitselfiseternal,eternity
ispriortoit,whichisnotananimal.Forpriortoanimalitself,there
isnootheranimal;sinceneitherpriortoanyotherofthesethingsto
Bwhichweapplythetermitself,isthereacertainformpriortoit.As
therefore,eternityispriortoanimalitself,notbeingyetananimal,so
likewise,beingitselfispriortoeternity.Hencealsoeternityisthat
whichisbeing,andisacertainbeing.Animalitselftherefore,isthe
thirdintelligibletriad,concerningwhichthe[Chaldean]Oraclessay,*
"Itistheoperator,andthegiveroflifebearingfire.Itfillsthevivific
bosomofHecate,5andpoursontheSynochesthefertilestrengthofa
fireenduedwithmightypower."Foralltheseassertionsinnorespect
differfromsayingthatallperfectintelligibleanimalisthefountainofall
intellectuallife,andthecauseofeveryparadigmatichyparxis.Andthus

muchconcerningthisparticular.
Withrespecttothewordsofthetext,"toconstituteinthesimilitude,"
manifeststhattheuniverseisinthehighestdegreeassimilatedtoits
paradigm.Fornoteveryimageisconstitutedinsimilitude,butthat
alonewhichisperfectlysimilar;sincethisisnotthecase,where
dissimilitudepredominates.Forthensimilitudeisnottheend.Butthe
words,"theconstitutingartificerconstituted,"clearlydemonstratetous,
CthattheDemiurgusoftheuniversemakesbyhisverybeing,and
possessesenergyessentially.ForPlatodoesnotcallhiminoneway,
andtheeffectiveenergyproceedingfromhiminanother,buthecalls
bothbyonename.Fartherstill,thewordslikewiseappeartosignify,
thattheDemiurgusalwaysproduces,andthathealwaysproduces
perfectly.Forthewordconstituting,manifestsaneverpresentmaking;
1,421butthewordconstituted,anallperfectmaking,andwhichissuspended
fromitscause.Butbytheconjunctionofboththeseexpressions,itis
verymanifestthatthemakeroftheuniversegenerateseternallyall
things,hisproductiveenergyneithercommencing,norendingata
certaintime.
tTim.53b.
%Chald.Oracl.fr.32.
ForCKaorijchere,readEkojttjc.
30c"Wemustnotthereforeassert,thathethoughtitwouldbeadequate
toitsdignity,toassimilateittoanyoneoftheanimalswhichnaturally
existintheformofapart.Forthatwhichissimilartoanimperfect
thing,canneveratanytimebecomebeautiful."
Astherearemanyintelligibleanimals,someofwhicharemoretotal,
butothersmorepartial,*someofwhichareunited,butothersdivided,
andsomearedefinedaccordingtobound,butothersaccordingto
infinity;Platoinquiringwhattheallperfectparadigmoftheuniverseis,
andfromwhatintelligibleanimaltheworldissuspended,thinksthatno
partialanimaloughttobeplacedinthisorder.Foreachoftheseis
imperfectaswithreferencetothewhole.Foritispossibleforthe
imperfecttobesocalledinatwofoldrespect,eitherwithreferenceto
Ditsownnature,orwithreferencetothatwhichisbetterandmore
causal.Andtheformerindeed,itisnotevenlawfultoconceiveof
divinenatures.Foreachhasthemeasureofitselfeternally,anditsown
propergoodalwaysexerted.For,asSocratessaysintheRepublic,*each
ofthemismostexcellentinitsownorder.Butthelatterranks,asitis
said,amongthethingsthatareusual.ForasintheBanquet,}Platocalls
thatwhichisnotprimarilybeautiful,butparticipatesofbeauty,indigent
ofbeauty,thusalsohecallsthatanimperfectanimalwhichisnotthe
firstanimal,noranimalitself,butissuchbyparticipation,andsubsists

accordingtoaprogressionfromthatwhichisfirst.Iftherefore,every
partialanimalisimperfect,buttheparadigmoftheworldisallperfect,
theparadigmoftheworldwillnotbeapartialanimal.Forwhether
doestheDemiurgusintellectuallyperceivethisallperfectandfirst
animal,ornot?Itisimpossibleindeed,thatheshouldnotintellectually
perceivethosethingswhichweperceivewhenoursoulenergizes
1,422intellectually.Butifhethusseesit,andallintellectualperceptionofthe
Demiurgusisproductionormaking,itisnecessarythatheshouldmake
byintellectualperceptionitself.Whatthereforecanhemakemore
divinethantheuniverse?Forhewillnotmakeanythingofaless
excellentnature,whenlookingtothatwhichismoreexcellent.Very
Eproperlytherefore,doesPlatowheninvestigatingtheparadigmatic
principleoftheworld,recurtoallperfectanimal.
tItisobviouslynecessaryinthisplace,tosupplythewords,tcov6c\ipiKUTtpuv.
*Rep.II,381c.
Symposium201b.
Whatthen,someonemaysay,arenotthesunandmoonandeachof
thestarsbeautiful?Buthowisthispossible?Foreachoftheseis
assimilatedtoapartialanimal.Tothiswereply,thateachoftheseis
beautiful,whensurveyedinconjunctionwiththewhole,andcoarranged
withthewhole;justastheeyeandthechinarebeautiful,inconjunction
withthewholeface,andwhileinthewhole;butsurveyedbythemselves
apartfromtheface,donotexhibitthebeautywhichisadaptedtothem.
Forinsubsistingasapartandnotasawhole,eachwhenessentially
divulsedfromthewhole,suffersadiminutionofitsownproperbeauty.
Theperfecttherefore,andthebeautifularepresentwiththesewhichare
parts,onaccountofthewhole.Thecause,however,ofthis,says
Porphyryis,thatinintelligibleformsthepartisawhole.*Forallsuch
thingsareineachpartially,asareinthewholeallperfectly,onaccount
oftheunionofintelligibleforms.Andtheassertionisindeedtrue,that
eachofthepartsinthemisinacertainrespectawhole,eachreceiving
theformofwhole,andbecomingessentiallyunitedonaccountofits
communicatingwithall,andbeingallthingsaccordingtoparticipation.
FNeverthelessthewholenessofitsubsistspartially,andnotlikethat
wholenesswhichissimplyawhole.Foritisonethingtobeaftera
solarmannerawhole,ortobesoafteralunarmanner,inconsequence
ofeachintellectpossessingallthingsinawayadaptedtoitself,oneform
havingdominion,whichmakestheintellecttobesuchanintellect,and
acertainintellect;andanotherthingtobeallthings,withoutapartial
peculiarity,beingallthingssofarasintellect,andnotsofarasa
particularkindofintellect.Whatthen,arenotthesealsogenerated
accordingtointelligibleparadigms,viz.thesunandmoonandeachof
thestars?Howtherefore,arethesebeautiful?Tothiswereply,that
thesearebeautiful,butnotmostbeautiful.Buttheworldisthatwhich

istrulymostbeautiful.Asthereforeeachoftheseisperfect,butnotallperfect,
solikewiseeachisbeautiful,butnotliketheuniversemost
1,423beautiful.Forthateachoftheseisperfect,Platomanifestsfartheron,
whenhesays,*"thattheworldwasgeneratedperfectfromthingsperfect,
andawholefromwholes."Hencetheperfectionofthewholeisone
thing,andofthepartanother.Andthewholenessoftheallperfectis
differentfromthewholenessofthatwhichisonlyperfect.Thebeauty
likewisewhichisinthemostbeautifulisonething,butthatwhich
tInsteadofTOo\ov/tfpoceanv,itisnecessarytoreadTOp&poc.o\ovtanv.
tTim.32d;33a.
receivesamorepartialparticipationofbeauty,isanother.Andthus
muchinanswertothisdoubt.
Thewordshowever,"intheformofapart,"maybeeasilyunderstood,
iftheyareconsideredassignifyingthesameas,intheorderofapart.
Andthisisthesamewith,becomingapart.ButthedivineIamblichus
thinksfittoaddtheconjunctionastothewordsintheform,andto
understandthewholeasimplyingthateverypartialanimalin
intelligibles,naturallyexistsasintheformofapart.Forsincepartin
themisnotsuchasitisinsensibles,sinceeachisthereaccordingtoits
Bownorderallsuchthingsasthewholeis;onthisaccountthe
philosopheradds,asintheform,inorderthatsurveyingtheappellation
ofpartinamanneradaptedtoforms,wemaynotunderstanditasa
thingattendedwithinterval,andsusceptibleofdivision,andthus
relinquishtheunionofunitedandimpartibleessences.Forthese
accordingtothephilosopherhimselfareimpartibleandunited.But
withrespecttotheword"naturally,"wemustnotnowunderstandby
itaccordingtonature,butthebeingessentialized.Forallessencesare
frequentlycallednatures,asbySocratesinthePhilebus,*whenhesays,
"hence,inthenatureofJupiteryoumaysay,thatthereisaroyalsoul,and
aroyalintellect,accordingtothereasonofcause."Butthewords,"he
thoughtitwouldbeadequatetoitsdignity,"aresaidasifspokenin
conjunctionwiththeDemiurgus,andastrulyapprehendingthedignity
ofadivinecause.Forhewhomysticallynarratestheexemptandallperfect
intellectualconceptionsofadivinenature,hasanarrangementin
conjunctionwithhim.Andthewords,"forthatwhichissimilartoan
imperfectthingcanneverbebeautiful,"isindeedtrue,butisattendedwith
1,424adoubt.Forifinthatwhichisawholeonethingismore,butanother
lessexcellent,mustnotthewholebecomeinferiortoitsmoreexcellent
part,bytheadditionofthatwhichislessexcellent?Butthedoubtmay
Cbesolvedbyobserving,thatthecoarrangementofthelesswiththe
moreexcellentmakesthewholetobeoneandperfect;butwhenthey
arenotconglomeratedwitheachother,thenthemixtureoftheless
diminishesthepowerofthemoreexcellentnature.Ifhowever,some

oneshouldmakeasyllogismfromopposites,throughwhatishere,and
whathasbeenbeforesaid,soastoinferthateverythingwhichis
generatedaccordingtoaneternal,isnotgeneratedaccordingtoan
eternalparadigm,wemaysolvetheobjectionbyobservingthatwhatis
employedbytheobjectorasthemiddleterm,isnotso.Forinone
place,thewords"inorderthatitmightbebeautiful,"manifestthatwhich
tPhilebus30d.
isbeautiful,whetherinacertainrespect,orsimply;butinanotherplace,
theymanifestthatwhichismostbeautiful.Foraparthasindeedthe
beautyofapart,butsimplyconsidered,isnotbeautiful.Butthatalone
isabsolutelybeautifulwhichisawhole,towhichalsothebeautyofthe
partscontributes;thisbeautypertainingtocertainthings,andbeingitself
acertain[andnotauniversal]thing.Foreverypartisforthesakeof
anotherthing,i.e.thewhole,andthebeautywhichitpossesseshasthe
orderofmatterwithreferencetothebeautyofthewhole.Henceitis
notsobeautifulastobemostbeautiful.
Fromwhathasbeensaid,thoseassertionslikewisemaybeconfuted,
whichmakeTheGoodtobeacertainintelligibleformandnotpriorto
allintelligibles.Forifitisacertainform,itisalsoapartofthewhole
intelligibleprofundityinwhichitsubsists.Buteverypart,asitishere
Dsaid,isimperfect;sothatTheGoodlikewiseisimperfect.Howtherefore
beingimperfectisitthemosthappyofallthings?Inrealityalsothat
whichissimilartoitisnotbeautiful.Norareallbeingssimilarlywith
referencetoit,eithermoregood,ormorebeautiful.IfthereforeThe
Goodbeingapart,willsufferthingsofthiskind,itwillnotbeapartof
1,425theintelligible.Moreover,neitherisitthewholeoftheintelligible.For
beingthewholeoftheintelligible,overwhatwillitstillreign?Since
neitheristhesunwhichhasanarrangementanalogoustoTheGood*the
wholeofthatwhichisvisible.Itisnecessarytherefore,thatTheGood
shouldbebeyondtheintelligible,andbeneitherapartnorthewhole
ofit.Neithertherefore,willeitheranimalitself,ortheDemiurgusbe
thesamewithTheGood;sinceeachoftheseisacertainwhole
comprehensiveofallforms.
30c"Butweshouldadmitittobethemostsimilarofallthingstothat
animalofwhichotheranimals,bothaccordingtoone,andaccordingto
genera,areparts."
Some,asAtticus,assertthatthis"accordingtoone,andaccordingto
genera,"givesadivisiontoindividualoppositetothatofmorecommon
forms.Buttheycallindividualformsthosethatareproximate,andthe
causesofindividuals;suchforinstanceasmanitself,horseitself,and
Eeachofsuchlikeforms.Andtheydenominategenerathemoretotal

andcomprehensiveparadigmsofthese.Othersagain,asAmelius,say
thatPlatobythesewords,distinguishesthatwhichisparticularfrom
thingsthataremorecommon.Forsomethingsareparadigmsofparts,
butothersofforms.Theodorusalso,followingAmelius,saysthereare
tForT'ayadovhere,readr'ocyudu.
twofoldintellects,oneofthesebeingdividedintowholes,buttheother
intoparts.Andthatthesearethesamewith,"accordingtogenera,and
accordingtoone."Butothers,asXenarchus,assert,thataccordingto
generamanifeststhepreexistentintelligiblecausesofanimals;suchfor
instanceasthecelestial,serial,aquaticandterrestrial,whichareshortly
aftermentionedbyTimaeus.*Andthatby"accordingtoone,"the
formalizingprinciplesineachofthesemanyareindicated.Forin
1,426celestialnatures,theparadigmofthesunisdifferentfromtheparadigm
ofthemoon.Interrestrialnatures,theparadigmofmenisdifferent
fromthatoflions.Andinasimilarmannerinthenatureswhichhave
anintermediatesubsistence.ThedivineIamblichushowever,turnsinto
apathofinterpretationcontrarytoallthese.Fortheyindeedmakethe
"accordingtoone,"subordinateto,andmorepartialthan,"accordingto
genera;"buthe,onthecontrary,makesittobemorevenerable,asitis
Ffitthatinintelligiblesunityshouldprecedemultitude.Hesays
therefore,thatallotheranimalsarethepartsofanimalitself,both
accordingtoone,andaccordingtogenera.Fortheyarecomprehended
andperfectedbyanimalitself,bothaccordingtothemultitudesthey
contain,andaccordingtotheirunities.Noristhereanyoneofthem
whichdoesnotproceedfromtheintelligible.Forintelligibleanimalis
comprehensiveofallthethingsposteriortoit,notasderivingitscompletion
fromthem.Foritisawholepriorto,*anddoesnotderiveitssubsistence
fromparts.Norisitawhole,asbeingpredicatedofparts;foritisthe
causeofmany.Butitisawhole,asaprimordialprinciple,andasfilling
130Aallthingsposteriortoitselfwithitself.Henceitcomprehendswhatate
calledpartsimpartibly,manyspeciesuniformly,andexistsinanallperfect
mannerpriortosecondaryparadigms.Forthisprincipleindeed,
istheuniverseintelligibly;butofthenaturesposteriortoit,oneisall
thingscelestially,anotherafterasolar,anotherafteraterrestrialmanner,
andanotherinsomeotherway,accordingtothedifferentcausesof
mundanenatures.Sothatthisprinciplecomprehendsallthingsallperfectly,
butallthingsarecomprehendedbyeachofthenatures
posteriortoitpartially,aswithreferencetotheintelligibleallness.The
worldtherefore,isalsosimilartothesepartialanimals;sinceitis
likewisesimilartotheDemiurgus;butitismostsimilartoanimalitself,
sofarasitisananimal.Foranimalitselfwasprimarilyintelligible
animal.Hence,thatwhichismostsimilarissoinatwofoldrespect;
tTim.39e40a.

tIntelligibleanimal,oranimalitself,isawholepriortoparts,becauseit
comprehendspartsinitselfcausally.
1,427eitherbecauseitissimilartootherthings,orbecauseotherthingsare
similartoit.Butthisisespeciallythecasewiththeuniverse,anditis
especiallysimilartoanimalitself.
30cd"Forthisindeed,hasallintelligibleanimalscomprehendedinitself,just
asthisworldcontainsus,andsuchotheranimalsasaretheobjectsof
sight."
BPlotinussupposesanimalitselftoexistinatwofoldrespect.Foratone
timeheconsidersittobemoreexcellentthanintellect,asinhistreatise
intitledDifferentConsiderations,butatanother,asinferiortoit,asinhis
treatiseConcerningNumbers,*whenhesaysthatbeingisfirst,afterwards
intellect,andafterwardsanimalitself.ButTheodorus,whosays,that
eachofthedemiurgihasatriple*hyparxis,thinksfittocallthethird
ineach,animalitself.Fromboth,however,thetruthmaybeassumed.
FromtheadmirableTheodorusindeed,thatithasthethirdorderin
intelligibles;butfromthemostdivinePlotinus,thatitisinferiortoone
intellect,butbeyondanother.Anditmustbesaid,thatunfoldingitself
intolightattheendofintelligibles,itgeneratesfromintelligiblelifeall
thenumberofintellectual,supermundane,andmundaneanimals,
supernallyasfarastothelastofthings.Itislikewisecomprehensiveof
allthings,beingexemptfrom,anduniformlyandantecedently
containinginitselfthecausesofthem.ForOrpheus5alsoindicates
thingsofthiskindaboutit,whentheologizingconcerningPhanes.The
firstGodtherefore,withhim,hastheheadsofmanyanimals,viz.ofa
ram,abull,aserpent,andafiercelion.DHealsoproceedsfromthe
Cprimogenialegg,inwhichtheanimalexistsspermatically;andPlato
1,428knowingthiscallsthismightyGodanimalitself.Forwhatdifference
istherebetweencallinganoccultcauseanegg,orthatwhichisunfolded
intolightfromit,ananimal?Forwhatcanbegeneratedfromtheegg
ofallthings,butananimal?Thisegghowever,wastheoffspringof
etherandchaos,theformerofwhichisestablishedconformablytothe
tSeeEnneadIII,9,1andVI,6,8respectively.
%Forrpirrivhere,itisnecessarytoreadTpnr\i\v.
Fr.63.
ThisisanOrphicline,whichisnotnoticedeitherbyGesnerorHermannin
theircollectionofOrphicfragments.Itishoweverintheprintedoriginalinadefective
state:foritis,Kmtagmvptovqo^taq,xapoitovre\eovnq.ButfromEschenbach,who
quotesitfromamanuscript,itmaybeamendedasfollows:KpiovKmravpov,<xj>io<;,
XCtpoicovTXeovTOC.[cf.Rep.IX,588bff;andLobeck,Aglaophemus,490.]
bound,butthelattertotheinfinityofintelligibles.Fortheformeris

therootofallthings,butthelatterhasnotanyboundary.Iftherefore
thatwhichfirstconsistsofboundandinfinityisthatwhichisprimarily
being,thebeingofPlatowillbethesamewiththeOrphicegg.Andif
Phanesisfromthis,whoisarrangedaccordingtoanimalitself,itis
necessarytoinvestigateitassituatednexttoeternityaccordingto
Orpheus,whichisamediumbetweenanimalitself,andthatwhichis
primarilybeing.*Andthusitwillbemoreclearlyevident,thatanimal
itselfisnootherthanthePhanesofthetheologist.ForifPhanesfirst
proceedsfromtheegg,whichismanifestlywithOrpheusthefirst
intelligibleintellect,butthatwhichfirstandaloneproceedsfromanegg,
isnecessarilynothingelsethanananimal,itisevidentthatthemost
DmightyPhanesisnothingelsethanthefirstanimal;and,asPlatowould
say,animalitself.Thisthereforeisdemonstrated.
Letushowever,inthenextplace,surveywhatisconsequenttothis.
Phanes,therefore,thusunfoldinghimselfintolightfromtheoccult
Gods,antecedentlycomprehendsinhimselfthecausesofthesecondary
orders,viz.oftheeffective,connective,perfective,andimmutableorders;
andalsocontainsinhimselfaccordingtoonecause,allintelligible
animals.Forheexciteshimselftothemosttotalideasofallthings.
Hencealso,heissaid[byOrpheus]tobethefirstoftheGods,andto
haveaform.Butheproducesallthings,andunfoldstheintelligibleand
1,429united*causesofthings,totheintellectualGods.Hencetoo,the
Demiurgusbeingfilledfromthesecauses,givessubsistencetothisvisible
world,andcausesittocontainallsensibleanimals,bothsuchasare
moredivine,andsuchasaremortal,whichareproperly*
thremmata,orthingswhicharenourished,asentirelyparticipatingofthe
nutritivesoul.Allbodieslikewise,mayproperlybecalledthremmata,,
asbeingtheprogenyofnature,andasalwayslivingfrom,andbeing
connectedbyit,eventhoughtheyshouldbeperpetualbodies;butnot
asrequiringexternallyadventitiousnutriment.Unlessindeed,itbe
requisitetocallallthingsintheworldthremmata,asbeingnourishedby
thekingofvisiblenaturesthroughthecommunicationoflight.For
tItisherenecessarytosupplythewordsTOVrpuruQOVTOQ.
*~^^.,rWUl^vuvinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreaduvuuevu,inorderto
agreewithmna.
SThewordusedbyPlatohereforanimals.
SocratesintheRepublicsays,*thatthesunisthecauseofnutrimentand
generationtoallsuchthingsasheilluminates.Foreveryvisiblething
isnourishedbeingperfectedbylight.ForaswelearninthePoliticus*,
itispossibletobenourishedexternally,andnotonlyinternally.The
Demiurgustherefore,comprehendsallthattheworldcontains,inorder
thatthissensibleworldmaybeallandperfectfromthepartsthatarein
it,conformablytoasimilitudetohim.Hence,theworldisavarious

animal,accordingtoadifferentpartofitselfemittingadifferentvoice,
andfromallitspartsonevoice.Foritisaloneone,[aswellasmany].
Byamuchgreaterpriorityhowever,theintelligibleworldisoneanimal
andamultitude[ofanimals],contractingmultitudeintheone,justas
thisvisibleworldalso,exhibitstheoneinmultitude.Andthelatter
indeed,isawholefromparts;buttheformerisawholepriortoparts,
exemptly,uniformly,andaccordingtocause,comprehendingintelligible
animals.Forfromitthefountainsofdivinenatures,andallthemost
totalgeneraproceed.Hencealso,thetheologistrepresentsitasamosttotal
animal;surroundsitwiththeheadsofaram,abull,alion,andadragon;
andascribestoitprimarilythefemaleandthemale,astothefirstanimal.
FFemaleandfather,strongandmightyGod,Ericapaeus,*
1,430saysthetheologist.0HeislikewisethefirstGodthatisrepresented
withwings.Andwhatoccasionistheretobeprolix?Forifhehashis
progressionfromtheprimogenialegg,thisfablemanifeststhatheisthe
firstanimal,ifitisfittopreservetheanalogy.Forastheegg
antecedentlycomprehendsthespermaticcauseoftheanimal,thusalso
theoccultorder,**uniformlycomprehendsthewholeofthe
intelligible.**Andastheanimalnowpossessesinadistributedmanner,
suchthingsaswereintheeggspermatically,thuslikewisethisGod
tRep.VI,509b.
XPoliticus288e.
Intheoriginalerroneouslyypvicewpoq.
Fr.62;Orph.Hymn6,2;Lobeck,Aglaophemus,491.
OForTOevovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOUOV.
tti.e.Thefirsttriadoftheintelligibleorder,whichiscalledbyPlatointhe
ParmenidesTOevov,theonebeing,orbeingcharacterizedby,andabsorbedasitwerein
TheOne.
XXChald.Oracl.fr.198&27.
131Aproducesintoavisiblesubsistencethatwhichisineffableand
incomprehensibleinfirstcauses.Concerningthesethingshowever,
whathasnowbeensaidmaysufficeforthepresent.
Ifhowever,asthisworldcomprehendsinitselfallvisiblenatures,so
itsparadigmcomprehendsallintelligibles,andthemodeof
comprehension,aswehavesaid,isdifferentineach,yetatthesametime
thevisibleintheformerisanalogoustothatofthelatter.ForPhanes
supernallyilluminatingintelligibleswithintelligiblelight,causesallof
themtobevisible,*andexhibitsallthings[intheintelligible]generated
frominvisiblecauses;andtheworldimpartsvisibilitytobodiesthrough
thelightofthestars.Fartherstill,thisalsomaybeconsideredas

admirableinthedoctrineofPlato,thatatthesametimethathe
preservestheunionofintelligiblesunshaken,heimpartstotheman
unmingledpurity.Forifallofthemweresounitedtoeachotherasto
beconfused,andsoasnottopermitthepeculiarityofeachtoremain
undefiled,therewouldhavebeennooccasiontoenquire,accordingto
whatkindofparadigmtheuniversewasgenerated.Forinthings
Bconfusedthereisnodistinctionofquality.Andiftheseweresodivided
fromeachotherastobewithoutanycommunion,someintelligibles
wouldnotcomprehend,butothersbecomprehended.Forto
comprehendandbecomprehendedpertaintoorderandcommunionof
powers,andtotherapidconspirationofallsecondarynaturestobecome
1,431one.Moreover,fortheunionofthemtosubsistfromessence,buttheir
separationtoberenderedapparentfromexternallyproceedingenergies,
willbethepeculiarityofincorporealandimmaterialeffects.Forifthey
aresurveyed,themselvesbythemselves,allwillbefoundtobeineach
other,onaccountoftheirbeing,asitwere,ofthesamecolour,and
especiallyiftheunitiesofthemareseenwiththeeyeofintellect.But
fromsecondarynatures,andfromtheirparticipants,wecollecttheir
unconfusedunion.Forwhenceistheseparationofthesederived,except
fromtheunmingledpurityoftheirefficientcauses?Forthingswhich
areconfusedwitheachother,givesubsistencetoothersuchlikenatures,
[ie.tonatureswhicharesimilarlyconfused.]
30d"Forthedivinitywishingtoassimilatethisuniverse,inthemost
31aexquisitedegree,tothatwhichisthemostbeautiful,andineveryrespect
perfectofintelligibleanimals,heconstituteditonevisibleanimal,
containingallsuchthingswithinitself,asarealliedtoitsnature."
tcf.AristotleDeAnimaII,7,419a8,f.;III,5,430al6.
CAtticus,inwhatisheresaid,doubtswhethertheDemiurgusis
comprehendedbyintelligibleanimal.Foritwouldseem,ifhewere
comprehended,thatheisnotperfect.Forpartialanimals,hesays,are
imperfect,andonthisaccountthingswhichresemblethemarenot
beautiful.Butifheisnotcomprehended,animalitselfwillnotbemore
comprehensivethanallintelligibles.Andhavingdoubted,heeasily
solvesthedoubt,bysupposingthattheDemiurgusisaboveanimalitself.
Onthecontrary,PorphyrygivesanordertotheDemiurgusinferiorto
theintelligible.Forestablishingasupercelestialsoultobethemakerof
theworld,heplacesinintellecttheparadigmofgeneratednatures.The
divineIamblichus,asamediumbetweenboththese,connectsandunites
theparadigmtotheDemiurgus,throughtheunionofintellectwiththe
intelligible.ButAmeliusmakestheintelligible,whichisdefined
accordingtobeing,tobethesamewiththeDemiurgus.*Wehowever
say,thatanimalitselfispriorto,subsistsin,andisposteriortothe

1,432Demiurgus.Foritproceedstoeveryintellectualorderbothtotaland
Dpartial.TheDemiurgushimselflikewise,seeshimself,andthenatures
priortohimself;foritisnotlawfulforhimtolooktonaturesposterior
tohimself.Beholdingtherefore,thesesuperiornatures,heproducesall
things,andmakestheuniverse,sofarasitistheuniverse,ortheall,to
betheimageofthewholeintelligibleworld.TheDemiurgushowever,
iscomprehendedbytheintelligible,accordingtothecauseofthe
intellectualGodswhichtheresubsist;notasbeingapart,oronespecies
ofit;butasasecondorderintheorderwhichispriortoit.Fora
divineintellectisinonewaysaidtobecomprehensiveofforms,andin
anotherwaytocomprehendpartialintellects.Foreachofthelatter
indeed,isallthingsinaselfperfectmanner;buteachoftheformeris
unitedtootherforms,*butisnotallthings.Foreachisitself
preservingitsownpeculiarity,unmingledandunconfused.According
tothesamereasoningalso,theintelligibleswhichareinintelligible
intellect,arecomprehendedbyitinoneway,butinanotherwaythe
intellectualorderswhichproceedfromit.Foryoumaysay,thateach
ofthesebeingselfperfect,iscomprehendedinallperfectanimal.All
suchthingstherefore,asareintheparadigm,arelikewiseinthe
Demiurgus;andinmakingtheworldwithreferencetotheparadigm,he
alsomakesitwithreferencetohimself.Withrespecttoallness
(pantotes)however,oneisintelligible,butanotherintellectual.For
tForr(j>nevTOVdriniovpyovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadreppevroi
HiHiiovpyq.
tForTWVctWuveibeoivhere,readTOICaXXoiceiSer/iv.
Eboththetetradandthedecadcontainallthingsinthemselves;butthe
formerunitedly,andthelatterdistributedly.Thedecadlikewise,though
itcontainsallsuchthingsasthetetradcontains,yetbecauseitcontains
theminamoredividedmanner,itismoreimperfectthanthetetrad.
Forthetetradbeingnearertothemonadismoreperfect;andin
proportionasquantityisdiminished,themagnitudeofpoweris
increased.SothattheDemiurguspossessingallsuchthingsasintelligible
animalpossesses,yetatthesametime,hehasanallnessinferiortothat
whichisintelligible.Inshort,ascomprehensionistwofold,theonebeing
suchasthatofpartsintheirwholeness,buttheother,asthatofeffectsin
theircauses,Platonowassumestheformerofthese,andsays,thatthe
generaandspeciesofanimals,arecomprehendedaspartsintheirwhole,
1,433i.e.inanimalitself;allwhichlikewise,hedenominatesimperfect,aswith
referencetothewhole.ButtheDemiurgusindeed,proceedsfrom
thenceasfromacause,yethelikewisepossessesallthingsintellectually.
TheDemiurgustherefore,iscomprehendedbyintelligibleanimal
accordingtothereasonofcause,andisnotsocomprehendedasapan:,
soastobealsoimperfect.Hencelikewise,Timaeusinacertainrespect
thusspeaks.*FortheDemiurgushasallintelligibleanimals

Fcomprehendedinhimself.Forinreality,thesearecontainedinhimas
parts,whichremaininunproceedingunionwiththeirproperwholeness,
andgivecompletiontoit,asawholewhichisnotpriortoparts,butis
fromparts.Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubt.
Inthenextplace,thisalsodeservestobesurveyed,viz.inwhatan
admirablemannerPlato,atonetimeinawayknowntous,passesfrom
imagestoparadigms,andatanothertime,fromparadigmstoimages;at
oneandthesametimeindicatingtheconnexionofthings,andtheir
132Aprogressionsandconversions.Forwhenhesays,thatasthisworld
comprehendsus,thusalsoanimalitselfcomprehendsintelligibleanimals,he
recursfromsensibleanimalstothecausesofthem.Butwhenhesays,
thatdivinitywishingtoassimilatetheworldtothemostbeautifulof
intelligibles,rendereditcomprehensiveofallthings,heiswillingtopass
fromcausestotheireffects,imitatingtheprogressionofsecondary
natures.Heisledhowever,tosuchatransitionasthis,through
analogy.Foraseffectsaretoeachother,soaretheparadigmsofthem..
Andthemoretotalandthemorepartial,subsistinbothaccordingto
thesameratio.Whyhowever,doeshecallanimalitselfthemost
beautifulofintelligibles,thoughitistheendofintelligibles?Maywe
notsay,thatthoughthereareintelligibleorderspriortoit,yetthemost
tTim.30c.
beautifulisinferiortothem?Fortheydonotparticipateofbeauty;but
theproducingcauseofbeauty,andthefirstbeautyandelegancesubsist
inthem.HencealsoanimalitselfisaccordingtoOrpheus,*
1,434intellectuallyunfoldedintolightinthisorder.Andasbeautyhada
Bpriorexistenceinthefirstintelligibles,unitedlyandwithout
intermission,hencePhanesiscalledbyOrpheus,"theverybeautifulson
ofether,"and"delicateLove."Becausetherefore,thisGodisthefirst
thatisfilledwithoccultandineffablebeauty,hencealsoheis
denominatedmostbeautiful,beingthefirstofparticipants,thoughall
intelligiblesareunitedtoeachother.Foritisnotpropertodividethem
fromeachother,afterthesamemannerastheintellectualorders,but
surveyoneandanindivisibleunionofthem.Thesethingstherefore,are
beautifullyasserted[byOrpheusandPlato].
Thathowever,whichismostsynoptical*inthewordsofPlato,isthis,
thathesaysanimalitselfisthemostbeautiful,notofallintelligibles
simply,butofintelligibleanimals.Forcomparingallperfectanimal
withmorepartialanimals,hesays,itisthemostbeautifulofall
intelligibleanimals;sothatifthereissomethingmoreexcellentthanthe
natureofanimal,ithasnothingtodowiththepresentassertion.Itis
necessaryhowever,thatthereshouldbeathingofthiskind,because
beingitself,andbeautyitselfaremoresimplethanthenatureofanimal,

onwhichaccountalsotheyareparticipatedbythingswhicharenot
animals.Moreover,theinterpreterssay,thatthewordassimilationis
appropriatelyassumedbyPlato.Forheisfrequentlydubious
concerningthemodeofparticipation,whetheritisfromforms
themselvesbeingpresentwithsensibles,orfromtheircommunicating
Cwiththeminsomeotherway:butheisnotdubiouswhetherornotit
issimilitudewhichmakesthesensibleworldtobetheimageofthe
intelligible.Dividinghowever,theysay,thatofphysicalformsindeed,
thesensibleworldparticipatesasofimpressionsinwax,butthatit
receivestherepresentationsofpsychical,andthesimilitudesof
intelligibleforms.5SothatsincePlatoisspeakingconcerningintelligible
paradigms,heveryproperly,astheysay,assumessimilitude.Farther
still,theworldisananimal,astheimageofthisintelligibleanimal,and
1,435ofintelligibleallness.Butitisvisibleasbeingassimilatedtothe
tFr.58.
$ForovvtKTiKUTUTOvhere,IreadOVVOVTUCUTUTOV.
Concerningthemodeinwhichformsthemselvesareparticipatedbysensibles,see
theNotestomytranslationoftheParmenidesofPlato[TTSvol.XI.]
splendourofitsparadigm.Forwhatcolouristhere,thatthevisibleis
here.
TheGodsadmir'd,inetherwhentheysaw
Alightunlook'dfor,burstingontheview,
FromtheimmortalPhanes'glitteringskin:*
Orph.fr.58
[saysOrpheus].Andtheworldcomprehendsallkindrednatures,
becauseitiscomprehensiveofallsensibles.ButPlatoadds,"asareallied
toitsnature,"becauseintelligiblesareparadigmstotheworldofthings
whichareaccordingtonature,andnotassomePlatonistsare
accustomedtosay,ofthingspreternatural.Forinshort,mundane
thingsbeingdividedintosuchasareaccordingtonature,andsuchasare
Dpreternatural,intouniversalsandparticulars,andintoessencesand
accidents,wealwaysadmitthatthereareformalcausesofthemore,but
bynomeansofthelessexcellent.Forthatwhichisproducedfrom
ideas,proceedsthroughnature.Butifthisisthecasewiththatwhich
isaccordingtonature,butnotwiththatwhichispreternatural,that
whichisgeneratedfromideasisacertainwhole,andisperpetual.For
isthisisnotadmitted,oneoftwothingsmusttakeplace,eitherthat
thingscontingentwillhavenoexistence,orthatofformssomewill
necessarilyproduce,butitwillhappenthatothersmayeitherproduce
ornotproduce.Andinthethirdplace,everythingwhichproceeds
fromideasisessence.Forsincetheyproducebytheirverybeing,each

isproductiveofessences.Foritwouldberidiculoustosaythatapartial
natureiseffectiveofessence,butthatintelligibleformgivessubsistence
toaccident.*Thesethingshowever,weshallelsewheremorecopiously
discuss.Butwhatevertheworldcontainsisalliedtoit,becauseall
thingsinitsubsistaccordingtointelligiblecauses.Platolikewiseappears
inthisplacetogavegivenadefinitionoftheworld,viz."onevisible
animal,comprehendinginitselfallanimals."Forintelligibleanimalalso
isone,butisnotvisible.Andthesun,andeachofthemonadicnatures,
1,436[orthosenaturesofwhichthereisonlyone,]isonevisibleanimal,but
doesnotcomprehendallothers.Sothatitisevidentthattheaboveis
Ethedefinitionoftheuniverse.Letishoweverproceedtothewordsof
Plato.
tForTOovaireon\0einthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadpevoticeonXPe.
or^M&flij/coToc;evot;WKOQTOLTIKQV,readov/ijQc/frjKOToe;aval
VTTOOTOLTUCOV.
31a"Whethertherefore,shallweassertthatthereisoneworld,orisit
morerighttosaythattherearemanyandinfiniteworlds?"
Thisproblemfollowsindeedlogographicallywhathasjustnow*been
said.Forbecausehehaddefinedtheworldtobeonevisibleanimal,
comprehendingwithinitselfallsuchanimalsasarenaturallyalliedtoit,
itisnecessarythatheshouldthinkthistobeworthyhisattentionand
discussion,whethertheworldisonecertainthing,ornot.Forof
physiologists,somemaketheworldtobeone;butothersassertthat
therearemanyworlds;andotherscontendthattherearenotonly
many,butalsoinfiniteworlds.Theconsiderationofthislikewise,has
aconnectionwithwhathasbeenbeforesaid,derivedfromthethings
themselves.Forsinceithasbeenshownthattheworldistheimageof
animalitself,andisananimatedanimal,enduedwithintellect,itwas
requisitetoaddasummittothediscussionofit,byshowingthatitis
alsoone.ForthushewilldemonstratethatitisaGod,inconsequence
ofparticipatingaunitywhichisaboveintellect.Foritwasnotonly
possibleforhimtosaythatitisanimagebecauseotherthingsalsoare
images,somebeingfashionedbynature,butothersbyart.Noran
animalalone,becausethereisamultitudeofpartialanimals.Noralone
Fanimated;formanlikewiseisanimage,andananimatedanimal.Nor
aloneenduedwithintellect;forbothadaemonandanangelareanimated
animalspossessingintellect.Butthiswhichisespeciallyandprimarily
pertainstodivinenatures,hebeforesufferedtobeineffable,throughthe
causewhichwehavealreadyassigned.Now,however,headdsTheOne,
andthealone.Foreverythingwhichismonadicintheworldisdivine,
asbeinganimage,ifitbelawfulsotospeakofTheOne.ButI
denominatedivine,thatwhichissuchastheangelic,asthedaemoniacal,

andasthatwhichisinpartialsouls.Foreachoftheseisdivine,sofar
asitissuspendedfromitsproperdeity,andeachoftheseismonadic.
133ASuchmonadicnatureshowever,ashavegenerationandcorruption,and
1,437areexpelledintothemortalabode,areopposedtoeverythingdivine.
Hencethisproblemissuspendedfromwhathasbeenbeforesaid.For
sincetheparadigmoftheuniverseisindeedaGod,andisintelligible,is
thesupplieroflife,andisalsointellect;accordingtothatwhichisdivine
inhim,hemakestheworldtobeone;accordingtoTheOneandthe
intelligible,hecausesittobesensible;butaccordingtoTheOne,the
intelligible,andlife,hemakesittobeanimatedandananimal;and
accordingtoalltheseandintellect,hecausesittobeenduedwith
tForretvovhere,readravvv.
intellect.Forunionaccedespriortootherthings,andposteriortoother
things.Animalenergizespriorto,andinconjunctionwithotherthings.
Andthegiftoflifegeneratesandproceedstogetherwith,andpriorto
intellect.
Fromwhathoweverisnowshown,andfromwhathasbeenbefore
demonstrated,youmayassume,thatatthesametime,theparadigmof
theuniverseisunical,andthewholemultitudeofintelligibles.And
neitheristhesimplicityofitwithoutmultitude,northemultitudeofit
divided;butithastheallvariousatonceconsubsistentwithTheOne,,
Bthemonadicwiththeallperfect,andtheuniformwiththemultiform.
ForbecauseitproceedsindeedfromTheGooditisunited.Butbecause
itpreestablishesinitselftheorderofintelligibleideas,itisallperfect.
Andasinfinite,itunfoldsthemultitudeofintelligibles;butascontained
bybound,itisonlybegotten.Asproceedinglikewisefrombeing
characterizedbyunity,ithastherelationofamonad;butasbeingthe
thirdfromit,itproducesinitselfalltheintelligibleGods,andonthis
accountisdemonstratedtobeallperfect.Thesethings,however,we
shallmorefullyunfoldasweproceed.
Butthereisacontroversywiththeinterpretersaboutthetext.Forto
someofthemitappearsthattwothingsarenowdistinguishedbyPlato,
TheOne,andallmultitude.Andthewordwhetherbeingappliedbythe
ancientstotwothings,seemstotestifyinfavouroftheiropinion.But
toothers,itappearsthatthereisadivisionintothreethings,TheOne,
finitemultitude,andtheinfinite.Andthepatronsofthisinterpretation
arePorphyryandIamblichus,whospeakconformablybothtothe
1,438thingsthemselves,andtothedoctrineofPlato.Forshortlyafterhe
Ctakesawaytwothings,butassumesonethingfromdivision.Butfrom
threethings,anablationoftwoandthepositionofoneiseffected,and
notfromtwothingsalone.Neverthelessthewordwhether*seemsto
contradictwhattheyassert.Itmayberemediedhoweverbysayingthut

eitherwhethersignifiesthesameasshallwetherefore;(TQap'ovv70
TOTGPOVormmveivTOCVTOV)foritisfrequentlythusassumedbythe
ancients;orthatthewords,ornot( )arewantingtothesentence;
andthatitwillbeperfectbyreading,whetherdowerightlyassertthat
thereisoneworld,ornot?Andifnot,whethertherearemany,orinfinite
worlds.Platoomittingtosaythisthroughconciseness.Perhapstoo,
youmaysay,itisnotwithoutdesignthatheomittedthewordsmuch
finite.Fortosayhowmany,orsomany,istospeakinawaythat
givescompletiontowhatissaid.Andasiftheparadigmisnotmonadic,
\ForTtportpovhere,readTtorepov.
soastobethecauseofonething,thethingsgeneratedareinfinite;after
thismanneritisprobablethatthereareinfiniteworlds,ifthereisnot
onlyone.Forthevacuumbeinginfinite,willbetherecipientofinfinite
worlds.
31a"One[i.e.therewillbebutoneworld,]ifitbeadmittedthatitis
fabricatedaccordingtotheparadigm."
AgainPlatoinconcordwithhimself,announcesthewholeofthe
conclusionpriortothedemonstrations,previouslytobelief,dissolving
Dthedoubt.Forthewordoneisutteredanalogouslyto,itwasgenerated,
andtohewasgood,*andthedemonstrationonaccountofit,is
conformabletothepropermethod.Foritishimselfwhodoubts,
himselfwhodissolvesthedoubts,andhimselfwhodemonstrates.
Throughthedoubt,indeed,convertinghimselftointellect;butthrough
theconcisesolutionofthedoubt,energizingaccordingtointellect.For
tocomprehendthewholeofasentenceinoneword,isanimageof
intellectualprojection.Andthroughthedemonstrationdescendingfrom
intellecttodianoia.Foreveryonewhodemonstrates,receivesthe
principlesofhisdemonstrationfromintellect.Butitisintellect,says
Aristotle,*bywhichweknowterms;forthroughthisweapprehend
1,439[true]beingsbysimpleprojections.Suchthereforethroughoutisthe
formofthewords.
Letus,however,ifyouthinkfit,inthefirstplace,syllogistically
surveythetruthofthewordsthemselves.Thewholesentence,
therefore,isofthefollowingkind.Iftheworldwasgeneratedaccording
toaparadigm,andtheparadigmisone,thentheworldisone.5Butthe
antecedentistrue,andthereforetheconsequentalsoistrue.Thatthe
world,however,wasgeneratedaccordingtoaparadigm,wasasserted
before,andwasmentionedbothbyPlatoandus.Butthattheparadigm
Eisoneandmonadic,Platoassertsasheproceeds.Theassumption
thereforebeingtrue,itremainstoseehowthatwhichfollowsfromit
istrue.Hesaysthenthatiftheworldimitatesespeciallyandaccurately

theparadigm,itoughttoimitateitinallthings,andoughttoresemble
theessenceofit.Forifitimitatestheparadigminsomethings,andnot
inothers,itwillnotbetheimageofacertainwhole.Fortheparadigm
fInsteadofTOtryaflocr)vinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadTtj)ocyadoqt\v.
tAristotleNicomancheanEthicsVI,8,1142a25f.
ThewordsoKOODOO;otpaeveanv,areomittedintheoriginal,butevidentlyought
tobeinserted.
makingbyitsverybeing,itmakesacertainimageofthewholeofitself,
Butthisbeingthecasethatwhichisgeneratedwithreferenceor
accordingtothewholeparadigmitself,ismonadic,isperpetual,andis
ananimal.ForashewhoimitatesthewholeofSocratesexpressesthe
wholeofhislife,afterthesamemanner,theworldbeingfashionedin
theresemblanceofanimalitself,imitatesallthingsinit,sofarasitis
naturallyadaptedtosuchanimitation;possessingallthingssensibly
whichanimalitselfpossessesintelligibly.
Somehoweveropposewhatisheresaid,byadducingthemultitudeof
menandhorses.Formanitselfisthecauseofmanymen,horseitself
ofmanyhorses,andthisisthecasewitheveryotherformorideaofthe
likekind.Butifsomeoneshouldsay,thatthesebecausetheyareparts
ofotherthings,areonthisaccountmonadic,theobjectorwillnotcease
Fadducingtousthesunandthemoon,andallthepartoftheworld
whicharemonadic.Hencemoreprofoundsolutionsoftheobjectionare
requisite.ThephilosopherPorphyrythereforestrivingtosolvethe
difficulty,says,thatformsastheyproceed,alwaysdescendinto
multitudeanddivision,andpassintobulk,andanallvarious
1,440distributionintoparts.Henceanintelligibleessence,proceedingintothe
world,terminatesinadivided,gross,andmaterialmultitude,thoughon
highitisunited,impartible,andmonadic.Toeverything,therefore,
whichisintelligible,nothingelseimpartsthewhole,fortheintelligible
itselfgivessubsistencetoit.Henceitconstitutesitasgreatasitisable
134Atobecome.Butthisuniversesuppliesmanitselfwithmatter.Andon
thisaccountthematterofoneformreceivesmanyimpressionsofthat
form.Theworld,therefore,isonefromone[paradigm],andawhole
fromawhole.Butmanisnumerousfromoneform,theworld
supplyingthematterofit.Why,therefore,sayshe,aretherenotmany
sunsandmoons?Forthematteroftheseisfromtheuniverse.Tothis
hereplies,thattoincorruptiblenaturesintheworld,thoughtheymay
beparts,themonadicisappropriate;buttocorruptiblenatures,
multitude.Foriftherewerenotmanyparticipantsofthesamereason
[orform]butonlyonecorruptibleparticipant,theformwouldperish,
thisbeingcorrupted.Itisnecessary,however,thatall[material]forms
perishing,thefullperfectionoftheworldshouldstillremain.Such
thereforeisthesolutionofPorphyry.

ThedivineIamblichushoweverreprobatesthissolution,asdissolving
nooneofthedoubts.Forlet,sayshe,thewholesensibleworldpossess
impartiblenaturespartibly,indivisiblesdivisibly,andmonadicnatures
multitudinously,yetwhydosomethingsinitremainmonadic,but
Bothersnot?Forthisiswhatwasdubiousfromthebeginning.He
thereforeadducesacertainsolutionofthedoubt,whichisindeed
admirableyetisinwantofassistance.Forhesaysthatofformssome
rejoiceinsamenessandpermanency,butothersinmotionand
difference.Andthatsome,indeed,arethecausesofmonadicand
perpetualnatures,butothersofsuchasaremutableandmultitudinous.
Andthisindeedisveryadmirablyasserted,butrequiresacertain
admonition,whichitisnecessarytomake,byconsideringthatafterThe
Onetwoprinciplesproceed,boundandinfinity,asSocratesassertsinthe
Philebus.}Andasofnumbers,somearemoremonadicbutothersare
dyadic,thoughallnumbersderivetheirsubsistencefromthemonadand
1,441atthesametimefromtheduad,thuslikewise,thoughallformssubsist
accordingtothesetwoprinciples,yetatthesametimesomearethe
progenyofbound,butothersofinfinity.*Andwhatoccasionisthere
tospeakofforms;sinceoftheGodsthemselves,somebelongtothecoordination
ofbound,butotherstothatofinfinity,bothaccordingto
theirwholeordersandaccordingtoparts?Accordingtototalorders
indeed,becauseeverypaternal,connective,anddemiurgicseriesis
definedaccordingtobound;buteveryvivificandeffectiveseries,
Caccordingtoinfinity.Butaccordingtoparts,becauseofthepaternaland
ofthevivificseries,somebelongtotheorderofbound,butothersto
thatofinfinity.If,therefore,thisisthecasewiththeGods,whyisit
wonderfulthatofformssomearemorethanothersalliedtobound,but
otherstoinfinity?Andaccordingtothisanalogysomeformsgive
subsistencetomonadicthings,butotherstothosethatproceedinto
multitude.Afterthismanner,therefore,itisrequisitetoassistthis
solution.
Ourpreceptor,however,dissolvesthisdoubtafteranothermanner,
multifariously.Hesays,therefore,thateveryintelligiblenatureis
uniformandeternal,butthatofmundanethings,someareabletobe
more,andotherslessassimilatedtotheessencesofintelligibles.For
suchthingsasaremoreimmaterialandpure,arecapableofbeing
assimilatedinagreater,butsuchthingsasaremorematerialandgross,
inalessdegree.Asallparadigmsthereforesubsistinmonadicand
eternalessences,themoreexcellentnaturesintheuniverseespecially
imitatingthecausesofthemselves,aregeneratedinallthingsmost
Dsimilartotheirparadigms,viz.accordingtothemonadic,theessential,
andtheperpetual;butthelessexcellent,beingallottedasecondaryform
tPhilebus23cd.

XPhilebus26e.
ofsimilitude,areinacertainrespectassimilatedtotheircauses,andin
certainrespectnot.Hence,astherearethesethreethingsin
intelligibleforms,viz.themonadic,theessential,andtheeternal,
whetherdomundanenaturesimitatethemonadicandperpetual
peculiarityofintelligibles,butnottheessential?Bynomeans.1Forit
hasbeendemonstratedthatitisrequisitethethingswhichproceedfrom
1,442themshouldbeessences,sincetheyproducebytheirverybeing.Will
mundanenaturesthereforebeimitationsofthemaccordingtothe
monadicandtheessential,butnotaccordingtotheeternal?This
howeverisimpossible.Foreachofthemwillperish;beingmonadic
indeed,butnotperpetual.Forbecausenotperpetual,itwillvanishinto
nonentity;butinconsequenceofbeingmonadic,therewillnotbethat
fromwhichitmaybegenerated.Besides,everythingwhichsubsists
fromimmoveablecauses,isimmutableinessence.Butformsare
immoveable,fortheyareintelligible.Eitherthereforeitispossiblefor
allthingstoimitatetheminallthings,orincertainthings.Butitis
impossibleforallthingstoimitatetheminallthings.Forthenatures
whicharemoreremotefromtheirprinciplesareinalessdegree
assimilatedtothem.JustaswithrespecttoPythagoras,whopossesses
allsciences,hewhoisnearertohim,receivesallhisknowledge
Esecondarily,buthewhoismoreremotefromhim,learnssomeofhis
sciences,butisunadaptedtothereceptionofothers.Ifitisimpossible
therefore,forallthingstoimitatethemineveryrespect,itremainsthat
thismustbeeffectedbythemincertainthings.Andifincertainthings
astherearethreepeculiaritieswhicharecharacteristicofintelligible
forms,*eitherimitatingtheextremes,theybecomedestituteofthe
middle,orreceivingthetwofirst,theywillappeartohaverelinquished
thethird,ornotpartakingofthefirst,theywillparticipateofthetwo
whichareposteriortoit.Ithashoweverbeenshown,thatneitherthe
firstnorsecondistrue.Henceitisnecessarythattheyshouldnotexpress
themonadicpeculiarityofforms,butonlytheessentialandtheeternal.On
thisaccountallmundaneformsindeedareessences,andarealways
invariablythesame,butallofthemarenotmonadic.Forallmundane
formsdonotsubsistcommensuratelytoallthepowersoftheir
paradigms.Butthateveryintelligibleform,andwholeparadigmatic
causehavingaprimarysubsistence,ismonadic,eternal,andessential,is
evident.Forwhateverisnotessence,willbeanaccident.Every
nn/T.^r^nsteac'*10^ovaia)8e<;ov,ovSauuc.;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread
TO<>woiufecov,OVdanUQ;
tViz.themonadic,theessential,andtheeternal.
accident,however,subsistsaboutmatter,andisconversantwiththings
whichareinmatter,butnotwiththosewhichareinseparatecauses,

Iflikewiseanintelligibleformisnoteternal,neitherwilltheimageof
Fitbeperpetual.Itisnecessaryhoweverthatitshould,iftheworld
1,443alwaysconsistsofallforms.Buttheprincipleperishing,thatwhichis
derivedfromitcanbynopossiblecontrivancebepreserved.Andifan
intelligibleformisnotmonadic,itwillbenolongerprimarilya
paradigm.Foritisimpossibleforanythingtobetwothingsprimarily,
asSocratessaysintheRepublic.*Forwhenceisallnessderivedtothese
mundaneforms,exceptfromonecertaincommonform?Thesethree
thingsthereforearepresentwithallfirstparadigms.Anditseemsthat
themonadicispresentwiththemfrombound,theperpetualfrom
infinity,andtheessentialfromthefirstessence.
135AFartherstill,itispossibleforusafteranothermannertosolvethe
doubt.Forofthethingscontainedintheworld,someindeedsubsist
fromthefirstfabrication[i.e.thefabricationoftheDemiurgus]alone;
butothersfromthefirstandalsofromthesecond[orthefabricationof
thejuniorGods].Those,therefore,thatsubsistfromthefirst
fabrication,areinvariablythesame,andaremonadic,imitatingthe
onlynessoftheirproducing*cause.Forthesupermundanefabrication
isimmoveable,one,andeternal.Butthingswhichproceedfromthe
secondfabricationaremutable,arebornealoneinmultitude,andsubsist
differentlyatdifferenttimes.Forthesecondfabricationismultiform,
makesthatwhichitmakeswithmotion,andhastimebutnoteternity
connascentwithitself.Hencethethingswhichproceedfromitarevery
mutable,andmultiplied,andentirelymoved.Forthingswhichproceed
fromcausesthataremoved,arenaturallyofthiskind.WhencealsoI
thinktheDemiurgus,havingconstitutedallthemonadicandperpetual
naturesintheworld,excitesthejuniorGodstothefabricationofmortal
natures;inorderthatthese,sofarastheyhavesomethingperpetual,
mayderivetheirsubsistencefromhim,butsofarastheyaremortal,
BfromthejuniorGods.Andthatsofarasonethingparticipatesofone
formtheymightbeconstitutedbyhim,butsofarasthisoneis
multiplied,theymightderivetheirsubsistencefromthem.Forthe
mutationandmultiplicationofmortalnaturesarefrommanycauses,and
suchasaremoved.
tRep.X,597c.
$Forirpory/tCKTOChere,itisnecessarytoreadKCtpocyovToq.
Again,therefore,thisalsomaybesaid,thattheonlybegottenis
threefold.Foriteithersignifiesthemonadofitsproperseries;
1,444accordingtowhichsignification,theformofmanismonadic,andthe
formofhorse,andeveryformofthingsofthiskind.Oritsignifiesone
thingparticipatedbyonething,accordingtowhichsignificationman
andhorsearenotmonadic,buttheformofthesunandtheformofthe
moon.Oritsignifiesthatwhichhasnootherthingcoordinatewith

itselfaccordingtowhichmeaningtheabovementionednaturesareno
longeronlybegotten,sincetheyarecoordinatewitheachotherbut
wholeanimal[oranimalitself]isonlybegotten,inconsequenceofnot
beingcoordinatewithanyotheranimal.Astheonlybegotten,
therefore,hasathreefoldsubsistence,ifyouassumethatwhichistruly
onlybegotten,itisthethird,asthecauseofallanimals,havingthe
relationofamonadtoallofthem,beingparticipatedbyonething,and
notbeingcoordinatewithanyanimal,butbeingtrulymonadic.This,
however,beingassumed,thatwhichisconjoinedwithitnownecessarily
follows.Foriftheparadigmisonlybegotten,thatalsowhichis
generatedaccordingtoitisonlybegotten,imitatingtheonlybegotten
natureoftheparadigm,andnothingelsebesidestheworldisathingof
Cthiskind.Fornootherthingbesidesanimalitself,isaccordingtothis
signification,onlybegotten.
Fartherstill,itisrequisitetosolvethedoubtafteranothermanner,
consideringasfollows:Everyformisgenerativeofonething,andofa
multitude.Ofonethingindeed,becauseitconstitutesamonadsimilarto
itself,priortothemultitudewhichitproduces.Butitproducesamultitude,
becauseeverymonadhasanumbercoordinatewithitself.Animalitself,
therefore,asamonad,constitutesthewholeworld.Butaccordingto
eachorder,itgeneratesanumber*analogoustothewhole,andwhich
isabletopreservethesimilitudetotheuniverseconformablytothat
series.Hencethesolarparadigm,generatesindeedthevisiblesunitself,
butitlikewisegeneratesanumberofsolaranimalspossessingthesame
form,accordingtoasimilitudetotheirproperform.Andofanimalsof
thiskind,somearecelestial,butotherssublunary,sothatsuchanumber
asthisextendsasfarastotheearth.Manitself,therefore,doesnot
immediatelyproducethisinfinitemultitudeofmen;forprogressionisno
1,445wherewithoutamedium;butthroughnumbersproximatetothemonad
Dandappropriate.Hence,sinceanintelligibleformisone,itisnecessary
thatitshouldnotimmediatelyproducetheinfinite,butinthefirstplace
amonad,afterwardsanappropriatenumber,andsooninsuccession.
tApiB^ovisomittedintheoriginal.
Forbetweentheintelligibleformwhichisone,andthesensiblewhichis
multiplied,themediumistheformwhichissensibleindeed,butmonadic;
throughproceedingbecomingsensible;butthroughpreservingthesimilitude
ofitsparadigm,havingamonadicsubsistence.Foritmaybesaidtobe
trulyabsurd,thatdivine,intelligible,andimmoveablecauses,shouldnot
beprimarilythecausesofthingsessentiallyimmutable,butofthings
materialandmutable.*Forhowisitpossiblethatthingswhicharein
theprofundityoftheuniverse,canbeconjoinedwiththose
supermundanenatures;thingsdeprivedofintelligence,withintellectuals;
perfectlymutable,witheternalnatures;verycompositethings,withsuch

asaresimple;andthingswhichintheirownnaturearedissipated,with
unitedessences?Itisnecessary,therefore,thatmanitself,andeachof
suchlikeforms,shouldgeneratestablemonadspriortoadispersed
multitude;fromwhichtheprogressionofeachtoitsappropriatenumber
isderived.Itislikewisenecessarythatthesemonadsshouldexistinthe
Esecondfabrication.Hencetheyremaininvariablythesame,asbeing
aloneproducedbyanimmoveablecause.Youmustnotwonder,
therefore,ifsomeoneshouldcallmanimmortal,abruterational,and
aplantintellectual.Foreachoftheseisprimarilyathingofthiskind.
Butprogressionproducingadiminutionoftheallvariousimitationof
theparadigm,exhibitssomethingssensible,othersirrational,andothers
intellectualincapacity.Forasthewater,whichprimarilyproceedsfrom
itsfountain,ismostsimilartothefontalwater,andpreservesitsproper
purityundefiled;*thusalsothenatureswhicharefirstunfoldedinto
lightfromintelligibleforms,genuinelypreservethesimilitudesoftheir
paradigms;butastheyproceed,dissolvetheperfectsimilitude,andare
filledfromtheirsubjectswithcompositionandinelegance.
1,446Inanotherway,likewise,thesolutionofthethingsinvestigatedmay
beattempted.Foroffabricationthefirstistotal,one,andimpartible;
thesecondispartialandmultiplied,andproceedsaccordingtoa
distributionintoparts;andthethirdisnotonlypartiblelikethatwhich
precedesit,butcomesintocontactwithgeneratednatures,andwiththe
formstheycontain.YouhavealsothesethreefabricationsinPlato,viz.
theJovian,theDionysiacal,andtheAdonaical[orpertainingtoAdonis],
conformablytowhichhedivideshisthreepolities,aswehaveelsewhere
tIntheoriginal8uxnovevvXuv,KmpATaPkqTUV;butduxoughtevidentlytobe
expunged.
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.51&52.
shownThethirdfabrication,therefore,isthecauseofwholes*andparts,
andofthingswhicharenotmonadic.Thesecondisthecauseofthings
whicharemonadicindeed,butarenotwholes.Andthefirstisthecauseof
thewholeandthemonadic.Forsuchistheuniverse,whichisnotapart
ofanything,asthesunandmoonare,andeachofthepeculiarpartscf
theworld.IfthereforePlatohadnowspokenconcerningevery
136Afabrication,itwouldhavebeenrequisitetoannextheextensionsof
formsintomultitude,andtheirdivisions.Butsincethepresent
discourseisaloneconcerningthewholefabrication,orthefabrication
whichhasatotalsubsistence,whatoccasionistheretodisturbourselves,
inconsequenceofnotremaininginthefirstfabrications,whichare
effectedbyanimmoveableandtotalcause?ForthewholeDemiurgus
isafabricatortotallyandmonadically;sincealsoproducingmanyGods,
heproducesthemmonadically.ForeachoftheGodsbelongingtothe
inerraticsphere,isconstitutedaccordingtooneform;sincetheformof

earthisdifferentfromthatofwater,andtheformofwaterfromthatof
fire;thepartsofwhichhaveatemporalgenerationandcorruption.
Muchmore,therefore,dosuchperpetualnaturesasthestars,andalso
partialsouls,differinformfromeachother.Foreveryindividualand
atthesametimepartialnature,ismaterial.Ifalsopartialsoulsproduce
differentpeculiarlives,fromexertingthereasonstheycontain,itis
evidentthattheypossessthereasonsofallthingsuniversally,and
subsistinginformsalone,sothattheprogressionsofeachofthemare
accordingtodifferentforms.Thisnumbertooofformsmustbeplaced
1,447inthefountain*ofsoulsunically[orhavingasubsistencecharacterized
Bbyunity],butdistributedlyintheprinciple*ofsouls.Forhowisit
possibleitshouldnotbenecessary,soulsbeingfinite,thatthenumber
ofthemshouldpreexistinthecausesfromwhencetheyarederived?
Sinceevennaturecomprehendsthenumbersofthingswhichshe
producesaccordingtonumbers.If,however,theGodsaremonadic,and
souls,thegenerabetweenthese,arelikewisemonadic;sothateachthing
whichtheDemiurgusconstitutes,isentirelymonadic.Thislikewise
appearstobethecauseoftheperpetuityofthethingswhichhe
tForeiSiovhere,itisnecessarytoreadO\UP.
i.e.InRhea,orthevivificGoddess,consideredaccordingtoherfirstsubsistence
intheintellectualorderofGods.
*i.e.InProserpine,whosubsistsinthevivifictriadofthesupermundaneorderof
Gods,whichorderconsistsoftheGodswhoarecalledarchaiorPrinciples.Seethe5th
and6thBooksofmyTranslationofProclusontheTheologyofPlato,foranaccount
ofthedeitiescalledfountainsandprinciples.
produces,thateachreceivesthewholeformoftheparadigmaticcause.
HenceeverythingwhichproceedsfromthewholeDemiurgushasa
natureofthiskind.
If,therefore,hegivessubsistencetotheworld,theworldisone;both
onaccountofthedemiurgicmonad,andtheonlynessoftheparadigm;
whichPlato,asitappearstome,knowing,says,"ifitbeadmittedthat
itisfabricatedaccordingtotheparadigm."Forbynotsayingifitwas
generated,butifitwasfabricated,accordingtotheparadigm,heindicates
theonlynessbothoftheparadigmaticandthedemiurgiccause.Forthe
Demiurgusisamonad,andtheparadigmalsoisamonad;andtherefore
thisuniversebeinggeneratedbyamonad,withreferencetoamonad,
Cismonadic.Why,therefore,youmaysay,ishesatisfiedinwhat
follows,withthedemonstrationfromtheparadigm?Wereply,because
theparadigmismoreunitedthantheDemiurgus.FortheDemiurgus
himselfisamonad,throughhissimilitudeandanalogytotheparadigm.
Thishoweverisevident.Foramongthekings,heisanalogoustoit;
andboththeDemiurgusandtheparadigmareanalogoustothe

intelligiblemonad.*Hence,sincethemonadicnatureisfromthence
derivedtotheDemiurgushimself,whatoughtwetothinkconcerning
theuniverse?Isitnot,thatitprimarilypossessesitsonlynessfromthe
paradigm?Theparadigm,therefore,isamoreprincipalthing,forthe
purposeofdemonstratingtheonlynessoftheworld.Andagain,you
maysee,thattherearethreemonads,viz.animalitself,thedemiurgic
cause,andtheuniverse.Butthefirst,isanintelligiblemonad,the
second,anintellectualmonad,andthethird,asensiblemonad.
31a"Forthatwhichcomprehendsallsuchanimalsasareintelligible,can
1,448neverbethesecond,[orcoarranged]with*anyotherthing."
Thenecessityofthesedemonstrationsisadmirable,showingthatallperfect
animalisoneandmonadic,5similartothosemethodsthrough
whichintheSophista,hedemonstratesthatthemultitudeofbeingsisto
bereferredtoonetrulyexistingbeing.Foriftherearetwoprinciples
Dofbeings,eithereachofthemisprimarilybeing,oronlyoneofthem.
Butifonlyoneofthem,theotherwillproceedfromthis.Andifin
each,itisnecessarythereshouldbeanotherbeing,fromwhichbothof
thesearebeings.Foreachoftheseisacertainbeing,andnotsimply
fi.e.Tothesummitoftheintelligibleorder,orbeingitself.
tInthetextofProclus/xeB'erepoverroneouslyinsteadofiieB'erepov.
%Intheoriginalevov/catiievov.ButforpevovIreadpovabiKOV.
being.Afterthesamemannerlikewise,henowshows,thatallperfect
animalisone.Sothataccordingtoalltheordersofthings,thatwhich
issaidtoexistprimarily,willbeonlybegotten.Forbeingitselfis
primarilybeing,justasanimalitselfisheredemonstratedtobeprimarily
animal,oronlybegotten.Forhowisitpossiblethisshouldnotbeonlybegotten?
Forifthereisanotheranimalcoarrangedwithit,eithereach
hasallthings,oroneofthemhasallthings,buttheothernot,or
neitherofthemhasallthings.Forbesidesthese,therearenoother
consequences.If,therefore,itshouldbesaidthatneitherofthemisall
things,eachofthemisimperfect.Wehoweverarespeakingofthat
whichisallperfect,andweinvestigatewhenceitpossessesallthings.
Foritmustnotbesaid,thatthesensibleuniversehasindeedallthings
accordingtoitsownorder,andthatthesoulpossessesallreasons,asis
evidentfromthethingstowhichitappliesitself,andfromassigningto
everythingitsappropriatereason;butthatthereisnotacertain
intelligible,whichistrulycomprehensiveofallintelligibles,justassoul
Econtainsallthingsdianoetically,andtheuniversesensibly.Forwhence
isallnessderivedtothese,exceptfromintelligibles?If,therefore,the
intelligibleisallperfect,thatwillbetheparadigmoftheuniversewhich
isprimarilyall.Butifoneofthemisallthings,andtheothernot,these
willneitherbecoarrangedwitheachother,norconnumerated;butthat

whichhasnotallthingswillbeinferiortotheother,andthatwhichis
allperfectwillhaveamorecomprehensivepower.Hencetheonewill
beapart,buttheotherawhole;andbothwillnotbeallperfect
1,449animals,butoneofthemwillbemoreperfectthantheother.Forthat
whichhasadiminishedperfectionisnotallperfect.Butifeachofthem
isallthings,whencedidtheyobtainallthings?Foritisnecessarythat
theyshouldreceivethisallnessfromsomething.Forasparticipatingof
oneform,theysubsistfromonecause.Andthusthenatureswhich
similarlyparticipateofallthings,possessthisallnessfromonecause.
Therewillthereforebeacausepriortothem;sinceitisnecessarythat
wheretherearetwothingsthereshouldbeanantecedentcause,which
conductsthemtogether.Thiscause,therefore,whichispriortothem,
iseitherallthingsindivisibly,ordivisibly.Butifindivisibly,another
causewillberequisiteasamedium.Forthemediumbetweenthatwhich
isperfectlyindivisible,andtheduadwhichpossessesallthingsdivisibly,is
Fthemonadwhichhasallthingsindivisibly;}thisindeedbeingitselfunited
}Theoriginalis,eXovoric6orieilla^ls>T0V7Pabiaiperuc,Ttavraovroq,Kairyq
bvaboqrye,TtavrynecessaraUP71*t("'0(CI*avTaexovoabiripijiievuq.Butit
appearstometobeKotlrye5t0fireat*'a8ragreeablytotheabovetranslation,TOV
yapabiaiperuqitavrqovrog,^"wpeTu"TT,<7RAVTAXOVOTIQbvqpynevusc,,
iieooveorivi)novae;ijvavraexovoa
byanindivisiblecause,butunitingtheallnesswhichisintheduad.Hence
thatwhichprimarilycomprehendsallthingsisthemonadwhichispriorto
theduad.Butinthatwhichsubsistsindivisibly,theseedandcauseare
containedofanallnesswhichischaracterizedbyunity.Deservedly,
therefore,isallperfectanimalsaidtobemonadic,andincapableofbeing
thesecondwithanotherthing,notonlyasthewordsappeartosay,
becauseitisnotconjoinedwithanother,butbecauseifitwerearranged
withanother,itwouldbesecondarily,andnolongerprimarilyall
137Athings.Forafterallperfectanimal,therearecauseswhicharecoarranged
withotherkindrednatures,butwhichhavenotprimarilyall
things.That,however,whichprimarilypossessesallthingsismonadic.But
ifitiscomprehensiveofallthings,therewillnotbeanintelligible
animalbesidesit.Foriftherewere,thiswouldnolongerbeallperfect,
butapart.Andthatwillbethewholeofwhichthiswillbealonea
part.Foritisnecessarythatmultitudeshouldstopatthemonad.
Why,however,doesPlatosay,thesecondwithanotherthing?Forit
wouldhavebeensufficienttohavesaid,withanotherbyitself,orthe
second,byitself.Butheconjoinsboth,forthepurposeofindicatingthat
thenaturewhichiscoarrangedwithanother,andisnotmonadic,
1,450cannotaswehavebeforeobserved,*bethefirst.Perhapslikewise,it
signifiesthecontrary,andthatwhatissaidpertainstothingsandnotto

words.Fortheformwhichisinincorruptiblenaturesentirelysubsists
withanother.Forthehumanformisinthisindividual,andinthat,the
participantsbeingmany,andonthisaccounteachiswithanother.That
form,however,whichisperpetual,yetnotawhole,thoughitmaybe
Bmonadic,andonthisaccountnotwithanother,yetitismoreimperfect
thanacertainwhole.Butthatwhichisneitherinmanythings,nora
partwithanotherthing,isnotsecondary,asbeingoneandawhole,and
notapart.Veryproperly,therefore,doesthetheologist*produce
Phanes,theonlydivinitybearingtheseedoftheillustriousGods,5from
theGodwhoisoccultlyallthings;andfromPhanesgivessubsistenceto
allthesecondordersoftheGods.ForHeavenindeedproceedstogether
withEarth.Butshe,
Againth'extendedheav'nandearth*broughtforth.
t127Dsupra,p.384.
\Orph.fr.61,89,94and130.
ForBeovK\VTOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadBeuvKXVTUV.[Orph.fr.61.]
i.e.TheintellectualEarthbroughtforththesensibleHeavenandEarth.
AndSaturnproceedstogetherwithRhea.Foraccordingtoathird
progeny,Earthproduced[asthetheologistsays,]"sevenpurebeautiful
virginswithrollingeyes,andsevensonsthatwerekings,withfinelong
hair."ButtheDemiurgus,whoisthegreatJupiter,isconjoinedwith
Juno.Hencealso,sheissaidtobeofequalrankwithhim,andproceeds
fromthesamefathers.Phanes,however,proceedsbyhimselfalone,and
iscelebratedasfemaleandfather.Healsoproducesthe[three]Nights,and
ispresentwiththemiddleNight.Forhe
Pluck'dtheshornflowerofNight.*
CAccordingtothistheologisttherefore,allperfectanimalisnotthe
secondwithanother,butfillstheordersofNight,andalsofillsthe
1,451celestialorderswiththeallnessofhimself;inimitationofwhom,Jupiter
likewise,producestwofoldorders,thesupercelestialandthemundane.
Phanes,however,givessubsistencetotwofoldtriads,butJupiterto
twofoldduodecads.Foronthisaccounthissceptreissaidtoconsistof
fourandtwentymeasures.Hence,thedemiurgicisalwaysassimilated
totheparadigmaticcause,butproceedsintomultitudefromintelligible
union.Thesethings,however,arealsoelsewherediscussed.
Butthatanimalitselfrejoicesinonlyness,isalsomanifestedthrough
theOrphictheologies.ForasPhanesistheoffspringofanegg,itis
evidentthatheisananimal.Atthesametimealso,heiscalledby
OrpheusthehappyandvenerableMetis,bearingtheseedofthe
illustriousGods;towhomJupiterbeinganalogous,islikewise

denominatedbyOrpheusMetisandadaemon.
Onepower,onedaemon,thegreatlordofall.
Orph.fr.123
Thustoo,theOraclescallthismightyGod[i.e.animalitself]the
fountainoffountains,andsaythathealonegeneratedallthings."For
tromthencethegenerationofabundantlyvariousmatterentirely*leaps
forthThenceafierywhirlwindsweepingalong,obscurestheflowerof
fire,leapingatthesametimeintothecavitiesoftheworlds.Forall
thingsthencebegintoextendtheiradmirableraysdownwards."5
Kwfoc^trigfalavT0<;ya(>(Kzat5oc0Xf7oKovpipavavBoq.Butfor/c
appearsfromEschenbachtobenecessarytoreadrr/cNUKTOC.
$Forv0tvaSllnere,readevdevupbi\v.Andforanvdpoio,apvSpoi.
Chald.Oracl.fr.34;Orph.fr.291.
31a"Foragain,anotheranimalwouldberequiredaboutthesetwo,of
Dwhichtheywouldbeparts;anditmightbemorerightlysaid,thatthe
1,452universeisassimilatedtothiscomprehendingthird,ratherthantothe
othertwo."
ThiswhichisnowassertedbyPlato,maybeeasilydemonstratedfrom
thedemiurgicgoodness.ForiftheDemiurgusisgood,hefabricatedthe
universewithreferencetoallperfectanimal.Butheisgoodandthebest
ofcauses,andthereforeheassimilatedtheworldtoallperfectanimal.
ForitisnecessarythatthefirstDemiurgusshouldbeintellectiveofthe
firstparadigm;andthatbeingintellectiveofit,heshouldbethemaker
ofthatwhichisineveryrespectmostsimilartoit.Forifthereis
nothingwhichisintellectiveofit,itwillnolongerhavetheorderofa
paradigm,withrespecttothatwhichisfabricatedbythefirst
Demiurgus.If,however,youshouldsay,thatitisnecessarythere
shouldbeothersecondarycauses,whichproducewithreferencetomore
partialparadigms,yousaywellindeed,butatthesametimeyoushould
preservetheuniverseone.Forthefabricationsofthesepartial
paradigmsarepartsoftheuniverse,inthesamemannerasthe
paradigms,andviceversa.Asthereforeparadigmsarepartsof
Eparadigms,demiurgic*arepartsofdemiurgiccauses,andfabricationsof
fabrications,itisnecessarythatthewholenessoftheuniverseshouldbe
theimageofallperfectanimal;andthatallperfectanimalshouldbethe
paradigmoftheuniverse.Moreover,ithasbeendemonstratedthat
animalitselfisone,andalone,asbeingmonadic.Theworldtherefore
isoneandmonadic,inorderthatitmayperfectlyimitateitsparadigm.
Forasitprimarilyreceivesasimilarideaofit,howisitpossibleit
shouldnotadumbrateallthenatureofit,inconsequenceofhavingbeen

generatedintellectual,perpetual,andmonadic?
31ab"Inorder,therefore,thattheworldfromitsonlynessorbeingalone,
1,453mightbesimilartoallperfectanimal,onthisaccounttheartificer
neithermadeinfinite,nortwoworlds."
Again,PlatoremindsusoftheDemiurgiccause,inorderthatwemay
understandalsofromthis,thateverythingwhichisgeneratedbythe
wholefabrication,ismonadic,perpetual,andintellectual;andthatthe
Demiurgusisthecauseofallthings,inconsequenceofproducingthemonads
ofthem;butthathedeliveredthemultitudinousandpartialfabrication
tInsteadof8ijfiioup7T)/iaTCKhere,itisnecessarytoreadbi)iu<ovpiim.
tothejuniorGods.*Fartherstill,healsolatentlyteachesuswhothis
allperfectintellectis,thenameofwhichissocelebratedbythemore
Fmodernphilosophers;viz.thatitisintelligibleintellect,inwhichthe
universeprimarilysubsists.Before,therefore,hecalleditdistributedly
"accordingtoallthingsperfect,"becausehethencelebrateditsallness;but
nowspeakingofitcollectively,hecallsit"allperfect,"sincehisdiscourse
isabouttheonlybegotten.
Theinfinite,however,inacertainrespectis,andinacertainrespect
isnot.Butathingissaidtobeinathreefoldmanner;eitheraccordingto
power,oraccordingtomultitude,oraccordingtomagnitude.Theinfinite
thereforeaccordingtopowerisindivinenatures,andintheworld.The
neverfailing,andtheperpetual,arethepeculiaritiesoftheinfiniteaccording
topower.Buttheinfiniteaccordingtomultitudepartlyis,andpartlyis
not.Forithasnotanatoncecollectedsubsistence,butexistsaccordingto
apart.Andtheinfiniteaccordingtomagnitude,neitherexistsaccording
138Atoapart,}norhasanyexistencewhatever.Hencetheinfiniteaccording
tomultitude,ifitexistsintheworlds,inthefirstplace,willbewithout
arrangementwithreferencetoitself.Forwhatordercantherebeinthe
infiniteofthingsfirstandsecond,wherethereisnofirst?Inthenext
place,itwillnothaveoneproducingcause.Forifithad,thatcausewould
producetheonepriortomultitude,andthewholepriortoparts.Forbeing
itselfoneitwouldfirstassimilatetoitselfthethingsposteriortoitself.For
everycausewhichiseffectiveofthingsaccordingtonature,products
thingssimilartoitself.Butthereisnofirstinthoseworlds,sincethey
areinfinite.Andiftheysupposeotherworldsconsistingofothers,
1,454eitherthecausesofthemwillbeuncoordinateorcoordinate.Andif
coordinate,itisnecessarythattheworldsshouldhaveonecoarrangement.
Butintheinfinitethereisnoorder.Towhichwemay
add,thattheinterventionofavacuuminthemiddle,willseparatethe
worlds.Butifthecausesareuncoordinate,wemustadmitthatthere
isadividedandunsympatheticmultitudeintheprinciples.This,

however,willentirelyabolishbothallthecausesthemselves,andthe
Bthingsposteriortothem.Forthecauseswillbecorruptiveofeach
other,notbeingabletosubsistinconjunctionwith,inconsequenceof
beingperfectlyforeignfromeachother.5Butthethingswhichproceed
tTim.42d.
oupUw.ords>ov6iKaMPOCareomittedintheoriginal;but,asitappearstome,
eattobeinserted.
Scf.Phaedrus245de.
fromthem,collapsing,willstop,andwillnothaveanythingfrom
whenceagaintheycanbegenerated,theprinciplesbeingdestroyed.*
Perhaps,however,someonemaysaythatthereisneitheroneworld,
norinfiniteworlds,butmanyandfinite.Forwehaveheardofacertain
Barbaricopinion,whichtheCheroneanPlutarchrelates,*placinginone
equilateraltriangletheintelligibleworldaccordingtothemiddleofit,
ineachofthesidessixtyworlds,abouttheintelligible,andineachangle
oneworld;allofthem(excepttheintelligible)beingsuchworldsasthat
inwhichwearecomprehended.
Sothattherearethreeleaders,andthricesixtyothers,underthem.5
Fortheangularareofamorerulingnaturethanthelateralworlds.This
opinion,therefore,introducesamultitudeoffiniteworlds,andmakes
theintelligibletobeoneofthem.Unless,indeed,youarrangethe
intelligibleworldinthemiddle,astherootofallthings,butthethree
angularworldsasconnectiveofallthings,andcausingallthingstobe
one,accordingtoonemundaneintellect,onesoul,andonenature.Or
Caccordingtotheempyrean,etherial,andmaterialworld.Foranangle
isconnectiveofthesides.Butthethricesixtyworldsmaybesaidtobe
themultitudeaccordingtoeachsphereofthese.Forthespheresare
twelveinnumber;andthemultitudeineachisspherical,ofwhichthe
pentadisasymbol,beingthefirstsphericalnumber.*Hencethereare
thricesixtyworlds,becausethereisanintellectual,apsychical,anda
1,455physicalseries,accordingtoeachsphereofwhichthepentadisa
symbol;orbecausethereisanempyrean,etherial,andmaterialmultitude
ofGods.If,however,someoneshouldnotadmitthatthesethingsare
obscurelysignified[inthisnarrationofPlutarch],butshouldassertthat
theworldsaretrulydividedaccordingtonumber,weaskhim,whether
itisbettertomakeoneworldcomprehensiveofallthings,ormany
worldsseparatedfromeachother?Fortheformermakesmultitudeto
beconnectedlycontainedbythemonad,andpartsbythewhole;butthe
latterdissipatesproductionintoanuncoordinatemultitude;though
nature,andeverycauseofthiskind,makesamonadpriortomultitude,
andawholeconnectiveofparts.Iflikewisetheworldsbeingspherical,

fThesearguments,whichpossessaninvinciblestrength,fullyshowthefutilityof
thatverypopulartheoryofthemoderns,thatthereareinfiniteworlds.Forlikemost
othermoderndogmas,itisunscientificandrambling.
%SeePlutarch'sTreatiseontheSilenceoftheOracles[Loebvol.306].
cf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,134b.
cf.NicomachusofGerasa,EicroryaryTj,II,17,7.
Dtoucheachother,theywilltouchaccordingtoapoint,butinthewhole
theywillbeseparatedfromeachother,andwillbemoreunsympathetic
thansympathetic.Itisnecessaryhoweverthatthingswhichproceed
fromonecause,shouldbecopassivewitheachother,andgive
completiontoonelife.Butiftheydonotatalltoucheachother,they
willbe[entirely]separated.Howalso,Aristotlewouldsay,willthings
whichareupwardbedownward,andthingswhicharedownwardbe
upward,intervalbeingexternaltotheworlds?Andhowwillthisthing
pertainingtotheworldsbearrangedhere,butanotherthere?Forthat
whichisupwardtous,willbetoothersdownward.Willnottheearth
thereforeoftheotherworlds,andeverythingtherewhichisheavy,be
impelledtothisworld,ifthemotionofthatwhichisheavytends
downward?Butatoneandthesametime,abodywhichinoneofthose
worldstendsupward,will,asproceedingtothisworld,tenddownward.
Andtherewillnotbeanorderofmotions,orpowers,orofthings
whicharecoordinateintheuniverse.Unlesssomeoneshouldsayin
answertothis,thatthereisadifferentmiddleineachoftheworlds:for
themiddleisnotthemiddleofavacuum,butofaworld.Eachpart
thereforeofaworldtendseithertothemiddle,ortothecircumference
ofthatworld,butnottothatwhichisforeigntoit.Allthings,
however,thatareinotherworlds,areforeigntoeachother.If
1,456therefore,someoneshouldthinkthattheseassertionsareworthyof
Ebelief,letthemremainassuch.
Platohowever,haschosenthemostprincipalandpropercauseofthere
beingbutoneworld,viz.thatwhichisderivedfromtheparadigmofthe
universe;buthasomittedasconcausestheabove,andsuchlikecauses.
Ademonstrationalsoofthiskindisdefinite.Foritdoesnotseparately
confutethosewhosaythereisamultitudeofworlds,andseparately
thosewhointroduceaninfinitenumber,dispersedindifferentplaces,
andinterceptedbyavacuum,butatoneandthesametimeheshows
thattheassertionsbothoftheformerandthelatterarefalse,directly
provingthattheworldisonefromtheonlynessoftheparadigm.And
fartherstill,heavoidsthemodesofargumentwhicharederivedfrom
matter.Forheneitherdemonstrates,asAristotledoes,*frommatter
beingone,norfromplacesbeingdefiniteaccordingtonature,norfrom
essence,i.e.matterwhichisabody,beingunited,accordingtothe
doctrineoftheStoics.*ForPlatoaloneorespeciallyemployed,says

tcf.AristotleDeCoeloI,6,273al2ff.
*Fr.533v.Arn.
Theophrastus,thecausewhichisderivedfromprovidentialinspection;
beautifullytestifyingthisofPlato.Aswehavesaidtherefore,he
Fascribestheonlynessoftheworldtotheparadigm.Foriftheparadigm
isone,andtheDemiurgusisone,itisnecessarythattheworldshould
beone.Orrather,iftheparadigmisone,andtheworldadumbratesthe
onlynessoftheparadigm,theworldisone.Buttheantecedentistrue,
andthereforetheconsequent.Fortheparadigmisone,ashebefore
demonstrated,andconstitutedtheworldconformablytotheonlynessof
itself.ForastheintelligibleparadigmwasgeneratedonefromTheOne
whichisTheGood,solikewisewithreferencetoitselfbeingone,it
constitutedtheworldonlybegotten.Hencetheworldisone.And
neitheraretheremanyworlds;fortherearenotmanyfirstparadigms;
139Anorinfiniteworlds;fortheinfiniteaccordingtomultitude,doesnot
evenexistinmortalnatures,sofarisitfromhavingasubsistencein
perpetualbeings.
1,457Butitispossible,saysPorphyry,tousethedemonstrationofPlatoin
allotherprinciples.Forthroughthis,notonlyintelligibleanimalis
demonstratedtobeone,butalsothefirstDemiurgus.Andinshort,it
maybedemonstrated,thattherearenotmanyprinciplesofintelligibles,
butoneprinciple.Foragainanotherprincipleoftherebeingmany
wouldberequisite,throughwhichtheprinciplesthemselvesare
unbegotten.Foreverythingwhichisnaturallyinherentinmanythings,
isnecessarilyderivedfromonecause.Hethereforewhosays,thatGod
andmatterareprinciples,mustbecompelledtoadmitthatthereisa
certainothercausepriortothem.Forneitherismattersufficientto
itself,norwillGodbecomprehensiveofallthings[ifthereisanother
principleindependentofhim].Itisnecessarytherefore,thatthere
shouldbeacausepriortothesewhichcomprehendsallthings,and
whichistrulysufficienttoitself,andisnotinwantofanyotherthing.
31b"Butthisheaven[oruniverse]wasgenerated,is,andwillbeoneand
onlybegotten."
Theonlybegottenindeed,adumbratesthemonadiccause,andindicates
anessencewhichiscomprehensiveofallsecondarynatures,andhas
Bdominionoverwholes.*ForthetheologistisaccustomedtocallProserpine
onlybegotten;aspresidinginaleadingandrulingmanneroverall
mundanenatures,andasthecauseofonlybegottenanimals.Forthe
Goddesswhoisposteriortohergivessubsistencetotheanimalswhichare
notonlybegotten,asbeingirrational.Thetheologisttherefore,onthis
tOrph.fr.185.

accountcallsProserpineonlybegotten,*thoughheproducesanother
divinityfromthesamecausesasheproducedProserpine.Unity
however,isimpartedtotheuniversefromtheoneunityofunities.For
asthebeingwhichiseverywhere,isderivedfrombeingitself,sothe
one*whichisinallthingsisfromTheOneItself.Butthewords"was
generated,is,andwillbe,"manifestthetemporalperpetuityofthe
universe,whichisextendedwiththeinfinityoftime.Forthetermwas,
isindicativeofthepast,thetermis,ofthepresent,andthetermwillbe,
ofthefuturetime.Againthereforeyouhavethetermoneconformably
1,458totheimageoftheonebeing[thesummitofintelligibles];buttheterms,
was,is,andwillbe,conformablytotheimageofeternity.Forthe
infinityoftimeimitatestheeternalinfinity.Butalltheseareaccording
totheimageofanimalitself.Forthiswasprimarilymonadic,andtruly
aneternalone.Buttheworldismonadicandperpetualthroughthe
Cimitationofit.Fartherstill,theterm"wasgenerated,"issignificantof
perfection;theterm"is,"oftheparticipationofbeing;andtheterm"will
be,"ofperpetualgeneration,throughwhichtheworldhasaneverfailing
subsistence.Sothatofthese,thefirstisfromTheOne;forfromthence
perfectionisimpartedtoallthings.Butthesecondisfromtheonebeing.
Andthethirdisfrometernity;forfromthencetheneverfailingis
inherentinwholes.
tOrph.fr.186;187.
*ForTOeviraoivovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTOevKOLOIVev.

Proclus
CommentaryontheTimaeusofPlato
BookIII
(OntheWorldsoul;editedbywww.scribd.com/meuser)
2,1Thepresenttreatiseinonewaysurveystheworldaccordingtothe
wholenesswhichitcontains,conformablytowhichalsoitissimilarto
allperfectanimal,andwasgeneratedanonlybegottenanimal,*animated
andenduedwithintellect;butinanotherway,accordingtothedivision
whichisinit;aswhenitdividesthesoulfrombody,andlikewisethings
whichhaveamoreformalorder.Buthowdoesthepsychicalbreadth
proceedfromfabrication,andaccordingtowhatkindofreasons?For
139Dsincetheworldisananimatedanimalandenduedwithintellect,three
thingsareexhibitedinit,viz.acertainbody,soul,andintellect.
Intellecthowever,isentirelyunbegotten;foritisallottedaneternal
essenceandenergy.Butbodyisentirelygenerated:foritconsists
accordingtothewholeofitself,inthewholeoftime.Andsoulisofa
middleessence.Astherefore,itisarrangedinthemiddleofimpartible
andpartiblenatures,afterthesamemanneralso,itistheboundary**of
unbegottenandgeneratedessences.Henceitisgeneratedindeed,aswith
referencetointellect,butisunbegotten,whenconsideredwithrelation
toacorporealformednature.Itexistsalsoastheendofeternalbeings,
butranksasfirstamongthingsthataregenerated.Onthisaccount
therefore,Platodeliverstousanallvariousgenerationofbody,
producingitwhollyfromcausesdifferentfromitself;butheproduces
2,2soulbothfromitself,andfromthetotalfabricationandvivification.He
doesnothowever,inwordsdeviseanygenerationofintellect.For
neitherisintellectproducedaccordingtoidea,nordoesitadmitofany
nameofgeneration,beingentirelyunbegotten,andeternal.Itis
howeverunfoldedintolightfromwholes,butabidinginthem
Einherently,itproceedsunitedly,togetherwithitsmoretotalcauses.
Henceitabidesimpartibleandundivided,beingpreservedbyundefiled
andinflexiblepowers,whileanotherlifeisdistributedanddividedabout
thepartsoftheuniverse.Platotherefore,deliversthefirsthypostasisof
theuniversefromfabrication,viz.anhypostasisaccordingtowholeness;
accordingtowhichitbecomesanimated,divine,andenduedwith

intellect,conformablytoasimilitudetoallperfectanimal.Butheadds
asecondhypostasis,whichdividestheworldaccordingtowholes,and
theproductionoftotalparts;soulandthecorporealformednature
*Tim.30b31b.
**
existingaccordingtothishypostasis.Forintellectisentirelyunbegotten,
aswehavesaid,becauseitiswithoutgenerationandindivisible;except
thatitproceedsinanunbegottenmanner,fromtheprovidenceofthe
Demiurgus.Buthecallsthenaturewhichreceivesintellect,the
evolution*itselfintolightofsoul.FortheDemiurgushimselfplaces
thecirclesofsoulinintellect,unfoldingitwithoutdivision,asbeing
impartible,andwithoutfigure,asbeingperfectlyunfigured.Andhe
deliversafterthis,thethirdhypostasisoftheuniverse,dividingit
accordingtoparts,andgivingperfectiontoeachoftheparts.Forhe
Fdeliverstous,howfireandair,waterandeartharegenerated.**Butin
thelastplace,hesurveystheenergyoffabricationwhichiseffectiveof
body;andneitherinthisdoeshedescendtoparticulars,+butabidesin
2,3thewholeelements.Forthetotalfabricationisthefabricationof
140Awholes,andoftotalparts.Buthedeliverstheformationofindividuals,
andofthingswhicharetrulypartial,tothejuniorGods;inorderthat
imitatingtheprovidenceoftheirfatheraboutwholes,theyalsomay
receiveasimilarfabricationaboutparticulars,andmayhavethatanalogy
tohimwhichhehastotheintelligibleparadigm.Forbeingintellectual
aswithreferencetothisparadigm,andhavingtheorderofintellect,as
withrelationtointelligibleintellect,hebecomeshimselfintelligibleto
themundaneGods.
Aswehavesaidtherefore,fabricationbeingtriple,thefirst,according
towholeness,thesecond,accordingtoadivisionintowholes,andthe
third,accordingtoadivisionintoparts,+Platonowintendstodeliver
tousthemiddleorsecondfabrication;havingindeedatransitionofthis
kindconsentaneousfromthingsthemselves;andhavingalsoan
opportuneprogressiontothisfromwhathadbeenbeforesaid.For
sincehehaddefinedtheworldtobeonevisibleanimal,comprehending
withinitallsuchthingsasarenaturallyalliedtoit;thattheworld
indeedisone,hedemonstratedfromtheonlynessoftheparadigm;0
Bbutthatitisvisible,andthatitiscomprehensiveofallkindrednatures,
isrenderedmanifesttousbythedivisionoftheuniverseintowholes.
tForeK(f>amvhere,readK<fxxvoiv.
tTim.31b;32b.
ForrotKaBeoTOt,readmmdeKaoTOt.
InotherwordsfabricationiseitherJovian,orDionysiacal,orAdonaical,aswas
beforeobservedbyProclus.

oTim.31a.
Forifwecandiscoverfromwhatcausetheworldisvisible,andhowall
theelementsarecoarrangedinit,andthroughwhatanalogies,weshall
easilyperceivethatitcomprehendsallkindrednatures,andthatthereis
nothingsensiblewhichisnotcontainedintheoneambitofheworld,
perceivingthishowever,weshallsufficientlyobtaintheobjectof
investigation.Forthiswas,howtheworldisvisible,andhowitis
comprehensiveofallthingswhicharenaturallyalliedtoit.Forfrom
whathasbeenbeforesaid,weassumethattheworldisalone;butfrom
thesethings,thatitisallperfect.
31b"Since,however,itisnecessarythatwhatisgeneratedofacorporeal
natureshouldbevisibleandtangible;butwithoutfirenothingcan
becomevisible,neithercananythingbetangiblewithoutacertainsolid,
norsolidwithoutearth;hencedivinitybeginningtofabricate,
constitutedthebodyoftheuniversefromfireandearth."
Platohavingalittlebeforegiventhedefinitionofthatwhichis
generated,*callingitthatwhichisbecomingtobe,andwhichis
perishable,hedefinedittobethatwhichistheobjectofopinionin
conjunctionwithsense.Butdemonstratingthattheworldisgenerated,
heconvertsthedefinition.Forhesaysthatsensiblesareseentobe
thingswhicharebecomingtobe,andaregenerated.*Butnow
transferringthatwhichisitselfgenerated,totheorderofasubject,he
predicatesofitthevisibleandtangible.Forthesearetheextremesof
sensibles,justasthesightandthetoucharetheextremesofthesenses.
Hencethere,asIhaveobservedinwhathesaysrespectingtheworld
beinggenerated,heconvertsthedefinition.Butherehegivesit
accordingtonature.Forthatwhichisbecomingtobewasintheorder
oftheindefinite.Butashesaidinthehypotheses,thatwhichisthe
objectofopinioninconjunctionwithsense,istobeassumedinthe
definition.Hesaystherefore,itisnecessarythatwhatisgenerated
shouldbesensible,notindeedeverygeneratednature,butthatwhichwe
beforecalledgenerated,viz.thecompositenature,andwhichisalways
becomingtobethroughthewholeoftime.Forsoulalsoisgenerated,
butthediscourseisnotaboutthis.Ifhowever,someoneshouldsay
thataccordingtoPlatomaterialformsandqualitiesthemselvesare
apprehendedbysense,andyetareincorporeal,andatthesametime
havegeneration,lethimknow,saysthedivineIamblichus,thatthese
tTim.28a.
$Tim.28c.
likewisecontributetothehypostasisofbodies,andaresurveyedin
Dconjunctionwiththem.Sincethereforetheworldhasacertain

corporealandlikewiseanincorporealportioninit,andthislatteris
twofold,onebeinginseparable,buttheotherseparatefrombody;since
2,5alsotheportionoftheincorporeal,whichisseparatefrombodyis
twofold,viz.psychicalandintellectual;andfurtherstill,sincetheworld
alsohastheunbegottenandthegenerated,butthewholeofeverything
whichconsistsoftheunbegottenandthegenerated,isgenerated,Plato
veryproperlycallsthewholeworldsomethinggeneratedandcorporealformed.
Forifawholeconsistsofthemortalandtheimmortal,the
wholeismortal;iffromtheunbegottenandthegenerated,thewholeis
generated;andiffromtheincorporealandthecorporeal,thewholehas
theformofacorporealnature.Forifindeed,theincorporealitselfis
copassivewithbody,itbecomesitselfcorporealformed,andnotthe
wholeonly.If,however,thatwhichisprincipallyandproperly
incorporeal,isitselfexemptandimpassive,beingraisedabovebody,this
moreexcellentnatureisnotindeedbody,sinceitremainsinitsown
purity,butthewholemaymorejustlybedenominatedcorporealformed.
EHence,sincetheworldparticipatesofmanyandblessed
prerogativesfromitsgenerator,butpartakesalsoofbody,*itis
deservedlycalledcorporealformed,visibleandtangible,accordingtothe
wholeofitself.Foritisgenerated.Butthatwhichisgeneratedis
visibleandtangibleandhasabody,aswasrightlyassertedbefore.*
Platobeginningthereforefrombody,inthefirstplace+givesittobe
sensibleaccordingtotheextremesenses.Inthenextplace,heimparts
toitthatwhichismoreperfectthanthis,viz.thebondthrough
analogy,whichisconnectiveofthebodiesitcontains.Inthethird
place,hemakesittobeawholeconsistingofthewholesofthe
elements.Afterwards,inthefourthplace,hegivesitasphericalfigure,
inorderthatitmaybemostsimilartoitselfaccordingtoform.Inthe
fifthplace,heshowsthattheworldsuffersallthingsinitself.Inthe
sixthplace,hedistributestoitanappropriatemotion.Afterwards,in
theseventhplace,heanimatesitthroughadivinesoul.Intheeighth
place,heimpartstoitatemporalperiod.Afterwards,intheninthplace,
tcf.Politkus269d.
%Tim.28b.
Thereferencestothefollowing10pointsfromtheTimaeusare:1stplace,31b;
next,31c;third,32c;fourth,33b;fifth,33cd;sixth,34a;seventh,34b;eighth,36e
37a;ninth,39d;tenth,39eff(&also265Dinfra,p.802).
heestablishestheseries*ofGodsinit,whoconjointlyproducethe
perfectyear.Andinthetenthplace,hemakesittobeperfectfromall
animalswhichareassimilatedtothefourideas[inanimalitself].And
thusthroughthedecadhegivescompletiontothewholefabricationof
Fthings.Theseparticularshoweverwillbeunfoldedasweproceed.
2.6Nowtherefore,weshallobserve,thatsincetheworldpossesses

interval,andisapprehendedbysense,itisknownthroughthesightand
touch;beingvisibleindeed,inconsequenceofbeingwhollyfilled
throughthewholeofitselfwithlight;butexistingtangiblein
consequenceofbeingasolid.Foritissufficientforittoreceive
throughthesesenses,allsensiblenatures.Thevisiblealso,andthe
tangibleconceivedasalwaysexistingintheworldinthefourelements,
arecontraries.Fortheseasbeingmostdistantfromeachotherand
141Aunderthesamegenus,arecontraries.Forbotharesensibles,andthisis
theircommongenus,andtheyaremostdistantfromeachother,since
theoneisimmediatelysensible,buttheotherisnotsensiblewithouta
medium.Ifhowever,weinvestigatedthecontrariesintheelementsso
farastheyaremutable,weshouldnotsaythattheyarefireandearth,
butfireandwater.Forwaterespeciallyextinguishesfire.Eachalsoof
theassertionsistrue.Foritiscommontobothtohavetheir
contrarietyconsistinbeingextremes.Andinthistheassertionsaccord,
asinsensiblesindeed,earthbeingcontrarytofire,butasinthingsofa
mutablenature,watertofire.HencealsoPlatoopposesthevisibletothe
tangible.Or,[itmaybesaid]thatheassumesthesensibleelements,as
notyetconsideringthemutationofthem,accordingtowhichwateris
morecontrarytofirethanearth.WhatPlatothereforeheresays,isnot
asTheophrastusthought,imperfect:forhedoubtsasfollows:Whydoes
Platosaythatthepeculiarityoffireisvisibility,andofearthtangibility,
Bbutdoesnotatallmentionthepeculiaritiesoftheotherelements?We
reply,itisbecauseweseetheworld,andalsotouchit,butwedonot
taste,orhear,orsmellit.Theworlditselfalsoisvisibleandtangibleto
itself.Andasbeingluciformindeed,itisvisible,perceivingitself
throughdivinelight,whichisextendedthroughallheaven,andis
similar,asSocratessaysintheRepublic,+totherainbow.Forthis
2.7divinelightisthatwhichisprimarilyvisible,5andpervadesthroughthe
tForiepahere,itisnecessarytoreadoeipa.
tRep.X,616b.
cf.SimpliciusOnAristotle'sPhysics,612,35ff.(PublishedasCorallariesonPlace
andTime,Duckworth1992.)
wholeworld.Forasthesphereofthesunisthesightofthesoulwhich
isinit,thusalsothesightofthesphere*isthatdivinelight,which
pervadesthroughallvisive*natures,andoperateson,andimpartslife
tothingsthatarevisible.Youmaylikewisesay,thatthisisthefirstand
mostprincipalsight,butnotthatwhichsubsistsinconjunctionwith
passion,andwhichisseparatedfromvisiblenatures.Butagain,the
worldasbeingsolidandfulloflife,haswhatiscalledacosensationof
itself.Forwealsohaveacosensationofthemotionsorpassionswhich
inwardlysubsistinus.Andthroughthisconsciousness,theworld
becomestangibletoitself.Themostpropersolutionhoweverofthe

doubt,isthatwhichsays,thatPlatoassumestheextremeelementsprior
Ctotheothers,becausethelattersubsistforthesakeoftheformer.And
heintendstoshowthattherestareconstitutedasthebondofthe
extremes.Oritmaybesaid,thatthroughtheextremeshealso
comprehendsthemedia.Forastheuniverseisdefinedthroughfireand
earth,andthemediawhicharecomprehendedinthese,thusalso
throughthevisibleandthetangiblehecomprehendsallthevarietyof
sensiblenatures.
Thishowever,heemploysasanaxiom.Foritisusualwithhimprior
toeachofthesubjectsofdiscussion,toassumeanaxiomfromwhichhe
demonstratesthethinginvestigated.Thusforinstanceheassumes
axiomaticallythesentence,5"Inhimwhoisgoodenvyisnever
ingeneratedaboutanything,"inorderthathemaydemonstratethatthe
Demiurgusimpartsgoodtoallthings.Andagain,inthiswayhe
assumesthewords,0"Itneitherwas,norwillbelawfulforthemost
excellentnaturetoeffectanythingelsethanthatwhichismostbeautiful;"
inordertoshowthattheuniverseisananimalenduedwithintellectand
animated.Thistoo,isthecasewiththewords,0"Thatwhichis
assimilatedtoanimperfectthingcanneverbecomebeautiful;"inorderthat
liemaysurveywhatthenatureoftheparadigmis,accordingtowhich
theDemiurgusconstitutedtheworld.Afterthesamemannertherefore
here,previouslyassumingasanaxiom,thatwhichisgeneratedisvisible
andtangible,hedemonstratesfromthis,howtheelementscontributeto
tFor^DX'JChere,itisnecessarytoread(H^atpac.
%Insteadofoparuvinthisplace,IreadopanKUV.
Tim.29e.
Tim.30a.
oTim.30c.
Dthecompositionoftheworld,andhowtheyarearrangedinthe
universe.Forifitisnecessarythattheworldshouldbevisibleand
tangible,fireandeartharenecessarytoit:*forthatwhichisprimarily
2,8visibleisfire.Inthefirstplace,indeed,becausevisiblenatures
themselvesareluminoussubstances:forallcoloursaretheprogenyoflight
Inthenextplace,becausethesightitselfislightproceedingfroman
etherialformedessence.Andinthethirdplace,becausesight,andthat
whichisvisible,requirethecongregatingpoweroflight,inorderto
theirexistenceinenergy.Forwhatelseisitthanlightthatcollectsboth
thesetogether?*Sothattheworldwillbeinwantoffire,inorderto
bevisible.Towhichalsomaybeadded,thatPythagorasinwhathesays
toAbaris,demonstratesthattheeyeisanalogoustofire.+Foritisthe
mostelevatedoftheinstrumentsofsense,justasfireisoftheelements,
andemploysaswellasfireacuteenergies.Theconicalemissionalsoof
itsrays,+hasnosmallsimilitudetothepyramidalformoffire.Plato

however,doesnotsaythatfirealoneisvisible:forthisisfalseina
twofoldrespect.Forfireitselfbyitself,unmingledwiththeother
elements,isbynomeans[externally]visible,butisonlyvisiblein
mentalconception.Andfartherstill,noneoftheotherelementswillbe
Evisibleiffirealoneisvisible.Itisonethingtherefore,tobevisible
throughfire,andtogetherwithfire,andanotherforfireitselftobethe
onlythingvisible.Hence,hedoesnotassertthelatter,whichmaybe
confutedinatwofoldrespect,buttheformer,becausenothingisvisible
separatedfromfire;fromwhichalsoyoumayassume,thatallbodies
participateoffire.Butindifferentbodiesthereisadifferentfire.For
light,flame,andaburningcoal,arenotthesamething.0Butfromon
highthereisadiminutionasfarastotheearthoffirewhichproceedsfrom
amoreimmaterial,pureandincorporealnatureasfarastothemost
materialandgrossbodies.Fortherearestreamsoffireundertheearth,
asEmpedoclessomewheresays;
Beneaththeearthburnnum'rousfierystreams.
Fr.52d
tcfAristotleDeAnimaII,7,419a8;&PlotinusEnneadIV,5,6.
tcf.Rep.VI,507de.
cf.Phaedrus250d.
cf.AristotleProblemsXV,6,911b5;andTim.56b.
ocf.AristotleTopicsV,134b29ff.

2.9Noroughtwetowonderhowfire,thoughinwater,isnot
extinguished.*Forallthingsproceedthrougheachother,andthat
whichpredominatesisdifferentindifferentthings.Lightalsoisfire
pervadingthroughallthings.Numeniustherefore,*beingofopinion
thatallthingsaremingled,thoughtthatnothingissimple.ButPlato
knewthemixtureofthings,andseparatelydeliveredthenatureofeach,
fashioningtheelementsfromfigures.
Perhapshowever,thewonderfulAristotlewillobjecttowhatissaid,5
Fnotadmittingthateverythingvisibleissuchthroughtheparticipation
offire;becausethechoirofthestars,andthegreatsunitself,though
theydonotconsistoffire,yetatthesametimearevisible.Butifsome
oneshouldsaytohim,thatwithrespecttofire,onekindismaterial,
butanotherimmaterial,aswithreferencetosublunaryfirewhichis
material;thatonekindiscorruptible,butanotherincorruptible;that
oneismingledwithair,butanotherispure;andinshort,thatthereare
manyspeciesoffire,perhapshewillassenttotheassertion,andalsoto
thetheologists+whocallthesunafirewhichisthechanneloffire,andthe
dispensatoroffire,andallsuchlikeappellations.Fortowhatelsecanhe

142Aascribevisibility,thantothatwhichisgenerativeoflight?0Butwhat
exceptfireisathingofthiskind?Forearth**iseffectiveofthatwhich
isentirelycontrarytolight:foritisthecauseofdarkness.Andthat
whichismoreterrestrialparticipatesinalessdegreeoflight;butairand
waterarediaphanous,andarenotofthemselvesvisible.Henceeachof
theseisamediumbetweenthatwhichisprimarilyvisible,andthat
whichobumbratesvisiblenatures;eachbeingthecauseofvisibilityto
otherthings,butnottoitself,sofaraseachoftheseisdiaphanous,but
otherthingsaretransparentthroughthese.Itremainstherefore,thatfire
aloneilluminatesthethingswithwhichitispresent,andmakesthemto
bevisible.
Ifhowever,someoneshouldsay,thatthecelestialelementwhichis
2.10visibleandilluminative,isnotfire,weaskhim,whencedoesthefire
tProd.Comm.Rep.I,202,10.
tFr.40,Thed.
cf.AristotleMeteoricsl,3,341a35ff.
viz.TheChaldeanTheurgists.SeemycollectionoftheChaldeanOracles[fr.
GO,TTSvolVH,p.40;&Empedoclesfr.35].
ocf.Parmenidej^r.8,56ff,K,R&S.
ftInsteadofTT;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadyrj.
whichishere,becomesuchasitis?Forifeachoftheseisgenerativeof
sensiblelight,whymaynoteachofthembefire,thoughtheoneis
immaterial,buttheothermaterial?When,however,Isaythattheone
isimmaterial,Imeanaswasbeforeobserved,*thatitissowhen
comparedwiththegrossest*matter,whichisnotabletosustainforms,
soastopreventthemfromglidingaway,andwhichisdistinguished
Bfromthematterthatinvariablyremainsinitsownproperform.Forwe
learnthatmatterpervadesthroughthewholeworld,astheGodsalso
say.5HencePlato,asheproceeds,callsmatterthereceptacleofthe
universe.0Suchtherefore,asarethekindsoflight,suchalsoarethe
kindsoffire;andanalogyshowsthatthelightwhichisfromthecelestial
elementisfromfire.Hence,itmustbesaid,thatPlatodoesnot
characterizefirebyheat,norbybeing,movedupward;forthesethings
arethepeculiaritiesofthefirewhichishere,andwhichisnotinits
properplace;butthathecharacterizesitbyvisibility.Forthroughthis
hecomprehendsallfire,thedivine,themortal,thecaustic,andthe
vehement.
Fartherstill,thesamethingsmustlikewisebesaidconcerningearth,
thatearthisthatwhichisprimarilysolid.Foritmustnotbesaidthat
earthderivesitssolidityfromsomeotherplace;butinsensibles,that
whichisespeciallysolid,hasthispeculiarity,priortosuchthingsasate
lesssolid;sincealsothatwhichisespeciallyhot,ishotpriortothings
whichhavelessheat,andfromthisthingswhichhavelessheat,

participateofthisquality.Iftherefore,earthismoresolidthanthe
otherelements,butthatwhichismostsolidisthecauseofthingswhich
Carelesssolidbeingsolid,andthingswhicharelesssucharenotthe
causesofsoliditytothosewhichespeciallyandparticularlyhavethis
power;ifthisbethecase,itisnecessarythatearthshouldbethecause
ofsoliditytotheotherelements,havingitselfasubsistencecontraryto
fire.Andifindeed,weassumethingswhichareapparenttooursenses,
2,11viz.heavenasfiery,andtheearthonwhichwewalk,asespeciallyearth,
thecontrarietyofthesewillbemanifest,theformerbeingalwaysin
motion,butthelatterbeingimmoveable;theformerbeing
t14IEsupra,p.427.
XForTaxvTaTqvhere,itisnecessarytoreadirctxvTOtTi)v.
Chald.Oracl.fr.34.
Tim.49a;51a.
ocf.AristotleSententiae.
transcendentlyvisible,butthelattertangible;andtheonebeingmost
attenuatedthroughlight,buttheothermostgrossthroughdarkness.
Butifwewishtosurveythefirstelementsofthese,viz.fireitselfsofar
asfire,andearthitself,sofarasearth,weshallshortlyafterunfoldall
theoppositionstothese,whenwediscusstheanalogyofthefour
elements.*Thatvisibilitytherefore,isthepeculiarityoffire,and
tangibilityofearth,wemayfromthesethingsassumetobemosttrue.
HencePorphyrysays,thatofdaemonssome,beingvisible,haveintheir
compositionmoreofafiery,inconsequenceofnothavinganythingof
Daresistingnature.Butothers,participatingalsoofearth,arecapableof
beingtouched.Headds,thatsuchastheseappearingnearItalyabout
theTuscans,notonlyemitseedfromwhichwormsaregenerated,but
alsostrikeagainstotherthings,andleavebehindthemashes;fromwhich
likewiseheshowsthatallthingsparticipateofearth.Thereisnot,
however,thesamenatureofeartheverywhere,andinallpartsofthe
world,butinsomeplacesitismorepureandimmaterial,andwithout
gravity.Fornotgravity,buttangibility,isthepeculiarityofearth.But
inotherplaces,itismorematerial,andheavy,andismovedwith
difficulty.Insomeplaceslikewise,itexhibitssolidityalone;butin
others,itreceivesothergenesiurgicandmaterialpowers,afterthesame
mannerasfire.
Ifhowever,thesethingsbeingassertedbyus,Aristotleshoulddoubt,*
howiffireisintheheavensitismovedcircularly,andnotinaright
line,wemustadduceinanswertohim,whatPlotinussays,+thatevery
simplebody,wheninitsproperplace,eitherremainsimmoveable,oris
movedinacircle,inorderthatitmaybynomeans0relinquishitsproper
place.Forifitismovedinadifferentmanner,itwilleithernolongerbe

initsownplace,orwillnotyetbeinit.Acelestialbodytherefore,being
Efiery,isnecessarilymovedinacircle.Forearthalso,ifitweremoved
2,12withoutleavingtheplaceaboutthemiddle,wouldbemovedinacircle.
Forwhenfireismovedtotheupperregionitissomovedin
consequenceofbeinginaforeignplace.Forthesamereasonlikewise,
aclodofearthismoveddownward;andinshort,thelocalmotionsofthe
elementsinarightline,areoccasionedbytheirbeingpreternaturally
disposed;sothatitisfalsetosaythatfireisnaturallymovedinaright

tcf.144Cff.infra,p.435.
Xcf.AristotleDeMundoIV,3,310bl6;andMeteoricsl,4,341bl3,ff.
PlotinusEnneadH,2,1;andalso274CDinfra,p.827.
Insteadofirajtrjbeuc,inthisplace,Ireadiva/*ij6a/iuc.
line.Foritthenespeciallysubsistsaccordingtonaturewhenitpossesses
itsproperplace.Butwhenittendstoitsproperplace,itisnotyetin
aconditionconformabletonature.Thishoweverbeingdemonstrated,
itisevidentthatthecelestialfirewhenitismoved,ismovedinacircle;
andnothingthathasbeensaiddisturbsthePlatonicassertion.Foriffire
ismovedinarightline,*itisnotyetinitsnaturalplace.Butifitisin
itsnaturalplace,itwilleitherbeimmoveable,ormovedinacircle.It
isimpossiblehowever,thatitshouldbeimmoveable:forallfireis
naturallymoveable.Initsnaturalplacetherefore,itisalonemovedin
acircle.Butletusreturntothethingproposedtobediscussed.
Ifthereforetheuniverseisgenerated,itisnecessarythatitshouldbe
Fsensible.Butifsensible,itisvisibleandtangible.Andifso,itconsists
offireandearth.Butifthisbeadmitted,italsoconsistsofthemiddle
elements.Forfireandearthareasmuchdisjoinedfromeachotheras
thesightandthetouch,andrequiretheotherelementsasconnecting
media.Ifhowever,theworldisvisible,itisnecessarythereshouldbe
fire;andiftangible,itisnecessarythereshouldbeearth.Forthatwhich
issolidistangible,andisalsoabletoresistthetouch;sincethatwhich
isfriable,andcannotsustainthetouch,isbynomeanstangible.*
HencePythagorascallstheearththesustainer,asbeingsolid,and
resistingthetouch,andasmovedwithdifficulty,andparticipatingof
stablepower.Iftherefore,aswehavesaid,fireisrequisiteinorderthat
143Atheworldmaybevisible,butearth,thatitmaybetangible,divinity
beginningfromfireandearth,madetheuniverse.Notthathefirst
madethese;forwehavealreadyrejectedthegenerationwhichis
accordingtotime;butsinceeveryphysiologycommencesfron
contraries,onthisaccountPlatosaysthatthecompositionofthe
2.13universeoriginatedfromfireandearth,inorderthatitmightbecome
visiblethroughfire,andtangiblethroughthesolidityofearth,which
withgreataccuracyhecallsacertainsolid.Foraphysicalsolidisone

thing,butamathematicalsolidanother.Andthelatterisintangible,but
theother,whichthediscussionnowrequires,istangible.+Forthat
solidistangible,whichisphysical.Hencethoseareabsurdwhodoubt
whyearthaloneissolid:for,saythey,waterandairarealsosolids.For
itmaybesaid,inanswertothem,thatresistanceespeciallypertainsto
earth;sinceitisthesupportandfoundationoftheotherelements.For
tThewordseir'evdetaq,areomittedintheoriginal.
Xcf.AristotleDeAnimaII,8,420a7ff.
cf.AristotlePhysicsII,1,193bl8ff.
earthsupportswater,andbothearthandwatersupportair.Earth
therefore,isthefirsttangible,andthefirstresistingsubstance,andonthis
accountisthefirstsolid.Weshallomithowevertonoticethosewhosay
BthatPlatoherecallsthethreeelementsafterfire,earth.Forifthiswere
admitted,itwouldnotbepossibletoassignwhatisthemediumofearth
andfire.
31bc"Itisimpossiblehowever,fortwothingsalonetocohereinabeautiful
manner,withouttheinterventionofacertainthird;foracertain
collectivebondisnecessaryinthemiddleofthetwo.Butthatisthe
mostbeautifulofbonds,whichcausesitselfandthenatureswhichare
bound,tobeone."
Inwhatisheresaid,abondisassumedasaffordinganimageofdivine
union,andthecommunionofpowers,accordingtowhichthe
intellectualcausesofwholeseffecttheirgenerations.Butbeautyappears
tobeassumed,ashavinganunitingandbindingessenceandpower.For
thewords,"tocohereinabeautifulmanner,andthemostbeautifulof
bonds,"appeartometobesignificantofthis.Beginningthereforefrom
theduad,asalliedtogeneration,progressionanddifference,Plato
2,14introducesuniontotheparticipantsofit,andanharmonious
communionthroughabond,impartingtotheworldthisasthesecond
giftfromtheDemiurgus.Weshallhoweverhereavoidtheintroduction
ofsuchdoubtsasareadducedbythosewhodonotrightlyunderstand
CwhatissaidbyPlato.Forneitherdothosewhosaythatsemicircles
requirenobondinordertothegenerationofacircle,speakrightly;for
acircledoesnotconsistofsemicircles,butonthecontrary,thecircle
nowexisting,andnotsubsistingfromthese,thediameterbeingdrawn
makesthesemicircles.Andthisisevidentfromthenameaffordinga
generationtothesefromthecircle,butnotviceversa.Nordothose
speakrightlywhoassumethemonadandtheduad,whichinacertain
respectareopposites,andhavenomedium.ForPlatodoesnot
absolutelysay,thatthereissomethingbetweenallthings,inwhatever
mannertheymayexist,whichgivesperfectiontothehypostasisofone

composite.Forhesays,thattwothingsalonecannotbeautifullycohere
withoutathird.Butthemonadandtheduadarenotcontraries,since
theduadconsistsofmonads.Noragain,isthereanyrectitudeinthe
assertionsofthosewhointroducethingsthatarecorruptedtogether,as
forinstance,winemingledwithhoney.Forthesenolongerexistwhen
themixturetakesplace.Wehowever,donotinvestigatehowthingsare
corrupted;forthisisnotwonderful;buthowremainingwhattheyare,
theyarecoharmonizedwitheachother.Forthisbond*isthecauseof
safetytothethingsthatarebound,butnotoftheircommoncorruption
Dandabolition.Nordothosespeakrightlywhoadduceasawitnessthe
communionofmanandwoman,whichrequiresnothirdthingtoits
subsistence.Forthroughignorancetheydonotperceivethegreatest
bond,thatoflove,whichexcitestocommunion,inonewayindeed,to
acommunionofthepsychicallife,andinanothertothatofthephysical
life.Forthebondthroughanimationisthemediuminthese.*Norare
theyrightwhoadducethingswhicharemeltedtogether,asgoldand
silver.+Forofthesethereisthesameessence;sincebotharewater.All
thesetherefore,wanderfromtheconceptionofPlato.
2,15Wehowever,againsay,conformablytowhathasbeenbeforeobserved,
thatitisnecessarythesetwothingsshouldbeassumed,inthefirstplace,
inordertothecompositionofonething,andinthenextplace,inorder
thattheircoalitionmaynotbecorrupted.Fortheywouldnolongerbe
bound,butwouldceasetoexist.Inthethirdplace,also,itisnecessary
thattheyshouldtrulybetheelementsofthatwhichconsistsofthem.
Forhavingtheseconditions,theywillentirelybeinwantofacertain
thirdthingintheircolligation.Forwhat,sincetheyareseparate,
divided,andmostdistantfromeachother,willcollectthemintoone?
EForifnothingaccedestothem,theywillremaindivided,andwill
subsistafterthesamemannerasbefore.Butifsomethingaccedesto
thembesideswhattheyalreadyare,thisthingwhichaccedeswill
becometheirbond.Foritwasthiswhichcollectedthemintothe
compositionofonething.Abond,however,issaidtobesoina
threefoldrespect.Foronebondisthatwhichpreexistsinthecauseof
thethingsthatcoalesce.Butanotheristhatwhichisinherentinthe
thingsthemselvesthatarebound,andwhichiscoordinateto,and
connascentwiththem.Andathirdisthatwhichexistsinthemiddle
ofthese,proceedingindeedfromthecause,butpresentingitselftothe
view+inthethingsthataremutuallybound.Ifyouarewillingalso,
onebondofananimal,andofthepartsinit,istheonereasonwhich
ispreestablishedinthecauseitselfoftheanimal.Butthenervesand
thefibresareanotherbond,connectingthepartsoftheanimal.And
anotherbondisthephysicalreasonorproductiveandformingpower,
tForovyapdeofioc,OUTOC,itisnecessarytoreadoyapdeafioqOUTOC.
%Tim.38e.

cf.AristotleMeteoricsIV,10,389a7ff.
DForeixjxuvofievoc,inthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadein^>aivop.tvo(.'.
whichproceedsfromthecauseoftheanimal,andemploysthenerves,
andallthematerialorganicbondsforthecolligationoftheanimal.For
thisbondisneitherexemptfromthethingsthatarebound,noryet
lankingamongthingswhicharewithouteffectivepower,isitdestitute
ofthetruecause.Youmustnottherefore,understandthebondwhich
isnowmentionedbyPlato,accordingtothefirstmode;forthisisnot
Fattendedwithcause;butcauseisentirelyexemptfromthethingswhich
proceedfromit,sofarasitiscause.ButPlatosays,thatthebondisin
ihemiddleofthethingsthatarebound.That,however,whichisinthe
middleofcertainthings,isnotseparatedfromthem.Nordoesthis
bondsubsistaccordingtotheorganicandlastkindofbond.Forthe
bondwhichisconformabletothis,isnotthelordofitselfnorofits
ownproperunion.Platohoweveradds,thatthebondofwhichheis
2,16speaking,makesbothitselfandthethingswhichareboundtobeone.
Foritispossibleforthistobearrangedinthemiddle.Butitpossesses
144Asuchapowerasthisthroughanalogy,whichisthemostbeautifulbond,
andwhichimpartstoitapowerthatcausesallthingstohavesameness
andunion.Thisbondtherefore,isinseparablefromthethingsthatare
bound,andisanalogy,whichisdifferentfromallthenaturesthatare
bound,buthasasubsistenceinthem.Thedemiurgicwilllikewise,isa
bond,butisexemptfromthethingsthatitbinds;"Mywill,saysthe
Demiurgus,beingagreaterandmoreprincipalbondthanthosewithwhich
youwereboundatthecommencementofyourgeneration."*Itremains
therefore,thatwemustunderstandthebondherementioned,according
tothemiddlemode,andashavingamiddleform,soastobeneither
effectivenororganic.
Whencethenistheconceptionofsuchabondderived,andofwhatis
itthesymbol?Itproceedsindeedfromtheonecauseofwholes.For
thepowerofimpartingunionispresenttoallthings,fromthatfountain
ofallunion,throughwhichalsointellectisconjoinedtotheintelligible,
sindwhichproducesthelightoftruth,orthefirstofbonds,through
whichallthingsareconnectedwitheachother,andbecomeperfectly
Bonethingthroughsimilitude.Itisthroughthislikewise,thatthings
whichhaveproceededfromtheirproperprinciplesareconvertedto
them.Butthisbondalsoproceedsfromtheonebeing,whichisthefirst
ofbeings,andwhichunitedlycomprehendsthecausesofallthings,
accordingtothebondanddivineunioncontainedinit.Itlikewise
proceedsfromallperfectanimal.Foreveryintelligibleanimalisbya
fTim.41b;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,9,5ff.
muchgreaterpriorityunitedtoitself,thanasensible*animal;andthe

causesofwholeswhichitcontains,pervadethrougheachotherprior*
toanalogy;whichanalogyimitating,makesallthingstobeinall,and
impartsthesamepowerstodifferentthings.Italsoproceedsfromthe
connectedlycontainingcause.5Foranalogyinsertsconnexion,causing
2,17thenatureswhichareboundbyit,asPlatosays,tobeindissolubleby
everythingexceptbyhimwhobindsthem.+Hencethisbond
proceedingfromthesecauses,isconnective,isthecauseofthe
communion,andoneunionofseparatednatures,andisthesupplierof
harmony,andoftheconspirationhasteningtounityofdifferentthings;
inorderthatitmaybesimilartothecausesfromwhichiswasderived.
CThesethings,however,beingthusdividedanddefined,letusreturnto
thethingproposedtobeconsidered.Forsinceitisnecessarythatthe
worldbeinggeneratedshouldbevisibleandtangible,itwillbeinwant
offireandearth.Offire,indeed,becauseitisvisible.Forvision0is
ofanetherialnature,onwhichaccountalsoitemitsrays;andthat
whichcollectsbothsight,andthatwhichisvisible,islight.Butalllight
isfromfire;foritisnotfromearth,whichproducesdarkness.**Aswe
havebeforeobserved,**however,therearemanykindsoffire.Because
likewise,theworldistangible,itisinwantofearth.Forearthisthat
whichisespeciallysolid:foritismorestable,andmoreofaresisting
naturethantheotherelements.Butthatwhichisespeciallysolidis
especiallytangible.Foritinagreaterdegreesustainsresistance,than
thatwhichisnotsolid.Henceearthisespeciallytangible.Letit
thereforebeadmitted,thatthereareprimarilythesetwoelementsinthe
universe,andthattheyarecontrarytoeachother;fireindeed,being
analogoustoform,tothemasculinenature,andtothingsofthiskind;
butearth,beingcoordinatetothefemalenature,andtomatter.Hence,
ofthese,whicharethisoppositelydivided,intheiressences,powers,and
energies,inthesensesbywhichtheyareperceived,andintheplacesof
tFor7)TOvoyTOVhere,itisevidentlynecessarytoreadi)TOaia07]TOV.
$Forirpoqava\ayiac.inthisplace,readwpoavaXoyixxi;.
ie.FromthemiddletriadoftheorderofGodscalled
intelligibleandatthesametimeintellectual.
Tim.32c.
ForTOopcovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOopqv.
ftcf.Parmenidesfr.8,K,R&S.
f4141Esupra,p.427.
theirabode,therewillnotbeoneorder,noroneworld,unlessabond
accedestothem,andcommunionwitheachother.Foritisimpossible
fortwothingstocohereinabeautifulmannerwithouttheintervention
Dofacertainthird.AndPlatoindeedadducesanuniversalassertionby
saying,"acertainorsomethirdthing."Butifyouaddthewords,"which
areentirelycontrary,"[immediatelyafterthewords,"fortwothingsalone"]

youwillrenderwhatissaidincontrovertible,andmoreacknowledged.For
itisimpossiblefortwothingswhicharemostcontrarytoconcurinto
onecompositionwitheachother,withouttheinterventionofathird.
Foreithertheycollectthemselves,ortheyarecongregatedbyanother
2.18thing.Being,however,contrary,andmostdistantfromeachother,and
secretlyflyingfromeachother,throughthefearoflosingtheirown
essence,theycannotbringthemselvestogether.Hencetheyare
congregatedbysomethingelse.Butthisisabond;sothattheyarein
wantofacertainthirdthing.Theuniverse,therefore,proceedsfromthe
duadtothetriad.Foritbeganindeedfromtheduad,becauseall
generationsubsistsinawayadaptedtothisprinciple.Fordifference,
theinfinite,andtheEmpedocleantstrife[asbeingalliedtotheduad]are
adaptedtogeneratedthings.Buttheuniverseproceedsasfarastothe
triad,throughthebondwhichisnowmentioned.Again,therefore,a
certainmediummustbeassumedbetweenearthandfire,whichis
collectiveofboth.Andletthisforthesakeofanexamplebemoisture,
whichiscommontoairandwater.Forthis*isconnectiveindeedofearth,
Econglutinatesit,andholdsittogether,sothatitmaynotbedispersed;+but
beingasasubjecttofire,itimpartstoitnourishmentandpermanency.0
Fromthistriad,however,thetetradwillshortlyafterbeunfolded,
becausethenatureswhichareboundtogetheraresolids.Henceitis
rightlysaid,thatabondimpartsbeauty,andanharmoniouscommunion
andunion.Butwhatthisbondis,andhowitisinherentinthethings
thatarebound,Platoshowsthroughthefollowingwords.
31c"This,however,analogyisnaturallyadaptedtoeffectinthemost
beautifulmanner."
tcf.Empedoclesfr.17,19d,K,R&S.
%ForTOVyap,readTOVTOyap.
cf.Tim.43a.
cf.AristotleMagnaMoraliaII,11,1210al7ff;&ProblemsHI,5,871bl2,and26,
)!75al4.
Itmustbesaid,therefore,thatthisanalogyisthebondwhichisnow
investigated;butthatthemiddleormedia,areafteracertainmanner
bonds.Foranalogyisinthosethingswhichhavethesameratio,andis
naturallyadaptedtobinditselfintheconjunctionwiththem;them
indeed,throughratios;butitself,throughpreservingthesameformin
thingsnumericallydifferent,andcontinuingtobeoneinmultitude.For
ithasthisfromitself,andaccordingtoitsownreason,andthis
consentaneously.Foranalogyproceedsfromequality.Butequalityis
2,19ofthecoordinationofunity.*Forasthemonadisthefountainand
Frootofquantityconsideredbyitself;*soisequalityofallrelative
quantity,havingtheorderofamonad,toallhabitudes.Forthatwe

mayomitothermiddlesormedia,whichmorerecentphilosophershave
added,ImeanNicomachus,5Moderatus,&c.,+weshallconfine
ourselvestothethreemediafromwhichPlatoconstitutesthesoul,
arithmetically,geometrically,andharmonically.
Itmaybeseen,however,howallthesemiddlesaregeneratedfrom
equality,bythefollowingmethod.Thearithmeticmiddle,indeed,after
145Athismanner:Makethefirstnumberequaltothefirst;thesecondtothe
firstandthesecond;andthethirdtothefirst,second,andthird.Three
monadsthereforebeingproposed,therewillbeproducedaccordingto
thismethodthreeterms,viz.1.2.3.preservinganarithmeticmiddle.
Forthismiddleconsistsinequallysurpassingaccordingtonumber,and
beingequallysurpassed.0Butthegeometricalmiddleisproducedas
follows:Makethefirstequaltothefirst;thesecond,tothefirstand
second;andthethirdtothefirst,totwicethesecondandthethird.For
again,therebeingthreemonads,therewillthusbegeneratedthethree
terms1.2.4.formingthegeometricmiddle.Forthepeculiarityof
analogyconsistsinpreservingthesameratioingreaterandlesser
terms.**Andtheharmonicmiddle,whichhasthethirdorder,is
generatedinthefollowingmanner:Threemonadsbeingproposedmake
tcf.AristotleNicomancheanEthicsV,6,1131a31ff.
tcf.AristotleTopicsI,18,108b26.
cf.TheonofSmyria,Arith.p.106.
Foranaccountofthesemedia,seemyTheoreticArithmetic.
oIntheoriginal,bysomenegligenceofthetranscribers,afterurco5eVKepexonev^,
beingequallysurpassed,thewordsKara(pvoivUVTOQO(pikoaotfxx;,immediately
follow,
whichareobviouslytotallyforeigntothisplace.
ftcf.Tim.32a.
thefirstequaltothefirst,andtotwicethesecond;thesecondtotwice
thefirst,andtwicethesecond;andthethirdtothefirst,totwicethe
Bsecond,andthricethethird.Forbythismethodthethreeterms3.4.
and6.willbeproduced,formingtheharmonicmiddle.Forthe
harmonicmiddle,accordingtothePlatonicdefinitionitself,*consistsin
surpassingandbeingsurpassedbythesamepartoftheextremes.*All
2.20themiddlestherefore,havetheirgenerationfromequality.Butifthis
bethecase,theyhavetheuniform,andapowerwhichcollectsthings,
andcausesthemtobeone.Forequalityisanalogoustosameness,tothe
monad,toboundandtosimilitude,throughwhichcommunionis
producedinbeings.HencePlatoappropriatelyaddsthewords,
"naturallyadapted,"becausetheanalogiesandallthemiddleshavethe
spontaneous.Fortheyneitherintroduceanartificial,noranadscititious
bond,butpresentthemselvestotheviewintheessencesandpowers
themselvesofthings.

32a"Forwheneitherinthreenumbers,ormasses,orpowers,asisthe
middletothefirstsoisthelasttothemiddle;andagain,asisthelastto
themiddle,soisthemiddletothefirst;thenthemiddlebecoming
Cbothfirstandlast,andthelastandthefirstbecomingbothofthem
middles,itwillthushappenthatallofthemwillnecessarilybethesame.
Butbecomingthesamewitheachother,theywillbeone."
Inthefirstplace,itisrequisitetoexplainwhatisheresaid
mathematically;andinthenextplace,physically,asbeingthatwhichis
especiallyproposedtobeeffected.Foritisnotpropertoseparatethe
discussionfromitsappropriatetheory.Therearethereforesomewho
thinkthatPlatointhesewordsdefinesthegeometricmiddle,andamong
otherthingswhichtheyassert,theysaythatthegeometricmiddleis
properlyexclusiveofalltheothersanalogy;butthattheothersmaybe
justlycalledmiddles.Nicomachusalsoisofthisopinion,andhespeaks
rightly.Forgeometricproportionisproperlyanalogy;butitisrequisiteto
calltheothersmiddle,asPlatoalsosays*furtheroninthegenerationofthe
soul.Buttheothersareimproperly0calledanalogies.Toothers,
however,theseappearnottohaveapprehendedthemeaningofPlato
fcf.Tim.36a.
%Thus3issurpassedby4,by1whichisathirdpartof3,and6surpasses4by2
whichisathirdpartof6.
Tim.36a.
ForKUTaxpuLievoihere,IreadKaraxpilonKUSc,.
2.21properly.Fortheysaythatitisnotdefinitelyassertedinthesewords,
thatthereoughttobethesameratio;butthusmuchonlyissaid,that
itisnecessarythereshouldbesuchahabitudeofthelasttothemiddle
asthereisofthemiddletothefirst.Butthisiscommontoallthe
Dbeforementionedmiddles.Forasthemonadistotheduad,according
tothearithmeticalmiddle,andtheequalinquantity,soistheduadto
thetriad.Forbyasmuchastheduadissurpassedbythetriad,byso
muchisthetriadlessthanthetetrad.Andasthemonadistotheduad,
accordingtothegeometricmiddle,soistheduadtothetetrad.Forthe
ratioisthesame.Andasthetriadistothetetrad,accordingtothe
harmonicmiddle,andthepartofthetriadbywhichthetetradsurpasses
it,soisthetetradtothehexad.Forbythatpartofthetriadbywhich
thetriadisexceededbythetetrad,bythesamepartofthehexadisthe
tetradsurpassedbythehexad.Such,therefore,istheiropinion,though
Platoclearlyassumesthegeometricmiddle.Foritisthepeculiarityof
thisproportion,thatthefirsthasthesameratiotothemiddlethatthe
middlehastothethirdterm.As,however,therearethreemiddles,the
arithmetic,thegeometric,andtheharmonic,andthesebeingsuchaswe

haveshownthemtobe,Platoveryproperlyassumesthesethree
Esubjects,numbers,masses,andpowers.Forthearithmeticalmiddleisin
numbers;thegeometricalisinagreaterdegreeconversantwith
continued[thanwithdiscrete]quantity;andtheharmonicalmiddleisin
powers.Foritisconversantwithsharpandflatsounds.Andafterthis
manneryoumayspeak,distinguishingthemiddlesaccordingtotheir
predominance.
Allofthem,however,maybeassumedinnumbers,inmasses,andin
powers.Andhow,indeed,theymaybeassumedinnumbersisevident;
forithasbeenshownbyus.Buttheymayalsobeassumedinmasses.
Forthreeequalmagnitudesbeingproposed,youmaybeable,byusing
thebeforementionedthreemethods,todeviseothermagnitudes,atone
timeproducinganarithmetic,atanotherageometric,andatanotheran
harmonicmiddle.Inpowerslikewiseafterthesamemanner.Forlet
therebethreeequalpowers,asforinstance,threehighesthypatae
2.22(virccTOti)sounds,allofthemhomotonous,orofthesametone.You
willproducethereforefromthese,thearithmeticalmiddle,ifyouplace
thefirstsound,thatishypate,equaltothefirst;butthesecond,tothe
firstandsecond,asforinstance,anothersoundemittingasoundthe
doubleofthefirst.Andletitbeneteorthelastsound,whichhasa
doubleratiotohypate.Butthethirdsoundmustbeplacedequaltothe
first,second,andthird.Foritwillbeasoundwhichwillhaveatriple
ratiotohypate,surpassingnetebyasmuchasnetesurpasseshypate.And
Fthesethreesounds,hypate,nete,tritehyperbolaeon,willarithmetically
differfromeachother.Butyouwillmakethegeometricalmiddle,ifthe
hypatebeingposited,youmakethefirstequaltothefirst,butthesecond
equaltothefirstandsecondhypate.Andletthissoundbemese:forthis
iscapableofemittingasoundthedoubleofhypate.Butifyoumakethe
thirdsoundequaltothefirsthypate,andtotwicethesecond,andthe
third,youwillhaveacertainchordwhichwillsoundnetehyperholxon.
Forthiswillbecapableofproducingasoundthedoubleofmese,and
thetripleofhypate.Thesethreesoundslikewisewillformthegeometric
146Amiddle.Allthemiddles,therefore,areseentoexistinnumbers,in
masses,andinpowers.Number,however,ismoreadaptedtothe
arithmetical,bulktothegeometrical,andpowertotheharmonic
middle.AndhencePlatousesthesethree,viz.numbers,masses,and
powers.
Itiswell,likewise,thatassigningcertaincommonratios,he
commencesfromthemiddle.Foritisthisthroughwhichallanalogy
consists,collectingtheextremesaccordingtoratio,fromonepowerto
theother.Foranalogyisthatwhichisprincipallyandproperlyabond.
Butitisabondasthatthroughwhich,andthemiddle.Forthroughthe
middleanalogybindstheextremes.Fromthis,therefore,hecommences
asmostalliedtothenatureofanalogy,andbecausehabitudereceivesits
completionthroughit.Hence,also,theyarecalledmiddles,andbecause

2,23samenessistheendofallthisanalogy.Forsincetheyproceedfrom
Bequality,butequalityissameness,itconvertsallthingstosameness.
Sameness,however,maybeproperlyandprincipallyassertedofthe
geometricmiddle,forthereisthesameratio;butequalityofthe
arithmetic;andsimilitudeoftheharmonicmiddle.Andinthethird
place,theascentisthroughsamenesstounion.Foranalogyindeedis
suspendedfromequality,*beingahabitudeingeneratedinthe
boundariesofequality.Butequalityissuspendedfromsameness,and
samenessfromunion.
Itisnecessary,however,afterthemathematicalresumptionofthese
words,todirectourattentiontothephysicaltheory.Foritisnotfit
thatthosewhoapplythemselvestothisdiscussion,shoulddwellon
mathematicalspeculations;forthedialogueisphysical;northatthey
shouldneglectsuchspeculations,investigatingonlywhatrelatestosense;
butitisrequisitetoconjoinboth,andalwaysconnectphysicswith
mathematics;justasthethingsthemselvesareconnected,are
fInsteadofefrjpTijratyapi)p.eve/cTJJC.avaXoytaq,itisrequisitetoreadinthis
place,eir\pr<)Taiyap77fievavaXoyiaenTIJCioori)Tog.
homogeneous,andofakindrednature,accordingtotheprogression
fromintellect.For,inshort,ifthePythagoreans*arrangedthe
mathematicalessenceasamediumbetweenintelligiblesandsensibles,as
beingmoreevolvedthanintelligibles,butmoreuniversalthan
Csensibles,*whyisitrequisite,omittingmathematics,topayattentionto
physiologyalone?Forhowisthesensiblenatureadorned,accordingto
whatreasonsisitarranged,orfromwhatreasonsdoesitproceed,except
fromthosethataremathematical?Thesereasonstherefore[or
productivepowers],areprimarilyinsouls,descendingintothemfrom
intellect;andafterwardstheyareinbodies,proceedingintothemfrom
souls.Henceitisnecessarynottoremaininmathematicalspeculations
assomedo;forthisproducesfalseopinionsintheauditors,andinduces
themtothinkthatphysicalfiguresandnumbersaremathematical.Itis
alsoinanotherrespectabsurd.Forthereasonsofnaturedonotreceive
theaccuracyandfirmnessofthemathematicalreasons.Towhichmav
beadded,thatinsodoingweshallnotfollowthedemonstrativecanons,
inwhichitissaidthatthingspertainingtoonegenusmustnotbe
transferredtoanother.Neitherthereforeisitpossibletosurveyphysical
objectsarithmetically.
2,24Letus,therefore,ifyouthingfit,discussthetheoryoftheproposed
wordsphysically.Thefirstanalogythen,accordingtowhichnature
insertsharmonyinherworks,andaccordingtowhichtheDemiurgus
adornsandarrangestheuniverse,isonecertainlife,andonereason,
Dproceedingthroughallthings;whichfirst,indeed,connectsitself,but
afterwardsthenaturesinwhichitexists;andaccordingtowhich

sympathyisingeneratedinallmundaneessences,asexistinginone
animal,andgovernedbyonenature.Thislife,therefore,whichisthe
bondofwholes,totalnature[ornaturewhichranksasawhole]andthe
onesouloftheworldconstitute.Theoneintellectlikewisegeneratesit;
andalwaysmoreexcellentbeings,insertinmundanenatures,agreater
andmoreperfectunion.Letitbesaid,therefore,thatthehabitwhich
predominatesinmaterialsubjects,thatmaterialform,andthepowersof
themiddleelements,arebonds.Allthesehowever,havetherelationof
thingswithoutwhichtheprimarybondisnotparticipated,andare
analogoustothemiddleinmathematicalentities,throughwhich
habitudesubsistsintheextremes.Butthelifeofwhichwearespeaking,
whichcollectsandunitesallthings,andissuspendedindeedfromits
tcf.IamblichusLifeofPythagoras1516(6470).
$ForTUVV07)TUVhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTUVaiodi\TUV.
propercauses,butbindsthethingsinwhichitisinherent,istruly
analogy,andpreservesbothitsownunionandtheunionofits
participants.Again,therefore,abondisthreefold.Forthecommon
powersoftheelementsareonebond;theonecauseofbodiesisanother;
andathirdisthatwhichisthemiddleofboththeothers,which
Eproceedsindeedfromthecauseofbodies,butemploysthepowersthat
aredividedaboutbody.Andthisisthestrongbond,asthetheologist
says,whichisextendedthroughallthings,andisconnectedbythe
goldenchain.ForJupiterafterthis,constitutesthegoldenchain,*
accordingtotheadmonitionsofNight.
Butwhenyourpow'raroundthewholehasspread
Astrongcoercivebond,agoldenchain
Suspendfromaether.
Orph.fr.121;Chald.Oracl.fr.203
Physicalanalogythenbeingathingofthiskind,letussurveyinwhat
things,andthroughwhat,itisnaturallyadaptedtobeestablished.As
2,25Platothereforesays,itsubsistsinnumbers,masses,andpowers.
Physicalnumbers,however,arematerialformsdividedaboutthesubject
[i.e.aboutbody].Butmassesaretheextensionsoftheseforms,andthe
separationsorintervalsofthemaboutmatter.Andpowersarethethings
whichconnect,andgiveform[orspecificdistinction]tobodies.For
formisonething,andthepowerproceedingfromitisanother.For
formindeedisimpartibleandessential,butbecomingextended,and
dilatedintobulk,itemits,asifitwereablastfromitself,material
powers,whicharecertainqualities.Thus,forinstance,infire,theform
andessenceofitisimpartible,*andistrulytheimageofthecauseof
Ffire.Forinpartiblenaturesthereisthatwhichisimpartible.+But
fromtheforminfirewhichisimpartible,aseparationandextensionof

ittakeplaceaboutmatter,fromwhichthepowersoffireareexerted,
suchasheat,orrefrigeration,ormoisture,orsomethingelseofthelike
kind.Andthesequalitiesareindeedessential,butarebynomeansthe
essenceoffire.Foressencesarenotfromqualities,norareessenceand
tThisgoldenchainmaybesaidtobetheseriesofunitiesproceedingfromThe
One,ortheineffableprincipleofthings,andextendingasfarastomatteritself.Andof
thischain,thelightimmediatelyproceedingfromthesunisanimage.
%InsteadofTOneveidoqavrovmiovoiu,apepovc,eonmiOVTOC;ayaXparye,
ranacTOVrvpoq,itisrequisitetoread,TOp.eveidoqavrovmiovaaaaptpeqeon,mi
OVTUQaya\p.anjcairiaqTOVitvpoc,.
cf.AristotleOnIndivisibleLines968a214.
powerthesame;buteverywheretheessentialprecedespower;andfrom
147Athatbeingone,amultitudeofpowersproceeds,andthatwhichis
divided,fromthatwhichisindivisible;justasfromonepowermany
energiesproceed.Forbyhowmuchmoreeachthingproceeds,byso
muchmoreisitmultipliedanddivided,conformablyto[the
characteristicof]itsprincipleandcause,whichisimpartibleand
indivisible.Asineverybody,therefore,thereisthistriad,*Imean
number,bulk,andpower,analogyandthephysicalbond,occupyfrom
onhighthenumbers,masses,andpowersofbodies,andlikewise
congregatetheirpartible*essences,andunitethemforthepurposeof
producingtheonecompletionoftheworld.Theyalsoinsert
communioninforms,symmetryinmasses,andharmonyinpower.
Andthusallthingsarerenderedeffableandconsentaneoustoeach
other.5Butthisanalogyproceedsfromthemiddletothefirst,and
2,26fromthethirdtothemiddle;fromthefirstalsotothemiddle,andfrom
thistothelast;andagain,fromthelasttothemiddle,andfromthisto
thefirst.Because,likewise,abondofthiskindimpartsprogressionand
conversiontobodies,itbeginsindeedfromthemiddle,inconsequence
Bofbeingconnective,andthecauseofunion,andisdefinedaccordingto
thispeculiarity.Butitproceedsfromthefirstthroughthemiddle,to
thelast,asextendingandunfoldingitself,asfarastothelastofthings.
Anditrecursfromthelasttothefirst,asconvertingallthingsthrough
harmonytotheintelligiblecause,fromwhichthedivisionofnature,and
theseparationandintervalofbodieswereproduced.Forbyconverting
themtothiscause,accordingtoonecircle,oneorder,andoneseries,
secondarybeingsuspendedfromprimarynatures,itcausestheworldto
beone,+andmostsimilartotheintelligible[paradigm].Forasthere
allthingsaretrulyunitedtoeachother,sohereallthingsareadapted
toeachother.AndasintelligiblesproceedingfromTheGood,areagain
convertedtoit,throughthegoodnesswhichisinthem,0andthrough
theintelligiblemonads;thusalsosensiblesproceedingfromthe
Demiurgus,areagainconvertedtohim,throughthisbond,whichis

distributedandpervadesthroughallofthem,andbindsallthings
tForTOVTPITOVTOVTOVinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadTOVrpiadovTOVTOV.
XInsteadofap.epeiqhere,itisnecessarytoreadixepioraq.
Rep.Vm,546bc.
cf.Tim.30d.
oForevavrqreadevavwiq.
together.Forinthisrespectitimitatestheintelligible.Butitsubsists
intellectuallyinintellect,totallyinwholes,andpartiallyinpartial
natures.
CAfterthesamemanner,therefore,astheintelligible,thesensibleworld
hasallthings,accordingtoallitsparts.Forfire,sofarasitistangible,
participatesofearth,andearth,sofarasitisvisible,participatesoffire,
andeachparticipatesofmoisture.Forearthindeedisconglutinatedand
eonnectedthroughmoisture,anditsdissipatednatureisunitedthrough
2.27it;butfireisnourishedandincreasedbyit.Sothattheextremesarethe
middle,inorderthatwhatissaidmaybecomephysicallymanifestin
thingsthatareknownbyus.Theextremes,therefore,areinacertain
respectthemiddle,aspreservingthroughittheirproperidea,and
remainingsuchastheyare.Andmoistureitself,sofarasitiscoloured,
participatesoffire,andsofarasitisreinvigoratedthroughheat.But
again,sofarasitistangible,itparticipatesofearth.Sothateachofthe
extremesgivesperfectiontomoisture.Thesethings,however,will
shortlyafterbecomemoreknowntous.*
Butthroughthisharmonyandanalogy,inthefirstplace,sameness
presentsitselftotheview,andinthenextplaceunion.Forbodies
themselvesaccordingtotheirownnaturearepartible,andaresubdued
bydifferenceandstrife.These,however,atthesametimethrough
harmony,areleaguedinfriendshipwithsameness,andthroughsameness
Dwithunion.Forthroughanalogytheuniverseiscompletelyrendered
one,thishavingthepowerofmakingthingsthataredividedtobeone,
ofcongregatingthingsthataremultiplied,andconnectingthingsthatare
dissipated.Hence,theologistssurveyingthecausesofthesethingsinthe
Gods,encloseVenuswithMars,andsurroundthemwithVulcanian
bonds;thedifferencewhichisintheworldbeingconnectedthrough
harmonyandfriendship.Allthiscomplicationandconnexionlikewise
hasVulcanforitscause,whothroughdemiurgicbondsconnects
samenesswithdifference,harmonywithdiscord,andcommunionwith
contrariety.Andthisbeingeffected,Apollo,Hermes,andeachofthe
Godslaugh.Buttheirlaughtergivessubsistencetomundanenatures,
andinsertsefficaciouspowerinthebonds.Letthesethings,however,
asitissaid,bepreservedinsacredsilence.*Butnow,fromwhathas
beendiscussed,letthusmuchbemanifesttous,thatthephysicalbond
beingVulcaniananddemiurgic,(fortheoneandallperfectDemiurgus

tcf.154Bff.infra,p.463.
tcf.HerodianII,171.
2.28comprehendsalsotheproductionwhichisthroughnecessity,asbeing
EVulcanianandDionysiacal,andcausingeachofthepartsoftheuniverse
tobeawhole,)iscollectiveofcontraries,andconnectiveofmaterial
things;unitingtheiressences,measuringtheirmasses,andharmonizing
theirpowers.Itlikewisemakesallthingstobeinall,andexhibitsthe
samethingsineachother,accordingtoallpossiblemodes,empyreally,
aerially,aquatically,andterrestrially.
32ab"Ifthenitwerenecessarythatthebodyoftheuniverseshouldhave
beengeneratedasuperficies,andnothavedepth,onemediummight
havebeensufficientforthepurposeofbindingboththenaturesthat
subsistwithit,anditself.Butnowitisrequisitethatitshouldbea
solid,andsolidsareneveradaptedtoeachotherbyone,butalwaysby
twomedia."
Thescopeproposedtous[intheTimaeus],is,aswehavebefote
observed,*tolearnhowtheuniverseisconstituted,andofwhatit
consists.Butthisbeingthedesign,wemayseeinwhatawellordered
mannerthediscoursedevisesthecompositionofthefourelements.For
itisimpossiblethatthereshouldbeonesimpleelementalone;since
therewouldnotbegeneration.Forallgenerationisacertainmutation.
Butallmutationisnaturallyadaptedtobeeffectedintwothings.All
Fgenerationlikewiseisfromcontraries.Butasimpleelementitself,isby
nomeanscontrarytoitself:foritwouldbeitselfcorruptiveofitself.If,
therefore,itisnecessarythereshouldbegeneration,itisnecessarythere
shouldnotbeoneelementonly.ForasHippocratessays,*iftherewas
oneelementonly,itwouldbeimpossibleforthingstobechanged.Fcr
mutationandmotionarenottothesimilar,buttothecontrary.Hence
2,29thereisnotonesimpleelementonly.If,however,thereisnotone,but
twoatleast,itisnecessarythattheseshouldbecontraries:forgeneration
isfromcontraries.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatthereshouldbetwo
148Aelementshavinginabecomingmanneranaturecontrarytoeachother.
Hence,iftheyarecontraries,theywillbeinwantofacertainbondand
medium.Foritisimpossiblethattwocontrariescaninabecoming
mannercoalesce,withoutathirdthing;sinceitisnecessarythatabond
shouldintervene,whichiscollectiveofboth.Forbeingthemselves
contraries,theywillavoidcommunionwitheachother.Henceitis
necessary,thereshouldbeanotherthirdthingwhichconjoinsthemand
tcf.139Esupra,p.421,aswellastheopeningofthisCommentary,
tcf.ConcerningtheNatureofManVI,34L.

leadsthemtothecompletionofonething.Butitislikewisenecessary
thatthismediumshouldbeofabiformed*nature.Foriftheelements
whichweretobeboundweresuperficies,onemediumwouldbe
sufficient.Butsincetheyaresolids,theyareconnectedthroughtwo
media.Fortheduadbeingtheprimaryleaderofsolids,isalsoallotted
theprimordialcauseofthebondsthatareinthem.Hence,likewise,
Timaeuscallsabindingofthiskindharmony,*aninsertinginthe
extremesasymmetryofcommunionwitheachother.Theanalogyalso
whichisinsolidsisintroducedthroughtwomedia.Fortwomedia
analogouslycomebetweentwosimilarsolids.If,therefore,thesethings
Barerightlyasserted,alltheelementsarefour;andthereisneitherone
alone,lestweshoulddestroymutation;nortwocontrarieswithouta
thirdthing,lestthereshouldnot5beabondofthingswhicharehostile
toeachother.Fortherewillnotbeorderandornamentfromtwo
thingsmostforeigntoeachother.Butifyouconceiveacertainthing
ofthiskind,thesolutionofthedoubtwillbeeasy.Moreover,neither
willtherebealonetwothingswhicharenot+contraries.Forthey
willnotbeabletooperateoneachother.Forwhitenesssuffersnothing
fromaline,butfromblackness.Nordoesheatsufferanythingfrom
whiteness,butfromcold.
Again,therefore,itmustbesaidmoreuniversally,reasoningfrom
thingsknown,thateitherthereisoneelementalone,ornotone.If,
however,thereisonlyoneelementoftheworld,thevarietyofthe
phenomena,theoppositionofthecirculations,andthewarof
generation,willbesubverted,andeitherallthingswillbeperpetual,or
allthingswillbecorruptible.Butifthereisnotoneelementonly,there
2,30willeitherbetwoelements,ormorethantwo.Andiftwo,theywill
eitherbecontraries,ornotcontraries.If,however,theyarenot
contraries,therewillbeneitheraction,norpassion,noroppositionin
bodies,norwilltherebegenerationinthingswhichhavegeneration.
Butiftheyarecontraries,thesewillrequireamedium.Andifthisbe
thecase,therewilleitherbeonemedium,ortwomedia.Itis
impossible,however,thatthereshouldbeonlyonemedium:forthe
Celementsarenotsuperficies.Hencetherearetwomedia.Butifthere
aretwomediaoftwothings,allarefour.Thatsomanyelements
tFordeadeqhere,readBvoei&ec.
Xcf.TimaeusofLocri,95bc.
OUKisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
Ovxisalsohereomittedintheoriginal.
thereforeinnumberaresufficienttotheworld,isthroughthesethings
manifest.
Letus,however,ifyouplease,conciselysurveythemathematical

meaningofthewordsbeforeus,andafterwardsadducethephysical
theorypertainingtothem.Forhowoftwosimilarsuperficiesorplanes
thereisonemedium,andoftwosimilarsolidstwomedia,wewill
surveyinnumberbythemselves.Fortheprimordialandspontaneous
natureofnumbers,istobeembracedpriortogeometricalnecessity.In
thefirstplace,therefore,lettherebetwosquarenumbers9and16,the
lessofwhichhasforitsside3,andthegreater4.Bymultiplyingthese
andmaking12,weshallhaveananalogyinthethreeterms9,12,and
16.*Lettwonumberslikewisebeassumed,whicharenotsquares
indeed,butatthesametimearesimilarplanes,andletthembe18and
32,*theformerbeinggeneratedfromthetriadandhexad,butthelatter
Dfromthetetradandogdoad.Iftherefore,wemultiplyeitherthetriad
bytheogdoad,orthehexadbythetetrad,weshallhavefortheproduct
24,bindinginanalogy18to32,accordingtoasesquitertianratio.This,
however,iscausedbytheirsideshavingthesameratio.If,therefore,the
sidesoftheassumednumbersarefoundtoreceivenoanalogousmean
2,31ormedium,alltheplanesgeneratedfromthemwillhavebutone
medium,accordingtothebeforementionedmode.5Butifthesides
themselvesshouldbefoundtoreceiveacertainanalogousmean,the
planesalsoproducedfromthem,willnecessarilyreceivemorethanone
mean.Forlettherebetwosquares16and81,andletthesideofthe
formerbe4,butofthelatter9.Since,therefore,theanalogousmedium
between4and9is6,accordingtoasesquialterratio,itisnecessarythat
morethanonemeanshouldfallbetweenthem.Forthetetrad
multipliedbythehexadwillproduce24;butthehexadmultipliedby
Eitselfwillproducethesquareofitself36;andmultipliedby9,will
produce54.Andtherewillbeacontinuedanalogy,intheterms16,24,
tForas9isto12,sois12to16.
tThetwosimilarplanenumbers18and32hereadducedbyProclus,provethat
GastonPardieswasgreatlymistakeninassertinginhisElementsofGeometry,"thatif
twonumbersaresimilarplanes,thegreatermaybedividedintoasmanysquaresas
thereareunitsintheless."SeetheTranslationofthisworkbyHarris,p.133.For32
cannotbedividedintoasmanysquaresasthereareunitsin18.And32and18are
evidentlysimilarplanenumbers,becausetheirsidesareanalogous.Foras3isto6sois
4to8.
Thesidesofthesenumbersare3,6,4,and8,andtheyhavenoanalogousmean.
Forthereisnogeometricalmeanbetween3and6,norbetween4and8.Hencethe
planesgeneratedfromthem,viz.18and32,willhavebutonemedium,whichis24.
36,54,81.*Hence,whenthesideshaveananalogousmean,theplanes
producedfromthem,willhavemorethanonemean.Hence,too,Plato
appearstometosayverycautiously,notthatthereisentirelyone
mediuminsimilarplanes,butthatitispossibleforonetobesufficient.

Formorethanoneplanebeingproduced,onemediumwouldbe
sufficienttoconjointhem,viz.36alone,accordingtotheduple
sesquiquartanratio.*Andthusmuchconcerningsimilarplanes.
Letus,however,nowpassontosimilarsolids,andsurveythemedia
inthese.Inthefirstplace,therefore,lettherebetwocubes8and27,
theformerhavingforitsside2,andthelatter3.Ofthesecubes,there
willbetwomedia,theonebeingproducedfromtwicetwomultiplied
bythree,i.e.12,andwhichonthisaccountis(So/uc;)abeam,+butthe
otherfromthricethreemultipliedbytwo,i.e.18,andwhichistherefore
{irXivdoq+)atile.Thesewillmakeacontinuedanalogywiththe
Fbeforementionedcubes,accordingtoasesquialterratio.0Andhere
youmayseehoweachofthemediahastwosidesfromthecubeplaced
2,32nexttoit,buttheremainingsidefromtheothercube.**Thishowever
willbeusefultousforthepurposesofphysiology.Again,ifthe
numberswerenotcubes,butsimilarsolids,theywilllikewisehavetwo
analogousmiddlesormeans.Forlettherebetwosimilarsolids24and
192,thesidesoftheformerbeing2,3,4,butofthelatter4,6,8.And
fromtheduad,thetriad,andtheogdoad,48willbeproduced,butfrom
149Athetetrad,thehexad,andagainthetetrad,theproductwillbe96.Here
too,eachofthemediawillhavetwosidesfromthatsimilarsolidofthe
extremeswhichisnexttoit,butonesidefromtheothercube,inthe
samemannerasinthemediaofthebeforementionedcubes.Hence
betweensimilarsolids,twomediaaresufficient;justasPlatosays,that
tForas16isto24,sois24to36,sois36to54,sois54to81,theratiobeing
.sesquialter.
XFor36isageometricalmeanbetween16and81,accordingtoaduple
yesquiquartanratio.For36contains16twice,andafourthpartofit,i.e.4also;and81
contains36twice,or72,and9besides,whichisafourthpartof36.
cf.Nicom.Arith.II,17;XXIX,2;andIamblichusinNicom.93ff.
ForK\IBVQhere,readJ\IV6OQ.
1627
oFor12contains8once,andthehalfof8.Andinasimilarmanner12=VAand16
.1*4.
ttFor12=2x2x3,2beingthecuberootof8,and3beingthecuberootof27;and
183x3x2.
twomediaadaptsolidstoeachother,butneveronemedium.What
then,someonemaysay,istherenotonemediumaloneofthetwosolid
numbers64and729,whichmediumis216?For64isacubeproduced
from4,but729from9.And729isthetripleandsuperparticular
ogdoanpartof216;andafterthesamemanner216of64.Foreach
containstheotherthrice,andthreeeighthsofitbesides.*Andthiswill
notonlybethecaseinthese,butalsoinothernumbers:fortheseare
Bthesmallestnumberswhichadmitofthis.Inanswertothishoweverit

mustbesaid,thattheabovementionednumbersarecubesandatthe
sametimesquares;theone,i.e.64,beingthesquareof8,buttheother,
2,33i.e.729,beingthesquareof27.Hencetheyhaveonemean,notsofar
astheyarecubes,butsofarastheyhavethetetragonicpeculiarity.For
thetetragonicsideof64,i.e.8,beingmultipliedby27,whichisthe
tetragonicsideof729,producestheanalogousmean216,accordingto
themethoddelivered[bymathematicians]offindingthemeanbetween
twosquares.Hewhomakestheobjection,therefore,usingsolidsnot
assolids,bindsthemtogetherbyonemedium.Butifhehadsurveyed
themsofarastheyaresolidnumbersandcubes,hewouldhavefound
thattherearealsotwomediabetweenthese,theonebeing144,from
fourtimes4multipliedby9,buttheother324,fromninetimes9
multipliedby4.
ButDemocritus*doubts,howitissaidthatoneanalogousmedium
Cfallsbetweentwoplanes.Forbyassumingfourlinesincontinued
proportion,itmaybeshownthatthesquaresfromthemareanalogous;5
sothattwoanalogousmediawillfallbetweentwoextremeplanes.He
adds,thatdifferentpersonshavebeeninvolvedindifferentdifficulties
throughthisdoubt,andhavebeenledbyittotheduplicationofthe
cube,andsuchlikeinvestigations.Plato,however,doesnotsaythatone
mediumonlyfallsbetweenanycasualplanes,noragaintwomedia
betweencasualsolids,butbetweenthosethataresimilar,andinaa
effableratio,andwhichhavetheirsidesarrangedaccordingtonumbers.
tThus729containsthreetimes216,ie.648,andthreeeighthsofitbesides.For
theeighthpartof216is27,andthrice27is81,thedifferencebetween729and648.
Andthusalso216contains64thrice,it.192,and24besides,whichisthreeeighthsof
64.
$ThisismostprobablythejuniorDemocritusmentionedbyPorphyryinhislife
ofPlotinus.
Forletthelinesbeasthenumbers2.4.8.16,whichareincontinuedproportion;
thenthesquaresofthem4.16.64.256willalsobeanalogous.Foras4isto16,sois16
to64,andsois64to256.
ForthethingsgeneratedbythedemiurgicGod,areeffablewith
referencetoeachother,andarevariegatedbydemiurgicnumbers,as
Platosaysinanotherpartofthisdialogue.*Anditisrequisiteto
assumesimilarplanes,andsolidnumbers,andtosurveyinthesethe
truthofthePlatonicassertion.Weshallshowthereforeattheendof
theseCommentaries,howitispossible,tworightlinesbeinggiven,to
findtwoanalogousmedia,selectingforthispurposethedemonstration
2,34ofArchytas,*ratherthanthatofMenaechmus,becauseheusesconical
Dlines,andinlikemannerratherthanthatofEratosthenes,becausehe
employstheappositionofarule.5
Withrespecthowevertothethingsinvestigated,itmustnowbesaid

ihatPlatoappearstohaveperfectconfidenceinarithmetical
demonstrations,sinceitisalsopossibletofindingeometricalfiguresof
twosolidsananalogousmedium.Foriftherearethreeanalogousright
lines,a,8,y,inadupleratio,thesquaresfromthemwillbeina
quadrupleratio,as5,IOT,and8.Butthesolidsfromthemwillbein
anoctupleratio,as0ij3,5,andr\.Hencetherewillbethreecubes,the
extremesofwhichwillhaveoneanalogousmean.Anditismanifest
thatallcubesaresimilartoeachother.Fortheanglesarethesamein
eachcubeandareequal;andtheyarealsocomprehendedbysimilar
planes;andthemultitudeofthemisequal.Moreover,wemaythus
demonstrateinthesamemannerasDemocritus,thattwoanalogous
mediafallbetweentwosimilarsolids.Forthatallsquaresaresimilarto
eachotherisevident;sincetheanglesarethesameineach,andare
Eequal,andthesidesareanalogous.HenceitseemsthatPlatoemploying
numbers,showsthatsolidsarenevercoadaptedbyonemean,but
alwaysbytwomedia.Forinthese,asyoucansee,theextremesare
cubes,andatthesametimesimilarplanes.For</>i/3,isfromLOT,and\B.
Buttheotheroftheextremesrj,isfromB,and5,andthereisthesame
ratioofthesides.Thereisthereforeonemediumofthese,sofarasthey
aresimilarplanes,butnotsofarastheyaresolids.Sothatyouwill
havethesolutionofwhatissaid,byassumingnumbers.Foritis
possibletofindthesamenumberswhichareatthesametimesimilar
solidsandplanes;butitisimpossibletoassumegeometricalfigures
tTim.39cd.
%cf.Archytasfr.A14,264d;andalsoProclusinEuclid.
Fromthemostunfortunatelossofthelatterpartofthesecommentariesof
Proclus,thismethodlikewiseofhisfindingtwoanalogousmediabetweentwogiven
lines,islost.
whichareatoneandthesametimesimilarplanesandsolids;sincethis
alsomaybesaid,thatallofthembeingcubes,theformofthemisone.
ButPlatoassumingthatthemeansaresimilartotheextremes,isthus
2,35confidentinthetheorem.Forhowwouldtheextremesbeinwantof
otherbonds,iftheyhadentirelythesameform?Andhowwouldthe
mediacommunicatewiththeextremes,anddifferfromthemaccording
tothesides,iftheywereallofthemcubes?Henceitisevidentthathe
Fassumesthemedia,asbeingtrulymedia,andthussays,thatsolidsare
neverconjoinedbyone,butalwaysbytwomedia;everymedium
containingthecommunionanddifferenceofthethingsofwhichitisthe
medium.Fortosayuniversally,thatallsolidsareconnectedthrough
twomedia,makesthemediatobeinfinite.Itismanifest,therefore,that
heassumesthingswhicharemostdistant,andineveryrespectcontrary
toeachother,andwhichhaveallthesidesoppositetoall;thesein
naturalbodiesbeingcorporealpowers.Buthedoesthis,inorderthat

ofthemedia,oneofthemmayhaveagreatercommunionwithoneof
150Atheextremes,butalesswiththeother;andthatthismaybeviceversa
withtheothermedium.Unlessthatalsoistruewhichisassertedbyour
preceptor.Forhesaysthatitisnecessarytoassumethesameratioin
themediaormeans,asthereisinthesidesoftheextremes.Thus,for
instance,ifoneofthecubesis8,buttheother27,weshallfindthe
mediaofthem,ifwetaketheirsides2and3,andmultiplythesquareof
2,i.e.4by3,andthesquareof3,i.e.9by2.Forthenthemediawill
be12,and18,whichwillconjointheextremesthroughthesesquialter
ratio,whichistheratioofthesidesofthecubes.Hence,asthereisthe
sameratiointhesidesofthecubes,andinthemedia,Platosaysthat
therearenecessarilytwomedia,andthisinamannermoreconsonant
totheproposedphysiology.Forinthepowersoftheelements,andin
simpleforms,theDemiurgusinsertedcommunionpriortothingsofa
compositenature.Wehoweverconjointheextremesthroughthe
Boctupleratio,thesidesofthemnothavinganoctupleratio.Thus,for
instance,inthethreeproposedterms,ifweassumeafourthanalogous
2,36term,weshallfindthatastheside2isoctupleoftheside16,sothefirst
cubeisconjoinedtothefourththroughtheoctupleratio.Forifyou
add16,asafourthtermto2.4.8,thecubefrom16,isconjoinedto8,
throughtheoctupleratiowhich64hasto8,and512to64,and4096
whichisthecubeof16,to512.*Sothatthesidesofthemedia
tIfeachoftheterms2.4.8.16,iscubed,thefourterms8.64.512.4096,willte
produced,and64isoctupleof8,512of64,and4096of512;andthefirstcube8is
conjoinedtothefourth4096,throughtheoctupleratio.
receivinganoctupleratio,twomediawillfallbetweentheextremes.
Butifafifthanalogoustermisadded,thesideswillnolongerbe
conjoinedinanoctupleratiobutintheratioof16to1;andonthis
accounttherewillbethreeanalogousmediabetweenthetwocubes.
WhatPlatosays,therefore,istrueaccordingtothebeforementioned
method.Arenotthesidesalsoadaptedtohispurpose?Anditis
requisitetosay,thattheremaybeonemediumbetweentwocubes,yet
Cnotaccordingtoharmonicratios.Hence,whenthereistrulya
colligationoftheextremesthroughtheseratios,thenitisperfectly
requisitethatthereshouldbetwomedia.Throughthesethings,
therefore,itismanifestmathematically,thatsimilarplanesrequireone
medium,andsimilarsolidstwomedia,andthattheycanneverbebound
byonemediumalone.
Beingimpelled,however,bytheseobservations,letusseehowphysical
conceptionsaccordwiththem,andletusadaptprobabletoscientific
assertions.Andinthefirstplace,letussurveywhataphysicalplaneis,
andhowinplanesofthiskind,thereisonemedium,buttwoin
physicalsolids.ThedivineIamblichusindeed(forthismanina

remarkabledegreecomprehendedatheoryofthiskind,othersbeingas
itwereasleep,andconversantonlywiththemathematicalmeaningof
thewords)*appearstometodistinguishthingssimplefromsuchasare
composite,partsfromwholes,andinshort,materialpowers,and
materialforms,fromtheessencestowhichtheygivecompletion.And
someofthese,hecallssuperficies,butotherssolids.Forasasuperficies
2,37istheultimateboundaryofamathematicalbody,solikewisematerial
form,andmaterialpower,arethemorpheandboundaryoftheirsubjects.
Thesethings,therefore,beingthusdivided,inthingsofasimplenature,
Donemediumissufficient,becausethereis[one]differenceofthereasons
andforms,andaccordingtothecommonbondsofthereasonsandthe
life.Forinthesethereisonemedium.Hencequalityisuniformly
connectedwithquality,andpowerwithpower,accordingtothe
differenceandsamenessofforms.Butinthingsofacompositenature,
thereareveryproperlytwomedia.Fortheduadisthesupplierofall
compositionandseparation.Everycompositenaturehoweverconsists
ofmanyessencesandpowers.Hence,therearemanymedia.Andthese
atleastaretwofold.Forthereisonemediumaccordingtoform,and
anotheraccordingtosubject.
Wehowever,conformablytophysicalprinciples,speakasfollows,
receivingauxiliariesfromwhatPlatosaysasheproceeds.Orrather,let
tcf.Rep.m,390b.
usspeakfromthebeginning.Therearesomephysiologiststhen,who
ascribeonepowertoeachoftheelements;tofireindeedheat,toair
frigidity,towatermoisture,andtoearthdryness;insodoingentirely
wanderingfromthetruth.Inthefirstplace,becausetheysubvertthe
worldandorder.Foritisimpossibleforthingstobecoadaptedtoeach
Eother,whentheypossessthemostcontrarypowers,unlesstheyhave
somethingincommon.Inthenextplace,theymakethemostcontrary
naturesalliedtoeachother,viz.thehottothecold,andthemoistto
thedry.*Itisnecessaryhowever,tomakethingswhicharehostile
moreremotethanthingswhicharelessforeign.Forsuchisthenature
ofcontraries.Inthethirdplace,therefore,thefirsttwopowerswill
havenosympathywhateverwiththerest;butwillbedivulsed*from
eachother.Foritisimpossibletosaywhatiscommontohumidityand
frigidity.Andinadditiontoallthesethings,astheelementsaresolids,
theywillnotbeconjoinedtoeachotherbyanymedium.Ithas
howeverbeenshownthatitisnotpossibleforsolidstobeconjoined
throughonemedium.Norcantheybeconjoinedwithoutamedium.
Forthisisalonetheprovinceofthingsthatareperfectlywithout
interval.
2,38Butsomeothers,asOcellus,5whowastheprecursorofTimaeus,
attributetwopowerstoeachoftheelements,tofireindeedheatand
dryness,toair,heatandmoisture,towater,moistureandcoldness,and

toearth,coldnessanddryness.Andthesethingsarewrittenbythisman
inhistreatiseOnNature.Inwhat,therefore,dotheseerrwho
Fthusspeak?Inthefirstplace,indeed,wishingtodiscoverthecommon
powersintheelements,inorderthattheymaypreservethecoarrangement
ofthemwitheachother,theynomoreassigncommunion
thanseparationtothem,butequallyhonourtheirhostilityandtheir
harmony.Whatkindofworldtherefore,willsubsistfromthese,what
orderwilltherebeofthingswhicharewithoutarrangementandmost
foreign,andofthingswhicharemostalliedandcoarranged?Forthings
whichinanequaldegreearehostileandpeaceful,willinanequalmode
dissolveandconstitutecommunion.Butthiscommunionbeing
151Asimilarlydissolved,andsimilarlyimplanted,theuniversewillnomore
existthannotexist.Inthesecondplace,theydonotassignthegreatest
tForTOevavnurarahere,readmevavnuTCtra,andforr<jj8epp,ovTCJtvxpu,ro
8ep(iov,K.\.
XForoncTipTrinevotinthisplace,Iread5irjpqij.evot.
OcellusLucanusOntheNatureoftheUniverse,ITSvol.IV.
contrarietytotheextremes,buttothingsmostremotefromthe
extremes;thoughweeverywheresee,thatofhomogeneousnatures
thosewhicharemostdistanthavethenatureofcontraries,andnotthose
whicharelessdistant.Howlikewisedidnaturearrangethem,sincethey
aremostremoteintheirsituationfromeachother?Wasitnotby
perceivingtheircontrariety,andthatthethirdwasmorealliedthanthe
lasttothefirst?Howalsodidshearrangethemotionsofthem,since
fireismostlightandtendsupward,butearthismostheavyandtends
downward?Butwhencewerethemotionsofthemwhicharemost
contraryderived,ifnotfromnature?Iftherefore,naturedistributedto
themmostcontrarymotions,itisevidentthattheyarethemselvesmost
contrary.Forasthemotionsofsimplebeingsaresimple,andthose
thingsaresimpleofwhichthemotionsaresimple,thusalsothosethings
aremostcontraryofwhichthemotionsaremostcontrary.Andthis
BmayoccasionsomeonetowonderatAristotle,*whoinwhathesays
2.39aboutmotion,placesearthasmostcontrarytofire;butinwhathesays
aboutpowers,hemakesthemostremoteofsimilarnaturestobemore
friendlythanthosethatareproximate,whentheyaremovedwithmost
contrarymotions.Forastheelementshavecontraryplacesintheir
positions,astheyhavecontrarymotionsinlations,astheyhave
contrarypowers,gravityandlevity,throughwhichmotionssubsistin
theirforms,thusalsotheyhavecontrarypassivequalities.Aristotle
himselflikewisemanifeststhatearthiscontrarytofire.Forwishingto
showthatitisnecessarythereshouldbemorebodiesthanone,hesays:
"Moreover,ifearthexists,itisalsonecessarythatfireshouldexist.For
inthings,oneofthecontrariesofwhichnaturallyis,theotherlikewise

hasanaturalsubsistence."Sothatneitherwasheableafteranyother
mannertoshowthattherearemoreelementsthanone,thanby
assertingthatfireiscontrarytoearth.
Fartherstill,astheelementsaresolids,howcantheybebound
togetherthroughonemedium?Forthisisimpossibleinsolids,aswe
havebeforeobserved.*Hencethosewhoassertthesethings,neither
speakmathematicallynorphysically,butunavoidablyerrinboththese
respects.Forphysicalarederivedfrommathematicalentities.5Timaeus
thereforealone,oranyotherwhorightlyfollowshim,neitherattributesone
nortwopowersalone,totheelements,buttriplepowers;tofireindeed,
tcf.AristotleDeCoeloI,2,268b269a.
%149DEffsupra,p.450.
cf.Tim.55dff;&Tim.Locr.98cff.
tenuityofparts,acutenessandfacilityofmotion;toair,tenuityofparts,
obtuseness,andfacilityofmotion;towater,grossnessofparts,obtuseness,
andfacilityofmotion;andtoearth,grossnessofparts,obtuseness,and
difficultyofmotion.*Butthisisinorderthateachoftheelementsmay
havetwopowers,each*ofwhichiscommontotheelementplacednext
toit,andonepowerwhichisdifferent,inthesamemannerasitwas
demonstratedinmathematicalnumbersandfigures;5thisdifferentpower
beingassumedfromoneoftheextremes;andalsoinorderthatearth
accordingtoallthepowers,maysubsistoppositelytofire;andthatthe
extremesmayhavetwomedia,andthecontinuedquantitiestwo;the
2,40latterhavingsolidsforthemedia,buttheformer,commonpowers.For
letfireindeedbeattenuatedinitsparts,acute,andeasilymoved.For
ithasanattenuatedessence,andisacute,ashavingafigureofthiskind
[i.e.apyramidalfigure],andonthisaccountisincisiveandfugitive,+
andpermeatesthroughalltheotherelements.0Itisalsomovedwith
facility,**asbeingmostneartothecelestialbodies,andexistinginthem.
DForthecelestialfireitselfismovedwithcelerity,asislikewisesublunary
fire,whichisperpetuallymovedinconjunctionwithit,andaccording
toonecircle,andoneimpulse.Sincetherefore,earthiscontrarytofire,
ithascontrarypowers,viz.grossness,obtuseness,anddifficultyof
motion,allofwhichweseearepresentwithit.Butthesebeingthus
hostile,andbeingsolids,arealsosimilarsolids.Fortheirsidesandtheir
powersareanalogous.Forasthegrossistotheattenuated,soisthe
obtusetotheacute,andthatwhichismovedwithdifficulty,tothat
whichismovedwithfacility.Butthosearesimilarsolidsofwhichthe
sidesthatconstitutethebodiesareanalogous.Forthesidesarethepowers
ofwhichbodiesconsist.Hence,asfireandeartharesimilarbodies,and
similarsolids,twoanalogousmediafallbetweenthem;andeachofthe
mediawillhavetwosidesoftheextremesituatednexttoit,andthe
remainingsidefromtheotherextreme.Hence,sincefirehasforits
threephysicalsidesthetriplepowers,tenuity,acuteness,andfacilityof

motion,bytakingawaythemiddlepower,acuteness,andintroducing
tTim.55d.
tForniavhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoread(Kartpav.
148Esupra,p.448.
ForVKOtriKovinthisplace,readVWOIKTIKOV.
ocf.Tim.56b.
ftInsteadofOLKIPTITOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadevuivrjTOv.
Einsteadofitobtuseness,weshallproduceair,whichhastwosidesoffire,
butoneofearth,ortwopowersoffire,butoneofearth;asitisfitthat
whatisnearshouldrathercommunicatewithit,thanwhatisseparated
inthethirdrankfromit.
Again,sinceearthhasthreephysicalpowers,contrarytothepowers
offire,viz.grossnessofparts,obtuseness,anddifficultyofmotion;by
takingawaydifficultyofmotion,andintroducingfacilityofmotion,we
2.41shallproducewater,whichconsistsofgrossparts,isobtuse,andiseasily
moved;andwhichhasindeed,twosidesorpowerscommonwithearth,
butreceivesonefromfire.Andthusthesemediawillbespontaneously
conjoinedwitheachother;communicatingindeedintwofoldpowers,
butdifferinginsimilitudebyonepower;andtheextremeswillbebound
togetherbytwomedia.Eachelementalsowillthusbeinagreater
degreeconjoinedto,thanseparatedfromtheelementwhichisnearto
it;andoneworldwillbeperfectlyeffectedthroughallofthem,andone
harmoniousorder,throughthepredominanceofanalogy.Thusalso,of
thetwocubes8and27,themedium12beingplacednextto8,willhave
twosidesofthis,butoneof27.For12isproducedby2x2x3.Butit
Fisviceversawith18.Forthisisproducedby3x3x2.Andthesideof
27is3,inthesamemanneras2isthesideof8.Thephysicaldogmas
thereforeofPlatoabouttheelementsoftheuniverse,accordwith
mathematicalspeculations.
Hencethesethingsbeingthusdetermined,letusphysicallyadaptthem
tothewordsofPlato.Wecalla[physical]planeorsuperficiestherefore,
thatwhichhastwopowersonly,buta[physical]solidthatwhichhas
threepowers.Andwesay,thatifwefashionbodiesfromtwopowers,
onemediumwouldconjointheelementstoeachother.Butsince,aswe
152Aassert,bodiespossesstriplepowers,theyareboundtogetherbytwo
media.Fortherearetwocommonpowersoftheadjacentmedia,and
onepowerwhichisdifferent.Andtheextremesthemselves,ifthey
consistedoftwopowers,wouldbeconjoinedthroughonemedium.For
letfire,ifyouwill,bealoneattenuatedandeasilymoved;butearthon
thecontrary,havealonegrossnessofpartsandimmobility.One
mediumtherefore,willbesufficientforthese.Forgrossnessofpartsand
facilityofmotion,andtenuityofparts,anddifficultyofmotion,areall
thatisrequisitetothecolligationofboth.Sincehowever,eachofthe

elementsistriple,theextremesrequiretwomedia,andthethings
themselvesthatareadjacent,areboundtogetherthroughtwopowers.
2.42Forsolids,andthesearethingsthathavetriplecontrarypowers,are
nevercoadaptedbyonemedium.
32b"Thustherefore,thedivinityplacingwaterandairinthemiddleoffire
andearth,andrenderingthemasmuchaspossibleanalogoustoeach
other,sothatwhatfireistoair,thatairmightbetowater,andwhatair
istowater,thatwatermightbetoearth,heboundtogetherand
Bconstitutedtheheaven,visibleandtangible."
SomeofthePlatonists,beingimpelledbytheassertionsofAristotle,
extendthroughthewholeworldonepassivematter,notatalldifferent
fromthatoftheheavens,andinconsequenceofembracingcertain
barbaricopinions,givetothatworldafifthbody,andreferthedoctrine
concerningittoPlato.ForAristotle,followingtheseopinions,
introducedafifthelement.*Andthisinacertainrespectheobscurely
signifies,adducingtheobservationsoftheBarbariansasatestimonyof
theperpetuityandsamenessofthemotionofaether.Butothersassert,
thattheheavensareofadifferentessence,ashavingadifferentformof
life,amoresimplemotion,andamoreperpetualnature;butthatPlato
isnowspeakingaboutthesublunaryelements,andadornstheseby
analogies.Thesemenindeed,speakrightly,bothwithrespecttothings,
andtheopinionofPlato,inassertingthatthenatureoftheheavensis
differentfrommutable,andinshort,materialthings;*butatthesame
Ctime5theyneglectthePlatonicwords,inwhichthephilosophersays,
that"theDemiurgicboundtogetherandconstitutedtheheaven[orthe
universe]throughtheanalogyofthefourelements;"andagain,inanother
place,0"thatheelaboratedtheideaofthestars,forthemostpartfrom
fire."
2.43Letustherefore,ifyouarewilling,preservingtheopinionsofboth
thesemen,perspicuouslyshow,thatthewholeworldconsistsofthefour
elements,andthattheheavensareofadifferentessence[fromthe
sublunaryregion].Andinthefirstplaceletusdiscussthelatter.For
itisnecessary,eitherthattheheavens,shouldbeentirelydifferentfrom
thefourelements,being,assomesay,afifthelement;orthatthe
heavensshouldconsistofthefourelements;orfromsomeoneofthe
four;orfrommorethanone.Andiftheheavensconsistofthefour,
theyeitherconsistoftheelementsspecificallythesamewiththe
tcf.AristotleOnGenerationandCorruptionI,7,324bl8.
%cf.AristotleDeCoeloI,3,270b23;MeteoricsI,3,339b25;DeMundoII,392a8.
Forrmuvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadO/XGJC.
Tim.40a.
OEiisomittedhereintheoriginal.

sublunary,orofothers.Ifhowever,thatelementisdifferentfromthe
four,howdoesPlatosaythatthewholeworldconsistsofthefour
elements?Butifitisconstitutedfromoneofthefour,howdoeshesay
shortlyafter,thatthestarsconsistforthemostpartoffire?Andifthe
worldisconstitutedfrommoreelementsthanone,[butnotfromallthe
four]howwillithappenthatadivinebodywillnotbeimperfect,and
howwillitpossessallthings,thoughtheearth,andinshortthe
sublunaryregion,haveallthings?But,iftheworldconsistsofallthe
elements,howdoesithappen,thatintheheavensthecompositionof
Dthemisindissoluble,butinthese[sublunary]realmsisdissoluble?*For
theywillnotbeindissolubleonaccountofequaldominion.For
whence,ifthereisequaldominion,isthevarietyintheheavens
produced?AndhowdoesPlatosaythatfireforthemostpart
predominatesthere,ifthereisanequaldomination?Butiftheheavens
consistoffourelementsspecificallydifferentfromthefoursublunary
elements,how,sincetheyarecomposites,aretheheavensmovedwith
asimplemotion?Wherealsoarethewholenessesofthethingswhich
aretheremingled?
Suchthereforebeingthedoubts,itisbettertosaythatallheaven
consistsoffire,whichtherepredominates;butthatitalsocomprehends
accordingtocause,thepowersoftheotherelements,suchasthesolidityand
stabilityofearth,theconglutinatingandunitingpowerofwater,andthe
tenuityandtransparencyofair.Forasearthcomprehendsallthings
terrestrially,sotheheavenscomprehendallthingsaccordingtoafiery
characteristic.Sothatonething[i.e.fire]hasdominion,andtheother
elementsarecomprehendedinitcausally.Itisnecessaryhoweverto
think,thatthefirewhichisthere,isnotthesamewithsublunaryfire,
butthatitisdivinefire,consubsistentwithlife,andanimitationof
intellectualfire.Andthatthefirewhichishereiswhollymaterial,
2,44generated,andcorruptible.*Genuinefiretherefore,isintheheavens,
Eandtotalfire5[orthewholenessoffire]isthere.Butearthisthere
accordingtocause,beinganotherspeciesofearth,andasitisfitit
should,connascentwithdivinefire,possessingsolidityalone,inthesame
mannerasfirepossessesanilluminativepower.Andasthiscelestialfire
isnotcaustic,neitheristheearthwhichistheregross,butthesummit
ofeachisthere.Andasgenuineandtrulyexistingfireareinthe
tTim.32c.
%cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.5.
cf.Tim.45b.
heavens,sorealearthishere,andthewholenessofearth;butfireishere
accordingtoparticipation,andmaterially,inthesamemannerasearth
isprimarily.Forthatwhichremainsisineachappropriately;therethe

summitofearth[orearthaccordingtocause;]butherethedregsoffire.
Butthisisevidentfromthemoonwhichpossessessomethingsolidand
dark,andobstructingthelight.Fortoobstructisalonetheprovinceof
earth.Thestarsalsoobstructthesight,asproducingashadowabove
themselves.Anditisevidentthisbeingthecase,thatsincefireisinthe
heavens,andalsoearth,thediaphanousmediabetweenthese,are
likewisenecessarilythereprimarily;airindeed,suchasthemostpure
andagileairwhichishere;butwater,suchasthemostexhalablewith
us,andevenstillpurerthanthese;inorderthatallthingsmaybeinall,
butappropriatelyineach.Foronthisaccountwecharacterizefireby
visibility,whichisdeservedlythepeculiarityofallfire.Forasearthis
Fprimarilytangible,sofireisprimarilyvisible;becauseitisnotinwant
ofanyoneoftheotherelements,inorderthatitmaybevisible,asthe
othersareinwantoftheilluminativepoweroffiretotheirvisibility.
Butfirebecomesitselfvisiblethroughitself.Andthisiscommontoall
fire.Thequestionthereforeissolved.
Thatallprogressionoftheelementshowever,maybecomemanifestto
us,andthegradationsofthem,itisrequisitethatweshouldbeginthe
theoryofthemfromonhigh.Thesefourelementstherefore,*fireand
air,waterandearth,subsistprimarily,anduniformlyaccordingtocause,
2.45intheDemiurgusofwholes.Forallcausesareantecedentlycontained
153Ainhim,accordingtoonecomprehension.Hencehecomprehendsthe
intellectual,divine,undefiled,andvigorouspoweroffire;theconnective
andvivificcauseofair;theprolificandregerminatinghyparxisofwater;
andthefirm,*stable,immutable,andunvacillatingideaofearth.The
theologisttherefore,knowingthesethings,saysoftheDemiurgus,
Hisbody'sboundless,firm,andfierybright;
And,
Thewideextendedallpervadingair,
Formshisbroadshoulders,back,andbosomfair,
Hismiddlezone'sthespreadingseaprofound,
Hisfeet,therootsdeepfix'dwithinthesolidground.
Orph.fr.123,24;26;30ff
tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.812,10ff,25ff.
$Foryovtuoginthisplace,itisnecessarytoread/iow^oc/.
Butfromthesedemiurgiccauses,aprogressiontakesplaceofthesefour
elementsintotheuniverse,thoughnotimmediatelyintothesublunary
world.Forhowcanthemostimmaterialnaturesgivesubsistence
withoutamedium,tothemostmaterial;andimmoveablenatures,to
thosethatareineveryrespectmoved?Fortheprogressionofthingsis

nowherewithoutamedium,butexistsaccordingtoawellordered
Bgradation.Thegenerationsalsointothesematerial,dissipated,anddark
realms,areeffectedthroughthingsofaproximatenature.Fortheseare
capableofbeingfashionedbythejuniorGods,andespeciallysofaras
theyhaveatangiblecomposition.ButtheDemiurgusisthefatherof
greaterandmorebeautifuleffects.
Sincetherefore,theelementsintheDemiurgushimselfareintellects,
andimparticipableintellectualpowers,whatwillbethefirstprogression
ofthem?Isitnotevident,thattheywillstillcontinuetobeintellectual
powers,butparticipatedbymundanenatures?Fortheprogressionfrom
2.46imparticipableintellectisproximatelytothatintellectwhichis
participated.Andinshort,theprogressionfromimparticipablecauses,
istothosethatareparticipated,andfromsupermundanetomundane
forms.Thesepowershowever,stillremainingintellectual,but
participable,whatkindofdiminutionwilltheyhave?Isitnotthis,that
theywillnolongerbeintellectual?ButIcallintellectualnatures,the
formsofintellect,andofanessencetrulyintellectual.Beinghowever,
participable,butnolongerintellectual,itisevidentthattheywillnotbe
immoveable.Andnotbeingimmoveable,theywillbeselfmotive.For
theseareproximatelysuspendedfromimmoveablenatures;andthe
progressionisfromthingsessentiallyintellectual,tothosethataresoby
participation,andfromimmoveablebeings,tothosethatmove
Cthemselves.Theseelementstherefore,willsubsistinlife,andwillbe
intellectualaccordingtoparticipation,andselfmotive.Butitisevident
whatthatiswhichwillproceedfromthis.Forthedescentfromlifeis
toanimal;forthisisproximatetolife.Andfromthatwhichisselfmotive
accordingtoessence,tothatwhichisselfmotiveaccordingto
theparticipationoflife.Andsofarindeed,astheelementsproceed
fromlifetoanimal,theyarechanged;butsofarastheyproceedfrom
thatwhichisimmaterialtoimmaterialnatures(Imeanimmaterialas
withreferencetomutablematter,)andfromadivinelife,toadivine
essence,theyareassimilatedtotrulyimmaterialessences.Here
therefore,takingawaytheimmaterial,andtheimmutable,youwill
makethematerialandthemutable.Andthroughthistheywillbe
inferiortothenaturespriortothem;butthroughtheorderand
symmetryoftheirmotions,andtheimmutabilityinthingsmutable,
theywillbeassimilatedtothem.Iftherefore,youalsotakeawaythis
order,andsurveythegreatconfusionandinstabilityoftheelements,
youwillhavethelastofallthings,andthosewhichareallottedan
ultimateseparation,beingthedregsofalltheelementspriortothese.
Henceoftheelements,someareimmoveable,*intellectual,demiurgic;
Dothersareintellectualindeedessentially,andimmoveable,butare
participatedbymundanenatures;othersareselfmotive,andhavetheir
existenceinlives;othersareselfmotive,butlive[i.e.areanimals],and
2,47arenotlivesonly;othersarealtermotive,butaremovedinanorderly
manner;andothers,aredisorderly,tumultuousandconfused.

Thedifferenceoftheelementstherefore,beingsogreat,whatoccasion
istheretodisturbwhatisheresaidbyPlato,asiftheelementsexisted
onlyinoneway?Foritisnecessarytosurveytheelementsinasmany
waysastherearemediabetweentheDemiurgusandsublunarynatures;
becausetheirprogressionisthroughmedia.Theelementstherefore,are
intheheavens,butnot*afterthesamemannerasingenesiurgicbodies;
forneitherdotheysubsistintheheavens,afterthesamemannerasia
theDemiurgus.Butpriortothesublunaryelements,thereare,the
celestialfire(andthislightmanifestswhichisaspeciesoffire)and
celestialearth.Orwhydoesthemoonbeingilluminatedproducea
shadow,andwhydoesnotthesolarlightpervadethroughthewholecf
it?Itisalsonecessarythatthemiddleelementsshouldbeinthe
heavenlybodies,butthatdifferentelementsshouldaboundindifferent
partsofthecelestialregions.Andinsomeplacesindeed,itisnecessary
thatthefierynatureshouldwidelyscatteritssplendour,onaccountof
Esolidity,asinthestarrybodies;butinothers,thatitshouldbeconcealed
fromus,asinthespheresthatcarrythestars.Hence,thepeculiarityofall
fireisvisibility,butneitherheat,norfloating.Andsolidityandtangibility,
arethecharacteristicsofallearth,butnotgravity,sinking,andadownward
tendency.Iftherefore,weassumethesepeculiarities,weshallfindthat
fireandearthsubsistalsoanalogouslyintheheavens;fireindeed,
definingtheessenceofthem,buteachoftheotherelementsbeing
consubsistentwithit.
Foragain,thisalsomaybesaid,thatcausesandtheefficientsofcertain
things,everywhereantecedentlycomprehendthepowersofthenatures
whichareadornedandproducedbythem;andespeciallywhenthey
produceaccordingtonature.Forthusnaturepossessestheformofthe
tThetextincludesimpartiblehere.PT.
XOvisomittedhereintheoriginal.
teeth,theeyesandthehands,throughwhichalsoshegivesmorpheto
matter.Andnoteveryeyepossessesinterval,butthereissomethingin
whichithasanimpartibleform.Again,soulisone,andcontainsin
itselfthatwhichisdivine,andthatwhichisirrational.Andinthe
divinepartofitself,itcomprehendsrationallytheirrationalpowers,by
whichitgoverns,andarrangesinabecomingmannerirrationality.And
Fneitheristheunityofthesoul,noritsmultitudedestroyedthrough
differentessences.Forthesethingssubsistinonewayinthesuperior,
2,48andinanotherintheinferiorpart.Inasimilarmanner,theworldalso
isoneandmany;fortheheavensareonething,andgenerationanother.
Andgenerationisadornedfromtheheavens;andtheseelementsarein
theheavens,butcelestially.Fortheyareinsoul,psychically,in
intellect,intellectually,andintheDemiurgus,demiurgically.Forhow
couldthesublunaryelementsbegovernedbytheeffluxionsfromthese

natures,unlesstheyalsosubsistedinthemafteranothermanner?Thus
154Aalsointhearts,wemayseethatthephysiciandoesnotpresideoverthe
carpenter;forthephysiciandoesnotantecedentlycomprehendin
himselftheworksofthecarpenter.Nordoesthemechanicpresideover
thecook;fortheformerdoesnotantecedentlycomprehendthings
pertainingtobanquets.Butitistheprovinceofthatwhichantecedently
comprehendsthewholepowerofathing,togovernit.Henceitis
evidentthatthemechanistentirelypresidesoverthecarpenter,andthe
physicianoverthecook.Iftherefore,theheavensgovernallgeneration,
theelementswillbecontainedinthemprimarily.
ThePythagoreanshoweversay,thattheelementsmaybesurveyedin
theheavensinatwofoldrespect,inonewayindeedpriortothesun,
andinanotherafterif.forthemoonisetherealearth.Thistherefore,
thetheologistclearlyasserts.Forhesays:
Anotherboundlessearthbesideshemade,
WhichGodsselene,mortalsmenecall,
Withnum'roushouses,cities,mountsadorn'd.
Orph.fr.81
ButtheysaythattheplanetMercuryisetherealwater,Venusair,and
thesunfire.Andagain,thatMarsiscelestialfire,Jupitercelestialair,
Saturncelestialwater,andtheinerraticspherecelestialearth.Andthus
Bspeakinginadividedmannertheymaketheextremestobeeverywhere
fireandearth,butconjointheetherealnaturesthroughmedia,viz.
throughVenusandMercury:forboththesehaveacollectiveand
unifyingpower.Buttheyconjointhecelestialnatures,throughSaturn
andJupiter:forthroughthesethatwhichisconnectiveofwholes,and
thecommensurate,accedetoallthings.Whatwenowsay,however,is
conformabletothehistorydeliveredbymany[ofthePythagoric
doctrines].ForthatthismodeofdistributionisnotPlatonic,wemay
2.49learnfromthisthatPlatoarrangesthesunimmediatelyabovethemoon,
afterwardsVenus,andthenMercury.*
Itisnecessarythereforetounderstand,thatalltheelementsareineach
ofthecelestialspheres,sinceinthesublunaryelementsalso,each
participatesoftherest.Forfireparticipatesofearth;sincebeingmoved
withfacility,itwouldmostrapidlyperish,ifitwasentirelywithout
stability.Andearthparticipatesoffire;forbeingmovedwithdifficulty,
itrequiresheattoresuscitateandrestoreit.Asthisthereforeisthecase
inthesesublunaryelements,muchmoremustalltheelementsbeineach
ofthecelestialspheres,thoughsomeoftheheavenlybodiesparticipate
Cmore*offire,othersofair,othersofwater,andothersofearth.
Againtherefore,fromthebeginningwemustsay,thattheelements
beingconceivedinonewayasunmingled,butinanotherasmingled,the
firstmixtureofthemproducestheheavens,whichcontainallthings
accordingtoafierycharacteristic.[Butthesecondmixtureofthem

producesthesublunaryregion],5inwhichallthingssubsistaccording
toamiddlecharacteristic.Andthelastmixtureofthemproducesthe
subterraneanrealms,inwhichthedregsofallthingsarecontained,
Pyriphlegethon,+astheysay,andAcheron,OceanandCocytus.
Henceitmaybesaid,thatthefourunmingledelementsareeverywhere,
andthattherearefive,allheavenbeingassumedasoneelement;butthat
thelastelementsarecomprehendedintheearth.Thefiveelemenis
however,aresaidtobetheelementsoftheworld;andonthisaccount
theworldderivesitscompletionfromthem.Butitmustbesaidthatthe
fourelementsaretheelementsbothoftheheavensandofgeneration.
Hencetheheavensareofafifthessence,besidesthefourelements;but
aremingledfromthesimpleelements.Forthesesublunaryfourarenot
intheheavens,butthesummitsofthemarethere,andallthefour
elementsunmingled,andseparatedfromeachotherbytheirproper
forms.AndtheseassertionsaremostconcordantwithPlato,whoatone
timesaysthattheheavensconsistofthefourelements,bound
tcf.Tim.38d.
XMotWovisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
Itappearsthatthewords777cb~eSevrepaqTOVvtoot\r\vqvroitov,arewantingin
thisplace,intheoriginal.
cf.Phcedo112eff.
Dtogetherbyanalogy,andthatthewholeworldisconstitutedfromthese;
butshortlyafterfashionsthefivefigures,andcallsthemfiveworlds.
2,50Forthesethingsgiveafifthessencetotheheavens,introduceatetractys
oftheelements,andaccordwithtruth.Forallthingsareintheheavens
accordingtoafierymode;andonthisaccountitisasimplebody,
differentfromthatwhichissublunary,andtrulycomprehendsallthings
pertainingtothesematerialmasses.Wemustnotthereforeadmitthat
allearthisheavy,northatallfireislight;butsublunaryearthandfire
areperhapsthingsofthiskind,whilethoseintheheavenssubsistafter
iinothermanner.Forthesolidityandstabilitywhicharethereare
derivedfromearth.Andhenceeachofthespheresisnotmoved
accordingtothewholeofitself[butrevolvesroundanimmoveable
centre].Butthecelestiallight,andfacilityofmotion,arederivedfrom
lire.Theconnectiveandtransparentnatureoftheheavensarefromair;
andtheirequabilityandsmoothness,fromwater.
ThatPlatohowever,affordsustheseauxiliaries,heclearlyshows
shortlyafter,whenhesays,*"thathewhoconstitutedtheworldcomposed
itfromallfire,water,airandearth,leavingnopartnorpowerofanyone
ofthemexternally."Forhedoesnotsayfromfireorwatersimply,but
Efromallfireandallwater,throughwhichheindicatesthatthereis
muchfireintheuniverse,andofadifferentnature,andalsomuch
water,andwhichisessentiallydifferent.Moreover,thetheologyofthe

Assyrianswhichwasunfoldedintolightfromdivinity,deliversthesame
things.Forinthattheology,theDemiurgusissaidtohavemadethe
wholeworldfromfire,water,earth,andallnourishingetherorair;and
theartificerissaidtohavefashionedtheworldasitwerewithhisown
hands.Foritsays,"therewasacertainothermassoffire."Buthe
fashioned,asitweremanually,allthings,inorderthathemight
conglomeratethemundanebody,"thattheworldmightbecome
manifest,andmightnotappearmembraneous;"*whichisthesame
thingastosay,thatitmightnotalonebeartheobscureandimbecile
vestigesofforms.Forthewordmembraneoussignifiestheindistinct
subsistenceofreasons[orforms].Aswehavesaidtherefore,theOracles
alsobearwitnesstowhatisassertedbyPlato,sincetheytoogeneratethe
worldfromfourelements.Andthusmuchconcerningtheconcordof
tTim.32cd.
Xcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.68.
2.51philosophersaboutthisparticular:forweshallseeinwhatfollows,if
thereisanydifferencerespectingitinthedoctrineofPlato.
FItismanifesthowever,thattheelementsareeverywhereboundto
eachotherbyanalogy.*Foranalogy,aswehavesaid,imitatesdivine
union,andisademiurgicbond.Andtheanalogyindeedin
mathematics,possessestheaccurateandthescientific:fortheratiosthere
areimmaterial.Butinphysicsthisisnolongersimilarlythecase.For
theanalogywhichisintheheavenlybodiesparticipatesofacertain
accuracy;butinsublunarynaturestheanalogyislessaccurate,because
itisconversantwithmatter.Againtherefore,theorderoftheelements
becomesapparent,andweseethatPlatoveryproperlyprocuresfrom
155Athemathematicsbeliefinphysicalreasons.Fortheyarecauses,andthe
demiurgicprogressioniseffectedthroughsoul.Thegenerationalsoof
physicalessencesappropriatelyproceedsthroughmedia;andcelestial
naturesareinacertainrespectmorealliedtoaccuratereasons,but
sublunarynatureshaveanobscuretruth.Platothereforeknowingthese
things,adds,"asmuchaspossible,"inorderthatyoumaynotentirely
requireinphysicalreasonsamathematicalaccuracy.Forifyouare
willingtoexamineeachoftheelements,youwillperceiveanabundant
mixtureinit.Thus,forinstance,airisnotsimplyathingofattenuated
parts.Forithasalsosomethinggross,nebulous,andaqueous.Noriswattr
simplyeasilymoved.Andthepartoffireitselfwhichismingledwithair,
resemblestheobtusenessofair;andthisnecessarilyForitisrequisiteto
conjointhesummitsofsecondarywiththedregsofprimarynatures.
Fartherstill,weoughtalsotounderstandthemannerinwhichPlato
Bconstitutestheanalogy.Forhebeginsfromthemedia,andpreservesthe
orderoftheterms,justastheDemiurgusmadeallthingstobeineach
other,*togetherwithpreservingthedistinctionofthem;andhe

denominatesallthiscontextureabondandcomposition.Foritisa
bondindeed,asimpartingunionandanalogyfromthedemiurgiccause;
2.52butitisacomposition,asbeingthenceproducedaccordingtoessence
itself.Forsomeonemaybindthingswhichhedidnotcompose.This
however,isnotthecasewiththeDemiurgus,butheisthefather,heis
theunifyingcause,andheistheguardianofallhisownworks.In
additiontothesethingsalso,itmustbeobservedthatPlatoassumes
here,aswehavesaid,thegeometricmean,andindicatesthatthisis
analogy.Foritisthepeculiarityofthismiddletohavethesameratio.
tInsteadofonbeavakoyiabebeucrcuinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,on<>e
ava\o7ic<bebriaerai.
XForevaXXoichere,itisnecessarytoreadevaXXrjXoic.
Hencesomepersonsproperlycallitanalogy.Theothermedia
therefore,appeartobethesuppliersofmorepartialgoodstotheworld,
andnottobethesourcesoftheorderwhichproceedsthroughall
things,andofuninterruptedconnexion.Forinthegenerationofthe
soultheother*mediaareassumedforthesakeofbindingtogetherthe
geometricratios,andarecomprehendedinthewholegeometricmiddle,
Casinthatwhichisaloneanalogy.
32c"Hencefromtheseandthingsofthiskind,whicharefourinnumber,
thebodyoftheworldwasgenerated,beingconcordantthroughanalogy,
andpossessingfriendshipthroughthese,soastoconspireintounion
withitself,andtobeindissolublebyanyothernaturethanbyhim
throughwhomitwasbound."
Thatthetetraditselfoftheelements,primarilyproceededfromallperfect
animal,(foritwastheintelligibletetrad)andthatonthisaccount
allthingsexisttetradically,becomesIthinkevidentthroughthewords
beforeus;andalsothatgenerationproceedstothetetradfromthe
monadthroughtheduad.Fortheworldisonlybegottenandone.*
Afterwardswefinditisnecessarythatthereshouldbethevisibleand
tangibleinit;inthenextplace,wefindthatthesebeingmuchseparated
fromeachother,areinwantofacertainthirdthing;andinthethird
2.53place,thatthemediumisbiformed,andthuswearriveatthetetrad.
Thistherefore,iswhatthePythagorichymnsaysaboutnumber:That
itproceedsfromthesecretrecessesofthemonad,untilitarrivesatthedivine
tetrad.Andthisgeneratesthedecad,whichisthemotherofallthings.
ThusalsothefatheroftheGoldenVerses,celebratesthetetractysitself,
Dasthefountainofperennialnature.Fortheworldbeingadornedbythe
tetrad,whichproceedsfromthemonadandtriad,isterminatedbythe
decad,asbeingcomprehensiveofallthings.Thattheworldlikewiseis
onethroughanalogy,subsistingfromtheseelements,andfromsuchlike

thingsaccordingtopowers,andfromsomanyaccordingtoquantity,
Platoclearlymanifestsbysaying,thatnotthesublunaryregion,butthe
bodyoftheuniverse,wasgeneratedfromthefourelements.Butthe
friendshipoftheworldistheendoftheanalogy,throughwhichalso
theworldissavedbyitself.Foreverythingwhichisfriendly,wishes
tobepreservativeofthattowhichitisfriendly:buteverythingforeign
turnsfrom,anddoesnotevenwishthattoexisttowhichitis
tThereisanomissioninthisplaceofaiaXXou.
*cf.Tim.31b.
abhorrent;sothatthenaturewhichisfriendlyto,ispreservativeof
itself.Theworldhowever,isfriendlytoitselfthroughanalogyand
sympathy,andthereforeitpreservesitself.Butitisalsopreservedby
thefabricationofthings,receivingfromitanineffableguard.Hence
also,thetheologistdenominatesthebondderivedfromtheDemiurgus
strong,asNightisrepresentedsayingtotheDemiurgus,
EButwhenyoupoweraroundthewholehasspread
Astrongcoercivebond.
Analogyhowever,impartsthisfriendshiptotheworld,byconnecting
andcomprehendingthepowersoftheelementsthatareinit.Total
naturelikewiseimpartsit,producingthesympathyandharmonyof
contraries.Butpriortonature,soulimpartsit,weavingtheonelifeof
theworld,andcoadaptingallthepartsofittothewhole.Andstill
2,54muchpriortothese,itisimpartedbyintellect,whichproducesinall
things,order,perfection,andoneconnexion.Andevenpriortoan
intellectualessence,theonedivinityoftheuniverse,andalltheGods
thatareallottedtheworld,aretheprimordialcausesoftheunionthat
isinit.Butmuchpriortothis,theoneDemiurgusimpartsfriendship
totheworld.Thisgreatesthowever,andmostperfectofbonds,which
thefatheronallsidesthrowsroundtheworld,asbeingeffectiveofthe
friendshipandharmoniouscommunioninit,isdenominatedbythe
[Chaldean]Oracles,thebondofloveheavilyladenwithfire.Forthey
say,*"Thepaternalselfbegottenintellectunderstandinghisworks,
disseminatedinallthings,thebondofloveheavywithfire."Andthey
Faddthecausewhyhedidthis,"Thatallthingsmightremain*lovingfor
aninfinitetime,woventogetherintellectuallyinallthelightofthe
father."Foronaccountofthislove,allthingsareadaptedtoeach
other,"Thattheelementsoftheworldmightremainrunninginlove."
Hence,themundaneelementsareboundtogether,possessfriendship,
andthisindissolubleforaninfinitetime,throughthewillofthefather.
Ifalsotogetherwiththese,5youarewillingtosurveythesupermundane
causeoffriendship,youwillfindthislikewisecelebratedbytheologist.
FortheDemiurgusproducedVenus,inorderthatshemightbeautifully

tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.39;&Lobeck,Aglaophemus,220.
tForMijbehere,readMrjpgde.
IntheoriginalvpoTOVTLOV,butasVenusisposteriortotheDemiurgus,whohas
previouslybeensaidtobethecauseoffriendshiptotheworld,itappearstomethatwe
shouldread%poqTOVTWV,orratherirpoqrovroiq,asirpocseldomsignifieswith,
whenitgovernsthegenitive.
156Ailluminateallmundanenatures,withorder,harmony,andcommunion.
AndhealsoproducedLoveasherattendant,whoistheunifyingcause
ofwholes.TheDemiurgushowever,likewisepossessesinhimselfthe
causeofLove.Forheis"Metisthefirstgenerator,andmuchpleasing
Love."*Henceheisveryproperlythecauseoffriendshipandconcord
tohisfabrications.AndperhapslookingtothisPherecydessaid*that
Jupiterwhenhewasabouttofabricate,waschangedintoLove.Because
2.55however,heconstitutedtheworldfromcontraries,heledittoconcord
;indfriendship,anddisseminatedinallthingssamenessandunionwhich
pervadethroughwholes.
Throughthesethingstherefore,theworldisindissoluble,anditis
likewisesofromitsmaker.Forhowcanthatwhichgeneratesallthings
byitsveryexistence,bethecauseofcorruptiontoallthings?Besides,
everythingwhichiscorruptediscorruptedeitherfrommatter,orfrom
form,orfromitsmaker;andfromeachoftheseinatwofoldrespect.
Foritiscorruptedfromthemaker,eitherbeingimbecile,asapartial
Bnature;orchangingitsintention,asapartialsoul.Itisalsocorrupted
fromform,eithernotbeingwellconstitutedatfirst,orbeingdissolved
inthecourseoftime.Anditiscorruptedfrommatter,eitherbeing
inwardlydeprivedofsymmetry,orsustainingviolenceexternally.As
corruptiontherefore,isproducedinasixfoldmanner,Platosubvertsall
themodesofit.Fortheworldisnotineitherwaycorruptedfromits
maker.Notfromhiswantofpower,becausetheDemiurgusisthebest
ofcauses,andimbecilityhasnoplacewithhim,sincehegovernsthe
universebyinflexiblepowers.Norfromhiswill,becausehedoesnot
atdifferenttimeswilldifferentthings;andbecause,tobewillingto
dissolvethatwhichisbeautifullyharmonized,andwellconstituted,is
theprovinceofanevilnature.Butheisgood,andtheuniverseis
beautifullyharmonized.Itisasimilarthingtherefore,forthe
Demiurgustobewillingthattheuniverseshouldnotexist,andforhim
nottobegood.Noristheworldcorruptedfromform;foritis
harmonizedaccordingtoanalogy,andisperfectandone.Andthrough
harmonyindeed,formvanquishes;butthroughwholenessandonlyness,
theworldwillneverbedeprivedofcongruity.Norisitcorruptedfrom
matter.Foritsinherentanalogysubvertstheprivationofsymmetry.
Butitsonlynessremovesitfromthereachofexternalviolence.Byno
Cmeanstherefore,isitpossiblefortheuniversetobecorrupted.Why

tOrphicfr.123,11.
XFr.3d.
thendoesPlatoadd,thatitcannotbecorrupted,exceptbyhimby
whomitwasbound?Itisevidentindeed,thatiteverywherebelongs
tohimwhobinds,todissolve.Andyoumayassumefromthis,thatthe
worldisgeneratedinsuchaway,*asalonesubsistingfromanother
cause.Forasitisnotdissolublebyanythingelsethanitsgenerator;so
itisnotgeneratedbyanyotherthanbyhimwhoboundit,whichis,as
wehavesaid,throughhispossessingthecauseofthedissolutionofthat
2.56whichisbound.Whatisheresaidalsohasanotherindication.Forthe
universeisindissolublebyeverything,exceptbyhimwhoboundit.
Foritisnotindissolublebyhim;sincethisisasmallthingtoassert.
Butonthecontrary,itiseternallyboundbyhim.Asifthereforeit
shouldbesaid,thathewhopossessesscientificknowledge,isincapable
ofbeingdeceivedbyallthingsexceptbyintellect;forheisnotincapable
ofbeingdeceivedbyintellect;sinceitisnotsufficienttointellectthat
thesoulisnotdeceived,butthatitpossesseswisdom;thusalsothe
worldisnotindissolublebyhimwhoboundit,butisratherboundby
him.Forbyotherthingsitisindissoluble;buttohimitratherbelongs
tobind,andnottodissolve.Justasitbelongstothesuntoilluminate,
andnottodarken.Forthisistheprovinceofcertainotherthings.
32c"Butthecompositionoftheworldreceivedonewholeofeachofthe
Dfourelements.Foritwasconstitutedbyhimwhocomposedit,fromall
fire,water,airandearth;andhedidnotleaveexternallyanypartor
powerofanyoneoftheelements."
Platoknew,aswehavebeforeobserved,*thattherearemany
differencesoffire,ofwater,andofeachoftheotherelements;fromall
which,hesays,theworldderivesitscompletion;andheconfersthisas
thethirddemiurgicgiftontheworld.Sothatwemustnotwonderif
heleavesthesummitsofthefourelementsintheheavens,butthe
middleprogressionsoftheminthesublunaryregions,andthelastdregs
oftheminthesubterraneanrealms,distributingtheelementsanalogous
tothethreedemiurgiJupiter,Neptune,andPluto.Foreachwholeof
themisassumed,andtheuniverseconsistsofallofeach;whetheryou
speakofthatwhichisprimarilyfire,andiscelestial,orofthatwhich
hasamiddlerank,orofthatwhichisthelast,whichisdisorderlyand
confused,andiscolouredoverwithcertainfieryqualities.Forsuchas
2.57wesupposetheconfusedandinordinatetobe,suchespeciallyappearsto
tInsteadofOUTOChere,itisrequisitetoreadOUTOC.
X154EFsupra,p.464.

Ebeeachofthesubterraneanelements;becausefabricationinproceeding,
endsgraduallyinthatwhichisunadorned,andwhichparticipatesinthe
smallestdegreeoforder.Thesethings,therefore,aremanifest.
Wesay,however,thatpartandpowerdiffer;sofarasapartofeach
oftheelements,isofasimilaressencewiththewholeofwhichitisa
part,butpowergivescompletiontoeachoftheelements.Forapartof
fireisfire;butpowerisoneofthemanypeculiaritiesinfire,suchas
motion,acuteness,andtenuity.Itisevident,therefore,thatallfire,and
.illthepowersoffire,andoftheotherelements,arecomprehendedin
theworld.Whatthen,someonemaysaywhoisimpelledbythedivine
wisdomwhichisbeyondtheconfinesofcommonphilosophy;*who
dividesallthings,intotheempyrean,theetherial,andthematerial;*and
whocallsthevisiblealonethematerialworld,whatshallweassertof
thefirmamentsthatareabovetheworld,whetheritberequisitetocall
themOlympus,orempyrean,orethers?Maywenotsay,thatthough
thosefirmamentsshouldnotconsistofthefourelements,againitistrue,
chatnopartofthefour,isexternaltotheuniverse,orrather,asPlato
says,isexternally.Forthetermexternally,ismoreemphatical,
Fbecauseitmanifests,thattheviolencewhichtheseelementsbringwith
them,isnotwithintheuniverse,butexternallyinvadesit.Forthose
firmamentsarefiery,andarecomprehendedinthewholeworld.And
againitistrue,thatthereisnofireoutoftheuniverse,buttheuniverse
comprehendsthewholeofit,suchastheuniverseis,andsuchasisthe
amplitudeofitsbulk.SothattheassertionofTimaeusisperfectlytrue.
Butwhythen,someonemaysay,doeshegivesubsistencetothe
universe,beginningfromtheinerraticsphere?Isitnotbecauseit
belongstoanaturalphilosophertodiscourseaboutvisible,andinshort,
sensiblenatures?Perhaps,too,heveryproperlyalonemakesmention
ofthese,aspertainingtothefabricationofJupiter.Forofthose[i.e.the
157Aempyrean,etherialandmaterialworlds]theetherialismostvivific,but
2,58theempyreanispaternal,andthematerialisdemiurgic.Forthefire
whichisthefirstbeyond,didnotencloseits*powerinworks,butin
intellect:fortheartificerofthefiery[i.e.theempyrean]worldisan
fProclusmeansbythis,thewisdomoftheChaldeans,asdeliveredintheirOracles[Fr.
61&184].
%AccordingtotheChaldeanstherearesevencorporealworlds,oneempyreanandthe
first;afterthis,threeethereal;andthenthreematerialworlds,whichconsistofthe
inerraticsphere,thesevenplanetaryspheres,andthesublunaryregion.
ForIKdvvap.ivhere,reada\vbvvap.iv.
intellect*ofintellect,saystheOracle.*Unlessitberequisitetosaythis,
thatPlatoproducessoulanalogoustotheetherialworlds,butintellect,
totheempyreanworld.Hencealsohesays,thatsoulwasmingledfrom
threeparts,butthatintellectisimpartible.5Fortheetherialistriple,

andthePsychocrator,orminglerofsoul,whoascendsintotheetherial
worlds,isaTeletarch.+Welearn,also,thattheempyreanworldis
one,andisessentiallyintellectual.Thesethingsthereforemusthereafter
beconsidered:foritisverydubioushowtheyaccordwiththedogmas
ofPlato.Now,however,letuspassontothewordsthatfollow.
32d"Forbyadianoeticorreasoningprocessheconcluded,thatitwould
33athusbeawholeanimalinthehighestdegreeperfectfromperfectparts.
Andbesidesthis,thatitwouldbeone,asnothingwouldbeleftfrom
whichanyothersuchnaturemightbeproduced.Andfurtherstill,that
Bitwouldneitherbeobnoxioustooldage,nordisease.Forhe
intellectuallyperceived,thattheheatandcoldwhichmeetinbody,and
allsuchthingsashavestrongandvigorouspowers,whentheysurround
bodiesexternally,andfallonthemunseasonably,dissolvetheirunion,
andintroducingdiseasesandoldage,causethemtoperishthrough
decay."
Platoassignsthreecauses,thatImayspeaksummarily,throughwhich
noelementisleftexternallytotheuniverse,viz.perfection,unity,and
2,59perpetuity.Butallthesereciprocateinthesubjectofthem.Forifthe
universeisperfect,thereisnothingexternaltoit.Foranotherworld
mightbegeneratedfromthatwhichisexternal;sincewhyshouldone
thingbegeneratedfromtheseelements[whicharewithintheworld],
butnothingfromthose[whichareexternaltoit]?Andifthereis
nothingexternaltotheworld,theworldisone.Again,iftheworldis
perpetual,thereisnobodyexternaltotheuniverse,homogeneoustothe
elementswhichareinit.Forifanythingshouldinvadeit,itwould
injure,anddissolvetheuniverse.Forbeingexternal,itwouldbeforeign
totheworld,andbeingforeignitwouldmolesttheuniverse.Andif
nothingisexternaltotheworld,theworldisperpetual.Foritwillnot
tInsteadofvovyapo>c,itisnecessarytoreadvovyapVOVQ.
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.5.
cf.Tim.35a;37a.
TheTeletarchssubsistattheextremityofthatorderofGodswhichiscalled
intelligibleandatthesametimeintellectual.Seethe4thBookofmytranslationof
ProclusontheTheologyofPlato[TTSvol.VIII;seealsoChald.Oracl.fr.85].
havethatwhichiscorruptiveofit.Ifalsotheadmonitionrespectingthe
onlyness,perpetuity,andperfectionoftheuniverse,istrue,itwasbefore
Cassumedfromtheparadigm.Forthatwasallperfect,uniform[orhaving
theformofone],andeternal;thesecondofthese,onaccountoftheone
being,fromwhichtheonlybegottenisderived;butthethird,through
eternity,fromwhichperpetuityisderived;andthefirst,through
comprehendingalltheformsofintelligibleanimals.Forthisisthe

peculiarityofallperfectanimal.Buttheallperfect,indeed,isthecause
ofperfectnatures;theuniform,ofmonadic;andtheeternal,ofperpetual
natures;sinceeveryproducingcause,producesthatwhichissecond
similartoitself,andespeciallywhenitproducesaccordingtoessence,
andhasanessenceinenergy.Atthesametime,also,eachoftheseis
demonstratedfromtheseasmaterialcauses.Forifthereisnothing
externaltotheuniverse,andifitcomprehendsallappropriateparts,it
isone,perfect,andperpetual.Someonehowevermaydoubt,howPlato
arguingfromperpetuity,saysthatnothingisleftexternaltothe
universe.Forthereareotherperpetualnatures,suchasthecelestial
bodies,andyetsomethingisexternaltothem.Butmayyounotsayof
these,thatotherthingsareexternaltothem;andyetnotexternal?For
asnaturallyseparatedfromotherthings,thereissomethingexternalto
them;butasbeingcopassivewiththem,andcomprehendedtogether
withthemasmostprincipalpartsoftheuniversebyonenature,there
Disnotanythingexternaltothem.Butifanythingwasexternaltothe
universe,itwouldbeexternalalone,havingnosympathywiththe
2,60world.Itwouldalsobeathingofaforeignnature,wouldbedestitute
ofthelifewhichisintheworld,andwouldbecutofffromit,bythe
interveningvacuum.
If,likewise,someoneshoulddoubtconcerningthepsychicalvehicles,
howthey*arenotpassivelyaffectedbytheseelements,sincetheydo
notvanquishtheminthesamemannerasdivinebodies,itmustbesaid
ihattheywouldsufferfromthem,iftheyconsistedofthingssimilarto
theelements.Butnowbeingcomposedofotherthings,theyremain
accordingtohypostasis*indissoluble.Atthesametime,however,they
arenotentirelyimpassive;butmaterialbodiesbeingagglutinatedto
them,theyarehinderedfromtheirnaturalmotion,andaremovedinan
inordinatemanner;neitherbeingabletobemovedcircularly,on
accountoftheconnexionwiththemofthematerialbodies,norto
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.94.
$ForvitoBeaivhere,itseemsnecessarytoreadVKOOTCIOIV.
proceedinarightline,onaccountoftheirownnature.Hencealso
Platocallstheperiodsofoursouls,disorderlyandconfused;*notonly
onaccountofthepsychicalmotions,butlikewiseonaccountofthe
motionsofourvehicles,inconsequenceofsuchaconglutinationtaking
placefromthesesublunarybodies.Ifthereforetheuniverseisperpetual,
andalwayssubsistsaccordingtonature,itwillberequisitethatthere
Eshouldbenothingexternaltoit.Forthisbeingperfectlyforeignfrom
it,andfallingonitexternally,wouldbecomethecauseofitscorruption.
Youmayalsosayconversely,thatthewords,"inorderthattheuniverse
maybeperpetual,"aretheconclusion;butthatthemiddletermandthe
causeoftheconclusionisthis,thatthereisnothingexternaltothe

universe.Forbecausethereisnothingexternaltotheuniverse,nothing
canintroducecorruptiontoit,assomethingforeign;sothatitis
perpetual.Totheuniversethereforethisisthecauseofperpetuity;but
tothepartsinit,notthis,butotherthingsarethecauseof
incorruptibility;suchforinstanceas,thebeingconstitutedbytheone
Demiurgus.Forheissimplythecauseofimmortalitytoallthings;so
thattheuniverseisinagreaterdegreeincorruptible.Foritis
incorruptibleonaccountoftheDemiurgus,andbecausethereisnothing
externaltoit.Thus,likewise,itispossibletoconverttheotherpartsof
thetext,as,thatbecausethereisnothingexternaltotheuniverse,the
universeisonlybegotten;thattheonlybegottenmaybethreefold,viz.on
accountoftheparadigm,onaccountofallmatterbeingcomprehended
init,andonaccountoftheDemiurgusbeingone.And,also,thatthe
universeisallperfect,becauseitiscomprehensiveofallthings.Eachof
theseassertionsthereforeisevident.Butwithrespecttothethings
whicharetheconverseofthese,suchasthat,iftheuniverseisonly
2,61begottenithasnothingexternaltoit,thisisimmediatelytrueofthe
Funiversealone;andthedemonstrationswillbeasfollow:Theuniverse
isonlybegotten;butifitisonlybegotten,itwillhavenothingexternal
toitself,fromwhichanotherthingofthelikekindmaybegenerated.
Theuniverseisindissoluble;butifindissolublenothingforeigntothe
naturesofwhichitconsists,willbeexternaltoit.Theuniverse*isallperfect.
Fortheallperfectisthatwhichisnotdefectiveinanything.
HenceAristotlealsosays,5thattheuniversealoneisperfect;butall
tcf.Tim.47b.
XIntheoriginalTOwavaparavreXeg,butapaisevidentlysuperfluous.Forthat
theuniverseisallperfect,isnowabouttobeproved.
cf.AristotleDeCoeloI,1,268a20.
thingsinitareimperfect,asbeingpartsoftheuniverse.These
therefore,thatImayspeaksummarily,aretheparticularswhichare
discussedbyPlato.
158AIf,however,youarewilling,wewillrecurtothewordsthemselves.
Throughthewordstherefore,"byadianoeticorreasoningprocess,"he
evolvestheintellectualperceptionintheDemiurgus,callingitdianoi'a;
sinceheapprehendsitdianoeticallyandnotthroughsimpleprojection.
Foravariousevolutionofcause,istheworkofdianoia;butauniform
apprehension,andthecomprehensionofallthingsinoneintellectual
perception,aretheemploymentofintellect.Platotherefore,making
himselfthepromulgatorofthecausesantecedentlycomprehendedinthe
Demiurgus,refershisowndiscursiveenergytotheuniformintellectual
perceptionofthefabricatoroftheworld.Thusalsotheoraclescallthe
partibleintellectionoftheDemiurgus,dianoia.Fortheysay,*"Isoul
beinghotandanimatingallthingsdwellafterthepaternaldianoias."

Butthewords,"awholeanimalinthehighestdegreeperfectfromperfect
parts,"assimilatetheworldtotheintellectualwholeness,andthe
intelligibleallness.Forpartssubsistwithareferencetowhole,andare
2,62notperfectfromthemselves;buttheyhaveindeedtheperfectionof
Bparts,yetaresimplydestituteofperfection.Theuniverse,however,is
properlyawhole.Forawholetotallyisonething;aparttotallyis
another;awholepartiallyisanother;andapartpartiallyranksinthethird
place.Andtheuniverse,indeed,isawholetotally,asbeingawholeof
wholes.Buteachofthespheresisaparttotally,accordingtothesecond
formofwholeness.Andpartialanimals,arewholespartially.Forthethird
wholenessisinthese,butwithapartialpeculiarity.Andthepartsofthese
arepartspartially:fortheyarepartsalone.
Moreoverthewords"asnothingwouldbeleftfromwhichanyothersuch
naturemightbeproduced,"isanexplanationofthecausethroughwhich
theworldisone;butitisanexplanationofthematerialcause.Forif
therewasanythingofthiskindexternaltotheworld,anotherworld
greaterorlessmightbegeneratedfromit.FortheDemiurguswould
notleaveitunadorned;becausehewishesallthingstobegood,and
nothingtobebad.*Butiftheworldisone,nothingofsuchanature
asthethingsfromwhichitisgenerated,isleftexternaltoit.Perhaps,
too,Platoaddsthis,onaccountofthecelestialbodies,andinshort,on
accountofmonadicnatures.Forthecelestialbodiesaremonadic,noother
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.53.
%cf.Tim.30a.
thingsbeingleftexternaltothemfromwhichsuchlikebodiescouldbe
generated.Foreachofthemconsistsofthosethings,whichin
Cmagnitude,power,andmultitude,areconstitutiveofthemalone,butof
nootherthing.*Hencealsotheyarecalledmonadic,becausetheyalone
consistofthesethingsalone.Norisanyoneofthesimplebodies[i.e.of
thefourelements],suchinallrespectsastheelement*ofeachofthese
[celestialbodies].FromtheelevatedconceptionsthereforeofPlato,it
follows,thatthenaloneathingiscorruptedbythenaturesthat
surroundit,whenitconsistsofthesamethingsasthosebywhichitis
surrounded;sothatthereareasmanydifferencesoffire,andofeachof
theelements,astherearemonadicnaturesfromwhichtheuniverse
consists;andtheDemiurgusconstitutedasmanyideasofsimplebodies,
asofthecompositenatures,whichheintendedtoproduce.Hence,all
ofthemgivecompletiontoonecertainthing,andnothingelseis
generatedfromthem.
Butthewords,neitherobnoxioustooldage,nordisease,haveamanifest
2.63cause.Fordiseasearisesfromthewantofsymmetryinthethingsthatenter
intothebody,*someofthepartsinusbeingaugmentedbyothers,and
dissolvingtheanalogywiththeremainingpartsofwhichweconsist,through
whichasuperabundanceanddeficiencyofthehumoursaresecretly

introduced,andoldageaccedes,naturebecomingimbecile,asPlatosays
furtheron,+throughcontendingagainstmanythingsthatexternally
attackit,andenduringanumeroussuccessionoflabours.Forthe
concoctionandmanagementofthefood,purgation,andallsuchthings
asaretheworksofnature,arenotwithoutlabour.Andfromthisyou
mayassume,thattheDemiurguswhorenderstheworldfreefromold
ageanddisease,possessesthefountainofthePaeonianseries.Foritis
necessarythatthetrulyexistingcause,andwhichisalonethecauseof
health,shouldsubsistpriortothegeneratedcause,orthecauseofhealth
whichtheworldcontains.For,inshort,ifthecauseofsymmetryisthe
healthoftheelements,itisnecessarythatthisshouldexistinthemost
beautifulmannerintheuniverse,inwhichthereisinthemosteminent
tInsteadofaXX'ovdeovSevoc,here,itisrequisitetoreadaXKovdeovdevoc,.
$ForoiovTOemaTovTOVTUVoroixeiuv,IreadoiovTOemorovTOVTUVoroixeioc.
Thecelestialbodiesconsistof,whatAristotlecalls,afifthelement,andwhichis
essentiallydifferentfromeachofthefourelements,[cf.AristotleDeMundoEI,393a1].
cf.AristotleDialogues,fr.41,1482al0;&Tim.Locr.102b;alsoProcl.Comm.
Rep.n,349.
Tim.81cd.
degreeasymmetryofalltheelements;sothatthefountainofthisis
primarilywiththeDemiurgus.Anditseemsthatthereisone
concurrencewitheachconstitutionofcompositenatures,andwhichis
acertaindemiurgichealth;butanotherwhichrenovatestheexistingstate
ofbeing,orthestateofbeing,whichisstillpreserved,orisina
perishingcondition;whichispreserved,indeed,inthenaturesthatare
connectedbyindissolublebonds,butisinaperishingconditioninthose
whoseconnectingbondsaredissoluble.Forindissolublenatures,as
beingfinite,andhavingafinitepower,areinwantofrenovatingcauses:
Efortheyarerenovatedfromthingswhichpossessinfinitepower.And
hereindeed[i.e.inwhatPlatonowsays]theprovidenceofdivinity
abouttheuniverse,inorderthatitmaybefreefromdisease,concurs
withthecompositionoftheuniverse.Buttheprovidencementionedin
thePoliticus,*accordingtowhichdivinitycomingintocontactwiththe
helmoftheuniverse,correctswhatwasvitiatedinaformerperiod,is
theparadigmofthesecondkindofhealth,whichisofarenovating
nature.HencealsotheologistsreferonekindofhealthtoEsculapius,this
beingallthemedicineofthingspreternatural,whetheritperpetuallyor
sometimesonlyrepressesapreternaturalsubsistence.Buttheygenerate
anotherpriortoEsculapius,whichisconsubsistentwiththefabricationof
things,andwhichtheyproducefromPersuasionandLove.Hence,asPlato
2,64says,*theuniverseisfromintellectandnecessity,intellect5persuading
necessity;butnecessitybeingconvertedtointellect,inorderthatitmay
leadallthingstothatwhichisbest.Foritisevidentfromthesethings,

thattheuniversesubsistsaccordingtonature,fromitsfirstcomposition,
throughthepersuasionproceedingfromintellect,andtheconversionof
necessitytointellect.Hence,itismanifestthattheDemiurgus
Fcomprehendsthefountainofhealth,boththatwhichisEsculapian,and
thatwhichisDemiurgic.Andthusmuchforthisparticular.
Buttheconstitutedbody,isacomposite,andaltermotive.Thatwhich
isselfmotivetherefore,ispreservativeofitself;butthatwhichisaltermotive,
inaparticularmannerrequiresnottobedisturbedbyother
things.Theuniverse,however,sofarasitisabodyisaltermotive.But
Platoassumesheatandcoldasthingsofanefficaciousnature,andas
possessingstrongandvigorouspowers;theformerproducingcorruption
throughsection,butthelatterthroughviolentcongelation.Butthe
tcf.Politicus273de.
Tim.48a.
ForTOVTOVhere,readTOVVOV.
159Awordunseasonablymanifeststheprivationofsymmetry,andthe
inaptitudearisingfromthewantofsymmetry,andbesidesthese,the
incursionsfromchance.Foritappearedtothosewholeavesomething
externaltotheuniverse,thatitwaspropertocommittheaccidentsof
bodiestofortuneandchance.Plato,however,insayingthatheatand
coldbysurroundingandfallingontheworld,wouldintroducedisease
andcorruption,mayseemtograntthattheworldisinshortbothhot
andcold.Forifitdidnotsuffersomethingofthiskind,thoughthe
natureswhichsurrounditshouldbehotandcold,itwouldsuffer
nothingfromthem.Forhesaysthattheworldwouldsufferbythe
thingswhichwouldsurroundit.Andifindeeditconsistedofthings
someofwhicharehotandotherscold,itwouldsufferbythese;butif
ofothers,whichhavestrongandvigorouspowers,itwouldsufferfrom
them.Forwhetherthesesurroundingnaturesshouldhappentobe
contrarytothethingsofwhichtheworldconsists,becausecontrary,
theywouldcausethecompositeonwhichtheyfall,todecay;orwhether
theyweresimilar,theywoulddissolvetheproportionaccordingto
whichtheworldwasconstituted,throughbeingmingledwiththe
2,65similarnaturesthatareinit.Ashespeaks,therefore,ofevery
composite,heveryproperlymakesmentionofheatandcold,asof
thingsuniversallyknown.Forthereisacertaincomposite,andit
Bconsistsofthese,andisknowntoall.Hence,becauseitisknown,he
mentionsthese.Since,however,everycompositedoesnotconsistof
these,headds,inwhatheafterwardssays,universally,"andallsuch
thingsashavestrongandvigorouspowers,"thoughtheyshouldnotbe
heatsandcolds.Foritisnecessarythateveryphysicalbodyshouldhave
aphysicalpower,throughwhichitmaybeabletoactaccordingto
nature.If,therefore,anybodyshouldsurroundtheworld,whether

similarordissimilartocertainthingscontainedinit;ifdissimilar,
indeed,itwoulddisturbtheworld;butitisnecessarythatwhatis
impassiveshouldnotbedisturbedbythatwhichisforeign,andby
somethingwhichissituatedinacertainplace;andifsimilar,in
consequenceofbeingmingledwithwhatissimilartoit,itwould
dissolvetheratiooftheelementsintheworld,fromwhichitis
constitutedaccordingtothemostbeautifulbond.Suchthereforeisthe
explanationoftheparticularsofthetext.
Letus,however,surveyitselfbyitself,howthereisnothingexternal
totheuniverse.ForwhydidnottheDemiurguswhoconstituted
matter,fabricatemanykindsofmatter,andmanyworlds?Maywenot
say,thatheconstitutedmatter,andalwaysconstitutesit,accordingto
theunitywhichhecontains,sothatonthisaccount,heveryproperly
producesbutonematter;andthatthemultitudeofsensibleforms
Cpossessdifferences,whichdistinguishthemfromeachother,butthat
matteriswithoutdifferenceandwithoutquality?Forthoughweshould
grantthattherearemanykindsofmatterinthisuniverse,yetwemust
saythatthereisonematterwhichproceedsfromonhighthrough
diminution,asfarastothelastdregsofthings,whichlastsedimentalso
istrulyformless,thesummitofmatterhavinganalliancetoforms.For
allthingsaccordingtotheirsummitaremostalliedtothenaturesprior
tothem.Sothatthereisone,andyetnotonematter,whichproceeds
throughallthings,itselfsubsidingintoitself.Onaccountofthismatter,
therefore,theDemiurgusproducedoneworldhavingitselfadiminution
withreferencetoitself.*Everythinglikewisewhichmakesbyitsvery
existence,beingoneinitself,makesoneimageofitself,andonewhole
2,66form;andespeciallywhenitremainsimmoveable.Forbeingmoved,it
ispossibleforittomakeotherandotherimagesofitself.Fartherstill
itmaybesaid,thattodivideproductionintomultitude,isnolongerthe
effectofpower,butofimbecility.Buttocomprehendmultitudeinunity,
andtoconnectthewholenumberofthingsthroughthemonad,isthe
provinceofadmirableabundance.If,therefore,totalpowerisinthe
DDemiurgus,ifheisanimmoveablecause,ifhefabricatesbyhisvery
being,andifhegeneratesthatwhichissimilartohimself,hegenerates
theworld,one,whole,andperfect.Whatthen,itmaybesaid,isnotthe
Demiurgusabletogovernmanyandinfiniteworlds?Wereply,that
multitudeandtheinfinite[inquantity]arenottheprerogativesofpower,
butthatitpertainstopowertocongregatethingsthataredivided,andto
giveboundtoinfinites.Forthisassimilatesthingstothegood,towhichalso
theDemiurgusextendsallhisproductions.This,therefore,is
demonstratedthroughmanyotherarguments.
ThatPlatohowever,inanadmirablemannerinformsus,thatnothing
isleftexternaltotheuniverse,fromwhichanythingelseofthelike
kindcouldbegenerated,andthateachofthethingsthataremonadic
aloneconsistsofthesimplenaturesofwhichitiscomposed,andthere
arenotother*thingsexternaltoitofasimilarkind,fromwhichany

othersuchnaturecouldbeproduced,wemaylearnbyobservingthathe
says,anallvariousinequalityexistsintheseedsofbodies.Andalso,
thatonaccountofthisinequality,thedifferencesoffire,andofeachof
tForavratiqeavryvhere,itseemsnecessarytoreadavrovetceavrov.
$InsteadofKaiprieivaiCKTOCavrov,aWarovroiqop.oia,itisnecessarytoreadKai/
ITJeivai(KTOQavrovaWaK.\.
theelements,areincomprehensible.Hence,allfireisnot*similartoall
fire,thoughvisibilityiscommontoall.Onthisaccountlikewise,there
Eisacertainfirewhichburns,andthisisallvariousfromthesmallness
andmagnitudeoftheelementsofwhichitconsists.Andthesamething
istrueofalltheelements.Eachofthemonadicnaturestherefore,
consistsofallsuchthings,asarecontainedinitalone,butinnoother
thingwhatever.Henceitisnotexternallymingledwiththemnoris
connascentwiththem.Butyoumayalsoassumethisfromthese
sublunarybodies.Fornoteveryoneisnourishedbyeveryone,but
differentbodiesbydifferentthings,becauseallofthemarenotsimilar
2,67totheelementsofwhichtheyconsist.Buteachbodybecomesgreater
throughthosethingsbywhichitisabletobenourished,thethingsthat
enterintoitreceivingtheplacesofthosethatdepartfromit.Onthis
account,therefore,corruptiblenaturesperish,becausethereareexternal
tothemthingsofakindsimilartothoseofwhichtheyconsist,and
whicharecontrariessometoonething,andotherstoanother.Eachof
thesealso,beingaddedtotheirappropriatenatures,introducecorruption
tocomposites,bydissolvingthesymmetrywhichisinthem.Inthings
thatarecorruptibletherefore,thereasonorproductiveprinciple,
especiallyeffectsadifference,sinceitisverydifferentfromthatof
simplenatures.Butinthingsthatareindissoluble,thedifference,and
thereasonsofthecompositionofthem,pertaintothesamethings.
Hence,theyareindissoluble,andinshortmonadic,aloneexistingfrom
Felementsalone,accordingtoonereason,andonesymmetry.These
things,therefore,shouldbeexaminedmorefully.Forweshallfindthat
theysubsistinabeautifulmanner,*ifwelooktothings,anddonotrest
inwordsalone,asisthecasewithmanywhomeddlewiththetheory
oftheseparticulars.Letus,however,proceedtowhatisnextsaidby
Plato.
33a"Throughthiscause,therefore,andthisreasoning,hefabricatedthe
worldonewhole,perfectfromcontaininginitselfallwholes,andfree
fromoldageanddisease."
Causeindeed,uniformlycomprehendseverythingwhichproceeds
fromit,butreasoningcomprehendsitsproductionsinadividedmanner,

tOvxisomittedhereintheoriginal.
$Insteadoftvpr)oopevyapovKaXuc;exovra,itisobviouslynecessarytoread
tvpt\oop.evyapKaXuc;exovra.
aswehavebeforeobserved.*Sothattheuniverseasonewholeis
comprehendedbyitscause,andisgeneratedaccordingtocause;butas
consistingofallwholes,itisgeneratedbyareasoningprocess.*Andit
isgeneratedoneindeed,bythedemiurgicdeity,andaccordingtodivine
union;butawholeaccordingtothewholenesswhichisconnectiveof
intellectuals.5Forthisproducingtotallyrenderstheuniverseawhole.
Anditisawholecontaininginitselfallwholes,accordingtothedivided
causesofforms.Forthemonadpossesseswithitselfthewholenumber
[ofwhichitisthecause.]Theuniversealsoisperfect,asbeingalways
convertedtoitsprinciples,andimitatingthedemiurgicconversion.But
itisfreefromoldageanddisease,ashavingaflourishing,vigorous,and
evervigilantlife,andasparticipatingofadmirablepowers.Forfromthe
2.68causeswhichrenovatetheworldapureandunweariedflameisimparted
toit,andfromtheinflexible0Gods,undefiledpower.Andthrough
theformerindeedtheworldisfreefromoldage,alwaysbecomingnew;
butthroughthelatter,itisfreefromdisease,beingpurifiedfromevery
thingpreternatural.TheDemiurgus,however,comprehendsthecause
ofboththese.
33b"Buthegavetoitafigureadaptedandalliedtoitsnature.Fortothe
Banimalwhichwastocomprehendallanimalsinitself,thatfigurewillbe
adapted,whichcontainswithinitsambitallfiguresofeverykind.
Hencehefashioneditaswithawheelofaspheriformshape,0every
where[orfromalltheparts]equallydistantfromthemiddletothe
ooundingextremities;thisbeingthemostperfectofallfigures,andthe
mostsimilartoitself.Forheconceivedthatthesimilarisinfinitely
morebeautifulthanthedissimilar."
Afterthetotalcausesoftheworld,thewholecompositionofit,and
itsessenceconsistingoftotalplenitudes,Timseusspeaksconcerningthe
figureoftheuniverse;themostsimilarofallfigures,beingessentially
t121Esupra,p.365ff.
$AreasoningprocessintheDemiurgussignifies,ashasbeenbeforeobserved,a
distributedordividedcauseofthings.
Thewholenesswhichisconnectiveofintellectuals,constitutesthemiddletriad
oftheorderofGodswhichisdenominatedintelligibleandatthesametime
intellectual.SeeBookivofmytranslationofProclusontheTheologyofPlato.
ThesearetheAmilictiorCuretesoftheGreeks,andformtheunpollutedtriad
oftheintellectualorderofGods.
ocf.Parmenidesfr.8,43d,K,R&S.

impartedtoitbytheDemiurgus.Andthisisthefourthdemiurgicgift
conferredontheuniverse.Therearetherefore,otherdemonstrations
bothphysicalandmathematical,thattheworldisspherical,whichwe
shallafterwardsdiscuss.Now,however,letusfirstdirectourattention
tothePlatonicdemonstration,whichistrulyademonstration,and
togetherwiththatitis,showingwhyitis.Thedemonstrationtherefore,
istriple,thefirstbeingderivedfromTheOne,thesecondfrom
intelligiblebeauty,andthethirdfromintellectualproduction.Orrather
Ceachoftheseismanifold,andatleasttriple.Wemaysaythen,
immediatelywithrespecttothedemonstrationfromTheOne,thatthe
Demiurgusisone,andyoumayalsosaythattheparadigmisone,and
2,69thatTheGoodisone.Fromthesethingslikewise,youmayassume,that
infiguresthatwhichisespeciallyoneismoredivineandmoreperfect
thanthatwhichisnotone.ForthatwhichTheOneisintheGods,that
whichtheoneintelligibleanimalitselfisinintelligibleanimals,andthat
whichtheonemakerandfatherisamongtheDemiurgi,thatthesphere
isamongsolidfigures.ForTheOneiscomprehensiveofmanyunities,
animalitself,ofintelligibleanimals,theoneDemiurgus,ofmanycauses,
andtheonesphericalfigure,ofallfigures.Theseconddemonstration
therefore,isfromthebeautifulandthebecoming.Forthespherical
figure*isbecomingtothereceiver,tothegiver,andtotheparadigm.
Tothereceiverindeed,becausehebeingperfect,isfriendlytothemost
perfectoffigures,andhewhoiscomprehensiveofallthings,isfriendly
tothatwhichcomprehendsallthingsinitself.Butitisbecomingtothe
giver,becausehebeingintellect,andconvertedtohimself,generateda
becomingfigure,andmostsimilartohimself.ForasPlatosaysinthe
Laws*intellectpossessesintelligencesimilartothemotionofasphere
fashionedbyawheel;beingextendedaccordingtothesamethings,after
Dthesamemanner,inthesame,andaboutthesame.Anditisbecoming
totheparadigm,becausetheintelligibleuniverseisathingofthiskind,
convergingonallsidestoitself,
Onallsideslikeasphere'srevolvingbulk,
Wellfromthemiddlepois'dwithequalforce,
Androunditsstablecentregladtorun:
Fr.8,43d
fForTOirpeirovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOotfxxipucov.
$cf.LawsX,898ab.
saysParmenides.ThesamethingsalsoareassertedbyEmpedocles.+
Forhemakesatwofoldsphere,theonebeingsensible,inwhichstrife
predominates,buttheotherintelligible,whichisconnectedbyVenus.
Helikewisecallstheonetheimageoftheother;butitisevidentwhich
ofthetwohedenominatestheimage.

Thethirddemonstrationtherefore,isfromtheallied.Foraspherical
ligureisalliedtotheuniverse;sinceitisalliedtoTheOne,tothe
2.70Demiurgus,andtoallperfectanimal.ToTheOneindeed,becauseofthe
onenessofasphericalfigure.Forastheworldisone,solikewisethe
figureofitisuniform.ButasphericalfigureisalliedtotheDemiurgus,
becausehecontainsallthingsintellectuallyinhimself.Anditisallied
totheparadigm,becauseitfirstproceedsfromit.Hencethisfigure,is
primogenialtotheworld.Italsopresentsitselftotheview,inthe
occultorderitself.*For[whatissaidintheOrphicverse]
Unweariedinaboundlessorbitmoves,
Orph.fr.54,55
Eisassertedofthatorder.Butitismoreclearlyseeninallperfectanimal.
Foritissaidofthisdivinitybythetheologist,thatheisexcitedinan
ineffablecircle.Anditisstillmoreclearlyvisibleinthe[intelligibleand
atthesametime]intellectualGods.Forthere,intellectualfigure,the
rectilinear,andthecircularsubsist,asitisassertedintheParmenides+
Fartherstill,aftertheseGods,thisfigureisseenintheDemiurgus.For
asheisintellectualintellect,theuniversesubsistsappropriatelyinhim,
;indhereceivesdemiurgicpowersfromtheGodsthatarepriortohim.
HencealsoheistheDemiurgusofallmundanefigures.Butwhatshall
wesayaftertheDemiurgusofmuchhonouredVulcan?Doeshenot
fashionallmundanenatures,elaboratingallheavenandgeneration,and
making
Braceletsandchains,andnecklacesandrings.0
Forhowisitpossible,sinceheproducestheessenceofthemundane
body,thatheshouldnotimpartafigureadaptedtoeachofthebodies
containedintheworld?Hehowevergivesfiguretotheuniverseasit
tEmpedoclesfr.17,19dff;andfr.27,4d.
%i.e.Attheextremityofthefirsttriadoftheintelligibleorder,[cf.Chald.Oracl.
fr.27&198.]
cf.Parmenides137de.
Iliadxviii,402.
werewithhisownhands;buttheDemiurgusbyhiswillalone.*For
manualoperationwithhimiswill,andproductionisintellection.And
thusmuchwehaveinferredfromtheseparticulars.
2,71Because,however,thesphericalfigureisalliedandadaptedtothe
Funiverse,itisnecessarythattheuniverseshouldhaveafigureofthis
kind.Perhaps,indeed,because*asphere,asthosewhoareskilledin
mathematicssay,isthemostcapaciousofallsolidsthathaveequal

perimeters,andasweshallshortlyaftershowbycollectingwhatthey
haveasserted.5Perhapsalsobecauseeverypolygonousfigureofequal
sidesmaybeinscribedinasphere;0butitisnotpossibletoinscribe
everypolygonousfigureofequalsidesinanotherfigure.Henceasphere
ismostadaptedtothatwhichistocontainallthingsinitself:forthe
fiveregularfiguresmaybeinscribedinit.Iftherefore,youlookto
corporealmasses,allmassesofequalperimeterswillbecomprehended
161Ainthesphere.Notthattheywillbesocontainedinastohavetheir
surfacesequaltothesphericalsuperficies:fortheywillbelessthanit.
Butifallfiguresmaybeinscribedinthesphericalsuperficies,whichis
nottrueinotherfigures,thisalsoismoreappropriatetothethings
proposed.ForPlatolikewisesaysthatthisfigureisadaptedtothat
whichistocomprehendinitselfallfigures.Forintendingtofabricate
thebodyoftheuniverse,throughthefiveregularfigures,hevery
properlylookstoallthefigureswhichareabouttobecomprehendedby
theuniverse.Sothatheevidentlydirectshisattention,nottocorporeal
masses,buttotheinscriptionoffigures.
Fartherstill,youmayalsosayinamoreperfectmanner,thatthe
naturewhichistocomprehendallthingsinitself,oughttohave
dominionoverallthatitcontains:foritwillnototherwisebe
comprehensiveofthem.Butthatwhichhasdominionoverallthings,
assimilatesallthingstoitself.Fornothinghasdominionoverthings
Bforeignanddissimilar.That,however,whichassimilatesallthingsto
itself,willbebyamuchgreaterprioritymostsimilartoitself;inorder
thatitmayimpartsimilitudetootherthings.Butthatwhichbeinga
bodyismostsimilartoitself,isspherical.Hencethebodywhich
comprehendsallthingsinitself,isspherical.Thisfigure,therefore,is
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.68&22.
$Onisomittedhereintheoriginal.
162CDinfra,p.487.
InsteadofetcaXXoaxTlpotbvvaroveyypoupeoOcti,itisnecessarytoread,e.'C
a<pou.pavSvvaroveyypcupeodai.
adaptedtotheworld:foritismostperfect,andmostsimilar.Itismost
perfect,indeed,asbeingcomprehensiveofallthings,andashavingan
2.72unceasingmotion.Forarightlineisimperfect,asalwayscapableofbeing
extended;butacircleandaspherearemostperfect,asnotreceivingincrease,
andasmakingtheendoftheirmotionthebeginning.Suchthereforeis
themeaningofwhatisheresaidbyPlato.
Letus,however,considerthedogmabyitself,conformablytothe
intellectualconceptionsofIamblichus.Since,therefore,itisnecessary
thattheworldshouldbeassimilatedtothewholesoulwhichridesasit
wereinit,itisalsonecessarythatitshouldbecomesimilartothevivific
bodyofthatsoul.Hence,astheDemiurgusconstitutedthemundane

soul,accordingtotwocircles,*thusalsohefashionedtheuniverseofa
sphericalfigure,assimilatingittotheselfmotionofsoul.Hencetoo,our
vehicleisrenderedspherical,andismovedcircularly,whenthesoulisina
remarkabledegreeassimilatedtointellect.Fortheintellectionofsoul,and
Cthecirculationofbodies,imitateintellectualenergy,justasrectilinear
motionimitatestheascentanddescentofsouls.Forthesemotions
pertaintobodies,whicharenotintheirproperplaces.Fartherstill,the
unceasingmotionoftheuniverse,issimilartoinfinitepower;its
uniformcirculation,tosimplicityofessence;andthecirculationof
wholes,afterthesamemanner,andaboutthesamecentre,toeternal
permanency.Again,astheonemotionoftheworldcomprehendsall
motions,onewholeness,allwholes,andcorporealparts;andasone
nature,comprehendsallsecondandthirdnatures,thusalsoitis
necessarythattheonemundanefigure,shouldbecomprehensiveofall
figures.Thisfigure,however,isspherical,atthesametimebeingone,
andcapableofcontainingmultitude;whichisacircumstancetruly
divine,tohavedominionovereverythingmultitudinouswithout
departingfromunity.
Inadditionalsotothesethings,asintelligibleanimalitself
comprehendsallintelligibleanimals,accordingtooneunion,thusalso
2.73theworldbeingassimilatedtoitsparadigm,comprehendsallmundane
Dfigures,accordingtothesphericalfigure.Foraspherealoneisableto
comprehendalltheelements.Asthereforetheworldbyitsonlyness
adumbratestheintelligibleuniverse,thusalsobyitssphericalfigure,it
imitatesthecomprehensionofwholesinthatuniverse.Fartherstill,the
worldthroughthisfigureisassimilatedtointelligiblebeauty.Forhow
isitpossiblethatathingwhichisperfectlyequable,commensurate,and
similar,shouldnotbeinaremarkabledegreebeautiful?If,therefore,it
fcf.Tim.36cd.
isnecessarythattheworldshouldbethemostbeautifulofsensibles,it
isrequisitethatitshouldhaveafigureofthiskind,onallsidesequal,
definite,andaccurate.Again,thesphericalfigureismostadaptedto
bounditself.Forotherfiguresthroughthemultitudeofsuperficies,and
theirangles,orfractures,areelongatedfrombound,andtheend.But
aspherebeingmonadic,andsimple,andonallsidesthesame,pertains
tothecauseofbound.Fartherstill,thatwhichiscollectiveofmany
thingsintoone,andlikewisethegenerative,andthespermatic,rejoice
inafigureofthiskind.Butthisismanifestinseeds,andinthemore
principalpartsofanimals:fornaturerenderstheseasmuchaspossible,
Espherical.Again,theimmutable,theunbroken,andtheperpetual,are
mostadapted*andalliedtoasphericalfigure;sinceinconsequenceof
everywherevergingtoitself,itismostpowerful.Forthecentreis
unificandconnectiveofthewholesphere.Veryproperly,therefore,did
theDemiurgusconstitutetheuniverse,whichisconnectiveofitself,of

asphericalfigure.Thesethings,therefore,maybephilosophicallysaid
concerningthisparticular.
Afteranothermanner,however,thesamethingmaybesyllogistically
inferred,physicallyinthewayinwhichAristotleendeavouredtoprove
it.*Forsincetheuniverseismovedinacircle,andithasbeen
demonstratedbyhimthatthereisnothingexternaltotheextreme
circumferenceoftheworld,neithervacuum,norplace,itisnecessary
thatthefigureoftheuniverseshouldbespherical,andnotrectilinear.
Forifitwasrectilinear,therewouldbeavacuum.Forastheuniverse
revolvesinacircle,itwouldneverhavethesameplacethroughthe
2,74alternatemutationoftheanglesandsuperficies.Forsinceofeveryother
figurebesidesasphere,thelinesfromthemiddleareunequal,therewill
beavacuumaccordingtothelessinterval,wherethebulkofthebody
isnot.Whetherthereforeitbeaccordingtolength,oraccordingto
breadth,therewillbe,duringtherevolution,alessinterval.Fora
vacuumisperfectlyequidistant;butwherethereisnobodynorfigure,
therewillbeadeficiency,inconsequenceofthemagnitudebeingless
Fthanthevacuum.5Fartherstill,fromsecondarynaturesalso,youmay
assumephysically,thattheuniverseisspherical.Fortheearthis
tForoiKtiorahere,readoiKetorara.
$cf.AristotleDeCceloH,4,287all22.
InsteadofovSevTOox<\\i.aeXXa^ci,8taTOpeyedot;,eXomovovTOVicevovinthis
place,itisnecessarytoread,ovdeTOowna,eXXfi\frei,8iaTOneyedoqeXarrovovTOV
KCVOV.
spherical,asisevidentfromallthingseverywaytendingtothemiddle
ofit.Butwaterisdiffusedaroundtheearth,anditisspherical.For
thereisaconfluxofitintotheconcavity,tillitcomesintocontactwith
thecentralpartoftheearth.Theairalsosurroundsthewaterandthe
earth,andthefiresurroundstheair.If,however,thisbethecase,the
heavenslikewisewillbespherical.*Fortherewillbeavacuumwithin
them,unlesstheyalsosphericallycomprehendfire.
162AAgain,naturedistributestothefirstofbodies,thefirstoffigures,and
asimplefigure,toasimplebody.*Forineachgenusofthings,theone
ispriortothemany,andthesimple,tothecomposite.As,therefore,we
distributemotionsinawayadaptedtotheirworks,tosimpleworks
indeed,simplemotions,buttocompositeworks,compositemotions;
thusalsothereisanallotmentofappropriatefigures,onekindtosimple,
butanothertocompositebodies.Figure,however,is,asitwere,the
visibleresemblanceofform,themorpheofmorphe,andasitwerean
afflationofthepeculiarhyparxisofeachparticularthing.Hence,that
whichisessentiallysimple,proceedsintoasimplefigure,butthatwhich
isvariouslymingled,hasalsoacomingledideaoffigure.Fartherstill,
thecelestialmotionisthemeasureofmotions;5butthemeasureineach

2,75thingisthatwhichisleast.Theleastmotion,however,istheswiftest.
Butcirculationistheswiftestofmotions.If,however,thisbethecase,
theheavensarespherical.Forthesphericalistheswiftestofmotions,
inconsequence,astheEleanguestsays,+ofproceedingonthesmallest
Bfoot.Again,ofbodies,someconsistofsimilar,butothersofdissimilar
parts.Tobodies,therefore,ofdissimilarparts,dissimilarfiguresare
necessarilydistributedbynature.0Forpolygonousand,inshort,
angularfigures,areofthiskind,andalsothosethatconsistofmany
superficies.Buttobodiesofsimilarparts,similarfiguresareadapted
conformablytotheirexcellence.Forthespherealoneamongsolidsis
asimilarfigure;sincealltheresthavedissimilarfigures.Forsomehave
twosuperficies,asthecone,othersthree,asthecylinder,othersfour,
othersfive,andothersmorethanfive,aspyramidsonpolygonousbases
arrangedinsuccession.If,therefore,etherconsistsofsimilarparts,but
fcf.AristotleDeCcelo287a32287b7ff.
tibid286bl6ff.
ibid287a2330.
Politicus270a.
ocf.AristotleDeCceloI,7,274a31.
thefigureofthatwhichconsistsofsimilarpartsissimilar,andthe
similarisspherical,etherisspherical.Afterthismanner,therefore,we
mayphysicallyprovethattheworldisspherical.
If,however,itberequisitetoelucidatewhatissaid,bymathematical
demonstrations,letussummarilyrelatewhatappearstobethetruthto
thosewhoareskilledintheseparticulars.Inthefirstplace,therefore,
theyendeavourtoprove[thattheuniverseisspherical]fromthestars
Cbeingmovedinparallelcircles,boththefixedstars,andtheplanets,the
sectionsalwaysbecomingunequal,asweapproachtothenorth;sothat
someofthecirclestouchthehorizon;butotherswhicharelessthan
these,donottouchit.And,atlast,thereisacertainimmoveablepoint,
aboutwhichallthecirculationismoved.Inthenextplace,theyinfer
thisfromthenightsanddaysbecomingunequal,conformablytothe
solarmotionstothenorthorsouth.Inthethirdplace,fromshadows.
Forwhenceisitthatthesunwhenhebeginstorise,*andalsowhenhe
sets,ismorenortherntous,andappearstopassbeyondthecrab,but
whenheisinthemeridian,hesendstheshadowtothenorth;unless
fromtheuniversebeingmovedinacircle,whichinclinestoour
2,76motion?Fartherstill,theyprovethattheuniverseisspherical,fromthe
starswhicharenotmovedaccordingtodepth,alwaysappearingtohave
anequalmagnitude.Foriftheheavenswerenotsphericalbut
cylindrical,orsomeothersuchlikefigure,itwouldberequisitethatthe
sun,whenhebecomesmoresoutherntous,shouldappeartobeless,on
accountoftheinequalityoftheinterval.*Nothingofthiskind,

however,isseentotakeplace.Fromthesethings,therefore,
astronomers,inshort,endeavourtoprovethattheuniverseisspherical.
DButthatasphereisthemostcapaciousofallbodiesthathaveequal
perimeters,isalsodemonstratedbythem.Likewisethatallbodiesof
equalsidesmaybeinscribedinasphere,butnotalloftheminanyone
ofthepolyedra.Noristhereanyoccasionthatweshouldtranscribe
whatisdemonstratedbythem.Forwewritetohimwhohasbeen
sufficientlyinstructedintheseparticulars.Atthesametime,however,
thusmuchmustberelated,thattheydemonstratethesuperficiesofthe
spheretobemorecapaciousthanthatofallothersolidbodiesofequal
ambits,andtheyparticularlydemonstratethatitismorecapaciousthan
thebodieswhicharecalledbyPlato,equilateralandequiangular
tForevixtivhere,itisnecessarytoreadunoxeiv.
$ForvvoaraaeLoqinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadairooraoeuc;.
polyedra;*partlyemployingthepropositionsofEuclid,*andpartly
thoseofArchimedes.5AsIhavesaid,therefore,thedemonstrationsof
thismaybeobtainedfromtheirwritings.Itisourintention,also,after
wehavecommentedonthewholeoftheTimeeus,todiscussmorefully
inacollectionoftheMathematicalTheoremsintheTimaeus,such
mathematicalparticularsasaredisseminatedintheCommentaries;in
Eorderthattheloversoftruth,byhavingacollectionofthesethings,
maybeassistedintheallvariouscomprehensionofthemathematical
partsofthedialogue.Butenoughofmathematics.
LetusthereforereturntothewordsofPlato,andsurveyafterwhat
mannereachofthemisdelivered.Thatinintellectuals0then,figure
isafterwhole,andthatPlatohavingdemonstratedtheuniversetobea
2,77whole,veryproperlyinwhatfollowsteachesusconcerningthefigure
ofit,wehavebeforeobserved.0Since,however,thisproceedsintothe
universefromthedemiurgiccause,onthisaccounthesaysthatfigure
wasgiventoitfromthence.Butthegiverevidentlypossessesbya
muchgreaterprioritythatwhichhegives.Thesphericalfigure,
therefore,isintheDemiurgus,butintellectually;sothatitisinallperfect
animalintelligibly,andinthatwhichisstillpriortothelatterof
these,**occultly.Forifitberequisitetospeakwhatappearstometo
bethetruth,whereintellectis,therealsothesphericalpeculiarityexists.
Forintellectualenergyhasanessenceofsuchakindasthattowhichthe
Athenianstrangerorguestassimilatesit.**Butinoneplace,this
peculiaritysubsistsunitedlyandintelligibly,asthosesaywhoare
divinelywise.Inanotherplace,itsubsistsintelligibly,indeed,butwith
Famoreabundantintelligibledivision.Inanotherintellectually,but
accompaniedwithanallvariousdiversity.Andinanothersensibly,
accompaniedwithseparationandinterval.Andthislast,indeed,isnot
simplycalledbyPlatospherical(o4xxipiK0v),butspheriform{aBaipoeibeq),

tTim.53c.
%cf.EuclidElementsofGeometry,elem.IV.
cf.ArchimedesDeSphaeraI,28h.
ue.Infirstintellectuals,orinotherwords,inthatdivineorderwhichis
denominatedintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectual.
0160Bsupra,p.480.
ftie.Inbeingitself,orthesummitoftheintelligibletriad.
XXInthe10thbookoftheLaws[898ab],heassimilatesittotherevolutionofa
spherefashionedbyawheel.
asbeinganimitationoftheintellectualorintelligiblesphere.Forthe
universealsoismovedinacircle,becauseitimitatesintellect.Buteither
theintellectualortheintelligibleuniverse,willbemostprincipallyspherical;
andthatwhichistrulyastronomy,willbeconversantwiththese.Forthis
istoastronomizeabovetheheavens*Moreover,tobefromalltheparts
equallydistantfromthemiddletotheboundingextremities,pertains
indeed,tothesensiblesphere,becauseallthelinesfromthecentreofthe
163Aearthtotheextremitiesofthesphereareequal.Forfromalltheparts
issignificantofdistanceaccordingtothethreeintervals[oflength,
breadth,anddepth].Italsopertainstothemathematicalsphere.For
therethereisamiddle,andtheintervalsarefromallthepartsequal.
Afteranothermannerlikewiseitpertainstointellect.Fortoconvergeto
itself,andtobeasitwereofthesamecolouraccordingtoeverypartof
itself,andtohaveallthepowersinitconjoinedtotheoneofitself,isthe
sphericalpeculiarityinintellect.Proceedingalsostillhigher,itwillno
longerbepossibletoseparatethecentrefromthesphere,onaccountof
theineffableandunitednatureoftheintelligible*peculiarity.Hesays,
therefore,thatitisthepropertyofthespheretohavealltherightlines
2,78everywayequalfromthemiddle,inordertodistinguishitfromthe
circle.Forthetermeveryway,orfromallparts,doesnotpertainto
this,sinceithasonlytwointervals.
Platolikewiseusestheexpressiontofashionaswithawheel,because
bodieswithusarerenderedmoreaccuratelyroundthroughawheel
Bwhichcutsofftheinequalitiesofthebodies.Andthatthesimilarand
theperfectespeciallypertaintothesphericalpeculiarity,isevident.The
similar,therefore,isanalogoustoTheOne,buttheperfecttoTheGood,
sothatthroughbothherefersthesphericalpeculiaritytothefirst
principleofthings,bysayingthatitismostsimilartoitself,andmost
perfect;equalizingthatwhichismostunicalandmostboniform.For
neitherthemixedperfectorsimilar,northerightline,whichalways
receivesanadditionandmaybecomeangular;butthesphericsd
peculiarityalone,ismostsimilarandmostperfect.Afterthis,headds,
whichisevident,"thatthesimilarisbetterthanthedissimilar."For
similitudeisofanuniting,butdissimilitudeofadividingnature.And

theformerbelongstothecoordinationofsameness,butthelatterto
thatofdifference.Andtheformeristhecauseofsimplicity,butthe
fWhichtheCorypheanphilosophermentionedbyPlatointheTbecetetus[173e],
issaidtodo.
XInsteadofrijcvoepac;L8IOTT)TOC;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTJJC
COTJTTJCiSioTTjroe.
latterofvarietytothings.Astheartificerthereforeoftheuniverse
found,thatamongthingsnaturallyvisible,theintellectualismore
beautifulthanthatwhichisdestituteofintellect,thusalsohethought
thatthesimilarisbetterthanthedissimilar.Forinintelligibles,
similitudeisbetterthandissimilitude,inpowers,inintellectual
Cperceptions,andinproductions.Whencealsosomeonemaywonderat
thosePlatonists,whoadmitthatdifferenceisbetterthansameness,
thoughPlatosaysthatthesimilarisinfinitelymorebeautifulthanthe
dissimilar.Atthesametime,also,dissimilitudeisinacertainrespect
secretlyintroducedintobeingsfrommatter,butsimilitudeaccedesfrom
formsalone,andintelligiblecauses.Similitude,therefore,isinfinitely
betterthandissimilitude;sothatsamenessisalsomoreexcellentthan
difference.ThisisthejudgementofJupiter.*Throughthis,also,inthe
universethesimilarisbetterthanthedissimilar,inessences,inmotions,
infigures,andinallotherthings.Fortheprogressionofthingsisvery
2,79properlyeffectedthroughthesimilitudeofproductionstothecauseof
theproduction;andagain,conversionistheprimaryleaderofanother
similitude.Veryproperlythereforeistheworld,onaccountofthese
things,underthedominionofsimilitude,beingaGodaccordingtoform
itself.HencePlatoalsoendeavourstoshowwhatthefigureoftheworld
is,fromsimilitude,andthePythagoricTimaeushimself,assignsthisas
thefirstcauseofitsfigure,inconjunctionwithmakingaphysical
Dmentionofit."Foraspherealone,sayshe,*bothwhenitisquiescent,
andwhenitismoved,iscapableofbeingcoadaptedinthesameplace;
soasnevertofailnorreceiveanotherplace."Aristotlelikewiseafter
him,wellknew,thatwithwhateverotherfigureyoumaysurroundthe
universe,youwillmakeavacuum,throughthealternatemutationofthe
angles,andtheunequaldistanceoftheextremesfromthemiddle.
33b"Healsoaccuratelyelaboratedtheexternalcircumferenceofthe
universe,andrendereditsmooth,forthesakeofmanythings."
Someonemaythinkthatthesamethingwhichwasbeforeasserted,is
againhererepeated.Forinwhatdoesthissmoothnessdifferfrom
rotundity,orwhatmutationisthereofsimilitude?Inacertainrespect,
therefore,thisuniversecomprehendswhathasbeensaidabout
similitude;butatthesametime,thereisadifferencebetweensurveying

whatthenatureisofthewholefigurewhichpervadesasfarastothe
tcf.LawsVI,757b.
$Tim.95d.
centreoftheearth,andaloneconsideringitselfbyitself,themost
externalsuperficiesoftheuniverse.Andwhatisheresaidabout
smoothness,contendsasitappearstoonething,viz.toshowthatthe
universeisneitherinwantofgnostic,norofpartiblemotiveorgans,for
Ethepurposeofactingupon,orsufferingfromotherthings;*introducing
thisasthefifthdemiurgicgifttotheworld.Whatissaid,therefore,
aboutthesmoothness,isamediumbetweenwhatisassertedrespecting
2,80thebulk,andthesouloftheuniverse.Fortheproximateboundaryof
thebodyissmoothness;buttheexemptboundaryissoul,andpriorto
soul,intellect.Forthisistheboundaryofsoulitself.Andpriorto
intellect,theonedeitywhichconnectsthewholemundanemultitude,
istheboundaryofthebodyoftheworld.Youmaythereforespeak
afterthismanner.
Butyoumayalsosay,accordingtoamoreperfectmode,thatthe
universebeingaluminouswhole,itismostluminousaccordingtoits
externalsuperficies,andisfullofdivinesplendour.Foronthisaccount
alsopoetsplaceOlympusonthesummitoftheworld,beingwholly
luminous,andlightitself.
Norclouds,norrain,norwintertherearefound,*
Butdazzlingsplendourspreadsitsradianceround.
Ofthisluminoussubsistence,smoothnessisasymbol.Whytherefore
arethesummitsoftheuniversesmooth?Platosays,forthesakeof
manythings.Fortheyareso,inorderthatitmaybespontaneously
conjoinedwithsoulandintellect,andmaybeadaptedtosupermundane
Flights,throughasimilitudetothem.Smoothness,therefore,issignificant*
ofthehighestaptitude,throughwhichtheuniverseisabletoreceivethe
illuminationsfromintellectandsoul;inthesamemannerasmirrors
receivetherepresentationsofthingsbytheirsmoothness.Formerlyalso
bytheologists,amirrorwasassumedasasymbolofaptitude,tothe
intellectualcompletionoftheuniverse.Hencetheysay,Vulcanmade
amirrorforDionysius,orBacchus,intowhichtheGodlooking,and
beholdingtheimageofhimself,proceededintothewholepartible
fabricationofthings.Youmaysaytherefore,thatPlatoremindsusof
164Athiscatoptricapparatus,inwhathenowsaysofthesmoothnessofthe
externalsuperficiesoftheworld.Hencethecorporealuniverseisa
fTim.33c.
%Odysseyvi,45.ButinProclusforaXXapaXkovoaBpy,readaXXapa\'aiflp.j.

Foravpp.otvnKi\here,readaripavnKt\.
thingofthiskind,externallysmooth,accordingtowhichalso,itis
connascentwithitsownintellect,andwiththeDemiurgus.Hencetoo,
poetsestablishtheDemiurgusonthehighestsummitoftheworld;it
beingallottedsogreatanaptitudefromhim,totheparticipationof
intelligiblecauses.
Ifyouarewilling,also,accordingtoanothermode,smoothnessitself
isasymbolofthedivineandsimplelifeintheworld.We,therefore,
2,81sincewehaveapartiblelife,havealsothepartsofthebodymultiform,
;indvariouslymixed,becausedifferentthingsarepreparedbynaturefor
adifferentlife.Buttheuniversehasoneandasimplelife.Foritis
purifiedfromthosethingsofwhichterrestrialanimalsareinwant,
throughamaterialandpartiblelife.Henceitistherecipientofonelife,
butisexemptfromavariouslife.Itisalsopreparedforone,butis
anreceptiveofadividedlife.Onthisaccount,itissaidtobeaccurately
Belaboratedexternally,andrenderedsmooth,becauseitisfitlyadaptedby
thedemiurgiccause,tothereceptionofonelife,beingconstructedasthe
organofsuchalife.Whatfollows,however,issignificantofthis.
33c"Norwastheadditionofeyesrequisitetotheuniverse:fornothing
visiblewasleftexternaltoit.Norwashearingnecessary:fortherewas
nothingexternallyaudible.Norwasitinvestedwithsurroundingair,
thatitmightbeinwantofrespiration."
Throughthesethings,Platoappearstodonothingelse,thantotake
awayapartiblelifefromtheuniverse,andthepartibleorgans,whichare
suspendedfromus,whenwedescendintogeneration.Forwhilewe
abideonhigh,wearenotatallinwantofmultiformlives,andpartible
organs.Buttheluciformvehicleissufficient,*whichpossessesallthe
sensesunitedly.If,therefore,wearepurifiedfromeverylifeofthis
kind,whenweareliberatedfromgeneration,whatoughtwetothink
respectingtheuniverse?Isitnot,thatithasonesimplelife,thatitis
whollyvigilantlyexcitedtoit,andisequallyineverypartpreparedfor
thecompletionofonelife?Ormustwenotinamuchgreaterdegree
Cadmitthesethingsoftheuniverse?Forwholesaremoredivinethan
parts,andcomprehendingthancomprehendednatures.Andthusmuch
astothecommonconceptionofthethingsproposed.
Since,however,inwhatisnowsaid,andinwhatfollows,Platotakes
awayallsensefromtheworld,viz.seeing,hearing,smelling,tasting,and
2,82touching,letusinthefirstplaceconsiderthis,whethertheuniverseis
sensitiveornot.Foroftheancients,somewereledtoone,andothers
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.120&115.

toanotheropiniononthissubject.Weindeedheartheologistsspeaking
ofthefountainofsense,andassertingofthefather[i.e.ofthe
Demiurgus]thathepossessesintelligiblesthroughintellect,but
introducessensetotheworlds.*Andagain,wehearfromtheGreeks,
Sunwhosee'stallthings,anddostallthingshear.*
Seeingandhearingnotexistinginhimpartibly,asinus,butaccording
toonelife,andonesubject.Sinceinusalso,Aristotleproclaims,5that
thereisprincipallyonesense,andoneprincipalsensorium.Norwere
thewisemenamongtheGreeksignorantthattherearedivinesenses,
nordidtheyrefusetoassertoftheDemiurgushimself,
Theundecayingroyaletherforms
Hisintellectfromfalsehoodfree;bywhich
DHeallthingsindicatesandknows;norvoice,+
Norsound,norrumorcanJove'searselude.
AndwhydoIspeakoftheologists,whenPlatohimselfsaysthatthe
universeisananimal,andthatanimalischaracterizedbysense?Sothat
assertinglikewisethataplantisananimal,heimmediatelyimpartstoit
acertainothersense.Onhearingtherefore,asIhavesaid,thesethings,
weareunwillingtoadmitthattheuniverseiswithoutsensation.For
intheTheaetetus**senseissaidtobethefirstfrustrationoftruth;and
itisuniversallyagreedthatitsknowledgeispassive,andconversantwith
theimagesofthings.Hence,itisbetter,inorderthatwemaybeinthe
2,83middleofboththese,totakeawayfromtheuniverseeverysenseofthis
kind,andtogivetoitanothermoreexcellentthanthis,andmote
adaptedtotheGods.
What,therefore,isthissense,andafterwhatmannermayitbe
assumed?Thattheuniverse,indeed,issensitive,wemayrendermanifest
fromitsbeingananimal,andfromthesoulofitbeingdianoeticand
doxastic,andimpartingtothemundanebodyaparticipationofboth
fThisisassertedintheChaldeanOracles[fr.8].
XOdysseyxi,108[&IliadHI,277].
cf.AristotleConcerningSleepII,455a20ff.
Forcw8ahere,readavSi};andforrfh/deiinthefollowingline,i\\i\0ti.The:e
versesareOrphic.
oTim.30b&77af.
ffThextetus186c.
these,whichparticipationisanimageofdianoiaandopinion;andthis
Ewesayisthemundanephantasyitself,adumbratingintelligence,and
possessinginvisiblesensations*ofthesensibleswhichexistinevery

period.Itispossible,therefore,fromtheseandmanyotherarguments,
tobepersuadedthattheuniversepossessessensation.Butitrequiresan
appropriateinspection,toknowwhatsenseitpossesses.Isaythen,that
ofsense,thefirstandmostprincipalkind,isthatwhichimitates
intellect.Foreverywherethingsthatrankasfirst,haveanimitationof
thenaturespriortothem.Hence,thissenseisconjoinedtothingsthat
arefirst,comprehendinginitselfthesensibleobjectofitsperception,
iuidneitherpassingfromsomethingstoothers;forthisistheprovince
ofsensedistributedintovariousparts;norproceedingoutwardly;for
thisisimperfect;butitpossessesthewholeofwhatissensibleinitself,
andis,asitwere,ratherconsciousnessthansense.Thesecondkindof
senseafterthis,isthatwhichproceedsindeedoutwardly,butaccording
toaperfectenergy,whicheverywherealwaysapprehendsthewhole
objectofitsknowledgewithinvariablesameness,andispurifiedfrom
allpassion,andfromalltheimbecilitywhichisadaptedtopartibleand
materialorgans.Butthethirdkindofsenseisthat,whichsuffersfrom
Fexternals,andismingledfrompassionandknowledge;beginningindeed
frompassion,butendinginknowledge.Andthelastkindofsenseis
thatwithwhichthemostobscureknowledgeispresent,whichisfullof
passion,andproximatetophysicalsympathy,soasnottohavea
2.84knowledgeoftheformsofsensibles.Thus,forinstance,itdoesnot
knowthatthethingwhichactsonitishotorcold,butaloneperceives
thatwhatfallsonitispleasantorpainful.ForTimaeusfartheron*
informsusthatthesenseofplantsisathingofthiskind,beingan
apprehensionaloneofthepleasingandthepainfulfromsensibleobjects.
165ASense,therefore,thusproceedingsupernally,theworld,indeed,is
sensitiveaccordingtothefirstkindofsense.Foraccordingtothewhole
ofitselfitisthethingseen,andtheeye[bywhichitisseen];sincewe
alsosaythatthesun,andeachofthestars,isaneye.Thewholeworld
thereforeissightandthatwhichisvisible,andistrulycomprehensible
bysenseandopinion.Hencetheknowledgeinitisallperfect,itssense
isindivisible,anditisitselfallthings,viz.thatwhichissensible,the
sensorium,andsense;justastheDemiurgusofit,isintellect,
intelligence,andtheintelligible.As,likewise,itcomprehendsinits
taia6r)aeiqisomittedintheoriginal.
$Tim.77b.
wholebodypartialbodies,soinitstotalsenseitcontainsmanysenses.
Anditdoesnotknowthecoloursandthesoundsofsensibles,butthe
essenceofallofthem,sofarasitismaterialandundivided.Hencealso
ithasasensibleessence,andessentially,butnotaccordingtoaccident,
sensible.Forasthatwhichisalwaysintelligible,isnotinacertain
respectintelligible,andinacertainrespectnot,butiswhollyintelligible,
thoughnottothosebeingswhoseintellectualperceptionispartible,but
toadivineintellect;afterthesamemannerthegeneratedsensiblenature,

isnotinacertainrespectsensible,andinacertainrespectdeprivedof
Bsense,butiswhollysensible,nottouswhosesensibleperceptionis
partible,buttototalanimal,inwhichalsothereisatotalsense.Foras
theintellectualperceptionoftheGodsisofonekind,butthatofmen
ofanother,thusalsothesenseofGodsisdifferentfromthatofpartible
animals;theformerhavingaknowledgeofpartialessences,butthelatter
ofthingsalonepertainingtoessences.Theworldtherefore,hasthefirst
sense,whichisimmutable,unitedtotheobjectofknowledge,andallperfect
accordingtoenergy.Buttotalanimals,whicharepurifiedfrom
generation,areallottedthesecondformofsense.Forbecauseindeed,
theyarepartsoftheuniverse,thesenseofthemproceedstothewhole;
2,85forthereisalsosomethingofthemwhichisexternal.Butbecausethey
areexemptfromgeneration,theycomprehendthatwhichissensible
impassivelyandenergetically.Andsuchpartialanimalsashave
communicationwithgeneration,andemployasorgans,luciform
vehicles,possesssensemingledfrompassionandknowledge.Butthere
arealsocertainlastanimals,suchasplants,whichparticipateofavestige
onlyoflifeandsense;onekindofsensebeingtotal,anotherpartible,
Canotherknowingtheessences,andanothertheimagesofsensibles.
Itisnotproper,therefore,tobedisturbed,becausePlatotakesaway
fromtheworld,allpartibleorgans.Forhearingisnotdividedinit
fromsight;sinceneither,aswesay,istheonedividedfromtheother,
inourspirit,butthereareinit,asAristotlesays,*onesensewhichis
trulysocalled,andoneprincipalsensorium.Hencetheworldisneither
inwantofeyesextendedtothingsoutofitself,norofears,*toreceive
informationexternally,butitisitselfbotheye,andthatwhichisvisible,
ear,andthatwhichisaudible;andtheonesenseinitknowsallsensible
natures.Forwhencealsoistheonesenseinuswhichispriortothe
fcf.AristotleSenseandSenibilia449af;DeAnima10,1,425af.
XInsteadofovruvhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadoircov.
manysensesderivedexceptfromtheuniverse?Theworldtherefore,
knowsallthebeautythatisinitself,throughsight;andthroughthe
hearingalltheharmonywhichpervadesthroughwholes.Henceit
neitherrequireseyesinordertosee,norearsinordertohear.It
possessesalsothiseyelesspeculiarityaccordingtotheimageofthe
intelligibleGod,*towhichitisassimilated.ForOrpheussaysthatthis
GodhaseyelessLove,
Inhisbreastfeedingeyeless,rapidLove.
Orph.fr.68
Thustherefore,theuniverseisconjoinedthroughlovetothenatures
Dpriortoitself,andbeholdsthebeautywhichisinthemthroughthat

2,86whichisinitself;andthisnotbyperceivingwithpartiblesenses.
33cd"Norwasitinvestedwithsurroundingair,thatitmightbeinwantof
respiration.Noragain,wasitinwantofanyorgan,throughwhichit
mightreceivenutrimentintoitself,anddischargeitwhenconcocted.
Fortherewasnopossibilitythatanythingcouldeitheraccedeto,or
departfromitsnature,sincetherewasnothingthroughwhichsuch
changescouldbeproduced.Forindeed,theuniverseaffordsnutriment
toitselfthroughitsownconsumption;andbeingartificiallyfabricated,
suffersandactsallthingsinitself,andfromitsownpeculiaroperations.
Foritscomposingartificerthoughtthatitwouldbemuchmore
excellent,ifsufficienttoitself,thanifinwantofotherthings."
Throughwhatisheresaid,Platotakesawaytwoothersensesfromthe
universe,thesmellandthetaste.Theformerindeedbecauseitis
withoutrespiration.Fornoteverythingwhichrespiresisinwantof
smell,thougheverythingwhichhassmellrespires.*Butthatwhich
respiresismoreperfect.Thistherefore,hetakesawayfromthe
universe.Healsotakesawaythetaste,becausetheuniverseisnot
nourished.Fortheanimalwhichisnourished,isinwantofthetaste.
Againtherefore,howshallwesay?Mustitnotbethus,thatthese
partiblesensesarenotintheuniverse,butthatitcontainsonesimple
Esenseinitself,whichhasaknowledgeofallcolours,sounds,juices,
spirits,andqualities,thesensibleessencesthemselvesexistinginthe
universeasinasubject.Foriftheone[common]sensewhichisinus,
fi.e.Phanes,oranimalitself,theexemplaroftheuniverse.
%InsteadofTOyapavatveovduraiTTJSoo$pT|oecdC,aKaip.i\itavTOtxovoocpp
qoiv,avairvevoriKoveon,inthisplace,itseemsrequisitetoread,ovyapiravavairveov
deirairrjcoo(pprioeuq,eiKaiiravTOexovK.X.
usesallthepartiblesenses,andknowsallthingsaccordingtothesame,
howmuchmoremusttheworldknowatonceallthevarietyof
sensibles,accordingtoonereason,andonesense?Astherefore,itisone
inessence,andasitisallottedauniformfigure,thusalsoithasone
sense,comprehendinginitselfallsensibles.Foritlikewisecontainsone
2,87nature,whichconnectsandvivifiesallbodies.Andthesearethedogmas
respectingtheuniverse.
Letushowever,discusstheparticularsofwhatisheresaidbyPlato.
Inthefirstplacetherefore,headmirablyreferstheuseofthesmellto
respiration,butnottothediscriminationoffragrances;givingusthe
morecomprehensivecause,asexistinginrespiringnatures.Forwhen
wehaveasensibleperceptionoffragrantorfetidsubstances,werespire;
butwhenwerespire,wehavenotentirelyasensationofthem.For
respirationismorenatural,andmorecomprehensivethantheproper
Fsubjectsofthesmell;sincesuchanimalsashavethesenseofsmelling,

butdonotrespire,inconsequenceofnothavinglungs,aremore
imperfectthanthosethatdorespire.Veryproperlytherefore,doeshe
framehisargumentfrommoreperfectanimals,thatiftheuniversehad
thesenseofsmelling,itwouldberequisitethatitshouldhaveit
accompaniedwithrespiration,inthesamemannerasthemoreperfect
ofsmellinganimals.Butinthesecondplace,hereferstheuseofthe
taste,tonutriment.Fornatureformedthisasacriterionofjuices,
throughwhichnutrimentandincreasesubsist.Forthatwhichis
withoutmoisturehasthepowerofmanifestingthis.Theworld
166Ahowever,isnotinwantofnutrimentexternally,butimpartsittoitself,
increasesitself,andisthecauseofitsownconsumption.Andinthe
firstplace,ifyouarewilling,iteffectsthis,accordingtoadivisioninto
two;theheavensaugmentingandchangingallthings,butthesublunary
regionsbeingincreasedandconsumed.Forthegenerationofonething
isthecorruptionofanother.Butofeachofthese,*themotionofthe
heavensisthecause.Inthesecondplace,theworldeffectsthisfromthe
heavenlybodiesthemselves,receivingbytheirmotionsananalogous
increaseandconsumption,accordingtotheirrisingsandsettings,their
visibilitiesandoccultations,theirelevationsanddepressions,their
illuminations,andmutationsoflight;throughwhichthecelestialbodies
receiveandloseacertainthing,inthesamemannerassublunary
natures.Forfromthese,generationalsoischanged.
tForeKarepaghere,itisrequisitetoreadeKarepug.
Andagainyouseethatthenatureswhichareabovethemoon,have
increaseandconsumptionaccordingtoanalogyonly;butthatsublunary
naturesareessentiallytherecipientsofboththese.Butthemoonisbetween
these,andistrulyanisthmus,exhibitinginherselfthebeginningof
2.88mutationaccordingtoanincreaseanddiminutionoflight.Forinthe
bodiespriortoitthesameformperfectlyremains,intheirincreaseand
consumption;andinthebodiesposteriortoit,theirveryexistenceis
naturallyadaptedtoreciprocate.Butinthemoontheessenceremains,but
thelightischangedexternallyaccordingtodiminutionandincrease,which
isnotthecasewiththeluminariesthatareaboveit.Henceitisnot
propertosay,thattheheavenlybodiesarenourishedfromexhalations,
assomefancytheyare.Forthingswhichareinwantofaninflux
externally,andreceiveadditionandablation,havenotindissoluble
bonds.Hencethecelestialbodiesremainimmutable;asoftheancients
Proclus,Malotes,andPhilonidesassert,andofthosethataremore
modern,allthePlatonistsfromPlotinus.ForasPlatohasnotyet
deliveredtousthegenerationoftheheavensandstars,howcouldhe
speakaboutthenutrimentofthem?Anditseems,thatnowgenerating
theelementsalone,andperceivingthattheseproceedthrougheach
Cother,andthatallareinall,hecallsthismutualtransition,thenutriment
oftheuniverse,ofitselfbyitself;sinceitbothactsuponandsuffersinitself,

byimpartingtoallthings,allthethingsofwhichitconsists.Hencewhen
helikewiseconstitutestheothernatures(i.e.thecelestial),thenhe
introducestheirilluminations,andthecommunionofallofthemwith
eachother,throughthese.Alonetherefore,directinghisattentionto
thecompositionofthefourelementsoftheuniverse,andperceivingthat
inthese,therearecertaincommunicationswitheachother,hesays,that
theconsumptionofsome,isthenutrimentofotherpartsofthe
universe.Butitisnotyetmanifestwhateachofthesemaybe.Now
however,thusmuchisevident,thatallthepartsconfersomethingon
eachother,inorderthattheuniversemaybecomeone,andareineach
other,soastonourisheachother,andthiswithoutanydiminutionof
themselves.Forallthingsofwhichtheuniverseconsists,areinthe
earth,andallofthemarelikewiseinthemiddleelements;andthusthe
wholeworldisnourishedbyitself,fromitsownparts,havingallthings
inall.
2.89Fartherstill,thisalsomaybesaid,thatifnothingproceedstothe
universe,thereisnobodyexternaltoit,andthatifnothingdeparts
fromit,thereisnovacuumoutoftheworld.Foritwouldbeinvain
notbeingtherecipientofanythingasthatiswhichreceivestheworld;
DwhichthingswereparticularlyembracedbyAristotle,*whosubvertsthe
existenceofavacuuminenergy,andpreservestheworldonlybegotten.
Butthatnothingdepartsfrom,oraccedestotheuniverse,Platoinfers,
thelatterindeed,becausethereisnothingexternaltoit,andtheformer,
fromtheuniversemakingtheconsumptionofitself,itsproper
nutriment.Astherefore,nothavingtheorgansofnutrimentinitself,
ithasnutriment,andisthatwhichitselfnourishesitself,andisatthe
sametimenourished;thusalso,nothavingsensesextendedoutwardly,
itpossessessenseinitself,andisitselfsensibletoitself.AndthatPlato
intendedthelattershouldbeinferredaswellastheformer,Ithinkhe
clearlymanifestsbysaying,that"theuniversesuffersandactsallthingsin
itself,andfromitsownpeculiaroperations."Butifallthatisgenerated,is
theconsequenceoftheuniverseactingonandsufferingfromitself,it
mustnotbesaid,thateitherconsumptionsorcorruptionsaresimply
evils.Forneitherdoesaworthyman,andmuchlesstheuniverse,do
anyeviltohimself.Andthisindeed,isadivinecorollary,whichisto
beassumedfromwhatPlatosays.*
Againhowever,herecurstothetruecauseofallmundaneeffects,viz.
thedemiurgicart,andtheprinciplewhichisperfectiveofwholes.For
Efromthenceartalsoproceedsintothedemiurgicorder.Hencethe
OraclescalltheDemiurgusoftheuniverseonewhoproducesworksby
art;whichexpressionPlatodivides,atonetimecallingthethings
containedintheworld,theworksoftheDemiurgus,[aswhenhe
representsthemakeroftheworldsaying]"ofwhomIamtheDemiurgus
andfatherofworks;"*justastheOraclesalsowhentheysay;for
understandingtheworksofthepaternalselfbegottenintellect;butat

anotherdenominatingtheenergyoftheDemiurgusart,whichinthe
endbecomesthecauseofthesufficiencyoftheuniversetoitself.For
2,90theDemiurgusbeinggood,madeallthingssimilartohimself;i.e.he
madeallthingsperfectandselfsufficient.Forselfsufficiencyisan
elementofthegood.Bynomeanshoweveristheworld,aspossessingthe
powerofbeingsufficienttoitself,divulsedthroughthisselfsufficiencyfrom
itsmaker,butisinagreaterdegreeunitedtohim.Forbyhowmuchthe
moreselfsufficientitis,bysomuchthemoreisitconstitutedinasimilitude
tohim.Andbyhowmuchthemoreitisassimilated,bysomuchthemore
fcf.AristotleConcerningtheGenerationofAnimalsII,8,748all;&PhysicsIV,<>,
213a22ff.
%cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,194,18.
cf.e.g.Chald.Oracl.fr.115.
perfectlyisitunited,tothedemiurgicgoodness.Theuniversethereforeis
selfsufficient,asbeingtheobjectofsensetoitself,*andasnotbeingin
wantofothersensibles.Fortothesetheappellationofindigence
belongs.ButitisinwantoftheGods,asbeingalwaysfilledbythem.
FOrratherneitherisitinwantofthese,fordivinityiseverywhere
present,andtheuniverseisalwayspreparedforthereceptionofdivine
goods.Andasthesimilarisbetterthanthedissimilaraccordingtothe
judgementofJupiter;*solikewise,theselfsufficientismoredivinethan
thatwhichisindigent.FortheselfsufficienthasdominionintheGods,
andsimilitude5inbeings.Andthisisanotherdogmaofthemighty
Jupiter.
33d"Butheneitherthoughtthathandswerenecessarytotheworld,as
34atherewasnothingforiteithertoreceiveorresist;noryetfeet,norany
othermemberswhicharesubservienttoprogressionandrest."
167AThetouchisthelastofthesenses,andofthisananimalespecially
participatesaccordingtothewholebody,butparticularlyaccordingto
thehands.Forthesehavethegreatestpoweroftouching,asmaybe
seenintheoperationsofthem.Sincehowever,thehandsaffordusa
iwofolduse;forthroughthemwereceivethingsthatdelightus,and
tepelsuchaspainus;buttheuniversecannotreceiveanything,forithas
everythingwhichitwishes;norrepelanything,becausethereis
nothingforeigntoit;thisbeingthecase,itisnotatallinwantof
hands.ForasAristotlesays,+neithernature,norGod,doesanything
invain.SothattheDemiurgusdidnotmakehandstoadheretothe
2,91world,becausetheywouldhavebeenaddedinvain.Sincehowever,
thatwhichismotiveissuspendedfromthatwhichissensitive,butI
meanthatwhichisnaturallymotive,thediscussionofTimaeus,
appropriatelyandatthesametimereasonablyproceeds,fromthe

sensitivetotheprogressiveorgans.Forthefeetwereformedas
instrumentsforrectilinearmotion,aslikewiseweretheotherparts
Bsubservienttoprogression,suchastheleg,theknee,thethigh,andany
othersuchlikepart.Itisimpossiblehowever,fortheuniversetobe
movedinarightline:for,aswehavebeforeshown,thereisnovacuum
externaltotheuniverse.Throughthesethingstherefore,hetakesaway
feavriflisomittedintheoriginal,
tcf.LawsVI,575b;Tim.33b.
ForijonOiori}ninthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadifO^IOIOTTJC.
cf.AristotleDeCceloI,4,271a33f.
theprogressiveandsensitiveparts.Andhereagainitmaybesaid,that
intakingawaythemotiveorgans,healonetakesawayfeet,butnot
wings;becausefeetaresufficienttomoreperfectanimalsforthe
purposesofmotion;doingthesamethinghereashedidrespecting
smellingandrespiration.
Againhowever,itmustbesaid,thattheseorgansarebynomeansin
theuniverse,butthatsenseandmotionafteranothermannerare.For
sinceeverythingsensibleofwhateverkinditmaybeiscomprehended
init,anditisitselfthefirstsensible,ithasalsoonesenseconjoinedto
asensibleofthiskind,justastheintelligenceoftheDemiurgusis
conjoinedtothewholeoftheintelligible,andissaidtoabsorbthe
universeinitself.Afterthesamemannertherefore,theuniverseabsorbs
itselfbythesenseofitself,andcomprehendstheobjectofknowledge,
byaconnascentknowledge.Besides,ithasindeedpowerswhich
Capprehendandaretheguardiansofallthings,andtheseareitshands.
Itpossesseslikewiseperfectiveorders,andtheseareanalogousto
nutritiveparts.Anditexhibitsvivificcauses,whichcorrespondtothe
partsofrespiration.Besidesthesealso,ithasotherpowers,someof
whichfillitwithinvisiblecauses,andothersconjoinittointelligible
light;ofwhichthelatterareanalogoustoseeing,buttheformerto
hearing.Bythosealsowhosurveyitphysicallyandtheologically,itwill
befound,thatithasamotionanalogoustothissense.Forasithasa
2,92senseofitselfwithitself,solikewiseithasamotioninitself,and
circulatingaboutitself,andboththese,accordingtothesimilitudeofits
paradigm.Forinthistherewasintelligenceconvergingtoitself,life
convertedtoitself,andknowledgenotsubsistingaccordingtotransition,
noraccordingtoadistributionintoparts,butselfperfect,andunitedto
intelligiblesthemselves.Forsuchistheintellectwhichisthere,energizing
priortoenergy,because[accordingtotheOracle*]ithasnotproceeded,but
abidesinthepaternalprofundity,andintheadytumaccordingtotheGodnourished
silence.
34a"Forfromamongthesevenspeciesoflocalmotion,hedistributedto

Ditthatwhichespeciallysubsistsaboutintellectandwisdom,andwhich
isadaptedandalliedtoitsbody."
Oftheancients,someconvertingtheworldtointellect,andimparting
toitmotionthroughloveaboutthefirstappetible,saythatnothing
tChald.Oracl.fr.16.
proceedsintoitfromintellect,thusdeprivingintellectoffecundity,*and
givingitanarrangementequivalenttothatoflovelysensibleobjects,
whichhavenothinggenerativeintheirownnature.Othersonthe
contrary,acknowledgethatintellect,orsoul,orwhateverthatmaybe
whichisabovetheworld,operatesonit,yettheydonotgivetothe
worldaspontaneousandpropermotion,butonlysaythatitis
externallyconvolvedinacircle.Thesehowever,Aristotleblames,as
subvertingtheperpetuityoftheuniverse.Forthatwhichisviolentisnot
perpetual.*ButPlatoguardingagainsttheoversightsofboththese,
assignstotheworldaproperandspontaneousmotion,andshowsthat
theDemiurgusisthecauseofthismotion.Andthisisthesixth
demiurgicgiftimpartedtotheworld;asimitating5themotionof
Eintellect,whichtheworldpossessesbothfromitself,andfromthe
father.Fortheexpressionhedistributed,refersustothepaternalcause.
Forfromthatfromwhichessence,fromthatalsomotionaccordingto
nature,isimpartedtotheuniverse.Butthewords,"adaptedandallied
toitsbody,"referustothepeculiarnatureoftheworld,throughwhich
2.93itisexcitedbyitselftoamotionofthiskind.Foritpossesses
somethingadaptedandalliedtothemotioninacircle,bothaccording
totheselfmotivenature,andtoitsfigure,whichisspherical.Perhaps
also,ifhehadassertedoneofthesethingsonly,theothermighthave
beeninferred.Forifhehadsaid,thatthemotionoftheuniversewas
adaptedandalliedtoit,whencediditpossessthisexceptfromthe
father,fromwhomalsoitsessenceisderived?Butifthismotionwas
impartedbytheDemiurgus,heentirelygavetotherecipientan
appropriatemotion,hebeingintellect,andassigningtoallthingsthat
whichisaccordingtodesert.ThePhilosopherhowever,combinesboth
theseinorderthatyoumayseethesimilitudeoftheworldtothe
Demiurgus.Forashehimselfintellectuallyperceiveshimself,is
convertedtohimself,andsurveysintelligiblesthroughenergizingabout
them,whichbecomethecentresofthedemiurgicintelligence;thusalso
theworldismovedaboutitself,vergestoitself,andharmoniously
revolvesaboutthemiddle,whichbecomesthecentreofthemundane
tForpovipovhere,itisnecessarytoreadyovipov.
XIftheprincipalpartsoftheuniversethereforeareperpetual,andthattheyaresois
mostfullydemonstratedinthesecommentaries,itnecessarilyfollowsthatthemodern

systemofastronomy,whichfillstheheavenswithviolentmotions,isfalse.
InsteadoftvovvpipovpevrjKivr\oiq.inthisplace,IreadarevovpipovpevqKIVIJOIC;.
motion.AndastheDemiurgusissaidtoabsorbtheintelligible,by*
proceedingtoit,thusalsotheworldissaidtocomprehendinitself,the
centreofitself.Fortheabsorptionswhicharecelebratedbytheologists,are
certaincomprehensions.Buttheabsorptionsbygrandfatherscomprehend
intellectualsintelligibly,andthosebysons,intelligiblesintellectually.*
Fortheseproceeding,thegeneratorsofthemagainconvertthemto
themselves,andcontainthemintheirownallness.Theuniverse
thereforeimitatesboththese;sofarindeed,asitrevolvesaboutthe
168Acentre,andcomprehendsthecentreinitself,imitatingtheprogonic5
absorption;butsofarasitcomprehendsitsownprogenyinitself,
affordingnutrimenttoitselfbyitsownconsumption,andagain
receivinginitselfthenaturesdistributedfromitself,sofaritimitates
thecomprehensionofchildrenintheirfathers.Andthese0things
indeed,areassertedforthesakeoftheanalogyoftheuniversetothe
twofathers.
Again,however,youmaysee,howtheAristotelicaxiom0ishere
preassumed,thatthemotionissimpleofasimplebody.Inthefirst
place,therefore,thebodyintheworldwhichismoresimplethanother
2,94bodies,ismovedwithacircularmotion,asbeingadaptedtoit;andin
thenextplace,thewholeuniverseisthusmoved.Forthebodywhich
isposteriortoit,isasmuchaspossibleconvolvedinacircle.Forwhat
elseisthemeaningofthewordadapted,thanthatthemotioninacircle
isnaturaltotheessenceoftheuniverse?Forasitwasallotteda
sphericalfigure,solikewiseacircularmotionaccordingtonature.And
fartherstill[anotherAristotelianaxiom**isalsoherepreassumed]that
acircularmotionhasnothingcontrarytoit.Forasthereareseven
Blocalmotions,thatwhichisinacircle,theupward,thedownward,that
whichistotherighthand,andthatwhichistotheleft,thatwhichis
anterior,andthatwhichistotheposteriorparts,youwillfindthatsix
ofthesehaveacontrary.Forthemotionsarecontrary,whicharefrom
fForeiceotvrovxupwhere,readrepetceaprovxupew
XInsteadofckXX'aipevicpoyovimiravor\raKepCKapfiavovoivoepuq,m5eru.v
iraiStov,rotvoeparaj/rucinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,aXX'aipevicpoyoviKUi
ravoepawepikapflavovoivoifTuq,ai5truviraibuv,ravot)ravoepug.
i.e.TheabsorptionofPhanes,theparadigmoftheworldbyJupiter.
Forravri)c;herereadravra.
ocf.AristotleDeCcelom,3,302b7f.
ftibidH,3,286a3f.
contrarytocontraryplaces.Butthemotioninacircleisexemptfrom
allcontrariety.Forsincethemotionsinarightlinearegeneratedand

containedbythemotioninacircle,asMechanicsdemonstrate,howcan
itbesaidthatanyoneoftheseiscontrarytoit?Forthecontraryis
corruptiveandnotgenerativeofthecontrary.NordoesPlatostophere,
buthavingmentionedthepeculiarityofthecircularmotion,heshows
itsadmirabletranscendencyabovetheothermotions.Forhe
denominatesittobethatwhichsubsistsaboutintellectandwisdom,and
thisnotsimply,buthealsoaddsespecially.Forofthesesevenmotions,
thecircularimitatesintellect,andtheintellectuallife,beingestablished
inthesame,andaboutthesame,accordingtoonereasonandoneorder,
andpossessingamotionwhichisvanquishedbypermanency.Butall
theremaining*motionpertainstosoul.Forinthis,fromwhence,and
Cwhither,andtransitionfirstsubsist.Inheralsotheintelligibleisthe
upward,butthesensiblethedownward.Andthecircleofsameness,
indeed,istherighthand,butthecircleofdifference,theleft.Intellect
likewiseisbeforeher,butnaturebehind.Forthusshewasconstituted
atfirst.*Andcirculation,indeed,isadaptedtointellect,accordingto
bothnumbers,whetheryouwishtoadducethemonaditself,orthe
2.95heptad,enumeratingitthefirstortheseventhmotion.Forthemonad
andtheheptad,arecertainintellectualnumbers;themonadindeedbeing
directlyintellect,buttheheptad,thelightaccordingtointellect.Andonthis
accountalsothemundaneintellectis,asOrpheussays,+bothmonadic,and
hebdomadic.Fartherstill,themonadisApolloniacal,buttheheptad
Minerval.Againthereforeitisintellectandwisdom.Sothatcirculation
throughtheallianceofnumbers,showsthatitissuspendedfrom
intellectandwisdom.Butrectilinearmotion,demonstratesthroughthe
hexaditsalliancetothepsychicalpeculiarity.Forthenumbersixisallied
tothesoul,andthiswillbemanifestasweproceed.Letushowever
passontowhatisnextsaidbyPlato.
34a"Hencebyacircumductionaccordingtosameness,inthesame,andin
Ditself,hecausedittobemovedconvolvinginacircle.Butheseparated
fromitallthesixmotions,andframeditvoidoftheirwandering
progressions.Andasfeetwerenotrequisitetothisperiodicalmotion,
hegeneratedtheuniversewithoutlegsandfeet."
tFor7/6eXoiirri,itaaavri\v\pvxvv,Iread,JJdeXoiiri;itaaa,rt]vtvxyv.
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.53.
Fr.148.
Wehavebeforeobservedthatintellectandwisdomaretheparadigms
ofcirculation.*Butwhatthisis,andhowitisassimilatedtointellect,
isdeliveredinthewordsbeforeus.Forcirculationisamotionwhich
isledroundaccordingtosameness,andinthesame,andinitself,as
Timseusheresays,andtheAthenianguestintheLaws*Ofwhich
definitionindeed,thewords"accordingtosameness,"signifyaccordingto

onereason,andoneorder.Forwhatiftheuniverseshouldbemoved
circularlyindeed,butshouldbedifferentlychangedatdifferenttimes,by
risingandsetting,asthefablesaysinthePoliticus?*Thatwemaynet
thereforeapprehendthistobethecase,thewords"accordingto
sameness"areplacedrespectingit,beforetherest.ThePlatonicSeverus
therefore,(forweshallherespeakfreelyagainsthim,)isnotrightin
2.96admittingfabulouscirculations,andthusmakingtheworldtobeboth
Egeneratedandunbegotten.Theuniverseindeed,Platosays,ismoved
accordingtosameness,andafterasimilarmanner;andaccordingtoone
reasonandoneorder.ButsuchacirculationasSeverusspeaksof,
subvertstheoneorderofmotion.Themode,however,inwhichsuch
amotionisfabulouslyintroduced,isshownbyourpreceptorinhis
Commentariesonthatdialogue,0conformablytothemeaningofPlato.
Butthewords"inthesame,"manifesttheimmutableintransition,and
thatthemotionisvanquishedbypermanency.Forbecausethereisnot
avacuumexternaltotheuniverse,butitisnecessarythattheuniverse
shouldbemoved,beingaphysicalbody;fornatureisaprincipleof
motion;itismovedconvolvedaboutitself,andinthesameplace.For
thebulkoftheuniverseoccupiesthewholeofplace,andpossessesby
itspartsthepartsofinterval;andasawholebeingimmutable,itis
locallymovedinitsparts.Butthewords"initself,"manifestthatitis
movedonaccountofthisverytransitionofitsparts.Foritdoesnot
requirethetransitionofanotherthing,inordertothemotionofitself,
butitselfyieldstoitself,anditselfistransferredintotheplaceofitself;
sothatitismovedinitself,thepartsofitbeingtransferredbytheir
motionsintotheplacesofeachother.Hence,throughthewords
"accordingtosameness,"youhavetheperpetual;butthroughthewords
t168Bimmediatelyabove.
$cf.LawsX,898a.
cf.Politicus269aff.
viz.OnthePoliticus,inwhichdialogueitisfabulouslyassertedthatthesunand
starsnowsetintheplacefromwhencetheyformerlyrose.Seethisfableexplainedin
thenotestomytranslationofthatdialogue.
"inthesame,"theimmutable;andthroughthewords"initself,"theform
oftransition.Andfromalltheseyouhave,thatcirculationisamotion
unceasing,remaininginoneplace,andeffectedbythetransitionofthe
partsintotheplacesofeachother.Butbeingsuchitisevident,thatit
ismostsimilartointellect.Forintellecteternallyenergizes
intellectually,isestablishedinthesameorder,andallthingsinitare
intellectual,mostenergetic,andpossessanevervigilantlife.Andthis
indeedisevident.
169AItishoweverworthyofadmirationinPlato,thatwhendiscoursing
abouttheessenceoftheuniverse,heassimilatesittointelligibleanimal;

butthatnowteachingusconcerningthemotionofit,herefersthe
similitudeofittointellect;deliveringtousfromthesethings,the
analogywhichisinthem,viz.thattheintelligiblehastherelationof
2,97essence,butintellectofenergy.When,likewise,hesaysthatthe
universeisspherical,heatthesametimesgivesittobemovedina
circle,andtobeconvolved.Foritappearstobemovedinacircle
accordingtothegreatestcirclewhichisinit.Becausehowevera
cylinderismovedinacirclewhenitisrolledalong,headds,forthe
sakeofaccuracy,thewordconvolving.*Itisalsoadmirableinhim,that
hetakesawaythesixmotionsfromtheuniverse.Forthisismost
peculiartotheworld,therebeinginthestarsanadvancingmotion.The
world,therefore,istrulyinerratic,notonlybecausethesummitofitis
athingofthiskind,butbecauseitismovedwithoneandthesame
simplemotion.
Itisnecessaryhowevertoobserve,howtheformofmotionwhich
Bexistsinthemostprincipalpartoftheuniverse,issaidtohavebeen
given,asappropriatetothewholeworld,bythefather.Forallthe
otherparts,participateofthecirculationoftheworld;andtheinerratic
ispresentwithsomeofthemmoremanifestly,butwithothersmore
obscurely.Forthestreamsundertheearthbeingmovedinadisorderly
manner,anddifferentlyatdifferenttimes,areespeciallysaidtowander.
Butthesublunaryelementsbeingnaturallymovedfromoneplaceto
another,participateoflesswanderingthanthesubterraneaneffluxions.
Forthosethingswanderwhicharetransferredfromoneplaceto
another.Andthedivinebodiesintheheavens,wanderstilllessthan
ihese.Forsofarastheyaremovedaccordingtolength,andalso
accordingtobreadththeyarewanderers;butsofarastheyaremoved
accordingtotheequableandorderly,andaccordingtoonereasonof
motion,theyareinerratic.Buttheworlditselfmaymostproperlyand
fForrpetpopevovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadorpetpopevov.
principallybecalledinerratic,asnotreceivingtherepresentationofany
othermotion.
Ifalsoyouarewillingtomakeadivisioninincorporealnatures,the
irrationallifewandersinaremarkabledegree,nothavingthemeasure
ofitsenergiesfromitself.Thesoulthatopinesrightlywanders,butless
thantheirrationallife.Forthissoulalsoparticipatesinacertainrespect
Cofwandering,throughbeingignorantofcause.Butthesoulthat
possessesscientificknowledge,wandersstilllessthanthis.Forinsuch
asoul,thetransitiveformoflifealoneproducesthewandering;because
2,98itisnotarrangedtooneintelligible,butbecomesadifferentintelligible
indifferentforms.Andintellectaloneisinerraticamongbeings,always
intellectuallyperceivingthesamething,andenergizingtowardsand
aboutthesamething.Theworld,therefore,whichimitatesintellectin

itsmotion,isdeservedlytrulyinerratic,alwaysmakingthesameuniform
periodafterthesamemanner.Thathoweverwhichisthusmoved,has
noneedwhateveroftheadditionoffeet,orinshort,ofprogressive
organs.Andhencetheuniversewasgeneratedwithoutfeetandlegs.
Theologistsalsowishinginacertainrespecttoindicatethistous,are
accustomedtocalltheGodwhoistheDemiurgusofthecorporealnature,
lameinbothfeet,*asconstitutingtheuniversewithoutlegsandfeet.
TheysaytoothattheGodslaughathimwithinextinguishablelaughter,
andbytheirlaughingincessantlyattendwithprovidentialcareto
mundanenatures.
34ab"Allthisreasoning,therefore,beingemployedbytheexternally
existingGod,abouttheGodthatwouldatacertaintimeoronceexist;
inconsequenceofthisreasoning,hemadehisbodysmoothandeven,
everywherefromthemiddleequalandwhole,andperfectfromperfect
bodies."
DWhatisheresaid,imitatingtheoneintellect,andtheunited
intellectionofwholes,collectsallthingsintothesame,andrefersthem
toonesummit,thefabricationofthecorporealsystem.Itisnecessary,
therefore,thatweshouldrecollectwhathasbeenbeforesaid.Itwassaid
then,*thattheelementsrenderedallthingsintheworldconcordant
throughanalogy;thattheuniversewasgeneratedawholeconsistingof
wholes;andthatitissphericalandsmooth,andhasaknowledgeof
itself,andamotioninitself.Butthisbeingthecase,itisevidentthat
tcf.IliadI,607,599;&Procl.Comm.Rep.I,126ff.
%Tim.32c.
thewholeworlditself,isassimilatedtoallperfectanimal.Theorderly
distributionofit,however,accordingtowholes,proceedsanalogousto
2,99secondandthirdcauses.Andthenumberoftheelements,indeed,and
theunifyingbondofthemthroughanalogy,*proceedsconformablyto
theessencewhichisuncoloured,unfigured,andwithoutcontact;*for
therenumbersubsists.Butthefirstwholenesswhichadornsallthings,
andwhichconsistsofthewholeelements,isassimilatedtothe
intellectualwholeness.5Thesphericityoftheuniverseisanalogousto
iheintellectualfigure.0Itsselfsufficiency,intellectualmotion,and
Econvolution0insameness,areassimilatedtotheGodwhoabsorbsin
himselfallhisprogeny[i.e.toSaturn].Itspossessionofsoul,is
analogoustothevivificcause[i.e.toRhea].Anditsparticipationof
intellect,isanalogoustotheDemiurgicintellect;thoughallthese
proceedfromthis,andfromthenaturespriortoit,towhichtheseare
respectivelyanalogous.Andthemoreexcellentnatures,indeed,arethe
causesofallthethingsofwhichsecondarynaturesarethecauses;but

thelatterarethecausesoffewereffectsthantheformer.Forthe
Demiurgushimself,sofar,indeed,asheisintellectual,makesallthings
tobeintellectual;butsofarasheisbeing,heisthefatherofallbodies,
andincorporealnatures;andsofarasheisaGod,heconstitutesmatter
itself.Inwhatisheresaid,therefore,Platomakesasummaryrepetition
ofallsuchparticularsastheuniversederivesfromtheintellectualGods.
Andthusmuchconcerningthewholetheory.
Itisrequisite,however,thatweshouldunderstandthetruthpertaining
toeachofthewords.Directly,therefore,thewords"allthis,"imply
thatyoushouldsurveyinonethewholecauseofthecorporealformed
nature,andknowthedivisionofforms.Forwholenessisassimilatedto
onething,figuretoanother,andmotiontoanother.Andthewordthis
indeedindicatesunion;butthewordallthenumberofcauses.
Moreover,thewords"reasoningemployedbytheeternallyexistingGod,"
Fmaketheessence,andatthesametimetheintelligenceoftheDemiurgus
tobeeternal,throughwhichtheworldisperpetual.Itisnecessary
tcf.Phxdrus247c.
XThisessenceformsthesummitofthatorderofGodswhichiscalledintelligible,
:mdatthesametimeintellectual.
Thisformsthemiddleoftheabovementionedorder.
Andthisformstheextremityofthatorder.
0Forrpo<pi)here,itisnecessarytoreadOTpnipi).
likewisetoobserve,thatPlatobyarrangingtheDemiurgusamong
eternalbeings,givestohimaneternalorder,sothathewillnot
[accordingtoPlato]besoul.ForintheLaws*hesays,thatsoulis
immortal,indeed,andindestructible,butisnoteternal.Henceevery
onewhofanciesthatsoulistheDemiurgus,seemstobeignorantofthe
differencebetweentheeternalandtheindestructible.Buttheword
2,100"reasoning"issignificantofadistributedfabrication.Andthewords
170A"thatwouldatacertaintimeexist"arenotsignificantofabeginning
accordingtotime,asAtticusfanciedtheywere,butthattheworldhas
anessenceconjoinedwithtime.Fortimewasgeneratedtogetherwith
heaven[ortheuniverse,]andtheworldistemporal,andtimeis
mundane.Fortheywerecoproducedwitheachother,andare
consubsistentfromonefabrication.Thewordsthereforeatacertain
timeoroncedonotsignifyapartoftime,butreasonistimeas
comparedwitheternalbeing.Forthatistrulyalwaysbeing;butthe
temporalalwaysisonceaswithreferencetotheeternal,justasthat
whichisbeing,afterageneratedmanner,isnonbeingwithreferenceto
thatwhichisintelligiblybeing.Hencethoughtheworldexiststhrough
thewholeoftime,yettheexistenceofitconsistsinbecomingtobe,and
isinapartoftime.Thishoweverisonce,andisnotsimultaneouslyin
alltime,butisalwaysonce.Fortheeternalisalwaysinthewholeof

eternity;butthetemporal,inacertaintime,isalwaysatadifferenttime
inanothertime.Aswithreferencetherefore,totheeternallyexisting
God,theworldisveryproperlycalled,"theGodthatwouldonceexist."
ForaswithreferencetothatGodwhoisintellectual,thisissensible.
Hence,thesensibleworldisindeedgenerated,orbecomingtobe,always,
Bbutisonce.Forithasitsexistencepartibly,alwaysadvancingtobeing
frometernalbeing.Forsince,aswehavebeforeobserved,*ithasan
eternalpowerofexistingderivedfromacausedifferentfromitself,and
thepowerwhichitpossessesitpossessesterminated,butbyalways
receiving,italwaysis,havingthepowerinthatwhichisterminated
numberedtoinfinity;thisbeingthecase,itisevidentthatitisonce,
fromtheonce,alwaysacquiringexistence,andalwaysbecomingtobe,in
consequenceofthatwhichgivesittoexist,neverceasing.5According
toitsownnature,however,itisonce,andhasarenovatedimmortality,
tcf.LawsX,904a.
X85DEsupra,p.258.
Insteadofmxhia.TOpyXeyeiv,TO8I8OVaeiyivopevoqinthisplace,itisnecessary
toread,KaiSlotTOprjXqyeivTOdidov,aeiyivopevog.
asPlatosaysinthePoliticus,*possessingitsbeinginadvancinginto
existence,andonthisaccountparticipatingnotatoncewhollyofthe
whole[oftime]butonce;andthisagainandagain,existingingeneration,
andnotbeingwithoutanextension[ofexistence].Unless,therefore,the
wordoncesignifieswithPlatothewholeoftime.Forthetransitive
subsistenceoftime,ascomparedwitheternalenergy,isonce,andthewhole
oftimehasthesameratiotoeternity,asthepartoftimetheoncetothe
wholeoftime.
2,101Ifyouarewillingalsotoconsiderwhatissaidafteranothermanner,
sincePlatohashithertofashionedacorporealnature,buthasnotin
wordsconstitutedsoulandintellect,hedenominatestheGodthatwould
Cexist,andwhosubsistsindiscourseaccordingtoapart,once.For
divinityindeedconstitutescollectivelypartsandthewhole,butlanguage
dividesthingswhichareconsubsistent,generatesthingswhichare
unbegotten,anddistributesaccordingtotime,eternalnatures.TheGod
therefore,thatwouldonceexist,istheGodthatwouldexistinthe
discourse,inwhichthereisadistributionintoparts,andcomposition.
ForthePythagoricTimaeuslikewise,indicatingthisinhistreatiseto
thosewhoareabletounderstandhim,says*"thatbeforeheaven[orthe
universe]wasgeneratedinwords,therewereideaandmatter,andGod
theDemiurgus."Forthathefashionsthegenerationoftheuniversein
words,heclearlymanifestinwhathesays.Moreover,withrespectto
thesmoothandtheeven,theymanifest,aswehavebeforeobserved,the
onecomprehensionintheworld,andthegreatestaptitudetothe
participationofadivinesoul.Butthewords,"everywherefromthe

middleequal,"definethepeculiarityofthesphericalfigure.Forthisis
everywhereequidistant,accordingtoallintervals.Andthewords
"whole,andperfectfromperfectbodies,"establishtheworldinthehighest
degreeofsimilitudetoallperfectanimal;forthatwasinallrespects
perfect;and,likewise,totheDemiurgushimself.Forasheisthefather
Doffathers,andthesupremeofrulers,5thusalsotheworldisthemost
perfectofperfectnatures,andthemosttotalofwholes.Youmay
likewisesaythattheworldissmooth,asnotbeinginwantofany
motive,ornutritive,orsensitiveorgans.Forthiswasproximately
demonstrated.But"itiseverywhereequalfromthemiddle,"ashaving
asphericalfigure,and"awholeandperfect,"asbeingallperfect,and
tcf.Politicus270a.
*Tim.94b.
cf.IliadVI,31.
leavingnothingexternaltoitself:forthisisproperlyawholeand
perfect.Anditconsistsofperfectbodies,asbeingcomposedfromthe
fourelements.Itisalsosaidtobeinthesingularnumberabody,as
beingonlybegotten.AndthusPlatobeginningfromtheonlybegotten,
2,102andproceedingasfarastoperfection,heagainconvertsitthroughthe
abovementionedparticularstothesamething[i.e.totheonlybegotten];
imitatingtheprogressionoftheworldfromitsparadigm,anditsperfect
conversiontoit.
34b"Placingalsothesoulinthemiddle,heextendeditthroughthewhole
2.102oftheworld,andbesidesthis,heexternallycircumvestedthebodyof
theuniversewithsoul."
Divinityproducesallthingsatonce,andeternally.Forbyhisvery
being,andaccordingtoaneternalintelligenceofwholes,hegeneratesall
thingsfromhimself,supermundane,andallmundanebeings,intellects,
170Esouls,natures,bodies,andmatteritself.Andindeed,theatoncecollected
subsistsinagreaterdegreeinthedemiurgicproductionof
things,thaninthesolarillumination;*thoughinthisthewholelight
proceedsatoneandthesametimefromthesun.Butthesunwho
imitateshisfatherthroughthevisiblefabrication,evidentlyyieldstoan
eternalandinvisibleproduction.Aswehavesaidtherefore,allthings
beingproducedatonceandeternallyfromthefabrication[ofthe
Demiurgus],theorderoftheeffectsisatthesametimepreserved.For
intheproducingcausetherewasaneternalintelligenceandorderprior
tothethingsthatarearranged.Whencethoughallthingsareatonce
fromonecause,yetsomehavethefirst,butothersasubordinatedignity.
Forsomethingsproceedinagreater,butothersinalessdegree.And
someindeed,arecoarrangedwiththeDemiurgusaccordingtounion,
othersaccordingtocontact,andothersaccordingtoparticipation.For

intellectisabletobeconnascentwithintellectthroughunion.Butsoul
isnaturallyadaptedtobeconjoinedwithintellect.Andbodiesare
formedtoparticipateofitalone,justasthingsintheprofundityofthe
earth,participateofthesolarsplendour.Sincethereforealltheseexist
intheworld,viz.intellect,soulandbody,andallareproducedatonce,
Fandsinceatthesametime,thereisintheseanorderproceedingfrom
theDemiurgus,thediscourseaboutthem,atonetimebeginningfrom
onhighaccordingtoprogression,endsintheboundariesoffabrication,
2.103butatanothertimebeingimpelled*fromthelastofthings,recurstothe
summitsoftheuniverse,conformablytothingsthemselves.Forall
thingsproceedfrom,andareconvertedtotheprincipleandcausefrom
whichtheyproceeded,thusexhibitingacertaindemiurgiccircle.
fFori>XiorK77Chere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTjXiaKTjc.
fInsteadofopupevoc,inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadoppupevog.
Inwhathasbeenbeforesaid,therefore,Platodeliveredtoustheorder
171Aoftheplenitudesoftheworldaccordingtoprogression,whenhe
representedtheDemiurgusplacingintellectinsoul,butsoulinbody,1
andthusfabricating*theuniverse.Butinwhatisnowsaid,hegives
completiontotheworldaccordingtoconversion.Andfirstindeed,
assumingthecontrariesthatareintheuniverse,headdstwomediato
these,andunitesthemthroughanalogy.Inthenextplace,perfectingit
awholeofwholes,hesurroundsitwithanintellectualfigure,rendersit
capableofparticipatingofadivinelife,andimpartstoitamotionwhich
imitatesintellect.Alwayslikewise,causingittobecomemoreperfectby
theadditions,afterallthese,heintroducessoulintotheuniverse,and
fillsallthingswithlife,thoughdifferentnatureswithadifferentlife.
Healsoplacesintellectinsoul,andthroughthisconjoinssoultoits
fountain.Forthesouloftheuniverse,throughparticipatingofintellect,
becomesconjoinedwithintelligiblesthemselves.Andthusheendsat
theprinciplefromwhichthemundaneintellect,soul,andthe
Bbulkofbodyproceed.Fordividingtheuniversetriply,intointellect,
soul,andbody,hefirstdiscussesthemoresubordinateofthese:forsuch
isthemodeaccordingtoconversion.Andthediscussionindeedofthe
fabricationofbodyisterminated,havingdeliveredtheessence,figure
andmotionofit.
Thetheoryofsoulhowever,isconjoinedtothis,justasbodyitselfis
suspendedfromadivinesoul,andtheanimationwhichthediscourse
nowadds,istheseventhdemiurgicgiftimpartedtotheworld.Butthe
discussionofthesoulisIthinktwofold;theoneindeeddeliveringthe
essenceofit,buttheotheritscommunionwithbody.Platohowever
selectsthelatterofthese,andthinksfittomentionitbeforetheformer.
Perhapsindeed,becauseitisamediumbetweenthereasoningabout
2,104body,andthespeculationsabouttheessenceofsoul.Forthehabitude

ofsoultobody,isinacertainrespectamediumbetweenbody,andsoul
itself.Anditisnecessarythattheleadingtoprinciplesshouldbe
throughmedia.Perhapstoo,heselectedthelatter,becausehewasnot
willingtoconnectthesoulwithbody,accordingtotime;noragain,
Cwhenseparate,andexistingbyitselftoconjoinittotheworld.Butto
deliverthecommunionofsoulwithbodypriortogenerationofsoul,
contributestothis.Forthegenerationofthesoulissufficienttoevince,
thatthecorporealbulkalsooftheworldisunbegotten[accordingto
tTim.30b
$ForovveKreivarohere,itisnecessarytoreadovvereKTaivero.
time].Forifheascribesgenerationtounbegottennatures,yetinthese
therewillbeanothermodeofgeneration.Butifprior*totheapparent
generation,hebringsintothesameconditionbothbodyandsoul,such
agenerationwillbeunbegotten,andtheanimationwillbeperpetual;
neithersoulbeinggeneratedintime,norbodydifferingintimefrom
soul.Andthusmuchconcerningtheprincipalpartsoftheorderin
whatissaid.
Withrespecthowever,tothemiddlepositionofsoul,different
interpretersexplainitdifferently.Forsomesaythatthemiddleisthe
centreoftheearth;others,thatthemoonisthemiddle,astheisthmus
ofgeneratedanddivinenatures;others,thatitisthesun,asbeing
establishedintheplaceofaheart;others,thatitistheinerraticsphere;
others,thatitistheequinoctial,asboundingthebreadthoftheworld;
andothers,thatitisthezodiack.Andsomeindeed,placeinthecentre
therulingpoweroftheuniverse;others,inthemoon;others,inthe
Dsun;others,intheequinoctial;andothers,inthezodiack.Buttothe
firstofthese,thepowerofthecentrebearswitness,thisbeing
connectiveofeverycirculation;tothesecond,themotionofthemoon,
whichinavariousmannerchangesgeneration;tothethird,thevivific
heatofthesun;tothefourth,thefacilityofthemotionofthe
equinoctialcircle;andtothefifth,thecirculationofthestarsaboutthe
zodiack.Againstallthesehowever,PorphyryandIamblichuswrite,
blamingthemforunderstandingthemiddlelocally,andwithinterval,
2,105andinclosinginacertainpartthesoulofthewholeworld,whichis
everywherepresentsimilarly,andwhichrulesover,andleadsallthings
byitsmotions.Ofthesedivinemenlikewise,Porphyryindeed,
assumingthistobethesouloftheuniverse,interpretsthemiddle
accordingtothepsychicalessence:forthisisthemiddleofintelligibles
andsensibles.Inthusspeakinghowever,hewillnotappeartosayany
thing,aspertainingtothewordsofPlato.Butifweshouldassumethat
theuniversederivesitscompletionfromintellect,soulandbody,andis
Eananimalpossessingsoulandintellect,inthissystemweshallfindthat
soulisthemiddle.Platotherefore,havingbeforesaidthis,willappear

tosaynothingelsenow,thanthatthesouloftheworldisarrangedso
astoextenditsenergiesthroughtheuniverse,beingallottedthemiddle
orderinit.Foragainsecondarynaturesparticipateofthoseprior*to
them;justasbodywhichisthelastofthings,participatesofsoulwhich
fForirpogryq<paivopevrjc;yeveoeughere,readTOOTrig,K.\..
XInsteadof/*erexyapavrovraSevreparcovitpogavruvinthisplace,itis
necessarytoreadperexeiyapavradevreparuvirpoavruv.
ranksinthemiddle,andsoulparticipatesofintellect,whichispriorto
it.ButthephilosopherIamblichusthinksthatbysoul,weshould
understandthatsoulwhichisexempt,supermundane,andliberated,and
whichhasdominionoverallthings.Foraccordingtohim,Platodoes
notspeakofthemundanesoul,butofthatwhichisimparticipable,and
isarrangedasamonadaboveallmundanesouls.Forthisisthefirst
soul,andthemiddleisinthis,asbeingsimilarlypresenttoallthings,in
consequenceofnotbelongingtoanybody,norsubsistinginanywayin
habitude,butsimilarlyanimating,andbeingequallyseparatedfromall
mundanenatures.Foritisnotlessseparatedfromsomeandmorefrom
others;sinceitiswithouthabitutde;butissimilarlyseparatedfromall;
thoughallthingsarenotseparatedfromitafterthesamemanner.For
intheparticipantsofit,therearethemoreandtheless.
FOurpreceptorhowever,interpretsthemiddleinawaymore
accommodatedtothewordsofPlato.Forsincethesouloftheuniverse
hasindeedthatwhichissupermundane,andexemptfromtheuniverse,
accordingtowhichitisconjoinedtointellect,whichPlatointhe
2,106Phaedrus*andOrpheusinwhathesaysaboutHippa,denominatethe
headofthesoul;andsinceithasalsoanothermultitudeofpowers,
proceedingfromthismonad,dividedabouttheworld,andappropriately
presenttoallthepartsoftheuniverse,inonewayindeedaboutthe
172Amiddle,inanotherabouttheearth,inanotheraboutthesun,andin
anotherabouteachofthespheres;thisbeingthecase,hesaysthatthe
presentwordsindicateallthese,sothatsoulanimatesthemiddleinone
way,butthewholebulkinanother,andleavessomethingelsepriorto
thesepowers,exemptfromtheuniverse.Inorderhowever,thatwemay
notnegligentlyattendtowhatissaidbyPlato,butmayexhibitthe
varietyofthepsychicalpowers,thusmuchmustbesaid,thatsoulmuch
priortobody,isavitalworld,andisbothoneandnumber.And
throughtheoneindeed,itissuperiortoeveryhabitudeofform;but
throughmultitude,itgovernsthedifferentpartsoftheuniverse.Forby
itsguardianpowers,itcontainsthecentre;sincethewholesphereisgoverned
fromthence,andconvergestoit.Besides,everythingturbulentinthe
world,iscollectedaboutthemiddle,andrequiresadivineguard,capableof
arranging,anddetainingitinitsproperboundaries.Hencealso,theologists
terminatetheprogressionsofthehighestGods,inthatplace;andthe

BPythagoreanscallthemiddlethetowerofJupiter*andtheguardhouseof
tPhxdrus248a.
$cf.61Cf,p.186.
Jupiter.Butbyitsstable,andatthesametimevivifyingpowers,itcontains
thesphereoftheearth.Byitsperfective,andgenerativepowers,thesphere
ofwater.Byitsconnective,andmotivepowers,theair.Byitsundefiled
powers,fire.Andbyitsintellectualpowers,allheaven.Ofthesealso,it
containsinonewaythelunarsphere,inanother,thesolarsphere,and
inanother,thesphereofthefixedstars.Forthesoulsofeachofthese
governinconjunctionwiththewholesouloftheuniverse,their
appropriateportionsoftheworld.
Suchtherefore,beingthemodeofanimation,Plato,asheis
accustomedtodo,beginningfromthelastofthingsaccordingto
conversion,firstanimatesthemiddle,afterwardstheuniverse,andinthe
thirdplace,leavessomethingofsoulexternaltotheuniverse.Forashe
2,107constitutedbodypriortosoul,andpartspriortowholes,solikewisehe
deliverstheanimationoftheworld,beginningfromthelastofthings.
Foraccordingtoaprogressionfromonhighhesaid,*thatthe
Demiurgusplacedintellectinsoul,andsoulinbody;butteachingusin
whatisnowsaid,animationaccordingtoconversion,hefirstanimates
themiddle,andafterwardstheuniverse.Fortheriverofvivification
Cproceedsasfarastothecentre;astheOraclesalsosay,*whenspeaking
ofthemiddleofthefivecentres,whichextendsfromonhighentirely
totheoppositepart."Andanotherfifthmiddlefierycentre,wherea
lifebearingfiredescendsasfarastothematerialrivers."Platotherefore,
beginningfromthosethingsinwhichanimationends,recurstothe
wholeproductionoflife,andpriortothissurveystheexemptpowerof
thesoul.Hencewemustnotplacetherulingpartofthesoulinthe
centre;forthispartisexemptfromtheuniverse;butacertainpowerof
it,whichistheguardianofthewhole[mundane]order.Fornothing
elseintheuniverse,issocapableofentirelysubvertingwholesasthe
centre,andthepowerofthecentre,aboutwhichthereisanharmonic
danceoftheuniverse[iftheyareinadefectivecondition].Hencetoo
Plato,divinelyasitappearstome,doesnotplacethesoulinthemiddle
oftheuniverse,butsoul.Forthesedifferfromeachother,becausethe
formerestablishesthewholeofsoulinthecentre,butthelatterplaces
apowerofitinthemiddle,andadifferentpowerindifferentpartsof
theworld.Platothereforesays,"placingsoulinthemiddle;"whichisthe
samethingasgivingtheparticipationofsoultothemiddle,and
Dextendingitstotalpowerstotheuniverse;theDemiurgusleftexternal
tTim.30b.
%Chald.Orac.fr.65.

totheuniverse,apowerofthesoulmoredivinethanalltheothers,
establishedinitself,andexemptlycontainingandconnectingthewhole
world.Andwhatoccasionistheretobeprolixininvestigatingthe
meaningofPlato,sincethephilosopherhimselfshortlyafter,when
discussingtheanimationitselfoftheworld,fsays,"butsoulunfolding
herselftotheextremityoftheuniverse,fromthemiddle,circularlycovered
itaswithaveil,herselfbeingconvolvedinherself"Thishoweverdoes
2,108notatalldifferfromthewordsbeforeus.Fortoextendeverywayfrom
themiddle,isthesamethingastobeunfoldedfromthemiddletothe
extremityoftheuniverse.Buttheresoulherselffromherself,illuminates
thecentreoftheuniverse,andthewholesphereofit,byherpowers;
andheretheDemiurgusisthecauseofanimation,andintroducesthe
soulintotheuniverse.Forthesamethingiseffectedbyboth,
demiurgicallyindeed,andintellectually,bythecause,butselfmotively,
bysoul.Nowhowever,thephilosopherdeliversthebondderivedfrom
fabricationalone.Forweparticularlyreferwholes,andsuchthingsas
Earegood,toadivinecause,butpartialnatures,andthingswhicharenot
good,wethinkunworthyofdivineproduction,andsuspendthemfrom
othermoreproximatecauses;thoughthesealso,ashasbeenfrequently
observed,subsistthroughdivinity.
Asthereisthereforeacommunionofadivine,andlikewiseofapartial
soulwithbodies,thatcommunionwhichsubsistsaccordingtoabeneficent
will,anddoesnotdepartfromintelligibleprogressions,isdivine;butthat
whichsubsistsaccordingtoadefluxionofthewingsofthesoul,oraudacity,
orflight,iswithoutGod,thoughinthisalso,thereisacomplicationwith
selfmotiveenergy,andthewillofprovidence.*Nevertheless,the
communionwithbodywhichisaccordingtodivinity,ismanifest
throughthepresenceofdivinity;butthatwhichisfromsoul,is
apparentthroughtherepresentationofaberrationwhichitexhibits.
Hence,sincetheanimationoftheworldistwofold,proceedingfromthe
Demiurgus,andfromselfmotion,Platohereveryproperlygivesthe
preferencetothatcausewhichsubsistsaccordingtodivinity,asbeing
whollymostadaptedtowholes.5Forthewords"placing,heextended,
andhecoveredaswithaveil,"arethenamesofdemiurgicworks.For
thefirstofthesesignifiestheterminationofthesoul,thesecond,the
psychicalmiddlewhichproceedsthroughallthings,andthethird,
fTim.36e.
tcf.17B,p.57.
ForTOLQaXXoiehere,itisnecessarytoreadroic,oXoiC
Fexempttranscendency.Fortocoveraswithaveil,indicatesthatthesoul
comprehendstheworldeveryway,unitesitthroughherself,leadsitto
onelife,anddoesnotleaveanythingexternaltoitsappropriate

providence,nordestituteofitsnature.
34b"Andcausingcircletorevolveinacircle,heestablishedheaven[orthe
2,109universe]one,single,solitarynature."
ThephilosopherPorphyrywellinterpretsthemeaningofcircle
revolvinginacircle.Foritispossible,hesays,forthatwhichisnota
circletobemovedinacircle,asastonewhenwhirledround;andalso
foracirclenottobemovedinacircle,asawheelwhenrolledalong.
Butitisthepeculiarityoftheworld,thatbeingcircularitismovedin
173Aacircle,throughharmoniouslyrevolvingaboutthecentre.Inastill
greaterdegreehowever,thedivineIamblichus,appropriatelyinterprets
themeaningofthesewords.Forhesaysthatthecircleistwofold,the
onebeingpsychical,buttheothercorporeal,andthatthelatterismoved
intheformer.Forthisisconformabletowhathasbeenbeforesaid,and
accordswithwhatisafterwardsasserted.ForPlatohimselfshortly
after*movesthecorporealnatureaccordingtothepsychicalcircle,and
rendersthetwofoldcirculationsanalogoustotheperiodsinthesoul.
Andsuchistheinterpretationaccordingtoboththesephilosophers.
Moreover,tocomprehendthewholeblessednessoftheworldinthree
appellations,*ismostappropriatetothatwhichsubsistsaccordingtoa
triplecause,viz.thefinal,theparadigmatic,andthedemiurgic.Forof
theappellationsthemselves,thefirstofthem,viz.one,isassumedfrom
thefinalcause;forTheOneisthesamewithTheGood.Butthesecond,
viz.singleoronly,isassumedfromtheparadigmaticcause.Forthe
Bonlybegottenandonlyness(/XOVCJOIC,)were,priortotheuniverse,inallperfect
animal.Andthethird,viz.thesolitary,isassumedfromthe
demiurgiccause.Fortheabilityofusingitself,andthroughitself
governingtheworld,proceedsfromthedemiurgicgoodness.Theworld
therefore,isone,sofarasitisunited,andisconvertedtoTheOne.But
itissingle,sofarasitparticipatesoftheintelligible,andcomprehends
allthingsinitself.Anditissolitary,sofarasitissimilartoitsfather,
andisabletosaveitself.Fromthethreehowever,itappearsthatitis
aGod.ForTheOne,theperfect,andtheselfsufficient,aretheelements
ofdeity.Hence,theworldreceivingthese,isalsoitselfaGod;beingone
tTim.36d,ff.
$Tim.34b.
indeed,accordingtohyparxis;butsingleoronlyaccordingtoa
2.110perfectionwhichderivesitscompletionfromallsensiblenatures;and
solitary,throughbeingsufficienttoitself.*Forthosethatleadasolitary
life,beingconvertedtothemselves,havethehopesofsalvationin
themselves.Andthatthisisthemeaningofthetermsolitary,willbe
evidentfromthefollowingwordsofPlato:

34a"Ablethroughvirtuetoconversewithitself,indigentofnothing
external,andsufficientlyknownandfriendlytoitself."
CForinthesewords,heclearlymanifestswhatthesolitarinessiswhich
heascribestotheworld,andthathedenominatesthatbeingsolitary,
wholookstohimself,tothatwithwhichheisfurnished,andtohis
ownpropermeasure.Forthosethatliveinsolitaryplacesarethe
savioursofthemselves,sofarasrespectshumancauses.Theuniverse
thereforeislikewiseafterthismannersolitary,asbeingsufficientto
itself,andpreservingitself,notthroughadiminution,butfroman
exuberanceofpower;forselfsufficiencyishereindicated;andashesays,
throughvirtue.Forhealoneamongpartialanimals[suchasweare]
whopossessesvirtue,isabletoassociatewith,andlovehimselfwitha
parentalaffection.Buttheviciousmanlookingtohisinwardbaseness,
isindignantwithhimselfandwithhisownessence,isastonishedwith
externals,andpursuesanassociationwithothers,inconsequenceofhis
inabilitytobeholdhimself.Onthecontrary,theworthyman
perceivinghimselfbeautifulrejoicesandisdelighted,andproducingin
himselfbeautifulconceptions,gladlyembracesanassociationwith
himself.Forwearenaturallydomesticatedtothebeautiful,buthastily
withdrawourselvesfromdeformity.Hence,iftheworldpossesses
Dvirtueadaptedtoitself,initsintellectualandpsychicalessence,andin
theperfectionofitsanimalnature,lookingtoitself,itlovesitself,and
ispresentwith,andsufficienttoitself.*
Itispropertherefore,toassertthesethingstothosewhoplace
intelligiblesexternaltointellect.Forhowcanthatwhichtendstoother
things,andasbeingdeficientisindigentofexternals,beblessed?Hence,
2.111iftheworldisthroughvirtueconvertedtoitself,mustnotintellectdo
thisinamuchgreaterdegree?Intellectthereforeintellectuallyperceives
itself.Andthisisamongthenumberofthingsimmediatelyknown.
tTheworldissingle,oralone,becausethereisnotanotherworldequaltoit;but
itissolitary,becauseitissufficienttoitself.Sothatthealone,andthesolitary,havenot
herethesamemeaning.
tPlot.Enn.I,6,5;andHt,8,8.
Thisalsodeservestoberemarked,thatPlatowhenhegivesanimation
totheworld,directlyimpartsvirtuetoit.Fortheparticipationofsoul
isimmediatelyaccompaniedwiththefulnessofvirtue,inthebeing
whichsubsistsaccordingtonature;sincetheonecauseofthevirtues,*
isalsocoarrangedwiththefountainofsouls,*andtheprogressionof
thisfountainisconjoinedwiththeprogressionofsoul.Forwithrespect
tovirtue,oneindeedisunical,primaryandallperfect;butanother
subsistsintherulingsupermundaneGods;anotherintheliberatedGods;

andanotherismundane,5throughwhichthewholeworldpossesses
undefiledintelligence,anundeviatinglife,anenergyconvertedtoitself,
Eandapurityunmingledwiththeanimalswhichitcontains.Fromthis
virtuetherefore,theworldbecomesknownandfriendlytoitself.For
knowledgeprecedesfamiliarity.
Sincetheuniversealsoisintellectual,ananimal,andaGod,sofar
indeed,asitisintellectual,itbecomesknowntoitself;butsofarasitis
aGod,itisfriendlytoitself.Forunionismoreperfectthan
knowledge.Iftherefore,theuniverseisknowntoitself,itisintellectual;
forthatwhichisprimarilyknowntoitselfisintellect.Andifitis
friendlytoitselfitisunited.Butthatwhichisunitedisdeified;forThe
OnewhichisinintellectisaGod.Againtherefore,youhavevirtue,a
knowledgeof,andafriendshipwithitself,intheworld;thefirstofthese
proceedingintoitfromsoul;thesecondfromintellect;andthethird
fromdeity.HencePlatoveryproperlyadds,thatonaccountofthese
things,theworldwasgeneratedbytheDemiurgusablessedGod;forthe
presenceofsoul,theparticipationofintellect,andthereceptionof
union,rendertheuniverseaGod.AndtheblessedGodwhichhenow
mentionsistheGod"whoatacertaintimewouldexist,"animated,
Fenduedwithintellect,andunited.Unionhowever,ispresentwithit
accordingtothebondofanalogy;butmuchmorefromtheonesouland
theoneintellectwhichitparticipates.Forthroughthese,greaterbonds,
2,112andamoreexcellentunionproceededintotheuniverse.Andstill
beyondtheseunions,divinefriendship,andthesupplyofgood,contain
andconnectthewholeworld.Forthebondwhichproceedsfromintellect
andsoulisstrong,asOrpheusalsosays;buttheunionofthegoldenchain
tue.Vesta.
%ue.Juno.
cf.Chald.Ore.fr.46,47,52&196;and82E,page250.
[i.e.ofthedeificseries]isstillgreater*andisthecauseofgreatergoodtoall
things.
Moreover,felicitymustlikewisebeassumedinawayadaptedtothe
174Auniverse.Forsinceitissuspendedfromthepaternalintellect,andthe
wholefabricationofthings,andsinceitlivesconformablytothose
causes,itisconsequentlyhappy(evdaipLUv)*fromthem.Forthe
DemiurgusalsoisdenominatedadaemonbyPlatointhePoliticus*and
agreatdaemonbyOrpheus,whenhesays,
Onethegreatdaemonandthelordofall.+
Hethereforewholivesaccordingtothewillofthefather,andpreserves
theintellectualnaturewhichwasimpartedtohimfromthence
immutableishappyandblessed.Thefirstandtheallperfectformof

felicitylikewise,isthatoftheworld.Thesecondisthatofthemundane
Gods,whomPlatointhePhaedrus0callshappyGodsfollowingthe
mightyJupiter.Thethirdisthatofthegenerasuperiortous[viz.the
felicityofangels,daemonsandheroes].**Forthereisonevirtueof
angels,anotherofdaemons,andanotheroftheheroicgenera:andthe
formoffelicityistriple,beingdifferentaccordingtogenus.Thefourth
formoffelicityisthatwhichsubsistsintheundefiledsouls,whomake
blamelessdescents[intotherealmsofgeneration,]andexertaninflexible
Banduntamedlife.Thefifthisthatofpartialsouls[suchasours];and
thisismultiform.Forthesoulwhichisanattendantonthemoon,is
notsimilarlyhappywiththesoulthatissuspendedfromthesolarorder;
butastheformoflifeisdifferent,solikewiseperfectionisdefinedby
differentmeasures.Andthelastformoffelicityisthatwhichisseenin
irrationalanimals.Foreverythingwhichobtainsaperfectionadapted
toitaccordingtonatureishappy.Forthroughitsproperperfection,it
isconjoinedtoitsproperdaemon,andpartakesofhisprovidentialcare.
2,113Theformsoffelicitytherefore,beingsomany,thefirstandhighestmust
beplacedintheworld,andwhichalsoisnowmentionedbyPlato.We
tcf.96AB,p.291.
tue.Havingagooddasmon.
cf.Politicus272e.
Orph.fr.123.InsteadofeSaipuveyeveropeyac;apxoc,ottoiravruv,itis
requisitetoreadetc;Saipuvyevtropayagapxogontuvruv.
oPbcedrus247a,250b.
ftChald.Orac.fr.122,123.
mustnot,however,wonderthatheimmediatelycallstheworldaGod,
fromitsparticipationofsoul.Foreverythingisdeifiedthroughthat
whichisproximatelypriortoit;thecorporealworldindeedthrough
soul;butsoulthroughintellect,astheAthenianguestalsosays;*(forhe
assertsthatbyreceivingintellectsoulbecomesaGod,)andintellect
throughTheOne.Hence,intellectisdivine,butnotaGod.*The
OnehoweverisnolongeraGodthroughanythingelse,butisprimarily
aGod;justasintellectisprimarilygnostic,assoulisprimarilyselfmotive,
andasbodyisprimarilyinplace.Butthesethingsbeing
Cperfectlytrue,andpeculiartoPlato,itisnecessarytosurveyinwhat
follows,whereheestablishesintellectinsoul,ashereheplacessoulin
body.
34c"But,indeed,divinitydidnotthusafterwardsartificiallyproducethe
soul,aswejustnowendeavouredtosay,juniortothebody.Forhe
whoconjoinedthese,wouldneverpermitthatthemoreancientnature
shouldbegovernedbytheyounger."
Platoknewthatthemodeaccordingtoconversion,entirelydeliversas

first,thingswhicharesecondinorder.Forthingswhichare
proximatelyparticipated,aresecondarytothosethatareexempt;and
suchasaremoreknowntothehearers,areinferiortoinvisiblethings.
Thecausehoweverofthisis,thatwhenwenowsurveybeingsweare
inafallencondition.5Forwhenweareonhigh,andbeholdthethings
thatareherefromacertainshadow,weareabletoperceivetheir
diminutivenature,inconsequenceofassociatingwithintelligibles,and
havingthembeforeoureyes.Butfallingintogeneration,0and
surveyingthingsasitwereinasupinecondition,wefirstperceive
symbols,andthingsproximatetooursenses,asbeingplacednearerto
2,114us.Andbeginningfromthese,werecurthroughreminiscenceto
Dbeingsthemselvesandtrulyexistingessence.Thesurveythereforefrom
onhigh,willbethatofsoulsabidingthere;butthesurveyfrom
beneath,willbethatofsoulswhohaveseparatedthemselves[fromthe
tLawsX,897b.
Xie.Intellect,isinitsownnaturedivine,andnotaGod;butwhenasuperessential
unitybecomesconsubsistentwithit,itisthenaGod.
Rep.IV,445c.
cf.Pbxdrus248c;and35c,suprap.110.
oTim.43e;Phaedrus264a.
intelligibleworld].Andthejudgementindeed,whichoriginatesfrom
thingsessentiallymoreancient,isthatofsoulslivingaccordingto
intellect;butthejudgementwhichproceedsfromsecondarytofirst
natures,isthejudgementoffallensouls.Fortrulyexistingbeingisnear
tosoulsthatabideintheintelligible;butnonbeingtothosethatarein
afallencondition.Forthatwhichabides,abidesinbeing,andthat
whichfalls[fromtheintelligible],issituatedinnonbeing.Buttoeach
ofthese,thatinwhichitdwellsismoreproximate.
Platotherefore,knowingthesethings,andthatwerecurfrom
subordinatetomoreexcellentnaturesaccordingtoawellarranged
progression,thinksfittomakementionofthenatureofthings,
conformablytowhichtheelderismoreexcellentthantheyounger,and
throughthiscommonconception,toarrangethesoulpriortothebody.
Forheremindsusthattheformerisolder,butthelatteryounger,
throughanhypotheticalguidance.Forifthesoulrulesoverthebody,
itismoreancientthanthebody.Butitdoesruleoverthebody:forit
leadseverythingintheuniversebyitsmotions.*Andbody,indeed,is
Ealtermotive:butsoulisnaturallyadaptedtomovebothitself,andother
things.Itisthereforemoreancientthanthebody.Ifthishoweverbe
thecase,itisnecessarytoconceiveofitbyitself,notasbeinggenerated
posteriortothebody,asweimagineittobe,butgivingitasupernal
origin,weshouldsurveythecorporealbulkoftheuniverse,unfoldedas
itwereintolightfromit.Fortheuniversederiveditssubsistence

throughsoul,imitatingtheprogressionofitthroughitsbulk,butthe
conversionofitthroughitsfigure.Thesethings,however,weshall
againdiscuss.
But,ifyouarewilling,letusnowsurveyeachofthewordsofthetext
ofPlato.Inthefirstplacetherefore,withrespecttothesoul,he
manifeststhathespeaksofeverysoulbyaddingthearticlethe.Forhe
doesnotsayashedidbefore,*"placingsoulinthemiddle,"butthesoul.
Forthere,therewasapowerofthewholesoulaboutthemiddle;but
here,everysoulissaidtobemoreancientthanbody.Inthenextplace,
2,115theolderandtheyounger,arenottobeassumedaccordingtotime,as
Atticusapprehendedtheywere:forthefatheratonceconstitutedthe
soul,5andsurroundedthebodyoftheuniversewithit,aswithaveil.
FButtheymustbeassumedintheorderofessence.Fortheessence
tLawsX,896e.
tTim.34b&172C,supra,p.535.
Tim.34b.
whichismoreproximatetotheDemiurgus[isolder].Ifyouwishalso
tounderstandtheolderandtheyoungeraccordingtotime;thetime
whichisinthesoul,isolderandmoredivine,butthetimewhich
pertainstobodyisyounger.Andsoul,sofarassoul,isnotcorporeal
time;butthetimebelongingtobodyissubordinatetothatofsoul.For
asthereisadifferentformofmotioninboth,solikewisethetimein
eachisdifferent.Inthethirdplace,heusestheexpression"artificially
produce,"inthemostpropersense,inspeakingofthesoul;clearly
175Aindicatingthatitisaselfmotivething,thatitisfullofreasons,*andis
inventive*ofallvariouscontrivances.
Fartherstill,thepowerofmoreancientrulingoverjuniornatures,
proceedsintotheuniversefromintelligiblesthemselves.5Forthere
Protogonus,[oranimalitself,]whoissodenominatedbyall[theGods],
isthekingofalltheintellectualnatures.0Andintheintellectual
order,theeldestofthesonsofSaturn,issaidtobethefatherofall
things.
ButJovewasbornthefirst,andmoreheknows.
Iliadxiii,355
Foreverywherethatwhichisolder,isthesymbolofamore
intellectual,0totalandmonadiclife;butthatwhichisyounger,ofalife
whichispartible,proceedstosecondarynatures,andismultiplied.
HenceofthevivificGoddesses,theycalloneolder,buttheother
younger.**AndofthedemiurgicGods,theydenominateoneprior,
buttheotherjunior,whomlikewisetheycallrecent.**Inthenext
place,thewordconjoined,clearlymakesthesoulwhichisthesubjectof

tFor\<ryovhere,readXoyuv.
$Andforevpereucuvreadevperucov.
ForOCT'cairuvKOLBTJKBITUvor\ru,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadinthis
place,air'ctvruvKa6i\KiTUPvoyruv.
Orph.fr.58,59.
0Insteadofveurepctc,inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadvotpurepag.^
ftue.Rheaistheolder,butJunotheyoungervivificGoddess[cf.Theol.Plat.
370f].
%%ThepriorDemiurgus,isJupiter,butthejuniorBacchus[Tim.42d.].
thepresentdiscussionmundane,andnotliberated,*northeonesoul
whichexistspriortothemany.Forthelatterisexemptfromallsouls,
Bandothersoulsproceedaboutitasacentre;buttheformerreceivesa
2,116conjunctionwithbody,effectedaccordingtothewillofthefather.
34c"Wehowever,participatinginacertainrespectmuchofthatwhichis
casualandwithoutdesignassertthingsofthiskind."
Whatisthereasonthatweareunwillingtotransferourintellectfrom
thingsthatareofajuniornature,tothosethatareessentiallymore
ancient?*Itisbecauseourintellectresemblesoneasleep,andbecause
wearefullofanirrationalanddisorderlynature.Forthewordscasual,
andrashly,aresignificantofthesethings.Forsincewepossesssense,
andsensiblesareplacedbeforeourview,togetherwithwhichweare
nourished,wefirstapprehendthingsofajuniornature,asbeingmore
familiartous.Andthroughsenseindeed,wearebornealongrashlyand
withoutdesign;butthroughsensibleswhichareplacedbeforeus,welive
inacasualmanner.Forthosethatremainonhigh,assenseiswiththem
atrest,andthereisnosensationofthesensibleswithwhichwearenow
conversant,havenothingoccurringtothemofacasualnature.Butwe,
sincewehavesense,andsensiblesarebeforeoureyes,livecasuallyand
withoutdesign.Andasitissaid,weformajudgmentofthingswiththe
Cheaddownward;5whichisalsoconformabletowhatEmpedocles
lamentingourfatesays:
Manydirewordsandcaresobtundthemind.D
Formanythingsinvadinguswhoaretrulyslaves,ashavingbecome
exilesfromdeity,bluntandclogourspeculationofrealbeings.Since
however,asthisphilosopheralsosays,thecasual,andthatwhichis
withoutdesign,accedetousexternally,onthisaccount,Platosay,that
weparticipateofthem,andnotthattheseareexcitedfromouressence:
tie.NotbelongingtotheorderofGodsdenominatedliberated,andwhoarealso

calledsupercelestial,asbeingimmediatelyabovethemundaneGods.
%Intheoriginal,btxxirouxvcuruxv,ontoruvveurepuvcocitpeofivrepuv,eitiraKOLT'
ovoiavirpeoffvrepapra0ifia^eLVr\puvQovkopeBarovvow;butitappearstomethat
thewordswcTtpeoffvrepuvoughttobeexpunged,unlesswereadinsteadofthemwc
ouceiorepuv,(asmoreFAMILIARtous),andthatfor0ov\ope0a,weshouldreadov
8ov\opt0a.
ForKapairoiovpedahere,itappearstoberequisitetoreadKaptjvoiovpedct.
Fr.n,2d.Intheoriginal,7roXXa5edtiv'eirea,rarectpfiXwovoipepipvaq.
Butforrareitisobviouslynecessarytoreadragrt.
forweareessentiallyintellectual.Butsincethereislikewisea
participationfrommoredivinenatures,Platoaddsthewordmuch,in
orderthathemayindicatetheindefinitenessandconfusionofa
2.117participationofthiskind.Fortheparticipationofdivinernatures,
introducestotheparticipants,union,boundandorder.
34c"Buttheartificeroftheworldconstitutedsoulbothingenerationand
virtuepriortoandmoreancientthanbody,asthedespot[orlord]and
rulerofitsservilenature;andthatfromcertainthingsinthefollowing
manner."
Porphyrysubdividing,conceivesthewordstosignify,thatsoulismore
ancientthanbodyingeneration,butpriortoitinvirtue.Both
however,oreither,maybesignified,andpriortoandmoreancientthan,
maybeconjoinedtothewordsingeneration;andagain,eithermaybe
Dconjoinedtothewordsinvirtue.Butgenerationwhenascribedtothe
soul,isnotthatwhichisaccordingtotime;forPlatointhePhaedrus*
demonstratesthatthesoulisunbegottenandindestructible;butisan
essentialprogressionfromintelligiblecauses.Forofbeings,someare
intelligibleandunbegotten,butothersaresensibleandgenerated.And
themediabetweenthese,areintelligibleandgenerated.Forsomethings
areentirelyincompositeandimpartible,andonthisaccountare
unbegotten;butotherswhichsubsistbetweenthese,areintelligibleand
generated,beingnaturallyimpartibleandpartible,andafteranother
mannersimpleandcomposite.Generationtherefore,inthesoulisone
thingbutthatinthebodyanother.Andtheone,indeed,ispriorand
moreancient;foritismoreproximatetotheDemiurgusofallthings;
buttheotherissecondaryandmorerecent;foritismoreremotefrom
theone[fabricative]causeofall.Fartherstill,virtueispresentwiththe
soul,anditisalsopresentwiththebody,andthewholeanimal;butthe
virtueofthesoulismoredivine,andthatofthebody,abject.Andthe
formerisofamorerulingnature,andisnearertotheunicalcausesof
intelligiblevirtue;butthelatterisofanattendantnature,andismore
Eremotefromintelligibles.Generation,however,manifestsprogression,but
virtue,perfectionandconversion;ofwhich,theformerisfromthe

fountainofthesoul,*butthelatterisinherentinsoulsfromfontal
2.118virtue,[i.e.fromVesta].Theprioritselfalso,andthemoreancient,
haveacertaindifferencewithrespecttoeachother.Forpriorindeed,is
tPbxdrus246a;alsoTim.52a.
%Itisnecessaryheretosupplyrr\g^vxtQThefountainofthesoulisJuno.
significantoforderalone;butthemoreancient,ofthetranscendencyof
causewithreferencetothethingcaused.Noteverythingthereforewhich
isprior,canalsobecalledmoreancient,butthatwhichistheleaderof
essencetosecondarynatures.Bothhoweveraretrueofthesoul.For
sheisallottedapriororder,beingthesisterofbody,accordingtothe
progressionofbothfromonefabrication;andshegeneratesandadorns
bodyinconjunctionwiththefather.Forthefirstprogenyofcauses,
produceastheyproceedthesecondprogeny,inconjunctionwiththe
causesofthemselves.
What,however,shallwesayofthewords,thelordandruler?*Donot
bothindicate,thatthesoulsuppliesallthingswithgood,thatitprovides
ineveryrespectforthebody,andthatitpreservesitsownpropergood
inaflourishingcondition.*Andhowisitpossible,thatPlatoshould
notmanifestthesethingsthroughthesewords?Foradespotorlord,
alwaysrefersthegood5ofthosethathegoverns,tohisowngood.But
Farulerlookstothegoodofthosewhoareobedienttohim,andcoarranges
allthingswithreferencetoit.Thedespoticpeculiarity,
however,ispresentwiththesoul,inconsequenceofherperformingall
thingsforthesakeofherself;buttherulingpeculiarity,throughfilling
allthingswithgood.Forherprovidentialenergyisnotdiminished,
throughreferringallthingstoherownpropergood.Andhergood
remainsunchanged,whileshegivescompletiontoherprovidential
energies.Inanotherwayalsosheisarulerandadespot:forsheproceeds
bothfromtheruling,andthefontalsoul.DBecauselikewise,the
176Auniverseisherdwelling,sheiscalledadespot.Andbecausesheleadsall
thingstotheintelligible,sherulesovertheuniverse.Ifhowever,she
wasthusconstitutedatfirst,asadespotandaruler,thesethingsare
essentialtoher,Imeanthedespoticandtherulingpeculiarity.Butif
theyareessential,theyarealwayspresentwithher.Andifindeedthey
werepresentwithherincapacityalone,shewouldbeimperfect,which
isnotlawfultoassert;butifinenergy,thatwhichisgovernedbyher
2,119alwayswas,andwasadornedbyher.Theuniverseitselftherefore,ifit
wassogenerated,astobegovernedbysoul,isconsubsistentwithsoul.
Forthatwhichisgovernedissimultaneouslyconjoinedwiththatwhich
fCom.Cm.57,32;andCom.Parm.913,6.
XForanpepcaovinthisplace,readaKpcaov.[Cf.Rep.HI,409a].
InsteadofrotruvdnjKOVpevuvayaBuvavcKpepei'mthisplace,itisrequisitetoread

raruvdionovpevuvayct8ctavoupepei.
viz.SheproceedsfromProserpineandJuno.
governs.Hencethroughboth,wemaydiscovertheperpetuityofthe
universe,andthattogovernisnotaccidentaltosoul,nortobe
governed,tobody,butthatthesoulis,byitsveryessence,thedespot
ofthebody,andbodythevassalofthesoul.Onthisaccountalso,they
arespontaneouslyconjoinedtoeachother;andthebodyisexcitedto
Btheparticipationofthesoul,andthesoultothecareofthebody.
Fartherstill,theintentionofthewords"fromcertainthingsafterthe
followingmanner,"istoleadintolightthegeneraandthethingswhich
constitutethesoul,andalsothemodeofthemixtureofthem,andthe
reasonsaccordingtowhichthemixtureisdivided.Forthecorporeal
naturewasmadebydivinitytoconsistofcertainelements,andaftera
certainmanner,andheartificiallydevisedacertainanalogyofthemand
physicalbond.Butifdivinityartificiallyproducedthesoulfromcertain
things,andafteracertainmanner,heconstitutedboththesubjectofher
asitwere,andtheform.Itisridiculousthereforetosay,thatthe
essenceofherisunbegotten,ifsheconsistsofcertainelements,butthat
theformofherisgenerated.ForPlatosays,*thatdivinityproduced,
boththematterasitwereofthesoul,andthereasonaccordingto
whichsheisdiversifiedwithsuchformsasshepossesses;beingbound
bycertainmedia.Ifhowever,divinitygeneratestheelementsasitwere
ofher,viz.essence,same,anddifferent,andfromthesethewhole,every
thingthatisessentialinthesoulisgenerated.
35a"Fromanessencealwaysimpartible,andsubsistingwithinvariable
Csameness,andagainfromanessencewhichispartibleaboutbodies,he
mingledfrombothamiddleformofessence."
Inthefirstplace,itisrequisitetoshowthroughwhatcausePlato
deliversthegenerationofthesoul,sinceitisaccordingtohim
unbegotten;*inthenextplace,todivideappropriatelythewhole
psychicalgeneration;inthethirdplace,todemonstratethemiddle
natureofthesoul;inthefourthplace,tospeakconcerningthegenera
ofthosethings,fromwhichPlatoconstitutesallotherbeingsandthe
2,120soul;inthefifthplace,toshowhowthemixtureofthesegeneraistobe
assumedinthesoul;inthesixthplacetodemonstratewhatthe
impartibleandthepartiblenaturesare;andintheseventhplace,to
unfoldthemeaningofthewordsofPlato,andtoevincethatthey
accordwithallthathasbeenbeforesaid.Forifweareabletodiscuss
fTim.69a.
tPhxdrus245c.

alltheseparticulars,weshallobtaininanappropriatemannertheend
ofthisinvestigation.Letusbeginthereforefromthefirst,becausesome
oftheancientshaveblamedPlato,assertingthathedoesnotrightly
investigatetheprincipleofaprinciple,andthegenerationofan
unbegottenthing.Forifweinvestigatethecausesoffirstnatures,and
Dconceivegenerationsofthingsselfsubsistent,weshallignorantlyproceed
toinfinity,andhavenoendofthetheory.Forashewhothinksthat
allthingsaredemonstrative,especiallysubvertsdemonstrationitself,
afterthesamemanneralso,hewhoinvestigatesthecausesofallthings,
entirelysubvertsallbeings,andtheorderofthemproceedingfroma
certaindefiniteprinciple.Thingsofthiskindindeed,areobjectedby
TheophrastustoPlato,concerningthegenerationofthesoul,who
likewisesays,thatweoughtnottoinvestigatethewhyinallphysical
inquiries.For,headds,itwouldberidiculoustodoubtwhyfireburns,
onwhataccountfireexists,andwhysnowrefrigerates.Butthosewho
havewrittenagainsthimindefenseofPlatosay,thatalonetoknowthe
otiorthatofnaturalthings,+isirrationalknowledge,andisadoxastic,
orsensitiveapprehensionofthem;butthattoaddlikewisethewhy,*and
toinvestigatethecausesofthem,istrulytheemploymentofdianoia,
andascientificintellect.Forinthisrightopiniondiffersfromscientific
reason.
Wehowever,attendingtowhatbothofthemsay,thinkthatthelatter
2,121speakwell,butinthefirstplace,wewouldaskTheophrastushimself,
Ewhetherthecauseofnoonethingistobeassigned,orofacertain
thing?Forifofnoonething,besidessubvertingsciencewhich
especiallyknowscauses,hewillalsoaccusehimself,byenquiringwhence
thunderisproduced,whencewindsarise,andwhatarethecausesof
lightning,corruscations,fierywhirlwinds,rain,snowandhail;allwhich
inhisMeteors,5heveryproperlythinksdeservingofanappropriate
conjecturaldiscussion.Butifthecauseofacertainthingistobe
assigned,whyaresomethingspertainingtophysicstobesurveyed
accordingtocauses,butothersaretobedeliveredirrationallywithout
cause?Foritdoesnotfollowthatinthingsinwhichthattheyexistis
manifest,intheseitislikewiseknownwhytheyexist.Butafter
Theophrastus,weshallasktheloversofPlato,whetherweareentirely
toinvestigatethecausesofallthings,ornotofallthings?Forifofall
tviz.Merelytoknowthattheyexist,withoutknowingthe5um,orwhytheyexist.
$Le.theSum.
InSuisMeteoris,8.
things,wemustthereforeinvestigatethecauseofTheOne,whichwesay
ismoreexcellentthancause.ForthatTheOneis,wemaylearnfrom
principles.ForifnotTheOne,butmultitude[istheprincipleofthings,]
whatisitthatunites;sincethatwhichisunitedisfromTheOne,justas

thatwhichisessentializedisfromessence,andthatwhichisanimated
isfromsoul?ButwhyTheOneisonecannotbeunfolded,foritismore
ancientthaneverycause.Andifwearenottoinvestigatethecausesof
Fallthings,whyshouldweinvestigatethecauseofsoul,andthe
generationofitfromacause,butshouldbynomeansdothisinother
things?
Sincehowever,wehaveseparatelyinterrogatedeachofthem,weshall
doubtwithourselvesforbothofthem,throughwhatcausePlatoindeed
devisesthegenerationofthesoul,andtheprogressionofitfromacause,
butTheophrastuscondemnsalldoctrineofthiskind.Andhaving
doubtedwesay,thattoTheophrastus,andallofthePeripateticsect,the
ascentoftheirspeculation,is[only]asfarastothemotiveformsofthe
177Auniverse;whetheritbepropertocallthesesouls,orintellects.*Butby
Plato,theseasfallingshortofthefirstdignityamongbeings,in
2,122consequenceofbeingparticipable,areconsideredashavinganordervery
remotefromprinciples.Forpriortothese,aretheintelligibleand
intellectualordersofbeings,fromwhichthesederivetheirprogression.
Andpriortotheseorders,isthenumberoftheGods,causingbeingsto
becomeone,andconnected,andilluminatingthemwithdivinelight.
Andagain,priortothisnumber,istheimparticipableone,fromwhich
thisnumberunfoldsitselfintolightthroughthenaturesbywhichitis
received.Foritisnecessarythatimparticipableformsshouldsubsist
priortothosethatareparticipated,andpriortoimparticipables,the
unitiesofthem.Fortheunitedisonething,andunityanother,and
priortothemultitudeofunities,theonefountainofthemexists.
Suchthereforebeingtheopinionsofboththesephilosophers,
Theophrastusindeed,sinceheassertsthatthesoulistheprincipleof
motion,anddoesnotadmitthatthereisanythingelsepriortothis
principle,veryproperlythinksthatprincipleoughtnottobe
Binvestigated.Forhegrantsthattheuniverseisanimated,andonthis
accountdivine.Forifitisdivine,sayshe,andhasthemostexcellentlife,
itisanimated;sincenothingishonourablewithoutsoul,ashewritesinhis
treatiseOntheHeaven.ButPlatoadmitsthattherearemundane
intellects,priortothecelestialsouls,andpriortothese,intellects
withouthabitude[tosouls],andpriortothese,thedivineorder.Hence,
ti.e.Thesoulsofthecelestialandsublunaryspheres.
heveryproperlydeliversthesoulproducedandgeneratedfromanother
principle;thoughhealsoknewthatgenerationofanotherkindhasnot
onlyaplaceinbodies,butalsoinsouls,sofarasthey,participateof
time.Forindivinesoulslikewisethereistime,since,asPlatosaysin
thePhaedrus,+theysurveythroughtimerealbeingitself.Forall
transitivemotionhastimeconjoinedwithit.Andthusmuchforthe
firstofthebeforementionedproblems.Foratthesametime,itis
sufficientlydemonstrated,thatPlatorightlydeliversthegenerationof

thesoul,thoughitisessentiallyunbegotten,andthattheargument
Cwhichisurgedagainstit,ispartlyrightandpartlynot.Fortohimwho
admitsthatthesoulisthefirstthing,itisconsequenttosubvertthe
2,123generationofit.Forfromwhatisthegenerationofit,whenthereis
nothingpriortoit?Thisverythinghowever,isnottrue,thatsoulis
thefirstofallthings.ForthatwhichAristotlesaysconcerningbody,*
thatbeingfinite,italwaysreceivesthepowerofbeingalwaysmoved,
butdoesnotreceivetheinfiniteatonce,thesamethingalsomust
necessarilybesaidconcerningthesoul,thatitdoesnotatonceenergize
accordingtoallthings,sothatitdoesnotatoncepossessalltheinfinite
power,fromwhichitalwaysenergizes,nordoesitenergizeatonce
accordingtoeverypower,soasalwaystopossessoneenergy.Forofall
power,thereisoneenergyofonepower.Henceitalwaysreceivesthe
powerofenergizingalways,andonthisaccountdoesnotalways
energizewithinvariablesameness,butdifferentlyatdifferenttimes.So
thatinshortitistrue,thateverythingwhichenergizesaccordingtotime,
alwaysreceivesthepowerofenergizing,yetdoesnotatoncereceivethe
wholepower,andonthisaccountisgenerated.
Thatthesoulhowever,isnotthefirstofbeings5isevident.Forthat
whichisfirstispresentwithallthings,anditisnecessarythatallthings
shouldparticipateoftheprincipleofall,ornotparticipatingofitshould
entirelyperish.Foressenceandhyparxisareimpartedtoallthingsfrom
Dthefirstprinciple.Butsoulisnotpresentwithallthings,norisit
necessarythatallthingsshouldparticipateofsoul.Butofbodies,some
areinanimate,andothersareanimated.Itislikewisenecessarythatthe
firstofallthingsshouldbeone.Forifitweremultitude,itwouldhave
thatwhichcausesthingstobeone,priortoitself.Fortherewillnotbe
tPhxdrus247d.
$cf.AristotlePhysicsVEt,10,266ab25.
Insteadofon8eovvporovruvr\\l/vxy,STJXOP,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread
on5eovwpurovruvovruvr/\l>vxy,8i)\ov.
adispersedmultitude.Butsoulisamultitude.Thefirstofthingsalso
isbeyondallessence;sinceeveryessencehasmultitudeinconjunction
withitself;forthereareinit*differenceandsameness,life,andeternal
energy.Butsoulisanessence.Everywheretoo,thefirstgenusisfree
fromevil;butthegenusof[partial]soulsisatacertaintimenaturally
adaptedtobecomeevil.*Andthisinshortmaybedemonstrated
throughmanyarguments.ThedesignhoweverofPlatois,throughthe
abovementionedcause,tounfoldtousthepsychicalessence,toshow
howitsubsists,andtoteachusfromwhatelementsitiscomposed,and
accordingtowhatreasons.Foraswithrespecttoourbodyitiseasyto
know,thatitcontainsthefaceandthehands,thethighsandthefeet,
2.124andallsuchotherpartsasareobvioustoeveryone;buttoknowhow

itiscomposedfromtheinwardparts,fromwhatparticulars,and
accordingtowhatratio,requiresmedicalandanatomicalinformation;
Eafterthesamemannerwithrespecttothesoul,itisnotdifficultto
showwhatitisaccordingtoitstotalpowers,buttounfoldthevery
essenceofit,asfarastotheelementsofwhichitconsists,andtosurvey
theallvariousreasonsinit,willbetheworkofthemostaccuratetheory
concerningit.Andthisindeed,Platoendeavourstodo,anatomizingas
itwerethepsychicalessence,anddenudatingthewholeofittothose
whoareabletofollowhim.Aswehavesaidtherefore,wemaythus
replytothefirstoftheinquiries.ForthatPlatoveryproperlysays,that
theessenceofthesoulisgenerated,wemaylearn,byconsideringthat
hecalledthecorporealformednaturegenerated,becauseitisalways
becomingtobe,andreceivesaninfinitepowerofexisting.Forthesoul
alsoisathingofthiskind,andisnotabletoreceiveatoncethewhole
infinityofbeing.Thisisevidentfromitslivinginadiscursivemanner,
andproducingdifferentreasonsatdifferenttimes,nothavingthewhole
ofaninfinitelifeatoncepresent.Byalwaysthereforeevolvingitsown
life,itisevidentthatithasanessencealwaysgenerated,orbecomingto
be,andalwaysadvancingtotheinfinite,butnotbeinginfinite.Hence
italwaysreceivesalifewhichisessential,andentirelynaturaltoit.For
thatwhichisperfectiveofathingistothatthingentirelyaccordingto
nature.Moreover,ifitisselfmotive,[asTimaeusasserts,5thenhemust
admit,thatitimpartstoitselfatonce,thewholeoftheessentiallife
whichitpossessesinitself,andthusitwillbeunbegottenandatthe
tie.Inthefirstessence.
tTim.42b,ff.
Tim.37a.
sametime]+generated;beingindeed,throughtheessenceandlifewhich
italwayspossesses,everliving,andeverexistent,butinconsequenceof
alwaysreceivingthese,alwaysbecomingtobeessenceandlife.Forit
existsinatwofoldrespect,fromitself,andfromthenaturespriortoitself
2,125Andthroughitselfindeed,alwaysexisting;butthroughthenaturespriorto
itself,alwaysbecomingtobe.Orratherthroughthelatterhavingboth,viz.
tobethatwhichitis,andtobegenerated,butthroughitselftobethat
whichitisonly.Foritalonepossessesfromthenaturespriortoitself
178Atheperpetualreceptionofsomething;Aristotlealsorightlyassertingthat
nothingisthecauseofitself,thewellbeingofwhichisaccordingto
time,andhasnotaneternalsubsistence,*lestthecausewhichoughtto
bepriortothethingcaused,shouldbeconsubsistentwiththatwhichis
generated.Hencetimeandeternitysubsistaboutthesoul;eternity
indeed,sofarasthesoulisunbegotten;buttimesofarasitisgenerated.
Onthisaccountthesoulisinacertainrespecteternal,asindestructible,
butisnosimplyeternal,asPlatoalsosaysintheLaws.*Butthesecond

thingproposedtobedone,wastodividethewholegenerationofthe
soulinanappropriatemanner.Thishowever,weshallafterwards
accomplish,againassumingtheprinciplefromthethingsthemselves.
Ineverynaturetherefore,thereareessence,power[andenergy.And
essenceindeed,]0isthataccordingtowhichanexistenceasfire,orto
befire,ispresentwithfire.Butpowerisonething,andenergyanother.
Foronethingdries,butanotherheats,andotherthingsproducea
changeinadifferentway.Itisnecesarytherefore,thatinthesoulalso
onethingshouldbeessence,anotherpower,andanotherenergy.And
Bitisrequisitethathewhowishestoapprehendandsurveythewholeof
thesoul,shouldspeakaboutallthese.Ofthegenerationofthesoul
therefore,therewillinthefirstplacebethreeheads;thefirst,
fFromtheversionofLeonicusThomaeus,itappearsthatthewordswithinthe
bracketsarewantingintheprintedoriginal,andIhaveaccordinglyinsertedthem
fromhisversion.
$Intheoriginal,opduc.KmrovApiOToreXovc,eticovroc.,onovdeveonveavrwmnov,o
Karaxpovovevexei,oiWOVKaiuvtuq,whichLeonicusThomaeuserroneously
translatesasfollows:QuomobremoptimeAristotelesloquitur,quandodicit,nullam
remsibiipsicausumesse,nequetemporalem,nequesempiternam.Foraneternal
natureisselfsubsistent.
LawsX,904a.
Thewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,butboththesense
andtheversionofThomaeusrequiretheyshouldbeinserted.HenceafterTOde
dvvocfiii;,itisnecessarytoadd,TOSeevepyeux(catr\pevovoux.
concerningitsessence;thesecondconcerningitspower;andthethird
concerningitsenergy.Forthiswillbeaperfectdisquisitionofthe
thingsproposedforconsideration.Wemayperceivehowever,thatthe
psychicalessenceisacertainthreefoldnature.Forthehyparxisofitis
onething,andtheharmonyinitanother,accordingtowhichits
essentialmultitudeisconnected;sinceitisnotoneessence*like
intellect,nordivisibletoinfinity,likebodywhichisposteriortoit;but
itisdivisibleintomoreessentialpartsthanone,ofwhichitconsists,yet
theyarefiniteinnumber,therenotbeingmorepartsofthesoulthan
2,126these,sincethesepartsofitcannotbedividedintoothers,aswillbe
evidentasweproceed.Andtheformwhichiseffectedfromtheseis
anotherthing;sothattheessenceofthesoulisoneandthreefold.For
themonadandthetriadareadaptedtoit,sincewedividethewholesoul
intothreeparts.Henceitsessenceisoneandtriple:forhyparxisisone
thing,harmonyanother,andformanother.Andthefirstofthese
indeed,alonedefinesexistence,thesecondharmonizestheessential
Cmultitude,butthethirdcontainsthepeculiarityofthewholesystem.
Alltheselikewise,areineachother.Forhyparxishaswithitselfan
harmonizedmultitude;sinceitisnotwithoutmultitude;norisit

multitudealoneunharmonized.Andharmonyisitselfessential,andis
connectiveofessence,towhichalsoitgivesform.Hencelikewiseitis
showninwhatrespectthesoulisharmony,andinwhatrespectitis
not,andthatPlatoaccordswithhimselfinassertingherethatthesoul
isharmony,butinthePhxdoconfutingthosewhomaintainthatitis.*
Foritisonethingtobetheharmonyofitself,andofothersthings,anda
differentthingtobetheharmonyofanotherthingalone.Forthelatter
producesharmonyinasubject,andaharmonyinseparablefromthe
thingsharmonized,andestablishedinaforeignseat.Buttheformer
producesaseparateharmony,subsistingfromitself,andconvertedto
itself.Formlikewise,iscomprehensiveofharmonicreasons,containsthe
hyparxisofthesoul,andistheonereasonaccordingtowhichthesoulisthat
whichitis.Allthesethereforeareineachother,viz.hyparxis,harmony,
andform,andtheessenceofthesoulisoneandtriple;sinceitalso
Dconsistsofthreegenera,essence,sameanddifferent.Andagain,
hyparxisindeed,isratherdefinedaccordingtoessence,butharmony
accordingtosameness,andformaccordingtodifference,throughwhich
itisseparatedfromallthings.
tInsteadofovrepuxqainacinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadovrepiat;ovoiac;.
XPhxdo88d,ff.
Sincetherefore,wefindthatthesoulistriplefromthebeginning,
possessingessence,powerandenergy,andagain,havingessenceitself
triple,accordingtohyparxis,accordingtoharmony,andaccordingto
2.127form,fromtheseweshallmakeapentad;arranginghyparxisasthefirst,
harmonyasthesecond,ideaorform,asthethird,powerasthefourth,
andenergyasthefifth.Forthepentadisadaptedtothesoulastoa
medium,containingthebondofthemonadandtheennead,justasthe
soulisthebondoftheintelligibleandsensibleessence.Adopting
likewisethisarrangement,weshalldividethewholetheoryconcerning
thesoulintofiveheads;inthefirstplace,speakingconcerningthe
hyparxisofthesoul;inthesecondplace,concerningthereasonsand
harmonyinit;inthethirdplace,discussingtheideaofit;inthefourth
place,themanypowersitcontains;andinthefifth,directingour
attentiontoitsenergies.1ForPlatoalsowhenhespeaksaboutthe
Emundanebody,surveyingthecorporealformednatureoftheworld
itself,byitself,deliversinthefirstplacethenaturewhichisthesubject
ofbody,andproducestheelementsofwhichtheworldconsists.Inthe
nextplace,hedeliverstheharmonyoftheelements;foranalogy,andthe
bondsubsistingthroughanalogy,areanimageofthepsychicalharmony.
Inthethirdplace,hedeliverstheideaoftheworldexhibitingittous
asasphericalwholeofwholes.Inthefourthplace,heunfoldstousthe
powersoftheworld,givingtothespheresindeed,partiblepowers,and
suchasareeffectedthroughpartialorgans,buttotheanimalofthe
universe,wholeandperfectpowers.Andinthefifthplace,hedelivers

toustheenergiesoftheworld,surroundingthebodyofitwithawise
andintellectualmotion.Afterthesamemannerlikewise,hedividesin
thesefiveheadsthetheoryofthesoul.Thatthegenerationofthesoul
therefore,isveryproperlysurveyedbyPlato,andinhowmany,and
whatheadsitisdivided,maythroughthesethingsbemanifest.
Afterthishowever,wemustdiscussthatwhichweproposed,asthe
thirdsubjectofenquiry,viz.how,andonwhataccountwesaythatthe
soulisofamiddlenature.Foritisnecessarythatthisshouldbeknown
Fpriortothereasoningconcerningit.Sincethentherearemanythings
whichproceedfromTheOne,asfarastoformlessandthelastmatter,
letusseewhatarethepeculiaritiesofthefirstbeings,whatofthelast,
andwhatareallottedamiddleorder,andhowtheyareadaptedtothe
essenceofthesoul.Thefollowingtherefore,arethepeculiaritiesof
2.128intelligibles,trulyexistingbeing,theeternal,theimpartible,the
immoveable,theentire,theperfect,asuperplenitudeofexistence,an
tTim.31b34a.
unweariedandunrestrainedlife,thatwhichismotiveofallthings,
similitude,thebeingpresentwithallthings,andthebeingexemptfrom
179Aallthings.Forallthesepropertiesareunfoldedintolightinintelligibles,
accordingtotheprogressionsofbeing.Butagain,therearecertainother
peculiaritiesofsensibles,suchasthefollowing,thatwhichisnottrulyexisting
being,thatwhichistemporalaccordingtoessence,thepartible,
thatwhichismoved,thepartial,thatwhichisinwantofanother,that
whichisalwaysfillingwithexistence,thatwhichlivesaccordingto
participation,thatwhichisaltermotive,dissimilitude,andthatwhich
occupiesplacebyitsparts.Betweenthese,whichareopposedtoeach
otherasthingsfirsttothingslast,therearecertainmedia,through
whichitisentirelyrequisitethattheprogressionfromfirsttolast
natures,shouldbeeffected.Forthingssimilartotheirproducingcauses
proceedpriortosuchasaredissimilar;becausesimilitudeisalliedtoThe
One,andallthingsaspireafterTheOne.Themediatherefore,between
theseextremesare,thatwhichisnottrulyexistingbeing,yetismore
excellentthannonbeing,butisinferiortorealbeing,thatwhich
accordingtoessenceisinacertainrespecteternalbeing,butexertsits
energiesintime,thatwhichisimpartible,accordingtoitsmostdivine
part,butisdistributedintoparts,accordingtotheallvariousprogression
Bofreasons,thatwhichitselfmovesitself,thatwhichrulesoveraltermotive
natures,butisinferiortoimmoveablebeings,thatwhichpresents
itselftotheviewpartiallyinconjunctionwithitswholeness,thatwhich
isinacertainrespectawhole,accordingtothepossessionofallreasons,
butwhichappearstobepartial,accordingtothepossessionofall
reasons,butwhichappearstobepartial,accordingtodiminution,and
transitionofenergy.Itisalsothatwhichperfectsitself,andisperfected
bynaturespriortoitself,andismoreperfectthanthingswhichare

adaptedtobealoneperfectedbyanother.Itlikewisefillsitselfwith
power,andisfilledbyotherthings,livesfromitself,andreceiveslife
fromothers,beingmoredivinethanthenatureswhichliveonlyby
participation,butinferiortothosethatprimarilypossesslife.Itis
moreover,motiveofotherthings,butismovedbyfirstnatures,is
2,129similarandatthesametimedissimilar,andisexemptfromthelastof
things,andiscoordinatedwiththem.
Suchthereforebeingthepeculiaritiesinessences,letusconsiderwhere
thesoulistobearranged,whetherinthefirst,orinthelastofthings.
Ifhowever,inthefirstofthings,itwillbetrulyexistingbeing,willbe
entirelyeternalandimmoveable,andeverythingelseconsequenttoreal
Cbeings,andweshallneitherpreservethepartiblenatureofthepsychical
reasons,norpsychicaltime,norselfmotion,noratransitiveenergy,nor
anyotherthingofthelikekind;thoughweclearlyperceivethesethings
inalloursouls.Butnowweinvestigatesuchthingsasarecommonto
allsouls,andwhichareessentiallyinherentinthem,suchasarethe
abovementionedpeculiarities.Sothatiftheyareinherentinallsouls,
beingcommon,soulswillnotbelongtothefirstofthings,andtoeternal
beingssofarastheyaresouls.Butneitherdotheyrankamongthelast
ofthings.Foriftheydid,weshallmakethesoulaltermotive,partible
andcomposite,andaloneperfectedbyotherthings,everythingcontrary
towhichweseeeveninoursouls.Fortheymoveandperfect
themselves,andconductthemselvesastheyplease.Muchmore
therefore,willdivinesoulspossessthecauseoftheirproperperfection,
willleadallthingsbytheirownmotions,willbeconvertedto,and
knowthemselves,whichitisimpossibleforaltermotivenaturesto
accomplish.Ifhowever,itisnotpossibleforthesoultobeplacedeither
inthefirst,orinthelastofthings,wemustgivetoitacertain
Dmiddlesituation;andthisveryproperly,inorderthatitmayimitatethe
firstcausesofitself.FortheGoddesswhoisthecauseofthesoul,has
amiddlerankamongtheGods,asshealsoappearedtohaveto
theologists,shebeingcollectiveofthetwofathers,*andfromherown
bowelsemittingthelifeofthesoul.Asinthefontaltherefore,so
likewiseintherulingGods,wemayseethepsychicalprincipleshining
forthtotheview;*sothatthesoulveryproperlyproceedsasamedium
betweenintelligiblessimplyandsensibles,betweenbeingsthatarealone
2,130eternal,andthosethataresimplygenerated.
Youmustnothowever,apprehenditsmiddlenaturetobeathingof
suchakind,astobecollectiveoftheextremes,butexemptfromthe
thingscollected.Foritisnotbetterthanintelligibles,buttheendof
them.Noragain,isitathingofsuchakind,astobeinferiortoboth:
forittranscendssensibleswhicharemovedbyit.Butsinceitisa
boundaryorend,itistheboundaryofintelligibles,buttheprincipleof
sensibles.Bynomeans,however,mustitbesaid,thatitissucha
boundaryandsuchaprinciple,asapointisinaline.Foritisnotin
thethingsthatareboundedasapointisinboththesectionsofaline.

Butitisinonewaytheboundaryofintelligibles,aspresentingitselfto
Etheviewaftertheintelligiblehypostasis,andinanotherwaythe
tThecauseofthesoulisRhea,whoiscollectiveofthetwofathers,Saturnand
Jupiter;Junoalsoisthecauseofthesoul,butsheisasubordinatecause,being
containedinthevitalfountainofRhea,[cfChald.Orac.fr.51]
XChald.Orac.fr.74.
principleofsensiblesasbeingexemptfrom,andmotiveofthem.For
thusitwillaffordusacertainanalogy,anditwillbeasaltermotiveare
toselfmotivenatures,soareselfmotivetoimmoveablenatures.Itwill
alsopossessthebondofbeingsthroughitspropermiddlecondition,
evolvingindeedunitedcauses,butcollectingthedispersedpowersof
sensibles.Anditwillbecomprehendedindeed,bytheessencewhichis
immoveable,andalwayspossessesaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence,
butwillcomprehendaltermotive,andallvariouslymutablegeneration.
Itislikewiseintelligible,aswithreferencetogeneratednatures,but
generatedaswithreferencetointelligibles;andthusexhibitstheextremesin
themiddle;imitatinginthisrespecttheGoddesswhoisthecauseofit.*For
sheisoneverysideluminous,andhasafaceoneveryside.*Shelikewise
possessestheruddersoftheuniverse,receivinginherbosomstheprogressions
ofintelligiblesintoher;beingfilledfromtheintelligible*life,butemitting
theriversoftheintellectual0life;andcontaininginherselfthecentreof
theprogressionofallbeings.Veryproperlytherefore,isthesoulboth
Funbegottenandgenerated.Andthisindeedwasbeforedemonstrated
fromthetwofoldlifewhichisinher,viz.theessentialandthe
transitive;0butitmaynowbeshownfromherwholenessandherparts.
2,131Forhowis[real]beingunbegotten,exceptbyhavingtheinfinitepower
ofexisting,atoncewhollypresent?Andhowisbodygenerated,except
byhavinginfinitepoweralwaysflowingintoit,inconsequenceofnot
beingabletoreceivethewholeofitatonce?
Thesoultherefore,asbeingincorporealindeed,hasthroughitselfan
180Ainfinitepowerofexisting,notbeinggeneratedaccordingtothewhole
ofitself,butimmortal;butaccordingtoitsparts,itisalwaysgenerated
toinfinity.Forifithadthesametotalinfinityalwayspresent,there
wouldbethesameinfinityofthewholeandthepart,oftheperfectand
theimperfect,ofthatwhichcontainsandofthatwhichiscontained.
Butthisisimpossible.Moreover,neithercanthewholeofitalwaysbe
ti~e.Rhea.
iChald.Oracl.fr.189.
ForvoepaQhere,itisnecessarytoreadPOJJTIJC.
Andinsteadofvoyryqhere,wemustreadvotpao..
Itwasbeforedemonstratedthatthesoul,inconsequenceofbeingselfmotive,
producesitself,andiswithoutgeneration;butinconsequenceofalwaysreceiving

essenceandlifefromthenaturessuperiortoitself,itisalwaysbecomingtobeessence
andlife,andisalwaysgenerated.[177Effsuprap.551]
ingeneration,orbecomingtobe,butapartofitbeeternalbeing,lest
thepartsshouldbebetterthanthewhole.Henceviceversa,thewholeis
infinitebeing,butthepartbecomingtobe.Sothatthehypostasisofit
possessesinfinitepower,andisgeneratedtoinfinity;andthusatoneand
thesametime,itparticipatesofbeing,andisthefirstofgenerated
natures,body*bothinthewholeandinthepartsofitbeingin
generation.Itisnotthereforesufficienttosaythatitisgenerated,in
consequenceofenergizingpartibly,butitisrequisitetoseehowthisis
preexistentintheverybeingofthesoul.Foreveryenergywhichis
accordingtonature,hasanessencewhichantecedentlyassumesthecause
Boftheenergy;sothatthesoullikewisepreassumestheseedofalife
whichisaccordingtotime,andwhichiscommontoeverysoul.Forit
isnecessarythatthisalsoshouldbegenerated,andnotalonebe.If
howeverthisbethecase,sincethesoulpossessesbeingaccordingtothewhole,
ithastobegeneratedinitsparts.Andhowthisistruewehaveshown.
Andthusmuchmaysufficeconcerningthemiddleofthesoul.
Letalsotheintelligiblebreadth,thepsychicalmultitude,andthe
sensiblenature,beseparatefromeachother;andletthelastofthingsbe
suspendedfromthosethatrankasmedia,andthemediafromthosethat
arethefirst.Letthesoullikewise,betheonebondofbeings,subsisting
inthem.ForTheOnealsobindsallthings,butinanexemptmanner.
Forallthingsareunitedtoeachotherashomogenous,andasbeing
derivedfromonecause,andextendedtooneobjectofdesire.Butthe
2,132soullikewisebindsbeings,asexistinginthem.Andasinanalogy,the
middlepertainstothethingsthatarebound,thustoo,thesoulmustbe
admittedtobethemiddleofbeings,bindingandatthesametimebeing
bound,asbeingofaselfmotivenature.
Thesethingsbeingdiscussed,itisnecessaryinthenextplacetoshow,
how,andfromwhatgenerathissoul,whichcontainsthebondof
Cbeings,subsists.Butitismorenecessarytospeakfirstaboutthegenera
themselves,whattheyare,whencetheyproceed,andhow.Foritis
requisitetoknowwholespriortoparts.Thistherefore,isthefourthof
thethingsproposed,andweshalldiscussittotheutmostofourability.
Thattheintelligibleworldtherefore,comprehendsthecausesof
secondarynatures,andthatallformsarethere,intelligiblyor
intellectually,orinwhateverwayyoumaybewillingtocallthem,for
theysubsistinbothways,hasbeendemonstratedinmanytreatises,and
tForovounaroghere,readrovow/iotroe.

willbedemonstratedbyPlatoinwhatfollows.*Offormsthemselves

however,somearemoretotal,andextendtoeverything.Othersare
mostpartial,andareasitwereatomicforms.Andotherssubsist
betweenthese,extendingtomany,butnottoallthings;astheElean
guestorstrangerlikewiseshowsintheSophista.+Formanisfromman
itself,andhorseisfromhorseitself.5Butthesimilarwhichisinmen
andhorses,andinmanyotherthings,isfromsimilitudeitself;andin
likemannerthedissimilar.Difference,andsamenesshowever,whichare
inallbeings,arefromthesamenessanddifferencewhicharethere.
Hencesomethingsarefromatomicforms,othersfrommiddle,and
Dothersfromthemosttotalforms;sincealsoofthescienceswhichareinus,
somelooktoonescientificobject,asmedicinetohealth,butothersextendto
many,asarithmetictophilosophy,topolitics,tothetectonicscience,andto
manyothers0.Andthisisnotonlythecasewitharithmetic,butalsowith
themeasuringscience,andwithstatics.ForPlatosays,thateitherallor
someofthefabricativearts,requiretheassistanceofthese,andwithoutthese
havenoaccuracy.Butotherslooktoallthearts,andnottothosethatare
fabricativealone,buttosuchalsoascontributetothecontemplativesciences,
asisthecasewiththedividingart,asSocratessaysinthePhilebus.As
thereforeinthesciencestherearesomethataremosttotal,soin
2,133intelligiblecauses,somearemostpartial,sofarasthepartialisinthem,
andaretheleadersofappropriatenumbersofsimilarforms;butothers
arewidelyextended,suchastheequal,thesimilar,andthewhole:for
wholesofaraswholeisnotcommontoallthings;sinceapart,sofar
asitisapart,isnotawhole.Othershowever,extendtoallthings,of
whichallbeingsparticipate,sofarastheyarebeings,andnotsofaras
theyareliving,oranimated,orpossesssomeotherpeculiarity,but
accordingtotheappellationofbeing.Forsincebeingisthefirst[of
intelligibles]thecausesalsoofexistencewillhavethemosttotalorder
inthegeneraofbeing.Butthesegeneraarefiveinnumber,viz.essence,
sameness,difference,motion,andpermanency.11Foreverybeingis
essentialized,isunitedtoitself,andseparatedfromitselfandfromother
tTim.48e,ff.
$cf.Sophista253cd.
cf.AristotlePhysicsI,191b20f,&H,193b612.
cf.Philebus55de.
Ocf.Philebus16cd,17a,257eff.
ftPlot.Enn.V,1,4andAristotleCategories.
things,proceedsfromitselfanditsproperprinciple,andparticipatesof
acertainquietandpermanency,sofarasitpreservesitsownproper
form.Whethertherefore,thereisanintelligible,orsensible,ormiddle
genusofthings,itconsistsofthese;sinceallthingsarefromthese.For
allthingsdonotlive,norareallthingswholes,orparts,oranimated;
butofthesegeneraallthingsparticipate.Andwithwhateverthing

essenceisnotpresent,neitherwilltheothergenerabepresent:forthey
subsistaboutessence.Samenessalsonotexisting,thewholewillbe
dissipated.Andthedifferenceofonethingfromanotherbeing
abolished,therewillonlybeonething,andthatvoidofmultitude.
Motionlikewisenotexisting,thingswouldbeunenergeticanddead.
Andwithout*permanencytheywouldbeunstable,andimmediately
hurriedawaytononentity.Hence,itisnecessarythatinallthings
thereshouldbeeachofthese,andthatessenceshouldsubsistasthefirst
Fofthem,thisbeingasitweretheVestaandmonadofthegenera,and
havinganarrangementanalogoustoTheOne.Butafterthisitis
necessarythatsamenessanddifferenceshouldsubsist,theformerbeing
analogoustobound,butthelattertoinfinity.Andinasimilarmanner
itisrequisitethatthereshouldbepermanencyandmotion,theformer
beingespeciallyseenaboutthepowersofbeings,butthelatterabout
2,134theirenergies.Forevery*being,sofarasbeingparticipatesaftera
mannerofacertainessence,asitiswrittenintheSophista,*andinthe
Parmenides.+Buteveryessentialpoweriseitherundersameness,or
underdifference,orunderboth;heatindeed,andeveryseparative
181Apower,beingunderdifference,butcoldandeverycollectivepower,
undersameness.Andwhateverpowerisamediumbetweenthese,being
underboth.Foreveryenergy[iseithermotionorpermanency,orisin
acertainrespectboththese.Fortheenergyofintellect,]0andevery
energywhichpreservesinthesameconditionthatwhichenergizes,or
isthataboutwhichitenergizes,isratherpermanencythanmotion.But
theenergyofbodiesoneachother,isamotionwhichdoesnotsuffer
themtoremaininthesamecondition,butremovesthemfromthestate
tavevisomittedintheoriginal.
XInsteadofvavrayapTOOVinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadiravyapTO
ov.
cf.Sophista219b.
cf.Parmenides162a.
OBoththesenseandtheversionofLeonicusThomaeusrequiretheinsertionin
thisplaceofr)KivrfoiQeon,tjoraou;,r\apupuxuc.evepyeiayapTOVVOV.
inwhichtheyare.Andtheenergywhichchangesthesubjectofits
energyinthesameandaboutthesame,isastablemotion.Everybeing
therefore,participatesbyitsveryexistenceofthistriad,viz.ofessence,
power,andenergy,onaccountofthesefivegenera,andalsois,possesses
capabilityandenergizes.Inshort,sinceeverythingwhichinanyway
whateverhasexistence,consistsofboundandinfinity,itisessentialized
indeedandsubsistsaccordingtoaparticipationofboththese.Butit
possessessamenesswithitselfthroughthecommunionofthesetwo;and
difference,throughthedivisionofthem.Sincealsoitisnotthefirst,it
proceedsfromtheprincipleofthings,andabidesinit,sothatitisboth

movedandispermanent.Thesefivegeneratherefore,areinevery
being,sofarasitisbeing,thoughtheysubsistdifferentlyindifferent
Bbeings.Forintelligibleshavealltheseessentially;intelligibleandatthe
sametimeintellectualnatures,possessthemaccordingtosameness;*
intellectualsaccordingtodifference;psychicalnaturesaccordingto
permanency;andcorporealnaturesaccordingtomotion.Butviceversa,
iflifeismotion,andsluggishnesspermanency:forsoulsindeed,are
essentiallives,butbodiesarealtermotive.Ifhowever,motionand
permanencyarepriortosamenessanddifference,aswemaydemonstrate
fromotherreasonings,callingtheprogressionofeachthingfromits
cause,*amotionpriortoenergy,anditsabidinginitscause,a
permanencypriortotheunenergeticconditionwhichisopposedto
2.135energy;ifthisbethecase,afterintelligibles,theintelligibleandatthe
sametimeintellectualnatures,willsubsistaccordingpermanency,but
intellectualsaccordingtomotion.Soulsalsowillthussubsistaccording
tosameness,butbodiesaccordingtodifference.Butifweshouldsay
thatlifeismotion,andimmutableintelligencepermanency,again
intelligibleswillbecharacterizedaccordingtotheessential;but
intelligibleandatthesametimeintellectualnatures,beinglives,
accordingtomotion;andintellectualnatures,beingessentializedin
intellect,accordingtopermanency;formundanenaturesderivetheir
permanencyfromintellect.Psychicalnaturesalsowillthussubsist
accordingtosameness,becausetheycontainthebond5ofimpartibles
andpartibles;butcorporealnatureswillsubsistaccordingtodifference;
tInsteadofrabevoepavoyra,/catKaraTOOVTOhere,itisnecessarytoreadrabe
voepa(catvorjTa,KaraTOOVTO.
XThisprogressioniselsewhereelegantlycalledbyProclus,anineffableunfolding
intolight.
Forabondisunion,andsamenessisunionofessence.
Cforinthese,astheyarepartible,strifehasdominion.Thesefivenatures
however,aresuccessivetoeachother,viz.being,life,intellect,soul,and
body;becausethetotalgenerawhicharepriortoforms,arelikewise
five.Andthusmuchmaybesaidconcerningthefivegenerauniversally;
onlyobservinginaddition,thatthesamethingsarecalledbothgenera
andelements.Andthefirstofsecondnaturesindeedarecalledgenera;
buttheseremainingundiminishedandexemptfrompartialnatures,are
thecausesoftheirexistence.Buteachoftheseveralthingsofwhichthe
wholeconsists,arecalledelements.ForthegeneraintneDemiurgus
givecompletiontothedemiurgicbeing,andaretheelementsofit;but
theyarethegeneraofalltheformscontainedintheintellectsthat
proceedfromhim,andalsoofallthosethatareinsoulsandbodies.*
Letus,however,ifyouarewilling,proceedtothefifthhead,and
considerhowthesegenerasubsistinsouls,andwhyPlatoassumesthem.

Since,therefore,ithasbeenshownthatthesoulisthemediumbetween
beingsandnonbeings,andthatitknowsallbeings,bothintelligibles
andsensibles,whetheraccordingtothesameoraccordingtodifferent
reasons,assomesay,itisnecessarythattheessenceofitshouldproceed
fromthegeneraofbeing.Forifitdidnotproceedfromthese,butfrom
Dcertainothers,itwouldnotbeabletoknowallthings,nortoapply
itselftoallthings.Henceasitknowsmanaccordingtothereason[or
form]whichitcontainsofman,anddaemonaccordingtotheform
whichisinitofdaemon,thusalsoitknowsbeingitself,accordingtothe
participationinitofbeing,anddifferenceaccordingtoitsparticipation
2,136ofdifference.Sothatitwillcontainallthegenera,butinawayadapted
toitself.Foritappearstome,thatonthisaccountPlatoconstitutesthe
soulfromthefirstgenera,andfromnumbersandharmonicratios;and
likewise,thatheplacesinittheprinciplesoffiguresanddivinemotions,
inorderthatbyantecedently[orcausally]comprehendingthereasons
ofalldisciplinesandofdialectic,itmightthusknowallthings,viz.the
essences,thenumbers,theharmonies,thefigures,andthemotionsof
whichwholesconsist.Itseemslikewise,thatheconstitutesthesoul,as
beingalliedtointelligibles,fromthegeneraofbeing,whichprimarily
subsistinthem;butthathegivesfiguretothesoul,asbeingalliedto
sensibles.Forthingswhicharetrulyfiguredaresensibles.Andthatas
beingamediumbetweenintelligiblesandsensibles,hebindsitwith
harmonicratios;thoughinintelligibleformsalso,therearetheformof
fForruvevaupctoiyevuvhere,itisrequisitetoreadruvevaupctoietduv.
Eharmony,andtheformoffigure.Butharmonyitself,*isnot
harmonized,norisfigureitselffigured.Forthingswhichhavea
primarysubsistencedonotexistaccordingtoparticipation.Insensibles
also,harmonyandthegeneraofbeingsubsistbutpartibly;butinsouls
theysubsistincorporeallyandatthesametimecompositely,*and
participationmanifeststheircompositenature.5Forparticipation
pertainstocomposites,butincorporalityisthepeculiarityofsimple
natures.Itisnecessaryhoweverforthatwhichprimarilyparticipatesof
themtobeathingofthiskind.Plato,therefore,fromthesegenera
constitutesthepsychicalessence,producinginthefirstplacethe
subject0ofthisessencefromthemiddlegenera.Foraswehavesaid
oftheelements,thatallofthemareintheheavens,inthesublunary
region,andundertheearth,andthatallthingsconsistindeedofthe
four,yetnotofthesameelements,butheavenofthesummitsofthem,
generationofthesecond,andthesubterraneanregionsofthelast
processionoftheelements;thusallthingsconsistindeedofthesegenera;
butintelligiblesofsuchofthemasarefirst,impartible,immoveableand
entire;selfmotivenatures,ofsuchasarebothimpartibleandpartible;
andcorporealformednatures,ofsuchasarepartible.Forsuchasare

Fthegenera,suchalsoaretheessences.Impartiblenatures,however,
2,137precedethosethatareimpartible,andatthesametimepartible;andthe
latterprecedepartiblenatures.FortheimpartibleisnearertoTheOne;
sinceitisimpartibleonaccountofunion.Sincethereforethepsychical
essencehasbeenshowntobethemediumofbeings,itveryproperly
consistsofthemiddlegeneraofbeing,viz.ofessence,same,and
different[ofamiddlecharacteristic].ForPlatointhePhaedrus+
complicatingthepowersderivedfromthese,denominatesthema
charioteerandhorses;becausetheexistenceofthesoulisdefinedby
these.Butwemaysurveypermanencyandmotionintheenergiesof
thesoul.Forpermanencyandmotionareintheessenceofit.Forit
tInsteadoftjctppoviainthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadavrt)tjctppovia.
$ForotovvBeruqhere,itisnecessarytoreadovvBerug.
InsteadoftoovvBeruvavruvStjXoj'inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadTOovvBerov
avruv7)ne8e%ieSijXoi.
ForwepKeipevovhere,readVTOKeipevov.
ForraSeotvTOKivriTa,avruvapepioruvKaipepioruvhere,itisnecessarytoreadTO
5eavTOKivriTOieKruvapepioruvKmpepioruv.
ttPhaedrus246a.
182Aconstitutesitself,abidesandproceeds,andiseternal;motionand
permanencybeingsuperiortosamenessanddifference.Foritabidesin
eternalnaturesaccordingtopermanency,andproceeds,beingmoved.
Butthroughprogressionitisseparatedintounitedmultitude.The
generaofbeinghowever,aremoreclearlyseenintheenergiesofthe
soul.
YoumayalsosaythatTimaeusinconstitutingtheessenceofthesoul,
afteranothermannerassumesmotionandpermanencypriortosameness
anddifference.Forthesoulisnotonlythemediumbetweenthe
impartibleandthepartibleessence,butalsobetweentheessence'which
alwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,andthatwhichisingeneration,
orbecomingtobe.Hence,throughsubsistingwithinvariablesameness,
itparticipatesofpermanencyaccordingtoitsessentiality,butthrough
beinggenerated,ofmotion.Unlessitshouldbesaid,thatbecausesame
anddifferentappropriatelybelongtotheDemiurgus,Timseusdelivers
aprecedaneousgenerationofthese.Whatthenisthecharacteristicof
eachofthemiddlegenera?Maywenotsay,thatsinceessenceconsists
ofboundandinfinity,whentheformervanquishesthelatter,it
Bproducestheimpartibleessence;butthatwheninfinityvanquishes
bound,itproducesthepartibleessence;andthatwhenthepowerof
thesetwoisequal,theyproducethemiddleessence?Andagain,when
samenessvanquishesdifference,itmakesanimpartible;butwhen
differencevanquishessameness,apartiblesamenessanddifference:and
whenthepowerofeachisequal,theyproduceasamenessanddifference

ofamiddlenature.Whenlikewisepermanencyvanquishesmotion,an
impartible,butwhenmotionsubduespermanency,apartible;andwhen
thepowerofeachisequal,amiddlemotionandpermanencyis
2,138produced.Sincehowever,samenessanddifferenceconsistofboththese
[i.e.ofboundandinfinity]itisnecessarythatinthesealso,eitherbound
shouldhaveadominionorinfinity,orthatthepowerofeachshouldbe
equal;andthusthateitheranimpartible,orapartible,oramiddle
samenessanddifferenceshouldbeeffected.Andthelikemustalso
necessarilytakeplaceinmotionandpermanency.Foreveryhyparxis,
power,andenergy,arefromboththese;andareeithercharacterizedby
bound,orbyinfinity,ornotbyoneofthesemorethantheother.
Hencethewholeoftheintelligibleandintellectualbreadth,*issaidto
tLeonicusThorrueusappearsfromhisversiontohavereadinhismanuscriptvor/TOV
TCtvinthisplace,insteadofvoepovirav;butitappearstomethatweshouldread
vot/rovKMvoepoviravTrXaroc.ForwhatProclusheresays,appliestoevery
intelligibleandintellectualessence,butinatranscendentdegreetotheformer.
bebound,andtobeinsuchamannerthesame,astorenderitnecessary
toinquirewhetherthereisdifferenceinit;andalsotobeinsuchaway
permanent,astorenderitdubiouswhetherithasanyintellectual
motion.Buteverycorporealformednatureisalliedtoinfinity,to
difference,andtomotion.Andsoulsexhibitatoneandthesametime,
Cmultitudeandunion,thatwhichisstable,andthatwhichismoved.For
there[i.e.inintelligibleandintellectualnatures]theessenceisonein
eachintellect;butinsoul,thereisoneandnotoneessenceineach.For
therearemanyessencesineverysoul,andasmanyasthepartsintowhich
eachmaybedivided.Andasbodybeingpartiblemaybedividedinto
infinites,souls[onthecontrary]aredivisibleintofinites,inthesame
mannerasnumberisdivisibleintomonads.Hencealso,somehavethought
propertocallthesoulnumber,1asdivisibleindeed,butintoimpartibles,
andnotintothingswhichmayalwaysbedivided.Hencetoo,the
impartibleofthesoulistwofold,viz.accordingtothatwhichisasit
wereawhole,andaccordingtothelastoftheparts.Foreverynumber
likewise,accordingtoitsproperform,isoneandimpartible,but
accordingtothatwhichisasitwerethematterofit,itispartible;*yet
notthewholeofthis,butinthisalsothelastinwhichthedivision
terminates,isimpartible.
Ifyouarewillinglikewise,thismaybesurveyedafteranothermanner.
Sincethesemiddlegeneraarethree,whenessencevanquishessameand
different,thenaccordingtothemixtureofthemedia,adivinesoulis
generated,andthemoreandthelessinthedomination,producethe
2,139extentaccordingtobreadthofdivinesouls.Butwhensamenessandat
thesametimeessence,vanquishdifference,thenanangelicsoulis
Dgenerated.Whensamenessalonepredominates,adaemoniacalsoulis
produced;butwhensamenesstogetherwithdifference,havedominion

overessence,thenanheroicsoulisgenerated;andwhendifferencealone
prevails,ahumansoulisproduced.5Foritisimpossiblethatthe
extremesshouldvanquishthemedium,becausetheycannotwithoutit
beconjoinedwitheachother.Butaccordingtoeachofthemixtures,
themoreandthelessofthepredominatingnaturesproducethebreadth
ofsouls.Thesethings,however,willbemorefullydiscussedelsewhere.
tcf.AristotleTopicsVI,3,140b2f.
$Thusforinstance,sevenmonadsorunits,areasitwerethematterofthenumber
seven,buttheheptadicformproceedingfromtheheptaditselfwhichsupervenesand
investsthesemonads,isoneandimpartible.
cf.Tim.31b.
Itremainstherefore,inthenextplace,toconsiderwhattheimpartible,
andalsowhatthepartibleformofessenceis.Foramongthemore
ancientinterpreters,therewasadifferenceofopiniononthissubject.
Henceconcerningthesethings,letusfirstspeakmoregenerally,but
afterwards,inamannermoreproximatetotheproposedsubjectsof
inquiry.Foritispossibletospeakinboththeseways.Wesay,
therefore,thateveryintelligibleandintellectualessence,bothtotaland
partial,andwhichisimmaterialandseparateandpriortotheeternal,or
whichiseternal,isimpartible;butthatallessenceswhichproceedabout
bodieswhethertheyaremundanelives,ornatureswhichvergeto
corporealmasses,orphysicalreasonswhicharedividedaboutthebody
Ethatisvoidofquality,arepartible.Forallthesearedivisibleabout
bodies.Andsomeofthemindeedsubsistinthesevisiblebodiesandare
inthemasinasubject.Butothershaveanessentialsubsistence,andare
theformsoflife,butareinseparablefrombodies,asnature.Andothers
aredistributedintopartsindeed,butcollectthemselvesintothe
impartible,assense.Andifyouarewilling,youmaysaythatthe
impartibleessenceistriple,subsistingaccordingtobeing,accordingto
life,andaccordingtointellection.Andtheessencewhichsubsists
accordingtosensibleperception,isinsteadofintellection;thatwhich
subsistsaccordingtonature,isinsteadoflife;andthatwhichsubsists
accordingtotheformsthataredividedaboutthebulksofbodies,is
insteadofbeing.Forthethreelatterbeingimagesofthethreeformer
haveasubsistencecontrarytothemwithrespecttotheirordertoeach
other.Butthemediabetweenthesearethebeing,life,andintellection
insouls,whichpreservetheorderofthenaturespriortothem,through
2,140asimilitudetothem,buthaveadistributionintopartsequal*tothe
naturesthatareposteriortothem.Wemustthereforegiveatriple
divisiontoallthings,andthusdividing,wemustarrangethepsychical
essencebetweentheimpartibleandthepartiblenature,asbeingthe
imageoftheformer,buttheparadigmofthelatter;andasabidingand
atthesametimeproceeding;assimpleandcomposite;andasexempt

Ffrom,andcoarrangedwiththecorporealessence.Fortheappropriate
middlenatureofit,presentsitselftotheviewaccordingtoallthese.
AndthusinageneralwaywemayadmiteveryessencebetweenTheOne
andthesoultobeimpartible,andeveryessencebetweenthesouland
bodiestobepartible.
fFromtheversionofLeonicusThomaeus,insteadofrovdepepiopovexovrayevrj,
rou;peraravrainthisplace,itappearsweshouldread(thesensealsorequiringthis
emendation)rovhepepiopovexovratoovroigperaravra.
If,however,itberequisitetodefinethepartibleandtheimpartiblein
amoreproximatemanner,wemustspeakasfollows:TheDemiurgus
constitutedtheuniverseananimal,animatedandenduedwithintellect,*
conceivingthattheanimatedisbetterthantheinanimate,andthe
183Aintellectualthanthatwhichisdeprivedofintellect.Hencethereisinit
acorporealformedlife,accordingtowhichitisananimal:forbeing
boundwithanimatedbonds,*itbecameananimal.Thesoulitself
however,isnotmingledwithbody.Fortheopinionthatitis,Socrates
alsoreprobatesinthePhaedrus.+Butthesoulisdivine,accordingto
whichtheuniverseisanimated,havingindeedaconnascentlife,and
havinglikewiseaseparatelife.Thereisalsoinit,animmaterial0and
divineintellect.Foritisnecessarytocallthisanessentialintellect,but
not0anintellectwhichsubsistsasahabitofthesoul.Forthe
Demiurgusdidnotconstitutethelatter,butthesoul,accordingtothe
motionofitselfabouttheintelligible,asTimaeusafterwardssays.**So
thattheuniversehasatriplelife,viz.corporealformed,psychical,and
intellectual.Andtheintellectuallifeofit,indeed,isimpartible,asbeing
eternal,asatoncecomprehendingeveryintelligible,asimmoveable,and
asunited,accordingtoasupremetranscendencyofsecondarynatures.
Butthecorporealformedlifeispartible,asproceedingaboutcorporeal
masses,beingmingledwithbody,andvergingtosubjects.Andthe
psychicallifeisthemiddlebetweenboth,transcendingthelatterthrough
aseparatesubsistence;throughcircularlycoveringexternallyaswitha
veilthebulkoftheuniverse,ashasbeensaid,**andwillbeagain
2,141assertedinwhatfollows;55throughbeingextendedtointellect,andyet
againbeinginferiortoit;throughperceivingintellectuallyintime;
throughevolvingtheimpartibilityoftheintellectuallife;andthrough
inacertainrespectcomingintocontactwithbody.Plato,however,by
constitutingthemundanesoulfromthesemedia,manifeststhatitisa
tcf.Tim.30b.
$cf.Tim.38e.
cf.Phaedrus245c246a.
dForavrot;here,itisnecessarytoreadavXoq.
ForaXXapyvhere,itisnecessarytoreadaXX'ov.

ftcf.Tim.37c.
Ucf.Tim.34b.
SSTim.36e.
mediumbetweenthenaturesthataresituatedoneachsideofit,butthat
itisnotthemediumbetweeneveryintellectualandcorporealessence.
Foritisnotthemediumofpartialintellects,andtheformswhichare
distributedinthepartsoftheuniverse.Itislikewisethepeculiarityof
thesouloftheuniverse,neithertoconsistofnumbers,noroftheseor
thosereasons,norofsomanycircles.Foralltheseandotherthings,are
commontoeverydivine,daemoniacal,andhumansoul.Butthe
peculiarityofitis,fortheessenceofit,tobethemediumbetweenthe
followingextremes,viz.theonemundaneintellect,andthewholeofthe
partibleessencewhichisdistributedaboutbodies.Anditisthemediumof
these,notsofarasintellectisgnostic,orvital,norsofarasnatureisthe
lifeofbodies;forthediscourseisnotaboutknowledge,norabout
Clives;butsofarasthesearecertainessences,theformerbeingan
impartibleessence,butthelatteranessencedivisibleaboutbodies.For
onthisaccountwealsoendeavourtoassumebothbeingandgeneration,
theimpartibleandthepartible,accordingtothehyparxisofthesoul,
dismissingmutationsandenergies,notseekingtoperceivetheenergies
ofthesoul,buttheessenceofit,whichisunbegottenandatthesame
timegenerated.*
Itislikewiseevident,thattheessentialboundofit,ismoreunicalthan
alltheboundsthatareinallothersouls,andthattheinfiniteofitis
morecomprehensivethanalltheinfinitesinothersouls.Forneitheris
everyboundequaltoeverybound;someboundsbeingmoretotal,but
othersmorepartial;noriseveryinfinityequaltoeverypower.Sothat
neitheriseveryessenceequaltoeveryessence,butoneistotal,and
anotherpartial.Theessentialtherefore,ofthesouloftheuniverse,is
2,142moretotalthaneverypsychicalessence,theboundinitisthemosttotal
ofallpsychicalbounds,anditsinfinityisthemosttotalofallthe
infinitesinsouls.Fortheextremesoftheseare,thesimplyimpartible
essence,andthesimplypartibleaboutbodies,notaboutsome,butabout
Dallbodies.Forthesoulofthesun,isthemediumbetweenacertain
impartibleessence,(andnotoftheimpartibleindefinitely,)andacertain
partibleessence,andnoteveryessencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies.
Plato,likewise,assumingthisinthefirstplace,asthepeculiarityofthe
mundanesoul,connectstheremainingparticulars,asbelongingtothe
discussionofasoulofthiskind,viz.number,harmony,andform.
Hencetheimpartiblemustnotnowbesaidtobeeveryintellectual
essence,butonlytheessenceofthemundaneintellect.Andinthesoul
tThereisnothingmoreinthisplacethan,aXXaovaiavKaiyiyvofievriv;butitis
obviouslyrequisitetoreadaWaovouxvavrrj<;ayivvqrovapaKaiyiyvopevrfV.

ofthesun,itmustbesaidtobetheessenceofthesolarintellect,andin
asimilarmannerinthesoulofthemoon,andinallothersouls.For
everymediumhaspeculiarproximateextremes,andwillbethemedium
ofthese,andnotofallextremeseverywhere.Thustoo,daemonswho
aremoreexaltedthanpartialsouls,subsistasmediabetweentheirproper
intellects,andthebodiesthatareconnascentwiththem.SothatPlato,
ifhehaddiscussedsomeoneofothersouls,wouldnothavesaidthatthe
essenceofitisamediumbetweentheimpartibleessence,andtheessence
whichisdivisibleaboutbodies,butbetweenthisorthatimpartibleand
partibleessencebelongingtopartialnatures.Forarticlesmanifestthe
transcendentandthetotal,asPlatoelsewheredetermines,1'assertingthat
whenwesaythebeautiful,wemanifestonething,butanotherwhenwe
Esaybeautiful.Andtheformermanifeststheexempt,butthelatter,some
oneofthethingscoordinatewithothers.Andifyouarewillingto
adoptherewhatissaidbytheillustriousTheodorus,intellectiswithout
habitude,thelifeaboutbodysubsistsinhabitude,butthesoulisthe
mediumbetweenthetwo,beingacertainhalfhabitude.Andaccording
tothegreatIamblichus,intellectindeedisexempt;thelifeaboutbody,
iscoarrangedwithcorporealmasses;andthesoulisexemptfrom,and
atthesametimecoarrangedwiththecorporeallife.Everyintellect,
therefore,isimpartible,ashavingoneessence,onesameness,andone
difference,ofwhichitwhollyconsists.Buteverysoulispartible,
becauseeachmixtureoftheelementsinitofwhichitconsists,isdivided
2,143intomanyparts,eachofwhichiscompoundedofallthegenera;sothat
therearemanyessencesineachmixture,manysamenesses,andmany
difference,whicharecodividedtogetherwiththepartsthatareinit.
Whatthepartsarehowever,andhowmany,hedemonstratestous,by
usingmedia,andsectionsthroughsesquioctaves,andleimmas,aswillbe
manifestasweproceed.
Moreover,thisisevident,thatwesaythatintellectsofarasitis
intellect,isimpartible,conceivingthatthemultitudeofformsthoughthey
areinit,aredifferentfromit;andthatthesoul,sofarasitissoul,is
partible,notsurveyingatthesametimetheformsthatareinit,but
solelylookingtothepsychicalessence,andalsototheintellectual
essence,andtoeachseparatefromtheother.Hencetheintellectwhich
isparticipatedbythesoul,iscalledbyPlatoanimpartibleessence;but
thecorporealformedlifewhichproceedsfromthesoul,andhastherelation
tcf.HippiasMajor287d.
ofsplendourtoit,issaidbyhimtobedivisibleaboutbodies.*Forintellect,
indeed,isanalogoustothesun,soultothelightproceedingfromthesun,
andthepartiblelifetothesplendourfromthelight.Veryproperly,
therefore,doweconceivetheseassertionstobemoreaccuratethanthe
former;becauseitisnecessarythattheDemiurgusshouldbethelordof

184Aeveryimpartible,andofeverypartibleessence,*inorderthatthe
recipientmayhaveaplace,thatthenaturewhichconsistsofbothmay
bemingled,andallsuchotherparticularsmaybeeffected,asPlato
adducesinwhatfollows.5Iamblichus,therefore,andtogetherwithhim
Theodorus,referwhatisheresaidtothesupermundanesoul;butweare
ofopinion,thatTimaeusgeneratesthroughthesethingsthesoulofthe
universe,asthewordsalsomanifest.
Wethinkitrequisitehowever,thattheloversofcontemplation,should
investigatewhatthepartibleandtheimpartibleareDinthe
supermundanesoul.Forasupermundaneintellectisseatedaboveevery
soul.Butwhatisthepartibleinthesupermundanesoul?Forcertain
sensiblebodiesarenotsuspendedfromsuchsouls.Forastheyare
supermundane,thereverseofwhattakesplaceinhumansoulsistrueof
them;sincebodiesaresuspendedfromeachofthelatter,throughwhich
alsotheyaremundane.Butapeculiarintellectisnotestablishedabove
2,144them,onwhichaccounttheydonotalwaysperceiveintellectually.
Bodies,however,aresuspendedfromallthesoulsthatarebetween
humanandsupermundanesouls.Hencealsotheyaremundane,being
moreredundantthansupermundanesoulsbytheconnexionofbody.
Andthereisapeculiarintellectfromwhichtheyaresuspended,on
Bwhichaccountlikewisetheyarenotalwaysintheintelligible.Forthe
immoveableiseffectiveofeternalenergy.Hencesincetheextremes,viz.
supermundaneandmundanesouls,haveacontrarymodeofsubsistence,
andasitwouldseem,thelatterbeingdeficientaccordingtothepartible,
buttheformerexceedingaccordingtotheimpartible;thisbeingthe
case,wesaythatthepartibleofsupermundanesouls,isnotthatwhich
isdividedaboutbodies,butaboutthemundanesouls0themselves.For
theyproximatelytranscendthese,justasmundanesoulstranscendthe
fcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.96.
XQvovuqisomittedintheoriginal.
cf.Tim.35a.
ThewordsriTOpepiorov/cmareomittedintheoriginal,
oijrvxouc;isomittedintheoriginal.
partibleessencewhichsubsistsaboutbodies.Hencethesupermundane
soulsaremediabetweenintellectsandmundanesouls;intellectshaving
asubsistenceunmingledwithbody,butmundanesouls,transitionin
intellections.Buttheimpartibleofhumansouls,sofarasthereisathing
ofthiskindinthem,isinthesoulsthatareabovethem,whicharealways
intellective,fromwhichhumansoulsaresuspended,andofwhichtheyata
certaintimeparticipate,asfarastheyareable.Forthroughthese,asmedia,
theyarelikewiseconjoinedwiththeintellectsthatareabovesouls,and
becomeintellectual.
These,however,aswehavesaid,beingtheextremes,allthe

intermediatesoulshaveapeculiarimpartibilityandpartibility,whether
theyhaveadivineordaemoniacalallotment;rationaldaemons,andprior
tothesethesouloftheuniverse,beingmediabetweenthewhole
mundaneintellectwhichhasanimpartibleessence,andthepartible
essencewhichsubsistsaboutbodies.Andweassertthesethingslooking
toallthathasbeenbeforesaid,throughwhichwehavemanifestedthe
truthofthem,fromthewordsthemselvesofPlatoandnotfromour
ownconceptions.Forbythosewhoreasonfromthe[Chaldean]Oracles,
itmustbesaidthatsupermundanesoulsrideincertainsupermundane
etherealandempyreanbodies.*Orhowcouldthosebodiesbemoved
unlesssoulsmovedtheminamannermoredivinethanthatofmundane
2,145souls?Butifthisbegranted,itmayalsobeadmittedthatpartialsouls
haveanimpartibleintellectualessenceabovethem,andonecertainpower
ofintellect,whichilluminatessimilarsouls;andthatonthisaccountthey
arepartial,andintellectiveatacertaintime,thesoulswhicharesuspended
fromeachtotalintellectbeingalonealwaysintellective.
Fartherstill,inorderthatthesethingsmayaccordwiththeOrphic
doctrines,wemustsay,thatOrpheusdoesnotpredicatetheimpartible
ofeveryintelligible,orintellectualorder,butthataccordingtohim
thereissomethingsuperiortothisappellation,justasothernaturesare
moreexcellentthanothernames.Forhedoesnotadaptthe
appellations*ofkingandfathertoallthe[divine]orders.Wherethen
Dshallwefirstseetheimpartibleaccordingtohim,inorderthatwemay
apprehendthedivinelyinspired5conceptionofPlato?Orpheus,
therefore,establishingaDemiurgus0ofalldividedfabrication,
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.96.
tOrph.fr.46.
Forevdevhere,readtvdtov.
ue.Bacchus.
analogoustotheonefatherwhounfoldsintolightthetotalfabrication,
producesfromhimthewholemundaneintellectualmultitude,the
numberofsouls,andcorporealnatures;thisDemiurgusgeneratingall
theseunitedly,buttheGodsthatsurroundhim,dividingandseparating
hisfabrications.Hesays,however,thatalltheotherfabricationsofthe
God,weredistributedintopartsbythedeitieswhoareofadividing
characteristic;butthattheheartalonewasundividedthroughthe
providenceofMinerva.Forsinceheconstitutedintellects,souls,and
bodies,butsoulsandbodiesreceivemuchdivisionandseparationinto
partsinthemselves,andintellectremainsunitedandindivisible,being
allthingsinone,andcomprehendingintelligiblewholesinone
intellection;hencehesays,thattheintellectualessencealone,andthe
intellectualnumber,wereleftpreservedbyMinerva.Forhesays,+

ETheintellectualheartaloneremain'd.
Clearlycallingitintellectual.Ifthereforetheundividedheartis
2,146intellectual,itwillevidentlybeintellectandanintellectualnumber,yet
noteveryintellect,butthatwhichismundane.Forthisistheundivided
heart;sinceofthisalsothedividedGodwastheDemiurgus.Orpheus,
therefore,callstheintellectofBacchus,theimpartibleessenceofthe
God.Buthedenominateshisgenitals,thelifewhichisdivisibleabout
body;thisbeingphysicalandproductiveofseeds.Thisalsohesays
Diana,whopresidesoverallthegenerationinnature,*andobstetricates
physicalreasons,extendsasfarastothesubterraneanrealms,distributing
theprolificpowerofBacchus.ButalltheremainingbodyoftheGod,
formsthepsychicalcomposition,thislikewisebeingdividedintoseven
parts.
Allthesevenpartstheyscatter'doftheboy;5
saysthetheologistconcerningtheTitans;justasTimaeusalsodividesthe
soulintosevenparts.PerhapstooheremindsusoftheOrphic+
Titanicdistributionintoparts,whenhesaysthatthesoulisextended0
fcf.Lobeck,Aglaophemus,557.
$cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,18&27.
Lobeck,Aglaophemus,1.
ForTOVTITOCVLKOVpepiopov,TOVQOp<pucovc,avapipvqoKei,inthisplace,I
readTOVTITCtVlKOVpepiOpOVTOVOpKplKOVK.\.
oInsteadofTeroiypevyvhere,itisnecessarytoreadrerctpevyv.
Fthroughthewholeworld;throughwhichthesoulnotonlycircularly
coverstheuniverseaswithaveil,butlikewiseisextendedthroughthe
wholeofit.Hence,Platoveryproperlycallstheessencewhichis
proximatelyabovesoul,impartible.And,inshort,hethusdenominates
theintellectwhichisparticipatedbythesoul,followingtheOrphic
fables,andwishingtobeasitwere,theinterpreterofarcaneand
mysticalassertions.Returning,therefore,tothewordsofPlato,itis
necessarytoshowthatwhathasbeenbeforesaidaccordswithhis
conceptions.
Thesethings,however,beingdiscussedbyus,itiswonderful,since
185Aintellectisanimpartibleessence,howParmenidesinthesecond*
hypothesis,distributesbeingintoinfiniteparts,andtogetherwithbeing,
TheOne;*asitisacknowledgedbynearlyalltheinterpretersthatthe
subjectofthathypothesis,isthenaturethatisbeyondsouls.Oritmay
2,147notbesaid,thatthedistributionintopartswhichistherespokenof,
signifiestheprogressionofthemanyunities5fromtheonebeing[or
beingcharacterizedbyTheOne],theseunitiesproceedinginawellordered

mannerfromtheirproperprinciples,intoanappropriate
multitude?Plato,however,doesnotintendtosignifythattheonebeing
derivesitscompletionfromthesemanyunities,inthesamemanneras
hesays,thatthesoulbeingone,hasamultitudewhichterminatesin
it.Buthismeaningisthattheonebeingprecedesthemanyunitiesand
atthesametimebeings,andthatthemultitudeoftheseissubordinate
toit;andalsothatbothunicalandallessentialnumber,arecausally
comprehendedinit;justasinthisdialoguehecallsanimalitselfone
whole,0butthefourideasthepartsofit;animalitselfnotderivingits
completionfromthem,buttheybeingcomprehendedinit,as
distributingbythemultitudeofthemselvesthemonadofthatonebeing,
eachofthemhavingthepowerofapartofit,butallofthemnotbeing
equivalenttothewholemonadofit.Forthusalsobothnumbers,the
unicalandtheessential,arepartsofthatonebeing[discussedinthe
Parmenides]notbeingcompletiveofit,soasthatitconsistsofeachof
tForT7/cevvarqvhere,itisnecessarytoreadTTJVdevrepav.Forthewhole
progressionoftruebeingisdiscussedinthesecondhypothesisoftheParmenides.See
mytranslationofit,andthenotesonit.[cfParm.164b,ff.]
$cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.1251.
InsteadofKOWUVevuvOVTUVinthisplace,itisrequisitetoread,troWuvevaduv.
cf.Tim.35ab.
ocf.Tim.33a.
these.Andthusmuchinanswertothisdoubt;butletusproceedtothe
wordsbeforeus.f
35a"Fromanessencealwaysimpartibleandsubsistingwithinvariable
sameness,andagain,fromanessencewhichisbecomingtobepartible
aboutbodies,hemingledfrombothamiddleformofessence."
Thatbytheoneimpartibleessence,Platomeanstheintellectual
essence,whichinthewholeofitselfparticipatesofeternity,andbythe
essencewhichispartibleaboutbodies,thatwhichisinseparablefrom
corporealmasses,andisallotteditshyparxisinthewholeoftime,he
manifestsbysayingthattheformerofthese"subsistswithinvariable
sameness,"andbydenominatingthelatter"thatwhichisbecomingtobe;"
inorderthathemaynotonlycallthesoulimpartibleandatthesame
timepartible,butalsointelligible,andthefirstofgeneratednatures.For
aneternalperpetuityisonething;butthatwhichsubsistsaccordingto
temporalinfinityisanother,havingitshypostasisinextension;and
Cthatisanotherwhichismixedfromboth,suchastheperpetuityofthe
soul.Forthesoulisimmoveableindeedaccordingtoessence,butis
2,148movedaccordingtointellections,andiseternalaccordingtotheformer,
buttemporalaccordingtothelatter.Itislikewiseevident,thatthesoul

necessarilyhassomethingofthiskindaccordingtohyparxis,orshe
wouldnotexhibitinhernaturalenergies,thepeculiarityofgeneration,
andtemporalextension.AnditappearstomethatPlatoinan
admirablemannerperceivingthissays,thattheDemiurgusnotonly
madethesoulamediumbetweentheimpartibleessence,andtheessence
whichispartibleaboutbodies,butalsothathemadeitamedium
betweentheessencewhichsubsistswithinvariablesameness,andthat
whichisgenerated,orbecomingtobe.Forhowcouldheappropriately
writethePsychogony,*iftherewasneithergeneration,norcomposition
inthesoul?Howalsowoulditbepossibletotakeawaypartsfromthat
whichisessentiallyimpartible?Forofsimplenaturesthereisnotany
generationwhatever.Andevensuchformsasarematerial,arewithout
generationandcorruption,asAristotlesays.5Forthroughtheir
simplicity,theypreserveinthelastthings,thepeculiarityofthefirst
fLeonicusThomaeushasomittedtotranslatethewholeofwhatisheresaidabout
thesupermundanesoul,beginningfromthewords,"Wethinkitrequisite,"andending
withtheaboveparagraph.
Xue.Concerningthegenerationofthesoul.
cf.AristotleMetaphysicsXL3,1070al5.
forms.Itispossible,however,todeliverinwordsthegenerationof
Dthingswhichreceiveanykindofcomposition.Inordertherefore,that
hemightdemonstratethesethingswhichareveryproperlycirculated
aboutthesoul,hecallsitthemediumbetweentheeternalandthe
generatedhypostasis.
Priortothis,however,weshouldrathermakethefollowingdivision;
thatitisnecessarywithrespecttotheimpartibleandpartible,eitherthat
bothshouldbepriortothesoul,orbothinthesoul;orthattheone
shouldbeprior,buttheotherposteriortothesoul.Both,therefore,
willnotbepriortothesoulsincethesoulisbetterthanthepartible
life+whichisrisingintoexistence:[forshehasanatureseparatefrom
bodies,butthepartiblelifeismergedinbodies.Norisitfittosaythat
bothareposteriortothesoul:]*fortheimpartibleessenceiseternal,and
subsistswithinvariablesameness.Butthesoulisnotentirelyeternal,
since,ashesaysintheLaws,+sheparticipatesofgeneration.Norare
bothinthesoul;becauseitisimpossibleforallthesewhichdifferfrom
eachother,togivecompletiontoonething;viz.fortheinseparableand
2,149theseparatefrombodies,theunbegottenandthegenerated.Henceit
remains,thattheonewhichismoreexcellentshouldbeprior,butthat
theotherwhichislessexcellentshouldbeposteriortoit.Since,
however,thesesubsistaboutit,itisnecessaryasitdoesnotconsistof
these,thatitshouldconsistofthingsanalogoustothem,whicheither
haveasubsistenceseparatefromeachotherormingledtogether.Butit
isimpossiblethatitshouldconsistofthemseparatefromeachother:for

Platoclearlysays,thatthesearemingledtogether.Henceitisnecessary
thattheessentialpartofthesoulshouldconsistfromthemixtureof
these.Andsinceinthesoulonethingisbetter,butanotherworse,that
whichisimpartibleinit[islessexcellentthantheimpartiblepriortoit,
andthatwhichispartibleinit]Disbetterthanthepartiblenature
whichisposteriortoit.Forbeingamedium,ithasthatwhichismore
excellent,inaninferiormanner,butthatwhichislessexcellent,ina
tZCOTJCisomittedintheoriginal.
tThewordswithinthebracketsareaddedfromtheversionofThomaeus,being
omittedintheoriginal.
cf.LawsX,904a.
Herelikewise,thewordswithinthebrackets,arewantingintheoriginal,and
esuppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus.SothatintheoriginalafterTOpev
peptorov,itisnecessarytoadd,x^ipoveleiTOVitpoOWTTIQctpepiorov,TOde
peptorov.
superiormanner.Andthisindeedisevidentsinceitdoesnotconsistof
theseverythingsthemselves,but*ofothersthatareanalogoustothem.
Butthattheessenceofthesouldoesnotconsistofthese,asgiving
completiontoit,isevident.Foragainletusmakethisverythingthe
subjectofconsideration.Inthefirstplace,therefore,howisitpossible
fortheimpartibletobemingledwiththepartible,andtheeternalwith
thegenerated;fortheseareinacertainrespectcontraryto,andmost
remotefromeachother,sothataswehavebeforesaid,*theycanbyno
meansbeconjoinedwitheachother.Inthesecondplace,shallwenot
makethesoulposteriorandsecondarytothethingsthatareinit,5and
theessenceinseparablefrombodymoreancientthanthatwhichis
Fseparate,ifitconsistsofanessencrewhichisdividedaboutbodies?
Fartherstill,howcanthesoulbejustlysaidtobeathirdthing;forthat
whichisathirdthingisevidentlysoinconjunctionwiththeothertwo,
whicharepreservedandnotcorrupted.Butthingsthataremingled
together,arenolongerthemselves,butacertainotherthing,andnota
thirdthingisproducedfromthem.Fortheythemselveshaveno
existence,butarecorruptedthroughthemixture.Again,ifthe
Demiurgustakingaportionoftheimpartibleconstitutedthesoul,that
whichissaidtobeanimpartibleessencewillnolongerbeso.Forhow
cananyonetakeawayapartofit,ifitisimpartible?0Butifhe
2,150consumedthewholeoftheimpartibleintheessenceofthesoul,hewill
nolongerbebeneficent,inconsequenceofconsumingmoredivine
186Anatures,whicharenearertohimselfandaremorecausal,intothe
hypostasisoflessexcellentnatures.Inadditiontothesethingsalso,if
thesoulderivesitscompletionfromageneratedpartiblenature,that
partiblenaturewillnotonlybedivisibleaboutbodies,butlikewise
aboutthesoul.Hencetheimpartibleitself,andthepartibleitselfdo

not,assomefancy,givecompletiontothesoul;butthatwhichis
assertedbyPlatoistrue,thattheDemiurgusfromtheimpartible
essence,andfromthatwhichispartibleaboutbodies,mingledamiddle
formofessence.Sothatthesamethingispartibleindeed,aswith
referencetothatwhichisimpartible,butimpartiblewithreferenceto
thatwhichispartible,andtrulyaffordsusthemiddlenatureofthesoul.
fAXX'iswantinghereintheoriginal,
tcf.144D,suprap.436.
Forir'avruvinthisplace,readir'avru.
cf.Tim.36b.
Moreover,thisthirdthinginitself,exhibitstousthenatureofanalogy
inexistentinthesoul.Forifthesamethingisboththemiddleandthe
third,butthisisasthefirst,andisalsoasthelast,thesoulisatoneand
thesametime,thefirstandthelast;*whichanalogyisnaturallyadapted
toeffectinthemostbeautifulmanner.Andifthisthirdthingisalso
themiddle,itwillevidently,sinceitisonething,bethemiddleoftwo
certainextremes,andnotamiddletogetherwithanotherthing.Forit
Bwouldbethefourth,fourthingsbeinganalogous.Butifthreethingsare
analogousofwhichthesoulisthemiddle,itisnotsimplythemiddleof
essenceandgeneration,butofanessencewhichisentirelyunbegotten,
andofanessencebecomingtobepartibleaboutbodies,beingitselfan
essencewhichisbothimpartible,andbecomingtobepartible,yetnot
aboutbodies,butbecomingtobepartiblebyitself,andbeingnotatall
inwantofbodies,inordertobethatwhichitis.Toconsistalsoof
boththeseisadaptedtothesoul,notonly,assomesay,becauseit
subsistsasamediumbetweenboth,butbecauseitisboth,being
impartiblesiconically,butpartiblesparadigmatically.Foritpossessesthe
reasonsofboth.Allthings,therefore,subsistinitcoordinately.Since,
however,intellectisallthings,andthesensiblenatureisallthings,Plato
adds,"inthemiddle,"showingbythishowallthingsaretobeassumed
inthesoul,viz.inamiddleway,andneitherprimarily,noraccording
tothelastmodeofsubsistence.
Again,afteranothermanneralso,theessenceofthesoulconsistsof
2,151both,asbeingproducedbythewholedemiurgicintellect,inwhich
impartiblesandpartiblessubsistparadigmaticallyandaccordingtocause.
Since,however,[themundane]intellectalsoproceedsaccordingtothe
wholeofthisintellect,thewords"inthemiddle"manifestthepeculiarity
Cofthepsychicalhypostasis.Andhowisitpossiblethatthewords"he
mingled,"shouldnotbeadaptedtotheessenceofthesoul,notonly
becausetheimpartibleandpartibleofitsubsistaccordingtounion,
similartothemodeinwhichthethingsthataremingledproceed
througheachother,butalsobecausethepeculiarityoflifeaccordswith
thesoul,andtheDemiurgus*constitutesthesoulinconjunctionwith

thevivificGoddess,5andminglesthegeneraofitintheCrater.Farther
still,thewordmiddleshows0thatthesoulconstitutesitself,anddoes
tcf.Tim.31c.
iThewords,onoSrjpiovpyocarewantingintheoriginal.
cf.Tim.41bc.
Forovdeiicvvoivhere,readdeiicvvoiv.
notalonesustainfromthedemiurgicenergy,themixtureofthegenera
ineachother,asifitwereacertainpassion.*Thewordslikewise"a
formofessence,"sufficientlyindicatetousthecomprehensionofeffects
intheircauses.ForifessenceintheDemiurgusisagenus,butinthe
soulaformorspecies,theformeriscomprehensiveofthelatter.Butit
maybecalledagenusasbeingexemptfromtheformofthesoul,and
generatingit.Andbybeingexempt,indeed,itdiffersfromthecoordinated
generathatareinspecies;butbygeneratingthisform,it
transcendsthingsthatareheterogeneous.Fortheseareunprolificof
genera.Afteranothermanner,therefore,thesegeneraandspeciesmust
Dbeassumed.Fortheyareprolific,fullofpower,comprehensiveof
individualforms,andhaveanexemptnature.Genus,therefore,isthe
essenceintheDemiurgus;buttheformorspeciesofthis,isthe
impartibleessence.Theessencelikewise,whichisthemediumbetween
theimpartibleessence,andthatwhichisdivisibleaboutbodies,isthe
secondform.Butthethirdisthatwhichispartibleaboutbody.And
thelastisthecorporealformednature.Forintheseformstherearethe
priorandtheposterior;becausethegeneraproduceandgivesubsistence
tothefirst,middleandlastforms.Andthewholeintellectualessence
2,152indeedisimpartibleasone;thatwhichispartibleaboutbodies,is
multipliedonaccountofitsdistributionaboutthem;andthemedium
betweentheseisoneandnotone.Forintellecthasoneessence,one
samenessandonedifference,sofarasitisintellect.Butthepartsofthe
wholesoulfromwhichitiscomposedaremany,andadaptedtoeach
other.Ineachoftheseparts,also,thereareessence,same,anddifferent;
andthereareasmanyessences,samenesses,anddifferencesasthereare
parts.Theseparts,likewise,areindeednumbered,yetareatthesame
timemany,andeachofthemisoneandnot*one,butintellectisone
Eessence,onesameness,andonedifference.Andthenaturewhichis
partibleaboutbodies,hasoneoftheseinthisplace,butanotherinthat,
beingcodividedwithitssubjects,justasbodyitselfisnotmerely
divisibleintomany,butintoinfiniteparts.Butthesoulbeingdivided,
intotheessenceofmanythings,possessesalsounion,havingan
hypostasisseparatefrombodies.Sothatagain,thereareheretwomedia,
betweentrulyexistingessence,andthatwhichistrulygeneration,and
betweentheimpartibilityoftheformer,andtheinfinitedivisibilityof
thelatter,viz.thesoul,andtheessencewhichispartibleaboutbodies,

tLeonicusThomaeushasomittedtotranslatethewholeofthissentence.
%Ovisomittedintheoriginal.
andwhichisnotthesamewiththisgenerationtrulysocalled.Andsoul
indeed,isinagreaterdegreeimpartible,inconsequenceofvergingto
itself;buttheessencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies,is,inagreater
degree,partible,becauseitbelongstoanotherthing,anddoesnotsubsist
fromitself.Platothereforesays,thatthesoulconsistsofthis,andthe
impartibleessence,becauseitisamediumbetweenthingswhichare
entirelyexemptfrombodies,andthosewhicharemergedinbodies,and
betweenthingswhichsubsistfromthemselves,andthosewhichbelong
toothers,sothatitbothsubsistsfromitselfandpertainstoothers.
Bynomeans,therefore,mustwesaythatitisamediuminsuchaway
astohavesomethingincorporeal,andsomethingcorporeal,as
Eratosthenesapprehended,orascribewithSeverusgeometricalinterval
totheessenceofit.Foramixturecanneverbeeffectedofthatwhich
Fiswithout,andthatwhichpossessesinterval,andoftheimpartibleand
body:forneithercantherebeamixtureofapointandaline.Butif
therecanbenomixtureoftheimpartibleandaline,muchlesscanthere
beamixtureofitwithacertainotherdimension[viz.thedimensionof
depth].Forthatwhichistriplypartible,ismoredistantfromthe
impartible,thanthatwhichispartibleinonewayonly.Wesay,
however,thattheintellectualessencealwaysremainsone,thatthe
2,153partibleconsistsofmanyessences,andthatthepsychicalisone,andnot
one,soastopreservetheoneinbeingmultiplied,andmultitudein
beingunited.FortheDemiurgusdidnotsodivideit,astoconsumethe
187Awholeinthedivision,butpreservedtheoneofitinthemultiplication,
andthewholeinthedivisionofit.Noristhiswonderful,sincein
bodies,likewise,allwhicharepartible,thereis,astheEleanguestor
strangersays,*acertainonewhichisconnectiveoftheparts.And
Aristotlealsoasserts*thatinpartiblenaturesthereissomething
impartible;sothatthesoulwillmuchmoreremainawholeandone,
whenmultipliedanddivided.Hence,likewise,itisimpartible,as
Timaeussays.Butiftheoneofitwasnot5preserved,itwouldbealone
partible:just,forinstance,asifyoushouldsaythatthedianoeticand
doxasticpowersofthesoul,aretwoessences,andyetatthesametime
thewholesoulisonethingwhichenergizesdianoeticallyand
doxastically,inconsequenceofconvergingtoitself.Wethereforebeing
tcf.Sophista245a.
$cf.AristotleOnIndivisibleLines968alff.
MTJisomittedintheoriginal.
impelledfromwhatPlatohimselfsays,thusinterprettheimpartibleand

thepartibleessence.
Ofthose,however,priortous,andwhomaketheessenceofthesoul
tobemathematical,asbeingamediumbetweennaturalandsupernatural
things,someassertingthatitisnumbermakeittoconsistofthemonad
asimpartible,andtheindefiniteduadaspartible.Butothers,considering
itasageometricalhypostasis,assertthatitconsistsofapointand
Binterval,theformerbeingimpartible,butthelatterpartible.Aristander,
Numenius,*andtheirfollowers,andmanyotheroftheinterpreters,are
oftheformeropinion,butSeverusisofthesecond.Others,again,as
Plutarch*andAtticus,surveyingthephysicalessence,say,thatthe
irrationalpartwhichprecedes[intheorderofphysicaltheory]the
rationalpart,isthepartibleessence;butthedivinepartofthesoul,the
impartible.Andtheymaketherationalessencetoconsistofthetwo,
ofthelatter,asthatwhichadorns,andoftheformerasasubject.They
likewisesay,thatthesoulisunbegottenaccordingtoitsessence,but
2,154generatedaccordingtoitsform.Others,however,asPlotinus,5who
considerthewordsofPlatoinamorephilosophicmanner,say,thatthe
soulisamediumbetweenintellectandsense,theformerbeing
impartible,butthelatterdivisibleaboutbodies.Butothersproceeding
higher,andplacingtwointellectspriortothesoul,onepossessingthe
ideasofwholes,buttheotherofpartialnatures,saythatthesoulisthe
mediumbetweentheseasderivingitssubsistencefromboth.Forthus
Theodorus,theAsinaean,says,whofoundthisopinioninPorphyryas
derivedfromthePersians.Thesethingstherefore,Antoninusrelates
whowasthediscipleofAmmonius.Tothefirstofthese,however,it
mustbesaid,thatsincePlatodoesnotmakethesoultobenumber,0
itisabsurdtoinvestigatetheprinciplesofnumberofwhichthesoul
Cconsists.Buttothesecond,thatPlatosaysthesoulisincorporealwhen
comparedwitheverybody,andthatithasaselfmotiveessence;butthat
nothingwhichpossessesintervalisathingofthiskind.Tothethirdit
mustbesaid,thatPlatoisnotofopinionthattheirrationalismore
ancientthantherationalpart.Fordivinity,ashesays,didnotthinkfit
fFr.46Thed.
Xcf.Plutarch,DeProcr.Anim.I1012d,Moralia,Loebvol.XHI.
cf.EnneadIV,2;&IV,8,7.
cf.AristotleDeAnimaI,2,404b29&4,408b32f.
thatthemoreancientshouldbegovernedbythejuniornature.*Tothe
fourth,thatthediscussionisnotconcerningthepsychicalknowledge,
butthepsychicalessence.Andhenceitisnotpropertosay,thatthe
soulisamediumbetweenthetwognosticpowers,theintellectualand
thesensitive.Andtothefifth,thateveryintellectisunbegotten,and
separatefrombodies.ButPlatocallsthesoulapartibleandgenerated
essence,givingitadivisionoppositetotheessencewhichsubsistswith

invariablesameness,andtothatwhichispartibleaboutbodies,and
separatingitfromtheessencewhichisexternaltobodies,andalwaysis.
Astheseparticulars,however,havebeensufficientlydiscussed,letus
considerwhatfollows.
35a"Andagainafterthesamemanner,withrespecttothenatureofsame
2,155andthenatureofdifferent,heconstitutedthesoulinthemiddleofthe
impartialityofthese,andofthenaturewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies."
Essence,aswehavesaid,hasthefirstorderinthegenera,becauseitis
asitwere,theVestaofbeing.*Sameness,therefore,hasthesecond;and
Ddifference,thethirdorder.Forsomeconsiderdifferenceashavinga
dignitysuperiortosameness.ButPlato,inwhathebeforesaid,5has
clearlyevincedthatthesimilarisbetterthanthedissimilar;andnow
assumingsamenessafteressence,directlygivesitthepreferenceto
difference.Andaswehavesaidthatthemiddleessenceisinferiortothe
intellectualessence,buttranscendsthatwhichisdivisibleaboutbody,
thusalsowesaythatthesamenessofthesoulisinferiortothe
impartible,butismoreunitedthanthepartiblesameness,andina
similarmannerwithrespecttodifference.Henceintheessenceof
intellect,thesameness,beingone,collectsitself,andalsotheessential
difference,totheessencewhichisthere,andisone;justasthedifference
beingone,separatesitself,andtheessenceandsamenessfromeachother.
Butinthesoulsamenesscollectsintoonethedifferenceswhichare
manyinthemanyparts,anddifferenceseparatesthesamenesses.I
know,therefore,thatsomePlatonists,arrangesamenessinimpartible,
Ebutdifferenceinpartiblenatures,andthusmakethesoultoconsistof
both,asamediumbetweensamenessanddifference.These,however,
notattendtowhatPlatoheresays,thatthesoulisamedium
tTim.34c.
tcf.Philolausfr.7d.
Tim.33b.
DOVKishereomittedintheoriginal.
betweentheimpartibilityofsamenessanddifference,andthepartibility
ofthenaturewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies.Itislikewiserequisiteto
knowthatthesearethegeneraofbeing,andthatitisnecessarythese
shouldbeeverywhereappropriately,inimpartible,andpartiblenatures,
andinthemediabetweenthese,andagaininintellectualessences,in
souls,innatures,andincorporealmasses.ForIshouldbeashamedto
2,156dividethegeneraastheydo,placingonehere,butanotherthere.For
iftheyhadsaid,thatsamenesspredominatesinintelligibleandimpartible
natures,butdifferenceinsensibles,andpartiblenatures,theywouldhave
spokenrightly.Butoftheyassertthatimpartiblesareseparatefrom

difference,neitherwilltheybeabletogivetothemsameness.ForThe
Onediffersfromthesame.1Andiftheysaythatpartiblenaturesare
separatefromsameness,theysubverttheessenceofthem.
Followingthereforethingsthemselves,wemustadmitthatthegenus
ofsamenesssubsistswithademiurgicpeculiarity,butthatthespeciesof
it,istheimpartibleandthepartible,andthemediumbetweenboth.
FAndagainthatthegenusofdifferenceisdemiurgic,butthespeciesofit,
theimpartibleandthepartible,andthatwhichisintermediate.
Admittingthislikewise,wemustassignmediatothesoul,and
complicatethemwiththemiddleformofessence,inorderthatwemay
constitutetheexistenceofthesoul.ForthusIthinkweshallbeableto
adaptthewordsofPlatotothings.Forhesays,thatasinessence,so
likewiseinthenatureofsameandthenatureofdifferent,theDemiurgus
mingledathirdthingfromboth,andafterthesamemanner.Andas
there,thatwhichwasmingledfrombothwasaspeciesorformof
188Aessence,sohere,themediumbetweensameanddifferent,isaspeciesor
form.Foritispossibletobeamediumnotasform,butasawhole
composedoftheextremes,asananimalwhichconsistsofsoulandbody.
Inorder,therefore,thatyoumaynotignorantlyconceivethistobethe
case,headds,"andafterthesamemanner;"thatherealso,thatwhich
consistsofbothmaybeaformandnotawhole.
35a"Andtakingthemasthreebeings,hemingledallofthemintoone
idea."
Thatthethreedemiurgicgenera,arethecausesofhypostasistosecond
andthirdforms,PlatoIthinksufficientlymanifestsinsaying,"and
takingthemasthreethings."Forwheredotheysubsist?Evidentlyin
tForifimpartibleshavenodifference,theywillbethesamewitheachother,and
willbeTheOne.ForinTheOnethereisnodifference.SothatTheOnewillnot
differfromthesame.
theDemiurgus.Forhecontainsthatwhichhetakes.Buthereceives
themfromsuperiorcauses.Forsincesamenesshavinginagreater
degreetheformofbound,consistsofboundandinfinity,andalso
2,157differencewhichhasmoretheformofinfinityconsistsofthesejustas
essencesimilarlyproceedsaccordingtoboth,itisevident,thatwemust
ratherplaceinbound[thanininfinity]thesamenessanddifferenceof
theimpartible,butthoseofthemediasimilarlyinboth,andthoseof
Bpartiblenaturesratherintheinfinitethaninbound;justasthefirst
differencehastheinfinite,inasmalldegreeonlydecliningfrombound,
andthefirstsamenesshasboundinasmalldegreedecliningfromthe
infinite.1HencePlatosaysthattheDemiurgusreceivedthemasthree,
beingseparatedfromeachother.Andsincetheformsthatareinhim,*

hastentothegenerationofotherthings,onthisaccountalso,he
constitutesotherthingsfromthese.Ifthereforeweunderstandbybeings
thingspriortothegenerationofthemedia,wemustsaythatthese
subsistinhimaccordingtocause.Forthesewereinhimpriortothe
thingsgeneratedbyhim.Butifbybeingsweunderstandthemedia,we
mustunderstandthemasthingsconstituted.Fortheyarenowbeings,
becausetheywereproducedbyhimpriortothemixture,eachapart
fromtheother;andessence,sameness,anddifferencewerenow
generatedeachbyitself.Maynothoweverthewordsbeinterpreted
moresimply,viz.theDemiurgus"takingthembeingthree;"forsomany
thingsheeffectedfromthethree,theextremesbeingnowconstitutedby
him,accordingtothepreexistentcauseswhichhecontains?Andthese
generaindeedheproducedaccordingtodemiurgicbeing;butheadded
Cideatoallthethreeaccordingtotheunioninhimself,andthedeityin
him,whichisthecauseoftheunionofmultitude.Andyousee,that
eachofthethreewasaform,andthatwhichwasproducedfromthe
mixtureofthethree,wasoneidea.Henceitisnecessarytosay,thatthe
soulisaformofforms;and,inshort,toconceivenothinginitasa
compositeandcorporeal.
Thetriad,therefore,isadaptedtotheessenceitselfofthesoul;since
itwasbeforeshownthatthesoulistriadic.5Forwedividedthewhole
ofitintoessence,powerandenergy;essence,intohyparxis,harmony,
andform;andhyparxis,intowhatisproperlycalledessence,same,and
2.158different.Norisitpropertowonder,ifwemakeapartofessenceto
tIntheoriginalthereisanomissionhereofrovctireipov.
tForevrotvruinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadevavrui.
S178Asupra,p.552.
beessence.Fortheonegenusofbeingiscalledessence,andthatalso
whichisgenerated,asitwere,fromalltheelementsofbeing,is
denominatedessence.If,however,weshouldagaininquire,whatitis
thatmakesthisoneideanottobeanycasualsoul,butthemundane
soul,butelsewhereadifferentsoul;wereply,thatitisthetotalnature
ofthegenerathatareassumed.Forthemundanesoulisamedium,not
ofcasualextremes,butofatotalintellect,andtotalcorporealnature,
accordingtowhichtheworldisananimal;justasitisenduedwith
intellectaccordingtoitsimpartiblenature,andanimatedaccordingtoits
middlenature.*Thepredominancelikewiseofessence,causesittobe
Dthemundanesoul;forthismakesittobedivine;justastheprevalence
ofsamenessalone,producesadaemoniacalsoul,andofdifferencealone,
apartialsoul.Adifferenthabitudethereforetotheextremes,produces
adifferenceinthemedia.Andthemixtureofthemedia,defined
accordingtotheprevalenceofonething,evidentlychangesthewhole.

35a"Coadaptingbyforcethenatureofdifferentwhichitwasdifficultto
mingle,tothenatureofsame."
Howisthenatureofdifferentdifficulttobemingled?becauseithas
aseparatinganddividingpower,andisthecauseofprogressionsand
multiplications.Buteverydivinebeingbeginshisenergyfromhimself.
Hencealsothenatureofdifferentseparatesitselffromotherthingsand
fromitself.Foritgeneratesmultitudeinitself.Onthisaccount,itis
saidintheSophista,*thatitmakesbothotherthingsanditselftobe
nonbeings,separatingthemfromotherbeings.Henceitisdifficultto
bemingled,possessingthisdifficulty,notfromaccidentorany
deviation,buthavinganessencewhichisthecauseofotherness,ofthe
unconfusedhypostasisofforms,andofunmingledsimplicity.Possessing
likewisesuchapowerasthis,itisacertaincontrarybothtosameness
andtoessence.5Anditiscontraryindeedtosameness,becausesame
Enessisthecauseofunion,communionandconnexion;butdifference,
2,159ofseparation,ofaninabilitytobemingled,andofotherness.Butitis
acertaincontrarytoessencebecauseessenceisbeing,butdifferenceis
nonbeing,asisdemonstratedintheSophista.0Forthenatureof
differentbeingdividedintominuteparts,becomestheprincipalofnon
tTim.30b.
$cf.Sophista259ab.
ForirpocTIJVairiavhere,itisnecessarytoreadxpocri)vovoiav.
cf.Sophista258d.
being.Thatwemaynot,therefore,beinvolvedinambiguityby
perceivinganatoncecollectedmixtureofthegenera,heinthefirstplace
minglessamewithdifferent*andsaysthatdivinitycoadaptedthenature
ofdifferencetothatofsameness,asharmonicallyconjoiningitwith
middlesameness.Afterwards,hemingledboththesewithessence.For
Platohavingsaid,thatdivinitycoadaptedthenatureofdifferenceto
thatofsamenessadds,"thathemingledthemwithessence,andmadeone
thingfromthethree."Forbecauseessenceisconnectiveofthetwo
generasameanddifferent,butthesearecoordinatetoeachother,itis
necessarythattheseshouldinthefirstplacebemingledwitheachother,
andinthesecondplace,thatbothshouldbemingledwithessence.And
thusmuchconcerningtheorderofthemixture.Theforce,however,
employedinthemixture,isnotadventitious,norsuchastheforce
whichispreternatural,butindicatesatranscendencyandabundanceof
power;forsuchisdemiurgicpower.Sothatitisabletounitedifference,
Ftodividesameness,andtoproduceoneharmonyfromboth.
35b."Buthavingmingledthesetwowithessence,andmadeonethingfrom
thethree,heagaindividedthiswhole,intoappropriateparts."

Astheequalandtheunequalareconjoinedwithquantity;*andasall
quantityiseitherequalorunequal,orratherisequalandatthesame
timeunequal,5foreveryquantityatonceparticipatesofboth;andasthe
similarandthedissimilarareconjoinedwithquality,andeveryquality
isbothsimilaranddissimilar;thus,also,sameanddifferentarecoexistent
withessence;0andallessenceparticipatesofsamenessand
189Adifference.Fortheseareessentially,oraccordingtoexistenceitself,
inherentinthings,andnotaccordingtoquantityorquality.Hencethey
areessential,beingthemediabetweenthedivinegenera,andthose
thingswhichareinherentinquantitiesandqualities.Forsameness,
2,160indeed,issuspendedfrombound,butdifferencefrominfinity;justas
similitudeandequality,aresuspendedfromsameness,butdissimilitude
andinequalityfromdifference.Hence,also,PlatointhePhilebus,0
tInsteadofTOTOWTOVTOdarepovpiyvvoivinthisplace,itisobviouslyrequisiteto
readTOTOWTOVrepBarepuiptyvvoiv.
$FcruoitepTOTCOVOWhere,readuoirtpTUTTOOU.
Scf.AristotleCategoriesVI,6a26f.
Ibid.
Ocf.Philebus16c,23c.
producesboundandinfinityfrom[thehighest]God:fortheyaredivine
genera.ButintheSophista,*hedenominatessameanddifferentthe
genera*ofbeing.AndtheformersubsistaboutTheOne,butthelatter
aboutessence.Again,also,youseehowmuchmorevenerablePlatois
thanallotherphysiologists,andeventhanAristotlehimself.Forthey
makingtheirprinciplestobecontraries,introduceorganic,material,and
partiblecontrarieties.Andeventhemostvenerableofthem,refer
contrariestoexcessanddefect;badlyassumingtheprivationofmeasure
intheprinciplesofthings.Formeasureismoredivinethanthe
Bprivationofmeasure.ButPlatoreferscontrariestosamenessand
difference,throughwhichhecomprehendsallthecontrarietiesinsoul,
innature,andinbody;andheplacestheseintheDemiurgus,inorder
thathemaygivetothemgenerative,cosmurgic,5immaterial,and
exemptpowers.Havinglikewiseplacedthemthere,heconstitutesthe
soulfromthem,producingfromthese,thatwhichisasitwerethe
subjectofit,andthebeingofit,sofarasbeing,andnotsofarasitis
abeingwithacertainquality,inorderthatitmayimitateprimary
being.Forheafterwardsassignstothesoulharmony,form,powers,and
energies,thusrenderingthediscussionofitperfect.Forweshallbeable
tosurveyitsdignity,anditsorderintheworld,whichisofaruling
nature,ifweperceivehowbyallthegenerathatareinit,itcontains
mundaneessences;howbyitsharmony,itcoharmonizesthewhole
world;howbyitsownfigure,itcomprehendsallmundaneformsand

figures;afterwhatmanner,bythepowersthatareinit,itisableto
perfectallphysical,andallrational,orartificialpowers;andhowbyits
Cownproperenergies,itexcitesmundaneproductions.
Why,therefore,didnotPlatosay,thatthesoulisamediumbetween
2,161intellectandsense?Becausehesays,thatintellectandsense,arecertain
gnosticpowers.Buthisintentionwastodeliverthemiddlenatureofit
inessences,andnotinpowers.Why,however,didhenotsay,thatthe
soulisamediumbetweenideaandthingswhichareinvestedwithform?
Becauseitwasnotnowproposedbyhimtoteachuswhatthequality
isofitsform,butwhatitsessenceis.Butitisnotthesamethingto
speakoftheessence,asitistospeakoftheformofacertainthing.For
formexhibitsanessenceofacertainquality.Whythen,didhenot
placethesoulasamediumbetweenintelligibleandsensiblenumbers?
fcf.Sophista254af.
%ForyeveiTOVOVTOQhere,readyevr)TOVovrog.
i.e.Powerseffectiveoftheworld.
Becauseinthefollowingpartofthediscussion,heassignstoitan
harmony,accordingtowhichitranksasamediumbetweenseparate
numbers,andseparateharmony,andsensiblenumbers,andtheharmony
whichisinseparablefromsubjects.Foraccordingtotheconceptionof
Plato,thesoulisneitherharmonyitself,northeharmonywhichisin
thingsharmonized.Harmonyitself,indeed,isuniformandseparate,and
isexemptfromallharmonizednatures,ofwhateverkindtheymaybe;
beingthatalonewhichiscalledharmonyitself.Buttheharmonywhich
isinthingsharmonized,pertainstootherthings,andisnaturally
Dadaptedtobemovedbyothers.Andthemiddleofboth,isthe
harmonyofthesoul.Forthisisthatwhichisfirstharmonized.Hence
alsoitimpartsharmonytootherthings.Forthatwhichisableto
impartsomethingtoanotherthing,iseithertheformitself[whichis
participated],orprimarilyparticipatesofit.Thisharmonythereforeof
thesoul,isinferiortointelligibleharmony,andtointelligiblenumbers,
buttranscendingsensibleharmony,itlikewisetranscendssensible
numbers.Andifitberequisitetospeakconciselyabouteachofthese,
eachofthemisfourfold.Forwithrespecttonumber,thefirstisdivine,
thesecondessential,thethirdpsychical,andthelastphysical.Andthe
first,indeed,hastheformofunity,thesecondisimmoveable,thethird
isselfmotive,andthefourthisaltermotive.Withrespecttoharmony,
also,thefirstisintheGods,thesecondisintrulyexistingbeings,the
thirdisinsouls,andthelastisinthenatureswhichareharmonizedby
otherthings.If,therefore,ithadbeennowproposedbyPlatotospeak
2,162concerningthepsychicalharmony,hewouldhavesaidthatitisa
mediumbetweenimpartibleandpartibleharmony.Butsincethepresent
discussionisconcerningtheessenceofthesoul,hesaysthatitisa

mediumbetweensameanddifferent.
EHere,likewise,itisnecessarytoobserve,thatPlatoinwhatisnow
said,makesasitwereaconversionoftheprogressionsofthepsychical
essencetotheirprinciples.Forsincetheformofthemixturesis
twofold,theonesubsistingaccordingtothemixtureoftheextremes,
whichwehaveinthemixtureofessence,sameness,anddifference;but
theother,accordingtoagaincollectingthemediaintoonewhole;this
beingthecase,intheformermixturehebeganfromessence,andended
inthelatter;butviceversainthelatter.Forhefirstcoharmonizedthe
latterwithsameness,andthusafterwardsbothwithessence,andended
messence,fromwhichaccordingtoprogressionhebegan.Everywhere,
however,thatwhichisawhole*issubordinatetothetwoprinciples.
Forwhenheproducesthesoulfromimpartiblesandpartibles,heplaces
theimpartibleanalogoustobound,butthepartibletoinfinity.Forthe
infiniteisthecauseofmultitude,butboundofunion.Andwhenhecoharmonizes
differencewithsameness,heassumesdifferenceasinthe
generaofbeing,belongingtothecoordinationoftheinfinite;but
sameness,asbelongingtothecoordinationofbound.Whenlikewise
heminglesthetwowithessence,heassumesessenceashavingtheform
ofunity;butsamenessanddifferenceasdyadic,andopposedtoeach
Fother.Andhedoesnotceasecollectingthemultitudetogether,tillhe
evincesthewholetobeone.ForTheOneismoreexcellentthanessence
itself,andthebiformedprinciples[boundandinfinity].Themixture,
however,beingaswehavesaid,twofold,theoneconstitutingthe
elementsthemselves,theotherbeingthatwhichconsistsoftheelements,
PorphyryrightlyinquireswhethertheDemiurgusmadeboththesein
theCrater[i.e.Juno],oroneofthemoutof,buttheotherinit;andhe
decides,thatinminglingtheelements,theDemiurgusenergizeswithout
theCrater,sincethegenerationofthemediawasnoteffectedaccording
toacongressoftheextremes,norinshort,wasitpossibleforthe
2,163extremestocoalescewitheachother.Butwhenproducingamixture
190Afromallthemiddleelements,heemploystheCrater,castingthe
elementsintoit,andminglingthem,inorderthatthesoulmaybecome
oneallfromallthings,maybeconcordantwithitself,andofsimilar
parts,allthegeneraproceedingthroughallthings,andalsoinorderthat
thesoulmayassumeform,andthatwhichitisfromtheCrater.For
theformofeachthingisaccordingtothewhole.HencetheCrater
beingthemakerofthesoul,veryproperlyproducesinitselfthe
wholenessofsoul.Hencetoo,thesecondmixtureisintheCrateronly.
Ourpreceptoralsoapprovesofthisdistinction,sincePlatolikewise,
whenhespeaksaboutpartialsouls,indicatesthis.Forhetheresays:*
Andagain,theDemiurguspouredmingling,intotheformerCraterin
whichhehadmingledthesouloftheuniverse,therelicsoftheformer
mixture.IfthenPlatosaysthatthesouloftheuniversewasmingled
there,andnottheelementsofit,andintheformationofoursouls,the
relicsoftheformermixtureweremingledintheCrater,andtheserelics

tInsteadofnavraxovdeav,exerairuvdvoTOevapxuvinthisplace,itisrequisite
fromtheversionofLeonicusThomaeustoreadTavraxovdeavVKexerairuvdvoTOO\
OVapxuv.
tTim.4Id.
Bweremedia,heevidentlytestifies,thatthesecondmixturewaseffected
intheCrater;theformerbeingaloneproducedaccordingtothe
demiurgiccause,*butthesecondalsoaccordingtothevivificcause,*
whichnowproducesthesoulfrom5themiddlegenera.Foritis
necessarythattheDemiurgusshouldenergizepriortotheCrater,and
togetherwithit;justasheenergizesaftertheCrater,byemploying
demiurgicandothersectionsaboutthesoul.Forafterthewholenessof
thesoul,divisionsaccordingtonumbersareassumedbyhim,andthe
colligationsofthingsdistributedaccordingtoharmonicreasons.For
sincethesoulisbothoneandmultitude,awholeandparts,auniform
andamultiformessence,itisnecessarytosurvey,aftertheunited
hyparxisofit,themultipliedprogressionofitfromitscauses.Every
multitude,however,whichdepartsfromunity,requiresharmony,ifit
oughtnottobewithoutarrangementwithreferencetoitself,and
2,164indefinite.Theparts,therefore,manifestthemultitudewhichisinthe
soul,thesecollectingtogethertheseparationofitsoneessence.Butthe
powerswhicharecollectiveofharmonicratios,manifesttheessential
Ccolligationsofthem.Andifitberequisitetospeakwhatappearstome
tobethecase,ithencebecomesmanifest,howthesoulisamedium
betweentheimpartibleandpartibleessence.Foritisneitherone,like
theessenceofintellect;forinintellect,thereareoneessence,onelife,
andoneintelligence,accordingtowhichintellectisone;norisitdivided
toinfinity,liketheessencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies.Forthis
belongingtoanotherthing,iscodividedwiththemultitudeofthatin
whichitisinherent,andbecomesinfiniteinconjunctionwiththis
multitude.Buttheessenceofthesoulisnotone,onaccountofthe
multitudeofitsparts,yetisdefiniteaccordingtonumber.Foritis
necessarythattheonepartwhichdivinityconstituted,shouldremain
oneundividedpart,andthatthewholemultitudeofthepartsbeginning
fromathingofthiskind,shouldbefreefromtheinfinityofdivisions.
Sothattheessenceofthesoulisoneandnotone,butsubsistingin
boundariesdefinedaccordingtonumberandpermanent,inorderthat
afterthismanneralsoitmaybeshownthatthesoulisnumber,having
therootasitwereofthepartsofitselfindivisible,andtrulyone.
tForairiaqhere,readainav.
tIntheoriginalairiavisomittedinthisplace.
SInsteadof^vxyv77677irotovoric.enTUVpeouvyevuvhere,itisrequisitetoread,
y^XllV7)57)iroLovoaveKK.\.

If,however,thesethingsaretrue,itisevidentthatasmanyinnumber
asarethepartswhichareassumedcollectedintothesame,somanyalso
Dwillthemonadsbe,yetnotmathematicalmonads.Formonadsofthis
kindareunessential,butthesoulisanessence,beingitselfbyitself
incorporeal,andconsistingofthemiddlegenera.Norisitsimplyone,
butparticipatesofacertainone.Fartherstill,itcannotbedividedinto
similarparts,andinthisrespectdiffersfromtheoneinbodies,which
isdivisibleintosimilars,adinfinitum.If,however,eachmonadisa
thingofthiskind,thewholenumberofthesoulalso,willconsistof
suchlikeessentialmonads,eachofwhichisindivisibleintoother
2,165monads.Throughtheselikewise,itisindeedmultitude,butthroughthe
wholenessofitselfisone,comprehendingthemultitudeofthese
uniformly.Thesoul,therefore,willbeone.For,inshort,ifthereisin
it,notonlythepartiblenature,butatthesametimetheimpartible,it
isnecessarythatitshouldbeinacertainrespectboth;thelatter,indeed,
accordingtotheformofTheOnewhichitcontains;buttheformer,
accordingtoitsmultitudinousnature.Itisalsonecessary,thatneither
divisionshouldobliterateTheOne,norunion,itsdistributionintoparts.
Andthisasitseemsthat,whichXenocrateshavingheardfromhis
preceptor,obscurelysignified,whenhesaid,thatthesoulisanessence
accordingtonumber,andisoneessenceconsistingofmanyessences.Forit
isevidentthatitisessentiallynumber,remainingwhollythroughthe
wholeofitselfone,andatthesametimedividedintoamultitudeof
Eessentialparts.Since,however,withrespecttothedivisionofsouls,one
isessential,buttheothervital;faroursoulsalso,aresaidatacertaintime
toliveTitanically,dividingthemselvesaboutbodies:thisbeingthecase,in
orderthatwemaynotconceiveanythingofthiskindaboutthewhole
souloftheuniverse,sinceitisnotlawfultoreferthedeteriorations*of
partialsoulstosuchasaredivine,Platoadds,thatdivinitydividedthe
soulintoappropriateparts.Forherethatwhichdivides,divides
accordingtoanintellectualcause,andthatwhichisdivided,isdivided
essentially.Thismodeofdivision,therefore,isadaptedbothtothe
divider,andthethingdivided;sinceitisbeneficent,andperfectiveofthe
essenceofthesoul,introducingittointellectualvariety,*andmaking
itallperfect,byinsertinginitallthereasonsofbeings.
Ifthenweassertthesethingsrightly,itisnotpropertoseparatethe
soulfromunioninthedivisionofit,nortoconsumethewholenessof
tForraeXarruperahere,readeXarrupara.
$UoiKiXiavisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal,butoughtfromtheversionof
Thomxus,tobeinserted.
it,intothegenerationoftheparts,asthewordsofTimaeusseemto
indicatewhenhesays,thatthethingmingledwasconsumedintothese

parts.*Normustwefancythatthiswasasitwerethedivisionofa
Fcertainrule.Forallthesemodesarecorporeal,andbynomeans
adaptedtoimmaterialessences.Foreverythingwhichisgeneratedby
2,166theDemiurgus,mustnecessarilyremainthesame,sincehealways
producesafterthesamemanner,beingimmoveableandeternalinhis
energies.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatthewholeshouldalwaysremain
awhole;thatthegenerationofthepartsshouldbeeffected,thewhole
remaining;andthatthisshouldnotbeconsumedinthedivisionofthe
parts.Hence,wemustconceive,thattheessenceofthesoulisone,and
atthesametimemany,thewholeremainingandbeingdistributedinto
parts,andpossessingcontinuity,andbeing,atthesametime,divided.
Normustweimaginethatthecontinuityofitisaccompaniedwith
191Ainterval;foritiscontinuedandwithoutmagnitude,likethecontinuityof
time;northatthedivisionofitisaccordingtomonadicnumbers.For
athingofthiskindisquantitywhichdoesnotaccordwithcontinuity.*
Butwemustcollecttheseintoone,asitisfitwithincorporealnatures,
andmustsurveyinthesoul,thewholeinconjunctionwith5theparts.
Platoalsomanifests,thatitisnotpropertodepartfromunioninthe
division,throughthefollowingwords:
35b"Atthesametimeminglingeachpartfromsame,different,and
essence.Buthebegantodivideasfollows."
Ifthegenerawhichconstitutethesoul,areinalltheparts0ofit,and
thewholeconsistsofpartssimilartoitself,itwillinnorespectbe
separatedfromcontinuityandunion.Forifinbodiessimilarscohere
witheachotherwithoutamedium,howmuchmoreinanincorporeal
naturemustallthethingsthatareasitwereparts,beunited,andthe
wholebevanquishedbyunity,neitherthepartsbeingconfused,through
thepositionofthewhole,northewholenesstakenawaythroughthe
Bseparationoftheparts?Youmayalsoassumefromthesethings,that
thesoulaccordingtoallthepartsofitself,isbothimpartibleand
partible.Forifeverypartofitparticipatesofallthemiddlegenera,
nothinginitcanbeassumedwhichdoesnotconsistofthese.The
tTim.36b.
tViz.athingofthiskindisdiscretequantity.
SForpevinthisplace,readpera.
DMepeaivisomittedintheoriginal.
ancientsalso,lookingtothesethings,concludedeverywhereconcerning
it,thatallofitisbeing,life,andintellect,andthatwhicheveryoumay
assumeofthethree,youmayinferthatitcontainstheremainingtwo;
sinceallthingsinitproceedthroughall,thewholeisone,theoneofit
2,167isallperfect,andapartinitcorrespondstothewhole.Butifeachof
thepartsofitbeingmany,isacertainessence,asnumerousasarethe

parts,somultitudinousalsoistheessence.Inasimilarmanneralsowith
respecttosamenessanddifference,eachoftheseinintellectindeedis
one,andonthisaccountitisimpartible.Forinintellectonethingis
notapartdifferentfromanother.Butinthesoulboththesearedivided
accordingtoessentialnumber,andthepartsofitareadaptedtoeach
other,causingittobeonethingfrommany,andawholefromparts.
Moreover,thisalsodeservestobeconsidered,thataccordingtothe
generationoftheelements,hebeganaswehavesaid,fromessence;but
Caccordingtothecompositionofthewhole,fromdifference;coadapting
thenatureofdifferent,whichisdifficulttobemingledwithsame,and
minglingbothwithessence.Butaccordingtothedivisionofthewhole
intoharmonicratios,hebeganfromsameness.Forhesays*thathe
dividedeachpartmingledfromsame,different,andessence.Fora
commencementfromessenceisentirely*adaptedtothegenerationof
simplenatures;sinceessenceismoresimplethanotherthings.Tothe
composition,however,ofthewhole,acommencementfromdifference
isadapted.Forthegenerationofthewholefrompartsbeginsfrom
thingssubordinatetothewhole.Andacommencementfromsameness
isadaptedtothehypostasisofharmony.FortheDemiurguswaswilling
thatthisshouldterminateinthesamenessandcommunionofthethings
thatweredivided.And,inshort,hewaswillingthatharmonyshould
beeffectiveofthesamenessofthethingsharmonized.
Theseparticulars,however,havingbeendiscussedbyusasfarasweare
able,itisnecessaryinthenextplacetopremisethosethingswhich
oughttobereadilyknownbyusconcerningnumbers,andtheharmonic
ratiosofthesoul,inorderthatwemaynotattemptinvainthe
interpretationofwhatfollows.Itisnecessarythereforetopremisesuch
Dthingsasareusuallymentionedinharmonicdiscussions,viz.what
sound,interval,andsystemare,andthatthePythagoreansdidnot
tFor(pvaeihereitisobviouslynecessarytoread<f>i)oi.
$InsteadofTOIVTUVhere,readTtavruQ.
assumethesymphoniesinharmonyfromanythingelsethannumbers,*
2,168andnotfromallthese,butfrommultiplesandsuperparticulars.For
theysaidthatthediatessaronisinasesquitertianratio;butthediapente
inasesquialter;andthediapasoninadupleratio.Andagaintheysaid,
thatthediapasonandatthesametimediapenteisinatriple,butthe
disdiapasoninaquadrupleratio.Forthediapasonandatthesametime
diatessaron,didnotappeartothemtobesymphonious,becauseit
consistsinamultiplesuperpartientratio,viz.intheratioof8to3.For
6isamediumbetweenthetwo,producingwiththelessnumberaduple,
butwiththegreater,asubsesquitertianratio.Thesethingstherefore,
mustbepremised,andalsothatthesesquioctaveisintheratioofatone;
thatthesesquitertianratioconsistsoftwotonesandaleimma;andthe

sesquialterofthreetonesandaleimma.*Butweshallafterwardslearn
whattheratiooftheleimmais.Moreover,thePythagoreanssaid,that
therearethreegeneraofharmonies,thediatonic,theenharmonic,and
thechromatic.Likewise,thatthediatonicconsistsofasemitone(but
thiswhichInowcallasemitoneisnotproperlyso,butaleimma),and
Eofatone,andanothertone.Buttheenharmonicconsistsofadiesis
anotherdiesis,andaditone.Andthechromaticofasemitone,another
semitone,andatrisemitone.Butdiesisisasitwerethefourthpartof
atone,notbeinginrealityafourth,asneitherisaleimmaaccuratelya
semitone.Thesethings,however,weshalldemonstrateinwhat
follows.5
Butastherearethreegenera,eachofwhichisacertaindivisionofthe
tetrachord,Platoappearstohaveusedthediatonicgenusalone.Forhe
thinksfittodividethesesquitertianratios,intosesquioctavesand
leimmas,butnotintoenharmonicdieses;sincesomeoftheancients
calledasemitonediesis.DPlato,likewise,seemstohaveassumedthis
genus,Imeanthediatonic,asmoregrand,simple,andgenerous,than
theothergenera;thoughtheenharmonicappearstobemoreadaptedto
tcf.forthispointandseveralothersraisedinthisparagraph,IamblichusLifeof
tythagoras26,115ff.AlsoPythagoreanSourcebook,pub.Phanes,pp.8688and
NicomachusManualofHarmonicsVI,trans.Levin,pub,Phanes,pp.8385.
Tli^^LWaT0Smtneoriginal,itisnecessarytosupplyfromtheversionof
omseus,thewordsTO8eripioXtoveicrptuvTOVUVKOUXeipparog.Ireferthereader
whoisdesirousofthoroughlyunderstandingwhatishere,andfurtheron,said,tomy
theoreticArithmetic.
cf.195Aff,infrap.602.
cf.Philolausfr.6d.
erudition.Andifitberequisitetodeclaremyownpredictiononthis
subject,theenharmonicgenus,presidesoverallthelifewhichisdivisible
aboutbodies,*justasthediatonicpresidesovertherationallife.Hence
theenharmonicgenus,isadaptedtoinstructanddisciplinethedivisible
life.Butthechromaticgenuspresidesoverthecorporealideaitself.
Henceitiseffeminateandignoble.Theenharmonicgenusthereforeis
deservedlydisciplinative.Hence,SocratesintheRepublicthinksfitto
mentionitparticularly,inwhathesaysaboutharmony.*AndTimaeus
knowingthis,andhavingheardSocratesassertingthesethingsonthe
precedingday,atthesametimeconstitutestheessenceofthesoul
throughthediatonic,andnotthroughtheenharmonicgenus;thelatter,
aswehavesaid,beingadaptedtoerudition.Foronthisaccount,the
ancientscalledtheleaders[orpreceptors]ofthesedisciplinesHarmonici
[orskilledinmusic].Aristoxenustherefore,inthefirstbookofhis
HarmonicElements,says,ithappenedthatthoseweretrulycalled
Harmonici,whoformerlyemployedthemselvesinwhatpertainsto

music.Forbeingsolelyengagedinharmonytheyneglectedeveryother
pursuit.InwhichAristoxenusalsoassertswhatiswonderful,viz.that
theancientshadnoknowledgeofthediatonicdiagram.Forhethus
writes:"Asanindicationofthetruthofthis,theirdiagramalone
exhibitsenharmonicsystems,butnooneeversawadiatonicor
chromaticdiagramdelineatedbythem."Itisworthyofadmiration,
however,thatheshouldassertthesethings,sincePlatoexhibitsa
diagramaccordingtothediatonicgenus,andalsoTimaeushimself.
PerhapsthereforewhatAdrastussaysistrue,whoderidesAristoxenus
asamanofnotveryelegantmanners,5butstudiousofappearingtosay
somethingnew.
192BPlato,therefore,inthediatonicgenus,makesadivisionoftetrachords,
2,170andproceedsnotonlyasfarastothediapason,butalsoasfarastoa
quadruplediapasonanddiapente,addinglikewiseatone.Oraccording
toSeverus,Platodidnotproducethetetrachordswithoutatone,but
endedinaleimma,andnotinatone.If,however,someoneshould
doubt,howPlatoproducedthediagramtosuchanextent,lethimattend
tothewordsofAdrastus.ForhesaysthatAristoxenus,extendedthe
magnitudeofhismultiformdiagram,asfarastothediapasonand
tInsteadofroicirepiroteaupaaipeptonic,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadrf)Q
KepiTOLQaoipampepiaryq.
|cf.Rep.EI,399aff.
ForTOenboQhere,itisrequisitefromtheversionofThomaeus,toreadTO7)0OC.
diatessaron,andthesymphonyofthese,inconsequenceofpreferringthe
informationoftheearstothedecisionofintellect.Butthemore
modernmusicians*extendedthediagramasfarastothefifteenthmode,
viz.tothethricediapasonandtone,insodoinglookingsolelytoour
utility,andthinkingthatthosewhocontendinsingingcouldnotexceed
this,northeirauditorsjudgeclearlybeyondit.Plato,however,looking
tonature,constitutesthesoulfromallthese,inorderthatitmight
proceedasfarastosolidnumbers,asitoughttopresideoverbodies.
CFortheprogressionasfarastothequadruplediapasonanddiapente,
necessarilyfollowstheseventerms[orboundingnumbers].Butthisis
evidentfromthegreatesttermbeingtwentyseven.Andthusmuchin
answertothedoubt.
Inshort,therearethesethreethingsintowhichtheconsiderationof
harmonymaybedivided.Oneoftheseistheexpositionoftheseven
parts.Thesecondistheinsertionofthetwomedia.Thethirdisthe
divisionifthesesquitertianandsesquialterratios,intosesquioctavesand
leimmas.Hencesome,asAdrastus,areaccustomedtomakethree
triangles,andinoneofthem,whichistheleast,todescribetheseven
parts,makingthesummitofthetriangletobeoneoftheparts,and
distributingtheothersixaboutthis.Inoneofthesidesalso,they
desscribethewholedupleorder,butintheother,thewholetripleorder.

Moreover,intheothertrianglewhichisgreater,andcontainsthe
former,theyincreasedthenumbers,andagaininasimilarmanner
2,171insertedtwomedia,arrangingthedupleseparatefromthetriple
numbers;andplacingoneofthepartsatthesummit.Butinthethird
Dtriangle,whichcomprehendsboththeothers,theydescribedafterthe
samemannerthewholediagram.Othersagain,adoptingadescription
intheformoftheletter+,arrangethenumberssuccessively,asinthe
sectionofarule,accordingtothreecentres,assumingthefirst,second,
andthirdnumbers,aswealsoshalldo.Thismethodlikewiseisadopted
byPorphyryandSeverus.Andsucharetheparticularswhichoughtto
bepremised,andalsothatPlatodividesthisheadintothreeparts,inthe
firstofthethree,discussingthesevenparts,inwhichtherearethree
duple,andthreetripleintervals,accordingtothegeometricalmiddle,i.e.
accordingtothesameratios.Butinthesecondpart,hediscussesthe
insertionoftheothertwomedia,viz.theharmonicandarithmetic,into
eachintervalofthedupleandtriplenumbers.Andinthethirdpart,he
considersthedivisionofthesesquitertianandsesquialterratios,into
tcf.Rep.Vn,531b.
sesquioctavesandleimmas,andasfarastotheseextendsthediscussion
ofthepartsofthesoul.
Itisnecessaryhowevertobewellacquaintedwithsuchthingsasare
saidaboutthethreemedia,andtoknowthedifferences,andwhatthe
methodsarethroughwhichtheyarediscovered.Thearithmetical
Emedium,therefore,isthatinwhichthemiddletermexceedsandis
exceededbyanequal*quantity,asmaybeseeninallthenumbersthat
areinaconsequentorder,conformablytothedefinitionofTimaeus
himself.*Buttheharmonicmediumisthatinwhichthemiddleterm
isexceededbythegreater,bythesamepartofthegreater,bywhichit
exceedsthelessterm,asinthenumbers6,4and3.Forhere4is
exceededby6by2,whichisthethirdpartof6,anditexceeds3theless
termby1,whichisthethirdpartof3.+Andthegeometricalmedium
2,172isthat,inwhichthereisthesameratioofthegreatertothemiddle
term,asthereisofthemiddletothelessterm.
Themethodshoweverofdiscoveringthese,mustinthenextplacebe
unfoldedbyus.Lettwoterms,therefore,begiven,betweenwhichit
isproposedtofindanharmonic,andalsoanarithmeticmedium;andlet
thetermshaveadupleratio,asforinstance12and6.Itake,therefore,
theexcessofthegreaternumberabovetheless,whichisevidently6,and
dividingitintotwoequalparts,Iaddthehalftothelessnumber,and
makethisthemiddleterm.Hence9isthearithmeticalmediumbetween
12and6.Fortheexcessisthree,bothofthegreaterabovethe
Fmiddle,andofthemiddleabovetheleastterm.Again,takingthe
differenceoftheextremes,whichis6,Imultiplythisbythelessterm,

andtheproductis36,anddividingthisbythesumoftheextremes,i.e.
by18,thequotient2isproduced,whichisthebreadthofthe
comparison.+Tothisalso,Iadd6,andIhavetheharmonicmiddle
8.Forbythatpartofthegreaterterm12bywhich8isexceededbyit,
bythispartofthelessterm6,8exceedstheless.Foritisexceededby
tlowisomittedintheoriginal.
$Tim.36a.
Harmonicproportionmayalsobedefinedtobethat,inwhichthedifference
betweenthegreatestandmiddleterm,istothedifferencebetweenthemiddleandleast
term,asthegreatesttermistotheleast.Thusinthenumbers6,4,3,as64:43::6:3;
viz.as2isto1,sois6to3.
Bythebreadthofthecomparison,Proclusmeanstheratioofthetermsfirst
proposedtoeachother,whichinthisinstanceisduple.
thethirdpartof12,andbyathirdpartof6itexceeds6.Again,let
therebeatripleinterval,asforinstance18and6,*addingthesetogether
Imake24,ofwhichtakingthehalf,Ihavethearithmeticalmiddle12.
193AAgain,takingtheexcessof18above6,i.e.12,Imultiplyitbytheless
term6,andtheproductis72.ThisIdivideby24thesumofthe
extremes,and3thebreadthofthecomparisonisproduced.Afterwards,
Iaddthisto6,andIhave9fortheharmonicmedium,whichexceeds
andisexceededbythesamepartoftheextremes.Thusalso,if1and2
weretheextremes,byaddingthemtogether,andtakingthehalfofboth,
Ishallhave1andthehalfof1,forthemiddletermofthearithmetical
middle.Buttakingtheexcessofthegreatertermaboveunity,and
multiplyingitbythelessterm,viz.unitybyunity,Ihave1fromboth.
2.173Afterwardsdividing*thisby3,thesumoftheextremes,Ishallhavethe
breadthofthethirdpartof1;inorderthat3beingcomparedtoone
maymakethethirdpartof1.Addingtherefore,this1/3to1,Ishallhave
4/3,whichistheharmonicmediumbetween1and1/3,inthesamemanner
asbefore.5Hence,byemployingthesemethods,weshallinabecoming
mannerfillallthedoubleandtripleintervals,witharithmeticaland
harmoniacalmiddles;whichTimaeushascomprehendedinthegeometric
middle,andwhichheincreasesbytheinsertionoftheothermiddles.
Inshort,sincePlatomakesmentionofthethreemiddles,whichare
comprehendedinthegeometricmiddle,letthefollowingtheorembe
added[asacorollary]towhathasbeensaid.Iftheanalogyconsistsin
fourterms,andoneoftheintermediatenumbersproducesan
arithmeticalmiddle,theotherwillproduceanharmonicmiddle,andvice
versa.Forlettherebefourterms,a,b,c,d,sothatthefirsta,+isto
b,ascistod,andletb,beanarithmeticalmiddle,[sothata,b,d,arein
arithmeticalproportion,]Isaythatcisanharmonicmiddle.For
becausetheproductofabydisequaltotheproductofbbyc,butbis
anarithmeticmiddleandtheproductofcbyaaddedtotheproductof
cbydisthedoubleoftheproductofbbyc,asinthearithmetic

middle;thisbeingthecase,itfollowsthattheproductofcbyaadded
torisomittedintheoriginal.
$ForKapaXafiwvhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadpepifav.
cf.192Fff,supra,p.596.
aisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
totheproductofcbyd,isthedoubleoftheproductofabyd.+But
thiswasthepropertyoftheharmonicmiddle,viz.thattheproductof
themiddlebytheextremes,isthedoubleoftheproductoftheextremes.
Again,letcbeanharmonicmiddle,Isaythatbisanarithmeticmiddle.
Forsincetheproductofcbyaaddedtotheproductofcbyd,isthe
doubleoftheproductofbbyc,thesumofaaddedtodisthedouble
Cofb.%Butthisisanarithmeticalmiddle,whenthesumoftheextremes
2,174isthedoubleofthemiddleterm.Againofthesefourterms,letbbean
arithmetic,butcanharmonicmean,Isaythatasaistob,soisctod.
Forbecausetheproductofcbya,addedtotheproductofcbyd,isthe
doubleoftheproductofabyd,onaccountoftheharmonicmiddle,but
thesumofaaddedtod,isthedoubleofbonaccountofthearithmetic
middle,hencetheproductofabydwillbeequaltotheproductofbby
c.Asathereforeistob,soisctod.%Butthiswasthepeculiarityof
thegeometricmiddle.Hencethosetwomiddlesarecontainedinthe
geometricmiddle,0andreciprocatewitheachother.Sincehoweverwe
havepremisedthusmuch,letusproceedtothetextofPlato.
35b"Inthefirstplace,hetookonepartfromthewhole.Afterthis,he
separatedasecondpartdoubleofthefirst:andagain,athirdpart,
sesquialterofthesecond,buttripleofthefirst."
Themathematicaltheoryisneithertobeentirelydespised[inthe
presentdiscussion]nortobealoneembraceditselfbyitself.Forthe
latterwillnotexhibittousthethingswhichPlatointendedtorepresent
tousinimages,0andtheformerwillcausethewholeexpositiontobe
Dunproductiveofadvantage.Foritisnecessarytoconsidertheessence
ofthethingswhicharethesubjectofdiscussion,asonasecure
tAsaistob::c:dbyhypothesis,andthereforead=bc.Butca+cd=2bc;and
becausebc=ad,therefore2bc=2ad.
XSinceca+cd2bc,itfollowssincecmultipliesallthethreetermsca,cd,2bc,that
a+d=2b.
a+dxc2ad.But2bxc=2ad,andthereforebxc=axd.Hencea:b::c:d.Thetruth
ofthismaybeseeninnumbers,byputting6.12.9.18.fora.b.c.d.
Afterthewordi5tocintheoriginal,itisnecessarytosupplyfromtheversion
ofLeonicusThomaeusthewords,irepitxovTUiotpaatSvoneaoTifTtqevTQyeu^rpiK
Qfieaorqn.

ocf.Tim.29bff.
foundation.1Asweobservedthereforebefore,weshallproceedina
middleway,firstmathematically,inamanneradaptedtothesubjects,
andafterthisweshallunfoldthedivisionpresentedtoourviewinthe
text.ThePythagoreansthenconceivemagnificently,respectingthe
divisionorsectionoftheruleinthisplace,viz.thatPlatounfoldsinit
theessentialcauses,andthereasonswhicharegenerativeof
mathematicaltheorems.Letus,therefore,asIhavesaid,first
mathematicallyexercisethereasoningpowerofthereader,by
contractedlyexplainingwhatisassertedbymany,atthesametime
abstainingfromcontroversy,andinvestigatingthetruthbyitself.Our
2,175discourse,however,willbeinshort,concerningthesefiveparticulars;
viz.concerningmultipleratios;themediathatsubsistbetweenthese;the
sesquitertianandsesquialterratios,whichpresentthemselvesinthe
middles;thesesquioctaveswhichfilltheseintervals;andtheleimma.
Foritisnecessarythatthediagramshouldbecomprehensiveofall
Ethese,andbecondensedwithalltheseratios.
Thatwemayproceedthereforeinorder,weshallassumetheratios
whicharefirstmentionedbyPlato,inthenumbersfromunity.Let
unitythenbeposited,andthedoubleofthis2;afterwards3,whichis
sesquialterindeedof2,buttripleof1;then4whichisthedouble*of
2;afterwards9,thetripleof3;afterwards8,theoctupleof1;andafter
all,theseventhterm,whichistwentyseventimes1.Some,therefore,
aswehavesaid,arrangethesenumbersintheformoftheletterX,
makingthemonadthesummit,andarrangingthedoublenumbershere,
butthetriplethere.ButothersmoreconformablytoPlato,arrange
theminoneorderonly.Forhedoesnotsay,thatthetriplewereapart
fromtheduplenumbers,buthealternatelymixesthem,asproceeding
inarightline.If,however,Platohadstoppedhere,therewouldhave
beennothingfurtherforustodiscuss.Butsincehehimselfexhortsus
Ftobindthedoubleandtripleintervalswithharmonicandarithmetic
middles,anditisnotpossibletodiscoverthesemiddlesbetween1and
2,somefirstnumbermustbeassumed,whichbeingtheleast,mayhave
ahalfandathirdpart.Foreverynumbermayhaveadouble,andthis
mustthereforebeinvestigated.Letthen6beassumed,andthedouble
ofit12,theformerhavingthesameratiotothelatteras1to2.
Betweenthesetherefore,viz.1and2multipliedby6,placingasmedia
8and9,weshallhavetheabovementionedmiddles.For8exceedsand
tcf.LawsX,893b.
%ForTpiirXaatahere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadSnrXaaia.
194Aisexceededbythesamepartoftheextremes;but9exceedsandis
2.176exceededaccordingtoanequalnumber.Hencebymultiplying1and2

sixtimes,weshallfindnumbersreceivingthebeforementionedmiddles.
Inasimilarmannerbymultiplyingby6theremainingdoubleandtriple
numbersinthebeforementionedorder,weshallfindthetermswhich
wemaybeabletocondensewitharithmeticandharmonicmiddles.For
sextuplenumberswillbeproducedfromallthebeforementionedorders,
byarrangingothernumbers,onlyobservingthat48oughttobeplaced
before54;inthisrespectdepartingfromthearrangementofPlato,who
places9before8,inorderthathemightalternatelychangetheduple
andtripleratios.We,however,makethisalteration,asconsentaneous
tothemultitudeofthemonads,andthenatureoftheincreasing
number.Hence8and9comebetween6and12;butbetween12and
thedoubleofit24,theharmonicmeanis16,andthearithmetic18.
Andbetweenthethirddouble*24and48,theharmonicmeanis32,but
Bthearithmetic36.Butintriplenumbers,between6and18whichare
thefirsttriple,theharmonicmiddleis9,butthearithmetic12.Between
thesecondtriple18,and54,theharmonicmiddleis27,butthe
arithmetic36.Andbetweenthethirdtriple54and162,theharmonic
middleis81,butthearithmetic108.Thedoubleandtripleintervals
therefore,aredividedbythesetwomiddles.Sothatthesetermswillbe
successivetoeachother,viz.6.8.9.12.16.18.24.27.32.36.48.54.81.
108.162.
If,however,itwaspossibleinthetermsdescribedbyus,todividethe
sesquitertianratios,intosesquioctavesandleimmas,weshouldhaveno
occasiontoproceedanyfurther.Butnow,asthisisnotpossible,weare
inwantofanothermethod.Since,therefore,itwasproposedatfirst,
2.177tocondensethedupleratio,withthebeforementionedmiddles,and
withsesquioctaves,itisnecessarythatthesubdupleterm,shouldhave
thesesquitertiantogetherwiththetwosesquioctaves.Lettherebetaken
theninthefirstplace,thethirdnumberfromunity,accordingtoan
octupleratio,viz.64.Fromthisitispossibletoformtwosesquioctaves.
CForeverymultiplenumberistheleaderofasmanymultipleratios
denominatedfromitself,asitisitselfdistantfromunity.Butithasnot
asesquitertian.*Bytriplingtherefore64,weshallhave192,the
sesquitertianofwhichis256,butthesesquioctave216,andofthisthe
tForTpvK\aawvhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreaddnrXaaiov.
$Thenumber64hasnotasesquitertianinwholenumbers.Foras3isto4sois
64to85Va.
sesquioctaveis243.+Buttheratiooftheleimmaisthatwhichremains
aftertheablationofthetwosesquioctaves243and216.Forfromevery
sesquitertiantwosesquioctavesbeingtaken,theratiooftheleimmais
left.Butof256thesesquioctaveis288,whichpreservesanarithmetical
meanbetween192and384,whichhasadupleratioto192,anda
sesquitertianto288.If,therefore,itwerepossibletoformtwo

sesquioctavesfrom288,wemightalsocondensethissesquitertianwith
sesquioctavesandaleimma.Now,however,thisisnotpossible.For
thesesquioctaveofit,324,hasnotaneighthpart.Henceifwewishto
preserveunityalwaysundivideditisimpossiblethereshouldbea
sesquioctaveratiotoit.Fortheeighthpartofitis40and1/2.By
Ddoublingthis,therefore,inorderthatwemaymakethehalfawhole,we
shallbeabletoassumetheeighthpartofit.Onthisaccount,however,
weshallbecompelledtodoubleallthenumberspriortoit,andalso
thoseposteriortoit.Henceinsteadof192,weshallhave384;instead
of216,432;insteadof243,486;insteadof256,512;andinsteadof288,
576.Andofthisthesesquioctave,is648,andofthis729.*Afterwards
768,whichisthedoubleof384,hastheratioofaleimmato729.After
thismanner,therefore,thedoubleintervalisfilledwithsesquialter,
2,178sesquitertian,andsesquioctaveratios,inthenumbers,384.432.486.512.
576.648.729.768.Henceifwewishtofillthewholediagram,andto
describeallthenumbersinaconsequentorder,insteadofthefirstpart
wemustassume384;insteadofthedoubleofthefirst,768;insteadof
thetripleofthefirst,butthesesquialterofthesecond,1152;insteadof
thequadrupleofthefirst,1536;insteadofthefifthpartwhichistriple
ofthethird,3456;insteadofthesixthpartwhichisoctupleofthefirst,
E3072;andinsteadoftheseventhpart,whichisthetwentyseventhpart
ofthefirst,10368.
If,therefore,wealsowishtocondensethesetermswithharmonicand
arithmeticmiddles,whichbeinginserted,makesesquialterand
sesquitertianintervals,theintermediatenumberswillbe384,and768,
thedoubleof384;512,whichproducesanharmonic,and576,which
makesanarithmeticmiddle.Butifwewishtoassumetheabovementioned
middlesofthetripleinterval,viz.of384and1152,then576
willpreservetheharmonic5middle,whichfilledforusthearithmeticD
tForas9isto8,sois243to216.
$Foras8isto9sois576to648;andalsosois648to729.
Forapiixi}TLKrivhere,intheoriginalitisnecessarytoreadap^ovucqv.
ForapuoviKrjValsohere,wemustreadapifinJiTUCTiv.
middleinthedouble*interval;and768willbethearithmeticmiddle,
whichwasthegreaterextremeofthedoubleinterval.Again,ifwewish
toassumethesamemiddlesofthedupleandquadruple,i.e.ofthe
middlesbetweentheterms768and1536,theformerofwhichisthe
doubleof384,andthelatterthequadruple,theharmonicmiddlewillbe
F1024,and1152thearithmeticmiddle.Ifalsowewishtocondensethe
secondtriple,thetermsofwhichare1152,and3456[theformerbeing
thedoubleof576,andthelatterthetripleof1152]then1728willgive
ustheharmonic,and2304thearithmeticmiddle.Andifwewishto
condensethethirddouble,whichconsistsintheterms1536and3072,

then2048willbetheharmonic,and2304thearithmeticmiddle.Butif
wewishtocondensethethirdtriple,withsimilarmiddles,butImean
2.179thefifthandseventhpart,theextremeswillbeforus3456,and10368;
buttheharmonicmiddlewillbe5184,andthearithmetic6912.Ifagain,
weshouldcondenseeachofthesesquitertianswhichpresentthemselves
fromthesemiddles,andsesquialters,withsesquioctavesandaleimma,
195Athiswillmanifesttousafterthewholeexposition,whenweexhibitthe
wholediagramwithallthetermsinaconsequentorder,whichhas
indeed24sesquioctavesbut9leimmas.
Thesethingstherefore,havingbeenelucidatedbyus,weshallobserve
thusmuchconcerningtheleimma,thatasitisnotpossibletodivideany
superparticularintoequalratios,asemitonecannotbeassumedin
numbers;buttakingtheseventeenthandthesixteenthpart,and
demonstratingthattheseventeenthpartisgreaterthanthatwhichis
calledtheleimma,andwhichislessthananaccuratesemitone,itis
inferredthattheleimmaandalsotheseventeenthpartarelessthana
semitone.Butthatitislessthanasemitone,isdemonstratedasfollows:
Lettherebegiventheterm16andthesesquioctaveofit18.Between
theseplacing17itwilldividethesesquioctaveintounequalratios,which
willbenearthesemitonicinterval,since17differsfromtheextremesby
unityalone.Anditisevidentthatitwillmakeagreaterratiowiththe
Blessterm;becauseinallarithmeticalproportion,theratioisgreater
whichisinthelessterms;sothattheseventeenthpartislessthana
semitone.Moreover,theleimmaislessthantheseventeenthpart,asis
evidentfromthetermsexhibitedbyPlato.Forsince256hasto243the
ratiooftheleimma,asweshalldemonstrateinwhatfollows,wherewe
shallshowthattheradicalratiooftheleimmaisinthesenumbers;and
since256exceeds243bylessthantheseventeenthpartofit;forit
2.180exceedsitby13unities,buttheseventeenthpartof243ismorethan13;
tAndforTonrXaoiq,itisrequisitetoread8nr\ctaii.
thisbeingthecase,muchmoreistheratiooftheleimmalessthanthe
semitonicinterval.Hencetheratiowhichremainstothecompletionof
atone,andwhichiscalledtheratioofanapotome,isnecessarilygreater
thanasemitone.
Fartherstill,thismayalsobedemonstratedafteranothermanner,as
follows:Letthenumbers256and243begiven,andlettherebeassumed
threenumbersinaconsequentorder,inaratioofthiskind;from256
indeed,65536,butfrom24359049,andfromboth62208.Thesethree
Cnumbers,therefore,areanalogousintheratiooftheleimma,which,if
itisasemitone,willbethetonicratiooftheextremes.Butifitis
greaterthanasemitone,thatalsowillbegreaterthanatone;butifless,
thatalsowillbeless.Thesesquioctavehoweverof5909,is6643401/8.
Butthisisgreaterthanthegreaterterm.

Afteranotherandathirdwaythesamethingmayalsobe
demonstrated,viz.thatatonecannotbedividedintotwoequalparts,
havingthesameratioasthatof256to243.Forifwetaketheeighth
partof243,whichis303/8,andaddthisparttoit,weshallmake753/8,
whichhasasesquioctaveratioto243.Youseethereforethat256hasto
243alessratiothan2733/8to256.For256hasto243asuperpartient
ratio,exceedingitby13/243;but2733/8exceeds256,by139/2048=(173/8)/256Butthe
ratioisgreaterwhichexceedsbyseventeenandmore,thanthatwhich
Daloneexceedsbythirteen,accordingtotheratioofexcess.Atone,
therefore,cannotbedividedintoequalparts,butthisistheleimma,as
Platocallsit,andthatwhichhasthegreaterratioisapotome,as
2.181musiciansareaccustomedtodenominateit.Forlet2733/8haveto243a
sesquioctaveratio,but256,tothesame243,theratiooftheleimma,
whichhasalessratiothanthatoftheseventeenthpart,itisevidentthat
2733/8,whichhastheratioofatoneto243,willhaveto256theratioof
theapotome,whichistheremainderoftheleimma,beinggreaterthan
theseventeenthpart,whichwehavedemonstratedtobelessthanthe
ratiooftheleimma.Ifthereforewemultiplytheseeighttimes,weshall
findthefirstnumberswhichinperfectunitieshavetheratioofthe
apotome.Fortheoctupleof243is1944,of256is2048,of2733/8,2187.
Hencetheratiooftheapotomeinradicalnumbers{evirv8fj.emv*)isthat
Eof2187to2048.Andweshallbeinwantofthesethreetermswhich
areinconsequentorder,inthediagram.Letthenthesetermsbe,243,
256,2733/8.Butonaccountof[thefraction]3/8,lettheoctupleofthese
bethenumbers1944,2048,2187,inorderthatthetermsmaybein
tTlvdni)visaprimaryratio,beingasitwereabottomorroot,fromwhichother
ratiosarise.
perfectunities,andnotinthepartsofunity.Becausehowever,itis
necessarythattheratiooftheleimmashouldbethatof256to243,we
maydemonstrateittobesoasfollows:Iffromthesesquitertianinterval,
twosesquioctavesaretakenaway,thetermswhichcomprehendthe
2.182remaininginterval,willhavetoeachothertheratioof256to243.For
letabbesesquitertianofe,andletcbetakenaway,whichis
subsesquioctaveofthesesquioctaveab.Andinasimilarmannerletd
betakenfromc.Isaythatdwillhavetoetheproposedratio.Forfrom
abletcbetakenwhichisequaltozb,anddwhichisequaltoeb.Since
therefore,asabistoc,soisctod\fortheyaresesquioctaves;itwillalso
Fbeasazistobz,soisbztobe.Hencetheremainderazwillbetothe
remainderze,aswholetowhole,i.e.asabtobz.Butabissesquioctave
ofbz.Hencebzissesquioctaveofez.Letzbbeplacedequaltoze.
Hencezhisoctupleofha.Butzeisequaltozb.Henceehiseighteen
timesha.Again,sincezbissesquioctaveofbe,foreissesquioctaveof
d,hencebeisoctupleofez.Ofsuchnumbersthereforeaszeis8,of

suchebis64,andzbis72.For72issesquioctaveof64.Butthewhole
abis81;forthisisthesesquioctaveof72.Thenumbers,therefore,are
quadruple.Henceofsuchnumbersasabis324,ofsucheb,i.e.d,is256.
196AFor324isquadrupleof81,and256of64.Butnumberswhichare
equallymultiplied,havethesameratioastheirparts.Sincethereforeab
issesquitertianofe,ofsuchnumbersasabis324,ofsuchewillbe243.
For324contains243,andathirdpartofit,viz.81.Butithasappeared,
thatofsuchnumbersasabis324,ofsuchdis256.Henceofsuch
numbersasdis256,ofsucheis243.
Itismanifest,however,thatthisratiooftheleimmaisintheleast
terms.Fortheyarefirsttermswithrelationtoeachother.Andthisis
evidentfromsubtraction.Fortheyendinunity,thelessbeingalways
takenfromthegreater.Butiftheyarefirstterms,itisevidenttheyare
2.183theleastofthosethathavethesameratiowiththem.If,therefore,two
sesquioctavesaretakenfromthesesquitertianinterval,theremaining
termswillhavetheratioof256to243.
Thisthereforebeingdemonstrated,lettherebetakeninaconsequent
orderabforthetonicratio,befortheratiooftheleimma,adforthe
ratioofthatwhichiscalledasemitone,anddtocfortheratioofthe
Bcomma.Fortheratiooftheexcessoftheapotome,abovethatwhich
istrulyasemitone,andwhichcannotbeobtainedinnumbers,isthus
called.Thisthenisdemonstrated.Towhathasbeensaidhowever,it
mustbeadded,thatwehavecalledtheratioofdbasemitone,notthat
asesquioctaveisdividedintotwoequalratios;fornosuperparticular
ratioiscapableofbeingsodivided;butbecausethefollowersof
Aristoxenusassumeasemitoneaftertwosesquioctaves,theratioofa
semitoneisassumed,aswehavesaid,accordingtotheirposition,in
ordertodiscoverwhattheratioisofthecommaandapotometothe
ratiooftheleimma.Thisthereforeisassertedthroughthecausewhich
hasbeenmentionedbyus.Forthateverysuperparticularratiois
incapableofbeingdividedintotwoequalratios,isoneamongthethings
thataredemonstrated.Thusmuch,however,mustbeadded,forthe
sakeofeleganterudition,thatasthePythagoreansneitheradmitthat
thereisasemitonefromwhichtogetherwithtwosesquioctavesa
sesquitertianratioisproduced,northesymphonydiapasonand
diatessaron,asthefollowersofAristoxenusadmit;thisbeingthecase,
themusiciansposteriortohim,thedisciplesofPtolemy,+grantwiththe
CPythagoreans,thatwhatiscalledasemitone,isnottrulyso,butreject
theopinion,thatthediapasonanddiatessaronarenotsymphonies.We,
however,necessarilydemonstratetheformer,onaccountoftheopinion
ofPlato;butnotbeingcompelledtodemonstratethelatter,because
Platosaysnothingaboutit,weshallatpresentomitit.
Sincethenwehaveshowninwhatnumberstheratiooftheleimma,
andtheratiooftheapotomearefirstfound,wemustlikewiseshow,in
2,184whatnumberstherationofthecomma,bywhichtheapotomeexceeds
theleimma,isfirstdiscovered.Thisratiothereforeisinperfect[i.e.in

undivided]unities,astheancientssay,thatof531441to524288.*But
iftodivideunitymakesnodifference,lettheratiooftheleimmabe
takeninthatofthenumbers256to243.Butthesesquioctaveof243is
2733/8,andof256288.+Anotherleimmaisthatof269to2431/13.For
thisistheratiooftheleimma.For269contains256andthirteenunits,
and256alsocontains243andthirteenunits.Becausetherefore256
Dconsistsof243,andbesidesthisofthirteenunits,whicharethe
numeratorof243;hencethe13bywhich256exceeds243,containsin
itself13/243partsof243.Eachlikewiseofthethirteenunitsbywhich256
exceeds243containsinitself1/243of243.Hence269+13/243willhavethe
sameratioto256,as256to243,+beinginasuperpartientratiotoit,
andhaving13/243partsofit,and243units.Hencethatwhichremains,viz.
2733/8,hastheratioofthecommato269and13/243.Sothatitisshownin
tcf.Ptolem.Harmon.I,5,ff.
tLeonicusThomaeushasinhisversion524298.
288isomittedintheGreek,andalsointheversionofThomaeus.
1365380Andas653802562561592524837908
269+243243243:1::1:6538024365380
2.185whatnumbersofthemonadwhendivided,andinwhattwoleimmas
takenfromthesesquioctave,theratioofthecommaisfound.Itis
evidenttherefore,fromwhathasbeensaid,thatwehaveeffectedwhat
wepromisedtodo.Thetermslikewise,andalltheintervals,are
Econdensedwithharmonicandarithmeticmiddles,andthedivisionsof
thesesquialterandsesquitertianratios,intosesquioctavesandleimmas,
havebeeneffected.Forasthereisadupleintervalbetween384and768,
theterm432whichissesquioctaveto384,and486whichissesquioctave
to432,fallbetweenthem,andalso512whichmakesaleimmawith486.
Andthusfarthesesquitertianratioconsistsoftwotonesandthe
leimma.
Again576issesquioctaveto512,648to576,729to648,and768has
theratiooftheleimmato729.Andfromthesethesesquialterisfilled,
havingthreesesquioctaves,andoneleimma.tButthewholeisduple,
consistingoffivesesquioctaves,andtwoleimmas.Again,accordingto
theabovedescribedterms384,and768,theterm512producesan
harmonic,but576anarithmeticalmedium.Fartherstill,864isplaced
assesquioctaveto768,but972issesquioctaveto864,and1024hasthe
ratiooftheleimmato972.To1024also1152issesquioctave.Andnow
aftertheduplethesesquialterratioisproduced,whichmakesa
Ftripleratio,viz.theratioof1152to384.Butbetweenthistriple
interval,576istheharmonicmiddletotheextremes,but768the
arithmeticmiddle.Foratheoremofthefollowingkindisuniversally
demonstrated,thatifofthesameterm,onenumberisdouble,butanother
triple,andacertainmeanofthedoubleisassumedaccordingtoarithmetical

proportion,thismeanwillbetothetriplenumberanharmonicmiddle.
Butthegreaterterminthedupleratio,willbecomethearithmeticalmean
inthetriple.Thusforinstance,intheaboveterms,768isthedoubleof
2.186384,but1152isthetriple.Betweenalsothedupletermsof768and384,
197Aanarithmeticalmean576isassumed;andthesamemeanbetweenthe
tripleterms384and1152isseentobeanharmonicmean.And768
whichwasduple,becomesbetweenthetripletermsanarithmetical
mean.Afterwards,1296issesquioctaveto1152,andofthis1458isthe
sesquioctave,towhich1536hastheratiooftheleimma.Andasfaras
tothis,theseconddupleisfilled,beingcomposedofthesesquialterand
sesquitertianratios,theextremesofwhichare768and1536,andare
fFor768issesquialterto512,andbetweenthesetwoterms,therearetheabove
threesesquioctaves,andoneleimma.
dividedintofivesesquioctavesandtwoleimmas.Itlikewisehasforthe
harmonicmean1024,andforthearithmeticalmean1152.
Again,1728issesquioctaveto1536,ofthis1944issesquioctave,ofthis
2187issesquioctave,andtothis2304hastheratiooftheleimma.But
thesesquioctaveof2304,is2592;ofthis2916isthesesquioctave,andto
Bthis3072hastheratiooftheleimma,whichisoctupleofthefirstpart,
fillingthethirddouble.Andfartherstill,thesesquioctaveof3072is
3456.Andasfarastothisthesecondtripleextends,havingforits
extremes1152and3456,andforitsharmonicmean1728,butforits
arithmeticalmean2304.Inadditiontothisalso,thesesquioctaveof
3456is3888,butofthisthesesquioctaveis4374,towhich4608hasthe
ratiooftheleimma.Thesesquioctavealsoof4608is5184,andofthis
2,187again,thesesquioctaveis5832,towhich6144hastheratioofthe
leimma,thesesquioctaveofwhichis6912.Andthisagainisanother
duple*[viz.3456and6912]afterthebeforementionedthreeduples[and
afterwardsanothersesquioctave:for7776issesquioctaveto6912]:*for
inthethirdtriple,thereisalsoacertainduple.Andagain,the
sesquioctaveof7776is8748,towhich9216hastheratiooftheleimma,
andof9216thesesquioctaveis10368.Andasfarastothis,thethird
tripleisextended,beingcomprehendedintheterms3456and10368,and
havingtwomeans,theharmonicandthearithmetical,theformerof
whichis5184,butthelatter6912.
CThedoubleandtripleintervalsthereforearefilledwithmiddles,and
withsesquioctavesandleimmas.Thewholelikewiseofthisdiagramhas
nineleimmas,andtwentyfoursesquioctaves.Fortheintervalsareless
innumberthanthetermsbyone.Italsoproceedsasfarastoa
quadruplediapason,andadiapenteandtone.Adrastushowever,who
wasaloverofthearts,makesthefigure,aswehavesaid,intheformof
theletterX;andplacesthetermsincertaintriangles.Andinthe
interiortriangle,indeed,heplacestheratiosthatareinmonadic

numbers[i.e.thatconsistinthenumberswithinten];butinthetriangle
nexttothis,thesextupleofthesenumbers,whichhavetwomiddles
accordingtoeachdupleortripleinterval.Andintheoutermosttriangle
heplacesthetermswhichmakethewholeofthebeforementioned
diagram.Whatwehavesaid,however,willbecomemanifestfromthe
delineation.Butbetweenthedoubleandtripleintervals,heinscribesall
theabovementionednumbers,whichwehavenotthoughtfittoadd,
tForduxTraouvhere,itisnecessarytoreaddnrXaoiov.
$ThewordswithinthebracketsaresuppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus,where
reveritisnecessarytoreadsesquioctavuminsteadofsesquialterum.
beingunwillingtointroducea[needless]multitudeofterms.Forsuch
adispositionofterms,andtheinsertionofthesamenumberstwice,is
immethodical.Formanyofthesamemediaarefoundbetweenthe
dupleandtripleintervals;sincethetripleintervalsthemselvesconsistof
Ddupletermsandsesquialters.WhatissaidbyPlato,therefore,hasbeen
2.188elucidatedbyus.Fortwomediahavebeendiscoveredbetweenallthe
dupleandtripleintervals.Andfromthesemediasesquialterand
sesquitertianratioshavingbeenproduced,thesearedividedbythe
sesquioctave;aportionbeingleftinboth,whichhastheratioofthe
leimma.Fromtheselikewise,assumedinanorderlymanner,theterms
whichcomprehendthewholediagramwillbefoundtobethirtyfour
only.1
Since,however,thePythagoricTimaeussays*thatthetermsofthe
diagramarethirtysix,andyetassumesthesameextremesasPlato,viz.
384and10368,inorderthatthesephilosophersmaynotappeartobein
anyrespectdiscordantwitheachother,letusshowhowtheothertwo
termsareinserted.Thesementherefore[i.e.thePythagoreans]were
willingthatthereshouldnotonlybetheratiooftheleimmainthe
diagram,butalsothatoftheapotome,whichtheytwicediscovered,
bothinradicalnumbers,andinthosealonewhicharethetripleof
Ethese.Addinglikewiseonetermtoeach,theyintroducedthisintothe
diagram.ButPlatomakesnomentionoftheapotome;whencealsowe
beingsatisfiedwiththeleimma,havealoneemployedtheaboveenumerated
terms.Forhow,sinceheassumesthediatonicgenus,could
hemakeuseoftheapotome,thesesquioctavenotbeingdividedinthis
genus;theapotomebeingproducedwhenthesesquioctaveisdivided?
Forthepartofthesesquioctavewhichremainsaftertheleimma,isthe
apotome.Hence,sincePlatodoesnotmentiontheapotome,anditis
notpossibleforittooccurinthediatonicgenus,itwouldberidiculous
inustoendeavourtoinsertotherterms,inorderthatwemayhavethe
apotome,thethirtyfourtermsbeingsufficienttothecompletionofthe
sesquioctavesandleimmas.Itseemsalso,thatthenumber34isadapted
tothediatonicgenus,inwhichalonethesesquioctaveratioisfound.

2.189Foritconsistsoftheterms18and16,whicharetoeachotherina
sesquioctaveratio.Forthesesquialterandsesquitertianratios,and
leimmas,arealsointheothergenera;butthesesquioctavesarefoundin
thisaloneofthethreegenera.Hencethisratioofthesesquioctave,very
properlyproducesbycompositionthenumberoftheparts;andthis
tTim.96b.
beingthesecond,isadaptedtothesecondprogressionofthesoulfrom
thefirstintelligibleprinciples.
FIfthereforeweassumethelesstermofthethirddouble,viz.1536,and
againthesesquioctaveofthis1728,andafterwardsthesesquioctaveof
this1944,andagainthetritoneofthis2187,therewillbeoneinterval
oftheextremes.Becausehowever2048hasasesquitertianratioto1536,
but1944hastoittheratiooftheleimma,itisnecessarythat2187
shouldmakeanapotometo2048.Foranapotomeis,aswehavebefore
said,thatwhichremainstoatone,aftertheleimma.Inasimilar
198Amanneralso,byassuminginthethirdtriple,4608,whichcontainsthe
tritone*6561,*andalsoassuming6144,whichmakesasesquitertian
2,190ratioto4608,butto5832hastheratiooftheleimma,weshall
necessarilyhavetheapotomeintheratioof6561to6144,whichare
tripleoftheradicaltermsthatwerebeforediscoveredbyusinthethird
double.Foritisevidentthattheratiooftheapotomeisradicallyin
thoseterms.For2187,and2048,aredemonstratedtobefirsttermsto
eachotherbythetheoremofsubtraction;firsttermsbeingnecessarily
suchasareleast.Themultitudeindeedofthetermsdescribedby
Timaeus,isdemonstratedbyPhilolaus;5butthediagramofPlato
proceedswithouttheratiooftheapotome.Andthusmuchconcerning
theseparticulars.
Sincehoweverwehavebeforeobserved,0thatifofonetermtwo
numbersareassumed,oneiswhichisthedouble,buttheotherthe
Btripleofit,themeanwhichbetweenthedupletermsisarithmetical,is
betweenthetripletermsharmonic,butthedupletermisbetweenthe
tripleterms,anarithmeticalmean,wewillnowconciselyelucidateand
atthesametimedemonstratethistheorem.Letthenbbethedoubleof
a,butcthetripleofit,andbetweenaandb,letthearithmeticalmean
bed.Isaythatwillhappenwhichisenunciatedintheproposition.For
sincebisthedouble,butcthetripleofa,ofsuchnumbersasaistwo,
tForrpvrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadipnovov.
tAccordingtothemoderns,atritoneisadissonantinterval,otherwisecalleda
superfluousfourth.Itisalsoakindofredundantthird,consistingoftwotones,and
twosemitones,onegreaterandoneless.Andtheratioofthetritoneisas45to32.This
howeverdoesnotaccordwiththeratioofthetritonegivenbyProclus,bothinthis
place,andabove.For4608isnotto6561as32to45,butas32to

452592/4608.Norintheotherinstanceabove,is1944to2187as32to45.
cf.Fr.A26d.
196F,supra.
bwillbefour,andcwillbesix.Henceofsuchasbisfour,cwillbe
six.Bysomuch,therefore,doescexceedbasbexceedsa.Hencebis
anarithmeticalmeanbetweenaandc.Again,becauseofsuchasais
two,ofsuchbisfour,butthearithmeticalmeanbetweenthemisd;
hencedwillbethreeofsuchnumbers,asaistwo,andbisfour.*But
ofsuchasbisfour,ofsuchcissix.Ofsuchtherefore,asaistwo,of
suchdisthree,andcissix.Hencedcomparedtoaandtoc,will
produceanharmonicmiddle.*Forbythesamepartofthegreateritis
exceededbythegreater,andbythesamepartofthelessexceedstheless.
Andthusmuchconcerningthisparticular.
2,191Severus,however,thinksthatthisdiagramshouldnotendinaone,
Cbutintheleimma,becausePlatoterminatesinthisallthediscussion
concerningthedivisionofthesoul.Inorder,therefore,thatitmay
terminateintheleimma,Severustransferssomeoftheterms,andmakes
allofthemtobethirtyfour.Butasinthethirtyfourthterm,thehalf
ofunityoccurs,hedoublestheterms,andmakesthefirstparttobe768,
whichisthedoubleof384.Ofthis,therefore,heplacesthesesquioctave
864,andofthisagainthesesquioctave972.Tothisalsoheadapts
accordingtotheleimma,1024.Butofthishetakesthesesquioctave
1152;ofthisthesesquioctave1296;andofthisagainthesesquioctave
1458.Buttothisheadaptsaccordingtotheleimma1536,andplacesthe
sesquioctaveofthis,1728,andofthisagainthesesquioctave1944.To
thislikewiseheadaptsaccordingtotheratiooftheleimma,2187.And
ofthisheassumesthesesquioctave2304;ofthisthesesquioctave2602;
andofthisagainthesesquioctave2916.Tothisalsoheassumes3762,
whichhastheratiooftheleimmatoit;tothisthesesquioctave3456;
andtothisinasimilarmanner3888.Tothislikewiseheadaptsasthe
Dleimma4374;ofthisheassumesthesesquioctave4608;ofthisthe
sesquioctave5184;andofthisagainthesesquioctave5832.Tothisalso
headaptsaccordingtotheratiooftheleimma,6144;andofthishe
assumesthesesquioctave6912;ofthisthesesquioctave7776;andofthis
againthesesquioctave8748.Tothislikewiseheadaptsasaleimma
9216.Butofthishemakesthesesquioctave10368;ofthisalso11664;
andofthis,again,hemakesthesesquioctave13122.Tothisheadapts
asaleimma13824;ofthisalsoheassumesthesesquioctave15552;ofthis
fHenceas2,3,4areinarithmeticalproportion,solikewisewilltheir
equimultiples,2x.3x.4x.
XFor2,3,and6areinharmonicproportion,andthereforetheirequimultiplesalso
areinthesameproportion.For6exceeds3bythehalfof6,and3exceeds2bythehalf
of2.

thesesquioctave17496;andofthis,again,thesesquioctave19783.And
2,192tothisheadapts20636,havingtheratiooftheleimma.Asfarasto
this,therefore,hegivescompletiontothediagram,makingtheleimma
tobetheend;exceptthatintheseterms,thereisfirstthesesquitertian,
afterwardsthesesquialter,thenthesesquitertian,andafterwardsthe
sesquialterratio.Andagainthesesquitertian,afterwardsthesesquialter,
andthenthreesesquialtersinafollowingorder,asinevidentfromthe
abovedescription.
EIthappens,therefore,inthediagram,thatthereisaquadruple
diapason,thatthediapenteoccursonce,andthatthetoneisredundant.
Forthreesesquialters,makeonediapasonandtone.Thediagram,
however,doesnotendinatone,butintheleimma.Butthiswasthe
thingproposedtobeeffected.Severus,therefore,doesnottakeaway
thetone,butdoesnotendinit.Sothatthewholediagramaccording
toalltheterms,consistsofaquadruplediapason,andthediapentes,and
onetone.Ifalsowewishinmonadicnumberstoassumetheseintervals,
wemustsurveytheprogressionextendedasfarastotwentyseven.For
2isdoubleofunity,4isthedoubleof2,8of4,and16of8.Andasfar
astothisthequadruplediapasonextends.Butof16,24isthe
sesquialter,andthisisthediapente,andtothis27hasasesquioctave
ratio.Sothatthebeforementionedsymphoniesareperfectedfromone
part,asfarastotwentyseven.This,therefore,asIhavesaid,is
commontoallthediagrams.Buttheydifferfromeachotherinthis,
thatsomeareintheformoftheletterX,butothersareinarightline.
FForoftheancients,AdrastusemploysfiguresintheformofX,but
Severusrightlines,whichinmyopinionisbetter.*Forinthefigures
whichareintheformoftheletterX,thesamenumbersarefoundtwice
indifferentplaces.Butthisisdiscordantwiththethingsthemselves.
Fortherearenottwopartsofthesoulwhicharethesame.Butallthese
numbersarepartsofthesoul.Theydifferalsointhis,thatsomeofthe
diagramsendinatone,butothersintheleimma.Somealsoaremore
2,193perspicuous,thoughthesamenumbersareassumedtwice,asisthecase
withthosediagramswhichdistributethedupleandtriple*ratiosinthe
sidesoftriangles.Butothersplaceeachnumberonceinallthe
199Aintervals,thoughthiscausesamoredifficultdivisionofthedupleterms,
intosuperparticularandsuperpartientratios.Wehavetherefore
tcf.alsoSyrianus,Metaph.ed.Kroll,p.88,1.23.
$Boththesenseofwhatisheresaid,andtheversionofThomaeus,requirethe
insertioninthisplaceofKCUTonrXotoiovc;.
premisedsuchthingsasmaycontributetothetheoryofthepsychogonic
diagram,tothosewhosurveyitmathematically.
Asweareenteringhoweveronthemoreimportantexplanationofthe

wordsofPlato,wethinkitrequisitetospeakinthefirstplace,
concerningthedivisionitselfaccordingtowhichthesoulisdividedin
theseratios,andtotakeawaybyargumentssuchthingsasarean
impedimenttoourapprehendingthetruthrespectingit.Letnoone,
therefore,thinkthatthisdivisioniscorporeal.Forithasbeenbefore
demonstrated,thatthemiddlenatureofthesoulisexemptfrombodies,
andatthesametimefromeverypartibleessencewhichisdistributed
aboutthem.Normustitbesupposedthatthesoulisbetterindeedthan
bodies,butthatitisdividedafterthesamemannerasthetermsor
boundaries,andintervalsbywhichbodies*aremeasured.Forthings
thathaveinterval,arenotwhollyandthroughthewholepresentwith
themselves,andwhendivided,arenotabletopreserveanunconfused
Bunion.Butthesoulparticipatingofanimpartibleallotment,isunited
toitself,andexhibitsallthesameelementssubsistingthesameinallits
parts.Noragainmustthissectionofthesoul,beconsideredasa
divisionofnumber.Forthesoulisindeednumber,yetnotthatwhich
isaccordingtoquantity,butthatwhichisessential,selfbegotten,having
theformofunity,andconvertedtoitself.Norletthepresenceofthese
ratiosinallthepartsbecomparedtospermaticreasons.Fortheseare
imperfect,corporealformed,andmaterial,andentirelyfallshortofthe
immaterialandpureessenceofthepsychicalreasons.Norletanyone
assimilatethebeforementionedpartstothetheoremsofscience,because
eachtheorempossessesthewhole[scienceofwhichitisatheorem].For
wedonotnowconsidertheknowledge,buttheessenceofthesoul.
2,194Norisitpropertothinkthatthedifferencesofessences,aresimilarto
thedistinctionsofhabits.Forthelatterareentirelyvariedinthe
naturesthatpossessthem,buttheformerareestablishedwithinvariable
samenessindemiurgicboundaries.Henceitisnecessarytosuspendthe
primordialprincipleofthepsychogonicdivisionfromthedemiurgic
Ccause,andfromperfectmeasures,whicheternallypreexistinrealbeings;
towhichalsotheDemiurguslooking,dividesthesoul.Forashe
dividedthisuniversebyintelligibleparadigms,thusalsoheseparatesthe
essenceofthesoulbythemostbeautifulboundaries,assimilatingitto
themoreancientandprimordialcauses.Themodethereforeofdivision,
isimmaterial,intellectual,undefiled,perfectiveoftheessenceofthesoul,
generativeofthemultitudeinit,collectivethroughharmonyintooneorder,
fForOCUTT)Vhere,itisnecessarytoreadavra.
andconnectiveofdividedparts;atoneandthesametimebeingthecause
oftheunmingledpurityofthemultitudeinthesoul,andproducinga
communionofreasonsconvergingtothesameessence.
AndtheDemiurgus,indeed,appearstoconsumethewholebydividing
itintoparts.ForthusalsoinacertainrespectTimaeussays,*"thathe
consumedthewholefromwhichhecutofftheseparts."This,however,is
notthecase,butitisnecessarytopreservebothimpartible,*andthat

thewholenessremainingimpartible,thedivisionintomultitudeshould
beeffected.Forifweassumeoneoftheseonly,Imeanthesectioninto
parts,weshallmakethesoultobepartiblealone.Thewholethereforeis
distributedintoparts,andatthesametimethewholeremains.Again,the
Dimpartibleofthesoulequallyparticipatesoftheimpartibleandthe
partible.Foritiswellsaid,aswehavebeforeobserved,5bythe
daemoniacalAristotle,thatthereissomethingimpartibleinpartible
natures,whichisconnectiveofthem;sothatitismuchmorenecessary,
thatsomethingimpartibleshouldremain,inthingswhichhavenotonly
apartible,butalsoanimpartiblenature.Forifthisdidnotremain,that
whichconsistsofbothwouldbealonepartible.Itisevidenthowever,
2,195thatitisnecessarythewholeshouldremaininthegenerationofthe
parts,iftheDemiurgusisaneternallyproducingcause.Buthe
constitutedthesoulonewhole,priortothedivisionofit.Forhedid
notobliterateitinproducingsomethingelse.Buthealwaysproduces
everything,andeternally,andcausesthatwhichisproducedtoremain
whatitis.Hencethewholenessisnotdestroyed,whenthepartsare
constituted,butitremains,andprecedestheparts.Forhedidnot
producethepartspriortothewhole,andafterwardsgeneratethewhole
fromthese,butviceversa.Theessencethereforeofthesoulisatone
andthesametimeawhole,andhasparts,andisoneandmultitude.
AndsuchisthedivisionofthesoulwhichTimaeusassumes.
Themode,however,ofunfoldingit,shouldaccordwiththeessenceof
Ethesoul,beingliberatedfromvisible,butelevatingitselftoessentialand
immaterialharmony,andtransferringfromimagestoparadigms.For
thesymphonywhichflowsintotheears,andwhichconsistsinsounds
andpulsations,isverydifferentfromthatwhichisvitalandintellectual.
Noone,therefore,shouldstopatthemathematicaltheory,butshould
tTim.36b.
tForaXkadiafitpiOTOvhere,itisnecessarytoreadaXX'anepiarov.
cf187A,supra,(re.AristotleOnIndivisibleLines,968al).
excitehimselftoamode+ofsurveyadaptedtotheessenceofthesoul;
norshouldhethinkthatweoughttodirectourattentiontointerval,or
thedifferencesofmotions.Fortheseareassumedremotely,andareby
nomeansadaptedtotheproposedsubjectsofinvestigation.Buthe
shouldsurveytheassertionsbythemselves,andconsiderhowthey
affordanindicationofthepsychicalmiddle,andlooktothedemiurgic
providenceastheirend.Inthefirstplacetherefore,ifyouarewilling
thustosurvey,sincewholenessistriple,onebeingprior*toparts,
anotherconsistingofparts,andanotherbeingineachoftheparts,aswe
havefrequentlyelsewheredemonstrated;thisbeingthecase,Platohas
alreadydeliveredthewholenessofthesoulwhichispriortoparts.For
hemadeittobeonewholeprior5toalldivisionintoparts,andwhich

Faswehavesaid,remainswhatitis,withoutbeingconsumedinthe
productionoftheparts.Fortobewillingtodissolvethatwhichiswell
harmonizedistheprovinceofanevilnature.0Butthedissolutionis
2,196effectedbyconsumingthewholeintotheparts.Inwhatisnow
deliveredhowever,heconstitutesitawholefromparts,consumingthe
wholemixtureintothedivisionofitsessence,andthroughtheharmony
oftheparts,renderingitawholedenovo,andcausingittobecomplete
fromallappropriateparts.Butheshortlyafter0teachesusthe
wholenesswhichisineachoftheparts,dividingthewholesoulinto
200Acertaincircles,andineachofthecirclesinsertingallthereasons,which
hehadalreadymademanifesttousinwhathehadbeforesaid.Forhe
hadsaid,**thatineachofthepartstherearethree[i.e.same,different,
andessence]inthesamemannerasinthewhole.Everyparttherefore,
aswellasthewhole,isinacertainrespectatriadicwhole.Henceitis
necessarythatthesoulshouldhavethreewholenesses,becauseit
animatestheuniverse,whichisawholeofwholes,eachofwhichisa
wholeaccordingtothewholenesswhichisinapart.Sothatthesoul
animatingtheuniverseinatwofoldrespect,bothasitisawhole,and
asconsistingoftotalparts,itrequirestwowholenesses,andtranscends
thethingsthatareanimated,havingsomethingexternaltothem,soas
tForTOICOVhere,readrpoTOP.
$Insteadof7rpocTUPpepupinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadwpoTUPpepup.
AndforirpocitaPToqpepiopovhere,also,readirpoK.X.
Tim.41b.
oTim.36d.
ffTim.35b.
circularlytocovertheuniverse,asTimaeussays,aswithaveil.*Bythe
wholeness,therefore,whichispriortoparts,thesoulentirelyruns
abovetheuniverse,butbytheremainingtwoconnectstheuniverseand
thepartsitcontains,thesealsobeingwholes.
Inthenextplace,itmustbeobserved,thatPlatoproceedingfromthe
beginningtotheend,preservesthemonadicandatthesametimedyadic
natureofthesoul.Forhereducesthehyparxisofittoessence,same,
anddifferent,anddistributesthenumberofitaccordingtoatwofold
division,beginningfromonepart,intodupleandtriplenumbers.He
alsosurveysthemediaormiddles,inoneofthemcomprehendsthe
Bothertwo,*andaccordingtoeachoftheseunfoldstwofoldsesquialter
andsesquitertianratios,andagaincutstheseintosesquioctavesand
leimmas.Inwhatfollowslikewise,hedividestheonelengthintotwo,
andtheonefigureofthesoulintotwoperiods.5And,inshort,he
nowhereomitsthemonadicandatthesametimedyadic,andthiswith
thegreatestpropriety.Forthemonadicalonepertainstointellect,on
whichaccountalsointellectisimpartible.Butthedyadicpertainsto

body,whenceinthegenerationofthecorporealformednature,Plato
2,197beganfromtheduad,fireandearth,0andarrangedtwoothergenera
ofelementsbetweenthese.Thesoul,however,beingamediumbetween
intellectandbody,isamonadandatthesametimeaduad.Butthe
cause0ofthisis,thatinacertainrespectitequallyparticipatesof
boundandinfinity;justasintellectindeed,isalliedtobound,butbody
ratherpertainstoinfinity,onaccountofitssubjectmatter,and
divisibilityadinfinitum.Andifafterthismanner,somereferthe
impartibleandthepartibletothemonadandindefiniteduad,theyspeak
conformablytothingsthemselves;butifasmakingthesoultobe
number,innorespectdifferingfrommonadicnumbers,theyarevery
Cfarfromassertingthatwhichhappenstotheessenceofthesoul.The
tTim.34b.
$ue.Inthegeometricmiddleorproportion,whichcomprehendsarithmeticaland
harmonicalproportion.Foriftoanythreenumbersinarithmeticalproportion,a
fourthnumberisadded,soastoproducegeometricalproportion,thenthisproportion
willcomprehendboththatwhichisarithmetical,andthatwhichisharmonical.Thusif
totheterms1.2.3afourthtermisaddedviz.6,sothatitmaybe1:2::3:6,then1,2
and3areinarithmetical,and2,3and6inharmonic,proportion.
Tim.36bc.
Tim.31b.
Forcudiop5ehere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadCUTVOPbe.
soul,therefore,isamonadandatthesametimeaduad,adumbratingby
themonadic,intellectualbound,butbythedyadic,infinity;orbythe
former,beingtheimage,indeed,oftheimpartible,butbythelatter
beingtheparadigmofpartiblenatures.
Inadditiontothesethingsalso,itisrequisitetosurvey,howatwofold
workoftheDemiurgusisheredelivered.Forhedividesthesoulinto
parts,harmonizesthedividedparts,andrendersthemconcordantwith
eachother.Butineffectingthesethings,heenergizesatoneandthe
sametimeDionysiacally[i.e.Bacchically]andApolloniacally.Forto
divide,andproducewholesintoparts,andtopresideoverthe
distributionofforms,isDionysiacal;buttoperfectallthings
harmonically,isApolloniacal.AstheDemiurgus,therefore,
comprehendsinhimselfthecauseofboththeseGods,hebothdivides
andharmonizesthesoul.Forthehebdomadisanumbercommonto
boththesedivinities,sincetheologists*alsosaythatBacchuswasdivided
intosevenparts:
IntosevenpartstheTitanscuttheboy.
AndtheyrefertheheptadtoApollo,ascontainingallsymphonies.For
theduplediapasonfirstsubsistsinthemonad,duad,andtetrad,of

Dwhichnumbersthehebdomadconsists.*HencetheycalltheGod
Hebdomagetes,orbornontheseventhday,andassertthatthisdayis
sacredtohim:
2,198ForonthisdayLatonabore5theGod
Whowearsagoldensword.
WorksandDays,771
JustasthesixthdayissacredtoDiana.DThisnumber,indeed,inthe
samemannerasthetriad,isimpartedtothesoulfromsuperiorcauses;
thelatterfromintelligible,buttheformerfromintellectualnatures.
Anditisalsoimpartedfromtheseverydivinities[ApolloandBacchus],
inorderthatbyadivisionintosevenparts,thesoulmayhavea
signatureoftheDionysiacalseries,andofthefabulouslaceration0of
tOrphicfr.198,199.
tLobeck,Aglaophemus434,alsoAesch.Sept.783.
Forxpvffociopayeiparohere,readxpvoaiopayeivaro.
cf.Theol.Arithm.38.
oForairapocyijU)vovvinthisplace,readoirupayfiov.
Bacchus.ForitisnecessarythatitshouldparticipateoftheDionysiacal
intellect;andasOrpheussays,*thatbearingtheGodonitshead,it
shouldbedividedconformablytohim.Butitpossessesharmonyin
theseparts,asasymboloftheApolloniacalorder.Forinthelacerations
ofBacchus,itisApollowhocollectsandunitesthedistributedpartsof
Bacchus,accordingtothewillofthefather[Jupiter].*Inthesenumbers
also,thethreemiddlesarecomprehended.5Thesethereforebeingthree,
adumbratenotonlyinthesoulbuteverywhere,thethreedaughtersof
Themis.Andthegeometricmiddle,indeed,istheimageofEunomia.D
EHencePlatointheLawssays,0thatsheadornspolities,anddisposes
theminanorderlymanner,andhelikewisecelebratesherasthe
judgementofJupiter,adorningtheuniverse,andcomprehendingthetrue
politicalscience.ButtheharmonicmiddleisanimageofDiceor
Justice,distributingagreaterratiotogreater,butalesstolesserterms.
Thishoweveristheworkofjustice.Andthearithmeticalmiddleisan
imageofPeace.Foritisthis,asitisalsosaidintheLaws,+which
impartstoallthingstheequalaccordingtoquantity,andmakespeople
atpeacewithpeople.Forthesolidanalogy[i.e.thetriplicate
proportion]priortothese,issacredtotheirmotherThemis,who
comprehendsthepowersofallofthem.**Andthusmuchuniversally
concerningthesethreemiddles.
Thesethreemiddles55however,maybesaidinawayadaptedtowhat
hasbeenbeforeobserved,tobethesourcesofunionandconnexionto
thesoul,orinotherwords,tobeunions,analogies,andbonds.Hence

tfr.207,203.
%cf.237F,infra,p.723.
Viz.inthenumbers1.2.3.4.6.thehebdomad,asProclusobserves,consisting
of1.2.and4.For1.2.and3.areinarithmeticalproportion.Thenumbers2.3.and6.
andalso3.4.and6.areinharmonicalproportion.Andthenumbers1.2.3.and6.are
ingeometricalproportion.
Insteadofevvoiuqhere,itisnecessarytoreadEvvofuaQ.
cf.LawsVI,757bc.
ttcf.LawsVI,757de.
t$Fortriplicate,consistsofgeometricalproportion,andgeometricalcontainsin
itself,aswehavebeforeshown,thearithmetical,andtheharmonicalproportion;and
thereforetriplicate,orsolidanalogy,comprehendsinitselfthethreemiddles.
Me<JOT7)Te<;isomittedintheoriginal.
2,199alsoTimaeusdenominatesthembonds.Forpriortothis,hehadsaid,*
thatthegeometricmiddleisthemostbeautifulofbonds,andthatthe
othertwomiddlesarecontainedinthis.*Buteverybondisacertain
union.Ifthereforethemiddlesarebonds,andbondsaretheunionsof
Fthethingsthatarebound,thatwhichfollowsisevident.Hencethese
pervadethroughalltheessenceofthesoul,5andrenderitonefrom
manywholes,astheyareallottedapowerofbindingtogetherthingsof
avariousnature.Ashowevertheyarethree,thegeometricmiddlebinds
everythingthatisessentialinsouls.Foressenceisonereason,
proceedingthroughallthings,andconnectingfirst,middle,andlast
natures,justasinthegeometricmiddle,oneandthesameratio,pervades
perfectlythroughthethreeterms[ofwhichtheproportionconsists].
Buttheharmonicmiddleconnectsallthedividedsamenessesofsouls,
201Aimpartingtotheextremesacommunionofreasons,andakindred
conjunction.Andsameness,indeed,isseeninagreaterdegreeinmore
total,butinalessdegreeinmorepartialnatures.Andthearithmetical
middlebindstheallvariousdiversityoftheprogressionofthesoul,and
islessinherentinthingswhicharegreater,butmoreinsuchasareless,
accordingtoorder.Fordifferencehasdominioninmorepartial,justas
samenesshasinmoretotalandmoreexcellentnatures.Andthesetwo
middleshavesomethingbywhichtheycommunicatewitheachother,
inthesamemannerassamenessanddifference.Asessencealsoisthe
monadofthelatter,sothegeometricalmiddleisthemonadofthe
former.Thegeometricmiddle,therefore,istheunionoftheessencesin
allthe34terms;theharmonicoftheequallynumeroussamenesses;and
thearithmetical,ofthedifferences.0Hencealltheseextendthrough
alltheterms,orhowcouldacertainwholebeproducedfromthem,
unlesstheywereasmuchaspossibleunitedtoeachother?Essentially
indeed,bythegeometricmiddle,butinanotherandanotherwaybythe
remainingtwo.Onthisaccountalsothearithmeticalandharmonic

middlesbecometheconsummationofthegeometricmiddle,inthesame
mannerassamenessanddifference,contributetotheperfectionof
essence.Forbecausethearithmeticalandharmonicmiddlessubsist
oppositelywithreferencetoeachother,thegeometricmiddleconnects
fTim.31c.
$Forevrovroiqhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadevrovru.
Thewords^i/X1Covouxque.omittedintheoriginal,butevidentlyoughttobe
inserted.
ItisherenecessarytosupplythewordsugTJapiBuririKTiruvereporrjruv.
and,asitwere,weaves*togethertheirdissention.Fortheharmonic
middleindeed,distributesaswehavesaid,*greaterratiostogreater
2,200terms,andlessratiostolessterms;sinceitevincesthatthingswhichare
essentiallygreaterandmoretotal,arealsomorecomprehensiveinpower
thansuchasareofaninferiornature.Butviceversa,thearithmetical
middle,distributeslessratiostogreaterterms,butgreaterratiostoless
terms.Fordifferenceprevailsmoreininferiornatures,justassameness
onthecontrary,hasgreaterauthorityinsuperiorthanininferior
natures.Andthegeometricmiddleextendsthesameratiotoallthe
terms;impartingbyilluminationuniontofirst,middle,andlastnatures,
throughthepresenceofessencetoallthings.
TheDemiurgusthereforeimpartsthreeconnectiveunionstothesoul,
whichPlatodenominatesmiddles,asbindingtogetherthemiddleorder
ofwholes.Andofthese,thegeometricmiddlecollectsthemultitudeof
essences,andcausesessentialprogressionstobeone;foroneratioisthe
imageofunion.Buttheharmonicmiddle,bindstotalsamenesses,and
Cthehyparxesofthemintoonecommunion.Andthearithmetical
middle,conjoinsfirst,middle,andlastdifferences.For,inshort,
differenceisthemotherofnumbers,aswelearnintheParmenides.*
Thesethree,however,viz.essence,sameness,anddifference,areineach
partofthesoul,anditisrequisitetoconjoinallofthemtoeachother
throughamediumandcolligativereasons.
Inthenextplace,wesaythatthesoulisaplenitudeofreasons,she
beingmoresimplethansensibles,butmorecompositethanintelligibles.
HenceTimaeusassumessevenratiosinthesoul,viz.theratiosof
equality,multiplicity,submultiplicity,thesuperparticularand
superpartientratios,andtheoppositesofthese,thesubsuperparticular,
andsubsuperpartient,butnottheratioswhicharecompoundedfrom
these.Fortheseareadaptedtocorporealreasons,sincetheyare
compositeandpartible.Thereasonsinthesoul,however,proceed
indeedintomultitudeandpartibility,yettogetherwithmultitude,they
exhibitsimplicity,andtheuniforminconjunctionwithadistribution
intoparts.Hencetheyarenotallottedanhypostasisinthemonad,and
theimpartible,inthesamemannerasintellect.Forintellectisalone

Dmonadicandimpartible.Nordoesthemultitudeofthemproceedinto
2.201compositereasons.Andmultipleratioindeedisinonewaypartible,
Forovpxpaiveihere,itisnecessarytoreadovvv<pcuvei.
200E,supra.
cf.Parmenides143aff.
viz.accordingtotheprologos1orgreaterterm:forthehypologos,orless
term,iswithoutdivision,andisnotpreventedfrombeingunity.But
thesuperparticular,isdivisibleinatwofoldrespect,viz.accordingtothe
prologosandhypologos;butisimpartibleaccordingtodifference.*And
thesuperpartientispartible,bothaccordingtotheprologosand
hypologos,andaccordingtodifference.5Sothatthefirstofthese,is
divisibleinonewayonly,thesecondbifariously,andthethird
trifariously.Butequalityisimpartible.Thesoulthereforeconstitutes
theuniversebytheseratios;thecorporealformednatureindeed,bythat
whichistrifariouslypartible;thenatureofsuperficiesbythatwhichis
bifariouslypartible;everylinearnature,bythatwhichispartibleinone
wayonly;andbytheimpartibletheimpartibilitywhichcomprehends
allthings.Forthereissomethingimpartibleinpartiblenatures.13
Thesethings,therefore,aretrulyasserted.
Itisnecessaryhowever,tosurveytheseafteranothermanner;
premising,thatnumberswhicharemoresimple,andnearertothe
monad,oughttobeconceivedasmoreprimarythanthosewhichare
morecomposite.ForPlatoalso,havingarrangedonepartpriortoall
therest,refersallofthemtothis,andendsintermswhichareespecially
Ecompositeandsolid.Havingthereforepremisedthis,Isaythatequality
andtheratioofequality,hastherelationofamonadtoallratios.And
whatthemonadisinquantityperse,thattheequalisinrelative
quantity.Henceconformablytothis,thesoulintroducesacommon
measuretoallthingswhichsubsistaccordingtothesamereasons;which
measurelikewise,bringswithitoneideatheimageofsameness.But
accordingtothesubmultiple,andmultipleratio,itgovernsallthewhole
seriesofthings,connectedlycomprehendingthem,andexhibitingeach
totalformofmundanenaturesfrequentlyproducedbyitselfinall
mundanebeings.Thus,forinstance,itproducesthesolar,andalsothe
tThusforinstance,32to4isamultipleratio,whichinitslowestterms,isthatof
8to1.But8isdivisible,and1accuratelyspeakingisnot.Proclus,therefore,inwhathe
nowsays,speaksofmultipleratiowhenreducedtoitslowestterms.
$Thusthesuperpartientratioof6to4,isinitslowesttermstheratioof3to2,
andboth3and2aredivisible.Butthisratioaccordingtothedifferenceoftheterms,is
indivisible;forthisdifferenceis1.
Thusforinstance,thesuperpartientratio3to5,whichissuperbipartient,being
initslowestterms,forthisisthecasewithallsuperpartientratios,isevidently

partible,bothaccordingtotheprologosandhypologos;anditisalsopartibleaccording
tothedifferenceoftheterms.Forthisdifferenceis2.
cf.AristotleOnIndivisibleLines968alff.
lunarform,indivinesouls,indasmoniacalandhumansouls,inirrational
animals,inplants,andinstonesthemselves,andadornsthemost
2,202universalgenerabythemorepartialseries.Andaccordingtothe
superparticularandsubsuperparticularratios,itadornssuchthingsasare
wholesintheparticipants,andwhichareparticipatedaccordingtoone
Fcertainthingcontainedinthem.Butaccordingtothesuperpartientand
subsuperpartient*ratios,itadornssuchthingsasarewhollyparticipated
bysecondarynatures,inconjunctionwithadivisionintomultitude.
Forofanimalindeed,manparticipates,andthewholeofthisformisin
him,yetnotalone,butthewholeisinhimaccordingtoonething,viz.
thehumanform;sothatitispresenttoitsparticipantwiththewhole,
andonecertainthingwhichisapartofit.*Butwhatarecalled
202Acommongenera,participateofonegenus,yetnotofthisalone,but
togetherwiththisofmanyothergeneraalso,whichareparts,andnot
apartofthatonegenus.Thus,forinstance,amuleparticipatesofthe
speciesfromwhichithasacomingledgeneration.Eachspecies,
therefore,eitherparticipatesofonegenusaccordingtoone,andthus
imitatesthesuperparticularratiowhichcontainsthewhole,andonepart
ofthewhole;oritparticipatesthatwhichiscommonandmanythings
besides,andthusimitatesthesuperpartientratio,whichtogetherwith
thewholepossessesalsomanypartsofthewhole.Andbesidesthese
thereisnootherparticipationofspeciesorforms.Lookingalsotothese
things,wemaybeabletoassignthespecificcausesofthosenatures
whichsubsistaccordingtooneform,as,forinstance,ofthesun,the
moon,andman;aslikewiseofthosethatsubsistaccordingtomany
forms,togetherwiththatwhichiscommon.Fortherearemanythings
ofthiskindintheearth,andinthesea;suchasanimalswithahuman
faceandtheextremitiesresemblingthoseofafish,andanimalsinthe
formsofdragons,butwithaleonineface;thesehavinganessence
mingledfrommanythings.Alltheseratiostherefore,areveryproperly
antecedentlycomprehendedinthesoul,astheydefineallthe
participationsofformsintheuniverse.Norcantherebeanyother
Bratiosofcommunionbesidesthese,sinceallthingsreceiveaspecific
distinctionaccordingtothese.
2.203Again,therefore,thehebdomadofratioscorrespondstothehebdomad
ofparts.Andthesouliswhollythroughthewholeofitselfhebdomatic,
Yirenneprjisomittedintheoriginal.
*cf.Politicus265de.
initsparts,initsratios,andinitscircles.1Forifthedemiurgicintellect

isamonad,*butthesoulprimarilyproceedsfromintellect,itwillhave
theratioofthehebdomadtoit.Forthehebdomadispaternaland
motherless.Andperhapsequalityimpartstoallthepsychicalratios,a
communionoftheequal,inorderthatallmaycommunicatewithall.
Butthemultipleratioaffordsanindicationofthemannerinwhichthe
ratiosthataremoresingle,measurethosethataremultitudinous,the
formerwhollyproceedingthroughthewholeofthelatter;thosethatare
impartiblemeasuringthosethataremoredistributedintoparts.The
superparticularhowever,andsubsuperparticularratios,indicatethe
differenceaccordingtowhichratiosdonotcommunicatewithwhole,
buthaveindeedapartialhabitude,yetareconjoinedaccordingtoone
certainmostprincipalpartofthemselves.Andthesuperpartientand
subsuperpartientratiosaffordanindicationofthelastnature,according*
towhichthereisacertainpartibleandmultipliedcommunionofthe
Cpsychicalratios,onaccountofdiminutionandinferiority.Forthemore
elevatedofthesereasonsareunitedwhollytothewholeofeachother.
Butthoseofthemiddlerankareconjoined,notthroughthewholeof
themselves,butaccordingtothehighestpart.Andthoseofthethird
rank,partiblycoalesceaccordingtomultitudes.Isay,forinstance,
essencecommunicateswithalltheratios,measuringalltheir
progressions:fornothinginthemisunessential.But5sameness,being
itselfagenus,especiallycollectsthesummitsofthemintoone
communion.Anddifferenceparticularlymeasurestheirdivisionsand
progressions.Thecommunion,therefore,ofthepsychicalratios,is
everywhere0exhibited.Foritiseitherallperfect,oralonesubsists
accordingtothesummits,oraccordingtoextensionsintomultitude.
Fartherstill,inthenextplaceletussurvey,howthesevenparts0are
allottedtheirhypostasis.Thefirstpartthen,ismostintellectualandthe
2,204summitofthesoul,conjoiningittoTheOneitself,andtothehyparxis
ofthefirstessence.Hencealsoitiscalledone,ashavingtheformof
tcf.204Binfra.
Xcf.Tim.36d.
Forov8ehere,itisnecessarytoread7/He.
InsteadofTXIJPinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadicavTaxov.
oThesesevenpartsarethenumbers1.2.3.4.9.8.27.
unity,andthenumberofitproceeding1intomultitude,isdetainedby
Dunion.Itislikewiseanalogoustothecauseandcentreofthesoul.For
thesoulabidesaccordingtothis,anddoesnotdepartfromwholes.And
thetetradindeed,isinthefirstmonads,onaccountofitsstability,and
rejoicinginequalityandsameness.*Buttheogdoadisinthemonadsof
thesecondorder,onaccountofdiminution,andtheprovidenceofthe
soulwhichextendsasfarastothelastofthings,andthatwhichismost
material.5Andthetriadisinthemonadsofthethirdorder,onaccount

ofthecircumductiontotheallperfectofthemultitudewhichit
contains.Andatthesametime,itisevidentfromthesethingsasfrom
images,thatthesummitofthesoul,thoughithastheformofunity,yet
isnotpurelyone,butthisalsoisanunitedmultitude.Justasthe
monad,isnotindeedwithoutmultitude,yetatthesametimeisunity.
ButTheOneoftheGodsisonealone.Andtheoneofintellectismore
onethanmultitude,thoughthisalsoismultiplied.Buttheoneofthe
soulissimilarlyoneandmultitude;justastheunityofthenatures
posteriortoit,whicharedivisibleaboutbody,ismoremultitudethan
one.Andtheoneofbodies,isnotsimplyone,butthephantasmand
imageofunity.HencetheEleanguest,orstranger,saysthatevery
thingcorporealisbrokeninpieces,ashavinganadventitiousunity,and
neverceasingtobedivided.Butthesecondpartmultipliesthepart
priortoit,bygenerativeprogressions,whichtheduadindicates,and
Eunfoldsalltheprogressionsofessence.Henceitissaidtobedoubleof
thefirst,asimitatingtheindefiniteduad,andtheintelligibleinfinity,
Andthethirdpartagainconvertsallthesoultoitsprinciple;anditis
thethirdofitwhichisconvolvedtotheprinciples.This,therefore,is
measuredbythefirstpart,asbeingfilledwithunionfromit;butis
conjoinedmorepartiallytothesecondpart.Andonthisaccountitis
saidtobetripleofthefirst,butsesquialterofthesecond;beinghalf
2,205containedindeedbythesecond,asnothavinganequalpowerwithit,
butperfectlybythefirst.Butagain,thefourthpart,andbesidesthisthe
fifth,evincethatthesoulpeculiarlypresidesoversecondarynatures,
Forthesepartsaretheintellectualcausesoftheincorporealswhichare
dividedaboutbodies,astheyareplanesandsquares;theformerbeing
tTtpotpxoiuvoqisomittedintheoriginal
tcf.211D,infra,p.649;Procl.Comm.Rep.IL67,9;SyrianusMetaph.p.149,23;
aimpnciusOnPhysics,p.499,35;&IamblichusOnNicom.,p.103.
SForanpoTctTOvhere,IreadevvXoraTOV.
cf.Sophista246bc.
thesquareofthesecond,andthelatterofthethirdpart.Andthe
fourthpart,indeed,isthecauseofprogressionandgeneration,butthe
Ffifth,ofconversionandperfection.Forbothareplanes;butoneisfrom
thesecondpart,subsistingtwicefromit,andtheotherfromthethird
part,thriceproceedingfromit.*Anditseems,thattheformerofthese
planes,isimitative*ofthegenerativenatureswhicharedivisibleabout
bodies;butthatthelatterisimitativeofintellectualconversions.5For
allknowledgeconvertsthatwhichknowstothethingknown;justas
everynaturewishestogenerate,andtomakeaprogressiontothat
whichisinferior.Andthesixthandseventhparts,containin
themselves,theprimordialcausesofbodiesandsolidmasses:forthese
203Anumbersaresolids.Andtheformerofthem,indeed,isfromthesecond,

butthelatterfromthethirdparts.ButPlatoinwhathesaysconverting
thelasttothefirstparts,andtheterminationsofthesoultoitssummit,
placesonepartasoctuple,buttheotherastwentyseventimesthefirst.
Andthustheessenceofthesoulconsistsofsevenpartsasabiding,
proceeding,andreturning,andasthecauseoftheprogressionand
regressionoftheessencesdivisibleaboutbodies,andofbodies
themselves.If,also,youarewillingsotospeak,becausethesoulis
allottedanhypostasisbetweenimpartiblesandpartibles,sheimitatesthe
formerthroughthetriadoftheterms,butantecedentlyassumesthe
latterfromthetetrad.Butthewholeofherconsistsofalltheterms,
becausethewholeofheristhecentreofwholes.Itispossiblealsoto
dividethesepartsaccordingtothedupleorder,ifyouassumethe
2,206summitofthesoul,andconsiderthepermanency,progression,and
regression13ofit,andalsotheconversiontoitofthingsproximately
posteriortoit,andthelastsubjectionofsolids,orratherthediminution
Bofthecauseofthem,accordingtothedupleratio.Foryouwillfind
thatthewholeofthiscoordinationpertainstotheprolificduad.But
againtheregressionofitselftoitself,andofthenaturesproximately
posteriortoit,andofthosethatrankinthethirddegreefromit,tothe
uniformandcollectiveessenceofwholes,subsistaccordingtothetriple
tThethirdpartis3,and9isequalto3+3+3.
$ForyevvTiTuct)here,itisnecessarytoreadpiperita).
Insteadofyovipuv8eopuceiduvrr\virpoodovpipovpevuvTTJC^VXVQ
eTiorpewriKOVinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadconformablytotheversionof
Thomaeus,7)deruvvoipuvemorpo<puvyevvr\Tua),exceptthatherealsofor
yevvyriKT},itisrequisitetoreadpipririKT).
Thereisanomissionhereintheoriginal,of6eeiriorpwpriv.
order.Thearithmeticalthereforeandharmonicmiddles,give
completiontotheseintervals,whichareessential,andsurveyed
accordingtoexistenceitself;someofthemaswehavesaid,fbinding
theirsamenesses,butotherstheirdifferences.
Fartherstillyoumayalsosay,inawaymoreproximatetothethings
themselves,thatthesoulaccordingtoonepartisunitedtothenatures
priortoit,andthispartisthesummitofthesoul;butaccordingtothe
dupleandtriplepart,itproceedsfromintellect,andreturnstoit;*and
accordingtothedoubleofthedouble,andthetripleofthetriple,it
proceedsfromitself,andagainreturnstoitself,andthroughitselfasa
medium,totheprinciplesofitself.Forthroughbeingfilledfromthese
principlesitisprolific5ofsecondarynatures.Andasindeed,the
progressionfromitself,issuspendedfromthenaturespriortoitself,thus
Calsotheconversionorregressiontoitself+issuspendedfromthe
regressionofthebeingsthatarepriortoit.Butthelastparts,according
towhichitconstitutesthenaturesposteriortoitself,arereferredtothe

firstpart;inorderthatacirclewithoutabeginning,maybeunfoldedto
theview,theendbeingconjoinedtothebeginning,andthatthe
universemaybecomeanimated,andatthesametimeenduedwith
intellect,thesolidnumbersbeingcoarrangedwiththefirstpart.
2.207Moreover,hesaysthatfromthesemiddles,sesquialterandsesquitertian
ratios,andalsosesquioctaves,becomeapparent.Whatelse,therefore,
doesheintendtoindicatebythesethings,thanthemorepartial
differenceofthepsychicalratios?Andthesesquialterratiosindeed
presentuswithanimageofpartiblecommunion,butaccordingtothe
firstoftheparts.Thesesquitertianratios,ofpartiblecommunion
accordingtothemiddleterms.Andthesesquioctavesofthis
communion,accordingtothelastterms.Hencealso,themiddlesor
proportionsareconjoinedtoeachother,accordingtothesesquioctave
ratio.Forasbeingsurveyedaccordingtooppositegenera,theyhavethe
smallestcommunion;buttheyareappropriatelyconjoinedtoboth
extremes.
t201A,supra.
tAccordingtotheversionofThomaeus,thereisanomissionhereintheoriginal,
hewordsKara8eryvSnrXaotavKairpnr\aaiav,avorovvovvpoeioi,KaiTrpoe
ovenoTpe<pei.Indeedthesenserequiresthisaddition.
SForpovvpoginthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadyovipoq.
3Thewordsovruc,yeigeavryveKiorpotpr),whichareomittedintheoriginal,
ttobeinserted,conformablytotheversionofThomaeus.
Timaeusalsoadds,thatallthesesquitertianratiosarefilledbythe
intervalofthesesquioctave,inconjunctionwiththeleimma;indicating
Dthattheterminationsofalltheseratios,endinmorepartialhypostases,
inconsequenceofthesoulcomprehendingthecausesofthelastand
perfectlypartibleessencesintheworld,andpreestablishinginitself,the
principlesoftheorderandharmonyofthem,accordingtothedemiurgic
will.Thesoultherefore,possessestheprinciplesofharmonious
progressionandregression,andofthedivisionintothingsfirst,middle
andlast;andisoneintellectualreasonorratio,receivingitscompletion
fromallratios.Andagain,thatalltheharmonyofthesoul,consistsof
aquadruplediapason,diapenteandtone,isconsonanttothesethings.
Forsincethereisharmonyintheworld,andalsoinintellectandin
soul,onwhichaccountTimaeussays,1thatthesoulparticipatesof
harmony,andisharmony,hencetheworldparticipatesofharmony
decadically,butthesoultetradically,andharmonypreexistsinintellect
monadically.Andasthemonadisthecauseofthetetrad,butthetetrad
ofthedecad,thusalso,theintellectualharmony,isthesupplierofthe
psychical,andthepsychicalofsensibleharmony.HenceTimaeus
conceivedthatthequadruplediapason,isadaptedtotheharmonyofthe
Esoul.Forthesoulistheproximateparadigmoftheharmonyinthe

sensibleworld.Sincehowever,five*figuresandfivecentresinthe
2,208universe,givecompletiontothewhole,theharmonydiapentealso,
impartstotheworldthesymphonywhichisinitsparts.Since,
likewise,theuniverseisdividedintonineparts,thesesquioctave
producesthecommunionofthesoulwiththeworld.Andhereyou
mayseethatthesoulcomprehendstheworld,andmakesittobea
whole,accordingtocause,5asone,asconsistingoffour,andalsooffive
parts,andasdividedintonineparts,harmonizingandcausally
comprehendingthewholeofit.Forthemonad,thetetrad,thepentad,
andtheennead,Dprocureforusthewholenumber,accordingtowhich
tTim.36ef.
XForKOtVTaherereadTvre.Thesefivefiguresarethefiveregularbodies,viz.the
dodecahedron,thepyramid,theoctahedron,theicosahedron,andthecube.Butthe
fivecentresarethenorthern,southern,eastern,andwesterncentres,andthecentreof
theuniverse.
FromtheversionofThomaeus,itisnecessarytoinsertinthisplacethewords,
T)\l/VXVTOVKOOjxovirepiex".^ovmr'aLTUXVtoii,whicharewantinginthe
original.
Fortvac,here,readevveac;.
allthepartsoftheworldaredivided.Hencetheancientsassertthatthe
MusesandApolloMusagetes,presideovertheuniverse;thelatter
supplyingtheoneunionofallitsharmony;buttheformerconnecting
thedividedprogressionofthisharmony,andrenderingtheirnumber
concordantwiththeeightSyrensmentionedintheRepublic.^Thus
therefore,inthemiddleofthemonadandtheennead,*theuniverseis
Fadornedtetradicallyandpentadically;tetradicallyindeed,accordingto
thefourideasofanimals,whichtheparadigmcomprehends;but
pentadically,accordingtothefivefigures,throughwhichtheDemiurgus
distributedallthings,himself,asTimaeussays,introducingthefifthidea,
andarrangingthisharmonicallyintheuniverse.5
Againthereforefromthebeginning,wemaysay,thattheDemiurgus
havingtwofoldpowers,theonebeingeffectiveofsameness,aswelearn
intheParmenides,Dbuttheother,ofdifference;hebothdividesand
bindsthesoul.Heisalsothefinalcauseofthese,inorderthatthesoul
Amaybecomethemiddleofwholes,beingsimilarlyunitedanddivided,
twothingsexistingpriortoit,divinenaturesasunities,andbeingsas
thingsunited;andtwoalsobeingposteriortoit,viz.thosewhichare
dividedinconjunctionwithothers,0andthosewhichareinevery
respectpartible,orifyouarewillingpriortotheformer,TheOneItself,
butposteriortothelatter,matteritself.[Buttheefficientcausesofthese
divisionsandbonds,aresameanddifferent,whicharethepeculiaritiesof
thedemiurgicorder.Andtheparadigmaticcausesarethesectionsand
bondsofthefather.**Forhe**firstcuts,andbindswithineffable

2,209bonds.55Thesethingsalso,areobscurelyindicatedbytheologistswhenthey
speakoftheSaturniansectionsandbondswithwhichthemakerofthe
tRep.X,617b.
itcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,68,6,ff,&100,9,fjalsoMacrobiusSomn.Scip.II,3,
STim.55c.
Parmenides143a,ff.
<wWrfSm'aXXuv"eomined"theoriginal,butoughttobeinserted
contormablytotheversionofThomaeus.
ttOrph.fr.121,122.
ttForenewuvhere,readeKtivoq.TheChaldeanOraclesalsosaythatthe
^ernmrgusglitterswithintellectualsections[fr.1].
Ibid.fr.14,&Lobeck,Aglaophemus,516.
universeissaidtosurroundhimself,andwhicharementionedbySocrates
intheCratylus.*Buttheformalcausesofthedivisionsindeed,arethe
numbers.Foraccordingtothesethepartsaredistinguished.Butofthe
bonds,themiddles,andtheratioswhichgivecompletiontothese,are
theformalcauses.Foritisimpossibletosurveyconcauseswhichhave
therelationofmatter,insoulswhichareincorporeal.]*Thesethings
Bbeingpremised,itisevidentthattheDemiurgusenergizingwithtwofold
powers,viz.withsuchasareofadividing,andsuchasareofabinding
nature,hedividesthetriformedessenceofthesoul,andthethreefold
mixture,thewholeremainingthatwhichitis,bytheprimordialcauses
ofalldivision,andmakesthewholeofittoconsistofsevenparts,and
sevenmembers,comprehendedinintellectualboundaries.Forsincethe
Demiurgusconstitutedthesoulasthemediumbetweenanimpartible
essence,andthatessencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies;butthe
impartibleessenceistriple,abiding,proceeding,andreturning;hepreestablished
thesimilitudeofthisinthreeparts.Andheadumbrated
indeed,thepermanency5ofthisessencebythefirstpart;butthe
progressionofitbythesecond;onwhichaccount,perhaps,itissaidto
bedoubleofthefirstpart.Foreverythingwhichproceeds,has
permanencypreexistenttoitsprogression.Andheadumbratedits
regressionbythethirdpart.Hencethispartistripleofthefirst.For
everythingwhichreturns,hasproceededandbeenpermanent.
Since,however,thesoulproducestheessenceposteriortoitself,it
containsthetotal+essencesofitinitself;thewholeoftheincorporeal
essenceindeed,butwhichisinseparablefrombodies,accordingtothe
fourthandfifthpart;butthewholeofthecorporealessence,according
Ctothesolidnumbers,viz.thesixthandseventhpart.Or[itmaybe
said]thatthesoulbeingselfsubsistent,andselfenergetic,producesitself
andconvertsitselftoitsprinciple,accordingtothesquarenumbers;but
allthepartibleessenceposteriortoitselfaccordingtothecubes.These

sevenpartstherefore,beingdividedaswehavesaid,intothreeandfour,
2,210theoneratioofgeometricanalogy,bindsthemessentially;butthe
harmonicmiddle,bindsthemaccordingtosameness;andthearithmetical
accordingtodifference.Thesepartshoweverareinsertedbetweenthe
tcf.Crat.404a.
$Allthispartwithinthebrackets,isomittedintheversionofThomaeus,with
whomsuchomissionsarenotunfrequent.
Foryovi/xovhere,itisnecessarytoreadjWVifMV.
InsteadofoXijehere,readoXac.
geometricmiddle,andaresaidtogivecompletiontothedoubleand
tripleintervals;*becauseallsamenessandalldifference,areuniformly
comprehendedbyessence,andtheharmonywhichsubsistsaccordingto
it.Butfromthesemiddles,themultitudeofsesquialterandsesquitertian
ratios,andsesquioctaves,becomesapparent;thismultitudeindeed,being
ofabindingandconnectingnature,inthesamemannerasthemiddles,
butmorepartially.Fortheseindeed,arecertainratios;buteachofthe
middlesconsistsofmanyratios,whichareeitherthesameordifferent.
Asanalogytherefore,orproportion,ismorecomprehensivethanratio,
thusalsotheabovementionedmiddles,affordagreatercausetothesoul,
Dofconnectedlycontainingthemultitudewhichisinit,sincethey
intellectuallypervade*throughthewholeofit.Hencethesesquialter,
andsesquitertianratios,arecertainmorepartialbonds,andare
comprehendedinthemiddles;notaccordingtodifferenthabitudesof
themwithreferencetotheextremes;forthisismathematical;but
accordingtocausalcomprehension,andamoretotalhypostasis.
Again,thesebonds,containthesecondandthirdprogressionsofthe
ratios;thesesquialterindeed,constringingtheharmonyoftheratios,
throughthefivecentres;butthesesquitertianexhibitingtheirpower,
throughthefourelementswhichareeverywhere;andrenderingall
tilingsintelligibleandalliedtoeachother;5andthesesquioctavescoharmonizing
thedivisioninto9and8.Hence,astheworldconsistsof
eightparts,andalsoofnine,theancients,atonetimeestablisheight
Syrens,andatanothernineMuses,aspresidingovertheuniverse,since
theharmonyofthewholeofthingsproceedsfromthese.The
sesquitertiantherefore,andsesquialterratios,aremoretotalthanthe
sesquioctaves,becausetheyarethesuppliersofamoreperfect
symphony,andantecedentlycomprehendinlessnumbers,the
Eharmonioussectionoftheworld.Heretherefore,thedivisionsare
2,211separatedfromeachotherintheirparticipants;butintheincorporeal
reasonsofthesoul,themoretotalcontainsthemorepartial.Since,
however,thesesquioctavesarethecausesofthemostpartialsymphony,
thatwhichisposteriortothemisnotundeservedlysaidtobeimpelled
intothelastorderoftheuniverse.Notthateventhisisdissonanttothe

tTheseventerms1.2.3.4.9.8.27,aresaidbyProclustobeinsertedbetweenthe
metricmiddle,because1.2.4.8,andalso3.9.27,areingeometricproportion.
$ForSLOKOVOOIVhere,readbvt\Kovaav.
cf.Rep.Vm,546c.
wholeitself,sinceitcompelsthepartialeffluxionsfromeachofthe
elements,intotheplaceundertheearth.*Forastheelementsexistin
manyplaces,intheheavens,andinthesublunaryregion,thisleimma
collectsthelastdregsofthemthere,andconjoinsthemtowholes;so
thatbothtogethermaygivecompletiontothewholeharmonyofthe
universe.Inshort,therefore,thesoulisthecause*ofalltheharmony
inthecentres,andintheelementsoftheuniverse.Hencealsowesay,
thattheharmonyofitisentirelyintellectualandessential,causally
precedingsensibleharmony.AndTimaeuswishingtoindicatethis
throughimages,5employsharmonicratios,andpresupposesinthesoul
Fsomecausesmorecomprehensivethanothers,andwhichsubsistprior
toeveryformofthesoulandtoallitsknowledge.HenceIthinkitis
notpropertodiscussanythingofthiskind,soastoexplain[inamerely
mathematicalway]eithertheparts,ortheratios,ortheanalogies;but
itisrequisitetosurveyalltheseessentially,accordingtothefirstdivision
itself,andharmonyofthesoul.Itisalsonecessarytoreferallthingsto
thedemiurgicandintellectualcause;buttocomprehendthe
sesquioctavesandleimmasinthesesquitertianandsesquialterratios;
theseinthemiddles;andtheseinoneofthemwhichisthemost
205Aprincipalofall;andlikewisetoreducethemorepartialtothemoretotal
causes,andsurveythemdividedfromthem.Andthusmuchconcerning
theharmonicratios.Butagainadducingthetextfromthebeginning,let
usendeavourtodiscussitmoreclearly.
35b"Hefirsttookonepartfromthewhole.Inthenextplacehetook
2,212awaythedoubleofthis.Andafterthis,athirdpart,whichwas
sesquialterindeedofthesecond,buttripleofthefirst."
Wehavebeforeobserved,0thatitisnotpropertounderstandwhat
isheresaidbyPlato,mathematically,butphysically,orphilosophically.
Fortheessenceofthesoul,doesnotconsistofmathematicalnumbers
andratios,butallthesenumbersandratios,adumbrateitstruly0
existingessence,andthedemiurgicandvivificdivisionsinit.Butof
tcf.Phxdo109bc.
XThewordsr\\pvxvULTUX(an,areomittedintheoriginal.
Foreiceivuvhere,itisnecessarytoread(ucovuv.
cf.193Csupra,p.598.
OInsteadofOVTWC;inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadOVTUQ.

whatthingsthemathematicalratiosareimages,*andhowtheydevelop
theessenceofthesouloftheuniverse,itisnoteasyforthosetoassign,
BwhodonotlooktotheconceptionsofPlato.Butthisismanifestfrom
thediscordoftheinterpreters;andtheoppositionofthemoderntothe
moreancientexpositors,evincesthedifficultyofthistheory.Forsome
ofthemthinkfittorefertothesevenspheres,thefirstseventerms,to
whichwehaveassumedasanalogousthenumbersthatexhibitthewhole
diagram.Butothersreferthemtothedistancesofthespheresfromthe
centreoftheearth,inwhichplacetheyarrangethemonad.Others
again,referthemtothemotionsofthespheres.[Others,tothe
magnitudesofthestars.Andothersadaptthemtothevelocitiesofthe
celestialorbs.]*Butothers,referthemtoothersuchlikeexplanations.
Theirinterpretationshowever,areattendedwithmanydifficulties,and
amongtherestwiththis,thattheyarediscordantwiththeobservations
ofrecentastronomers,andtothedemonstrationsgivenbythem.To
whichalsomaybeadded,thatPlatonowheredefines,eitherthe
magnitude,orthedistance,ortheswiftness,orthemotionofthestars;
butadmittingthatonestarisgreaterthananother,5hedoesnotadd
howmuch,andafterwhatmanner,itisgreater.Andthatthething
proposedbyhimtobediscussedinthispart,ispsychogony,andnot
cosmogony.Forthoughitisrequisitetoeffectthesamethings,ina
certainrespect,inthesoul,andintheworld;yetitisproperfirst0to
Csurveythepowersinthesoulitself,andthereasonsofthethingswhich
2.213areeffectedexternaltoit.Buttheirexplanationofthetermsor
numbersgivenbyPlato,isespeciallycontrarytothem.Forinthe
terms,thatwhichhasthefifthorder,isgreaterthanthesixth,asfor
instance,9than8.Inwhattheysay,however,thefifthmagnitude,
orinterval,orwhatevertheywishtocallit,isentirelylessthanthe
sixth.Theirexplanations,therefore,donotaccordwiththePlatonic
terms.
Afterthese,thereisanothertribeofinterpreters,whogiveamore
importantexplanationoftheseparticulars.ForAmeliusnotadopting
tForeucoTcoc,here,itisnecessarytoreadeucoveg.
XThewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,andareinsertedfromthe
versionofLeonicusThomaeus.
cf.Tim.39a.
Forirorepovhere,readjporepov.
oForeKTa&oghere,itisnecessarytoreadOKTCtSog.
theopinion,whichhesayswasthatofPlotinus,wasdeliveredbyhim,
inhisunwrittenororalconferences,andhasbeensufficientlyconfuted
bythoseposteriortohim,+endeavourstoexplainthesetermsafter
anothermanner.Forsincethesouliscomprehensiveofallmundane

natures,asforinstanceofGods,daemons,andmen;hesays,thatinone
wayitcomprehendsaccordingtothemonad,everymundanegenusof
Gods;normustwewonder,ifthesoulshouldbesaidtobe
comprehensiveofGods.Thisopinion,therefore,someoneofthose
posteriortoAmeliusrefertohim.ForGodismultifariouslypredicated,
DsincenotonlythesuperessentialandintellectarecalledGods,but
likewisedivinesouls,anddivinebodies.Heisthereforeofopinion,that
thesouloftheuniversecomprehendsaccordingtoitsunitythedivine
number;butaccordingtoitsduadandtriad,thedaemoniacalgenus.For
sincedaemonsaresuspendedfromtheGods,andpresideoverus,this
soul,accordingtotheduad,excitestheprovidenceofthem;butperfects,
accordingtothetriad,theconversionofthemtotheGods.For,aswe
havesaid,thehabitudeofthemistwofold,becausetheyarebetweenthe
Godsandus.Butaccordingtothetetradandennead,itprovidentially
attendstoallhumanlife.Forthisalsoistwofold,beingdividedintothe
betterandtheworse.Andbytheenneadindeed,itadornsthemore
excellent,butbythetetradarrangesthesubordinatelife.Lastly,bythe
octadandthenumbertwentyseven,itproceedstoeverything,andas
2,214farastothelastofthings,andperfectstameanimalsbytheodd,but
savageanimalsbytheevennumber.Foritadornseachthingby
appropriatepowers;subordinatenatures,everywherebyevennumbers,
Ebutmorevenerableandpowerfulnatures,andwhichinagreaterdegree
arealliedtotheGods,byoddnumbers.
Porphyry,however,afteracertainadmirablemanner,(thoughthese
thingshavebeenbeforerelated)evincesbymanyarguments,thatthe
soulisharmonized,andthatitfillsthewholeworldwithharmony.*
Butheinfersthisfromthesoulbeingamultitude.Beinghowevera
multitude,itiseitherwithoutarrangement,orisharmonized.Butitis
truetoassertthelatterofit,andnottheformer.Forbeingthe
fabricationofintellect,howcanitbeinordinate,andunharmonized?
Healsoinfersitfromthis,thatthesoulconductseverythinginthe
worldbyharmonicreasons,andrefersthegenerationofanimals,andthe
onecoordinationofthem,totheuniverse.What,however,these
fThebeginningofthissentenceiswantingintheoriginal,butissuppliedfromthe
versionofThomaeus.
$cf.alsoMacrobius,Somn.II,3,15.
reasonsare,whichareseentosubsistintheveryhypostasisofthesoul,
heneitherteaches,northinksthemdeservingofattention;butsaysthat
theessenceofthesoulpossessesinitselfharmonicreasons,notasthe
imagesofsomethings,andtheprinciplesofothers,butasbinding
togetherthemultitudeofpowersitcontains.Forifitisinrealitynot
onlyimpartible,butalsopartible,itisnotonlynecessarythatitsessence
shouldbeone,butlikewisethatitshouldbemultitudinous.Butif

multitudinousitmusteitherbeinnumerable,ornumerable.Itis
Fimpossible,however,thatitshouldbeinnumerable.Foraninnumerable
multitudeisinordinate.Itisthereforenumerable.Butifnumerable,it
eitherconsistsofunharmonizedorofharmonizedparts.Itishowever
impossiblethatitshouldconsistofunharmonizedparts:forithasnot
anythingofthiskindnaturally.Itthereforeentirelyconsistsof
harmonizedparts;butifofharmonizedpartsitmustnecessarilysubsist
accordingtothemostexcellentharmony,sinceitisthefirstofthings
harmonized.Themostexcellentharmonyhowever,isthatwhichis
accordingtothediatonicgenus:forthisisvenerable,abundant,and
grand.*Hence,thesoulisentirelyharmonizedconformablytothis;so
thatitsessencewillconsistofpartsharmonizedaccordingtothediatonic
206Agenus.Thesethings,however,beingtrue,nothingpreventsthe
2,215harmonicratiosfrombeingatthesametimeimagesofcertaindivine
things;justasthebodyofthissoulisindeedspherical,yetthroughits
sphericity,issaidtobeanimitationofintellect,andthesethingsaccord
witheachother.AndthusfarPorphyry,who,inwhatheheresays,
affordsusanoccasionofcollectingsomethingtrueconcerningthesoul.
ButthedivineIamblichuscelebratesthesenumberswithallhispower,
asexhibitingcertainadmirablepeculiarities.Andhecallsindeedthe
monad,thecauseofsamenessandunion;theduad,thesupplierof
progressionandseparation;andthetriad,theleaderoftheregressionof
thethingsthathaveproceeded.Healsosays,thatthetetradistrulyallharmonic,
containingallratiosinitself,andunfoldinginitselfthe
secondorderlydistributionofthings;andthattheenneadiseffectiveof
trueperfectionandsimilitude,beingperfectfromperfectnumbers,and
Bparticipatingofthenatureofsameness.Buthecallstheogdoad,the
causeofuniversalprogression,andofpervadingthroughallthings.
Lastly,hesays,thatthenumbertwentyseveniseffectiveofthe
regressionofthelastofthingstothefirst,inorderthatoneachsideof
thetetrad,theremaybepermanency,progression,andregression,there
tcf.also191Esupra,p.593.
primarily,butheresecondarily.Fortheenneadhasanalliancetothe
monad,beinganewone(evveovovaa);fbuttheogdoadtotheduad,
beingthecubeofit;andthenumbertwentyseven,tothetriad,through
asimilarcause.Throughtheformernumberstherefore,thesoulimparts
tomoresimplenatures,permanencies,progressions,andregressions,but
throughthelatteritimpartsthesetomorecompositenatures.Butthe
tetradbeingthemiddle,becauseindeed,itisasquare,haspermanency;
butbecauseitisevenlyeven,hasprogression;andbecauseitisfilled
withallratiosfromthemonad,hasregression.These,however,are
symbolsofdivineandarcanethings.
Afterthisexplanation,whichisthusadmirable,thephilosopher
Theodorus,proceedinginacertainpathpeculiartohimself,says,that

2,216thesoulisthethirdprincipleaftertheoneprincipleofallthings,one
Csoulbeingfontal,anotheruniversal,andanotherthesoulofthis
universe.Healsosays,thatthefirstoftheseisindivisible,thesecond
divisible,andthethirdpossessesallvariousdivisions.Sincetherefore,
thereisatripledifferenceofsoul,thatwhichissoulitselfandisfontal,
subsistsbetweentheimpartibleandpartibleessence;ofwhichtheformer
isuniversalintellect,butthelatterisdivisibleintoatoms.Hencethe
firstsoulisthemediumbetweenthese,assubsistingfrombothwhich
arepriortoit,andbecomingonewholefromthethreemiddlegenera.
Butthesecond,andwhichisuniversalsoul,isdividedintoparts,andis
harmonized.Forthefirstsoul,abidingwhollyinitself,adivisionis
produced,whichisaprogressionfromthesoulthatisawholepriorto
parts,intothesoulthatconsistsofparts.Andthethirdsoulisthat
whichisfabricatedthroughrightlinesandcircles.Forinthisthe
divisionmanifestsadiminutionfromthatsoulwhichisawholeprior
toparts.Hencehedividesthewholeofthisdiscussionconcerningthe
psychogonyintothreeparts,conformablytothethreesoulsthathave
beenmentioned;onesubsistingaccordingtothemingling,another
accordingtotheharmonizing,andanotheraccordingtotheforming
Denergyofintellect.Havingtherefore,madethisdivisionofthe
psychogonyandsouls,heconsidersthedistributionintoparts,andthe
seventerms,asalonepertainingtotheuniversalsoul.Referringlikewise
thesetermstothedivisionoftheuniversalsoul,hethinksitnecessary
thatcelestialnaturesshouldbeproducedbythissoulfromtheduple,but
sublunarynaturesfromthetripleorder.Forhedistributesappropriate
numberstoeachoftheelements,toearthindeed7,tofire11,towater
9,andtoair13.Forthegeometricalproportion,whichis1,2,4[and
fcf.Proc.Comm.Rep.II,4,22ff.
thesumofthetermsofwhichis7]pertainstoearth;perhapsindeedon
accountofthename;andperhapsalso,becauseasearthcontainsthe
remainingelements,sothegeometriccomprehendstheothermiddles.
Butthearithmeticalproportionswhichpertainstowater,is2.3.4;
through2communicatingwithearth,andbecauselikewise,itis
especiallyfriendlytomultitude,andconsistsofanelementwhichisthe
mostmultitudinousofallothers,viz.theicosaedron.Andthe
Eharmonicalproportion,whichpertainstoair,is3.4.6;becausethis
communicateswiththearithmetical,accordingtotwoofitsterms3and
4,whicharethegreaterintheformer,butthelesstermsinthelatter,
proportion.Since,however,theharmonicmiddleistwofold,consisting
eitherinthedupleratiooftheextremes,orinthetripleratio;forPlato
assumesitasthemiddleofeitherdupleortripleterms;hence,making
theextremestobe3and6,accordingtothedoubleoftheextremes,[i.e.
accordingtoadupleratio]heobtainsthepeculiarelementoftheair,viz.
theoctaedron,whichhas6accordingtotheangles,but4accordingto

thebaseofthetwopyramids,and3accordingtothesuperficiesofthe
octaedron,whichistrigonic.Butaccordingtotheotherharmonic
middle,whichis2.3.6,heobtainstheelementoffire;becausethese
accordingtothetwoterms3and6communicatewiththetermsprior
tothem[3.4.6],whicharetheretheextremes,butareherethegreater
terms;andmoreover,becausetheelementoffirehas6sides,buttwice
thetetrad,initsanglesandsuperficies,andatriangularbase.Very
Fproperly,therefore,does7pertaintoearth,9towater,13toair,but11
tofire;theratiosbeingassumedintheabovementionednumbers,from
whichtheyareproduced.For7consistsof1.2.and4;9,of2.3.and
4;13,of3.4and6;and11,of2.3.and6;eachhavingtwotermsin
commonwiththenumbernexttoit,justastheelementshavetwosides
incommon.*Fromthecompositionhoweverofthese,atripleorderis
effected.Andofthemiddletermsoftheproportionsproximateto
2.218eachother,theoneisgreaterthantheother,whichisalsothecasewith
207Atheextremes,asisevidentinearthandwater,andinfireandair,*asis
evidentinthegiventerms.Again,heattributesthenumber15to
celestialnatures;themonadindeed,tothecircleofsame,butthedouble
tcf.148Csupra,p.447.
$Thusinthenumbers1.2.4.,whichpertaintoearth,andin2.3.4.,whichpertain
water,themiddleterm3isgreaterthanthemiddleterm2,andthisisalsothecasethe
numbers3.4.6,and2.3.6,theformerofwhichpertaintoair,andthelatterto*.In
theextremesalso,theextreme2isgreaterthan1,andtheextreme3,than2.
hebdomadtothecircleofdifferent,onaccountofthetwofoldcirculation
ofeach,viz.ofthespheresthemselves,andthestarscontainedinthem,
whichareseven,thespheresbeingalsoseven.Thesethings,however,
whicharemathematicallyasserted,bringwiththemacertainnot
ineleganttheory.Buthowtheyareassimilatedtothethingswhichare
nowdiscussed,andhowtheymaybePythagoricallyinterpreted,isnot
atallnoticedbyTheodorus,insuchawayastobeabletosatisfyhim
whodoesnotnegligentlyattendtowhatPlatosays.Alltheseparticulars
areindeedelegantlyinvented,buthereferstheanalysisofthePlatonic
diagramtomonadicnumbers,notlookingtotheratiosresultingfrom
them,soastoassumeeverything,viz.themiddles,thesesquialterand
sesquitertianratios,thesesquioctavesandleimmas;itbeingbynomeans
Bpossibletodiscovertheseinthefirstnumbers,whichheemploysinthe
abovementioneddistributions,intotheelementsandtheheavens.
Afterthese,therefore,letussurveyanothermodeofdiscussion,which
isadoptedbyourpreceptor,isgenerativenotofoneonly,butofmany
andadmirableconceptions,andwhichwealsomadeuseofbefore.He
saysthen,thateachofthesethingsmaybeconsideredinatwofold
respect,inthewholesouloftheuniverseasone,accordingtounion,
andinthemanyratios,andinthemultitudecontainedinit,according

todivision.Forthesoulisbothoneandmultitude,onereason,andthe
numberofallvariousforms,andimitatesthedemiurgicwholeness,and
theseparationofthepowersofthefather.Inthefirstplace,therefore,
2,219wemustunderstandwhatitisaccordingtothewholeofitself,abiding,
andproceedinginitself,andreturningtoitself,andalsoprovidentially
attendinginonewaytotheimmaterialandpureformsofmundane
natures,butinanothertoallbodies,andthepartibleessence.
Understandingthislikewise,wemustsay,thatitabidesaccordingtothe
Coneorfirstpart;butproceedsaccordingtothesecond,theprogression
beingconceivedtobedivine,andnotaccordingtopassionorimbecility;
andthatitreturnsaccordingtothethirdpart.Fortheperfective
accedestobeingsfromthis.Butbeingallperfect,andestablished1in
intelligibles,andabidingeternallyinintellect,italsoprovidentially
attendstosecondarynatures.Andinonewayindeed,itprovidentially
inspectsthenaturesthatareproximatelysuspendedfromit,butin
another,solidmassesthemselves.Itlikewiseattendstoeachofthesein
atwofoldrespect.Forthenatureswhichproximatelyparticipateofit
proceedfrom,andreturntoit;proceedingindeed,accordingtothe
tForevv&pr\pevr\vhere,readevifipvpevqv.
prolificpowerofthefourthpart,butreturningtotheironecause,
accordingtothereelevatingpowerofthefifthpart.Wemayalso
surveythesesolidnumbersinthecorporealmasses;whichproceed
indeed,accordingtotheoctupleofthefirstpart,thisnumberbeing
dyadicandsolid,andatoneandthesametimeprolific,andcapableof
proceedingtoallthings;buttheyreturnaccordingtothenumber
twentyseven,thisbeingasolidconversion,astriadic,andaspertaining
tothenatureofsameness.Forsuchistheoddnumber.Hence,there
Darethreeprogressions,andthreeregressions,abouttheoneandunited
permanencyofthesoul.Hencetoo,therearethreeevenandthreeodd
numbers,proceedingfromthemonad,andcomplicatedwitheachother;
becausethesoulitselfalsoproceeds,andreturns.Andproceeding
indeed,itproducesthefirstreceptaclesofitself,andthatwhichis
primarilyinvestedwithfigure.Producingitalso,itimpartsintervalto
itandbulk.Butinitsregressiontoitself,itcausesittobespherical,
andonthisaccountcausingittobeathingofthiskind,itproducesthe
worldinit;effectingtheprogressionofitaccordingtotheeven*
number,buttheregressionaccordingtotheoddnumber,andboththese
2,220cubically,becauseitisthegenerationandregressionofsolids.The
progressiontherefore,andregressionaretriple;thefirstbeingunfigured,
thesecondaccompaniedwithfigureprimarily,andthe*third
secondarily;butalltheseasinnumbers.
Inthenextplace,wemustpursuethetheory,conformablytothe
multitudewhichisinthesoul,andsaythattheratiosinitare
comprehensiveofratios.Andsomeofthemindeed,aredividedinit,

afterthemannerofwholes,butothersafterthemannerofparts.5And
somearetotal,othersgeneric,othersspecific,andotherspartial.The
Etotalindeed,aresuchastheratiosofthemiddles;butthegeneric,are
thosewhicharefoundintheduple,ortripleterms;andthespecific,are
thosewhichareunderthese.0Foreachofthemhasamultifarious
subsistence.Butthepartialratiosarethoseofthesesquioctavesand
leimmas,intowhich,asparts,allthesesquialterandsesquitertianratios
aredivided.Wemustalsosay,thatthesoulcontainstheoneunionof
theratios,throughtheessentialmonad;butthedivisionoftheratios,
tForapriKuqinthisplace,readapnaKuc.
$Itisnecessaryheretosupplythewordstrpwruc,,ijde.
Forpept)here,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadpepuv.
Die.Theyarethehypologi,whichhavebeenbeforeexplained[p.620].
throughtheprogressionoftheduad;andthecomprehensionofthem,*
throughthemultipleterms.Forthesearecomprehensiveofthesuperparticular
ratios,andhaveanessencemoretotalthantheseratios;just
asthesuperparticularscomprehendthesesquioctavesandleimmas;the
formerhavingtherelationofspecies,butthelatterbeingarrangedinthe
orderofparts.Fortomakethegeometricalproportionalone
comprehensiveoftheothertwomiddles,inthefirstplace,causesthe
wholeessenceofthesoultobeasitweredemiurgicgeometry.For
elsewhere,PlatocallsthisanalogythejudgementofJupiter.*Inthe
nextplace,itshowsthatthesetwomiddles,whensurveyedwiththe
geometricmiddle,andcomprehendedinit,disposewholesinaorderly
Fmanneraccordingtojustice;butthatwhenseparatedfromit,theyare
thecausesofconfusionandinjustice.Foradistributionoftheequalto
thingsunequal,isentirelyunjust;asisalso,theconjunctionofcontraries
toeachother,withoutacertaingeometricalequality.Hencethe
harmonicmiddleisinwantofthegeometricanalogy,inorderthatit
maybringtogethercontrarieselegantly,justasPlatodid,5in
harmonizingfireandearth,throughthetwoelements[ofairandwater].
2,221Thearithmeticalmiddlelikewise,energizingtogetherwiththis,possesses
rectitudeinitsoperations.Forthustheunequalinunequalthingsis
208Aequal.0Distributingthereforeequalstounequals,itpreservesthe
peculiarityofitself,andexhibitsdistributionaccordingtodesert,which
istheprerogativeofthegeometricmiddle.
Fartherstill,wemustsay,thatthesoulimitatesthefirstprinciplesof
things.Throughthefirstpartindeed,theonecauseofwholes;through
thedupleprogression,thebiformedprinciplesafterTheOne;through
theevenandoddnumbers,themaleandfemaleoftheGods;through
thetriadicdivisionofeach,theintelligibletriads;andthroughthe
hebdomadofterms,theunicalandintellectualhebdomad.Throughthe

tBetweenOWLandiroXXaxXaffuoi'hereintheoriginal,itisnecessarytoinsert,
conformablytotheversionofThomaeus,thewordsTi)CdvctdoQupoobov,7)beTUV\
oyuv
KepLOXV5ia,K.X.
$cf.LawsVI,757b.
cf.Tim.31bc.
Thusintheterms1.2.3.6,whichareingeometricproportion,theterms1.2.
3alsobeinginarithmeticproportion,thedifferenceisunequalbetweentheterms2
and3,andtheterms3and6,andalsobetweentheterms1and2,and3and6,butthe
ratioisequal;andtherefore,bytheunionofthearithmeticwiththegeometricmiddle,
theunequalinunequalnumbersisequalized.

firstpartalsothesoulmakes*theworldtobeaselfperfectGod;*
throughthedyadicitexhibitsthemultitudeandvarietyinit;through
thedivisionofevenandoddnumbers,itdividesthewholeofthemale
andfemale,fromtheGodsthemselvesasfarastoplants;accordingto
theduadandtriadindeed,themaleandfemaleGods,butaccordingto
thetetradandennead,thosewhichareinthegenerasuperiortous;and
accordingtothetwocubes,[8and27]themaleandfemalewhich
Bproceedasfarastotheterrestrialandultimate5speciesoflife.But
throughtheheptadofterms,itconnectsandguardsallthings,provides
forthemintellectually,andorderlydisposeswholesinabecoming
manner,stablyandinvariably.Itlikewisethroughthis,adornstheparts
ofthese,andthepartsoftheparts,andwhatevertheremaybeamong
thelastofthings,whichisofitselfirrational,andasitweretheleimma
ofthefabricationoftheworld.Henceconformablytothese
conceptions,wemaybeabletointerprettheseveralwordsofPlato,and
lookingtothesewemaydissolvemanydoubts.Letusthereforefrom
thebeginningreferthewordsofPlatoseverallytothese,accordingto
theexplicationsofourpreceptor.
Inthefirstplacetherefore,nottosaythattheDemiurgusinsertedthe
partsinthesoul,butthathetookthemawayfromitasbeingalready0
init,andthathavingtakenthemaway,heagaingavecompletiontothe
essenceofthesoulfromthem,indicatestous,thatthismixtureisnot
2.222asitwerethesubjectofthesoul,norasthematterofit,orthatitis
similartothatwhichisinvestedwithfigure,andreceivesthisfigure
fromtheartist;butthatbeingaform,itistheplenitudeofforms;so
thattheindefinitenessandthematter,whicharesaidbythemorerecent
Cinterpreterstobeinintelligibles,havenoplaceinthepresenttheory.
Secondly,tocoarrangealltheotherparts,viz.theterms,2,3,4,9,8
and27withreferencetothefirstpart,ascribestheprincipaldignityto
themonad,anddoesnotpermitustoconceiveittobesuchathing,as
themultitudefancythemonadtobe,viz.thatwhichistheleastin
quantity,andhavingtherelationofmattertonumber,butleadsusto

consideritastherulingprincipleofalltheessenceofthesoul,asthe
rootofthepowerscontainedinit,andtheVestaofthenumberwhich
tForKU\Hhere,itisnecessarytoreadxoiei.
$Tim.34b.
InsteadofxOovtuvinthisplace,asxepocujuvisjustbeforeit,Iconceiveittobe
obviouslynecessarytoreadeoxaruv.
Insteadofrjdtihere,itisnecessarytoreadIJSTJ.
givescompletiontoit.Inthenextplace,doesnottheexpressionthe
doubleofthefirstpart,accordwithwhathasbeensaidbyus?Forthe
doubleisentirelyformedbytheduad,andisinferiortothehyparxis
whichischaracterizedbyunity.Italsoproceedsintomultitude,being
increasedinquantity,butdiminishedinpower.Suchalsoisthemode
ofthepsychicalprogression.Forthesoulabidingaccordingtothemost
divinepartofitself,andasOrpheussays,+establishingitsheadin
Dintellect,itproceedsfromthence,accordingtotheduadinitself,
proceedingintoitself,andgeneratingthemultitudeofreasons,andallvarious
formswhichitcontains.Havingproceededhowever,itagain
returnstoitsprinciple,thusproducingacertainessentialcircle.
Throughthisregressionlikewise,itisconjoinedtotheprolificpowerin
itself,accordingtowhichitproduceditself,andtothemonadwhich
establishesit,andcausesittobeone.Fortheperfectiveandconvertive
power,isconjoinedtoboth,viz.totheprolificandtotheonemaking
cause.Andifitberequisitetospeakconcisely,aslifeproceedsfrom
2,223being,butintellectisconjoinedtolife,andtobeing,thusalsothe
progressionofthesoul,isfromtheprolificcause,butitsregressionisto
bothcauses;inasesquialtermannerindeedtothecausewhichis
[immediately]aboveit;buttriplytothecausewhichisbeyondthis.For
itisfitthattheconvertiveorregressiveformshouldpursuethewhole
[ofthattowhichitreturns]anddiminishdivision,whichthesesquialter
imparts.Forthedoublebeingvanquishedthroughthewholeofitself
Ebytheduad,thesesquialterisindeedanalogoustoit,butdiminishesthe
ratioofsubjection.*
Fartherstill,itisevidentthatthetripleexhibitsthethirdintervalin
thatwhichreturnsfromtheabidingprinciple.Towhichmaybeadded,
thatthetriadbeingthefirstnumber,andprimarilyawhole,havinga
beginning,middleandend,isassimilatedtothemonad,which
comprehendsallmultitudeunically.Throughthistherefore,Plato
shows,thatthesubjectofthesoulconsistingofthreewholes,isagain
triple.Forhedividesitintotheabiding,proceeding,andreturning,
accordingtothedivisionofthedivinegenera.Forinthemalsothere
isatriplegenera,oneofwhichabides,anotherproceeds,andanotheris
tFr.207.cf.also200Dsupra,p.616;171Fsupra,p.534;&Proc.Comm.Rep.U,

160,5f.
iThus2to1isaduple,and3to2isasesquialterratio.Butthelatterisanalogous
totheformer:for2:1::3:*.Thesesquialterhoweverdiminishestheratioofsubjection.
For2contains1twice,but3contains2onlyonceandonehalfof2besides.
converted,orreturnstoitsprinciple.Andoneindeedisthecauseof
sameness,stablepower,andessence;another,istheprimaryleaderof
generations,progressions,andmultiplications;andanother,isperfective,
andthecauseoftheelevationofsecondarytoprimarynatures.But
throughthewordsthatfollow,heshowshowthesouladornssecondary
natures,accordingtotheveryessenceofitself.Forpriortothesoul
impartingpowersorenergies,hedemonstratesthatitcontainsthese
Fratiosinitself,fromwhich,andthroughwhichitgoverns,thefirst
participantsofitself,andsuchthingsasareadornedbyit,accordingto
asecondseparationfromit;itselfindeed,havingwhollytherelation*of
amonad,buttheyimitatingits*progressionsandregressions.Forthe
soulpriortothem,proceedsindeeddyadically,butisconverted
triadically.Andthewholeofitindeedthatproceeds,isseparatedfrom
thatwhichabides:foritisseparateddoubly.Butthatwhichis
converted,orreturns,isseparatedbyhalf.5Forseparationisthe
peculiarityofprogression,butsamenessandsimilitudeofconversion.
209AForthatwhichreturns,ismadeasitwerethatwhichabides,becoming
2,224allinsteadofone,andinsteadofawholepriortoparts,awhole
consistingofparts.Anditappearsindeedtobethetripleofthatwhich
abides;butislessthanitinpower,andcomprehensiveoftheparts
containedinit.
35bc"Thenafourthpart,doubleofthesecond,afifth,tripleofthethird,
asixth,octupleofthefirst,andaseventhtwentyseventimesthefirst."
Theallperfectessenceitselfofthesoul,iscomprehendedthroughthe
abovementionednumbers;ofwhichoneabidesinthesoul,another,
proceedsfrom,andanother,isconvertedtoit.Since,however,itis
necessarytosurveythepartsofit,andthecausesofthosethingsthatare
init,thesealsoPlatocopiouslyexplains,deliveringtous,the
comprehendingandcomprehendedideasinitofallthings.Throughthe
fourththerefore,andthefifthparts,thesoulcomprehendsallthe
reasonsofallitsfirstparticipants.Anditcontainsindeed,the
tItisnecessaryhere,tosupplythewordX070U.
tForCWTCKCinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadaunjc.
Thatwhichproceedsisseparateddoublyfromthatwhichabides:fortheduple
io2to1,orIisdoublyseparatedfrom1.Butthatwhichisconverted,orreturns,
isseparatedfromtheabidingprinciplebyhalf.For|differsfrom1byi.Sothatwhat
proceeds,andalsothatwhichreturns,areheretobeconsideredaccordingtohabitude,
i~e.accordingtotheirproximityandalliance,theformertounityimmediately,butthe

lattertounitythrough2asamedium.
progressionofthemthroughthefourthpart,buttheirregression
throughthefifth.*[HencePlatorefersthefourthparttothesecond,
butthefifthtothethird,becausepartsimitatewholes,andsubsist
Banalogouslytothem.*]Butthroughthesixthandseventhparts,it
constitutes,aswehavebeforeobserved,5solidmassesthemselves;
generatingthemindeedaccordingtothesixthpart,butconvertingthem
accordingtotheseventhpart.Forthetotalformofit,isterminatedby
theprogressionofthese.Andyoumayseehowthenumbers,andthe
orderoftheprogression,areadaptedtothesoul.Forthebeginning
fromthemonad,givestothesoulaprogressionfromintellect;butthe
terminationofthesecubes,evincestheharmonyofallthecelestial
orbs,Dfortheyproducebytheircompositionthecelestialharmony.
Eachofthemlikewiseisaharmony.ForthePythagoreansare
accustomedtocallacubeharmony,0becauseitistheonlyfigurethat
hasequal**angles,analogoustothesidesandthesuperficies.**And
2,225thesecond55ofthetermsindeed,haveaprogressionfrom,anda
regressiontothemonad.Butagain,theseremainingaswholes,the
third0ofthetermsaredividedintothatwhichproceeds,andthat
whichreturns,andarereferredtothetermsproximatelyplacedabove
them.00Andagain,thefourth***oftheterms,arereferredtothe
monad;becauseoftheseventerms,themonadimitatesthatwhich
Cabides;butthemiddletermshavingtheformoftheduad,***imitate
tThewords,TT\V8eeiriOTpocpTiv8KXTTJCire/iXTTjc,areomittedintheoriginal.
XThewordswithinthebracketsaresuppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus.
cf.207Csupra,p.636.
Forapuoviuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadovpavunv.
0cf.Nicomachus'ArithmeticII,29,1.
ttInsteadofpeaac,inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadwaq.
XXThePythagoreanscalledacubeharmony,becauseithas8angles,12sides,or
boundinglines,and6superficies;and6,8,12areinharmonicproportion.
ue.2and3.
ue.4and9.
ooForVKOKdiievovqhere,readVKtpKitiVovq.
fftie.8and27,andthesebeingcubes,areimagesofstability.
XXX9aswellas4maybesaidtohavetheformoftheduad,inconsequenceof
beingasquarenumberorthesecondpower.
thatwhichproceeds;andthelastterms,thatwhichreturns.Forboth
thelasttermsaretriadic.Fortheoctupleitself,isinacertainrespect
triadic,asproceedingintothethirdorder.Wehavethereforetheone
wholenessofthesoulinthemixture,thetriple*ofitinthethird,and

thequadrupleofitinthefourthterms;conformablytowhichalsoit
fabricateswholesaccordingtoeachformofprovidence.Andinthe
wholenessindeed,weshallfinditcomprehendingthetripleform,but
inthetriplethetetradicform,andalwayscollectingpartsintounion
throughwholes.
36a"Butafterthesethings,hefilledthedoubleandtripleintervals,still
cuttingoffpartsfromthence[i.e.fromthewhole],andplacedthem
betweentheintervals."
Theologistssay,thatintheDemiurgustherearedividingand
connecting*powers,andthatthroughtheformer,heseparateshis
kingdomfromthatofhisfather,butthroughthelatter,suspendsthe
wholeofhisfabricationfromthepaternalmonad.Theylikewisecall
Denergiesofthiskind,sectionsandbonds.Accordingtothesepowers
therefore,theDemiurgusnowseparatingtheessenceofthesoulin
demiurgicbonds,issaidtocutoffpartsfromitswholeness,5andagain
tobindthepartswithcertainbondsthroughthemiddles,throughwhich
also,hemakesthatwhichisdivided,tobeconnected,justasthrough
thesectionshecausesthatwhichisunitedtobedivided.Hence,that
thesethingsareconformabletotheologicalprinciples,thewordsofPlato
manifest.Letushoweverseehowtheyareso,byconsideringmore
2.226minutelywhathesays.Thatthewholesoulthen,iswithreferenceto
itself,ofthesameessence,andconsistsofsimilarparts,andasitwereof
thesamecolour,beingwhollyintellectualandintellectualreason,Plato
manifests,bymakingboththewholesandthepartsinit,fromthesame
mixture.Forthepartswhicharecutfromit,arecertaindivided
essencesinit.Thatthereisalsoacertaindignityinitoffirst,middle,
andlastforms,heevincesbyaddingthewordstill.Forinthosethings,
inwhichweseethesameformmoreobscure,intheseweemploythe
wordstill;aswedointhecelestialessence,inconsequenceofperceiving
acertainmutationaboutit,andalsoasimilitudetodivinebodies,
preservedinit.Inorderthereforethatwemaynotsupposethereisthe
tFortmirXovvhere,itisnecessarytoreadrpiirXovv.
XInsteadofovvTaicnKac;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadavveKruac;.
cf204Fsupra,p.630.
Esamedignityofallthereasonsinthesoul,Platoaddsthewordstill,
indicatingbyitthatwhichwehavementioned.Forbyhowmuchthe
moreinwardlyweproceed,andinvestigatethemediaofmedia,byso
muchthemoreshallwemeetwithmorepartialforms.For
comprehendedaremorepartialthancomprehendingnatures;andthe
latteraremoredivinethantheformer.Theworldlikewiseimitating

this,hasindeedaboutgenerationadivinebody,butaboutbodythe
wholesoul.Allthesebeforementionedsectionsthereforeofthesoul,
boththegenerative(forthesearethedoubleintervals),andthe
perfective(forthesearethetripleintervals),arecomprehensiveofmore
partialreasons,throughwhichthepartsoftheuniverseareadorned,as
farastothelastofthings.
36a"Sothatineachinterval*therearetwomiddles,oneofwhich,exceeds
andisexceededbythesamepartoftheextremes;buttheother,byan
equalnumbersurpassesoneextreme,andbyanequalnumberis
surpassedbytheother."*
Inthesewordsitmustbeobservedinthefirstplace,thatthetwo
middlesaresaidbyPlatotobecomprehendedinthegeometricmiddle;
andafterwards,thatheplacestheharmonicpriortothearithmetical
2,227middle,asbeingsuperiortoit.Forthoughthearithmeticalmiddlehas
Fthespontaneous,andthesimple,andanalliancetosameness;for
equalityisacertainsameness;andhencePlatoshowsthatinpolities5
thearithmeticalmiddleiseffectiveoffriendship,sinceitembracesthe
equalaccordingtonumber,justastheharmoniciseffectiveofjustice,0
sinceitregardsdistributionaccordingtodesert;andstillfarther,because
thearithmeticalmiddleisallottedquantityperse,buttheharmonic,
relativequantity;andtheformerissurveyedabouttheabsolutequantity
oftheparts,butthelatter,abouttherelativequantity;0forthethird,
orthefourthpart,isthepeculiarityofrelativequantity;thoughallthis
bethecase,yettheharmonic,asbeingnearertothegeometric,isvery
210Aproperlyarrangedbeforethearithmeticalmiddle:Foritaffordssameness
tThewordSiaorripanisomittedinthetextofProclus.
%InthetextofProclusalsothefollowingwordsarewanting,TT\V8'taupevKar'
aptBpovvTttpexovaav,tau8evirepexoptvriv.
cf.LawsVI,757aff.
cf.Gorgias508af.
oIntheoriginal7rT)XtKOTTjc,whichdenotesrelative,justasTOOOTTJC,denotes
absolute,quantity.
intheextremes,anddistributesgreaterratiostogreater,butlesstoless
terms;andthroughthis,ismoreadaptedtodistributionaccordingto
desert.Itmustbesaidtherefore,thattheharmonicmiddlebinds
togetherallthepsychicalsameness,andimpartstocelestialnaturesan
indissolublecommunion;distributingtothegreatercirclesindeed,
greaterpowersandmotions,buttotheless,lesspowers.Forthe
comprehendingaremovedswifterthanthecomprehendedspheres.For
thearithmeticalmiddleconnectsallthedifferenceinthesoul,and
impartstosublunarynatures,acommunionwitheachother,according

toanequalpermutation.Foramongthese,onethingisnotatallmore
acteduponby,thanitactsupon,others.Andthispropertyofbeing
changedintoeachother,isequallyinherentinalltheelementsin
generation,accordingtoarithmeticalequality;whichalsoimpartsto
moreattenuatednatures,greaterandswiftermotions,butslowerandless
Bmotionstosuchasconsistoflargerparts.
36ab"Butassesquialter,sesquitertian,andsesquioctaveintervalswere
producedfromthosebondsintheformerintervals,hefilledwiththe
intervalofthesesquioctave,allthesesquitertianparts."
Thatfromtheabovementionedtwomiddles,theharmonicalandthe
arithmeticalbondsbeingproducedintheintervalsofthedoubleand
2.228tripleterms,thesesquitertianandsesquialterratiosappearinginthose
middles,arecutbytheintervalofthesesquioctave,isevidentfromwhat
hasbeensaid,andwillalsobemanifest,ifyoudirectyourattentionto
theterms6,8,12,and18.*Forinthese,thedoubleandtripleconsist
ofsesquitertianandsesquialterratios.Buthowwillthesethingsaccord
withwhathasbeenbeforesaid?Wereplytheymustbeassumed
consequentlytothem.Forasthetwomiddlesdividetheuniverseinto
twoparts,sothesesquitertianandsesquialterratiosconstituteamore
partialorderofthings.Fortheseratiosadornthingswhichexistas
wholes,andyetarepartsofparts.Eachofthemthereforeisawhole
accordingtotheprologos,butapartaccordingtothehypologos,anda
partofapart,accordingtothetranscendencyoftheonewithreference
totheother.Andsinceineachofthespherestherearedivineand
daemoniacal,andalsopartialgeneraofsouls,suchasthegeneraofours,
andthesecondarydivinegenerawhollyparticipateofthewholeofthose
priortothem;butthedaemoniacalgenera,thoughtheyparticipateofthe
wholeofdivinenatures,yetitisaccordingtoonecertainthing,on
tFor8to12,whichisdiapente,orsesquialter,iscompoundedof8to9,whichis
atone;and6to8,whichissesquitertian,ordiatessaron.
whichaccounttheyaresaidtobemorepartial,notbeingabletoreceive
allthepeculiaritiesofthem;butthemorepartialofdaemoniacalnatures,
atdifferenttimesparticipateofadifferentpeculiarity,andnotalwaysof
thesamecharacteristics;hence,thesoulpartiblycontainstheratiosof
these.Anditcontainsthemultipleindeedaccordingtotheparticipation
ofthewhole;butthesuperparticular,accordingtoonepartonly,and
thatthemostprincipal;andthesuperpartientaccordingtoacommunion
whichisbothmultitudinousandpartibleoftheparticipantswiththe
thingsparticipated.Hence,throughthese,theelementsandthecelestial
spheresareadorned;participatingindeedofthethirdwholeness,butat
thesametimebeingpartsofthetwosectionsoftheuniverse;since

Deverywholenesshasalsopartsinconjunctionwithitself.Different
peculiaritiesthereforepertaintoadifferentsphere,+andadifferent
numberproceedswithadifferentelement.Thesesquioctaveratioalso
givingcompletiontothesesquitertianandsesquialterratios,generates
theseplenitudesofthetotalparts,andcoharmonizesthemwiththeir
properwholenesses.Youseetherefore,thatasinthemathematics,the
geometricmiddlecomprehendstheremainingtwomiddles,butthey
2,229comprehendthesesquitertianandsesquialterratios,andthesethe
sesquioctaves,afterthesamemanneralso,thesoulaccordingtoits
essentialduad,dividestheuniverseintotwoparts,andproducesthefirst
partsoftheuniverse,whicharesecondarilywholes.Accordinglikewise
tothecausesofthethirdwholeness,itdisposesinanorderlymanner,
andadornsthespheres;butaccordingtonumbersadaptedtotheseparts,
itfillsthemwithappropriateformsandparts.
Wemayalsospeakasfollows:Thisuniversehasindeedwholespheres;
andhaslikewisedivine,daemoniacalandpsychicalanimalsineach
sphere.Fortherearedistributionsofpartialsoulsabouteachofthe
spheres.Buttheharmonicratiosofthewholesoul,harmonizethe
Eessenceswhicharedivisibleaboutbodies,andbodiesthemselves.Forby
itsveryessence[itcontainsallthese,andtheratioswhichcomprehend
them;*]justasfire,beingcalefactivebyitsveryexistence,isprimarily
hot.Itcontainstherefore,thediatessaronharmony,throughwhichit
harmonizestheessencesdivisibleaboutbodiesofeachofthespheres,
andofthedivine,daemoniacal,andpsychicalanimalsineach,andalso
bodiestoeachother.Norisonethingcasuallycomprehensiveof
another,nordosomethingscasuallyfollowothers;butdaemoniacal
fForaXX?;o<paipuhere,itisnecessarytoreadaXXT/cacjxxipac;.
%Thewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,butaresuppliedfromthe
versionofThomaeus.
followdivineanimals,andpsychical,suchasaredaemoniacal;and
conformablytonature,secondaryarealwayscoadaptedtoprimary
essences.Hencethediatessaronharmonyisineachofthespheres.And
theratiosindeedofeachspheretothedivineanimalscontainedinit,
andofthesetodaemoniacalanimals,willbetrulysesquioctaves,
possessingaperfectinterval;beingatoneandthesametimeprimarily
harmonious,andadaptedtobodies.Fortheogdoadhavingatriple
intervaliscorporealformed,justastheenneadisaplane.Buteachis
alliedtoequality.Andalwayssecondarycorporealessencesare
Fsuspendedfromsuchasareprimary,participatingofthem,andofthe
corporealreasonwhichtheycontain.*Butthisthepartmanifestswhich
issaidtobetheeighthofthethingparticipated.Thathoweverwhich
2,230remains,istheratioofpsychicaltodaemoniacalanimals,whichhasthe
relationoftheleimma,issuperpartient,andisadaptedtothirteenparts.

Forthesehavenotonelife,sincetheyascendanddescend,andpartibly
andanomalouslyenjoythenaturespriortothem.Andsincethe
numbertwelveisascribedtothe[mundane]Gods,andtothenatures
superiortous,*thirteenisadaptedtothosethatdonotrankinthe
211AnumberoftheGods.Ifalsoofpsychicalanimalsthemselves,somepertain
toundefiledsouls,whichPlatoisaccustomedtocallthesoulsofheroes;+but
otherstogregarioussouls,suchasours:ifthisbethecase,the
diapente0likewisewillbeineachofthespheres.Andheroicsouls
indeedwillpreservetowardsthedaemoniacal,thesesquioctaveratio,
throughtheundefiledformoflife;butthesoulsofthemultitudewill
havetowardsthemtheratiooftheleimma.Sothatineachofthe
spheres,therewillbesesquitertian,sesquialter,andsesquioctaveratios.
Orrather,itmaybesaid,thattheuniverseisdividedquadruply,
accordingtothefourideasofitsparadigm,butthatineachofthefour
parts,thereareallanimals,thedivine,thedaemoniacal,theheroical,and
thoseofhumansouls,allwhichareharmonicallycoarrangedwitheach
other,andwithreferencetotheirproperwholeness,whetheritbethe
heavens,theair,thewater,ortheearth,thewholenessproducingthe
diapente;butwithoutthisitmaybesaidthereisthediatessaron,inthe
tInsteadofTOVevCCVTQinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoread,TOVtv
0CUT01C,.
tcf.Phxdrus247a.
cf.Cratylus397df;&Rep.IV427bf.
Forineachofthespherestherewillbedivine,daemoniacal,heroical,and
gregarioussouls,andappropriatebodies.
fourspeciesofanimals,asPlatohimselfdividesviz.intotheuniverse,
Bandtheallvariousformsofanimals.Hence,throughthesethingsPlato
deliverstousratioscomprehensiveofratios,andperfectaccordingto
oneharmony;withwhichratiosbeingreplete,thesoulfillsthisvisible
world,renderingallthingseffableandfamiliarwitheachother.*
36b"Leavingapartofeachofthem.Andthenagain,theintervalofthis
partbeingassumed,acomparisonisfromthenceobtainedofnumberto
2,231number,viz.of256to243."
Whatthisleimmais,whatratioitpossesses,andhow,beingadapted
toconcord,itbecomesharmoniouswhencoarrangedwiththeother
ratios,isevidentthroughthemathematics.Butthereisathingofthis
kindintheuniverse,asinawhole;theratiooftheleimmabeinginthe
lastoftheanimalcomprehendedinit,independentlyofthebeforementioned
demonstration,accordingtothequadruplesectionofthe
whole.Forfromeachofthespherescertaineffluxions,*andmingled
dregsoftheelementsproceedintothesubterraneanregions;possessing

indeed,muchofthetumultuous,darkandmaterial,butatthesametime
contributingtothewholeconstitutionandharmonyoftheworld.
Plato,therefore,placingthecauseoftheseinthewholesoul,callsita
Cleimma,whichissignificantofultimatediminution.Forsince
theologistsarrangethepowersofthehighestGodsaboutthatplace,
Jupiteradorningthoseparts,soastorenderthemadaptedtothe
participationofsuchmightydivinities,whatoughtwetothinkabout
thesouloftheuniverse?Isitnotthatitmustinamuchgreaterdegree
adorneverythingwhichappearstobedisordered,andthatitmust
possessthecauseofthehypostasisofaninordinatenature,andarrange
itinabecomingmanner,accordingtothiscause?How,likewise,could
itgoverntheuniverse,orconductallthingsconformablytointellect,
unlessitarrangesthatwhichisdisorderly,andcoharmonizesthelastof
things,withtheonelifeoftheworld?ButifalsointheDemiurgus,the
causesofthesepreexist,asOrpheussays,
ThedistantrealmsofTartarusobscure,
Earth'sutmostends,hisholyfeetsecure.
Fr.123,31
tcf.Rep.VHI,546c.
Xcf.Phcedo109b,ff.
whyshoulditbewonderful,thatthewholesoulpossessingallsuch
thingsappropriatelyinitself,asadivineintellectpossessesdemiurgically,
2.232shouldantecedentlycontainthecauseofthelastpartsoftheworld,and
Dofthatwhichisasitwere,thesedimentofwholes?Forthesoul
comprehendstheinvisiblepriortothevisibleandsensibleworld.What
theleimmaistherefore,isthroughthesethingsevident.Hencealsothe
leimma,isbothquadrupleandsingle.Anditisnecessarythatthesoul
shouldcomprehendthereasonofboth,accordingtowhichtheleimma
subsistsquadruply,andsingly;sinceitisrequisitethatthisshould
contributetotheuniverse,andtoeachofitsparts.
Ifalsoyoudirectyourattentiontothenumbersoftheterms,youwill
perceivethatthesepreserveacertainadmirableanalogy.The
progression,therefore,intoahundredbinaries,manifestsanallperfect
diminutionandseparationfromcause.Forinthesoul,itcomprehends
thatwhichismostpartial,andintheuniverse,thatwhichislast,and
mostmaterial.Butthefourandthefiveinthetens,suspendthatwhich
islast,andmostmaterial,fromfirstnatures,andcoarrangethemwith
theirprinciples.Forthetetradisallottedademiurgic,andworldproducing
quality.Butthepentadrecallseverythingwhichhas
proceeded,topowerswhichhavemoreofthenatureofTheOne.Again
thetriadandhexadintheunits,impartperfectiontothese,through
Econversion.Butifalsotheratioof243to13issuperpartient,*neither

willthisnumberbedissonanttotheuniverse.Foraftertheallperfect
progressionofsensibles,andadiminutionasfarastotheearth,which
issaidtobethetwelfthpartoftheworld,allthatisunderit,willbethe
thirteenthpartofthewhole.Andtherepresentationsoftheelements,
whichproceedintothesubterraneanplace,willbeadaptedtothis
number.Thatwhichismostmaterialintheuniversetherefore,proceeds
totheutmostextent,isadornedasitproceeds,andreturnswhen
adorned.Ineachpartlikewise,oftheuniverse,therearethelast
diminishedgeneraofperpetualnatures,towhichthenumbertwelveis
ascribed;andwithgreatpropriety,theyhavehabitude,andcommunion
witheachother,accordingtothethirteenthratio,sincethenumber
twelvewasdedicatedbytheancientstothe[mundane]Gods,andtothe
2.233generathatarealwayssuspendedfromthem.Allthesetherefore,the
soulunicallycomprehendsintheratiooftheleimma.Inadditionto
thesethingslikewise,theenneadoftheunits,whichthreeandsix
procureforus,indicatestheendofthepsychicalratios.Forbeginning
fromthemonad,theyproceedtotheennead,andfrommonadsto
tFor243contains13,eighteentimes,witharemainderof9.
Fdecads[i.e.fromunitstotens],andfromthesetohundreds.Forallthe
progressionofthesoulistriadic,andlikewise,itsevolutionintolight
fromthedemiurgiccause,bothaccordingtoessence,andaccordingto
harmony,aswehavebeforeobserved.*Andthuswehaveshownwhat
itiswhichtheleimmamanifestsinthesoul.
Thewholepsychogonicdiagramhowever,has34,or36terms.And
onthisaccount,thenumber36isadaptedtothesoul,asbeinggenerated
fromthehexadproceedingintoitself;thehexadbeingascribedbythe
212Aancients*tothesoul,becauseitisthefirstevenlyoddnumber,justas
thesoulisthemediumbetweenimpartibleandpartiblenatures,5tothe
formerofwhichtheoddnumberisallied,buttothelatter,theeven;
andalso,becauseitiscircular,inthesamemannerasthepentad.DThe
pentadhowever,istheimageoftheintellectualcircle,asbeingmasculine,
butthehexadofthepsychicalcircle,asbeingfeminine.Ifalsoyoudirect
yourattentionto34,thisnumbertoo,willbeadaptedtothesoul;since
intellectisamonad,asbeingimpartible,buttheworldisadecad,and
thesoulatetrad.Hence,allnumberissaidtoproceedfromthe
penetraliaofthemonad,asfarastothedivinetetrad,whichbrought
forththemotherofallthings,immutableandunwearied,andwhichis
called0thesacreddecad.Butthetetradhasforitssidetheduad,and
thedoubleofthesquareofitaddedto2,producestheabovementioned
number;**beinganimitationofthesoul,whichismultipliedbyitself,
andtogetherwithitsownprolificpower.Iflikewise34iscomposed
2.234fromthesecondsesquioctave,viz.from16and18,itwillhappen,that
Basthesesquioctaveisespeciallyadaptedtothesoul,soalsoisthissecond

sesquioctave.Forbeingamediumbetweenconsonantanddissonant
intervals,itisadaptedtothemiddlenatureofthesoul.Andinshort,
thesesquioctavecharacterizesthediatonicgenus,accordingtowhichthe
wholesoulisharmonized.Butbeingassumedasthesecond,itwill
accordwiththeorderofthesoul,inwhichthegeneraofbeing,have
entirelyasecondarysubsistence.
tcf.209Aff,supra,p.641.
%cf.Theol.Arith.34ff.
Fortheevenlyoddnumberisamediumbetweentheoddandtheevennumber.
Foreirrachere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTevrctQ.
oInsteadofKXVOVOIhere,itisnecessarytoreadKXaouot.
fti.e.2x42+234.
Fartherstill,inadditiontothesethings,sincethewholediagram
containsaquadruplediapason,whichisthemostfullofallsymphonies,
butthediapenteonce,andendsinonetone,itwillpossessthe
quadruplecauseofthedivisionoftheworldintofourparts,proceeding
aswehavesaidsupernally,fromanimalitself,andthefourideasinit,
throughsoulintotheuniverse,andoftheperfectharmonyineachof
thepartsoftheworld;throughwhichalso,heavenisoneworld,
concordantwithitselfcelestially,andtheearthhasallthingsterrestrially,
andinasimilarmannereachoftheelementsbetweenthese.Since,
however,theworldisnotonlyquadripartite,buthasfivefigures,
possessingafifthideatogetherwiththefour,thesoulveryproperly
Ccontainsinitself,afterthequadruplediapason,thesymphonydiapente;
theremainingsectionbeingthatoftheheavensintoeightspheres,and
ofthewholeworldintonine,overtheformerofwhichtheSyrens
preside,mentionedintheRepublic,*andoverthelatterthewholeofthe
Muses,underwhomtheSyrenssubsist.*Againtherefore,atone
consentaneouslyclosesthewholediagram;anditisnotpossibleto
deviseanyotherdivisionsthanthesewhicharedeliveredtousbyPlato,
Imean,thedivisionintofour,intofive,intoeight,andintonineparts,
someofwhicharementionedinthisDialogue,andsomeintheRepublic.
Veryproperlytherefore,isthewholepsychogonicdiagramcomposedof
alltheabovementionedparticulars,Imean,atone,thediapente,andthe
2,235quadruplediapason,inorderthatyoumayseethesethroughoutthe
wholeworld,ashavingthepowerofthewholediagram.Alllikewise
areassumedaccordingtoallthedivisionsmadebyPlatoofmundane
natures,whicharetriple,viz.accordingtoideas,accordingtofigures,
andaccordingtothespheres.
Alltheothersesquialterandsesquioctaveratiostherefore,werethe
Dbondsofmorepartialorders,comprehendedeitherinthefivepartsof
theuniverse,orinthedivisionsofitintoeightandnine;as,for
instance,inthedivisionofitintoGods,daemons,souls,natures,and

bodies.AndofGods,intothosethatpresideoverdifferentpartsofthe
world.Forineachpartofit,therearedifferentordersofGods;those
ofthesecondrankbeinganalogoustothosethatarepriortothem.And
inasimilarmannerwithrespecttodaemons,someareofthis,butothers
ofthatseries.Thelikealsotakesplace,insouls,andnatures,andbodies.
Butthediapentesymphony,andthesesquioctaveratio,arenotinvain
tRep.X,617bf.
tcf.204Dsupra,p.629.
assumedafterthequadruplediapason,butbecausetheyare
comprehensiveandconnectiveincommon,ofwholes.Isay,for
instance,thattheratiooftheninthtotheeighthsphere,comprehends
andconnectsasoneratio,allthepartsatoncethatarearranged
accordingtoaquintupledivision,andallthataredividedintoeightand
nine.Buttheleimmasofallthesesquitertianratiosareeitherthe
ultimate,andverypartiblediminutions,accordingtoeachportionofthe
quadripartitedistribution,ortheyarethecommongiftsofallthese
ratios,intothelastplaceoftheuniverse;throughwhichGods,daemons,
partialsoulsandnatures,proceedintothatregion,andaccordwitheach
Eother,conformablytotheultimateandperfectlypartiblesymphony,
suchaswesaysuperpartientratiospossess.HencePlatodescendingto
thisadds,*thattheDemiurgusdividingthemixture,hadnowconsumed
thewholeofit.ForneitherGod,nornature,doesanythinginvain.*
2,236TheDemiurgusthereforedidnotconstituteamixtureofpartseither
exceedingordeficient,butproduceditsuchaswassufficienttothe
wholenessitselfofthesoul.Forthewholewhichisfromparts,is
neithermorenorlessthanitsproperparts,butentirelyderivesits
completionfromappropriateparts.Hencethewholeofthatwhichis
mingled,consistsofharmonicratios,andallthisharmonyis,inshort,
theessentialparadigmoftheharmonyoftheuniverse,accordingtoall
thedivisionsintheworld.Moreover,thewholenumberoftheessential
monadsofthesoulis105947,+proceedingaccordingtoalltheordersof
numbers.Decadically,indeed,inorderthatthesoulmaybecome
mundane:forthedecadisthenumberoftheworld.Butpentadically,
Finorderthatitmaybeconvertedtoitself:forthepentadisselfconvertive.
Enneadically,inorderthatitmaynotaloneDcontainthe
universemonadically,butalsoaproceedingtothelastofthingsfromthe
monad.Buttetradically,ascollectingthequadripartitedivisionintoone.
Andhebdomically,asconvertingallthingstothemonad,towhichthe
hebdomadisalonereferred,beingmotherlessandvirile.0Andinthe
souloftheworldindeed,theabovenumbersubsiststotally;indivine
tTim.36b.
tcf.AristodeOntheHeavensI,IV,271a33f.

InsteadoftKarovrabeqreaaaptc,inthisplace,itisrequisitetoread,evveaKovraSet;
TeoaapcxKovTic;.
Itisnecessaryheretosupplyiiovov.
ocf.46Esupra,p.144;alsoTheol.Arith.42,54.
souls,ashavingtheirenergiesdirectedtothat*soul,itsubsists
213Abothtotallyandpartially;indaemons,asenergizingstillmorepartially,
itexistsviceversa,partiallyandtotally;andinhumansouls,alone
partially,andalonegnostically.Forthusallformssubsistinthesesouls,
suchforinstanceastheformofman,ofdaemonandofGod;inorder
thatthroughthesetheymayknow,thatallthingssubsistinmore
excellentnaturesproductively,andatthesametimegnostically.This
mixturetherefore,isalonethemixtureofthewholesoul,anditsubsists
afterthesamemannerineachdivinesoul,andsimilarlyindaemoniacal
2,237souls,eachofwhichhasintellectplacedaboveitsproperessence,a
peculiarvehicle,andalifedistributedaboutthis.If,however,inpartial
souls,itberequisitetoassumethepeculiarityofeach,itisamedium
betweentheimpartiblewhichisabove,andthepartiblewhichis
posteriortothem,*oritispartlytheone,andpartlytheotherofthese.
Andthoughwehaveelsewherediscussedthislargely,yetweshall
particularlyinvestigateit,whenwecometoexplainwhatissaidby
Platoconcerningthegenerationofpartialsouls.
36b"Having,therefore,cutallthisdoublecompositionaccordingto
length,5soastoproducetwofromone,headaptedmiddletomiddle,
Beachtotheother,asitwereintheformoftheletterX."
Inthefirstplace,itisrequisitetoshowmathematicallyofwhatkind
thefigureofthesoulis,andthus,afterwards,introducethetheoryof
thethings;inorderthatbeingledinabecomingmannerbythe
phantasy,wemayrenderourselvesadaptedtothescientificapprehension
ofwhatissaid.Allthenumberstherefore,mustbeconceivedtobe
describedinonerule,asthosewhoareskilledinmusicareaccustomed
todo.Andlettherulehavethenumbersaccordingtothewholeofits
depth,andbedividedaccordingtoitslength.Alltheratiostherefore,
willbeineachofthesections.Forifthedivisionwasmadeaccording
tobreadth,itwouldbeentirelynecessarythatsomeofthenumbers
shouldbetakenhere,butothersthere.Sincehowever,thesectionis
accordingtolength,butallthenumbersareinallthelength,therewill
bethesamenumbersineachoftheparts.Foritisevident,thatitisnot
tForirpoqeneivovinthisplace,readnpoq,tKeivriv.
tItappearstomethataftereKaarr\c,idiov6eiXotfipaveivintheoriginalinthis
place,thewordspioovtanarewanting;andthatimmediatelyafter,insteadofTOre
vrtpauracaneptOTOV,KCUTOfier'caiTaqntpiorov,weshouldreadTOVrevitep

canac.CtliepiOTOV,KCtlTOVjXtT'CtVTCtC,fiepLOTOV.
cf.Proc.Comm.Rep.II,143f.
thesamething,todividethelength,andtodivideaccordingtothe
length;sincethelattersignifies,thatthesectionproceedsthroughthe
wholelength,buttheformer,thatthelengthisdivided.*Lettherule,
therefore,bethusdividedaccordingtolength,*andletthetwolengths
beappliestoeachotherinthepointswhichbisectthelengths,yetnot
Csoastobeatrightangles:forneitherwillthecirclesbeatrightangles.
Letthetwolengthslikewisebesoincurvated,thattheymayagainbe
conjoinedattheextremities.Twocirclestherefore,willbeformed,of
whichonewillbetheinterior,buttheotherexterior,andtheywillbe
2,238obliquetoeachother.Oneoftheselikewise,iscalledthecircleofthe
same,buttheother,thecircleofthedifferent.Andtheoneindeed,
subsistsaccordingtotheequinoctialcircle,buttheother,accordingto
thezodiac.Forthewholecircleofthedifferentrevolvesaboutthe
zodiac,butthatofthesameabouttheequinoctial.Hence,weconceive
thattherightlinesoughtnottobeappliedtoeachotheratrightangles,
butliketheletterXasPlatosays,soastocausetheanglestobeequal
onlyatthesummit,butthoseoneachside,andthesuccessiveangles,to
beunequal.Fortheequinoctialcircledoesnotcutthezodiacatright
angles.Suchtherefore,inshort,isthemathematicaldiscussionofthe
figureofthesoul.
Againhowever,surveyingthethingsthemselvesfromthebeginning,
letusreferwhatissaidbyPlato,tothepsychicalessence.And,inthe
firstplace,wemustobserve,thatcontinuedanddiscretequantityare
dividedfromeachother,accordingtothemathematicalsciences,andare
Dinacertainwayopposedtoeachother,sothatitisnotpossibleforthe
discretetobecontinued,orthecontinuedtobediscretequantity.Inthe
soulhowever,boththeseconcur,viz.union,andseparation.Foritis
amonadandnumber,onereason,onemultitude,andmanythings.And
tIntheoriginalofthisplacethereisnothingmorethaneiceivoyapSrjXov,onov
ravrovTOpr\Koq.Therestofthesentenceinthetranslationisaddedfromtheversion
ofThomaeus.
%Thusforinstance,letthenumbersbedisposedaccordingtodepthasfollows:
1.2.3.4.9.8.27&c.
1.2.3.4.9.8.27&c.
1.2.3.4.9.8.27&c.
1.2.3.4.9.8.27&c.
1.2.3.4.9.8.27&c.
Thenthelinesdrawnlongitudinally,willrepresentthedivisionoftheruleaccordingto
length.
asbeingawholeindeed,itiscontinued;butasnumber,itisdivided,

accordingtothereasonswhichitcontains.Throughitscontinuity
likewise,itisassimilatedtotheunionofintelligibles,butthroughits
multitude,totheseparationofthem.Andbyascendingstillhigherthan
these,weshallfindthataccordingtoitsunion,itpossessesanimageand
representationofTheOne,butaccordingtoitsdivision,ofthemultitude
ofthedivinenumbers.Hence,itneitherhasanarithmeticalessence
alone;foritwouldnotbecontinuous;noraloneageometricalessence;
foritwouldnotbedivided.Butitmustbesaid,thatitisatoneandthe
sametimeboththearithmetical,andthegeometricalessence.Sofar
however,asitisthearithmeticalessence,ithasalso,atthesametime,
theharmonicalessentially.Forthemultitudeinitisharmonized,and
itcomprehendsinsameness,bothabsoluteandrelativequantity.Butso
farasitisthegeometrical,itcontainsthesphericalessence.Forthe
2,239circlesinitarebothimmoveableandmoved;immoveableindeed
Eessentially,butmovedaccordingtoavitalenergy.Orrather,it
possessesboththeseatonce;fortheyareselfmotive.Buttheselfmotive,
isatoneandthesametimemovedandimmoveable.Forit
movesitself.Buttomove,orbethecauseofmotion,pertainsto
immoveablepower.Thesoultherefore,comprehendsessentiallyall
sciences;geometryindeed,accordingtoitswholeness,itsfigure,andits
lines;butthearithmeticalscience,accordingtoitsmultitude,andthe
essentialmonadsinit,aswehavebeforeshown.Butitcomprehends
theharmonicscience,accordingtotheratiosofnumbers;andthespheric
science,accordingtoitstwofoldcirculations.Inrealityalso,itisthe
essential,selfmotive,intellectual,andunitedbondofthemathematics,
comprehendingallthingsunaccompaniedwithfigure,andwithundefiled
purity.Henceitcomprehendsfiguresunfiguredly,thingsseparated,
unitedly,andwithoutintervalthingsaccompaniedwithinterval.For
thesepertaintotheessenceofthesoul.Anditisnecessarytosurveyall
thingsinitafterthismanner.
Moreover,thislikewiseoughttobeassumedfromwhathasbeensaid,
thatallsecondarynatures,areanalogoustothosethatarepriortothem,
Fandthateverywhere,TheOneprecedesmultitude.Forasthetheoryof
thehyparxisofthesoulcommencedfromitsessence,andthatofits
harmonyfromtheonepart,thusalsothedoctrineconcerningitsfigure,
placestheonelengthpriortothetwo.Andassamenessanddifference
arefromessence,sothetripleanddupleratioarefromthemonad,but
fromonelength,thecircleofthesame,andthecircleofthedifferent.As
likewise,theantecedentsaretotheantecedents,soaretheconsequents
totheconsequents,andallthingsarehomologoustoeachother,viz.
essence,harmony,andform.Andallthingsareindeedeverywhere,on
214Aaccountofthepsychicallife,beingasitwereofonecolour,andof
similarparts.Thesamehowever,andthetriple,subsistinagreater
degreeinthecircleofthesame,butthedifferent,andtheduple,inthe
circleofthedifferent.Alltheratioslikewise,areeverywhere,butafter
adifferentmannerinfirstandsecondarynatures;intheformerindeed,

2,240intellectually,totally,andunitedly;butinthelatter,doxastically,
distributively,andpartially.Andthusmuchconcerningthese
particulars.
Concerningthissectionhowever,andthetwolengthsandcircles,itis
worthwhiletoconsider,whattheymustbesaidtobe.Forthedivine
Iamblichussoarsonhigh,andsolicitouslyinvestigatesinvisiblenatures,
viz.theonesoul,andthetwosoulsthatproceedfromit.Forofevery
orderanimparticipablemonadistheleader,priortothethings
participated,andthereisanumberappropriatetoandconnascentwith
imparticipables.Theduadalsoisfromunity,inthesamemannerasin
theGodsthemselves.Timaeustherefore,hesays,havingthrough
psychogonyfabricatedinwordstheoneandsupermundanesoul,from
Bwhichthesouloftheuniverseandothersoulsarederived,nowproduces
theduadfromthis.Forthesectionmanifeststhedemiurgicdivision,
whichproceedsinsamenessandperfection,generatingthesamethings
accordingtosecondnumbers.Butthedivisionaccordingtolength,
exhibitstoustheprogressionsupernallyproceedingfromthe
Demiurgus.Throughthesehowever,twosoulsaregenerated,afterthe
onesoul,eachofwhichhasthesameratios,areconjoinedto,andarein
eachother,andaredividedfromeachother.Andtheylikewisepreserve
anunmingledpurity,togetherwithunionwitheachother.Fortheyare
unitedtotheirowncentres,andthisistheadaptationofmiddleto
middle.Butsincealso,thesesoulsareintellectual,andparticipateofa
divineintellect,theDemiurguspriortothegenerationoftheuniverse,
bentthemintoacircle,andcomprehendedtheminamotionaccording
tothesame,andinthesame,makingthemtobeintellectual,imparting
tothemadivineintellect,andinsertingtheduadofsouls,inthe
intellectualduad,whichtranscendsthemessentially.[Andthusfarthe
divineIamblichus.]
Wethereforeadmit,thatallthisiswellsaidsofaraspertainstothe
Ctheoryofthings:*fortheseparticularsarepriortotheworld.Hence
alsoinmundanenatures,thereisthemonad,afterwardstheduad,and
afterwardstheheptad.Forintheuniversethereisonesoul,whichis
tcf.Tim.36c;&216Dinfra,p.663.
thatoftheuniverse.Butafterthis,therearetwosouls,whichdividethe
2.241heavenintothecirculationofthesame*andthecirculationofthe
different.Andafterthese,therearesevensouls,whichdistributeinan
orderlymannertheplanetaryspheres.Weconceiveithowever,tobe
moreconcordantwiththewordsofPlatoneithertounderstandwhatis
nowsaid,aspertainingtothosesupermundanesouls,nortothe
multitudeofmundanesouls,butasassertedofthesoulitselfofthe
universe.Platothereforehimselfshortlyafter,havingspoken
concerningallthedivisionsofthesoul,*says,"Butwhenallthe

compositionofthesoulwasproducedconformablytotheintentionofits
composingartificer,afterthishefashionedwithinitthewholeofacorporealformed
nature."Inwhichwordshedenominatesthesoulone,andthis
asnootherthanthesouloftheuniverse.Foritisthissoulwhich
comprehendsthewholeofacorporealformednature.Hencethe
demiurgicdivisions,andthetwofoldlinesandcircles,mustbeassumed
inthis5soul;forinsodoingweshallnotbeinwantofarguments.
Sincetherefore,itisthecollectorofallimmoveableandaltermotive
Dnatures,ofimpartiblesandpartibles,ofparadigms,andthelastimages,
andoftrulyexistingbeings,andsuchasarenottrulybeings,Dthe
natureofitisveryproperlytwofold,partlypertainingtomoreexcellent,
andpartlytosubordinatebeings.Becausehowever,theseareentirely
separatedfromeachother,theyrequireafteracertainmannertwo
media.Andincorporealnaturesindeed,thetwoconjoiningmediaare
separatedfromeachother;butinincorporealnaturesitisonebiformed
essence,whichbindstogethertheextremes;onepartofwhichbeing
conjoinedtointelligibles,isintellectual,scientific,shiningwithdivine
wisdom,anagogic,andcomprehendingthecausesofthings;butthe
otherpartbeingproximatetopartiblenatures,iseffectiveofdifference,
comesintocontactwithsensibles,recurstotheprovidentialinspection
ofsecondarynatures,isartificial,andcomprehendssuchotherthingsas
arealliedtothese.Alltheratioshowever,areineachofthese.Forin
this,theessenceofthesouldiffersfromtheintellectualessence.Forthe
2.242latterindeed,isuniform,andantecedentlycomprehendsallforms
tForavrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadravrov.
tTim.36d;and226Einfra,p.690.
Insteadofeir'avrovqinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadev'avrriQ.
cf.71DEsupra,p.216.
OFor8eeivhere,readdvoiv.
Emonadically;buttheformerisdyadic,andcontainsthesamereasons,
dianoeticallyanddoxastically;inonewayindeed,inthecircleofthe
same,butinanotherinthecircleofthedifferent.[Andthusthesoul
imitatesitscause.]+Forsheisbothamonadandaduad,aswith
referencetothemonad[Saturn],thefatheroftheintellectualGods.
Andthesoulisamonadaswithreferencetotheuniverse,butaduad,
withreferencetointellect.Forinshortdivisionitselfandmultiplication
derivetheirsubsistencefromthisGoddess[Rhea].Thevivificprinciple
therefore,isthecauseofprogression,multitude,andmultiplication.
Hencesomephilosophers,assimilatingtotheGodsthingswhichare
derivedfromthem,thinkfittoarrangeintellectsaccordingtothe
masculine,butsoulsaccordingtothefemininegenusoftheGods.For
intellectisindivisible,andoftheformoftheoddnumber;butsoulis
divisibleandbiformed.Andtheformerisanalogoustopaternal,butthe

lattertoprolificcauses.Andtheoneisalliedtobound,buttheother
toinfinity.Iflikewise,Ishouldbeaskedhowthesoulisone,andhow
itisbiformed,Ishouldsay,thatitisoneindeed,asselfmotive;forthis
iscommontoallpsychicallife,andtothepartsitcontains;butthatit
isbiformedaccordingtotwofoldlives,viz.thelifewhichisconverted
tofirstnatures,andthelifewhichprovidentiallyattendstosecondary
natures.Ishouldalsosay,thataccordingtotheessentialithasonelife:
Fforselfmotionistheessenceofthesoul.Butaccordingtosameand
different,Ishoulddistinguishitstwofoldlives.
Whyhowever,didtheDemiurgusfirstconstitutethesoulrectilinearly,
butafterwardscircularly,andafterwhatmannerisarightlineadapted
totheessenceofthesoul?Tothiswereply,thatitisrequisiteto
conceivethesoulasanalogoustoarightline.Forasarightline
proceedswithoutcurvature,*anddefinitelyfromthistothatpoint;for
215Athereisonlyonerightlinebetweentwopoints;andasitisinfinitein
itsownnature,solikewisethesoulisgeneratedaninfinitepower.
Intellectalso,likeanindivisiblepoint,istheleaderofthesoul,
2,243comprehendingitindivisibly,andantecedentlycontaininginan
impartiblemannerthewholeofitsessence.Fortheimpartibleisallied
tointellect;butthatwhichisprimarilypartibletosoul.Butapointand
tThewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal;butitappearstome
thattheyoughttobeinserted,thoughtheywerelikewisewantingintheMS.of
Thomasus.IntheoriginalthereforeafterthewordsaXXwc8eevr<j)Oarepov,I
conceivethereisanomissionofKCUOVTUQt)\pvxv/ii^etrairt\veaurrjcanvuv.But
thefontalcauseofthesoulisRhea.
$cf.168BCsupra,p.504.
alinearethingsofthiskind.Hence,arightlineisveryproperly
ascribedtothesoul,andafterwardsacircle,whichwesay,aresimple
lines.Butapointisascribedtointellect.*Forfromthenceasfroma
certainadytum,thereasonofthesoulpresentsitselftotheview,
unfoldingtheimpartibilityofintellect,andannouncingitsoccultand
ineffableunion.Intellectitselfhowever,isaafirmlyestablishedinitself,
understandingallthingswithatranquilenergy;beingapointanda
centreaswithreferencetothesoul.Forifthesoulisacircle,intellect
isthecentre,or*thepowerofthecircle.Butifthesoulisarightline,
intellectisapoint,comprehendingwithoutintervalthatwhichhas
interval,impartiblythatwhichispartible,andcentrically5thecircular
form.Intellectitselfhowever,isacircleaswithreferencetothenature
BofTheGood,aboutwhich0itonallsidesconverges,throughadesire
ofTheOne,andofcontactwithit.
Fartherstill,afteranothermanneralsowemaysay,thatalineis
adaptedtothesoul.Forintellectindeed,thoughsomeoneshouldgive
toitmotion,yetithasthisenergyintransitive.Foritsurveysatonce

thewholeoftheintelligible,havinganeternallife,andenergizingabout
thesamethings,inthesamenature,andaccordingtothesame.Butsoul
possessesatransitiveenergy.Foratdifferenttimes,itappliesitselfto
differentforms.Andthisistrueevenofthesouloftheuniverse.For,
asPlatosaysinthePhaedrus,itisthepeculiarityofsoultoenergize
throughtime.Buteverytransitivemotionisaline.Forithaswhence
andwhither,andtherectilinear,andonethingforthebeginning,and
anotherfortheend.Sothatinthisrespectwereferalinetothe
psychicallife.Again,theimmoveablecauseismotiveofselfmotive
natures;fortheseproximatelyparticipateofit;buttheselfmovingcause
2,244ismotiveofaltermotivenatures.Sincetherefore,thesoulprovidesfor
altermotivenatures,beingessentiallypriortothem,andaslivingfrom
itself,transcendsallthingsthathaveanadventitiouslife,
Cconformablytothis,italsohasthelinearforminitsprovidential
energies;beingmotive,andconstitutiveofaltermotivenatures;justas
tcf.Proc.Comm.Rep.I,86,2.
$Foriihere,itisnecessarytoreadf).
InsteadofKVKXUCUC.inthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadKevrpiKUQ.
OX070Chereappearstobesuperfluous,asisalsotijcTOVevoqinthenextline.
Fortheoriginalis,vepii\v0X070CTocvraxoBevovveveiirodqTOVevoq,KCXIrqg
TOVevoq,KCUTT\Qitpoc;TOevavva.<pr\q.
oPhaedrus247d.
alineisthedistanceofonethingfromanother,andanegressionor
departurefromitself.Inwhatissaidtherefore,aboutthemixtureofthe
soul,andalsoinwhatissaidconcerningnumbersandmiddles,Plato
unfoldsthebeingitselfofthesoul,andshowshowitisoneandmany,
whatprogressionsithas,andwhatregressionsbothtosuperiornatures,
andtoitself;howitproducesandconvertsthingsposteriortoitself;and
howitfillswithratios,andbindstogetherthewholeworld.Butin
whathesaysconcerningtherightlinesandcircles,hedeliverstousthe
vitalandintellectualpeculiarityofthesoul,andindicateshowit
participatesofthelifeinintellect,andhowitisconvertedtoitself,so
farasitisselfvitalandselfmoved.Fortherightlinemanifeststhe
progressionofthepsychicallifefrommoreexcellentnatures;butthe
inflexionintoacircleindicatesintellectualcirculation.Forthesoulis
allottedthispower,andalsothatwhichisproductiveofthelifeinitself,
fromitsfather.Sincehowever,thepsychicallifeistwofold,theone
beingdianoetic,buttheotherdoxastic,twolinespresentthemselves,and
arebentintotwocircles.
DInshorttherefore,theessenceofthesoul,beingawholeandconsisting
ofparts,isharmonizednumber.Butitslifeisrectilinear,andisuniform
andbiformed.Anditsintellectisdianoeticanddoxastic.Forthereare
initbeing,life,andintellect.Orratherpriortothegnostic,perceiving

thatthevitalpowersareinthemselvesatoneandthesametime
transitive,andselfmotive,wemustsay,thattherightlineadumbrates
thetransitive,butthecircle,theselfmotivenaturesofthesepowers.
Fortheyaremovedfromthemselvestothemselves.HenceTimaeus
deliveringtousinwhatisheresaid,thevitalmotionbyitselfalone,
assumestherectilinear,andthecircularmotion,butinwhatfollows
2,245unfoldsthegnosticmotionsofthecircles;thesoulnowbecomingselfmotive,
inconsequenceofthewholeofitmovingitself.1Iftherefore,
wenowadmitthattherightlinesarelives,andtheseessential;onwhich
accountalso,theDemiurgusmadethecompositionofthesoulitselfto
berectilinear,aspossessinglifebyitsveryexistence;ifweadmitthis,
thenwemustsay,thatthecirclemanifestswhatthequalityisofthe
Eformofthislife,viz.thatitisselfmoved,beginningfrom,andreturning
toitself;andthatitisnotlikethelifeofirrationalnatures,tendingto
externalsasitwereinarightline,asneverbeingabletoconvergeto
itself,andashavinganappetitedirectedtootherthingsplacedexternally
toitself.Fortheselfmotivenatureismovedfromitselftoitself,sees
itself,andispresentwithitself.Hencealso,suchaformoflifeasthis
tTim.37a.
iscircular.Forinacircle,thesamethingistheendandthebeginning,
inthesamemannerasinthatwhichisconvertedto,beginsfrom,and
endsinitself.Therightlinethereforeandthecircleofthesoul,are
withoutinterval;theformerbeingtheimageoflife[simply],butthe
latteroflifeconvertivetoitself,andnotabsolutelyofalllife.Forboth
thesemaybesurveyedinsouls;therightlineindeed,accordingtothe
transitionsofappetites;butthecircleaccordingtoacircumductionfrom
thesamethingstothesame.AndthisSocratesknowing,saysinthe
Phaedrus,+thatsoulsarecarriedroundinacircle,*revolvingunder
intelligiblesasobjectsofdesire,beingatdifferenttimeshappilyaffected
bydifferentthings,andreturningfromthesameobjectstothesame.
Whytherefore,shouldweanylongerfearthoseskilfulPeripatetics,who
Faskus,whatkindoflinePlatohereassumes?Isitaphysicalline?But
thiswouldbeabsurd:forthisistheendofbodies.Isitthena
mathematicalline?Butthisisnotselfmotive,andisnotessence.Plato
howeversays,5thatthesoulisanessence,andisseparatefrombodies.
Wesaytherefore,thattheyinvainmaketheseinquiries.Forlong
beforethis,wehavenotceasedassertingthatthislineisessential.And
2,246priortousXenocratescallsalineofthiskindindivisible.Foritwould
beridiculousinanyonetothinkthatthereisanindivisiblemagnitude.
Itisevidenthowever,thatXenocratesthoughtitrequisitetocallthe
216Aessentialreasonofalineanindivisible0line.ButPlato,forthesakeof
concealment,employedmathematicalnames,0asveilsofthetruthof
things,inthesamemannerastheologistsemployedfables,andthe

Pythagoreanssymbols.Foritispossibleinimagestosurveyparadigms,
andthroughtheformertopasstothelatter.Againstsuchmen
however,asthesePeripatetics,whoarecontentious,noargumentsare
tPhxdrus247d.
%ThisiswellexplainedbyHermeasinhisScholiaonthePhxdrus,asfollows:
"Heaven[i.e.themiddleofthatorderofGodswhichiscalledintelligibleandatthe
sametimeintellectual]andthecelestialintelligence,convolvesallthesesouls,whoare
atrestaccordingtotheirproperenergies.Italsocausesthemtoapplythemselvesto
theintelligibleswhichareaboveHeaven,andtoenergizeintellectuallyaccordingto
celestialintelligence.ButthenaturesbeyondHeavenaretheNights,whichPlatocalls
thesupercelestialplace."
Forcjxxoivhere,Iread<pT)Oiv.
Thewordarofiovisomittedintheoriginal.
oProtagoras316e.
sufficient.ButletusreturntothewordsofPlato,anddirectour
attentiontoeachofthem.
Sincetherefore,thesoulisone,isdividedaccordingtoitsparts,andis
bothoneandmany,Platodenominatesitthis,asbeingone,butallas
beingmultitude,andcomposition,asboth;whichalsoshowsthatthe
essenceofitdiffersbothfromthingsdiscrete,andthingscontinuous.
Forthesearewithoutcommunion*witheachother.Butthesoulis
one,andatthesametimemultitude,andisdiscrete,andcontinued.
Sincehoweverthepsychicalreasonsarebiformed;forthesoulisofan
Bambiguousnature,(afixfnoTOfioq)andhastwofaces,+conformablytoits
paradigm,sothatitintellectuallyperceivestheimpartibleessence
throughthecircleofthesame,butcontainsandconnectsthepartible
essence,throughthecircleofthedifferent;hencePlatocallsitdouble.
Butbecauseithasthesamereasonsorratios,aboveandbeneath,andnot
assomefancy,thedupleratioshere,butthetriplethere,onthis
account,hedeliversittousdividedaccordingtolength.Forthis
divisionalone,preserveseverywherethesameratios.Butthescission
itselfexhibitsdemiurgicsection,whichisappropriatetotheDemiurgus.
Fortheduadisseatedbyhim,andisrefulgentwithintellectualsections,
assomeoneoftheGodssays.5Moreover,thewords"middletomiddle"
indicateperhaps,thatthedivisionandcontactofthingsintangible,are
2,247adaptedtothepsychicalmiddle:fortheysubsistinamiddleway.For
inintellectalsothereisdivision,becausethereisdifference,0butit
subsistsprimarily,andasitwereoccultly,andindivisibly.Insensibles
likewisethereisdivision,butaccordingtoanultimatedistributioninto
parts.Hencealsotheunionintheseisobscureandevanescent.Butin
thesoul,bothhaveamiddlesubsistence,inawayadaptedtoit.And
CifindeedPlatohadspokenconcerningintellectandsoul,hewouldhave
said,thattheDemiurgusappliedthefirsttothemiddle,andifabout

bodyandsoul,thatheappliedthemiddletothelast.Butsincehe
teachesusconcerningthepsychicalduad,hesaysthattheDemiurgus
appliedmiddletomiddle.Perhapstoo,hesaysthis,becausethecontact
ofthesoulisproperlyofamiddlenature,Forthelastpartofthe
dianoetic,andthesummitofthedoxasticpower,formthemediaofall
thepsychicalcomposition.Buttheseareconjoinedtoeachother,and
tForCLKivifTahere,itisnecessarytoreadctKOivovr\TOi:
%cf.179Esupra,p.557;andChald.Oracl.fr.110.
ThisisassertedinoneoftheChaldeanoracles[fr.1].
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.179.
conformablytothese,oneunionisproducedofthesetwolives.Forin
everyorderofbeings,thebasesoffirstareunitedtothesummitsof
secondarynatures.ThefigureXhowever,producedbythisapplication,
hasanaffinitytotheuniverse,andalsotothesoul.AndasPorphyry
relates,acharacterofthiskind,viz.X,surroundedbyacircle,+iswiththe
Egyptiansasymbolofthemundanesoul.Forperhapsitsignifies,through
therightlinesindeed,thebiformedprogressionofthesoul,butthrough
thecircleitsuniformlife,andregressionaccordingtoanintellectual
circle.Wemustnothoweverconceive,thatPlatothoughtadivine
essencecouldbediscoveredthroughthesethings.Forthetruthofreal
Dbeingscannot,assomefancy,beknownfromcharacters,positions,and
vocalemissions.Buttheseareafteranothermannersymbolsofdivine
natures.Forasacertainmotion,solikewiseacertainfigureandcolour,
aresymbolsofthiskind,astheinitiatorsintomysteriessay.Fordifferent
charactersandalsodifferentsignaturesareadaptedtodifferentGods;just
asthepresentcharacterisadaptedtothesoul.Forthecomplicationof
2,248therightlinesindicatestheunionofabiformedlife.Forarightline
itself,also,isasymbolofalifewhichflowsfromonhigh.Inorder
however,thatwemaynot,omittingthethingsthemselves,betoobusily
employedaboutthetheoryofthecharacter,Platoadds"asitwere,"
indicatingthatthisisassumedasaveil,andforthesakeofconcealment,
thusendeavouringtoinvestwithfiguretheunfigurednatureofthesoul.
36c"Afterwardshebentthemintoacircle,connectingthembothwith
themselves,andwitheachother,insuchamannerthattheirextremities
mightbecombinedinone,directlyoppositetothepointoftheirmutual
intersection."
ThatwhatissaidbyPlatomanifeststhroughrightlinestheprogression
ofthesoul,anditsprovidentialattentiontoaltermotivenatures,isI
Ethinkevidentfromwhathasbeenalreadyobserved.AndIalsothink
itispropertodelivertheinflectionintoacircleanalogoustothese
things.Forsinceregressionsareincontinuitywithprogressions,

recalling[totheprinciple]thingswhichhaveproceededfromit,hence
Platosays,thattherightlineswerebentintocircles.Andsincealso,the
vitalnatureofthesoulisintellectual,andapocatastatic,andevolves
intelligiblemultitude,henceitisrestoredtothesamethingagain.
Becauselikewise,itmovesaltermotivenatures,thesoulbeingconverted
to,andmovingitself,accordingtoalltheseparticulars,circulation
pertainstoit.Fortheprogressionofitisincontinuitywithits
tInsteadofKVKXOVinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadKVK\Q.
regression;sinceitisnotimperfect.Andthemotionofaltermotive
naturesissuspendedfromtheselfmotivelife.Astheoneofthesealso,
isnotsubverted,butperfectedbytheother,afterthesamemannerthe
compositionoftherightlinesisnotdestroyedthroughtheinflection
intocircles,buttheformerremaining,thecirclesaregenerated.Forall
thingssubsistatonceinthesoul,sothatasthecontinuousis
simultaneouswiththediscrete,thusalsothecircularwiththerectilinear.
2,249Foritisnecessarythattherightandthecircularshouldremain,justas
Ftheimpartibleandthepartiblesubsisttogetherinthesoul.Forthe
Demiurgusmakeseternally,sothatthethingswhicharegeneratedby
him,areentirelyperpetual.Hencetherightandthecircularlineare
simultaneousinthesoul,whatevereachofthemmaybe.
Whatthereforearethetwofoldcircles,andhowaretheyinthehighest
degreeadaptedtothesoul?Ifthentheessenceofthesoulproceeding
fromintellect,wassuchastobeentirelydifferentfromtheintellectual
peculiarity,thecircularformwouldnotbeadaptedtoit.Butsinceitis
intellectualaccordingtoparticipation,andanevolvedandbiformed
217Aintellect,onaccountofitsintellectualnature,itisacircleunfigured,
withoutmagnitude,andselfmotive;butonaccountofitsdyadic*
nature,itisatwofoldcircle.Foritsprogressionalso,inthesame
mannerasitsregression,istwofold,anditsreasonistwofold;sothatits
intellectualparticipationistwofoldaccordingtoitslives.Sincehowever,
theselivesareconjoinedaccordingtotheirfirstprogression,butin
proceedingaredividedfromeachother,butaftertheprogressionare
againconvertedtotheirprinciples,hencetheyareagainconjoined
accordingtothepeculiarityitselfofregression;thefirstadaptationofthe
linesmanifestingpermanency;buttheirseparationfromeachotherby
division,theirprogression;andtheirinflection,*theirregressionagainto
thesamething.Forthemoredivinelifewhichsubsistsaccordingto
regression,conjoinstheendofitselfwiththebeginning;andthemore
subordinatelifeconvertstheprogressionofitselftothatwhichabides.
Henceitconvertsthisprogressiontotheoneintellectbothofitself,and
ofthemoreexcellentlife.Theconjunction,therefore,ofthetwolives
istherethecontactoftheone,beinginanoppositedirectiontothatof
theother;becausetheunionoftheoneisaccordingtoprogression,but

Boftheother,accordingtoregression,andregressioniscontraryto
progression;forthelatterpertainstothenatureofsameness,butthe
tForfiovabiKOVhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadbvabixov.
%AfterTTJC6air'CKXXTJXUJ'oxioeucintheoriginal,thewordsrr\vwpoodov,
TTJC&KaroiKau^fUCareevidentlywanting.
formertothatofdifference.Thelatteralsoimpartsacollective
similitude[buttheformer,divisionintheprogressions.*]Fortheir
opinionmustnotbeadmitted,whocontendthatthefigureofthesoul
trulyconsistsoftwocircles.Forifthecirclesarewithoutbreadth,how
2.250isitpossibletocutoneofthem,sinceithasnolatitude?Butiftheyare
certainrings,howcanthesoulifitconsistsofthese,beeveryway
extendedfromthemiddletotheextremeheaven?*Forafterwhat
mannercanringsbeextendedthroughthewholeofasphericalbody?
Towhichmaybeadded,thatthesecirclesbeingcorporeal,willexhibit
tousacertainbodyexternaltotheuniverse,andwillalsoproducea
certainvacuuminthesuperficiesofthesphere,inconsequenceof
surroundingit,asisevidentintheringsofspheres.Andiftheyare
circles,theymusthaveprofunditytogetherwiththebodyofthe
universe,onaccountoftheirstationfromthemiddleasfarastothe
extremitiesoftheworld.Itisnecessarythereforetoconceivethisvivific
figureofthesoultobeunfigured,andwithoutinterval,unlessweintend
tofillourselvesandalsothetheoryofPlatowithmuchabsurdity,such
asthatwhichisnoticedbyAristotle,5whoonthesuppositionthatthe
Csoulisamagnitude,demonstratesthatassuchitisalonepartible,butby
nomeansimpartible,thoughitsessence,togetherwithpartibility,has
alsoimpartibility.Butwhetheritisacircle,oraring,itwillalonehave
apartible,andbynomeansanimpartiblenature.
36c"Helikewisecomprehendedthemonallsidesinthatmotionwhichis
convolvedaccordingtothesameandinthesame."
ThemodeofconceptionofthedivineIamblichusinwhatisheresaid,
istrulydivine,andfirmlyadherestothemeaningofPlato;sincehedoes
not,liketheinterpreterspriortohim,athinkthatthemotionwhich
isconvolvedaccordingtothesame,andinthesame,shouldbe
understoodaspertainingtothesoul.Forthemotionofthesoulisnow
init,andnotaboutit.Heconceives,therefore,thatthemotionnow
spokenofpertainstointellectandtheintellectuallife.Forinnopart
oftheremainderofthisDialoguedoesPlatoappeartoconjointhesoul
tThewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,butaresuppliedfromthe
versionofThomaeus.HenceafterthewordsTJ5eavvoryuyovopovoTyraevdiBuoiv,itis
necessarytoinsert7)5eSiaiptatvrati;irpooSoic.

$cf.Tim.36e.
cf.AristotleDeAnimaI,3,406b26ff.
cf.Theeetetus155e;andMacrob.Somn.II,1216.
2,251tointellect.Itisnecessary,however,thatheshould,inorderthatby
thisadditionhemaydemonstratetheuniversetobeananimalendued
withsoulandintellect.Wemustthereforeconceivethemotionwhich
isconvolvedaccordingtothesame,andinthesame,tobeintellectual.
Forthiscomprehendsthesoulinthesamemannerasthesoulcircularly
Dcoverstheheaven*aswithaveil.Intellect,however,isindeedan
immoveablemotion;foritsubsistswhollyandunicallyatonce.But
soulisaselfmovedmotion.Andtheformerisuniform,butthelatter
biformed.Theformeralsoisoneandindivisible,butthelatterdivides
andmultipliesitself.Thesoul,however,participatesofintellectsofar
asitisintellectual;andthroughitisconjoinedtodivineintellect.For
thesouloftheuniverseparticipatingofintellect,ascendstothe
intelligible.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatthemotionwhichis
circumvolvedinthesameandaboutthesameshouldbeintellectual,
beingdifferentfromthemotionofthetwocircles,sinceitcomprehends
them.Wemustsay,therefore,eitherthatthismotionpertainstoa
participatedintellect,whichisproximatelyseatedabovethesoul,orthat
itshouldbethemotionoftheDemiurgusofthesoul.Thelatter
howeverisimpossible.Henceitmustbeadmittedthatthisisthe
motionofaparticipatedintellect.Butthatthemotionisconvolved
accordingtothesame,andinthesame,beingintellectual,andabovethe
soul,isnotthemotionoftheDemiurgus,maybelearntbyconsidering,
thathemadetheuniversetobeenduedwithintellect,notgivinghimself
totheuniverse,inthesamemannerasthesoul,butimpartingtoit
anotherparticipatedintellect,whichwehavebeforedemonstrated*to
beseatedabovethesoul.Forplacingintellectinsoul,5butsoulin
Ebody,hefashionedtheuniverse.0Anditisevidentthathedidnot
effectthisbyplacinghimselfinsoul.Foritwouldberidiculousthathe
shouldcoarrangehimselfwithsoul,beingseparatefromit.Plato
thereforesays,inwhatfollows,0ofall[true]being,thatneitherdoes
anyotherthingproceedintoit,nordoesitproceedintoanyother
thing.Butthisbeingtrue,theDemiurguswillnotplacehimselfinsoul;
andbeforeheconstitutessoul,subsistingbyhimself,hewillgenerate
tTim.36e.
$cf.124CD,supra,p.374.
ForT\ij/vxrihere,itisnecessarytoreadtvfaxy.
Tim.30b.
oTim.52a.
2.252anotherbeing,which*whenhehadgeneratedsoul,heplacedinthe

soul.If,however,thisbetrue,themotionofthatintellect,whichis
circumvolvedaccordingtothesame,andinthesame,willcomprehend
thesepsychicalcircles,andnotthemotionofhimwhoconstitutedboth
thisintellectandsoul,andwhoshortlyafterissaidtoabideinhis
accustomedmanner,*exemptandseparatefromtheuniverse.The
mundaneintellecttherefore,istheintellectofwhichwearespeaking,
thelifeofwhichcomprehendsthepsychicallives,viz.theuniformlife
comprehendsthebiformedlives,andtheeternallifetheliveswhichare
noteternallymoved.Hencethewholesoulproceedsafterthismanner,
beingamonadandaduad,andasisevidentfromwhathasbeensaid,
withoutdifferencewithrespecttoitself.Thatwhichremainstherefore,
FPlatodeliversinwhatfollows,viz.howfromthedemiurgicdivisions,
oneofthecirclescontainsinitselfthatwhichismoredivine,butthe
other,thatwhichismoresubordinate.Forwehaveassumedthese
thingsforthesakeofperspicuity.Butletushearwhatisnextsaidby
Plato.
36c"Andhemadeoneofthecirclestobeexternal,buttheotherinternal.
Hedenominatedtherefore,thelationoftheexternalcircle,themotion
ofthenatureofsame;butthelationoftheinternal,themotionofthe
natureofdifferent."
ThedivineIamblichusrefersthesedivinecirclestotheintellectwhich
isseparate,andtotheintellectwhichisinseparablefromsoul,andto
218Athemotionwhichisconvolvedinthesame,andonallsides
comprehendsthem;sothatoneofthecirclescomprehendsthetwo
souls,buttheotherisinthem;andtheoneisunmingledwiththeother
lifeandthepowersofthesoul,buttheotherismingledwithand
governsthem;fromwhichcauselikewise,thewholesoul,stably
energizes,andisunitedtotheDemiurgushimself.Wehowever
interpretthetwocirclestobethetwofoldlivesofthesouls,viz.the
providentiallyenergizing5andconvertiveorregressivelives;andalsoto
bethetwofoldpowers,thedianoeticanddoxastic.Forthesoulofthe
tItisnecessaryheretosupply5.
tTim.42e.
Forvoi\nmc.inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadjpovor)TiKa<;.Forthesoulof
theuniversealwaysenergizesbothprovidentiallyandconvertively,andthelatter
energyisintellective.Hence,therewouldbeatautologyinsaying,theintellective
(poijUKac)andconvertivelives.
2.253universehasboththese;sincePlatolikewiseinthePhaedrussays,+that
ofthehorses,onepertainstothenatureofsame,buttheothertothe
natureofdifferent,thoughhealsoattributeshorsestotheGods,*but
suchasaregood,andconsistingofthingsthataregood.Heretherefore

theexternalcircleisdianoetic,buttheinternaldoxastic.Forthe
Demiurgusimpartedtothedianoeticcircleapower,accordingtowhich
itismoredivinethanthedoxasticcircle.Foritismoreunited,andis
Bintellectual.Foryoumustnotsupposethattodenominate,isthemere
positionofaname,butinthedianoeticcircleisaparticipationof
power,effectiveofsameness;andinthedoxasticcircle,ofdifference.
Priortothis,therefore,Platotaughtusthesimilitudeofthesoulitself
toitself;butnowheaddsthetranscendencyanddiminutionofitwith
referencetoitself,whichitpossesses,andreceivedfromtheDemiurgus;
whomadeoneofthecirclestobeexternal,sofarasherendereditmore
similartointellectandtheintelligible;fortheyareproperlyexternal,as
beingexemptfromallsecondarynatures;buttheotherinternal,asbeing
containedbytheexcellentcircle,asbeingthatwhichoughttobe
governedbyit,andasbeingofasubordinatenature.Itwasveryfar
thereforefromtheintentionofPlato,toadumbratethesecircles
mathematically,who,thoughtheyareequal,makesthemtobeunequal,
andthoughtheysubsistsimilarly,rendersthemdissimilar,attributingto
themfortheiressence,thedemiurgicwill.
Some,however,heredoubt,how,sincethesoulconsistsofsimilar
parts,oneofthecirclespertainstosameness,buttheothertodifference,
Candtheoneisdenominatedinternal,buttheotherexternal;forthese
thingssubvertsimilitudeofparts.Porphyry,therefore,directinghis
attentiontosensibles,andmaterialmixtures,adducesasinstances,water
mingledwithhoney,andhoneymingledwithwine;thewhole
consistingindeedofsimilarparts,butindifferentpersonsproducinga
differentpassion.Forsomearemoreaffectedbythevinousflavour,but
othersbythesweetness.Ourfather[i.e.preceptor]however,thinkswe
shouldsurveythemixtureofthegenerainamanneradaptedto
2.254immaterialandincorporealnatures.Butthisis,notaccordingtoa
confusionofforms,noraccordingtoacorruptionofpowers,butthey
beingpreserved,themixtureisaccordingtoaunionandpenetrationof
themthrougheachother.Forcorruptionsandthediminutionsof
powers,areinmaterialnatures,matternotbeingabletopreservein
tPhaedrus246ab;seealsoHermiasComm.Phajd.126.
XForrouedeovt;here,itisnecessarytoreadrote0eoic.
herselfthedifferentpeculiaritiesunconfusedandgenuine.Forthe
peculiarityofimmaterialmixtureisforthesamethingstoremainunited
andseparated,andtobecomingledandunmingled[butinmaterial
mixture,thethingswhicharemingled,aresaidtobeconfused,and
withoutseparationfromeachother,becausethismixtureisthrough
computrefaction,andcorruption].*Itiseasylikewisetocalltoour
remembrancesuchlikeimmaterialmixturesaswespeakof,fromthe
Dsciences,fromphysicalreasons,andfromamultitudeoflamps.Forthe

manylightswhichproduceonelight,atthesametimeremain
unconfused.Andthemultitudeofphysicalreasonssubsistingallof
thematonce,areatthesametimeseparatedfromeachother,according
tophysicaldifference.Themanysciencesalsoareineachother,andare
unmingledwitheachother.Butthisisevidentfromtheirenergies.For
itisimpossibleforthingsthatareconfusedtoemploytheirproper
energieswithpurity.Butthesciencesenergizeappropriatelyeachwith
purityinitself.Ifthereforethegeneraofthesoulareimmaterially
mingled,theyareineachother,andareestablishedinthemselves.By
theirsubsistinglikewiseineachother,theycausethewholesoultobe
asitwereofasimilarcolour.Henceeverypartofitconsistsofthese
genera.Butthroughthegenerabeingestablishedinthemselves,and
preservingtheirproperpurity,differentpropertiesshineforth,according
tothedifferentpowersofthesoul,andsomethingsprevailmorethan
others.Forinthingswhicharemingledthroughthewholeof
themselves,andarecorruptedtogether,thereisentirelyasimilitudeof
parts,andthereisalsoasimilarform.Butwherethereistheunmingled
inthemixture,theunconfusedinthecomplication,andpurityinthe
separation,thenitispossibleforwholestopervadethroughwholes,in
Eorderthateachpartmayconsistofall;andforeachparttoremainin
2,255itselfinorderthatonethingmayhavedominioninanother.Hence,it
isnotatallwonderful,sinceallthegenerapervadethrougheachother
inthesoul,andpreserveatthesametimetheideaofthemselves,thatin
oneplacesamenessshouldpredominate,butinanother,thenatureof
difference,andthatthegenusofessenceshouldbecommon,definingthe
onemiddleofthesoul,accordingtowhichitisamediumbetweenthe
impartibleessence,andthatwhichisdivisibleaboutbodies.Hencetoo,
thesoulisonelife,asbeingoneessence,butthelifeisbiformed,inthe
tIntheoriginalhere,thereisnothingmorethan,TOTOL^mynevaKaiaduxKpiraair'
a\\i)\<j>veivcu.Therestintheabovetranslationissuppliedfromtheversionof
Thomaeus.
samemannerastheessenceistwofold,onaccountofthetwogenera.
Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubt.
Butitisevidentthatthewords"hemade"aremostproperlyassumed
byPlato,inorderthatagaintheformofthemiddlenaturemaybe
preservedinthesamemannerasbeforewhenhesaid,theDemiurgus
"completelyfilled"and"comingled."1Theexpressiontoo,"he
denominated,*isintroducedappropriatelytothethingsproposedtobe
discussed.Forsincenamesaregiventothecircles,accordingtothat
whichpredominates,theexpression"hedenominated"manifeststhatthe
appellationisgiventothem,notfromthewholehyparxis,butfromthat
whichpredenominatesinthem.Toassignnameslikewiseafterthe
Fproductionofthecircles,manifeststhatnamesproperlysocalledregard

thenatureofthings.FortheDemiurgusdoesnotthusdenominatethat
whichisnotthecircleofthesame,butthatwhichwasconstitutedsuch
byhim.Orrather,hisproductiveenergypossessesthemostprincipal
causeofthename.Andthepositionofthenameisaneffectiveenergy,
sinceintellectionthereisnotseparatedfromfabrication,buttheGods
producebytheveryenergyofintellectualperception[i.e.their
intellectualperceptioniseffective].Forthusalsobygivingnamesto,
219Atheyconstitutethingsthemselves.Andifitberequisiteformetogive
myownopinion,wemaythroughthesethingsperceivethearcanaof
thetheoryofPlato.ForhenotonlydeliverstheDemiurgusasa
nomenclator,whofirstgivesnamestothetwocirculationsofthesoul;
butpriortotheseunfoldstheessentialcharacterofit,viz.twoseparate
rightlines,andthexproducedfromthem,andalsothetwocircles
formedfromtheselines;whichthingstheurgylikewiseunfoldedafter
2,256him,5givingcompletiontothecharacterofthesoulfromchiasmiD
andsemicircles.0Psychicalnamesthereforeandcharacterswerefirst
deliveredtousbyPlato,whichheintellectuallysaw,andwhichthewise
menposteriortohimembraced.Foritisnecessarytothink,thatthere
arepsychicalcharacters,andnotonlysuchasarecommon,likethese,
butsuchasarepeculiar,andwhicharedifferentindifferentsouls;such
fTim.35c.
%Tim.35a.
Forper'avruvhere,itisrequisitetoreadper'avrov,andfordtupyua
deovpyux.
Chiasmi,Le.figuresintheformoftheletterX.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.95;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,143f.
forinstanceasthoseofHercules,Pentheus,Atreus,andofPlatohimself,
deliveredtousbytheGodsthemselves.Thesehowever,itbelongsto
BtheGodsalonebothtoknowandtounfold;butthecharacterwhichis
commontoeverysoul,beginningfromthesouloftheuniverse,Plato
firstbeheld,andcommittedtowriting.Healsoshowsthatthe
Demiurgusisthemakerofthis,whoinscribesintheessenceofthesoul
its*vivificcharacter;givesnamesaswehavesaidtoitstwointellectual
circulations,andassumesthesefromhisownessence.Foritisthe
Demiurgushimself,whoisespeciallycharacterizedaccordingtothese
generaofname,Imeanthesameandthedifferent;sinceoneofthese
eminentlypertainstohim,asgivingformtomatter,accordingtothe
terminationsofforms;buttheother,ascollectingmultitudetotheone
ideaofthefabricoftheuniverseasoneproduction.Hencealsowith
Orpheus,theDemiurgusparticularlyinterrogatesNight*concerning
thesethings,andsays,
Tellmehowallthingswillasonesubsist,

Yeteachitsnatureseparatepreserve?
Orph.fr.121,122
FortheDemiurguscauseseachthingtopreserveitsnature,separate
fromothersthroughdifference,buthemakesallthingstobeone
throughsameness.TheOracleslikewise,5byasserting,thatthe
Demiurgusisrefulgentwithintellectualsections,manifestthatpowerof
Chimwhoiseffectiveofdifference.Buthefillsallthingswithlove
throughthepowerwhichiseffectiveofsameness.Hencehevery
properlygivesthesenameswhicharedemiurgicsignatures,tothecircles
ofthesouloftheuniversefromhisownessence.Thisnametherefore,
"thecircleofthesame,"isadivinename,asbearingthesignatureofthe
intelligiblecauseofsameness,asislikewise,"thecircleofthedifferent,"
2,257aspossessingthesymbolofthenatureofdifference.Forwithreference
tothegeneraofbeing,oneofthesecirclesisalliedtosameness,butthe
othertodifference;butwithreferencetotheintellectualGods,oneof
themissuspendedfromthepaternal,connectedlycontaining,and
immutablecauses,buttheotherfromtheprolificandvivificcauses.
Andaswithreferencetointelligibles,theoneinagreaterdegree
tItisnecessaryhereinthewordsrovfaoyovucovait'au77jcxotponcrripa,to
expungeair'.
$cf.96Asupra,p.291.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.1.
participatesofbound,buttheotherofinfinity.Thesesignatures
thereforefromalltheorders,causeoneofthesecirclestoobtainsucha
name,buttheother,acontraryname.
Someonehowevermaysay,what,then,istheoneessenceofthesoul
destroyedinthedivisionofthesetwofoldcircles?Wereply,byno
means.Forindivinenatures,divisionissecondtounion,and
progressionisthemediumbetweenstablepower,andtheperfection
Dsubsistinginconversionorregression.Butsincethesoulisamonad
essentiallyandaduad,oneandmultitude,abiding,andatthesametime
proceedingandreturning,andisalsounitedpriortodivision;hence,
themixtureofthesoulsubsistsonewhole,priortothemanyparts,and
beingdividedaccordingtoprogression,isagainunitedaccordingto
regression.Thelesstherefore,iscomprehendedinthegreatercircle.
Forasintellectcomprehendsthesoul,illuminatingitwithitsownlight,
thusalsothecircleofthesame*impartsunionandperfectiontothe
circleofthedifferent,renderingitundefiledinitsprovidentialenergies,
unitedinitsprogressions,andinacertainrespectintellectualinits
knowledgeofsensibles.Hencelikewise,inanadmirablemanner,one
ofthecirclessubsists,andisdenominatedaccordingtothesame,butthe
otheraccordingtothedifferent.Buttheessentialasbeingcommonto

both,isomitted,andisattributedtonooneoftheparts.Hencethe
soulaccordingtothisisone,butaccordingtothetwocirclesis
biformed,thesebeingafteracertainmanneropposedtoeachother.
36c"Helikewiseconvolvedthecircleofthesame,laterallytowardsthe
Erighthand,butthecircleofthedifferent,diametricallytowardstheleft
hand."
2,258Whatisheresaid,asthatwhichremainstobediscussed,isconcerning
thepsychicalpowers,andthedemiurgicseparationofthemfromeach
other.Forpowerisafteressence;butenergyhasthethirdorder,aswe
havebeforeobserved.*ThisalsoPlatohimselfmanifeststous,
denominatingthemotionofthesecircles,thelationofthesameandthe
lationofthedifferent,butnottheessenceofthese.Fromthesetwo
circlesalso,hegeneratesdifferentpowers,andafterwardsunfoldstous
whatkindofenergiestheypossess.Suchthingsastheselikewise,he
assertsinthePhaedrus,*concerningthebetterandtheworseofthetwo
tForavTOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadTCCVTOV.
tcf.178B,ff,supra,p.552.
cf.Phaedrus253d.
horsesofthesoul.Whatthereforedoesheheresayconcerningthe
powersofthesouloftheuniverse?Inthefirstplace,asIhavesaid,he
dividesthewholepowersintotwo,Imeanintothepowerofthesame,
andthepowerofthedifferent;theformerbeinganalogoustobound,but
thelattertoinfinity.Afterwards,hedividesthepowerofthedifferent,
accordingtootherpeculiarities,andagaincollectsthemintoless
numbers,andthroughsamenessunitesthemultitude.Inthenextplace,
Fheattributesthingsmoreexcellentanddivinetothebetter,butthings
lessexcellenttothesubordinatepowers.Thus,forinstance,he
attributesaconvolutiontowardstherighthand,tothelationofthe
circleofthesame,buttothelefthand,tothelationofthecircleofthe
different.Andtotheformerheattributesthelateral,buttothelatter
thediametrical.Forinthetwocoordinationsofthings,inthemore
excellentseriesthereare[thesame,therighthand,theequilateraland
therational;butinthelessexcellentseries]*thecontrariestothese,the
different,thelefthand,thelongerintheotherpart,andtheirrational.
Suchtherefore,isthewholemeaningofthewordsbeforeus.
Letushoweverseewhatthetruthisofthethings;andinthefirst
220Aplace,ifyouarewilling,letusshowhowtherightandthelefthand
subsistintheuniverse.ForIknowthatthedaemoniacalAristotlecalls
indeedtheeasternpartoftheworldtherighthand,butthewesternthe
lefthand;*sincethefirstmotionisfromtheeastern,butthemotion
posteriortothis,fromthewesternparts.Inallanimals,however,the

principleofmotionisontherighthand.AndinthisthingAristotle
2,259accordswiththedoctrineofPlato,andalsoinwhatheasserts
concerningthesameanddifferent.Hesaysthereforethattheinerratic
sphereisthecausetoallthingsofsamenessofsubsistence,butthe
planetaryspheresofasubsistencedifferentatdifferenttimes.This
howeverappearstometobetheillustriouspeculiarityofthePlatonic
doctrine,thatisdoesnotdefinethesethingsaccordingtoourhabitude,
butdeliversthesepropertiesasproceedingfromthefabricationitselfof
things.ForiftheDemiurgushimselfinsertsindivinesoulstheright
handandtheleft,eachofthesedidnotproceedintotheworld,either
accordingtoourposition,orasamerehabitude,buttheyareessential
Bpeculiarities;justasthepaternalandmaternalintheGods,arethe
fThewordswithinthebracketsareomittedintheoriginal,butaresuppliedfrom
theversionofThomaeus.HenceafterthewordseiripevnjcKPELTTOVOCeanv
oeipac,intheoriginal,itisnecessarytoadd,TOTCCVTOV,TO8e%iov,TOiaoir\evpov,
TOXoyucoveiri&TT)t;xttpovoq,K.X.
$cf.AristotleDeCaeloII,2,285b16ff.
peculiaritiesofdivineessences.Foreveninpartialanimalsnaturedoes
notconstitutesomeofthepartsontheright,andothersontheleft
hand,accordingtomerehabitude,butaccordingtophysicalpowers.
Andthisisevidentfromherfashioningsomeofthepartsononeside,
butothers[differentfromthese]ontheotherside;andmakingthisto
betheprincipleofmotion,butthatnot.Thisbeingthecase,what
oughtwetothinkconcerningthefabricationitselfofthings?Isitthat
itexhibitsonethingontherighthand,butanotherontheleft,
accordingtohabitudealone?Buthowisthispossible,ifweadmitthat
itproducesbyitsveryexistencethatwhichitproduces,orthatadivine
soulisanessenceexemptfromeverythingwhichintroducesaccidents?
Ormustwenotassert,ifthisisgranted,thatthenatureofthe
fabricationofthingsisinagreaterdegreegenerativeofessencethana
divinesoulis?Butasitappearstome,wemustsaythatthissoul
physicallyinsertsinbodiestherighthandandtheleft,andsuspends
fromitselfinagreaterdegreetherighthandastheprincipleofmotion.
Hence,byamuchgreaterpriority,itisfitthatthemakerofsoulshould
produceboththesedemiurgicallyinhimself,andtherighthandan
imageasitwereofhimself;andthusintheworld,thattheinerratic
Csphereshouldbecircumvolvedtotheright,buttheplanetarysphereto
theleft?theformerhavingaprimordiallife,acmeofpower,and
efficaciousenergy;butthelatterbeingprolificandvarious,andfrom
anothersourcethanitselfreceivingtheprinciplesofmotion.Hencealso
intheuniversetheinerraticspherehasdominionoverallthings,
2,260convolvingallthingsaccordingtoonecircle;buttheplanetarysphere
ismultiform,andaswehavesaid,isthecauseofdifferencetogenerated

natures.Andtheoneistheimageofintellect,buttheotherofsoul;for
thecircleofthesameisintellectual.Inthesouloftheuniversehowever,
therighthandisthatwhichisconvertedtointelligibles,totrulyexisting
beings,andtheGods:foritisapowerwhichfillsthesoulwithdivine
life.Butthelefthandisthatwhichisconvertedtothecare,andorderly
distributionofsensibles:foritisapower,motiveofallsecondary
natures,andsubvertiveofinordination.Italsoproducesseparationand
varietyindemiurgicworks.
Fartherstill,thebeingconvolveddiametricallyaccordingtotheleft
hand,maybesaidtocomprehendthemotionfromthewesttotheeast,
Dandthemotiontotheobliqueparts,throughtheobliquity[ofthe
zodiac].Butyoumaysaythatinthesoulitself,thecircleofdifference,
beinggnosticofallsensiblenatures,atoncecomprehendsthequadruple
orderofthings,throughthefourcentres,accordingtowhichthevisible
motionofthebodiesrevolvetothelefthandanddiametricallyis
effected;justasthecircleofthesame,knowsintelligiblesasprimordial
causes,assupernallyunfoldingallsecondarynatures,andconvolving
accordingtooneunionthevariousorderofsensibles.Againalso,these
thingsaccedetothesoulaccordingtoitssimilitudetothewhole
vivification.1Forasthesoulisamonadandduadaccordingtothis,so
likewiseitisallottedthroughittherighthandandtheleft.Forinthe
wholevivification,thesethingsfirstpresentthemselvestotheview,and
arederivedfromit;onemultitudebeingproducedfromtherighthand,
butanotherfromthelefthandparts,whetheryoucallthemheads,or
hands,orintestines.Foraccordingtoallthese,theologistsdelivertous
theprolificpowersoftheGoddess.*Thesethingshoweverbeing
appropriatelyasserted,itisevidentthatitisnotthesamethingtosay
Ethatacertainthingismovedontheright,oronthelefthand,andthat
itismovedtowardstherightorthelefthandparts.Forthelatterof
theseassertionsisattributedtothingsthataremovedinacircle,
2.261manifestingthattobemovedtotherighthandpartsistobemovedto
thatparttowhichtherighthandmoves,andalsothattobemovedto
thelefthandparts,ittobemovedtothatparttowhichthelefthand
moves.Sincetherefore,therighthandandtheleftarecalledtheeast
andthewestthroughthebeforementionedcauses,sothattheformeris
thebeginningofmotion,butthelatterfollows,andinasimilarmanner,
theonebeingapowerinthecircleofthesame,buttheotherinthe
circleofthedifferent,fromwhichthemotionofeachisderived,the
words"towardstherightandthelefthand,"areveryproperlyintroduced
byPlato.Buttobemovedontherighthandorontheleft,pertainsto
thingsthataremovedinarightline,thesebeingtheboundaries5ofthe
motionsaccordingtobreadth.HenceTimaeus,havingbeforeseparated
thesixmotionsinarightline,Dfromthemotioninacircle,and
beginninginwhatisnowsaid,fromthesoul,deservedlygivestoitthe
differenceofthemotionstowardstherightandthelefthand.Andthus
muchconcerningthesemotions.

Letus,however,considertheremainingopposition.ForTimaeus,as
Fintheworld,convolvestheinerraticsphereaccordingtotheside,but
theplanetarysphereaccordingtothediameter,justasinthesoulhe
fLe.ToCeres,orRhea,whocontainsinherrighthandpartsJunothefountainof
souls,andinherleftVestathefountainofvirtue,[cf.Ch.Orac.fr.51&52.]
$Chald.Oracl.fr.56.
ForTeapotraovrahere,itisnecessarytoreadweparaovra.
Tim.43b.
convolvesthecircleofthesamelaterally,butthecircleofthedifferent
diametrically.Inthefirstplace,therefore,thismustbeconsidered
mathematically,bydrawinginaquadrilateralfigureadiameter,and
conceivingthatthecircleofthesame,+isconvolvedaccordingtothe
side,butthecircleofthedifferent,accordingtothediameterofthe
figure.Thequadrilateralfigure,also,mustbeadaptedtothetwocircles,
i.e.tothesummerandwintertropics;andwemustconceive,thatthey
aremovedwiththemotiontowardstherighthandparts,accordingto
thetwosideswhicharesimilarlypositedinboththecircles;andalso
thatthemiddle[orthecircleofthesame]ismovedaccordingtothe
221Agreatestofthetwocircles,butthatthecircleofthedifferent,whichis
obliquewithreferencetoboth,ismovedaccordingtothediameterof
thisquadrilateralfigure.Fortheobliquecircle[i.e.thezodiac]is
describedaboutthis,accordingtowhichalltheperiodofthecircleof
thedifferentisconvolved.
Leavinghoweverthemathematics,letusconsiderwhatthepeculiarities
areofthediameterandtheside.Forweshallfindthoseofthelatterto
be,theunoblique,theeffable,thecomprehensive,andthatwhichis
2,262connectiveofangles;butonthecontrarythoseoftheformertobe,
obliquity,theirrational,thecomprehended,andthatwhichdivides
angles.Foraccordingtoallthesepeculiarities,thesidediffersfromthe
diameter.Andthesealsoareinherentinthecirclesofthesoul.Forone
ofthesecirclesisalliedtosimplicity,bound,andend;buttheotherto
variety,multitude,andthenaturewhichpossessesinfinitepower.The
onelikewiseisconnective,buttheotheristhecauseofdivision.And
theoneisallottedthedignityofcomprehending,buttheotherthatof
beingcomprehended.Hencetheoneisveryproperlysaidtobe
Bconvolvedaccordingtotheside,asimmutable,*asunited,andas
uniform;buttheotheraccordingtothediameter,asrejoicingin
progression,andmultiplications,andaseffectiveofdifference.Forthe
diameterisgreaterinpowerthantheside,dividestheangles,makes
manyspacesfromone,andissituatedobliquely.Henceinwhatfollows,
Platosays,5thatthelationofthecircleofthedifferentisoblique.But
alltheseparticularsareindicationsofthenatureoftheinfinite.

tThecircleofthesame,isintheuniversetheequinoctialcircle;andthecircleof
thedifferent,isthezodiac.
%ForonrapehiKToqinthisplace,readairapaWaKTog.
Tim.39a.
36c"Buthegavedominiontothecirculationofthesameandsimilar.For
hesuffereditalonetoremainundivided."
Thisisthedemiurgicsacredlaw,intelligiblyproceedingfromonhigh
fromintelligibles;viz.thatmoresimpleshouldpredominateovermore
variousnatures,themoreuniformoverthemultiplied,finitesover
infinites,andthemoreoverthelessintellectual.Asthereforein
intelligibles,boundhasdominionovertheinfinite,inintellectualsthe
maleoverthefemale,insupermundanenaturessamenessoverdifference,
andsimilitudeoverdissimilitude,thusalsointhesoul,theperiodofthe
samepredominatesoverthecirculationofthedifferent.Hencealsoin
Csensibles,theplanetaryisunderthedominionoftheinerraticsphere,
andeverymultiformgenusoflifeiscontainedbytheuniformgenera.
Hencefromthesethingslikewiseitmaybeassumed,thatsamenessis
betterthandifference;thatagainsimilitudeappearstobemoreexcellent
thandissimilitude;andthattheopinionofthegeneralityofPlatonists
isnottrue,thatdifferenceisbetterthansamenessanddissimilitudethan
similitude.Foronaccountoftheformitselfofsameness,thecircleof
thesameismoredivine.Fortheundivided,signifiesdivineunion,an
2,263indivisiblelife,anduniformityinpowers.Whytherefore,someone
maysay,ifthisisbetter,didnottheDemiurgussufferthewholesoul
tobeundivided?Wereply,becauseitisrequisite*thatthesoulshould
possessallforms,andallthereasonsandcausesofmundanenatures.
Andthatwhichiscomprehensiveoftwofoldcircles,ismoreperfectthan
thatwhichisdefinedaccordingtoonepower.Forthatwhichisafter
suchamannerthesame,asinsamenesstocomprehenddifference
occultly,ismoreexcellentthanthatwhichsubsistsaccordingtothe
Dpsychicalmiddle.Butitpertainstotheessenceofthesoultohave
dominionoverdifference,inconjunctionwithsameness.Forthe
intelligibleandintellect,areasitwerethecircleofsamenessalone.But
thesensibleessence,isasitwerethecircleofdifferencealone.Forin
theformer,differencesubsistsoccultly;butinthelatter,samenesshasan
obscureandsuperficialsubsistence.Andthesoulisamediumbetween
both,beingaduad,andhavingtwofoldcircles,oneofwhichpertainsto
intellect,buttheothertothesensibleessence.Itlikewisepossesses
twofoldreasons,theoneintellectual,buttheothereffectiveofthe
world;andtheoneproceedingtotrulyexistingbeings,buttheother
comingintocontactwithsensibles.
tForeSrjhere,readtdei.

36d"Butastotheinteriorcircle,whenhehaddivideditsixtimes,andhad
producedsevenunequalcircles,eachaccordingtotheintervalofthe
doubleandtriple;eachoftheintervalsbeingthree;heorderedthecircles
[i.e.orbs]toproceedinacoursecontrarytoeachother;threeofthem
indeedrevolvingwithasimilarcelerity,buttheotherfourdissimilarly
toeachother,andtothethree,yetinadueproportion."
Inthefirstplace,ifyouarewilling,letussurveywhatissaidbyPlato,
astronomically.Forthismodeofdoctrineisappropriate,andletus
conceivethedepthoftheplanetaryspheres,asonething,and
throughoutsimilartoitself;because,asthosewhoareskilfulinthings
Eofthiskindsay,itconsistsofonematter;butisdividedintosevenorbs,
2,264whichrevolveinacertainrespectcontrarytoeachother.Orassome
say,becausethesunandthemoonaresimilarlymovedintheir
epicycles,revolvingintheirorbswithamotioncontrarytothatofthe
inerraticsphere.Butothersmakeonelationoftheequableandthe
anomalous.Or[thereisonedepthoftheplanetaryspheres,]becauseas
otherssay,Saturn,Jupiter,andMars,makethefirsteasternphases,*
aftertheirconjunctionwiththesun,inconsequenceofthesunbeing
movedwithgreaterceleritythantheseplanetsinconsequentia?Butthe
moonmakeswesternphases,becausebeingmovedmoreswiftlythanthe
sun,sheisperceivedmoreeasterly.MercuryandVenushowever
sometimesappeartousinthisway,andsometimesinthat.Orthereis
onedepthbecausetheplanetsmakeapparentstations,advancing
motions,andretrogressions,arediametricallyopposedtoeachother,and
revolveincontrarydirections,somebeingmovedtothenorth,but
otherstothesouth.Orinwhateverwayyouarewillingtoconsider
thisaffair;fortherearedifferentopinionsonthissubject.Or,which
maybemoretrulyasserted,becausePlatosays,theDemiurgusordered
theorbstoproceedinacoursecontrarytoeachother,hedoesnotmean
thatthesevenaremovedincontrarydirections,buttheoneorbandthe
Fseven,onaccountoftheircontrarylation.Forthus,inwhatfollows,
hesays,thattheplanetsandtheinerraticsphere,areatoneandthesame
timemovedwiththeirpropermotions,incontrarydirections.Plato,
however,neitherherenorelsewheremakesmentionofepicycles,or
eccentrics;butdescribesthesevencirclesaboutonecentre.Hence,he
doesnotaddothercirclestothese;nordoeshemakeamechanical
differenceofthemotions.Forindependentlyofhisomittingto
222Amentionthese,thehypothesisofepicycles,andofphases,isbynomeans
tFor(pvaeiQhere,itisnecessarytoread<pa.o~aq.
adaptedtothecirclesinthesoul.Thecircleofthedifferent,therefore,
isdividedintothesevencircles,threeofwhichhesaysrevolvewitha

similar,buttheotherfour,withadissimilarcelerity.Forthreethem,
viz.theSun,MercuryandVenus,asitissaidintheRepublic,*areequal
intheircourse;buttheotherfour,viz.theMoon,Saturn,Mars,and
Jupiter,areunequal.Atthesametime,however,allofthemrevolvein
adueproportion,bothwithreferencetoeachother,andtheuniverse;
becausethemotionofthemisevolvedaccordingtonumbers.[Andthe
periodiccirculationsofallofthem,areterminatedinabecoming
2.265manner.*]Itseemsalso,asismanifestfromwhatisheresaid,thatPlato
placesthedifferenceoftheequalityandinequalityofthemotionsinthe
visibleorbsoftheplanets,intheunequallymovedcircles[i.e.spheres]
inwhichtheyarecarried,priortotheplanetsthemselves.Hence,
placingthecirclesaloneinthesoul,withoutthestars,(forthesehehad
notyetconstituted,)hesaysthatsomeofthesearemovedwithanequal
celerity,butotherswithanunequalcelerity,bothwithreferencetothe
former,andtothemselves.Andthesethingsindeedaremanifest.
Theassertion,however,thateachofthesevencircleswasdivided
Baccordingtotheintervalofthedoubleandtriple,eachoftheintervals
beingthree,isliterallyconsidereddifficulttobeunderstood.Atthe
sametimeitsignifies,thataccordingtoeachintervalofthedoubleand
tripleintervals,eachbeingthree,(forinfourtermstherearethree
intervals)thesectionwasmade,whichisthesamethingasadivision
accordingtolength;inorderthatineachofthesevencircles,there
mightbealltheintervals,andalltheratios.Forifthesectionhadbeen
madeaccordingtooneinterval,someoftheintervalswouldhavebeen
distributedintosomeofthecircles,andothersintoothers.Butbecause
thedivisionproceedsaccordingtoeach,eachpartisapartofeach,and
allthecirclesparticipateofalltheratios.Unlessindeeditmaybemore
trulysaid,thatthecirclesaredividedsixtimes,conformablytothe
numberofthedoubleandtripleintervals,thesebeingsix.Forthe
intervalsbeingplacedsuccessively,andnotdividedaccordingtodepth;
(butImeanbysuccessively,soastobeextendedthroughthewhole
Ccircle,justastheywerearrangedthroughthewholerightline,from
whichbeingbentthecirclewasgenerated,)thisbeingthecase,itwould
tcf.Rep.X,617ab;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,226,18ff.
$Thewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,butareinsertedfrom
theversionofThomaeus.
beridiculoustomakesuchasectionaccordingtodepth,astodivide
eachofthecirclesinonepart.
2.266Thesethingsthereforebeingpremised,weshallfurtherobserve,
beginningfromthephaenomena,thatsincethesouloftheuniverse
possessesthereasonsofallmundanenatures,andpowerswhichgive
subsistencetothem,itisnecessarythatitshouldnotonlycontainthe
intellectualcausesofman,andhorse,andofotheranimals,butlikewise

priortothese,ofthewholepartsoftheworld;Imeanoftheinerratic
andplanetaryspheres.Itislikewisenecessary,thatfromtheduadwhich
isinthissoul,theheavensshouldsustainadivisionintotwoparts;that
priortothesevenplanets,thereshouldpreexitsinitthetrue
hebdomad;andthatitshouldcontainthecausesofthedissimilitudeand
similitudeofthecircles.Forasournaturegeneratesaccordingtothe
reasons[orproductiveforms]init,twoeyes,fivefingers,andseven
viscera;foritantecedentlycomprehendsthenumbersoftheseparts,on
whichaccountitalwaysproducesafterthesamemanner,andgenerates
Dthesameform,whentheimpedimentsarisingfrommatterdonot
preventthegenerationaccordingtonaturefromtakingplace;andasthe
onesenseinus,possessingthecausesofthesefivesenses,*generates
secondarilyfromitself,thepowerswhicharedistributedaboutthebody;
afterthesamemanneralso,thecircleofthedifferent,comprehendsin
itselftheprimordialcausesofthesevencircles[orspheres,]accordingto
whichtheyareadorned,anddistributedinanorderlymanner.Forall
heavenparticipatesofboththecircles;buttheinerraticsphere
participatesmoreofthecircleofthesame,andtheplanetarysphere,
moreofthecircleofthedifferent.Hencetheformerisindeedundivided,
butthelatterisdivided.Theformeralsoismovedfromtheeast,but
thelatterfromthewest.Fortheoneindeedimitatestheuniform[and
intellectualpowerofthesoul,buttheotheritsmultiformpowers,*]in
consequenceofrejoicinginmotionandvariety,thoughtheinerratic
spherealsoiscomprehensiveofmanydivineanimals.Thecircleofthe
same,likewise,comprehendsthecausesofallthings,butitiswithout
section;becauseallthemultitudeinitisconnascentwithitselfthrough
union,anditisvanquishedbythebondofsameness.Hencealsothe
inerraticsphereismovedwithonelation.Buteachofthesevenspheres,
2.267comprehendsamultitudeofpowers,someofwhicharemoretotal,but
fTim.42a.
XHerealsothewordswithinthebracketsarewantingintheoriginal,andare
suppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus;sothatintheoriginalafternovotifiri,the
wordsKmvoepavrr/c^uxfCSuHXfur,TO8evoXvei&tc,Swctyietcmustbesupplied.
Eothersaremorepartial.Now,however,Timaeusdeliverstheunities,
andthefirstcomprehensionsofthem;butomitstheinexplicable
decrementsofthedivinereasons.Forthecircle[orsphere]ofeach,isa
plenitudeofappropriatelife,whichiseitherofaconnectedlycontaining,or
dividing,orbinding,oranagogic,orofsomeothersuchlikepeculiarity.
Manypowerslikewisecontributetoitsperfection,someofwhichare
generativeofprimaryandsecondaryGods,butothersofdemons,andothers
ofpartialsouls.
Whyhowever,someonemaysay,didnottheDemiurgusproducea
peculiarcircleofessence,aswellasofsamenessanddifference?We

reply,becausetheseareopposedtoeachother,butessenceiscommon
tothewholesoul.Henceaccordingtothisthewholesoulisone,but
isbiformedaccordingtothose;justasoftherightlines,oneprecedesthe
two.Herelikewisethemonadprecedes*thehebdomad,justasthe
impartibleofthesoul,istheleaderofthedivisionintosevenparts.But
thedivisionofthehebdomadintofourandthree,hasasesquitertian
ratio,beingthefirstofthesymphonies,andhasalsothefirstnumbers
Foftheevenandtheodd.Ofthethree[circles]however,one[thatofthe
Sun]isanalogoustotruth;another[thatofVenus]tobeauty;andthe
third,[thatofMercury]tosymmetry:thesethreemonads,aswelearn
fromthePhilebus,*beingsituatedinthevestibulesofTheGood.Butof
thefourcircles,one[thatofSaturn]whichismoststable,isanalogous
topermanency;another,[thatoftheMoon]whichismovedwiththe
greatestfacility,isanalogoustomotion;another,[thatofJupiter,]which
isofthemostexcellenttemperature,tosameness;andanother[thatof
Mars,]whichisofamostdividingnature,todifference.Whyalso,it
maybesaid,didnottheDemiurgusplacepartialformsinthesoulofthe
universe,butonlythegeneraofallvariousforms?Wereply,becauseit
pertainstototalfabrication,toeffectthelatter.Fora
223Adistributionofreasonsintonumerousparts,istheprovinceofpartible
production.Forthisreceivingeachsouldividedintothecommon
generaofallbeings,givesadistinctsubsistencetothevarietyinthem,
accordingtothedivinedividingart,andproducesthedivisionofeach,
asfarastoindividualforms.Hencealso,thisfabricationissaidtobe
2,268partible,andtobesecondarytothetotalfabrication.Adivision,
therefore,adaptedtothetotalgeneraofsoulsisdelivered,andlikewise
tForTT)VT7)cepbopaboc;eanvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirporqq
0bOflXXoOQtonv.XPhilebus(Ac{.
amixtureofwholesadaptedtothefabricationwhichisthesubjectof
discussion,andis*total.Thesethings,however,aremanifest.
Butwhy,itmaybesaid,dowemakethedivisionintotheinerratic
andplanetaryspheresalone,orratherintotheparadigmaticcausesof
these,andnotintothefourelements?Forthesouloftheuniverse,
containsthesealsobyitspowers,andleadsthembyitsmotions.In
answertothis,therefore,itissaidbysome,thatallthequadrupleorder
oftheelements,iscomprehendedinthecircle[orsphere]ofthemoon.
Forthatwhichismaterialisbutsmallaswithreferencetotheuniverse,
andisasitwereacertainbottomoftheworld.Forthusinthe
Republic,*Platodividesthewholeworld,intoeightwhirls,{a<j>ovbv\oi)
comprehendingthewholeofamaterialnatureintheogdoad.These
thingsthereforearesaid,andarewellsaid.Again,however,itmaybe
moreperfectlysaid,thatthroughthismonadandheptadofcircles,he
comprehendsallthepartsoftheworld.Forasintheheavensthereare

amonadandaheptad,thusalsoanalogouslyinthesphereofaether,
somethingarecoordinatetotheinerraticcircle,butotherstothe
planetaryspheres.Andthewholeetherialorderwhichisthere,imitates
theheavens.Thisislikewisethecaseintheprofundityoftheair,inthe
massesofwater,andinthebosomsoftheearth.Fornotonlytheearth
isdividedanalogoustotheheavens,butalsotheotherelements,andin
eachtherearemonadsandheptads,comprehensiveoftheordersthatare
inthem,andofempyrean,aerial,andaquaticplenitudes.Thecircles
thereforeofthesoul,antecedentlycomprehendallthesemonadsand
hebdomads;thecircleofthesame,containingsomeofthem,butthe
Ccircleofthedifferentothers.Thislikewiseappearedtobethecase,tothe
mostscientifictheologiststhateverexisted.+
Platoalsowillgrant,thatseriesextendfromtheinerraticandplanetary
spheres,asfarastoterrestrialnatures,whethertheyaredivine,or
2,269daemoniacal,orthoseofpartialsouls;sinceheisofopinionthatseries
ofthetwelveliberatedleadersextendfromonhighasfarastothelast
ofthings.0Foritisnecessarythatthelessshouldfollowthemore
principalperiods,andthattheseveralsubcelestialshouldimitatethe
celestialseries.Hencethepsychicalcircleswillcomprehendthecauses
ofthese,asbeingarrangedanalogouslytothem.Ifthesethings,
tForVTcepexovouvhere,itisnecessarytoreadvirctpxovoav.
$cf.Rep.X,616d,f;andalsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,94,11ff,&213ff.
Proclus,Ihavenodoubt,meansbythesetheChaldeantheologists.
cf.Phxdrus247a.
however,1areadmitted,itisevidentwemustagainsaythattheplanets
whichrevolvewithanequalcelerityarearrangedinthemiddleofthe
wholesoftheuniverse,*notonlyasbeinganalogoustothemonadsin
thevestibulesofTheGood,viz.totruth,beauty,andsymmetry;+but
likewiseafteranothermanner,whichwebeforementioned,aspossessing
thebondofwholes;sothattheyareestablishedaccordingtothatwhich
elevatessecondarytofirstnatures,accordingtothatwhichunfoldsinto
lightfirsttosecondarynatures,andaccordingtothatwhichsimilarly
Dbindsbothofthesetogether.Oftherest,however,wemustsaythat
earthandDtheinerraticsphereareanalogoustotheSynochesHeaven
andEarth0[oftheintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectualorder
ofGods];butthatwaterand[theplanet]SaturnareanalogoustoRhea
andSaturn[oftheintellectualorder];andairandJupiter,totheJupiter
andJuno[ofthatorder].Afterthese,itwillnotbeunappropriateto
say,thattheMoonandMars**havethenextorder;thelatterpossessing
thepowerofseparatingfirstandmasculinefrommiddlenatures;butthe
formerofdefininganddistinguishingthirdandasitwerefeminine
naturesfromthoseofamiddleorder.Butinthemedia,theextremes
are,thatwhichpossessesananagogicpower[i.e.Mercury],andthat

whichhasthepowerofunfoldingintolight[i.e.theSun].Andthe
mediumbetweenthese,isthatwhichconnectedlycontainsallthingsin
amatorybonds[i.e.Venus].Thisalsotheologistsmanifest.Fortheycall
thefirstofthese,themessengeroftheGods;thesecond,thegateof
ascent;andthepowerwhichisinthemiddleofboth,Venus**beingthe
friendshiporlove,whichistheconnectivemediumoftheuniverse;
whethertheSunisprior,andMercuryposteriortoher,orviceversa.
Perhapstoo,theywillrevolvewithequalcelerity,sofarasallofthem
looktoonething,thebondofwholes;andtheirenergieswillhavethis
fortheirend,toestablishallthingsinoneunion,sothattheuniverse
maybefilledwithitspropercauses.Allthingstherefore,areinthe
tFordeihere,read5TJ.
$cf.Tim.38d.
cf.Philebus64c.
ForKarainthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadKUI.
Ocf.128Bff.supra,p.386;andChald.Oracl.fr.82.
ftInsteadofaepahere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadapea.
t4A0po6tTT/yisomittedintheoriginal,butboththeversionofThomaeusandthe
senseofthepassagerequireitshouldbeinserted.
Esoul,accordingtounicalcomprehension.Fortheeightcirclesarepowers,
unitedlycomprehendingthingswhichsubsistinadividedmannerin
sensibles,bothintheheavens,andineachoftheelements.Andthusmuch
2.270mayinshortbesaidconcerningallthecircles.
Againhowever,consideringthecircleofthedifferentbyitself,wesay
thatitsdivisionintosixparts,ismosteminentlyadaptedtothesoul.
ForaccordingtothedoctrineofthePythagoreansthesoulisahexad.+And
theyarrangethemonadasanalogoustoapoint,butthehexad,tothat
whichisanimated,andtheheptad,tothatwhichisintellectual.Buthow
isitpossibleweshouldnotsay,thatthenumberofsevencirclesis
adaptedtothesoul,whichisproducedbythevivificGoddess[Rhea],
whoisamonad,duad,andheptad,comprehendinginherselfallthe
Titannidae?Fartherstill,thismaybeconsideredafteranothermanner;
fortheheptadisanumberproductiveofopportunity{Kaipotpvr\qeanv
apid^oq),andisperfectiveandapocatastaticofperiods.*Inthisrespect
therefore,itsubsistsappropriatelywithreferencetothesoul,which
producesanddirectsallthingsbyitsmotions.If,however,thisbethe
case,itisevidentthatthesecirclesofthesoularegnostic,andbya
Fmuchgreaterpriority,vitalpowersofit,bothtetradicandtriadic.For
throughboth,theyarecomprehensiveofallsensibles,andthroughthe
triadknowallthesimilitudeinthem,butthroughthetetrad,allthe
dissimilitude,andallthevarietyandgenerawhichtheycontain.They
knowlikewise,throughthese,whethersensiblesintheirexistence,
whateveritmaybe,participateofacertaintruth,orsymmetry,or

beauty,fromtrulyexistingbeings.
Moreover,thesubsistenceofthesesevengeometricaltermsineachof
thecircles,givesaseptupleincreasetotheratios.Butthisisan
224Aindicationoftheselfmotivenatureofthesoul.Foritgeneratesand
multipliesitself,andisatoneandthesametimeaheptad,andanumber
proceedingfromtheheptad.Again,thepsychicalcirclesproceedingin
2.271adirectioncontrarytoeachothermanifeststhatthesepowersproceed
everywhere,areprolificofallthings,andarethecausesofthe
differencewhichisdistributedeverywhere,andofthecontrarieties
whichsubsistaboutgeneration.Forcontrariesexistinthesoul,inthe
heavens,andinmatter.Butofmaterialcontrariesindeed,generation
consists.Thesecontraries,however,derivetheirsubsistencefromthe
psychicalthroughthecelestialreasons.Forsomethingshavethe
tcf.340Ainfra,p.1022.
tcf.Theol.Arith.42ff.
relationoffromwhich,othersthatofthroughwhich,andothersthatof
bywhich,}inthethingswhicharegeneratedbythem.Moreoverthe
similitudeofthethreeandthedissimilitudeofthefourcircles,are
assumedappropriatelytothenumbers.Forthetriadindeedis
perfective,andconvertivetothesameform.Butthetetradisprolific,
Bandthecauseofallmultitude.Allthenumberstherefore,viz.the
monad,duad,triad,tetrad,pentad,hexad,andheptad,areentirelyinthe
essenceofthesoul;andafterallthese,thesquarefromtheheptad.*All
theselikewiseterminateintheheptad.Hence,theessenceofthesoul,
isonallsideshebdomadic.Andthecircleofthesameindeed,isa
monad;butthecircleofthedifferentis,aswehavesaid,aheptad.For
theformerisintellectinmotion,butthelatterisalightaccordingto
intellect;inthesamemannerastheheptad,accordingtothePythagoreans.
Theonealsoisimpartible,analogoustointellect,buttheotheris
partible;thoughitalsoconsistsoftheimpartibleessence,andofthe
essencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies.[Thepartiblenaturehowever
isredundant]5init:fordifferencehasdominioninit.Hence,theone
ismonadic,buttheotherhebdomadic;notonlybecausetheheptad
pertainstotheessenceofthesoulthroughitssimilitudetothevivific
Goddess;0(forsheisamonadcomprehensiveoftwotriads,whichshe
containsinherself)butalsobecausetheprimarydistributionofthesoul
intopartsishebdomadicashasbeenbeforeshown.Forthingswhich
aredistributedintopartsfromoneimpartiblepower,havethefirst
2,272numberhebdomadic.Thenumberalsowhichisderivedfromthe
Cheptad,isadaptedtodividingpowers,inthesamemannerastheheptad.
tForcap'uvhere,itisrequisitetoreadv<t>'uv.
XThedoubleandtripleintervalsthatarefilledwiththearithmeticalandharmonical

middles,arethenumbers6.8.9.12.16.18.24.27.32.36.48.54.81.108.162.Andthe
doubleandtripleintervalsthatarefilledbothwiththeabovementionedmiddles,and
withsesquioctavesandleimmas,arethenumbers,384.432.486.512.576.648.729.
768.864.972.1024.1152.1296.1458.1536.1728.1944.2048.2304.2592.2916.3072.
3456.3888.4374.4608.5184.5832.6144.6912.7776.8748.9216.10368.Andthesumof
thenumberofthetermsofboththeseseries,is49,whichisthesquareof7.
ItappearstomethatthewordsirXeovafriTOiiepiorov,oughttobeinsertedinthe
original,afterthewordsaXX'evCWTQ.
viz.toRhea.
Thelatter,however,pertainstosupermundane,[buttheformerto
mundanepowers.]*
Ifhowever,itberequisitetoreferallthecompositionofthesoul,to
thedivineorders,forithastheimagesofallofthem,thebeginningof
thereference,mustbeassumedfromtheformerpartofthisdialogue,in
whichitissaid,thatthesoulwasfabricated,notaswesayjuniortothe
body,butbothingenerationandvirtuepriortoandmoreancient,as
themistressandrulerofit.*ForTimaeusthencebeginningtospeak
concerningit,givestoitasuperiordignitywithrespecttothe
generationofthewholecorporealcomposition.Itmustbesaid,
therefore,thatitsprogression,sofarasitrules,andisthemistressofthe
body,5mustbereferredtotheprincipleofallthings.Butsofarasitis
allottedatripleandunitedhypostasis,wemustreferittothesummitD
ofintelligibles;andasgeneratedfromessence,sameanddifferent,tothe
wholeofthetrulyintelligiblebreadth;ofwhichessenceandbeing
possessthesummit;buteternitywhichisthecausetoallthingsof
permanencyinthesame,themiddle;andintelligibleanimal,which
causesitselftobedifferentinitsprogressionstointelligibleanimals,the
Dend.Forthewholethere,astheParmenidesteachesus,consistsof
dissimilarparts.0Thistriplewholetherefore[thesoul],whichisa
mixtureofdissimilarelements,isathingofthiskind.Butsofarasthe
soulisaselfbegottenandintelligiblenumber,wemustreferittothe
summitoftheintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectualorders.For
therethefirstnumbersubsistsinconjunctionwithdifference.Foras
theologistssay,wemustsurveythatfirstorder,asbeing**thecauseof
theseriesofthings,[andofothercoordinations]**whicharedivided
tThewordswithinthebrackets,arewantingintheoriginal,butaresuppliedfromthe
versionofThomaeus.HenceitisrequisitetoaddintheoriginalafterVKtpKOQpuxiQ,
thewordsovroc,5erait;eyKogpicuc..
$Tim.34bc.
cf.Gorgias524a.
Forravrorr\Tothere,IreadaKporrira:forthesummitofintelligibles,which
consistsofbound,infinity,andthatwhichismixed,isthefirsttripleandatthesame

timeunitedhypostasis.
Ocf.Parmenides129aff.
ftForovoctvhere,itisrequisitetoreadovoav.
#ThewordswithinthebracketsaresuppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus;so
thatafteroaruxvintheoriginal,thewords(cataXkuvovoroixutv,mustbeadded.
accordingtonumber.Buttherealso,Parmenidesgivessubsistencetothe
wholeofnumber,andfromthenceunfoldsallthingsintolight.Andso
farasthesoulisawholeconsistingofthreeelements,wemustreferit
totheintellectualwholeness,whichconnectedlycontainswholesand
parts.Forthethreemiddlesarederivedfromthoseconnectedly
2,273containingGods.One[i.e.thegeometricmiddle]proceedingfromthe
firstoftheseGods,whocomprehendstherest,andcollectsallthings
accordingtoonereason,intooneworld,andoneunion.Butanother
[i.e.theharmonicmiddle]proceedingfromthesecondoftheseGods,
whoimpartsadifferentbondtodifferentthings,agreaterbondtosuch
asaregreater,butalesstosuchasareless.*Andanother[i.e.the
arithmeticalmiddle]beingderivedfromthethirdoftheseGods,who
Eimpartsbyilluminationfromhimself,communiontonaturesofathird
rank;throughwhomthingsarelessinbulk,aremoreunited,butsuch
asaregreater,areunitedinalessdegree.*Thishowever,isthe
distinguishingpropertyofthearithmeticalmiddle.Sofaralso,asthe
soulhasanideaandconfigurationofsuchakind,andemploysa
rectilinearprogression,andcircularconversion,forthereasonwehave
beforementioned,wemustreferittothetriadofintellectualfigure.For
theright,andthecircularline,firstsubsistinthattriad.Henceinthe
ideaofthesoul,lineswereassumed,andcirclesinconjunctionwith,and
separatefromeachother.Again,sofarasthesoulreceivesmonadicand
hebdomadicpowers,wemustreferittotheintellectualhebdomad.But
asthemedium5betweenintelligiblesandsensibles,andasassimilating
sensiblestointelligibles,wemustreferittotheruling[supermundane]
series.Forthisseriesassimilatessecondarynaturestounicalsummits.
Andasenergizingaccordingtotwofoldenergies,someofwhich
providentiallyattendtosensibles,butothersadheretointelligibles,we
mustreferittotheliberatedGods,whotouchanddonottouchthe
universe.Theseobservationstherefore,whichwehavebrieflymade,
Fwillaffordassistancetothosewhowishtoperusethewritingsofour
tForintheharmonicmiddle,thegreatertermshaveagreaterratiotoeachother
thantheless.Thusin2.3.6.theratioof6to3isgreaterthanthatof3to2.
tOfthisunionthearithmeticalmiddleisanimage;forinthis,thereisagreater
ratiointheless,andalessratiointhegreaterterms.Thusin5.6.7.8.theratioof6to
5,isgreaterthanthatof8to7.
Forpeouvhere,readpear/v.

preceptor,inwhichthetrulyarcaneconceptionsofPlatoconcerning
thesethings,areunfolded.1
IamastonishedhoweveratthosePlatonists,whothinkthatthesoul
shouldbedividedaccordingtopartsintothecelestialsouls,viz.intothe
oneandthesevenofthese.Forwhereisitpossibleinincorporeal
natures,thatthereshouldbeadivisionofthiskind,whichabolishesthe
whole?Forsuchadistributionintopartsasthis,isthepeculiarityof
partiblemasses.AndIalsowonderatthose,whothinkthatthesesouls
areentirelysupercelestial,sincePlatoinwhatimmediatelyfollows,
2,274showsthatinallhehassaid,hespeaksconcerningonesoul,andthis
225Amundane.Hence,Ithinkitisbettertoassumethisasaprinciple,that
itisherenecessary,thewholeshouldremaininthedivisions,andthat
thediscussionisconcerningmundaneanimations;andhavingassumed
this,tosaythattheonesouloftheworldisindivisible,andatthesame
timeisdividedaccordingtothesepowers;firstintotheduad,secondly
intothetriadandtetrad,andthirdlyintothehebdomad.Forthe
divisionofitismadeaccordingtothesenumbers.Andsuchisour
opiniononthissubject.
Theodorusthephilosopherhowever,ofAsine,beingfullofthe
doctrinesofNumenius,speculatesthegenerationofthesoulinamore
226Bnovelmanner,fromletters,andcharacters,andnumbers.*Butthe
divineIamblichusblameseverytheoryofthiskind,inhistreatisein
confutationofthefollowersofAmelius,andalsoofNumenius,whether
heincludesNumeniusamongthosewhoadoptedthismethod,or
whetherheanywheremetwithwritingsofthedisciplesofAmelius,
2,278containingsimilaropinions:forIcannotsay.ThedivineIamblichus
thereforesaysinthefirstplacethatitisnotpropertomakethesoul
everynumber,orthegeometricalnumber,onaccountofthemultitude
ofletters.Forthewordsbody(ao/na)andnonbeingitself(jit]ov)
consistofanequalnumberofletters.Nonbeingtherefore,willalsobe
everynumber.Youmayalsofindmanyotherthings,consistingofan
equalnumberofletters,whichareofavilenature,andmostcontrary
toeachother;allwhichitisnotrighttoconfoundandmingletogether.
Inthesecondplace,heobserves,thatitisnotsafetoarguefrom
tTheEnglishreaderwillfindthesearcaneconceptionsofPlatoconcerningallthese
ordersofGods,beautifullyunfoldedinmytranslationofProclusOntheTheologyof
Plato[TTSvol.VET].
%Proclusgivesanepitomeofthistheory,butasitwouldbeverydifficulttorenderit
intelligibletotheEnglishreader,andasintheopinionofIamblichus,thewholeofitis
artificial,andcontainsnothingsane,Ihaveomittedtotranslateit.[225A226B]
Ccharacters.Forthesesubsistbyposition,andtheancientwasdifferent
fromthepresentmodeofformingthem.ThusforinstancetheletterZ,
whichhemakesthesubjectofdiscussion,hadnottheoppositelines

entirelyparallel,northemiddlelineoblique,butatrightangles,asis
evidentfromtheancientletters.Inthethirdplace,headds,thatto
analyzeintotheprimaryratiosofnumbers,andtodwellonthese,
transfersthetheoryfromsomenumberstoothers.Fortheheptadis
notthesamewhichisinunits,andtens,andhundreds.Thishowever,
existinginthenameofthesoul,whyisitrequisitetointroducethe
disquisitionofprimaryratios?Forthushemaytransferallthingstoall
numbers,bydividing,orcompounding,ormultiplying.Inshort,he
accusesthewholeofthistheoryasartificial,andcontainingnothing
Dsane.IamalsonotignorantoftheargumentofAristotleagainstthe
psychogonyofPlato,andthesolutionsofthosearguments,bycertain
Platonists;butIhavenotdeemeditrequisitetomentionthemany
fartherhere,asIhaveelsewheremadethemthesubjectofdiscussion.
2,279Forthesoulisnotacircleasmagnitude,norisitrequisitetothinkthat
toconfutethishypothesis,istoembracethePlatonictheory.HenceI
havethoughtfittoomitthefartherconsiderationoftheseparticulars,
asIknowthatIhavepublishedatreatiseinanswertotheoppositions
ofAristotletotheTimaeus,+inwhichthereisnosmalldiscussionof
theseparticulars,andwhereitisshownthatmagnitudecannotrightly
beascribedtothesoul,accordingtoTimaeus,anddemonstratingfrom
thence,thatthesoulcannotbymagnitudewhichispartible,
intellectuallyperceiveintelligibleswhichareimpartible;asneitherisit
possiblefortheimpartibletobeadaptedtothepartible.Normustitbe
saidthatthemotionsoftheheavens[arethemotionsofthesoulofthe
universe];*butthataccordingtothedoctrineoftheTimaeus,theformer
subsistfromthelatter.Normustitbeadmittedthatitisimpossible
Efrequentlytounderstandthesamethingbythesamepower,butthis
mustnecessarilybethecaseinmoretransitiveintellections,since
intelligiblesarebounded,andintellectionsubsistsinacircle.Omitting
therefore,thefartherconsiderationofthesethings,whicharemore
amplydiscussedintheabovementionedTreatise,letusdirectour
attentiontothewordsofthephilosopher,whichappeartometoexhibit
thedoctrine5ofthingsthemselves.
cf.123Csupra,p.371.
ThewordswithinthebracketsaresuppliedfromtheversionofThomaeus.
InsteadofiroipaBuoHVhere,readircxpoLoomv.
36d"After,therefore,thewholecompositionofthesoulwasgenerated,
accordingtotheintellect[orintention]ofitscomposer,inthenext
place,hefabricatedwithinthesoul,thewholeofacorporealformed
nature."
Thefirsthead,aswehavebeforeobserved,*ofthediscussions
concerningthesoul,wasaboutitshyparxis,thesecond,aboutits

harmony,thethird,aboutitsfigure,thefourth,aboutitspowers,and
thefifth,aboutitsenergies.Inalltheotherheadstherefore,the
philosopherhasmostperfectlyinstructedus.Butthelast,wasthat
concerningtheenergiesofthesoul,whichheaddsinwhatisnowsaid.
Sincehowever,thereisatwofoldformoftheenergyofthesoul,Imean
2,280thegnosticandthemotive,heseparatelydiscusseseachofthese;and
Fshowshowthesoulbymovingitself,movesotherthings,andhowby
knowingitself,itknowsthenaturesprior,andalsothosethatare
posteriortoitself.Suchthereforeisthescopeofthewordsbeforeus.
Butthathedidnotteachus,inwhathasbeenalreadysaid,concerning
themultitudeofsoulsasthoseassert,whosay,thathisdiscussionabout
theessenceofthesoul,pertainedtothatsoulwhichiswithouthabitude
[tobody];butaboutitsharmony,tothesoulwhichiscalledbythem
inhabitude;andaboutitsfigure,tothesoulwhichranksinacertain
order;andfartherstill,thathedidnotteachusaboutsupermundane
souls,accordingtotheopinionofothers,whoassertthatheproduces
227Aone,andsevensupermundanesouls,isIthinkthroughthesethings
sufficientlymanifest.Forheconjoinstotheuniverse,thesoulwhich
wasfabricatedaccordingtotheintentionofthefather,andconstructs
withinitthewholeofacorporealformednature.Andthisisindeed
evidentfromthewholedesignofthedialogue.Forthewholediscussion
wasconcerningtheworld,andnotconcerningsupermundaneprogeny.
YoumayalsoseewithwhataccuracyTimaeusaddseachofthewords.
Forthewords,accordingtotheintellect,manifestthatintellectisthe
paradigmoftheuniverse.Forallperfectanimalisintelligibleintellect,
accordingtowhichthisuniverse,andthesouloftheuniversewere
constituted.Theylikewisesignifythatnothingwasconstitutedinvain,
normorenorless[thanwasfit];butthatallthingsrequisitetothe
completionofthepsychicalessence,werefashionedinabecoming*
manner,andthattheessenceofthesoulreceivedallthedemiurgicwill.
tcf.178Bff.supra,p.552.
%UptirovTUC,iswantinghereintheoriginal;butaccordingtotheversionof
Thomaeus,oughttobeadded.
Forthematerialnatures,onaccountofmatter,distributeintoparts,
impartibleform,andthatwhichisawholeisreceivedbythemas
partial,andthatwhichiswithoutinterval,aspossessinginterval.But
thesoulreceivesallthedemiurgicfabrication,conformablytothewill
oftheDemiurgus.Thewordsalsoitscomposermanifestuniversal
Benergy.Forthewords"accordingtointellect,"areindicativeof
completion;butitscomposerofanenergy,thewholeofwhichisatonce
alwayspresent.*Thewordslikewise,thewholecompositionofthesoul,
manifestthatnothingescapesthedemiurgicart,butthatthewhole
progressionofthesoul,isgovernedbytheformandpowerofthe

2,281Demiurgus.Butthewords,"inthenextplace"or"afterthis"mustnot
beapprehendedashavingatemporalmeaning,butassignificantof
order.Fortheseparatelifeofthesoulisonething,andthesecondary
lifeposteriortothis,andwhichcommunicateswiththebody,is
another.Andinadivineessence,thingsmoreperfectprecedesuchas
aremoreimperfect.Thewordslikewise,"withinthesoul"evincethat
theworld*isconnascentwiththesoul,andtheoffspringofit.Forif
theworldproceedsinthesoul,sheisthemistressofitssubsistence,
comprehendsthewholeofitsessence,andcooperateswiththe
Demiurgusintheorderlydistributionofbody.Forthesoulofthe
universeisnot5likepartialsouls,whichreceivebodiesfashionedby
otherthings,andonthisaccount,atonetimeruleoverthem,butat
another,areincapableofgoverningtheirproperorgans.Butproceeding
from,sheproducestogetherwithherfather,herhabitation,orrather
Chervehicle.Hencealso,shegovernstheuniverse,andenergizes
eternally,andwithoutsolicitudeandlabour.Foreverythingwhich
makesaccordingtoessence,makeswithfacilitythatwhichitmakes.
Moreover,thewordshefabricatedmanifesttheproductionofthe
Demiurgusproceedingthroughsolidandresistingsubstances;andalso
theeternallyadventitiousformationofsensibles;anddoesallbutD
representhim,employingVulcanian0organs,bywhichhefashionsthe
tThewordintheoriginalisovvioravn,inwhichword,anenergywhollyever
presentisindicatedbytheprepositionovv.
tItisrequisitehere,toaddTOVKOQpov,omittedintheoriginal.
InsteadofTOyapinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadovyap.
Forpovov\there,readpovovovxi
OInsteadofv<piOTeioic;inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadH<paiOTiou;.
wholeheavenfrombrass,+depictingallthingswithforms,giving
rotunditytocorporealmasses,andfiguringeachthingwithan
appropriateform.Sincethefabricationhoweveroftheuniverseistriple;
thefirstbeingthataccordingtowhichtheDemiurgusproduceditfrom
theelementsboundtogetherbyanalogy,*awholeofwholes;butthe
secondbeingthataccordingtowhichheadorneditfromthewhole
spheres,sinceitisimpossible,asitconsistsoftheelements,thatit
shouldnotbedividedintothespheres;andthethirdbeingthatwhich
givescompletiontotheuniversefromcelestial,aerial,aquaticand
terrestrialanimals;thisbeingthecase,Platoinwhatisnowsaid,
unfoldstousthemiddlefabrication.Forhewhofabricatesthewhole
ofacorporealformednaturewithinthesoulwhichisdividedinto
2,282circles,evidentlyfabricateditbydividingitintospheres.Forthe
Dspheresareimagesofthecircles[inthesoul]whichtheDemiurgus
forming,issaidtohavefabricatedthewholeofacorporealformed
nature,withinthecirclesofthesoul:bywhichalso,itisevident,that

theeightcirclescomprehendinthemselvesthesublunaryregion,since
theDemiurgusplacedinthemthewholeofacorporealnature.Forif
itwerenotso,Platowouldhavesaid,thattheDemiurgusfabricated
everythingcelestial,andnoteverythingcorporealwithinthem.Every
thingsubcelestialthereforeasbeingcodividedwiththeheavens,isin
thesecircles,orasbeingcontainedinthecircleofthemoon;theologists
alsocallingthemoonearth,throughtheallianceoftheearthtoit.
Henceitiscommontobothofthemtoconcealthelight.
36d"Andcollectingmiddletomiddle,hecoharmonizedthemtoeach
other."
Porphyry,understandingbythemiddlethephysicalpartofthesoul,
endeavourstocoadaptittothemiddleoftheuniverse,thoughPlato
doesnothereeveninwords,assumethatwhichisphysical.If,however,
wewishtointerpretwhatisnowsaidmoreagreablytothemeaningof
Plato,wemustsaythattheDemiurgusplacedinthesoul,whichhasa
Emiddleorderbetweenintellectandbody,themiddleoftheworld;and
notsimplyinthesoul,butinitsmostmiddlepart.Forthisistocollect
middletomiddle.Butthatthisishismeaningisevidentfromwhat
follows,inwhichhesaysthatthesoulwaseverywayextendedfromthe
middletotheextremitiesoftheuniverse.Fromthesethingstherefore,
tcf.Tim.55c.
|Tim.33a.
wemayassume,thatthewholeofacorporealnatureiseveryway
similarlyanimated,andthatthewholeofthemundanesoulisonall
sidesexemptfromthebody,inorderthatitmayimitatethewhole
Demiurgus,whoispresenttoallthings,andseparatefromall.Wemay
alsoassume,thatthecorporealnaturebeingthemiddleofthesoul,
makestheanimationofittoproceedeverywaysimilarly.Forifthe
extremesoftheuniversewereconjoinedtothemiddlesthemselves,some
thingswouldbemoreremotefrom,butothernearertothesoul.Itis
necessaryhowever,thatallthingsshouldremainasitwererootedin,
2.283andfilledwithlifefromit.Buttheadaptationofmiddletomiddle,
showsthatthesoulissimilarlyexemptfromallthings,andisequally
distantfromall.Forifitwasdistantfromsomethingsmore,butfrom
othersless,wemustascribetoitahabitudetosecondarynatures.Each
oftheassertionsthereforeistrue,thatbodyisthemiddle,andthatitis
Fadaptedtosoul,whichisalsoamiddle.Moreover,"tocollect,"exhibits
thedemiurgicunion,andthebondaccordingtowhichtheuniverseis
perpetual.Buttocoharmonize,indicatestheharmoniousassociationof
thebodywiththesoul;thelatterperformingwhatpertainstoitself,and
theformerpreservingitsproperorder,andneitherdivulsing,nor

drawingdownwardtheintellectionofadivineessence.Forthisisthe
harmoniousformofcommunion.Ifhowever,intheassociationofthe
lessandthemoreexcellentnature,eithertheformerorthelatterfalls
228Aofffromitsperfection,andcausesperturbationintheenergiesofthe
moreexcellentnature;inthiscase,suchacommunionis
unharmonious,*disorderly,andconfused.Hencethesoulsubsists
accordingtoharmonicratios,andthewholeofacorporealformed
nature,isseentobeinfriendshipwithitthroughanalogy,andis
harmoniouslycomposed.Whatbondstherefore,canbemore
indissoluble,moreperpetual,ormoredivinethanthese?None,except
itshouldbesaidthewillitselfofhim,bywhomthesoulisbound,and
whichisexemptfromthethingsthatarebound.
36e"Butthesoulbeingeverywayinterwovenfromthemiddletothevery
extremitiesoftheuniverse,andcircularlycoveringitaswithaveil,at
thesametimeherselfrevolvinginherself,gaverisetothedivine
commencementofanunceasingandwiselife,throughthewholeof
time."
tForevap^oqroc;here,itisnecessarytoreadarap/iooroc.
Themodeofanimationaccordingtoconversionorregression,
beginning,aswehavebeforesaid,*frombeneath,proceedstothingson
high,andfromthelast,endsinthesummitsofthings;andsuchisthe
modenowassumedbyPlato.Forthesoulproceedingfromonhigh,as
Bfarastothelastrecessesoftheearth,andilluminatingallthingswith
thelightoflife,theworldbeingconvertedtoit,beginningfromthelast
ofthings,isanimatedbothaccordingtoitsmiddle,andthewholeofits
interval.Besidesthisalso,itexternallyenjoystheintellectual
illuminationofsoul.Hence,thesoulissaidtooccupythemiddleofthe
universe,asplacinginitthepowersofitself,andasymbolofitsproper
presence.Itislikewisesaidtoextenditselftotheextremitiesofthe
universe,asvivifyingitonallsides;andtocircularlycoveritaswitha
veil,inconsequenceofhavingpowersexemptfrompartiblemasses;in
sodoing,allbutprojectingtheaegisofMinerva,fromwhich
Ahundredgoldenornamentsdepend.*
Throughthislikewise,itexternallysurroundsthewholeworld.Andif
itberequisitetospeakthetruth,Platothroughthesewordsclosesthe
mouthsofthosewhofancythatthefigureofthesoulistrulycircular,
andthuspossessesinterval.Forhowisitpossibleforacircletobe
interwovenwithabody,andbeingextendedequallytocoveritwith
itselfaswithaveil,andthusbeadaptedtoit,accordingtoallthe
intervaloftheworld?Thisthereforeimmediatelymanifests,thatthe

imaginationisfalseofthosewhoapprehendthesoulthustosubsist.
CInadditiontothisalso,itisnecessarytosurveythatwhichwebefore
asserted,thatthebeinginterwovenwith,andcircularlycoveringthe
universeaswithaveil,assimilatesthesoultotheintellectuallife,which
priortothisPlatosaid,5surroundsthetwocirclesofthesoul.Foras
thislifecomprehendsthesoul,sothesoulcomprehendstheuniverse.
Andfartherstill,itmustbeconsideredhowthesoulisassimilatedto
2,285thoseGods,towhomParmenidesattributesthesimilaranddissimilar.
Fortheinterweavingexhibitsthepresenceofthesoulintheworld,
throughsimilitude.Forallcommunionofessences,powers,and
energies,subsistsfromthis.Butthecircularlycoveringtheuniverseas
tcf.215Cff,supra,p.660.
$ThisverseisfromtheIliad,butithassufferedmuchfromthetranscribers.For
intheCommentaryofProclusitisTTJCK(XTOVxpvactvoixpvoeoirtepeBovrai,
whereasitoughttobe,TTJCCKCITOVdvoavoivayxpvaeoiyeptBovro.[Iliadii,448.]
Tim.36c.
withaveil,asitsignifiestranscendency,representstous,howthesoul
isincommensurabletotheworld,andthroughitsincommensurability,
isimparticipable.Forthatwhichisincommensurable,iscertainly
dissimilartothattowhichitisincommensurable.Perhapshowever
bothhaveboth.Fortobeinterwoven,istheprovinceofthings,which
arepartlysimilar,andpartlydissimilar.Andtocircularlycoveraswith
aveil,togetherwiththeinseparable,exhibitsintellectualcomprehension,
whichissecondarilypresenttotheuniverse.Forthroughthis
comprehension,theuniverseimitatesintellect,ofwhichitbecomes*the
Dfirstresemblance.Henceitispresentwiththeuniverse,inaseparate
manner,andilluminatesallthings,without*beingitselfconvertedtothe
illuminatednatures,orreceivinghabitude,orcoordinationwiththem.
Forthesethingsareforeigntothewholesoul[ortothesoulwhich
ranksasawhole].Becausehoweverbodyproceedstogetherwiththe
soul,butnotthesoultogetherwithbody;andthesoulbyitsinfinite
power,comprehendstheworld;byitsnonpossessionofinterval,all
interval;byitsimpartiblenature,everythingpartible;andbyits
simplicity,thatwhichiscomposite;hence,thefabricationofbodyis
suspendedfromthegenerationofthesoul,butnotviceversa.The
essenceofthesoultherefore,istheleader,asbeingmorealliedto
intellect,andbodyissuspendedfromthesoul,asfromitscause.Isthere
thenanyreasonwhyweshouldenduretoadmitsuchaninterweaving,
assomeadduce,whoconceivethesoultobepresentwithbody,through
partiblepowers,entelecheia,}andinseparablelives?Bynomeans.For
everydistributionofthiskind,issecondarytotheonesoul[ofthe
universe].Sinceinusalso,theentelecheiaanimatesthebodyinoneway,
buttheseparatesoulinanother;theformerindeed,beingdividedabout

thecorporealmasses;butthelatterbeingestablishedinitself,and
Eimpartiblypresenteverywhere,andcontainingpartiblelives,byitsown
impartiblepowers.Butifitberequisitetospeakinamannerbecoming
thedignityofthewholesouloftheuniverse,theinterweavingisan
unmingledunionofthebodywiththesoul,andacommunion,
2,286connectedcomprehension,andvivificationofthesoul,proceedingfrom
theDemiurgus,andbeingagainconvertedtohim.Foraswemustnot
tForyevopevrfvhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadyevopevov.
$OVKisomittedhere,intheoriginal.
Thecausebywhichanimalisvitallymoved,istherationalsoul,butthecauseby
whichtheanimalthusmoved,isdefinedorbounded,iscalledbyAristotleentelecheia.
SeemytranslationofhistreatiseOntheSoul.
understandthe"circularlycoveringaswithaveil,"eitheraccompanied
withinterval,orlocally,butassignifyingthatthesoulisonallsides
similarlyexemptfromthebody,andbybeingthusexemptuniformly
comprehendsit;thusalso,wemustnotunderstandthe"being
interwoven,"asaccompaniedwithcontact,butasmanifestingthe
animationwhichpervadesthroughallthings,andtheunionofallthings
withit.Forthesoulfillingallthingswithitself,andconnectedly
containingallthings,contains,prior*tootherthings,itselfinpurity,
andconvertstheworldtoitself.Hence,byamuchgreaterpriority,it
isitselfconvertedtoitself.Onthisaccount,Timasusadds,thatitis
itselfconvolvedinitselfinorderthathemayindicatethedifference
betweenthesoul,andthebodyoftheuniverse,whichisindeed
convolved,yetnotinitself,butinthewholeofplacewhichitoccupies.
FForthisisconvolvedlocally,butthesoulvitallyandintellectually,
understandingitself,andfindingitselftobeallthings.Foritisthe
plenitudeofwholes,andcontainstheimagesofallthings,which
intellectuallyperceiving,itissaidtorevolveinitself;therevolution
indicatingtheintellectualandatthesametimeapocatastatic;butits
revolvinginitself,thepeculiarityofselfmotion.Fortheuniversealso
revolves,butismovedbyanother[i.e.bysoul].
Here,therefore,wehaveasolutionofthatwhichwasinvestigatedby
us.Forweinquired,lookingtothewholeofthepsychogony,where
Platohasdeliveredtousthegnosticpeculiarityofthesoul,inthesame
229Amannerashehastheessentialandthevitalpeculiarities;theformer
indeedthroughthetriplemixture;butthelatterthroughthemotionin
thesame.Throughthecircularconversiontherefore,ofthesoultoitself,
theDemiurguseffecteditsgnosticpeculiarity,andwhichPlatoinwhat
isnowsaid,moreclearlymanifests.Forinordertoshowhowthesoul
knowsallthings,hesays,thatitrevolvesinitself,andthusrevolving,
begantoliveawiseandintellectuallife.Hence,itisimmediately
evident,thattheconversiontoitself,istheknowledgeofitself,andof

2,287everythingin,priortoandproceedingfromitself.Forallknowledgeis
aconversiontotheobjectofknowledge,andanallianceandadaptationto
it.Andonthisaccountalso,truthisanagreementofthatwhichknows
withthethingknown.Sincehowever,conversionorregressionis
twofold,theonereturningastoTheGood,buttheotherastobeing,
hencethevitalconversionofallthingsisdirectedtoTheGood,butthe
gnostictobeing.Hencetoo,theformerwhenconverted,issaidtohave
BTheGood,butthelattertohavebeing.Theapprehensionoftruthalso,is
tForitpoQTUVctWuvinthisplace,readxpoTUVaWuv.
thecomprehensionofbeing,whetherexistinginthatbywhichitis
apprehended,orpriorto,orposteriortoit.Thistherefore,asIhavesaid,
becomesevidenttousfromthesethings.Sincehowever,inthesoulsof
partialanimals,reasonatonetimeenergizesintellectually,andis
convertedtoitself,butnotimmediatelyfromthefirstgeneration[ofthe
animal];forinanimals,theprogressionisfromtheimperfecttothe
perfect,andreminiscenceisafteroblivion;onthisaccountPlatosays,
thatthesoulgaverisetothedivinecommencementofawiselife,
beginningfromonhigh,andfromthefirstofitsenergies.Forithas
someenergies,whicharedivineandseparate,butothers,whichare
motiveoftheuniverse.Itlikewisealwayshasthemoreperfect,priorto
thosethataresecondary.ForproceedingfromtheDemiurgus,and
beginningtoenergize,itcommencesfromthoseenergiesthataremore
divine;andthroughthesemovesthesecondary,viz.theintellectualand
thedoxasticenergies.Thisbeginninghoweverisentirelydivine.But
thatwhichcommencesfromthingsimperfect,isevidentlymaterial.[For
intheGods,themoreperfectenergiesprecedethosethatare
subordinate;*]butviceversainmaterialnatures.Forgenerationbegins
Cfromthingsimperfect,andproceedstotheperfect.Thehumansoul
therefore,thoughitsometimesenergizesdivinely,yetitendsinthisenergy,
beingsatisfiedatfirsttoenergizeconformablytorightopinion,afterthis
scientifically,andthendivinely,exciting*theoneofitself,whichismore
excellentthanitsintellect.Butadivinesoul,hasthisforitsenergy,and
2,288onaccountofthis,movesallthesecondarygnosticpowersofitself,and
alwaysthesubordinatethroughthesuperiorpowers.Byamuchgreater
prioritytherefore,didthesouloftheuniversegiverisetothedivine
commencementofawiselife,energizingfirstaccordingtoitsdivinepart
[orTheOneofitsessence],butafterwardssupernallyaccordingtoits
dianoeticpart,movingthis,andcausingittobedeiform.Unceasing
energyhoweveristheconsequenceofthis.Forthatwhichisgenerated,
andthatwhichexertsadivineenergyintime,isnaturallyadaptedto
proceedfromtheimperfecttotheperfect.Butthatwhichbeginsfrom
themostperfectanddivineenergies,neitheratanytimeceasesfromthis
energy,norranksamongthingswhichhaveatemporalsubsistence.If
thereforethesouloftheuniversegaverisetoadivinecommencement

tThewordswithinthebracketsareomittedintheoriginal,butareinsertedfrom
theversionofThomaeus.Henceintheoriginal,afterthewords8T)\OVUCevvXoc.
eanv,itisrequisitetoadd,KMyapTOO;teoic,cuevepyetoareXtiorepaiirpoTiyovvTCU
TUVKCtTaditOTtpUV.
XForeyqpaaahere,itisnecessarytoreadeyeiprioccoa.
ofenergy,itenergizesincessantly,andalways,andwithinvariable
sameness.Forthatwhichreceivestheperfectionofitselfintime,begins
fromtheimperfect,andnotfromadivinecommencement.Fromthis
also,againitfollows,thatthelifeofadivinesouliswise.Forifthelife
Dofthissoulisunceasing,itisdefinedbyintellectandwisdom.Forwe
mustadmitoneofthree*things,eitherthatthelifeofitisalwayswise,
oralwaysdestituteofwisdom,whichitisnotlawfultosay,orthatit
isatonetimewise,butatanothertimeunwise.Itremainstherefore,
thatawiselifeinadivinesoul,inconsequenceofbeingincessant,
never*fails.5
Inanotherrespectalso,wisdomisadaptedtothissoul,becauseit
participatesofdivinewisdom;butlife,becauseitevolvesthe
impartibilityoftheintellectuallife,andhasanextensioninitsenergies,
andtransitioninitsmotions.Forlife(/8io?)ismostadaptedtothe
soul.0Forifatanytime,thiswordisusedinspeakingofintellect,as
inthePhilebus0thereissaidtobeacertain(Bios)lifeofintellect,it
signifiesthepeculiarityofthelife.ForthewordBiosmanifeststhesetwo
things,viz.thepeculiarformofeachlife,andtheevolutionofthechoice
fromwhichithasitsprogression.Itisproperlythereforeassertedofsouls;
forinthesethereisanevolution[ofchoice].Sometimesalsoitis
assertedofintellect,andthenitindicatestousthepeculiarityofthelife
2,289ofintellect.Itmaybesaidhowever,thatalltheseparticulars,are
inherentinalldivinesouls,viz.tocommenceadivinebeginning,to
energizeincessantly,andtopossessawiselife.Inwhatrespect
therefore,doesthesouloftheuniversetranscendotherdivinesouls?
EPlatothenforeseeingthis,adds,"throughthewholeoftime."Forallsouls
indeed,energizetransitively,andhavedifferentperiods,greaterorless.
Butthesoulwhichranksasawhole,alonereceivesthefirstandtheone
intervaloftime,andthewholeandfirstmeasure,whichcomprehends
theperiodsofothersouls.Forasofdifferentdivinebodies,thereare
differentperiods,**buttheperiodofadivinegenerated**nature
fInsteadofiroiuvhere,itisrequisitetoreadrpucv.
XMTJisomittedintheoriginal.
cf.203Einfra,p.626.
cf.AristotleDeAnimaI,2,404a22;&405b6.
ocf.Philebus,21de.
ftcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,386ff.

containsinitselfallofthem,comprehendingapocatastatically,many
Saturnian,manySolar,andmanyLunarperiods;*andalltimeexistsin
theoneperiodoftheuniverse;afterthesamemanneralsootherdivine
souls,havetheirapocatastaticperiodsinmorepartialtimes.Since
however,theintelligiblebreadthifbounded,buttheapocatastasisisis
differenttodifferentsouls,tosomebeingshorter,andtootherslonger,
becausetheobjectofintellectiontothem,ismoreorlessexcellent;and
sincetheapocatastasisoftheuniverse,hasforitsmeasure,thewhole
extensionoftime,andthewholeevolutionofit,thanwhichthereisno
greater,exceptbytheagainandagain;forthustimeisinfinite;andof
Fthosebeingsthatintellectuallyperceiveaccordingtooneform,thesoul
oftheuniverseisthefirstparticipantoftime;thisbeingthecase,itis
necessarythatthissoul,shouldreceivethewholeformandmeasure*of
time.Henceitisnecessary,thatthesouloftheuniversealoneshould
energizethroughthewholeoftime,butothersoulsaccordingtoapart
ofthiswhole,conformablytowhichtheirapocatastasisisdefined;[in
thesamemannerasmaybeseentobethecaseinotherforms.For
whateverparticipatesofacertainform,primarily5isseentoreceivethe
2,290wholeofit.]Supermundanesoulstherefore,iftherearesuch,thoughthey
perceiveintellectuallywithtransition(foreverysoulunderstandsafterthis
manner,accordingtowhichalso,intellectandsouldiffer)yettheyapprehend
morethanoneobjectofintellectionForastheyarenearertointellect,
whichintellectuallyperceivesallthingsatonce,itisnecessarythatthey
shouldatonceunderstandmorethanonething.Butthesoulofthe
universe,isthefirstwhichintellectuallyperceivesoneobjectonlyatonce,
whichmakesittobemundane.Inthisrespecttherefore,allmundane
230Adifferfromsupermundanesouls.Hence,thesouloftheuniverse,
understandingonethingatonce,hasitsapocatastasisaccordingtothe
wholeoftime,whichcomprehendstheperiodofthedivinelygenerated
nature.Andaccordingtotheformerindeed,itisinferiorto
...continued)
XXi.e.Ofthebodyofthewholeworld.Fortheepithetadivinegeneratednature,
isprimarilyapplicabletothis;thoughitalsosignifieseverybody,whichismoved
perpetuallyandcircularly,whetherintheheavens,orunderthemoon.
tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.643,25.
XThewordsKCUOKOVTOVTOVTOViierpov,areomittedintheoriginal,butare
suppliedfromtheversionofThomseus.
SThewordswithinthebrackets,arealsoomittedintheoriginal,andareadded
fromtheversionofThomaeus,exceptthewordprimarily,xpaiTUC.,whichisnotinhis
version,butoughttobeinserted.
supermundane;butaccordingtothelatter,ittranscendsallmundane
souls.Forallthesehavetheirapocatastaticperiodsinsomepartofthe

wholeoftime;*butthesouloftheuniverse,intellectuallyperceivingthe
oneintelligibleworld,*andrunningasitwereroundit,completesits
periodinthewholeoftime.Foritisnecessary,beingthesoulofthe
world,thatitsmundane[intellect]shouldevolvethewholeintelligible
world,andthatonthisaccountitshouldmaketheintellective
apocatastasisofitsmundaneperiod,accordingtotheperfectnumber,
conformablytowhichitmakesthewholecorporealperiod.Forthis
universeimitatestheinvisibleperiodofthemundanesoul,throughits
ownpropercirculation,andmakesitsapocatastasislocallyin
conjunctionwiththeapocatastasisofthesoul,whichisaccomplished
Bintellectively.Andthisistheillustriouspeculiarityofthemundane
soul,whichPlatounfoldsinwhathenowsays,tothosewhoareable
toapprehendhismeaning.Afterthismannertherefore,hiswordsare
tobeunderstood.
Againhowever,itmustbeinvestigated,whatitiswhichproducesin
thesoulatransitivemotion,andanintelligencenotfixedlikethatof
intellect,andalsotimeinsteadofeternity?Inanswertowhich,itmust
besaid,thatasthesoulhasapartibleessence,solikewiseithasalifenot
one,butcodividedwithitsessence,andthisisalsothecasewithits
intelligence.Forthesoulinsteadofbeingessence,isessentialized,
insteadoflife,isvitallized,andinsteadofintellect,isintellectualized;
participatingoftheseprimarily,inconsequenceoftheirbeingpriorto
thesoul.Inintellecttherefore,theessenceisone,andthelifeisone,
andtheintelligenceofessenceisimpartible,inthesamemannerasthe
essence,andbeingadaptedtoit,likeapointtoapoint,hasno
2,291transition.Theintelligenceofthesoulhowever,isnotimpartiblealone,
butaswehavesaid,isalsopartible,andnothavingsufficientstrength
tobeadaptedtotheimpartible,butdistributingitselfaboutthe
impartibilityofintellect,italwaysappliesanotherandanotherpartof
itselftointellectwhichisfixed,inorderthatitmaywhollyapprehend
thatwhichisestablishedpriortothewholeofitself.Afterthismanner
Ctherefore,itproducesatransitionofenergy,thatwhichispartibleinit,
evolvingitselfabouttheimpartible,andtogetherwiththetransition,it
tIntheoriginalevpepieTOVevoq,evTUTCXVTLXPOVU,whichisevidently
erroneous;butoughttobeconformablytotheversionofThomaeus,andtheabove
translation,evnviTOVo\ovxpovovpepei.
%IhaveherealsofollowedtheversionofThomaeus.Fortheoriginalis,r;bevoepa,
TOVevot;Koopovvoovoa.
generatestime.Itstransitionhoweveriseffectedinatwofoldway,
eitherbybeingevolvedaboutTheOne,andaccordingtoallthepartsof
itselfhavingTheOne;forintoasmanypartsasitisdividedinsomany
waystheessential,thesame,andthedifferentarecontainedinit.
ApplyingitselfthereforetoTheOne,byeachofitsparts,andfrequently

comingintocontactwithit,itintroducestransitiontoitsintellection,
inorderthatthewholeofitmayintellectuallyperceivethatwhichis
priortoit.Butinanotherway,itstransitioniseffected,byeachpart
ofitenergizingaboutallthings.Foreverypartofithasthesethree,
viz.essence,thesame,andthedifferent.Notbeingadaptedthereforeto
thewholeofeach,itwhollyappliesitselftoeach,sofarasitparticipates
ofeach;toessenceindeed,throughthatwhichispartiallyathingofthis
kind,andtootherthingsafterasimilarmanner.Thusthereforewe
solvethedoubt.
Inadditiontothisalso,itmaybeinquiredhowPlatonothavingyet
deliveredtousthegenerationoftime,*nowsaysthatthesoullives
throughthewholeoftime?Tothisinquirylikewiseitmustbesaid,
thathedeliversthegenerationofthattime,ofwhichtheanimalnature
Doftheworldparticipates.Forhesays,*thatthefatheronbeholdingthe
universemovingandliving,constitutedtime,forthepurposeof
measuringthemotioninit.Sincetherefore,thislife,andthismotion
totheuniversewhichhasabody,isadventitious,solikewise,timeis
impartedbyitsgenerator,fromwhomithaslifeandmotionthrough
soul.Butthesoulalsohasthesefromthefather,Imeanlife,andthe
motionwhichisaccordingtotime.Sincehowever,ithassomething
selfsubsistent,itcointroducessomethingtotheprogressionofitselfinto
existencefromitsgenerator.AstheDemiurgustherefore,movesthe
2,292soul,anditisalsoselfmotive,afterthesamemanner,thesoullikewise
isthecausetoitselfofbeingmovedaccordingtotime.Hencethe
Demiurgusgavetothisuniversetime,thesoulissaidtobemoved
throughthewholeoftime.Forthusitgivessubsistenceinconjunction
withtheDemiurgustoanimaltime,justasinconjunctionwithhim,it
constituteslife,accordingtowhich5motionsubsists.Italsogoverns
accordingtonature,thatwhichlivesandismovedthroughit,andhas
notasitwere,acasualinspectionofit,impartingnothingtothatwhich
itgoverns.Concerningtimehowever,weshallagainspeak.
Tim.38b.
Tim.37c.
ForKad'evhere,itisnecessarytoreadKad'r\v.
Butfromthesethings,thusmuchmaybesummarilycollected,thatthe
soul;oftheuniverse,movesindeedtheuniverse,establishinginthe
Emiddleofitguardianpowers,fillingthewholeofitwithvivification,
andintellectuallycontainingitexternally;imitatinginthisrespectits
causewhichgeneratesthreeprincipalitiesofGods,viz.theguardian,the
vivific,andthedemiurgic.Thesoul,however,byamuchgreater
prioritymovesitselfdivinely,beginningfromitsfirstenergies;andon
thisaccountmovesbothitselfandtheuniverseincessantly.Hence
likewiseitconductsitself,andallheavenwisely.Again,thesoulmaking

theoneextensionoftimethemeasureofitsproperperiod,convolves
theuniversewithinvariablesameness.Fortheuniverseaccomplishesits
apocatastasisinconjunctionwiththeapocatastasisofthesoul.Forit
doesnotaccomplishthispriortotheapocatastasisofthesoul;sincethe
samethingstakeplaceagainandagainintheworld,}andgenerated
naturesareproducedaccordingtotheintellectionsofthesoul;nor
posteriortoit,inorderthatthisrestitutiontoitspristinestatemaynot
bewithoutacause.Forwhatelsebuttheperiodofthesoulwill
comprehendthewholeofit.If,however,weassertthesethingsrightly,
againthesoulwillhavethatwhichisdivinefromtheonebeing,the
unceasingfrometernity,wisdomfromintellect,andallthingsfromthe
onecauseofall.*
37a"Andthebodyoftheuniverseindeed,wasgeneratedvisible;butthe
Fsoulisinvisible,participatingoftherationalenergyandharmony,and
2,293pertainingtointelligiblesandperpetualbeings,beinggeneratesbythe
bestofcauses,thebestofgeneratednatures."
SincePlatogivestothesoulafterwards,allsuchthingsashebefore
gavetothebody,viz.essence,harmony,figure,powers,andmotion,and
conjoinsbothtothecompletionofoneanimal;inorderthatyoumay
notignorantlysupposethatbodyandsoulareofasimilardignity,being
deceivedbyhomonymousappellations,heconciselyremindsusofthe
231Adifferencebetweenthetwo,anddoesnotsuperfluouslysay,thatbody
isvisible,butthesoulinvisible;andshowsthatbodyistheobjectof
opinion,becauseitissensibleandgenerated,butthatthesoulis
unbegotten,aswithreferencetothebody,butgenerated,aswith
referencetointellect.Foritbelongsatoneandthesametimetoeternal
beings,andgeneratednatures,butisthelastoftheformer;sincetime
tInsteadofe%e\&x\irakivevTUKOOHIU,inthisplaceintheoriginal,itisnecessary
toread,eiteiSr)itotKivKCUTOXLVevTUKOC.HU.
XTheversionofLeonicusThomaeusendshere.
hasnowaplaceinit.Andthatindeed,whichisprimarilyeternalbeing,
isinbothrespectseternal,viz.bothaccordingtoessence,andaccording
toenergy.Forithasnotanenergydifferentfromitsessence.Butthat
whichisgenerated,isinbothrespectsgenerated,alwaysbecomingtobe,
andalwaysenergizing,asbeingingenerationaccordingtotime.The
soul,however,inacertainrespectparticipatesofeternity,andina
certainrespectofgeneration;butitenergizestemporally.Andthe
extremesindeed,[i.e.eternalbeingsandgeneratednatures,]areinone
wayonlyperpetual,theoneeternally,buttheothertemporally.Butthe
mediumbetweenthetwo,isperpetualinatwofoldrespect,asbeing
biformed,andonthisaccount,ofanambiguousnature;notonly

accordingtothepartibleandimpartible,andaccordingtoitstwocircles,
butalsoaccordingtoperpetualbeing,andthatwhichisgenerated.
Henceitbelongstoeternalbeings,andisthebestofgeneratednatures,
beingproducedbythebestofcauses.Andagainyousee,thedifference
Bofthesoulwithreferencetobody.ForPlatohadbeforecalledbodythe
mostbeautifulofgeneratednatures;butnowhecallsthesoulthebest
ofthingsgenerated.Butitiscommontobothtohavebeengenerated
bythemostexcellentcause.Thesoulhowever,asbeingnearertoits
maker,isthebest;butbody,asbeingmoreremotefromhim,isindeed
2,294mostbeautiful,yetnotthebest.Forthemostbeautiful,issecondaryto
thebest,inthesamemannerasbeautytoTheGood.
Inwhatisheresaid,however,PlatomayseemtocalltheDemiurgus
thebestofintelligibleandeternalbeings,inthesamemannerashecalls
thesoulthebestofgeneratednatures;andthustobearwitnesstothose
whomakeoneGodpriortotheworld.*Butifsomeoneshouldthus
understandthewords,byinvertingthem,yetatthesametimeitis
evidentfromanalogy,thatwemustnotplaceintelligibleandeternal
beings,asforms*intheDemiurgus,butotheressencesposteriortohim,
ifsoulhasthesameratiotoallgeneratednatures,thattheDemiurgus
hastoeternalbeings.Andwemusteithermakehimlooktothings
posteriortohim,thoughinhisspeechtothejuniorGods,5whenhe
commitstothemthefabricationofmortalnatures,heordersthemto
imitatehispowerabouttheirgeneration.Hedoesnot,therefore,
Cfabricateimmortalanimals,byimitatingthingsposteriortohim,but
thingsentirelypriortohim,inthesamemannerashewishesthejunior
fProclusinwhatheheresays,alludestotheChristians,
tForetSeihere,itisnecessarytoreadei8r).
Tim.41c.
Godstofabricatemortalnaturesbyimitatinghim.Orifweavoidthis
inconvenience,wemustadmitthattherearemanyintelligibleGods,
thoughtheyareposteriortotheDemiurgus,whichthoseabovealluded
to,willnotgrant.Willitnotthereforebebettertoassert,eitherthat
thesoulissaidbyPlato,tobelongtointelligiblesandeternalbeings,as
beingthebestofgeneratednatures,andastrulybothimpartibleand
partible,inconsequenceofitsmiddlesubsistencebetweenthetwo;or
thatbecausehesaysitparticipatesofrationalenergyandharmony,it
belongsto[orprimarilyparticipatesof]intelligiblesandperpetual
beings?Fortheharmonywhichisinitisgenerated,notbeingharmony
itself,butharmonized.Anditsrationalenergyisnoteternalbeing,but
hasgeneration,assubsistingaccordingtotime,andbeingtransitive.
Howthereforedoesthesoulparticipateoftherationalenergyand
harmony?Andhowdoesithappen,thatharmonyandtherational
energy,arenotprimarilyinthesoul,butaccordingtoparticipation?I

answer,becausethesehaveapriorsubsistenceintheDemiurgus.Forhe
producestheMuses,andMousagetes[ortheleaderoftheMuses,Apollo],
andalsotheMercurialseries.Hencetherationaldemiurgicenergyand
harmony,subsistinhimprimarily;theformerbeingMercurial,butthe
2,295latterApolloniacal.Andthesoulbeingfilledfromthese,participatesof
therationalenergy,andofharmony.Andifitberequisitetospeak
Dclearly,whatappearstometobethecase,harmonymustbeconceivedto
haveathreefoldsubsistence;soastobe,eitherharmonyitself,orthatwhich
isfirstharmonized;beingathingofthiskindaccordingtothewholeof
itself;orthatwhichissecondarilyharmonized,andinacertainrespect
participatesofharmony.Andthefirstofthesemustbeassignedtointellect;
thesecondtosoul;andthethirdtobody.Therationallikewise,or
reasoningenergy,hasathreefoldsubsistence;thefirstbeingprimordial;
thesecondaccordingtoparticipation;andthethirdaccordingto
representationorresemblance.Forthereisalsoacertainvestigeofthe
rationalenergy,insomeirrationalanimals.Welikewiseunderstand
essence,figure,andpower,inathreefoldrespect.Foressence,according
toitsprimarysubsistence,andthefirstfigure,andthefirstpower,are
inintelligibles.Butthatwhichparticipatesinacertainrespectofall
theseisthecorporealnature.Forthereisalsosomething[i.e.matter]
whichisunfigured,unessential,andpowerless.Thesoul,however,has
eachoftheseaccordingtoparticipation;butwhollyparticipatesofthem
accordingtothewholeofitself.Foritiswhollycorroborated,is
whollyinvestedwithfigure,andwholly*essentiallized.Forthe
fFor/xovocinthisplaceitisnecessarytoreadoXuc.
unfiguredinit,doesnotprecedethefigured;northepowerless,power;
northeunessential,essence:sinceiftheydid,itwouldnotatalldiffer
frommaterialbodies.Thesoultherefore,participatesofthereasoning
energy,ofharmony,figureandpower,andwhollyparticipatesofeach
ofthese;butbodyparticipatesofthempartially.Againalso,fromthese
Ethings,themiddlenatureofthesoulpresentsitselftotheview,andit
isalsoevidentthatPlatoveryproperlysays,thatitwasgeneratedbythe
bestofcauses,thefirstandbestofgeneratednatures,andthatitis
invisible,butthefirstparticipantofintelligibleharmony.
37a"Sincethereforethesoulwasmingledfromthesethree,viz.fromthe
natureofsameanddifferent,andfromessence,andwasdistributedinto
parts,andboundaccordingtoanalogy,itselfatthesametimereturning
byacircularenergytoitself;hence,whenittouchesonacertainthing
possessingadissipatedessence,andwhenonthatwhichisimpartible,it
thenspeaksconcerningit,beingmovedthroughthewholeofitself."
2.296Wedividetheenergiesofthesoulinatwofoldway,thefirstofwhich
isintothemotiveandgnosticenergies;forboththeseareadaptedtothe

soul,asthedaemoniacalAristotlealsosays.+Ofthemotiveenergies
however,wefindsomeinherentinthesoulitself;others,proceeding
intotheuniverse;andothers,subsistingbetweenboththese.Forthose
indeedwhichextendthroughthewholeworld,fromthemiddletothe
extremityoftheuniverse,aremundanealone.Butthosewhich
convolvethesoul,arealoneseparate.Andthosethatcircularlycover
theuniverseaswithaveil,areseparateandatthesametimeinseparable,
Fabidingandproceedingabouttheuniverse.Butofthegnosticenergies,
somepertaintothefirstofthings;others,tothoseofamiddlenature;
andothers,tothelastofthings.Forthesoulknowsitself,andthe
naturespriorto,andposteriortoitself;sinceitistheimageofthings
prior,buttheparadigmofthingsposteriortoitself.Henceperceiving
itself,andevolvingitself,itknowsallthings,notatalldepartingfrom
itsownproperpower.*Foritisnotproperthatitshouldrecurtoany
otherplace,inordertoperceivebeings,butthatitshouldintellectually
seeitself.Enoughtherefore,hasbeensaidconcerningthemotive
energiesofthesoul.Buthere,andinwhatfollows,hespeaks
concerningitsgnosticenergies.Andthatthesoulindeedknowsbeings,
andespeciallythesouloftheuniverse,isevident;sinceweseethatthey
tcf.AristotleDeAnimaI,2,404b28.
%cf.Tim.50b.
232Aarealsoapprehendedbyoursoul.Ifhoweveritknows,itremainstobe
consideredhowitknows,andafterwhatmanneritknowsintelligibles,
andafterwhatmannersensibles,whetherbythesame,orbydifferent
powers,andwhetherbylookingtoitself,andthereasonsitcontains,or
bybeingextendedtotheobjectsofknowledgethemselves,justasthe
sighttothatwhichisvisible,andwhichisexternaltoit.
Inshorttherefore,Platodenominatesthesegnosticmotionsofthesoul,
contactswiththeobjectsofknowledge;indicatingbythis,theimmediate
natureoftheirapprehension,andtheirimpartiblecommunionwiththe
thingsknown.If,however,eachknowledgeisacontact,thesoulwill
comeintocontactwithbothintelligiblesandsensibles,accordingtoan
appropriateapplicationofitselftothem,yetnotsoastoapprehendboth
2,297bythesameprojectingenergy.Foritdoesnotcomeintocontactwith
sensibles,throughitsapplicationofitselftointelligibles,norwith
intelligiblesthroughitsapplicationtosensibles.Boththesehowever,
viz.totouchandnottotouch,arethepeculiaritiesoftheliberated
Gods,aswelearnfromtheParmenides.}Hence,webeforerightly
asserted,*thatthesoulaccordingtothegnosticenergieswhichit
possessesessentially,andthroughwhichitknowsthingspriorand
posteriortoitself,isassimilatedtothoseGods.AsPlatotherefore,in
Bwhathenowsays,speaksconcerningtheseenergies,hefirstwishesto
remindusofwhathasbeenbeforesaid,thementionofwhichisnot

superfluous,butcontributestowhatfollows.Forfromtheseandthose,
thediscussionwillhaveanappropriateexplication.Theparticulars
however,ofwhichhehadbeforespokenwere,concerningtheessence,
concerningtheharmony,concerningtheform,andconcerningthe
powersofthesoul.HencePlatorecapitulatingsays,thatthesoulis
entirelymingledfromthreeparts,essence,same,anddifferent.Andit
hasbeenshownwhatthemixtureis,andthatitisvivific.Forthe
uniformcauseofsouls,constitutesthesoulinconjunctionwiththe
Demiurgus.Ithaslikewisebeenshownhowthetriadpertainstothe
soul,andfromwhatgenera,andthatitisfromthemiddlegenera.The
soulalso,wasdividedbythedupleintervalsaccordingtothegeometric
middle,andwasagainboundthroughtheremainingmiddles.Forhe
calledthembonds.Acircularmotionlikewise,wasgiventoit,through
thecircles,whichcomprehenditsharmony,anditsform.Forinthe
harmony,thedistributionintopartsprecededtheanalogy,andinthe
tcf.Parmenides149d.
%cf.23IF,f,immediatelyabove.
form,thedivisionprecededthecontact.Thatwhichremainshowever,
isineach.Forthecolligationhasarepresentationofthesolution;since
bindingpertainstothingswhichareloosened.Thedistributionalsoof
Cthecolligationisanalogous.Foranalogy,aswehavebeforeobserved,
isthemostbeautifulofbonds.*AndthesoulisdividedTitanically,but
isadaptedharmonically,andismingledvivifically.Fartherstill
therefore,inthethirdplace,itisdividedintothosepowersinit,
2.298accordingtowhichitreturnsbyacircularenergytoitself.Forthe
twofoldcirclesarethepowersofit.Hencethesethingsbeingpremised,
thatwhichfollowsmustbedemonstrated.
Sincethereforethesoulconsistsofthreeparts,essence,sameand
different,andhasthesegenera,asmediabetweenimpartibleandpartible
natures,itknowsboththroughthem.Foritistheimageoftheformer,
buttheparadigmofthelatter.HenceasEmpedoclessays,
Waterbywater,earthbyearthlysight,
Etherdivineweseebyether'slight;
Fireeversplendidwediscernbyfire;
Viewlovebylove,bystrifecontentiondire.
Fr.109d
Afterthesamemanner,wealsosay,thatthesoulbyitsessence,knows
alltheessencesfromwhichitisderived,andallthosewhichit
essentiallyprecedes.Butbyitssameness,'itknowsthesameness
subsistinginallintelligible,intellectual,andsensiblenatures.Andbyits
difference,thedifferencewhichproceedsthroughallthings.Since
likewiseitisessentiallyharmonized,itknowsthroughitsownproper

harmony,bothintelligibleandsensibleharmony.Sincetoo,ithas
intellectualpowers,throughtheseitknowspowerwhereveritexists.
DFromwhathasbeenbeforesaidtherefore,thediscussionofthegnostic
energiesofthesoulisrenderedmanifest.Forthesoul,fromthethings
whichitpossessesessentially,knowsboththeparadigms,andtheimages
ofthem.AndthroughthereasonswhichtheDemiurgusimpartedtoit,
itintellectuallyperceivesboththenaturesthatareprior,andthosethat
areposteriortoitself.Forreturningbyacircularenergytoitself,it
comesintocontact,asTimasussays,withbothimpartibleandpartible
essences;andenteringintoitself,findsitselftobethereasonofall
things.Forallknowledgederivesitscompletionthroughasimilitudeof
thatwhichknowstothethingknown.Andsimilitudeiscompletedby
tTim.31c.
thecommunionofoneform.Hence,thereisonereasoninthatwhich
knowsandthethingknown,andbeingthesame,itconjoinstheseto
eachother.Sincehowever,thereasonsingnosticessencesaredifferent,*
accordingtothemeasuresanddiminutionsoftheessences,onthis
accountknowledgereceivesanallvariousdifference.Forintellectual
knowledgeisimpartibleandeternal,becausethereasonsinitofthings
2,299areofthiskind.Butpsychicalknowledgeisevolved,andsubsistsin
discursiveenergies;becausethereasonsofthesoul,throughwhichit
Eknowsthings,haveanevolvednature.
Fartherstill,intellectualknowledgeisuniform,becausethereasonsin
itsubsistmonadically,fortheyareprimordial.Butthepsychical
knowledgeisbiformed;becausethereasonsalsohaveatwofold
subsistence,thedianoeticsubsistinginonewaybutthedoxasticin
another.Knowledgethereforeisbothoneandtwofold,accordingtothe
essentialdivisionofreasons.Forifoneofthecirclesknowsthe
intelligible,buttheotherthesensibleessence,whatisitwhichsaysthat
thesearedifferentfromeachother,andthattheformerisaparadigm,
butthelatteranimage?Foritisnotpossibleforthatwhichhasnota
knowledgeofboth,tospeakconcerningthedifferenceofthem,aswe
maylearnintheTheatetus.*Hence,asitistheresaid,thatthenature
whichknowsvisiblesandaudibles,theformerthroughthesight,andthe
latterthroughthehearing,andsaysthatthesearedifferentfromeach
other,oughttoknowboth;sothisreasonwhichisdifferentfromthe
twocircles,speakingthroughallthesoul,somethingsconcerning
intelligibles,butothersconcerningsensibles,andbeingcommontoboth
thecircles,is,asIshouldsay,theenergyoftheessentialpartofthesoul.
Forsofarasthesoulisoneessence,accordingtothis,ithasthisone
gnosticenergy,whichPlatocallsreason.Hencealso,wesimplycallthe
wholesoulrational.Thisreasonthereforeistheoneknowledgeofthe
soul,whichthroughthecircleofthesameknowstheimpartible,but

Fthroughthecircleofthedifferentthedissipatedessence.Forthough
boththecircleshaveasubsistencebetweentheimpartibleandthe
partibleessence,yetthecircleofthesameparticipatesinagreaterdegree
oftheimpartible,butthecircleofthedifferentofthepartibleessence.
Andthisistheoneessentialreason,astheessenceisone,priortothe
sameandthedifferent.Thelifeofitlikewise,istheselfmotion,which
existsinthetwocircles;buttheknowledgeofitistransitive,thisalso
tForSicw/wpwchere,readStatpopoiandforyvoioriKtit;shortlyafter,readyvuorucoi.
$cf.Thecetetus185b.
beingcommontoboththecircles.Andonthisaccount,thesoulisnot
onlybiformed,butalsouniform.Thusmuchtherefore,hasbeensaid,
forthesakeofthecomprehensionofthewholedogma.
Descendinghowevertoparticulars,itmustbeobserved,thatPlatosays
2.300thesoulconsistsofthreeparts,andthatitismingledfromthese;
throughthemixtureindeed,indicatingtheunionofthecongregated
parts;butthroughthenumber,theirunmingledpurity.Fortheywould
233Anotremainthree,unlesstheypreservedtheirproperessenceunconfused.
Itmustalsobeobserved,thatspeakingofpartiblenatures,hesays,
"whenthesoultouchesonacertainthinghavingadissipatedessence."For
thewordtohave(toreyapexetv)pertainstothingswhichpossessthe
essentialandbeing,adventitiously,andthesubjectofwhichis
unessentialandnonbeing.Andtheword(tonvoc,)acertainthing,is
mostadaptedtothingswhichinsomewayorotherarepartible,and
enduedwithinterval.Fartherstill,totouchisappropriatelyasserted,
becausethesoulproximatelypresidesoversensibles,andissuspended
fromintelligibles;thecontactmanifestingaknowledgewhichisclear,
immediate,andestablishedaccordingtoadefiniteprojectiontowardsthe
objectofknowledge."Asacontact,"sayssomeoneoftheGods.*But
concerningimpartibleessence,Platowassatisfiedwithalonesaying,"and
whenonthatwhichisimpartible."Forthesimpleandtheuniformare
thepeculiaritiesoftheimpartibleessencealone.Moreover,tospeak,
appropriatelysignifiesthepsychicalintelligence.Forthesoulisreason,
buttospeakistheenergy(erepyrj/ia)*ofreason,inthesamemanneras
toperceiveintellectually,istheenergyofintellect,andtogerminate,of
nature.Fortheenergiesofessences,areparonymouslydenominated
withtheessencesthemselves.
WeoughtnothowevertobeignorantofwhatPorphyryrelates
Bconcerningthewordsitspeaks,anditends(iteptTOV\eyei,mi\i}yi);
andthathemetwithoneinterpreter,Amelius,5whoinsteadof"it
speaksbeingmoved,"reads,"itendsbeingmoved;"thoughitisdifficultto
adaptthisreadingtothesoul,whichismovedincessantly,aswehave
tChald.Oracl.fr.41.

$AsKivrfpa,aswelearnfromSimplicius,istheboundaryofmotion,justasrovovthe
nowistheboundaryoftime,sotvepyypuistheboundaryofenergy.Thustoovoripais
theboundaryofvoyoiQ,orintellectualperception,andmoBripaofawBr\oic;,or
sensibleperception.Andasatodr\pOibeingtheterminationofsensibleperception,is
animpressionofitinthesensorium,thatwhichisanalogoustothismustbeconceived
totakeplaceinuvypot,evepyripa,andvoripa.
ApeXiovisomittedintheoriginal.
beforeobserved.Porphyryadds,thathesaidtoAmelius,itspeaks
shouldbeadopted,andnotitends,andthatAmeliuswasverymuch
hurt[atthisemendation],butthatheafterwardsfoundoneSocrateswho
2.301readsqyeiaswellasAmelius.Itmusttherefore,bewrittenbyus,"it
speaksbeingmovedthroughthewholeofitself,"andnot"itendsbeing
moved,"asthatSocratesandAmeliuswrote,accordingtothenarration
ofPorphyry.Fortospeak,istheessential1energyofreason.Thesoul
therefore,beingreason,andarationalintellect,speaksandsees
intellectuallythroughthewholeofitself,(whenitcomesintocontact
withapartible,oranimpartibleessence,)whatthatiswhichisthe
objectofitsperception,becauseitisitselfbothimpartibleandpartible.
Andifindeed,thegenerainit,werealonedividedfromeachother,the
wholesoulwouldnotfromessencepossessingknowledge,haveaknow
Cledgeofessence.Butifthegenera,wereentirelycorrupted,therewould
notbeadefiniteknowledgeofbeings,norwoulditbepossibletosay,
thatessenceisonething,butsamenessanother.Sincehowever,the
middlegeneraaremingledwitheachother,yetnotsoastobe
confounded,thesoulunderstandseachthingdefinitely,andasPlatosays,
throughthewholeofitself.Butifitspeaks,beingmovedthroughthe
wholeofitself,itisevidentthatitisoneandnotone;thatishasa
knowledgecommontotheextremes,andyetdifferingfromthem;and
thatasone,itwhollyspeaksaboutallthings,andnotwholly,asnot
being[entirely]one.Thecircleofthesamelikewise,intheknowledge
ofintelligibles,knowssensiblesasfromparadigms;andthecircleofthe
differentknowsintelligibles,asfromimages.Foreachhavingperfectly
theobjectofitsknowledge,necessarilyseesthatoneistheparadigmof
theother,buttheothertheimage;ornotknowingthattheoneisa
paradigm,orthattheotherisanimage,itwillnotknowinaselfperfect
manner.Knowinghowever,thattheoneisaparadigm,itknowsthat
ofwhichitistheparadigm,andknowingthattheotherisanimage,it
knowsthatofwhichitistheimage.Veryproperlytherefore,isitsaid
thatthesoulspeaksofallthings,throughthewholeofitself.And
thusmuchconcerningthethingsthemselves.
Sincehowever,someerroneouslyreaditends,andnotitspeaksthrough
thewholeofitself,aswehavesaidPorphyryrelates,andthatAmelius
Dthusreading,wasnotabletounfoldthemeaningofthewordsofPlato,
2.302thusmuchmustbeadded,thattoreaditspeaksbeingmoved,isattended

withlessdifficulty,butthatwemayalsoreaditends;thewordyyei
signifyingoneapprehensionfrommanyconceptions,ofthings
tForOVOLUSOVC;here,itisnecessarytoreadovoiudTjc,.
knowable,arrivingatthepeculiaranddefiniteintuitonofeach;inorder
thatthemeaningofthewholemaybe,thesoulbeingmoved,endsatthe
knowledgeofeachthing[withwhichitcomesintocontact].Fortheend
ofbeingmovedistoceasetobemoved,thesoulneverceasingtobe
moved,andalwaysarrivingatacertainintelligence.Aristotlealso,
perceivingthistobethecaseintheheavens,saysthattheyarealways
movedintheend.f
37ab"Italsoassertswhatthatiswithwhichanythingisthesame,from
whatitisdifferent,towhatitisespeciallyrelated,andinwhatrespect,
andhowitsubsists;andwhenanythingofthiskindhappenseitherto
be,ortosuffer,bothinthingswhicharegenerated,withreferenceto
each,andalsowithreferencetosuchaspossessaneternalsamenessof
being."
Therearethreeinterpretationsoftheproposedwords,allwhichare
reasonable,anditisrequisitetoexhibitthepowerofeach.Forthefirst
interpretationmakesthewholetobeonesentence;butthesecond
makesittobetwosentences,dividingthewordsaswedo;andthethird
makesittobethree,formingthedivisionaccordingtoeachofthe
Ecolon.Thefirstinterpretationalso,isasfollows:"Whenthesoultouches
onacertainthingwhichhasadissipatedessence,andwhenonthatwhich
isimpartible,"heretheinterpretationmakingasmallstop,[i.e.acomma]
itadducestherestofthewords,viz."itsaysbeingmovedthroughthe
wholeofitself,whatthatiswithwhichanythingisthesame,&c."For
Platoasserts,thatthesoulsaysallthesethings,beingmovedthroughthe
wholeofitself,bothoftheimpartibleandthepartibleessence,coming
2,303intocontactinboth,withsamenessanddifference,habitudesand
qualities,actionsandpassions.Foralltheseareanalogouslyin
intelligiblesandsensibles.Butthesecondinterpretationmakesone
sentencetobethatwhichwehavebeforementioned,viz."Whenthesoul
touchesonacertainthingwhichhasadissipatedessence,andwhenonthat
whichisimpartible."Andthesecondsentencetobe,"Italsoassertsbeing
moved,whatthatiswithwhichanythingisthesame,fromwhatitis
different,towhatitisrelated,inwhatrespect,andhowitsubsists,&c."
FThisinterpretationhowever,differsfromtheformer,becauseitseparates
whatissaidaboutessencefromwhatissaidaboutthingspertainingto
essence.Andthethirdinterpretationmakesarapiddivisionofthe
colons.Foritmakesonedivisiontobethatwhichwehavebefore
mentioned;thesecond,"Italsoassertswhatthatiswithwhichanything

tcf.86Ef,supra,p.262.
isthesame,andfromwhatitisdifferent;"andthethird,allthatfollows.
Aswehavesaidtherefore,thewordshaveathreefoldinterpretation.
Weshoulddirectourattentionhowever,especiallytothethings
themselves.
Thatsameness,then,anddifferenceareinintelligibles,isevident.But
howarerelation,situation,quality,when,andpassionthere?Forthese
arewellknowntoexistinsensibles,buthowdotheysubsistin
intelligibles?Mayitnotbesaid,thatthegeneraofbeingmanifestly
subsistinintelligibles,becausetheyareproperlybeings?Youmayalso
assumethatrelation,situation,&c.maybesurveyedanalogouslyin
intelligibles;relationindeed,ifyouarewilling,accordingtothepaternal
andmaternal,andalsothesimilaranddissimilar,theequalandunequal,
onlyyoumustnotassumeunessentialhabitudes,butsuchasareadapted
234Atointelligibleessences.Forthemostprincipalhabitudeisthere,where
thereisamoreabundantcommunion,andallthingssubsistprimarily.
HencePlatosays,"andtowhatitisespeciallyrelated."Buttheina
certainrespect(oTtrj)subsistsinintelligibles,sofaraseachofthemisnot
whollyTheOne,butafteracertainmanner(irq):forTheOneissimply
one.Andagain,thesamewhichisthere,isalsodifferent,butisnot
simplydifferent;sinceifitwere,difference*wouldbenootherthan
sameness.Thelikealsotakesplaceintherest.Allthingstherefore,says
he,areall,andeachisoneaccordingtoessence,butallthingsaccording
toparticipation.Andthisiswhattheinacertainrespectisin
intelligibles.
2,304Again,thehowitsubsists,isthereaccordingtothedifferencesof
participations.Formanythingsparticipatedifferentlyofthesame
peculiarity.Thusforinstance,permanencyparticipatesofsameness,and
motionalsoparticipatesofit,yetnotafterthesamemanner,butthe
formermore,andthelatterless.Intheordersofformslikewise,
intelligiblesparticipateinonewayofTheOne,orofessence,but
intellectualsinanotherway,andofthesesomedifferentlyfromothers,
accordingtothemeasuresoftheessenceofeach.Hencethehowit
subsistsisthere.Butthewhenisthere,eitheraccordingtotheoperations
Bofintelligiblesonsublunarynatures;forthesesometimesparticipateof
them,andtheybecomesometimesparticipablebycertainthings;orit
isthere,accordingtotheintellectionsthemselvesofthesoul.Forthe
soulapplyingitselfatdifferenttimestodifferentforms,atonetime,
intellectuallyperceivesthese,butatanotherthose.Andeternalbeing
sometimesaccedestoit,inthesamemannerassometimesthe
tForereporrfroc;here,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadereporric;.
intelligible.Eachthinglikewiseisthere,withreferencetoeach,sofaras

allthingsareineachother,andproceedthrougheachother,andall
thingsarealliedandadaptedtoall;orsofarastheyaresuspendedfrom
acertainone,orsofarasoneiscause,butanotherthethingcaused;or
sofarasinsomewayorothertheysubsistdifferently.Andtosufferis
there,sofarastheyarefilledfromeachother,andallthingsimpartto
alltheirownpeculiarities.ForPlatofrequentlymanifestsparticipation
bythewordsuffering,aswemaylearnintheSophista.1Forhethere
says,thatwholeisthesufferingone[orthatwhichispassivetoTheOne],
butisnotTheOneItself,becauseitparticipatesofTheOne.Thesethings
therefore,areinintelligiblesandinsensibles,becausebothinthelatter
andintheformer,ithappensthateachexistsandsufferswithreference
toeach.Platotherefore,[asIhavesaid,]isaccustomedtoindicate
participationbysuffering,andaswehavesaid,tocalleverythingwhich
participates,thatwhichsuffersthething*ofwhichitparticipates.
CInshort,thesouloftheuniversespeaksthroughthewholeofitself
accordingtooneknowledge,bothofgeneratednatures,andofthose
2,305whichpossessaneternalsamenessofbeing,andassertsofeachwhatthat
iswithwhichitisthesame,andfromwhichitisdifferent,andhow
eachsubsistsaccordingtoexistence,oraction,orpassion.Forboth
amongrealbeings,andgeneratednatures,onethinginagreaterdegree
suffersfromanother,andonethinginagreaterdegreeactsonanother;
allwhichthesoulintellectuallyperceiving,assertssomeindeedthrough
thecircleofthesame,butothersthroughthecircleofthedifferent.For
itantecedentlycomprehendsallsensibles,andtheiractionsandpassions.
Forsincetheuniverseisoneanimal,itiscopassivewithitself,sothat
allgeneratednaturesarepartsofthelifeoftheuniverse,asofone
drama.Justasifatragicpoetshouldcomposeadrama,inwhichthe
godsandheroes,andotherpersons,areintroduced,andinwhichalso
heassignstosuchoftheplayersasarewillingtheutteranceofheroicor
certainotherspeeches;thepoethimselfinthemeantimecomprehending
theonecauseofallthatissaid.Itisrequisitetherefore,toconceivea
thingofthiskindinthewholesouloftheuniverse.Forgiving
Dsubsistencetoallthelifeoftheworld,whichisoneandvarious,likea
manyheadedanimalspeakingwithallitsheads,andutteringpartly
GrecianandpartlyBarbariclanguage,theirsoulcomprehendsthecauses
tcf.Sophista245a.
%FortKavohere,itisrequisitetoreadtuavov.
ofallgeneratednatures;*andknowsparticularsbyuniversals,accidents
byessences,andpartsbywholes.Butitknowsallthingssimply
accordingtoitsdivinepart.ForaGodsofarasaGodknowsthings
partial,andpreternatural,andinshortallthings,eventhoughyou
shouldadducematteritself.Foreverything,whateveritmaybeisone,
sofarasitisfromTheOne.theknowledgethereforeofallthingssimply

andimmediately,isdivine.
37b"Butreasonbecomingtrueaccordingtosame,andalsobeing
conversantwithdifferent,andrevolvingaboutsamewithoutspeechand
sound,inthatwhichismovedbyit."
Atticusbyreasonhere,understandstheattentivepowerofthesoul;but
Porphyry,thecharioteer,movingthetwofoldhorses;*andIamblichus
thewholesoul.Forthesoulmovesthewholeofitself,andthroughthe
wholeofitselfisthereasonofbeings.Andalltheinterpretations
indeed,appeartoexhibitthemeaningofPlato,butthatofPorphyryis
Emoreconcordant,bothwithwhatishereandelsewheresaid.Forthis
reasonwhichisnowassumed,isneitherthatwhichisessential,northat
whichsubsistsinenergy,butthatwhichisastheonepowerofthe
essenceofsouls,accordingtowhichalsothesoulisone,justasitis
biformedaccordingtosamenessanddifference.Orwhyweretherenot
threecircles,oneaccordingtoeachoftheelementswhicharethree,but
twoonly,unlessthereisoneessenceinboth?Thepowerthereforeof
thisoneessence,isthisreason,whichisneitheressenceitself,northe
energyfromessencehavingthethirdorder.Hencethisreasonbeing
one,knowsaccordingtothesame.Foritdoesnotsometimesknowthe
intelligible,andsometimesthesensible,likeourreason,whichisnot
abletoapprehendbothaccordingtothesame.Thisreasontherefore,
knowsatoncebothsameanddifferentabouttheintelligible,andabout
thesensibleessence,notbeingtrue,likeintellect,butbecomingtrue
aboutboth,onaccountofthetransitivenatureofitsknowledgeofboth.
Sothatthewordsaccordingtosame,signifythedifferencebetweenthe
knowledgeofadivinesoul,andourknowledge;butthewordbecoming
signifiesthedifferencebetweenpsychicalandintellectualknowledge.
Thisreasontherefore,knowsintelligiblesandsensibles,bycominginto
contactwithintelligibleandsensiblesamenessanddifference;butit
Fpassesthroughthewholesoul,hereindeed,movingthecircleofthe
fcf.DOBsupra,p.392.
Xcf.Phaedrus2467.
same,butthere,thecircleofthedifferent;andbytheonesurveying
intelligibles,butbytheothersensibles.Inthisrespectlikewise,it
adumbratesthewholeDemiurgus,concerningwhomitissaid,[bythe
ChaldeanOracles*]"byintellecthepossessesintelligibles,buthe
2.307introducessenseintotheworlds."Forthusalsothepsychicalreason,
beingbornealonginthesoulsoastomovebothitselfandthewhole
soul,aboutintelligibleandsensiblesamenessanddifference,atonetime
producesopinionsandpersuasions,butatanother,intellectandscience,
becomingindeed,andnotbeingtrue,inthesamemannerasintellect

itself.Forintellectisreallytrue,andistrueaccordingtosame;eitheras
235Aatonceknowingbothbeingsandgeneratednatures,orasalwaysbeing
such,andnotsometimes,likethereasonofpartialsouls.Forthisisnot
alwaysinvariablytrue,beingfilledwitherrorandignorancethrough
generation.*Orthisreasonisbecomingtobetrue,asbeingtransitive
initstwofoldknowledge;butistrueaccordingtosame,asalways
comprehendingthewholeformofeachobjectofknowledge,andnot
conformablytoourreason,evolvingeachoftheformswhichitbeholds,but
surveyingatoncethewholeofeverythingwhichitsees.Forwemeeting
withadifferentpartofthesamething,donotseeaccordingtosame,but
weperceiveeachthingpartially.Oritmaybesaid,thatthisreasonis
accordingtosame,whenconversantwithsamenessanddifference,
becomingsimplyafterthesamemannertrue,bothabouttheintelligible
andsensible,asknowingbothatonce,sofarassame,andsofaras
different,thatitmayseeandtellthattheonehasitsprogressionfrom
theother.
Tobetherefore,accordingtosame,manifeststhatthisreasonisgnostic,
accordingtooneprojectingenergy,bothofthatwhichistrulydifferent,
andthatwhichistrulysame.Forpossessingatonceatransitive
Bknowledgeofthese,thisreasonisbecomingtobetrue,andofwhichthe
energyistospeakofthatwhichistrulysame,andofthatwhichistruly
different,intheintelligible,5andinthesensiblenature.Forthework
ofthisreasonistoseeinwhatintelligiblesdifferfromsensibles.Forit
isnecessarythatthereshouldbeacertainthingwhichisgnosticofboth,
inorderthatitmaysayintelligibles0areonething,butsensibles
another.But"itisbornealonginthatwhichismovedbyit,"as
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.8;alsoProc.inCrat.51,2630.
Xcf.PhcedoSUH.
ThereisanomissionhereintheoriginalofTOVevTUVOT)TU.
Foravor\TCtinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadvorjTa.
proceedingintothetwofoldcircles,andmovingbothitselfandthem.
2,308Forthelationmanifeststheprogressionfromoneknowledge,divided
intoatwofoldknowledge.Thisreasonitselfhowever,isauniform
knowledge[oraknowledgehavingtheformofTheOne],bothof
intelligiblesandsensibles.Oritmaybesaid,thatitspeaksinthesoul,
becausetheintelligibleisonethingandthesensibleanother;orthatit
knows*both,beingpriortoboththecircles,whichknowintelligibles
andsensiblesinadividedmanner.Forsincethesoulisbothamonad
andaduad,accordingtooneknowledge,itunitedlycomprehends
intelligiblesandsensibles;andagain,itcomprehendssomethings
accordingtothecircleofthesame,butothers,accordingtothecircleof
thedifferent.Astherefore,inessence,themonadicprecedesthe
biformed,andthisisalsothecaseinharmony,inform,andinpowers,

thusalsoingnosticenergies,theonereasonistheprimaryleaderof
Cdistributedknowledge.Thesethingshowever,havebeenfrequently
repeatedbyme,throughtheambiguityinwhichtheinterpretersare
involvedinexplainingthem.
Platotherefore,indicatingtheseparticulars,saysthatreasonitself
becomingtrueisbornealong[i.e.revolves]aboutboththeintelligible
andthesensible,inthatwhichismovedbyit,i.e.ineachofthecircles.
Butitisbornealongwithoutspeechandsound.Forinwardreasonis
notatallinwantofeitherofthese;buttheyarerequisitetothatreason
whichproceedsthroughthemouth.Sothatitisjustasifhehadsaid,
thatthisreasonhasamotionmoreperfectthanevery*energywhich
proceedsexternally.Forsoundandvoiceareassumedassymbolsof
sensiblemotions.Inwardreasontherefore,asbeingthecharioteer,and
movinginitscourseeachofthecircles,producesinusatwofold
knowledge,whichPlatodeliversinwhatfollows.Butifweread,aswe
finditwritteninthemostaccuratemanuscripts,inthatwhichismoved
byitself,andnot,inthatwhichismovedbyit,viz.byreason,thiswill
manifestthewholesoul,signifyingitfromitsdefinition.Forthething
defined,isinacertainrespectthesamewiththedefinitionofit.Reason
Dtherefore,beingbornealonginthesoul;foritisthesoulwhichis
movedbyitself;atonetimeknowsthesameanddifferentofsensibles,
butatanother,ofintelligibles.Anditseemsthatsameanddifferent
especiallycharacterizeknowledge,inthesamemannerasmotionand
tForeiSochere,readiSwe.
XForiraaavinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadpases.
permanencycharacterizelife.Hencealso,Platoparticularlymakes
mentionofthese,becauseallknowledgehasanalliancetothem.
37b"Whenitisconversantwithasensiblenature,andthecircleofthe
differentproceedingwithrectitude,enunciateswhatitperceivestothe
wholesoul;thenstableandtrueopinionsandbeliefareproduced."
Inwhatisheresaid,Platospeaksabouttheknowledgeofsensibles,and
howthereasoninthesouloftheuniversegeneratesthisknowledge,viz.
bymovingthecircleofthedifferent,andthereasonsinitwhichpreside
overtheorderlydistributionofwholes,andbypreservingthiscirclein
astateofundeviatingrectitude.Forrectitudemanifestsrightopinion,as
Porphyryinterprets,andIamblichusadmits.Itlikewisemanifeststhe
untamedandthenonverginginprovidentialenergies.Forunwearied,
andrapidlymovingpower,areadaptedtointelligence;buttheinflexible,
andtheuninclined,toprovidenceandprolificenergies.Andtothe
Eimpartibleessenceindeed,purity*ofintelligence,isadapted;buttothe
partibleessence,undefiledenergy.Porphyrytherefore,considersthe

circlewhichismovedwithrectitudetobeimpartible;butthatwhichis
notaccuratelyacircle,butinacertainrespectparticipatesofarightline,
tobepartible.Fortheknowledgeofsensiblestendstoexternals,andis
againreflectedtothesoulitself.Hence,thatwhichisnotaccuratelya
circleinthesoul,isneitherarightlinealone,suchasistheknowledge
ofsense,noracircle,suchasistheknowledgeofdianoia.Iamblichus
however,rejectsallthis,aspertainingtohuman,andnottodivine
knowledge.Whentherefore,thecharioteermovesthecircleofthe
different,butthisremainingundeviatingandconvertedtoitself,excites
thereasonsofsensibles,andannouncestothewholesoulthequalityof
eachsensibleobject;(sincethewholesoulknowsaccordingtothis,
2,309everythingsensible;forthecircleofthesamewhenitbeholds
intelligibles,knowsalsosensiblesasfromcause,butthecircleofthe
differentknowsthemimmediately,andasitwereinacoordinate
manner)whenthisisthecase,thenstableandtrueopinionsandbelief,
aregeneratedinit.Forthemoredivinesouljudiciouslyapproving,or
rather,impartingbyillumination,amoreintellectualenergytothe
Fdoxasticcircle,thiscirclepossesseswithpurityitsownproperlife,and
theknowledgeinitisrenderedstable,antecedentlycomprehendingin
itselfinastablemannerthingsthatarelocallymoved,butsuchasare
flowingandcontingent,faithfullyandstably.Foropinionindeed,isthe
energyandknowledgeofthedoxasticsoul;butfaithisthestableand
tForKa6apOTi\TOQhere,itisnecessarytoreadKadaponig.
undeviatingjudgementofopinion.Andthusmuchconcerningthis
particular.
Itdeservestobeinvestigatedhowever,howthecircleofthedifferent
is,ashasbeensaid,gnosticofeverythingsensible,andthecircleofthe
same,isgnosticofintelligibles,aswillbesaid.Forthoughbydividing
themotivepowersfromeachother,oneofthecirclesisthecauseof
236Amotiontotherighthand,*buttheotherofmotiontotheleft,yetthe
gnosticpowersmustnotbeseparatedafterthesamemanner,butitmust
beadmittedthattheyhaveaknowledgeofsensiblesorintelligibles.
Mayitnotthereforebesaid,thatthevitalmotionspertainto
progressions,butthegnostictoregressions?Andthecircleofthesame,
indeed,asbeingproximatetointelligibles,proceedingfromthence,isby
proceedingmovedvitally,formsbyitsprogressionthefirstperiod,and
throughitmovesthewholeworld.Forthelessprincipalfollowthe
moreprincipalperiods.TheassertionofAristotle*alsoistrue,that
generationismovedaccordingtoboth;possessingtheinvariablefrom
themotiontotherighthand,butthevariablefromthecirculationto
thelefthand.Thecircleofthesametherefore,isconvertedtothe
intelligible;andonthisaccountisgnosticofintelligibles.Henceitis
necessarythateverywhereconversionorregressionshouldfollow
permanency.Butthecircleofthedifferent,abidinginthecircleofthe

same;foritisproximatelycomprehendedinthis,justasthisisby
Bintellect;proceedsthroughvitalmotion,tothesecondthing,whichis
2,311movedbyit,Imeantothesecondcirculation;5andthroughthisalso
movesgeneration,justasthecircleofthesame,throughtheinerratic
sphere,movestheuniverse.Beingconvertedhowever,orreturning
throughknowledge,itisconvertedtothevitalmotionofthecircleof
thesamewhichisproximatelyaboveit.Butreturningtoitthrough
knowledge,itisgnosticallyconvertedtothatwhichthevitalmotionof
thecircleofthesameadministersvitally.Andthusitobtainsa
knowledgeofthewholeworld,conjoiningtheregressionofitselftothis
circleofsameness,whichabidespriortoit.Thustoo,theonecircle
becomesgnosticofintelligibles,buttheotherofsensibles.Forifthe
lattermovestheperiodofthedifferent,itisnecessarythatitshould
knowthisperiodandalsothethingsofwhichitistheleader,andwhat
beingamediumitfollows;justasitisnecessarythatthecircleofthe
fcf.Prod.Comm.Rep.II,149,5ff.
%cf.Aristotle,ConcerningtheGenerationofAnimalsIV,10,778al.
viz.Thecirculationoftheplanetaryspheres.
same,ifitmovestheuniverse,shouldknowtowhatbeingassimilated,
itlivesthislife.Sothattotheoneofthesecirclestheregressionis
throughaparttothewhole;buttotheother,throughawholeto
anotherwhole.*Andthusmuchhasbeensaidbyusinanswertothis
inquiry,whichdemandsprofoundconsideration.
Itisnotpropertherefore,tothinkthatthesouloftheuniverse
receivestheknowledgeofsensiblesexternally,orthatitisinwantof
organstotheapprehensionofthem.Forthesethingspertaintopartial
Csouls.Butweoughttoconceive,thatbeingconvertedtoitself,ithas
thereasonsofsensibles,producedinenergyfromitself.Hencealso,
Platoaccuratelysays,thatthecircleofthedifferentenergizesaboutthat
whichissensible,butnottowardsthesensibleessence,inorderthathe
mightindicatethecausalcomprehensionofsensiblesinthereasonsof
thesoul,butnotaknowledgecoordinatewithsensibles,andfirmly
establishedinthem.Andthusmuchconcerningthethingsthemselves.
Thewordshowever,"enunciatestothewholesoul,"areconcordantwith
thewords,"itspeaks,beingmovedthroughthewholeofitself."Butthey
indicate,thatthecircleofthedifferent,proximatelycomesintocontact
withsensibles;andthatthroughthisthewholesoulobtainsaknowledge
ofthem.Thewordautouhowever[i.e.ofit,]may,asPorphyryalsohas
observed,bemultifariouslyinterpreted,butoughtrathertobeattributed
toreason.Foropinions,andthebeliefofthecircleproceedingwith
rectitude,andenunciatingsensibles,aretheprogenyofreason.For
opinionsandbeliefareinthedoxasticpartofthesoulindeed,but
pertaintoreason,sofarastheyaremoved,excited,andcontainedbyit.

Andthusmuchconcerningthecoarrangementofreasonwiththecircle
Dofthedifferent.Butinthenextplace,Platospeaksofitscoarrangement
withthecircleofthesame,addingasfollows:
37c"Butwhenagain,itisconversantwiththelogistic*power,andthe
circleofthesamerevolvingwithfacilityindicatesitsperceptions,then
intellectandsciencearenecessarilyproduced."
Platoentirelyopposes5therationaltothesensible,therevolvingwith
facilitytothestraightorright,theistothegenerated,indicationto
enunciation,intellecttoopinion,andsciencetofaith.Thelogistichowever,
ti.e.Theregressionofthecircleofthesame,isthroughtheworldtoitsparadigm:
eachofthesebeingawhole,buttheformerasensible,andthelatteranintelligible
whole.
%ForXoyiKOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadXoyiorucov.
Insteadofuvedr\K.evinthisplace,readavrtdr\Kev.
isnotthatwhichreasons,assomeonemaysuppose,buttheintelligible
itself.Forthisheopposestothesensible,becausereasoningthereis
moredivinethaninthesoul,aswehavefrequentlyobserved,andin
intelligiblesalwayssubsistsinenergy.Anditseemsthathethus
denominatestherationalthelogistic,justasheafterwardscallsthe
sensiblethesensitive.'}Forthesensibleismotiveofsense,andthe
intelligibleofthereasoningofthesoul.Hencethelogistic*willbethat
whichiscomprehendedbythereasoningofthesoul;andthis
antecedentlycomprehendingcause,ishomonymouslytoreasoningcalled
logistic.Buthecallstheintellectualvoluble,ashavingtheunimpededin
transition,andalsothecircular,andtheflourishing,likewiseperfection
Einintellections,theenergizingaboutdivinity,theboniform,andthe
revolvingabouttheintelligibleasacentre,"hasteningtoconjoin
yourselftothecentreofresoundinglight,"sayssomeoneoftheGods.s
Thewordbeinglikewisesignifiesthatwhichisfilledwithtrulyexisting
beings,andisunitedtothem.Butthewordindicatessignifies,tounfold
asitwereintolight,toteach,andtoproducefromthatwhichisarcane.
2,313Fartherstill,byintellecthere,mustbeunderstoodtheintellectwhichis
accordingtohabit.Forintellecthasathreefoldsubsistence;thefirstindeed,
beingdivine,suchasisthedemiurgicintellect;butthesecond,beingthat
whichisparticipatedbysoul,andisessentialandselfperfect;andthethird,
thatwhichsubsistsaccordingtohabit,andonaccountofwhichthesoul
isintellectual.Andscienceisthefirstknowledgewhichisfilledfrom
intelligibles,andexistswithanuninclining,nonverging,andimmutable
energy.Butitdiffersfromintellect,0sofarasthelatterissurveyedin
thesimpleprojectionsaloneofthesoul.Forthroughitthesoulatonce
intellectuallyperceivesthewholeofeachobjectofintellection;sincethe

atoncecollectedinenergies,isthepeculiarityofintellect.Butscience
issurveyedintheknowledgefromcause.Forthisisthepeculiarityof
scienceasisalsothecompositionanddivisionofforms.Foritis
evident,thathavingaknowledgeofbeings,italsoknowswhichamong
themhavetheorderofcauses,andwhichofeffects.Butallknowledge
Fofthiskindiscalledscience,justasthesimpleapprehensionofeachobject
ofintellectioniscalledintelligence.Andsuchisourexplanation.
te.g.Tim.61cd;65a;67ac;&70b.
$HerealsoforXoyucov,read\oyumicov.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.111.
Nouisomittedhereintheoriginal.
Iamblichushowever,conceivesthisintellecttobemoreancientthan
soul,supernallycontaining,andgivingperfectiontoit.Healso
contendsagainstthose,whoeitherimmediatelyconjointhesoultoallperfect
intellect,(foritisnecessarythatthetransitionshouldnotbe
immediatefromexemptnaturestoparticipants,butthatthereshouldbe
middleessencescoarrangedwiththethingsthatparticipate)orwho
supposeintellecttobeahabitofthesoul.Foritisnecessarythatprior
tothatwhichisinanother,thatshouldexistwhichisinitself.Andthis
indeed,isrightlyassertedwithreferencetothings;butitismore
237AconsonanttothewordsofPlato,tosurveythisintellectasahabitinthe
soulitself.ForTimaeussaysitisproducedfromtheenergyofthecircle
ofthesame.ButthatintellectwhichtheDemiurgusconstituted,must
besaidtobeabovesoul,whenheplacedanalogouslysoulinbody,and
intellectinsoul.*Foritisevidentthatthisintellectismoreancient
thansoul,justassoul,accordingtoTimaeus,ismoreancientthanbody.
Theintellecthowever,whichisnowmentioned,beingtheeffectofthe
motionofreasonabouttheintelligible,throughthecircleofthesame;
2,314forhesaysitisproducedinconsequenceofthatcirclerevolvingwith
facilityaboutthatwhichisapprehendedbythereasoningpower;will
notbemoreancientthanthesoul,butacertainhabitofit,inthesame
mannerasscience.Hencealso,hesays,thatitisingeneratedinthesoul,
inthesamemannerasscience,opinion,andfaith.Fromallthathas
beensaidtherefore,thisonethingmaybesummarilycollected,that
whenreasonisconversantwiththeintelligible,andthecircleofthesame
unfoldsthroughitsintellectualenergy,thenatureofbeingstoreason,then
intellectandscienceareproducedinthesoul.Andthisindeed,must
Bnecessarilybethecase.Foraperfectionadaptedtosuchenergies,is
consubsistentwiththem.Whatthen,someonemaysay,isreasonat
onetimeconversantwithintelligibles,butatanotherwithsensibles?By
nomeansisthisthecasewiththetotalsoul[orsouloftheuniverse],but
itisalwaysonhigh,andisalwaysdirectedtointelligibles.Itlikewise
abidesandisestablishedthere,andprovidentiallyattendstosensibles,

withanuntamedenergy;andthroughthefacilityofthemotionofthe
circleofthesame,therectitudeofthecircleofthedifferentispermanent.
Butthewordswhen,isgenerated,andthelike,manifestdifferencesof
power.Fortheenergyisnoteverywheresimilarlyaccordingtoallthe
powers:forthisisthepeculiarityofdivineintelligibles,onaccountof
thesimplicityoftheiressence.Butaccordingtotheenergyofthecircle
ofthesame,reasonismoreconversantwithintelligiblesthanwith
tTim.30b.
sensibles;andfromtheenergyofthecircleofthedifferent,ismore
conversantwithsensiblesthanwithintelligibles.Itisrequisitealsonot
tooverlookthis,thatTimaeussays,+"thecircleofthedifferentproceeding
withrectitude,"lookinginsosayingtothecirclesofapartialsoul,of
which,wheninafallenconditionheasserts,thatthecircleofthesame
isfettered,andthecircleofthedifferentdistorted.Forinsayingthishe
opposesrectitudetodistortion,andtothebeingfetteredfacilityof
motion,*whichsignifiestheunincumbered;justasrectitudethere,
Cindicatesalationundistortedbyinferiorobjects,andanirreprehensible
judgement;sothathecelebratesappropriatelyeachofthecircles.
37c"Whoeverthereforeasserts,thatthisiseveringeneratedinanyother
beingthansoul,assertseverythingratherthanthetruth."
2,315Whatdoesheintendtosignifybythewordthis?Isitintellectand
science?Ifso,hedoesnotmeanthecircleofthedifferent.Orrather
doeshenotspeakofthetwofoldconjunctions,[intellectandscience,]5
opinionandfaith?Forintellectandscienceareoneoftheconjunctions,
andopinionandfaitharethesecond.Butthroughthesehe
comprehendseverysoul.Everythingtherefore,whichistherecipient
ofintellectandscience,opinionandfaith,Dissoul.Forallthese
knowledgesarerationalandtransitive.Andbecauseindeed,theyare
rational,theyareexemptfromtheirrationalpowers;butbecausethey
aretransitive,theyaresubordinatetointellectualknowledge.Forif
scienceandintellectareinintelligibles,yettheyarenotingeneratedin
them,ashesaystheyareinthesoul.Forsciencesinthesoulsubsist
accordingtoparticipation;sincetheyparticipateofscienceitself,thesoul
beingessentiallizedaccordingtoparticipation.Forthemiddleproceed
fromthefirstgenera,andaresimilarlyharmonized;sincetheharmony
inthesoulisfromharmonyitself.Thesoullikewisepossessesfigure,
Dsimilarlytothefirstgenera.Forintellectualfigureiscomprehensiveof
allvariousfigures.Thesoulalsopossessespowersafterthesame
manner.Forintellectualandintelligiblepowersarepriortoit.It
likewisereceivesmotionfromthegeneraofbeing,andknowledgefrom
thedemiurgicintelligence,wherealsopermanencyisunfoldedintolight.

tTim.43d.
XForarpoxovinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadevrpoxov.
ThewordsvowKmemorriprivareomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
Forirtffchere,readwioreuc;.
Forallknowledgeisacertainpermanencyandcomprehensionofthething
known,andanaptconjunctionwithit.Themotionthereforeofthesoul
participatesofthewholepsychicalknowledge,sofarasitknowsitself,*
andlookingtoitselfmoves;andknowledgeparticipatesofmotionsofar
asitistransitive.Peculiarlyhowever,themotiveenergyisdefined
according*tomotion;butthegnostic,accordingtopermanency.And
thecircleofthedifferentisrathermotivethangnostic,butthecircleof
thesameisrathergnosticthanmotive;becausepermanencypertainsto
sameness,butmotiontodifference.Inthecircleofthedifferent
however,thereisknowledge,andinthecircleofthesame,motion;just
asinthelatterthereissameness,andintheformerdifference.Butthe
wholesoulparticipatesthroughthewholeofitselfofthegeneraof
2.316being.Asfartherefore,astotheseparticulars,thepsychogonyobtains
itscompletion,beingdividedintothebeforementionedheads.Forthe
Ehypostasis,harmony,figure,powersandenergiesofthesoul,havebeen
discussed.***5
Sincehoweverthesoulisamultitude,andthefirstofcomposite
natures;butitiscomposed,notofinfinites,butofthingsnumbered,and
thesenotwithoutcoarrangement,butharmonized;thisbeingthecase,
numbersandharmonywereveryproperlyassumedinthegenerationof
it.Sincetoo,itcomprehendstheprinciplesofallanalogy,andall
harmony,inconsequenceofbeingthesouloftheworld,noanalogyis
omitted[inthecompositionofit].Becausehowever,itwasconstituted
bydivinity,themoredivineofthegenerawasassumed,viz.the
diatonic:foritisentheastic.Andatfirstindeed,becauseessence,same,
anddifferentwereassumed,thatwholeofthesoulwhichispriorto
parts,wasconstituted;butnow,throughthepsychogony,thewhole
whichisintheparts.FortheDemiurgusdivides,andunitestheparts
throughanalogies.Butthroughthecircles,thewholenessineachofthe
parts,isdelivered.Itmustlikewisebeassumed,thattheDemiurgusin
theTimaeus,energizesinconjunctionwithallthedemiurgicGods.D
ForhecutsintosevenpartsTitannically;unitesApolloniacally;produces
body,andinvestsitwithfigure,ascontaininginhimselfVulcan;and
Fboundsthemeasuresofascentsanddescents,andinscribesthelawsof
Fate,aspossessingNecessity.Inthepsychogonyalso,itisnecessaryto
tForeavrrjhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadtauryv.
XInsteadofperarr\vKIVIJOLVinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadKararrp>Kivqoiv.
Thereisunfortunatelyanhiatushereintheoriginal.
cf.200DEff,supra,p.616.

referwhathasbeensaid,totheessenceofthesoul,ortothethings
whichareadministeredbyit,orrathertoboth.Forthenatures
containedintheworld,areunderthedominionofthepowerswhichare
essentiallyinherentinthesoul.Itislikewiserequisitetoinvestigate
whatthemiddlesare,whatthemultiple,superparticularand
superpartientratiosare,whattheleimmais,andwhatthesevenparts
are;andwhythediagramproceedstoaquadruplediapason,andthe
diapente,andtone.
238AOfthethreemiddlesalso,thegeometrical,arithmetical,andmusical,
thesolidanalogywhichiscomposedfromthethreeistheequalityof
Themis,fromwhomeveryorderisderived.Butthethreemiddles
proceedfromthethreedaughtersofThemis,viz.Eunomia,Dice,and
Irene;thearithmeticalfromIrene,whichsurpassesandissurpassedby
theequal;whichalsoweemployinthetimeofpeaceincontracts,and
throughwhichtheelementsarequiescent;butthegeometricalfrom
2,317EunomiawhichlikewisePlatodenominatesthejudgementofJupiter,
andthroughwhichtheworldisadornedwithgeometricalanalogies;and
theharmonicfromDice,throughwhichgreaterthingshaveagreater,
butlessalessratio.Sincetherefore,thegeometricalmiddle
comprehendstheothertwo,ashasbeendemonstrated,theessenceofthe
soulisadornedbythegeometricmiddle,thesoulbeingthesame
throughthewholeofitself,andeverywherebothpartibleand
impartible.Butitisadornedaccordingtothearithmeticalmiddle,
becausethecommonpowersinit,whichrecurfromtheimpartibleto
thepartible,orfromthingspartibletotheimpartible,equallysurpass
Bandaresurpassedbythingsentirelypartibleandimpartible.Andbythe
harmonicmiddle,}becauseofthepowersthatareinit,someareina
greaterdegreeseparatedfromtheirproducingcauses,andhaveagreater
transcendency,butothersaless.Andagain,thesamenessofforms
subsistseverywhereappropriatelythroughthewholeworld,corporeally
andvitally,inaplant,inananimal,andinastone;becausethewhole
worldisadornedwithgeometricalproportion.Butthearithmetical
middlepresentsitselftotheviewinthesublunaryelements,whichit
equalizesaccordingtopowers.Andtheharmonicmiddleisseeninthe
world,accordingtothe[celestial]spheres,theirmotions,andtheir
intervals.ForPtolemydemonstrates,*thattheirintervalsarein
harmonicproportion.
tInsteadofTJbeapfioviKt]iieaon\qinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadrqbe
%cf.196BC,ff.supra,p.604.

PROCLUSONTHETIMAEUSOFPLATO
BOOKIV
37cd"Butwhenthegeneratingfatherunderstoodthatthisgeneratedstatue
238CorresemblanceoftheperpetualGods,movedandlived,1hewas
delightedandexhilarated,andinconsequenceofthisdelight,considered
howhemightfabricateitstillmoresimilartoitsparadigm.Hence,as
thatisaneternalanimal*heendeavouredalsotorenderthisuniverse
such,5totheutmostofhisability."
TheoneDemiurgus,whoalsofabricateswholes,generatedcollectively
andatonce,accordingtosameness,andconverts,perfects,and
assimilateshisfabricationstotheirparadigms;whetheroneandthesame
essenceeffectsthis,andoneandthesamegenerative,recalling,perfective
andassimilativepower,asisassertedbysomeDoftheancients,or
differentpowers,asappearedtobethecasetocertainothers.Forthere
isnosmalldissension,andasitwereopposition,betweenthesemen.
Therearelikewisesome,whouniting,areatthesametimeunwillingto
admitthattheoneiswithouttheefficacyofmultitude;andthereare
otherswho,thoughtheydivide,yetcannotenduretosay,thatthe
numbersofpowersisuncoordinatedandmutilated,buttheywillingly
admitanddemonstratethatthesepowersarecomprehendedintheir
propermonad,andareunitedandpreservedbyit.Henceithappens,
thatsomeassertthatthesepowersareatetradicmonad,butothers
Dagain,thattheyareanunitedtetrad,orastheylovetocallit,a
3,2monadizedtetrad.Itisevidenthowever,thattheDemiurgushere
mentionedbeingone,insertsinthejuniorDemiurgiposteriortohim,
atoneandthesametimeanassimilativepowerwhenheordersthemto
imitatehispowerabouttheirgeneration;agenerativepower,whenhe
ordersthemtoproduceandgenerateanimalsincommon;andan
analysingpower,whenhecommandsthemtoreceivebackagainthe
partsthatwereborrowedfromthewholeelements,thesubstances
composedfromthembeingdissolved,andtorecallthemtotheirwholes.
Andafterallthese,heinsertsinthemaguardianpower,inconsequence
ofwhich,heimmediatelyconstitutesthegovernorsoftheworld,
tThewordsreavroK.CUfyv,areomittedinthetextofProclus.
%For$ui)vhere,readt;uov.
ThewordTOIOVTOVisalsoomittedinthetextofProclus.
InsteadofKCtdoiaivinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadKCxdcntepTOIOIV.
ocf.Tim.42dff.

guardiansofthenumbersoftime,*andearththeguardianofdayand
night.
TheDemiurgustherefore,asIbegantosay,bywhomallthingswere
produced,generatedthemconsubsistentwithhimself,andassimilated,
andperfected,andconvertedthemtohimself;theirordernotbeing
confoundedbytheatoncecollectedevolution,asitwere,ofallthings
intolight,butbeinginamuchgreaterdegreeguardedandconnected.
Forheneitherdeprivesinferiornaturesoftheprovidentialcareofmore
Eexcellentbeings;normoreperfectnaturesofthedominionpertainingto
themoversuchasaremoreimperfect.Forhedoesnotcomprehendone
ofthesepriorintimetotheother;nordoeithersecondarynatures
remaindestituteoftheinspectionofprovidence,norsuchasaremore
ancient,sluggishandunprolific;asiftheformerdidnotyetreceivethe
providentialenergiesofthelatter.Wehowever,notbeingableto
understand,andmuchlesstoexplainthebeneficentenergyofthefather
ofwholesfrometernity,abouttheworld,mustbesatisfiedwith
perceivingandspeakingofhim,asatonetimegenerating,atanother
adorning,atanotherperfecting,andatanotherassimilating,whichalso
thewordsofthephilosophernowpreviouslysuffering,arepreparedto
operateuponus.Fortheworldnowparticipatesofmotionandlife,
accordingtothedoctrineofthefather.*Forsoulthatdwellstogether
withit,preservestoitselfthedifferentkindsofitsownpeculiar
knowledge,accordingtowhichitknowsbothintelligiblesandmundane
3,3natures.Butmotionandlife,whichdonotflourishinitselfalone,it
alsoimpartstoallthebulkofthebodyoftheuniverse.Andonthis
veryaccounteitheraloneorespecially,thefabricoftheworldbeing
completelyfashionedaresemblanceoftheintelligibleGods,the
FDemiurguswasinastillgreaterdegreedelightedandexhilarated,andin
consequenceofthisdelightandexhilaration,causedittopossessa
greaterandmoreperfectsimilitudetointelligibles.Hencealso,he
consideredhowhemightmakeitasitwereperpetual.Forthe
intelligibleisproperly,andprimarilyperpetual,butthatissecondarily
239Aperpetualwhichiscoextendedwiththeprogressionandevolutionof
time.Fortheeveristwofold,theonebeingeternal,buttheother
temporal.Whytherefore,afterallthebeforementionedbenefits,does
PlatointroducethiseighthgiftoftheDemiurgus?5Becauseitisthe
tcf.Tim.38c;40bc.
%ForTajrofinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadiraTpoq.
cf.140Eff,supra,p.424.
greatestandmostperfect,andtransferstheimagetothehighest
similitudetoitsparadigm.Butitisnecessarythathewhoonceexhibits

thegenerationofwholesinwords,shouldpassfromthingsmore
imperfecttosuchasaremoreperfect.Forconformablytothisvery
thing,thingswhichsubsistperseoressentially,andthosewhichare
ingeneratedinothers,are,asitwere,opposedtoeachother;becausein
thingswhichareestablishedinthemselves,andwhichinnorespect
whateverpertaintoothers,itisnecessarytosaythatthemorevenerable
oftheserankasleaders,throughwhichthefinal,thedemiurgic,andthe
othercausesconsequenttothese,presentthemselvestotheview.But
inthingswhichareparticipatedbyothers,suchasaremoreimperfect
occur,whichbecomeasitweresubjectstomoreperfectnatures,and
Bshowthemselvestobeofposteriororigin.Suchtherefore,isthewhole1
designofthewordsbeforeus.
Itfollowsinthenextplace,thatweshouldshowthroughwhatcauses,
andfromthepossessionofwhatnature,theDemiurgusofwholes
constitutedtimeinconjunctionwiththesoulandtheuniverse;andalso
whatthegoodisimpartedbyit,andonaccountofwhichitwas
produced.Itislikewiseespeciallyrequisitethatweshouldshowthis,
becausemany,evenofthefriendsofPlato,apprehendtimetobea
certainobscureform,andnothingmorethanthatwhichisnumberedof
motions;*notconsidering,thatofthetengiftswhichthefatherimpartsto
theworld?eachofthefollowingisentirelygreaterthaneachofthegifts
thatprecedesit.Iftherefore,havingnowanimatedtheworld,and
3,4rendereditablessedGod,Dheafterwardsimpartstimetoit,itis
evidentthattimewillbesuperiortosoul,andtothepossessionofa
blessedlifeonaccountofsoul,andthatalifewhichisdefinedaccording
totimewillliveperiodically.Hencetimewillnotbeathingofsucha
kindasthemultitudesayitis,butwillhaveanessencemoredivinethan
fForTcaoovhere,readKCtaa.
%cf.241Af,infra,p.733;andAristotle,PhysicsIV,11,219blff&223a24ff;and
OntheHeavensI,9,279a25ff.
cf.140Eff,supra.
Tim.34b.
0Insteadofvveprepovatitil)oxpovoq,itisnecessarytoreadwireprepovaveit)o
XPOVOQ.
thatofsouls,andpsychicalgood.Thistherefore,weshallagainmore
fullyenforce.*
Wemustsayhowever,directingourattentiontothewordsofPlato,
CthattheDemiurgusintellectuallyperceivesthelife,andmotion,and
orderoftheuniverse,anditspossessionofform,notinsodoinglooking
totheworlditself.Forneitherinshort,istheworldintelligible
accordingtothewholeofitself;butisratheraccordingtoitsbulk,the

objectofopinioninconjunctionwithirrationalsense.*Nordoesthe
Demiurgusinhisintellectionstendtoexternalobjects;butevery
intellect5isconvertedtoitself.Hence,becauseheintellectually
perceiveshimself,andcontainsinhimselfthegenerative,and
providentialcauseofwholes;bybeholdinghimself,hesurveysboththe
essenceandtheperfectionofhisownprogeny.ButPlatosays,thatthe
worldwasgeneratedthestatueorresemblanceoftheperpetualGods;not
thatitistheimageofthemundaneGods;forhedoesnotalonespeakabout
thecorporealformednatureoftheuniverse,butalsoabouttheanimatedand
intellectualanimal,whichcomprehendsinitselfthemundaneGods;buthe
saysthis,becauseitistheresemblanceoftheintelligibleGods.Foritisfilled
withdeityfromthem,andtheprogressionsofthemundaneGodsintoit,
are,asitwere,certainriversandilluminationsoftheintelligibleGods.
DTheworldalso,receivestheseprogressions,notonlyaccordingtoits
celestialpart,butaccordingtothewholeofitself.Forintheair,inthe
earth,andinthesea,thereareadventsoftheterrestrial,aquatic,and
aerialGods.Theworldtherefore,isfilledwithdeityaccordingtothe
wholeofitself,andonthisaccountiswhollyaresemblanceofthe
intelligibleGods;notindeed,receivingtheintelligibleGodsthemselves;
3,5forneitherdostatuesreceivetheexemptessenceofthetotalGods;but
beingfitlyadorned,itreceivestheilluminationsderivedfromthenceto
secondaryorders,towhichithasacommensuratesubsistence.
Thatbytheperpetualhowever,hemeansalltheintelligibleGods,and
nottheGodsthatareintheworld,herendersevidentbyimmediately
adding,"Henceasthatisaneternalanimal,"viz.theintelligible[or
animalitself].ButwhotheintelligibleGodsare,maybeassumedfrom
division.Foritmusteitherbeadmittedthattheyarepriortoanimal
itself;orinanimalitself,beingthemonadsasitwereofthefourideas
whicharethere;orposteriortoanimalitself.Itwouldberidiculous
therefore,toarrangethempriortoanimalitself;fortheywouldthen
tcf.247Affinfra,p.750.
$Tim.28a.
Novcisomittedintheoriginalinthisplace.
comprehendeternity,towhichhehasnotyetsaidtheuniverseis
Eassimilated.Butitisimpossibletoarrangetheminanimalitself.For
howcouldPlatocalltheuniverse,thestatueorresemblanceofthose
Gods,towhichhehadnotyetaccordingtotheorderofthediscourse,*
assimilatedtheplenitudesoftheuniverse?Forhedoesthisafterwards,
whenheproducesthepartialplenitudesoftheuniverse.Sothathe
wouldnothavesaid,thattheuniversewasnowgeneratedthe
resemblanceoftheseGods,butsinceitwillbe.Itremainstherefore,that
the.perpetualGods,areallthoseposteriortoanimalitself,whichsubsist

betweentheintelligibleparadigmandtheDemiurgus.Forthe
Demiurgusrenderedtheuniversesimilartoallthese,sofaraseachof
themcomprehendstheformofthewholenessoftheworld.Thisthen
isdemonstrated.
HencetheworldisthestatueoftheintelligibleGods;whenitis
Fassumedinconjunctionwithsoulandintellect,andthedeitywhich
3,6accedestoit.Butitisastatueinmotion,andfulloflife,*anddeity;
fashionedfromallthingswithinitself;preservingallthings,andfilled
withanatoncecollectedabundanceofallgoodfromthefather.It
likewisepeculiarlyreceivesfromnaturemotion,morethananything
else;butfromsoul,motionandlife;andfromintellect,intelligenceand
life,andthereceptacleofthemundaneGods.FromthemundaneGods
however,itreceivesthatwhichremains,viz.thebeingfashionedin
perfection,themosttruestatue,5orresemblance,oftheintelligible
240AGods.Andagain,fromthisitisevident,thatPlatoestablishesthe
Demiurgusconformablytothemostconsummateoftheinitiatorsinto
themysteries.0Forheexhibitshimasthestatuaryoftheworld,justas
beforeherepresentedhimthemakerofdivinenamesandtheenunciator
ofdivinecharacters,throughwhichhegaveperfectiontothesoul.Forthese
thingsareeffectedbythosethataretelestae**inreality,whogivecompletion
tcf.Tim.30c.
XForfwTjhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadfonjc;.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.847.
cf.16Esupra,p.57;&83Esupra,p.253.
oTim.28b,cf.also84Esupra,p.256.
ftForreXeuraihere,readreform.Thetelestaewereinitiatorsintothemysteries,
andweretheurgists,orcapableofperformingdivineoperations.Thistheurgy,inwhich
theseinitiatorsweredeeplyskilled,formedthelastpartofthesacerdotalscience.See
aninterestingaccountofit,fromaveryrareGreekMS.ofPsellus,OnDaemons
accordingtotheDogmasoftheGreeks,intheNotestomyPausanias,Vol.3.p.324.
tostatues,throughcharactersandvitalnames,andrenderthemlivingand
mmoving.Withgreatproprietytherefore,wasthefatherofwholes
delightedwithhisfabrication,andbeingexhilaratedwithit,endeavoured
torenderitstillmoresimilartoitsparadigm.Hewasdelightedwith,
andadmiredhowever,notthatwhichproceededfrom,andthroughhim
wascompletelyeffectedathingofthiskind,butwithhisownpower,
whichcausedtheuniverse,frombeingmovedinaconfusedand
disorderlymanner,tobecomeorderly,animated,enduedwithintellect,
anddivine.Andasbyknowinghimself,heknowstheworld,soby
admiringhisowndemiurgicpower,hemakeshisfabricationtobe
Badmirable,andthetruestatueorresemblanceoftheperpetualGods.For

inacertainrespect,theuniverseissaidtoheastatue(agalma)from
divinitybeingdelightedwithit.
Hewasdelightedhowever,andexulted,notrejoicinginathingsituated
externally;forhowbeingintellectcanhelookoutwardly;buthisdelight
wasproducedfrombeingfilledwithhisownboniformwill,andfrom
hisbeneficentpowerproceedingtotheunenvyingandexuberant
communicationandsupplyofmoreperfectgoods.ThisalsoPlato
sufficientlyindicates,bysayingthattheDemiurgusinconsequenceof
beingdelighted,endeavouredtorendertheuniversestillmoresimilarto
3,7itsparadigm.Forhewasprimarilydelightedindeed,throughtheinward
intellectionofhimself,comprehendingandbenevolentlyreceivingthe
intelligibleuniverse,withasimple,unimpeded,andcollectedembrace,
throughpermanencyin,andaperfectunionwithit.Buthewas
delightedsecondarily,ifitbelawfulsotospeak,onaccountofthe
aptitudeofthenatureswhichreceivethesupplyofgood,externally
proceedingfromhim.
Andhereyoumaysee,howPlatodeliversthethreecausesofthe
participationofgood;proceedingintothisworldfromthefather.One
indeed,andthefirst,isthatwhichproceedsfromthepowerofthe
Ceffectivecause.ForitistheDemiurguswhonowgeneratestime;
throughhisownunenvyingandprolificabundance,desiringtofillall
thingswithfirst,middle,andlastgoods.Butthesecondcause,isthat
whicharisesfromtheaptitudeofthereceivingthing.Forthe
communicatorofgoodisthendelighted,whenthatwhichreceivesit,is
aptlydisposedtoitsreception.Andthethirdcause,isthatwhich
proceedsfromthesymmetry,andasitwereconspirationandsymphonyof
bothpowerandaptitude.Foronaccountofthis,thoughtheGods
alwaysextendtoallthingsgoodcoordinate*totheiressences,yetitis
tInsteadofaroixeuxinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadOVOTOIXCL.
notalwaysreceivedbyallofus;becausewearenotadaptedtoits
reception,andhavenotalwaysasubsistencecommensuratetoitspower.
Ifhowever,wewishthatdivinityshouldrejoiceinus,*asheisnaturally
disposedtorejoice,andbedelightedonouraccount,thoughhealways
possessesaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence,wemustrenderourselves
adaptedtothereceptionofthegoodwhichisextendedbyhim;inorder
thatthegiftofdivinity,maynotwithrespecttousbe
Dinefficacious,thoughheisnotimpededbyanything.Thesethings
thereforeitisthebusinessofanotherdiscussiontosurveymorefully.
Now,however,letusseehowtheuniversebecomesmoresimilarto
itsparadigm,throughthegenerationoftime.Becausetheparadigm
thereforeisprimarilyeternal,ifthesensibleworlddidnotreceivea
secondaryperpetuity,itisevidenttoeveryone,thatitwouldbeina

lessdegreeassimilatedtotheintelligible.Anditlikewiseisnotdifficult
toperceive,thatthenaturewhichhasitsgenerationinmutation,ifit
wereseparatedfromtime,wouldbesofarfrombeingperpetual,thatit
3,8wouldnotbepossibleforittoremainforamoment.*Hence,acertain
perpetuityisnecessarytothatwhichistobeinastillgreaterdegree
assimilatedtotheintelligible.Buttothatwhichisperpetualindeed,yet
hasnottheperpetuityatoncepresentwithit,inthesamemannerasthe
intelligible,thewholeextensionoftimeisnecessary.Moreover,hewho
considersthenatureoftime,willmoreclearlyknow,5howtimenot
onlycontributestotheperpetuityofthewholeworld,andtothegreat
partsoftheworld,butalsototheperfectionandfelicityofeachof
them,andcomprehendsalltheseatonce;whichinthecourseofthe
interpretationweshallendeavourtomanifest,byinvestigatingthe
plenitudesoftime.
37d"Thenature0indeedofanimalitselfwaseternal,andthisitis
Eimpossibletoadaptperfectlytothatwhichisgenerated.Hencehe
tie.Ifwewishtoreceivehisbeneficentilluminations.Forthesearealways
extended,afterthesamemanner,because,asProclusobserves,divinitypossessesan
invariablesamenessofsubsistence.Hencewhenwereceivethegood,whichhe
perpetuallyextendstous,heissaidtobedelighted,hisdelightindicatingourproper
receptionofthisgood.
%cf.105Dsupra,p.319.
Foreaeraihere,itisrequisitetoreadeiaerm.
cf.85Dsupra;and243Binfra.
formedthedesignofproducingacertainmoveable1"image*ofeternity;5
.andinconsequenceofthis,whilehewasadorningtheuniverse,hemade
thiseternalimageproceedingaccordingtonumber,ofeternityabiding
inone,andwhichwedenominatetime."
Thatanimalitselfistheplenitudeofthemultitudeofintelligible
animals,andthatitpossessesaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence,isa
thingfrequentlyandfullyasserted,andisnotconsideredasatall
dubiousbythePlatonicphilosophers.Butwhateternityis,andthe
moveabletimewhichimitatesit,arethingsperfectlydifficultto
understand,andtoexplainsufficientlytoothers.Atthesametime
however,itisrequisitetonarratethemoreelegantopinionsofthe
ancientsaboutit,andtoadd,ifweareable,anythingwhichmay
contributetotheelucidation,anddistinctconsiderationofthethingsto
bediscussed.
Themultitudetherefore,haveaconceptionandcosensationoftime,
3,9inconsequenceoflookingtothesublunaryandcelestialmotions,and

Fareofopinionthattimeissomethingpertainingtomotion,suchfor
instanceasthenumber,orextensionofmotion,orsomethingelseofthe
likekind.Butthemoreexcellentofthese,proceedingtothe
consideration0ofeternity,andperceivingthatthereisnotsimply
motion,butaperpetualandorderlymotionintheuniverse,andwhich
circulateswithinvariablesameness,conceivedfromhence,thatthis
invariablesameness,wasinherentinmoveablenatures,fromacertain
othercause,andnotfromthemselves.Thiscausetherefore,willeither
beimmoveable,ormoved.Andifindeed,itismovedatacertaintime
only,howwillitbethecauseofthatwhichalwaysisinvariablythe
same?Butifitismovedalways,thisperpetuityofitsmotionmust
241Aagainbederivedfromsomethingelse,andeither0thiswillbethecase
adinfinitum,ortherewillbesomethingimmoveable,whichisthecause
ofperpetualmotion,tothingswhicharealwaysmoved.Andtheenergy
ofthisbeingimmoveable,isnolongeraccordingtotime,butiseternal.
Forthepeculiarityofthingswhichsubsistaccordingtotime,istobe
alwaysingeneration,orbecomingtobe;butofeternalnatures,toexist
tForKivrjTOVhere,readKIVTITTIV.
$AndforeucureadeiKOva.
Formuvalikewise,itisnecessarytoreadcuuvoq.
Insteadofemraoivinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadtTiaraaiv.
0Foraeir'airapovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTJit'cnreipov.
always.Forcommonconceptionopines,thateternityisdenominated
fromexistingalways,justasitthinksthattimederivesitsappellation
fromdancingbeingameasuredmotion,andwhich
hasitsexistenceingeneration.Onthisaccount,itappearstomethat
themultitudeassumedthefirstconceptionoftime,butthewiseof
eternity,bytheformerdirectingtheirattentiontothenaturewhichis
alwaysmoved,andthelattertothenaturewhichisalwaysstable.It
mustnowhoweverbeshownwhateachoftheseis,andinamanner
mostconformabletothedoctrineofPlato.
Aristotleindeed,*admittingtimetobethenumberofmotion,asserts
thatitisso,notaccordingtothatwhichnumbers,butaccordingtothat
whichisnumbered.Hence,heveryproperlyinquireswhatthatis
whichnumbersit,iftimeisthatwhichisnumbered.Fortheseare
Brelatives,andtheoneexisting,theotheralsoexists.Hesolvesthe
inquiryhoweverweakly,bysayingthatitisacertainsoulwhich
numberstime.*Foritisnecessary,thatpriortoperpetualnumber,
thereshouldbeaperpetualnumerator,inorderthathemayalways
produce,thatwhichisgeneratedalwaysexisting.Admittingtherefore
timetobethenumberofmotion,healsosaysthateternityis
intelligible,derivingitsappellationfromexistingalways,andpossessing

3,10andcomprehendingthewholeoftime.Hencealsohesays,theexistence
andlifeofallthingsaresuspendedfromthis,ofsomethingsmore
obscurely,butofothersmoreclearly.Itisnecessaryhoweveratpresent,
thatweshouldparticularlyseewhateternityandtimeareaccordingto
Plato,andthatweshouldnotadmittheimageiftimetobetimealone,
noreternitytobesimplyacertainintelligibleGod,butinthefirstplace
show,inwhatorderoftheintelligiblesitsubsists.Forthisisespecially
thepeculiarityofthescienceofPlato.
Itismanifestthentoeveryone,thateternityismorevenerable,
primordial,andasitweremorestablethananimalitself,thoughanimal
itselfisthemostbeautiful,andmostperfectofintelligibleanimals,as
CPlatohasbeforesaid.5Foriftheeternalissaidtobe,andiseternalas
participating[ofeternity,]buteternityisnotsaidtoparticipateofanimal
itself,nortoreceiveitsappellationfromit,itisevidentthattheformer
tcf.Aristode,PhysicsIV,11,219bff;&OntheHeavensI,9,279a25ff.
XIndefenceofAristodehowever,itmaybesaid,thatwhenheassertsthatitisa
certainsoulwhichnumberstime,hedoesnotspeakoftimeaccordingtoitsfirst
subsistence,butthetimewhichisparticipatedbymaterialnatures,andofwhich,the
multitude,asProclusobserves,haveaconception,andcosensation.
Tim.30d.
issecondary,butthelattermoresimpleandmoreprimary.Foreternity
neitherparticipatesofanimalitself,becauseitisnotananimal;for
neitheristimeavisibleanimal;norisitanyotheranimal.Forithas
beendemonstratedthatanimalitselfisonlybegottenandeternal,because
eternityismoreexcellent.Fortheeternalisneitherthatwhicheternity
is,norismoreexcellentthaneternity.Butasweallsaythatthe
participantofintellect,andtheanimated,areposteriortointellectand
soul,solikewisetheeternalissecondarytoeternity.Whatthensome
onemaysay,willeternitybe,ifitismorevenerablethananimalitself,
whichissaidtobethemostbeautifulofintelligibles,*andinevery
respectperfect?Mayitnotbesaid,thatitisespeciallymostbeautiful,
inconsequenceofreceivingthesummitofbeauty,onaccountof
excessiveparticipation,butthatitdoesnotreceivethesummitofThe
Good;foritisnotsaidtobemostexcellent.Sothatitmaybe
subordinatetothatwhichisthebest.Towhichmaybeadded,thatit
isnotsimplythemostbeautifulofallintelligibles,butofintelligible
animals.Henceeternity*isnoanimal,butifitislife,itisinfinitelife.
DInthenextplace,itisnotnecessarythatwhatisineveryrespectperfect
shouldbethefirst.Fortheperfecthasallthings,sothatithasthings
3,11first,middle,andlast.Butthatwhichisabovethisdivisionwillbe
superperfect.Hencenothingpreventseternityfrombeingsuperiorto
theanimalwhichisthemostbeautifulofallintelligibleanimals,andis

ineveryrespectperfect,ifeternityismostexcellentandsuperperfect.
Fartherstill,animalitselfhasnot5anarrangementpriortothe
multitudeofintelligibleanimals.Onthisaccounttherefore,Platosays,
"Fortothatwhichisthemostbeautifulofintelligiblesandineveryrespect
perfect."Buteternityispriortothemultitudeofintelligibleanimals.
Fortheseareeternal;buteternalnaturesparticipateofeternity,which
isnotcoarrangedwiththemultitudeofthem,andhasratheran
arrangementcontrarytothem.Foritunitesmultitude,andissaidto
abideinone,asbeingvoidofmultitude.Animalitselfhowever,
comprehendsallsuchanimalsasareintelligible;onwhichaccountalso,
itisinwantofeternity,inorderthatitmayparticipatethroughit,of
union,containingpower,andafirmandimmutablelife.Hencetoo,he
saysthatitiseternal,yetdoesnotadd,thatithasmultitudeinitself,but
speaksofitinthesingularnumber;signifyingthatunionisespecially
tTim.30d.
$Thereisanomissionintheoriginalinthisplaceofocauv.
Ovisomittedhereintheoriginal.
Epresentwithitfrometernity,sothatthewholeessenceofintelligible
animalsshinesforthasonenature,onaccountofeternity.
Iftherefore,thesethingsarerightlyasserted,eternitywillnotbeone
certaingenusofbeing,assomethinkitis,suchforinstanceasessence,
orpermanency,orsameness.Forallthesearepartsofanimalitself;and
eachofthemhasthattowhichitisasitwereopposed.Thusfor
instance,essenceisopposedtononbeing,topermanency,motion,and
tosameness,difference.Buttoeternitynothingisopposed.Allthese
therefore,aresimilarlyeternal,viz.sameness,difference,permanencyand
motion.Thishowever,wouldnotbethecase,ifeternitywasoneof
these.Formotionandpermanencyarenotsimilarlyeternalwith
eternity.Butallintelligiblesaresimilarlyperpetualandeternalbeings.
Eternitythereforeisnotopposedtoanyone,eitheroftheseorofthe
thingsposteriortoit.Fortime,whichmayseemtosubsistdissimilarly
withreferencetoit,inthefirstplaceisnotconvolvedaboutthesame
thingsaseternity,butaboutthingswhichdonotreceiveconnexion
frometernity.Inthenextplace,itisanimage,andnottheopposition
ofit,aswehavealreadyobserved,andshalldemonstrate.*Neither
Ftherefore,willeternitybeonegenusofbeing,northewholecollection
3,12ofthegeneraofit.Foragainmultitudebeinginit,itwouldbeinwant
oftheunionofthatwhichabidesinone.Buteternityisthatwhich
abidesinone.Sothatitwouldbothabide,andnotabideinone.It
wouldabideindeed,aseternity,andasthecauseofuniontobeings.But
itwouldnotabide,asconsistingofmultitude.Inadditiontoallthathas
beensaidlikewise,itisintellectwhichconsistsof*thesegenera,and
perceivestheirconsummation.Theconceptionhowever,ofintellect,is

differentfromthatofeternity,justastheconceptionofsoul,isdifferent
fromthatoftime.Fortheenergyofintellect,isintransitiveintelligence,
butofeternity,impartibleperpetuity.*Andafterthismannerindeed,the
242Athingsaredistinguishedfromeachother.Butthosewhomingleall
thingsintothesame,andassertthatthereisonlyoneintellectbetween
soulandTheGood,arecompelledtoacknowledgethatintellectand
eternityarethesame.
Whatthenwilleternitybe,ifitisneitheroneofthegeneraofbeing,
norconsistsofallthefive,sincealltheseareeternal,andeternity0is
tcf.243Dffinfra;and248Einfra.
XThewordsovviOTaraitKappeartobewantinginthisplaceintheoriginal,L
cf.76Csupra.
Forawvoc,hereitisnecessarytoreadaiuv.
abovethese?Wereply,whatelsecanitbethanthecomprehension*of
theintelligibleunities?ButImeanbytheunities,theideasof
intelligibleanimals,andthegeneraofalltheseintelligibleideas.Theone
comprehensionthereforeofthese,andofthesummitoftheirmultitude,
andthecauseoftheimmutablepermanencyofallofthemiseternity,
notexistinginthemultitudeofintelligibles,norcollectedfromthem;
butbeingpresentwiththemexemptly,disposingandasitwereforming
thembyitself,andmakingthisverythingtobeatthesametimea
whole.Fortheallvariousideaofintelligiblesisnotproduced
immediatelyafterTheGood,whichisentirelywithoutany
representationofmultitude,buttherearecertainintermediatenatures,
whichareindeedmoreunitedthanallperfectmultitude,butexhibitthe
Bparturiencyandrepresentationoftheprogenyofwholes,andof
connectedlycontainingpowerinthemselves.Thenumberhoweverand
natureofthese,theGodsknowdivinely,butthemystictraditionofthe
Parmenidesteachesusinahumanmanner,andphilosophically,towhich
wereferthereaderfortheaccuratediscussionoftheseparticulars.But
nowweshalldemonstratethroughthewordsthemselvesofthe
3,13philosopher,thateternityisaboveallperfectanimal,andthatitis
proximatelyaboveit.Forbecauseanimalitselfissaidtobeeternal,it
willbesecondarytoeternity.Butbecausethereisnoeternalnature
priortoit,itwillbeproximatelyposteriortoeternity.Whence
therefore,isthisevident?Wereply,becauseneitheristhereanything
temporalpriorto[time]theimageofeternity,buttheworldprimarily
participatesoftime,andanimalitself,ofeternity.Forifaseternityis
totime,soisanimalitselftotheworld,thenalternately,as
geometricianswouldsay,aseternityistoanimalitself,soistimetothe
world.Buttimeisfirstparticipatedbytheworld;forithadno
existencewhatever,priortotheorderlydistributionoftheuniverse.

CEternitytherefore,isparticipatedbyanimalitself.Iflikewise,timeis
notthesensibleanimalwhichcomprehendsinitselfallothersensible
animals[i.e.ifitisnottheuniverse];foritisgeneratedtogetherwithit;
butthatwhichisgeneratedwithit,isnotthatwithwhichitis
generated;ifthisbethecase,neitherwilleternitybetheintelligible
animal.Henceneitherwillitbeananimal,lestthereshouldbetwo
[allcomprehending]intelligibleanimals.Forithasbeenbefore
demonstratedbyPlato,thatanimalitselfisonlybegotten.Sothatin
short,eternitywillnotbeananimal.Forifitwere,itwouldeitherbe
tThewordwepioxyisomittedhereintheoriginal,butfromwhatfollows,either
thisword,orairiaornovaqorevuoic,oughtevidentlytobeinserted.
ananimaldifferentfrom,orthesamewithanimalitself.Itisnot
however,possibletoasserteitherofthese,aswehaveshown;partly
indeed,becauseanimalitselfisonlybegotten,andpartlybecausetime,
andthatwhichistemporal,arenotthesame.Butifitisparticipated,
anddoesnotparticipateofintelligibleanimal,itwillbeaGodpriorto
animalitself,intelligibleindeed,butnotyetananimal;sinceanimalitself
alsoisaGod.AndthisbecausetheworldlikewiseisaGod.Forthat
whichisparticipatedthere,butdoesnotparticipateofaparticipated
nature,isentirelymoretotal.
Itisevidenthowever,thattheparticipationisnotequalinboth.For
thecommunionandunionofintelligibles,whichnowemployingwecall
participation,isdifferentfromthatofsensiblenatures.Itappears
Dtherefore,thattheorderofeternity,issuperiortothatofanimalitself,
andisproximatelysuperior,andthatitisthecauseofintelligiblesofan
invariablesamenessofsubsistence.Hencesomeonemayconsideritas
thesamewithpermanency.Thishowever,isacoordinatedcause,and
3,14ratherimpartsasamenessofsubsistenceaboutenergy.Buteternityisan
exemptcause.Italsoappears,thateternityisthecomprehensionand
unionofmanyintelligibleunities.Henceitissaidbythe[Chaldean]
Oraclestobefatherbegottenlight,fbecauseitilluminatesallthingwith
unifyinglight."Forthisalone,[saystheOracle]bypluckingabundantly
fromthestrengthofthefather,theflowerofintellectisenabledby
intellection*toimpartapaternalintellecttoallthefountainsand
principles;togetherwithintellectualenergy,andaperpetual
permanency,accordingtoanunsluggishrevolution."5Forbeingfullof
paternaldeity,whichtheoraclecallstheflowerofintellect,it
illuminatesallthingswithintellect,andwithintellectualperception
invariablythesame,andalsowiththeabilityofrevolvingandenergizing
inanamatorymanner,abouttheprincipleofallthings.Thesethings
however,Ievolveintheinaccessiblerecessesofthereasoningpower.
Againhowever,onallsidesinvestigatingtheconceptionsofthe

philosopherabouteternity,letusconsiderwhatismeantbyeternity
abidinginone.Forweaskinwhatone?IsitinTheGood,asappeared
Etobethecase,tothemosttheologicaloftheinterpreters?ButThe
Good,doesnotevenabideinitself,onaccountofitssimplicity,aswe
tChald.Oracl.fr.49.
XForTOvoeivhere,readTUVOHV.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.1161,29.
maylearninthefirsthypothesisoftheParmenides,1andasheadmits.
Muchlesstherefore,cananythingelseabideinit.*Forinshort,
nothingisinit,5nothingsubsiststogetherwithit,onaccountofits
beingexemptfromacoordinationwithanythingwhatever.Towhich
maybeadded,thatitisnotusualtocalliteithergood,orone,butThe
Good,andTheOne,inorderthatwemayformaconceptionofits
monadictranscendency,whichisbeyondeveryknownnature.Now
however,eternityisnotsaidtoabideinTheOne,butinone;sothatit
doesnotabideinTheGood.Doestherefore,theabidingofeternityin
one,signifytheunitednatureasitwereofit,andtheabidingofitinits
3,15ownone;andmanifestthatitisonemultitude?Or,inshort,doesit
indicatethenumberofthatwhichdoesnotproceed,inorderthatit
maybethecauseofuniontothemultitudeofintelligibles?Thisindeed,
wealsosayistrue,inorderthatitmayimparttoitselfthestable,and
thewhole,priortoeternalnatures.Forthisistoabideinone;viz.to
havethewholeatoncepresent,andthesameimmutablehyparxis.
Everydivinenaturetherefore,beginsitsenergyfromitself;sothat
Feternitywillestablishitselfinone,andconnectedlycontainitselfafter
thesamemanner,priortoeternalbeings.Henceitisnotbeing,as
Stratothephysiologistsays,whichisthecauseofpermanency,0but
eternity.Anditisthecauseofapermanency,0notalwaysin
generation,orbecomingtobe,butwhichimmutablyexistsinone,as
Timaeussays.
Ifhowever,eternityexhibitsaduad,thoughwefrequentlyendeavour
toconcealit;forthealwaysisconjoinedtobeingaccordingtothesame,
andeternity(aion)is,thatwhichalwaysis(oaeion);itappearsthatit
willhavethemonadofbeingpriortoitself,andtheonebeing;andthat
itwillabideinthisone,asourpreceptoralsothoughtconcerningit;in
243Aorderthatitmaybeonepriortotheduad,asnotdepartingfromunity.
Andtheduadindeed,antecedentlyexhibitingmultitudeinitself,is
unitedtotheonebeing,inwhicheternityabides;butthemultitudeof
intelligiblesisunitedtoeternityitself,whichcomprehendsexemptlyand
tParmenides127d,ff.

%Prod.Comm.Parmen.1235,f.
AllthingsarecomprehendedbyTheOne,butnothingsubsistspeculiarlyinit.
Andthecomprehensionofallthingsbyit,isnothingmorethantheineffableunion
whichitimpartstoallthings,andthroughwhichallthingsbecomeboundedbyit.
ForStayo/iijcinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread5uXfiOvr)i;.
oHeretooforSiaco/iTjc,readfiia/ioi'ijc.
unically,allthesummitsofthem.Forthattheconceptionoftheone
beingandofeternitydiffer,isevident.Fortobealways,andtobe
simply,areentirelydifferent.Iftherefore,acertainthingalwaysis,this
thingalsois;butnotviceversa,ifacertainthingis,itlikewisealwaysis.
Hencetoexistismoretotalandgeneric,thantoexistalways.Andon
thisaccountlikewise,itisnearertothecauseofallbeings,oftheunities
inbeings,andofgenerationandmatter.Thesethreethingstherefore,
aresuccessive;viz.theonebeing,asthemonadofbeings;eternityasa
duad,havingthealwaysinconjunctionwithexistence;andtheeternal,
whichparticipatesbothofexistence,andthealways,andisnotprimarily
perpetualbeinglikeeternity*Andtheonebeingindeed,isalonethe
3,16causeofexistencetoallthingsofwhateverkindtheymaybe,whether
Btheyexisttruly,ornottruly.Buteternityisthecauseofpermanency
inexistence.Stratotherefore,oughtrathertohaveassertedthis,andnot
tohavedefinedbeingtobethepermanency*ofbeings;ashewritesin
histreatiseConcerningBeing,thustransferringthepeculiarityofeternity
tobeing.Forneitheringeneratednatures,isitthesamethingtobe
generated,andtoremaingenerated.Butthepeculiarityofgenerationis
forthatwhichhasittoexhibitanotherandanother[conditionof
subsistence];andthepeculiarityofgenerationremaining,orbeing
permanent,istimeinwhichgenerationexists.Andwhattimeisin
generation,thateternityisinessence.Concerningthedevelopment
however,ofthatmightydivinityeternityabidinginone,letthusmuch
suffice.
ButwhydoesPlatosay,"thenatureofanimalitselfwaseternal,"and
notis,thoughtoeternitythenowismoreadaptedthanthepasttime?
Heemploystherefore,elsewherethisformofdiction,5aswhenhesays
oftheDemiurguswhoisalwaysgood,"hewasgood;"signifyingthathe
isnotthisfromtime,butthathealwayswasso;andthatindivine
natures,theendsareantecedentlyassumedandcoassumedwiththe
beginnings,priortoallextension.Atpresenthowever,thewordwasis
Cmoreopportunelyused.ForsincePlatoadornstheuniverseaccording
tohypothesis,butpriortotheadorning,intelligiblesexisted,thoughnot
intime,yetindignity,andalsosuchthingsassubsisttogetherwith
intelligibles;onthisaccounthesays,"itwas."Butagainbyemploying

fcf.71Bsupra.
XAndherealsoforSiavopriv,readdUCflonff.
e.g.Tim29e.
thewordbeing1(ousa),heassiststheimbecilityoftheimperfectverb.
Forhealsomakesittobeessential,andnolesssothanthepresent.He
likewise,adaptstoeternitywhathesaysconcerningit;toitsperfection
indeed,throughthewordwas;andtoitsessentialbeing,bycointroducing
thewordbeing.Andthusmuchconcerningthelittlewords
[whichPlatoemploys.]
Whyhowever,wasitnotpossibleperfectlytoadapttheeternaltot
hegenerated?Isitnotbecauseeverythinggenerated,maybesaidto
haveitsexistenceinmutation;butthatwhichisperfectlyeternal,is
immutableandunbegotten?Thesenaturesthereforebeingopposedto
eachother,ifsomeoneshouldviolentlyendeavourtoconnectthe
perfectlyeternalwiththatwhichisgenerated,hewouldnotmakeit
3,17immutable,andwoulddestroyitsnature.Istheneternitypresentwith
thatwhichissensible,afteracertainmanner,andnotentirely?Buthow
isitpossibleweshouldnotacknowledgethis?Forthatwhich
participatesoftheimageofeternity,participatesalsoinacertainrespect
ofeternity;thoughnotinsuchawayasthatwhichparticipatesofit
Dimmediately.Andinshortsuperiorcausesalwaysadornthedominion
ofsuchasaresubordinate,sothateternitylikewise,isinacertain
respectpresentwiththenaturesthatareadornedbytime.Foraccording
tooneallperfectboundaryindeed,itispresentwithintelligiblesalone;
butitislikewisecapableofbeingpresentwithmundanethings
multitudinously,accordingtodividedperfectionsanddefinitemeasures
oflife,andespeciallyaccordingtotheessencesofthecelestialsouls.The
worlditselfalsoreceiveseternity,notasitis;andonthisaccount
neitherisitsaidtobeeternal;butasfarasitisable,itreceivesits
impartiblepresenceandillumination.Thistherefore,isthetranscendent
goodineternityofadivinecauseandcomprehension.Henceit
comprehendspartibleessences,andsuchasareasitwerecontrarytoits
ownnature,accordingtotheconcatenationofcause.Andthusmuch
forthisparticular.
Buthowistimesaidtobetheimageofeternity?Isitbecauseeternity
indeedabidesinone,buttimeproceedsaccordingtonumber?This
however,rathershowsthedissimilitudethanthesimilitudeofthem.
ForPlatonearlyopposesallthings[pertainingtoeternityandtime]to
Eall,viz.proceeding,toabiding;accordingtonumber,toone;theimage,to
thethingitself.Itisbetterthereforetosay,thatdivinityproducedthese
tThewordsofPlatoare,ij\utvovvTOVfaov<f>voic,ervfx^vevovoautwvwc,,in

which,asProclusobserves,theimperfectverbervyxavev,was,isassistedbythe
participleousa,being.
two,Imeaneternityandtime,asthemeasuresofbeings,theformerof
intelligiblebutthelatterofmundanebeings.Astherefore,theworldis
saidtobetheimageoftheintelligible,thusalsothemundanemeasure
isdenominatedtheimageoftheintelligiblemeasure.Eternityhowever,
isindeedameasureasunity,buttimeasnumber.Foreachmeasures,
theformerthingswhichbecomeone,butthelattersuchasare
numbered.Andtheformermeasuresthepermanencyofbeings,butthe
lattertheextension1ofgeneratednatures.Theapparentoppositions
however,ofthetwo,donotexhibitdissimilitudeofmeasures,but
indicatethatsecondaryareproducedbymorevenerableandancient
3,18natures.Forprogressionisfrompermanency,andnumberfromunity.
Butisnottimeonthisaccounttheimageofeternity,becauseitis
effectiveoftheperfectionofmundanenatures,justaseternityisthe
containerandguardianofbeings?*Forasthingswhichareunabletolive
accordingtointellect,arebroughtundertheorderofFate,lestbyflying
fromdivinity,theyshouldbecomeperfectlydisorderly,thusalsothings
Fwhichproceedfrometernity,andarenotabletoparticipateofastable
perfection,whichisatoncewhole,andalwaysthesameendindeed
underthedominionoftime,butareexcitedbyittotheirown5
appropriateenergies,bywhichtheyareenabledtoreceivetheend
adaptedtothem,throughcertainapocatastaticperiods.
ItisalsowellthatPlatocallstheproductionoftime,theconceptionor
contrivance,(epinoia,)oftheDemiurgus.Fortoimparttobeingswhich
244Aarenotnaturallyeternal,anadventitiousandtemporalperpetuity,and
alsotoconferperfectiononthingsimperfect,andacircularapocatastasis,
onthingswhichproceedinarightline,doesnotappeartofallfarshort
ofinventionandcontrivance.Hence,inwhatfollows,hesaysthat
divinitycontrivedthegenerationofthepartsoftime.DButhowisthe
imageofeternitysaidtobemoveable?0Isit**becauseallofitis
movedandthewholeisinmotion?Orisnotthispossible?For
nothingismovedaccordingtothewholeofitself,noristhisthecase,
evenwithsuchthingsasareessentiallychanged:forthesubjectofthese
tForirapairaoivhere,readruparaoiv.
XChald.Oracl.fr.185.
Insteadofeavrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadeavruv.
Tim.37e.
OFor/MCTJTT;here,readKivurqv.
ftThereisanomissionhereintheoriginal,ofij.

remains.Muchmoretherefore,willthingswhicharemovedaccording
totheothermotions,remainaccordingtoessence,whethertheyare
increased,orchangedinquality,orlocallymoved.Foriftheydidnot
remainaccordingtosomething,theirmotionlikewisewouldvanish,
togetherwiththem:forallmotionisinacertainthing.Nothing
therefore,aswehavesaid,iswhollymoved,andthisisespeciallythe
casewithperpetualnatures,whichoughttobeestablishedintheir
properprinciples,andtoremaininthemselves,iftheyaretobe
continuallypreserved.Butitisparticularlyrequisite,thattheimageof
eternityshouldhaveaperpetualsamenessofsubsistence,andstability;
Bsothatitisimpossiblethattimeshouldbemoveableaccordingtothe
3,19wholeofitself,sinceitisnotpossibleforthistobethecasewithany
thingelse.Itisnecessarilyrequisitetherefore,thatsomethingofit
shouldremain;sinceeverythingwhichismoved,ismovedin
consequenceofhavingsomethingofitselfwhichremains.Hencethe
monadoftimeremainssuspendedfromtheDemiurgus.Butbeingfull
ofmeasuringpower,andwishingtomeasurethemotionsofthe
psychical*essence,andtheexistence,energiesandpassionsofthe
physicalandcorporealessence,itproceedsaccordingtonumber.Time
thereforeabidingbyitsimpartibleandinwardenergy,proceeds
accordingtonumberbyitsexternalenergyandwhichisparticipatedby
thenatureswhichitmeasures;viz.itproceedsaccordingtoacertain
intellectualnumber,orratheraccordingtothefirstnumber,which
Parmenideswouldsay,beinganalogoustotheonebeing,presidesover
theintellectual,inthesamemannerasthatdoesovertheintelligible
orders.Itproceedstherefore,accordingtothatnumber.Hencealso,it
distributesanappropriatemeasuretoeach*ofthemundaneforms.
Youmaylikewisesaystillmoreproximately,thattruetimeproceeds
accordingtotruenumber,5participating0ofthenumbersofit,and
Cbeingitselfintellectualnumber,whichSocratesspeaksof,andobscurely
signifies,whenhesays,thatswiftnessitselfandslownessitselfareintrue
number,bywhichthethingsmeasuredbytime,differ,beingmoved
moreswiftly,ormoreslowly.HencealsoTimaeusdoesnotspeak
tFor\j>vxric,here,read^VXUty?.
XInsteadoft/caoTT/cinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreademory.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,18ff.
Forfieranexovrahere,readnenxovra.
0Ovisomittedhereintheoriginal.
muchaboutthisnumberbecauseSocratesontheprecedingdayhad
perfectlyunfoldedit,butaboutthatwhichproceedsfromit.Forthat
beingtrulyexistingnumber,hesaysthisproceedsaccordingtonumber.
Itproceedstherefore,accordingtointelligiblenumber,bywhichit
numbersitsparticipants,justas,viceversa,thetimewhichisin

sensibles,proceedsaccordingtothatwhichnumbers,beingitselfthat
whichisnumbered,andstillpossessingtheimageofessentialtime,
throughwhichallthingsarenumberedbygreaterorlessnumbersof
theirlife.Sothatanoxlivesforthis,butmanforthatlengthoftime,
butthesunisrestoredtoitspristinestateinone,andthemoonin
anotherperiodoftime,andotherthingsaccomplishtheirperiods
accordingtoothermeasures.Timetherefore,isthemeasureofmotions,
Dnotasthatbywhichwemeasure;forthistheconceptionabouttime
effects,andnottimeitself,butasproductive,anddefinitiveofthe
existenceofthelife,andeveryothermotionofthingsintime,andas
measuringthemandassimilatingthemaccordingtoparadigms.Foras
itrefersitselftothesimilitudeofeternity,whichcomprehends
paradigmaticcauses,thusalsoitrefersthethingswhichareperfectedby
itself,andwhichareconvolvedinacircle,tothemorevenerable
imitationofeternalprinciples.Howtherefore,beingsuchandsogreat
aGod,willitbethemeasureofmotion,orinshortofgeneration,*as
itappearedtosomethatitis,whoneitherperceivedthepowerofit,nor
itsdemiurgic*presencewithallthings?Whenalso,theysaythatitis
ratherthecauseofcorruption,thanofgeneration,andofoblivionthan
preservation,andoftheseaccordingtoaccident,andnotessentially,they
verymuchresemblethosethatareasleep,andwhoareunabletocollect
byareasoningprocesswhatthebenefitsareconferredbyandthrough
timeonthesoulandthebody,onallheaventhroughthewholeof
Eitself,andonallgeneration.Theurgistslikewiseconfirmwhatwehave
asserted?whentheysay,thattimeisaGod,anddelivertousthediscipline
ofit,bywhichweareenabledtoexciteittobecomevisible;andwhenalso,
theycelebrateitasolderandyounger,andasacircularlyrevolvingand
eternalGod,notonlyastheimageofeternity,butaseternallyreceivingit.
Theylikewiseadd,thatitintellectuallyperceivesthewholenumberofallthe
naturesthataremovedintheworld,accordingtowhichitconvolvesand
restorestotheirpristinestateallmovingsubstances,byswifterorslower
tInsteadofKivriatuginthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadyeveoeuc,.
$ForTOO;brmtovpyucou;here,readTT\Qb~T\iuovpyua\c,.
Chald.Orad.fr.195.
3.21periods.Andbesidesthistheyassert,thatitisinfiniteinpower.Forto
circulateagainandagain,[withoutend]istheprovinceofinfinitepower.
Togetherwiththesethingslikewise,theysaythatitisofaspiralform,as
measuringaccordingtoonepower,boththingsthataremovedinaright
line,andthosethataremovedinacircle;justasaspirallineuniformly[or
accordingtooneform]comprehendstherightandthecircularline.
Wemustnottherefore,accedetotheopinionofthose,whoconsider
timeassubsistinginmereconceptions,orwhomakeittobeacertain
accident.Normustweassenttothosewhoaremorevenerablethan

these,andwhoapproachingnearertothepeculiarityofthethings
Fthemselves,saythattimeisgeneratedfromthetotalsoulenergizing
transitively,orfromitenergizingcollectivelyandwithouttransition,
andmeasuringbytime,thecelestialcirculations,andtheperiodsof
othersouls;noteventothesemustweassent,thoughtheyarenotvery
remotefromthetruth.ForinthefirstplacePlato,withwhomweall
desiretoaccordaboutdivineconcerns,saysoftheDemiurgus,thathe
constitutedtime,theworldbeingnowarrangedbothaccordingtosoul,
245Aandaccordingtobody,anddidnotproduceitwithinthesoul,ashedid
theharmonicratios;nordoesherepresentdivinityfashioningtimein
thesoul,*inthesamemannerashesaysthathefabricatedthe
corporealformednaturewithinit;buthavingspokenconcerningthe
essence,harmony,power,motions,andtheallvariousknowledgeofthe
soulafterallthese,inordertogiveperfectionbothtosoulandbody,he
generatedtheessenceoftime,asguarding,measuring,andassimilating
allthesetotheirparadigmaticprinciples.Forwhatadvantageswould
mundanenaturesderivefrompossessingallthingsbeautifully,iftheydid
notperpetuallyremain?Orfromimitatingafteracertainmanner,the
ideaoftheparadigm,butnotasmuchaspossibleevolvingthewholeof
it,andpartiblyreceivingimpartibleintellection?Ontheseaccounts
therefore,thephilosopherplacesovertheprogressionoftime,a
demiurgic,andnotapsychicalcause.
BInthenextplace,lookingtothingsthemselves,youmaysaythatif
3,22soulgeneratedtime,itwouldnotsoparticipateofit,astobeperfected
byit.Forthatthesoulisperfectedbytime,andmeasuredaccordingto
itsenergies,isnotimmanifest;sinceeverythingwhichdoesnotreceive
collectively,now,andatonce,thewholeofenergy,requirestime,in
ordertoitsperfectionandapocatastasis,throughwhicheverything
collectstheappropriategood,whichitisincapableofreceiving
tTim.36d&34c.
impartibly,andwithouttime.Hence,aswehavebeforeobserved,*
eternityandtime,arethemeasuresofthepermanencyandperfectionof
beings;theformerbeingtheoneandunmultipliedcomprehensionofthe
intelligibleunities,butthelatterbeingtheboundaryanddemiurgic
measureoftheperpetuity,orofthemoreorlesspermanencyofthe
thingswhichproceedfromintelligibles.If,therefore,thesoul,afterthe
samemannerasintellectandtheGods,apprehendedeveryobjectofits
knowledgebyoneprojectingenergy,andbyanenergyalwaysthesame,
understandingintransitively,itmight,perhaps,havegeneratedtime,but
itwouldnothavebeeninwantoftimetoitsperfection.Butsinceit
Cunderstands,orperceivesintellectually,withtransition,and
apocatastatically,andonesoulrequiresthewholeoftime,butanother

acertainpart*ofit,inordertothepossessionofintellectualand
genesiurgiclives;andif,inshort,nocauseisinwantofitsoffspringto
theperfectionofitself;ifthisbethecase,thesoulwouldthusbeboth
perfectandimperfect,priortoconstitutingthatwhichissecondaryto
itself.Itwouldbeperfectindeed,inorderthatitmightgenerate;since
nothingimperfectisgenerativeofanotherthing.Anditwouldalsobe
imperfect,becauseitwouldneverparticipateofthatwhichcausesitto
beperfect.Anditisaltogetherabsurdtosay,thatcausesareinwantof
thethingswhichproceedfromthem.Letthis,therefore,beconsidered
byyouasthegreatestargument,thattimeisnottheprogenyofsoul,
butthatitisfirstparticipatedbysoul.
Afterthis,however,itisrequisitetounderstand,thatinanimatenatures
alsoparticipateoftime,andthattheydonotthenaloneparticipateof
itwhentheyriseintoexistence,inthesamemannerastheydo,ofform
andhabit;butevenwhentheyappeartobedeprivedofalllife,they
thenparticipateoftime,andnotinsuchawayastheyaresaidtolive,
3,23becausetheyarecoarrangedwithwholes,andarecopassivewiththe
universe.Fortheypeculiarlyandessentiallyparticipateofacertain
time,andthissofarastheyareinanimate,andarealwaysinaperishing
Dconditiontilltheirperfectcorruption.Fortimeiseverywherepresent.
Andthearchitectindeed,isabletosayforhowlongatimeawallwill
endure,andtheweavercantelltheextentofthedurationofashirt,or
inshortofagarment.5Inasimilarmanneralso,everyartistcansay
whatwillbethedurationofhisownwork;thoughhecannotspeakso
t243Esupra,p.740.
%Forpwpiovhere,readp.opiov.
ForctiodrjTOQhere,itisnecessarytoreadeadriTOQ.
definitelyasconcerningtheproductionsofnature.Buttheprophet
speaksaboutthedurationofallthings,asbeingabletosurveythe
temporalintervaldistributedtothingsfromtheuniverse.Inadditionto
thesethingsalso,sincethepsychicalandcorporealmutations,motions
andrests,andinshortallsuchmundanenatures,asareopposedtoeach
other,aremeasuredbytime,itisnecessarythattimeshouldbeexempt
fromallthese.Forthatwhichbeingoneandthesame,isparticipated
bymanythings,andthesedissimilars,andalwayspresubsistsbyitself,
mustbeinanexemptmannerparticipatedbythem.Andstillmore
beinginallthings,itiseverywhereimpartible,sothatitiseverywhere
onebeing,impartibleaccordingtonumber,andpeculiartonooneof
thethingswhicharesaidtosubsistaccordingtoit;whichAristotlealso*
perceivingheshowsthatinpartible*natures,thereissomething
Eincorporealandimpartible,whichiseverywherethesame;assuming5

thistobethenoworaninstant.
Fartherstill,iftimewerenotanessencebutanaccident,itwouldnot
thusexhibitademiurgicpower,0soastomakesomethingstobe
perpetuallygenerated,butothersofalongerorshorterduration,0
accordingastheirnatureisstronger,orweaker;andtodistributetoall
thingsanappropriatemeasureofdurationamongbeings.Ifhowever,it
isademiurgicessence,itwillneitherbethewholesoul[oftheuniverse]
norapartofsoul.Fortheconceptionofsoulisdifferentfromthatof
time,andeachisthecauseofdifferent,andnot**ofthesamethings.
Forsoulimpartslife,andmovesallthings.Hencetheworldalso,asit
approachestosoul,isfilledwithlife,andparticipatesofmotion.But
3,24timewhich**excitesdemiurgiceffectstotheirperfection,andtothe
measureofthembywholes,andwhichisthesupplierofacertain
perpetuity,55willnotbesubordinatetosoul,sincesoullikewise
participatesofit;andthoughnotessentially,yetaccordingtoits
tcf.AristodePhysicsVIII,10,266al0ff.
%ThewordpepiOTOic,isomittedintheoriginal.
Insteadof\oi0eivhere,itisrequisitetoreadXa/3wy.
ForvKobvvaynvhere,readdvvuiuv.
ocf.36Bffsupra.
ttOvisomittedhereintheoriginal.
#olikewiseisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal.
ForOiidLoghere,itisnecessarytoreaddibiOTi}T0Q.
Ftransitiveenergies.Forthesouloftheuniverseissaidtoenergize
incessantly,andtolivewiselythroughthewholeoftime.Itremains
thereforethattimeisanessence,andisnotsecondarytosoul.Afterall
however,itmustbeconsidered,thatifeternitywastheoffspringof
intellect,oracertainintellectualpower,itwouldberequisitetosaythat
timeissomethingofthiskindpertainingtosoul.Butifeternityisthe
exemptmeasureofthemultitudeofintelligibles,andthecomprehension
oftheperpetuityandperfectionofallthings,howisitpossiblethattime
alsoshouldnothavethisratiotosoul,andthepsychicalorder;differing
246Afromtheminthesameway,asallproceedingdifferfromabidingcauses?
Foreternityexhibitsagreatertranscendencythantime,withrespectto
thethingsthataremeasuredbyit.Fortheformercomprehends
exemptly,boththeessencesandtheunitiesofintelligibles;butthelatter
doesnotmeasuretheessenceofthefirstsouls,*asrathersubsistingcoordinately
withthem,andbeinggeneratedtogetherwiththem.Assome
Platonistslikewisesay,timedoesnotmeasuretheintellectualenergies
ofthefirstsouls;thoughPlatoclearlysays,thatthesouloftheuniverse
leadsadivineandwiselifethroughthewholeoftime.*Intelligibles
also,aremoreunitedtoeternitythanmundanenaturestotime;andthe

unionofthemissogreat,thatsomeofthemorecontemplative
philosophershaveapprehendedeternitytobenothingelsethantheone
andtotalintellect[whichcomprehendsallotherintellects].Butnoone
ofthemorewiseiswillingtoadmitthattimeisthesamewiththe
thingsthatareintime,onaccountofthegreatseparationanddifference
betweenthem.
Whatthenwilltimebe,ifitisneithersomethingbelongingtomotion,
Bnoraconcomitantofthepsychicalenergy,norinshort,theprogenyof
soul,norassomeinnovatingindivineconcernssay,whoconceivetime
3,25tobethepsychicalcircleofthedifferent,buteternitythepsychicalcircle
ofthesame?ForIhaveheardthatTheodorusphilosophizedthingsof
thiskind.Hehowever,whoendeavourstocorrectthisopinion,will
neveradmitthatthesepartsofthesoularethesameaseternityand
time;buthewillgrantthatthecircleofthedifferentvergestotemporal,
butthecircleofthesame,toeternalnatures.Sincetherefore,wedonot
approveanyoneoftheseopinions,whatwilltimebe?Foritisnot
perhapssufficienttosay,thatitisthemeasureofmundanenatures,nor
toenumeratethebenefitsofwhichitisthecause,butthepeculiarityof
tie.ofsupermundanesouls.
$cf.Tim.36e.
itistobeapprehendedtotheutmostofourpower.Shallwetherefore
say,thattheessenceofitbeingmostexcellent,perfectiveofsouland
presentwithallthings,isanintellectnotaloneabiding,butalsomoving;
abidingindeed,accordingtotheinwardenergy,bywhichitistruly
eternal;butmoved,accordingtotheexternallyproceedingenergy,
Caccordingtowhichitboundsalltransition.Foreternitypossessing
permanency,bothaccordingtoitsinwardenergy,andaccordingtothat
whichitexertstowardseternalnatures,timeadumbratesit,accordingto
oneofthese,butbecomesseparatedfromitaccordingtotheother,in
consequenceofabidingandbeingmoved.Henceitwillbesomething
atonceintelligibleandgenerated,andsomethingatoncepartibleand
impartible.Atthesametime,however,weadmitallthesethingsinthe
psychicalessence,andwearenootherwiseableperfectlytoapprehend
thismiddlenature,thanbyemployingafteracertainmanneropposites
insurveyingit.Whythereforeisitwonderful,ifweperceivingthe
natureoftime,tobepartlyimmoveableandpartlymoved,orrathernot
we,butpriortousthephilosopher,heshouldexhibittheintellectual
monadofitabidinginsameness,throughitsbeingeternal,butshould
indicatethatenergyofitwhichhasanexternaltendency,andis
participatedbysoul,andthewholeworld,throughitsbeingmoved.For
wemustnotimaginethatthiseternal[oftime]merelysignifiesthatit
istheimageofeternity.Forwhatshouldhavehinderedhimfrom

directlysaying,thattimeistheimageofeternity,andnotthatitisthe
3,26eternalimageofit?Buthewishedtomanifestthisverything,thattime
Dhasaneternalnature,yetthatitisnoteternalinsuchawayasanimal
itself.Foranimalitselfiseternalbothinessenceandinenergy.But
timebyitsinwardenergyindeed,iseternal,butbyitsexternally
proceedinggift,ismoveable.Hencetheurgistsalsocalliteternal,*and
Platoveryproperlydenominatesitnoteternalonly*Foronething
indeedisaloneandessentiallymoveable,andisalonethecauseof
motion,accordingtotheparticipantsofit,andsuchathingasthisis
soul.Italonetherefore,movesitself,andotherthings.Butanother
thingisaloneimmoveable,preservingitselfimmutable,andbeingthe
causetootherthingsofaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence,andto
thingsthataremovedonaccountofsoul.[Andthisthingisintellect.]
Henceitisnecessarythatthemediumbetweenthesetwowhichare
extremes,viz.betweenthatwhichisimmoveablebothinessenceand
tChald.Oracl.fr.195.
XForpavoqhere,itisnecessarytoreadovp.ovuq.
energy,andthatwhichismoveablebothaccordingtoitsownnature
andaccordingtowhatitimpartstootherthings,shouldbethatwhich
isatonceimmoveableandmoved;immoveableindeedessentially,but
movedinitsparticipants.Andathingofthiskindistime.Forifthere
isthatwhichisinitsparticipantsasnumberinthatwhichis
numbered,*whatwillthatbewhichsubsistsaccordingtonumberingit?
Itisabsurd,therefore,tosaythatitisapartialsoulwhichthussubsists.
Forthatwhichinthissoulnumberstimeisofposteriororigin,asisthat
Ewhichinusnumbersthefingers.Hencethisisnoteffectedbyhimwho
makesthefivefingers,butbyhimwhonumberssomany*thatare
producedbynature.Wehowever,investigatethecauseoftimebeing
thatwhichisnumbered.Timethereforeisthatwhichremaining
immoveable,byitselfevolvesthatwhichisnumbered.
Inshort,ifvisibletimeismoveable,buteverythingwhichismoveable
ismoveable,beingacertainotherthing;fornotmotion,butthatwhich
ismoved,ismoveable;itisnecessarythatthereshouldbetimewhich
subsistsbyitself,inorderthattheremaybemoveabletime.Sofar
therefore,asitistrulytime,andsofarasitisinitself,itis
immoveable;5butsofarasitisinitsparticipants,itismoveable,and
togetherwiththem,unfoldsitselfintothem.Hencetimeiseternal
3,27indeed,andamonad,andacentreessentially,andaccordingtothe
energywhichabidesinit.Atthesametimehowever,itiscontinued,
andnumber,andacircle,accordingtoitsproceedingandparticipated
energy.Itis,therefore,acertainproceedingintellect,0establishedindeed
ineternity,andonthisaccountalsoissaidtobeeternal.Foritwouldnot

otherwisecontributetothemoreperfectassimilationofmundanenaturesto
theirparadigms,unlessitwasitselfpreviouslyexemptfromthemButit
proceeds,andflowsabundantlyintothethings,whichareguardedbyit.
FWhencealsoIthink,themostconsummateoftheurgistscelebrateitasa
God,asJulianintheseventhbookofhistreatiseOntheZones,and
venerateitbythosenamesthroughwhichitisunfoldedintolightinits
participants;causingsomethingstobemoreancient,butotherstobemore
fInsteadofo>cTOapiBiwvvevovapiBfiot;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,uqtv
TUapiBpavvtvuapiBnoq.
XForTOOOVTWVhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOOOVTOVQ.
Fortear'eiceivuvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreada.Kivr\T0V.
Formuchadditional,andmostimportantinformationconcerningTime,seethe
NotesattheendofmytranslationofAristode'sPhysics.
ocf.Chald.Oracl.fr.195.
recent,andconvolvingallthingsinacircle.Foritwouldberidiculous
sinceitistheimageofeternity,thatitshouldalonebethistemporal
imagewhichsubsistsinthingsthatarenumbered.Forhowisitpossible
thatathingofthiskindwhichisinasubject,shouldbetheimageofso
greatadeityaseternity?Especiallysinceitratherappearstobeina
subject[thanissoinreality],andisitselfanaccidentofthatwhichisan
accident.
247AIf,however,intellectissecondarytoeternity,butsoulisthe
resemblanceofintellect,howisitpossiblethattimewhichistheimage
ofeternity,shouldnotbesomethingmoreexcellent,andmoreessential
thansoul?Forasintellectistosoul,sowilleternitybetotime.And
alternately,astimeistosoul,1soiseternitytointellect.*Andtime
doesnotparticipateofsoul,5asneitherdoeseternityofintellect;but
viceversa.Timethereforehavingacertainintellectualnature,convolves
itsparticipants,bothotherthingsandsouls,accordingtonumber.For
timeindeediseternal,notonlyinessence,butalsoinitsinwardenergy,
inwhichitisalwaysthesame.Butbytheenergyaccordingtowhich
aloneitisparticipatedbyexternalnatures,itismoveable,coextending
togetherwith,andadaptingtothem,itsgift.Everysoul,however,is
movedtransitively,bothaccordingtoitsinwardenergies,andalsoits
externalenergies,throughwhichitmovesbodies.Anditappearstome,
thatitwasthusdenominatedtime,bythose0whoperceivedthatthis
3,28wasitsnature;andwhowishedbythisappellationtosay,thatitisa
certaindance0,andasitwereadancingintellect.
Butbyacodivision,theynameditforthesakeofconcealment
time.Perhaps,likewise,theygaveitthisappellationbecauseitatonce
abides,andproceedswithameasuredmotion;andbyonepartofitself
abides,butbytheotherproceeds;asifitwerehalfintellect,andhalf

saltant.Hencebyacompositionofboththeparts,theysignifiedthe
admirableanddemiurgicnatureofthisGod.Itappearslikewise,thatas
theDemiurgusbeingintellectual,beganfromintellecttoadornthe
universe,sotimebeingsupermundane,beganfromsoultoperfectit.
tInsteadofwpo^UXIChere,itisnecessarytoreadTtpoq^vxyv.
XHerealsoforirpocvov,itisnecessarytoreadTtpovow.
Insteadof(catutrtxovrov*'avrtiqinthisplaceitisrequisitetoread,ovfierexei
oXPOVOQavTt\q.
cf.Prod.Comm.Rep.II,17,23ff.
oForxpovovhere,readxopov.
Forthattimeisnotonlymundane,butbyamuchgreaterpriority
supermundane,isevident;sinceaseternityistoanimalitself,soistime
tothisworld,whichisanimatedandenduedwithintellect,andis
whollytheimageofanimalitself,inthesamemannerastimeisof
eternity.
Ifthereforetimeis,itbothabidesandproceedsinmeasuredmotion.
Andthroughitsabiding,theharmoniousdancesareinfinite,and
apocatastatic.Forbeingthefirstintellectthatdancesaboutthewhole
fabricationofthings,sofarindeedasitsubsistsinvariablythesame,and
isessentiallyintellect,itissaidtobeeternal;butsofarasitdances,it
convolvessouls,andnatures,andbodiesinacircle;andinshort,is
periodicallyrestoredtoitspristinestate.Fortheworldismoved
Cindeed,asparticipatingofsoul;butitismovedinanorderlymanner,
becauseitparticipatesofintellect.ForthusalsoPlatosaysintheLaws,1
"thatthesoulreceivingadivineintellect,governswithrectitudeand
wisdom."Andtheworldismovedperiodically,bythemotionofit
fromthesametothesame;inconsequenceofwhich,itmaybesaidto
imitatethepermanencyofintellectinsameness,throughtheimitation
ofeternitybytime.Andthisitis,tomaketheworldmoresimilarto
itsparadigmwhichabidesinone;viz.tobeconvolvedperiodicallyto
oneandthesamething,throughthecirculationaccordingtotime.
Fromalltheseparticularslikewise,youhaveallthecausesoftime
accordingtoPlato.FortheDemiurgusindeed,istheeffectivecauseof
time;eternityistheparadigmofit;andtheend[orfinalcause]ofit,is
thecircumductiontoonethingofthenaturesthataremoved,according
3,29toperiods.Forthatwhichdoesnotabideinone,aspiresafterthe
circumductiontoone;desiringthroughthistoobtainTheOne,which
isthesamewithTheGood.Forthatthereshouldnotbeonecertain
progressionofthingsinarightline,soastoformalineasitwere,
infinitebothways,butthattheprogressionshouldbedefiniteand
circumscribed,dancingaboutthefatherofwholes,andthemonadof
Dtime,evolvingallthestrengthoffabrication,andagainreturningtoits

pristinecondition,andeffectingthisfrequently,orratherinfinitely,that
whichisconsentaneoustoreasonrequires,ifitisfittocallwhatis
necessaryreasonable.Forwhencedotheparticipantsoftimederivethe
powerofbeingrestoredtotheirpristinecondition,unlessthatwhich
theyparticipatehadthispowerandpeculiarityofmotion?Inaddition
also,tothereasonablenessofthis,theexplanationofthenamealone
bearswitnesstoitstruth,withwhichlikewise,thedemonstrationsofthe
tcf.LawsX,897b.
mostsagaciouslegislatorsaccord,andthewordsofPlatohimselfwho
says,fthattimeinthesethingsimitatingeternity,andcirculating
accordingtonumber,wasnowgenerated.Fortimecirculatingthefirst
ofmoveablenatures,accordingtoanenergyproceedingtoexternals,and
returningtoitspristinestate,afteralltheevolutionofitspower,thusalso
restorestheperiodsofothernaturestotheirpristinecondition.Andit
convolvesindeed,throughthewholeofitselfwhichproceeds,thesoul
whichisthefirstparticipantofit;butthroughcertainpartsofitself,it
convolvesothersoulsandnatures,thecelestialcirculations,andinthe
Elastplace,allgeneration.Forinconsequenceoftimecirculating,all
thingsareconvolvedinacircle.Ofthecirculationshowever,someare
shorter,butotherslonger.*
Foragain,iftheDemiurgushimself,madetimetobethemoveable
imageofeternity,andgavesubsistencetoit,accordingtohisintellection
abouteternity,itisnecessarythatthemoveablenatureoftimebe
circular,andproceedwithadancing[ormeasured]motion;inorderthat
itmayneitherdepartfrometernity,andmayevolvetheintellectionof
3,30thefatheraboutit.For,inshort,themoveablenatureoftimebeing
comprehensiveofallmotions,oughttobeboundedmuchpriortothe
thingswhicharemeasuredbyit.Fornottheprivationofmeasure,but
thefirstmeasure,measuresbeings;asneitherdoesinfinitygiveboundto
things,butthisistheprovinceofthefirstbound.Buttimeismoved,
neitheraccordingtosoul,noraccordingtonature,noraccordingtothe
corporealformedandvisibleessence;forthusthemotionsofitwould
bepartible,andnotcomprehensiveofwholes.Besidesthisalso,they
wouldparticipateoftheanomalous,eithermoreorless,andwouldbe
themselvesinwantoftime.Forthemotionsaccordingtosoul,nature
Fandbody,areallofthemsurveyedintime,andnotinprogressionlike
thosewhichmeasurewholes,butinacertainqualityoflife,orlation,
orpassion.Themotionoftimehowever,isapureprogression,without
difference,imperceptible,unbroken,5orderly,Dequal,similarandthe
same.Foritisexemptbothfromequableandunequablemotions,and
issimilarlypresentwithboth,notbeingchangedinquality,bythe
alliationintheirmotions,butremainingthesameseparatefromall

inequability;beingefficaciousofwholemotionsaccordingtonature,and
tTim.38a.
%cf.245Esupra.
ForaxctkaoTOQhere,readanXaoToc..
InsteadofotTUKToc;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadevraiCToq.
measuringthem,andrestoringthemtotheirpristinestate.Itlikewise
subsistsunmingledwiththenaturesthataremeasuredbyit,
248Aconformablytothepeculiarityofintellectualenergy;butproceeds
transitivelyandselfmotively.Andinthisrespect,itpertainstothe
psychicalorder,butisinherentinthethingswhicharedefinedand
perfectedbyitinawayconformabletothenatureofprimordialcause.
Itisnothowever,alliedinallrespectstoanyonebeing.Foritis
necessarythatthemeasureofwholesshouldbeinacertainrespectsimilar
andalliedtoallthings,butshouldnotbethesamewithanyoneofthe
naturewhichitmeasures.
Themotionthereforeoftimeproceeds,evolvinganddividing
impartibleandabidingpower,andpartiblyunfoldingitintolight.For
justasacertainnumber*receivesdivisiblyalltheformsofthemonad,
andconverts,andcircularlyleadsthemtoitself;thusalso,themotion
oftime,proceedingaccordingtothemeasuresinthetemporalmonad,
3,31conjoinstheendtothebeginning,andthisinfinitely;havingindeed
itselfadivineorder,yetnotanarranged,asthephilosopherIamblichus
Balsosays,butanarrangingorder,noranorderwhichfollows
precedaneousnatures,butwhichistheprimaryleaderofthingswhich
areperfectlyeffected.Atthesametimehowever,itismeasuredby
nothingthathasinterval.Foritwouldberidiculoustosay,thatthings
whichhaveamoreancientnatureanddignity,aremeasuredbysuchas
areofposteriororigin.Butthemotionoftimeisalonemeasuredbythe
temporalmonad,whichtheprogressionoftimeissaidtoevolve,andby
amuchgreaterpriority,bytheDemiurgus,andeternityitself,ofwhich
itissaidtobetheimage,andwithreferencetowhichitismadetobe
moveable.Withreferencetoeternitytherefore,whichisperfectly
immoveable,timeissaidtobemoveable;justasifsomeoneshouldsay,
thatsoul,aswithrelationtointellect,ispartibleaboutbodies.Notthat
itisthisalone,butthatwhencomparedwithintellect,itmayappearto
beathingofthiskind;thoughitisimpartible,withreferencetopartible
essence.Thusalsotime,thoughitisnaturallyeternal,yetissaidtobe
moveable,aswithreferencetoeternityitself.Onaccountoftheorder
likewiseofit,andthecontinuityinitsprogression,itisbynomeans
propertothinkthatthepriorandposteriorinitaresuchassome
apprehendthemtobe.Foritmustnotbedefinitelysurveyed,either
aloneaccordingtothemutationsofmotions,asinthecelestialmotions;

Cnorintheevolutionsoflives,asinthesoul;noraccordingtothe
gradualprogressionsofcorporealgenerations,asinnature;noraccording
ti.e.Thedecad.
toanythingelseofthelikekind:(forthesearethepeculiaritiesofthe
ordersposterior*toit)butitmustbesurveyedaccordingtoa
precedencyofcauses,andconnexioninthecontinuityofitsprogeny,
andaccordingtoaprimordialenergy,andapowerefficaciousofallvarious
motions.
Timethereforeismoveable,notbyitself,[oressentially],butaccordingto
theparticipationofitwhichisapparentinmotions,andbywhichmotions
aremeasuredanddefined.*Justasifsomeoneshouldsay,thatthesoulis
divisibleaboutbodies,sofarasthereisacertaindivisibleparticipationof
itaboutbodies,ofwhichthesoulcomprehendsthecause.Forthusalsotime
ismoveable,aspossessingthecauseoftheenergyproceedingfromit,and
whichispartiblyseeninmotions,andiscodividedtogetherwiththem
3,32Hence,asmotionsbecometemporalthroughparticipation,solikewise
Dtimeismoveable,throughbeingparticipatedbymotions;towhich
physiologistsonlylooking,thinkthattimeisthatwhichisnumberedof
motion,5notbeingabletoperceivethecauseofthis.
Inthefirstplacetherefore,itmustbesaid,thatneitherdoesthe
universealonesubsistinmotion,butitisnecessarythatsomethingofit
shouldentirelyremain,inorderthatthisbeingpermanent,itmaybe
moved.Itisdemonstratedtherefore,intheTheaetetus*,thatitis
impossibleforanythingtobeentirelymovedinallrespects.Henceit
isnecessarythatsomethingshouldremainpriortothetimewhichisin
participation,andsubsistsinmotion,inconsequenceofbeingcoextended
withmotion.Andthatthisindeed,shouldbeinefficaciousis
impossible.Butifitisefficacious,andismoved,itwillagainbeinwant
ofanotherthing,whichmaymeasureitsmotion.Ifhowever,itenergizes
immovably,thiswillbethetruepeculiarityoftime.Inthesecondplace,
wearepersuadedfromcommonconceptions,thattheSeasonsare
Goddesses,0andthatMonthisaGod,bothwhichweworshipin
temples.Welikewisesay,thatDayandNightaredivinities,ofwhom
alsowepossessinvocations,impartedbytheGodsthemselves.Much
moretherefore,isitnecessarythattimeitselfshouldbeaGod,sinceit
tInsteadof\utr'avruvhere,itisnecessarytoreadper'avrov.
XFornereiovoavKaiopxtfrvoavinthisplace,readnerpovoavKmopi^ovaav.
cf.Aristotle,PhysicsIV,11,219bff;&14,223a24ff;andOntheHeavensI,9,
279a25ff.
Theaetetus181,f.

ocf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,16ff.
iscomprehensiveofMonth,andtheSeasons,ofDayandNight.Inthe
thirdplace,iftimeissomethingnumbered;butitisnecessarythatprior
tothatwhichisnumbered,thatwhichnumbersshouldexist,sothat
priortothatwhichisnumberedincapacity,thereshouldbethatwhich
Enumbersincapacity,andthatwhichnumbersinenergy,priortothat
whichisnumberedinenergy;ifthisbethecase,thatistimeinreality,
whichisthenumberitself,*ofallperiods,andwhichnumberseachof
them.Inthefourthplace,whateverparticipatesofsoul,participatesalso
oftime,butnotviceversa:forinanimatenaturesparticipateoftime.It
mustbeadmittedtherefore,thattimeisbeyondsoul.Butsoulisprior
toitsparticipants,itselfbyitself.Muchmorethereforeistimeitselfby
itselfbeyondtheparticipantsoftime.
3,33Howthenwillathingofthiskindbetheimageofeternity?Foragain
itmustbediscussed,onaccountofthedifficultywithwhichthe
knowledgeofthethingsisattended.Because,saysthedivine
Iamblichus,itexhibitstheinfinityofeternity,(whichisnowbeing,is
atonceall,abidesinthenow,andistheunmeasuredmeasureof
intelligibles,)inacircularevolution,incontinuity,andinthatwhichis
successive;andalsoinseparatingbeginnings,middles,andends,andnot
desertinganyoneofthethingscomprehendedbyit.Andasitisnot
simplymoveable,butismoveableaswithreferencetoeternity,so
Fneitherisitsimplyanimage,butthewholeofthismaybejustlybesaid
tobetheimageofeternity.Forbeingatrueessence,andinshort,
measuring,comprehending,andrestoringmotionstotheirpristinestate,
itisatthesametimesaidtobeaneternalimage.Itappearsalso,thatit
isthefirstofimages.Forallperfectintellectisnotproperlysaidtobe
theimageofthefirstcause.Forwhatcanbeassimilatedtothatwhich
isentirelywithoutform?Buttimewillbethefirstparticipantof
intellectandanimpartiblenaturebetweenallperfectintellect,and
sensibles.Andinshort,ifitisnecessarythatimageshouldbelongto
thingswhichparticipate;foritwishestopreservetheformofanother
moreancientandvenerablenature,fromwhichitreceivesthe
249Apeculiarityofitsidea;itisrequisite,thatimageshouldneitherbeinthe
firstessences;(fortheybeingfirst,donotparticipate,butrather,they
areparticipatedbyotherthings,notbeingingeneratedintheir
participants,butafteranothermanner,beingconvertedtothemselves;)
norinsensiblesalone.Formiddlealsoparticipateoffirstnatures,and
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,18,14,ff.
notsensiblesalone,which1areassimilatedtofirst,throughthe
representationsofmiddlenatures.Timetherefore,issaidtobethe

imageofeternity,andthewholeworld,ofanimalitself,accordingto
soul,andaccordingtobody.Hence,ifasPorphyry,andsomeother
Platoniststhought,sensiblesaloneparticipateoftrulyexistingbeings,we
3,34mustinvestigateimagesinthemalone.Butif,asAmeliuswrites,and
priortoAmelius,Numenius,*thereisalsoparticipationinintelligibles,
therewilllikewisebeimagesinthem.Ifhoweveraccordingtothe
divinePlato,imagesareneitherinthefirstofbeings,norinsensibles
alone,Iamblichus,whonearlysurpassesallphilosophersinallthings,
Bwillinthesealsobevictorious,byexhortingustosurveyparticipations,
inthemiddle,andinthelastofbeings.Andthusmuchmaysufficeat
presentconcerningeternity,andtheimageofeternity,whichisatonce
moveable,andalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,andwhich
proceedingaccordingtointellectualforms,thefatherofwholes
establishedinhisfabrications;astheywerenotabletosustaintheallperfect
measureofeternity.Letustherefore,nowturntothe
investigationofthefollowingwords.
37de"Helikewisecontrivedthegenerationofdaysandnights,andmonths
andyears,whichhadnosubsistencepriortotheuniverse,butwhich
wereconstitutedtogetherwithit.Butallthesearepartsoftime,5and
wasandwillbe,weregeneratedspeciesoftime."
Thatpriortothegenerationoftheuniverse(butInowspeakofthe
universe,0assurveyedinconjunctionwithsoul,andthewholelifeof
theworld)therewasanimpartibleessenceabidingineternity,inthe
samemanneraseternityabidesinone,andthatitwasnopartof
proceedingandparticipatedtime,isperfectlymanifest.Butwhatday
andnight,andmonthandyearare,andhowtheseindeed,arepartsof
time,butwasandwillbearesaidtobespecies,andnotpartsoftime,
Cwillrequireamoreabundantdiscussion,andamoreprofound
consideration.Iftherefore,weshouldsaythatdayisairilluminatedby
thesun,inthefirstplace,weshallspeakofsomethingwhichtakesplace
intheday,andnotthatwhichdayis.Forwhenwesayalong,anda
tAisomittedintheoriginal.
%Fr.37(Thed.)
Thewords,ravra5enavmnepoc,xpovov,arethroughthefaultofthetranscribers
omittedinthetextofProclus.
0cf.Tim.19b.

shortday,wedonotpredicateanincreaseordiminutionoftheair.In
3,35thenextplace,itisdifficulttodevisehowthiswillbeapartoftime.
Butifweshouldsaythatdayisthetemporalinterval,accordingto
whichthesunproceedsfromeasttowest,weshallperhapsavoidindeed

theformerobjections,butweshallfallintomoreimperviousdifficulties.
Forifwesurveytheintervalitselfwithouthabitudetothesun,andsay
thatitisday,itwillappeartobedubious,howthesameintervalbeing
everywhereaccordingtothesame,dayisnoteverywhere.Butifwe
surveyitinconnexionwiththesolarmotion,andthismerelyso,day
willalwaysbeintheheavens,andtherewillnotbenight.Andhowis
itpossiblethatapartoftimeshouldnotbeeverywhere.Foritishere
clearlysaid,thatnight,day,andmonth,arepartsoftime.Ifhowever,
Dwedonotmerelyconnecttheintervalwiththecirculationofthesun,
butsaythatdayisthemotionofthesunfromeasttowest,andnight
themotionofitfromwesttoeast,theuniversewillneitherhavedays
nornights,whicharesaidtobepartsoftime.Anditisalsoevident
thatneitherwilltheyhavemonths,noryears.Weconceivehowever
thattimebothaccordingtothewholeofitselfwhichabides,and
accordingtoeverypartofitsprogression,ispresenttothewholeworld.
Foroneandthesamenowiseverywherethesame.Itisnecessary
therefore,thatday,andsuchotherthingsaswesayarepartsoftime,
shouldbeeverywherethesame,thoughtheyareparticipatedpartibly
andwithdispersionbysensiblefabrications;towhichalsosomelooking,
adoptthemoreusualratherthanthemoreaccuratesignificationof
names.
Hence,asourfather[Syrianus]philosophizes,thesethingsarenot
Eassertedforthepurposeofsubvertingthephenomena:forTimasussays
whatisusuallysaidbythemultitude.Butourfatherreferringthese,as
heisaccustomedtodo,tomoreprincipalhypostasessays,thatdayand
nightaredemiurgicmeasuresoftime,excitingandconvolvingallthevisible
andinvisiblelifeandmotion,andorderlydistributionoftheinerratic
sphere.Forthesearethetruepartsoftime,areessentiallypresentwithall
things,andcomprehendtheprimordialcauseofapparentdayandnight,
eachofwhicharedifferentinvisibletime.AndTimaeusalsolookingto
3,36this,remindsushowtimewasgeneratedtogetherwiththeuniverse.
Hencehesaysinthepluralnumberdaysandnights,aslikewisemonths
andyears.Thesetherefore,areobvioustoallmen.Foretheinvisible
causesofthese,haveauniformsubsistencepriortothingsmultiplied,
andcirculatingtoinfinity.Theimmoveablecausesoftheselikewise
subsistpriortothingsthataremoved,andtheintellectualcausesofthem
priortosensibles.Such,therefore,mustdayandnightbeconceivedto
Fbeaccordingtotheirfirstsubsistence.Butitmustbesaid,thatmonthis
thatwhichconvolvesthelunarsphere,andeveryterminationofthe
circulationaboutthezodiac,beingtrulyadivinetemporalmeasure.And
yearisthatwhichperfectsandcontainsthewholemiddlefabrication,
accordingtowhichthesunisseenpossessingthegreatestpower,and
measuringallthingstogetherwithtime.Forneitherisday,nornight,nor

month,normuchlessyearwithoutthesun,noranythingelsepertainingto
theworld.AndIdonotsaythis,withreferencetothevisiblefabrication
alone,forofthesemeasuresthevisiblesunisthecause;butintheinvisible
andsuperiorfabrication,themoretruesunmeasuresallthingstogetherwith
time,beinginrealitytimeoftime,accordingtotheoracleoftheGods
concerningit.fForthatPlatonotonlyknewthesevisiblepartsoftime,
250Abutalsothedivinepanshomonymoustothese,isevidentfromwhathe
saysinthetenthbookoftheLaws*Forhethereshows,thatthe
seasonsandmonthsaredivineinconjunctionwithalltheother
[mundane]Gods,inconsequenceofhavingdivinelivesanddivine
intellectspresidingovertheminthesamemannerastheuniverse.But
itisnotwonderful,ifhenowratherspeaksaboutthevisiblepartsof
time,becausehisdesignatpresentistophysiologize.Letthesetherefore
bethepartsoftime,ofwhichsomeareadaptedtothefixedstars,but
otherstothestarsthatrevolveaboutthepolesofthezodiac,andothers
tootherGods,ortheattendantsoftheGods,ortomortalanimals,or
tothemoreelevatedormorelowpartsoftheuniverse.
3,37Platohowever,saysthatwasandwillbearespecies,andnotpartsof
time,inthesamemannerasdaysandnights,andmonthsandyears.For
divineorderswhichgivecompletiontothewholeseriesoftime,
Bpresideoverthelatter.Hence,hecallsthempartsoftime.Butwasand
willbe,areentirelysurveyedaccordingtoeachofthese.Andhence,
theyarecertainspecies,asnothavingapeculiarmatter;Imean,a
diurnal,ornocturnal,orsomeothersuchlikematter.Ifhowever,these
arespeciesoftime,whichwasgeneratedtogetherwiththeuniverse,was
hadnoexistencepriortothegenerationoftheuniverse.Butifwashad
noexistencepriortoit,neitherhadmotion;forinallmotion,thereare
wasandwillbe,becausetherearepriorandposterior.Ifhowever,
motionwasnotpriortotheuniverse,neitherwasdisorderlymotion.
HenceAtticusandhisfollowersspeakinvain,whentheysay,thattime
waspriortothegenerationoftheworld,butnotanarrangedtime.For
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.185.
$cf.LawsX,899ab.
wherethereistime,therearealsothepastandthefuture.Andwhere
theseare,therethewas,andthewillbeentirelysubsist.Moreover,the
wasandthewillbe,arespeciesoftimegeneratedbytheDemiurgus.
HencealsoPlatocallsthemgenerated.Neitherthereforewastherea
certaintimepriortothefabricationofthings.Itisnecessarytherefore,
thatthemuchcelebrateddisorderlymotionofAtticusandhisfollowers,
either,ifitexisted,shouldnotbeintime,orthatthereshouldnotbein
short,acertaintimewhenitwasproduced.Itisnecessaryhowever,
motionexisting,thatthereshouldbeatimeinwhichitwasgenerated:

onepartofithavingthepast,+anotherthepresent,andanotherthe
Cfuture.Hence,itisnotpossiblethatthereshouldhavebeenmotion
priortothegenerationoftime;sinceneithercouldtherehavebeen
disorderlytime.Fordisorderlytimewouldhavethewasandthewillbe;
theformerofwhichwouldbethepast,butthelatterthefuture.Or,if
italonehadtheis,withoutthese,itwouldhavebeeneternity,andnot
time,anddisorderlymotionwouldbeeternalwhichisimpossible.For
Aristotlehassufficientlydemonstrated,*thatallmotionisintime,both
thatwhichisdisorderly,andthatwhichisorderly,eachentirelyhaving
3,38theprior,andtheposterior;inorderthatthemotionmaybethatwhich
itissaidtobe,andmaynotbepermanencyinsteadofmotion.Butthat
thewasandthewillbe,werenotpriortothefabricationofthings,Plato
clearlyteachesus,asIhavebeforeobservedbysayingthatasdaysand
nightsweregeneratedasparts,sothewasandthewillbe,weregenerated
asspeciesoftime.Theyhoweversay,thatthedisorderlymotionwas
unbegotten.Hence,iftherewasthenacertaintime,itwasunbegotten;
sothatthewasandthewillbe,wereunbegotten.Thewasandthewillbe
therefore,werenotpriortothegenerationoftheworld,butwere
simultaneouswiththeworld;timebeingoneandthesame,andbeing
thenumberbothofdisorderlyandoforderlymotions,andexisting
Dwithoutdifference.Thistherefore,isdemonstratedthroughthese
methodsasacorollary.
Ifhowever,youwishtosurveytheseasspeciesoftime,inthewayin
whichtheyappearedtobesotoourpreceptor,assumeformeaperfect
period,andanentireprogressionoftime,oneparthavingnowbecome
thepast,butanotherthefuture,andbeholdthewas,andthewillbeas
speciesoftime.Forifwedonotthus,butpartiblyunderstandthe
wordsofPlato,thevenerableandentireideaoftime,willnotbe
tForvpoekBovhere,itisnecessarytoreadTapeXBov.
tcf.Aristotle,OntheHeavensI,10,280a6ff.
manifestedtous,accordingtoeachofthesespecies,butthatwhich
happenstosomeofthethingsthatareingeneration,andmutation.
Unlessindeed,thewasindicatestheperfectiveorderoftime,butthewillbe,
thatorderofitwhichunfoldsintolight,justastheis,indicatesits
connectedlycontainingorder.Fortimeunfoldsthingswhichasyetarenot,
connectedlycontainssuchasarepresent,andperfectssuchasarepast,and
introducesanappropriateendtotheirperiods.Andthusmuchconcerning
thepartsandthespeciesoftime.
Withrespecthowever,tothewordcontrived,thoughwehavebefore
observed*thattimeisinrealitytheworkofdivineanddemiurgic
Econtrivance,bywhichnaturesthatarechangedremainthroughthe

whole,andpartakeofperfection,perpetuity,defence,measureand
comprehension;yetitmaybesaid,donotdivinenaturesmeasure
3,39themselves,*andespeciallydonotthosethatrevolveintheheavens,
definetheirownmotions?Thisindeed,wemustmostreadilyadmit.
Formaterialandcorruptiblenatureshavetheirexistence,andtheextent
oftheirdurationfromotherthings;butdivinenatureshavethese,both
fromprimordialcausesandthemselves.HencePlato,whenhebeginsto
speakaboutthetimesthatareunfoldedintolightintheheavens,says5
"thatthestarsweregeneratedforthesakeofcooperatingintheproduction
oftime;"andagain,"thattheyweregeneratedasinstrumentsoftime;"and
inthethirdplace,"thattheywereproducedforthepurposeofdistinguishing
andguardingthenumbersoftime."Inwhatisheresaidhowever,the
termcooperatingshowsthattimeindeedexistedpriortothestars,but
thatitisunfoldedintolightabouttheworldthroughthese.Fortime
beinginthem,isunfoldedthroughtheirmotion.Buttheterm
instrumentsagainafteranothermanner,inacertainrespect,indicatesthe
samething;viz.thatthewholeoftimewasproduced,boththatwhich
abides,andthatwhichproceeds,bythefatherandmakerofallthings,
Fforthepurposeofmeasuringmundanenatures;butthatthebodies
whichrevolveintheheavens,arepartialmeasures,andare
comprehendedintheonetime;eachinanespecialmanner,more
organicallyproducinginconjunctionwithtime,suchthingsasare
appropriateinit.Forinshort,allthesecondfabricationhasthis
relationtotheoneandimpartibleproductionofthings.Foreachofthe
bodiesthatrevolveintheheavens,issaidespeciallytocontributetothe
t243Eff,supra.
XForeavrohere,readeavra.
cf.Tim.38e,41eand38cforthefollowingquotes.
measureofitself.Thusforinstance,thesunthoughitcontributestoall
things,onaccountofitsrulingdignity,yetitparticularlycontributestothe
year,whichitconstitutesinconjunctionwiththeDemiurgus,andthewhole
oftime,asthepeculiarmeasureofitself.Butthemooncontributesto
month;andtheinerraticsphere,todayandnight.Themodealsoof
251Aoperationintherestoftheheavenlybodies,isevident;thoughneither
night,normuchlessday,iswithoutthesun,noryearwithoutthe
inerraticsphere,andthezodiac.Atthesametimehowever,some
measuresaremoreadaptedtosomeofthese,thantoothers.
Thestarsalsomaybesaidtobetheinstrumentsoftime,in
consequenceoftimepossessinganeffectivedignity,withreferenceto
andthroughthem,andadorninggenerationasitwerethrough
instruments.Bywhichalsoitisevident,thattimeisnotonlythat
3,40whichisparticipated,andisthenumberofmotion,sincethegovernors

oftheworldhavetheorderofinstrumentswithreferencetoit;but
likewise,thatitisaninvisibleGod,energizingeternallyaboutall
motions,andthewholeperiodoftheworld,butusingforinstruments
thesedivinities,asmorepartialmeasuresofitself.Buttheassertion,that
thestarsweregenerated,forthepurposeofdistinguishingandguarding
thenumbersoftime,clearlyshowsthattheonetimeproceedsfromthe
BDemiurgus,andhiswill;andthatremainingone,andawhole,and
withoutdifference,itbecomesthroughthemotionofthesestars,
multitudinousaccordingtonumber,andthateachofthemeasures
adaptedtoit,isasitwerecutanddividedfromthewholeoftime,
whichisalwaystheguardianofeach,throughitsequableandorderly
motion.Inrealityhowever,thecelestialGods,areratherguardedby
thenumbersoftime,andobtainthroughthese,thedistinctionofthe
periodswhichtheymake,andoftheirrestitutionstotheirpristinestate;
butatthesametime,sinceweendeavourtocollectthetruthpertaining
toinvisiblefromvisiblenatures,weinferthatthenumbersoftimeare
guarded,throughthecirculationofthestars.
Withthesethingshowever,notonlyPlatoaswehavebefore
observed,*buttheurgistslikewiseaccord.*Fortheycelebratetimeas
amundaneGod,eternal,boundless,youngandold,andofaspiralform.
Andbesidesthisalso,ashavingessenceineternity,asabidingalwaysthe
same,andaspossessinginfinitepower.Forhowcoulditotherwise
comprehendtheinfinityofapparenttime,andcircularlyleadallthings
f244Esupra.
Xcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.199.
totheirformercondition,andrenovatethem,andalsorecallthings
Cwhichbecomeoldthroughit,totheirpropermeasure,asbeingatonce
comprehensivebothofthingsthataremovedinacircle,andaccording
toarightline.Foraspiralisathingofthiskind;andhence,asIhave
beforeobserved,*timeiscelebratedbytheurgists,ashavingaspiral
form.FortheynotonlycelebratetimeasaGod,butlikewisedayand
3,41night,andmonthandyear,areconsideredbythemasGods.Forof
thingswhichcirculateperpetually,itisentirelynecessary,thatthere
shouldbeanimmoveablecause;andadifferentcauseofthings
specificallydifferent.Onthisaccounttherefore,theyhavedeliveredto
us,congresses,invocations,andtelesticsacredlaws.Itisnecessary
likewise,nottosurveyalltheseparticularssuperficially,*butto
veneratedthemasdivine,invisible,andimmoveablecauses,priorto
thesemoveablenatureswhichareapparenttoallmen;Platohimselfin
theLaws,*bearingtestimony,aswehavesaid,tothetruthofthis,by
speakingofthesecausesasGods.ForfromtheGreekswereceivethe
sacredritesofMonth,andwelearnthatbythePhrygiansMonthis

celebratedasSabazius,andalsointhemiddlemysteriesofSabazius.For
thatwhichtheyfirstbeheldtobethemeasurerofaperpetual
circulation,theyapprehendedtobeaGod,andthistheyhonoured,
throughthemysteries,andallsacredworship;inthesamemanneras
Dtheyalsohonouredtheseasons.Fortheywereabletoperceive[the
divinityof]these,fromtheireffects;thoughnotsimilarlythedivinity
oftheyear.Formenindeed,whoweredivinelywise,havelikewise
celebratedthis;butitwasnoteasyforallmentoknowandworshipit,
onaccountofthedifficultyofunderstandingtheperiodwhichis
measuredbyit.Thisalsoisthecasewiththewholeoftime,onaccount
oftheignoranceoftheoneperiodofallthings;sothattheinvestigation
ofthiswhole,asexisting,andasaGod,isattendedwithextreme
difficulty;thoughifanimmoveablecauseprecedesperpetualmotion,it
isnecessarythatpriortoperpetuityitself,thereshouldexistthatwhich
unitedlydefinesthewholeofit,andwhichnumbersit;perpetuityitself
beingthatwhichisnumbered.
t244Esupra.
$cf.Rep.VII,524e.
cf.LawsX,899b.
37e"Thesethingshowever,throughoblivion,arenotrightlytransferred
38abyustoaneternalessence.Forwesaythatitwas,andwillbe,though
inreality,tothisthetermitis,alonepertains."
Inthefirstplace,itdeservestoberemarked,thatPlatoagainconsiders
theeternalasthesamewiththeintelligibleessence;inorderthatwe
maymoreclearlybepersuaded,thatwhenheassertedtheworldwas
generatedthestatueoftheeternalGods,hemeantbytheeternal,the
3,42intelligibleGods.Inthenextplace,itmustbeobserved,thatin
Econsequenceofperceivingthatmenconceiveandassertnothingsane
abouttheseparticulars,hehimselfrecurstotrueconceptionsofthe
things,atthesametimepurifyingtheuseofwords,throughwhichthe
teacher*necessarilyproducesrecollectioninthemindsofthewelldisposed.
Whatisnowsaidtherefore,inconsequenceofthemildness*
ofPlato'smanners,doesnotseemtoaccuseseverelytheassertionsof
mankind.Fortheexpressionnotrightly,sinceitiscommonbothtothe
accuserandtheaccused,isnotaccustomedtobringwithitgreat
disgrace.Thewordsofthetexthowever,haveasharp5andpercussive
power.ForwithrespecttothosethingswhichtheDemiurgusimparted
tothelastofbeings,Dinconsequenceoftheirincapacityofreceiving
amorevenerablecomprehension,ifmenendeavourtoadaptthesetothe
essenceswhichabideineternity,theyengageinacertaingiganticwar,
defamingthewillandpower0oftheDemiurgus,andinreality,
hasteningtohurlrocksandoaksagainsttheheavens.Whytherefore,

arenotthewasandthewillbe,adaptedtointelligibles?Becausethe
measureofintelligiblesisfirmandimmoveable,andcausesthethings
Fwhicharemeasuredbyittobeexemptfromallmutation.Butwhy
doestheitis,inrealityalonepertaintothem?Becausethatwhichthey
are,theyalwaysare,notlosing,norreceivinganything,neither
accordingtoessence,noraccordingtolife,noraccordingtointelligence,
normuchmoreaccordingtounion.Shallwesaytherefore,thatofthese
three,thewas,theis,andthewillbe,theextremesdonotpertainto
intelligibles,butthemiddlealone?Oristhisbynomeansthecase?For
neitherdoestheis,whichiscoarrangedwiththewas,andthewillbe,
tFor8i&ao~KC(\u(OVhere,itisnecessarytoread8i5a<JKa\ov.
tInsteadofenr\Ktwivinthisplace,readexieiKeuxv.
ForSpviieuxvhere,read5pip.euxv.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.849.
OItappearstomethatthewordbwajitiiswantinghereintheoriginal.
pertaintointelligibles;butthatwhichisexemptfromallthese,hasno
252Arepresentationwhateveroftime,andisdefinedaccordingtotheeternal
measureitself,mustbeattributedtotheGods,andtointelligibles.Foras
withrespecttothealways,onewaseternal,buttheothertemporal,so
likewise,theis,istwofold,theonebeingadaptedtotrulyexistingbeings,but
theothertomundanethings.Whentherefore,hesays,thattothisinreality,
3,43theterm,itis,alonepertains,bytransferringthewordalone,weshallfind
whatissaidtobemorescientific.Foritwillthenbe,tothis,thealoneis
pertains;viz.theis,whichisbyitselfexemptfromacoarrangementwith
thespeciesoftime.
Howcamementherefore,toerrinsogreatadegreeinthisrespect,
andtoattributetotheintelligibleGodsthingswhichdonotatall
pertaintothem?Thewholecauseindeed,istheoblivionofdivine
natures,onaccountofthedefluxionofourwings,*ourlapse,andour
communionwithmortalbodies.HencePlatoalsosays,"thatthesethings
throughoblivion,arenotrightlytransferredbyustoaneternalessence."
Theurgistshowever,arenotthusaffected;foritisnotlawfulforthem
Btobeso.*ButtheycelebratetimeitselfasaGod,andaswehavesaid,
theydenominateonetimezonic,butanotherazonic,whichmeasures
theperiodofthethirdoftheetherealworlds.Theylikewisecelebrate
acertainarchangelictime,inthemiddleoftheetherealworlds;and
anotherrulingtime,whichpresidesoverthefirstofthoseworlds.And
afterallthese,theyspeakofanotherfontaltime,whichistheleaderof
theempyreanworld,andconducts,anddefinesitsperiod,proceeding
fromthefontalGoddess[Rhea]herself,whogeneratesalllife,andall
motion.Forsheproducesfontaltime,andcausesittopresideoverall

moveablenatures,andtomeasuretheperiodsofallthings,asfarasto
thelastofbeings.Forthesealsoaremeasuredaccordingtoperiods.In
thingslikewise,whichareperfectlycorruptible,5Platoteachesus,D
thateverythingwhichlivesisgeneratedfromthatwhichisdead,and
everythingwhichisdead,fromthatwhichisliving;andthatthereisa
periodofallthings,andanapocatastasisofgeneratednatures,andnot
aloneofsuchasareincorruptible.Fortheindividualwhichwas
generatedfromnonbeingaccordingtoacertainperiod,departsinto
Cnonbeing[again],sincemotionfromthesametothesame,isaperiod.
tcf.Phaedrus248c.
%cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.153.
ForTap.<j>opuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadirapfflapTUV.
cf.Phaedo77cff.
Timetherefore,measuresallthings,anddefinestheperiodsofall
things,asfarastothelastofbeings.AndtheDemiurgusaddedthisto
moveablenatures,inorderthattheymightimitatethecontinued
permanencyofintellectineternity*itself,throughtheperiodical
3,44progressionfromthesametothesame,whichtimeimpartstoall
moveablebeings.Themultitudehowever,frequentlyconfoundthe
natureofthings,notdistinguishingbetweenwhatisadaptedtotrulyexisting
beings,andtosuchasaregenerated.Butinaparticularmanner,
theignoranceconcerningeternityandtime,producesthisdireconfusion,
andillegality.Thesimilitudeofthethingslikewise,operatessomething.
Forlastarenotseparatedfromfirstnatures,butaresuspendedfrom,and
proceedaccordingtothem,andbecomeinvestedwiththeformof
images.Itisalsoadirething,forthosewhohavenotascientific
knowledgeofsimilitudes,toreasonfalsely,andtransfersomethingsto
others,tobepersuadedtoassociatewithimagesasiftheywere
paradigms,andtothinkthataprimordialessenceisnothingelsethanits
Dvisibleimage.Perceivingtherefore,amongsensibles,themixtureof
beingwithnonbeing,andthedominationofbeinginacertainrespect,
whenwesaythatathingis,butofnonbeinginacertainrespect,when
weassertconcerningit,thatitwas,orthatitwillbe,wetransferthese
totheeternalorderofrealbeings,wherenothingispast,noranything
willbefuture,norinshort,willbechanged,andwherethereisno
progressionoftime,norrepresentationofbeingaccordingtoprivation;
butwherethereistrueessence,andtrulyexistingbeing,aninvariable
samenessofsubsistence,theallinthenow,andtheendssubsistingat
once,notasdifferentindifferentthings,butasthesamewiththeir
subjects.ForinthingsinwhichasImaysay,thewholeofthehyparxis
consistsofbeautyandgoodness,wellbeingdoesnotdifferfrom
existence.

38a"Butthewas,andthewillbe,areadaptedtobeassertedofgeneration
proceedingintime.Forthesearemotions.Itisnothowever,fit,that
thenaturewhichalwayssubsistswithinvariablesameness,immovably,
shouldbecomethroughtime,eitherolder,oryounger,orshould
3,45formerlyhavebeengenerated,orbenowgenerated,oraltogetherwill
behereafter;orshouldreceiveanysuchthingsasgenerationadaptsto
thenaturesthatarebornealonginthesensibleregion.Buttheseare
Egeneratedspeciesoftimeimitatingeternity,andcirculatingaccordingto
number."
tInsteadofatuvinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadatuvi.
Thesethreethings,saysPlato,pertain,onaccountoftime,to
generation;one,thewasandthewillbe;thesecond,tobecomeyounger
andolder;andthethird,tohavebeengeneratedformerly,ortobenow
generated,ortobehereafter.Ofthese,thedivineIamblichussaysthat
timeproducesthefirstintherealmsofgeneration,asproceedingfrom
realbeing;butthesecond,asbeingimpelledfromlife;andthethird,as
beingsuspendedfromtheintellectualorder.Butthesethingsbeing
assertedwithgreatwisdom,inthefirstplaceheinquires,ifitismore
propertosurveythemasthree,andnotastwo,understandingbythe
expressiontohavebeengeneratedformerly,theyoungerorolder,andalso
bytheexpressions,tobenowgenerated,andtobehereafter;inorderthat
itmaynotonlybeerroneoustoadaptanythingofthiskindtothe
Godsaccordingtothebeinggenerated,butalsoaccordingtoalltheparts
oftime,andgeneration.Inthenextplace,recurringtothebeginning
ofthewholeofwhatPlatonowsays,itmustbeconsidered,whetherwe
canrightlyassertthetwoaloneofgeneration,Imeanthewas,andthe
willbe,orthatalso,whichisasitwerethemiddleofthem,theis;which
isnotnownamed,becausetheeternalispertainstointelligibles,lestthe
Fhomonymyshouldagainproducedisturbanceinwhatissaid.Moreover,
itisevidenttoeveryone,thateachimageparticipatesinacertain
respectofitsparadigm,butthatthewholeworld,inanespecialmanner
participatesoftheintelligible.Sothatiftrulyexistingbeingisinthe
intelligible,beingwillalsoafteracertainmanner,existinthesensible
world.Theishowever,isnotconnumeratedwiththewas,andthewill
be,becausethatwhichisproperlyis,isnotamongsensibles,andbecause
ithasasecondarysubsistencefromtheintelligible,sothatitismore
adaptedtoit[thantosensibles],andbecausethedesignwastoshow
whatthepeculiaritiesareofeachofthenatures,andnotiftheone
participatesofacertainthingfromtheother,thoughthewas,andthe
willbearerathercharacterizedbynonbeing[thanbybeing;]theformer,
253Abythenolonger,butthelatter,bythenotyet.Dosensiblestherefore,
afteracertainmannerentirelyparticipateofbeing?Ormaywenotsay
3,46thattheyarenotdenominatedaccordingtoadeflectionfromit,but

throughthedominationinthemofnonbeingtheyareonlyadaptedto
generation,butbynomeanspertaintotrulyexistingbeings?Besides,
themonad,ortheis,ismorealliedtoeternity,andintelligibles,butthe
duadofthewasandthewillbe,togenerationandtime.Thispower
however,andstrengthoftemporalenergyisgreat,thatitcoarrangesthat
whichnolongeriswithbeings,andthatwhichisnotyetwiththingsthat
arepresentForallthesebecomecontinuedaccordingtotime,andthe
presentthroughtimeisdismissedtothewas,soasnoteventhentobe
hurriedawaytothatwhichinnorespectwhateverexists,butonaccountof
time,isafteracertainmannercoarrangedwithbeings.
Howtherefore,ingeneratednatures,canthewas,andthewillbe,be
fitlysaidtobespeciesoftime?Maywenotsay,thatthespeciesoftime
areonething;fortemporalprogressionsalone,andtheintervalswhich
measurewholes,aremoresimple;butthethingswhicharearrangedin
Bthenaturesgeneratedintime,another?Fortimewas,andthewarwas,
arenotthesamething;asneitheristhedownwardofplace,thesameas
thedownwardofearth.Buttheformerissimpleandone,butthelatter
compositeandtwofold.Andtheonecomprehends,buttheotheris
comprehended.Thusalsointhewas,thetemporalindeed,comprehends
andmeasures,andissimple,butthatwhichisassumedinthegeneration
whichisintime,iscomprehended,andmeasured,andparticipatesof
time,butisnottime.Thatallgenerationhowever,iscomprehendedby
time,justastimeitselfisbyintelligibles,isevident.Andtimeissaidto
proceedfromintelligiblesaccordingtonumber,asmakingitsprogression
accordingtotheformsandmeasuresthatareinthem.Butgeneration
issaidtoproceedintime,asbeingmeasuredandperfectedbytime.
Again,time,onaccountofitsimitationofeternity,issaidtocirculate
(justastheheavenonaccountofitsimitationofintellect,issaidtobe
ofasphericalform)andtohaveasspeciesthewas,andthewillbe,and
suchthingsasarealliedtothese;anditisevidentthatthesearesimple,
3,47andtheprimaryleadersofthenaturesthatarebornealongin
generation.Forthatwhichhasthemeasuresofallgenerationinitself,
insertstheimagesandimpressionsofthem,inthethingswhichproceed
accordingtoit.Generationtherefore,losesitsvigour,andonthis
Caccountrequirestherenovatingaidoftime.Italsoisimperfectatfirst,
andisinwantoftime,tomakeitmoreperfect,andolder.Butthe
intelligibleisalwaysperfect,andalwaysflourishing,andalwayshasan
invariablesamenessofsubsistence;whencealsosomethingwhichisolder
subsiststhere,
ButJovewasbornthefirst,
IliadXII,35*
Andlikewisethatwhichisyounger,

Hebeaugust,forthemthenectarpours.
IliadIV,2
tcf.also175Asupra,p.543.
Yetthesearenotpresentwiththemthroughtime.Thisalsoisvery
accuratelyaddedbyPlato,thatitisnotfittheintelligibleshouldbecome
eitherolderoryoungerthroughtime,norinshort,thattheunbegotten
shouldbegenerated,orhavebeengenerated,orwillbegenerated.And
inoneword,generationindeed,thoughitisnotessence,yetparticipates
ofessence;butitisbynomeanslawfulthatessenceshouldbefilledwith
generation.Hence,neitherisitrighttointroducetotrulyexisting
beings,thingswhichareadaptedtogenerationthroughtime.
38a"Andinadditiontothesethingsalso,weassertthatathingwhichwas
generated,isgenerated;thatwhatsubsistsinbecomingtobe,isgenerated;
thatwhatwillbe,istobe;andthatnonbeingisnonbeing;nooneof
whichassertionsisaccurate.Perhapshowever,aperfectdiscussionof
thesethings,isnotadaptedtothepresentdiscourse."
DPreviouslytothis,PlatoblamedthecustomoftheGreeks,for
introducingtotrulyexistingbeings,wordsadaptedtothingsin
generation;butnowheaccusesthemultitudeofcoarrangingwith
3,48generation,thatwhichisadaptedtointelligibles.Fortheirillegality,is
eithertwofold,orisentirelyoneandgreat.Forwhentheysaythata
thingwhichwasgenerated,isgenerated,andthatwillbe,istobe,they
erroneouslyadaptthepeculiarityofeternalessences,togenerated
natures.Forthisis,pertainstosuperiordivinebeings;justastobe
generated,orsubsistinbecomingtobe,pertainstosensibles.They
likewiseerroneouslyconfoundthepartsoftime,andsubverttheorder
whichisinit,bymakingthenow,orthepresenttime,thesameasthe
past.Butwhentheysay,thatwhatsubsistsinbecomingtobe,is,they
fallintotheformererroralone.Thoughthishowever,isanerrorofthe
greatestconsequence,yet,ifitbelawfulsotospeak,itisastillgreater
errortosaythatnonbeingis.Forifgenerationisamediumbetween
nonbeingandbeing,itisalesserror,tointroducethepeculiaritiesof
beingtogeneration,thantononbeing.Oneapologyhowever,forthese
things,maybemadeconformablytonature.Forinconsequenceof
nonbeingparticipatingingenerationofbeing,inthesamemanneras
Eeverythingtemporalappearstoparticipateofeternity,itisusualtorefer
thesetoeternityandtrulyexistingbeing,whichareexemptfromall
intervalanddistributionintoparts.Andagain,itisusualtopreserve
anddetaingeneration,whichisbornealonginmotion,andexistsin
time.Itisnotatallwonderfultherefore,ifmenwishingtodetain
amongbeings,thatwhichhasalreadybeengenerated,shouldsaythatit

isgenerated;andalsobeingwillingtocoarrangewiththingsin
existence,thatwhichisnotyetgenerated,theyshouldsay,itistobe
generated.Forthroughthesetwothings,nonbeingisinacertain
respectabletoaccedeto,andbecoarrangedwithbeings;viz.through
theparticipationofbeing,andthroughthepresenttemporalinterval,
bothwhichmayappeartointroduceexistence.Andhenceindeed,the
frequentuseofthesewordsinthissensewasassumed.Neverthelessthe
transpositionofthisperturbationhasnotanything[asPlatosays]
accurateandscientific,bywhichhesignifies,asfarasisadaptedtothe
presentspeculation,whichismorephysical,thatamoreabundantin
3,49vestigationofthesethings,pertainstoanotherdiscussion,which,as
Fmostoftheinterpretersthink,islogical.Forinlogicaldiscussions,isit
usualtoinquirewhethernonbeingistheobjectofopinion.As
Iamblichussayshowever,andIampersuaded,itistheological.Forin
theSophista,muchissaidaboutallvariousnonbeing,andlikewiseinthe
Parmenides,thespeculationofwhich,Timaeusalsoevincestobe
appropriate.Nowhowever,asheseparatesanddistinguishesthings
fromeachother,viz.,intothatwhichisalwaysbeing,andthatwhich
isgeneratedandperishes,intoimageandparadigm,theeternalandthe
temporal,thusalso,hewishestogiveappellationsadaptedtoeachof
these,soasneithertotransferthingswhichpertaintogeneration
254Athroughtime,tomoresimpleanddivineessences,nortominglethe
transcendentgoodsofmoreexcellentnatures,withthingswhichare
bornealonginmotionandmutation.Buthereferstomoreappropriate
opportunities,themoreprofoundinvestigationoftheseparticulars.For
thiswasusualbothwithPlatohimself,andpriortoPlato,withthe
Pythagoreans.Aristotlealso,especiallyemulatingthiscustom,discusses
philosophicalproblemsinawayadaptedtothedesignofhistreatise.
38bc"Timetherefore,wasgeneratedtogetherwiththeuniverse,inorder
thatbeinggeneratedtogetherwithit,itmayalsobedissolvedtogether
withit,ifeveracertaindissolutionofitshouldtakeplace.Itwasalso
generatedaccordingtotheparadigmofaneternalnature,inorderthat
itmight,asmuchaspossible,besimilartoit.Fortheparadigmofit
indeed,isthroughalleternity[real]being.Buttheuniverseforever
throughthewholeoftime,wasgenerated,is,andwillbe."
Platosaysthattimewasgeneratedtogetherwiththeuniverse,now
animated,andenduedwithintellect;becausetheworldfirstparticipates
oftime,accordingtosoul,andthecorporealformednature.Butthe
Bwords,"thatbeinggeneratedtogetherwithit,itmayalsobedissolved
togetherwithit,ifeveracertaindissolutionofitshouldtakeplace,"clearly
3,50showthattheuniverseisunbegottenandincorruptible.Forifitwas
generated,itwasgeneratedintime.Butifitwasgeneratedtogether
withtime,itwasnotgeneratedintime.Forneitherwastimegenerated

intime,lestthereshouldbetimepriortotime.Iftherefore,the
universewasgeneratedtogetherwithtime,itwasnotgenerated,
[accordingtotheusualacceptationoftheword.]Foritisnecessarythat
everythingwhichwasgenerated,shouldbeposteriortotime.The
universehoweverisbynomeansposteriortotime.Again,ifevery
thingwhichisdissolved,isdissolvedatacertaintime,buttimecannot
bedissolvedinapartofitself,timecannoteverbedissolved;sothat
neithercantheuniverse.Foritisindissoluble,aslongastimeis
indissoluble.Besides,timeisindissolublethroughasimplicityofnature;
unlesssomeoneiswillingtodenominatetheprogressionofit,andits
returntotheDemiurgus,whicharemotionscontrarytoeachother,the
generationanddissolutionofit.Thusalsotheuniverse,hasdissolution
andgenerationaccordingtocause.Justtherefore,asifsomeonebeing
willingthattherevolutionsofthecircleofthedifferent,shouldbeodd
innumber,shouldsaythattheheptadiscoexistentwiththem,inorder
thatifevertheheptadshouldbecomeanevennumber,theyalsomay
becomeeven,signifyingbythis,thatthecirculationswillnotfallinto
Ctheevennumber;thuslikewise,wemustnowconceiverespectingthe
allvariousindissolubilityoftheworldandtime,inconsequenceoftime
havinganindissolublenature.
Onecausetherefore,oftimehavingbeengeneratedtogetherwiththe
universe,isthattheuniversemaybeindissolubleandperpetual.Buta
secondcauseis,thatitmaybemostsimilartoitsparadigm.ForPlato
saysthattheuniverseitself,ismostsimilartoitsparadigm.How
therefore,doestheuniversebecomemoresimilartoanimalitself
throughtime?Because,sayshe,asintelligiblesreceiveallthepowerof
eternity,whichnowunites,andconnectedlycontainsthematonce,
collectively,andunically,thusalsotheworld,sustainsallthemeasured
motionoftimepartibly,andinadividedmanner,throughwhichalso
itwas,andis,andwillbe,nothavingthethreeinthewholeoftime,
buteachinaportionoftime.Itreceiveshowever,eachofthethreein
3,51thewholeoftime,onaccountofthepastandthefutureperiod,and
becausebeingofthenatureofthingsgenerated,ithastheperfectin
generationaccordingtoeverypartoftime.Anditexistsindeed,oris,
becauseinthewholeofthepresentcirculationoftime,itparticipatesof
Dbeing.Butitwillbe,becausethemeasuredmotionsofthewholeof
time,willnevercease,andthecirculationsconjoin,andassimilatetime
tointelligiblecauses.Ifhowever,theuniverseexistsforeverthrough
thewholeoftime,andis,andwas,andwillbe,itis,andwillbeinthe
timetocome,inconsequenceofbeingincorruptible.Henceitwas
generatedinallthepasttime,asbeingunbegotten.Foritissimilarly
presentwithalltimeaccordingtoeachofthese.*Orifthisisnot
admitteditnolongerwillbehereafterinfinitely,orwasgeneratedfrom
infinity.Andthoseareridiculous*whosaythattheworldwasonce

generated,andthatitwillatacertaintimeceasetobe,sincePlato
ascribestoitthewholeoftime,onaccountofboth[thepastandthe
future.]Andyousee,thathenowattributesthethreepartsoftimeto
it,anddoesnotrefusetoascribebeingtoit.Henceitisevident,that
whenbeforeheattributestheistoaneternalnature,andnotto
generation,theisthere,isexemptfromalltemporalextension,andbeing
establishedaccordingtotheeternalitself,pertainstointelligibles;since
hegrantsthatthewholeofthewasandthewillbe,areforeverpresent
withsensibles,accordingtotheparticipationoftrulyexistingbeing.
Howtherefore,ifthenatureoftime,asthedivineIamblichussays,and
EasIampersuaded,isamediumbetweeneternityandtheuniverse,ofthe
latterofwhichitistheleader,andisassimilatedtotheformer,how,
ifthisbethecase,wastimeconstitutedforthesakeoftheuniverse?For
howwasthatwhichiscomprehensiveandperfective,andwhichina
greaterdegreeassimilatestheimagetoitsparadigm,howwasthis
generatedforthesakeofthatwhichiscomprehendedandassimilated?
Forthusthingswhichsubsistforthesakeofsomethingelse,willbe
morevenerablethanends,andmoreexcellentnatureswillmakea
progressiontobeings,forthesakeofthingssubordinate.Nothingof
thiskindhowever,istobefoundinthearrangementsofPlato.For
neitherwastimegenerated,forthesakeoftheuniversealone,norwas
theuniverseconstitutedforthesakeoftimealone,buteachwas
3,52constitutedforthesakeofitself,andoftheother,andforthesakeof
both.Forinorderthatallthefabricationofthingsmighthave
perfection,suchwastheuniverse,andsuchwastimeconsummately
produced.Moreover,ithappensthateachgreatlycontributestothe
assimilationofeachtoitsproperparadigm.Fortimewouldnotimitate
eternitywithouttheexistenceoftheuniverse;forafterwhatmanner
woulditproceed,orwhatisthereamongbeings,thatitwouldever
measure,orconnect,orperfect?norwouldtheuniverse,without
existenceoftime,imitateasmuchaspossible,theallperfectandeternal
natureofanimalitself.Eachthereforewasgenerated,notforthesake
tie.Accordingtothewas,theis,andthewillhe.
%ProclusherealludestosuchastheancientChristians,asendeavouredtoprove,
fromtheauthorityofPlato,thattheworldwasproducedatacertaintime,andwillat
acertaintimebedestroyed.
Fofitselfalone,norforthesakeoftheotheralone,butforthesakeofall
thefabricationofthings,inorderthateachmightbecomemostperfect,
andmostsimilartoitsparadigm,orrather,eachwasgeneratedforthe
sakeofgoodness,andthefatherofwholes,onaccountofwhichalsothe
productionofthingspossessesperfection.Buteachbeinggeneratedthat
whichitiswithreferencetotheother,eachcontributesgreatlytothe

permanency,orderandgoodconditionofallmundanenatures.And
thusmuchPlatophilosophizesconcerningtime,whichistheoneand
wholemeasureofallthings,andwhichismovedandproceedsfromthe
255ADemiurgusalone,anditspropermonad.Butinwhatfollows,he
discussesthetimewhichisunfoldedintheheavens,andisasitwerecodivided
withthevariouslationsofthestars,whichwouldnothave
subsistedwithouttherevolutionofthecircleofthesame,andthecircle
ofthedifferent,abouttheinvisibleandonetime,whichcutsofffrom
itself,unfoldsintolight,andalwayspreservesameasureadaptedtoeach
ofthesecircles.Inwhatfollowsalso,inorderthatthissecondarytime
mightproceedintothevisibleworld,andbeuniversallyknownthrough
thepartialmeasuresofitself,whichitimparts,andthatitmightbemore
distributed,heconstitutestheplanets,amongwhichthesunandmoon
areenumerated.Fromallwhichwemayinfer,whatgreatdignityis
allottedbythephilosopher,orratherbytheDemiurgushimselfof
wholes,tothetimewhichisfirstandone.
38c"Fromthisreasontherefore,andfromsuchadiscursiveenergyof
3,53divinityaboutthegenerationoftime,inorderthattimemightbe
generated,heproducedthesunandmoon,andtheotherfivestars,
whichhavetheappellationofplanets,forthepurposeofdistinguishing
andguardingthenumbersoftime."
BThefabricationofthings,aswehavefrequentlyobserved,being
twofold;theoneinvisible,oneandsimple,supermundaneandtotal;but
theothervisible,multitudinousandmultiform,distributedintoparts*
intheworld;andhavingtwofoldenergies,theoneprimordial,
immoveable,andintellectual;buttheothersecondary,proceedingwith
motion,andrevolvingaboutintellect;andtheonebeingexemptfrom
effects,buttheotherbeingcoarrangedwiththem;thisbeingthecase,
atwofoldtimealsoproceedstobeings.Andtheoneindeedissupermundane,
buttheothermundane.Theonealsobothabides,andatthe
sametimeproceeds;buttheotherisbornealonginmotion.Thatalso
whichisparticipatedistwofold,theonesubsistingaccordingtosimple
tForitepi^onevriqhere,readntpi^op.evr\Q.
participation,buttheotherintheperiodsofthecelestialstars,which
producemonthsanddays,andnightsandyears.Suchthereforebeing
thedifferenceoftimes,Platohavingdeliveredtheconceptions,aboutthe
oneandsimpleessenceoftime,isnowabouttodiscussthevarietyof
thetime,whichisparticipatedpartibly,andtowhichthetheoryofthe
planetscontributes.Forthroughthemotionofthesedancingaround
thesun,thetimewhichisknowntousiscompletelyeffected;*
Cintroducingthisasaninthgifttotheworld.Inorderhowever,that

fromtheintroductionitself,youmayhaveanindicationofthe
inferiorityofthistimetothatwhichissupermundane,hesaysthatit
wasconstitutedbythediscursiveenergydivinity;andfurtherstill,thatit
distinguishesandguardsthenumbersoftime,throughthemotionofthe
stars.Tobothlikewise,wemustdirectourattention,viz.tothe
distinctionofthemanytemporalmeasuresaftertheone[supermundane]
3,54time;andtothedefenceandpreservationofthesame
measuresperpetually,forthesakeofwhichhesays,thestarswere
generated.AndtheDemiurgusindeed,producedtheformertime,
lookingtoeternity,andenergizingaccordingtoonesimpleintelligence;
butheproducedthesecondtime,asPlatosays,fromreason,anda
discursiveenergy;[kaidianoias]indicatingbythis,thedivisiblenature
ofdianoia,*anditsdistributionintomultitudefromoneintelligence.
Foradivineintellectisonething,anddivinereasonanother;theformer
beingunited,butthelattermultiplied;andtheformercomprehending
wholes,butthelatterdividingunionintomultitude;theformeralso,
abidinginitself,butthelatterunfoldingitselfintolight.Hence,the
secondarytime,ifitisuniversallyapparent,isveryproperlysaidto
proceedfromthedemiurgicreason,whichreceivesasitwereits
Dprogressionfromintellect;reasonindeed,manifestingthecause,but
dianoia,theknowledgeintheDemiurgus,whichisofabiformednature.
Trulyexistingtimealso,[orthefirsttime]whichisthenumberofall
theperiodsintheuniverse,isonething;butthetimewhichflowsfrom
this,andproceedsaccordingtonumber,isanother.
Fartherstill,trulyexistingtimecomprehendsallmeasuresuniformly,
accordingtowhichalsotheperiodsbothofsoulsandbodiesare
accomplished,andtheonemeasureofthewholeapocatastasis.Forthere
isaperiodofthatwhichisdivinelygenerated,whichaperfectnumber
tcf140Eff,supra.
$Dianoia,ashasbeenbeforeobserved,whenascribedtotheDemiurgus,indicates
adistributivecauseofthings,oracause,asProclusexpressesit,whichdividesunion
intomultitude.
comprehends,asSocratessaysintheRepublic.1Butsecondarytime
distinguishesandguardsthemeasuresinsoulsandcorporealnatures.
Foritdistributesmeasuresadaptedtoeachofthese.Andbythisindeed,
itdividestheunicalpowerofthefirsttime,butguardsthemeasure
pertainingtoeachsoul,andeachcorporealnature.Conformablytothis
likewiseitmakesapocatastases.Forthereisonemeasureofthesolar
period,anotherofthelunar,andanotheroftheperiodofthemeteors.
Forinthesealso,thereisacertaincircle,adumbratingthecelestialcircle.
Ofdifferentanimalslikewise,thereisadifferentperiod.Forofthese
3,55thereareperiods,andmeasuresoflife,asalsothedaemoniacal

EAristotlesays.Suchthereforearetheconclusionswhichmaybenow
assumedfromthesethings,concerningthedifferenceofthesetimes.
Itappearslikewise,thatPlatodoesnotinvainsay,"inorderthattime
mightbegenerated,"butforthepurposeofmanifesting,thatinvisible
timewasantecedent,beingawhole,andone,andanintellectual
number,priortothetimewhichisparticipated,andwhichproceeds
accordingtonumber.Everythingtherefore,whichisgenerated,isprior
toitsgeneration,invisiblyestablishedinitscause.Hencegeneration
signifiesaprogressionintoparticipants,accordingtowhichtimeunfolds
intolightdifferentforms,*primarilyandsecondarily.Itlikewise
signifiesthattimeproceedsfrommoretotaltomorepartialnatures,as
farastothelastofthings,asforinstance,animalsandplants.Tous
however,thewholeoftimebecomesknownfrompartialbutorderly
measures.Forthewholeisdifficulttobeknown,andthatwhichis
disorderlycannotbecomethemeasureofotherthings.Butsince,aswe
havesaid,theperiodoftheplanets,andparticularlythesolarcircle,
contributestothegenerationofsecondarytime,orrather,tothe
comprehensionofthemanymeasurescontainedinit,throughwhich
beingdifferent,asforinstancemonthsandyears,weareaccustomedto
Fmeasurethewholeoftime,hence,Platosays,thatthesunandmoon,
andthefiveplanets,werefirstgeneratedbytheDemiurgus,thougheach
ofthefixedstarslikewise,beingspherical,performsitsperiodaboutits
owncentre,accordingtoacertaintemporalmeasure.Toushowever,
thesemeasuresarenotknown,asthoseoftheplanetsare,accordingto
whichtheymaketheirperiodsaboutthezodiac.Forinthefixedstars,
wedonotknowtheperiodsofthemabouttheirpropercentres.Plato
therefore,speaksconcerningtheplanets,andsaystheyweregenerated,
tcf.Rep.VIII,546b.
inorderthattheymightcooperateintheproductionofvisibletime;
256Aunfoldingadifferentmeasureofdifferentthings,thesunbeingallotted
aprimordialandrulingdignity,andparticularlyaccordingtothe
generationoftime.Hence,heiscalledtimeoftimebytheologists,*as
3,56unfoldingintolightthefirsttime;andtheperiodoftheseasonsis
accomplishedaccordingtohim.Butthemoonhasthesecondorder,as
proximatelymoving,increasing,anddiminishing,everythingin
generation,byherpowers.Hence,asthesunissaidtochangehisforms
everyhour,andineachsignofthezodiac,2sothemoonchangesher
formveryday;sothatasthetheologistsays,sheundergoesasmany
changesinamonthasthesuninayear.*Buttheotherplanetsbytheir
variousmotions,connectinaregularseries,thediversityofgeneration.
Fordifferenteffectsfollowfromtheapocatastasisofdifferentplanets,
whichaccordingtodifferentmeasures,bringtheirownlivestoaperiod.

Sincehowever,theplanetsrevolvewithonecontinued,equable,and
Bunceasingmotion,buttheorderofthem,andtheequabilityand
samenessoftheirmotions,arelatent,onaccountoftheirapparently
advancing,receding,andbecomingstationary,onthisaccount,Plato
says,theyhavetheappellationofplanets.Hence,youmayassume,that
itisthestars,andnotthespheresinwhichthestarsadvanceandrecede,
thatsuffersuchthingsasthese,andwhicharemovedupwardand
downward,antecedentlycontainingasorderlyparadigms,theallvarious
disorderlymotionsofthesublunaryregion,viz.themotionstherethat
areupwardanddownward,behindandbefore.ForasPlatosaysinthe
Laws,*thosesinagainstdivinity,whodaretoascribewanderingtothe
celestialGods,inconsequenceofnotknowingtheirorder,their
harmoniousdance,andtheequabilityoftheirmotion.0For
inequabilityisaloneapparentinthem,throughthelationandcontrary
circulationoftheirevolvingcircles,whetheronaccountofepicycles,and
eccentrics,orfromothercauses.Forallthehypotheseshavenotthe
same0probability.Butsomeofthemindeed,areremotefromthe
simplicityofdivinenatures,andothersareasitweremechanical
contrivances,devisedbythemoderns,toaccountforthemotionofthe
tcf.Chald.Orad.fr.185.
*Orphicfr.82.
d.LawsVII,821b822c.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,413.
XForI8TJhere,itisnecessarytoreadeiduv.Foravrca,readCCVTO.
celestialorbs.AnditseemsthatPlatointheRepublic,1bymakingthe
Cwhirlsconcentric,andinthesethesevencircles,andmentioningthese
3,57alone,andnotepicycles,ascribestothestarsthemselvesinequability,and
thispossessingarrangementandorder.Forthisinequabilityreturnsto
itspristinestate,inorderlyperiodsoftime,inconsequenceofthe
planetsbeingmediabetweenthingsthataremovedwithamotion
perfectlyequable,andthosethataremovedanomalouslyinevery
respect.Fortheyareallottedamotionwhichisequablyanomalous,or
anomalouslyequable.
Timetherefore,isunfoldedintolight,andmakesitsprogressioninto
theuniverse,throughallthecelestialorbs,andnotonlythroughthe
planets,butlikewisethroughthefixedstars.Platohowever,especially
makesmentionoftheplanets,inthegenerationoftime,becausethey
differfromthefixedstarsinthevarietyoftheirperiods,andfrom
sublunarynatures,intheirmotionsbeingalwaysinvariablythesame;the
formerofwhich,thedistinctionofmanytemporalmeasuresmanifests,
andthelatter,theperpetualpreservationofthesameperiods,and
apocatastases.Foritisnecessarytosurveythesamethings,the

multitudeofmeasuresalwaysremaining.Thesetherefore,havean
orderlyarrangement,aftertheonemeasureofthewholeperiod.And
theonemonadindeeditselfoftime,isaperfectandentirenumber.But
Dfromthis,andineachcirculation,thereisanappropriatemeasure,
Saturnian,orJovian,orLunar,receivingitspeculiarityfromthesoul,
andmotivedeity,whichisineachofthespheres.Foronenumber
pertainstothesun,anothertoahorse,andanothertoaplant.Butthe
mundanenumberiscommontoallofthem.Onthisaccountalsowe
say,thatthereisthesametimeeverywhere.Fortheworldhasonelife,
inthesamemannerasithasonenature,andoneintellect.Ifhowever
ithasonezoe,itwillalsohaveonebios.Butifthisbethecase,itwill
likewisehaveonetemporalmeasure.Andaseachofthepartsinitlives
accordingtototalnature,solikewise,itismeasuredaccordingtototal
time.Andthisisthecommonmeasureofallthings.Butafterthis
monadthereisatriad,thesummitofwhichisthemeasureofthefirst
circulation;butthemiddle,ofallthecircleofthedifferent.Forofall
theplanets,asofoneanimal,thereisonelife,(bioseis)oneperiod,and
oneapocatastatictime.Andthethird,ortheextremity,isthemeasure
ofthecirculationwhichtakesplaceingeneration.Foronaccountof
this,themutationsoftheelements,thetransmutationsofmoveable
3,58natures,andregeneration,areagainallottedanhypostasis.Afterthis
tcf.Rep.X,616de.
Etriadhowever,timeproceeds,accordingtootherandothernumbers,
measuringwholes,anddistinguishingallthingsbyappropriatemeasures.
Thesethingstherefore,weshallagainconsider.
Itoughtnothowevertobeunnoticed,thatPlatohavinggiven
subsistencetowholes,andnotyetmentionedpartialanimals,constitutes
theplanets,butafterwardsthefixedstars,inthegenerationofpartial
animals.Forwhatarecalledtheplanets,arecosmocrators,orgovernors
oftheworld,andareallottedatotalpower.Andastheinerraticsphere
hasanumberofstarryanimals,solikewiseeachoftheplanetsisthe
leaderofamultitudeofanimals,orofcertainotherthingsofthiskind.
Hencealsofromthisthedoubtmaybesolved,howtheonesphere[of
thefixedstars]comprehendsamultitudeofstars;butwithrespecttothe
manyspheresoftheplanets,eachconvolvesonestar.Foritmustbe
saidthatthere[i.e.inthefixedstars]thesphereisamonad,beingone,
comprehendinginitselfanappropriatemultitude,andissufficienttothe
comprehensionofthemultitude,thisbeingthefirstmultitude.Butin
theplanets,thatwhichistheleaderistwofold,theonebeingthesphere,
[inwhichtheplanetiscarried]buttheother,eachofthecosmocrators,
beingamonad*coarrangedwithmultitude.Forsubordinatenatures
requireagreaternumberofleaders,andthemultitudeineachis

Finvisible,onaccountofthesubordination.Andinthesublunaryregion,
thereisastillgreaternumberoforders,whicharetheleadersofthe
generaineachoftheelements,aswemaylearnfromtheTheogony
whichhasbeentransmittedtous.Letthesethingstherefore,be
admittedasevident.
Butthusmuchdeservestobeconsideredinwhatissaidaboutthe
generationoftime,thatiftimeisposteriortosoul,howissoulmoved
accordingtotime?Andifitispriortosoul,howisitsaidtobe
generated?ForPlatohassaidthatsoulisthebestofgeneratednatures.
Butiftimeiscoordinatewithsoul,howisitthateternityisnotcoordinate
with,butpriorto,intellect?anditmustbesaidinanswerto
257Athis,thattimeisindeedpriortosoul,aseternityispriortointellect;but
thatsoulisthebestofgeneratednatures,whichareessentiallygenerated,
andnotonlyaccordingtotheirbeingpresentwithsecondarynatures,
butalsohaveagenerationaccordingtotheirinwardenergy,andan
3,59essencedivisibleintoamultitudeofparts,suchasPlatohimselfhas
deliveredtous.Buttimebeing,aswehavedemonstrated,essentiallyan
eternalintellect,isparticipatedinageneratedmanner,notatonce
tThesphereisaleader,acoarrangedmonad,andawholeness;buteachofthe
cosmocratorsisaleader,andamonad,butisnotawholeness.
wholly,norimmovably,liketheintellectspriortoit,butmovably.
Whencealsoasintellect,itperfectsthesoul,andisgeneratedaccording
toparticipations;flowingabundantlyintoitsparticipants,andmaking
generationstobeasthingsnumbered.Thustherefore,inconsequence
ofentirelyrunningtogetherwiththenumbersofgenerations,1itmay
beshowntobegenerated.Hencetoo,proceedingaccordingtonumber,
itissaidtobemoveable;butnottobenumber,asthetimeis,whichis
priortothingsnumbered.Forthesereasonstherefore,Platoherecalls
timeeternal,becauseitiseternalaccordingtoitsinwardenergy,the
wholeofwhichitpossessesatoncepresent.ButintheLawshesays,*
Bthatthesoulisindeedindestructible,yetnoteternal,becauseitisnot
allottedanimmutableinwardenergy.
38cd"Butthedivinityhavingmadethebodiesofthesestars,placedthem,
beingseveninnumber,inthesevencirculations,formedbytheperiodic
motionofthecircleofthedifferent."
ThatPlatodenominatesthesunandmoon,andtheotherfivestars,as
animalsenduedwithsoulandintellect,5ismanifestfromhisaddingin
whatisnowsaid,thatthedivinitymadethebodiesofeachofthem;in
consequenceofthestarsthemselvesbeingintellectualandvital.Forhe
doesnotsay,thathemadethebodiesthemselves,0butthebodiesofthem

Itmustbesaidtherefore,thatthecirculationsofthemareepicycles,or
evolvingcircles,orthewholespheres,inwhicheachofthestarsis
placed.Oritmustbesaid,thattheyarenooneofthese,butasthe
divineIamblichusapprehends,thecirculationssignifytheintellectual
soulsoftheplanets.Forasbefore,thedivinityfashionedthewhole
bulkoftheworldwithinthesoul,sonowlikewise,heplacestheseven
bodiesinthesevenintellectualsouls,atthesametimecausingsoulsand
intellectstopresideoverthesebodies.Sincehowever,muchpriorto
this,Platorepresentedtheperiodofthecircleofthedifferentinthe
wholesoul,aspresidingoverthesesevendivinebodies,heveryproperly
Cadds,(remindingusofwhathadbeenbeforesaid,)"intheseven
circulationsformedbytheperiodicmotionofthecircleofthedifferentinthe
wholesoul."Andagainhemanifeststhis,byspeakinginthesingular
tInsteadofrovtKtivaiq0vveKbpap.ovraTavTUQapifipovinthisplace,itappearsto
metobenecessarytoread,roiqtKeivuvovveKbpapovraKCIVTUI;aptBpoiq.
tcf.LawsX,904a.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,413ff.
Foroa)n)vhere,itisnecessarytoreadavra.
3,60number.Forthiscircleisundivided,thoughitissaidtohavebeencut.
Anditdoesnotloseitsunitybythedivisionofitintosevencircles.
Perhapshowever,itwillbebettertosay,thattheDemiurgus
establishedthebodiesofthecosmocrators,inthepowersofthewhole
soul,butnotyetintheirpropersouls,norintheirspheres.Forthe
words,"formedbytheperiodicmotionofthecircleofthedifferent,"
manifestthatthiscircledoesnotbyitsmotioncircumvolvethesebodies.
Forthiscirclebeingone,anddividedintosevenparts,proceedsround
thelivesofthesedivinebodies.ForfartheronPlatosays,*thatthe
fixedstarsareplacedinthewisdomofintellect,whichisthesoulofthe
circleofthesame.Forthatismostpowerfulandexcellenttowhichthe
Demiurgusimpartedpower.Butthewisdomofthisisanintellectual
life.Thustherefore,henowplacesthesevenbodiesinthesevencircles
ofthewholesoul.Andagain,itwillthroughthesethingsbeevident,
howthesimplicityofthesoulispreserved,aswithreferencetothe
corporealperiods.Fortheonecircleofthesameanimatesaccordingto
oneunion,boththeinerraticsphere,andthestarsitcontains.Andin
Dasimilarmannereachofthesevenplanets,accordingtoonecommon
power,animatesboththespheres,*andthestarstheycontain.Now
therefore,Platospeaksofthesoulwhichiscommontothem;but
shortlyafterhealsodeliversthesoulpeculiartoeach,whenhesays,5
"thatbeingboundwithanimatedbondstheybecameanimals."Forthen
theyarenolongeranimatedasparts,butasanimals,throughtheir
propersouls.

38d"Andthemoonindeed,heplacedinthefirstcirculationaboutthe
earth;butthesun,inthesecondabovetheearth;andthestarcalled
Lucifer,0andthatwhichissacredtoMercury,incirculations
proceedingwithaswiftnessequaltothatofthesun,towhichatthe
sametimetheyareallottedacontrarypower.HencetheSun,Lucifer,
andMercury,mutuallycomprehend,andarecomprehendedbyeach
other."
tTim.40a.
$Intheoriginalo/xoudcKarabvvap.ivpiavKairate(Xpaipaic,,whichisevidendy
defective,anderroneous.Ireadtherefore,insteadofthis,opouusqKara5vvap.ivp.uxv
KaiKoivr\v,\l/vxoirago<paipac,.
Tim.38e.
i.e.Venus.
Notonlyfromwhatisheresaid,itisevidentwhatorderSphericsgive
3,61totheplanets,accordingtoPlato,butalsofromwhatiswritteninthe
Republic.1ForhearrangestheMoonaftertheSun;*sincethereisa
certainmostabundantcommunionofthesedivinitiesinthevisible
productionofthings.Fortheonehastheorderoffather,buttheother
ofmother.Boththeintelligibleandintellectualcausesofthemlikewise
Eareunitedtoeachother,andareunfoldedintolightfromonecause.
ForthesameGoddessproduced
....themightySun,andsplendidMoon
Theogony,19
[asOrpheussays].Perhapslikewisethe[Chaldaean]Oraclesteachus
this,sincetheyeverywherearrangetheMoonaftertheSun,andtheair
aftertheMoon,5bothwhentheydelivertheorderofthemfromabove,
andwhenfrombeneath.Fortheysay,"Theaetherialcourse,the
immenseimpulseoftheMoon,andtheaerialstreams."Andagain,"O
aether,Sun,spiritoftheMoon,andyeleadersoftheair."And
elsewhere,"Ofthesolarcircles,0thelunarrattlings,andtheaerial
bosoms."Andafterwards,"Theportionofaether,oftheSun,ofthe
riversoftheMoon,andoftheair."Inanotherplacelikewisetheysay,
"Thebroadair,thelunarcourse,andtheperpetualpoleoftheSun."
Perhapstherefore,asIhavesaid,itispossibletobepersuadedfromthe
Oracles,thattheSunisimmediatelypriortotheMoon,astheMoonis
priortotheair,allheavenhavingtheorderoffire;whichalsowasthe
opinionofPlato,0whoafterthecelestialarrangestheaetherialidea,in
whatheshortlyaftersaysaboutthefourideas[inanimalitself].**
Unlesstherefore,itisnotnecessarythattheSunshouldbeimmediately
3.62abovetheMoon,onaccountoftheanalogytoaether:forneitheris
FaetherimmediatelyabovetheSun.Sothatagain,thisanalogywillnot

tcf.Rep.X,616e.
XInsteadofTOPyapTJXIOP7CKTTIp*rao~e\r)vrivinthisplace,itisobviously
necessarytoread,rrjvyapo~tktim\vrarreiperaTJAIOI>.Cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,
213ff.
cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.61.TheOraclesquotedimmediatelyafterthiscanbefound
onpages39and40ofOraclesandMysteries,TTSvol.VII.
ForjjXtfHcoicreKVKKOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadyXiaKuvreICVKXUV.
oInsteadofoKaiUXaruvSOKCIinthisplace,readomiHXaruvibona.
ftTim.40a.
suffertheSuntobearrangedimmediatelyabovetheMoon.
NeverthelessancientrumourgivesthisordertotheSun.ForAristotle
wasofthisopinion,*andlikewiseEudoxusandhisfollowers.If
however,someadoptingthehypothesesofmathematicians,*should
thinkfittoarrangetheSuninthemiddleofthesevenplanets,who
collectsandbindsthetriadsoneachsideofhim,itmustbeobserved5
thatthereisnotanystabilityinwhattheysayfromthemathematics.
Fortosay,thatVenusandMercurywouldbeobscured,iftheywere
258AaftertheSun,inthesamemannerastheMoonissometimesbytheSun,
isconfutedbyshowingthatwhentheyareinconjunctionwiththeSun
accordingtolongitude,theyentirelydifferaccordingtolatitude.And
thisisthecauseoftheirnotbeingobscured.Asitdoesnot,however,
necessarilyfollowthattheSunhasamiddlepositionamongtheplanets,
mathematicianscannotprocurethatcredibilitythroughdemonstrations
thatithas,whichtheyareaccustomedtoobtainaboutmostthings.
Ptolemythereforesays,inhisSyntaxis,0thatitisfitinconformity
togoodandprobablereasoning,toplacetheSuninthemiddleofthe
sevenplanets,inorderthatofthefiveplanetspriortohim,theremay
bethosethatareperfectlyseparatedfromhim;andafterhim,thosethat
areinconjunctionwithhim,andprecede,orattendhimlike
satellites.0ButinhisHypotheses,**hedoesnotverymuchcontend
forthetruthofthis,norinferitfromtheintervalsoftheplanets,
neitherinthatwork,norinhisSyntaxis.++Muchattentiontherefore,
3,63isnottobepaidtomathematicians,whentheyreasonfromprobability.
CButthetheurgist55clearlysays,"thattheDemiurgussuspendedsix
tcf.AristotleMetaphysicsXI,8,1073bl6ff.
Xcf.Prod.Comm.Rep.II,220,8ff.
Foreoruoavhere,itisrequisitetoreadlaruaav.
Thewholetitleofthisworkis,MeyaKqLvvra%icTT/Charpovopuxq,orTHE
GREATCONSTRUCTIONOFASTRONOMY.BytheArabians,itwascalledthe
Almagest.[IX,1.]

ocf.319Einfra.
ftie.InhisworkentidedYirofcaicruvYikavupevuv,orTHEHYPOTHESISOFTHE
PLANETS.ThisworkwasillustratedbyJo.Bainbridge,withaLatinversion,and
mathematicalfigures.Lond.1620,4to.
XXThereisagapinTaylor'stranslationhere,fromIII62,1963,20.PT.
SSie.TheChaldeanJulian,[cf.TTSvol.VII,p.39;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,220,
1221.]cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.200.
zones,andfortheseventhhurledintothemiddlethefireoftheSun;"
anditisnotlawfultodisbelieveinwhathesays.Platohowever,
lookingtotheabundantcommunion,andconnascentprogressionofthe
SunandMoonfromthesamecause,andalsotheiringressintothe
world,deliversthemtousasconjoined.Norwashetheauthorofthis
hypothesisoftheMoonsubsistingimmediatelyaftertheSun,but
Anaxagoras,*asEudemusrelates,wasthefirstthatwasofthisopinion.
Again,thisalsoisasubjectofinquiry,onwhataccounttheSun,
VenusandMercury,revolvewithequalcelerity.Andsomeindeed,say
3,64fromthemathematics,thattheepicyclesofthesethreestarsare
conjoined,andthattheircentresareinonerightline.Astherefore,
thereisoneapocatastasisofthemotionofonerightline,thusalsothe
Depicyclesoftheseplanetsmakethesameapocatastasis;andofthe
epicyclesthemselves,theextremesareless,butthemiddleepicycleis
greater;sothatboththeequableandanomalousmotionsofthem,arein
thesameratio.ButtheinterpretersofPlato,PorphyryandTheodorus,
whoinvestigatethecauseofthis,refertheprincipleoftheequalityand
inequalityofthecourseoftheseplanetstotheirlives.Foraccordingto
them,theinequalityorequalityoftheirswiftness,iseitherfromtheir
intellectstendingdirectlythroughmanymediatoessence,andendingin
thesamething,thoughthroughdifferentmedia;orfromthetendency
ofthemtoanotherandanotherthing.Forthesunbeingessence,
proceedstointellectthroughlife;Venus,beingintellect,proceeds
throughlifetoanintellect[differentfromitself];andMercurybeinglife,
proceedsalsotointellect;thoughtheintellectinwhichthethree
terminate,isinthefirstessential,butinthesecondintellectual,andin
thethirdvital.Hencealsotheyaremovedwithequalcelerity,and
thoughtheyappeartoleave,andprecedeeachother,yettheyendinthe
samething.Saturn,however,Jupiter,andMars,maybeconsideredas
differingindignity,andonthisaccount,notofequalcelerity;though
theirnotmovingwiththesameceleritymayalsoarisefromnot
revolvingthroughequalmedia.Thusforinstance,ifSaturnbeing
Eessence,shouldimmediatelyproceedtoessence,butJupitershould
proceedtoitthroughintellectalone,andMarsthroughbothintellect
andlife;andfirstindeedwillproceedwithoutamediumtoessence,but
thesecondthroughoneequality,andthethirdthroughtwo.Andthus,
theywillnotmovewithequalcelerity.Foroftheplanets,thefirsttriad

iselevatedtoessence;butthesecond,tointellect;andtheMoon,tolife,
t1,75,p.320d.
3,65whichcomprehendsinitselfallgeneration,andproceedsasfarastothe
lastrecessesoftheearth.Thesethingstherefore,aresaidbyPorphyry
andTheodorus,inconformitytotheirownhypotheses;assertingthat
alltheseareeverywhere,viz.essence,life,andintellect,andthateach
oftheGodsparticipateofthesethree,butthatadifferentpeculiarity
predominatesindifferentdivinities,andalsothattheenergyisdifferent
ofdifferentGods,andthattheelevationisthroughdifferentmedia.*
ThedivineIamblichushowever,neitheradmitstheintroductionof
epicycles,asbeingmechanical,andforeignfromthemeaningofPlato;
northeconceptionarisingfromlife[essenceandintellect]asvainly
employingsuchlikedisjunctions,ingressions,egressions,and
complications,asinadream,andinnorespectconformabletoPlato.
FForwheredoesPlatoassert,thattheelevationtoessenceisthroughlife,
intellect,andessence?Wherealso,doeshearrangeSaturnaccordingto
essence,butJupiteraccordingtointellect,andMarsaccordingtolife?
Rejectingthereforetheseassertions,hedeliversamoresimpletheory,
andsaysthattheMoonfirstisarrangedintheplace*abouttheearth,
ashavingtherelationofnatureandamothertogeneration.Forall
thingsareconvolvedbyher,arecoincreasedwhensheincreases,andare
diminishedwhensheisdiminished.ButthattheSunis[thenext]above
259AtheMoon,becauseitevidentlyfillstheMoonwithpowers,andhasthe
relationofafathertogeneration.ButabovetheSunareVenusand
Mercury,theseplanetsbeingsolar,andfabricatinginconjunctionwith
theSun,andalsocontributingtogetherwithhimtotheperfectionof
wholes.HencetheircourseisequallyswiftwiththatoftheSun,and
theyrevolveabouthim,ascommunicatingwithhimintheproduction
ofthings.Theyarehowever,contrarytohim;notonlyaccordingto
thelationintheirepicycles,aswehavebeforeobserved,andas
mathematicianssay;norsofarastheoneisthecauseoftheevolution
intolightofthingsconcealed,buttheotheristhecauseofconcealment,
asastrologersstrenuouslyassert.Fortheyaresoontheseaccounts,and
alsoonaccountofthedivinepoweritself,5whichwehavebefore
3,66mentioned.Forthereisacertainadmirableandtranscendentpowerof
theSun;andonthisaccountitisofitselfincommensurate.Butthe
powersofVenusandMercuryimpartbyilluminationsymmetry,and
tInsteadof8iaWuv\utai\vhere,read5taXXucpeouv.
tInsteadofetcTOPirepiyi\vXoyovhere,itisnecessarytoreadetcT0VVPLyVv
Toirov.
ForavToghere,readavn\v.

goodtemperament,andinconsequenceofalwaysrevolvingin
conjunctionwiththeSunrenderthesolarmotionharmonious.For
botharethecausesofcommunion;Mercurybeingcommonindiurnal
Bandnocturnalproductions,andpossessingbothamasculineand
femininepower;*andVenuspossessingabindingpower,andwhichcoadapts
thingsthatareseparatedfromeachother.
Youmayalsosay,thatbecausetheSunneitherusesablations,nor
additionsofmotions,norbecomesstationary,butMercuryandVenus,
employadvancingandrecedingmotions,andareattimesstationary,
theyareallottedaccordingtoappearance,powerscontrarytotheSun,
andnotsofarastheyproceedanalogoustothefirstthreemonads,
whichareinthevestibulesofTheGood*aswehavebeforeobserved.5
FortheSun,aswelearnintheRepublic,0givessubsistencetolight,
whichistheimageoftruth.ButVenusisthecauseofbeautyto
generatednatures,whichistheimitationofintelligiblebeauty.And
Mercuryisthecauseofsymmetrytoallthings,subsistingasreasonto
thingsingeneration.0Forallsymmetryproceedsaccordingtoone
ratio,andaccordingtonumber,ofwhichthisGodisthegiver.Those
monadstherefore,subsistinganalogouslyto,andinconjunctionwith
eachother,theseplanetsveryproperlydesiretobewitheachother,and
revolvetogether.Onthisaccountalso,theycomprehendandare
comprehended,throughproducingandcooperatingwitheachotherin
Cdemiurgicworks.Butifatonetimetheyaremovedswifter,andat
anotherslower,andwhenone**ismovedswiftertheothersarenot,
norwhenoneismovedslower,therestarealsoslowerintheirmotions;
ifthisbethecase,thosethataremovedswifter,areveryproperlysaid
tocomprehendthosethataremovedslower,andviceversa,thelatter
aresaidtobecomprehendedbytheformer.Andthereisoneperiod
indeed,ofallthings;butthepartsoftheperiodsdifferinginswiftness
andslowness,causesomeoftheseatonetimeandsomeatanother,to
comprehendandbecomprehendedbyeachother,accordingtodifferent
3,67partsoftheirperiods.Hence,throughthesethings,andfromwhathas
fcf.15Csupra,p.52.
%cf.Philebus64c.
cf.222Fsupra.
cf.Rep.VI,508aff.
ocf.45Esupra.
ftInsteadofoierepoihere,itisrequisitetoreadotrtpoq.
beenbeforesaid,wemaycollect,thataccordingtoPlato,themotionof
theinerraticsphereisoneandequable,*butthatthemotionsofthe
sevenplanetsareinthemselvesequable,butwithreferencetoeachother

anomalous;exceptthatthreeofthemareequallyswiftintheircourse.
Forbeforeheproducedthesevenplanets,hesaidthattheircircleswere
equallyswift.Butthatthemotionofeachofthemisequable,Socrates
intheRepublicmanifests,*whenhesays,thataSyrenpresidesoverthe
eightcircles,utteringonevoiceinonetone;sothatanequablemotion
iscommontothem.Thesevenstarshoweveraremovedabouttheir
owncentres,andalsothroughthedepthoftheirspheres.Andboththe
Dotherfourplanets,andthethree,comprehend,andarecomprehended
byeachother,onaccountoftheinequalityoftheirpeculiarmotions.
Forifasspherestheywereequablymoved,theywouldneveratany
timesufferthis,buttheywouldalwaysbesimilarlyseparatedfromeach
other.Thistherefore,Platoalsosays,thattheyproceedthroughthe
heavens,havingmutationsintheirmotions.5
Hence,abovethistriad,whichisthusharmonious,inconsequenceof
Venusuniting,andleadingtocommuniontheMercurialproduction,
whichisofaremittednature,andthesolarfabricationwhichpossesses
intensityofpower,thereisanothertriad,consistingofSaturn,Jupiter,
andMars.AndSaturnandMarsindeed,aretheextremes,andare
contrarytoeachother,sofarastheoneisthecauseofconnexion,but
theotherofdivision;andtheoneofcold,buttheotherofheat.DBut
Jupiterisarrangedinthemiddle,andleadsthedemiurgicproductionsof
SaturnandMarsintoanexcellenttemperament.Ifhowever,youwish
tosurveythemiddlearrangementoftheSun,afteranothermanner,
conceivetwopentadsoneachsideofhim,beneaththeMoon,andthe
tetractysoftheelements;inorderthatyoumayunderstandtheetherial
3,68naturetohavesomethingdifferentfromwhatisproperlycalledair,or
thatyoumayalsocomprehendwithitthenatureofsublunary
Efire,whichcoadministersthenaturesofalltheelements,movesall
things,andexcitestheirproductions.Forwhateverisdestituteoffire
isdead,refrigerationbeingcontrarytolife.ButabovetheSunarethe
tIntheoriginalhere,thereisnothingmorethanavvoryayupeponKaraUXaruva
VpuxKaiopaXy,butthesenserequiresthatweshouldread,conformablytotheabove
translation,avvayayupevonKaraUXaruva,TJTT/CawXavovqKivrjoic,,puxKai
opaXr].
Xcf.Rep.X,617b;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,236,18238,15f.
Tim.39d.
cf.24Fsupra.
governorsofthewholeofgeneration,havingallofthemincommon,
whatneithertheSun,northeMoonhave,viz.advancingandreceding
motions;throughwhichthenatureofsublunarysubstancesisallvariously
changed,byadditionsandablations,accessionsandremissions
ofproductivepowers,oflife,andofthewholeoftheiressence.Butthe

Sunisentirelyextendedfromthemiddle.AndoftheGodsindeedprior
tohim,heperfectstheproductions;butexcites,resuscitates,and
variouslychangesthepowersthatareposteriortohim.Hencethe
theologistcallshimtheguardianoftheuniverse,andleavesabouthim,
demiurgic,undefiled,elevating,perfective,andmanyothercatharticand
separatingpowers,accordingtowhich,revolvingperpetually,headornsthe
universe.
38de"Butwithrespecttotheotherstars,ifanyoneshouldthinkfitto
investigatethecauses,throughwhichtheDemiurgusestablishedallof
them,thelabourwouldbegreaterthanthatofthediscourseitself,for
thesakeofwhichtheywereintroduced.Thesethingstherefore,may
perhapshereafterbediscussedbyusatourleisure,insuchawayasthey
deserve."
FBytheotherstarsitisevidentthatPlatomeansMars,Jupiter,and
Saturn.Butthewordestablished,exhibitstoustheirperpetualand
incorruptiblefabrication.Ifhowever,aswefindinsomecopies,you
readtheyestablished,1thisreadingwillaffordyouanindication,thatthe
universewasgeneratedandadornedbytheDemiurgus,andbyother
causes.Foralittlebefore,Platosaidthatthedivinitydistributedinan
orderlymannerthesevenbodies,andtheperiodofthecircleofthe
different;andinadditiontothisthepeculiarsoulsofthestars,whichhe
denominatedcirculations.Butthesearesaid[accordingtothisreading]
3,69tohavebeenestablishedbyallthecauses,inconjunctionwithwhichthe
260ADemiurgusfabricatedthemseverally,makingthewholeworldastatue,
andestablishinginitthestatuesofthepartialGods.Itisherehowever
necessarytocalltomind,whatweareaccustomedtosayconcerningthe
orderofallmundanenatures;viz.thattheinerraticsphereisthecause
toallthingsofaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence;butthatofthe
triadunderit,Saturn,Jupiter,andMars,thefirstisthecauseof
connexion,thesecondofsymmetry,andthethirdofseparation.And
again,theMoonindeedisamonad,thecauseofallgenerationand
corruption;buttheelementsingeneration,formatriadunderthis
monad.ThemediabetweenthistriadofplanetsandtheMoon,arethe
fIntheoriginalutpvaavro.
planetsthatrevolvewithequalcelerity.AndtheSunindeedunfolds
truthintolight,aswehavefrequentlysaid.ButVenusunfoldsbeauty;
andMercury,thesymmetryofreasons,accordingtotheanalogy*of
themonadsinthevestibulesofTheGood.Ifyouarewillingalso,you
maysay,*thatofthebeneficentplanets,theMoonisthecauseto
mortalsofnature,beingherselfthevisiblestatueoffontalnature.But
theSunistheDemiurgusofeverythingsensible,5inconsequenceof

Bbeingthecauseofsightandvisibility.Mercuryisthecauseofthe
motionsofthephantasy:forofthephantasticessenceitself,sofaras
senseandphantasyareone,theSunistheproducingcause.ButVenus
isthecauseofepithymeticappetites;andMarsoftheirasciblemotions
whichareaccordingtonature.Ofallvitalpowershowever,Jupiteris
thecommoncause;butofallgnosticpowersSaturn.Forallthe
irrationalformsaredividedintothese.Thecausesthereforeofthese,are
antecedentlycomprehendedincelestialnatures.
Someonehowever,mayreasonablydoubtfromwhathasbeensaid,
wherePlatoconstitutesthesouloftheinerraticsphere,beingafraidlest
heshouldmakethesouloftheworldtobethesamewiththesoulof
3,70thatsphere;asAristotledidafterwards.0Forwehavethepeculiar
soulsofthestars,throughthebeforementionedcirculations,andalittle
fartheron,Platospeaksconcerningthem.Forhesays,thatbeing
boundwithanimatedbonds,theybecameanimals.Maywenotsay
therefore,thatasheplacesinthewholesouloftheuniverse,twofold
Ccircles,andtwofoldcirculations,hegivessubsistencetogetherwiththem
totwofoldsouls,thatoftheinerraticsphere,andthatofthewhole
planetarysphere,asonecirculation?Andagain,assuminginthecircle
ofthedifferent,sevencircles,hehadtogetherwiththemsevensouls,
carriedasinvehiclesinthesevenspheres.Fortheanimationjustnow
deliveredwasnotofthespheresthemselves.Henceinwhathesaidof
theinerraticsphere,hemadementionoftheanimationofthestars,
omittingtheanimationofthewholespheres,asbeingcomprehendedin
thecirclesofthewholesoul.Foronaccountoftheformofdiscussion
usualwiththeancients,heomitsthesubtileelaborationofvarious
tThereisanomissionintheoriginalhereofKar'avakoyuxv.
Xcf.also348Binfra.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,133,17f;andChald.Oracl.fr.10.
cf.AristotleOntheUniverse,II392a5ff.
Tim.38e.
animation.Foruniversalanimationisonething;thatwhichisposterior
tothis,andisuniversalpartialanimation,isanother;partialuniversal
animationisanother;andthelastofall,ispartialanimation.According
toalltheformsofanimationlikewise,thewholeworldandthepartsof
itareanimated.Mayitnotbesaidalso,thatTimaeushavingonthe
precedingdayheardSocratessubtilydiscussingtheseanimations,*
conceivedthatthepeculiarelaborationofthemwouldbesuperfluous.
DSocratesthereforeplacedsoulswhichhecalledSyrens,overtheeight
whirls[orspheres].Andagain,heplacesonesoulovertheinerratic
portionoftheworld;one,overthewholeplanetaryregion;andone
overthewholeheaven;unfoldingthepeculiarsoulsofallthese,and

animatingtheinerraticsphereinatwofoldrespect,bothasonecircle,
havingadivisionopposedtothatofthesevencircles,andas
comprehendingthemultitudeofthefixedstars,andbeingitselfaworld
universalandatthesametimepartial.Andthusmuchinanswertothis
doubt.ButthereasonwhyPlatomakesthediscussionofthestarstobe
superfluous,isevident.Forthethingproposedbyhimwastoshow
whatsecondarytimeis,andhow,andwhenceitisconsummately
effected.
38e"Whentherefore,eachofthenaturesnecessarytoajointfabrication
3,71oftime,hadarrivedatalocalmotionadaptedtoitscondition,andthey
becameanimalsthroughtheconnectingpowerofvitalbonds,theythen
learnedtheirprescribedorder."
Whattheanimationisofthebodiesofthesevencosmocrators,and
whattheorder,hasbeenshownthroughwhathasbeenalreadysaid.
Buthoweachofthemisananimal,andissuspendedfromamoredivine
soul,andwhateachcontributestotheperfectionoftheuniverse,
EPlatodeliversinthesewords,tothosewhoareabletoperceivehis
meaning.Foreachofthemisallottedanappropriatelifeandmotion.
Forsincethedemiurgicsacredlawdistributestoeachofthemortal
naturesthatwhichisadaptedtoit,whatwillyousayconcerningthe
leadersandrulersoftheuniverse?Mustitnotbethis,thattheyreceive
fromthefatherthatwhichisadaptedtothemandistheirgood,andthat
beingresplendentwithbeautytheynotonlycooperatewiththefather
inthegenerationoftime,butalsoleadandgovernthewholeworld?
Andhowisitpossiblethatthusspeakingconcerningthem,weshould
notspeakrightly?Inadditiontothesethingsalso,theynotonlyreceive
fromthedemiurgicmonadthebeautifulandthegood,butbeingself
cf.Rep.X,616eff.
motive,impartthesetothemselves,andbeginfromthemselvesthe
donationofgood;whichPlatoindicating,says"thateachofthemarrived
atalocalmotionadaptedtoitscondition,"asdefiningtoitselfthe
measureofthelifeandorderandmotionwhichitisallottedinthe
universe.Sincehowever,eachofthem,Imeaneachofthesevenbodies,
Fhasatwofoldlife,theoneinseparable,buttheotherseparable;andthe
oneintellectualandestablishedinitselfinaleadingandrulingmanner,
buttheotherdistributedaboutbody,whichitconnectedlycontains,and
moves;andsinceaccordingtothelatter,eachisananimal,butaccording
totheformeraGod;thisbeingthecase,Platoseparatingboththese,
3,72andconsideringthedivineandintellectualsoul,andwhichdoesnot
departfromintelligibles,asonething,buttheanimalwhichissuspended
fromthis,hasitslifefrom,andistheimageofit,asanother,hesays

"thatbeingboundwithvitalbonds,theybecameanimals,andlearnedtheir
prescribedorder."Foradivinesoullearnsthedemiurgicwill,and
261Aunderstandstheworksofthefather.*Italsocooperateswithhimin
theproductionofmundanenatures,byintellectuallyperceivinghim,and
beingfilledbyhimwithdivinepowers.Foritisnotpossibleforeither
intellectorsoul,toprovideforwholesinanexempt*manner,inany
otherwaythanbytheparticipationofdeity,andthroughadivinelyinspired
life.
Theircooperatingtherefore,intheproductionoftime,manifeststhat
theyareallottedasecondarypower,inthefabricationofit;thefather
ofthempossessingaprimordialpower.Forheindeedgeneratesthe
wholenessoftime;buttheyproduce,togetherwithhim,thepartsof
whichtimeconsists.Fortheperiodsofthesearethepartsofthewhole
oftime;justastheyweregeneratedthepartsoftheworld.Butthe
animalboundwithvitalbonds,istheanimatedbody,whichhaslife
fromthesoulallottedtoit,accordingtothedemiurgicallotments.For
iswithus,theanimalisdifferentfromtheman,andthevisibleSocrates
isonething,butthetrueSocratesanother,muchmorearetheSunand
Jupiter[differentfromthevisibleorbsofthem]whichconsistofbody
Bandsoul.HenceSocratesinthePhaedrusblamesthose,whoassertthat
adivineanimalconsistsofbodyandsoul.5"Forignorantly,and
withoutsufficientlyunderstanding,sayshe,wefeignaGodtobean
immortalanimal,havingasoul,andhavingabody,andtheseconnascent
tForrovTTUVTOC,here,itisnecessarytoreadrovTarpoc.
tInsteadofetyprripevuc,inthisplace,itisnecessarytoreade%T)pT)pevuc,.
cf.Phaedrus246cd.
witheachotherthroughthewholeoftime."Andifitberequisiteto
speakwhatappearstometobethetruth,theunitywhichisineachand
whichistheineffableparticipationofthefountainofwholeunical
numbers,isprimarilyaGod.Butsecondarilyintellect,whichcontains
3,73everythingstably,*uniformly,andinflexibly.Andinthethirdplace
soul,beingfilledfromintellect,andunfoldingtheonecomprehension
ofit.Thefirstofthesealso,istrulyaGod;thesecondismostdivine;
andthethird,islikewisedivine,butilluminatestheanimalwiththe
peculiarofdeity.Accordingtothisalso,theanimalisdivine,being
boundwithvitalbonds,whichyoumaysayarevivific,demiurgic,and
indissolublebonds,asTimaeussaysfartheron.*Forthedivinebodies,
arewhollyboundinsouls,andarecomprehendedby,andestablishedin
them.Thebindinglikewise,indicatesthestableandimmutable
comprehensionofthebodiesinthesouls,andtheundisjoined
communionofthemwithsouls.Divinebodieshowever,beingsuch,co
CoperatewiththeDemiurgusintheproductionoftime,callforththeone

andinvisiblepoweroftime,andaffordtoitaprogressionintothe
world,whichunfoldsintolightmanytemporalmeasures.Hence
throughthisthewholeoftimederivesitscompletion,imitatingthetime
whichconsistsinnumbering,sinceitconsistsitselfinbeingnumbered,
andinshortbecomeswhatitisfrommanynumbers,inorderthatit
maybesimilartothatwhichistrulytotaltime,andiscomprehensive
ofallapocatastaticnumbers.Thejointfabricationtherefore,indicates
productionproceedingtotheend,andaperfectenergy.
39a"Thataccordingtotheobliquelationofthecircleofthedifferent,
whichmovesinsubjectiontothecircleofthesame,theseorbsshouldby
theirrevolution,partlyformagreater,andpartlyalesscircle;andthat
theorbwhichformedalesscircleshouldrevolveswifter,butthatwhich
producedagreater,moreslow."
Youmaysaythattheobliquelationofthecircleofthedifferent,
3,74signifiesalationaccordingtotheobliquityofthezodiac.Forthe
motionoftheplanetsisaccordingtothepolesofthezodiac,thatwe
mayspeakmathematically.Forsuchanexplanationisnottobe
Ddespisedbythosewhodiscourseaboutthecelestialbodies.Or,
accordingtoamoreintimateperceptionofthething,youmaysay,that
thisobliquitymanifeststhecauseofgeneration,andthemutationwhich
tForopuvvpuc,here,itisrequisitetoreadfiovipax;.
$Tim.43a.
preexistsinthecelestialorbs.Forgenerationindeed,participatesof
differenceandvarietyfromtherevolutionofthecircleofthedifferent
[i.e.fromthecirculationoftheplanets];butitparticipatesofsameness,
andasubsistencewhichisalwaysthesame,fromthecircleofthesame
[ortheinerraticsphere],asAristotlealsosays.*Forifthecircleofthe
samealoneexisted,therewouldnotbemutationandgeneration,butall
thingswouldbeuniform,andbeingalwaysgenerated,wouldremain
invariablythesame.Andifthecircleofthedifferentaloneexisted,all
thingswouldbewithoutstability,andwouldbeincontinualmotion.
Inordertherefore,thattheremaybebothpermanencyandmotion,and
thatthiswholemaybe,asitissaid,animmutablemutation,andan
immoveablemotion,theuniversehasboththesecirculations.Andthe
varietyindeedofgeneration,becomesapparentthroughthecirculation
ofthecircleofthedifferent;butcommunionandimmutability,through
thecircleofthesame.Butoftheseagain,theoneiseffectedthroughthe
circleofsamenessofthesoul,andtheotherthroughthesoul'scircleof
difference.Andofthesealso,theoneisthroughintellectualsameness,
buttheotherthroughdemiurgicdifference.Andoftheselast,theone
isthroughintelligiblebound,buttheotherthroughintelligibleinfinity.

Afterthismannertherefore,theobliquitymustbeunderstood.
EAndhereyoumayseewhatthedifferenceis,asdeliveredbyPlato,
betweenthepsychicallationofthecircleofdifference,andthe
corporeal.Forhecallstheformerstraight,butthelatteroblique.For
theformerisundefiledandinflexible,butthelatterproximatelygoverns
thevarietyofgeneratednatures,andhasavisibleinequality,anda
certainpositionandhabitudewithrespecttotheuniverse.Butthe
revolutionofthecircleofthedifferentbeingsuch,itproceeds*through
thecircleofthesame,andisgovernedbyit.Foritismovedbyinvisible
causes,andbytheinerraticsphereitself.Orrather,itreceivesthrough
itmotivepowers;andisgovernedbyit,becauseitisconvolved,
accordingtotheone,andinerraticmotionofit.Andthisindeed,issaid
mathematically.Butafteranothermanner,youmaysaythatthenature
ofthesameandsimilarhasdominion,inorderthattheworldmaybe
one;thatallthingsmayasmuchaspossiblebeperpetual;andthatthe
worldmayimitateanimalitself,inwhichallthingshaveaneternal
subsistence.Forifthecircleofthedifferenthaddominionoverthecircle
tcf.AristotleOntheHeavensII,285b28ff;alsoOntheGenerationofAnimalsIV,
10,778al;andalso236Af,supra.
+Foreiaihere,itisnecessarytoreadirpouai.
ofthesame,therewouldbelessoftheimmutablethanofthemutable,
intheuniverse,andtheworldwouldnotreceivealltheperpetuity
Fwhichitiscapableofreceiving.Butinthiscase,itwouldbelesssimilar
toanimalitself.Thelationtherefore,ofthecircleofthedifferentbeing
governedbythelationofthecircleofthesame,proceeds*withinit,
circulatesthroughitsconcavity,andrevolvestogetherwithit.
39a"Andwithrespecttosevenbodies,someofthembeingslower,but
othersswifter;thosethatrevolveinalesscircle,*revolvemoreswiftly;5
butSaturnrevolvinginagreatercircle,movesmoreslowly."
Platosaysthis,lookingtotheapocatastasesoftheplanets.Hence,he
262Asays,thattheyrevolveswifterorslower,andnotthattheysimply
proceedswifter,butrevolveslower.Forwhen,ascircleistocircle,so
istimetotime,thenthebodieswhicharemovedareequallyswift.For
letonecirclebedoubleofanother,andonetimeofanother,thenthe
greatercirclewhichismovedinthedoubletime,willbemoved[over
thesamespace]inhalfthetimeoftheless,butthelesswillbemoved
inhalfthetime,overthesamespace.Hence,theyareequallyswift.
Forthingsareequallyswift,whicharemovedoverthesamespaceinthe
sametime.Butwhenonecircleistoanother,inagreaterratiothanone
timetoanother,themotionofthegreatercircleistheswifter.Forlet

thisbeso,Dandletitbeascircleistocircle,soistimetoacertain
time,whichwillthereforebelessthanthetimefromthefirst.Forthe
samethingwillhaveagreaterratiototheless.Thegreatercircle
therefore,inthislesstime,whichislessthanthetimefromthefirst,
willpassoverthesamespaceasthelesscircle.Forithasbeen
Bdemonstrated,thatifcircleistocircle,astimetotime,themotionof
3,76thelessisequallyswiftwiththatofthegreatercircle.Moreover,the
motionofthelesscirclefromthefirstwasperformedinalesstimethan
thetimefromthefirst.Hencethesameinterval,ispassedoverbythe
fHerelikewisefortwi,readirpoeim.
XTayloromitsthewords'suchasthemoon'whicharetobefoundinthetextof
Diehl.PT.
ThisportionofthetextisomittedinalltheprintededitionsoftheTimxus.The
originalisasfollows:Kiveiraira.euraaupara,raptvfipadurepaovrct,ra8eBarru.
raptvtketTTUrepiiovraKVK\OV,Barepov(legeBarrov)Ttpuioivo5eicpovoq
irepiucppaSvTtpov.Thisportionoftext,appearsalsotohavebeenwantinginthe
MediceanmanuscriptfromwhichFicinusmadehistranslationofPlato,forhehasnot
translatedit.
ie.Letwhathasbeenbeforedemonstratedbeadmitted.
onecircleinagreater,butbytheotherinalesstime.Themotion
thereforeofthelesscircle,isslowerthanthatofthegreater.Again,if
theratioofonecircletoanother,islessthanthatofonetimeto
another,themotionofthegreatercirclewillbeslowerthanthatofthe
less.Forifyoumakeascircleistocircle,soistimetoanothertime,
youwillmakeittobetoagreatertime.Forthesamethinghastothe
greateralessratio.Sothatthegreatercirclewillinagreatertimepass
overthesamespace,thanthelesscircle.Itisthereforeslower.Hence,
thesethingsthussubsisting,Platodoesnotnowinvestigatewhatthe
conditionisoftheplanetswithrespecttoswiftnessandslowness;for
thisrequiresamoreampleconsideration;butheadds,thatthereisa
differentapocatastasisofdifferentplanets,andofsomeslower,butof
othersmoreswift;theswiftnessandslowness,beingproduced,either
Cfromtheanomalousnatureofthemotions,or,whichismoretrue,from
thestars*beingallofthemmovedwithequalcelerity,butonecircle
havingtoanotheragreaterratio,thanonetimetoanother.
Inshort,thusmuchoughttobeknownconcerningthemotionofthe
stars,thattheyhavenotarollingmotionaloneontheirspheres.For
thismotionisforeigntosphericalbodies.Nordotheyaloneremain
fixed.Forhowwouldtheybeanylongerofacirculatingnature?But
theycirculateabouttheircentres,imitatingtheuniverse,accordingto
theopinionofPlato;withoutbeingatallinwantofthehypotheses
employedbyastronomers,asIhavebeforeobserved.ForifPlatothinks

thatthefixedstarsarethusmoved,throughanimitationoftheuniverse,
muchmorewillhegrantthatthosestarswhichareallottedthe
governmentoftheuniverse,andaleadingdignity,imitatethewhole
world.Thesetherefore,aremovedabouttheircentres;butthespheres
inwhichtheyarecontained,andwhichareasitweremovingrulers,
3,77convolvethemeitherswifter,orslower.ExceptthatPlatogivestothem
Damorevariousmotion,becausetheyaremediabetweenthingsthat
proceedinarightline,andthingsthatbythemselvesarealonemoved
inacircle,andmoveseachofthemaboutitscentre,andthroughits
propersphere,soastobecomeelevated,andneartheearth,andto
revolveaboutthenorthernandsouthernparts;bywhichmotionsthey
areinferiortothefixedstars,thoughtheyareotherwiseallotteda
liberateddignityandpower.
39ab"Butfromthelationofthecircleofthesame,theorbswhich
comprehend,appearthroughthecirculationofthosethatmovemore
tForarepuvhere,readaarpuv.
slowly,tobecomprehended.Forallthecirclesofthemrevolvewitha
spiralmotion,becauseatoneandthesametimetheyaremovedintwo
contrarydirections;andinconsequenceofthis,thespherewhichhasthe
slowestrevolution,isnearesttothattowhichitscourseisretrograde,
andwhichistheswiftestofallthespheres."
Circulation,aswehavefrequentlyobserved,beingtwofold,onefrom
theeasttothewest,buttheotherfromthewesttotheeast,hewho
understandsboththesecirculations,willknowwhatisthecommon,and
whatthepeculiarmotionofthestars,andwhichofthemaremoved
swifter,andwhichmoreslow.Forhewilllooktotheirpeculiar
motions,andwillknowthatthoseareswifterwhichareinconsequentia;
Eandthus,hewillnotadmitthatSaturnisswifterthantheMoon,buthe
willseethattheMoonismoreeastern,andthatSaturnis
comprehended,buttheMooncomprehends.Buthewhofancies,that
thereisonlyonesimplemotionofallthestars,whichisfromeastto
west,whenheseesthatSaturnandtheMoon,areatonetimetogether,
butthatatanothertimeSaturnismorewestern,ashavingmovedtoa
greaterextent,willsaythattheMooniscomprehendedbySaturn,viz.
theswifterbytheslower.Thecausehoweverofthiserror,arisesfrom
alonelookingtotheperiodofthecircleofthesame,whichpossesses
muchpowerandstrength,andnotconsideringthepeculiarmotionsof
3,78theplanets,norperceivingthattheydonotmaketheirtransitionin
antecedentia,butinconsequentia.Forassertingthisalso,theAthenian
guestorstrangerblamesthemultitudeandthosewhoareignorantof
astronomy.*"Foritisdisgraceful,"sayshe,"ifwesurveyastadium,

anddonotknowwhichoftheracersrunsswifter,andwhichslower;
andhemustbeconsideredasabsurd,whofanciesthattheswifteristhe
slowercourse.Butitismuchmoredisgracefulforthosewhoperceive
trulyOlympicraces,nottoknowtheswifterandslowerperiod,
throughignoranceofastronomy."Forthebodiesthatrevolvewiththe
greatestcelerity,appeartobecomprehendedbythosethatrevolvemore
Fslowly,thoughtheyinrealitywillbeseentocomprehend,bythosewho
areabletolooktotheirpropermotion.Butthelationofthecircleof
thesame,vanquishingthebodywhichisnearesttoit,causesittoappear
mostrapidinitsmotion.Thathowever,isnearesttoit,whichisthe
leastdistantfromit.Forlet,ifitshouldsohappen,theMoonand
SaturnbeneartheCorLeonis,orheartoftheLion;thentheMoon
beingmovedwithitspeculiarmotion,willdepartfromthisfixedstar;
tcf.LawsVII,822b.
butSaturnformanynightswillbeseenaboutthesameplace.The
263Aastronomertherefore,knowsthattheMoondepartsfromthisstarmore
rapidly,onaccountofthemotionoftheCorLeonisinconsequentia.
Buthewhoisignorantofastronomy,willfancythattheMoonand
Saturnbeingmovedwiththeuniversetowardsthesameparts,donot
maketheirapocatastasesafterthesamemanner;butthattheone,as
swifter,arrivesatthewestbeforetheother;butthattheotherasslower,
arrivesatamorewesternpart.Thistherefore,wouldbetheconclusion
accordingtotheopinionofthemultitude.Thismayhowever,happen
tobetrue,ImeanthatSaturnistheswifter;if,aswehavebefore
observed,theratioofthecircleofSaturn,tothecircleoftheMoon,is
greaterthantheratiooftheapocatastasisofonetimetothatofthe
other.Forthebodywhichisnearertothesphereofthefixedstars,will
beswifter,forthebeforementionedreasons.
Butwhatisthemeaningoftheassertion,thattheplanets"revolvewith
aspiralmotion,becauseatoneandthesametimetheyaremovedintwo
contrarydirections?"Andhowarewetoadmitofcontrarietyina
circularmotion?Foreachoftheplanetsbeingmovedwithtwolocal
3,79motions,isnotthecauseofthespiralmotion;butthisarisesfromtheir
beingmovedintheobliquecircle[i.e.inthezodiac]towardsthe
Bequinoctial.Thus,ifsomeonesupposesthattheSunismovedwiththe
universetowardstheequinoctial,thecauseofthiswillnotbeaspiral
motion,thoughthereisananticirculation.Normustitbesimply
admittedthatthemotionwhichiscontrarytoacircularmotion,is
anothermotion[i.e.isamotionofadifferentkind].Formanybeautiful
argumentshavebeenurgedagainstthisopinion.Maynotthereforethe
words,movedatthesametimeintwocontrarydirectionsmean,thatthey
arenotonlymovedatoneandthesametimetotheeastandwest,but

alsothattheybecomebothaccordingtobreadth,andaccordingto
depth,nearerto,ormoreremotefromtheearth,andmorenorthern,or
moresouthern?Forthesetwomotions,makeaspiral,inconjunction
withthelationoftheuniverse.Thespirallikewise,isadaptedtothe
planets,whicharemediabetweenthefixedstars,andsublunarybodies;
theformerbeingmovedaccordingtoacirclealone,andthelatter,in
rightlines.Justagain,asitisnaturaltotheplanetsbeingmedia,tobe
movedbothanomalouslyandequably,accordingtolength,breadth,and
depth;inorderthattheymayhavetheparadigmsofthenaturesthatare
ailvariouslymovedposteriortothemselves,andmayimitatethrough
circulationtheuniformsubsistenceofthenaturespriortothem.These
thingstherefore,aremanifesttoeveryone.
CItishowever,notatallwonderful,thatcontrarietyshouldexistinthe
heavenspriortothecontrarietiesintherevolutionofthecircleofthe
different;sinceinthegeneraofbeingthereissaidtobeacontrarietyof
samenessanddifference,motionandpermanency,andintheprinciples
themselvesofthese,boundandinfinity.Forthesearecontraries,
becauseintheterminationsofthem,thereisacertaincontestand
dissention,thoughtheyalwayspossessthepowerofactingin
conjunctionwitheachother.Itisbynomeanswonderfultherefore,
thatthereshouldalsobeintheheavens,acontrarietyofthesemotions.
Forthosecontrariesarenotnowassumed,whicharehostileto,and
corruptiveofeachother;forthesearematerialandpartiblenatures;but
simplythose,whichareeffectiveofcontraries,andthosewhicharemost
3,80distantfromeachother.Forthisalsoisacertainmodeofcontrariety
innature;since,thattheapparentmotionoftheheavenlybodiesisone
thing,andtheirtruemotionanother,indicatesthepresubsistencethere
ofnonbeing,anditscomplicationwithbeing.Thefigureofthespiral
Dlikewise,isnovain,fortuitousthing,butgivescompletiontothemedia
betweenbodiesthatmoveinrightlines,andthosethataremovedina
circle.'Forthecirclealone,aswehavesaid,isintheinerraticsphere,
buttherightlineingeneration.Andthespiralisintheplanetary
region,ashavingacomixtureoftheperipheryandtherightline.The
motionsalsoaccordingtobreadthandaccordingtodepth,arethe
proximatecausesandparadigmsofthemotionsinthesublunaryregion,
viz.oftheupwardanddownward,*andtheobliquemotions.Perhaps
likewise,thetheurgist[Julian]incelebratingtimeasofaspiralform,*
andasbothyoungandold,directedhisattentiontothis,conceivingthat
thetemporalperiods,wereespeciallytobeknownthroughthemotion
oftheplanets.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.ButPlato
addsinthenextplaceasfollows:
39b"Andthatthesecirclesmightpossessacertainconspicuousmeasureof
slownessandswiftnesswithreferencetoeachother,andthatthemotion

oftheeightcirculationsmightbemanifest,thedivinityenkindleda
light,whichwenowdenominatetheSuninthesecondrevolutionfrom
theearth,inorderthattheheaven[i.e.theworld]mightinthemost
eminentdegreebecomeuniversallyapparent,andthatsuchanimals
mightparticipateofnumberasareadaptedtoitsparticipation,receiving
numericalinformationfromthecirculationofthesameandthesimilar."
fcf.244Esupra.
%cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.36(Kroll)
EPlatoheredeliverstheonerulingcauseofthegenerationofvisible
3,81time.ForastheDemiurgusconstitutedinvisibletime,sotheSun
producesthetimewhichisvisible,andwhichmeasuresthemotionof
bodies.Forthroughlight,itleadsintovisibilityeverytemporalinterval,
boundsallperiods,andexhibitsthemeasuresoftherestitutionsofthings
totheirpristinestate.DeservedlythereforeistheSunaconspicuous
measure,asespeciallyunfoldingtheprogression*oftimeaccordingto
number,intotheuniverse.Forithasamoreaccurateperiodthanthat
ofthefiveplanets,itsmotionsbeinglessanomalousthantheirs;andalso
thanthatoftheMoon,byalwaysterminatingatthesamepointits
progressionstothenorthandthesouth.Butifithasamoreaccurate
period,itisdeservedlyameasureofmeasures,andfromitselfbounds*
theperiodicmeasuresoftheotherplanets,andtheswiftnessoftheir
motionswithreferencetoeachother.Italsoinagreaterdegreeimitates
theperpetualpermanencyofeternity,byalwaysrevolvingafterthesame
manner.Inthiswaytherefore,itdiffersfromtheplanets.
Afteranothermannerlikewise,theSunisamoremanifestmeasure
thanthemeasureoftheinerraticsphere.Forthoughthisspherehasa
Fcertainappropriatemeasure,aproperinterval,andoneimmutable
numberofitspeculiarmotion,yetthesolarlightcausesthismeasureand
alltheevolutionofapparenttimetobemanifestandknown.Hence
Platosays,"Inorderthattheremightbeacertainconspicuousmeasure."
Forthoughthereisacertainmeasureintheotherplanets,yetitisnot
clearandmanifest.Butthesununfoldsintolightbothotherintelligibles
andtime.Youmustnothoweveronthisaccountsaythatthesolar
lightwasgeneratedforthesakeofmeasurement.Forhowisitpossible
264Athatwholesshouldsubsistforthesakeofparts;governingnaturesfor
thesakeofthegoverned;andperpetualforthesakeofcorruptible
natures?Butweshouldrathersaythatlightpossessinganevolving
powerunfoldstotaltime,andcallsforthitssupermundanemonad,and
onemeasureintothemeasurementoftheperiodsofbodies.Andthis
makestimetobe,asitwere,sensible.HenceitisthelightoftheSun
whichcauseseverythingthatismovedtohaveaclearandmanifest
measure.Andthisindeedisitswholegood.Afterwholes,however,it

likewisebenefitspartsinasecondarydegree.Foritimpartsthe
3,82generationofnumberandmeasuretothenatureswhichareadaptedto
participateofthese.Forirrationalbeingsindeedaredestituteofthese;
tForirepiodovhere,itisnecessarytoreadnrpoobov.
tForyvupifavhere,itisnecessarytoreadopifei.
butthegeneraofdaemons,whofollowtheperiodsoftheGodsandmen,
becomepartakersofthem.Thesupplyofgoodthereforethroughthe
solarlight,beginningsupernallyfromwholesdescendsasfarastoparts.
Andifbeginningfromvisiblenatures,youarewillingtospeakofsuch
asareinvisible,thelightoftheSungivessplendourtothewholeworld,
causesacorporealformednaturetobedivine,andwhollyfilledthrough
Bthewholeofitselfwithlife.Butitleadssoulsthroughundefiledlight,
impartstothemapureandelevatingpower,andgovernstheworldby
itsrays.*Anditlikewisefillssoulswithempyreanfruits.Fortheorder
oftheSunissupernallyderivedfromsupermundanenatures.Hence
Platodoesnotherefabricatethesolarlight,butsaysthattheDemiurgus
enkindledit,asgivingsubsistencefromhisownessencetothissphere,
andemittingfromthesolarfountainalifeextendedintointerval,and
continuallyrenewed.Andthisalsoisassertedbytheologistsconcerningthe
supermundanefirmaments.
Onthisaccount,itappearstomethatPlatodeliversatwofold
generationoftheSun;oneindeed,inconjunctionwiththeseven
governorsoftheworld,whenhefashionsthebodiesofthem,andinserts
themincirculations;buttheotheraccordingtotheenkindlingoflight,
throughwhichheimpartstotheSunsupermundanepower.Foritis
onethingtogeneratethebulkoftheSunitselfbyitself,andanotherin
conjunctionwitharulingcharacteristic,throughwhichtheSuniscalled
thekingofeveryvisiblenature,andisestablishedanalogoustotheone
Cfountainofgood.Forasthisfountain,beingbetterthantheintelligible
essence,illuminatesbothintellectandtheintelligible,thusalsothesun
beingbetterthanavisiblenature,illuminateboththatwhichisvisible
andsight.ButiftheSunisbeyondavisibleessence,*itwillhavea
supermundanenature.Fortheworldisvisibleandtangible,andhasa
body.Hence,wemustsurveytheSuninatwofoldrespect;5viz.asone
3,83ofthesevenplanets,andastheleaderofwholes;andasmundaneand
supermundane,accordingtothelatterofwhichhesplendidlyemitsa
divinelight.ForinthesamemannerasTheGoodluminouslyemits
truthwhichdeifiestheintelligibleandintellectualorder;asPhanesin
Orpheussendsforthintelligiblelight0whichfillswithintelligenceall
theintellectualGods;andasJupiterenkindlesanintellectualand
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.130.

|Tim.31b.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.VI,1043ff.
Orphicfr.58.
demiurgiclightinallthesupermundaneGods;thusalsotheSun
illuminateseverythingvisiblethroughthisundefiledlight.The
illuminatingcausetooisalwaysinanordersuperiortotheilluminated
natures.ForneitherisTheGoodintelligible,norPhanesintellectual,nor
Jupitersupermundane.Inconsequenceofthisreasoningtherefore,the
Sunbeingsupermundaneemitsthefountainsoflight.Andaccordingto
themostmysticdoctrines,thewholenessoftheSunisinthe
supermundaneorders;forinthemthereisasolarworld,andatotal
Dlight,astheChaldeanoracles*assert,andwhichIampersuadedistrue.
Andthusmuchconcerningthesethings.
Itisrequisitehowevertoreturntothewordsofthetext,andto
explainthemasfollows:Thewordsthen,"inorderthattheremightbe
ameasure,"donotsignifyadevisedmeasure,butthatwhichitself
measuresanddefinescorporealmotions,andgeneratesvisibletime.The
wordsalso,"thatthemotionoftheeightcirculationsmightbemanifest,"
refertothismeasure,whichpassesthrough,andmeasuresthemeasures
pertainingtothepathsoftheeightcirculations.Forwesaythatthe
commonapocatastasisoftheeightrevolutionsconsistsofsomanyyears.
Butweobtainaknowledgeofthesolaryearthroughlight.Forthrough
thisweknowwhatportionofthezodiactheSunoccupies,whatportion
heleaves,andtowhatpartofitheproceeds.Hencealso,weknowby
thetransitionoflight,thequantityofthetime,inwhichthesunpasses
throughhispropercircle,andperformshisrevolution,andinhowmany
yearsalltheperiodsoftheeightcirclesarecompleted.Bythislikewise,
weareabletomeasurethesolarperiod,andthecommonperiodofthe
3,84othercirculations,whichisthesamethingastomeasuretheirjoint
apocatastasis.Butthewords,"thedivinityenkindledalight,"exhibitsto
usthenontemporalhypostasisoflight,proceedingfromaninvisible
cause,andfromthedemiurgicessence.Again,thewords,"inorderthat
theheaven,orworldmightinthemosteminentdegreebecomeuniversally
apparent,"haveacauseofthefollowingkind.Itisnecessarythatthe
wholeworldshouldasmuchaspossiblebefilledwiththesolarlight.
Butthemassoftheearthisnaturallydark.Hence,itisrequisitethat
theSunshouldbenearertotheearth,inorderthatitmayrelieveits
darkness.Forthatwhichisnearerilluminatesmoreabundantly.And
tAccordingtotheChaldaicdogmasasexplainedbyPsellus,thereareseven
corporealworlds,oneempyreanandthefirst;afterthisthreeethereal;andthenthree
materialworlds,viz.theinerraticsphere,thesevenplanetaryspheres,andthe
sublunaryregion.Theyalsoassertthattherearetwosolarworlds;onewhichis

subservienttotheetherealprofundity;theotherzonaic,beingoneofthesevenspheres.
[Fr.205&57]
whenthatwhichilluminatesisgreaterthanthethingilluminated,itis
ablemorelargelytoimpartitslight.Butthewords,"inthemost
eminentdegree,"signifythattheSunilluminatesalltheworldasmuchas
possible.Forheisnotableatoncetoilluminatethewholeearth;but
partially,byhiscircularmotion.Intheleasttimehowever,heatonce
illuminatesthewholeearth,accordingtotheequinoctialcircle.For
whenherisesandsets,givinglighttomorethanhalftheearth,hein
thisonecirculationilluminatesthewholeearth.Butifbytheword
heaven,weunderstandthatwhichismovedinacircle,neitherdoesthe
FSunatonceilluminatethewholeofthis.Fortherearealsoshadows
there,onaccountoftheobumbrations*ofthestarsandtheMoon.
Nothinghowever,excepttheSun,isfreefromshadowintheworld,as
neitherisanythingmundanewithoutmatter.Butsupermundane
naturesalone,arewithoutshadow,andimmaterial.HencetheSunis
trulyshadowless,andunreceptiveofgeneration,allotherbodies
receivingatdifferenttimes,differentilluminativeadditions.
Whytherefore,itmaybesaid,didnotthedivinityenkindlealightin
thefirstofthecirculationsfromtheearth?Wereply,becausethefulgid
splendouroftheSunisofitselfincommensurabletogeneration.Butthe
265AMoonbeingamediumbetweenthetwo,andfirstreceivingthelightof
theSun,makesittobecommensuratetotherealmsofgeneration.For
theMoon,asAristotlesays,isasitwerealessSun.*Itisnecessary
however,thatbeingproximatelyabovegeneration,itshouldnotbethe
mostsplendidandthemostluminousofbodies.Foritisnotlawfulthat
athingofthiskindshouldapproximatetothatwhichisobscureand
dark,butthatwhichissecondarilyfulgid;andwhichhasalways
3,85indeed,itsownproperlight,butintheparticipationofasuperiorlight,
exhibitsmutation,andthisinanorderlymanner.Forthatwhichhas
arrangementandorder,ismoreexcellentthanthatwhichiswithout
order;thatthroughthismutation,itmaybetheparadigmofthevery
mutablenature,whichmatterintroducestogeneratedthings;justasthe
oppositionoftheearthintroducestheprivationoflight.Thesethings
however,admitofamoreamplediscussion.
Butthatthestars,andallheaven,receivefightfromtheSun,maybe
easilyperceived.Forthatwhichiscommoninmanythings,existsfrom
onecause,andexistsfromitinonewayasexempt,butinanotherascoarranged;
butthislattermodeofthesubsistenceofthecause,isthatin
fie.toovershadow,shade,darken,obscure.OED.
$cf.ConcerningtheGenerationofAnimalsIV,10,777b25f.

Bwhichitprimarilyparticipatesofthatoneform.Butthatprimarily
participates,inwhichthisformsubsistsprimarily,or*especially.If
therefore,lightespeciallysubsistsintheSun,thiswillbethefirstlight;
andfromthis,thelightwhichisinotherthingswillbederived.And
thusmuchforthisparticular.Wehavehowevershownthemeaningof
thewords,"thattheheaveninthemosteminentdegreebecomeuniversally
apparent."Forifbyheavenyouunderstandthatwhichrevolvesina
circle,theSundoesnotalwaysilluminatethewholeoftheMoon,but
onlyduringthetimefromtheconjunctiontothefull.Butifyou
understandbyitthewholeworld,then,aswehavesaid,theSunonly
accuratelyilluminatesthewholeearth,inoneday,whenheisinthe
equinoctialcircle,andinrisingandsetting,isdiametricallyoppositeto
theearth.Itremainstherefore,toseewhatthenumberiswhichis
producedbythelationofthesameandthesimilar,throughthe
inspectiveguardianshipofdayandnight.Thisnumberthen,isneither
intellectualnordianoe'tic,butdoxastic,affordingadocumentofthe
numberswhichpreexistinforms.Fortherearemanydifferencesin
manythingsofgeneratednumbers.Andasweknowthenumberof
invisibletime,bythedianoeticnumber,sobythatwhichisdoxastic,we
apprehendthenumberofvisibletime.
39cd"Nighttherefore,andDaywerethusgenerated,andonaccountof
Cthesetheperiodofonemostwisecirculationwaseffected.AndMonth
3,86wasproduced,whentheMoonhavingcompletedhercircle,becamein
conjunctionwiththeSun.ButYearwhentheSuninrevolvinghad
completedhiscircle.Afewonlyofmankindhowever,understandthe
periodsoftheotherstars,givenamestothem,andmeasurethemwith
relationtoeachother,regardingthenumbersadaptedtothispurpose;
sothat,asImaysay,theydonotknowthattimeisthewanderingsof
thesebodies,whichemploylationsinfiniteinmultitude,andadmirably
diversified."
Throughthegenerationoflightnightsanddayshadtheirprogression,
andthesmallestmeasureoftimeisdividedbytheseintervals.Forthe
period,sayshe,ofonemostwisecirculation,iseffectedbynightand
day;theintellectionoftheinerraticsphere,orthecircleofthesame,
beingtheonemostwisecirculation;buttheperiodofthiscircle,being
thecirculationofthatsphere.Forcirculationisanenergyandaperiod.
tForestihere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreade.Whatisinthisplace
demonstratedbyProclus,viz.thatallmundanelightisderivedfromtheSun,
completelysubvertstheramblingopinionofthemoderns,thatthefixedstarsareso
manysuns.

Theintellectionhowever,isofamoreprincipalnature;buttheperiod
Distheeffectofintellection,imitatingcirculation.Thespacethereforeof
dayandnightisthis.Bythishowever,yearsandmonthsaremeasured.
Forwemeasuregreaterbylessintervals;justasbyyears,thewhole
apocatastatictimeoftheuniverseismeasured.Itislikewiserequisiteto
observe,howthepeculiarityoftheseisamediumbetweenmonadic
forms,andtheformswhichsubsistinthemultitudeofindividuals.For
someformsareindeedinonething,yetnotalwaysinthesamething
accordingtonumber,butinmanythings.Yearhowever,andMonth,
arealwaysinonethingaccordingtonumber,onaccountofthemutual
vicissitudeofindividuals[i.e.ofthesunandmoon]inacircle.Forone
3,87monthsucceedsanother;andoneyearanother;buteachisalwaysone.
Thesethingsthereforedonotrequiremuchdiscussion.
PerhapshoweversomeonemaydoubthowPlatosays,thatNightand
Dayformedtheperiodofonemostwisecirculation.Forthisisthe
verythingforwhichAristotleaccusesPlato,viz.tocallcirculation
time;+thoughnowPlatoaddstimetotheuniversewheninmotion,as
beingsomethingdifferentfrommotion.Butifthemotionofthe
universeisdifferentfromthetimeoftheuniverse,themotionalsoof
Eeachofthebodiesthataremovedinacircle,isdifferentfromthe
periodictimeofthemotion.Thisthereforemaybetheoccasionof
doubtinthewordsbeforeus.Howlikewiseistheperiodofthe
inerraticspheretheswiftest,butthebodieswhicharenearertoitare
sloweraccordingtotheirapocatastasisthanthosethatarefartherfrom
it?Mayitnottherefore,bepropertosay,inanswertotheformer
doubt,thatperiodsignifiestwothings,atonetimemotionitself,butat
another,themeasureandconditionofmotion;justasamedimnusand
acotyle,andeachofsuchlikemeasures,aredenominatedinatwofold
respect.Hencetheperiodoftheinerraticspheremustnotnowbesaid
tobethemotionofit,butthetemporalintervalofthemotion.Mayit
notalsobesaid,thatwhenPlatocallstimethewanderingsofthe
heavenlybodies,hemeansnothingelsethanthattheperiodsoftheseare
time?Forthesearethingsnumbered.Buttime,astheyalsosay,isthat
whichisnumberedofmotion.Itisjustthereforeasifitshouldbesaid,
thoseoxenareanumberofsuchamagnitude.Forthusalsoperiodsare
time,asbeinganumberofacertainmagnitude.
Butinanswertotheseconddoubtitmaybesaid,thatPlatoassumes
theapparentapocatastasisoftheinerraticsphere,andwhichmakesthe
Fspaceofadayandnight;sincethereisanothertrueapocatastasis.For
tcf.AristotlePhysicsIV,10,218bff.
thepointwhichnowrises,doesnotriseaccordingtothesamehour

withthatwhichfollowsit,nordotheotherpointssubsistsimilarly,all
whichhowevercontributetotheapocatastasisoftheinerraticsphere.
3,88Forneitherdoallthepointsinthatsphere,andallthefixedstars,make
theirapocatastasesaccordingtothesameperiod.Itisnecessary
however,thattheyshould,ifweassumeanaccurateapocatastasis,which
takesplaceinagreatlengthoftime.Foritisevident,thatallthestars
whichareintheinerraticsphere,andaremovedbyit,andwhichhave
habitudestoeachother,andtoit,subsistdifferentlyatdifferenttimes,
266Aandtogetherwiththesethings,haveatadifferenttime,adifferentlation
towardsthecentres;andalso,thattheirapocatastasistothesamethings
ineveryrespect,iseffectedinaverygreatlengthoftime.
Moreover,someonemayalsodoubt,howPlatocallsthemeasureof
theapocatastasisofthelationoftheinerraticsphere,NightandDay.
Forthismeasureiseverywheresupernallyderived,fromtheone
intelligiblecauseoftheuniverse,andfromthefirstparadigm.ButNight
andDayareinthesublunaryregion.Inanswertothisdoubt,itmay
besaid,thatthetemporalintervalwhichisprimarilyinthecirculation
oftheinerraticsphere,andthesolarlight,areeffectiveofDayand
Night.Fromthingslasttherefore,andwhichareknowntous,the
wholemeasureisdefined.Forthisspaceofnightanddayisonething,
andthatwhichisininvisibletime,another.Theformeralsoisthe
image,andultimateterminationofthelatter.Fortherearemanyorders
ofNightandDay,intelligible,intellectual,supermundane,celestial,and
sublunary,aslikewisetheOrphictheologyteaches.*Andsomeofthese
Bindeed,arepriortothefabricationofthings;butothersare
comprehendedinit;andothersproceedfromit.Somelikewiseare
invisible,butothersarevisible:sincewithrespecttoMonthandYear
also,thosethatareinvisibleareofonekind,andwhicharemensurative,
connective,andperfectiveoftheintellectualandcorporealperiodsofthe
SunandMoon;butthosethatarevisibleareofanotherkind,whichare
theterminationandmeasureofthesolarrevolution.Thelikealsotakes
placeinotherGods.ForthereisoneinvisibleSaturniannumber,and
anothervisible;andinasimilarmanner,aninvisibleandvisibleMartial,
Jovian,andMercurialnumber.FortheMonthitself,andalsotheYear,
whichexistaccordingtoeachperiod,beingeachofthemone,and
alwaysthesame,areGodsimmovablydefiningthemeasureofmotion.
Forwhencehavetheperiodsasubsistencealwaysinvariablythesame,
3,89exceptfromacertainimmoveablecause?Whencealso,isthedifference
tFr.60.
ofapocatastasesderived,exceptfromdifferentimmoveablecauses?And
whenceproceedstheunceasing,andtheagainandagaintoinfinity,
exceptfromtheinfinitepowerswhichMonthandYearcontain?

Itmustlikewisebeadmitted,thatallthistemporalseriessubsistunder
onefirsttime,whichdefinestheperiodofadivinelygenerated[or
perpetuallycirculating]nature,*andwhichisitselftruenumber,aswe
Chavebeforeobserved.*Fromtheseinvisibleperiodshowever,wemust
conceivethevisibletobederived;andwhichproceedaccordingtothe
beingnumbered,fromtheinvisible,whichareablebothtonumberand
generatethem;allwhich,astronomybeautifullyteaches,doxastically
apprehendingthenumberoftheperiodicalapocatastasesofeach.Italso
makescomparisonsoftheratiooftheperiodstoeachother;suchfor
instanceasthattheSaturnianperiodisdoubleandonehalfbesidesof
theJovianperiod;andinasimilarmannerintheotherplanets.Forif
therearedifferentapocatastasesofthem,theyhaveadifferentratioto
eachother.Sacredrumouralsoveneratesthoseinvisibleperiods,and
whicharethecausesofthevisible;deliveringthedivinenamesofNight
andDay,andalsothecausesthatconstitute,andtheinvocations,and
selfmanifestationsofMonthandYear.Hence,theyarenottobe
surveyedsuperficially,butindivineessenceswhichthelawsofsacred
institutions,5andtheoraclesofApolloorderustoworshipandhonour,
bystatuesandsacrifices,ashistoriesinformus.Whenthesealsoare
reverenced,mankindaresuppliedwiththebenefitsarisingfromthe
periodsoftheSeasons,andoftheotherdivinitiesinasimilarmanner;
butapreternaturaldispositionofeverythingabouttheearth,isthe
consequenceoftheworshipofthesebeingneglected.0Platolikewise
intheLawsproclaimsthatalltheseareGods,viz.theSeasons,Yearsand
Months,0inthesamemannerastheStarsandtheSun;andwedonot
tcf.Rep.VIII,546b.
Xcf.244Bffsupra.
cf.Rep.VII,523cd,&524e.
"Butwewillcertainlydowhateverthinggoethforthoutofourownmouth,to
burnincensetothequeenofheaven,andtopouroutdrinkofferingsuntoher,aswe
havedone,we,andourfathers,ourkings,andourprinces,inthecitiesofJudah,and
inthestreetsofJerusalem:forthenhadweplentyofvictuals,andwerewell,andsawno
evil.Butsinceweleftofftoburnincensetothequeenofheaven,andtopourout
drinkofferingsuntoher,wehavewantedallthings,andhavebeenconsumedbythe
swordandbyfamine."Jeremiah,Chap.xliv.17,18.
ocf.LawsX,899b.
introduceanythingnew,bythinkingitpropertodirectourattention
totheinvisiblepowersofthesepriortothosethatarevisible.Andthus
muchconcerningtheseparticulars.
3,90Letushoweverreturntothetext.Platothen,mentionsNightbefore
Day,asconveyinganimageofinvisibleandintellectualmeasures.For
commonrumourarrangestheformerpriortothelatter.Henceweare

accustomedtosaythenycthemeron[orthespaceofnightandday];
becauseintheintelligiblecausesofthese,NightsubsistspriortoDay.*
270BButwithrespecttothewordsthus,andonaccountofthese,thewordthus
manifeststheproducingcauseofNightandDay,andindicatesthatitis
lightinconjunctionwiththeinerraticsphere.Andthewords,on
accountofthese,manifestthefinalcause;inorderthatthenycthemeron
maybetheconspicuousmeasureofallthecirculations.Buthe
denominatestheonemostwisecirculation,therevolutionofthecircleof
thesame,asbeinguniformandintellectual,andmostalliedtothe
permanencyandsamenessofintellect,andaspossessinguniformityfrom
theoneprincipleofthings;thewisdomofitbeingderivedfromintellect,
butitscirculationfromthepsychicalpeculiarity.Helikewiseasserts
timetobethewanderingsofthestars,notasmakingthemotionof
thesetobetime,butasconceivingthetemporalintervalstobethe
measuresofmotions.Forthenumberofthevisiblelifeofeachofthese,is
secondarytime.Buthecallsboththepeculiar,andthecommontimeof
themotionsofeach,infiniteinmultitude.Forhecoassumestheallvarious
circulationsandconfigurationsofthem.Andhesaysthatthey
Careadmirablydiversified,onaccountoftheirdances,theiroppositions
andconjunctions,theirharmoniousmotion,andtheorderoftheir
apocatastases.Forsucharethewanderingsofthecelestialbodies,the
wholeofthembeinginerraticallyerratic,existingalwaysintheend,and
hasteningtooneend.
39d"Atthesametimehowever,itisnolesspossibletoconceive,thatthe
3,91perfectnumberoftimewillthenaccomplishaperfectyear,*whenthe
celeritiesofalltheeightperiodsbeingterminatedwithreferencetoeach
t[cf.Hermias,ScholiumonPhaedrus,89.]Intheoriginalthepartwhichshould
immediatelyfollowthewordsirpoTi)qij/iepacatWKTtqvvtarr\aciv,p.266,isbya
strangeconfusion,connectedwiththelatterpartofthecommentaryonthefollowing
text,andbeginsatthewordsTO6eOVTOIQmi5uxravra1.xi.p.270.Theorderofthe
textlikewise,inp.266,isperverted,thecommentaryonwhichbeginningatthewords
noaTjrpiTTj1.xxxv,isimperfect.
Xcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,16ff;&386ff.
other,shallhaveasummit,astheyaremeasuredbythecircleofthat
whichsubsistsaccordingtothesameandthesimilar."
Afterthedemiurgicgenerationofthespheres,theperiodoftheseven
bodies,theanimationofthem,andtheorderwhichthefatherinserted
inthem,andalsoafterthevariousmotionsofthem,thetemporal
measuresoftheirseveralperiods,andthedifferencesoftheir
apocatastases;thediscussionproceedstothemonadofthetemporal

multitude,andtotheonenumberaccordingtowhichallmotionis
measured,underwhichallothermeasuresarecomprehended,and
accordingtowhichallthelifeoftheworld,theallvariousevolutionof
bodies,andthewholeofthepsychicallife,aredefined,conformablyto
Danallperfectperiod.Thisperiodhowever,oughtnottobesurveyed
doxastically,byaddingmyriadstomyriadsofyears.Forthussomeare
accustomedtospeakofit,assumingtheaccurateapocatastasisofthe
Moon,andinasimilarmanneroftheSun,andthenaddingtheoneto
theother,andafterwardsaddingtothese,theapocatastasesofMercury,
Venus,Mars,Jupiter,andSaturn;andinthelastplace,theapocatastasis
oftheinerraticsphere,totheonecommonapocatastasisoftheplanets.
Afterthismannerthereforetheyspeak,iftheapocatastatictimes
comparedwitheachotherareprimary.Butiftheyarenotprimary,
thenassumingacommonmeasure,theyseeaccordingtowhatnumbers
thismeasureseachofthegivenapocatastatictimes,andbythenumber
accordingtowhichitmeasuresthelessofthesetimestheymultiplythe
3,92greater,butbythenumberaccordingtowhichitmeasuresthegreater,
theymultiplytheless;andthustheyhavefrombothmultiplicationsthe
commontimeoftheapocatastasisofboth,andwhichalsoismeasured
byboth.
Itisnotproperhowever,tosurveymerelyandaloneafterthis
Emanner,thewholemundanetime,buttosurveyscientificallyby
intellect,andthediscursiveenergiesofreason,onenumber,oneevolved
power,andoneperfectiveprogression,extendingtoallthelifeofthe
world;andthisproceedingtotheend,returningtothebeginning,and
convergingtoitself;andonthisaccountmakingthemeasuredmotion
tobecircular.Forasthemonadboundstheinfinityofnumber,and
antecedentlycomprehendstheindefinitenessoftheduad,thusalsotime
measuresthewholemotion,andconvertstheendofittothebeginning.
Hencealsoitiscalledanumber,andperfect.Foramonthisanumber,
andlikewiseayear,butnotaperfectnumber:fortheyarepartsofother
numbers.Butthetimeoftheperiodoftheuniverseisperfect,because
itisnotapartofanyperiod,butisawhole,inorderthatitmayimitate
eternity.Foreternityisprimarilyawholeness.Itintroduceshowever,
tobeingsatonceallitswholeness;buttimewithextension.Forthe
temporalwholenessisanevolutionofthewholenesswhichabides
conglomeratedineternity.Thewholemundanetimetherefore,
Fmeasurestheonelifeoftheuniverse,accordingtowhichallthecelerities
areterminatedofthecelestialandsublunarycircles.Forinthesealso,
thereareperiods,whichhaveforthesummitoftheirapocatastasisthe
lationofthecircleofthesame.Fortheyarereferredtothisastotheir
principle,becauseitisthemostsimpleofall.Fortheapocatastasesare
surveyedwithreferencetothepointsofit.Thusforinstance,allof
themmaketheirapocatastasisabouttheequinoctialpoint,*oraboutthe
summertropic;orthoughthejointapocatastasisshouldnotbe

consideredtobeaccordingtothesamepoint,butwithreferencetothe
3,93same,whenforinstance,rising,orculminating,yetallofthemwillhave
271Awithreferencetoit,afigureofsuchakind.Fornowthepresentorder
isentirelyacertainapocatastasisofalltheheavenlybodies,yetthe
configurationisnotseenaboutthesame,butwithreferencetothesame
point.Oncehowever,itwasaboutthesame,andaccordingtoone
certainpoint;atwhichifitshouldagaintakeplace,thewholeoftime
willhaveanend.*Onecertainapocatastasislikewise,seemstohave
beenmentioned.Henceitissaid,thatCanceristhehoroscopeofthe
world,andthisyeariscalledCynic,orpertainingtothedog,because
amongtheconstellations,thesplendidstaroftheDogrisestogether
withCancer.Ifthereforetheplanetsshouldagainmeetinthesame
pointofCancer,thisconcurrencewillbeoneperiodoftheuniverse.If
however,theapocatastasistakesplaceinCancerabouttheequinoctial
point,thatalsowhichisfromthesummertropic,willbedirected
towardsthesummertropic,andthenumberoftheonewillbeequalto
thenumberoftheother,andthetimeoftheone,tothetimeofthe
other.Foreachofthemisoneperiod,andisdefinedbyquantity,on
accountoftheorderofthebodiesthataremoved.Andthusmuch
concerningtheonetimeoftheuniverse,whichmeasuresallcorporeal
Bmotions;inthesamemannerastheworldmeasurespsychical,and
eternityintellectuallives.Itislikewiseevidentfromwhathasbeensaid,
whatthisonetimeis,whenceitderivesitssubsistence,andwhatbenefit
itaffordstotheuniverse.Inadditionhowever,towhathasbeensaid,
itmustbeobserved,thatthisperfectnumberdiffersfromthat
fForloopepucovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadlarjptpivov.Itmustalsobe
observed,thattherearetwoequinoctialpoints,orsigns,andtheseareAriesandLibra.
$cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,3867.
mentionedintheRepublic,1whichcomprehendstheperiodofevery
divinelygeneratednature;sinceitisofamorepartialnature,andis
apocatastaticoftheeightperiodsalone.Fortheotherperfectnumber
comprehendsthepeculiarmotionsofthefixedstars,andinshort,ofall
thedivinegenerathataremovedintheheavens,whethervisiblyor
invisibly,andalsoofthecelestialgeneraposteriortotheGods,andof
3,94thelongerorshorterperiodsofsublunarynatures,togetherwiththe
periodsoffertilityandsterility.Hencelikewise,itisthelordofthe
periodofthehumanrace.
39de"Conformablythereforeto,andforthesakeofthesethings,suchof
thestarsasproceedingthroughtheheavenshaverevolutions,were
generated,inorderthatthisuniversemightbemostsimilartoperfect
andintelligibleanimal,throughtheimitationofaneternalnature.And
otherformsindeed,werefabricated,asfarastothegenerationoftime,

accordingtothesimilitudeofthattowhichtheywereassimilated."
CThattheworldbecamemoreperfectthroughthegenerationoftime,
imitatingallperfectanimalaccordingtotheeternal,andthatgeneration
deriveditssubsistencethroughthelationofthesevencosmocrators;for
fromthislation,thevarietyaccordingtogeneration,wasunfoldedinto
light;itisevidentfromwhathasbeenbeforesaid.Thatwhichremains
thereforeofPlato'sspeculationsconcerningtime,deservestobeassumed,
viz.thattimeproceedsanalogoustosoul,beingatonceeternaland
generated.Henceassoulbelongstoeternalbeings,andisthebestof
generatednatures;solikewisetimeisbotheternalandgenerated;sofar
asitiscomingledwithsoulsandbodies,andsofarasitproceedsand
extendsthroughallsecondarybeings.Foritisnumberproceedingand
acircle;butitselfbyitself,isbothamonadandacentre.Forthe
Demiurgusproducedamediumofthiskind,betweenthings
immoveable,andthingsthataremoved,accordingtoasimilitudeto
himself.Forhealsoisamediumbetweentheabidingandproceeding
Gods,*accordingtoanassimilationtotheparadigm;becausethisalso
isamediumbetweentheintelligibleandintellectualGods,5between
tcf.Rep.VIII,546b.
Xviz.TheDemiurgusisamediumbetweentheintelligibleGods,whoare
characterizedbypermanency,andthesupermundaneGods,whoarecharacterizedby
proceeding;justasthemundaneGodsarecharacterizedbyregression.Seemy
translationofProclusoftheTheologyofPlato.
ie.Betweentheintelligibletriadsofbeingitselfandlifeitself,andtheintellectual
order.
Deternityandnumber,*andtheeternalandperpetualGods.}Forit
participatesofeternity,butitprimarilyparticipates,andisthemonad
ofintelligibleanimals.Hencealso,theworldbeinggeneratedperpetual
throughthewholeoftime,wasperfectlyassimilatedtoitsparadigm.
Forasitsparadigmreceivedthewholegiftofeternity;sinceeverything
3,95whichprimarilyparticipatesofacertainthingreceivesthewholeofits
gift;thusalsotheworldlivesthroughthewholeoftime,andlives
accordingtothewholeperfectnumberofit.Hencelikewise,itis
perpetual.Foreverythingwhichisabletoreceivethewholeevolution
oftime,isindestructible.Butthewholeoftimeistheperfectnumber
oftheapocatastasisoftheuniverse,aswehavefrequentlyobserved.
Fartherstill,thisalsoistobeassumedfromwhathasbeenbeforesaid,
thatPlatowasveryfarfromconceivingtimetobeathingofsucha
kindastheStoics,5andalsomanyofthePeripateticsapprehendeditto
be.Fortheformersupposedittobeamereconceptionofthemind,
evanescent,andmostproximatetononentity.Fortimewiththem,was
oneoftheclearlysignificant0thingswhichtheydespised,as
inefficacious,ashavingnorealbeing,andexistinginmereconceptions

alone.Butthelatterassertthatitisanaccidentofmotion.Wemayask
Ehowever,ofwhatmotion?Isitanaccidentofcontinuedmotion?But
timeiseverywhere.Andmotionisinthingswhicharemoved.Isit
thenanaccidentofallmotion?Therearethereforemanytimes.And
whatisthemonadofthem,andhowistimethatwhichisnumberedof
motion?Foritwilltrulysubsistinhabitude,andtimewillbe
somethingrelative,andthatwhichnumbersnotexisting,neitherwill
timeexist.Platothereforeperceivingthatalltheseassertionsare
unworthythetheoryconcerningtime,givestotimeasubsistence
supernallyfromtheintelligibleandintellectualGods,itbeinga
supermundaneintellect,connectedlycontainingallpsychicallife,
measuringthepsychicalandcorporealperiods,andperfectingthemotion
ofthemwhichproceedsintoextension.Fromthismonadlikewise,he
constitutesdifferenttimes,accordingtothetriadandheptad,0and
tviz.Betweenthemiddletriadoftheintelligibleorder;forinthiseternityfirst
subsists,andthesummitoftheintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectualorder.
Xie.BetweentheGodspriortoanimalitself,andalltheGodsthatsubsistbetween
itandtheDemiurgus.
SSVFII,521.cf.TheHellenisticPhilosophers,Long&Sedley,CUP1992.
Fortvou)y.(XTUVinthisplace,IreadeoTirnxaruv.
Oie.Triad:Accordingtothepast,thepresent,andthefuture.Heptad:According
tothesevenplanets.
producesalltheseabouttheonetime,whichmeasurestheonelifeofthe
universe.Healsogivestotimesogreatapower,astomaketheworld
throughitmoresimilartoitsparadigm.Andforthesake*ofthe
generationofthesetimes,heproducestheSun,andtheother
Fcosmocrators,ascallingforthinvisibletime,unfoldingitintolight,
distributingitintoparts,anddividingit,andperpetuallyconvolvingit
withinvariablesameness.
3,96Sincehowever,hesaysthattheplanetsproceedingthroughtheheavens
haverevolutions,letusseewhetherhedoesnotconceivethemotionof
thesetobevarious:sincetheymoveabouttheirowncentres,and
revolvethroughtheheavens,accordingtolength,breadth,anddepth,
viz.throughtheirownspheres,whicharepartsoftheheavens,andgive
completiontotheuniverse.Forhedoesnotsaythattheyaremoved
272Aintheheavens,asiftheyoccupiedthesameplace,butthroughthe
heavens,asbeingmovedthrougharches,*andwhollytransferred
accordingtoplace;andinadditiontothis,thattheyalwaysrevolve
abouttheirowncentres,inorderthattheymayhaveacertainmixed
motion;justastheyaremediabetweenthefixedstars,whichalways
occupythesameplace,andsublunarynatures,whicharenotmoved
aboutacertainmiddle.Itisnowthereforeevident,thataccordingto

Plato,allthespheresareconcentric,5andhavethesamecentrewiththe
universe.Buttheapparentinequabilityofthemotionsoftheseven
planets,arisesfromtheirrevolutions,astheyailvariouslychangetheir
motion,throughincreasinganddiminishing,advancing,beingelevated,
andapproximatingtotheearth;andthiswithoutthecontrivanceof
epicycles.ForPlatomakesnomentionofthese,andnatureeverywhere
requiresamedium.Themediumhowever,betweenallequableand
orderlynatures,andthosethatareanomalousanddisorderly,isthat
Bwhichisanomalousandorderly;suchasistheformofthemotionof
theplanets,whichalternatelyexhibitsaninequabilityaccordingtoa
certainorderperpetuallythesame,ofswiftnessandslowness,andofa
revolutiontothesamethings,ortocontraries.Butifsomehave
employedcertainepicycles,0orequableeccentrics,hypothetically
introducingmotions,inorderthattheymightbeabletodiscoverbythe
tInsteadoftva,Kaiinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadtvtKa.
tcf.Phaedrus247b.
cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,381.
cf.258C,supra;&107Csupra;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,227ff.
compositionofthese,thenumbersofthemotionsoftheepicycles,
eccentrics,andofthestarswhicharemovedinthem,theconceptionis
beautiful,andadaptedtorationalsouls,butisforeignfromthescopeof
thenatureofwholes,towhichalonePlatodirectedhisattention.
39e"Butastheuniversedidnotyetcomprehendallanimalsgenerated
3,97withinitself,inthisrespectitstillsubsisteddissimilarly.Itsartificer
thereforesuppliedthisdefect,byimpressingitwithforms,accordingto
thenatureofitsparadigm."
Thatalwaysassimilatingtheworldtoanimalitself,Platomakes
mentionofitthrice,causingtheuniversetobeonlybegotten,rendering
itperfectlyperpetual,andfabricatingitallperfect,isevident,andisso
veryproperly.Foranimalitselfischaracterizedbythesethreethings,
theonlybegotten,theeternal,andtheallperfect.Forbeingallottedthe
Cthirdorderinintelligibles,ithastheonlybegottenfromthefirst[orthe
summitofthisorder]accordingtowhichtheonebeingsubsists;butthe
eternalfromthesecond,accordingtowhicheternitysubsists;andithas
theallperfectfromitself.Itisnecessaryhowevertosurveynot
negligentlywhatthisallperfectnessis.Wholenesstherefore,aswehave
frequentlyobservedbeingtriple,andoriginatingsupernallyfrom
intelligibles,itisnecessarythatthisworldbeingtheimageofthemost
beautifulofintelligibles,shouldsubsistaccordingtoeachofthese
wholenesses;accordingtothefirstindeed,whichispriortoparts,
accordingtothesecondalso,whichisfromparts;andthroughthis

accordingtotheremainingwholeness[whichisinapart].The
Demiurgustherefore,hadpriortothisadornedtheworld,accordingto
thefirstformofwholeness;forhemadeittobeananimalpossessing
soulandintellect,adorningthatwhichwasmovedinaconfusedand
disorderlymanner,andcausingittoreceiveorder,inconsequenceofthe
accessionofsoul,intellect,anddivineunion.Butthediscussion
proceeding,helikewisegavetoitthesecondwholenesswhichconsists
ofparts,constitutingthetwofoldcirculations,bindingtheelements
throughanalogy,*andarrangingthecirclesofthesoul,accordingtothe
Dmonad,triad,tetrad,andheptad.Forofallthesetheuniverseconsists
asofparts;becausethesegivecompletiontotheuniverseastheuniverse
[ortheall].Andinthewordsbeforeus,hegivestoitthethirdform
ofwholeness.Foritisnecessarythateachpartofitshouldbecomea
whole,andthatitshouldhaveallthingsappropriatelyinitself;viz.the
tInsteadof5iaXoyiac,inthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoread5iavaXoyiag.
3,98heavenscelestially,theairaerially,andtheearthterrestrially.Forthis
isthewholeinapart,andthroughthis,itisinagreaterdegree
assimilatedtoitsparadigm,whichiscomprehensiveofallanimals.For
thatisbothamonadandnumber.Anditisnecessarythattheworld
shouldcontainallanimalsinitself,inorderthatitmaybecomeperfectly
similartotheallnessofitsparadigm;bynotonlyreceivingthewhole
plenitudesoftheworld,andsubsisting*awholeofwholes,butalso
comprehendinginitself,thepartialanimals,throughwhicheverypart
oftheworldderivesitscompletion,andallthedivine,demoniacal,and
mortalorders.Forthusthemostperfectsimilitudeoftheworldto
animalitselfwillbeeffected.Andthisisthetenthgiftimpartedbythe
Demiurgustotheworld,andisthegreatestofall.*Wedonothowever
Esay,thattheDemiurgusbroughttheworldtoasimilitudeofthe
intelligible,fromdissimilitude;forthustheimperfectwouldprecedethe
perfect,inthedemiurgicgenerationofthings;buttheorderofthe
discussiondeliverstheprecedencyinforms,andadominioncausally
antecedenttothesecondandthirdgoodswhichareimparted,5inorder
thattheworldmayasmuchaspossiblebeimpressedasbyasealwith
alltheevolvedformsofintelligibles.Sincetherefore,theparadigmwas
monadic,andcomprehensiveofallintelligibleanimals,itisnecessary
thattheworldshouldnotbealoneonlybegotten,andawholeof
wholes,butlikewisethatitshouldbecomprehensiveofallsensible
animals.Heretherefore,thediscussionofvivificationproceeds,filling
allthepartsoftheuniversewithappropriategeneraofanimals;adorning
allthegenerawithpropernumbers;andgeneratingallnumbers
accordingtoasimilitudetotheparadigm.
39e"Whateverideastherefore,intellectperceivedinthatwhichisanimal

itself,suchandsomanyitdianoeticallyconceivedittobenecessaryfor
thisuniversetocontain."
tForatpiorapevoqhere,itisnecessarytoreadvtpiorapevoc..
$cf.140E,ff,suprap.424.
ie.Theorderofthediscussion,deliversthewholepriortoparts,beforethe
wholewhichconsistsofparts,andthislatter,beforethewholewhichisinapart.
3,99*******Andthethirdwholenessisimpartedtotheworldthrough
266Dfabrication,weavingtogetherpartswithwholes,andnumbers*with
monads,andmakingeachpartoftheuniverseaworld,andthatwhich
isinapart,awholeandall.Fortheworldisallottedthisthrougha
similitudetoanimalitself;becausethatalsoisanentiremonadand
number.Itislikewiseanallperfectintelligibleintellect,andaplenitude
ofintelligiblecauses,whichitgeneratessothattheymayabideeternally
Einitself.Forthemultitudewhichabidesinitscauseisofonekind,and
thatwhichproceedsandisdistributedintoparts,ofanother.Forthe
Demiurgushimselfindeed,constitutessomegeneraofGodsinhimself,
butproducesothersfromhimself,intosecondandthirdorders.And
thefatheroftheDemiurgus[i.e.Saturn]generatessomeparadigmatic
causesoffabricationtoabideinhimself,butheproducesothers,as
demiurgiccausesthemselves,thathaveanarrangementpriortowholes.
HisgrandfatheralsoHeaven,retainssomecausesinhimself,butleads
othersforth5intoaseparationfromhimself.Andtheologistsmanifest
thesethingsbymysticappellations,denominatingthemeither
concealment,orabsorption,ornurtureinFate.Muchpriortherefore
tothese,doesintelligibleintellectthefatherofwholes,generatesome
causesinhimself,andunfoldthemintolight,butproduceothersfrom
himself,andconstitutetheordersoftheGodsposteriortohim;D
containingindeed,uniform,whole,andallperfectcauseswithinthe
comprehensionofhimself;butproducingintootherorders,thosewhich
aremultiplied,anddistributedintopartsthroughdifference.Hence,
sinceeverypaternalorderconstitutesafterthismanner,thisworldalso,
Fbeinganimitationoftheintelligibleorders,andsuspendedfromthem,
possessesoneallnesspriortopartialanimals;butanother,derivingits
completionfromthem,andtogetherwiththeformerreceivesthelatter,
3,100inorderthatitmaybemostsimilartoitsdemiurgicandparadigmatic
cause.Suchtherefore,isthemodeinwhichthistakesplace.
tThebeginningofthiscommentaryiswantingintheoriginal;andbyan
unaccountableerrorthispartofitthatisextant,insteadofimmediatelyfollowingthe
textinp.272,isinsertedinp.266,asifitbelongedtotheCommentaryonthewords,
"NightthereforeandDaywerethusgenerated,"&c.
$Forrot?aptfl/ioichere,""necessarytoreadrove,apiBpovq.
Insteadofrote5e,rt)vcup'eavrovbianpioivinthisplace,itisrequisitetoread

rovqbe,irpooayeicn\vcap'eavrovbianpusiv.
ForratepeB'eavruivra^eoivv<pion\oiruvBeuvinthisplace,itisnecessaryto
readracpeB'eavrovra^eiQwpiarrjOLruvBeuv.
Butthewords,"inthatwhichisanimalitself,"wehavebefore
explained,*andshownwhatanimalitselfis,accordingtoouropinion.
Andnowalsowesay,thatoftheintelligiblebreadth,onepartisthe
267Asummit,isunited,andoccult;butanotherpart,isthepowerofthe
summit,andproceeds,andatthesametimeabides;andanotherpart,
unfoldsitselfintolightthroughenergy,andexhibitsinitselfintelligible
multitude.Oftheselikewise,thefirstindeed,isintelligiblebeing,the
second,isintelligiblelife,andthethird,isintelligibleintellect.Thefirst
beingitselfhowever,cannotbeanimalitself:formultitudeisnotthere,
northetetradofideas;butthroughitsonlyness,andineffableunion,it
isdenominatedonebyPlato.Andinshort,animalitselfissaidto
participateofeternity,butthefirstbeingitself,doesnotparticipateof
anything,exceptsomeoneshouldsaythatitparticipatesoftheone,
whichineveryrespectisworthyofconsideration.Formaynotthat
whichisaboveit,besuperioreventothisappellation[TheOne].But
beingitselfisprimarilythatwhichitis,andnotaccordingto
participation.Hence,beingitselfcannotbeanimalitselffortheabovementioned
causes.Norcanintelligiblelifebeanimalitself.Foranimal
issecondarytolife;andissaidtobeanimalthroughtheparticipationof
life.Inshort,ifanimalitselfwasthesecond,eternitywouldbebeing
itself.Thishowever,isimpossible.Fortheonebeingisonething,and
eternalbeinganother;theformerbeingthemonadofbeing,butthe
Blatteraduad,havingthealwayscomplicatedwithbeing.Andtheformer
isthecauseofexistencetoallthings,butthelatterofpermanency
accordingtoexistence.Iftherefore,neithertheonebeingitselfisanimal
itself,northatwhichisimmediatelyposteriortotheonebeing;forthis
iseternity,whichisintelligiblepower,infinitelife,andwholenessitself,
accordingtowhicheachofthedivinitiesisatonceawhole;itis
necessarythatthethird,[orintelligibleintellect],shouldbeanimalitself.
Foritisnecessarythatanimalitselfshouldbeafteracertainmanner
intellect;sincetheimageofitsubsistsentirelyinconjunctionwithsense.
Butsenseistheimageofintellect;sothatinthatwhichisprimarily
animal,intellectprimarilysubsists.Hence,ifanimalitselfissecondary
tolife,itnecessarilyexistsaccordingtointelligibleintellect.Forbeing
intelligible,andasPlatosays,ananimal,themostbeautifulof
3,101intelligibles,andonlybegotten,itwillhavethisorder.Forallthings
afterthisformareproducedinconjunctionwithotherthings,andfall
shortofintelligibleallness.
tcf.98E99B,supra.

Animalitselftherefore,isintelligibleintellect,comprehendinginitself
theintellectualordersoftheGods,collecting,uniting,andperfecting
them,*andbeingthemostbeautifulboundaryofintelligibles.Italso
unfoldsintolighttointellectualnatures,theunitedandunknowncause
Cofintelligibles,excitingitselftoideasandallvariouspowers,but
producingallthesecondordersoftheGods.Hencelikewise,Orpheus
callsittheGodPhanes,*asunfoldingintolighttheintelligibleunities;
andgivestoitvariousforms,asexhibitinginitselfthefirstcauseof
intelligibleanimals.Healsoinsertsinitmultiformideas,asprimarily
comprehendingintelligibleideas,andcallsitthekeyofintellect,because
itboundseveryintelligibleessence,andconnectedlycontainsintellectual
life.FromthissogreataGodtherefore,theDemiurgusoftheuniverse
issuspended,beinghimself,aswehavebeforesaid,intellect,but
intellectualintellect,andinaparticularmannerthecauseofintellect.
Hencealso,heissaidtoseeanimalitself:forsightisthepeculiarityof
theintellectualGods.5Forthetheologistcallsintelligibleintellect
eyeless.PHesaystherefore,concerningit:
Inhisbreastfeedingeyeless,rapidLove.
Fortheboundaryofitsenergyistheintelligible.ButtheDemiurgus
beingintellect,doesnotrankamongparticipatedintellects;inorderthat
hemaybetheDemiurgusofwholes,andthathemaybeabletolook
toanimalitself.Beinghoweverimparticipable,heistrulyintellectual
Dintellect.Andthroughsimpleintelligenceindeed,heisunitedtothe
intelligible;butthroughvariousintellection,hehastenstothegeneration
ofsecondarynatures.Hencehisintelligenceisdenominatedvision,as
beingnonmultitudinous,andasshiningwithintelligiblelight.Buthis
secondenergyiscalleddianoetic,asproceedingthroughsimple
intelligence,andadvancingtothegenerationofdemiurgicworks.And
3,102Platoindeedsays,thathelookstoanimalitself;butOrpheus,0thathe
leapsto,andabsorbsit,throughtheindicationofNight.Forthrough
Night,whoisintelligibleandatthesametimeintellectual,intellectual
intellectisconjoinedtotheintelligible.Youmustnot,however,onthis
tForavruihere,readavruv.
tFr.119.
cf.165Cff,suprap.496.
Fr.68.
0Fr.120,cf.also99Asupra,p.300.
accountsay,thattheDemiurguslookstothatwhichisexternalto
himself;forthisisnotlawfulforhimtodo;butthatbeingconvertedto
himself,andtothefountainofideaswhichisinhimself,heisalso

conjoinedtothemonadoftheallvariousordersofforms.Forintellect
isnotwithouttheintelligible,*anddoesnotsubsistseparatefromit,
accordingtotheOracle.*Forifwesay,thatoursoullookingtoitself
knowsallthings,andthingspriortoitself,arenotexternaltoit,how
Eisitpossiblethatthedemiurgicintellectshouldnotinamuchgreater
degree,byintellectuallyperceivinghimself,surveytheintelligibleworld?
Foranimalitselfisalsoinhim,yetnotmonadically,butaccordingtoa
certaindivinenumber.Hencelikewise,beinghimselfintellectual,heis
saidbytheologists,aswehaveobserved,toabsorbthatintelligibleGod,
inconsequenceofeveryintelligible,thedivisionsofforms,andthe
intelligiblenumber,beingperceivebyhim.Plato,also,indicatingthis,
denominatestheideasoftheDemiurgus,suchandsomany;bythe
former,manifestingthepeculiaritiesofthecauses,butbythelatter,the
separationofthemaccordingtonumber.
Ifhoweverthesethingssubsistafterthismanner,itisnotproperto
admit,assomedo,thatthereisaninfinityofformsinintelligibles.For
thedefiniteismorealliedtoprinciplesthantheindefinite,asPlatoalso
indicates.8Andfirstnaturesarealwayscontractedinquantity,but
transcendinpower,thosethatareposteriortoandproceedfromthem.
Normustitbesaid,thatthosewhoseparateanimalitselffromthe
Demiurgus,maketheintelligibletobeexternaltointellect.Forwedo
3,103notmakethatwhichisseentobeposteriortothatwhichsees,inorder
thatitmaybeexternaltoit,butweassertthattheformerispriortothe
latter.Butmoredivineintelligiblesareintellectuallyperceivedbymore
Fvariousnatures,asexistinginthem;sincethesoulalsoenteringinto
itself,issaidtodiscoverallbeings,andasSocratessays,DGodand
wisdom.Animalitselftherefore,ispriortotheDemiurgus,andisnot
externaltohim.Andthereindeed,allthings,subsisttotally,and
intelligibly;butintheDemiurgus,intellectually,andwithdivision.For
inhimtheseparatecausesofthesunandmoonpreexist,andnotonly
theoneideaofthecelestialGods,whichgivesubsistencetoallthe
celestialgenera.Hence,the[Chaldean]Oraclessay,thatthedemiurgic
tInsteadof8uxpor/rovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadvor\rovalone.
%Chald.Oracl.fr.20.
cf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.642.
ThisisassertedbySocratesintheFirstAlcibiades[133c]

energiesarebornealonglikeswarmsofbees,burstingaboutthebodies
268Aoftheworld.*Foradivineintellectevolvesthetotalseparationofthem
intheintelligible,*intoallthedemiurgicmultitude.Andthese
observationsindeed,aretobeassumedascorollaries.

Inthenextplacehowever,itisworthwhiletorelatesuchopinionsof
themoreancientinterpreters,asintroduceamorenovelmeaningofthe
wordsofthetext.Ameliusthereforefromthesewords,especially
constitutesatriadofdemiurgicintellects;callingthefirstthatwhichis,
from5"thatwhichisanimal;"butthesecondthatwhichhas,fromthe
words"inthat,"forthesecondisnot[ideas,]buttheyenterintoit;and
thethirdthatwhichsees,fromtheword"perceived;"thoughPlatosays,
thatideasareinthatwhichisanimal,anddoesnotassert,thatanimal
itselfisonething,andthatinwhichtheideasofanimalsarecontained,
another.Hencethatwhichis,isnotdifferentfromthatwhichhas;ifthe
oneisthatwhichisanimal,buttheotherthatinwhichideassubsist.
Again,NumeniusDarrangesthefirst[God]accordingtothatwhichis
animal,andsaysthatitintellectuallyseesfortheuseofthesecond;but
Bhearrangesthesecondafterintellect,andsaysthatitfabricatesforthe
useofthethird;andthethirdisarrangedbyhim,accordingtothat
whichenergizesdianoetically.Butitisevidentthatthesehavecertain
essentialdifferences.Suchadivision,however,isnotnowmadeby
3,104Plato,inwhichonethingisanintellectperceivingintellectually,but
anotheranintellectenergizingdianoetically.ForPlatodoesnotdivide
energiescontrarilytotheenergizers;sinceenergiesproceedfromthose
thatenergize.Orrather,indivineessences,energiesconcurwith
essences.Buttoconceivedianoetically,andtoperceive,areatpresent
assumedastheboundariesoftheenergies(energmata)ofthedemiurgic
intellect.Bynomeanstherefore,oughtthesetobecontrarilydivided
intheDemiurgus,sincetheyconcurwithhishypostasis.These
therefore,thedivineIamblichushassufficientlyconfuted,adding,that
Platodoesnotmakesuchdistinctionsofdivinenatures,intheSophista,
Philebus,andParmenides,astheyspeakof,butseparatelydiscusseseach
ofthedivineorderswhicharetherementioned,anddividesthe
hypothesesfromeachother;separatelyindeeddiscussingTheOne,
Cseparatelywhole,andsuccessivelyinasimilarmanner,circumscribing
tcf.Chald.Orad.fr.37.
%FortvTO)vuinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadevruvorirw.
cf.93DE,suprap.283.
Fr.38Thed.
eachhypothesis,byappropriatedefinitions.Wehowever,forourdesign
isnottoconfutetheopinionsofothers,remindourselves,thatthe
thingsproposedtobeconsideredare,whattheoneintelligibleparadigm
is,whothewholeDemiurgusis,andwhattheunionisofboth.Letus
thereforesee,how,inwhatfollows,themultitudeofparadigms,andthe
manyfabricationsofthings,aredelivered.

40a"Buttheseideasarefour;oneindeed,beingthegenusofthecelestial
Gods;anotherofwinged,andairwanderinganimals;thethird,beingthe
aquaticspecies;andthefourth,thepedestrious,andterrene."
Asinthedemiurgicintelligenceitself,amonadistheleaderofthe
intellectualmultitude,andasintheparadigm,unicalformhasa
subsistencepriortonumber,thusalsodiscourse,whichistheinterpreter
ofdivineconcerns,adumbratingthenatureofthethingsofwhichitis
3,105themessenger,firstassumesthewholeobjectofknowledgecollectively,
andaccordingtoanenthusiasticconception;butafterwardsunfoldsthat
whichwasconglomerated,anddevelopstheoneintellection,through
Dwords.Italsodividesthatwhichisunited,accordingtothisnatureof
thethings,atonetime,explainingtheirunion,butatanother,their
separation.Foritisnotnaturallyadapted,norisitpossibleforit,to
comprehendbothoftheseatonce.ThediscourseofPlatoalso,being
thusaffected,firstinadivinelyinspiredmanner,unfoldsintolightthe
wholenumberofintelligibleideas,andafterwards,distributesintoparts,
theprogressionswhichthisnumbercontains.Fortheretheintelligible
multitudeshinesforth,wheretherearethefirstmonadsofideas.And
thatthisindeedisthecustomofPlato,wehavebeforeshowninmany
instances,1asin,"itwasgenerated,""hewasgood,""one,"andinallthe
beforementionedexamples.
Betakingourselveshowever,fromwordstothings,letusconsiderin
thefirstplace,whatthetetraditselfofideasis,andwhencethisnumber
isderived;andinthenextplace,whatthefourideasare,andhowthey
subsistinanimalitself,whethertheallperfectnessofitderivesits
completionthroughthem,orwhethertheysubsistinsomeotherway.
Forbyproceedinginanorderlymannerthroughthesespeculations,we
shalldiscoverthedivinelyinspiredconceptionofPlato.Itisnecessary
Etherefore,againtorecurtothebeforementioneddemonstrations,in
whichwesaid,thatthefirst,united,andmostsimpleintelligibleessence
oftheGods,proceedingsupernallyfromtheunityofunities,but
accordingtoacertainmode,ineffable,andincomprehensiblebyall
tThesethreeinstancesfromTim.28b,29e&31a.
things;onething1isfirst,occult,andpaternal;anotherissecond,*and
istheonepowerofwholes,andanuncircumscribedmeasure;andathird
thing5proceedsintoenergy,andallvariouspowers,andisatonceboth
paternalandeffective.Thefirstofthesealso,isamonad,becauseitis
thesummitofalltheintelligiblebreadth,andthefountainandcauseof
divinenumbers.Butthesecondisaduad:foritabidesandproceeds,as
intheintelligiblegenera,andhastheevercomplicatedwithbeing.That
however,whichisnowinvestigated[isthethird],andisthetetrad,

whichreceivesalltheoccultcauseofthemonad,andunfoldsintolight
3,106initself,itsunproceedingpower.Forsuchthingsasareinthemonad,
primarily,unically,andwithanunproceedingsubsistence,thesethe
tetradexhibitsdistributedly,andnowseparatedaccordingtonumber,
andaproductionintosecondarynatures.Sincehowever,thethirdhas
Findeedanorderadaptedto,butalsoentirelyparticipatesofthecauses
priortoitself,itisnotonlyatetrad,butasamonaditisgreaterthan
this,andisallottedapaternaltranscendency;andasaduad,itiseffective
andprolific.Sofartherefore,asitiscalledanimalitself,itisthemonad
ofthenatureofallanimals,vital,intellectual,andcorporeal.Butsofar
asitiscomprehensiveatonceofthemaleandfemale,itisaduad.For
theseareappropriatelyinalltheordersofanimals,inonewayinthe
269AGods,inanotherindaemons,andinanotherinmortals.Anditis
necessarythatthefirstunitiesofthese,shouldhaveaprimordial
subsistence,intheonecomprehensionofanimalitself.Butsofarasit
constitutesfromthisduad,thefourideasofanimalsinitself,itisa
tetrad.Forconformablytotheseideas,thefourfoldfabrication
proceeds,andthefirsteffectivecauseofwholes,isatetrad.Plato
therefore,teachingthistetradicpoweroftheparadigm,saysthatthe
mostunicalideasofmundanenaturesarefour,andarecomprehended
inoneideaanimalitself.Forthere,animalitselfisoneidea;butthe
maleandthefemaleareaduad.
Ifyouarewillingalso,youwillhavegeneraandspecies,inthedivision
ofPlato.Forhecallsthetwoideas,theintellectual,andtheairwandering,
genera,buttheremainingtwo,species,asbeingsubordinate
totheformertwo.Butanimalitselfisalsoatetrad.Andasfarasto
this,intelligibleformsextend.Afterthishowever,ideasproceed
accordingtodifferentnumbers.Forthereisanappropriatenumberof
tie.Theonebeingitself,thesummitoftheintelligibleorder.
$ie.Intelligiblelife,inwhicheternitysubsists.
ie.Animalitself,orintelligibleintellect,theendoftheintelligibleorder.
themineachorder;andthelessnumber,iscomprehensiveofmoretotal
Bideas;butthemoremultitudinousnumber,ofsuchasaremorepartial.
3,107Fordivinernaturesaremorecontractedinquantity,buthavea
transcendentpower.Theformsalsoofsecondarynaturesaremore
multipliedthanthosethatarepriortothem;intellectualsthan
intelligibles,supermundanethanintellectualnatures,andmundanethan
supermundanenatures.Mundaneformstherefore,arethosewhichhave
proceededtoanultimatedistribution;justasintelligibleformsreceive
thehighestunion.Forallprogressiondiminishespower,butincreases
multitude.Hence,ifTimaeushaddiscussedacertainintellectualorder,
hewouldhavementionedanothernumber,suchasthehebdomadicor

decadic.Butsinceheisspeakingoftheintelligiblecauseofideas,which
comprehendsallintelligibleanimals,hesaysthatthefirstideasarefour.
Forthetetradisthere,whichproceedsfromtheintelligiblemonad,and
fillsthedemiurgicdecad.ForasthePythagorichymnsays,*"Divine
numberproceedsfromtheoccultprofunditiesoftheundecayingmonad,
tillitarrivesatthedivinetetrad,whichproducedthemotherofall
things,theuniversalrecipient,ancient,andvenerable,placinga
Cboundaryaboutallthings,immutable,andunwearied,[andwhichboth
theimmortalGods,andearthbornmen,denominatethesacred
decad.]"*Andthehymnindeed,callstheuniformandoccultcauseof
theonebeing,theundecayingmonad,andtheoccultprofunditiesofthe
monad;buttheevolutionintolightofintelligiblemultitude,whichthe
duad,themediumbetweenthemonadandthetetrad,unfolds,thedivine
tetrad.Andtheworlditself,whichreceivestheimagesofallthedivine
numbers,supernallyimpartedtoit,isdenominatesthedecad.Forthe
abovewordsmaybethusunderstood,bydirectingourattentiontothe
fabricationoftheworld.Andthusmuchconcerningthetetraditself.
Inthenextplace,letusshowwhatthefourideasare,andtowhat
kindofthingstheygivesubsistence.Forsomeoftheinterpretersdiffer
fromothersintheiropiniononthissubject;someindeedasserting,that
theprogressionoftheseideas,isintoGods,andthemortalgenera,
especiallydirectingtheirattentiontothe[literalmeaningofthe]words
ofPlato;butotherslookingtothings,saythattheprogressionisinto
theGods,andthegenerasuperiortous;becausethesegenerasubsist
3,108priortomortals,anditisnecessarythattheDemiurgusshouldnot
producemortal,immediatelyfromdivinenatures.Othersagain,
conjoiningboththeseopinions,andfollowingwhatiswritteninthe
tcf.96Dffsuprap.293.
%Thewordswithinthebrackets,aresuppliedfromtheCommentaryofSyrianus
onAristode'sMetaphysics.Theoriginalis,Adaparoiredeoi,KCUyrjyepeoic,
apdpuicoi.
DEpinomis,1assertthatGodssubsistintheheavens,daemonsintheair,
demigodsinwater,andmen,andothermortals,inearth.Such
howeverbeingthedifferenceofopinionamongtheinterpreters,we
admireindeed,theloversofthings,butshallendeavourtofollowour
leader[Syrianus].Wesaytherefore,thatthecelestialgenusofGods,is
comprehensiveofallthecelestialgenera,whethertheyaredivine,or
angelic,ordaemoniacal.Theairwanderinggenuscomprehendsallthe
naturesthatarearrangedintheair,whethertheybeGodsthatare
allottedtheair,ordaemonsthatfollowthese,ormortalanimalsthatlive
intheair.Theaquaticiscomprehensiveofallthegenerathatare
allottedthewater,andofallthatarenourishedinwater.Andthe
pedestriouscomprehendsallthegenerathatpresideoverthepartsofthe

earth,andalltheanimalsthatareconstitutedandgeneratedintheearth.
FortheDemiurgusisentirelythecauseofallmundanenatures,andthe
commonfatherofallofthem;generatingindeed,divine,anddaemoniacal
natures,byandthroughhimselfalone;butdeliveringmortalnaturesto
thejuniorGods,*astheyareabletogeneratethesebyaproximate
energy.Andtheparadigmisnotthecauseofsome,andnotofother
Eanimals,butitpossessesthemosttotalcausesofanimals.Foragain,if
itwasthecauseofthedivineanddaemoniacalgenera,butbynomeans,
ofthemortalgenera,inthiscase,mortalsnotbeinggenerated,the
universewouldbeimperfect,asnotcontainingallthegeneraofanimals.
Foritissimilartoitsparadigm,andallperfect,throughimitatingthe
fourideasofanimalitself.
If,onthecontrary,someoneshouldsay,thatthesegeneracomprehend
Godsandmortals,howshallweaccordwithPlato,whoafterthe
fabricationofthecelestialanimalssays,5"Buttospeakconcerningthe
otherdaemons,andtoknowthegenerationofthem,exceedsourability;"
havingalsomentionedtheGodsthatproceedintothesublunaryworld.
3,109Forhereindeedaftertheaerial,hearrangestheaquatic,andafterthis,
thepedestriousgenus.Inthegenerationhowever,ofmortalanimals,0
henolongerpreservesthisorder,butgeneratingallofthemthroughthe
humansoul,heleadsitintothepedestriousgenus,afterthepolityofit
intheheavens,0inorderthathemayconsummatelyproduceman;and
tcf.Epinomis984ff.
%Tim.42d.
Tim.40d.
Tim.91,f.
ocf.Procl.Comm.Rep.IX,592b.
822
afterthehumansoulhasactederroneously,heagainconductsittothe
winged,pedestrious,andsavagegenus,andafterwardstotheaquatic
Ftribe.Henceitseems,thatthethreegeneraarenotonlythecauses*of
mortalnatures,butthattheyarethecausesofthesepriortoother
things,inwhichthesameorderofthethreeideasarepreserved,
secondarynaturesproceedingfromthosepriortothemthrough
diminution.Itisnecessarytherefore,thatallthingsshouldbegenerated
throughtheseideas,viz.boththedivineandmortalgenera;andthatthe
intelligibleideas,asbeingmosttotal,shouldgivesubsistencetoall
genera.Itislikewisenecessarytosurveythewordsbeforeus
appropriatelyaccordingtoeachother;asforinstance,thegenusofGods
270Ainoneway,inthosethatareproperlycalledGods,andinanotherway,
inthegenerasuperiortous,andwhicharearrangedintheheavens.For
wesaythattherearecelestialangels,daemons,andheroes,andthatall

thesearecalledGods,becausethedivinepeculiaritypredominatesover
theirownpeculiarity.Again,thewingedandtheairwanderinggenus,
subsistsinonewayintheaerialGods,inanother,inaerialdaemons,and
inanotherinaerialmortalanimals.Fortheintellectualpeculiarityof
theseGods,isdenominatedwinged;buttheprovidentialpeculiarityis
calledairwandering,asextendingthroughallthesphereoftheair,and
connectedlycontainingthewholeofit.Butindaemonsthewingedis
significant*ofrapidityofenergy;andtheairwandering,manifeststhe
beingeverywherepresentwithoutimpediment,andproceedingthrough
allthings.Andinmortalnatures,thewingedmanifestsmotionthrough
3,110oneorgan,whichaloneemploysthingsthatsurround;buttheairwandering,
theallvariousmotionthroughbodies.Fornothinghinders
Bbutthatpartialsouls,whichliveintheair,maywanderthroughtheair.
Fartherstill,theaquaticindivinenatures,indicatesaprovidential
inspectionandgovernment,inseparablefromwater.Hencealsothe
OraclecallstheseGodswaterwalkers.}Butinthegenerathatfollow
272FtheGods,itsignifiesthatwhichconnectedlycontainsthemoist
tForapriahere,itisnecessarytoreadairwt.
XInsteadofovpippoivovinthisplace,Iread<n\puvriKov.
[cf.Chald.Orad.fr.92]Intheoriginalhere,p.270,afterthewords5ioKaiTO
Xoyiovv6po0arripa<;Ka\ei,rovqBeovqrovrovq,Le."HencealsotheOraclecallsthese
Godswaterwalkers,"thewordsTO5eOVTUI;Kaiduxravra,immediatelyfollow,
whichbelongtotheCommentaryinp.266.Andthepartwhichshouldimmediately
followthewordwaterwalkers,andbeginswithenoeruveiropevuvroiqdeoiqyevuv,Le.
"ButinthegenerathatfollowtheGods,"istobefoundinp.272,line6,fromthe
bottom.
nature.*Moreover,thepedestrious,inoneplacesignifiesthatwhich
containsthelastseat,andproceedsthroughit,astheterrestrial,and
whichstablygovernsit,andgivesperfectiontoit,throughallvarious
powersandlives.Butinanotherplace,itindicatesthatwhichgoverns
andregulatesatdifferenttimes,differentpartsoftheearththroughits
ownpropermotion.Andthusmuchconcerningthenames.
Fromthesethingshowever,itmaybeassumed,thatintelligibleanimal
itself,isentirelydifferentfromthatwhichisintheDemiurgus.Forthe
formerdoesnotcontaintheseparateideasofmortalanimals.Forthe
273ADemiurgusmademortalanimals,beingwillingtoassimilatemundane
naturestoalltheformscontainedinhimself,inorderthathemight
maketheworldallperfect.Buthecontainsthedistinctideasofthese,
producingmortalfromimmortalnatures.*Heknewtherefore,mortal
natures.Anditisevidentthatheknewthembyhisinherentforms;and
thathethoughtitfitthejuniorGodsshouldfabricatethem,lookingto
him,5andnottoanimalitself,ashavinginhimselfseparatelytheideas
ofmortal,andthoseofimmortalnatures.Inanimalitselftherefore,

therewastheaerial,ortheaquatic,orthepedestrious,therebeingone
ideaofeach,viz.ofallaerial,oraquatic,orpedestriousanimals
whatever;butintheDemiurgustheyaredivided.Andsomeindeed,are
theformal[orspecific]comprehensionsofimmortal,butothersof
mortal,aerialanimals,andinasimilarmannerofsuchasareaquaticand
terrestrial.Hencetheformalmultitudeinanimalitself,isnotthesame
asthedemiurgic,asmaybeinferredfromthesearguments.Themanner
also,inwhichthedivisionofthesegeneraismade,mustbeconsidered.
Foritisintoamonadandtriad;opposingthesummitofthecelestial
3,111genus,tothetotalgenera;andalso,intotwoduads.Forhecallsthe
Bcelestial,andalsothewinged,genus;buttheaquatic,andalsothe
pedestrious,species,ashavinganorderinferiortotheformer,justas
speciesissubordinatetogenus.
Moreover,itislikewisenecessarytosurveythis,thatheomitstheidea
offireinwhathenowsays,becausethedivinegenuscomprehendsthe
summitoffire,accordingtoitsownnature.Forofthesublunarybodies
tNote:Taylorheremovesdirecdyfrom270Bto272F;themissingtexthaving
beeninsertedearlier,betweenpages805and813,
$Insteadofairoraadavaranxpayovouvinthisplace,itappearstomethatwe
shouldreadaitoruvadavaruv6vt\raitapaywv.
cf.Tim.42dff.
firealone,hasnotanappropriateplace,butalonesubsistsinmutation,
andisalwaysinwantofnourishmentfromair,andwater.Forthe
upperregionistheplaceadaptedtofire.Butitisnotthere.Forit
wouldbeseenifitwasthere,sinceitisnaturallyvisible.Nordoesit
arrivethither,sinceitisextinguishedbythesurroundingair,whichis
dissimilartoit.Iftherefore,itisnecessary,thatthereshouldbea
wholenessoffire,andthatfirehavingaformshouldexistsomewhere,
andshouldnotalonesubsistinbecomingtobe;butsublunaryfireisnot
athingofthiskind;ifthisbethecase,firewillaloneexistinthe
heavens,andwillthereremainsuchasitis,andalwayspossessitsproper
place.Forthemotiontotheupperregion,isnotthenaturalmotionof
fire,butoffirehavingapreternaturalsubsistence.ThusalsotheSacred
DiscourseoftheChaldaeans,*conjoinstheaerialbosomswiththelunar
Crattlings,andattributestofirethecelestialregion,accordingtothe
distributionoftheelementsintotheworld.Forthefirewhichisin
generation,isacertaineffluxionofthecelestialfire,andisinthecavities
oftheotherelements;therenotbeingasphereoffirebyitself;butthe
summitsofairimitatethepurityoftheupperfire.Wesaytherefore,
thatthesesummitsaresublunaryfire,andthattheplaceoffireisunder
theheavens.Forthisplaceismostsimilartothecelestialprofundity,
justasthelowestextremityofairismostsimilartowater,in

consequenceofbeingthickandnebulous.Thisalso,asitwouldseem,
appearstohavebeentheconceptionofAristotle;forhethoughtfitthus
todenominatethefirewhichishere.*Buthecallsthefirewhichis
immediatelyundertheheavens,andwhichhesays,revolvesin
3,112conjunctionwiththeheavens,fieryformed.Ifhowever,thisbethecase,
itisperfectlyrequisitetoaskhim,wherethatwhichistrulyfire,and
ranksasawhole,exists?Foritcannotbethefirewhichishere,since
itisnotawhole,nortrulyexistingfire;sincethefirewhichistrulyso,
isnotfieryformed.Hemustthereforebecompelledtoadmit,thatfire
whichistrulyso,andwhichispurelight,existsintheheavens.You
mustnothoweverwonder,ifmostattenuated,andmostpurefire,isin
Dthesummitsoftheair,justasthemostgrossandturbidfire,isinthe
bosomoftheearth;notasmakingthisfiretobeanotherwholeness
differentfromthatofair,butasadmitting,fromitsbeingthemost
attenuated,thatitiscarriedintheporesoftheair,whicharemost
narrow.Henceitisnotvisible,throughtwocauses;one,fromnot
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.61.
tcf.AristodeOntheUniverse,II,392aff.
beingdistinctlyformed,andtheother,fromnotresistingoursight,in
consequenceofconsistingofthesmallestparts.Andthisalsoisthecase
withthelightoftheeyes.Trulyexistingfiretherefore,isinthe
heavens.Butthepurestofsublunaryfire,isintheairproximatetothe
heavenlybodies,whichPlatofartheron,callsaether.+Andfireofthe
grossestnatureiscontainedinthebosomoftheearth.Sincetherefore
Platohasspokenconcerningthefourgeneraincommon,letussurvey
howheconstituteseachofthem,inwhatfollows.
40a"Theideatherefore,ofthatwhichisdivine,heforthemostpart
producedfromfire,inorderthatitmightbemostsplendidandbeautiful
totheview.[Butassimilatingittotheuniverse,hemadeittobe
round."*]
EThesphereofthefixedstarsisthefirstofpartialanimals,whichalso
theDemiurgusfirstconstituted,producingitforthemostpartfromthe
ideaoffire.Foritisnecessaryinthefirstplace,thatweshoulddiscuss
theessenceofit,inthenextplace,thefigure,inthethirdplace,the
position,andinthefourthplace,themotionofit.Thediscussion
therefore,ofitsessence,istheoccasionofmuchdiscordamongthe
interpreters.Forhowdoesitpossessforthemostparttheideaoffire?
3,113isitassomesay,becauseitismingledfromalltheelements,but
participatesmostlyoffire?Orisitbecauseeverycelestialgenusconsists
ofalltheelements,butthegreatestpartofitisfiery?Foritispossible
toasserteitherofthese;justasifweshouldsay,thatallthingsconsist

ofallthegeneraofbeing,butthatintelligibleshavemostofsameness.
Orisitnotashewouldinterpret,whotrulysurveysthingsthemselves,
thatasubsistenceforthemostpartfromtheideaoffire,signifiesthat
Ffirepossessesmostabundantlytheideaofthefifthbody,5asbeingthe
recipientofmanyproductivepowers,ofwhicheachofthedivinebodies
274Aisfull?Orshallwesay,thatitisnotaccordingtoanyoneofthese
modes,butasothersassert,thatdivineanimalsconsistoffire,butoffire
whichhasanessencepossessinginterval,andismultitudinous?Forthe
tcf.Tim.58d.
tIntheoriginal,immediatelyafterthetextthefollowingwordsoccur,asatitleto
thecomment,andwhichwereinserted,Isuppose,bysomeScholiast,ra^rovptvaTtepi
rovavXavovqfuou.repi77jcovotac.avrov.vepirovaxriparog.irept7t;cBtatuq.icepi
ttjcKivrioeuc,.Le."Inquiriesconcerningtheinerraticanimal[Le.thesphereofthe
fixedstars].Concerningtheessenceofit,itsfigure,position,andmotion."Thatpartof
thetextalsowithinthebrackets,isomittedinProclus,thoughhecommentsuponit.
cf.3Aff,suprap.16.
intelligiblehastheformofunity,butthecorporealismultitudinous,as
beingpartible,andpossessesinterval,inconsequenceofhavingbulk.Or
maywenotsay,asthemosttrueofalltheassertions,thatweshould
looktoalltheseconceptions,andsurveyonetruthastheresultofallof
them?Forweplacealltheelementsintheheavens,butimmaterially,
sofarastheimmaterialcansubsistinmaterialnatures.Wealsosay,that
theelementssubsistintheheavens,butaccordingtothesummitsof
themonly.Foriftheformsoffire,air,waterandearth,arein
intelligibles,itisnecessarythattheheavensshouldbethefirst
participantsofthistetrad.Butfabricationproceeding,constitutesalso
thelastnatureoftheelements,andwhichistrulymaterial.Welikewise
assert,thattheideaofthestars,forthemostpart,consistsoffire.For
thoughalltheelementsareinthem,yetfirepredominates;becausein
theelementsofgeneration,firehastherelationofformtotheother
elements.Itisnecessarytherefore,inthe[celestial]Gods,thatthefiery
Bcharacteristicshouldbemostabundant,inorderthatformmayhave
dominionoverthesubjectessence;butthatthereshouldbetheleastof
theotherelements,becausethisleastportionhastheorderofasubject.
Hence,theterrestrialnatureisthere,asbeingacertainsolidessence,and
tangiblebulk.Onthisaccountalso,itresistsoursight.1Thefiery
naturelikewiseisthere,asilluminatingandgivingformtobulkand
interval.Buttheelementswhicharebetweenthese,subsistthere,as
3,114connectingtheextremes,andcausingthemtobeone.Firehowever,
predominatesoveralltheotherelements,becausetheformwhichis
there,vanquishesthesubject,connectedlycontains,andpreservesiton
allsides,andisitselffulloflifeandselfmotivepower.Hencealsoitis
fullofdivineanddemiurgicproductivepowers,andproceedsinto

multitudeandinterval,everywaydefiningthatwhichpossesses
dimensions,andcomprehendingthebulkofbody.
Normustwefeartheskilfulindialectic,wholookingtoacertain
smallpartofnature,revilePlatoforsaying,thatfiretendsupward,but
thatthestarshaveacircularmotion.Foratendencyupwardhasno
placeinthefireoftheheavens;justasneitherdoesselfmotionpertain
Ctointelligiblefire,nortothatwhichisofacorporealformednature.
Forthereason[i.e.form,orproductiveprincipleoffire]inintellect,is
intellectualfire.Formotionsareconsubsistentwiththingsaccordingto
theorderofessences.Butifdivinefireisthatwhichhasthepowerof
constitutingthestars,itisnotsuchasthismostmaterialandgross
[sublunaryfire].Andifitismostsplendidandbeautiful,itisdifferent
fTim.45c.
fromthisobscurefire,whichismingledwiththedeformityofmatter.
Forthelastmatterisdarknessanddeformity.Butthisdivinefireis
mostsplendidandbeautiful,bothwhichareindubitablesignsoftruth.
Forthesuperluminoustransparentsplendouroflight,istheimageof
divinegoodness,anditsbeingdecoratedwithbeauty,isanindicationof
intelligiblesymmetry.Divinefiretherefore,isverydifferentfromthat
whichisnotdivine.Hence,itappearsthattrulyexistingfireistherein
thehighestplace;andthatonthisaccount,thestarsarefiery,andare
allottedtheplaceoffire.Thesummitlikewiseofearthisthere.Onthe
contrary,thewholeofearth*ishere,whichparticipatesasmuchas
beingearth,itispossibleofthelastfire,whichismostterrestrialand
gross;justasthefirewhichisintheheavenspossessesthesummitof
earth,theearthwhichistherebeingsuperiortotheobscurityand
grossnessofthissublunaryearth.Thisalsoisconformabletothe
DdoctrineofPtolemyandPlotinus,*thateverybody,whenitisinits
properplace,iseitherfixed,orrevolvesinacircle;butthatatendency
3,115upwardoratendencydownwardarethemotionsofbodies,whichnot
beingintheirproperplace,strivetoobtaintheirproperplace.Sothat
eachoftheotherelements,wheninitsproperplace,willeitherremain
fixedinit,orwillbemovedinacircle.Andifitshouldbeofafiery
natureandtendupward,itwillentirelybeinaforeignplace.
Wemustnottherefore,disbelieveintheologists,whoplaceinthe
heavensanempyrealessence:fortherearemanyspeciesoffire.Simply
toassertlikewise,thatthecelestialbodyisafifthbody,isnottoassert
anythingclearconcerningit,exceptthatitisdifferentfromthefour
elements.Platohowever,unfoldsallthenatureofit,leavinginthe
heavensthesummitsoftheelements.Thesyllogismtherefore,ofthose
whofancytheycanconfutethedoctrineofPlatoconcerningthestars,
ashavinganessenceconsistingforthemostpartoffire,isitself

confuted,bynotadmittingoneofthepropositionswhichsays,thatfire
tendsupward.Foritisnotpropertocharacterizethenatureoffire,
fromthatfirewhichhasapreternaturalsubsistence,andwhichproceeds
toasubsistenceaccordingtonature;butitmustbecharacterizedfrom
thatwhichisinaconditionconformabletonature.Butathingofthis
Ekindiseitherfixedorrevolvesinacircle.TheDemiurgushowever
tForTTJinthisplaceitisobviouslynecessarytoread717.
tcf.EnneadII,2,1;&also142Dffsupra,p.430.
assimilatingeachofthestars*totheuniverse,madeeachofthemtobe
round,*andtohaveatwofoldsimilitude,onetoitsproperwholeness,
buttheother,totheparadigmfromwhichitissuspended.Theparts
ofthemalsohaveatwofoldsimilitude,onetothewhole,buttheother
totheideaoftheirwholeness.Thuslikewise,apartialsoulis
assimilatedtothesoulwhichranksasawhole,andtointellect.Butthe
soulwhichranksasawholeandisone,isassimilatedtotheoneand
totalintellect.Totalnaturealsoisassimilatedtosoul;butapartial
naturetoitsownwholeness,andtosoul.Conformablytothislikewise,
eachofthestarsisassimilatedtothewholeworld,andtoitsproper
paradigm.Andthesimilitudeisdifferent.Foreachisassimilatedtothe
latteraccordingtoitswholeessence;buttotheformer,accordingto
figure,andaccordingtomotion.Foreachisfabricatedround,justas
3,116theworldisspherical.Fortheuniverseisprimarilyasphere,asin
sensibles.HencethroughthisitimitatesboththeDemiurgusandthe
intelligibleparadigm.Foreachofthemthroughconvergingtoitself,
constitutesthisvisibleanimal[theworld].Theconvergencywhichis
therehowever,connectshere,excellenceofconditionwiththecircle,
Fbecausetheuniverseexpressesasmuchaspossible,allthepeculiarityof
theparadigm.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars.
Ifhowever,wewishtoinvestigatethecausethroughwhichapartof
theuniversewasgeneratedsimilartothewhole,weshallnotbeinwant
ofargumentstoshowwhyitwassogenerated.Foritisnotpossible
thatthisshouldhappeninallthings.Forneitherwouldithavebeen
bestfortheeyetohavebeengeneratedwithafiguresimilartothatof
thewholebody,noristheassertiontrue,oftheheart,orofthehead.5
Butwherethewholenessispriortotheparts,itispossiblefortheparts
tobeassimilatedtothewhole,andforgoodtobepresentwiththem,
275Athroughthissimilitude.Onthecontrary,wherethewholenessisfrom
theparts,herethepartdoesnotpossessexcellenceofcondition,through
anassimilationtothewhole.Theuniversehowever,isathingofthis
kind.Foritisawholepriortoparts,0andiscompletethrough
containingthepartialgeneraofanimals,accordingtothethirdspecies

tInsteadofpepuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadaarpuv,andimmediatelyafterit,to
supplymi.
%Tim.40a.
InsteadofeirtTJ<pa\ri<;inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,eiriK</>O:XTJC.
Theuniverseisawholepriortoparts,becauseitisthecauseofallthepartial
naturescontainedinit.
ofwholeness,*aswehavebeforeobserved;sinceanimalitselfalsoisa
whole,andallperfect,asamonad,butcomprehendsallintelligible
animals,throughthebeforementionedtetrad.
40a"Heplaceditalsointhewisdomofthemostexcellentandpowerful
nature,*sothatitmightfollowthatwhichisbest,anddistributeditin
acircleaboutallheaven;causingittobeatrueworld,diversified
throughthewholeofitself."
Inwhatisheresaid,Platospeaksconcerningthepositionofthestars,
thattheyareonallsidescircularlyplacedintherevolutionofthecircle
ofthesame,andthat,asthepoetssay,theyrevolveinanorbroundthe
heavens;someofthembeingarrangedinanorderdifferentfromthatof
others,andexhibitinganadmirablevariety.Ifhowever,youarewilling
tospeakmoremagnificentlythanthis,youmaysay,thattheDemiurgus
placedthestarsinthedivinesouloftheinerraticsphere,thusanimating
Bthem,andimpartingtothemaproperlifeandintellect.Inlikemanner,
3,117heinsertedtheplanetsinthecirculations,causedbytheperiodofthe
circleofthedifferent.}Forbeingdivineanimals,itisnecessarythatthey
shouldhaveanintellectualsoul,andadivineintellect.Forthattheyare
notaloneanimatedbythesouloftheuniverse,butthateachhasalsoa
peculiarsoulpresidingoverit,wemaylearnbyconsidering,thatofthe
animalswhicharehere,thosearemoreexcellent,thattogetherwith
beinganimatedbythewholesouloftheworld,havealsoapeculiarsoul,
andareilluminatedbyitwithlife.Thusforinstance,manissuperior
tosuchanimalsasarealoneanimatedbythewholesoul,andarethelast
ofthefabricationofthings.Hence,someanimalsarepreservedina
twofoldrespect,butothersarescarcelypreservedbythewholesoulof
theuniverse.Ifhowever,thisistrue,andthecelestialaremoreexcellent
thanourbodies,theywillinagreaterdegreebeanimatedbothbythe
mundaneandtheirownpeculiarsouls;sincetheyaresimilartothe
wholeoftheheavensinwhichtheyrevolve.Butifthisbethecase,all
ofthemaremovedinacircleabouttheirowncentres.Andifthisbe
admitted,andeveryperpetualmotion,hasalsoaperpetuallymoving
cause,andasnumerousasarethebodieswhichareperpetuallymoved,
tThethirdspeciesofwholenessisthatinwhichwholesubsistsinapart.The
partialgeneraofanimalsthereforearewholes,butthepartialinthempredominates

overthetotal.
tcf.257Csupra,p.779.
Tim.38c.
somanylikewiseare,asAristotlesays,themovingcauses;*ifthisbethe
case,itisnecessarythateachofthestarsshouldhaveapeculiarsoulby
Cwhichitismoved.Ifalsotheyaremovedinanorderlymanner,itis
necessarythattheirsoulsshouldbeintellectual;foriftheyweremoved
inadisorderlymanner,whichitisnotlawfultoassertofdivinebodies,
theirsoulswouldbeirrational.Hence,itisnecessarythateachofthe
starsshouldhaveadivinepresidingsoul;andthroughintellectbeunited
totheintellectwhichranksasawhole.Forsincemortalbodies[such
asours]participateofreasonandintellect,whatoughtwetothinkof
divinebodiesthemselves?
Eachtherefore,throughitsownsoul,isinsertedinthelationofthe
circleofthesame,whichPlatoveryproperlycallsmostexcellentand
powerfulasvanquishingallthecirculations,andconvolvingallofthem
intellectually.Forasthegenusofthestarsisconvolvedbythelation
oftheinerraticsphere,*thusalsothesoulsofthemarecontainedbythe
soulofthecirculationofthesame,andtheirintellectsbytheintellectof
3,118it.Foragain,itisnecessarythatthemonadwhichiscoarrangedwith
multitude,shouldsubsistconformablytothemonadwhichisexempt
frommultitude.Thefirstofthefourideastherefore,beingtheexempt
monad,themultitudeofthestarsproceedingfromitiscomprehended
bytheinerraticsphere,asacoarrangedmonad.Inasimilarmanner
likewise,ineachofthecelestialspheres,thewholespherehasthe
Drelationofamonad,butthecosmocratorsaretheleadersofthe
multitudeineach.Forineachanumberanalogoustothechoirofthe
fixedstars,subsistswithappropriatecirculations.If,however,inthe
fixedstars,thereisonemonad,thewholenessofthem,butinthe
planets,thereisbothawholeness,andeachoftheplanets,isalsoa
leader,itisnotwonderful.Forasthemotionoftherevolutionsofthe
circleofthedifferentismorevarious,thusalsotherearemoreleaders
thanone.Forthemultitudeproceedstoagreaterextent.Butinthe
sublunaryregion,thereisastillgreaternumberofleaders.Forthe
monadsintheheavensgeneratenumbersanalogoustothem.Aswe
havesaidtherefore,theanimationofthestars,insertsthemintheir
propersouls;butitalsoconnectsthemwiththewholesoulofthelation
ofthecircleofthesame;elevatesthemtothemundanesoul;and
establishesthemintheintelligibleparadigmitself.Thedivine
Iamblichusalso,inaneminentdegreeperceivingthistobethecase,
tcf.Aristotle,PhysicsVIII,4,254b7,ff.
%ForviroTTJCaXXi;c(popac,inthisplace,itappearstometobenecessarytoread,

woTT;CawXavovc,(popaq.
placesthewisdomofthatwhichismostexcellentandpowerful,inthe
paradigm.Buttheinerraticspherewasgeneratedatrueworld,because
Eitismoreproperlyaworldthanthesublunaryregion,whichisalways
inwantofforeignarrangement,andiscontinuallychanging.Thesphere
ofthefixedstarslikewise,isaworldsodiversified,astoexpress
intellectualvariety,whichitreceivesuniformlyabout,andinthewhole
ofitself;imitatingthebeautyofthecelestialparadigms.Todistribute
also,andtodistributeinacircle,areadaptedtothefixedstars:forthe
lattersignifiesintellectualdistribution,buttheformerthedemiurgic
order.Onthisaccountlikewise,theologistsestablishEunomiainthe
inerraticsphere,*whoseparatesthemultitudeinit,andalwayspreserves
3,119eachofthestarsinitsproperorder.Hencetoo,celebratingVulcanas
themakeroftheheavens,theyconjoinhimwithAglaa,asadorningand
givingsplendourandhilaritytoallheaven,throughthevarietyofthe
stars.Andagain,oftheSeasons,theyplaceDiceovertheplanetary
region,becauseitisjustthatirregularityshouldbereducedtoregularity
accordingtoreason;butoftheGraces,Thalia,asalwayscausingtheir
livestobeconsummatelyflourishing.Theyalsogivethe
superintendenceofthesublunaryregiontoIrene,aspacifyingthewar
Foftheelements;buttoEuphrosyneoftheGraces,asimpartingtoeach
ofthemfacilityofenergyaccordingtonature.
40ab"Butheadaptedtoeachofthemtwomotions,onebeinginthesame,
accordingtothesamethings,throughwhichtheyalwaysdianoetically
perceiveinthemselves,thesame*aboutthesamethings;buttheother,
beinganadvancingmotion,throughthedominationofthesameand
similarcirculation.Helikewiserenderedthemimmoveableandstable,
astotheotherfivemotions,inorderthateachofthemmightbecome
asmuchaspossiblemostexcellent."
Thediscussionofmotionisconsequenttothatofanimation.For
becauseeachofthestarsisanimated,onthisaccountalso,eachis
276Aallottedapeculiarmotion.Forsoulistheprincipleofmotion.5The
discussionofmotionalso,isconnectedwiththetheoryoffigure.For
thatwhichhasanappropriatecircularfigure,andreceivesthisfromthe
tHesiodTheogony9019;andOrphicHymns43,60,62,96,Fr.140;andalso238A
supra.
tInsteadofravrovhere,asinthetextofProdus,alltheprintededitionsofPlato
haveraavra,buterroneously,accordingtothecommentaryofProclusonthesewords.
cf.AristotleDeAnimaII,1,412bl6f.
demiurgiccause,mustnecessarilyhaveanenergyandacircularlation,

adaptedtothefigure.Foreverynaturalbodyismovedessentially,and
notaccordingtoaccident;sincenatureistheprincipleofmotionand
mutation,inthatinwhichitisprimarilyperse,andnotaccidentally.*
Thebodyofthestarshowever,isimmoveableaccordingtoallother
motions,asbeingperpetualthroughthewholeoftime;butisalone
capableofreceivinglocalmotion,andthiscircular,asbeingmovedin
3,120itsownplace.Fartherstill,how,asIhavebeforesaid,canthatwhich
doesnotcirculateaccordingtoacertainpeculiarmotion,beofthesame
essencewiththewholeheaven?Andhowcanitotherwiseimitatethe
universe,thanbybeingmovedaboutthecentreofitself?Itisnecessary
therefore,thatthestarsshouldbemovedwithtwofoldmotions;one,
whichisessentialtothem,abouttheirowncentres;buttheother,in
conjunctionwiththeirwholeness.
BWhatthenarethesetwomotions?Fortherearedifferentopinions
concerningthem.Andsomeindeedsay,thatboththesemotionsare
corporeal;butothersassert,thattheoneispsychical,andtheother
corporeal.Itisbetterhowever,tomakeboththepsychicalandthe
corporealmotiontwofold.Forthesoulofthesedivineanimals[the
stars]hasanappropriatelife,andthroughanappropriateenergyis
conjoinedwithintelligibles.Andbesidesthis,itisconvolvedtogether
withthewholesouloftheuniverse.Forindivinenatures,thingswhich
areasitwereparts,energizeaccordingtotheirownenergies,andin
conjunctionwithwholes.Thesoulofthestarstherefore,ismovedin
atwofoldrespect.Thebodyofeachalso,isconvolvedaboutitsown
centre,imitatingtheproperenergyofitssoulanditsintellect,andis
likewisemovedwithanadvancingmotion,imitatingthecooperating
energyofthesouloftheinerraticsphere,withitswholeness,andthe
establishmentoftheintellectofthissoul,intheintellectwhichranksas
awhole.Atwofoldmotiontherefore,mustbeassumedinboth,viz.
inthestarrysoul,andthestarrybody.Forthestarrysoulisespecially
wiseinthesame,andaboutthesamethings,alwaysperceives
intellectuallyafterthesamemanner,andismovedwithanadvancing
Cmotion,throughfollowingitswholeness.Forinconsequenceof
participatingamoredivinepower,itrecurstothesummititselfof
intelligibles,whichmaybesaidtohavetheorderofleaders,andtobe
beforethesoul,asbeingintellectuallyapprehended,andperceivedby
tcf.AristotlePhysicsII,1,192b21ff;&OntheHeavensIII,5,304bl3f.
it.+Andthestarrybodyindeed,ismovedtowardstheleadingparts,in
conjunctionwiththewholecirculation,butithasalsoaperpetual
motion,originatingfromitself,andbearingaresemblanceofdianoetic
3,121energy,andofintellectualandeternalmotion.Throughamotionalso
inthesame,ithasthesamemotionwiththeuniverse,butthrough

alwaysdiscursivelyproceedingaboutthesamethings,ithasalwaysan
arrangementreferringtothesameend,participatesofthesamesoul,and
isconvertedtothesameintellect.
Itisnecessarytherefore,tomakeadivisionofthewordsofPlato
conformablytothesedogmas,afterthefollowingmanner:Hegaveto
eachofthestarstwomotions,one,inthesame,andaboutthesame
things,bythesame,understandingthemotionaboutthepropercentre
Dofthestar.Afterwards,makingastop,itwillbenecessarytoadd,
alwaysdianoetically,perceivinginitselfthesamethingaboutthesame
things.Foritisevidentthatthepsychicalmotionwhichishere
signified,hasalwaysadianoeticperceptionofrealbeings.Forthisis
manifestedbythewords,"aboutthesamethings,andthesamething."
Forthestarrysouldoesnotatdifferenttimes,dianoeticallyperceive
differentlyaboutthesamethings,asisthecasewithoursouls.Again,
wemustsaythatbytheadvancingmotion,ismeantthecorporeal
motionofthestar,accordingtowhichitwhollypassesfromoneplace
toanother.Andafterwardsbymakingastop,wemustadd,Throughthe
dominationofthesameandsimilarcirculation,callingthiscirculation,the
motionofthecircleofthesameofthewholesouloftheuniverse,by
whichalso,thesoulofeachofthestarsisvanquished,andthroughthe
imitationofwhichitismovedtothatwhichisbeforeitself.Andthis
istrulytobeledbyitsintellectualenergies,andtocoassimilate*itself
tothedivineperiodsofit.Itisevidenthowever,thatthisadvancing
motionalonepertainstothingsthatarewhollytransferredfromone
placetoanother.Forthestarsindeed,haveanadvancingmotion,but
nottheinerraticsphere,sincethisisalonemovedinacircle.Thusalso
Etheplanetsaremovedwithanadvancingmotion,butnotthespheresof
theplanets.5
Againtherefore,wemayperceivetheorderofthethings,fromthe
3,122numberofthemotions.Forthemotionoftheuniverseisuniform;that
tcf.Rep.X,614c.
$Forovvetotuovaahere,readovve^Ofioiovact.
InsteadofmTtXavu^vaiinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadatit\avu>iitvuv
otpttipm.
ofthefixedstars,isbiformed;andthatofsublunarybodies,ismultiform
andindefinite.Forthougheachoftheplanetsismovedwithauniform
motion,yetthecommixtureofmanyperiods,bothoftheperiod
appropriatetoeach,andofthatwhichisinconjunctionwiththe
inerraticsphere,causesthelationtobevarious.Foritisrequisitethat
thecausesofvariety,andtheprinciplesofcontrariety,shouldbe
antecedentlycomprehendedintheheavens.Orhowcouldtheheavens

contain*generation,howcouldtheygovernthemutationofthe
sublunaryelements,unlesstheycomprehendedinthemselvesthecause
ofcontrariety?Sincehowever,theyareimmaterial,sofarasthisis
possibleinsensibles,thecontrariesinthemarenothostileto,norin
seditionwitheachother,buttheyareconsubsistentwitheachother,and
thesamethingismovedwithtwofoldcirculations,oneofwhichisnot
essential,andtheotheraccordingtoaccident,ifImayspeakwhat
appearstometobethecase;butboththecirculationsareessential.For
whatisthereintheheavenswhichisanaccident,sinceallthingsthere
Fareimmaterial,andallthingsderivetheirsubsistencefromthewhole
fabrication?Hencefigureandmotionarethereessential.Since
thereforetheheavensareimmaterial;bywhichImean,thattheyare
exemptfromthissublunarymatter,whichisinefficacious,possessesa
spuriousbeauty,andisdeformityitself;thisbeingthecase,they
comprehendinthemselvesatonce,contrarymotions.Forbeing
externaltothissublunarymatter,whichsustainsnothing,contraries
concurinthem,andareunitedtoeachother.Butinthissublunary
mattertherearehostileoppositions,fromnotbeingablethroughits
imbecility,toreceivethepresenceofboththeforms.Andthusmuch
concerningthemotionsofthestars.
277AItisevidenthowever,thatthefivemotionswhichPlatotakesaway
fromthefixedstarsare,theupwardsanddownwards,thebackward
motion,andthemotiontotherighthand,andtheleft.Forhehad
beforetakenthesixmotionsfromtheinerraticsphere.*Tothefixed
starshowever,hegaveanadvancingmotion,inorderthattheymight
bemovedwiththemotionoftheuniverse;buttotheplanetshegives,
notonlyanadvancing,ordirectmotion,butalsoaretrogrademotion;5
foraccordingtothelatteralone,theyaresaidtowander.Noroughtwe
towonder,ifwhathebeforecalledtotherighthand,henow
tForittputeihere,itisrequisitetoreadTepiexei.
tTim.34a.
Tim.36c.
denominatestotheanteriorpart.Foraswithreferencetothewhole
circulationitistotherighthand;butaswithreferencetothestars,to
theanteriorpart.Anditseems,thatsofarastheworldisone,ithas
onemotionwhichisespeciallyaboutintellectandwisdom;*butsofar
asitisdividedintotheinerraticsphereandplanetaryregion,ithas
throughatwofoldcirculation,amotiontotherighthand,andtothe
left;andsofarasitcontainspartialanimals,fixedandwandering,ithas
adirectandretrogrademotion;theformerbeingthemotionofthefixed
Bstars,butthelatteroftheplanets.Itseemsalso,sofarasitispossible
topredictfromthesethings,thateachofthefixedstarsmovessimilarly

totheinerraticsphere,aboutitsowncentre,butascirculatingtowards
thewest.Forthuslikewiseeachbeingmovedbythewholesphere,is
movedtothatwhichisbeforeitself.Forthattowhichthemotionof
athingisdirectedaccordingtonature,isanteriortothething.*Hence
thattowhichthecirculationofeachofthestarsisdirected,istowards
thewest,thatthusthemotionofit,maybesimilartothatofits
wholeness;justastheeastisanteriortotheplanetstowhichtheyare
movedaccordingtonature.Anadvancingmotiontherefore,isthe
motionofthefixedstars,andnotoftheplanets.Forthereissomething
externaltotheformer;sinceonethinginthemistheleader,butthe
otherfollows.5Thewholespherehowever,ofthefixedstarstranscends
allrectilinearmotion,andisalonemovedcircularly.Youmayalsosay,
thattheplanetshaveapeculiarmotion,andthatthisistowardstheeast;
butthatatthesametime,theycirculatewhollythroughthedepthof
theirspheres;andlikewise,thattheeastisanteriortothem,butthat
throughtheinerraticsphere,theyhavearetrogrademotion,whichis
contrarytotheirownpropermotion.
COfthesixmotionstherefore,Platoascribestothefixedstars,that
whichistotheanteriorparts;andhenceyoumayinfer,thatthismotion
ismorehonourablethantherest.ForasAristotlesays,themotionof
thatwhichismostexcellent,ismostexcellent.Hence,oftheother
motions,thelocalisthebest;butoflocalmotions,thefirst,isthe
circular,butthesecond,theadvancingordirectmotion.Forthelatter
motionpertainstothefixedstars;buteachofthemisimmoveableand
stable,withrespecttothefivemotions.ForPlatomentionsboththese,
tTim.34a.
tcf.AristotleOntheHeavensII,2,248b21ff.
ie.Inthefixedstars,thewholesphereistheleaderbuteachofthestarsinthis
spherefollowsthesphereitself.
lestyoushouldthinkthatthisimmobilityisaremission,sluggishness,
andprivation,andinorderthatyoumayconceiveittopertaintothe
fixedstars,throughatranscendencyofnature.Butthisisevidentfrom
whatfollows:forhesays,thatitis"inorderthateachofthem,might
becomeasmuchaspossiblemostexcellent."Forifanimmobilitywith
respecttothefivemotions,hasforitsultimateend,thebeautyandgood
oftheorderofthecelestialbodies,itisnotthenonpossessionof
vitality,andprivation,butapowerwhichpredominatesovervariety.
Forthecircleoftheinerraticsphere,comprehendsallmotion,in
whateverwayitmaybeeffected;buttheadvancingmotionofthestars
containedinit,evidentlyunfoldsintolight,theprincipleofarectilinear
Dprogression;andthevarietyoftheplanetsconductsandgovernsallthe
indefinitenessofgeneration,asproximatelymovingitinanallvarious

mannerbytheirevolutions.Platotherefore,ascribesamotionofthis
kindtothefixedstars.
Letsuchhowever,asmovetheminconsequentia,orwitharetrograde
motion,aboutthepolesofthezodiac,throughaportionofahundred
years,asPtolemyandHipparchuspriortohimdid,confidingin
observations,knowinthefirstplace,thattheEgyptianspriortothese,
employingobservations,andstillpriortotheEgyptians,theChaldeans,
beingtaughtbytheGods,priortoobservations,wereofasimilar
opinionwithPlato,concerningthemotionofthefixedstars.Forthe
Oraclesnotonceonlybutfrequentlyspeakoftheadvancingprocession
ofthefixedstars.Fortheysay,*"Themenstrualcourse,andthestarry
advancingprocession."Andagain,"Theadvancingstarryprocessionwas
notgeneratedforyoursake."Thetheurgist[Julian]likewise,inhis
doctrinaltreatises,whenspeakingaboutthethirdfather*says,"He
3,125establishedthenumerousmultitudeoffixedstars,compellingfiretofire.
Buthefixedthemwithastability5voidofawanderingmotion."0In
Ewhichwords,heclearlytestifies,thatthefixedstarsmoveinthesame
place,andaboutthesamethings;sothattheopinionofPlatoderives
credibilityfromboth.Towhichmaybeadded,thatthephenomenaare
sufficienttopersuadethosethathaveeyes.Foritisevident,thatifthe
fixedstarsweremovedaboutthepolesofthezodiacwitharetrograde
motion,theBearwhichsetsintheseplaces,andwhichfromthetimes
tForthefollowingthreequotes,seeChald.Orad.fr.64,107and200.
$Le.AboutJupitertheDemiurgus.
For7TIJFFvaXivinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirr/fgKXavrfv.
cf.280Bffinfra,p.844.
ofHomer,*hasbeensooftencelebratedasalwayssplendidinthesame
mannerasitisnow,oughttohavebeenmovedmorethanfifteen
degrees,andnotaboutthepoleoftheequinoctial.ThestarCanobus*
also,oughtnolongertoappearmakingashortperiod,abovethe
horizon,tothoseinthethirdclimate;5butasPosidoniussays,oughtto
beseenbythoseinRhodespassingbythehorizon.TheBearhowever
isalwaysresplendent,andCanobuspreservesthesameposition.The
motionofthefixedstarsthereforeinconsequentia,whichisso
celebratedbythesemen,isnottrue.Butifadducing0thebaneful
motionsoftheplanets,andthecalculationsofnativities,inproofofthis
retrogrademotionofthefixedstars,theyfancytheyshallspeak
conformablytothephaenomena,itmustbesaidtothem,thatthosealso
whoarenotofthisopinionrespectingthemotionofthefixedstars,
Faccordinaremarkabledegreewiththephaenomena.Andalsothatin
formingcanonsrespectingthemotionsoftheplanets,andinstudying
thedoctrineofnativities,theyarenotatallinwantofthishypothesis

ofthemotionofthefixedstarsinconsequentia.ButthemenI
particularlyalludeto,aretheChaldeans,whohadobservationsofwhole
mundaneperiods.Whytherefore,shouldweadduceasatestimony,the
278Arecordsofafewobservations,andviewsofajuvenilenature,whichare
notaccompaniedwithsuchgreataccuracy,whentheveryextended
3,126observationoftheChaldeansbearwitnesstothedogmaoftheancients,
concerningthemotionofthefixedstars?3Forthosewhodothis,are
ignorantthatitispossibletocollectsomethingtruefromfalse
hypotheses,andthatitisnotpropertothink,thataconclusionwhich
accordswiththephaenomena,isasufficientproofofthetruthofthe
hypotheses.
tcf.ILIADXVIII,487f.
$CanobusorCanopus,isamostbrightfixedstarofthefirstmagnitude,inthe
helmoftheshipArgo.
VIZ.InAlexandria.Foraccordingtotheancientstherearesevenclimates,thefirst
ofwhichwascalledMeroe;thesecond,Syene;thethird,Alexandria;thefourth,
Rhodes;thefifth,Rome,ortheHellespont;thesixth,theEuxinesea;andtheseventh,
themouthoftheBoristhenes.Vid.Plin.Hist.Nat.L.6.c.8.
Intheorigind,ti8eKmTCLQtvxitpopiotc.rr\qruivirXavupevuvKivriatuq,which
isverycorrupt,therebeingnosuchwordas^vxupopuxc,.Ireadtherefore,15fKmra
c^X<xpdopa<;ruvTtXavupevuvKICTJATIC.
40b"Andfromthiscause,suchofthestarsasareinerraticweregenerated,
beingdivineanimals;andonthisaccounttheyalwaysremain1"revolving
insame.Butthestarswhichbothrevolveandhavesuchawandering,
aswehavebeforementioned,wereproducedconformablytothese."
Thecauseofthegenerationofthestarscomprehendsallthemost
properprinciplesofthem,viz.theparadigmatic,thedemiurgic,andthe
final.Forfromallthese,thestarsweregeneratedsuchastheyare,and
withthemotionswhichtheypossess.Theinerraticspherehowever,
exhibitsauniformmotion,andwhichalwaysproceedsafterthesame
Bmanner.Buttheirbeingcalleddivineanimals,indicatesthatintellect
andadivinesoularepresentwiththem,andpriortothese,theone
unity,accordingtowhicheachisaGod.Forbecauseeachisananimal,
ithasasoulbywhichitismoved;butbecausealso,eachisadivine
animal,itissuspendedfromadivineintellect.Foritisnotintellect
whichmakesittobedivine,sincetherearelikewiseangelicaland
demoniacalintellects;butthedivineintellectofthewholeofthis,differs
fromthatwhichisnotdivineinthis,thatitissuspendedfromdeity,
whichcausesittobeadivineintellect.Butrevolutionalwaysremaining
insame,exhibitsaperpetuityintheheavens,accordingtowhichthe
starsalwaysoccupythesameplaceoftheheavens,beingmovedabout
theirowncentres,andalsothepossessionofanevolvedenergy,andan

unceasinglife.Suchthereforeasmakethestarstobeinanimate,or
fancythatthesoulsofthecelestialbodiesaremutablelikeours,orthat
thegenerationofthemisintime,wanderfromthemeaningofPlato.
Forifacertainanimalisdivine,ithasadivinesoul,andisnotalone
3,127animatedbythesouloftheuniverse.*ForthereisalsointheEartha
divineanimal,sinceEarthistheoldestandmostvenerableoftheGods;
andtherearelikewisecertainlivingthingsinit,whichhaveentelecheias
fromthesouloftheuniversealone;butthesearenotanimals.And
Cfartherstill,becausethestarsalwaysremaininmotion,theyneither
possessedasoulfromacertaintime,norwillatacertaintime,loseit.
Forthetermalways,manifeststemporalimmutability,bothaccording
tothepastandthefuturetime.Andthusmuchconcerningthefixed
stars.
tThetextofProclushaserroneouslyinthisplaceSwot/iei,insteadofwhich,it
appearsfromtheCommentaryofProclus,weshouldreadbuxiievei:thoughallthe
printededitionsoftheTinueushaveinsteadofthis/xeva.
tcf.275Bf,supra,p.829.
Withrespecttotheplanetshowever,Platoagainremindsus,thatthey
havevariousmotions,butorderly,andaccordingtomeasuresand
boundaries.Forthesimplicityofthemcomprehendsmultitude,order
connectstheirvariety,andmeasuredefinestheirwandering.Whatthen
doesPlatonowmeanbyremindingusofthis,andwhatindicationdoes
itaffordus?Somethereforesaythatitmanifeststhis,thatthoughthe
planetsinacertainrespecttranscendthefixedstars,sofarastheyare
allottedarulingandcosmocratoricdignity1intheuniverse,andas
theologistssayanazonicauthority;forineachofthecosmocratorsthere
isanazonic*orderofGods:yetatthesametime,theyareinferiorto
them,throughtheirwanderingandtheallvariousdiversityoftheir
motions.Andwealsosaythatthereisnoabsurdityinadmitting,that
thesamethingmaysurpassandbesurpassedbythesamethings,
accordingtodifferentconceptions.Butweshouldconsider,whether
DPlatobyspeakingoftheplanetspriortothefixedstars,anddelivering
theorder,motion,andpowersofthem,andalsotheirperiods,and
apocatastases,andagain,resumingthementionofthemafterthefixed
stars,doesnotdothis,becausethediscussionofthemissecondaryto
thatofthefixedstars,throughthevarietyoftheirmotion.5Itis
commontherefore,bothtothefixedstarsandtheplanets,thatallof
themaredivineanimals.Forthisisclearlyassertedofboth.Andofthe
fixedstarsindeeditispeculiarlyasserted,thattheyaremovedwitha
propermotioninthesame,andaboutthesamethings;butofthe
3,128planets,thatproceedingthroughtheheavens,theyhaverevolutions;just
ashenowsays,thattheyhavearevolvingmotion.Henceheis
evidentlyofopinion,thattheplanetsbecomethroughthemselves,more

remotefrom,andnearertotheearth,andthattheirrevolutions
accordingtobreadth,aremadebytheirownprogressions,andnot
throughbeingcarriedbyotherthings,suchasevolvents,orepicycles.
Thatthislikewisearisesfromtheonenatureofthem,possessingboth
one,andavariousmotion,throughwhichtheyadvanceandrecede,
Ebeingtransformedintheirrevolutions,inaspiralandallvarious
manner.Hencethelationofthemistriple;onebeingthatbywhich
togetherwithbeingmovedabouttheircentres,theyarealsomoved
fForaiTLUVhere,itisrequisitetoreadalwtv.
XTheazonicGodsarethosethatformthatorderofdivinitieswhichisimmediately
situatedabovethemundaneGods.TheseGodswhoarecalledazonicbytheChaldean,
aredenominatedliberatedbytheGreektheologists.Accordingtotheformerlikewise,
Serapis,Bacchus,andtheseriesofOsiris,andofApollo,areazonicGods.
Foricoivrioeuqhere,readKivqaeuq.
840
accordingtobreadthanddepth;anotherthroughwhichtheyare
convolvedinacirclebytheirproperspheres,*tothelefthand;and
another,bywhichtheyaremoved,throughthelationofthecircleof
thesamevanquishingthatofallthecircleofthedifferent.Andthus
muchconcerningtheseparticulars,whicharespeculationspeculiartothe
philosophyofPlato.
Ifhoweveryoushouldinquirewhatthenatureisoftheplanets,both
ofthestarsthemselves,andthewholespheres,andwhetherthatofthe
formeristhesameasthenatureofthelatter,ordifferent,wereplyby
recurringtothePlatonicprinciples,thatallheavenconsistsofallthe
elements;butthatinoneplace,fireinconjunctionwithearthhas
dominion,butinanother,fireinconjunctionwiththesummitofwater,
andinanother,firewiththesummitofair;andthatthrougheachof
these,thevarietyismostabundant.Hence,somethingsintheheavens
aremorevisiblethanothers;andthesearesuchashavefirein
conjunctionwithsolidity.Butothersarelessvisible,*andtheseare
suchashavefireinconjunctionwithtransparentsplendour,andthe
Fdiaphanous.Andonthisaccountindeeditispossibletoseethebodies
whichareinthehigherregioninthesamemannerasbodiescanbeseen
throughtheair.Butthebodieswhichhavefireinconjunctionwith
transparency,darkenoursight[throughexcessofsplendour].If
however,5thesethingsarerightlyassertedbyus,thespheresindeedof
thestarshaveveryproperlyamoreattenuatedanddiaphanous,butthe
stars,amoresolidessence.Butfireeverywherepredominates,andall
heavenischaracterizedbyitspower.Thefirehowever,whichisthere,
isneithercaustic,(sincethisisnoteventhecasewiththefirstofthe
3,129sublunaryelements,whichAristotleisaccustomedtocallfiery

279Aformed,)0norcorruptiveofanything,norcontrarytoearth,butis
resplendentwithvivificheatandilluminativepower,withpurityand
transparentsplendour.Forthevehementisonething,andthepure
another,asSocratesshowsinthePhilebus.Hence,thefirewhichis
thereislight;anditisnotpropertodisturbthediscussionofit,by
directingourattentiontothegrossanddarkfireofthesublunary
tIntheoriginalCKJxxipuvisomitted,butoughtevidendytobeinserted.
XInsteadofoparurepahere,itisnecessarytoreadaoparurepa.
Foreioeihere,itisrequisitetoreadi677.
cf.273Cff,supra,p.824;anddsoAristotleOntheHeavensII,392a5ff.
ocf.Philebus52c.
region.Afterthismannertherefore,thespeculationoftheplanetswill
beadaptedtowhathasbeenbeforesaid.
Therearehowever,otherdivineanimals*followingthecirculationsof
theplanets,theleadersofwhicharethesevenplanets;allwhichPlato
comprehendsinwhatisheresaid.Forthesealsorevolve,andhavea
wanderingofsuchakindasthatwhichhealittlebefore,mentionedof
thesevenplanets.Fortheyrevolveinconjunctionwith,andmaketheir
apocatastasestogetherwiththeirprinciples,justasthefixedstarsare
governedbythewholecirculation[oftheinerraticsphere].These
planetarybodiestherefore,whichwereproducedconformablytothe
Bfixedstars,hesaysweremadeforthesakeofthegenerationoftime,*
inorderthattheymightcooperateinitsproduction,leadingforthinto
theworlddifferenttemporalmeasures,throughtheiranomalousand
perpetualmotion;ofwhichtheonetimeiscomprehensive,possessing
oneperiodicnumber,whichcontainsallvariousperiodicnumbersin
itself.Butwhenheassertsthatthefixedstarsaremovedabouttheir
centres,inconjunctionwithanadvancingmotion,hedoesnotalsosay
thattheycooperateintheproductionoftime,thoughtheyhavea
periodicnumberoftheirproperapocatastasis,accordingtowhichthe
wholeoftimeismeasured;butspeakingabouttheplanetsinaway
adaptedtophysiology,heparticularlymentionsthosethingsinwhich
hehadsenseasawitnessofthedifferentmotionoftheplanets.Forwe
cannotassumeanythingfromsense,respectingthedifferentnumbersof
themotionofthefixedstars,andoftheperiodswhichtheymakein
3,130theirrevolutions.Heparticularlytherefore,makesmentionofthis,viz.
thattheplanetsweregeneratedforthesakeoftime,throughthe
evidence,whichwederivefromsense,ashehimselfremindsus.Butwe
Chavealreadyansweredthose,whodenythattheheavensconsistoffire,
becausefirenaturallytendsupward.Againtherefore,itisnecessaryto
remindthem,astheyareloversofcontention,thattheyspeakabsurdly.

Fortheylooktothefirewhichishere,andwhichhasapreternatural
subsistence.Forthoughyoushouldassumethefirewhichis
immediatelyunderthemoon,yettobemovedupwardisnotnaturalto
it,buttoabideinitsownplace.Buttobemovedupward,leadsindeed
toasubsistenceaccordingtonature,yetisnotitselfaccordingtonature.
Foratendencytohealthisnotaccordingtonaturetoabody,buttobe
well;buttobeconvalescent,isalonenaturaltoadiseasedbody;justas
tAndthese,aswehavebeforeobserved,arewhatthemodernscallsatellites.
XTim.38b.
tofire,whichisnotperfectlyfire,totendupwardisaccordingto
nature,buttofirewhichisinenergy,itisnaturaltoabideonhigh,in
whichplaceabiding,ifitshouldbemoved,itwouldalonehavea
circularmotion.Butifitistrue,thatthesummitoffireinthe
sublunaryregion,ismovedinacircleinconjunctionwithaether,as
Aristotlesays,thisinagreaterdegreedemonstratesthatfireisofa
circulatingnature.1Forifthisfirealso,isalwaysmovedinacircle,as
farasitisable,itissomovedaccordingtonature.Forthatwhichis
preternaturalisnotperpetual.Buteverythingviolentispreternatural.
DIfthereforethefirewhichisimmediatelyunderthemoon,isathingof
thiskind,whydotheydoubtrespectingtheheavenlybodies,andso
frequentlyadducethemotionoffiretowardstheupperregions.
AsAristotlehowever,inquireswhythesphereofthefixedstars,being
one,comprehendsmanystars,butineachoftheplanetaryspheres,
whicharemany,thereisonlyonestar,thesolutionofthisconformably
tohisopinion,maybeobtainedfromhiswritings.Butwehavealready
saidsomethingconcerningthis,*andnowagreeablytowhathasbeen
3,131beforeasserted,wesay,thateachoftheplanetsisawholeworld,
comprehendinginitselfmanydivinegenerainvisibletous.Ofallthese
however,thevisiblestarhasthegovernment.Andinthis,thefixed
starsdifferfromthoseintheplanetaryspheres,thattheformerhaveone
monad,5whichisthewholenessofthem;butthatineachofthelatter
thereareinvisiblestars,whichrevolvetogetherwiththeirspheres;so
thatineach,thereisboththewholeness,andaleaderwhichisallotted
Eanexempttranscendency.Fortheplanetsbeingsecondarytothefixed
stars,requireatwofoldprefecture,theonemoretotal,buttheother
morepartial.Butthatineachofthese,thereisamultitudecoordinate
witheach,youmayinferfromtheextremes.Foristheinerraticsphere
hasamultitudecoordinatewithitself,andearthisthewholenessof
terrestrial,inthesamemannerastheinerraticsphereisofcelestial
animals,itisnecessarythateach[intermediate]wholeness,should
entirelypossesscertainpartialanimalscoordinatewithitself;through
whichalso,theyaresaidtobewholenesses.Theintermediatenatures

however,areconcealedfromoursense,theextremesbeingmanifest;one
ofthemthroughitstranscendentlyluminousessence,andtheother
throughitsalliancetous.Iflikewise,partialsoulsaredisseminated
tcf.AristodeMeteoricsI,4,341bl4ff.
tcf.277Aff,supra,p.835.
Andthisonemonadisthesphereofthefixedstars.
aboutthem,*someaboutthesun,othersaboutthemoon,andothers
abouteachoftherest,andpriortosouls,daemonsgivecompletionto
theherdsofwhichtheyaretheleaders,*itisevidentlywellsaid,that
eachofthespheresofaworld;theologistsalsoteachingusthesethings
whentheysaythatthereareGodsineachpriortodaemons,someof
whichareunderthegovernmentofothers.Thusforinstance,they
FassertconcerningourmistresstheMoon,5thattheGoddessHecate,is
containedinher,DandalsoDiana.0Thustoo,inspeakingofthe
sovereignSun,andtheGodsthatarethere,theycelebrateBacchusas
beingthere
TheSun'sassessor,whowithwatchfuleyesurveys
Thesacredpole.
ChaldaeanOracle,fr.9(Kr)
3,132TheylikewisecelebratetheJupiterwhoisthere,Osiris,thesolarPan,
andothersofwhichthebooksoftheologistsandtheurgistsarefull;from
allwhichitisevident,thateachoftheplanetsistrulysaidtobethe
leaderofmanyGods,whogivecompletiontoitspeculiarcirculation.4
Afterthismannertherefore,wedissolvethedoubt.
Itisrequisitehowever,fromwhathasbeensaid,tocollectthisone
280Athing,thatthefixedstars,accordingtoPlato,aresuperiortotheplanets,
notonlyinplace,butalsoindignity.Foroftheformerhesays,**
"thattheDemiurgusplacedtheminthewisdomofthecircleofthesame;"
butofthelatter,**"thattheDemiurgusplacedtheminthecirculations,
madebytheperiodofthecircleofthedifferent;"sothattheformeralone
liveinconjunctionwiththeintellectuallifeofthecircleofthesame,but
thelatterwiththerevolutionofthecircleofthedifferent.Forthisis
entirelythecasewiththelatter,becausetheyareconvolvedin
conjunctionwiththeinerraticsphereinthesamemannerasthefixed
tTim.42d.
$cf.47Fff,supra,p.147.
Orph.fr.138,309.
InsteadofTJEKCKTT)Bearnwcuwevown]inthisplace,whichisevidendy
erroneous,Ireadr\Euan}8eaearivevavrr).

oOrph.fr.169.
ttTim.40a.
Tim.38c.
stars,buttheyarealsoconvolvedtogetherwiththeperiod*ofthecircle
ofthedifferent.Iftherefore,theformerimmediatelyparticipateofa
moredivinelife,butthelatterthroughthemediumofaninferiorlife,
itnecessarilyfollows,thattheformerareofasuperior,butthelatterof
asubordinatedignity.Henceitseems,ifitberequisitetoinferany
thingfromthesethings,thatthesoulsofthefixedstars,thoughthey
haveboththecircles;buttheyhaveboth,becauseoursoulsalso,as
Platosays,havethecircleofthesame,andthecircleofthedifferent;yet
theylivemoreaccordingtotheformercircle,andonthisaccount,live
inagreaterdegreeinconjunctionwiththecirclewhichresemblesthat
Bofthewholesouloftheuniverse.Butthesoulsoftheplanets,livein
agreaterdegreeaccordingtothelattercircle.Hence,alsotheirbodies
aremovedwithvariousmotions,andareinsertedintherevolutionsof
thecircleofthedifferent.Theseinferenceslikewise,maybereasonably
madebythose,wholooktothemotionsofthemalone,whichisthe
peculiarityofthephysicaltheory.Thustoo,the[Chaldean]theurgist
(Julian]teachingusconcerningthewisdomofthefixedstarsandthe
planets,saysofthefabricationofthefixedstars:"Thefatherestablished
thenumerousmultitudeofinerraticstars,notbyalaboriousandevil
tension,butsoasthattheymightbemoved*withastabilityvoidofa
wanderingmotion."Butbythewordestablished,thetheurgistmanifests
amotioninthesame,andaccordingtothesamethings.And
concerningtheplanetshesays,"Thefathermadetheplanetssixin
number,andfortheseventh,hehurledintothemidstthefireofthe
3,133sun;suspendingtheirdisorderlymotioninorderlydisposedzones."
Callingtheanomalousnatureoftheirmotions,disorderly;butthe
motionwhichpredominatesoverthezonesinwhichtheyarearranged,
orderlydisposed;representingtousthecircumductionofdisorderinto
Corder.Fortheyarenotmovedanomalouslythroughimbecility,like
inanimatenatures,butthroughthewillofthepowersthatpresideover
them.Healsoexhibitstoustheirdifferentintellectionswhichhecalls
zones,throughtheorderinwhichtheyarearranged.Andhesaysthat
theapparentirregularity5oftheirbodies,iscircularlyledbythemtoan
tForpera5errjrovdarepovnpwduinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,peraHe
rr/crovBctrepovntptobov.
%Insteadofxi)i6eic\avr\vOVK{Xovor/xpupevuvinthisplace,itisrequisiteto
read,conformablytothecollectionoftheChaldeanOraclesbyPatricius,7T7jg8e
rXavrivOVKexovorj(peptodcu.
appropriateorder,inconsequenceofpreservingeachofthembytheir

powers.
40bc"ButhemachinatedEarthournurse;whobeingconglobedaboutthe
pole,whichisextendedthroughtheuniverse,istheguardianand
Demiurgusofnightandday,andisthefirstandmostancientofthe
Gods*thatweregeneratedwithintheheavens."
Thephysiologyconcerningtheearthisproximatelyconnectedwith
thediscussionofthemotionofthestars;notthatTimasusnowfirst
producesitthroughthese,forhehadalreadyconstitutedit,whenhe
representedtheworldasconsistingofthewholeelements,boththe
extremeandthemiddle;*butbecausetheconsiderationoftheearth
contributestothediscussionoftheprogressionoftheplanetsandfixed
stars,oftime,andthetemporalperiods,asitwasgeneratedtheguardian
ofnightandday.Forallheavendancesround,andcircularlyrevolves
Daboutit,andasrankingamongphysicalbodies,itisthecentreofthe
universe.Fortheimpartiblecentreisonething,asinthemosttrue
3,134sphere,whichcomprehendsonallsidesthatwhichisphysical,which
alsoisthepowerofthesphere,havinganarrangementanalogoustothe
poles;andthephysicalcentreisanother,whichnatureestablishedinthe
middle,aboutwhichallthestarsaremovedinacircle,andtowhich
theytransmittheirenergies,andwhichalsowesayistheearth.Hence,
Platohavingspokenconcerningthecirculationoftheheavenlybodies,
veryproperlyconjoinswithwhathasbeensaid,thediscussionofthe
earth.Fartherstill,accordingtoanothermode,thenatureoftheearth
hastherelationofamother,tothecelestialorder.Forsuchthingsas
Heavenproducespaternally,Earthproducesmaternally.Forallthe
meteors,throughwhichthecircleofgenerationiseffected,5derivetheir
subsistencefromHeaven,asfromafather,whogovernssupernallyevery
materialandflowingessence,butfromEarthasfromamother.Forshe
affordsmatterforexhalations,fromthesubstanceswhichflowtogether
Eintoher,justasHeavenimpartstothemformandmorphe.Through
tTheBipont,andthereforeIsupposealltheeditionsofPlato,havehere
erroneouslyouparuvinsteadofdeuv.Themanuscripthowever,fromwhichFicinus
madehistranslationoftheTimceushadtherightreadinginthisplace.Forhisversion
ofthispartis,"Terrainautemaltricemnostram,circapolumperuniversumextensum
alligatam,dieinoctisqueeffectricemetcustodemessevoluit,necnonprimamanuquis
simamquedeorumomniumquaeintracoelumsuntgeniti."
Xcf.Tim.31bff.
Forevraiavhere,itisnecessarytoreadarauxv.ForeTriiroXeiTcahere,itis
necessarytoreadenrekevrui.
thiscausetherefore,Platoveryproperlycoarrangesthediscussionofthe
earthwiththatoftheheavens,lookingtothenatureitselfofthings,the

concordandcommunionofthetwo,andsurveyingtheirkindred
conjunctionintheirprinciples.Moreover,throughtheorderofhis
discussion,hemakesthepowerofanalogytobemanifestinreality;by
assumingthediscourseabouttheplanetsinthefirstplace,andinthe
middle,anddeliveringthediscussionofEarth,priortothatofother
sublunarydaemons.Forthustheextremesbecomethefirstandthe
middle,andagain,themediaaretransferredintotheorderofthe
extremes:butanalogyisespeciallyadaptedtoaccomplishthis.*
Accordingtoallmodestherefore,thephysiologyoftheEarthis
connascentwiththetheoryoftheHeavens.Andthusmuchconcerning
theorderofthediscussion.
WhathoweverisEarth,whencedoessheproceed,howisshesaidto
beournurse,andhowisshethemostancientandfirstoftheGods?
Forifweshallbeabletounderstandthesethings,weshallobtainthe
3,135theoryconcerninghersufficientlyforthepresentpurpose.Earththen
Fproceedsprimarilyfromtheintelligibleearthwhichunically
comprehendsalltheintelligibleordersoftheGods,andiseternally
establishedinthefather.*ItalsoproceedsfromtheintellectualEarth
whichiscoarrangedwithHeaven,andalltheproductionsofwhichit
receives.Forbeinganalogoustothese,italsoabidesperpetuallyasin
thecentreoftheheavens,andbeingcontainedonallsidesbythem,is
fullofgenerativepower,anddemiurgicperfection.Thetrueearth
therefore,isneitherthiscorporealformedandgrossbulk;foritwillnot
281AbethemostancientoftheGodsfromitsbulk,northefirstoftheGods
thatarearrangedwithintheheavens;norisitthesoulofthisbody;for
itwouldnotbe,asPlatosaysitis,extendedaboutthepoleofthe
universe,sincenotthesoul,butthebodyoftheearthisathingofthis
kind;butifitbenecessarytospeakwhatismosttrueconcerningit,it
isananimalconsistingofadivinesoul,andalivingbody.Hencethe
wholeis,asPlatosays,ananimal.Forthereareinitanimmaterialand
separateintellect;adivinesouldancingroundthisintellect;anethereal
bodyproximatelysuspendedfromitsinformingsoul;andinthelast
placethisvisiblebulk,whichisonallsidesinspiredwithlifebythe
vehicle5ofthissoul,withwhichalsobeingfilled,itgeneratesand
tcf.Tim.31c.
iViz.inetherorhound,thesummitoftheintelligibletriad.
Insteadofaxruxaroqhere,itisnecessarytoreadox?/iaroc.
nourishesallvariousanimals.Forsomeanimals*arerootedinit,but
othersaremovedaboutit.Andthislikewise,Aristotleperceiving,was
ashamednottogivetotheearthanaturallife.Forwhenceisitthat
plantswhiletheyremainintheearthlive,butwhendivulsedfromit
die,unlessthisearthlymasswasfulloflife?Itisnecessaryalsoto

Bassumeuniversally,thatwholesareanimatedpriortoparts.Forit
wouldberidiculousthatmanindeedshouldparticipateofarationalsoul
andofintellect,butthatnosoulshouldbeassignedtotheearthandthe
air,supernallyridingin[asitwere]andgoverningtheelements,and
3,136preservingthemintheirproperboundaries.Forwholes,as
Theophrastussays,wouldhavelessauthoritythanparts,andperpetual
thancorruptiblenatures,iftheyweredestituteofsoul.Hence,itis
necessarytograntthatasoulandanintellectareintheearth;the
formercausingittobeprolific,butthelatterconnectedlycontainingit
inthemiddleoftheuniverse.
Earthherselftherefore,beingadivineanimal,isalsoaplenitudeof
intellectualandpsychicalessences,andofimmaterialpowers.Forifa
partialsoulhasbesidesamaterialbodyanimmaterialvehicleaswehave
elsewhereshown,whatoughtwetothinkofasoulsodivineasthatof
theearth?Isitnot,thatbyamuchgreaterpriorityvisiblebodiesare
suspendedfromthissoulthroughothervehiclesasmedia,andthat
throughthesethevisiblebodiesareabletoreceivetheilluminationsof
soul?SuchthenbeingthenatureofEarthherself,sheissaidtobeour
nurse;inthefirstplaceindeed,aspossessingapowerinacertainrespect
CequivalenttoHeaven.Forasthatcomprehendsinitselfdivineanimals,
thusalsoEarthisseentocontainterrestrialanimals.Butinthesecond
place,sheisournurse,asinspiringourlivesfromherownproperlife.
Forshenotonlyproducesfruits,andnourishesourbodiesthrough
these,butshealsofillsoursoulswiththeilluminationsofherself.For
beingadivineanimal,andgeneratinguswhoarepartialanimals,
throughherownbodyindeed,shenourishesandconnectedlycontains
ourbulk;butfromherownsoulperfectsours.Byherownintellect
likewise,sheexcitestheintellectwhichisinus;andthusaccordingto
thewholeofherselfbecomesthenurseofourwholecomposition.On
thisaccountitappearstomethatPlatocallsherournurse,indicatingby
thisherintellectualnutritiveenergy.Forifsheisournurse,butweare
trulysoulsandintellects,accordingtotheseespecially,shewillbethe
perfectorofouressence,movingandexcitingourintellectualpart.But
beingadivineanimalandcomprehendinginherselfmanypartial
tForaccordingtoPlato,plantsalso,ashavinglife,areanimals.
animals,sheissaidbyPlatotobeconglobedaboutthepolewhichis
extendedthroughtheuniverse;butsheiscontainedandcompressed
Daboutitsaxis.Fortheaxisalsoisthepole.Andthepoleisthusnow
3,137denominated,becausetheuniverserevolvesaboutit.Becausehowever
thepole[properlysocalled]isimpartible,buttheaxisisapolewith
interval,*justasifsomeoneshouldsaythatalineisaflowingpoint,
onthisaccount,thepoleissaidbyPlatotobeextendedthroughthe

universe,*asentirelypervadingthroughthecentreoftheEarth.
Butthewordillomenn,*whichhehereuses,manifeststheconglobed,
andtheconnectedlycontained.Foritdoesnotsignify,asAristotle
supposeditdid,Dthatwhichismoved.ForPlato,inaparticular
mannerpreservestheEarthimmoveable;andinthePhaedoaddsthe
cause,throughwhichitisimmovablyestablished."Forhesaysthata
thingwhichisequallyinclined,whenplacedinthemiddleofacertain
similarnature,cannottendmoreorlesstoonepartthananother,but
subsistingonallsidessimilarlyaffected,willremainfreefromall
inclination."TheGrecianuseofwordsalsotestifies,thattoillomenn
signifiestosynagomenn,thatwhichiscollectedorcongregated,andnot
thatwhichismoved.Foritcallsbondsilladas.Timaeuslikewise
Ehimselfinwhatfollowssays,"thatthehairswhicharerootedand
conglomeratedinthehead,withintheskin,areconglobed(illesthai).**
Fromthesethingstherefore,itisevidenthowheappliestheword
illesthaiinwhathenowsays,totheEarth.Butifassomesay,the
assertionthat"VestaaloneabidesinthedwellingoftheGods,"**is
spokenofthisearth,Platowillbeveryfarfromgivingmotiontothe
Earth.IfhoweverwedonotadmitthattheVestatherementionedis
theEarth,yetitmustbegranted,thatthereisaguardianpowerinthe
3,138EarthofthenatureofVesta.Foraswesay,thatintheHeavens,the
tcf.AristodeDeAnimaI,4,409a4,f.
%Platosaysbuziruvroc,,andnotbiarovTotvroc.:forProclusobserves,thathecould
nothaveemployedthelattermodeofexpression,withoutpronunciationthroughasoft
breathing.
SeewhatissaidbySimpliciusconcerningthiswordinthenotestomytranslation
ofAristode'streatiseOntheHeavens,p.236.
cf.AristodeOntheHeavensII,13,293b31;&14,296a26.
ocf.Phaedo109a.
ftcf.Tim.76bc.
fcThisisassertedinthePhcedrusofPlato[274a].
poles*areconnectedlycontainedbyVesta,thusalsoamongthe
elements,theEarth.Andas*thesupermundaneVesta,istothegreat
leaderofthetwelveGods,soinmundanenaturesistheEarthtothe
Heavens.Iflikewise,wedirectourattentiontothePythagoricTimaeus,
weshallinastillgreaterdegreerefusetoadmit,thattheEarthismoved.
Forhesays5"thattheEarthisestablishedinthemiddle."Andhowis
itreasonable,thatunderstandingillomennassignifyingeiloumenn,we
shouldmaketheEarthtorevolve,asconformabletothedoctrineof
Plato?LetHeraclidesPonticustherefore,whowasanauditorof0
FPlato,beofthisopinion;forheascribedacircularmotiontotheEarth;

butletitbeadmittedthatPlatoestablisheditimmoveable.Forifhe
hadmadetheperfectyeartoconsistnotonlyoftheeightperiods[ofthe
stars]buthadenumeratedtheearthastheninth,givingtoitan
apocatastasiswiththeothers,andmakingoneapocatastasisfromallof
themwiththatofthecircleofthesame[thenwemightapprehendthat
theEarthismovedaccordingtoPlato.0]Afterthismannertherefore,
weshouldinterpretthepoleandtheaxis,andtheEarthwhichis
containedaboutthese.
Itisnecessaryhoweverfromtheseassertionstobetakeourselvestothe
nature**oftheEarth,andsurveythepolesaspowersthatgivestability
totheuniverse,excitingindeedthewholebulkofittointelligiblelove,
282Aandimpartiblyconnectingthatwhichispartible,andunitedlyand
withoutintervalthatwhichisextendedbyinterval.Hencealso,Plato
intheRepublic,makesthespindleofLachesisofadamant,**indicating,
aswehavesaid,theirinflexibleanduntamedpower.Andwemust
considertheaxis,asthatonedivinitywhichcollectsthecentresofthe
universe,whichisconnectiveofthewholeworld,andmotiveofthe
divinecirculations;asthatalsoaboutwhichwholesdanceandare
convolved,andassustainingallHeaven,beingonthisaccount
tForiroXXot/chere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadffoXovc.
$Intheoriginal,u)Cisomitted.
cf.Tim.97d.
ForovYlkctruvoc,here,readrovUXaruvoi;.
OThewordswithinthebracketsareomittedintheorigind,butoughtevidently
tobeinserted.Henceitisnecessarytosupplyinthisplacethewords,rorevvoXaPoinev
KimoBetiri\vyr)vKaraUXaruva.
ttForemTTJV<pvaeiperievaiinthisplace,Iread,7rtTTJCyr)C(fwaivperuvat.
cf.Rep.X,616c;andalsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,208f.
denominatedAtlas,aspossessinganimmutableandunweariedenergy.
Thewordreranevovalso,orextended,usedherebyPlato,indicatesthat
3,139thisonepowerisTitannic,guardingthecirculationofwholes.Butif,
asthedivineIamblichussays,weunderstandbythepoleextended
throughtheuniverse,theHeavens,neitherthusshallwewanderfrom
theconceptionofPlato.ForasPlatosaysintheCratylus,*thosewho
areskilledinastronomycalltheHeavensthepole,asharmoniously
Brevolving.Accordingtothisconceptiontherefore,youmaycallHeaven
thepoleextendedthroughtheuniverse,asbeingincurvatedthroughthe
wholeofitselfinconsequenceofbeingwithoutanangle.Forafterthis
mannerthesuperficiesofacircleisextended.AboutthishoweverEarth
isconglobed,notlocally,butthroughadesireofbecomingassimilated
toitconvergingtothemiddle,inorderthatasHeavenismovedabout
thecentre,soshebytendingtothecentre,maybecomesimilartothat

whichisessentiallyspherical,beingherselfasmuchaspossible
conglobed.HencesheiscompressedaboutHeaveninsuchawayasto
bewhollyextendedabout[i.e.towards]it.
Accordingtoeachoftheseconceptionstherefore,Platodeliversthe
causethroughwhichEarthiscontainedinthemiddle.Fortheaxisis
apowerconnectiveofEarth;andEarthisonallsidescompressedbythe
circulationofHeaven,andiscollectedtogetherintothecentreofthe
universe.Earththereforebeingsuch,Timaeusafterwardsclearlyshows
whatutilitysheaffordstotheuniverse;forhecallshertheguardianand
artificerofdayandnight.Andindeed,thatsheisthemakerofnight,
isevident.Forsheproducesaconicalshadow;andhermagnitudeand
Cfigurearethecausesofthedimensionandqualityofthefigureofthis
shadow.Butafterwhatmannerisshelikewisethefabricatorofday?
Ordoesshenotproducethisdaywhichisconjoinedwithnight?For
abouthertherisingsandsettingsoftheSunaresurveyed.Andthat
Platoassumesthisdaywhichisconvolvedwithnight,isevidentfrom
hisarrangingtheformerunderthelatter;asalsopriortothiswhenhe
says,nightthereforeanddaywerethusgenerated.*Earththerefore,is
3,140thefabricatorofboththese,producingbothinconjunctionwiththe
Sun;theSunindeed,beinginagreaterdegreethecauseofday,butthe
earthofnight.
Beinghowever,thefabricator,sheisalsotheguardianofthem,
preservingtheirboundariesandcontrarietywithreferencetoeachother,
tcf.Cratylus405cd.
%Tim.39b.
andalsotheiraugmentationsanddiminutions,accordingtoacertain
analogy.Hence,somedenominateherIsis,asequalizingtheinequality,
andbringingtoananalogytheincreaseanddecreaseofbothdayand
night.ButotherslookingtoherprolificpowercallherCeres,as
Plotinus,*whodenominatestheintellectoftheEarth,Vesta,butthe
soulofit,Ceres.Wehoweversay,thatthefirstcausesofthese
Ddivinitiesareintellectual,ruling*andliberated;butthatfromthese
causesilluminationsandpowersextendtotheEarth.Hencethereisa
terrestrialCeresandVesta,andaterrestrialIsis,inthesamemanneras
thereisaterrestrialJupiter,andaterrestrialHermes;theseterrenedeities
beingarrangedabouttheonedivinityoftheearth;justasamultitude
ofcelestialGodsproceedsabouttheonedivinityoftheheavens.For
thereareprogressionsandterminationsofallthecelestialGodsinto
Earth;andallthingsareinherterrestrially,whicharecontainedinthe
heavenscelestially.FortheintellectualEarthreceivesthepaternal
powersofHeaven,andcontainsallthingsafteragenerativemanner.

Thustherefore,wesaythatthereisaterrestrialBacchus,andaterrestrial
Apollo,whoisthesourceofprophetic5watersinmanypartsofthe
earth,andofopeningswhichpredictfutureevents.ButthePaeonian*
andjudicialpowerswhichproceedintoit,renderotherplacesofitofa
purifyingormedicinalnature.AlltheotherpowersofEarthhowever,
itisimpossibletoenumerate.Fordivinepowersareindeedinexplicable.
Buttheordersofangelsanddaemonsthatfollowthesepowersarestill
Emorenumerous,andarecircularlyallottedthewholeearth,anddance
rounditsonedivinity,itsoneintellect,andonesoul.
3,141Itremainsinthenextplace,thatweshouldsurveyhowEarthissaid
tobethemostancient,andthefirstoftheGodswithintheheavens.
Forthiswillbetakenliterallybythosewhoareaccustomedtolook
onlytoitsmaterial,gross,anddarkbulk.Butweindeed,grantthem
thatthereissomethingofsuchakindinthebulkoftheEarthasthey
saythereis;butwethinkitproperthattheyshouldlikewiselooktothe
othergoodsoftheEarththroughwhichitsurpassestheprerogativesof
theotherelements,viz.itsstability,itsgenerativepower,itsconcord
withtheheavens,anditspositioninthecentreoftheuniverse.Forthe
centrehasgreatpowerintheuniverse,asbeingconnectiveofevery
tEnneadIV,4,27.
%Fordainovucac,here,itisnecessarytoreadrryenovucac,.
Uavrucaiserroneouslyprintedintheoriginalforuavruca.
DForatuvLOi,itisevidendynecessarytoreadinthisplacevcauvtoi.
circulation.Hencealso,thePythagoreanscallthecentrethetowerof
Jupiter,*inconsequenceofcontaininginitselfademiurgicguard.We
shalllikewiseremindouropponentsofthePlatonichypotheses
concerningtheearth,mentionedbySocratesinthePhaedo,*wherehe
saysthattheplaceofourabodeishollowanddark,andboundbythe
Fsea;butthatthereisanothertrueearth,containingthereceptaclesofthe
Gods,andpossessingabeautyresemblingthatoftheheavens.Weought
notthereforetowonder,ifnowtheEarthissaidtobethemostancient
andthefirstoftheGodswithintheheavens,sinceshepossessessogreat
analtitude,andsuchasurpassingbeauty,andasSocratesafterwardssays
wasfashionedbytheDemiurgusresemblingaspherecoveredwith
twelveskins,5justastheheavenaccordingtoTimaeuswaspaintedby
theDemiurgussimilartoadodecahedron.0Wemustlikewise
understandthattheDemiurgusgavetoEarthaloneamongtheelements,
tohavealltheelementsseparately,causinghertobewhollyaworld,
283Avariegatedanalogoustotheheavens.Forshecontainsariveroffire,of
air,andofwater,andofanotherearth,whichhasthesamerelationto
her,whichshehastotheuniverse,asSocratessaysinthePhaedo.But
ifthisbethecase,sheverymuchtranscendstheotherelementsas

imitatingtheheavens,andpossessingeverythinginherselfterrestrially,
whichiscelestiallycontainedintheheavens.
Tothisalsowemayadd,thattheDemiurgusproducedthesetwo
3,142elementsthefirst,earthandfire;buttheothersforthesakeofthese,in
orderthattheymighthavetheratioofbondswithrespecttothem.**
Andthatthefourelementsarebothintheheavens,andinthe
sublunaryregion;butintheformerindeed,accordingtoafiery
characteristic,sincefiretherepredominates;asPlatosays,**butinthe
latteraccordingtoaterrestrialpeculiarity.Fortheprofundityofair,
andthebulkofwaterarespreadroundtheearth,andpossessmuchof
anearthlyproperty,onwhichaccounttheyareintheirownnature
tcf.61CD,supra,p.186;&172Bff,supra,p.534.
tcf.PhaedoHOe111b;&Tim.Locr.98d.
cf.Phaedo110b.
Tim.55c.
ocf.Phcedo112eff.
ftcf.Tim.31bc.
ftTim.40a.
dark.Intheheavenstherefore,thereisapredominanceoffire,butin
thesublunaryregionofearth.Sincehowever,generationisconnascently
conjoinedwiththeheavens,theendofthelatterisearth[i.e.isthe
Bmoon],sofarasearthisintheheavens,butthebeginningofgeneration
isfire,consideredassubsistingingeneration.Foritisusualtocallthe
moonEarth,ashavingthesameratiototheSun,*whichEarthhasto
fire."But[theDemiurgus]saysOrpheusfabricatedanotherinfinite
earth,whichtheimmortalscallSelene,butterrestrialsMene."*Andit
isusualtodenominatethesummitofgenerationfire,whichAristotle
alsodoes,5whenhecallsetherfire.Inanotherplacehowever,hedoes
notthinkitpropertocalletherfire,butfieryformed,aswehave
frequentlyobserved.0Hence,theendoftheheavensisnotentirely
destituteofmutation,inconsequenceofitspropinquitytogeneration;
butthebeginningofgenerationismovedinacircle,imitatingthe
heavens.
Fartherstill,thislikewisemustbeconsidered,thatweoughtnotto
judgeofthedignityofthingsfromplaces,butfrompowersandessence,
aswehaveelsewheredemonstrated.Bywhatpeculiaritiestherefore,are
wetoformajudgementoftranscendencies?Bywhatothersthanthose
whichthedivineordersexhibit?Fortranscendencytrulysocalledis
withtheGods.Fromthedivineorderstherefore,wemustassumethe
monadic,thestable,theallperfect,theprolific,theconnective,theperfective,
theeverywayextended,thevivific,theadorning,theassimilative,andthe

Ccomprehendingpower.Forthesearethepeculiaritiesofallthedivine
3,143orders.Accordingtoallthesehowever,Earthsurpassestheother
elements,sothatshemayjustlybecalledthemostancient,andthefirst
oftheGods.
Again,atwofoldnatureofthingsmaybesurveyed,theoneindeed,
accordingtoprogression,whichalwaysmakesthingsthathavea
secondaryarrangementsubordinatetothosethatarepriortothem;but
theotheraccordingtoconversion,whichconjoinsextremestoprimary
naturesthroughsimilitude,andproducesonecircleofthewhole
generation.Sincealsotheworldisspherical,butafigureofthiskindis
thepeculiarityofthingsthatsubsistaccordingtoconversion,Earth
tcf.154Aff.supra,p.462.
XOrph.fr.81.
Scf.AristotleOnMeteorsII,9,369bl4;&OntheHeavensIII,3,302b4.
cf.278Fff,supra,p.840.
likewisemustbeconjoinedinittotheheavens,throughonecircle,and
onesimilitude.Forthusalsothecentreismostsimilartothepoles.
Fortheheavensindeed,entirelycomprehendwholes,beingmovedabout
thepoles;buttheearthisallottedpermanencyinthecentre.Foritis
appropriatetogenerationthattheimmoveableshouldbemoreancient
thanthatwhichismoved.Hence,accordingtoalltheseconceptionsit
maybesaid,thatEarth,ascoordinatewithHeaven,isthemostancient
DoftheGodswithintheheavens.Forsheiswithinthem,asbeingonall
sidescomprehendedbythem.ForastheDemiurgusfashionedthe
wholeofacorporealnaturewithinthesouloftheworld,thusalsohe
fabricatedEarthwithintheheavens,ascompressedandcontainedby
them,andinconjunctionwiththemfabricatingwholes.
Shehashowever,sofarassheisthefirstoftheGods,anindicationof
transcendencyaccordingtoessence;butsofarassheisthemostancient,
sheexhibitstoourviewthedignitywhichsheisallotted.Forhowis
itpossiblenottoadmitthatsheisallottedagreatportionintheworld,
andisveryhonourable,inwhomtherearethetowerofJupiter,andthe
progressionofSaturn?FornotonlyTartarus,whichistheextremityof
theearth,isonallsidescomprehendedbySaturn,andtheSaturnian
power,butalsowhateverelsemaybeconceivedsubordinatetothis.For
Homersaysthatthisisconneaedlycontainedthroughthesubtartarean
Gods.*NotthathearrangesGodsbeyondTartarus,asthewords
indicate;butthatTartarusitselfisonallsidescomprehendedbythem.
3,144Fartherstill,wemaysurveytheanalogywhichEarthhastothe
EintellectualEarth.Forasthelattercomprehendsandgivessubsistence
toperfective,guardian,andTitannicordersofGods,ofwhichthe

Orphictheologistsarefull,solikewisetheformerpossessesvarious
powers.Andasanurseindeed,sheimitatestheperfectiveorder,
accordingtowhichtheAtheniansalsoareaccustomedtocallher
kourotrophos,orthenourisherofyouth,andansidra,orscatteringgifts,
asproducingandnourishingplantsandanimals.Butasaguardshe
imitatestheguardian,andasconglobedaboutthepolewhichisextended
(tetamen)throughtheuniverse,theTitannicorder.Sincehowever,the
intellectualEarth,priortootherdivinitiesgeneratedAigleandthe
HesperianErithya,thusalsoourEarthisthefabricatorofdayandnight.
tcf.IliadXIV,278f.
Andtheanalogyofthelattertotheformerisevident.*Andthusmuch
concerningtheseparticulars.
Ifalsoyouarewillingafteranothermannertounderstandthatsheis
thefirstandmostancientoftheGods,asderivinghersubsistencefrom
thefirstandmostancientcauses,thisreasonalsowillbeattendedwith
probability,sincefirstcausesproceedbytheirenergiestotheutmost
extentofthings;andbesidesthis,thelastofthingsfrequentlypreserve
theanalogyofsuchasarefirst,aspossessingtheirorderfromthem
alone.Hence,everywaytheassertionofPlatoistrue,whetheryouare
FwillingtolooktothebulkofEarth,ortothepowerswhichshe
contains.Butitisrequisitetothink,thatthewordmachinated,bears
witnesstothegreatintellectualpower,employedinthefabricationof
theEarth.Forweshallfind,thatasneithertheSunbyitself,isableto
makenightandday,northeEarthalone;(fortheprivationoflightis
onething,andnightanother)theproductionofboth,throughtheSun
andtheEarth,istheworkofdemiurgicmachination.Fortheorderof
theearthinthemiddle,thedanceofthesun,andthecirculationofthe
sphereofthefixedstarsaboutit,produceabouttheEarth,nightsand
284Adays.Fartherstill,thepositionoftheEarthinthecentre,makesthe
mutationofnightsanddaystobeanalogous,whichwouldnotbethe
case,ifsomeonedeprivingtheEarthofitssituationinthemiddle,
shouldestablishitelsewhere.Thesethingstherefore,andmanymore
thanthese,maybecollectedthroughthewordmachination.
40cd"Butwithrespecttothemeasuredmotionsofthesedivinities,their
3,145concursionswitheachother,therevolutionsandadvancingmotionsof
theircircles,howtheyaresituatedwithrelationtoeachother,intheir
conjunctionsandoppositions,onaccountofwhichtheyobumbrateeach
other,andatwhattimes,andinwhatmannertheybecomeconcealed,
andagainemergingtoourview,causeterror,andexhibittokensof
futureevents,tosuchasareabletodiscovertheirsignification,ofall
thistoattemptanexplanation,withoutinspectingtheimitationsofthese

divinities,wouldbeavainlabour."
40d["Butofthisenough,andletwhathasbeensaidbetheendofour
discourse,concerningthevisibleandgeneratedGods."*]
tForAiglesignifiessplendour,whichisandogoustoday,andHesperusisthe
evening.
%ThewordswithinthebracketsareomittedinthetextofProclus,butoughtto
beinsertedinit.
ThethingnowproposedbyPlato,isnottointroduceatheoryderived
fromastronomy,northeargumentswhicharebadlyemployedbysome
concerninghypotheses,andastrologicalobservations,inwhichtheydo
BnotspeakconformablytoPlato;becausethephilosopheratpresent
avoidsthediscussionoftheseparticulars.Foragreatworkstillremains
tobeaccomplished,anditisnotpropertodwellonthesethings.For
astronomyisonething,andphysiologyanother,asAristotlealso
determinesinthesecondbookofhisPhysics.1Towhichmaybeadded,
thatmuchleisureisrequisite,firsttosurveythesethingsinimages,and
thusafterwardstoassignthereasonsofthem.For,ashesays,tospeak
aboutthem,withoutsurveyingtheirimitations,isavainlabour.Forit
isnecessarytobeholdthesedivinebodieswiththeabacus,*thearmillary
sphere,5theparadigm,0andtheastrolabe,0andthusbetakeourselves
tothetheoryofwholes.Observationlikewiseisnecessary,which
instrumentsaffordtothosewhoareconversantwiththesethings.For
thesereasonstherefore,thephilosopheravoidsthediscussionofthese
particulars.
Whathenowsayshowever,mustbeconsideredinatwofoldrespect,
mathematicallyandphilosophically;foritpertainsbothtothecorporeal,
3,146andpsychicalmotionsofthestars.Andifyouarewilling,letusinthe
Cfirstplace,mathematicallyandthenphilosophicallyconsiderthe
measuredmotionsordancesofthesedivinebodies.Bythesetherefore,
wemustunderstandtheirorderlyandharmoniouscirculations;forthe
sakeofwhichPlatoinsertedthediscussionoftheEarth.Forhedoes
notsaythattheEarthbeingconglobeddances,butthatthestarsdance
abouttheearth.Fortheydancebeingmovedwithoneconcordant
motionaboutthesamething.Butbytheirconcursionswemust
understandtheircoarrangementsaccordingtolength,whentheydiffer
accordingtobreadthordepth,Imeantheirjointrisingsandsettings.
And"therevolutionsandadvancingmotionsoftheircircles,"signifytheir
directandretrogrademotions.Forintheirdirectmotions,theyproceed
tcf.AristotlePhysicsII,2,193b26,ff.
%Amathematicaltable,inwhichtheancientsdescribedlinesandfigures[afiaiaov].

Intheoriginal,irirrjcKpiKurtiQocfxtipac;,Le.inaspheresurroundedwithrings,
whichthereforeisevidentlywhatthemodernscallthearmillarysphere.
Bytheparadigm,IsupposeProclusmeansanastronomicalglobe,orasitisnow
called,thecelestialglobe\rapabtiyparo(;].
oTheastrolabeisamathematicalinstrument,representingnearlythewholeofthe
celestialdoctrineinaplane,whencealsoitiscalledaplanisphere[aorpoXaffov].
totheirapocatastases;butintheirretrogrademotions,theycirculate
amongthemselves.Buthenowcallsthespherescircles,accordingto
whichthestarsaremoved,andnottheepicycles.Forhenowhere
makesmentionofthese,asneitherdoeshementiontheeccentricsofthe
circles.Foritwouldberidiculoustomakecertainlittleorbs,movedin
eachspherewithamotioncontrarytoit,ortoadmitthattheyareparts
ofaspherecomprehendingindeedthecentre,butnotmovedaboutit.
DForthiswouldsubvertthecommonaxiomofphysics,thateverysimple
motioniseitheraboutthemiddleoftheuniverse,orfromthemiddle,
ortothemiddle.Butthishypothesisofeccentrics,eitherdividesthe
spheresintoarches,movedincontrarydirections,anddestroysthe
continuityofeach,orintroducescirclestothecelestialbodies,ofa
naturedifferentfromthem,andconnectsmotionsfromthingsdissimilar,
andwithoutsympathywitheachother,throughthedissimilitudeof
theircompositions.
Itisnecessaryhowevertoconsiderwhetherthesethingsthussubsist.
Foragain,wemustgiveouropiniononthissubject,whichrequires
3,147muchdiscussion.ForPlatomovesthestarsindifferentways,notatall
requiringcontrivancesofthiskind,asunworthyofadivineessence.
Hence[accordingtohim]itisnecessarytosuspendthisvarietyfromthe
motionoftheirinformingsouls,theirbodiesbeingmovedswifterof
slowerconformablytothewillofthese,andnotasthemultitudethink
throughimbecility.Thisinequalityanddiversityofmotionalso,is
effectedinorderlyperiodsoftime,thestarsthemselvesbeingmoved
abouttheircentres,andproceedingvariouslythroughtheirproper
Espheres;inorderthatbeingmediabetweenbodiesthatareinerratic,and
thosethataremovedinarightline,theymayhaveamixedmotion,
beingbornealongaccordingtoaltitudeanddepth,andwithadirectand
retrogrademotion,andthisinorderlyperiodsoftime.Forhesays
that,f"thestarsproceedingwithanadvancingmotionthroughtheheavens,
haverevolutions."Butiftheyproceedthroughtheheavens,itisevident
thatallofthemaremovedthroughtheirspheresaccordingtothedepth
ofthem.Forbodieswhichproceedthroughacertainthing,donot
abideinthesameplace,butpassfromonepartofthatthroughwhich
theyproceed,toanother.Ifalso,theyhaverotations,theirallvarious
mutationsaretherevolutionsofthemintheirspheres,accordingto
breadthanddepth.Thesphereshowever,arealonemovedtotheeast,

andnotaboutthesamepolesasthesphereofthefixedstars.Forinthe
tTim.39d.
Republic,*hemakestheoneaxisofthemtobethedistaff,butthepoles
oftheeightspherestobethespindles,andhesays,thataboutthese
thereisonesimplemotion,justasthereisofthesphereofthefixed
stars.Afterwards,inthatdialogue,hesaysthattheFatespresideover
thesecircles,andthatadifferentFatemovesthemdifferently.Here
Fhowever,heconvolvesoneofthesphereslaterally,buttheother
diametrically,inthesamemannerasthecirclesofthesoul,inwhichhe
establishedthecausesofthewholespheresthemselves,andtheplanets.
Onthisaccount,hemovedthemobliquely,accordingtoadiameter.
Hencehesays,thatsomeoftheplanetsaremovedsimilarly,butothers,
dissimilarly,inthesamemannerasthespheres.Thedifferencetherefore
oftheplanetaryspheres,andthesphereofthefixedstars,is
conformablytothesethings,andalsoaccordingtoamotiontotheright
hand,ortotheleft.
3,148Suchtherefore,isthefabricationofthesphereaccordingtoPlato,the
sevensphereshavingaconjointrevolution,andpossessingthatdifference
whichwehavementioned,withreferencetotheonecirculation[ofthe
inerraticsphere.]Conformablytothisalso,thefixedstarsarealone
movedabouttheircentres;buttheplanetsarebothmovedabouttheir
285Acentres,andproceedthroughthedepthofthespheresinwhicheachis
placed,variouslyrevolvingupwardanddownward,andwitha
retrogrademotion.Eachoftheselikewise,andthepolesofthese,are
movedinanothercircleaboutthezodiac;*butthespheresinwhich
theyexist,areallofthemmovedsimilarlytotheinerraticsphere;viz.
theyaremovedaboutonepolewhichiscommontoallofthem.The
sphereofthefixedstarsalso,isbyitselfmovedwithonemotion;but
theplanetarysphere,withatwofoldmotion,onebeingthemotionof
itself,andwhichisoblique,buttheotherbeingarevolutionin
conjunctionwiththeinerraticsphere.Withrespecttothestars
however,thosethatarefixed,revolveabouttheirowncentres,andhave
likewiseanadvancingmotion,inconjunctionwiththeirsphere.Butthe
planetsrevolveinconjunctionwiththeinerraticsphere,andeachis
movedtogetherwithitsspheretotheeast,andrevolvesbyitself
accordingtobreadthanddepth,andaboutitspropercentre?Foritis
necessarythateachbeingspherical,shouldbemovedwiththismotion,
Bimitatingitsproperwholeness;justasthefixedstarsarecoarranged
withtheinerraticsphere.Towhichmaybeadded,thatproceeding
tcf.Rep.X,616cff;&617c.
XForKtpi\ouvhere,itisnecessarytoreadxepiXoou.

throughtheheavens,theyhavealsoasPlatosays,allvarious
revolutions.*
Thesethingstherefore,beingtrue,aswehavebeforedemonstrated,*
thehypothesesofepicycles,oreccentricsarenotvain,buttheyanalyze
variousintosimplemotions,inorderthatwemayeasilyapprehendthe
apocatastasesofvariousmotions,whicharenotofthemselveseasily
understood,butareonlytobecomprehendedfromthefixedstars.
Henceitisanexcellentcontrivancetodiscoverwhatsimple,produce
variousmotions,andthroughthemtoinvestigatethemeasuresofsuch
asarevarious.Justasifsomeone,notbeingabletomeasureaspiral
motionaboutacylinder,butafterwardsassumingarightlinemoved
3,149aboutit,andapointintherightlinemeasuringitsmotions,shouldfind
whatthequantityisofthemotionaboutthespiralinagiventime.To
thistherefore,theattentionofthoseisdirected,whoemployevolvents,
epicycles,andeccentrics,throughsimplemotions,fromwhichthey
discoveravariousmotion.Thesethingshowever,deservetobe[more
Cfully]considered,andonthisaccounttheloversofspeculationshould
excitethemselvestothemoreaccurateapprehensionofthem.
Butbytheirconjunctions,theirsynodsmustbeunderstood,andthe
configurations5whichtheymakewitheachother;whethertrigonically,
ortetragonically,orhexagonically,ordiametrically.ForPlatoalone
assumingtheirconjunctionandstationinadirectline,comprehendsin
theseasintheextremes,alltheremainingfigures.Buttheir
obumbrationsaresituationsaccordingtowhichtheydarkenusandother
things.Forthebodywhichisarrangedafteranotherbody,becomes
situatedinthefrontofthatwhichisposteriortoit.Andthestarsare
thecausesofdarknesstouswhentheyrunundereachother.By"their
becomingconcealed0also,andagainemergingtoourview,atstated
times,"wemustunderstandtheiroccultationsunderthesun,andtheir
evolutionsintolight,bothwhicharesaidbythosewhoareskilfulin
thesethings,tobeeffectiveandsignificantofcertaingreatevents.To
speakthereforeofalltheseparticulars,withoutimitationsthroughthe
sight,i.e.withoutorganicassistance,wouldbeavainlabour.
Afterthemathematicaltheoryhowever,letussurveywhatissaidby
Plato,philosophically.Thedancesthereforeofsouls,aretheirbeing
tcf.Tim39d.
Xcf.258CD,supra;&272Bff,supra.
SInsteadofxPVP^nOp0^mthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadoxripOLTiopovc..
DForKaroiKri^uqhere,itisrequisitetoreadKaraKakv^eii;.

inspiredwithBacchicmania,andtheirperiodsabouttheintelligible;and
alsotheirintellectualapocatastases.ForasSocratessaysinthePhaedrus,*
followingtheirmoredivineleader,theyalsoareharmoniouslymoved.
Buttheirconcursionsaretheirintellectualperceptionsofeachother.For
allthingstherearesplendid,theyseeeachother,andonesoulisnot
ignorantoftheconcernsofanother.Fartherstill,theyadapttheforms
ofthemselves,asvestigesandtypes,tointelligibleswhicharetheir
paradigms.Buttherevolutionandadvancingmotionsoftheircircles,are
3,150theconversionsfromthemselvestointellect,andfromintellectagainto
themselves.Forboththeseareeffectedbythemperpetually,andfrom
themselvestheyknowintellect,andfromintellectthemselves.Their
conjunctionsalso,anddiametricalstations,aretheunionsofeachother
withtheintelligible,accordingtowhichtheyaremutuallyconjoined;
andalsotheirprogressions.Forwhentheyconjointheoneof
themselvestotheoneofintellect,thereisasynodorconjunctionofboth.
Forintheseconjunctionsitisnecessarythatthecentresofthethings
conjoinedshouldbeinonerightline.Butproceedingfromthenceto
Etheprovidentialinspectionofsecondarynatures,theybecomesituated
oppositelytothisunion.Sincehowever,theysubsistalwaysafterthe
samemanner,andabideandatthesametimeproceed,theyare
connected,anddiametricallyopposed.Buttheobumbrationsofeach
other,andofus,arethemediawhicharebetweendivinesoulsandus.
Forallofthemarenotimmediatelyunitedtoall,butsomeareunited
toothersthroughmoreorfewermedia.Andtheirconcealmentsand
evolutionsintolight,atstatedtimes,aretheirapocatastases,andthe
beginningsofperiods.Foraccordingtotheseespecially,theycause
revolutionsandmutationsintheworld,introducingcopiouscorruptions,
andmightychanges,asPlatosaysinthePoliticus.}Toasserttherefore,
alltheseparticulars,withoutviewingtheimitationsofthesethings
whicharesurveyedabouttheheavens,wouldbeavainlabour.Forit
isnecessarytorecurfromthephenomenatothereminiscenceof
invisiblenatures.Forasfromtheseinstrumentsandshadows,weare
enabledtocommencethecontemplationofthecelestialbodies;thusalso
fromthelatter,werecalltoourrecollectioninvisiblecirculations.For
Ftheheavensareamediumbetweengeneratedandintelligiblenatures.
tcf.Phaedrus25b;&252d.
XTaylor'sorigindtranslationreadRepublichere,butthisseemstobeanerror,as
thetexthasPoliticus:cf.thelatter269aff&270bff.
Sincehowever,Platosays,thatthefiguresandmotionsoftheheavenly
bodiescauseterror,andexhibittokensoffutureevents,tosuchasareable
todiscovertheirsignification,itisrequisitetoobserve,thattheynotonly
signifyfutureevents,butalsoaretokensofpastevents.Hencealsohe

3,151makesmentionofenergieswhichareinthemselvesprecedaneously
significant.ButTheophrastussays,thatinhistime,fthetheoryofthe
Chaldeans,aboutthesethings,wasmostadmirable,asitpredictedboth
otherparticulars,andthelifeanddeathofeachindividual,andnot
286Acommoneventsonly,suchasstormyandfairweather.Forheadds,that
accordingtothem,theplanetMercury,whenitisseeninwinter,
signifiescold,*butwheninsummer,excessiveheat.InhistreatiseOn
Signstherefore,hesaysthattheypredictedallthings,bothsuchasare
particular,andsuchasarecommon,fromthecelestialbodies.Letus
howeverherefinishthediscussionofthenatureofthevisibleand
generatedGods,aswhatwehavesaidconcerningitissufficient.Forthe
workofscienceconsistsinthis,5toadaptanappropriatemeasureto
words,andtogivethemasmuchextentasmaycontributetothe
proposedtheory.Thisalso,Platodoes,inwhatisheresaid.Forinthe
wordsbeforeus,hefinisheshisdiscussionofthecelestialbodies,and
starryanimals,forthesakeofwhichhelikewiseassumedwhathesays
abouttheearth;becauseitalsoproducestime,inconjunctionwiththe
celestialcirculations.Heretherefore,theabovementionedparticulars
areterminated.Forhere,theconsiderationofthevisibleandgenerated
BGods,whomwecallstarry,andinshortcelestial,isbroughtbyhimto
anend.Hecallsthemhowevervisible,becausetheyaremundane,and
havesomethingofsensiblessuspendedfromtheirintellectualessences;
butgenerated,ashavingsoul,whichhecallsthefirstofgenerated
natures.Fortheyarenotvisible,accordingtoeverythingwhichthey
are;butthereissomethingwhichisgeneratedindeed,yetisatthesame
timeinvisible.Butthatthediscussionoftheearthwasassumedforthe
sakeofthemeasuredmotionofthestarsaboutit,hemanifestsby
directlyadding,afterwhathehadsaidaboutit,"Andthenatures
successivetothese,"throughwhichIthink,heclearlyshows,thathis
tForxpovovhere,readxpovoit;.
XFor^ux1)here,itisnecessarytoreadtyvxpu.
InsteadofevKmrovrov,itisrequisitetoreadevKmTOVTQ.
IntheoriginalKmrarewroteefchQ.Thesewordshowever,arenottobe
foundinthetextofPlato,butformaremarkableadditiontoit.Forthenatures
successivetothestars,areevidentlytheirsatellites,whichhavemorethanoncebeen
mentionedbyProdus.
designwastospeakaboutthecelestialGods,andthegeneraattendant
3,152onthem,whichsometimesareconcealedbythesplendoursoftheir
leadingGods,andsometimeswhentheybecomevisible,produceterror,
andtokensoffutureevents.1Forwhatissaid,isadaptedtothese,
accordingtoanappropriatedefinition.
40d"Tospeakhowever,concerningtheotherdaemons,andtoknowtheir

generation,exceedsourability."
PlatonowintendingtospeakaboutthesublunaryGods,saysthatthe
Cdiscourseaboutthemisadmirable,andexceedsourability,as
transcendingallthathasbeentransmittedtousbytradition,ifwe
intendtodiscoverthegenerationofthem,andpromulgateittoothers.
ForwhathebeforesaidoftheDemiurgus,*thatitisdifficultto
discoverhim,andimpossibletospeakofhimtoallmen,thishenow
saysofthesublunaryGods,thattoknowandtospeakofthegeneration
ofthem,surpassesourability.Whattherefore,doesPlatomeanbythis
modeofindication?Forashedeliveredsomanyandsuchadmirable
thingsconcerningallheaven,andtheintelligibleparadigm,howisitthat
hesays,thattospeakoftheGodswhoarethefabricatorsofgeneration,
isataskbeyondourabilitytoperform?Perhapsitisbecausemany
physiologistsconsideredthesesublunaryelementstobeinanimate
natures,casuallybornealong,anddestituteofprovidentialcare.For
theyacknowledgedthatthecelestialbodies,onaccountoftheirorderly
motions,participateofintellectandtheGods;buttheyleftgeneration,
asbeingverymutableandindefinite,deprivedofprovidentialinspection.
DForthusAristotleafterwards,aloneplacedimmoveablecausesoverthe
celestialcirculations,5whethereightinnumber,ormore;butleftthese
elementsinanimate.
Inordertherefore,thatwemightnotbeaffectedinthesamemanner
astheywere,heantecedentlycelebratesandproclaimsthegenerationof
thesublunaryGodstobedivineandintellectual,requiringnosuch
modeofindicationinspeakingofthecelestialGods.Perhapsalsoit
maybesaid,thatsoulsmoreswiftlyforgetthingsnearertothemselves,
buthaveagreaterremembranceofsuperiorprinciples.Fortheyina
tFromwhatisheresaidbyProclus,itappearsthatthefixedstars,aswellasthe
planets,havesatellites,andthatthestarswhichsometimesarevisible,andatother
timesdisappear,areofthisdescription.
$cf.Tim.28c.
cf.AristotlePhysicsVIII,9,265al210,267b26,and,ingeneral,OntheHeavens
II,3&6.
3,153greaterdegreeoperateuponthemthroughtranscendencyofpower,and
appearthroughenergytobepresentwiththem.Thesamethingalso
happenswithrespecttooursight.Forthoughwedonotseemany
thingsthataresituatedontheearth,yetatthesametimeweappearto
seetheinerraticsphere,andthestarsthemselves,becausetheyilluminate
oursightwiththeirlight.Theeyeofthesoultherefore,becomesina
greaterdegreeobliviousofandblindtomoreproximatethantohigher
andmoredivineprinciples.Thus,allreligionsandsectsacknowledge

thatthereisafirstprincipleofthings,andallmeninvokeGodastheir
helper;butalldonotbelievethatthereareGodsposteriortothis
principle,andthataprovidentialenergyproceedsfromthemintothe
Euniverse.ForTheOneisseenbytheminaclearermannerthan
multitude.Othersagain,believeindeedthatthereareGods,butafter
theGods,admittingthedaemoniacalgenus,theyareignorantofthe
heroicorder.Andinshort,thisisthegreatestworkofscience,subtilly
todistinguishthemediaandtheprogressionsofbeings.Iftherefore,we
rightlyassertthesethings,Plato,whenspeakingofthecelestialGods,
veryproperlyindicatesnothingofthedifficultyofthesubject;but
intendingtospeakofthesublunaryGods,saysthatitsurpassesour
ability.Forthediscussionoftheseismoredifficult,becausewecannot
collectanythingaboutthemfromapparentobjects,butitalonerequires
adivinelyinspiredenergy,andintellectualprojection.Andthusmuch
concerningthisdoubt.
Againhowever,someonemaydoubt,onwhataccountPlatocallsthe
sublunaryGodsdaemons.Forsomehavebeenimpelledbythis,toplace
Godsintheheavens,buttoassignthesuperintendencyofthesublunary
regiontodaemons.Thatheconceivedhowever,thatthesealsoare
Gods,maybeeasilyassumedfromwhatheadds,f"Letthegeneration
therefore,oftheseGods,headmittedtoheasfollows."Forinshorthedoes
notappeartohavespokenparticularlyaboutthosepowersthatare
Fproperlydenominateddaemons,asnothavingthephysicalprinciplesof
themfromsense,fromwhichitisnecessarythatphysicaldiscussions
3,154shouldoriginate.Hencealso,hementionsthenameofdaemons;inone
place,wherehecallsourrationalsoulthedaemonoftheanimal;*butin
another,ashere,wherehecallstheGodswhoproducegeneration,
daemons.Whytherefore,youmaysay;forthisdoubtmustbefirst
dissolved;doeshenotmakementionofdaemons,whoaresuch
tTim.40e.
$Tim.90a.
essentially?Isitbecausethiswasexhibitedontheprecedingdayby
Socrates,tohisauditors[intheRepublic]^inwhichhespokeconcerning
287Athesoulsthatpresideoverthelivesofmen,andthosethatpunish
offendersinHades?Hence,heomitstomentionthesethings,asbeing
evident.Fromwhathehadtheresaidhowever,hewasledtothe
recollectionofthedaemonscelebratedbyhim.Thusalso,havinggiven
apeculiarsoultoeachoftheeightspheres,heomitstheanimationof
thewholeoftheinerraticcircle,asone,andofthestarscomprehended
byit,andlikewise,ofthewholeplanetarysphere,asone,andofthe
planetscontainedinit,inconsequenceofthesehavingbeenpreviously
deliveredbySocrates.Thishowever,isattendedwithaprobablereason.

Returningtherefore,tothebeforementionedenquiry,letusassignthe
reasonwhy,inwhatisheresaid,Platodenominatesthesegenerationproducing
Gods,daemons.Theodorasthen,consideringthesethings
afteranothermanner,saysthattheyarecalleddaemonsassubsistingin
habitude,butGods,asbeingwithouthabitude;arrangingtheminthe
sublunarypartsofthewholeworld,andassertingthatsomeofthem
Banimatetheuniversedifferentlyfromothers.Butourpreceptor
Syrianus,inthefirstplacethinksitproper,thattheyshouldbe
consideredasdaemons,withreferencetothecelestialGods.Fortheyare
suspendedfromthese,andtogetherwiththese,providentiallyattendto
theirproperallotments.AndthisarrangementispeculiarlyPlatonic.
ForintheBanquet,*PlatodenominatesLoveadaemon,astheattendant
ofVenus,andasproceedingfromthetrulyexistingGodPoras;though
inthePhaedrus,*headmitsLovetobeaGod,aswithreferencetothe
lifewhichiselevatedbyhim.
Inthenextplace,accordingtoanotherconception,wemaysay,that
3,155inthecelestialregionstherearedaemons,butinthesublunaryregion
Gods.Intheformerhoweverthegenusisindeeddivine,0though
daemonsalsoaregeneratedaccordingtoit;butinthelatterthewhole
multitudearedaemons.Forthereindeed,thedivinepeculiarity,buthere
thedaemoniacalpredominates;towhichsomealonelooking,have
dividedthedivineandthedaemoniacal,accordingtotheheavensand
tcf.Rep.X,615e;&617e.
%cf.Banquet202e203c.
cf.Phaedrus242d.
ItisnecessaryheretosupplythewordBtvov.
o[cf.Tim.39e.]Itisrequisitetoread(car'eneivov,insteadofmr'eKeivrjv.
generation.Theyoughthowever,tohavearrangedbothinboth;butin
theformerindeedthedivinenature,andinthelatterthedaemoniacal
predominates;though*inthelatterthereisalsothedivinepeculiarity.
CForifthewholeworldisablessedGod,*nooneofthepartswhich
givecompletiontoitisdestituteofdivinityandprovidentialinspection.
Butifallthingsparticipateofdeityandprovidence,theworldisallotted
adivinenature.Andifthisbethecase,appropriateordersofGods
presideoveritsdifferentparts.Foriftheheavens5throughsoulsand
intellectsasmedia,participateofonesoul,andoneintellect,whatought
wetothinkofthesesublunaryelements?Howisitpossible,thatthese
shouldnotinamuchgreaterdegreeparticipatethroughcertainmiddle
divineorders,oftheonedeityoftheworld?
Fartherstill,itwouldalsobeabsurdthatthetelesticart(ortheart
pertainingtomysticceremonies)shouldestablishontheearthplaces

fittedfororacles,andstatuesoftheGods,andthroughcertainsymbols
shouldcausethingsgeneratedfromapartialandcorruptiblematter,to
becomeadaptedtotheparticipationofdeity;tobemovedbyhim,and
topredictfutureevents;butthattheDemiurgusofwholesshouldnot
placeoverthewholeelementswhicharetheincorruptibleplenitudesof
theworld,divinesouls,intellects,andGods.Forwhetherwashe
unwilling?Buthowcouldhebeunwilling,sincehewishedtomakeall
thingssimilartohimself?0Washethenunable?Butwhatcould
hinderhim?Forweseethatthisispossiblefromtelesticworks.Butif
hewasbothwillingandable,itisevidentthathegavesubsistenceto
DGods,whohaveallotmentsin,andaretheinspectiveguardiansof,
generation.Sincehoweverthegenusofdaemonsiseverywherean
attendantontheGods,therearealsodaemonswhoarethefabricatorsof
generation;0someofwhomindeedraleoverthewholeelements,but
3,156othersaretheguardiansofclimates,othersaretherulersofnations,
othersofcities,othersofcertainfamilies,andothersaretheguardians
ofindividuals.Fortheguardianshipofdaemonsextendsasfarastothe
mostextremedivision.
tKOtiroiiserroneouslyomittedintheorigind.
XTim.34b.
Iftheheavensrequiremediainordertotheparticipationofonesoulandone
intellect,thesublunaryelementsrequiretheseinamuchgreaterdegree,onaccountof
theirinferioritytotheheavens.
Tim.29e.
cf.33A,supra,.
Havingthereforesolvedtheproblempertainingtotheessence,letus
inthenextplaceconsidertheorderofthesublunaryGods.Forlet
thembeGods,andletthembecalleddaemonsthroughtheabovementioned
cause,butwheremustwearrangethem?Mustitbeaswe
havebeforesaid,underthemoon,orpriortothecelestialGods?For
thismayappeartobeproperforthesetworeasons;oneindeed,because
Platoindicatesthatheascendstoagreaterorder,bysayingthatit
exceedsourabilitytospeakconcerningthem,havingalreadyspoken
concerningthecelestialGods;buttheother,becausehefollowsinwhat
hesays,thosewhohavedeliveredtousTheogonies.Fortheypriorto
theworldandtheDemiurgus,deliveredthesegenerationsofGods
proceedingfromHeavenandEarth.Inanswertothisqueryhowever,
Ewemustsay,thatheproducesthemafterthecelestialGods,andthrough
thisfromHeavenandEarth.ForonthisaccounthesaidthatEarthwas
themostancientoftheGodswithintheHeaven,*becausefromthisand
Heaven,hewasabouttoproducetheotherGodswhichtheheavens
contain.ThiswedemonstratefromtheDemiurgusaddressinghisspeech
totheseGods,andtoalltherest,asbeingproducedbyhimwithinthe

universe.Whyhowever,Platosaysthathefollowsthetheogony,and
whyheshallomittospeakconcerningthesublunarydeities,wemust
refertohishavingnoclearindicationsofthesubsistenceofthesefrom
thephaenomena,ashehadofthecelestialdivinities,fromtheorderof
theirperiods,whichisadaptedtothegovernmentofGods.Itexceeds
theprovincethereforeofphysiologytospeakofbeings,concerning
whomnaturaleffectsaffordusnostablebelief.HencePlatosays,asa
physiologist,thatitsurpasseshisabilitytospeakofthese.
Ifhowever,hesaysthathefollowsthosewhoaredivinelyinspired,
buttheyspeakingconcerningthesupercelestialGods,headoptsasimilar
3,157theogony,thoughdiscoursingofthesubcelestialdivinities,wemustnot
Fconsiderthisaswonderful.ForheknewthatalltheordersoftheGods
proceedasfarastothelastofthings,fromthearrangementwhichisthe
principleoftheirprogression,everywheregeneratingseriesfrom
themselvesanalogoustothesuperiordeitiesfromwhichtheyproceed.
Hence,thoughtheordersoftheseGodswhicharecelebratedby
theologists,areabovetheworld,yettheysubsistalsointhesensible
universe.Andasthisvisibleheavenisalliedtothatwhichis
tThewordovpavwvisomittedintheoriginal.
tTim.40c.
supermundane,solikewiseourearthisalliedtotheearthwhichisthere,
andtheorderssubsistingfromtheonetotheordersproceedingfromthe
other.Fromthesethingstoo,thisalsomaybeassumed,thataccording
288AtoPlatoaswellasaccordingtoothertheologists,firstnaturesasthey
proceed,producethingssubordinateinconjunctionwiththecausesof
themselves.ForthesesublunaryGodsproceedingfromtheDemiurgus,
arealsosaidtobegeneratedfromHeavenandEarththatfirstproceed
fromhim.*TheDemiurgusthereforesaystoallofthemthatthey
oughttofabricatemortalnatures,imitatinghis*powerabouttheir
generation.Henceallofthemproceedfromoneproducingcause,
thoughthoseofasecondaryorderproceedlikewisefromthegodsthat
arepriortothem.Itfollowsthereforefromthis,thatnoteverything
whichisproducedbythejuniorGodsismortal,5sincesomeofthese
proceedfromotherjuniorGods;butthecontraryaloneistrue,that
everythingmortalisgeneratedbythesedivinities.Andagainitfollows
fromthis,thatthejuniorGodsproducesomethingsaccordingtothe
immoveable,butothersaccordingtothemoveablehyparxesof
themselves.Fortheywouldnotbethecausesofimmortals,ifthey
producedallthingsaccordingtomoveablehyparxes;ifitbetruethat
everythingwhichsubsistsfromamoveablecause,isessentiallymutable.
BFromthisconceptionalso,wemaysolvethedoubtifthereare

irrationaldaemons,astheurgistssaythereare,whencetheysubsist?For
iffromthejuniorGods,itmaybeasked,howtheyareimmortal;since
theseGodsarethefathersofmortalnatures?Butiffromthe
Demiurgus,howaretheyirrational?Forheisfatherinconjunction
withintellect.Thesolutionthereforeoftheinquiryisthis,thatthey
derivetheirsubsistencefromthejuniorGods,andyetarenotonthis
3,158accountmortal,sincesomeofthejuniorGodsgenerateothers.And
perhapstheseGodsareonthisaccountcalleddaemons,inorderthatwe
mayknowthatdaemonstrulysodenominated,areconstitutedbythem.
ButirrationaldaemonsalsoproceedfromtheoneDemiurgus.Forhe,
asTimaeussays,isthecauseofallimmortalnatures.0Ifhoweverthe
oneDemiurgusimpartsintellecttoallthings,thereislikewiseinthese
daemons,acertainultimatevestigeoftheintellectualpeculiarity,sofar
astheyenergizewithfacilityaccordingtoimagination:forthisisthelast
tcf.Tim.41c.
tItisobviouslynecessaryhere,foreocvruvtoreadeavrov.
cf.Tim.42d.
cf.Tim.41c.
resoundingecho,*asitwere,ofintellect.*Hence,thephantasyissaid
[byAristotle]tobeapassiveintellect,5andothersnotbadly,assertthe
samethingofit.Sothatamongdaemons,properlysocalled,thosethat
areirrationalarehalfmortal.Platohowever,haspreviously
disseminatedforustheprinciplesbywhichwemaysolvetheenquiry
Cconcerningthelastgeneraofdaemons.Forifthereisacertain
daemoniacalgenus,whichemploysreason,itisevidentthatwemust
referthistotheoneDemiurgus,whetherasproduced[immediately]by
him,orthroughcertainintermediateGods,whoweregeneratedbyhim;
thecelestialGodsbeingthesourcesofcelestial,butthesubcelestial,of
subcelestialdaemons.Forofthesubcelestialgods,somearethefathers
ofothers,asPlatoteachesus,conformablytothetheogonies.Hence,it
isnotatallwonderfulthattheseGodsshouldgeneratedaemonscoordinate
withthemselves,andnotonlyirrational,butalsorational
daemons,sincetheyarethegeneratorsofGods;justasthecelestialGods
arethegeneratorsofcelestialdaemons.Hence,itisnecessarythatthe
speculationconcerningdaemons,shouldpossessthewholeofits
arrangement11fromtheseconsiderations,conformablytoPlatonic
doctrines.ForfromwhatPlatohassaidconcerningthegenesiurgic
Gods,itbecomesevidentwhathisanswerwouldbe,ifhewereasked
concerningthegenerationofdaemonstrulysocalled.Forinshort,he
whoknowsthegenusofdaemonswhichsubsistaccordingtohabitude,
willbyamuchgreaterpriorityknowdaemonsthatsubsistaccordingto
hyparxis,andwhichgivecompletiontothisuniverse.Howalso,isit
possiblethatheshouldnotgrant,thereisagenusofdaemonsaccording

Dtohabitude,whosaysthatoursoulisallottedtheorderofadaemon,0
3,159withreferencetothemortalanimal,bythepowersthatfabricated
mortalnatures?Itisnecessarytherefore,thatthereshouldbethe
essentialdaemoniacallifepriortothatwhichsubsistsaccordingto
habitude,andthatthosewhograntthelatter,shouldalsoadmitthe
existenceoftheformer.Platohowever,who[verbally]constitutesthe
tForcfKoxnitcthere,readAVRIXRIPA.
Xcf.75Bsupra,p.227.
cf.Aristotle,DeAnimaIII,10,433aff.
Insteadof8eikrjvexeivKTOVTUVTT\VotaiTCtvhere,whichisevidentlyerroneous,
Iread8eioXyvexeive*cTOVTUVnp8uxra^iv.
oTim.90a.
rulersoftheuniverse,isalsoofopinion,thattheperpetualattendants
ofthese,receivedtheirhypostasistogetherwith,andfromthese.
40de"Itisthereforenecessarytobelieveinancientmen,whobeingthe
progenyoftheGodsastheythemselvesassert,musthaveaclear
knowledgeoftheirparents;foritisimpossiblenottobelieveinthe
childrenoftheGods,thoughtheyshouldspeakwithoutprobable
argumentsandnecessarydemonstrations."
Wemaycollectfromthis,thathewhosimplybelievesinthingswhich
seemdifficulttobeknown,andwhichareofadubiousnature,runsin
thepathsofabundance,recurringtodivineknowledgeanddeific
intelligence,throughwhichallthingsbecomeapparentandknown.For
allthingsarecontainedintheGods.Butthatwhichantecedently
comprehendsallthings,islikewiseabletofillotherthingswiththe
knowledgeofitself.Hence,Timaeusheresendsustotheologists,andto
EthegenerationoftheGodscelebratedbythem.Whothereforearethey,
andwhatistheirknowledge?TheyindeedaretheprogenyoftheGods,
andclearlyknowtheirprogenitors;beingtheprogenyandchildrenofthe
Gods,aspreservingtheformoftheirpresidingdeityaccordingtothepresent
life.*ForApolloniacalsouls,inconsequenceofchoosingapropheticor
telesticlife,arecalledthechildrenandprogenyofApollo;children
indeed,sofarastheyaresoulspertainingtothisGod,andadaptedto
thisseries;butprogenybecausetheydemonstratetheirpresentlifetobe
conformabletothesecharacteristicsoftheGod.Allsoulstherefore,are
thechildrenoftheGods;butalldonotknowtheirpresidingGod.
Suchhowever,ashavethisknowledgeandchooseasimilarlife,are
3,160calledthechildrenandprogeny*oftheGods.HencePlatoadds,"as
theysay;"fortheyunfoldtheorderfromwhichtheycame.Thusthe
Sybil5assoonasshewasborn,utteredoracles;andHerculesappeared
athisbirthwithdemiurgicsymbols.Butsoulsofthiskindconvert

themselvestotheirprogenitors,andarefilledfromthemwithdeific
Fknowledge.Theirknowledgehoweverisenthusiastic,beingconjoined
tForamostampleandbeautifulaccountoftheseheroicsoulsbyProclus,seethe
AdditionalnotestomytranslationoftheCratylusofPlato[TTSvol.XIII,p.529ttj.
XEyyovoiisomittedintheoriginal.
SThisisdoubtlesstheSybilofwhomProclusalsoobserves[at325Ef,infra]
"thatproceedingintolight,sheknewherownorder,andmanifestedthatshecame
fromtheGods,saying,IamthemediumbetweenGodsandmen."eideyapTOI
ZiBvWarpoe\8ovoaeic,0uc,Kairt\vra&veavrriQ,KaiuqeKBeuvr\KeioeoyXuKev,
eipi8'eyupeorireBeuvenrovoapeor\reavBpuvuv.
todeitythroughdivinelight,andexemptfromallotherknowledge,
boththatwhichisprobable,andthatwhichisdemonstrative.Forthe
formerisconversantwithnature,andtheuniversalinparticulars;but
thelatterwithanincorporealessence,andtheobjectsofscience.
Divinelyinspiredknowledgehowever,alone,isconjoinedwiththeGods
themselves.
40e"Butastheydeclarethattheirnarrationsareaboutaffairs,towhich
theyarenaturallyallied,itisproperthatcomplyingwiththelawwe
shouldassenttotheirtradition.Lettherefore,thegenerationofthese
Godsaccordingtothem,beadmitted,andsaidbyustobethis."
289AFromthesewords,hewhoconsidersthemaccuratelymayassume
manythings,suchasthatdivinelyinspireknowledgeisperfected
throughfamiliaritywithandalliancetotheGods.Forthesunisseen
throughsolarformlight,anddivinitybecomesapparentthroughdivine
illumination.Itmaylikewisebeinferredthatthedivinelawdefinesthe
ordersoftheGodswhichthedivinelyinspiredconceptionsofthe
ancientsunfold,accordingtowhichalsosoulsenergizing,thoughnot
enthusiastically,arepersuadedbythosethatenthusiasticallyenergize.
Complyingwiththislaw,Timaeusinthebeginningofthisdialoguesays,
thatheshallinvoketheGodsandGoddesses.*Fromthesewordsalso
wemayinfer,thatallthekingdomsbothintheheavensandthe
sublunaryregion,areadornedanddistributedinorder,accordingtothe
firstandintellectualprinciples;andthatallofthemareeverywhere
accordingtotheanalogous.Likewisethattheorderofthingsprecedes
3,161ourconceptions.Andsuchlikedogmasindeedmaybeassumedfrom
thewordsbeforeus.ButitisPythagorictofollowtheOrphic
Bgenealogies.ForthescienceconcerningtheGodsproceededfromtheOrphic
traditionthroughPythagoras,totheGreeks,asPythagorashimselfsaysin
TheSacredDiscourse.
*Tim.27c.

BOOKFIVE
3,162Thetheoryofthesublunaryisimmediatelyconnectedwiththatofthe
celestialGods;andinconsequenceofbeingsuspendedfromit,possesses
theperfectandscientific.ForthegenerationproducingchoirofGods,
followstheGodsintheheavens,andinimitationofthecelestialcircle,
convolvesalsothecircleingeneration.Forsecondaryfollowthenatures
priortothem,accordingtoanindivisibleandunitedprogression.
Becausehowever,thedivinitiesthatgoverngeneration,subsist
289CimmediatelyfromthecelestialGods,onthisaccountalsotheyare
convertedtothemaccordingtooneundisjoinedunion;justasthe
celestialareconvertedtothesupercelestialdeities,fromwhomtheywere
proximatelygenerated;butthesupercelestialtotheintellectual,by
whomtheywereadornedanddistributed;andagaintheintellectualto
theintelligibleGods,fromwhomtheywereineffablyunfoldedinto
light,andwhoindescribablyandoccultlycomprehendallthings.
Ofthewholeofthistrulygoldenchaintherefore,*thesummitis
indeedthegenusoftheintelligibleGods,buttheendisthatofthe
sublunarydeities,whogovern*generationinanunbegotten,andnature
inasupernaturalmanner,towhichthedemiurgicintellectnowgives
subsistence;thedominionoftheGodsbeingextendingsupernallyfrom
theheavensasfarastothelastofthings.Ofthesesublunarydeities
however,ofwhomitisproposedbyustospeak,itisnecessaryto
observeinthefirstplace,thatallofthempreservethegenerativeand
perfectiveenergyoftheirgeneratingcause,andalsohisdemiurgicand
3,163stableproductivepower.Theylikewisereceivemeasures,boundaries,
andorderfromtheirfather.Andsuchthingsashegovernsexemptly
andtotally,theybeingdividedaccordingtoallotments,fabricate,
Dgenerateandperfect.Someofthemalsoareproximatetothecelestial
Gods;butothersproceedtoagreaterdistancefromthem.Hence,some
GodspreservetheideaoftheseGods,sofarasitcanbepreservedinthe
sublunaryorder;butothersareestablishedaccordingtotheirappropriate
power.Forofeveryorder,thesummitisanalogoustotheorderprior
toit.Thusthesummitofintelligiblesisunity;ofintellectualsis
intelligible;ofthesupermundaneorder,isintellectual;andofthe
mundaneorder,supermundane.AndsomeofthesublunaryGods
indeed,areinagreaterdegreeunitedtothedemiurgicmonad;butothers
tcf.IliadVIII,19;andalso96A,f,supra.
$ForeiruropevovTuv,itisnecessarytoreadeiriTpoirevovTuv.
aremoredistantfromit.Hence,somebeinganalogoustoit,arethe

leadersofthewholeseries;butothershaveamorepartialsimilitudeto
it.Forthefatherestablishedineveryorderpowersanalogoustohimin
theirarrangement;sinceinallthedivineordersacertaincausepresubsists
analogoustoTheGood.*
3,164Conformablytothesecauseswhicharethusanalogoustotheineffable
Eprincipleofthings,andwhichwithreferencetoitarecalledmonads,the
sublunaryGodsproceedandadornanddistributegenerationina
becomingmanner.Andsomeindeedgivecompletiontothis,butothers
tosomeotherwilloftheirfather.Forsomecompletehisconnective,
othershisprolific,othershismotive,andothershisguardianwill,and
others,someotherwilloftheDemiurguspertainingtothewholesinthe
sublunaryregion.Andsomeofthemhavedominionoversouls,others
overdaemons,andothersoverGods.Allofthemhoweverare
intellectualaccordingtoessence,butmundaneaccordingtoallotment.
Theyarealsoperfectiveandpowerful,governinggenerationinan
unbegottenmanner,beingsdeprivedofintellect,intellectually,and
inanimatenatures,vitally.Fortheyadornallthingsaccordingtotheir
ownessence,andnotaccordingtotheimbecilityoftherecipients.But
PlatoisevidentlyofopinionthattheseGodsusecertainotherbodies
moresimpleandperpetualthantheseelementsbysaying,*thatthey
appearwhentheyplease,andbecomevisibletous.Thathelikewise
givesthemsoulsismanifest,fromhissayingthateverymundaneGod
isconjoinedtobodiesthroughsoul.Forhethenfirstcalledtheworld
FitselfaGod,5whenhehadestablishedasoulinit.Andagain,thathe
suspendsintellectsfromthem,throughwhichtheirsoulsareintellectual
andareimmediatelyconvertedtotheDemiurgus,isevidentfromthe
speechoftheDemiurgustothem.D
3,165Iflikewiseitisrequisitethatthewholeworldshouldbeperfect,itis
290Anecessarythattogetherwiththedivinegeneraweshouldconceivethat
thedaemoniacalorderwasgeneratedpriortooursouls,(whichPlato
shortlyafterconstitutes,)andwhichreceivesatripledivision,viz.into
angels,daemonsproperlysocalled,andheroes.Forthewholeofthis
tInwhatimmediatelyfollowshere,thetextissocorruptastobeunintelligible
[III,163,1723.omitted].
%Tim.41a.
Tim.31b.
Herealsointhetwolinesthatimmediatelyfollow,thetextissocorruptasto
beincapableofemendation.[III,164,21165,1omitted].
orderfillsupthemiddlespacebetweenGodsandmen;becausethereis
anallperfectseparationorintervalbetweenourconcerns,andthoseof
theGods.Forthelatterareeternal,buttheformerarefrailandmortal.

Andtheformerindeedaresatisfiedwiththeenjoymentofintellectin
energypartially;butthelatterascendintototalintellectsthemselves.
Onthisaccount,thereisatriadwhichconjoinsourconcernswiththe
Gods,andwhichproceedsanalogoustothethreeprinciplecausesof
things;thoughPlatoisaccustomedtocallthewholeofthistriad
daemoniacal.Fortheangelicisanalogoustobeing,ortheintelligible,
whichisfirstunfoldedintolightfromtheineffableandoccultfountain
ofbeings.HencealsoitunfoldstheGodsthemselves,andannounces
thatwhichisoccultintheiressence.Butthedaemoniacalisanalogous
toinfinitelife.Onwhichaccountitproceedseverywhere,according
Btomanyorders,andisofamultiformnature.Andtheheroicis
analogoustointellectandconversion.Hencealso,itistheinspective
guardianofpurification,andisthesupplierofamagnificentand
elevated*life.Fatherstill,theangelicindeedproceedsaccordingtothe
intellectuallifeoftheDemiurgus.Henceitalsoisessentially
intellectual,andinterpretsandtransmitsadivineintellecttosecondary
natures.Butthedaemoniacalproceedsaccordingtothedemiurgic
providenceofwholes,governsnature,andrightlygivescompletionto
theorderofthewholeworld.Andtheheroicagain,proceedsaccording
totheconvertiveprovidenceofthese.Hence,thisgenuslikewise,is
elevated,raisessoulsonhigh,andisthecauseofagrandandvigorous
energy.
3,166Suchtherefore,beingthenatureofthesetriplegenera,theyare
suspendedfromtheGods;someindeedfromthecelestialGods,but
othersfromthedivinitieswhoaretheinspectiveguardiansofgeneration.
AndabouteveryGodthereisanappropriatenumberofangels,heroes,
anddaemons.ForeveryGodistheleaderofamultitudewhichreceives
hischaracteristicform.HenceofthecelestialGods,theangels,daemons,
andheroesarecelestial;butofthefabricatorsofgeneration,theyhave
Cagenerationproducingcharacteristic.OftheelevatingGods,theyhave
anelevatingproperty;butofthedemiurgic,ademiurgic;ofthevivific,
avivificproperty;andsooftherest.Andagain,amongtheelevating
Gods,ofthosethatareofaSaturniancharacteristic,theangels,daemons,
andheroesareSaturnian;butofthosethatareSolar,theyareSolar.
AmongthevivificGodslikewise,ofthosethatareLunar,theministrant
powersareLunar;butoftheAphrodisiacalorthosethathavethe
tFor7)^uxi?Cinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadI^TJXJJC.
characteristicofVenus,theyareAphrodisiacal.Fortheybearthenames
oftheGodsfromwhomtheyaresuspended,asbeinginconnected
continuitywiththem,andreceivingoneandthesameideawithan
appropriatesubjection.Noristhiswonderful,sincepartialsouls,when
theyknowtheirpatronandleadingGods,callthemselvesbytheir

names.OrwhenceweretheEsculapiuses,theBachusses,andthe
Dioscuridenominated[whobeingmenofanheroiccharacter,tookthe
namesofthedeitiesfromwhomtheydescended?1].Asthereforeofthe
celestial,solikewiseoftheGodswhoarethefabricatorsofgeneration,
itisnecessarytosurveyabouteachofthem,acoordinateangelical,
daemoniacal,andheroicalmultitude;andtoadmitthatthenumber
suspendedfromthemretainstheappellationofitsproducingmonad.
HencethereisacelestialGod,angel,andhero;andthelikeisalsotrue
Doftheearth.*InasimilarmannerwemustsaythatOceanandTethys
proceedintoalltheorders;andconformablytothistheotherGods.
ForthereislikewiseaJovian,aJunonian,andaSaturnianmultitude,
whichiscalledbythesameappellationoflife.Noristhereany
absurdity,ingivingthenameofman,bothtotheintelligibleandtothe
sensibleman;thoughinthese,thereisamuchgreaterseparationand
interval.5AndthusmuchincommonconcerningtheGodsand
daemonswhoarethefabricatorsofgeneration,inorderthatwemay
surveythediscussionaboutdaemonsconjoinedatthesametimewith
3,167thatoftheGods.ForPlatocomprehendsboththesegenerathroughthe
samenames;anditseemsthatthroughthiscause,hecallsthesame
powersdaemonsandGods,inorderthatwemayunderstandthatthe
daemoniacalgenusisatthesametimecosuspendedfromtheseGods,and
mayadaptnamestothemasGods.Helikewisedoesthesamething
elsewhere,0indicatingtheeverywhereextendednatureofthetheory,
andtheeyeofsciencecontemplatingallthingsatonce,andin
uninterruptedconnection.
Againhowever,itisevidentthatweshouldpreservethespecific
separationofthesegenera;surveyingindeed,everygenesiurgicGod,
tSomeofthemoderns,frombeingprofoundlyignorantofthiscircumstance,have
stupidlysupposedthattheGodsoftheancientswerenothingmorethandeadmen
deified;takingfortheirguidesonthisimportantsubject,merehistorians,philologists,
andrhetoricians,insteadofphilosophers.
$For6mrr/c,itisnecessarytoreadfxi71)C.
ForWKOKaraaTaaeuc;,itisrequisitetoreadairooTaatuq.
cf.Rep.VII,533c,ff.
Eaccordingtogoodnessitself,andthissurroundedwithintellect,soul,and
adivinebody;acertainportionofeachofwhichisimpartedbythese
Godstosublunarynatures.Andinthisthesublunaryaremore
redundantthatthecelestialGods.Wemustalsosurveyevery[rational]
daemon,asmoreexcellentthanoursouls,andashavinganintellectual
soul,andanetherealvehicle;sinceacertainthingofthiskind,is,as
Platosays,suspendedfromthehumansoul."TheDemiurgustherefore,"
sayshe,*"causedthesoultoascendintoitsvehicle."Foritisnecessary

thateverysoulpriortomortalbodies,shouldusecertainperpetual
easilymoved,andorbicularbodies,aspossessingessentiallyamotive
power.Butwehavebeforespokenconcerningirrationaldaemons,*and
shownwhatGodsoughttobeconceivedtobethemakersofthem;since
withrespecttodaemonsthatuserationalsouls,itisevidentthatthe
Demiurgusmustbeconsideredasthecauseofthese.NordoesPlatoat
onetimecallthegenesiurgicdivinitiesGods,butatanotherdaemons;as
ifthecelestialpowers,thoughtheyshouldhappentobedaemons,ought
tobecalledGods,butthesublunary,thoughtheyshouldbeGods,
oughttobedenominateddaemons;buthedoessaythis,inorderthathe
Fmaymakethediscussioncommon,bothtothegenesiurgicGods,andto
thedaemonsthatareproximatelysuspendedfromthem.Ofthis
however,wehaveassignedothernotimprobablecauses.
Itnowremainstoshowwhatconceptionsweoughttohaveofthe
3,168GodsnowmentionedbyPlato.Foroftheancients,somereferredwhat
issaidaboutthemtofables,othertothefathersofcities,othersto
guardianpowers,otherstoethicalexplanations,andotherstosouls.
Thesehowever,aresufficientlyconfutedbythedivineIamblichus,5who
demonstratesthattheywanderfromthemeaningofPlato,andfromthe
291Atruthofthings.Afterthismannertherefore,wemustsay,thatTimaeus
beingaPythagorean,followsthePythagoreanprinciples.0Butthese
aretheOrphictraditions.ForwhatOrpheusdeliveredmystically
througharcanenarrations,thisPythagoraslearned,beinginitiatedby
Aglaophemus0inthemysticwisdomwhichOrpheusderivedfromhis
motherCalliope.ForthesethingsPythagorassaysinTheSacredDiscourse.
tTim.41de.
Xcf.288Bff,supra.
cf.IamblichusLifeofPythagoras,98,146;&Lobeck,Aglaophemus,721ff.
Dcf.thefirstpageofvolumeoneofthesecommentaries.
0Insteadofuy\ao<paiiyhere,itisnecessarytoreadAyXaofanov.
WhatthenaretheOrphictraditions,sinceweareofopinionthatthe
doctrineofTimaeusabouttheGodsshouldbereferredtothese?They
areasfollow:*OrpheusdeliveredthekingdomsoftheGodswho
presideoverwholes,accordingtoaperfectnumber,viz.Phanes,Night,
Heaven,Saturn,Jupiter,Bacchus.ForPhanesisthefirstthatbearsa
sceptre,andthefirstkingisthecelebratedEricapaeus.*Butthesecond
isNight,whoreceivesthesceptrefromherfather[Phanes].Thethird
BisHeaven,whoreceivesitfromNight.ThefourthisSaturn,who,as
theysayofferedviolencetohisfather.ThefifthisJupiter,whosubdued
hisfather.Andafterhim,thesixthisBacchus.Allthesekings
therefore,beginningsupernallyfromtheintelligibleandintellectual
Gods,proceedthroughthemiddleorders,andintotheworld,thatthey

3,169mayadornmundaneaffairs.ForPhanesisnotonlyinintelligibles,but
alsoinintellectuals,inthedemiurgic,andinthesupermundaneorder;
andinasimilarmanner,HeavenandNight.Forthepeculiaritiesof
themproceedthroughallthemiddleorders.5Andwithrespecttothe
mightySaturn,ishenotarrangedpriortoJupiter,anddoeshenotafter
theJoviankingdom,dividetheBacchicfabricationinconjunctionwith
theotherTitans?Andthisindeed,heeffectsinonewayintheheavens,
andinanotherinthesublunaryregion;inonewayintheinerratic
sphere,andinanotheramongtheplanets.Andinasimilarmanner
JupiterandBacchus.Thesethingsarethereforeclearlyassertedbythe
ancients.
Ifhowever,wearerightintheseassertions,thesedivinitieshaveevery
whereananalogoussubsistence;andhewhowishestosurveythe
progressionsofthemintotheheavensorthesublunaryregion,should
looktothefirstandprinciplecausesoftheirkingdoms.Forfrom
Cthence,andaccordingtothem,theirgenerationisderived.Itisrequisite
therefore,thatwealsoshouldlooktothese.Somethereforesaythat
PlatoomitstoinvestigatetheGodswhoareanalogoustothetwokings
intheheavens,ImeanPhanesandNight.Foritisnecessarytoplace
theminasuperiororder,andnotamongthemundaneGods;because
priortotheworld,theyaretheleadersoftheintellectualGods,being
eternallyestablishedintheadytum,asOrpheussaysofPhanes,whoby
tOrphicfr.85.
Xcf.96Bsupra.
cf.Orphicfr.197.
thewordadytumsignifiestheiroccultandimmanifestorder.*Whether
thereforewereferthecirculationofsameanddifferent[mentionedby
Platointhisdialogue]totheanalogyofthese,asmaleandfemale,or
paternalandgenerative,weshallnotwanderfromthetruth.Or
whetherwereferthesunandthemoon,asopposedtoeachother
amongtheplanets,tothesameanalogy,weshallnoterr.[Forthesun
indeedthroughhislightpreservesasimilitudetoPhanes,butthemoon
3,170toNight.Jupiter,ortheDemiurgus,intheintellectual,isanalogousto
DPhanesintheintelligibleorder.AndthevivificcraterJunoisanalogous
toNight,*whoproducesalllifeinconjunctionwithPhanesfrom
unapparentcauses;justasJunoisparturientwith,andomitsintolight,
allthesoulcontainedintheworld.5]Foritisbettertoconceiveboth
theseaspriortotheworld,andtoarrangetheDemiurgushimselfas
analogoustoPhanes;sinceheissaidtobeassimilatedtohimaccording
totheproductionofwholes;buttoarrangethepowerconjoinedwith
Jupiter(i.e.Juno)andwhichisgenerativeofwholes,analogoustoNight,
whoproducesallthingsinvisiblyfromthefatherPhanes.Afterthese

however,wemustconsidertheremainingasanalogoustotheintellectual
kingdoms.
Iflikewise,itshouldbeaskedwhyPlatodoesnotmentionthe
kingdomsofPhanesandNight,towhomwehavesaidJupiterandJuno
areanalogous?Itmaybereadilyanswered,thatthetraditionof
Orpheuscontainsthese;onwhichaccountPlatocelebratesthekingdom
ofHeavenandEarthasthefirst,theGreeksbeingmoreaccustomedto
thisthantotheOrphictraditions;ashehimselfsaysintheCratylus,0
whereheparticularlymentionstheTheogonyofHesiod,andrecursas
farastothiskingdom,accordingtothatpoet.Beginningtherefore,
fromthistheogonyasmoreknown,andassumingHeavenandEarthas
3,171thefirstkingdomsabovetheworld,heproducesthevisibleHeavenand
EEarthanalogoustothoseintheintellectualorder,andcelebratesthe
latterasthemostancientoftheGodswithintheformer.0Fromthese
also,heproducesthetheogonyofthesublunaryGods.Thesethings
tOrphicfr.72.
*cf.137Bffsupra;andOrph.fr.73.
Thegreaterpartofwhatisherecontainedwithinthebracketsisinsomutilated
astateintheoriginal,astobeillegible.Thesensehowever,Ihaveendeavouredas
muchaspossibletorestoreinthetranslation.
cf.Cratylus396c;andProclus'ScholiaontheCratylus72[TTSvol.XIII,p.542].
0Tim.40c.
however,ifdivinitypleases,willbemanifestfromwhatfollows.At
presentweshallonlyadd,thatitisrequisitetosurveyallthesenames
divinelyordaemoniacally,andaccordingtotheallotmentsofthese
divinitiesinthefourelements.Forthisenneadisinetherandwater,in
earthandinair,allvariously,accordingtothedivine,andalsoaccording
tothedaemoniacalpeculiarity.Andagain,thesenamesaretobe
surveyedaquaticallyandaerially,andlikewiseintheearthterrestrially,
inorderthatallthesepowersmaybeeverywhere,accordingtoanallvarious
modeofsubsistence.Fortherearemanymodesofprovidence
divineanddaemoniacal,andmanyallotmentsaccordingtothedivision
oftheelements;lestallthingsnot*beingeverywhere,thenumberofthe
sameandthesimilarshouldbedestroyed.Andthusmuchconcerning
theseparticulars.ButletusnowreturntothetextofPlato,andexplore
itsmeaningtotheutmostofourability.
40e"ThatOceanandTethysweretheprogenyofHeavenandEarth."
FAsthiswholeworldisampleandvarious,asadumbratingthe
intellectualorderofforms,itcontainsthesetwoextremitiesinitself,
EarthandHeaven;thelatterhavingtherelationofafather,butthe

formerofamother.OnthisaccountPlatocallsEarththemostancient
oftheGodswithintheheavens,*inorderthatconformablytothishe
mightsay,thatEarthisthemotherofallthatHeavenisthefather;at
thesametimeevincingthatpartialcausesarenotonlysubordinateto
292Atheirprogeny,asPoverty5[intheBanquetofPlato]toLove,butare
likewisesuperiortothem,asalonereceivingtheoffspringproceeding
fromthefathers.Thesetwoextremitiestherefore,mustbeconceivedin
theworld,Heavenasthefather,andEarthasthemotherofher
3,172commonprogeny.Foralltherestterminateinthese,somegiving
completiontothecelestialnumber,butotherstothewholenessof
Earth.Afterthesamemannerlikewise,ineachoftheelementsofthe
world,thesetwoprinciples,HeavenandEarth,mustbeadmitted,
subsistingaeriallyindeedinair,butaquaticallyinwater,andterrestrially
inearth;andaccordingtoalltheabovementionedmodes;inorderthat
eachmaybeaperfectworld,adornedanddistributedfromanalogous0
tMTJisomittedintheoriginal.
XTim.40c.
ForTtpovuxhere,itisnecessarytoreadIlevia.[cf.Symposium203c,ff.]
Intheoriginal,aXoyuviserroneouslyprintedforavdkoyuv.
principles.Forifamanissaidtobeamicrocosm,*isitnotnecessary
thateachoftheelementsbyamuchgreaterpriorityshouldcontainin
itselfappropriatelyallthattheworldcontainstotally?Hence,itappears
tomethatPlatoimmediatelyafter,speakingaboutHeavenandEarth,
deliversthetheoryoftheseGods,beginningfromthosetwodivinities;
BfortheotherdivinitiesproceedanalogoustoHeavenandEarth.These
twodivinitieshowever,aretotallythecausesofalltheGodsthatare
nowproduced.AndthesedivinitiesthataretheprogenyofHeavenand
Earth,areanalogoustothewholeofeach.Thesetwolikewise,aswe
havebeforeobserved,areineachoftheelementsaerially,oraquatically,
orterrestrially.ForHeavenisinEarth,andEarthisinHeaven.5And
hereindeed,Heavensubsiststerrestrially,butthereEarthcelestially.For
Orpheuscallsthemooncelestialearth.*Norisitpropertowonder
thatthisshouldbethecase.5forwemaysurveythesamethings
everywhereaccordingtotheanalogousinintelligibles,inintellectuals,
inthesupermundaneorder,intheheavens,andingeneration,
conformablytotheproperorderofeach.
Withrespecthowever,toeachofthesedivinities,someofthe
interpretersofPlatounderstandbyEarth,thissolidbulkwhichisthe
Cobjectofsensibleinspection;others,asthatwhichhasanarrangement
analogoustomatter,andissupposedtoexistpriortogeneratednatures;
others,asintelligiblematter;others,asthepowerofintellect;others,as
life;others,asanincorporealforminseparablefromearth;others

conceiveittobesoul;andothersintellect.Inasimilarmannerwith
respecttoHeaven,somesupposeittobethevisibleheavens;others,the
motionaboutthemiddleoftheuniverse;others,poweraptlyproceeding
inconjunctionwithmotion;others,thatwhichpossessesintellect;
others,apureandseparateintellect;others,thenatureofcirculation;
others,soul;andothers,intellect.Iknowlikewise,thatthedivine
IamblichusunderstandsbyEarth,everythingstableandfirm,according
totheessenceofthemundaneGods,andwhichaccordingtoenergyand
aperpetualcirculation,comprehendsmoreexcellentpowersandtotal
lives.ButbyHeaven,heunderstandsthetotalandperfectenergy
proceedingfromtheDemiurgus,whichisfullofappropriatepower,and
tcf.Philebus29e.
$InsteadofKmyapovpavuxvmiri)VaeXTjvTjyOpfavqKpooriyopevoev,thesense
requiresthatweshouldreadKaiyapovpavuxvyyvrqvoe\i\VT\v,K.X.[Orph.fr.81.]
Thetwoimmediatelyfollowinglinesinthisplaceintheoriginal,areinso
mutilatedastateastobeperfectlyunintelligible.[III,172,22173,2omitted].
subsistsabouttheDemiurgus,asbeingtheboundaryofitselfandof
wholes.IknowlikewisethattheadmirableTheodorusestablishesboth
thesepowersinthefirstlifewhichsubsistsaccordingtohabitude.For
Dinthelifeaccordingtohabitudeofthesouloftheworld,throughwhich
descendingintoitself,itagainendsinthefontalsoul,withdifference,
threefirsthabitudes,areimmediatelytobesurveyed,togetherwiththe
3,174wholeness.Andthefirstoftheseconsistsofthewholenesswhichison
eachside,hasthewholenesspriortoparts,andterminatesinthewhole
fontalsoul.Butthesecondpreservesthewholefontalsoul,yetdivides
itselfintoparts,andhasthewholenesswhichconsistsofparts.Andthe
thirddistributesthefontalsoul,butpreservesitselfawhole.Inthefirst
likewiseofthesethree,EarthandHeavenarecontained.Forthe
materialnaturewhichisinthefirst,iscalledEarth,matterbeingthus
denominatedbytheancienttheologists.ButHeavenisanintellectof
thiskind,asseparatingthelastfromthefirstinhabitude,andas
constitutingthisvisibleheaventhroughitsownhabitude.Inus
therefore,thehabitudelikewiseofthesoultothebodypreservesthe
body.*Knowingthesethingshowever,Ithinkitrequisitetoadhere,as
byafirmcable,tothedoctrineofourpreceptor[Syrianus].For
throughthis,weshallavoidconfusedanderroneousopinions,andshall
EconjoinourselvestothemostpureconceptionsofIamblichus.
Inthefirstplacetherefore,weshouldrecollectthatPlatoisnow
speakingofthesublunaryGods,thatallofthemareeverywhere,and
thattheyproceedaccordingtotheanalogyoftheintelligibleand
intellectualkings.Andinthesecondplacewemustsay,thatasthefirst
Heavenistheboundary*ofandconnectedlycontainstheintellectual

Gods,containingthemeasurewhichproceedsfromTheGood,*andthe
intelligibleGods,intotheintellectualorders,afterthesamemannerthe
HeavenwhichisnowmentionedbyPlato,istheboundaryand
containeroftheGodsthatarethefabricatorsofgeneration,
comprehendinginoneboundthedemiurgicmeasure,andalsothat
whichproceedsfromthecelestialGodstothosedivinitiesthatare
allottedtherealmsofgeneration,andconnectingthemwiththecelestial
governmentoftheGods.ForastheDemiurgusistoTheGoodItself,so
istheonedivinityofthisHeaven,totheintellectualHeaven.Henceas
3,175there,measureandboundproceedfromTheGoodthroughHeavento
tcf.LawsX,893b.
$cf.Aristotle,DeMundoV,400a5,f.
FortKT'avrov,itisnecessarytoreadeKT'ayadov.

alltheintellectualGods,solikewisehereaboundarrivestotheGods
thefabricatorsofgeneration,andtothemoreexcellentgenera,[viz.to
Fangels,daemonsandheroes]fromtheDemiurgus,andthesummitofthe
mundaneGods;viz.throughtheconnectedlycontainingmediumofthis
Heaven.*FortheeverywhereproceedingHeavenisallottedthisorder;
inoneprocessionofthingsindeed,unitedlyandoccultly;butinanother
manifestlyandseparately.Forinoneorderitintroducesboundto
souls;inanothertotheworksofnature,andinanotherinadifferent
mannertootherthings.Andinairindeed,iteffectsthisprimarily;but
intheaquaticorderssecondarily;andinearth,andterrestrialworksin
aultimatedegree.Buttherearealsocomplicationsofthese.Forthe
divinemodeofsubsistence,andalsothedaemoniacalaredifferentinthe
293Aairandintheearth.Forinoneplace,themodeisthesameindifferent
orders;butinanotherthemodeisdifferentinoneallotment.*And
thusmuchconcerningthepowerofHeaven.
Inthenextplace,directingourattentiontoEarth,andinvokingher
aid,weshallderivethewholeofthetheoryconcerningherfromher
firstevolutionintolight.Shefirstbecomesmanifesttherefore,inthe
middletriads*oftheintellectualGods,togetherwithHeaven,who
connectedlycontainsthewholeintellectualorder.Shelikewiseproceeds
analogoustotheintelligibleearth,whichwefindtobethefirstofthe
intelligible0triads.0Andasrankinginthevivificorders,sheis
assimilatedtothefirstinfinity.Butsheisthereceivingbosomofthe
generativedeityofHeaven,andthemiddlecentreofhispaternal
goodness.Shealsoreignstogetherwithhim,andisthepowerofhim
whoranksasafather.TheEarthhowever,whichisanalogoustoher,
andpresidesinthesublunaryregions,isasitwere,theprolificpowerof
theHeavenpertainingtotherealmsofgeneration,unfoldinginto

Blighthispaternal,definitive,measuringandcontainingprovidence,
whichprolifically**extendstoallthings.Shelikewisegeneratesallthe
tInsteadof\eyu5T)TOICTOVOvpavovrovdeovvoxwyc,pOon\TOCitisrequisite
read,Xeyuoiari)cTOVOvpavov,K.X.
tForXeuchere,readXT)UC.
ForTptadrfvitisnecessarytoreadTpiaSmc.
Forvotpuvreadvor)TUV.
0cf.Proc.Plat.Theol.,IV,19ff.
ttForyoviuoQhere,readyoviput;.
sublunaryinfinity;*justasHeavenwhobelongstothecoordinationof
3,176bound,introducesterminationandendtosecondarynatures.Bound
thereforeandenddefinethehyparxisofeverythingaccordingtowhich
Godsanddaemons,soulsandbodiesareconnectedandmadetobeone,
imitatingtheoneunityofwholes,orinotherwords,theineffable
principleofthings;butinfinitymultipliesthepowersofeverybeing.
Forthereismuchboundinallsublunarynatures,andlikewisemuch
infinity,whichthroughdivinity,andaftertheGods,extendstoall
things.Wehavetherefore,thesetwoorders,whicharegenerativeofthe
divineordaemoniacalprogressions,inallthesublunarygeneraand
elements;andonekingdomoftheminthesamemannerasinthe
intellectualorders.
Fromthesehowever,asecondduadproceeds,OceanandTethys,this
generationnotbeingeffectedbycopulation,norbyanyconjunctionof
Cthingsseparated,norbydivision,noraccordingtoacertainabscission,
foralltheseareforeignfromtheGods;butitisaccomplishedaccording
tooneunionandindivisibleconjunctionofpowers.Andthisunion
theologistsareaccustomedtocallmarriage.Formarriage,asthe
theologistOrpheussays,*isappropriatetothisorder.ForhecallsEarth
thefirstNymph,andtheunionofherwithHeaventhefirstmarriage;
sincethereisnomarriageinthedivinitiesthatareinthemosteminent
degreeunited.HencethereisnomarriagebetweenPhanesandNight,
whoareintelligiblyunitedtoeachother;butthereismarriageamong
theGods,whoexhibitdivisionofpowersandenergies,inconjunction
withunion.Andmarriageappearsonthisaccounttobeadaptedtothe
HeavenandEarth,whichweareatpresentconsidering,sofarasthey
adumbratetheintellectualHeavenandEarth;whichthesacredlawsof
theAthenianslikewiseknowing,orderedthatthemarriagesofHeaven
andEarthshouldbecelebrated,aspreparatorytoinitiationintothe
mysteries.Directingtheirattentiontothesealso,intheEleusinian
mysteries,lookingupwardstotheheavens,theyexclaimed,"Oson!"but
3,177lookingdownwardstotheearth,"Oparent!"5Accordingtothisunion
Dtherefore,inconjunctionwithseparation,HeavenandEarthproduce

throughtheirgoodnessOceanandTethys.Orrather,theydonot
tInsteadofaitopuxvhere,itisnecessarytoreadareipuxv.
%Orph.fr.90&32.
Perhapsbytheformeroftheseexclamationsinthemysteries,thedivineand
celestialoriginofthehumansoulwassignified;butbythelatteritsterrestrialorigin,
throughitsunionwithaterrenebody.[cf.LobeckAglaophemus,728.]
immediatelyproducethese,butpriortothesetwomonads,twotriads,
andduplehebdomads,amongwhichareOceanandTethys.Andthe
monadsindeedtogetherwiththetriadsremainwiththefather.Butof
thehebdomads,OceantogetherwithTethys,abideandatthesametime
proceed.Alltheresthowever,proceedintoanotherorderofGods.
Andthisindeed,isthemodeoftheirsubsistenceintheintellectual
order.Buthere,Platoentirelyomitsthecausesthatabideinthefather,
butdeliverstousthosethatproceedandatthesametimeabide,because
hisintentionistospeakoftheGodsthatarethefabricatorsof
generation.Tothesehowever,progression,motion,anddifferenceare
adapted,andacoarrangementofthemalewiththefemale;inorderthat
theremaybegeneration,thatmattermaybeadorned*withforms,and
thatdifferencemaybecombinedwithsameness.HencePlato
commencesfromtheduad,proceedsthroughit,andagainreturnstoit.
EFortheduadisadaptedtomaterialnatures,aswellasdifference,on
accountofthedivisionofformsaboutmatter.Havingmentioneda
duadlikewise,hebeginsfromearth;forthisismoreadaptedtothings
pertainingtogeneration.
Withrespecttothesetwodivinitieshowever,OceanandTethys,who
abideintheircauses,andatthesametimeproceedfromthem,*some
saythatOceanisacorporealessence;others,thatitisaswiftly
pervadingnature;others,thatitisthemotionofahumidessence;
others,thatitisetherthroughthevelocityofitsmotion;andothers,
thatitistheintelligibleprofundityitselfoflife.ThedivineIamblichus
however,definesittobethemiddlemotivedivinecause,whichmiddle
souls,livesandintellections,efficaciousnatures,andthoseelementsthat
arepneumatic,suchasairandfire,firstparticipate.Andwithrespect
toTethys,somesay,thatitisahumidessence;others,thatitisavery
3,178mutablenature;andothers,thatitisthehilarityoftheuniverse.But
thedivineIamblichusassertsittobeaproductivepower,possessingin
energisinganefficaciousestablishment,thestableintellectionsofwhich,
Fsouls,natures,andpowersparticipate,andwhichislikewiseparticipated
bycertainsolidreceptacles,eitherofearthorwater,whichprepareaseat
fortheelements.Theodoras5however,placesEarthandHeaveninthe
firstpartofthebeforementionedfirsttriadaccordingtoanimationin
habitude,Imean,inthefirstofthewholespriortoparts,andconsiders

tForKoaixovnevoLQhere,itisnecessarytoreadKoonovpvr)C.
$Forair'COJT^Qhere,readax'CCUTMV.
cf.292CDsupra.
Heavenasanalogoustotheintellectual,butEarthtothematerialnature:
andoftherest,thatwhichsubsistsaccordingtothewholefromparts,
294AhecallsOcean;butthethird,whichsubsistsaccordingtothewholeness
ofapart,hedenominatesTethys.
Wehowever,againassumingourprinciplessay,thatthecausesofthese
areindeedintheintellectualGods,andthattheyarelikewiseinthe
sensibleuniverse.ForOceaneverywheredistinguishesfirstfromsecond
orders,inconsequenceofwhichpoetsdonotimproperlycallitthe
boundaryoftheearth.*ButtheOceanwhichisnowthesubjectof
discussion,isthecauseofmotion,progressionandpower;insertingin
intellectuallivesindeed,acme,andprolificabundance;butinsouls
celerityandvigourintheirenergies,andpurityintheirgenerations;and
inbodies,facilityofmotion.AndintheGodsindeed,itimpartsa
motiveandprovidentialcause;butinangelsanunfoldingandintellectual
celerityandvigour.Again,indaemonsitisthesupplierofefficacious
power;butinheroesofamagnificentandflourishinglife.Itlikewise
subsistsineachoftheelements,accordingtoitscharacteristic
peculiarity.Hence,theaerialOceanisthecauseofallthemutationof
Baerialnatures,andofthecircleofthemeteors,asalsoAristotlesays.*
ButtheaquaticOceangivessubsistencetofertility,facilityofmotion,
andallvariouspowers.Foraccordingtothepoets,
3,179Fromallthisseas,andeveryriverflow.
Iliad,196.
AndtheterrestrialOceanistheproducingcauseofgenerativeperfection,
oftheseparationofforms,andofgenerationandcorruption.Whether
alsotherearecertainterrestrialorders,vivificanddemiurgic,itisthe
sourceoftheirdistinction;orwhethertherearepowersconnectiveof
theproductiveprinciplesoftheearth,andtheinspectiveguardiansof
generation,thesealsoitexcitesandmultiplies,andcallsintomotion.
WithrespecttoTethys,asthenameindeedevinces,sheisthemost
ancientandtheprogenitoroftheGods,inthesamemannerasitisfit
toacknowledgeofthemotherRhea.Fortheologists*denominate
anotherGoddesspriortoher,Maia.ThusOrpheus,
tOrphicHymn83(TTSvol.V).
tcf.MeteoricsI,9,346a6ff.

SFr.117,118.
Maia,oftheGodssupreme,immortalNight,
Whatmeanyousay.
Orph.fr.106+
ButaccordingtotheetymologyofPlato,*sheisacertainfontaldeity,
Fortheundefiledandpure,andthatwhichpercolatesaresignified
throughhername.ForsinceOceanproducesallthings,andisthe
Csourceofallmotions,whencealsoitiscalledthegenerationofthe
Gods,*Tethysseparatestheunicalcauseofhismotions,intoprimary
andsecondarymotions.HencePlatosaysthatshederivesher
appellationfromleapingandpercolating.Fortheseareseparativenames,
inthesamemannerashesaysintheSophista,Dofthewords(toxainein
kaikerkizein)tocard,andtoseparatethreadsinweaving,withashuttle.
Oceantherefore,generatingallmotioncollectively,whetherdivine,or
intellectual,orpsychical,orphysical,Tethysseparatingbothinternal
andexternalmotions,issocalledfromcausingmaterialmotionstoleap
andbepercolatedfromsuchasareimmaterial.Hence,theseparating
characteristicisadaptedtothefemale,andtheunical0tothemale.
PlatothereforewouldassertsuchpeculiaritiesastheseofOceanand
Tethys,anddoesassertthemintheCratylus.11Butaccordingtothe
divineIamblichus,Tethysmustbedefinedtobethesupplierofposition
andfirmestablishment.Fromallthathasbeensaidhowever,itmaybe
3,180summarilyassertedthatTethysisthecauseofpermanencyandafirm
establishmentofthingsinherself,separatingthemfromthemotionsthat
proceedexternally.Inshort,Oceanisthecauseofallmotion,
Dintellectual,psychicalandphysicaltoallsecondarynatures;butTethys
isthecauseofalltheseparationofthestreamsproceedingfromOcean,
impartingtoeachaproperpurityinthemotionadaptedtoitbynature;
throughwhicheachthoughitmaymoveitself,orthoughitmaymove
otherthings,yetmovesinatranscendentmanner.Buttheologists
manifestthatOceanisthesupplierofallmotion,whentheysaythathe
sendsforthtenstreams,nineofwhichproceedintothesea;becauseitis
tcf.63Esupra.
%cf.Cratylus402C,f.
Scf.Iliad201.
cf.Sophista226bc.
0Fortvuxvrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadtvwtrov.
ttcf.Cratylusloc.cit.
necessary,thatofmotionsnineshouldbecorporeal,butthatthere
shouldbeonealoneoftheessencewhichisseparatefrombodies,aswe
areinformedbyPlatointheLaws.1Suchdivinenaturesthereforeas

themightyOceangenerates,theseheexcitestomotionandrenders
themefficacious.ButTethysdistinguishesthese,preservinggenerative
causespurefromtheirprogeny,andestablishingtheminenergiesmore
ancientthanthosethatproceedintotheexternalworld.Andthusmuch
concerningeachofthesedivinitiesOceanandTethys.
Sincehoweveraswehavesaid,thegenerationofthese,isfromthe
priordivinitiesHeavenandEarth,butisnoteffectedeitherbya
Ecopulationsuchasthatwhichisinsensibles,noraccordingtosucha
unionasthatofNightandPhanesinintelligibles,itveryproperly
followsthattheirprogenyareseparatedfromeachother,analogouslyto
theirparents,andthateachreceivesasimilitudetoboth.ForOcean
indeed,asbeingthemale,isassimilatedtothepaternalcauseHeaven;
butasthesupplierofmotion,tothematernalcauseEarth,whoisthe
causeofprogressions.AndTethysindeed,asthefemale,isassimilated
totheprolificcause;butasproducingafirmestablishment*ofher
progenyintheirproperlives,sheisassimilatedtothefabricatingcause.
Forthemaleisanalogoustothemonadic;butthefemaletothedyadic.
Andthestableisadaptedtotheformer;butthemotivetothelatter.A
duadtherefore,proceedingfromaduad,andbeingassimilatedaccording
3,181tothewholeofitselftotheduadwhichisgenerativeofit,definesand
distinguishesthecausesofitself,andallthenumberposteriortoitself;
inorderthatwemayeverywhereascribethatwhichdefinesand
separates,totheorderofOceanandTethys.Foronthisaccountalso,
manyOceansaredeliveredtousbytheologists.5
Herehowever,itmaybedoubted,whythegenerationoftheseGods,
295AisfromHeavenandEarth,andnotfromthesouloftheuniverse.For
Platonowheregivesapeculiarsoultotheheavens.Thesolutionof
thesedoubtsisthis.Itmustbesaidthatthesoulwhichsubsistsfrom
tPlatointhe10thbookoftheLAWS[894cd]distinguishesthegenusofmotions
intotenspecies,VIZ.circulationaboutanimmovablecentre,localtransition,
condensation,rarefaction,increase,decrease,generation,corruption,mutationor
alterationproducedinanotherbyanother,andamutationproducedfromathing
itself,bothinitself,andinanother.Thislastisthemotionofanessenceseparatefrom
bodies,andisthemotionofsoul.
XForyovi/jiovhere,itisnecessarytoreadixxyvifiov.
Herealsounfortunatelythepartthatimmediatelyfollowsintheoriginal,isinso
mutilatedastate,astobeperfectlyunintelligible.[HI,181,516omitted.]
thepsychogony,isthemundanesoulofallthepartsoftheuniverse.
ForPlatosays,thatthedivinityfabricatedthewholeofacorporeal
3,182naturewithinthissoul,*andnotonlytheheavens.Beinghowever,the
souloftheuniverse,itilluminestheheavensprimarily,andvivifiesthe

sublunaryregion,assuspendedfromtheheavens.Hencethissoulis
primarilycelestial.Andofthis,youmayassumeasufficientexample
fromthehumansoul.ForPlatosays,thatthiswhichgovernsthewhole
animalofus,*isatthesametimeallottedtheheadforitsplaceof
abode,asfromthencerulingoverthewholebody,anddeducingas
throughachannel,sensetoeverypartofthecorporealframe.As
BSocratestherefore,hadontheprecedingdayestablishedtheFatesover
theinerraticandplanetaryspheres5,Platodoesnotnowintroducea
peculiaranimationtoeachofthem,butashavingalreadyemployed
them,constitutesthesecirculationsofthewholesoul.Buttothestars
3,183themselvescontainedinthespheres,hedistributespeculiarsouls,because
SocrateshadsaidnothingaboutthemintheRepublic,andthepeculiar
animationofthemwasnotknowntohisauditors.Foritwasproperto
extendsuchparticularsaswereunknowntothem,butnottodiscuss
withprolixity,suchasareapparent.0
40e"ButfromOceanandTethys,Phorcys,SaturnandRhea,andsuchas
subsisttogetherwiththesewereproduced."
Intheformerprogeny,aduad,generative,andmotive,wasproduced
fromaterminatinganddefinitiveduad;viz.OceanandTethys,from
HeavenandEarth;butinthesecondprogeny,amultitudeconvertedto
itscausesthroughthetriad,isgeneratedfromtheduad;indicating
likewiseanallperfectprogression.Forthismultitudealsoisdivided,
Cintotheanalogoustobound,andthecoordinatetoinfinity.Forthe
triadistheboundinthismultitude;butthenamelessnumberisthe
infinityinit.Andofthetriaditselflikewise,onethingisanalogousto
themonadandthebound,butanothertotheduadandinfinity.And
intheformerprogressionindeed,theprogenyaloneproceededaccording
toboundandtheintellectual;butinthisthereisalsoamixtureofthe
indefinite.Butaftertheboundaryfromthetriad,Platoadds,"Andsuch
tcf.Tim36d.
Xcf.Tim.44dff.
cf.284Ef,supra;andRep.X,617a618.
Fivelinesintheoriginaloftheaboveparagrapharelikewiseillegible,in
consequenceofbeinginsuchamutilatedstate,[III,182,916omitted.]
assubsisttogetherwiththese,"indicatingtheentireprogressionand
separationofthesetripleorders;sothattheprogenyofthisprogression
istriadicthroughthepeculiarityofconversion,anddyadicthroughthe
interventionoftheinfiniteandtheindefinite.
Sincehowever,thesedifferaccordingtotheirintellectualcauses,inthe
samemannerasthebeforementionedorders;butinthemOceanand

Tethysweresaidtobethebrethren,andnotthefathers*ofSaturnand
Rhea;fortheprogressiontothesewasfromHeavenandEarth,andall
theTitannicorderisthencederived;letusseeonwhataccountPlato
3,184heregivessubsistencetoPhorcys,SaturnandRhea,fromOceanand
DTethys.ForhemayappeartosaythisnotconformablytotheOrphic
principles.For,"EarthlatentlyborefromHeaven,"asthetheologist
says,"sevenpurebeautifulvirginswithrollingeyes,andsevensonsthat
werekingswithfinelonghair.Andthedaughters,indeed,were
Themis,andthejoyfulTethys,Mnemosynewiththickcurledhair,and
theblessedThea.ShelikewiseboreDione,havingaverygracefulform,
andPhoebe,andRhea,themotherofkingJupiter.Butthevenerable
Earthbroughtforththosecelestialyouths,whoarecalledbythe
appellationofTitans,becausetheyrevengedthemightystarryHeaven.
AndshealsoboreCoeus,thegreatCroeus,andthestrongPhorcys,and
likewiseSaturn,andOcean,HyperionandIapetus."*Thesethingsthen
havingbeenwrittenbythetheologistpriortoPlato,howisitthat
TimaeusproducesSaturnandRheafromOceanandTethys?Inanswer
tothis;5aswehavebeforearrangedOceanandTethysaboveSaturnand
Rhea,asbeingthemediabetweentheseandthefathers,andthe
guardiansoftheboundariesofboth,asitisusualtocelebratethem;we
mustsayinthefirstplace,indeed,thatitisnotwonderfulthatthesame
divinitiesshouldbebrothers,andyetthroughtranscendencyofdignity
shouldbecalledthefathersofcertainGods.Forsuchthingsasarefirst,
Ewhentheyproceedfromtheircauses,produceinconjunctionwiththose
causes,thenaturesposteriortothemselves.Thusallsoulsindeed,are
sisters,accordingtoonedemiurgiccause,andaccordingtothevivific
principleandfountainfromwhichtheyproceed;atthesametimedivine
soulsproducepartialsouls,togetherwiththeDemiurgusandvivific
causes,inconsequenceoffirstproceedingintolight,andabidingintheir
fIVarpoqiserroneouslyprintedinsteadofTtarepeq.
$cf.HesiodTheog.133ff;LobeckAglaoph.505;Orph.fr.137;also137B,supra
and297Ainfra.
wholeness;receivingthepoweroffabricatingnaturessimilarto
3,185themselves.Besides,intheGodsthemselves,alltheoffspringofSaturn
arebrethren,accordingtotheonegenerativemonadbywhichtheywere
oroduced;yetatthesametimeJupiteriscalledfather,inthedivinepoet
Homer,bothJunoandNeptune:
Onewordpermitmethund'ringfatherJove;
IliadXIX,121
And,

Whatmortalnowinalltheboundlessearth,
OfatherJove,willcounciltoth'mmortalsgive.*
ForintheformerverseJuno,andinthelatterNeptune,callsJupiter
father.
SothatitisnotatallwonderfulifOceanandTethysarecalledboth
brethrenandfathersofSaturnandRhea;inconsequenceofpreserving
asamongbrethrenthepaternalpeculiarity.Inthefirstplace,therefore,
thedoubtmayafterthismannerbesolved.
Inthenextplace,itmaybesaid,thatofthedivineTitannic
hebdomads,Ocean,indeed,bothabidesandproceeds,unitinghimselfto
Fhisfather,andnotdepartingfromhiskingdom.Butalltherest
rejoicinginprogression,aresaidtohavegivencompletiontothewillof
Earth,buttohaveassaultedtheirfather,dividingthemselvesfromhis
kingdom,andproceedingintoanotherorder.Orrather,ofallthe
celestialgenera,somealoneabideintheirprinciples,asthetwofirst
triads."For,assoonasHeavenunderstoodthattheyhadanimplacable
heart,andalawlessnature,hehurledthemintoTartarus,theprofundity
ofEarth"[saysOrpheus].*Heconcealedthemthereforeinthe
unapparent,throughtranscendencyofpower.Butothersbothabidein,
296Aandproceedfromtheirprinciples,asOceanandTethys.Forwhenthe
otherTitansproceededtoassaulttheirfatherHeaven,Oceanprohibited
themfromobeyingthemandatesoftheirmother,beingdubiousoftheir
rectitude.
"ButOcean[saysOrpheus]5remainedwithinhisplaceofabode,
consideringtowhatheshoulddirecthisattention,andwhetherhe
3,186shoulddeprivehisfatherofstrength,andunjustlymutilatehimin
tIliadVII,447.ButinproclusforHpa,readr\pa.
%Orph.fr.97,&Lobeck,Aglaoph.506.
Forirwchere,itisnecessarytoreadirpoc.Orph.fr.100,&Lobeck,Aglaoph.507.
conjunctionwithSaturn,andtheotherbrethren,whowereobedientto
theirdearmother;orleavingthese,stayquietlyathome.Aftermuch
fluctuationofthoughthowever,heremainedpeaceablyathome,being
angrywithhismother,butstillmoresowithhisbrethren."
Hethereforeabides,andatthesametimeproceedstogetherwith
Tethys;forsheisconjoinedwithhimaccordingtothefirstprogeny.
ButtheotherTitansareinducedtoseparationandprogression.Andthe
leaderoftheseisthemightySaturn,asthetheologistsays;+thoughhe
evincesthatSaturnissuperiortoOceanbysaying,thatSaturnhimself

receivedthecelestialOlympus,andthattherebeingthronedhereigns
BovertheTitans;butthatOceanobtainedallthemiddleallotment.For
hesays,thathedwellsinthedivinestreamswhichareposteriorto
Olympus,andthatheenvironstheHeavenwhichisthere,andnotthe
highestHeaven,butasthefablesays,thatwhichfellfromOlympus,and
wastherearranged.*
OceanandTethystherefore,sofarastheyabide,andareunitedto
Heaven,produceinconjunctionwithhimthekingdomofSaturnand
Rhea;andsofarastheyareestablishedinthefirstpoweroftheir
mother,sofartheyproducePhorcysinconjunctionwithher.5Forshe
produceshimtogetherwithNereusandThaumas,0frombeing
mingledthroughlovewiththesea.ForPhorcysisnotcelestialbut
Ocean,asisevidentfromtheTheogony.0AndsofarasTethysisfull
ofEarth,sofarbeingasitwereacertainEarth,shemaybesaidto
producethisPhorcysinconjunctionwithOcean;sofarasOceanalso
comprehendstheintelligibleinhimself.HenceTethys,sofarassheis
Earthaccordingtoparticipation,andOceansofarasheiscausallythe
fOrph.fr.104,&Lobeck,Aglaoph.509.
XAsthisisaremarkablycuriousOrphicfragment,andisnottobefoundin
Gesner'scollectionofOrphicremains,Ishallgivetheoriginalforthesakeofthe
learnedreader:KmroiyeonoKQOVOQvnepnpot;tareTOVUKeavov,SeSrjAoKf
ForpjtT'avrov,itisnecessarytoreadpjtr'cnm/c.
ForOavfiavrahere,itisrequisitetoreadQavnavroq;andforirovrov,TTOVT^.
oTheoriginalhereisevidentlyerroneous;foritis,ovyapeoTivo$>opKVQ
ovpaviSeQaWaoQopicvt;,UQtonbrfKovtKTT/CBeoyovutt;.Fora\AaoiopKvq
therefore,Ireada\\aoQiceavos;OceanaccordingtotheTheogonyofHesiod[233&
237],beingtheprogenyofHeavenandEarth.
3,187sea,givesubsistenceinconjunctionwithSaturnandRheatothisGod.
CIfhowever,anyargumentsshoulddemonstratethatintheintellectual
orderSaturnisaboveOcean,orRheaaboveTethys,itmustbesaidthat
thisarrangementisindeedthere;forinthatorderthecausesof
intellectionaresuperiortothoseofmotion;butthathereonthe
contrary,allthingsareinmutationandaflowingcondition;sothathere
OceanisveryproperlypriortoSaturn,sinceitisthefountainof
motion,andTethysispriortoRhea.Hence,afteranothermannerthe
doubtmaybethussolved.
Thatwemayspeakhowever,abouteachoftheseGods,Theodorus
referssoulsthatsubsistinhabitudetothesedivinities,andarrangesthem
aspresidingoverthethreedivisionsoftheworld.1AndPhorcys
indeed,hearrangesinthestarlesssphere,asmovingthelationofthe
Duniverse.HeoughthowevertopersuadeusthatPlatowasacquainted

withacertainstarlesssphere,andafterwards,thathethusarranged
Phorcysinthissphere.ButheplacesSaturnoverthemotionsofthe
stars,becausetime*isfromthese,andthegenerationsandcorruptions
ofthings.AndheplacesRheaoverthematerialpartoftheworld,
becausebymateriality,shehasaredundancywithrespecttothe
divinitiespriortoherself.ButthedivineIamblichusarrangesthemin
thethreespheresbetweentheheavensandtheearth.Forsomeofthe
sublunarydeitiesgiveatwofolddivisiontothesublunaryregion,but
thesedivideitinathreefoldmanner.AndPhorcysindeed,accordingto
him,presidesoverthewhole5ofahumidessence,containingallofit
impartibly.ButRheaisadivinityconnectiveofflowingandaerialformed
spirits.AndSaturngovernsthehighestandmostattenuated
sphereofether,havingamiddlearrangementaccordingtoPlato;because
3,188themiddleandthecentreinincorporealessences,haveagreater
authoritythanthepowerssituatedabovethemiddle.Weindeed,admire
thisintellectualexplanationofIamblichus;butwethinkitproperto
surveytheseGodseverywhere,bothinalltheelements,andinall
orders.Forthusweshallbeholdthatwhichiscommoninthem,and
whichextendstoallthings.Andwesayindeed,thatPhorcysisthe
inspectiveguardianofeveryspermaticessence,andofphysical,andas
Eitwere,spermaticproductiveprinciples,asbeingpregnantwith,andthe
causeofgeneration.Fortherearespermaticproductiveprinciplesin
tcf.287Asupra.
XKpovoQishereerroneouslyprintedforxpovog.
Forrijcvypr\QuAacouaiae,IreadTTJCvypaqOXTJCOVOWLQ
eachoftheelements;anddifferentordersofGodsanddaemonspreside
overthem,allwhichPlatocomprehendsthroughPhorcys.Butking
Saturndividesformsandproductiveprinciples,andproducesmoretotal
intomorepartialpowers.Henceheisnotonlyananimalbut
pedestrious,aquatic,andabird.Andheisnotonlypedestriousbut
likewisemanandhorse.Fortheproductiveprinciplesinhimaremore
partialthaninthecelestialdeities.AmongtheintellectualGods
therefore,heisallottedthispower,viz.tomultiplyanddivide
intelligibles.Hence,heistheleaderoftheTitans,asbeingespecially
characterisedbythedividingpeculiarity.
Again,wesaythatRheareceivestheunapparentpowersofking
Saturn,leadsthemforthtosecondarynatures,andexcitesthepaternal
Fpowerstothefabricationofvisibleobjects.Forthusalso,herfirstorder
ismoved,isfilledwithpowerandlife,andproducesintothatwhichis
apparent,thecausesthatabideinSaturn.HenceSaturniseverywhere
thesupplierofintellectualforms;Rheaisthecauseofallsouls,andof
everykindoflife;andPhorcysisprolificwithphysicalproductive

principles.SincehoweveranothernumberofGodspertainstothe
kingdomofthese,andwhichSaturnandRheacomprehend,onthis
accountPlatoadds,"andsuchassubsisttogetherwiththese."Forhenot
onlythroughthiscomprehendsdaemons,assomesay,butboththe
angelicalandthedaemoniacalSaturnhavewiththemselvesamultitude,
297Atheoneangelic,buttheotherdaemoniacal.Andthemultitudewhichis
3,189intheGodsisdivine;thatwhichisintheairisaerial;andinasimilar
mannerintheotherelements,andintheothermoreexcellentgenera
arrangedundertheseGods.f
Bythewordsalso"suchassubsisttogetherwiththese,"Platoappearsto
signifytheremainingTitansviz.CoeusandHyperion,Croeus,Iapetus,
andlikewisetheremainingTitannidae,viz.Phoebe,Theia,Mnemosyne,
Themis,andDione,withwhomSaturnandRheaproceededintolight.
Also,thosethatproceededtogetherwithPhorcys,viz.Nereusand
Thaumas,themostmotiveEurybia,andthosewhoespeciallycontain
andconnectthewholeofgeneration.Moreover,itisworthwhileto
observethatitisnotpropertodiscussaccuratelythearrangementin
thesedivinities,andwhetherSaturnorPhorcysisthesuperiordeity;for
theyareunitedandsimilartoeachother.Butifitberequisitetomake
adivision,itisbettertoadoptthearrangementofthedivineIamblichus,
viz.thatSaturnisamonad;butRheaacertainduad,callingforththe
tcf.295Dsupra.
BpowersthatareinSaturn;andthatPhorcysgivesperfectiontotheir
regression.Itnowremainsthereforethatwedirectourattentionto
theotherkingswhoproducetheapparentthesublunaryorderofthings;
forsuchisthearrangementwhichtheyareallotted.
40e"ButfromSaturnandRhea,Jupiter,Juno,andallsuchasweknoware
41acalledthebrethrenofthesedescended,andalsotheotherprogenyof
these."
ThisisthethirdprogressionoftheGodswhoarethefabricatorsof
generation,butthefourthorder,closingasatetradthenominationof
theleadingGods.Forthetetradiscomprehensiveofthedivineorders.
Butasaduadthisprogressionisassimilatedtothefirstkingdom;because
thataswellasthisisdyadic.Therearehowever,presentwithit,theallperfect
accordingtoprogression,andtheuncircumscribedaccordingto
number.ButPlatohere,notonlyaddsthewords"suchas,"asinthe
progressionpriortoit,butlikewisetheword"all,"thathemayindicate
theprogressionofthemtoeverything.Forweusethetermtooson,

suchas,inspeakingofthingsunited,butthetermtopantas,all,in
speakingofthingsnowdividedandmultiplied.Thetotal(toolikon)

3,190likewisepertainstothisprogression.FortheGodswhichare
denominatedinit,andthosethatproceedeverywheretogetherwith
Cthem,arecharacterisedaccordingtothisformoffabrication.Forall
Demiurgiaretotal.Whothereforearethey,andwhatkindoforderdo
theypossess?
ThedivineIamblichusthenassertsthatJupiteristheperfecterofall
generation;butthatJunoisthecauseofpower,connection,plenitude,
andlifetoallthings;andthatthebrethrenofthemarethosethat
communicatewiththeminthefabricationofgeneration,beingalso
themselvesintellects,andreceivingacompletionaccordingtoa
perfectionandpowersimilartothem.ButTheodorus,againdividing
thelifewhichanimatesthetotalinhabitude,andformingitasheis
accustomedtodointotriads,callsJupiterthepowerthatgovernsthe
upperregionasfarastotheair;butJunothepowerwhoisallottedthe
aerialpartoftheworld;andthebrethrenofthemthosethatgive
completiontotheremainingparts.ForJupiteristheessentialofthe
soulthatsubsistsinamaterialhabit,becausethereisnothingmorevital
thanessence.ButJunoistheintellectualpartofsuchasoul,becausethe
naturesontheeartharegovernedbytheproductiveprinciples
proceedingfromtheair.Andtheothernumberisthepsychical
distributedintoparticulars.
DWehoweverconsequently*towhathasbeenbeforeassertedsay,that
accordingtoPlatotherearemanyordersofJupiter.*Foroneisthe
Demiurgus,asitiswrittenintheCratylus;*another,isthefirstofthe
Saturniantriad,asitisassertedintheGorgias;*anotheristhe
liberated,asitisdeliveredinthePhaedrus;andanotheristhecelestial,
whetherintheinerraticsphere,oramongtheplanets.Moreover,asthe
firstJupiterproducedintothevisiblefabricationthepowerofhisfather,
whichwasconcealedintheunapparent,beingexcited**tothisbyhis
motherRhea;afterthesamemannertheJupiterdeliveredhere,whois
thefabricatorofgeneration,causestheunapparentdivisionsand
separationsofformsmadebySaturntobecomeapparent;butRheacalls
3,191themforthintomotionandgeneration;andPhorcysinsertsthemin
matter,producessensiblenatures,andadornsthevisibleessence,inorder
thattheremaynotonlybedivisionsofproductiveprinciplesinnatures
andinsouls,andinintellectualessencespriortothese,butlikewisein
sensibles.Forthisisthepeculiarityoffabrication.Andifitberequisite
tospeakwhatappearstometobethetruth,Saturnindeedproduces
intellectualsections,butRheasuchasarepsychical,andPhorcyssuch
asarephysical.Forallspermaticproductiveprinciplesareundernature.
EButJupiteradorningsensibleandvisiblesections,givesaspecific
distinctiontosuchbeingsinthesublunaryregionasaretotallyvital,and
causesthemtobemoved.Sincehowever,thesesensibleformswhichare
generatedandperfected,aremultiformlyevolved,beingmovedand

changedaccordingtoallvariousevolutions,onthisaccountthequeen
JunoisconjoinedwithJupiter,givingperfectiontothismotionof
visiblenatures,andtotheevolutionofforms.Hencefablesrepresent
herasatonetimesendingmaniatocertainpersons,butorderingothers
toundergoseverelabours,inorderthatthroughintellectbeingpresent
withallthings,andpartialsoulsenergisingdivinelyboththeoretically
andpractically,everyprogressionandallthegenerationofthesublunary
regionmayobtaincompleteperfection.
fThewordsr\peu;8etiropevuc.areomittedintheoriginal.
Xcf.Proc.Comm.onCrat.96.
cf.Cratylus396a.
cf.Gorgias523a.
ocf.Phaedrus246e.
ftForduxvorjOeiQ,itisnecessarytoreadSuxKivrjBttc;.
Suchthereforebeingthenatureofthisduad,therearealsoother
demiurgicpowerswhichtriplydividetheapparent*worldofgeneration;
oneofthesebeingallottedthegovernmentofair;anotherthatofwater;
andanotherthatofearth,conformablytodemiurgicallotments.Hence
theyaresaidtobethebrothersofthese,becausetheyalsopresideover
thevisiblefabrication.Andfurtherstill,thereareotherstheprogeny
Fofthese;*whichisthelastprogressionofthedivinitiesmentionedin
thisplacebyPlato.Hence,theyaredeliveredanonymously;Platoby
thisindicatingthediminutionofitasfarastothelastdivision.Foras
intheGodsthatareabovetheworld,thepartibleproceedsfromthe
totalfabrication,andtheseriesofkingsterminatesinthis;afterthesame
manneralsoamongthesublunaryGods,theprogenyofJupiterproceed
3,192fromtheJovianorder;amongwhichprogenylikewise,isthechoirof
partiblefabrication.ForthebeforementionedDemiurgiproducing
sensiblestotally,itisnecessarythatthosedeitiesshouldhavea
subsistencewhodistributedifferentpowersandpeculiaritiestodifferent
298Anatures,anddividethesublunarygenerationintomultitude.Hence
Platoalonedenominatesthemothers,anddoesnotemploythe
expressionssuchas,andall,becausetheyassociatewithallvarious
diversity.InwhathasbeensaidthereforebyPlato,wehavethewhole
analogouskingdoms,HeavenandEarthhavingthefirstarrangement,but
afterwardsthesublunarykingdoms,thecelestial,theSaturnian,andthe
Dionysiacal.Butbetweenthesetwokingdoms,theorderofOceanis
firstassumed,asdefininganddistinguishingalltheprogressionsfromthe
fathers,ascauses,andasitselfabidingandatthesametimeproceeding,
analogouslytotheintellectualhypostasesofthem.Whatoccasion
therefore,isthere,toproceedanyfarther,sinceallthegovernmentsare
heredelivered,andeachisconjoinedwithitspropermultitude.For
Heaventerminates,Earthcorroborates,andOceanmovesallgeneration.

ButTethysestablisheseverythinginitspropermotion;intellectual
Bessencesinintellectual,middleessencesinpsychical,andsuchasare
corporealinphysical,motion;Oceanatthesametimecollectively
moving*allthings.Saturnalonedividesintellectually,Rheavivifies;
andPhorcysdistributesspermaticproductiveprinciples;Jupiterperfects
thingsapparentfromsuchasareunapparent;andJunoevolvesaccording
tForcupuvrihere,itisnecessarytoreadtpfpotvr\.
Xcf.Proc.Comm.onCrat.143.
SInsteadofrovUKtavovjavraKLVOVVTUVaBpoax;inthisplace,itisobviously
necessarytoreadrovUKeavovTtavrccnvovvroc,ctBpouc,.
totheallvariousmutationsofvisiblenatures.Andthusthroughthis
enneadallthesublunaryworldderivesitscompletion,andisfitly
arranged;divinelyindeedfromtheGods,butangelically,aswesay,from
angels,anddaemoniacallyfromdaemons;theGodsindeedsubsisting
aboutbodies,souls,andintellects;butangelsexhibitingtheirprovidence
aboutsoulsandbodies;anddaemonsbeingdistributedaboutthe
3,193fabricationofnature,andtheprovidentialcareofbodies.Butagain,the
numberoftheenneadisadaptedtogeneration.Foritproceedsfromthe
monadasfarastotheextremitieswithoutretrogression;whichisthe
peculiarityofgeneration.Forreasons(i.e.productiveprinciples)fallinto
matter,andareunabletoconvertthemselvestotheprinciplesoftheir
Cexistence.*Moreover,theduadbeingtriadic,forthreedyadicorders
wereassumed,*manifeststhecomplicationhereoftheperfectandthe
imperfect,andofboundwithinfinity.Forthecelestialnaturesare
definite,andasAristotlesays,5arealwaysintheend.Butthingsin
generationproceed0fromtheimperfecttotheperfect,andreceivethe
sameboundaryindefinitely.Besidesthis,thetetradarisingfromthe
generationofthesedivinitiesisadaptedtotheordersofthefabricators
ofthesublunaryregion;inorderthattheymaycontainmultitude
unitedly,andthepartibleimpartibly;andalsotothenaturesthatexist
ingeneration.Forthesublunaryelementsarefour;theseasons
accordingtowhichgenerationisevolvedarefour;andthecentresare
four.Andinshort,thereisanabundantdominionofthetetradin
generation.
Whyhowever,itmaybesaid,doesPlatocomprehendallthemultitude
oftheGodsthatfabricategeneration,inthisennead?Ianswer,because
thisenneadgivescompletiontoallthefabricationofgeneration.Forin
thesublunaryrealmstherearebodiesandnatures,soulsandintellects,
andthisbothtotallyandpartially.Andalltheseareinbothrespectsin
Deachoftheelements,0becausewholesandpartsareconsubsistentwith
tcf.Phaedrus248c.

tViz.HeavenandEarth;OceanandTethys;JupiterandJuno.Andthislastduad
ranksasthefourthprogression,becausepriortoit,isthetriadPhorcys,Saturnand
Rhea.
cf.MeteoricsI,2,339a26.
Foreimhere,itisrequisitetoreadTpoeiai.
OThisenneadineachoftheelementsisasfollows,viz.totdandpartialbodies,
totdandpartialnatures,totdandpartialsouls,totalandpartidintellects,andthe
monadwhichcontainsthese,viz.theelementarysphereitself.
eachother.HeavenandEarthhowevergeneratetheunapparentessences
ofthese,i.e.ofwholesandparts,theformerindeedaccordingtounion,
butthelatteraccordingtomultiplication;andtheformeraccordingto
bound,andthelatteraccordingtoinfinity,beingtheleadersofessence
toallthings.ButOceanandTethysgiveperfectiontoboththe
commonanddividedmotionofthem.Thereishoweveradifferent
motionofdifferentthings,viz.oftotalintellect,oftotalsoul,andof
totalnature,andinasimilarmannerinsuchoftheseasarepartial.The
sublunarywholestherefore,beingthusadornedanddistributed,Saturn
indeed,dividespartialfromtotalnatures,butintellectually;Rheacalls
3,194forththisdivisionfromintellectualsintoallvariousprogressions,*asfar
astothelastformsoflife,beingavivificdeity;butPhorcysproduces
theTitannicseparation,tophysicalproductiveprinciples.Afterthese
threearethefathersofcompositenatures.AndJupiterindeed,adorns
sensiblestotally,accordingtoanimitationofHeaven.FortheJupiter
intheintellectualorder,proceedsanalogoustotheintellectualHeaven,
intheroyalseries.ButJunomoveswholes,fillsthemwithpowers,and
Eevolvesaccordingtoeveryprogression.AndtheGodsposteriortothese
fabricatethepartialworksofsensibles,someaccordingtoone,but
othersaccordingtoanotherpeculiarity,eitherdemiurgic,orvivific,or
perfective,orconnective,beingevolvedanddividingthemselves,asfar
astothelastofthings,analogouslytotheSaturnianorder.Forthe
dividingpeculiarityoriginatesfromtheSaturniandominion.
41a"Whentherefore,allsuchGodsasvisiblerevolve,andsuchasbecome
visiblewhentheyplease,weregenerated,hewhoproducedthisuniverse
thusaddressedthem."
Platohavingcomprehendedinwhathehassaid,allthemundaneGods,
boththoseintheheavens,andthosethatpresideovergeneration,and
havingproducedthemfromthedemiurgicmonad,somemonadically,
butothershebdomadically,andothersaccordingthenumberofthe
ennead,againconvertsthemtothedemiurgiccause,collectsthemabout
onefather,*throughwhomtheyareallalliedtoeachother,andfills
themwithdemiurgicintellections;inorderthattheymayimitatethe
Fprovidenceofthefather.Andthisindeed,willbehereaftermanifest.

Nowhowever,itisevidentthathecallsthecelestialGodsthosethat
tTipoobovqisomittedintheorigind.
*cf.LawsX,881d.
visiblyrevolve.Fortheirvehiclesaresolarform,andimitateintellectual
splendour.
3,195ButwhydoesPlatodenominatethesublunarydeities"suchasbecome
apparentwhentheyplease."Shallwesayitisbecausethesematerial
elementsarehurledforthbeforethemasveils*ofthesplendourofthe
etherealvehicles*whichareproximatelysuspendedfromthem?Forit
isevidentthatbeingmundanetheymustalsonecessarilyhavea
mundanestarryvehicle.Thelightofthemhowever,shinesforthtothe
299Aview,whentheyareabouttobenefittheplacesthatreceivetheir
illumination.ButifPlatosaysthattheybecomevisiblewhenthey
please,itisnecessarythatthisappearanceofthemshouldeitherbean
evolutionintolightoftheincorporealpowerswhichtheycontain,orof
thebodieswhichareentirelyspreadunderthem.Butifitisan
evolutionoftheirincorporealpowers,thisisalsocommontothevisible
Gods.Fortheyarenotalwaysapparentbytheirincorporealpowers,
butonlysometimes,andwhentheyplease.Itisnotproperthereforeto
dividethesublunaryoppositelytothevisibleGods,accordingtothat
whichiscommontoboth,butsofarastheyhaveentirelysomething
peculiar.Butiftheyproducealuminousevolutionofcertainbodies
whentheplease,theymustnecessarilyuseotherbodiespriortothese
materialelements;andwhichthenbecomevisibletous,whenitseems
fittothepowersthatusethem.Hence,otherbodiesmoredivinethan
suchasareapparent,arespreadundertheinvisibleGods;andaccording
tothese,theyaresaidtobe,andaremundane.Throughthesealsoas
media,theyrideinandgoverntheseelements.Fortheyimparttothem
Basmuchofthemselvesastheyareabletoreceive,5andcontainthe
formsandnaturesofthemintheirpowers.Forsincenooneofthese
isanobjectofsense,anditisnecessarythatthevehiclesofrationalsouls
shouldbethingsofthiskind,itisevidentthattheymustuseother
vehiclespriortothesevisiblebodies.Fartherstill,ifinshort,nobody
issuspendedfromthem,itwouldbewonderful,sincethecelestialsouls
usebodies,thatthesedivinesublunarysoulsshouldbeexemptfromall
bodies,andthisthoughtheyaremundane.Butiftheyalsohave
somethingcorporeal,theyeitherhavethesevisiblebodies,orother
bodiespriortothese.Andiftheformer,howisitpossibletheycan
ascendinto[orbeimmediatelyconnectedwith]bodieswhichare
tIntheoriginalitisTcapcnrerainsteadofTapaTeraapara.
$cf.Protagoras316e;&Chald.Oracl.fr.142,145,193.

cf.Rep.X,620c.
generatedandcorruptible?Forifthesebodieshaveasensibleperception
3,196ofthepreternaturaldispositioninthem,inconsequenceofreceivingthe
lifeofthepowersthatusethem,theywillnotsufferthemtoremain
unemployed.Butiftheyhavenot,*theywillnotbeanimals.For
everyanimalissensitive,accordingtoPlato.Hencealso,heimpartsto
plantsasenseofthelastkind,*andcallsthemanimals.Butthatevery
thingwhichissuspendedfromsoul,isanimatedandananimal,isalso
againassertedbyPlato.Iftherefore,suchbodiesasaretheobjectsof
sense,are[immediately]suspendedfromthedivinesublunarysouls,itis
dubioushowthisispossible.Theyhavethereforeotherbodiespriorto
Cthese.AndthisiswhatPlatomanifestswhenhesays,"thattheybecome
apparentwhentheyplease,"atothertimesbeinginvisibletous.Andthus
muchconcerningthewordsofthetext.
Withrespecthowever,toalltheGodsthatgoverngeneration,wemust
notsay,thattheyhaveanessencemingledwithmatter,5astheStoics
asserttheyhave.Fornothingwhichvergestomatterisabletogovern
withintellectandwisdom,norisproperlyaproducingcause,butan
organofsomethingelse.Normustwesaythattheyhaveanessence
unmingledwithmatter,butpowersandenergiesmingledwithit,as
NumeniusDandhisfollowersassert.FortheenergiesoftheGods
concurwiththeiressences,andtheirinward,subsistpriortotheir
externallyproceedingenergies;sinceapartialsoulalsopriortothelife
whichisinsertedintheanimalsuspendedfromit,containsamore
principlelifeinitself;andpriortotheexternallyproceedingmotion,
throughwhichitmovesotherthings,itismovedwithamotion
convertedtoitself.ThesublunaryGodstherefore,areentirely
unmingledwithmatter;adorningindeedthingsmingledinan
unmingled,andthingsgeneratedinanunbegottenmanner.They
likewisecontainpartiblesimpartibly,arethecausesoflife,thesuppliers
ofintellect,thereplenishersofpower,thegiversofsoul,theprimary
leadersofallgood,andthesourcesoforder,providence,andthebest
administration.Theyalsogivesubsistencetomoreexcellentanimals
aboutthemselves,aretheleadersofangels,therulersofdaemons,and
tForpevhere,itisnecessarytoreadpt).
tTim.77b.
Scf.81Fsupra.
fr.37Thed.
cf.304Einfra.
3,197theprefectsofheroes;governingthroughthistriplearmythewholeof
generation.Iftherefore,weassertthattheappropriateorderofthese

divinitiesaboutgeneration,isthebasisandseatofthetotalGods,we
shallspeakrightly.Andweshalllikewisenoterrinassertingthatthey
convolvetheendofthedivinedecrementtothebeginning.Suchthen
beingthenatureofthesedivinities,PlatoindeedlookingtotheGods
thatarebothintelligibleandintellectual,andtothosethatareproperly
calledintellectual,surveyedfourprogressionsofthemincommon.But
theyalsocontainpowersderivedfromthesupermundaneGods;whether
theyproceedfromthetwelveleaders,orfromcertainotherdeities.
FromthecelestialchoirofGodslikewise,acertainorderproceedsinto
generation,which,asthedivineIamblichussays,isdoubledinits
Eprogression.Forfromthetwentyoneleaders,*fortytwogovernments
ofGodswhoarethefabricatorsofgeneration,arederivedaccordingto
eachelementaryallotment.*Butfromthethirtysixdecadarchs,5
seventytwosublunaryrulersproceed;andinasimilarmannerother
Gods;beingthedoubleofthecelestialGodsinmultitude,butfalling
shortoftheminpower.Itislikewisenecessarytosurveytheirtriple
progressions,theirquintupledivisions,andtheirdivinegeneration
accordingtothehebdomad.Fortheyreceiveanorderlydistributionin
athreefold,fivefold,andsevenfoldmanner,analogoustothewhole
world;inorderthateachoftheelementsmaybeaworld,andmaybe
trulyanimitationoftheuniverse.Suchthereforeistheconcisedoctrine
concerningthesublunaryGods,accordingtotwofoldessences,lives,and
allotments;justasPlatoalsomakestherulingprogenyofthemtobe
dyadic.
Inthenextplace,letusconsiderthewordsofthefather,andwhatthat
is,forthesakeofwhichtheyproceed.Thewordstherefore,areneither
thosewhichproceedthroughthemouth:forthisisforeignfroman
immaterialandseparateessence;norphysical,forthesearenotprimarily
FimpartedtomundanenaturesbytheDemiurgus,butbytheonenature
oftheuniverse;norpsychical,fortheonesouloftheworld,andall
3,198suchothersoulsashaveageneration,antecedentlycomprehendthese;
tcf.Phaedrus247a.
%cf.ZellerIII,2,752ff.
ThesethirtysixdecadarchsarethedivinitiesalludedtobytheEmperorJulianin
hisOrationtoTheSun(148c),whenhesays,"thattheSundividesthezodiacinto
twelvepowersofGods,andeachoftheseintothreeothers,sothatthirtysixare
producedinthewhole."
norintellectual;forinshort*theintellectoftheuniverse,andallthe
intellectsthatconstituteit,comprehendtheseinthemselves.Butitmust
besaid,asthatwhichisworthyofthespeaker,thattheyaredemiurgic
anddivine,causingallthegeneratedGodstobedemiurgi,andtobe

characterisedbythepowerofthespeakingGod.Forwordsare
communicationsofpowersfromfirsttosecondarynatures,andofthe
300Adivineprovidenceandadmirablelife,whichtheDemiurgusofwholes,
antecedentlycomprehendsinhimself.Suchthereforeare,aswehave
said,thewords.
Theendofthemhowever,istorendertheGodsbywhomtheyare
received,demiurgic.Forasthereasons[orproductivepowers]which
proceedfromartintomatter,makeartificialforms;thosethatproceed
fromnature,physical;fromsoulanimated;andfromintellect,
intellectual;afterthesamemannerthereasons[orwords],thatproceed
fromtheGods,makeallthegenerathatareobedienttothemdivine.
ButsinceoftheGodsthemselves,someareofthedemiurgic,andothers,
ofthevivificorder,somearecharacterisedbyanimmutableandpure
fife,butothershavesomeothercharacteristicproperty,hencetheform
ofthewords,isdefinedaccordingtothepeculiaritiesofthespeakers.
Foritiseitherdemiurgic,orthecauseofadivinelife,orthesupplierof
immutabilityandpurity.Hence,sincehewhonowdeliversthewords
istheDemiurgus,thewordsproceedcharacterizedbydemiurgicpower
conformablytothepeculiarityofthespeaker,andrendertherecipients
ofthemDemiurgi.Forthoughtherearedifferentordersofthe
BmundaneGods,viz.demiurgic,vivific,connectedlycontaining,
perfective,guardian,judicial,andcatharticorders,inthesamemanner
asthereareoftheGodsestablishedabovetheheavens;sincetheformer
proceedaccordingtothelatter:yetatthesametime,allofthem
participateofallpowers.DifferentGodshowever,aredefinedmoreor
lessbyadifferentpeculiarity.Hence,eachparticipatesofdemiurgic
power,sofarasallofthemarecoarrangedwiththedemiurgicmonad;
3,199ofvivificpower,sofarastheyareilluminatedbythevivificfountain;
andinasimilarmanner,intheotherpowers.If,however,thespeaker
wasavivificGod,weshouldsay,thathefilledhisauditorsthroughhis
words,withdivinelife.Butsincehewhodeliversthespeechisthe
Demiurgus,heimpartstotheGodsthedemiurgicpeculiarity,
disseminateshisonefabricationintothemultitudeofmundaneGods,
andrendersthemfabricatorsofothermortalgenera,hehimselfbeing
eternallyestablishedinhisownplaceofsurvey,accordingtodivinely
ForoXouchere,itisnecessarytoreadoXwcovovg.
inspiredpoetry,onthesummitofOlympus.+Suchthereforearethe
words,andthisistheendofthisdemiurgicspeech.Itnowremainsthat
weshouldproceedtothedevelopmentofthewordsthemselves.
41a"GodsofGods."*

CThescopeofthisspeechistoinsertdemiurgicpowerandprovidence
inthemundanegeneraofGods,toleadthemforthtothegenerationof
theremainingkindsofanimals,andtoplacethemovermortals,
analogouslytothefatherofwholesovertheoneorderlydistributionof
theuniverse.Foritisnecessarythatsomethingsshouldbeprimarily
generatedbythedemiurgicmonad,andothersthroughothermedia;the
Demiurgusindeed,producingallthingsfromhimselfatonceand
eternally,butthethingsproducedinorder,andfirstproceedingfrom
him,producingtogetherwithhimthenaturesposteriortothemselves.
Thus,forinstance,thecelestialproducesublunaryGods,andthese5
generatemortalanimals;theDemiurgusatthesametimefabricating
theseinconjunctionwiththecelestialandsublunarydivinities.Forin
speakingheunderstandsallthings,andbyunderstandingallthingshe
alsomakesthemortalgeneraofanimals;theserequiringanother
proximategeneratingcause,sofarastheyaremortal,andthroughthis
receivingaprogressionintobeing.Butthecharacterofthewordsis
3,200enthusiastic,shiningwithintellectualintuitions,pureandvenerableas
DbeingperfectedbythefatheroftheGods,differingfromand
transcendinghumanconceptions,delicateandatthesametime
astonishing,fullofgraceandbeauty,atonceconciseandperfectly
accurate.Plato,therefore,particularlystudiesthesethingsinthe
imitationsofdivinespeeches;ashealsoevincesintheRepublic,0when
herepresentstheMusesspeakingsublimely,andtheprophetascending
toaloftyseat.Healsoadornsboththesespeecheswithconcisenessand
venerableness,employingtheaccuratepowersofcolons,directly
shadowingforthdivineintellectionsthroughsuchaformofwords.But
inthewordsbeforeusheomitsnotranscendencyeitherofthegrand
androbustinthesentencesandthenamesadaptedtothesedevices,or
ofmagnitudeintheconceptionsandthefigureswhichgivecompletion
tothisidea.Besidesthis,also,muchdistinctionandpurity,the
tcf.IliadI,498ff.
tcf.Proclus'TheologyofPlatoV,21,TTSvol.VIII.
ForicctVTUVhere,itisnecessarytoreadTOVTUV.
cf.Rep.VIII,545e;andX,617d.
unfoldingoftruth,andtheillustriousprerogativesofbeauty,aremingled
withtheideaofmagnitude,thisbeingespeciallyadaptedtothe
Esubjectthings,tothespeakerandtothehearers.Fortheobjectsofthis
speechare,theperfectionoftheuniverse,anassimilationtoallperfect
animal[i.e.toitsparadigm],andthegenerationofallmortalanimals;the
makerofallthings,atthesametime,presubsistingandadorningall
things,throughexempttranscendency;butthesecondaryfabricators
addingwhatwaswantingtotheformationoftheuniverse.All,
therefore,beinggreatanddivine,aswellthepersonsasthethings,and

shiningwithbeautyandadistinctionfromeachother,Platohas
employedwordsadaptedtotheformofthespeech.
Homer,also,whenenergizingenthusiastically,1representsJupiter
speaking,convertingtohimselfthetwofoldcoordinationsofGods;
becominghimself,asitwere,thecentreofallthedivinegenerainthe
3,201world,andmakingallthingsobedienttohisintellection.Butatone
timeheconjoinsthemultitudeofGodswithhimselfwithoutamedium,
andatanotherthroughThemisasthemedium:
ButJovetoThemisgivescommandtocall
TheGodstocouncil.
IliadXX,4
ForthisGoddesspervadingeverywherecollectsthedivinenumber,
andconvertsittothedemiurgicmonad.FortheGodsarebothseparate
Ffrommundaneaffairs,andeternallyprovideforallthings,beingatthe
sametimeexemptfromthemthroughthehighesttranscendency,and
extendingtheirprovidenceeverywhere.Fortheirunminglednatureis
notwithoutprovidentialenergy,noristheirprovidencemingledwith
matter.Throughtranscendencyofpowertheyarenotfilledwiththe
subjectsoftheirgovernment,andthroughbeneficentwill,theymakeall
thingssimilartothemselves;inpermanentlyabiding,proceeding,andin
beingseparatedfromallthings,beingsimilarlypresenttoallthings.
Since,therefore,theGodsthatgoverntheworld,andthedaemonsthe
attendantsofthese,receiveafterthismannerunmingledpurity,and
providentialadministrationfromtheirfather;atonetimeheconverts
301Athemtohimselfwithoutamedium,andilluminatesthemwitha
separate,unmingled,andpureformoflife.WhencealsoIthinkhe
ordersthemtobeseparatedfromallthings,toremainexemptin
Olympus,andneitherconvertthemselvestoGreeksnorBarbarians;
whichisjustthesameastosay,thattheymusttranscendthetwofold
tIliadVIII,5.
ordersofmundanenatures,andabideimmutablyinundefiled
intellection.Butatanothertimeheconvertsthemtoaprovidential
attentiontosecondarynatures,throughThemis,andcallsuponthemto
directthemundanebattle,andexcitesdifferentGodstodifferentworks.
Thesedivinities,therefore,especiallyrequiretheassistanceofThemis,
whocontainsinherselfthedivinelaws,accordingtowhichprovidence
isintimatelyconnectedwithwholes.Homer,therefore,divinelydelivers
twofoldspeeches,accompanyingthetwofoldenergiesofJupiter,but
3,202Plato,throughthisonespeech,comprehendsthesetwofoldmodesof
Bdiscourse.FortheDemiurgusrenderstheGodsunmingledwith

secondarynatures,andcausesthemtoprovidefor,andgiveexistenceto
mortals.Butheordersthemtofabricateinimitationofhimself:*and
inaninjunctionofthiskind,boththesearecomprehended;viz.the
unmingledthroughtheimitationofthefather,forheisseparate,being
exemptfrommundanewholesbutprovidentialenergy,throughthe
commandtofabricate,nourish,andincreasemortalnatures.*Orrather,
wemaysurveybothineach;forinimitatingtheDemiurgus,they
provideforsecondarynatures,ashedoesfortheimmortals;andin
fabricatingtheyareseparatefromthethingsfabricated.Forevery
demiurgiccauseisexemptfromthethingsgeneratedbyit;butthat
whichismingledwithandfilledfromthemisimbecileandinefficacious,
andisunabletoadornandfabricatethem.Andthusmuchincommon
respectingthewholeofthespeech.
Letusthen,inthefirstplace,considerwhatwearetounderstandby
"GodsofGods,"andwhatpoweritpossesses;forthatthisinvocation
Ciscollectiveandconvertiveofmultitudetoitsmonad,thatitcalls
upwardsthenatureswhichhareproceededtotheonefabricationof
them,andinsertsaboundaryanddivinemeasureinthem,5isclearto
thosewhoarenotentirelyunacquaintedwithsuchlikediscourses.But
howthosethatareallottedtheworldbytheirfatherarecalledGodsof
Gods,andaccordingtowhatconception,cannoteasilybeindicatedto
themany;forthereisanunfoldingofonedivineintelligenceinthese
names.0Hencethroughthiscause,someconjointhewords"ofGods"
withwhatfollows,erroneouslymakingthewholetobe,"oftheGodsof
whomIamtheDemiurgus."Foritisnotpropertorepresentthe
tcf.Tim.41c.
$cf.Tim.41d.
cf.96D,f,supra.
cf.302Bff
Derniurgusasthefabricatorofsomethingsbutthefatherofothers,and
3,203theselatterlesshonourablenatures.Fortheysay,thatPlatobycalling
theDemiurgusthefabricatorofGods,butthefatherofworks,separates
thelatterfromtheformer,asdifferent,andlesshonourable.[Theydo
nothoweverspeakrightly;]forthepaternalismorevenerablethanthe
demiurgiccharacteristic.Neitherisitrighttointroducetheserepetitions
wherethedictioniscontinued.Forwhentheintermediatewordsare
many,thenthereisoccasionforthisparenthesis,butotherwise,the
Dthingissuperfluous.Otherssay,thatthemundaneGodsareofthe
intelligibleGods,asbeingtheimagesofthem,justasthewholeworldis
thestatueoftheeternalGods,accordingtoTimaeus.*Neitherhowever
dothesespeakrightly;becausetheydonotassertanythingpeculiarly
illustriousoftheGods.ForinasimilarmannerwhatPlatosayswould

beadaptedtoeverymortalnature.Forallthese,areoftheGods,as
imagesofintelligibles.Andifitwererequisitetorefertothemthe
words"ofGods,"Ishouldthinkitwouldberatherpropertocallthem
GodsoftheGod,asbeingaloneproducedbytheoneDemiurgus,mortal
naturesnotbeingproducedbyhim;sincehewhospeaksisthe
Demiurgushimself.Henceitwouldbemorepropertospeakinthe
singular,thaninthepluralnumber.Butotherssaythatthemosttotal
unitiesofthemundaneGods,arecalledbythefather,"GodsofGods,"
leadersofleaders,andkingsofkings,asbeinganalogoustothefather
himself;*becausehealso,accordingtothepoets,isthefatheroffathers,
andsupremeofrulers.5Tothesehowever,itiseasytoreply,thatPlato
deliverstheDemiurgusspeakingtoallthemundaneGods,orattendants
EoftheGods,andnottosomeofthemalone.ForifbothsuchGodsas
visiblyrevolve,andsuchasbecomevisiblewhentheyplease,collect
themselvesabouttheoneDemiurgus,andtheDemiurgussaysthese
things,toalltheseGodsthemselvesitisnotpropertounderstandthe
words"GodsofGods"partially,asapplicabletotheleadersalone.
Iftherefore,noneoftheabovementionedassertionsareconformable
3,204totheconceptionofPlato,wemustshowwhathisconceptionis.It
willherehoweverbebettertorecurtotheexplanationofthesewords
byourpreceptor.Hesaystherefore,thatallthemundaneGodsarenot
simplyGods,butthattheyarewhollyGodswhichparticipate.For
thereisinthemthatwhichisseparate,invisible,andsupermundane,and
tTim.37c.
*98Bff,supra.
OdysseyI,45.
alsothatwhichisthevisiblestatueofthem,andwhichhasanorderly
establishmentintheworld.Andtheinvisiblenatureofthemindeed,is
primarilyaGod;forthismustnowbeunderstood,asthatwhichis
indivisibleandone.Butthisvehiclewhichissuspendedfromtheir
invisibleessence,issecondarilyaGod.Forifwithrespecttous,man
istwofold,oneinward,accordingtothesoul,theotherapparent,which
wesee,muchmoremustboththesebeassertedofthemundaneGods;
divinityinthembeingtwofold,oneunapparent,andtheotherapparent.
FThisbeingthecase,wemustsay,that"GodsofGods"isaddressedto
allthemundanedivinities,inwhomthereisaconnectionofunapparent
withapparentGods;fortheyareGodsthatparticipate.Inshort,since
twofoldordersareproducedbytheDemiurgus,somebeing
supermundane,andothersmundane,andsomebeingwithout,andothers
withparticipation[ofbody],iftheDemiurgusnowaddressedthe
supermundaneorders,hewouldhavealonesaidtothem"Gods:"for
theyarewithoutparticipation[i.e.withouttheparticipationofbody,]
areseparateandunapparent;butsincethespeechistothemundane

302AGods,hecallsthemGodsofGods,asbeingparticipatedbyother
apparentdivinities.Inthesealsodaemonsarecomprehended;forthey
alsoareGods,astotheirorderwithrespecttotheGods,whose
peculiaritytheyindivisiblyparticipate.ThusalsoPlato,inthePhaedrus,
whenhecallsthetwelveGodstheleadersofdaemons,1atthesametime
denominatesalltheattendantsofthedivinitiesGods,adding,*"andthis
isthelifeoftheGods."Allthese,therefore,areGods5ofGods,as
possessingtheapparentconnectedwiththeunapparent,andthe
mundanewiththesupermundane.Andthusmuchconcerningthe
wholemeaningofthewords.
3,205Itisnecessaryhowever,sincewehavesaidthewordsaredemiurgicor
fabricative,thattheyshouldbereceivedinamanneradaptedto
demiurgicprovidence.Butifthesewordsareintellectualconceptions,
andtheintellectualconceptionsthemselvesareproductions,whatshall
wesaytheDemiurguseffectsinthemultitudeofmundaneGodsbythe
firstwordsofhisspeech?Isitnotevidentwemustsaythatthisenergy
ofhisisdeific?Forthisonedivineintellectualconceptionwhichisthe
firstandmostsimpleproceedingfromtheDemiurgus,deifiesallthe
Brecipientsofit,andmakesthemdemiurgicGods,participatedGods,and
tcf.Phaedrus,246e.
Xcf.Phaedrus,247e.
Qeoiisominedhereintheoriginal.
Godsinvisibleandatthesametimevisible.Forthis,ashasbeensaid,
isthemeaningof"GodsofGods."ForthetermGodsisnotalone
adaptedtothem;sincetheyarenotaloneinvisible;northewordGods
twiceenunciated,asifsomeoneshouldsayGodsandGods;forevery
bondofthiskindisartificial,andforeignfromdivineunion.These
thingstherefore,havebeensufficientlydiscussed.
Itisalsonecessarytoobserveinordertomaketheinterpretations
concordant,thateverymundaneGodhasananimalsuspendedfrom
himaccordingtowhichheisdenominatedmundane.Hehaslikewise
adivinesoul,whichrulesoveritsdependingvehicle;andanimmaterial
andseparateintellect,accordingtowhichheisunitedtotheintelligible,
inorderthathemayimitatetheworldinwhichallthesearecontained.
Andbytheanimalsuspendedfromhim,heisindeedapartofthe
sensibleuniverse;butbyintellecthebelongstoanintelligibleessence;
andbysoulheconjoinstheimpartiblelifewhichisinhim,withthelife
thatisdivisibleaboutbody.Suchacompositionhoweverbeingtriple
ineachmundaneGod,neitherdoesPlatoheredelivertheDemiurgus
speakingtointellects;forintellectssubsistinunproceedingunionwith
thedivineintellect,andareentirelyunbegotten;butsoulisthefirstof

generatednatures;andshortlyaftertheDemiurgusaddressesthesewhen
Chesays,"sinceyearegenerated."NordoesherepresenttheDemiurgus
asspeakingonlytotheanimalswhicharesuspendedfromthesoulsof
theseGods;fortheypertaintocorporealnatures,andarenotadapted
toenjoytheonedemiurgicintelligence,withoutamedium.Noryet
doesberepresenthimasspeakingtosoulsbythemselves;fortheyare
3,206entirelyimmortal;buttheGodswhomhenowaddressesaresaidbyhim
not+tobeineveryrespectimmortal.Ifthereforeitberequisiteforme
tosaywhatappearstometobethetruth,thewordsoftheDemiurgus
areaddressedtothecompositefromsoulandanimal,viz.totheanimal
whichisdivine,andpartakesofasoul.Forintellectdoesnotknowthe
demiurgicwillthroughreason,butthroughintelligence,orinother
words,throughintellectualvision;northroughconversion,butthrough
aunionwiththatintellectwhichranksasawhole,asbeingitself
intellect,andasitwereofthesamecolourwithit.Butsoulasbeing
reason,andnotintellectitself,requiresappropriatelytoitsessencethe
energyofreason,andarationalconversiontotheintelligible.*Tothese
therefore,asbeingessentiallyrational,andasbeingessentiallizedin
tForiitvuveaTOirajiirai'adavarovqintheoriginal,itisnecessarytoreadni\eivai
r.X.
Xinsteadofvot)TOV,itisrequisitetoreadvoi)TU.
reasons,thedemiurgicspeechproceeds.Anditisadaptedtothemina
twofoldrespect,first,asbeingparticipatedbybodies;fortheyareGods
ofthoseGods:andsecondly,asparticipatingofintellects;fortheyare
Godsof[viz.derivedfrom]intellectswhicharealsoGods.And
Dtheyparticipateofintellects,andareparticipablebybodies.Hencethe
assertionsthattheyaregenerated,andthattheyarenotentirely
immortal,andeverythingelseinthespeech,areappropriatelyadapted
tothem,sofarastheyhaveacertaincoordinationandconnexionwith
mundanenatures,andsofarastheyareparticipatedbythem.Butthe
mandates1"learnandgenerate,"andeverythingelseofthiskindwhich
ismoredivinethangeneratednatures,areadaptedtothemasintellectual
essences.
41a"OfwhomIamtheDemiurgusandfatherofworks,whateveris
generatedbymeisindissoluble,suchbeingmywillinitsfabrication."*
PlatoasImaysummarilysay,appearstogiveatripledivisiontothe
energyoftheoneDemiurgusinhistotalproductionofthejuniorGods,
viz.adivisionintothedeific,intothatwhichimpartsconnexion,and
intothatwhichsuppliesasimilitudetoanimalitself.Fortheaddressof
theDemiurgusevincesthosetobeGodsthatproceedfromhim.Butthe
assertionsrespectingtheindissolubleanddissoluble,bydefiningthe

measureofamediumbetweenthese,impartadistributionand
connexioncommensuratetotheorderofthemundaneGods.Andthe
wordscallingonthemtothefabricationofmortalnatures,causethem
3,207tobethesourcesofperfectiontotheuniverse,andthefabricatorsof
secondaryanimals,conformablytotheimitationoftheparadigm.But
throughthesethreeenergiestheDemiurguselevateshisoffspringtoall
EtheintelligibleGods,andestablishesthemintheintelligibletriads.In
theonebeingindeed,[orthesummitofthesetriads]throughthefirst
oftheseenergies;forthatisprimarilydeiced,inwhichTheOneisdeity,
butbeingisthefirstparticipantofit.ForTheOneItselfisalonedeity,
withouthabitudetoanything,andisnotparticipable;buttheonebeing
inwhichthereisthefirstparticipationisGodofGod.Andbeingis
deityasthesummitofallbeings;butTheOneofitisdeityasproceeding
fromTheOneitself,whichisprimarilyGod.Butthroughthesecond
oftheseenergiestheDemiurgusestablisheshisoffspringinthesecond
oftheintelligibletriads,i.e.ineternityitself.Foreternityisthecause
tAtTim.41band41d.
$cf.81D,supra.
ofthisindissolublepermanencytoeverythingwhichcontinues
perpetuallyundissolved.Henceallmundanenaturesarebound
accordingtothedemiurgicwill,andhavesomethingoftheindissoluble
throughtheparticipationofhim;thenatureswhichareprimarily
indissolublebeingdifferentfromthese,andthosethataretrulyimmortal
subsistingforhissake.Andheestablishestheminallperfectanimal[or
thethirdoftheintelligibletriads]throughthethirdoftheseenergies.
FortothisthevivificassimilatesthemundaneGods,andinsertsinthem
theparadigmsofanimalswhichtheygenerate.Andthisindeed,willbe
onescopeoffabrication,theconvertingandperfectingtheproceeding
FmultitudeoftheGods.Butaftertheonetherewillbeatripledesign,
whichestablishestheminthethreeintelligibleorders.
Thisseconddemiurgicintelligencetherefore,afterthefirstwhichis
deific,illuminatesthemundaneGodswithafirmestablishment,an
immutablepower,andaneternalessence,throughwhichthewhole
world,andallthedivineallotmentssubsistalwaysthesame,
participatingthroughthefatherofanimmutablenatureandundecaying
power.Foreverythingwhichisgeneratedfromanimmovablecause,
isindissolubleandimmutable;butalltheprogenyofamovablecause
305Aaremutable.Henceamongmundanenatures,suchasproceedfromthe
3,208demiurgiccausealone,inconsequenceofbeinggeneratedaccordingto
aninvariablesameness,arepermanent,andareexemptfromevery
mutableandvariableessence.Butsuchasproceedbothfromthiscause,
andfromothermovableprinciples,areindeedimmutablesofarasthey

proceedfromtheDemiurgus,butmutablesofarastheyproceedfrom
thelatter.ForthosenatureswhichtheDemiurgusalonegenerates,these
hefabricatesimmutableandindissoluble,bothaccordingtotheirown
nature,andaccordingtohispowerandwill.Forheimpartstothema
guardianandpreserving,power,andheconnectstheiressenceina
mannertranscendentandexempt.Forallthingsarepreservedina
twofoldrespect,fromthepowerwhichhecontains,andfromhis
providentialgoodness,whichistrulyableandwillingtopreserveevery
thingwhichmaybelawfullyperpetuallysaved.Themostdivineof
visiblenaturestherefore,areaswehavesaidfromtheirownnature
indissoluble;buttheyarelikewisesofromthedemiurgicpowerwhich
Bpervadesthroughallthings,andeternallyconnectsthem.*Forthis
poweristheguardandthedivinelawwhichconnectedlycontainsall
things.Butastillgreaterandmoreprinciplecausethantheseisthe
demiurgicwillwhichemploysthispowerinitsproductions.Forwhat
tcf.77Ff,supra.
issuperiortogoodness,orwhatbondismoreperfectthanthis,which
impartsbyilluminationunion,connectsaneternalessence,andisthe
bondandmeasureofallthings;towhichalsotheDemiurgusnowrefers
thecauseofimmutablepower,saying,"suchbeingmywillinits
fabrication."Forheestablishedhisownwillasaguardoverhisown
properworks,asthatwhichgivesunion,connexionandmeasuretothe
wholeofthings.
WhotheDemiurgushoweveris,andwhothefatheris,hasbeen
unfoldedbyusbefore,1andwillbenowalsoconciselyshown.There
arethenthesefour;*fatheralone;makeralone;fatherandmaker;maker
andfather.Andfatherindeed,isaether[orbound]beingthefirst
processionfromTheOne.Fatherandmakeristhedivinitywhosubsists
accordingtotheintelligibleparadigm[attheextremityoftheintelligible
3,209order,]andwhomOrpheussaystheblessedGodscallPhanes
Protogonus.5ButmakerandfatherisJupiter,whoisnowcalledby
himselftheDemiurgus,butwhomtheOrphicwriterswouldcallthe
fatherofworks.Andmakeralone,isthecauseofpartible
Cfabrication,0asthesamewriterswouldsay.Tofatheralonetherefore,
allintelligible,intellectual,supermundane,andmundanenaturesarein
subjection.0Tofatherandmaker,allintellectual,supermundane,and
mundanenaturesaresubordinate.Tomakerandfatherwhoisan
intellectualdeity,supermundaneandmundanenaturesaresubservient.
Buttomakeralone,mundanenaturesaloneareinsubjection.Andall
theseparticularswelearnfromthenarrationofOrpheus;foraccording
toeachpeculiarityofthefourthereisasubjectmultitudeofGods.But
whataretheworksoftheDemiurgusandfather?Isitnotevident,that

theyareallbodies,thecompositionofanimals,andthenumberof
participatedsouls.Allthesetherefore,areindissoluble,throughthewill
ofthefather.Forthisimpartstothemthepowerofimmutable
permanency,andconnectsandguardsthemwithexempttranscendency.
Theintellectshoverer,whichsupernallyascendintosouls,cannotbe
saidtobetheworksofthefather.Fortheyhadnotageneration,but
wereunfoldedintolightinanunbegottenmanner;beingasitwere
fcf.91Eff,supra.
*cf.96Dff,supra.
Orph.fr.61.
ThisdivinityisVulcan,
ocf.95DE,supra.
fashionedwithin,andnotproceedingoutoftheadyta.*Forneitherare
thereparadigmsofintellect,butofmiddlenatures,andsuchasarelast.
DForsoulisthefirstofimages;butwholes,suchasanimals,animated
natures,suchasparticipateofintellect,andsuchasaregenerated,derive
theirsubsistencefromtheintelligibleparadigms,ofwhichanimalitself
iscomprehensive.
41b"Everythingtherefore,whichisboundisdissoluble,buttobewilling
todissolvethatwhichisbeautifullyharmonisedandwellcomposed,is
theprovinceofanevilnature."
Itisrequisitetoconsiderhowthedissolubleandindissolubleare
3,210assertedoftheGods,*andtoconjoinpropermodesofsolutionwith
appropriatebonds.Foreverythingisnotboundafterasimilarmanner,
noristhatwhichisboundinoneway,dissolvedindifferentways.But
thatwhichisinacertainrespectbound,hasalsoitsdissolution
accordingtothismode.Thatwhichisineveryrespectbound,is
likewiseineveryrespectdissolved.Andthatwhichisboundbyitself
isalsobyitselfdissolved.Butthatwhichisboundbysomething
differentfromitself,hasalsoonthatitsdissolutiondepending.That
likewisewhichisboundintime,isalsodissolvedaccordingtotime.But
thatwhichisallottedaperpetualbond,mustalsobesaidtobe
perpetuallydissolved.Forinshort,dissolutionisconjoinedwithevery
bond.Forabondisnotunionwithoutmultitude;sinceTheOnedoes
notrequireabond.Norisitanassemblageofmanyanddifferent
things,nolongerpreservingtheircharacteristicpeculiarities.Forathing
ofthiskindisconfusion;andthatwhichresultsfromthemisonething
consistingofthingscorruptedtogether,butdoesnotbecomebound.
EForitisnecessarythatthingsthatareboundshouldremainastheyare;
butnotbeboundwhencorrupted.Henceabondthenalonetakes
place,whentherearemanythings,andwhicharepreserved,havingone

powerconnectiveandcollectiveofthem,whetherthispowerbe
corporealorincorporeal.Ifthishoweverbethecase,thingsthatare
boundareunitedthroughthebond,andseparated,becauseeach
preservesitsownpropernature.
Everywheretherefore,aswehavesaid,abondhasalsodissolution
connectedwithit.Bondshoweverandtheirdissolutionsdifferin
subsistinginacertainrespect,andsimply,fromthemselves,andfrom
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,82.
$cf.Nemes,irepiuvaeuQ,p.126.
others,accordingtotime,andperpetually.Forinthesetheirdifferences
consist.Wemustnotthereforewonderifthesamethingisboth
dissolubleandindissoluble;andifitisinacertainrespectindissoluble,
andinacertainrespectdissoluble.Sothattheworksofthefather,if
theyareindeedindissoluble,areso,asnottobedissolvedaccordingto
time.Buttheyaredissolubleashavingtogetherwithabond,a
separationofthesimplethingsofwhichtheyconsist,accordingtothe
definitecausesofthings,thatarebound,existinginhimthatbinds.For
asthatwhichisselfsubsistentissaidtobesoinatwofoldrespect,one,
Fassupplyingallthingsfromitselfalone,butanother,assubsistingindeed
fromitself,andalsofromanother,whichisthecauseofit,thusalsothe
3,211indissolubleisso,fromanother,1andfromitself;justasthatwhichis
movedistwofold,andsubsistsinasimilarmanner.
Tothesetwomodeshowever,twomodesofdissolutionarealso
opposed;viz.thatwhichisdissolublefromanotherandfromitselfis
opposedtothatwhichisindissolublefromanotherandfromitself.And
theformerindeed,isdissolubleinitself,asconsistingofthingsthatare
separate.Butinconsequenceofhavinginsomethingelsepriortoitself
thecausesofitssubsistence,bythiscause,andaccordingtothismode
304Aalone,itbecomesdissoluble.Again,thatwhichissimplydissolublein
atwofoldrespect,andwhichcontainsinitselfthecauseofits
dissolution,andalsoreceivesitfromanother,isopposedtothatwhich
issimplyindissolubleinatwofoldrespect,fromitselfandfromanother.
Thesethereforearefourinnumber,viz.thatwhichissimply
indissolublefromanotherandfromitself.Andagain,thatwhichis
indissolubleafteracertainmannerinatwofoldrespect;thatwhichis
dissolubleafteracertainmannerinatwofoldrespect;andthatwhichis
dissolublesimplyfromitself,andfromanother.*Ofthesefour
however,thefirstpertainstointelligibles;fortheyareindissoluble,as
beingentirelysimple,andreceivingnocompositionordissolution
whatever.Butthefourthbelongstomortalnatures,whichare
dissolublefromthemselvesandfromothers,asconsistingofmany

things,andbeingcomposedbytheircausesinsuchaway,astobeata
certaintimedissolved.AndthemiddlespertaintothemundaneGods;
forthesecondandthethirdofthesefourconcurwiththem.Forafter
acertainmanner,theseasbeingtheworksofthefatherareindissoluble;
andtheyaresavedfromthemselves,andthroughhiswill.Andagain,
fHap'erepovisomittedintheoriginal.
XThewordsKCCIXVTOVairXugtap'eavrovKainap'erepov,areomittedinthe
original.
theyareinacertainrespectdissoluble,becausetheyareboundbyhim;
andhecontainstheproductiveprincipleofthosesimplenaturesfrom
whichtheyarecomposed.Everythingthereforewhichisboundis
dissoluble;andthisisalsothecasewiththeworksofthefather.
Forbodiesindeed,areboundthroughanalogy;forthisisthemost
Bbeautifulbondofthem.Butanimalsareboundwithanimatedbonds,
aswehavebeforeobserved.*Andsoulswhichcontainsomethingofa
partiblenatureareboundbymedia,[viz.bygeometrical,arithmetical
3,212andharmonicalratios;]forPlatocallstheseandalltheproductive
principlesofwhichthesoulconsists,bonds.Forimpartiblenatures
aloneareunindigentofbonds;butthosethatarebound,consistof
thingsthathaveaseparatesubsistence;thesenotbeingseparated
accordingtotime,butaccordingtothecausalcomprehensionofsimple
naturesintheDemiurgus.Afterthismannertherefore,thedissoluble
ofthemundaneGodsasfromanother,orratherasinanother,subsists.
Hencetheyareinacertainrespect,butbynomeanssimplydissoluble.
Foriftheyweredissolublefromthemselves,butindissolubleaccording
tothewillofthefather,asSeverus,Atticus,andPlutarchare
accustomedtosay,againstwhommanyargumentsareadducedby
many;*ifthiswerethecase,whencedidtheyderivethebeingdissoluble
fromthemselves?Forifdissolutionisnaturaltothem,whoimpartedto
themthisnaturalpower?ForitwasnotanyotherthantheDemiurgus.
Ifhowever,heisthesupplierofnaturetothem,healsoisthecauseof
theirdissolution.Butifthebeingdissolubleispreternaturaltothem,
thecontrary,theindissoluble,isnaturaltothem.Andifitisnaturalto
them,theywillpossesstheindissolublefromthemselves;andthevery
Cexistenceofthemwillbeathingofthiskind;inthesamemanneras
selfmotionisnaturaltosoul,levity,tofire,andtoeverything,that
whichnecessarilyexistsinitessentially;sothatthemundaneGodswill
possessthisfromthemselves.ButIsayfromthemselves,becausethey
willpossessitfromtheirpropercomposition,whichtheyareessentially
allotted;fortheywillnotpossessitasselfsubsistent.Itisridiculous
thereforetosay,thatbeingdissolubleofthemselves,theyarealone
indissolublethroughthewillofthefather,whichthesemenasserttobe
thecase,inconsequenceofwishingtopreservetheaxiom,thatevery

thinggeneratedhascorruption,andwhoalsocontendthattheworld
tcf.Tim.31c&38e.
XForanoiroXXahere,readavoitoXXuv.
wasgenerated,lestTimaeusshouldappeartocontradictSocrates,whom
hehadheardontheprecedingdayadmittingthattheunbegotten,1is
incorruptible.*Hence,ifthegenusofthemundaneGodsisofitself
indissoluble,itisalsoofitselfunbegotten,andnotalonethroughthe
willofthefather.Forunlessweadmitthis,howcanweaccordwith
3,213Plato,whomakesatwofoldindissoluble,oneaccordingtonature,but
anotheraccordingtothedemiurgicwill?And,ifwedenythis,mustwe
notalsospeakimpiouslyoftheDemiurgushimself?Forifbeingwilling
tomakehisfabricationsindissoluble,hedoesnotpossessthepowerof
effectingthis,wemustseparatehiswillfromhispower,whichwould
beabsurd,sincethisdoesnottakeplacewithworthymen.Butifheis
Dbothwillingandabletomaketheseindissoluble,beingable,hewill
makethemtobeindissoluble;sothattheindissolubleinthemis
accordingtonature.Foreachofthemwasgeneratedindissoluble,but
wasnotgenerateddissoluble,andafterwardswasmadeindissoluble;since
theworksofthefatherareindissolublethroughthepowerwhichhe
contains.Theyarelikewiseindissolublefromthedemiurgicwillsince
theyareofacompositenature,andpossesstheindissolublewithabond.
Butthereislikewiseinacertainrespectadissolutionofthem,sofaras
theyconsistofthingsofasimplenature,ofwhichthefathercontainsin
himselfthedefinitecauses.Atoneandthesametimetherefore,theyare
indissolubleanddissoluble.Theyarenothowever,soindissolubleasthe
intelligible;forthatisindissolublethroughtranscendencyofsimplicity.
Buttheseareatthesametimeindissolubleanddissoluble,asconsisting
ofsimplenatures,andasbeingperpetuallybound.Forallthenatures
thatareboundbeingdissoluble,suchasareperpetual,possessingthrough
thewholeoftimebeautyfromtheintelligible,divineunionand
demiurgicharmony,areindissoluble.Butmortalnaturesaredissoluble
alone,becausetheyareconnectedwiththedeformityandinaptitudeof
matter.Andtheformerindeed,arebeautifullyharmonizedthroughthe
unioninsertedinthembytheirharmonizingcause;butthisisnotthe
Ecasewiththelatter,onaccountofthemultitudeofcauseswhichno
longerinsertinthemasimilarunion;5fortheirunionisdissipated
tInsteadofyevvyrovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadcxyevvr\rov.
cf.Rep.VIII,546a.
Forevbooivitisnecessarytoreadevuoiv.
throughthemultitudewhichismingledintheircomposition;sothat

theyareveryproperlyallottedaremitted*harmony.
Hence,everythingwhichisboundisdissoluble.Butonethingisthus
dissolubleandindissoluble,andanotherisdissolubleonly,justasthe
intelligibleisaloneindissoluble.Whytherefore,isthatwhichis
primarilybound,atoneandthesametimedissolubleandindissoluble?
Becauseitisbeautifullyharmonized,andiswellcomposed.Forfrom
3,214beingwellcomposeditobtainsunion;sincegoodnessisunific.Butfrom
theintelligibleitobtainsthebeautifully;forfromthencebeautyis
derived.Andfromfabricatingpoweritobtainsharmony;forthisisthe
causeoftheMuses,andisthesourceofharmonicalarrangementto
mundanenatures.Henceweagainhavethethreecauses,thefinal
throughthewell,theparadigmaticthroughthebeautifully,andthe
demiurgicthroughtheharmonised.*Butitisnecessarythata
compositionofthiskind,harmonizedbytheonefabricatingpower,
filledwithdivinebeauty,andobtainingaboniformunion,shouldbe
indissoluble;fortheDemiurgussaysthattodissolveitistheprovinceof
anevilnature.
Moreover,priortothisPlatohadsaid,thattheuniverseisindissoluble
exceptbyhimbywhomitwasbound.5Ifhoweveritisentirely
impossiblefortheuniversetobedissolvedbyanyother,butthefather
Faloneisabletodissolveit,anditisimpossibleforhimtoeffectthis,for
itistheprovinceofanevilnature,itisimpossiblefortheuniverseto
bedissolved.Foreither0hemustdissolveit,orsomeother.Butif
someother,whoisitthatisabletoofferviolencetotheDemiurgus?
Foritisimpossiblethatadissolutionofitshouldbeeffectedexceptby
himthatboundit.Butifhedissolvesit,howbeinggood,canhe
dissolvethatwhichisbeautifullyharmonizedandwellcomposed?For
thatwhichissubvertiveofthese,isproductiveofevil;justasthatwhich
issubvertiveofevilisallottedabeneficentnature.Hence,thereisan
equalnecessitythattheDemiurgusshouldbedepraved,ifitbelawfulso
tospeak,orthatthisworldshouldbedissolved[viz.eachoftheseis
equallyimpossible].SuchthereforeisthenecessitywhichPlatoassigns
totheincorruptibilityoftheuniverse.Hence,thatPlatogivesthe
tKexccpaatpevriviserroneouslyprintedforKexctXao~pevr)v.
$Afterrr\vrapabeiypxxriKyvitisnecessarytosupplythewordsduxrov/caXcoc,ri\v
br\pu>vpyiK7]V,whicharewantingintheoriginal.
Tim.32c.
Foreinhere,readtire.
305AindissolubletothecompositionofthemundaneGods,heclearly
manifests,whenheordersthemtobindmortalnatures,notwiththose
indissolublebondswithwhichtheyareconnected.Foriftheconnective

bondsoftheseGodsareindissoluble,theythemselvesmustbeessentially
indissoluble.Herehoweverhesaysthattheyarenotineveryrespect
indissoluble.Itisevidentthereforefromboththeseassertions,thatthey
areindissoluble,andatthesametimedissoluble,*andthattheyarenot
ineveryrespectindissolubleinconsequenceoftheirbeingappropriately
bound.Butifthesethingsaretrue,thereiseverynecessitythatthe
dissolutionofthemshouldbeverydifferentfromthatwhichwecall
corruption.Forthatwhichisdissolubleaftersuchamannerasthe
corruptible,inconsequenceofnotbeingindissoluble,issofarfrom
beingnotineveryrespectindissoluble,thatitisineveryrespect
dissoluble.HenceitisnotpropertosaythatthemundaneGodsareof
themselvescorruptible,butremainincorruptiblethroughthewillofthe
father;butweoughttosaythattheyareintheirownnature*
incorruptible.
41b"Hencesofarasyouaregenerated,youarenotimmortal,norinevery
3,215respectindissoluble;yetyoushallneverbedissolved,norbecome
subjecttothefatalityofdeath;beingallottedmywill,whichisamuch
greaterandmoreexcellentbondthanthevitalconnectiveswithwhich
youwereboundatthecommencementofyourgeneration."
BSinceallthemundaneGodstowhomthesewordsareaddressedconsist
ofdivinesouls,andanimalssuspendedfromthem,orinotherwords,
sincetheyareparticipatedsouls,andsincetheDemiurgusdenominates
themindissolubleandatthesametimedissoluble,becausethe
indissolubleofthemisnotintelligible,andtheirdissolubilityisnot
mortal,buttheformeristhroughacomposition5fromsimplenatures,
ofwhichtheDemiurguscomprehendstheseparatecauses,andthelatter
isthroughtheimmutableconnexionofthebond,whichthefather
insertsinthem;thisbeingthecase,henowwishestocollectintoone
pointofview,andintoonetruth,allthathehadsaidseparatelyabout
them.Foratoneandthesametimehetakesawayfromthemthe
immortalandtheindissoluble,andagainconferstheseonthemthrough
fThewordsKmXVTOLareomittedintheoriginal.
$Foravrov(ftvaiv,itisnecessarytoreadavruv<pvoiv.
Foritapodophere,IreadovvBeoiv.Forpriortothis,Proclusinspeakingofthese
Godssays,TO8etvTOVTOIQ,OCXVTOVapaKm\VTOPeonv,uce|ait\uvovvBerov.
asubversionoftheiropposites.Formediaareallottedthisnature,not
receivingthenatureoftheextremes,andappearingtocomprehendthe
wholeofboth.Justasifsomeoneshouldcallthesoulimpartibleand
atthesametimepartible,asconsistingofboth,andneitherimpartible,
norpartible,asbeingdifferentfromtheextremes.Forseehowamiddle
ofthiskindmaybesurveyedinthemundaneGods.Thatisprincipally

Candprimarilycalledimmortal,whichsuppliesitselfwithimmortality;
sincethatalsoisprimarilybeingwhichisbeingfromitself;intellect
whichisintellectfromitself;andonewhichisfromitselfone.For
everywherethatwhichprimarilypossessesanythingissuchfromitself;
sinceifitwerenotsofromitselfbutfromanother,thatotherwouldbe
primarily,eitherintellect,orlife,orTheOne,orsomethingelse;and
eitherthiswouldbeprimarilyso,orifthereisnothingprimarily,the
ascentwillbetoinfinity.Thustherefore,thatistrulyimmortalwhich
3,216isimmortalfromitself,andwhichimpartstoitselfimmortality.But
thatwhichisneithervitalaccordingtothewholeofitself,norselfsubsistent,
norpossessesimmortalityfromitself,isnotprimarily
immortal.Henceasthatwhichissecondarilybeingisnotbeing,sothat
whichissecondarilyimmortalisnotimmortal,yetitisnotmortal;for
thisisentirelyadefectionordeparturefromtheimmortal,*neither
possessingaconnascentlife,norinfinitepower.Forthesethreearein
asuccessiveorder.Thatwhichpossessesfromitselfinfinitelife;that
whichreceivesinfinitelifefromanother;andthatwhichneitherfrom
itselfnoranotherexhibitstheinfinityoflife.Andthefirstindeed,is
Dimmortal;thesecondisnotimmortal;thethirdismortal;andthe
middleisadaptedtothemundaneGods.Fortheyneitherhavethe
immortalfromthemselves,sofarastheyderiveitfromthatwhichis
trulyandprimarilyimmortal,andsofarasbodiesaresuspendedfrom
them;norhavetheyafinitelife;buttheyarefilledindeedfromthe
eternalGods,andproducemortalnatures.Forthesecondfabrication
isconnectedwiththefirst,proceedsaboutit,isgovernedbyit,and
referstoittheproductionofthemortalgenera.
Again,withrespecttotheindissoluble,thatwhichisprincipallyand
primarilysoissimpleandfreefromallcomposition.Forwherethere
isnocompositionwhatrepresentationcantherebeofdissolution?But
thatissecondarilyindissolublewhichisindissolublewithabond;which
isatthesametimedissolubleinconsequenceofproceedingfromdivided
causes.Foritisnotsimplydissoluble,butdissolublebyitscause.For
thatwhichisboundpriortoalltimeisaloneboundaccordingtocause;
fForTOVdavarovhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTOVctBavenov.
918
butthatwhichisalonecausallybound,isalonecausallydissolved.For
everythingisadaptedtobedissolved,bythatbywhichandafterthe
mannerinwhichitisbound.Andthethirdfromthatwhichis
properlyindissoluble,isthatwhichwasindissolubleforacertaintime,
becausethefirstindeed,isproperlyindissolubleinconjunctionwith
Esimplicity;butthesecondissubordinatelyso,togetherwith
3,217composition;andthethird,fallingofffromboth,isinitsownnature

dissoluble.
Neithertherefore,arethemundaneGodsentirelyindissoluble;forthis
pertainstothemostsimplenatures.Noraretheydissolubleaccording
totime;forthecompositionofthemproceedsfromthedemiurgic
union.Asthereforeinthecause,unionprecedesthingsofasimple
nature,afterthesamemannerherealso,abondprecedesdissolution;for
itismoreexcellent,andtheresemblanceofamoredivinepower.And
thisisseeninsouls;fortherewerebondsandmediainthem,ashas
beenbeforeobservedinthegenerationofthesoul.*Itisalsoseenin
bodies;foranalogyisabond.*Andlikewiseinanimals;forbeing
boundwithanimatedbonds,theybecameanimals.5Hence,the
immortalandtheindissolubledonotentirelypertaintothemundane
Gods;yetatthesametimetheydopertaintothem.Andbecausethey
arenotineveryrespectpresentwiththem,norinsuchamannerasin
intelligibles,immortalitymustbetakenfromthem.ForintheBanquet
also,PlatodoesnotthinkfittocallLoveimmortal,yethedoesnot
denominateitmortal;Dbutassertsittobesomethingbetweenboth
Fthese.Forthereisagreatextentofthemortalandimmortal,andthey
areboundtogetherbymanymedia.Itappearslikewise,withrespectto
theimmortal,thatonekindofitiscommontoallthebeingsthatdiffer
fromamortalnature,0andwhichconsistsinnotbeingdeprivedofthe
lifewhichitpossesses.Accordingtothissenseoftheword,Platosays
thattheDemiurgusisthecauseofimmortalnatures;**butthejunior
Gods,ofsuchasaremortal.Butanotherkindoftheimmortalisthe
peculiarityofintelligibles,beingeternallyso.Andanotherbelongsto
tTim.36a.
%Tim31c.
Tim.38e.
cf.Symposium,202de.
oInsteadofrovpi)Bvr\rov,itisnecessarytoreadrov6vr\rov.
ftTim.41cd.
themundaneGods,whichisanimmortalityperpetuallyrisinginto
existence,andhavingitssubsistenceinalwaysbecomingtobe.Hence,
itmaybesaidthattheimmortalandmortalareoppositelydivided
withoutamedium,ifthecommonsignificationoftheimmortalis
assumed";andthattheyarenotopposedtoeachotherwithouta
medium,ifthatwhichisprimarilyimmortalisconsidered;andthisis
thatwhichisalwaysimmortal.Forthemediumbetweenthisandthe
mortalisthatwhichisalwaysbecomingtobeimmortal.Butthatwhich
306Aisproperlyimmortalpossessesthewholeofitslifeineternity.That
3,218howeverwhichhasitslifeevolvedthroughthewholeoftime,andhas
not*alwaysoneandthesameindivisiblelife,thispossessesan

immortalitycoextendedwiththefluxofgeneration,butisnotimmortal
accordingtothestabilityofbeing.Andagain,themediumbetweenthe
immortalityofthemundaneGodsandthatofpartialsouls,isthatwhich
hasalifealwaysrisingintoexistence,andwhichascendsanddescends
inintellectualenergy,soastobenearertomortalnatures,leaving
indeedamoreexcellentintellection,buttransferringitselfintoonethat
issubordinate,andagainrecurringtoitspristineconditionwithout
oblivion.Andofthese,theformerindeed,isthepeculiarityofthe
mundaneGods;butthelatterofdaemons,theattendantsontheseGods.
Butifthenaturewhichremainsisfilledwithoblivionindescending,
becomesmostproximatetomortals,entirelydestroysthetruelifewhich
itcontains,andalonepossessestheessentiallife,suchanimmortality
asthisbelongstopartialsouls.Hence,theDemiurgusinhisspeechcalls
theimmortalityinthesehomonymoustothatoftheimmortals.*If
howeverthereisanynatureafterthesewhichcastsasideitsessentiallife,
thisisalone5mortal.Hence,theprimarilyimmortalandthemortalare
theextremes.ButtheimmortalityofthemundaneGods,andthatof
partialsouls,arethesubextremes.Andtheimmortalitywhichistruly
themediumbetweenthese,isthatofdaemons.Hencetoo,daemonsare
Binrealityentirelyofamiddlenature.Andthusmuchconcerningthe
wholedesignofthewords.
Letushowever,ifyouarewilling,conciselyrecurtoparticulars.After
whatmannertherefore,generationisadaptedtothemundaneGods,I
havefrequentlyshown,andhaveobserved,thatitmanifests
composition,alifeinconjunctionwithtime,andaprogressionfrom
tFor/uahere,itisnecessarytoreadjirj.
%Tim.41c.
Theoriginalhaserroneouslypovaqinsteadofpovov.
anothercause,andwhichiscoextendedwiththewholeoftime,butis
notalways[orhasnotaneternalsubsistence].Butthewords,"yeare
notimmortal,norindissoluble,"manifestthattheyaregeneratedimmortal
andindissoluble.Fortobeeachofthese,ispresentwitheternalnatures
alone;buttobegeneratedeachofthem,isadaptedtothosegenerated
natures,whoselifeisextendedwiththewholeoftime.Andnottobe
entirelyimmortal,norentirelyindissoluble,deliverstousmanyspeciesof
immortality.Platotherefore,shortlyaftercallsdivinesoulsimmortal,
3,219andpartialsoulshomonymouslyimmortal.*Butthewords,"youshall
neverbedissolved,norbecomesubjecttothefatalityofdeath,"takeaway
fromtheGodsallthemortalformednature,andaperpetually
convertibleandmutablelife.Formoralityisanallotmentoflife,which
isnowmingledwithnonbeing.And"thefatalityofdeath"again
Coccultlyexhibitstousmanydifferencesofdeaths.Forthedeath

pertainingtothosewhoarecalleddaemonsaccordingtohabitudeisof
onekind;thatofpartialsoulsisofanotherkind;thatofanimals,of
another;andthatofanimatedbodies,isdifferentfromallthese.Forthe
firstoftheseimitatesasitwere,thecastingoffagarment;thesecondis
accompaniedwithsympathytowardsthemortalnature,beingthelapse
ofthesoulintoit;thethirdisthedissolutionofthebodyandsoulfrom
eachother;andthefourth,istheprivationofthelifewhichisinthe
subjectbody.ButfromthesethemundaneGods,andessentialdaemons,
theattendantsoftheGods,areperfectlyexempt.Foreventhefirstkind
ofdeathisnotadaptedtothese,asthedivineIamblichusalsoasserts,
whopreservesthedaemoniacalgenus,trulysocalled,immutable.Why
therefore,isthereabondofthese.*Isitnotbecausegoodness,
accordingtowhichthedemiurgicwillisdefined,unites,andmeasures
allthings,andleadsthemtooneconspiration?Anditseemsthat
accordingtothisespecially,themundaneGodsareconsummately
produced.Foritisabondofbonds,beingsuperior5tothethingsthat
arebound.Butthewordallottedexhibitstheallotmentofbeneficent
providencebythemanyGods,DfromtheoneDemiurgus.Forbeing
DdividedaccordingtotheallotmentsofJustice,theydistributetheone
andtotalprovidenceofthefather,andtheonebondwhichproceeds
fromthedemiurgicmonad.Thecelestialtherefore;andinshort,allthe
fTim.41c.
%InsteadofTOIVTCIpvovveondeofiOQ,IreadTOVTUVpevovvduxneon
Seonoq;
ForvxepTOVvowhere,itappearstometoberequisitetoreadvireprepov.
cf.Critias109b.
mundaneGodsareneitherindissolublenordissoluble,butaresimply
3,220both.Itisinferredhowever,thattheyareneitherimmortalnor
indissoluble,fromtheirbeinggenerated.Forthisismanifestedbythe
words,"becauseyouaregenerated."Foreverythinggeneratedhasa
renovatedimmortality,*andabondimpartedtoitbysomething
differentfromitself,inconsequenceofnotbeingabletoconnector
vivifyitself.Butagain,itisinferred,thattheyareneitherdissolublenor
mortal,fromthebondswhichtheyessentiallyparticipate,andwhich
theyreceivefromthedemiurgicwill.Thelatterhoweverismanifested
throughunion,buttheformerthroughmultitude;sincethepaternal
unionisabondofbonds,andisthemonadoftheunionofthe
participatedGods.
41b"Learnnowtherefore,whatIsaytoyou*indicatingmydesire."
ThefirstaddresstothemundaneGodswasdeificof,ordeifiedthe
auditors;foritevincedallofthemtobeGods,andtobeparticipatedby

thebodiesinwhichtheyride.FortheseverybodiesalsoareGods,as
EbeingthestatuesofGods;sincePlatolikewisecallstheearththefirst5
andmostancientoftheGodswithintheheavens.Butthesedeified
bodiesareparticipantsoftheGodstrulysocalled,fromwhichtheyare
suspended,andwhicharepriortogeneration.Forthesebodieshave,as
hesays,generation.ButthesecondaddresstothemundaneGods,
insertedinthemaneternalpower,throughtheparticipationofan
indissolubleconnexion.Andthepresentwordsfillthemwithdivine
anddemiurgicconceptions,proceedingsupernallyfromintelligible
animal[theparadigmoftheuniverse.]Forthebeinginstructedinthe
fabricationofanimals,sofarasitismathesisorlearning,isadaptedto
soul.ButthesewordsfillthemultitudeofGodswiththedemiurgic
intelligenceofalltheformsthatarecontainedinintelligibleanimal.
Andthroughthewordnowindeed,theeternalisafteramanner
indicated;throughthewordwhattheunitedandconvolved;throughI
say,thatwhichproceedsintomultitude,andisdisseminatedaboutthe
manyGods;andthroughindicationaplenitudederivedfromintelligible
andunapparentcausesissignified.Forweonlyindicateinthings
unapparenttothemultitude.Butthroughallthewordstogether,itis
evidentthattheDemiurgusestablisheshimselfanalogoustointelligible
tcf.Politicus270a.
%InthetextofProclus,Tf/IACiserroneouslyprintedforvuctq.
Tim.40c.
intellect,andfillsthemundanenumberofGodswithintellectual
3,221conceptions.Fartherstill,thesewordsconvertthismultitudetotheone
demiurgicintelligence,andpriortoaprovidentialattentiontosecondary
Fnatures,illuminateitwithunmingledpurityandstableintellection.For
astheDemiurgusmakesbyenergizingintellectually,andgeneratesfrom
inward,externallyproceedingenergy,thusalsohewishesthemundane
Godsfirsttolearnandunderstandthewilloftheirfather,*andthus
afterwardstoimitatehispower.
41bc"Threegeneraofmortalsyetremaintobeproduced.Withoutthe
generationofthesetherefore,theuniversewillbeimperfect;foritwill
notcontaininitselfallthegeneraofanimals.Butitoughttocontain
them,thatitmaybesufficientlyperfect.Yetifthesearegeneratedand
participateoflifethroughme,theywillbecomeequalizedtotheGods."
307AThemosttotal,first,andmostdivineofideas,notonlygive
subsistencetosuchmundanenaturesasareperpetual,inanexempt
manner,butlikewisetoallmortalnatures,accordingtooneunited
cause.Fortheideaofwingednatureswhichisthere,istheparadigmof
allwingedanimalswhatever,theideaoftheaquatic,ofallaquatic;and

theideaofthepedestrial,ofallpedestrialanimals.Buttheprogressions
ofintelligiblesintotheintellectualorders,becomethesourcesofthe
divisionofunitedideas,produceintomultitudetotalcauses,andunfold
thedefiniteprinciplesofmultiformnatures.Forthereisnotin
intelligiblesoneintellectualcauseofallaerialanimals;sincethereisnot
aseparateintellectionofperpetualanimalsofthiskind;norone
intellectualcauseofaquatic,norinasimilarmannerofterrestrial
animals;butthepowerofdifference[intheintellectualorder]minutely
distributesthewholeintoparts,andmonadsintonumbers.Hencethe
causesofdivineanimals,accordingtowhichtheDemiurgusgives
subsistencetotheordersofGodsanddaemonsthatproducegeneration,
Bexistinhimseparatefromthecausesofmortalnatures,accordingto
3,222whichhecallsonthejuniorGodstogeneratemortalanimals.Forthe
DemiurgusprecedesthegenerativeenergyoftheseGods,andmakesby
merelysayingthatathingistobemade.Forthewordsofthefatherare
demiurgicintellections,andhisintellectionsarecreations;butaproximate
creatingisadaptedtothemultitudeofGods.Andagainyouseehow
theorderofeffectiveandgenerativecausesisunfoldedintolight.For
thechoirofmundaneGodsproducesindeedmortalanimals,butin
tTim.41bc.
conjunctionwithmotionandmutation.*AndtheDemiurgusalso
producesthembutbyspeaking,viz.byintellection.Forhespeaks
indeed,intellectuallyperceiving,andimmovablyandintellectually.
Animalitselfalsoproducesthem;foritcontainstheonecauseofall
winged,ofallaquatic,andofallterrestrialanimals.Butitproduces
themwithsilencebyitsveryessence,andintelligibly.Forthe
demiurgicspeechreceivesindeedthepaternalsilence,*butthe
intellectualproduction,theintelligiblecause,andthegenerationwhich
subsistsaccordingtoenergizing,theprovidenceaccordingtoexistence.
Motionalsoreceivesthedemiurgicwords,buttheorderlydistribution
whichismingledwithasensiblenature,receivestheintellectualenergy.
Forthefabricationswhichexistattheextremityofthingsrequirea
Cproducingcauseofthiskind.Everythingthereforewhichismutable,
whichischangedinquality,whichisgeneratedandcorruptible,isgenerated
fromacause,immoveableindeedaccordingtoessence,butmovedaccording
toenergy.Forthemotionwhichisthereseparatedfromessence,here
producesanessencewhichismoved.Hence,becausethatwhichmakes,
makesbothaccordingtoessenceandaccordingtoenergy,bothwhich
areasitwerewoventogether,mutationofessencethencederivesits
progression.Mortalnaturesthereforerequiremoveablecauses,andthose
thatareverymutable,manysuchcauses.Foritisimpossiblethatthese
causesshouldremainonlybegotten;sincethemortalgenerawouldnot
haveanexistence.

Itisnecessaryhowever,thatthemortalnatureshouldexist,inthefirst
place,inorderthateverythingmayhaveasubsistencewhichiscapable
ofbeinggenerated,viz.bothperpetualbeings,andthosewhichata
certaintimeceasetoexist.Forbeyondtheseisthatwhichinnorespect
whateveris.Inthenextplace,thisisnecessaryinorderthatdivine
naturesandbeingmaynotbethelastofthings;sincethatwhichis
generativeofanythingismoreexcellentandmoredivinethanthething
whichitgenerates.Andinthethirdplaceitisnecessary,inorderthat
theworldmaynotbeimperfect,notcomprehendingeverything,the
3,223causesofwhicharecontainedinanimalitself.Forthewingedwhichis
there,isthecauseofallwingednatures,theaquaticofallaquatic,and
theterrestrialofallterrestrialnatures,whetherdivineormortal.Hence
tForpera/3ou\)?c,IreadnemBoXrit;.ForthemundaneGodsareinnopartofthe
Timamsrepresentedasconsultingaboutthefabricationofthings.Norisconsultauon
adaptedtoadivinenature,becauseitimpliesimperfection.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.16.
Orpheus*saysthatthevivificcause*ofpartiblenatures,whileshe
Dremainedonhigh,weavingtheorderofcelestials,wasanymph,asbeing
undefiled;andinconsequenceofthisconnectedwithJupiter,and
abidinginherappropriatemanners;butthatproceedingfromherproper
habitation,sheleftherwebsunfinished,wasravished,havingbeen
ravishedwasmarried,andbeingmarriedgenerated,inorderthatshe
mightanimatethingswhichhaveanadventitiouslife.Forthe
unfinishedstateofherwebs5indicatesIthink,thattheuniverseis
imperfectorunfinishedasfarastoperpetualanimals.HencePlato
says,DthattheoneDemiurguscallsonthemanyDemiurgitoweave
togetherthemortalandimmortalnatures,afteramannerremindingus
thattheadditionofthemortalgeneraistheperfectionofthetextorial
lifeoftheuniverse,andalsoexcitingourrecollectionofthedivine
Orphicfable,andaffordingusinterpretativecausesoftheunfinished
webs[ofProserpine].
Thedivinenumbertherefore,0hasitsproperboundaryandend,and
isperfect.Butitisalsonecessarythatthemortalnatureshouldexist,
andhaveanappropriatelimit;andthistriply,aerially,aquaticallyand
terrestrially.Forcelestially,isimpossible,becausethesummitandthe
firstgenusofeveryorderisundefiledandperpetual,inconsequenceof
beingassimilatedtothecausewhichispriortoit.Astherefore,thefirst
Eofintellectualsisintelligible,andthefirstofangelsisaGod,thusalso
thefirstofsensiblesisperpetualanddivine.Butingenerationthe
mortalisconnectedwiththedivinenature.HencePlatodenominates
themortalgeneratheremainder,**beingasitweretherefuseofthe

fabricationoftheGods,anddregsgeneratedfromtheGodsthemselves.
Buthowarethesesaidtobenotgenerated?Isitasnotbeingyet
generated?Forbecausethereisorderinthethingswhichgive
completiontotheuniverse,andtheDemiurgushasdefinitelymadesuch
tOrph.fr.211.
Xi.e.Proserpine.
Conformablytothis,Claudianinhispoem,DeRaptuProserpina;,saysof
Proserpine,
SensitadesseDeas,imperfectumquelaborem
Deserit.
Tim.41d.
ocf.Rep.VIII,546b.
.Tim.41d.

ofthemasaresecondaryinorder,todifferfromthosethatarepriorto
them,onthisaccounthesays,thattheformerarenotyetgenerated,the
3,224latterpreexisting.Perhapstoo,afteranothermanner,theymaybesaid
tobenotgenerated,sofarastheyareproducedbythedemiurgicmonad,
andbyahimmoveableandeternaleffectiveenergy?butthattheyare
mortal,sofarastheyareproducedbythejuniorGods.Thesehowever,
participateofacertainperpetuity;becausetheyareincorruptibleindeed,
accordingtoformorspecies,butareindividuallycorruptible.Forin
these,formisdistinctfromtheindividual,andthewholeformisnot
containedinthem,asitisindivineanimals,andwhicharealone
perpetual;inconsequenceoftheirinabilitytoreceivethewhole
progressionoftheirparadigms.Theperpetuitytherefore,ofmortal
Fnaturesisderivedfromtheonefabrication,throughwhichtheformis
immutableandone,andisthesameinmanyparticipants.Butthe
mutabilityarisingfromthepartiblemotionofthecauses,changesthe
natureofthethingsproduced.Itisnecessaryhowever,thatthemortal
natureshouldexist,inorderthattheworldmaybeperfect,notdivisibly
indeed,onaccountoftheintelligiblecauseofit,butthatitmayatthe
sametime,beallvariouslyimpressedwithforms.Forsuchthingsasthe
onecauseofallwingednaturescomprehends,thesethesensiblenature
isallottedpartibly,andthemonadwhichisthere,generatesthenumber
thatishere.Butifthesethingsbeadmitted,theDemiurgus
(intellectuallyperceivingeachofthemortalnatures,sofaraseachis
unbegotten,orwithoutgeneration,becausehecomprehendsthatwhich
308Aismortalinanunbegottenmanner,)notonlypossessesthefourideas
[containedinanimalitself,]butthesubdivisionsalsoofthese,intothe
unbegottencausesofimmortalandofmortalnatures.Intelligibleanimal
therefore,isonething,andtheintellectualanimalintheDemiurgus
another;thelatteremployingmorepartialanimals,whicharemore

numerous,butlessinpower,thanintelligibleanimal.
Sincehowever,therearemanyperfectionsoftheworld,foritis
perfect,andawholeofwholes,*isperfectalsofromreceivingtime,*
andisperfectfromcomprehendingallanimals,5hencePlatoindicating
whattheformofthisperfectionis,adds,"thatitmaybesufficiently
perfect."Foritthuswillbeallperfect,throughcontaininginitselfall
animals,embosomingallintelligibleandintellectualpowers,and
tTim.33a.
tTim.39de.
Tim.41bc.
receivingthedistributedimagesofallunitedparadigms.Whytherefore,
3,225someonemaysay,ifitisnecessarythattheworldshouldcontain
withinitselfallanimals,andlikewisemortalnatures,throughan
assimilationtoitsparadigm,why,ifthisbethecase,doesnotthe
Demiurgushimselfconstitutethese?Platotherefore,immediatelysub
Bjoinsthecauseofthis,byadding,"buttheseparticipatingoflifethrough
mewillbecomeequaltotheGods."Bywhichwordshedirectlyconfirms
whathasbeenbeforeobserved,thateverythingwhichisproducedby
animmoveablecause,isunbegottenandimmutable;butthatathing
whichisproducedbyanimmoveablecause,throughacausethatis
movedasthemedium,ispartlyunbegottenandpartlymutable.Forit
receivesfromtheimmoveablecauseunity,butfromthemoveablecause
multitude;andfromtheformerindeedexistence,andform;butfromthe
latterindividuality,andthebeinggenerated,orbecomingtobe;through
whichitispreservedaccordingtoform,butperishesaccordingtothe
individual.Sincetherefore,someonemaysay,theDemiurgushimself
constitutesrationalsouls,accordingtowhichtheybecomeequalisedto
theGods,howdoesPlatoshortlyaftercallthesesoulshomonymousto
divinesouls,accordingtotheimmortal?*Mustitnotthereforebesaid
thatthewordisazoito,equalised,isaddedwithgreatcaution;the
DemiurgusnotsayingthattheywillbeentirelyequaltotheGods,but
thattheywillbesimilartothem?Forthatwhichisequalised,passes
intoasimilitudetotheequal.Buttheequalisasymbolofthemundane
Gods,aswemaylearnfromtheParmenides.*Towhichwemayadd,
thattherationalformoflifewhenitispurified,andbecomesperfect,is
divine;sothatsomepersonsdonotrefusetocallitaGod,througha
Cdivinenaturebeingexertedinit,accordingtowhichalsoitisconjoined
withthetrulyexistingGods.Andthusmuchconcerningthisparticular.
Itislikewiseaccuratelysaid,"throughme."Forthemortalgeneraare
generatedbytheDemiurgus,buteternalnaturesthroughhim.Forhe
possessesaccordingtooneunitedcause,boththebywhich,andthrough

which.Andasfatherindeed,heproducesallthingsbyhimself;butas
theDemiurgusheproduceseternalnaturesthroughhimself.Andmortal
naturesaregeneratedinadividedmannerbyhim,butthroughthejunior
3,226Gods.Thejuniorfabricationhowevermustnotbedespised,becauseit
hastherelationofthroughwhichtothesupermundanecause.Formore
fTim.41c.
$cf.Parmenides150d.
proximatecauseshavealwaystheorderofthroughwhich,withreference
toexemptproductions.Fornatureistheorganofthejuniorfabrication,
andofnatureagain,innateheat.Hence,suchPlatonists,asforinstance
thegreatTheodorus,asadapttothefirstcauseofall,thefromwhich,
andtowhich;buttointellect,theonaccountofwhich,andwithrelation
towhich;andtosoul,thebywhich,andaccordingtowhich,introduce
indeed,acertaindivisionofnames,whichisnotinelegant,butwander
fromthedecisionofPlato.Forheadaptstothedemiurgicintellect,the
Dbywhich,andthroughwhich,anditisnotatallnecessarytodivide
namesaccordingtothedivineorders;exceptthatonaccountofwhich,
denotesthefinal,butwithrelationtowhich,theparadigmaticcause.
NothinghoweverhindersusfromsurveyingalltheseintheDemiurgus;
asaGodindeed,theonaccountofwhich;forgoodnessistheend[ofall
things];butasintellective,thethroughwhich,forheproducesthrough
intellectiveenergy,theknowledgenotbeingprecedaneous,but
contributingthroughitselftofabrication,energizingpreviously
accordingtointellect.Moreover,thewordsparticipatingoflife,arevery
divinelyadded.Forwhatifthewholeelementsshouldhavebeen
generated,bytheDemiurgus,viz.fire,andair,earthandwater,butat
thesametimewithoutanimation;wouldtheyinthiscasehavebeen
equalisedtotheGods,inthesamemanneraswecalltheearthaGod,
andfireaGod?Bynomeans.Foritissoulwhichprimarilydeifies
totalbodies,asitissaidintheLaws.*Butiftheyweregenerated
throughhimandparticipateoflifethroughhim,theywillhavelifeand
soul.For(bios)lifeisinsouls.Andiftheyhavealsoanimationin
conjunctionwithwholeness,theywillbeequalisedtotheGods.For
whenhefirstgaveasoultotheworld,hethenfirstcelebrateditasa
blessedGod,*inconsequenceofsoulpossessingadeifyingpower,with
referencetoeverythingcorporeal,andbeingessentiallydivine.
4lc"Thatmortalnaturesthereforemaysubsist,andthattheuniversemay
Ebetrulyall,convertyourselvesaccordingtonaturetothefabricationof
3,227animals,imitatingthepowerwhichIemployedinyourgeneration."
Atwofoldscopeoffabricationisheredelivered,oneindeed

providential,buttheotherassimilative;theonebeingmoreproximate,
buttheothermoretotal.Fortofabricateforthesakeofgiving
tcf.LawsX,899b.
*Tim.34b.
subsistencetomortalnatures,indicatesprovidenceandtheperfection*
ofpower.Forallsuperplenitudeofpowerisprolificofotherthings
subordinatetoitself.Buttofabricateforthesakeofgivingcompletion
totheuniverse,indicatesanenergyaccordingtoassimilativepower,in
orderthatthisuniversemayberenderedsimilartoallperfectanimal,in
consequenceofbeingadornedwithallthenumbersofdivineandmortal
animals.Forifallthingswereimmortal,themostdivine*ofsensible
natureswouldbeunprolific.Andiftheuniversewasnotfilledwithall
theformsoflife,itwouldnotbeperfect,norsufficientlysimilartoallperfect
animal.Thatneitherofthesedefectsthereforemighthappen,
thefirstDemiurgusexcitesthesecondfabricationsupernallyfromhis
ownexaltedplaceofsurvey.HealsopoursonthemundaneGods
vivificanddemiurgicpower,throughwhichtheygeneratefrom
themselvessecondaryessences,fillthemwithlife,andgivethema
Fspecificdistinction.Forthepeculiarityofvivificdeityistovivify,but
ofdemiurgicdeitytobeproductiveofform.Theexpressiontherefore
"convertyourselves"isofanexcitingnature,andissimilartothemandate
ofJupitertotheGodsinHomer.
Haste,totheGreekandTrojanhostsdescend.
IliadXX,24
Forasthatcallsthemtothewarofgeneration,sothisinPlatoexcites
themtothefabricationofmortals,whichtheyeffectthroughmotion.
AndthisindeedisaccomplishedbyallthemundaneGods,butespecially
bythegovernorsoftheworld[ortheplanets],fortheyarethosewho
areconvertedorturned,andinthemosteminentdegreebythesovereign
Sun.FortheDemiurgusgavehimdominionoverwholes,fabricated
309Ahimasaguardian,andorderedhim,asOrpheussays,
...O'eralltorule.
Orphicfr.79
3,228Thewordslikewise,"accordingtonature,"boundtheirfabrication
accordingtomeasureandthegood;andbesidesthis,spreadunderthem
allphysicalproductionasaninstrumenttotheirenergies.This
therefore,whichissubservienttotheirwill,theymoveandgovern.
Andinthethirdplace,thesewordsdefinetheirsubsistenceasmedia;for
itpertainstothemiddletofabricatetheextremesaccordingtonature.

tForTeXeiorarahere,itisnecessarytoreadTe\tu>Tt\Ta.
%ForTO.OewTainthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadraBeutTara.
Forthingswhichsometimeshaveanexistencearesuspendedfromthose
thatareperpetualaccordingtotime;andthelatteraresuspendedfrom
eternalentities.Andprimarynaturesindeedaregenerativeofmedia;but
mediaareproductiveofsuchbeingsasarelastintheseriesofthings.
Theword"yourselves"also,whichdenotesmanualoperation,excitesthe
divinelivesthemselvestofabrication.Noroughtwetowonderwhence
demiurgicpowerisderivedtodivinesouls,thisbeingthepeculiarityof
thesuperessentialGods.ForasOrpheusplacinganintellectualessence
inJupiter,rendersitdemiurgic,thusalsoPlatoproducingwordsfrom
thefather,evincesthatthesoulswhichrankaswholesaredivineand
Bdemiurgic.Normustwedoubtwhyofmundanenatures*someare
immortalbutothersmortal,sinceallofthemaregeneratedaccordingto
intelligiblecauses;forsomeofthemproceedfromone,butothersfrom
anotherproximateproducingcause.Anditisnecessarytolooktothese,
andnottoparadigmsalone.NormustweinvestigateideasofSocrates,
Plato,orofanythingthatranksasaparticular.FortheDemiurgus
dividesmortalanimalsaccordingtogenera,andstopsattotal
intellections;andthroughthesecomprehendseverythingofapartial
nature.ForastheDemiurgusmakesthatwhichismaterial
immaterially,andthatwhichisgeneratedingenerably,thusalsohe
producesmortalnaturesimmortally.*Forhemakestheseindeed,but
throughthejuniorGods;sincepriortotheirmaking,hemadeby
intellectionalone.Normustwedenythatmortalnaturessubsistalso
divinely,andnotmortallyonly.ForthethingswhichtheDemiurgus
nowextendsinhisspeecharehypostasesorsubsistingnatures,aboutthe
juniorormundaneGods,whichtheheavensprimarilyreceive;and
accordingtowhichtheGodsfabricatethemortalgenera.Forthe
monadsofeverymortalformedlifeproceedintotheheavensfromthe
3,229intelligibleforms.Butfromthesemonadswhicharedivine,allthe
multitudeofmaterialanimalsisgenerated.Forifweadoptthese
conceptionsweshallaccordwithPlato,andshallnotwanderfromthe
natureofthings.
CAgain,whentheDemiurgussays,5"ImitatingthepowerwhichI
employedinyourgeneration,"wemustunderstandbythis,thatan
assimilationtotheoneexemptfabricationofthings,andaconversion
toit,isthehighestendofthesecondfabrication.Foritisnecessary
fInsteadofBuxnvuveyKOOixuuv,itisnecessarytoread8uxnTUVeyicoOfiuM>.
$AdavaruQisomittedintheoriginal.
Tim.41c;cf.also231Bff,supra.

thatselfmotive*shouldfollowimmoveablenatures,andsuchasarevery
mutablesuchasarealwaysmoved,andthatthereshouldbeperpetually
aseriesofsecondarybeingsassimilatedtothosethatarepriortothem.
Sincehowevertherewasadivinewill,andadivinepowerinthe
Demiurgus,heunfoldshiswilltothemundaneGodsthroughlearning;
andthroughthisperfectstheirdemiurgicwill.Butheunfoldshispower
tothemthroughthisimitation,accordingtowhichheordersthemto
imitatethepoweroftheoneDemiurgus,conformablytowhichthey
weregeneratedbyhim.Forbysayingthatwhichhewills,heimparts
tothemwill;andbysayingthatwhichheisabletoeffect,hesupplies
themwithpower.Andinthelastplace,bedemonstratesthemtobe
secondaryfabricators,imitatorsoftheirfather.Whetherthereforethere
isamundanepower,oranefficaciousenergyofdaemons,orafortitude
Dandsupernaturalstrengthofheroes,toallthistheDemiurgusgives
subsistence,andimpartsittothosethatgivecompletiontothewholeof
thesecondfabrication.Forthefirstpowerisinhim,andthemonadof
demiurgicpowers.Sincehowever,heisalsointellectandfather,all
thingswillbeinhim,viz.father,thepowerofthefather,andthe
paternalintellect.HencePlatowasnotignorantofthisdivision;andon
thisaccounttheDemiurgusasbeingfather,callspowerhispower.This
alsohemanifestsbyadding,"whichIemployedinyourgeneration."For
thefatheristhecauseofthisinconjunctionwithpower;justasfather
here,inconjunctionwiththefemale,isthecauseofthepropagationof
thehumanspecies.[Forpowerisofafemininecharacteristic]
41c"Andsofarindeed,asamongsuchoftheseasarealwayswillingto
3,230followjusticeandyou,itisfitthereshouldbethatwhichis
homonymoustotheimmortals,*whichiscalleddivine,andwhichhas
dominioninthese,ofthisIwilldelivertheseedandbeginning."
Thefabricationofallanimals,isdividedintothegenerationofdivine
andmortalanimals;andagain,thegenerationofthelatteriscomplicated
fromtheimmortal,andacertainmortalnature,yetnotthewholeofthe
Elatter,butthatpartofitwhichpossessesarationalformoflife,whether
therebesomethingofthiskindinaerial,orpedestrialanimals,orin
thosethathaveanintermediatesubsistence.Forplantsbeinganimals
tForctKivr)TUhere,itisnecessarytoreadccvroiuvriTa.
$InthetextofProclus,udavctroc,iserroneouslyprintedforadavaroic,.
accordingtoPlato,*aremortal,nothavingarationalanimatingsoul,as
heclearlysays.*Thefatherofwholesalso,constitutesbyhimselfall
thefabricationofdivineanimals,andtherationalformofthelifeof
mortals,whichissurveyedineachofthethreegenera.Thatwhich

remainslikewise,theDemiurgusconstitutesindeed,buthedeliversthe
generationofittothejuniorGods,andevincesthemtobethelordsof
allthemortalnature.Healsoreceivingeverythingvisiblewhichwas
movedinadisorderlymanner,5andwhichhadapriorexistencefrom
anothercause,broughtitintoorderfromdisorder.Thustherefore,he
deliverstheendsoftheproductionoftheuniversetootherpowers,viz.
tothejuniorGods.Hence,inconsequenceofreceivinganddelivering,
heisamediumbetweentheintelligibleGod,whosubsistsaccordingto
animalitself,andthemanyDemiurgi.Whatthen,doeshenotdeliver
tothemundaneGodsthegenerationofthatinus,whichis
homonymoustotheimmortals,iftheyalsoarecertainfathersofthe
Fimmortalsthemselves,aswemaylearnfromtheTheogony?Orishenot
representedbyPlatothusspeaking,inorderthatwemayknow,thatthe
oneDemiurgusisthecauseofallthings,sinceheproducedthefirstof
immortals,andthosebeingsthatarehomonymoustotheimmortals?
ForifhehadcommittedthegenerationofthelattertothejuniorGods,
hemightappeartobethe[immediate]causeofthecelestialsalone,
producingsublunarynaturesfromthese,butsoulsfromallthese.He
hashowevercontrived,throughtheproductionoftheextremes,to
3,231exhibitthegenerationofallthenaturesthatareimmortal,whatsoever
theymaybe,fromtheoneDemiurgus.Thisalsoheafterwardsshows
310Awhenhesays,thattheDemiurgusisthefatherofimmortals,butthathe
committedtootherGodsthegenerationofmortals.Andthusmuch
concerningthewholedesignofthesewords.
Fromthesethingshowever,weareimpelledtospeakfreelyagainst
thosePlatonists,whoassertthatoursoulisofequaldignitywiththe
Gods,Dandisofthesameessencewithdivinesouls;andalsoagainst
thosewhosaythatitbecomesintellectitself,theintelligibleitself,and
TheOneitself,leavingeverysoulbehindit,andbeingestablished
accordingtounion.ForPlatoisveryfarfromassertingathingofthis
kindconcerningit,sincehecallsithomonymouslyimmortalwithdivine
tForavrahere,readavrov.
tTim.77af.
Tim.30a.
cf.314Dinfra.
souls.Nordoesit,accordingtohim,sustainthisfromgenerationbut
isallottedthisorderfromtheDemiurgus,andiscalleddivine,butisnot
simplydivine.Forthedivinepertainstoundefiledsouls,andwhichare
alwaysintellective;andtheimmortal,tothosesoulsthatareestablished
remotefrommortalnatures.Butthatwhichfallsintogeneration,*has
anessenceofthiskind,andiscapableofbeingmingledwithmortal
Bnatures;isneithersimplydivine,norimmortal.Andagain,yousee

othermediaandanorderofotherthings.Forsomebeingsareprimarily
immortal;others,areimmortalindeed,butsecondarily;othersare
homonymouslyimmortal;andothersaremortal.Forthenatureof
beingsextendsasfarastothese;andbeyondthese,isthatwhichinno
respectwhateveris.Itmustneitherthereforebesaid,thatoursoulis
simplydivine,northatitissimplyimmortal,thoughitisfrequently
demonstratedtobeimmortal.Butitneitherhasimmortalityprimarily,
northeimmortalitywhichhasasecondarysubsistence,yetexists
genuinely,butithasthatwhichismingledwiththemortalnature;to
whichsomedirectingtheirattention,haveapprehendedthatitismortal.
Moreover,neithermustweadmitthatitisthesamewithformsseparate
frommatter,orwithirrationallives.Foritisallotted,asPlatohere
says,arulingnaturebythefatherbywhomitwasgenerated.*Hence
itisnaturaltoittohavedominionovertheirrationallife.Itlikewise
3,232followsJusticeandtheGods,asbeingconvertedto,filledfrom,and
attendingonthem.Everysuchformoflifetherefore,astherational,
derivesitssubsistencefromtheonefabrication.Foritisnecessarythat
itshouldbeproducedbyintellect,andbytotalintellect.Forthereare
Cthesethreethings,thatwhichisofthesameorder,butistotal;that
whichisofamoreexcellentorder,butispartial;andthatwhichisof
amoreexcellentorder,andistotal.Forthefourthisnotattendedwith
anyambiguitywithrespecttogenerating;sinceitdoesnot5differfrom
thethinggenerated.Forthisispartial,andtheoneisofthesameorder
withtheother.Itisimpossiblehowever,thatthenaturewhichis
arrangedinthemoreexcellentorder,butispartial,shouldhavethesame
dominionoverthegenerationofthingsaswholes.Foritisentirely
necessarythatwhatistrulyacause,shouldpredominate.Andthat
whichistotalindeed,butexistsofthesameorder,hasnotthetrue
powerofgenerating,asbeingofoneseries[withthethinggenerated].
tcf.Phaedrus248c.
%Tim.37c.
InsteadofTOyapinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadovyap.
Hence,thataloneisthemostprinciplecause,whichisawholeinthe
moreexcellentorder;inconsequenceofsurpassingitsprogenyinboth
respects.TheDemiurgusthereforeproducesandfabricatesotherthings
inconjunctionwiththis.Andonthisaccount,the[partial]soul
proceedsindeed,primarilyfromtheDemiurgus,secondarilyfromthe
totalsouloftheuniverse,andproximatelyfromapartialintellect.But
byapartialintellect,Imeanthatintellectwhichisintheorderof
intelligibles,whatapartialsoulis,intheseriesofsouls.Thisintellect
therefore,makesthesoultobepartial;butthetotalsoulmakesittobe
rational.AndtheDemiurgusmakesittobeboth.Henceheis
primarilycause.Onthisaccountweheresay,thattheDemiurgus

presidesoverthegenerationofthesoul.ButinthePhilebus,1Plato
Dgivestothepartialsoulanessence,fromthetotalsoul.Forasthefire
whichisinus,isfromthemundanefire,andtheearth,water,andair,
whichareinus,arefromthewholes[oftheseelements],thusalsohe
says,thatthepartialsoulwhichistherementioned,isgeneratedfrom
thesouloftheuniverse.Andthusmuchconcerningthisparticular.
Platolikewise,veryproperlycoarrangesJusticewiththemundane
Gods.ForJusticeis,asOrpheussays,thecompanionofJupiter;since,
accordingtohim,
LaboriousJusticefollowsJove....
Orph.fr.125*
AndtheAthenianguestalsoasserts,thatJusticealwaysfollowsJupiter.5
3,233ButJusticeiscoestablishedwiththemundaneGods,andgovernsin
conjunctionwiththem,theuniverseaccordingtodesert.Forfromthe
middleofthesolarsphere,itentirelyextendsitsprovidentialinspection,
anddisseminatesthedistributionofgood.
Whathowever,arewetounderstandbythesemination}Isitthat
whichmanyofthePlatonistssomuchspeakof,thedistributionofsouls
aboutthestars?ForPlatosays,thattheDemiurgusdisseminatedsome
ofthemintotheearth,0othersintothesun,andothersintothe
moon.Andweadmitthatthereisatwofoldsemination,oneabout
tcf.Philebus30ab.
%cf.Proclus'TheologyofPlatoVI,8,363.[TTSvol.VIII]
cf.LawsIV,716a.
Tim.42d.
ocf.332Cinfra.
theGods,buttheotheraboutgeneration,whichisdeliveredinthe
Politicus.1Now,however,Platorefersthecauseoftheessenceofsouls
totheDemiurgus.Foritisnecessary,thattheyshouldfirstbe
Egenerated,andthusafterwards,thatdifferentsoulsshouldbedistributed
aboutdifferentleaders.Itisbettertherefore,accordingtothedecision
ofourpreceptor,tounderstandbythissemination,generation;sinceit
pertainstofathertodisseminate,andtogeneratereasons[orproductive
powers].Forsoulisareasonofreasons,andproceedsfromthefather
whoistheDemiurgusofwholes.Forthisindeed,isthefirst
semination.ThesecondisthatwhichisaboutthejuniorGods.And
thethird,isabouttherealmsofgeneration.Andofthefirstindeed,
divinesoulsparticipate;butofthesecond,daemons.Fortheordersof
these,aredistributedabouttheGods.Butthethirdalonepertainstothe
soulsthataredistributedaboutgeneration.Veryproperlyalsodoesthe

Demiurgussaythathewilldeliverthebeginning,orthathewillbegin
theproductionoftherationalsoul;becauseothercausesalso,generate
itinconjunctionwiththeDemiurgus;Imeanforinstance,suchcauses
asthevivific.Helikewiseveryproperlysaysthis,becausehegenerates
thevehicleofthesoul,andallthelifecontainedinit,whichthejunior
Godsweavetogetherwiththemortalformoflife.Henceitappearsto
methattheimmortalisassumedinboth[therationalsoulandits
vehicle],thisbeingcommon,andnottherational;andthatitis
Findicatedthatthisproceedsfromtheonefabrication,bythewords,"and
sofarasamongthese,itisfitthereshouldbethatwhichishomonymousto
theimmortals."Foreveryvehicletogetherwithitsappropriatelife,and
3,234therationalsoulfromwhichitissuspended,isessentiallyperpetual.
Boththerefore,aregeneratedbytheDemiurgus,accordingtoa
similitudeofthestars,thesouls,andthevehiclesofwhichthe
Demiurgusproduces.Hedisseminatesthesoultherefore,generatingas
thefatherofreasons;butproducingthevehicle,hedeliversthe
beginning.Forthisisnowthebeginningofthemortalformedlife.
41c"Itisyour*businesstoaccomplishtherest,andtoweavetogetherthe
immortal5andmortalnature."
311AWhatthisimmortal,andalsowhatthismortalnatureis,isunfoldedby
theinterpretersofPlato.Andsomeindeed,leavingtherationalsoul
tcf.Politicus272e.
XInthetextofProclus,i)neiciserroneouslyprintedforu/xetc.
HerealsoforBavary,readaBavaru.
aloneimmortal,destroyalltheirrationallife,andthepneumaticvehicle
ofthesoul,givingasubsistencetoboththese,throughthetendencyof
thesoultogeneration.*Buttheyalonepreserveintellectimmortal,as
aloneremaining,andbeingassimilatedtotheGods,andnotsuffering
corruption.Suchistheexplanationofthemoreancientinterpreters,
whofollowthewordsofPlato,anddecidethroughwhatcausehe
destroystheirrationalpart,whichtheycallthemortalnature,Imean
theAtticusesandAlbinuses,andsuchlike.Butothersmoremoderate
andmildthanthese,suchasPorphyryandhisfollowers,refuseindeed
toadmitthiscorruption,asitiscalled,whichdissipatesthevehicleand
theirrationalsoul;buttheysaythatthesearerenovatedandanalysed
afteracertainmannerintothespheresfromwhichtheywereallotted
theircomposition.Theyadd,thatthesearemixturesderivedfromthe
celestialspheres,andcollectedbythesoulasshedescends;sothatthese
Bexist,andyetdonotexist.Fortheyhavenoindividuality,nordoesthe
peculiarityofthemremain.Andtheauthorsoftheseassertionsappear
tofollowthe[Chaldean]Oracles,whichinspeakingofthedescentof

thesoulsay,thatitcollectsasitdescends,aportionofether,ofthesun
andthemoon,andsuchthingsasarecontainedintheair.*Against
thesehowever,thewordsofPlatomustbeadduced,inwhichhe
evidentlydoesnotdestroythewholeoftheirrationalnature.And
again,inthethirdplace,thereareothers,whotakingawayall
3,235corruptionfromtheirrationalnature,donotsimplygiveanhypostasis
toit,fromdivinebodies,lestbeinggeneratedfrommoveablecauses,it
shouldbeessentiallymutable,butfromtheGodsthemselveswhogovern
theworld,andproduceallthingseternally.
Suchtherefore,andsomanybeingtheopinionsonthissubject,there
isanexplanationofit,whichimmediatelypreservesthemortalnature,
andaccordswiththingsthemselves,andallthePlatonicdogmas.For
thatPlatoisofopinion,thattheirrationallifeispreserved,afterthe
corruptionofthematerialbody,herendersevidentbydeliveringtous
CthesoulpunishedinHades,throughangeranddesire,thoughitdoesnot
requireanypunishment,sofarasitisliberatedfromallpassion.5For
itwaspurereason,andpriortobody,initselectionsoflives,chose
throughvoracitysuchasaretyrannical,andthroughthedesireofglory,
tcf.Phaedrus247b.
%Chald.Oracl.fr.61.
cf.Protagoras323e.
sophisticalandpopularlives.*Andthesethingshappentothesoulin
itsfirstdescentfromtheheavens,andtothesoulthathasbeenrecently
perfected.Butthathepreservesthevehicleofthesoulperpetual,is
evidentfromhisrepresentingsoulsusingtheirvehiclesinHades.For
ascendingintotheirvehicles,asSocratessaysinthePhaedo,*theypass
overtheriver.Nowalso,hegeneratesthevehiclefromtheDemiurgus.
Foritishewhocausesthesoultoascendintoitsvehicle,accordingto
thesimilitudeofdivinesouls.Forhowcoulditbepossibleforthesoul
tobemundane,exceptbyhavingavehicleintheuniverse?Foreverything
mundanehasaseatandorderintheworld,andgivescompletion
toapartofit.Whethertherefore,willapartialsoulbebetterpriorto
3,236thesuspensionofavehiclefromit,orworse?Forifbetter,itwillbe
Dmoredivinethantotalsouls,towhichtheDemiurgusgavevehicles.But
ifworse,howisit,thattheDemiurgusimmediatelyafteritwas
generated,causedittoascendintoavehicle?Forthingsthatare
perpetual,donotbeginfromapreternatural,butfromanatural
conditionofbeing.Itisevidenttherefore,thatthesethingsare
conformabletotheopinionofPlato.
Sincehowever,hehereclearlycallsthatwhichiswoventogetherby
themundaneGods,mortal,isthereforethatwhichisassertedbysome

true,thathesaysthelifewhichisinthevehicleiswovenbythejunior
Gods;thathedenominatesitmortal,becauseitiscorporealformed,and
isconversantwiththemortalnature;andthatinacertainplace,hecalls
thatwhichiswovenbythejuniorGodsimmortal,inorderthatwemay
apprehendthemortalnaturewhichisherementionedtobeathingof
thiskind?Buthowdoeshedelivertousuniversally,thatthe
Demiurgusisthecauseofimmortalnatures,andthatthegenerationof
mortalsiscommittedtothejuniorGods?Hence,afterthedeliveryof
fabrication,thejuniorGodsarealonetheDemiurgiofmortalnatures.
Isthereforethattrue,whichisassertedbysome,thatthevehicleandthe
irrationalsoulbothremainandaredissolved,throughbeinganalysed
intothespheresfromwhichtheywerederived;andthatonthisaccount
theyaremortal,andyetnotmortal?Thishowever,isofitselfabsurd.
EForwhentheunionisdissolved,howcanweanylongersaythatthe
samethingremains?Fortheirrationalsoulisnotacoacervationof
animals,butonemultiformlife.Inadditionalsotothesethings,itmust
beadmitted,thatatonetimesomethingistakenawayfrom,andat
tcf.Rep.X,619be;&Phaedrus248e.
%cf.Phaedo113d.
another,somethingisaddedtothecelestialbodies,whichisentirely
foreignfromtheirnature.Istheirrationalsoulthereforecorruptible,
andshallweadmitthatthislifeisdissipatedtogetherwiththebody?
Butifthisbethecase,howwilltherebepunishments,howwillthere
bepurifications,howwilltherebeelectionsoflives,someaccordingto
thephantasy,othersaccordingtoanger,andothersaccordingtodesire,
andalsothedigressions*intoirrationalanimals?Forthecontactwith
theanalogousisthroughanalogy,*justasthecontactwithintellect,is
throughintellect.
Willitnotthereforebebettertosaywithourpreceptor,thatthe
spirit,[orpneumaticpartofthesoul,]comprehendsthesummitsofthe
3,237irrationallife,andthattheseexistperpetually,togetherwiththevehicle,
asbeingproducedbytheDemiurgus?Andthatthesebeingextended
anddistributedintoparts,makethislifewhichiswovenbythejunior
FGods,andwhichismortal,becauseitisnecessarythatthesoulshould
layasidethisdistribution,whenhavingobtainedpurificationitis
restoredtoitspristinestateoffelicity?Thislifehowever,isoflonger
durationthanthelifeofthepresentbody;andhencethesoulwhenin
Hades,andchoosingdifferentlives,hasalifeofthiskind.Forthrough
itspropensity,orinclination[tobody],itreceivesthismortallifefrom
thejuniorGods.Iftherefore,thisbeadmitted,theDemiurgus
constitutesthesummitoftheirrationallife,butdoesnotconstitutethe
lifeitself.Forinproducingdaemons,heevidentlyproduceslikewisethe
irrationallifewhichisinthem,butnotthislife,whichthejuniorGods

weaveinus.Forthisisaloneadaptedtosoulsthatfallintogeneration.5
312AThemundaneGodstherefore,havingthemselvesintellectualsouls,
illuminatetheirvehicleswithrationalformedlives.Butdaemons,who
arepeculiarlydefinedaccordingtoreason,employirrationalpowers,
overwhichtheyhavedominion.Andoursoulshavemuchmorealife
inthevehiclewhichisirrational,aswithreferencetothem.Butinthis,
theyexceeddaemons,thattheyreceiveanotherirrationallife,whichis
adeparturefromthelifeinthespirit,andwhichiswovenbythejunior
Gods.Hence,allthatisimmortal,whichitpossessesaccordingtoan
imitationofwholes;buttheadditionpertainstoasecond,ormortalformed
life.Iftherefore,inthe[ethereal]vehicle,thereisoneimpassive
fForbvatiqhere,itisnecessarytoreadtiaSvaeig.
$Insteadofiruc,BiaXoyuxqyapinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread8iavakoyutq
yap.
cf.Phaedrus248c.
life,thiswillgenerateinthepneumaticvehicle,onepassivesense;and
thislatterwillgenerateinthetestaceous[orthisoutward]body,many
andpassivesenses.Theorecticpowerlikewise,intheetherealvehicle
willproducemanyorecticpowersinthepneumaticvehicle,whichwill
Bpossesssomethingseparatefromthetestaceousbody,andcapableof
beingdisciplined.Andthesewillproduceinthisoutwardbody,
ultimateandmaterialorecticpowers.Sincehowever,partsenergizein
conjunctionwithwholes,theGodsbyamuchgreaterpriority,the
causesofthesesecondarilyoperativepowersandthepowersofsouls,
3,238producetogetherwiththemthingsanalogoustothemselves.Hencealso
theyinspireandcorroboratethatwhichtheyproduce.AndthatPlato
indeed,givesheretothesoulacertainvehicle,isevident.Forshortly
after,herepresentsthesoulascendingasintoavehicle,*andthusmakes
ittobemundane,andacitizenoftheworld.
Itislikewisenecessarytounderstand,thathegivesasubsistencetothe
irrationalsoul,priortothisoutwardbody.Forifthisbenotadmitted,
oneoftwothingsmustfollow,eitherthatproducingtheirrationalsoul
inthatvehicle,hedoesnotestablishitinanothervehicle,orthathe
constitutesitinthisoutwardbodyalone.*Butifthelatterbethecase,
thissoulmayveryproperlybecalledmortal;andweshallnolongerbe
abletopreservewhatissaidofitelsewhere,Imean,theelectionsof
lives,andthepunishmentsinHades,inwhichthereisentirelythe
irrationalnature.Andifwesaythatthissoulisinthe[ethereal]vehicle,
itwillbenecessarilyimmortal,andtheassertionwhichimmortalizesit
willpredominate,anditwillbenolongertrue,thattheoneDemiurgus
Cisthecauseofimmortals,butthemanyDemiurgi,ofmortalnatures.
Byshowingtherefore,aswehavesaid,thatthejuniorGodsproducethe

irrationalsoulpriortothisoutwardbody,andthatanotherpneumatic
vehicle,suchasAristotlealsoadmitted,existstogether,andiscointroduced
withourimmortalvehicle,butisatthesametimemortal,all
thatproducesourdoubtsonthissubjectwillbedissolved.Thesethings
however,will,asweproceed,becomemoreapparent.Butwhencethe
juniorGodscommencetheirfabrication,whatmediatheypossess,and
whatendstheyemploy,thephilosopherthroughthesethingssufficiently
teaches.
41d"Elaborateandgenerateanimals,causethemtoincreasebygivingthem
nutriment,andreceivethembackagain,whendissolvedbycorruption."
fTim.41de.
FortForvopuhere,itisnecessarytoreadpovu.
Thegenerationoftheirrationallife,ofwhichthevehicleofthesoul
comprehendsthesummits,isthereforethebeginningofthefabrication.
3,239Butsincethecompleteproductionandgenerationofanimals,proceeds
togetherwiththis,hencetheDemiurgusordersthejuniorGodsto
elaborateandgenerateanimals,weavingtogetherthemortalwiththe
immortalnature.Andthishesaysindefinitely,andnotallanimals;
becausePlatofurtheron,callsplantsalsoanimals,*andshowsthatitis
Drequisitethustodenominatethem.Throughtheimmortalsoul
therefore,thejuniorGodsproduceanimals,viz.suchasnotonlypossess
thelastformoflife,theepithymetic,andareonthisaccountcalled
animals,butlikewiseeverymortalanimal.Ifhowever,theDemiurgus
callsonthejuniorGodsnotonlytofabricateman,weavingtogetherthe
mortalwiththeimmortalnature,butlikewiseanimals,theyevidently
fabricateallotheranimals.HenceTimaeusveryproperly,towardsthe
endofthisdialogue,representsotheranimalsasgenerated,throughthe
transformationofthehumansoulintothem,andthisconformablyto
thedemiurgicmandate,thejuniorGodsaloneproducingplants,without
theassistanceofthissoul.Forinthese,thereisnotarationalsoul.
Andbecausethissoulistheprincipleofmotion,itisnecessarythatit
shouldbetheprincipleofthefirstmotiontoanimals.Butthefirst
motiontothese,isthatwhichisaccordingtoplace,asAristotlealsohas
shown.*Sothateveryanimalwhichismovedaccordingtoplace,has
aselfmotivesoulpresentwithit.Onthisaccount,aplantrootedinthe
earth,hasnotthissoul;sothatthejuniorGodsveryproperlygenerate
Eandelaborateotheranimalsexceptplants,byweavingtogetherthe
mortalwiththeimmortalnature.Buttheyaffordotheranimals
nutriment,bycontrivingthegenerationofplants,throughwhichmen
andotheranimalsarenourished.Fornothinghinderscertainanimals
frombeingnourishedbysuchthingsasaffordnutrimenttomen,and
alsobyotherthings,towhichtheirnatureisallied,inthesamemanner

asthenatureoftheanimals,bywhichwearenourished,isalliedtous.
Throughthiselaborationtherefore,thejuniorGodsgivecompletionto
theproductionoftheoneDemiurgus.Forheimpartsthebeginning[or
3,240summit]only,buttheyelaborate,andthroughgenerationconstitutethe
wholeanimal.Andthroughelaborationindeed,theyimitatethe
demiurgicpower,butthroughgeneration,thepaternal5power.
tTim.77a.
cf.Aristotle,PhysicsV,2,262a32ff.
Trvevfianicrivinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirarpocTjc.
Throughelaborationalso,theyproducethemortalformedpartsof
rationalanimals;butthroughgeneration,irrationalanimals,sofaras
theyareirrational.Fortheyconstitutethewholeofsuchlikeanimals.
ButiftheyreceivetheimmortalnaturewhichtheDemiurgusproduces,
andwhichheordersthemtoweavewiththemortalnature,andthusto
fabricateanimals,itisevidentthataccordingtothedemiurgicwill,every
Fsoulhasanimmortalpriortothemortallife;andthatthejuniorGods
elaboratethelatter,buttheoneDemiurgustheformer.Andifindeed,
theDemiurgusconstitutedbothirrationalandrationalsouls,nothing
wouldhinderthatwhichisimmortalinthemfrombeingirrational;but
sincehere,healonegeneratesrationalsouls,towhomalsohespeaks,1
insertinginthemthelawsofFate,itisevidentthateveryanimalwhichis
properlyananimal,byparticipatingoflocalmotion,hasnecessarilya
rationalandimmortalsoul.Platotherefore,whenhetransfersthesoul
intoirrationalhabitations,doesnotassenttothosewhosaythatthese
313Aarehumansouls,accordingtotheirrationalanimalbelongingtomen,
butthattheyaretrulythesoulsofirrationalanimals.Foritisnotonly
evidentthatheassertsthisthroughthesearguments,butlikewisefrom
whathesaysofotheranimals,inthegenerationofmortalnatures,viz.
thatthegenerationofallofthemiseffectedthroughthehumansoul,
fromwhichtransferring*itintodifferentanimals,hefashionstheideas
ofbodies,accordingtothetransitionofthis,andaccordingtotheform
oflife,throughtheexertionofwhichitreceivesahabitudetothese
animals.Thefathertherefore,ordersthejuniorGodstoelaborateand
generateallanimals,byweavingtogetherthemortalwiththeimmortal
nature.Andwehaveshownthattheimmortalnatureistwofold,viz.
thesoulanditsvehicle,andinasimilarmanner,thatthemortalnature
istwofold,andthattheoneisanalogoustotheother,viz.mortalto
immortalnatures.
3,241Inthenextplace,thegiftofnutrimentisperfectiveofmortals.Hence
thejuniorGodsproducedallplants,forthesakeofmorehonourable
natures.TheDemiurgustherefore,isveryfarfromadmittingtheeating
Bofanimals,sinceafterthegenerationofallanimals,heordersthejunior

Godstoproduceforthemnutriment.Thefabricationalsoofthese
Godsbeautifullyends,accordingtothewillofthefather,in
regeneration.Fortoreceivebackagainthingswhicharecorrupted,is
nothingelsethanarenewalofgeneration,andarevocationof
tTim.41e.
$For/floraehere,readpediarac.
corruptiontogeneration.Forthroughthis,nothingdepartsintothat
whichhasnoexistencewhatever;becausetheGodswhopresideover
generation,conjointheperiodsofitwiththeirownperiods,andmake
generationtobeincontinuitywithcorruption,givingformtothenonbeing
ofthelatter,andcircularlyleadingprivationintomorphe.The
Demiurgustherefore,insertedinthejuniorGodsthefabricationof
mortalnaturesfromthebeginning,andthecauseofregeneration;just
asheinsertedthefabricationofallmundanenaturesinthemonadofthe
juniorGods,[i.e.inBacchus,]whichalsoOrpheusdenominatesthe
JuvenileGod.*Youseetherefore,howtheDemiurgusimpartstothem
unifyinganddeifyingpowers,bycallingthemGodsofGods;connective
andstablepowers,throughthemediumofthedissolubleand
indissoluble;gnosticpowersthroughdiscipline;perfectivepowers,
Cthroughgivingperfectiontotheworldbytheadditionofmortals;
demiurgicpowers,throughfabrication;andmotiveandassimilative
powers,throughtheimitationofthefather.Andagain,youmaysay
thatheimpartedtothemVulcanianpowers,throughtheenergy
accordingtonature;Minervalpowers,throughthecommandtoweave
togetherthemortalwiththeimmortalnature;CerealianandCoric
powers,throughthecommandtogenerateandnourish;Titannicpowers,
throughorderingthemtoproducemortalandperishablenatures;and
Dionysiacalpowers,throughregeneration.Forthethingswhichthey
generatetheyreceivebackagain,whentheyarecorrupted,returning
themtothewholesfromwhichtheywerederived,anddistributingeach
toitspropersource;fromthesewholesagainreceivingotherparts,and
compoundingthemintothegenerationofotherthings.Forallthe
3,242elementsarespreadunderthem,inordertothegenerationofmortal
animals,andtheyperpetuallyandwithoutceasing,givecompletionto
thecircleofgenerationsandcorruptions.Hence,theyreceivesuch
thingsastheyimpartedtogeneratednatures,whentheyarecorrupted,
anddelivertowholesthatwhichtheytookfromthem.Thislikewise
hasaninfinitepermutation,throughtheimmobility[i.e.immutability]
ofalltheGodsthatfabricatemortalnatures.
4ld"Thesethingsspakethefathertothosetowhomhecommittedthe
fabrication[ofmortalnatures]."

Platodividesthewholeofthefabricationofthingsintothegeneration
Dofdivine,andthegenerationofmortalnatures.Thegenerationof
divinenatureslikewise,hedividesintothatofthewholeworldpriorto
tOrph.fr.206,191.
itsparts,andintothatofthegreatandperpetualpartswhichitcontains.
Andagain,hedividesthelatterintothegenerationofcelestialand
sublunarynatures.Butagain,hedividesthegenerationofmortal
naturesintotheproductionofthatwhichisdivine,andimmortalin
them,andtheplasticgenerationofallthatismortal.Thelatterlikewise
hedividesintotheproductionofsoulsandbodies.Andtheproduction
ofbodies,intothatofwholes,andparts,suchasthehead,theheart,and
theliver.AndtheDemiurgusofwholesindeed,bindstohimselfallthe
firstfabrication;butofthesecond,heagain,producingthatwhichis
immortalinit,placesovertheremainderthemanyDemiurgi.Forthese
beingtheplasticframersofmortalanimals,*andbeingalways
themselvesfilledwithlife,imparttothatwhichismortalinthesecond
fabrication,theirownprovidentialenergy,sofarasitisabletoreceive
it,andfillitwithgenesiurgiclifeandmaterialfabrication.Forevery
wherethelastofthingsareconstitutedbythosethatrankasmedia;and
themediabetweenthefirstimmortals,andmortalnatures,arethose
Ethatarealwaysfilledwithperpetuallygeneratedlife.Thenatures
therefore,thatareimmortalfromthemselves,resemblethefountainsof
water:butthosethatarefilledfromthese,maybeassimilatedto
perpetuallyflowingrivers;*andthosethataresometimesvivified,and
3,243sometimes5losetheirlife,toriversthatceasetoflow.Buteverywhere,
thatwhichismorefull,desirestofill,andhastenstogenerate.Hence,
itisnecessarythatmediashouldimpartfromthemselvesaprogression
tothelastofthings,andthosethatarealwaysfilledwithlife,a
progressiontothosethataresometimesabletolive.Andthusmuch
concerningtheorderofthethingswithreferencetoeachother.
Butthewords"Thesethingsspake,"bringwiththemanadmirable
indication.Andinthefirstplace,indeed,theyindicatetheperfect,and
thatwhichisfilledwithappropriateboundaries.Fornotbeingableto
comprehendinonewordtheuncialperfection,eternalenergy,and
infinitepowerofdivinenatures,weapprehendtheseinadivisible
mannerthroughtemporalnames;signifyingindeed,perfectionthrough
thepast,buttheneverfailingthroughthepresent.Thewordspake
therefore,isasymboloftheperfectionofdemiurgicintellections.For
astheyareallperfect,solikewisearethedemiurgicwords,whicharethe
Fenergiesofthem,andwhichproceedtothemultitudeoftheGods.
fTim.74c.

%cf.Hesiod,WorksandDays,737.
InsteadofretSeairoXeiitovTa,itisnecessarytoread,wore6ecnroXentovTCt.
Thustoo,inthe[Chaldaean]Oracles,theenergiesoftheGods,andof
thefatherhimself,aremanifestedthroughthewordspake,aswhenthey
say;"Theintellectoftheeternalfather,governingallthingsbyintellect,
spakeandsaid,intothree."*Fortospeakisneithertheenergyof
existence,noroflife,butofintellection.Thisthenisthefirstthing
whichthewordsindicate.Butfartherstill,thiswordspakemanifests
thatwordsareadaptedtosouls;fortospeak,isanenergyfamiliarand
alliedtothese.Forfromtoepos,aword,toepein,tospeak,isderived.
Butreason(logos)orspeech,pertainstosouls,andtotheorderofsouls,
314AasPlatoobservedbefore,*whenhespakeofreasonenergizingaboutthe
intelligible,andthesensiblenature,andwhenhecalledtoperceive
intellectually,tospeak.Again,theadditionofthewordsthesethings,
unitesthemultitudeofintellections,abouttheoneintelligenceofthe
Demiurgus,andcollectsthedividedpowersofspeechtothemonadof
3,244thepaternalintellection.Itisnecessarylikewisetounderstandthis
concerningdivinespeechesinPlato,thatallofthemareeitheraddressed
tosouls,orareonaccountofsouls.ThusthespeechoftheMuses,and
thatoftheprophet,intheRepublic,*areaddressedtosouls.Butthe
speechintheBanquetbyAristophanes,0andalsothatwhichis
deliveredinthePoliticus,0areonaccountofsouls;theformer,
pertainingtosoulsthatareabouttodescend;butthelatter,tothosethat
areconversantwithgeneration.Andthereasonofthisis,aswehave
said,becausespeechespeciallypertainstosouls.
4ld"Andagain,intotheformerCrater,inwhichminglinghehad
temperedthesouloftheuniverse,hepouredmingling,theremainderof
theformerthings."
Thatthedemiurgicintelligenceisproduction,andthatthesedonot
differfromeachotherintheGods,butthatwiththemtoperceive
intellectually,andtomakearethesamething,andthatnoothermotion
Bisnecessarytothegenerationofthings,butthattheyconstituteall
thingsbytheirverybeingorexistenceismanifestedbythesewords.
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.22.
%Tim.37b.
cf.Rep.VIII,545dff;&X,617d.
cf.Symposium190c.
oForUXaruvucuhere,itisnecessarytoreadUOXLTUCU[intextithasATXUVUCG),
121c].cf.Politicus268dff.

FortheDemiurgushavingspoke,immediatelyturnstotheCrater,and
tothemixture*ofthegenera.Noristhereanythingbetweenthese,
butthedeliveryoftheworksseparatefromthewordsarisesfromour
imbecility,notbeingabletoperceiveinone,theexemptintelligenceof
thefather,andhisproductionwhichconstitutespartialsouls.Thatthe
genusalsoofpartialsoulsproceedsaccordingtoeachorder,andentirely
differsfromdivinesouls,isindicatedbythesewordstothosethatare
notperfectlyblind;sincetheyareconstitutedseparately,andina
differenttime.Andthisnotonlyarisesfromtheimbecilityoflanguage,
butisassumedconformablytothenatureofthings.Forinreality,if
youassumeparticipatedtime,thereisnotthesametimeintotalandin
partialsouls;sinceneitheristherethesameintellection,northesame
formofmotion;butthetimeofdivinesoulsisonething,andthatof
3,245partialsoulsanother.Fartherstill,Platoproducespartialsoulsfromthe
Csamefatherindeed,yetnotentirelyso.Forthewordagainindicates,
thattheprogressionoftheseisaccordingtoamorepartialpowerofthe
Demiurgus,andisinacertainrespectthesame,andyetnotthesame,
withthatwhichispriortoit.Forbecausetheagainisnottemporal
(sinceitisnotlawfulineternalnatures,thatthereshouldbeacertain
differenceofenergiesaccordingtotime)italonemanifestsanorderof
fabricationscausallydifferent;sothatinacertainrespectthereisthe
same,andnotthesame,father.
Fartherstill,partialarefromthesameCraterastotalsouls,yetatthe
sametimewithdiminution.Fordivinesoulsindeed,abideandproceed
intheCrater,anddonotdepartfromthence.Butoursoulsareentirely
separatedfromit,andtheseparationofthemismanifest.Towhichwe
mayalsoadd,thatthegeneraarethesameanddifferent.Forallsouls
arefromthemiddlegenera,butsomearefromthefirstofthese,and
othersfromtheremainsandlastofthemixture,fromwhichthoseprior
tothemwereconstituted.Again,themodelikewise,isatoncethe
same,andnotthesame:forinpartialsouls,differenceismoreabundant
[thansameness.]Hencealsoinspeakingofthese,thereisamore
frequentmentionofmixture.Wemustnotthereforeadmittheopinion
ofthosemorerecentinterpreters,whoendeavourtoshowthatoursoul
isofanequaldignity,orofthesameessence,orIknownothowthey
Dwishtospeak,withadivinesoul;thoughPlatoassertsthatpartialsouls
aredeficientinasecondandthirddegree,separatesthemfromthe
Crater,andproducesthemfromtheDemiurgus,accordingtoa
secondary,whichisthesamethingasaccordingtoamorepartial
tInsteadofTU^IVhere,itisnecessarytoreadjuif.
intelligence.Forhewhosaysthesethingsintroducesessential
differencesofsouls,andnotdifferencesaccordingtoenergiesalone,as

thedivinePlotinusshows.Forletitbeadmittedthatsomeofthem
looktototal,butotherstopartialintellects;thatsomeemployundefiled
intellections,butotherssometimesabandonrealbeings;thatsome
alwaysfabricateandadornwholes,butotherssometimesrevolvein
conjunctionwiththeGods;thatsomealwaysmoveandgovernFate,but
3,246otherssometimesbecomesituatedunderFate,andfatallaws;thatsome
areleaderstotheintelligible,butotherssometimesareallottedtheorder
offollowers;thatsomearealonedivine,butothersareatdifferenttimes
transferredtoadifferentorder,eitherdaemoniacal,orheroical,or
human;thatsomeemployhorses,allofwhicharegood,andconsistof
thingsthataregood,butothers,suchasaremingledfromgoodandevil;
thatsomehavethatlifealone,whichtheyreceivedfromtheone
fabrication,butothershavealsothemortalform,whichwaswovenby
EthejuniorGods;andthatsomeenergizeaccordingtoalltheirpowers,
butothersexertdifferentlivesatdifferenttimes.Letthesetherefore,be
thedifferencesofsouls,yetessentialcommutationanddemiurgic
division,precedeallthese.Forthroughthese,theyareseparatedby
time,bycause,byprogression,bythemodeofsubsistence,andby
diminutionofgenera.Astheydiffertherefore,byalltheseparticulars,
howisitpossiblethattheyshouldbeofthesameessence?For,
Ne'ercanthetribeofmenthatliveonearth,
Beliketh'immortalGods.
Iliad,V,441
Therationalnatureitselflikewise,isdifferent.ForintheGodsitis
intellectual,butinoursoulsitismingledwiththeirrationalnature.
Andinthemiddlegenera,itisdefinedaccordingtoitsownmedium.
Thisisalsothecasewitheachoftherest,viz.withthereasons,the
formoflife,intelligence,andtime.Forthesesubsistdivinelyindivine
souls,butafterahumanmannerinours.Andthusmuchagainstthose
whofancythatoursoulisofthesameessencewiththesoulofthe
universe,andwithotherdivinesouls,andthatweareallthings
unaccompaniedwithhabitude,viz.theplanets,andthefixedstars,and
otherthingsinthesamemannerasthestars,asTheodorusAsinasusalso,
somewheresays.Forsuchmagnificentlanguageonthissubject,isvery
remotefromthetheoryofPlato.
FWithrespecttotheCraterhowever,letusseewhatitis,whatorder
itpossesseswithreferencetotheDemiurgus,andwhatarethe
particularsofwhichitisthecausetosouls.Forthereismuch
discussionconcerningthis,anditdeservesthemostampleconsideration.
3,247TheabovementionedTheodorustherefore,makesatwofoldCrater,and
assertsthatthemixtureisoneofthese.ForthesecondCrater,
accordingtohim,isthemixture;buttheotherCraterconsistsofthe

portionsofthemixture,viz.thesouloftheuniverse,thesoulsofthe
315AcelestialGods,andoursouls.ForhecallssoulitselfthefirstCrater,this
beingtheuniversalsoul;buthedenominatestheCraterandatthesame
timethemixture,thesecondCrater;thoughPlatospeaksofoneCrater,
andinitminglesallsouls,someprimarily,andotherssecondarily,but
makesnomentionwhateverofasecondCrater,norofamixtureinit.
ForiftherewasasecondCrater,whatoccasionwouldtherebeforthe
useofthefirst,inthegenerationofoursouls?Iwondertherefore,that
themostlaboriousAtticus,shouldsaythathefoundintheTimaeusa
twofoldCrater,sinceitisusualwithhimtofollowstrictlythewordsof
Plato.Atthesametimehowever,ininterpretingthePhaedrus,hemakes
mentionofthetwofoldCrater.ButaccordingtothedivineIamblichus,
theCrateristheonevivificcause,comprehensiveofthewholeoflife,
andcollectiveofit;itselfsustainingitself,bycertaindemiurgicreasons,
whichpervadethroughalllife,andthroughthewholepsychicalorders,
Bbutallottingtoeachsoulinitsproperorder,appropriatemeasuresof
connexion;allottingtosomefromthebeginningfirstmeasures,through
thefirstmixture,butsecondarymeasures,tothosethathavebeenagain
mingled.Forsuchasistheorderwhichtheyhavewithreferenceto
eachother,suchalsoistheprogressionwhichtheyareallottedfromthe
Crater,receivingfromthencetheboundariesoflife.Suchtherefore,are
thedogmaswhichwehavereceivedfromthesemen.
Ourpreceptorhowever,surveyingrealbeingsfromonhigh,asfrom
awatchtower,+andfollowingthenarrationoftheologists,placesinthe
fatherhimselfandDemiurgusofwholes,aprolificpower,accordingto
whichimitatingtheintelligibleGod,hepossessesbothamaternaland
3,248paternalcausewithreferencetothemundaneGods,beinghimselfthe
sourceofessence,oflife,andofform.Sincehowever,itisnecessary*
thereshouldbeadefiniteandseparatecauseofthepsychicallife,
fabricatinginconjunctionwiththeDemiurgusthewholeworld,and
generatingallthepsychicalessence,thiscause,hesays,isdeliveredtous
throughtheCrater.Headds,thattheologistsarcanelyassertingthat
tcf.Rep.IV,445c.
%Itisrequisitehere,tosupplytheword8ei.
whichtheyassert,havedevisedmarriagesandoffspringoftheGods,+
throughwhichtheyobscurelysignifythekindredcommunionof
progenyintheGods;butthatPlatomythologicallyintroducedmixtures
Candcommixtures,assumingthegeneraofbeinginsteadofseeds,but
mixtureinsteadofmarriage.Forsoulsindeed,accordingtothebeing
whichisinthem,wereproducedbytheDemiurgus;butaccordingto
thelifewhichisinthem,fromtheCrater.Forthisisthevivificcause
ofessentiallife.Sincehowever,theyareinagreaterdegreelivesthan

beings,andarealliedtothevivificorder;onthisaccount,themixture
originatedfromtheDemiurgus,butisperfectedintheCrater.Forthis
onallsidescomprehendsinitselfthegeneraofsouls,andgeneratesthem
inconjunctionwiththeDemiurgus.Thesethereforearefour,viz.he
whomingles,theCrater,thethingsmingled,andthemixture.Andthe
firstindeed,hastheorderoffather;thesecondisgenerative,and
definitiveoftheformofsouls;thethird,proceedsfromboth,butina
greaterdegreefromthefather;andthefourthisformalized,according
tothegenerativecause,soastobecomeonething,throughtheCrater.
Butifitberequisitetodeveloptheconceptionsofourpreceptoron
thissubject,itmustbeobservedthatasthevivificdeity,*comprehends
initselfallthefountainsoflife,viz.suchasaregenerativeofsouls,and
ofthedaemoniacalorder,suchasbringforththeangelicseries,andsuch
Dasproducenatureinthelastofthings,onecertainvivificdeity5
proceedsfromit,whichisthefountainofalltheprogressionand
generationofsouls,andwhichbeingcoarrangedwiththeDemiurgus,
producestogetherwithhim,thewholepsychicalorder,everysuper
3,249mundaneandmundanesoul,andproceedstoallthings,andvivifiesthe
wholeworld.Orpheuscelebratesthisvivificdeityasequaltothe
Demiurgus,Dandconnectingandconjoiningitwithhim,makesitto
betheonemotherofallthethingsofwhichJupiteristhefather.But
PlatocallsittheCrater,asbeingthefountainofthepsychicallife.For
thisCraterreceivesthegenerativeenergyofthefatherofsouls,and
accordingtothistheformofsoulsreceivesitsspecificdistinction;
whencealsothisformiscalledamixture.Jupiterindeedcontainsin
tcf.293Cf,supra.
ue.Rhea.
ue.Juno.
Orph.fr.130.
himselfaroyalsoul,asSocratessaysinthePhilebus;*buthelikewise
containsthisfountain,whichcooperateswithhimintheproductionof
thepsychicalorder.AndtheBarbarianscallthisvivificcausethefontal
soul,*whichisunfoldedintolight,togetherwithfontalvirtue,5from
EtheintestinesofthewholevivificGoddess,inwhichthefountainsofall
life,thedivine,theangelic,thedaemoniacal,andthepsychical,are
contained.ButthetheologistoftheGreeks0denominatesthisvivific
causeJuno,whopresentsherselftotheviewtogetherwithVesta,from
themightyRhea,whocomprehendsinherselfallthevivificpowers,and
whoatlastbringsforthNatureherself;thoughheconjoinsJunowith
theDemiurgus,asmotherwithfather,andrepresentsherasthesource
ofalltheTitannicdivision,whichissurveyedinsouls,accordingto
portions,andthecauseofseparation.PlatohoweverassumestheCrater,
themixtureandtheportions;fortheCrateristhecauseofthedivision

oftheportions.Hence,hedoesnotdivide,tillhehasdisseminatedthe
generaintheCrater.
Inshorttherefore,beingimpelledbytheseobservations,wesay,itis
evidentthattheCraterisdifferentfromtheDemiurgus.Forevery
where,hewhomingles,theCrater,andthethingsthataremingled,are
distinguishedfromeachother.Foritisalsoevident,thattheCrateris
differentfromtheDemiurgus,becauseitispsychogonic,orgenerative
ofsoul.Forneitherintheproductionofintellect,norinthefabrication
3,250ofbodies,istheCraterassumed,butaloneingivingsubsistencetosouls;
becausemixtureisadaptedtothese,asbeingofamiddlenature.Butif
FtheCraterispsychogonic,itisdoubtlesspeculiarly0thecauseofsouls.
AndifitiscoordinatewiththeDemiurgus,lestitshouldbeinwantof
thingsposteriortoitself,orshouldhavesomethingmoretotalthan
itself,andthusshouldnotbeentirelythecauseofallthethings,of
whichtheDemiurgusisthecause,butheisanintellectualGod,andthe
bestofcauses;ifthisbethecase,theCraterlikewiseisintellectual;and
iftheformerisfontal,thelatteralsoisfontal.Andwhyisitnecessary
tPhilebus30d.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.53.
ue.Vesta.For,accordingtotheChaldaans,aswelearnfromProclusonthe
Cratylus,RheacontainsJuno,thefountainofsouls,inhererighthandparts,and
Vesta,thefountainofvirtue,inherlefthandparts[Chald.Oracl.fr.51,52.]
cf.Hesiod,Theogony453f.
0Foridiuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadwiwq.
toobserve,thattheBarbarianslikewise,callthepartialcauses*[ofsoul]
fontalCraters?ThisCratertherefore,isafontalCrater;sinceitisthe
causeofsoulssofarastheyaresouls,andnotofalllife.Foritis
neitherthecauseofintellectual,norofphysicallife.Platolikewise
316Aelsewherecallssoulitselfthefountainofprudence;*andinthe
Phaedrus,*hedenominatesitthefountainandprincipleofmotion.
Muchmoretherefore,shouldwecallaccordingtohim,thefirstsoul
fontal,andtheCraterfontal,ifthereisaCraterestablishedwiththe
Demiurgusofwholes;sinceotherCratersalsoaredeliveredbothby
OrpheusandPlato.ForPlatointhePhilebusmentionstwoCraters,D
theoneVulcanian,buttheotherDionysiacal.AndOrpheusknewindeed
oftheCraterofBacchus,buthealsoestablishesmanyothersaboutthesolar
table,AndwithrespecttoHomer,**doeshenotrepresentHebeas
pouringoutwine,andVulcandrinkingfromabowl,anddistributing
nectartoalltheGods?Thesethingshowever,requireamoreabundant
discussion.Butwhathasbeensaidwillbesufficientforthepresent
purpose,sinceinanotherwork,weshallinvestigateamoreperfect
developmentofeachparticular,ifitpleasestheGods.

Someonehowever,maydoubt,throughwhatcausePlato,when
generatingthesouloftheuniverse,**makesnomentionoftheCrater,
Bbutonlyofthemixtureandcommixture;butinthegenerationofpartial
souls,heatthesametimementionsit,andremindsusofthemixtureof
3,251thesouloftheuniverse?Inanswertothis,itmustbesaid,thatinthe
firstplacedivinesoulsinproceeding,abideintheCrater,anddonot
departfromtheirfountain;butpartialsoulsareseparatedfrom,and
frequentlyproceedoutofit,throughvergingtogeneration.55Inthe
formertherefore,asbeingvehementlyunited,hedoesnotseparatethe
Craterfromthemixture.Hencesomeapprehendthatthesoulofthe
universeisthefirstsoul;andothersdenominateitJuno,notbeingable
tThewordmriacisomittedhereintheoriginal.
%cf.LawsVII,808d.
Phaedrus245c.
Philebus61bc.
OLobeck,Aglaophemus370.
ttIliadIV,2f;&I,597ff.
ftTim.35a.
cf.Phaedrus247b.
todivideitfromitsproperfountain.Butinthese[i.e.inpartialsouls],
asbeingseparatedfromtheCrater,Platodisjoinsthecause[i.e.the
Crater]fromthethingsposteriortoit.Inthesecondplace,itmustbe
said,thatthewholeofthepsychicalorderisconstitutedbyboth,viz.
bytheminglerandtheCrater;butsinceonepartofthisorderabides,
buttheotherproceeds,andonerejoicesinunion,buttheotherisa
friendtodivision,hence,theDemiurgusinagreaterdegreeconstitutes
theformer,thantheCrater;butthelatterasbeingmorematerial,is
morealliedtotheprolificcause[i.e.totheCrater].Onthisaccount,in
theformer,thewholeisattributedtotheDemiurgus;butinthe
generationofpartialsouls,theCraterisassumed.Thefablesofthe
CGreeksalsoassertthingsofthiskind.FortheysaythatJunoisthe
causeofinsanity,butJupiteroftemperance;andtheformer,oflabours
aboutgeneration;butthelatter,ofanelevationfromit.ForJuno
excitesallthingstoprogression,multipliesthem,andcausesthembyher
illuminations,tobeprolific.Andthusmuchinanswertothedoubt.
ButithinkitfitthatthedivineIamblichusshouldlooktothesewords
ofPlato,andassumefromthem,thatPlatoconstitutesthesoulofthe
world,andnotthesupercelestialsoul,fromthemixtureofthemiddle
genera.Forhow,ashisdesignwastoconstitutetheuniverse,couldhe
opportunelymakementionofthesupermundanesoul,sincewhenhe
mentionstime,whichisallottedasupermundaneorder,heatthesame

timecoarrangesitwiththeuniverse?Forhesaysthattimewas
generatedtogetherwiththeheaven.*Andthusmuchforthis
admonition.ButwhetherPlatoknew,ordidnotknowthatthereare
supermundanesouls,istobeinvestigated.Foritisworthyofinquiry,
sincebenowhereclearlysaysthatthereisasoulofthiskind.Andto
thosewhodonotadmitthattherearesupermundanesouls,itmustbe
said,thatitisrequisitethereshouldbesoulsofthiskind,whichare
imparticipable,butunderstandtransitively,andinthisdifferfrom
3,252intellect;andwhichlikewiseintellectuallyperceivemorethanonething
atatime,andinthistranscendmundanesouls.Fortheprogressionis
Dnotcollectively,fromunderstandingallthingsatonce,totheintellectual
perceptionofonethingatatime;butisthroughtheperceptionofmore
thingsthanone,yetnotofallthingsatonce.Itfollowstherefore,that
thosewhothroughthesereasonsadmit,thattherearesoulspriortothe
world,shouldshowhowthesesoulsaremediabetweentheimpartible
andpartibleessence,andiftheyarepartible,whatthispartibilityis,and
iftheyaredistributedintoparts,andsimilarlyfashionedwithmundane
tTim.38b.
souls,bywhatcontrivancetheyarepriortothese,whentheydonotat
alldifferfromthemaccordingtohypostasis?
Ifalsoitberequisite'thatIshouldpaysomeattentiontomyown
oracle,*Ishouldsay,thateachofthesesupermundanesoulshasthe
intellectualnature,whichitparticipatesfortheimpartiblewhichis
aboveit.Forthatsupermundaneintellectisprimarilyparticipable.
Eachlikewise,hasthepartiblenaturenotsimply,butsofarasthe
multitudeofmundanenaturesissuspendedfromthem.Hence,theyare
moreimpartiblethanpartible,justasonthecontrary,thelastofsouls
aremorepartiblethanimpartible,becausethepartibleandnotthe
impartible,isthepeculiarityoftheiressence.Hencetoo,eachofthese
isthepeculiarityofthesoulsthatsubsistbetweenthesupermundaneand
thelastofsouls.Fortheimpartibleispeculiartothem,becausea
peculiarintellectisestablishedaboveeachofthem;andalsothepartible,
becauseapeculiarbodyissuspendedfromeach.Andasinthelatitude
ofsoulstherearesomanydifferences,thesedifferencescausethesoul
eithernot*alwaystoabideonhigh,ortoabideandbesupermundane,
Eortoabideandbemundane.Byconceivingtherefore,thesoulwhich
ranksasamediumbetweenthese,tobeathingofthiskind,weshall
notwonderifsoulsweregeneratedequalaccordingtosection,butthat
someofthemhavetheirboundariesasfarastosuperficiesandothers,
asfarastosolids;whichalsomakesthelattertobemundane,andto
proceedintobodies;butpreservestheformerpriortotheworld,and
withoutanycontactwithbody.Perhapstoo,someofthemproceedas
farastolinearboundaries,butothersasfarastosuperficies.Hence,

someofthemarealonesupermundane,butothersaremediabetween
supermundaneandmundanesouls,justassuperficiesaremediabetween
linearboundariesandsolids.
Moreover,itisnotatallwonderfulthattheharmonyshouldbe
3,253differentfromthethreegeneraofmodulationsinsensibles.Foritisnot
necessarythatthereshouldbeonlythreeharmonies,butthatthis
numberofthemshouldbeapprehendedinsoundscommensuratewith
sense.Itisnothoweverimpossiblethattheremaybecertainharmonies
moreexcellentthanthese,sincethesethreegeneraarenotassumedfrom
division,butfromexperimentandsense.Thesealsomaybeadmitted
Ftoexistinsupermundanesouls,bytheinsertionoftwomediaasfaras
tolinearboundaries,andasfarastosuperficiesinthefirstdupleand
tcf.FirstAlcibiades127e.
$Ovisomittedhereintheoriginal.
triplealone,orintheintervalsthatfollow,andintheseproducingtwo
circles.Herelikewise,cuttingtheinternalcirclesonlyinhalf;forthere
aretwointervals;butthere,intothreeparts.Forsomanyarethe
intervalsofthefiveboundaries.Hencehere,oneandthreeare
generated,butthereoneandfive,justasPlatointhemundanesouls,
makesoneandseven.Accordingtoallthingstherefore,itispossiblefor
thosesupermundanetodifferfrommundanesouls,andaccordingtothe
mediumandthemultitudeofcircles.TheratiosofPlatoalso,havethat
317Awhichiscommon,andwhichextendstoeverypsychicalessence,
elevatingusfromthepsychogonywhichproceedsintosolidnumbers,
tothatwhichismoresimplethanthis,andproceedsasfarasto
superficies,andfromthistothatwhichproceedsonlyasfarastolines.
theyalsoproducethreepsychogonies,whichaccordwiththethree
generaofsouls.Fortheprogressionfromanessenceperfectly
impartible,intothatwhichisdistributedaccordingtoallnumbers,isnot
withoutamedium;butherelikewise,asinallotherthings,the
progressionisthroughmedia.Ifhowever,thisbethecase,itisnotat
allwonderful,thatpartialsouls,inwhichthepartiblenature
immediatelyexists,buttheimpartiblethroughothermedia,whichare
elevatedpriortothemtointellects,shouldcausethedivisionstobecome
morenumerouswiththepartiblenature,*andthesetobemorethan
withtheimpartible.Imean,forinstance,thatthesesquioctavesshould
bedividedwiththeapotomaeandtheleimmas,andthatthissame
3,254diatonicgenusshouldbeinthem,withtwointervals,butwhichasit
weredefinethediatessaronanddiapente,thesameratiosbeingpreserved
Bintheextremes;sothatinthesealso,thepsychogonicratiostakeplace,
butwithamoreabundantdifference.Forofthemiddlegenera,essence
predominating,makesadivinesoul,samenessadaemoniacal,and

difference,apartialsoul.*Theselikewisepredominatingaccordingto
differentmodes,manydivine,manydaemoniacal,andmanypartialsouls,
areconstituted;asPlatoalsoindicates,whenhesays,thattheDemiurgus
assumingthesecondandthirdgradationsofthemixture,gave
subsistencetopartialsouls.Forbyassuminginthesethatwhichis
similartothis,weshallbeabletoassignthedifferencesofthemwith
referencetoallthemiddleandthefirstsouls,andlikewisetogivethe
followingcommondefinitionofallofthem.Soulisanessence,which
isamediumbetweentrulyexistingessenceandgeneration,being
tcf.321Ff,infra.
$cf.188CD,supra.
mingledfromthemiddlegenera,dividedintoessentialnumber,bound
togetherbyallthemiddles,diatonicallyharmonized,livingoneanda
twofoldlife,andbeinggnosticinone,andalsoatwofoldmanner.For
byaddingtothisdefinitionthepeculiarities,weshallhavetheproper
numbersofdivineordaemoniacal,orpartialsouls,fromtheessential
Chypostasisofeach.Weshalllikewisebeveryfarfromsaying,thatsoul
istheentelecheiaofthebody,orofthephysicalorganhavinglifein
capacity.*Forthisdefinition,neitherinassertingthatsoulpertainsto
acertainthing,sayswhatitis,nordoesitcomprehendeverysoul.For
divinesoulsarenotthesoulsoforganicbodies;nordoesthisdefinition
avoidcomprehendinginitselfthethingdefined.Forthatwhichlives
incapacity,hassoulincapacity;allwhichinconveniencesareavoided
bythedefinitiongivenbyusabove,whichistrulyadefinition,possesses
thatwhichiscommon,andwhichextendstoallthegeneraofsouls,
explainsitsmiddleessence,andbynomeansmakestheobjectof
investigationapartofthedefinition.Wehavehowever,beenthus
3,255prolix,forthepurposeofgivingcompletiontotheparturitionsofour
soul,thoughPlatoshouldnotspeakofthesupermundanesoul.
Butifsomeoneshoulddoubt,whyPlatodoesnotmentionother
souls,thedivine,andthedaemoniacal,itmostbesaidtohiminreply,
thatPlatoassumesthesamemixtureinthese.Forthoughdaemoniacal
differfromdivinesouls,yethesurveysasone,alltheundefiledgenusof
souls,whencomparedwiththegenisiurgicsoul.Atthesametimealso,
throughmakingmentionofthesoulsthatexistsasextremes,and
DassertingthattheyderivetheirsubsistencefromtheCrater,hemanifests
thattheformofallthemiddlesoulsisfromthence.ButImeanbythe
extremes,thesouloftheuniverse,andpartialsouls.Forthathegives
peculiarsoulstothestars,andtothesublunaryGods,isevidentfrom
whatissaidintheLaws.*Forhetheresays,thatwedonotseethe
soul,butweseethebodyofthem;andheinquires,howthesoulitself
movesthebody?Itislikewiseevidentfromwhathasbeenbeforesaid

byhiminthisdialogue.Forhecallsthestarsdivineanimals.Whence
therefore,dotheypossessthedivinenature,andwhencetheirpeculiar
motion?Forifsomeoneshouldsay,thatadivineanimaldoesnotat
alldifferaccordingtothepartiblelife,fromthevilestanimalsonthe
earth,itwouldalonereceiveanentelecheiafromtheuniverse.Shallwe
nothowever,givesoulstothesublunaryGods,whoaretheprogenyof
tcf.Aristotle,DeAnimaII,1,412a27f.
tLawsX,898de.
HeavenandEarth,andofOceanandTethys?Butinthiscase,howwill
theyanylongerbeGods?Fortheywilleitherbemoreexcellentthan
souls,ortheywillhavesouls.ButiftheyaremundaneGods,divine
soulswillbesuspendedfromthem.Andthesamereasoningappliesto
daemons.Ifhowever,aswehavesaid,Platodoesnotnowmention
these,itisnotwonderful.Forthemodeofsubsistenceinthem,isnot
similartothatofpartialsouls.Fortoalltheirsouls,theimmutable,the
inclining,andthenotproceedingoutofintelligibles,arecommon/but
propensitytotherealmsofgeneration,audacityandadefluxionofthe
Ewings,originatefromthesoulsthatarenowproduced.
Ifalso,weshouldagaininquire,inwhatdivine,daemoniacal,and
partialsouls,differfromthemundanesoul,accordingtothepsycho
3,256gonicdiagram;foritisnotpossiblethatsecondarysouls*should
entirelyconsistofthesamethingsasthosethatarepriortothem?We
mustsay,inanswertothisinquiry,thatthesameratiosareinallof
them.ForPlatomakesmentionofthesameasexistinglikewisein
partialsouls,suchforinstance,assesquioctaves,sesquitertian,and
sesquialterratios.Butthetermsorboundaries,inwhichtheratiosare
contained,aredifferent.Forthetermswhichareassumed,inallthe
psychogonicdiagramofthemundanesoul,areprimaryratios.Nothing
thereforehinderstherebeingdupleratiosindivinesouls,andthatthere
shouldbeanincreaseofthese,ifitshouldsohappenindaemoniacal
souls,afteranothermanner.Forprogressionincreasesmultitude.There
willeitherthereforebeadifferenceintheterms,orintheratios.But
thisisimpossibleinthelatter.For,aswehavealreadyobserved,he
mentionsthese,asalsoexistinginpartialsouls.Hence,adifferencemust
beassumedintheterms;justasthereisadifferenceinpartialsoulswith
referencetothese,notonlyintheterms,butalsointhedivisionsof
certainratios;sothattheratiosarecommon,butthetermsdifferent.
FImpartibilitytherefore,oranexemptionfromthedistributionintoparts
ofpartialsouls,willbecommontoalldaemoniacalsouls.Butan
increaseofthenumberoftheratiosinpartialsouls,causesthemtobe
inagreaterdegreepartiblethandaemons,andtodescend,insteadof
abidingonhigh.Andsuchasarethedecisionsofmyoracleconcerning

theseparticulars.
Whathowever,isthemeaningofthewords,"minglinghetempered?"
Shallwesay,thattheunioninthoseliveshasanarrangementmore
tcf.Phaedrus246c;247bc;248c.
XInsteadofrmqSevrepmc.inthisplace,itisnecessarytoread,racdevrepac.
ancientandvenerablethandivision?Andhowisitpossibleweshould
notassertthistobethecase?Formixtureisinthingswhichare
318Adivided,andseparationisconsequenttomixture.*Inpartialsouls,on
thecontrary,Platogivesaprecedaneousordertomingling.Forhesays,
"minglinghepouredout;"becauseinthese,divisionismoreabundant.
AndSocratesinthePhaedrussays,thatthehorsesandcharioteersof
othersoulsaremingled.*Theexpressionlikewise,hepouredout,is
3,257significantofadownwardprogressionandanindefinite5effusion.But
ifyouunderstandthepouringoutinsuchaway,asifspokenofliquid
substances,perhapsyouwillseethatthisalsoisadaptedtothesoul.For
moistureisasymboloflife.0HencebothPlato,0andpriortoPlato
theGods,callthesoulatonetimeadropofthetotalvivification,but
atanotheracertainfountain.Moreover,inthewords"theremainderof
theformerthings"wemustsupposebytheformerthemiddlegeneraare
meant.ForPlatocannotspeakofthemixturewhichisthere,because
thewholeofthiswasconsumed,inthegeneration,distributioninto
parts,andharmonyofthesouloftheuniverse,ashetheresays.**Of
themiddlegenerahowever,itisevidentthatsomeofthenaturesare
supreme,andintellectual,butothersmedia,andotherslast.Butanalogy
makessometobefirst,othersmedia,andotherstosubsistatthe
Bextremity.Fortheextremesbeingdifferent,betweenwhichthereare
media,itisnecessarythatthemedialikewiseshouldanalogouslydiffer.
Hence,webeforeobserved**thattheimpartibleineachsoulisone
thing,andthatwhichisdivisibleaboutbodiesanother;justasadifferent
bodyissuspendedfromadifferentsoul.Theextremesthereforebeing
different,themediaalsowillbenecessarilydifferent.Andthrough
thingsindeed,whichrankasthefirst,theDemiurgusconstitutesdivine
souls,butthroughmedia,daemoniacalsouls,andthroughsuchasrank
tInsteadofTTJCpavjuewc,KmtvdLqprmevoicOVOTJC7TJCduxKpioeuc,Km
Tro/ityijcTTJC./ueuc,inthisplace,Iread,T7jcfiev/ux"c,Sitiprmevoa;ovariQ,
KmTI\QSietKpioeuqe7ro/iecijcTT]Q/uuc.[cf.Aristotle,OnGenerationand
Corruption,I,10,327b20f.]
$Phaedrus246b.
Forapiorovhere,itisnecessarytoreadaopiorov.
cf.LawsVII,808d;Chald.Oracl.fr.51;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,201ff.

oPhaedrus245c.
ttTim.36b.
ftcf.317Asupra.
inthelastplace,partialsouls.Theselasttherefore,arenowcalled,"the
remainderoftheformer;"becauseinacertainrespecttheyaresimilar,
andsubordinatetothem.Fortheremainderisentirelyassimilatedto
thewholeofwhichitisapart,andisinferiortothatwhichismore
perfect,andhasaprecedaneousorder.Hence,wemustadmitboth
thosewhosaythatthesepartialsoulsaretheremainsofthemiddle
genera,andthedivineIamblichus,whoattributesanexempt
transcendencytothegenerawhichgivecompletiontodivinesouls,and
atthesametimepreservesthesimilitudeandvarietyofallthemiddle
genera.
41d"Andtheseafteracertainmannerindeedwerethesame,yetwereno
longerpureandincorruptiblesimilarly,andaccordingtothesame,but
wereofthesecondandthirdorder."
CThroughwhatisheresaid,Timaeusindicatesthesimilitudeofpartial
3,258soulstothosethataretotal,andtheirdiminution,anddifferent
progression.Forhenotonlydescribesthedifferencesofthemtogether
withtheiralliance,accordingtothefirstandseconddemiurgicenergy,
noraloneaccordingtotheirunionwith,andseparationfromtheCrater
oflife,noraccordingtothetranscendencyordeficiencyofgenera,but
alsoaccordingtothemodeofmixture,whichisthesame,andyetnot
thesame.Forneitherthemixtureofthegenera,northenonmixture
ofdifferenceissimilar.Fordifferenceismoreabundantinpartialsouls.
Henceinthese,oneofthehorsesisgood,buttheotherbad;and
consistsofcontraries,asitissaidinthePhaedrus,*throughthe
predominanceofdiversity.Heshowstherefore,thatafteracertain
mannertheyarethesame,andalsoaccordingtothepeculiarityofthe
wholecomposition.Forthewholemixturesbecomenolongerpureand
incorruptible,accordingtothesame,andsimilarly,butareofthesecond
andthirdranks;sinceinthesethereisdiminutionandarrangement.
Whattherefore,arethenatureswhichhecallspureandincorruptible;
fortheyarenotsuchasareimpassiveonly?Foritwouldbeasmall
thing,ifthedivinedifferedfromthepartialgenusofsouls,inthisalone.
DForthisaffectionofpassivityaccedesasthelastthing,aftertheflight
fromrealbeing,afterthedownwardpropensityandinclination,and
afterthedefluxionofthewings;asSocratesalsosaysinthePhaedrus.*
Itisbetterthereforetosay,thatthepureandincorruptiblesignify,the
tPhaedrus246b.
$Phaedrus246c&247b.

immutable,theuninclining,theinflexible,andtheentireandundefiled
formofessence,whichisneitherconvertedtosecondarynatures,nor
receivesanymutilation,nordiminutionoflife,andwhichisestablished
remotefromallmortality,andisexemptfromthelawsofFate.For
thesethingsarecommontoeverygenusofsouls,whichalways
transcendgeneration.Butthecontrariesofthese,areadaptedtosouls
whichareabletodescendintogeneration,tochangetheirlifefrom
intellectiontoaction,tobecomeatacertaintimesubjecttothe
dominionofFate,andtobemingledwithmortalconcerns.Neither
thereforeistheimmovablepresentwiththeseaccordingtothesame
things,sincetheysometimesproceedintogeneration;norwhenitis
presentwiththem,isitpresentafterthesamemanner.Forthatwhich
isalwaysintellective,ismoreexcellentthanthatwhichsometimes
3,259departsfromitsproperintellectualenergy.
Sincehowever,inthesesoulsalsothereisanarrangement,ororder,
andsomeofthemareundefiled,beingconversantwithgeneration,and
departing*fromtheirownorder,butforashorttime,butothersare
Einvolvedinallvariousflowers,andwanderforveryextendedperiods,
Platoalsoindicatesthedifferenceofthesebysaying,"thattheywereof
thesecondandthirdorder."Forsoulsthatdescend,andaredefiledwith
vice,areverymuchseparatedfromthosethatalwaysabideonhigh,and
arewithoutsin.Butthemediabetweenthese,arethosesoulsthat
descendindeed,yetarenotdefiledwithvice.Forthecontraryofthis
isnotlawful,viz.tobedefiledwithvice,andyetabideonhigh.For
evilisnotintheGods,butinthemortalplace,andinmaterialthings.
Againtherefore,fromwhathasbeensaid,itappearsthatthefirstgenus
ofsoulsisdivine.Foreverywherethatwhichisreceptiveofdeity,has
arulingandleadingorder,inessences,inintellects,insouls,andin
bodies.Butthesecondgenusofsoulsisthatwhichisalwaysconjoined
totheGods,inorderthatthroughthisgenusthesoulswhichsometimes
departfrom,mayberecalledtotheGods.Thethirdgenusisthatwhich
descendsindeedintogeneration,butdescendswithpurity,andexchanges
amoredivineforasubordinatelife,butisexemptfromviceand
passions.*Forthisisincontinuitywiththegenusofsouls,which
alwaysabidesonhigh,andisalwaysundefiled.Andthefourthandlast
tForwfnaranevaihere,itisnecessarytoreadafcoTanevui.
$Thisistheheroicgenusofsouls,whichdescendsintomortality,partlyforthe
benevolentpurposeofleadingbacktotheintelligibleworld,thefourthandlastgenus
ofsouls,andpartlyincompliancewiththelawofFate,whichobligessoulsofthisthird
classtodescendatstatedperiodsintotherealmsofgeneration.
genusisthatwhichabundantlywanders,whichdescendsasfarasto

Tartarus,andisagainexcitedfromthence.Itlikewiseevolvesallvarious
formsoflife,usesvariousmanners,andatdifferenttimesdifferent
Fpassions,andassumesthevariousformsofanimals,thedaemoniacal,the
human,andtheirrational,butatthesametimeisgovernedbyJustice,
recursfromearthtoheaven,andiscircularlyledfrommatterto
intellect,butaccordingtocertainorderlyperiodsofwholes.Thewords
therefore,"nolongerpureandincorruptible,similarly,andaccordingtothe
same,"signifythatpartialsoulsareinacertainrespectincorruptible,viz.
accordingtoessencealone;andthatinacertainrespecttheyarenot
incorruptible;viz.thataccordingtoenergies,theyarefilledwithallvarious
fatalities,arebornalong*withflowingandmortalbeings,and
319Athattheydonotpossesstheseenergiesalwaysafterthesamemanner,
andwithundefiledpurity,butsometimesinagreater,andatothersin
3,260alessdegree,therebeinganallvariousinequalityinsouls,accordingto
theirhabitudetothemortalnature,throughwhichtheyaredeprivedof
purityandincorruptibilityaccordingtolife.
4ld"Buthavingconstitutedtheuniverse,hedividedsoulsequalinnumber
tothestars,anddistributedeachintoeach."
Everyorderofsoulsissuspendedfromthesetwofountains,the
demiurgic,andthevivific.Andthefirst,themiddle,andthelastparts
ofthisorder,proceedfromthese,andaredefinedthroughtheseGods.
Sincehowever,inthisorder,somesoulsaremoretotal,butothersmore
partial,andsomedonotdepartfromtheirproperprinciples,butothers
proceedasfarastomatter,andsomeareleaders,butothershavethe
relationoffollowers,theDemiurgusplacedtheformeroverthelatter,
subjectedthemorepartialtothemoretotal,distributedthemultitude
ofsoulsaccordingtogenera,undertheirpresidingGods,andsubjected
accordingtoherds,differentsoulstothegovernmentofdifferentleaders.
Andnowindeed,havingconstituteddivinesouls,hemakespartialsouls
Btheattendantsofthem;andshortlyafter,*healsoarrangestheirvehicles
whenheproducesthem,underthedivinecirculations,andpartsunder
wholes.Forassoulistosoul,soisvehicletovehicle,andbothtoboth,
accordingtogeometricalcomposition.Butofthishereafter.Fornow,
nothavingyetmadethemtobemundane,hedistributesthemaboutthe
starryGods.Forthewordstarsmanifeststhesoulsofthestarrybodies.
fForefjupaipoixevat;here,readen<j>epofievcc<;.
tTim.41de.
Hedividestherefore,themultitudeofsouls,equalinnumbertodivine
souls,anddistributeseachintoeachstar,having,saysPlato,constituted
theuniverse.Platohowever,doesnotsaythathemadeonemixture,as
hedidinthesouloftheuniverse,causingittobeonefromthree

wholes,essence,same,anddifferent,*anddividingsoulsfromthisby
ablation.Forhedoesnotimmediatelyfromthemixtureintroducethe
distributionofthesesoulsaboutdivinesouls,passingbythedivision
3,261intonumbersandharmonicratios,andthedoctrineofthevehicle,but
hecomprehendatonceallthings,viz.themixture,thesectioninto
parts,andthepossessionoffigure,inthewords,havingconstitutedthe
universe;fromwhichlikewise,allpartialsoulsweredistributedand
Cadorned.Butheconstitutedthemultitudeofallthesesouls.Forthe
generationofeachmaybesaidtobeaconstitution;justasheasserted
ofthesouloftheuniverse,*throughitscompletionfrommanythings.
Forhethensaid,"Sincealltheconstitutionofthesoulwaseffected
conformablytotheintentionofitscomposingartificer."Having
constitutedtherefore,allthemultitudeofsouls,hedividedthemequal
innumbertothestars,separatingtheformerfromeachother,according
tothepeculiaritiesofthelatter.
Willyouthereforesaythathedistributedthemequalinnumber,so
thatonepartialsoulisarrangedunderoneofthestars,andthatthere
areasmanysoulsinquantity,astherearestarryGods?Forthismay
appeartobeevidentbyhisadding,thateachsoulwasdistributedinto
eachstar.ButhowshallwesaythatthisisaPlatonicdogma,since
Platoshortlyaftersays,5thattheDemiurgusdisseminatedsomesouls
intotheearth,othersintothesun,andothersintothemoon?Forfrom
thesewords,heleavesamultitudeofsoulsineachstar.Maywenotsay
therefore,thattheequalinnumbermustnotbesurveyedmonadically,
butaccordingtoanalogy?Forinnumbers,thedecadisanalogoustothe
monad,thirtytothetriad,fiftytothepentad,andinshort,allthe
numbersafterthedecad,toallwithinit,andthesecondareequalin
Dnumbertothefirst.Noristhepentadonthisaccountequalinquantity
tofifty,orthetriadtothirty;buttheyhavetheequalaccordingto
analogyalone.Forwhatthetriadisinmonads,thatthirtyisindecads.
Perhapstherefore,theequalinnumberisthustobeassumedinpartial
souls.Forsinceineachofdivinesouls,thereisacertainappropriate
tTim.35ab.
%Tim.36d.
Tim.42d.
number,whichitantecedentlyandunicallycomprehends,thisnumber
whenexpanded,definesthemultitudeofpartialsoulswhicharearranged
underit.Andthenumberindeedofthesoulswhichareprimarily
3,262suspendedfromitisless,butthepowerisgreater;butofthosethatare
secondarilysuspendedfromit,thepowerisless,butthenumberis
greater.Eachhowever,proceedsanalogoustoit.Forthusinnumbers,
thetetradintens,andinhundreds,andinthousands,isanalogoustothe

firsttetrad.Thesethingstherefore,maybesaid,inanswertothe
presentinquiry.
Itmaylikewisebeadded,thattheformandthecharacteraccedetothe
attendants,fromtheleadingGods.Butthisformisnumber,defining
thepeculiarityoflife.Asmanytherefore,asaretheleaders,somany
aretheformsoflifewhichfollowthese,asforinstance,Saturnian,
EJovian,Solar,Lunar,andinasimilarmannerintheotherGods.*For
theformoriginatingfromonhigh,pervadesasfarastothelast
attendants,andestablishesalloftheminasimilitudewiththeleading
God.ForabouteveryGodtherearemorepartialGods;*angelicorders
unfoldingdivinelight;daemons,proceedingtogetherwith,orbeingthe
guards,orattendantsoftheGod;andtheelevatedandmagnificentarmy
ofheroes,previouslyrepressingallthedisorderarisingfrommatter,
connectingthedivinevehicles,andpurifyingthepartialvehicleswhich
revolveaboutthese,andassimilatingthelattertotheformer.About
everyGodlikewise,thereisachoirofundefiledsouls,resplendentwith
purity,andamultitudeofothersouls,atonetimeelevatingtheheadof
thecharioteertotheintelligible,andatanother,coarrangingthemselves
withthemundanepowersoftheGods.Andofthese,someare
distributed5aboutone,butothersaboutanotherpoweroftheirleading
God.Onthisaccountalso,insolarsouls,Dsomearesuspendedfrom
thePaeonian,othersfromtheprophetic,othersfromthedemiurgic,and
FothersfromtheelevatingpoweroftheGod.InotherGodslikewise,all
3,263thesoulswhicharetheattendantsofthesamedivinity,havenotthe
sameorder,butsomearedistributed0aboutdifferentpowersofthe
God,andothersparticipatemorenearly,ormoreremotely,ofthesame
tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.,691.
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.80.
SForotTOVTOtihere,whichisevidendyerroneous,IreadbuxvtfioVTCii.
cf.49Aff,supra.
0Insteadofaipovvraihere,itisnecessarytoreadduxipovvTcxi.
power.Allofthemtherefore,equally*partakeofthecommonformof
theirGod.ForintheGodsthemselves,unionprecedesmultitude,and
onesameness,thedifferenceaccordingtoseparatepowers.Hence,
throughthesethingsitisevident,howsoulsareequalinnumbertothe
stars.
Itisnecessaryhowever,tomakementiononthissubjectofthe
conceptionofAcyllus,*viz.thatpartialsoulsaresaidtobeequalin
320Anumbertothesoulsofthestars,notaccordingtoadivisionaboutthem,
butaccordingtoasimilargenerationwithreferencetothem,soasto
consistofthesameequalquantityofnumbers,ofwhicheachofthe

starrysoulsconsists.Forthusthismaninterpretstheequalityin
numberofpartialtototalsouls,assignifyingthateachpartialisdivided
intothesamenumberofpartsasthestarrysoulunderwhichitis
arranged,anddistributedbythefather.Hencealso,theformerissimilar
tothelatter;sothatallsoulsdonotpossessallvariousnumbers,but
somelessandothersmore,theratiosinallofthembeingthesame.For
Platodoesnotdefinethenumbers,buttheratiosoftheparts.We
however,havebeforeobserved,thatnothingpreventspartialsoulsfrom
differingfromthosepriortothem,inthemultitudeoftheterms;and
whatthemodeisoftheirdifference,wehavedemonstrated.Andthus
muchforthisparticular.
Butnowthefirstdistributionofpartialaboutdivinesoulsiseffected,
beforetheybecomemundane.Forbothaccordingtoasupermundane
andmundanecoarrangement,partsarewoventogetherwithwholes.
BSothatifinthetempleswhicharehere,thereisacertainestablishment5
ofthosethatareinitiated,itwillconveytousanimageofthis
demiurgiccoarrangementofpartialwithtotalsouls,andoftheir
distributionabouttheirleaders.Fordivinesoulsthemselvesare
distributedaboutpowersofthetotalsouloftheuniverse:forthey
proceedaccordingtothemultiformpowerscontainedinit,andare
established,someoftheminthecirculationofthesameofthissoul,but
othersintheperiodsofthecirculationofthedifferent.Butagain,about
thesedivinesouls,partialsoulsarearranged,distributingtheirtotal
tForeireaihere,itisnecessarytoreadttuniq.
%ThisAcyllusisnotmentionedbyanywriterbesidesProclus,norbyhim
elsewhere.
Proclusherealludestothatpartofinitiationintothemysterieswhichwascalled
thronismos,orcollocationonathrone.Butthisconsistedinplacinghimwhowastobe
initiatedonathrone,clothedinasacredandmysticdress,andaccompaniedwith
solemnrites;theothermysticsinthemeantimedancingaboutthethrone.
3,264powers,beingcoelevatedwiththemtotheintelligible,filledfromthem
whichimmutableintelligence,andarrangedbythenumbersoftheir
properleaders.Astherefore,thesemundanedivinesoulsascendthrough
thetwelveGods,*tothesupercelestialplace,thusalsopartialascendto
it,throughdivinesouls.Fortheyareunitedtothem,accordingtothe
supermundanecoarrangement,whichTimaeuscallsdistribution,asbeing
effectedaccordingtothedivinelaw,whichisseatedtogetherwith
Jupiter,asitiswrittenintheGorgias,*andinconjunctionwithhim
Cadornsthemoretotalandmorepartialordersintheworld.Hencethere
isonesimilitudeofallpartialsouls,andadistributionaccordingtothe
empiresoftheGods.AndtheDemiurgusisthecauseofboth.These
thingslikewisepertaintosoulsinasupermundanemanner.Sothatthe

differencesofsoulsarenot,assomesay,fromhabitudesofacertain
kind,butfromtheirpeculiaressence.Forthecoarrangementofthem
iswithdifferentleaders,andthedistributionofthemisessential.For
whattheypossessfromtheonefabrication,theypossessaccordingto
essence.
Sincehowever,partialsoulsaresaidtobedistributedaboutthestars,
itisevidentthattheyhavethefourthorderfromthesoulofthe
universe.Forwiththissoul,thesoulsofthecelestialspheres,andalso
thoseofthesublunaryspheres,whichcomprehendthewholeelements,
subsist.Butunderthesearethestars,andsuchmorepartialgeneraof
Gods5asarecomprehendedinthewholenessesofallthebeforementioned
circulations.Andlastly,underthesearepartialsouls.Hence
thesouloftheuniverseisaloneuniversal.Thesoulsthatareallotted
thegovernmentofthecirculations,areuniversalpartial.Thosethatare
comprehendedinthesecirculations,areviceversa,partialuniversal.
DAndinlastplace,partialsoulshavealoneapartialsubsistence.Plato
thereforecallsallthedivinesoulsthatarecomprehendedintheir
wholenessesstars,whetherinheaven,orinthesublunaryregion,giving
3,265toallofthemacommonname,fromthingsknowntoallmen.Forall
ofthemhaveentirelycertainstarryformedvehicles;sinceSocratesalso
ti.e.ThroughthetwelveGodsthatbelongtotheliberatedorder,andwhichare
dividedintofourtriads.Ofthesetriadsalsothefirst,whichconsistsofJupiter,
NeptuneandVulcan,isdemiurgicorfabricative;thesecond,consistingofVesta,
Minerva,andMars,isofaguardiancharacteristic;thethird,whichiscomposedof
Ceres,Juno,andDiana,isvivific;andthefourth,whichconsistsofMercury,Venus,
andApollo,isofanharmonicandelevatingcharacteristic,[cf.Phaedrus247a.]
%Gorgias523f.
Andthesearethesatellitesofthestars.
assimilatespartialsoulsleapingintogeneration,tothestars,*according
totheirvehicles.Forhesays,thatsomeofthemweredisseminatedby
theDemiurgusabouttheearth,andthemoon;*asitwouldbeabsurd
ifpartialsoulswerealonedistributedaboutwhatareproperlycalledthe
stars,buttheotherGodsshouldnotbeleadersoftheherdsofsouls,5
whichexistineachelementanalogoustothem;viz.theaerial,aquatic,
andterrestrialGods,concerningwhomhesays,thattheybecomevisible
whentheyplease.0Butaswehavesaid,hegivestothemacommon
namefromthingsobvioustoallmen,andinconsequenceofnot
neglectingtosurveythatwhichissensible.0
41e"Andcausingthemtoascendasintoavehicle,hepointedouttothem
thenatureoftheuniverse."

Suchthereforeassay,asthegreatTheodorus,thatthevehicleofthe
soulisthenatureoftheuniverse,neitherspeakconformablytothings
Ethemselves,nortothewordsofPlato.Forneitheristhenatureofthe
universethevehicleofapartialsoul;foritissufficienttosuchasoulto
conductapartialnaturerightly;norcanwecoarrangewithwhat
follows,theexpression,hepointedout.Norwilltheyspeakconformably
tothenatureofthething,wholook,nottothefollowing,buttothe
formercolon,andsaythatbythevehicle,astarissignified.Forwhere
isthevehicleofapartialsoul,whichfallsintogeneration,saidtobea
star,eventhoughyoushouldspeakofthecorporealstar,sinceastar
alwaysabidesonhigh?*Butitseemsthatboththesewerepersuaded
toadoptthisopinion,fromtheDemiurgusnotfirstconstitutingthe
vehicle,andafterwardscausingthesoultoascendintoit,thoughthey
oughttohaveseen,thatinconsequenceofthevehiclebeingformedat
thesametimewiththesoul,itwouldbesuperfluoustorepresentthe
Demiurgusconstitutingthebodyfirst.Towhichmaybeadded,thatit
tRep.X,621b.
XTim.42d.
cf.47F,f,supra.
Henceitfollowsthatineachofthespheresoftheelements,thereisoneleading
Godhavingastarryformedvehicle,andnumeroussatellitesaboutthisdivinity,inthe
samemannerasinthespheresoftheplanets,andthesphereofthefixedstars,[cf.
Tim.41a.]
0ForeoBrjTOVhere,itisnecessarytoreadCLIO~6T\TOV.
ftcf.Phaedrus248c.
hasbeenbeforeshown,thattheDemiurgusproducedbodiesin
3,266conjunctionwithsouls.Iftherefore,itberequisitebothtofollowthings
themselves,andthedoctrineofPlato,itmustbesaid,thatthenature
whichispointedoutbytheDemiurgusisonething;thestarunder
whichthesoulisarrangedanother,andthisincorporeal;andthis
Fvehiclewhichissubservienttosouls,another.Itisalsorequisitetosay,
thatsoulsascendingintotheirvehicles,becamecitizensoftheuniverse,
proceededinto,andwerearrangedinsubjectiontothewholeworld;that
soulslikewiseweredividedtogetherwiththestars;andthatthey
surveyedNatureandthewholemundaneorder,beingthemselves
arrangedabovethenatureoftheworld,butreceivingtheirownproper
mundaneallotment.Forinthefirstplace,theywereconstituted;
afterwards,theyweredistributedaboutthedivinegovernments;and
thus,inthethirdplace,theyascendedintovehicles,surveyedNature,
321AandwereauditorsofthelawsofFate;fromallwhich,itiseasyto
perceive,thataccordingtoPlato,soulsaresuperiortoFate,accordingto
theirhighestlife.Forthatwhichthefatherofwholesgavetothem;is
accordingtonature.Hence,asthe[Chaldean]Oraclesays,*"By

understandingtheworksofthefather,theyflyfromtheshameless*
wingofFate.ButtheylieinGod,drawingvigoroustorches,descending
fromthefather;fromwhichdescending,thesoulplucksofempyrean
fruits,thesoulnourishingflower."
Whatthereforeisthevehicleofthesoul,andhowdoestheDemiurgus
causesoulstoascendintoit?Itisrequisitethentounderstand,thatthe
greatIamblichusandhisfollowers,areaccustomedtosay,thatfromall
ether,whichhasaprolificpower,thecompositionofthepsychical
vehiclesisgenerated,divinebodiesneitherbeingdiminished,nor
constitutingthesevehiclesbycoacervation,butproceedingaccordingto
divinelives,andgivingmorphetopartialpneumaticsubstances.Itis
necessary,however,toconceiveinadditiontothis,whatismoretrue,
3,267thattheelaborationofthesevehiclesproceedsfromdemiurgiccauses.
BForthemaker5ofeverycorporealhypostasisconstitutesthese,whoalso
preparesseatsfortheGodsintheworld.Forhereceivessoulsthatare
sentfromtheintelligibleintotheworld,andgivesdifferentabodesto
differentsouls.TheDemiurgusoftheuniverselikewise,constitutes
them,andhethefirstofall.Hencealso,henowcausesthemtoascend
tChald.Oracl.fr.130.
%Foravedei;here,readavaiStg.
i.e.Vulcan.
intovehicles,evidentlyproducingthevehicle.Forthiswasnot
fashionedinwhathasbeenbeforesaid,buttheDemiurgushimself,
havingconstitutedthistogetherwithwholes,causessoulstoascendinto
itandimpartstothemtheprincipleoftheirproperorgans.Forheis
theDemiurgusofanimals,andoftheplenitudesoftheuniverse.Hence,
henotonlyproducessouls,butheproducesthemtogetherwith
appropriatevehicles.AndonasurveyoftheconceptionofPlato,we
shallfindthatitistrulyadmirableandarcane,*sincehedoesnot
representtheDemiurgusasfashioningthesevehiclesfromwholenesses
whichpreviouslyhadanexistence,asneitherdoeshethevehiclesofthe
planetsandthefixed*stars;buthesaysthattheDemiurgusproduced
these,thejuniorGodslendingparts,andfromthesecausingthebodies
Ctocoalesce.5Thistherefore,isanevidentargumentthateachofthese
vehiclesisinacertainrespectselfconstituted,andnotfabricatedbyan
ablationofotherthings,lestitshouldberequisitethattheyshouldbe
againrefundedintoanotherthing.Foreverythingwhichsubsistsbyan
abscissionofotherthings,sincetheabscissionisaccompaniedwitha
diminutionofthewhole,mustnecessarilybeentirelyrestoredtothe
whole.Forititsnecessarythateachofthewholesoftheuniverse
shouldalwaysremainawhole;onwhichaccountalsoeveryvehicleof
thesoulofthiskindisperpetual,andalwaysthesamevehicleis

suspendedfromthesamesoul.Foreachisthusnaturallyadaptedto
subsist,asitwasgeneratedbytheDemiurgus.Forhowcanweany
longerpreservethesoulmundane,ifwecorruptthevehicle?Andhow
canthatbeanylongersaidtobemundane,ofwhichthereisnothingin
theuniverse?Forifpartialsoulsweresuperiortoalifeinconjunction
withvehicles,theywouldalsobesuperiortodivinesoulsthemselves.
Andiftheywereinferiortosuchalife,howdoestheDemiurgus
immediatelyontheirbeinggenerated,introducethemintothese
vehicles,asheisnowsaidtodo?Howlikewise,dosoulsusevehicles,
3,268bothinHades,andintheheavens,ifthesebodiesarenotperpetually
suspendedfromthem?Butitisevidentthattheydousethem,both
DfromwhatisassertedbySocratesinthePhaedo,Dandinthe
tForenropriTOValsointhisplace,readavoppriTOV.
tInsteadofTtXavuvhere,itisnecessarytoreadair'kctvwv.
Tim.42ef.
Phaedo113d.
Phaedrus.*Forintheformer,hesays,thatsoulsascendingintovehicles,
proceedtoAcheron;andinthelatter,thatthevehiclesoftheGodsbeing
easilymanaged,proceedinequilibrium,butthevehiclesofothersoulsthat
followtheGods,proceedwithdifficulty,andscarcely[obtainthevisionof
thesupercelestialplace].Thistherefore,mayalsobedemonstrated
throughotherarguments;andthesethingshavebeenbeforeclearly
assertedbyus,andarenowrecalledtoourrecollection.*
Fromthislikewise,wemaysurveythedifferenceofpartialanddivine
souls.Forinthelatter,theDemiurgusplacedthebodiesinthesouls,
asbeingonallsidescomprehendedinthem;thesoulsnotbeing
convertedtothesubjectsoftheirgovernment,butemployingone
immutableintellection.Butintheformer,hecausesthesoulstoascend
intovehicles;becausetheyareadaptedtobefrequentlyvanquishedby
bodies,andtobeconvertedtothenaturesoverwhichtheypreside,5
whentheybecomepartsoftheuniverse;inthesamemannerastheir
vehiclesaresubservienttothelawsofFate;andnolongerpurelylive
underthedivinelightofProvidence.Andthusmuchconcerningthe
vehicleofthesoul.
Itisworthwhilehowever,againtorecalltoourremembrance,but
withacertainaccurateconsiderationofwhathasbeenfrequentlysaid,
thatsincethewholeofoursoulisamediumbetweenanimpartible
Eessence,andthatessencewhichisdivisibleaboutbodies,weclearly
obtainthislatteressencefromitsvehicle.Foraconnascentvehicleis
suspendedfromoursoul,havinganappropriatelife,inthesamemanner
asthevehiclesofdivineanddaemoniacalsouls.Andthislifeisthe

partialessence,ofwhichthesoulantecedentlycomprehendsthe
paradigm;sothatopinionisestablishedinthesoulastheparadigmof
sense;butthepowerofdeliberatechoice,astheparadigmoftheorexis
initspropervehicle,accordingtowhichitismovedtothis,ortothat
3,269place,andisimpelledtodothisthingorthat.Fortheseareproximately
thepartialnaturesinthesoul,andpriortothese,thedifferenceinthe
souloftheallvariousdivisionsofitsessence,accordingtowhichitis
distributedintoparts,andpossessessomethingwhichisimpartible,and
awhole.Sincetherefore,weassertthesethingsconcerningthe
separationintopartsinthesoul,itisworthwhiletoinquire,whatwe
tPhaedrus247b.
$cf.311C,supra.
ForbpiKOVfievahere,itisnecessarytoreadOLOiKov^eva.
cf.Tim41e;alsoLawsIII,700a.
shouldadmittheimpartibleessenceaboveoursoultobe,sinceeachof
thesoulssuperiortoourshasanintellect*priortoit.Foreachofthese
partialsoulshasnotanessentialintellectaboveit.Forifithad,it
wouldalwaysabideonhigh,inthesamemannerasthesoulssuperior
toit,inconsequenceofintellectalwaysdetainingitintheintelligible,
throughalwaysimpartingtoititslight.Wehavethereforealreadysaid
somethingconcerningthis,andmorethanonce,andweshallnowassert
moreclearlywhatweconceivetobethetruthonthissubject,andwhat
Fdivinityimpartstoourintellect.Hence,wehavefrequentlyspoken
concerningwhattheimpartibleisineachpartialsoul,itbeingathing
trulydubious,byextendingourintellecttodeity.Fortoleavean
intellecttoeach,andthispartial,isathingbynomeanstobeadmitted.
Maywenotsaytherefore,thateachofthesepartialsoulsisessentially
suspendedfromacertaindaemon,everydaemonhavingacertain
daemoniacalintellectaboveitself?Apartialsoultherefore,hasthesame
intellectasthedaemonfromwhichitissuspended,arrangedasan
impartibleessencepriortoit.Hence,thedaemoniacalsoulprimarily
participatesofthisintellect,butthepartialsoulsthatareunderit,
322Asecondarily,whichalsomakesthemtobepartial.Foreachhasa
peculiarpartiblenature,butpossessestheimpartible,incommonwith
thedaemonsthatareabovethesesouls,andtowhomtheimpartibleis
peculiar.Hencedaemonsabideonhigh,butpartialsoulssometimes
descend,dividingthemselvesaboutbodies,asbeingmoreadaptedto
these.Forifinpartialsouls,thegenusofdifferenceisredundant,which
makesthemunablealwaystoenergiseaccordingtoalltheirpowers,it
necessarilyfollows,thattheymustbemorefamiliarisedwiththelife,
whichisdivisibleaboutbody,andbemoreremotefromanimpartible
essence,andthuspreservetheanalogoustoeachoftheextremes;justas
themostdivineofsouls,throughasimilitudetointellect,aremore

3,270exempt*frompartiblenatures,andaremoreunitedtotheimpartible
essencesabovethem,fromwhichtheyareconnascentlysuspended;and
alsoestablishanintellectualorderinsouls.Itappearslikewise,thatthe
intellectofeachdaemon,asbeingawholeandone,istheintellectofthe
daemonthatproximatelyparticipatesit,butcomprehendsalso,the
Bnumberofthesoulsthatareunderit;andtheintellectualparadigmsof
them.5Eachpartialsoultherefore,willhave,asanimpartibleessence,
theproperparadigmofitselfcontainedinthisintellect,andnotsimply
tInsteadofovvhere,itinnecessarytoreadvow.
XForei)pTT)odaihere,itisnecessarytoreade^prjaflai.
Insteadofavrovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadOCVTUV.
thewholeintellect,inthesamemannerasthedaemonwhoisessentially
theleaderofthesesouls.Wesaytherefore,thattheimpartibleofeach
partialsoulwhichisaboveit,maybemoreaccuratelydefinedtobe,the
formofit,whichiscomprehendedintheoneintellectthatisallotted
thegovernmentofthedaemoniacalseries,underwhicheachpartialsoul
isarranged.Andthusboththeassertionsaretrue,thattheintellect
aloneofeachisestablishedinthenatureswhichalwaysexistonhigh,
andthateachisamedium,betweentheimpartibleabove,andthe
partiblenatureposteriortoit.Andthusmuchconcerningthese
particulars.
ButafterwhatmannerdoestheDemiurguspointouttothesesouls,
thenatureoftheuniverse?Isitbyconvertingthemtotheworld,and
preparingthemtosurveythereasonscontainedinnature?This
however,istomakethemlessexcellent,andtoconvertthemfrom
separatereasonstosuchasareinseparablefromsensibles.Butthe
Demiurgus,onthecontrary,elevatessoulstotheintelligible,converts
themtohimself,separatesthemfrommatter,andfillsthemwithdivine
powersanddemiurgicintellections.Mayitnotbesaidtherefore,that
Chavingthecauseofnatureinhimself,heconvertssoulstohimself?For
everyonewhopointsout,entirelylookstothatwhichheindicates.But
theDemiurgusalonelookstothingspriortohimself,andtohimself.
Hebeholdsthereforethenature,whichheindicatestosouls,inhimself.
Forhecontainstheunicalprinciplesofallthings,andpreestablishedin
himselfpowerseffectiveofthegenerationbothofotherthings,andof
nature.Andasheantecedentlycontainsbodiesincorporeally,thusalso,
hecomprehendsnaturesupernaturally.Thesethingsthereforeare
3,271rightlyasserted.Itisnecessaryhowevertospeakafteranothermanner,
notonlyplacingideaintheDemiurgusphilosophically,butlikewise,as
theologiststeach,surveyingNatureprimarily,preexistingintellectually
inthevivificdeity.Forbeingsuspendedfromthence,shegovernsthis
visibleworld,assimilatesmaterialtoimmaterialreasons,andrefers

corporealtoprimordialmotions.Butitisnecessary,tosurveyNature
secondarily,according*tothemundaneorderofthevivificGoddess,
conformablytowhattheOraclessay,thatimmenseNatureissuspended
fromthebackoftheGoddess.*Fromherprimarysubsistencehowever,
invivificdeity,sheproceedsintothedemiurgicintellect.Itislikewise
fThewordsbevrtpuq8eKara,areomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal,butought
tobeinserted.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.54;also4C,f,supra;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,150,21
requisitethatsoulsshouldsurveythefountainsandrootsofNaturein
orderthattheymaybeholdtheirowndignityandthetotalseriesfrom
Dwhencetheyaresuspended,andthatadheringtothis,theyshould
contemplatetheuniverse.ForbydirectingtheirviewtoNatureherself,
theycoarrangethemselves*withFate.*Astherefore,theDemiurgus
himself,byantecedentlycomprehendingtheparadigmofNature,
governstheuniverse,thusalsoheisdesirousthatsoulslookingtothe
firstandintellectualcauseofNature,shouldrevolveonhigh,and
conductthewholeworld.5Forthisisthehighestallotmentofsouls.
TheDemiurgustherefore,pointsouttosouls,thatfontalNature,which
preexistsinthewholevivificGoddess,conformablytothatoracleitself
oftheGods,whichtheydeliveredtotheirgenuinemystics.Butsince
soulshavesecondandthirdlives,DtheDemiurgusalsogivestothem
thereasons,orproductiveprinciplesofthese.
41e"HealsoannouncedtothemtheLawsofFate."
ThatthisisthesecondspeechoftheDemiurgus,againproceedingto
soulsthroughwordsadaptedtosouls,isevident.Theformerspeech
however,oftheDemiurgus,isimmediatelyaddressedtothejunior
3,272Gods,asGodsofGods.Butthesecondspeech0indicatesthatthe
Demiurgusfillsalsothesesoulswithwordsorreasons,butnot
immediatelyashedoesthejuniorGods.Andthescopeindeed,inthe
formerspeech,comprehendsarepresentation**ofprovidentialreasons,
Ebutinthelatter,ofthelawsofFate.Havingthereforepremisedthus
much,wesay,betakingourselvestothethingswhicharethesubjectof
consideration,thatFatemustnotbesaidtobeapartialnature,assome
ofthePeripatetics,suchasAlexander[Aphrodisiensis]assertittobe.**
Forthisnatureisimbecile,andnotperpetual.Butweantecedently
assumefromcommonconceptions,thatthepowerandempireofFate
areverygreatandstable.Norisittheorderofthemundaneperiods,
tForcavTOBChere,readeavraq.
$cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.102.
cf.Phaedrus246c,&Procl.Comm.Rep.II,99,10.

cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.160.
oThewordsTJ5edevrepa,irealsointhisplaceerroneouslyomitted,
tfForeiujxxoiqhere,readefMpaoiv.
AlexanderAphrod.ConcerningFateVI,169,18,ff.
asAristotlesays,whocallstheincreasewhichdeviatesfromorder,
preterfatal,asifthisorderwasconstitutedbyFate.Andthecauseof
orderindeed,isonething,butorderitselfanother.Normustitbesaid,
thatFateissoulinhabitude,asTheodorusassertsittobe.Forsucha
formoflifeisnotaprincipleinwholes.NorisitsimplyNature,as
Porphyrysaysitis.Formanythingswhicharesupernatural,andout
ofthedominionofNature,areproducedbyFate,suchasnobility,
renown,andwealth.Forwheredophysicalmotionsbringwiththem
thecauseofthese?Norisittheintellectoftheuniverse,asAristotle
againsaysinacertainwork,ifthetreatiseConcerningtheWorld*was
writtenbyhim.Forintellectproducesatonce,allthingswhichit
produces,andisnotatallinwantofagovernmentwhichproceeds
accordingtoacertainperiod,andacontinuedandwellorderedseries.
FThishoweveristhepeculiarityofFate,viz.aseriesofmanycauses,
order,andaperiodicalproduction.Butifitberequisitetocomprehend
conciselythewholeformofit,wemustsay,thatitisNatureaccording
toitssubject,butisdeified,andfilledwithdivine,intellectual,and
psychicalilluminations.FortheorderoftheGodswhoarecalled
3,273Moiregetaeandthemoreexcellentgenera,
terminateinFate.Fortheseimpartpowersfromthemselvestotheone
lifeofit;andtheDemiurgusofwholes,collectsandunitesallthesegifts,
323Aandalltheseplenitudes,anddemonstratesthemtobeonepower.For
ifthevisiblebodiesarefilledwithdivine*powers,byamuchgreater
priorityisNaturedeified.Andifthewholevisibleworldisone,much
moreisthewholeessenceofFateone,andhasitscomposition
completelyfilledfrommanycauses.Forbeingsuspendedfromthe
providenceoftheGods,andthedemiurgicgoodness,itisrenderedone,
andgovernedaccordingtorectitudebythese;sinceitisareason
consistingofreasons,onemultiformpower,adivinelife,andtheorder
ofthingsthathaveanarrangementpriortoit.5Hencealsotheancients,
lookingtothisvariety,andmultiformnatureofFate,wereledto
differentopinionsconcerningit.ForsomecalleditaGod,onaccount
ofitsparticipationofdeity;others,adaemon,onaccountofthe
efficaciousandatthesametimemultiformnatureofitsproduction;
tDeMundoVII,409b9.
$Theworddeuvisomittedinthisplaceintheoriginal,butobviouslyoughttobe
inserted.
FatethereforeisNaturedeified,orNatureconsideredaccordingtohersummit.

others,intellect,becauseacertainparticipationofintellectproceedsinto
it;andothers,order,becauseeverythingwhichisarranged,isinvisibly
comprehendedbyit.ButPlatoalone[truly]surveyedtheessenceofit;
BforhecallsitindeedNature,butsuspendedfromtheDemiurgus.For
howotherwisecouldtheDemiurguspointoutNature,unlesshe
containedtheprincipleofitinhimself?Howlikewisecouldhe
announcethelawsofFate,afterpointingoutthenatureoftheuniverse,
exceptbyconstitutingNature,astheoneconnectedreceptacleofthese
laws?*ButinthePoliticus,*heinastillclearermanner,suspendsthe
secondarylifeoftheuniversefromFate,aftertheseparationfromthe
universeoftheonedaemonthatgovernsit,andthemanydaemonsthat
aretheattendantsofthatone.Hence,heremovesfromtheworld,their
providentialinspectionofit,andonlyleavesitthegovernmentofFate,
thoughtheworldalwayspossessesboththese,butthefableseparatesthe
3,274latterfromtheformer.Forhesays,thatFateandconnascentdesire
convolvetheworld;5justastheChaldeanoraclessay,"thatNaturerules
overtheworldsandworks,anddrawsdownward,inorderthatheaven
mayrunaneternalcourse;andthattheotherperiodsofthesun,the
moon,theseasons,night,andday,maybeaccomplished."*Thus
therefore,Platoalsosays,thatthesecondperiodoftheworldis
CconvolvedbyFate,butnotthefirstandintellectualperiod;allbut
clearlyasserting,0thatheconceivesthisFatewhichproximatelymoves
thesensibleworld,tobesuspendedfromtheinvisibleprovidenceofthe
Gods.ForestablishingpriortothisNecessity,themotheroftheFates,
heconvolves**theworldonherknees;ashesays,intheRepublic.**
Andifitberequisitetodeclaremyopinion,Platoplacesthesethree
causesoforder,successivetoeachother,viz.Adrastia,Necessity,and
Fate;thefirstbeingintellectual,thesecondsupermundane,andthethird
mundane.FortheDemiurgus,asOrpheussays,*wasnurturedindeedby
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,307,20f.
%Politicus272e.
cf.4D,supra.
cf.Chald.Oracl.70.
ocf.124Esupra.
ftInsteadofrpecpeihere,itisnecessarytoreadorptfyti.
#Rep.X,617b,ff.
Orph.fr.110.
Adrastia,6butassociateswithNecessity,andgeneratesFate.Andas
Adrastiawascomprehensiveofthedivineinstitutions(thesmn*)and
collectiveofallvariouslaws,thusalsoFateiscomprehensiveofallthe
mundanelaws,whichtheDemiurgusnowinscribesinsouls,inorder

thathemayleadthemtogetherwithwholes,andmaydefinitelyassign
thatwhichisadaptedtothem,accordingtothedifferentelectionsof
Dlives.Foronthisaccount,anerroneouschoiceleadsthesoultoadarkand
atheisticallife,butapiouschoiceconductsittoheaven,undertheguidance
ofwholes;*becauseeachchoiceisfullofthelawsofFate,andsouls,as
Plotinussays,betakethemselvestotheplaceannouncedtothembythe
lawwhichtheycontain.5Forthisisthepeculiarityoftheprovidence
oftheGods,toleadinwardlythesubjectsoftheirprovidentialcare.
3,275Andwhyshouldthisbewonderful,sinceNatureinsertingmaterialand
corporealformedpowersincorporealmasses,movesthemthroughthese
powers;earthindeedthroughgravity,butfirethroughlevity?Ina
muchgreaterdegreetherefore,dotheGodsmovesoulsthroughthe
powerswhichtheydisseminatedinthem.Hence,iftheyleadsouls
accordingtothelawsofFate,theselawsareinsouls,preexistingindeed,
intellectuallyintheDemiurgus;forwithhimthedivinelawis
established;0butexistingindivinesouls;foraccordingtothese,they
aretheleadersoftheuniverse,andparticipatedbypartialsouls;for
throughthese,astheymovethemselves,theyleadthemselvestoan
appropriateplace.Andthroughdeliberatechoiceindeed,theyerr,and
actwithrectitude;butthroughlaw,theydistributetothemselvesan
Eorderadaptedtotheirformerconduct.Whentherefore,soulsbecome
mundane,thenalsotheysurveythepoweranddominionofFate,
supernallysuspendedfromprovidence,andreceivethelawsofDestiny.
FortheDemiurguspointedoutNaturetothem,assomethingdifferent
fromthem,butheannouncedtothemthelawsofFate,asinscribing
themintheiressence.Forthedemiurgicwordsproceedthroughthe
essenceitselfofsouls.Astherefore,heinsertedthewordspriortothese,
inthejuniorGods,thusalso,heinsertstheselawsinpartialsouls.
fIntheoriginalbeoyu/sv,butitisobviouslynecessarytoreaddeopuv.
$cf.FirstAlcibiades134e.
Enn.IV,3,383.
cf.320Bf,supra.
41e"Andshowedthem,thatthefirstgeneration,distributedinanorderly
mannertoallofthem,wouldbeone;lestanyparticularsoulshouldbe
allottedalessportionofgenerationthananother."
Soulsareessentiallysupernatural,supermundane,andbeyondFate,
becausetheyhavetheirfirstsubsistenceseparatefromthisworld;but
accordingtotheirvehicles,andtheallotmentswhichtheyweredestined
togovern,theyweregeneratedmundanebytheDemiurgus,andreceived
thisorder.Hence,afterthesuspensionfromthemoftheirvehicles,the
DemiurgusannouncestothemthelawsofFate,bywhichtheywere
allottedthegovernmentofbodies.Justasifsomeonebeingdesirous*

3,276ofpoliticaltumultsandsenatorialoffices,*shouldimparthiswealth
Fappropriately,butnotyetperfectly,5suchalsoistheconditionofsouls
underFate.Fornotonlythevehiclesofthese,butlikewiseoftheGods
themselves,areledbyFate.Inordertherefore,thatthesesouls,together
withtheirvehicles,maybecomesituatedunderthedominionofFate,it
isnecessarythattheyshoulddescend,andassociatewithgeneration,
whichisthesecondthingaftertheirsemination.Forthatistheleader;
butthisisacertainsecondarydistributionofthevehicles,underthe
divinecirculation;0justastherewasadistributionofsoulsthemselves,
324Aintothesoulsofthestars,0andwhichwaseffectedbytheone
demiurgiccause.Hencethisdistributionisperpetual,anditis
impossiblethatthereshouldbeamutationofsuchlikeleaders.Itis
thereforealsoeffectedbyFate.Forthispowerhasdominionover
periods,isconnectivebothoftotalandpartialperiods,andiscollective
ofsimilarstosimilarsindivineandpartialsouls.Forthroughtheunion
ofthesewitheachother,theirvehiclesalsoareconnascentwitheach
other.Hence,whenapartialcoarrangesitselfwithatotalsoul,the
vehicleofitalsofollowsthevehicleofthedivinesoul.Andasthe
formerimitatestheintellectionofthelatter,solikewisethebodyofthe
formeradumbratesthemotionofthelatter.
tForatjxtntvoQinthisplace,itappearstometobenecessarytoreadecpttfievoQ.
$cf.LawsXII,949c.
Intheoriginalovb"OVTUQuoivm\pvxouviron\vifiapfievTiv,butovb'is
evidentlysuperfluousanderroneous.Somethinginsteadofitisperhapswanting,asthe
wholeofthesentenceisobscure.
Insteadofbicupopaqinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadirepujnpaq.
oThereisanomissionhereintheoriginal,ofTUVaorpuv.
Thefirstseminationtherefore,isthatofvehicles,whichnotonly
clearlyshowsthesoultobemundane,butalsocoarrangesthewhole
compositionofitunderitsproperleader.Foritisonethingtobe
mundane,andanothertobelunar,orMercurial;sincethelatterisa
Bmorepartialformoflife.Andasthesoulhavingascendedintoits
vehiclebecomesacitizenoftheuniverse,sowhenitisdisseminatedin
conjunctionwithitsvehicle,itbecomesacitizenofthelunar,orsolar,
orsomeothercirculation.Andtheappendageindeed,ofthevehicleof
thesoultotheuniverse,causesittobemoremultitudinousthanthe
3,277supermundanelife;anditisasitwere,assomesay,bisected.*Butthe
seminationproceeding,causesthesoultoobtainamorepartial
dominion.Aftertheseminationhowever,everysoulhasonedefinite
generation;butsoulsmakesecondandthirddescents,accordingtotheir
ownelections.Thereistherefore,onegenerationcommontoallof
them.Foritisnecessarythatevery[partial]soulshoulddescendinto
generation.Forsuchaformofpartialsouls,notbeingabletoabideon

highimmutably,becomesatcertaintimessubjecttothesceptresof
Necessity.Butthesesoulsreceivealsofromtheuniverse,themortal
formoflife,andthisoutwardbody,andinadditiontothesethings,a
physicalhabitude.Byleadingagoodlifehowever,theyarealsoable
whileontheearthtobepurifiedfromthethingsintroducedbyFate;so
farastheyhavenocommunicationwithbody,exceptwhatanabundant
Cnecessityrequires.ForwhateffectcantheworksofFatehaveonthe
CoryphaeanphilosophermentionedintheTheaetetus,*whoastronomizes
abovetheheavens,andwhodoesnotevenknowinwhatpartofthe
earthhedwells?Butwhentheyareconvertedtothebody,itis
necessarythattheyshouldhavecommunicationwiththegiftsofFate.
Andwhentheyarevanquishedbythemortalformoflife,theybecome
theslavesofFate.Fortheuniverseusesthemasirrationalanimals.And
thisagainbefallsthemfromthemselves.Fortheirchoicewasmadeafter
thismanner,andhavingchosen,theyleadalifeconformabletotheir
choice.Itlikewisehappenstothemfromwholes.Foreverythingis
conductedconformablytoitsnaturalaptitude;everyformoflifeisof
someutilitytotheuniverse;andnothingisleftdisorderlyorindefinite
inwholes;butallthingsareledtosymmetryoflife.Thustherefore,
soulsaccordingtoprogression,proceedfromalifewhichisalwayswellarranged,
andthefirst,tothelastandfatedlife,throughlivesofa
fcf.183Ef.supra.
Xcf.Theaetetus173ce.
middlecondition.Fromanorderlikewise,whichisaboveFate,theyare
distributedunderthelawsofFate,andtravelthroughtheFates,under
thethroneofNecessity.*
Whathowever,mustthefirstgenerationbesaidtobe,whichthe
philosophernowdelivers,andwhichtheDemiurgusproclaimingthe
DlawsofFate,announcestosouls?Forthereisnotoneopiniononly
3,278concerningit.ButthedivineIamblichusindeed,callstheseminationof
thevehiclesthefirstgeneration;andwhatfollowsfavourshisassertion.
ForPlatoadds,ascontinuouswiththis,"Butitwasnecessarythathaving
disseminatedthem,etc."Acertainotherpersonhowever,interpretsthe
firstgenerationofsoulstobe,theonedescentofthem.Foritis
requisitethateachofthesesoulsshouldbeentirelyconversantwith
generation;sincethisisthepeculiarityofthem.Hetherefore,simply
determinesthatthereisonecertaindescentofeachsoul.Butthe
solutiondeliveredbyourpreceptor,ismoreaccurate.Forbesays,that
toeverypartialsoulonedescentisdefined,notsimply,butaccordingto
eachperiodofthedivinelygeneratednature.*Foritisnotprobablethat
anyonepartialsoul,eitherofthosethatarecalledundefiled,orofthose
thatarecapableofbeingcontaminatedwithvice,andofwandering,

shouldforeveryperiodabideonhigh.Forthesoulwhichisableto
abideonhighforonewholeperiod,immutablyandwithoutinclining
togeneration,cannotdescendintogeneration,inanotherperiod.For
ithaspreserveditselffreefromguilt,duringtheevolutionofallthe
Efiguresoftheuniverse.Buttherearealwaysthesamefiguresagainand
again.Fartherstill,thelifeofapartialsoul,islessextendedthanthe
periodoftheuniverse.Hence,ifitissufficientlyabletoremain5on
high,throughthewholeofthisperiod,itisallottedanimmutable
intellectualpower.Foritwilllivewithinvariablesamenessthroughthe
wholeoftime.Sothatifthewholeoftimeinitsevolution,effects
nothingnewinthissoul,itisoneofthebeingsthatalwaysabideina
conditionconformabletonature.Hence,itisnecessarythatevery
partialsoulshouldmakeonedescentineachperiod;butsomesoulsa
greaternumberofdescentsthanothers,inconsequenceofemployingan
abundantfreedomofwill.ButPlatocallsthisdescentthefirst
generation.Andthisisevidentfromhisadding,whenspeakingofthe
allotmentsafterthefirstgeneration,"thatthedepravedsoulshould,inthe
tcf.Rep.X,620eff.
Xcf.Rep.VIII,546b.
ForStaco^r/chere,itisnecessarytoreadb~WLp.ovr\v.
secondgeneration,bechangedintothenatureofawoman."*Hencehe
callsthefirstgeneration,thedescentfromtheintelligible.*Butsince
3,279thefirsttakesplace,aftertheseminationofthevehicles,accordingto
whichsoulsfirstbecomesubjecttoFate,onthisaccountheadds:
41e"Butitwasnecessary,havingdisseminatedthemseverallyintothe
instruments[oftime]adaptedtoeach,thatthemostpiousofanimals
shouldbeborn."
FForthiswasnecessary,aftertheseminationintoappropriatestars;and
thisisthefirstlawofFate,thateverypartialsoulineachmundane
period,shouldassociatewithgeneration.Foritisnecessarythatthe
periodofthissoulshouldbelessextendedthantheperiodofthe
universe,andthatthisshouldbecommontoallpartialsouls.Butthese
soulsdifferfromeachother,accordingtotheempireoftheGods;for
differentherdsofsoulsarearrangedunderthedominionofdifferent
Gods;5andalso,accordingtothereasonswhichtheyexert.Forofthe
325Asoulswhichareunderthegovernmentofthesamedivinity,somechoose
alifeadaptedtothem,butothersdonot.Andsomepartakeofthe
samedivinity,accordingtoadifferentpower,butothersalsoaccording
toadifferentorder.Forwhat,ifsomeofthesoulswhicharesuspended
fromthepropheticpoweroftheSun,shouldexertamedical,or
telestic*life,butothersaMercurial,andothersaLunarlife?Forthere

isnotthesamemodeofvariationinboth.Fartherstill,soulslikewise
differaccordingtotheirdeliberatechoice.Forthoughtwosoulsshould
chooseatelestic0life,itispossibleforonetobeconversantwithit
withrectitude,buttheotherinadistortedmanner.Foreachlife
receivesthewellandtheill.Sothatifitberequisitetospeaksummarily,
theyareeitherunderthedominionofthesamepower,choosethesame
life,andliveafterthesamemanner;orbeingunderthesamepower,
theydonotchoosethesamelife,andlivesimilarly;ortheyareneither
underthesamepower,norchoosethesamelife,norliveafterthesame
manner.Forthisisthelastdifferenceofallofthem.Somanythere
Tim.42b.
Xcf.328Ff,infra.
cf.319Affsupra;&thePoliticus275ef.
InsteadofreXucovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadreXeariKOV.
oHerealso,forTtXeiov,readreXeariKOV.
Bfore,arethemodesofdifferences.Forastherearethree,wemusteither
3,280denyall,oraffirmall;ordenytwo,butaffirmone;orviceversa,and
thisinathreefoldrespect:viz.theextremes,ofthemiddle;orthefirst
andsecond,ofthelast;ortheremainingtwo,ofthefirst.Henceitis
necessarythatthereshouldbesomanydifferences*atfirst,ofthechoice
andlifeofthesoul.
Aswehavesaidhowever,onedescentineachperiodiscommontoall
thesesouls,lest,ashesays,acertainsoulshouldbeallottedbythe
Demiurgus,alessportionofgenerationthananother,beingalone
besidesothers,frequentlycompelledtodescend.Thatwhichisinour
powertherefore,isinthesesoulsmingledwithnecessity.Forbyhow
muchthemorepartialfreewillbecomes,bysomuchthemoreisit
diminishedaccordingtopower.Butindivineanddaemoniacalsouls,the
lifeisliberated,unrestrained,andeasy,andexemptfromallnecessity.
Hencesoulsmakefromthemselvestheirfirstdescent,andareledby
Fate.Andinthese,thefreedomofthewillismoreabundant,because
destinyalsoisessentialtosouls.ForifthelawofFateinthem,leads
Cthemtothefirstgeneration,muchmorewillthisbeeffectedbythelaw
whichisintheuniverse,andbythepowerofFate.Buttheymaketheir
firstdescent,oraredisseminatedaboutthevisibleGods,inorderthat
theymayhavetheseastheirsaviours,intheirwanderingabout
generation,andthattheymayinvokethemastheirpropercurators.
Sincehowever,notonlyanimalsareconstitutedontheearththrough
soulsofthiskind,butlikewiseintheotherelements;normanalone,for
thisisknowntous,butotheranimalsmoredivineindeed,yetatthe
sametimegenerated;forthatwhichlivesfortheshortesttime,doesnot
immediatelysubsistaftereternalanimals,butthatwhichlivesforamore

extendedperiod;anditisnecessarythatthoserationalanimalswhich
liveforthelongesttimeshouldexistpriortothosethataremost
obnoxioustodeath;sincethisisthecase,Platocomprehendsallthese
incommon,bysaying,"itwasnecessarythatthemostpiousofanimals
shouldbeborn."Forthisisadapted,asImaysay,toalltheparticipants
ofintellect,andtothoseanimalsthatarecapableofbeingconvertedto
theGods.Butinwhatfollows,hespeaksconcerningthehumannature.
42a"Sincehowever,thehumannatureistwofold,heshowedthemthatthe
3,281moreexcellentgenuswasthatwhichwouldafterwardsbecalledman."
Thehumanspeciesindeed,hasbeenalreadyconstituted,andevery
mortalnature,accordingtothedemiurgicintellections;butthediscourse
fFor8ia<fx>puvinthisplace,readbioKpopctQ.
Ddividingwhathasbeenconstituted,firstgivessubsistencetothatwhich
ismoreexcellent,andafterwardstothatwhichissubordinateinthis
species.ForPlatoknewthatthemaleismoreadaptedthanthefemale
tothedemiurgicintellectandthemostdivineofprinciples,andismore
alliedtoimmutableandundefiledsouls.Henceheleadssoulsintheir
firstdescentintomen.ThusalsointhePhaedrus,*heleadsthesoulthat
knowsmost,intothegenerationofaman,andtherelikewisethesecond
andthird,andasfarastothesouloftheninthrank.Whatthen,shall
wesay,itisimpossibleforsoulsthathaverecentlyarrivedatperfection,
topassintowomen?Orisitnecessarythatthesoulthatlives
apocatastatically,shouldpassintothelifeofaman;orshallwesay,that
itmayalsoleadalifeofthiskind,whenitcomesintothenatureofa
woman?Butifweadmittheformer,andnotthelatter,howcanwe
anylongersay,thatthevirtuesofmenandwomenarecommon?For
ifthelatterneverlivecathartically,buttheformerfrequentlymake
apocatastaticlives,thevirtueswillbenolongercommontothem.To
whichmaybeadded,theabsurditythatSocrateshavinglearnedthe
mysteriesoflovefromDiotima,shouldbeelevatedthroughher*tothe
beautifulitself;butthatDiotimaherself,whoelevatedhim,andwho
Esurpassedinwisdom,shouldnotobtainthesameformoflife,because
shewasinvestedwiththebodyofawoman.Butifweadmitthat
womenmayliveapocatastatically,itisabsurdthatsoulsshouldascend
fromthisnature,butbynomeansdescendintoitfromtheintelligible.5
Forwhentheysufferadefluxionoftheirwings,theyarenearertoaless
3,282excellentnature,thanwhentheyarewinged,andtheascentisthrough
thesamethingsasthedescent.Thistherefore,isalsoevidentfrom
history.FortheSibyl,whensheproceededintolight,knewherown
order,andmanifestedthatshecamefromtheGods,bysaying,

BetweentheGodsandmen,ameanamI.
Suchtherefore,arethenecessaryconsequencesfromthethings
themselves.
ButPlatodeliveringtheprogressionanddiminutionoflifeaccording
tonature,firstleadsthesoulintothegenerationofman,afterwards,into
thegenerationofwoman,andinthethirdplace,intothebrutalnature.
Forthesouldescendsfromtheundefiledandpureformoflife,intothat
tPhaedrus248de.
%ForSt'avruvhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadSt'oa)Tt]v.
Phaedrus246c,248c&249a.
formwhichisrobust,andretainsintellect,butismaterial.Fromthisit
descendsintothatformoflifewhichismaterial,andatthesametime
imbecile,butisreceptiveofanintellectuallife.Andfromthisforminto
thatwhichisperfectlydestituteofintellect.ThusalsointheRepublic,
deliveringthediminutionsoflife,*heproducesthetimocraticfromthe
Faristocraticformoflife;fromthis,theoligarchic;fromtheoligarchic,
thedemocratic;butfromthisthetyrannic.Anditmaybesaidthatit
ispossibleforthetyrannictobegeneratedfromthetimocratic,anda
democracyfromanaristocracy;*butPlatodescribes,agradually
subsidingmutationofpoliticalconcerns,andconformablytothishe
hereleadssoulsdescendingfromtheintelligible,intomen.Forhe
makesfromthemananimal,whichwouldafterwardsbecalledaner
man,receivingitsappellationfromgrandeurandvigourofnature;
326Aaccordingtowhichalso,itismoreadaptedtosoulsthatarenow
descending.Andthusmuchmaysuffice,inanswertothebeforementioned
doubtconcerningthefirstdescentofsouls.
Fromthesethingstherefore,wemaycollectasacorollary,that
fabricationandthisuniversehadnotatemporalbeginning.Forifthe
universewasgeneratedfromacertainbeginning,itisalsonecessarythat
thedescentofsoulsshouldhavetakenplacefromacertainbeginning,
3,283andthatthereshouldhavebeenafirstsoulthatdescended.Butthe
Demiurgusleadsthefirstdescentofeachsoulintothegenerationof
man.Henceitisnecessarythatthedescentwhichmakesman,should
nothavebeeneffectedthroughwoman,norproceedintogeneration
throughthis,thefemalenotyetexisting.Neitherlikewise,doesthe
descentwhichmakesman,impartagenerationtowomen,sinceinthis
caseitwouldbepossibleforthefemaletobegenerated,notfromthemale
andfemale,butfromacertainmalealone.Iftherefore,thesethingsare
impossible,itisimpossiblethatthemaleandthefemale[shouldhave
hadatemporalbeginning.]5Butsoulsalwaysdescendintothemale

genera,priortothefemale,theformernot*beinggeneratedfromthe
latter.AndthespeechoftheDemiurgusisaddressedtobeingswhich
arealwaysgeneratedintheuniverse,andnottosuchasoncereceived
tRep.VIII,544cff.
%cf.SallustOntheGodsandtheWorldX&XI,TTSvol.IV,pp.14&15.
Intheoriginal,thereisnothingmorethanaSvvarovfxeveonTO0ri\v,mtTO
appev,andsomethingisevidentlywanting.Itappearstometherefore,thattheaddition
ofthewordsTi[VxpovucrjvapxweXM",isnecessary.
M7jisomittedhere,intheoriginal.
Batemporalbeginning.Whatthen,itmaybesaid,shallweassertofthe
maleandthefemale?Aretheynotalsoinsoulsthemselves,sothatof
thesesomeareofavirile,butothersofaneffeminatenature?Andhow
canitbesaid,thatthisisnotnecessary?ForiftheseareintheGods
primarily,andinsensiblesultimately,itisalsonecessarythatthey
shouldexistinthemedia.Forwhenceistheprogressionofthemasfar
astoasensiblenaturederived,exceptthroughthemiddleessence?
Fartherstill,iftheDemiurgusbyconnectingeachsoulwithavehicle,
producesacertainanimal,*itisentirelynecessarythatthedifferenceof
maleandfemaleinthesoulshouldatthesametimebeapparent.For
thisisthedivisionofanimal.Mustwenotthereforeadmitthatthese
areinsouls?Andhowisitpossibleweshouldnot,sincetheyare
assimilatedtotheirleadingGods?Forastheyderiveeveryotherform
fromthem,solikewise,theyreceivefromthemthepeculiarityofthe
maleandthefemale.Intheirgenerationalso,virileandeffeminatesouls
aredividedaccordingtothegeneraoftheanimalswhicharehere.But
astheychangethespecies*oflife,solikewisetheychangethese
Cpowers,someofthembeingrenderedmoreeffeminate,butothers
descendingintoamorerobustandvigorousformoflife.Forthatwhich
hastheformofboundinthissensibleregion,ismoreinfinitethanthe
infinitewhichisthere[i.e.insoulspriortotheirdescent];sothatthe
lapsewillbeentirelyintothatwhichislessexcellent.Thelapse,
however,tothatwhichislessexcellent,isatonetime,tothatwhichis
nearertothemoreexcellent,andatanother,tothatwhichismore
3,284remotefromit,butisanalogoustowhatistherearranged.Thusalsoit
issaid,thataLunarsouldescendedintothenatureofman,inbecoming
thesoulofMusaeus,5andthatanApolloniacalsoulbecamethesoulof
theSibyl.ThefableofAristophaneslikewise,intheBanquet,0
manifeststhatsoulsaredividedaccordingtothemaleandfemale,and
thatwhichiscommonfromthese[orthatwhichisofthecommon
gender].Itisalsoevident,thatmasculinesoulsdonotentirelyproceed
intothegenerationofmen,norfeminineintothegenerationofwomen,
byTimaeussaying,thateverysoulmakesitsfirstdescentintomen;and
thatthisisnaturaltoit,becauseinfemales,thecauseiscomprehended,

aswehavebeforeobserved,ofthemaleinanimals.
tInsteadofnfuijphere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadnfiooc.
tFor17577here,readeidrj.
cf.51Bf,supra.
cf.Symposium189cff.
42a"Andassoulsarefromnecessityimplantedinbodies,andonething
accedesto,butanotherdepartsfrom,thesebodies."
Soulswhiletheyabideonhighwiththefather,andarefilledwith
intelligence,fromintellectualnatures,arenotatallinwantofthe
Dmortalformedlife.Fortheyuseimmaterial,pure,andstarryform
organs,revolvetogetherwiththeGods,andgoverninconjunctionwith
themthewholeworld.Butwhentheydescendintogeneration,become
connectedwithamaterialbody,andareallottedaninfluxiveand
effluxivenature,thecolligationofthemortallife,whichderivesits
subsistencefromsoulsthemselves,becomesnecessary,becausesouls
antecedentlycomprehendthesummitsofthis*lifeinthespirit.Forthis
whichistheprincipleofsense,derivesitssubsistencebothfromsouls
themselves*andfromthejuniorGods.Fromsoulsindeed,becausethey
havedominionoverthewholeoftheirrationallife,whichtheylikewise
adorn;buttheywouldneithergovernnoradornit,unlesstheywere
causallytheleadersofitsessence.Butitalsoderivesitssubsistencefrom
theGods,becausepartsenergisetogetherwithwholes,andfecundityis
3,285presentwithpartialsouls,throughacoarrangementwithwholes.If
therefore,whensoulswereimplantedinbodies,thenthejuniorGods
producedthemortallife,andmadeanothermortalanimal,itfollows,
thattheanimationofthematerialbodyisonething,whetheritsubsists
insimplevestments,orinsuchasarecompositeandtestaceous,5andthe
animationinthevehicleofthesoulanother.Andthelatterindeed,
Ebeingimmortal,theDemiurgusconstitutes,buttheformer,whichis
mortalfromthebeginning,derivesitssubsistencefromthejuniorGods,
becauseitisinseparablefrommaterialbodies.Thepeculiarlifealsoof
thevehiclediffersfromtherest,inthesamemannerastheimmortal
fromthemortalformedlife.Butthelifewhichsubsistsinsimple
vestments,differsfromthelifeinthecompositebody,becausethelatter
followsthetemperamentofthebody,buttheformermaybedisciplined,
andisabletopredominateoverthecorporealtemperaments.The
vehiclesthereforearetriple:0fortheyareeithersimple0and
fForOIVTUVhere,itisnecessarytoreadoajTT)q.
%Intheoriginal,thewordsmiirapaTUV\{/VXUVareomitted,butfromwhat
immediatelyfollows,itisevidenttheyoughttobeinserted.
InsteadofaOTpe'ivoc,here,itisnecessarytoreadoorpeivog.

Forrpnu.here,readTpvKka.
oInsteadofairXo?inthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadairXovv.
immaterial;orsimpleandmaterial;orcompositeandmaterial.Ofthese
alsothelivesarethree;thefirst,immortal;thesecond,morelastingthan
thebody;andthethird,perishingwiththebody.Andthusmuchfor
thisparticular.Butthewordimplanted,manifestsgenesiurgic
semination,togetherwithatthesametimesignifyingthattheformof
lifeisselfperfect;justasaplantisingraftedintoanothernature.The
additionalsoofthewordsfromnecessity,manifestthattheseminationis
material,butnotdivineandcelestial.
42ab"Hedeclaredtothemthatinthefirstplace,oneconnascentsense,
producedbyviolentpassions,wasnecessarytoall;inthesecondplace,
Flovemingledwithpleasureandpain;andinadditiontothis,fearand
anger,andsuchotherthingsasareeitherconsequenttothese,or
naturallydiscordantfrombeingofacontrarynature."
TheDemiurguscomprehendedallthematerialandmortalformedlife
inthreeboundaries,andinsertedthecausesofthisinsouls,inorderthat
theymightruleoverandsubdueit.Fordominionisnotderivedfrom
anyothersourcethanessentialprecedency.Theirrationallifetherefore,
subsistsintellectuallyintheDemiurgus,butrationallyinsouls.Noris
3,286thisatallwonderful,sincebodysubsistsincorporeallyintheintelligible
327Acausesofallthings.Whatelsehowever,canwesaythateachofthese
powersis,thanacorporealformedandmaterial*life,whichisgnostic
ofthingsthatfallonitexternally,producesthisknowledgethrough
organs,isnotdependantonitself,butonthethingswhichituses,is
mingledwithmaterialmasses,andknowsthatwhichitknows
accompaniedwithpassion?Fornoteverypassionwhichisproducedin
theanimal,impartstousasensationofitself,butthatwhicheffects
muchagitation,asSocratessaysinthePhilebus.}Foritisnecessarythat
acertainagitationshouldbeproducedaboutthesensoria.Forneither
areallthemotionsinthesouldistributedasfarastothebody,butthere
aresome,suchastheintellectual,whichpertaintothesoulitself5by
itself.Nordoallthemotionsaboutthebodyextendasfarastothe
soul,buttherearesomewhichthroughtheirobscurity,areunableto
movethesoul.Sensethereforeisproduced,notfromallpassions,but
fromthosethatareviolent,whichcausemuchagitation.Andthe
Bmortalformedsenseindeedispartible,ismingledwithpassionsinits
tForevvdpovhere,itisnecessarytoreadevvXov.
XPhilebus33d.
Foravroic,here,readUVTT)Q.

decisions,andismaterial.Butthereisanothersensepriortothis,inthe
vehicleofthesoul,whichis,aswithreferencetothis,immaterialand
pure,andanimpassiveknowledgeitselfsubsistingbyitself,yetnot
liberatedfrommorphe;becauseitalsoiscorporealformed,asbeing
allotteditshypostasisinbody.Andthissenseindeed,hasthesame
naturewiththephantasy.Foroneessenceiscommontoboth;yet
externallyproceeding,itiscalledsense;butremainingwithin,and
beholdingmorphaeandfiguresinthespirit,itisdenominatedthe
phantasy.Sofarlikewise,asitisdividedaboutthespirit,itissense.
Fartherstill,opinionindeed,isthebasisoftherationallife,butthe
phantasyisthesummitofthesecond[orirrational]life.Andopinion
andthephantasyareconjoinedtoeachother,andtheirrationalisfilled
3,287withpowersfromthemoreexcellentlife.Butthemiddleofthe
irrationallifeisunreceptiveofsupernalforms,butisalonereceptiveof
suchasareexternallysituated.Andatthesametime,itiscommon,and
knowsthatwhichissensiblepassively.Butthematerialsenseisalone
perceptiveofthingswhichfallonitexternally,andmoveit,notbeing
abletoretainthespectaclesinitself,inconsequenceofbeingpartible,
andnotone.Foritisdividedaboutthesensoria.Theimpassive
Cthereforeandcommonsenseisonething;thesensewhichiscommon
butpassiveanother;andthatwhichisdistributedandpassiveanother.
Andthefirstoftheseindeed,pertainstothefirstvehicle;thesecond,
pertainstotheirrationallife;andthethird,totheanimationofthe
body.
Aftersense,however,Platoarrangesdesire.*Butthisislifeindeed,
andcorporealformed,alwaysreweavingthebody,andalleviatingits
wants;aboutwhichalso,pleasureandpainaresurveyed.Forthese
passionsarelikewisepresentwiththeotherpartsofthesoul.Forboth
inreason,andinanger,youmayassumepleasuresandpains.Corporeal
painandpleasure,however,aregeneratedaccordingtodesire.Forof
thebodythepathtothatwhichispreternatural,andtheprivationof
life,producepain;butthereturntothatwhichisconformabletonature,
andtheadaptationtolife,producepleasure.Andthatwhichinthese
tDesireisadmirablydefinedbythePythagoreanstobeacertaintendency,impulse
andappetiteofthesoul,inordertobefilledwithsomething,ortoenjoysomething
present,ortobedisposedaccordingtosomesensitiveenergy;oroftheevacuationand
absence,andnonperceptionofcertainthings.SeemytranslationofIamblicus'Lifeof
Pythagoras,p.146.
passionsisassuaged,orexhilarated,*istheepithymeticpart.Since
however,thesetwopassionsareprimordial,andthefountainsofthe
otherpassions,asPlatosaysinthePhilebus,*andintheLaws,*hence
Dthroughthemixtureofthese,hegivesagenerationtotheotherpassions,

anddenominatesloveamixtureofpleasureandpain.Forlovepertains
toallthings.Andsofarindeedastheobjectofloveisinitsview,love
isaccompaniedwithpleasure;butsofarasitisnotyetpresentwithit
inenergy,loveismingledwithpain.Platoalsocharacterizesthewhole
lifeofdesirethroughlove,becausethispassionismostvehementabout
it.
3,288Inthethirdplacetherefore,heenumeratesanger.Butangerisalife,
removingeverythingwhichpainsanddisturbsthebody;onwhich
accountalsothefearofthecorruptionofthebodydisturbsit.Excess
however,anddeficiencyaresurveyedaboutit,suchasaudacityand
timidity,andtheattendantsonthese,ambition,contention,andallsuch
effectsasareproducedfromastonishment0aboutmortalconcerns;the
superiorsoulemployingthislife,inordertothemotionofthebody.
Andthesethreegenesiurgicpowersindeed,havethefollowingorder.
Thebody,assoonasitisborn,accordingtotheprogressionof
generation,participatesofsense.Foritwouldnotbeananimal,nor
woulditpossessappetite,unlessitweregeneratedsensitive.For
appetitesindeed,areaccompaniedwithsense,butsenses0arenot
entirelyaccompaniedwithappetites.Hence,theanimalisinagreater
degreecharacterizedbythesensitive,than1*bytheorectic.Butafter
Etheparticipationofsense,thebodyappearstobepleasedandpained.
Anditiscontractedindeed,bytheexternalcold,butrefreshedbythe
swaddlingbands,andledtoaconditionconformabletonature.But
afterdesire,asanincreaseofyearsaccedes,itexertsthepassionofanger.
Forangerisnowthepowerofamorerobustandvigorousnature.
Hencealsoofirrationalanimals,suchasaremorematerial,live
tInsteadof5ia8exop.evovinthisplace,itappearstometoberequisitetoread
b"lUKtXVp.eVOV.
tPhilebus62d.
LawsI,636d.
Foriroietvhere,itisnecessarytoreadTTOUXV.
oThewordsat8eaiodi)auqarewantingintheoriginal,butoughtevidentlyto
beinserted.
tfInsteadofevruopeKTinqinthisplace,itisnecessarytoread17TUopeKTiKu.
accordingtodesirealone,andparticipateofpleasureandpain;butsuch
asaremoreperfect,areallottedamoreirasciblelife.Priorhoweverto
theseappetites,aswehavesaidrespectingsense,thereisacertain
summitoftheminthepneumaorspiritofthesoul.Andthissummit
isacertainimpulsivepower,whichismotiveindeedofthespirit,but
guardsandconnectedlycontainstheessenceofit;atonetimebeing
extended,anddistributingitselfintoparts;butatanother,beingledto
boundandorder,andregulatedbyreason.

42b"Andthatsuchsoulsassubduethesewouldlivejustly,butsuchasare
vanquishedbythem,unjustly."
3,289Howthereforecansoulssubduethesecorporeallives,exceptby
possessingthecausesofthem?Forthroughthesetheyrenderthem
moreconcordant[withreason].Foreverythingwhichnaturallyhas
dominionoverthepassions,containsinitselfthereason[orproductive
Fprinciple]ofthem;inorderthatbylookingtothis,itmaydefinethe
measuresoftheirmotions.Thustheangerinthebreastwassuppressed
byUlysses;*forithadbeenalreadydisciplinedbyhim.Butthesoul
alsoadornsexternalanger,inorderthatitsmotionmaybejust.If
however,thisinwardangerinhimhadcommitteditselftopassionand
materialmotion,itwouldhaveentirelycorruptedtheotherwellordered
dispositionofhissoul.Hencewhensoulssubduematerialpassions,and
adorntheirinwardlives,theylivejustly;butwhentheyaresubduedby
328Athemtheyimperceptiblyfallintoinjustice.Forfollowingthe
immoderateappetitesofthebody,theirpowersbecomeinordinate,and
unadorned,andareextendedaboutgeneration,inagreaterdegreethan
isfit.Buthowdotheyatonetimefollowjustice,andatanothernot?
Foritwasbeforesaidofthem,"Ofthosethatarealwayswillingtofollow
justiceandyou."*Mayitnotbesaid,thattheyarealwaysindeedwilling
tofollowjusticeandtheGods,butthattheydonotalwaysfollowthem,
forthereasonsassignedintheGorgias,whichdistinguishtruewillfrom
theopinionwhichisgovernedbyappearances?5Ormayitnotbesaid,
thatsoulsfollowjusticeandtheGods,inconsequenceofadivinenature
presidinginthem?Forhewhowishesthatwhichisgood,wishesto
followjustice.Forthisiswhatwassaidinthebeforecitedpassage,viz.
"thatadivinenaturehasdominioninthosethatarealwayswillingto
tOdysseyXX,17.
%For7J/UPhere,readvpxv.[cf.Tim.41c]
e.g.Gorgias507a508c,etc.
followjusticeandtheGods."Forthedivinepartofusnaturallyfollows
justice;buttheirrationalformsoflifefollowthedivinenaturewhichis
inus.
42b"Thathealsowholivedwellduringthepropertime[ofhisabodeon
theearth]againproceedingtothehabitationofhiskindredstar,should
enjoyahappylife."
Again,thesethingsarelikewiseeffectedbysoulsthemselves.For
Bbeingselfmotive,theyarrangethemselvesinanappropriateplace.But
theyarealsoeffectedbyFate.Forthispowerdefinestheappropriate

3,290allotmentsofeachsoul,andcoadaptsthemtotheproperformsoflife.
Andinthethirdplace,theyareeffectedbytheGods,whodisposeinan
orderlymannerthepartsoftheuniverse.Fortheydistributetoall
thingsthatwhichisaccordingtodesert;andonthisaccountitissaid,
thatJusticeproceedingtotheuniversefromthemiddlesphereofthe
Sungovernsallthingsaccordingtorectitude.1Asinwholes,however,
JusticefollowingJupiter,istheavengerofthosethatdesertthedivine
law,*thusalso,theenergyofJusticeaboutsouls,adornsthosethat
forgetthelawsofFate,andexchangeforamoreexcellent,asubordinate
life.Andthusmuchincommonastotheseparticulars.
Butwhatisthepropertime,whatthekindredstar,andwhatthehappy
life}Thepropertimetherefore,7issuchasthatwhichPlatodefinesinthe
Phaedrus,*tothesoulswhicharecircularlyledfromhence,afterthefirst
generation,viz.athousandyears,orsomeotherperiodofthiskind.
Forasthistimepertainstothosethatchooseaphilosophiclife,so
anotherperiodmoreorlessextended,isadaptedtothosethatmakea
differentchoice,thistimenotsubsistingmonadically,butbeing
Cdefinedaccordingtotheformoflife.Butthekindredstar,isthatabout
whichthedistributionofsoulsandtheirvehiclesismade.Sothatif
therearesomesouls,whichfromthefirst,havetheirallotmentabout
theearth,theseafterthefirstlife,followingJustice,andtheGods,will
returntotheetherealvehicleofthewholeearth,relinquishingthe
terrestrialbulk.Andinthisestablishingthemselves,andtheorgan
connascentwiththem,[i.e.theiretherealvehicle,]theywillthemselves
befilledwithintellectuallife,butwillfilltheirvehicleswithdivine
light,anddemiurgicpower.Ifalso,therearecertainsoulsthatproceed
tcf.13Af,supra.
Xcf.LawsIV,716a.
Phaedrus249a.
abouttheSun,thesereturning,totheirwholeness,willtogetherwithit
disposewholesinanorderlymanner,beingallottedthroughacoordination
withit,apowerofsuchakind,asnottodepartfromthe
intellectionofthemselves,intheirprovidentialattentiontotheuniverse.
Andthehappylife,8isthatlifewhichisdefinedaccordingtothe
3,291peculiarityoftheleadingpowers.Fortheseareintheorderofdaemons,
havingpartialsoulsintheirpossession,andelevatingthemtothe
intelligible,inthesamemannerastheleadersoftheliberatedGods.
Hencealso,Platoelsewhere,*callsthesesoulshappy,asbeingsuspended
fromtheseleaderswhoarehappy(eudaimonnontn),i.e.whoare
beneficentdaemons.Foreverywhere,thatwhichisproximately
establishedabovethenaturewhichisthoughtdeservingofits
providentialcare,hastheorderofabeneficentdaemonwithrespectto

Dit.
Itisrequisitealsotosurveytheuninterruptedconnexionofthe
theorems.ForPlatoconstitutedsoulsfromthedemiurgicandvivific
cause,andaftertheirgeneration,arrangeddifferentpartial,under
differentdivinesouls,makingtheprogressionanddistributionofthem
tobesupermundane.Afterthesedivinesoulsalso,heintroducespartial
soulsintotheuniverse,givesthemvehicles,anddistributesthemabout
thestars.Inthenextplace,heleadsthemintogeneration,andimparts
tothemthemortalformoflife;andafterthesethings,dividesthelives
ofthem,anddistributesallotmentsadaptedtotheirlives.Forthe
progressiontothem,isfromsupermundanenaturesintotheworld;but
theirdescentfromtotallife,isintogeneration.Nowtherefore,sincehe
speaksofsoulsthatarerestoredtotheirkindredstar,aftertheirfirst
generation,andsays,thatleavingthebodytheyobtainahappylife,how
canweshowthatthesethingsaccordwithwhatisassertedinthe
Phaedrus?4Fortherehewhochoosesaphilosophiclife,isrestoredto
hispristineperfection,throughthreelives.Ormaywenotsaythatthe
Eallotmentwhichisheredelivered,isnotintothatfromwhenceeach
souloriginallycame;forthatiseffectedthroughthreeperiods,eachof
whichconsistsofathousandyears;butisareturntothestar,under
whichitwasessentiallyarranged,andinconjunctionwithwhich,it
possessesacommonlife?Foritispossibleforsoulsthathavenotled
aphilosophiclife,tobeelevatedbyJusticetoacertainplaceinthe
heavens,andtheretoreceivetherewardofthelifewhichtheypassedin
tcf.e.g.Rep.VII,540cetc.
%Phaedrus249ab.
thehumanform.ForthisisassertedinthePhaedrusofthesoulsof
thosethatarenotphilosophers.Fortheapocatastasisintothesame
situationagain,isonething,buttheascenttothekindredstaranother.
3,292Fortheformerrequiresthreeperiods;butthelattermaybeeffected
throughoneperiod.Andtheformerelevatesthesoultotheintelligible,
fromwhenceitdescended;butthelatterleadsittoasubordinateform
oflife.Fortherearedifferent*measuresoffelicity,andthereturnis
twofold,oneofascendingsouls,buttheother,ofthosethathave
ascended.Sothatitispossibleforthesoulthatarrivesatitskindred
star,eithertobecoarrangedwiththemundanepowersofitsGod,or
toproceedstillhigher.Itsrecurrencyhowever,totheintelligibleitself,
requiresaperiodofthreethousandyears.*Forthroughthis,thehighest
wingedconditioniseffected.
42b"Butthathewhoseconductwasdepraved,shouldinthesecond
Fgeneration,bechangedintothenatureofawoman."

Wehavebeforeobserved,thatPlatodoesnotcalltheseminationof
soulsthefirstgeneration,buttheonedescentfromtheintelligible,
commontoallpartialsouls.Hecallstherefore,theseconddescent,the
secondgeneration,5andmakestheseconddescenttobe,intothenature
ofawoman;justasthethirdisintothebrutalnature,indicatingbythis,
thewellordereddiminutionoflife.ThusalsointhePhaedrus,0he
denominatesallthelivessuccessivelyafterthefirstgeneration,
conformablytothesecondlives.
42b"Thatboththese,attheexpirationofathousandyears,shouldreturn
329Atotheallotmentandchoice0ofasecondlife;eachsoulreceivingalife
conformabletoitschoice.Andthatinthiselection,thehumansoul
shouldpassintothelifeofabrute."
Platohereexhibitsanotherorderoflife,andleadsthesoulfroma
morepowerfultoamoreimbecilenature,andfromanintellectuallife,
toonedeprivedofintellect.Forwhyisitnecessarythatthesoulshould
notdescendfromthefirstgenerationintothenatureofawoman?For
tThewordbiacfropaisomittedhereintheoriginal,
%Phaedrus249a.
cf.325Ef,supra.
Phaedrus249b.
0ForouBivhere,readcupeoiv.
ifthefemalegenussubsistedthroughanaberrationfromthemale,it
wouldbenecessarythatsoulsrecentlyperfected,shouldbeginfromthat
whichisaccordingtonature[i.e.shouldbeginfromthemaleonly];
3,293sincethatwhichispreternaturaliseverywhereposteriorand
adventitious.ButsincethefemalenatureisalsointheGods,what
shouldpreventsouls,inthisrespectimitatingtheirproperleaders,from
notonlychoosinglivesadaptedtothem,*butalsothenatureofanimals
alliedtothem?Itisnothoweverwonderful,thatalternationsshould
takeplace,aswebeforeobserved.*Forthatthemaleandthefemalenot
Bonlysubsistinmortalnatures,butalsointheimpartible5lives
themselvesofsouls,maybeinferredbyagainrecollectingwhatwas
beforeasserted,viz.thatthesesexualdifferencesarebothinthenatures
prior,andposteriortopartialsouls.Itisnotproperhowever,tobe
incredulous,ifintotalsouls,thevehiclesareconnascentlyconjoinedto
them,butinpartialsouls,theyaresometimesconjoined,andsometimes
not.Forintheformerthecolligationisessential,butinthelatter,is
theeffectofdeliberatechoice.Henceintheformer,thedivisionofthe
vehiclesisannexedtotheessenceofthesouls,butinthelatter,tothe
differencesoftheirchoice.Andthismaybeinferredfromwhatis

assertedintheBanquet,inthefableofAristophanes.0Forthere,aswe
havebeforeobserved,thedivisionsofsoulsaccordingtothesevehicles,
andthealternationsofchoiceinthese,aboutthemortallife,areclearly
delivered.Iftherefore,youunderstandinwhatissaid,thatthenature
ofwomanisimmediatelyimplied,Ishouldthusinterpretthewords.
Butifeveryformoflife,whichisimbecile,effeminate,andvergingto
generation,issymbolicallysignifiedthroughwoman,assomepriorto
us,andthesenocasualpersons,havethought,thewordswillnotatall
requiresuchasolutionastheabove.Butyoumayadopteitherofthese
Cexplications;thoughatthesametime,itmustbeobserved,thatPlato
studiouslyconcealsmanythingsthroughsymbols.Whicheverofthese
3,294solutionsthereforeisadopted,itisevidentthatthesoulinitsfirst
descent,isnotimplantedinthefemalenature.
Fromthisalso,IassumethataccordingtoTimaeus,thesoul,man,and
inshorttheuniverse,areunbegotten.Forifthesoulwasgenerated,and
descendedatacertaintimeintothefirstgeneration,itwouldimpartthe
fInsteadofavrrfqhere,itisnecessarytoreadavroiq.
$cf.321Bff,supra.
Insteadofpjtpi.ara.iq{ucaqinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadaptpiaTtuqfame;.
cf.Symposium189c,ff.
lifeofaman.Butthismanbeingentirelygenerated,wouldbegenerated
fromafemale;andthisfemalewouldhaveasoul,whichiseitherthe
firstthathasdescended;andifthisbethecase,theassertionofTimaeus
isfalse,wholeadsthesoulinitsfirstdescentintothemale;oritisnot
thefirst,andpriortothisfemale,itisnecessarythatthesoulofamale
shouldhavegeneratedthesoulwhichisinit.Butagainthismalemust
havebeengeneratedamalefromafemale;orifthisisnotadmitted,its
existencemustbefromchance.Ifhoweverthisbethecase,itwillbe
invain,afemalenotexisting,fromwhichandinwhich,themalemay
generate.Thisfemalelikewise,inthesamemannerasthemale,must
eitherbefromchance,andhaveasoulwhichisthefirstthatdescended,
andwasgeneratedwithit;ormustbegeneratedfromthemale.Butthis
isimpossible.Hence,neitherofthesewasoncegenerated,nordoesthe
soul,andmuchlessdoestheuniverse,pertaintogeneratednatures.
42c"Andthatincaseviceshouldnoteventhenceaseinthese,butshould
Dremainaccordingtoasimilitudeofthemodeofgeneration,thenthe
soulshouldalwaysbechangedintoabrutalnaturecorrespondenttoits
disposition."
Itisusualtoinvestigatewhatthedescentofsoulsintoirrational
animals,mustbesaidtobe.*Andsomeindeedthink,thatwhatare

calledbrutallives,areassimilationsofmentobrutes.Foritisnot
possiblethatarationalessenceshouldbecomethesoulofabrute.But
othersadmit,thatitmaybeimmediatelyintroducedintoirrational
animals.Fortheysaythatallsoulsareofasimilarform,sothatthey
maybecomewolvesandleopards,andthemarinefishescalled
3,295pneumones.*Thetrueanswerhowevertotheinquiryisthis,thatthe
humansoulmayenterintobrutes,butsoastopossessitsproperlife,
theinsertedsoulridingasitwereon,andbeingboundbysympathy,to
thebrutalnature.Andthisindeed,isdemonstratedbyusthroughmany
arguments,inourCommentariesonthePhaedrus;inwhichwehavealso
shownthatthisistheonlymodeofinsertion.Ifthereforeitberequisite
toremindthereaderthatthisdoctrineisPlatonic,itmayalsobe
observedthatintheRepublic,thesoulofThersitesissaidtohavebeen
investedwiththenature,andnotthebody,ofanape;5andinthe
tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,309,3ff.
$cf.Philebus21c.
Rep.X,620c.
EPhaedrus,}thesoulissaidtodescendintoabrutallife,butnotintoa
brutalbody.Forthelifeisinconjunctionwiththepropersoul.And
here,Timaeussays,thatthesoulischangedintoabrutalnature.Forthe
brutalnatureisnotthebrutalbody,butthelifeofthebrute.Andthis,
aswehavesaid,maybeassumedfromourCommentariesonthe
Phaedrus.Butthatitisimpossibleforarecentlyperfectedsoulto
becomethesoulofabrute,wemayrecollectfromthis,thatbrutalityis
somethingbeyondallhumanvice,asAristotlealsosays.*Hence,itis
necessaryfirsttohavehumanvice,andthusafterwardstheviceadapted
tobrutes.Foritisnotpossiblefromthemostcontraryformsoflifeto
havetheirperfectcontraries.HenceTimaeussays,"Andincasevice
shouldnoteventhenceaseinthese,"bythensignifyinginthedescentinto
women;accordingtowhichmodeofdescent,becomingdepraved,they
arechangedintoabrutalnatureofthiskind.Forfromthefirstand
moreintellectual5formsoflife,themoreirrationalareproduced
throughdiminution;fromtheformsthataremoreremotefrom
habitude,thosethatsubsistinhabitude;andthemoreimbecile,fromthe
morerobust.Sincehowever,viceismultiform,thebrutalnaturemay
Fbesurveyedineach;andonaccountofthis,thesoulmaybeconnected
withsimilaranimals,asPlatoshowsinthePhaedo.PForthebrutal0
natureininjustice,rendersmenwolves;intimiditystags;andin
gluttonyasses.Foreachoftheseentirelypossessesacertain
transcendency,whichdepartsfromhumandepravity.
42c"Andthatitshouldnotbefreedfromtheallotmentoflabours,till
3,296followingtherevolutionofthatsameandsimilarnaturecontainedinits

essence,itvanquishesthoseabundantlyturbulentpassions,tumultuous
andirrational,adheringtoitexternally**afterwardsfromfire,water,
air,andearth,andreturnstotheformofitsfirst,andmostexcellent
habit."
tPhaedrus249b.
Xcf.Aristotle,NicomacheanEthicsVII,1,1145a24ff.
Forvewrepwvhere,itisnecessarytoreadvoepurepuv.
Phcedo81c;82a.
oInsteadofdeoipiahere,itisnecessarytoreaddrjpiuoia.
ftInalltheprintededitionsoftheTimceus,thewordewdeviswantinginthis
place.ForitisevidentfromtheCommentaryofProclus,thatitoughttobeinserted.
Hence,insteadofTOPTOWVV(legeiroXvv)ox\ov,KCUvartpovvpoatpvvra,K.X.we
mustread,TOVTCOXVVOXXOP,e%G)8evKmvartpovirpoa<pvvTa,K.X.
330ATheonesalvationofthesoulherself,whichisextendedbythe
Demiurgus,*andwhichliberatesherfromthecircleofgeneration,from
abundantwandering,andaninefficaciouslife,isherreturntothe
intellectualform,andaflightfromeverythingwhichnaturallyadheres
tousfromgeneration.Foritisnecessarythatthesoulwhichishurled
likeseedintotherealmsofgeneration,shouldlayasidethestubbleand
bark,asitwere,whichsheobtainedfrombeingdisseminatedintothese
fluctuatingrealms;andthatpurifyingherselffromeverything
circumjacent,sheshouldbecomeanintellectualflowerandfruit,
delightinginanintellectuallife,insteadofdoxasticnutriment,and
pursuingtheuniformandsimpleenergyoftheperiodofsameness,
insteadoftheabundantlywanderingmotionoftheperiodwhichis
characterizedbydifference.Forshecontainseachofthesecircles,and
twofoldpowers.Andofherhorsesoneisgood,buttheotherthe
contrary.*Andoneoftheseleadshertogeneration,buttheotherfrom
generationtotruebeing.Theonealsoleadsherroundthegenesiurgic,
Bbuttheotherroundtheintellectualcircle.Fortheperiodofthesame
andthesimilar,elevatestointellect,andanintelligiblenature,andtothe
firstandmostexcellenthabit.Butthishabitisthataccordingtowhich
thesoulbeingwinged,governsthewholeworld,becomingassimilated
totheGodsthemselves.Andthisistheuniversalformoflifeinthe
soul,justasthatisthepartialform,whenshefallsintothelastbody,
3,297andbecomessomethingbelongingtoanindividual,insteadofbelonging
totheuniverse.Themiddleofthesealso,isthepartialuniversal,when
shelivesinconjunctionwithhermiddlevehicle,asacitizenof
generation.Dismissingtherefore,herfirsthabitwhichsubsistsaccording
toanalliancetothewholeofgeneration,and,layingasidetheirrational
naturewhichconnectsherwithgeneration,likewisegoverningher
irrationalpartbyreason,andextendingopiniontointellect,shewillbe
circularlyledtoahappylife,fromthewanderingsabouttheregionsof

sense;whichlifethosethatareinitiatedbyOrpheusinthemysteriesof
BacchusandProserpine,praythattheymayobtain,togetherwiththe
allotmentsofthesphere,andacessation5ofevil.Butifoursoul
necessarilyliveswell,whenlivingaccordingtothecircleofsameness,
Cmuchmoremustthisbethecasewithdivinesouls.Itis,however,
tcf.Orph.fr.226.
$cf.Phaedrus247b.
Foravaitevamhere,itisnecessarytoreadavonravoou.[cf.Orph.fr.226;and
SimpliciusOntheHeavens337,18.]
possibleforoursoultoliveaccordingtothecircleofsameness,when
purified,asPlatosays.Catharticvirtue,therefore,alonemustbecalled
thesalvationofsouls;*sincethiscutsoff,andvehementlyobliterates
materialnatures,andthepassionswhichadheretousfromgeneration;
separatesthesoulandleadsittointellect;andcausesittoleaveonearth
thevehicleswithwhichitisinvested.Forsoulsindescending,receive
fromtheelementsdifferentvehicles,aerial,aquatic,andterrestrial;and
thusatlastenterintothisgrossbulk.Forhow,withoutamedium,*
couldtheyproceedintothisbodyfromimmaterialspirits?Hencebefore
theycomeintothisbody,theypossesstheirrationallife,anditsvehicle,
whichispreparedfromthesimpleelements,andfromthesetheybecome
investedwithtumult,[orthegenesiurgicbody,]whichissocalledas
3,298beingforeigntotheconnatevehicleofsouls,andascomposedofallvarious
vestments,andcausingsoulstobecomeheavy.
DThewordadheringlikewise,manifeststheexternalcircumpositionof
avehicleofsuchakindasthatofwhichheisspeaking,andthe
colligationtotheonenaturecontainedinit;afterwhichthislastbody,
consistingofthingsdissimilarandmultiform,issuspendedfromsouls.
Forhowisitpossible,thatthedescentshouldbe[immediately]froma
lifewhichgovernsthewholeworld,5tothemostpartialformoflife?
Forthisparticularandindivisibleoutwardmancannotbeconnected
withtheuniverse,butapriordescentintoamediumbetweenthetwo,
isentirelynecessary;whichmediumisnotacertainanimal,butthe
supplierofmanylives.Forthedescentdoesnotdirectlyproducethe
lifeofacertainman,butpriortothisandpriortothegenerationofan
individual,itproducesthelifeofuniversal*man.Andasthelapseis
fromthatwhichisincorporealintobody,andalifewithbody,
accordingtowhichthesoullivesinconjunctionwithitscelestialvehicle;
sofromthis,thedescentisintoagenesiurgicbody,accordingtowhich
thesoulisingeneration;andfromthis,intoaterrestrialbody,according
towhich,itliveswiththetestaceousbody.Hence,beforeitis
surroundedwiththislastbody,itisinvestedwithabodywhich
connectsitwithallgeneration.Andonthisaccount,itthenleavesthis

body,whenitleavesgeneration.Butifthisbethecase,itthenreceived
Eit,whenitcameintogeneration.Itcamehowever,intogeneration,
tcf.68C,supra;andChald.Oracl.fr.196.
tcf.35A,f,supra;andChald.Oracl.fr.94&95.
cf.Euthydemus298c.
Itappearstome,thatthewordnadoXiKOVisherewanting.
priortoitslapseintothislastbody.Hencepriortothislastbodyit
receivedthatvehicle,andretainsthelatterafterthedissolutionofthe
former.Itlivestherefore,inthisvehiclethroughthewholeofthe
genesiurgicperiod.Onthisaccount,Platocallstheadheringtumult,the
irrational*formoflifeinthisvehicle;andnotthatwhichadherestothe
soulineachofitsincarnations,asbeingthatwhichcircularlyinvestsit
fromthefirst.Theconnascentvehicletherefore,makesthesoultobe
mundane;thesecondvehicle,causesittobeacitizenofgeneration;and
thetestaceousvehiclemakesittobeterrestrial.Andasthelifeofsouls
istothewholeofgeneration,*andthewholeofgenerationtothe
world,soarevehiclestoeachother.Withrespecttothecircumposition
3,299alsoofthevehicles,oneisperpetual,andalwaysmundane;anotheris
priortothisoutwardbody,andposteriortoit;foritisbothpriorto,
andsubsistsposteriortoit,ingeneration;andathirdisthenonly,when
itlivesacertainpartiallifeontheearth.Platotherefore,byusingthe
termadhering,andbysuspendingtheirrationalnaturefromthesoul,
accordingtoallitslives,distinguishesthisirrationalnaturefromthis
outwardbody,andthepeculiarlifeofit.Butbyaddingthewords
Fexternally,andafterwards,hedistinguishesitfromtheconnascentvehicle
inwhichtheDemiurgusmadeittodescend.Hence,thisvehiclewhich
causesthesoultobeacitizenofgeneration,isamediumbetweenboth.
Timaeustherefore,knewthevehicleoftheirrationallife,which
adherestouspriortothisoutwardbody.Forthatthisirrationaland
tumultuouscrowd,whichadherestous,fromfire,earth,air,andwater,
doesnotpertaintothefirstvehicle,isevident.Foragain,thismustbe
urged,inconsequenceofsomeoftheinterpretersnotfathomingthe
depthofthetheoryofPlatoconcerningthepsychicalvehicles.Hence,
331Asomeofthemdestroyingthe[first]vehiclearecompelledtomakethe
soultobesometimesoutofallbody.Butotherspreservingit,are
forcedtoimmortalizethevehicleoftheirrationallife;neitherofthem
separatingtheconnatefromtheadherentvehicle,thepriorfromthe
posterior,andthatwhichwasfashionedbytheoneDemiurgus,from
thatwhichwaswoventothesoulbythemanyDemiurgi,thoughthese
areclearlydistinguishedbyPlato.Itisevidenttherefore,thatthis
irrationalcrowdisnotintheconnatevehicleofthesoul,intowhichthe
Demiurguscausedthesoultoascend,forPlatoclearlysays,that"it

tFor\oyovhere,itisnecessarytoreadakoyov.
ifTheoriginal,whichisevidendycorruptanddefectiveinthisplace,is,Kmo>cfXH
""Po?Tt\vyeveoivV\T)V.Insteadofwhich,Iread,KmweexeiVtuV'pvxuvwpoqr(\v
yeveoivo\r)v.
adheredtothesoulafterwards."Itislikewisemanifest,thatneitherisit
thelifeinthetestaceousbody.Forifitwere,howisitthathesays,
thatthesoulinchangingitsbodies,willnotbefreedfromtheallotment
oflabours,tillitsubduesthetumultuousandirrationalcrowd,which
afterwardsadheredtoit?Hesaystherefore,thatthesoulexchangesone
lifeforanother,andthattheirrationalcrowdadheredto,butisnot
connatewithit.Forthiswouldbetochangethatwhichisappropriate
3,300andalliedtoit.Hence,ineachofthelivesofthesoul,thereisnota
mutationoftheirrationallife,asthereisofbodies.Thislifetherefore,
isdifferentfromtheentelecheia,whichisoneineachbody,and
inseparablefromit.Fortheoneisinherent,descendingwithusintothe
Brealmsofgeneration;buttheotherischangedtogetherwithbodies,
fromwhichitisinseparable.Hence,Timaeusknew,thattheirrational
lifeisdifferentfromthelifeofthefirstvehicle,andfromthelifeofthe
lastbody.Itisdifferentfromtheformer,becausehecallsitposterior,
andfromthelatter,becauseitisnotchangedinconjunctionwiththe
outwardbody.Foritisnecessarythatthesoulshouldsubdueit,when
itispresentwithit.Forthesoulisseparatedfromtheentelecheiaofthe
body,andchangingitsbodiesbetweenthelifeoftheetherealvehicle,
andthelifeofthetestaceousbody,itaccomplishesthegenesiurgic
period.Itishowever,disturbedbytheirrationallife.Buttothe
rejectionofsuchvehiclesasthese,whicharementionedbyPlato,who
particularlynameseachoftheelements,thephilosophiclifeindeed,as
hesays,contributes;butinmyopinion,thetelesticartismost
efficaciousforthispurpose;throughdivinefireobliteratingallthestains
arisingfromgeneration,astheOracles*teachus,andlikewiseevery
thingforeign,whichthespiritandtheirrationalnatureofthesoulhave
attractedtothemselves.
42d"Buthavinglegislativelypromulgatedallthesethings
tosouls,inorderthathemightnotbethecauseofthefuturedepravity
ofeach."
CInwhatisheresaid,Platogivescompletiontothedoctrineofthefirst
fabrication,butisestablishedatthebeginningofthesecond;preserving
indeedtheformer,liberated,monadic,exempt,undefiled,andunmingled
withsubordinatenatures;butsuspendingthelatterfromit,and
deliveringallthemeasures,thearrangement,andtheboundariesof
production,astheconsequenceofthelatter,beingperfectedand
governedby,andreceivingallthese,fromtheformer.Suchtherefore,

tChald.Oracl.fr.196;andalso68Bf,supra.
isthescopeoftheproposedwords.Directingourattentionhowever,
3,301tothedemiurgicsacredlaw,wemustnotsay,thatitresemblesthelaw
ofacity,whichahumanlegislatorestablishes,asenergizingonly
accordingtoexistence.Forthedemiurgicwillprecedestheenergy
whichisaloneestablishedinexistence,[orinasubsistenceaccordingto
being;]andinshort,itisnotlawfultoconsiderhumanasthesamewith
divineconcerns.Fortheformer,thoughtheyaresometimesassimilated
toadivinenature,yetarepartiblyassimilated,soasinonerespectto
imitatethestability,inanothertheefficacy,andinanotherthe
perfectivepower,ofdivinenatures.Normustweadmit,thatasacred
lawofthiskindisambiguous;asforinstance,thatifsomeoneshould
Dmakethesethings,thosewillfollow,butifnot,theoppositestothese,
willbetheresult,accordingtoadissimilar*intellection.Forthefather
ofwholescausallycomprehendsinhimself,alleffects;notapprehending
thembyindefinite,butbystablegenerauniformly,andperceiving
generatednaturesinanunbegottenmanner,thingscontingent
necessarily,andpartiblesimpartibly.Fortimeandplace,*were
generatedtogetherwiththeuniverse.TheDemiurgustherefore,ofthe
universe,establishedinhimselftheprinciplesofallthings,withouttime,
andwithoutinterval.Hence,itisnecessarytoadmit,thatthedemiurgic
thesmosistheintellectualorder,containedinthedivinethesmos,which
pervadesthroughallthings,ispresentwithallthingswithout
impediment,andguardsallthingswithpurity.ForIthinkthatthesmos
possessessomethingmorethanlaw,sofarasdeityalsoismoreexcellent
thanintellect.Forwesaythatlawisthedistributionofintellect,5but
thesmos,divineorder,andauniformboundary.Andthusmuchasto
theseparticulars.
Proceedinghowever,tothewordsofthetext,inthefirstplacewe
shalldemonstratethatPlatocomprehendsallthelawsofFatethrough
thedecad;becausethedecadalsoisconnatewiththedemiurgiccause.
ForsuchgoodsastheDemiurgusimpartstotheworld,endinthis
number,allofthembeingten.Forthedecadismundane,0asthe
EPythagorichymnsays;whichcallsittheuniversalrecipient,ancientand
3,302venerable,placingboundaboutallthings,andwhichisdenominatedthe
immutableandunwearieddecad.AlltheabovementionedlawsofFate
tInsteadofaiuviovhere,itisnecessarytoread,avoy.oiov.
XTim.38b.
cf.LawsIV,714a.
cf.96DE,f,supra.

thereforepertainingtosoulsareten.Foritisnecessarythatsouls
shouldbedisseminated;thatthereshouldbeonecommondescenttoall
ofthemineachperiod;thatthesouldescendinginthefirstgeneration,
shoulddescendintoapiousanimal;thatthesouldescendingintothe
humannature,shouldfirstpassintotheseedofman;thatthesoul
whichisinbody,shouldproducepartibleandmateriallives;thatthe
soulwhichvanquishesthemateriallife,shouldbejust,butthesoul
whichisvanquishedbyit,unjust;thatthejustsoulshouldreturntoits
kindredstar;thattheoffendingsoul,shouldagaindescendinthesecond
generation,intothenatureofwoman;thatthesoulwhichwasinthe
secondgeneration,shouldinthethirddescent,passintothenatureof
abrute;andinthelastplace,thetenthisthedemiurgiclaw,whichis
theonesaviourofthesoul,beingthelifewhichelevatesittotheperiod
ofthesameandthesimilar,andcausesthecircleofitswanderingin
Fgeneration,tocease.Alltheabovementionedlawstherefore,are
comprehendedinthedecad,becausethePythagoreansconsiderthedecad
asadaptedtotheDemiurgus,andtoFate.Andtheselawsare
disseminatedinsouls,inorderthattheymayleadthemselves;sincethe
Godswishtoruleoverselfmotivenatures,asselfmotive;andlikewise
inorder,thattheymaybetothemselvesthecausesoftheevilswhich
mayafterwardsbefallthem,andnottheDemiurgus.Forunlessthey
antecedentlycomprehendedthelawsofFate,ifindeed,theywerealways
332AsuperiortoFate,theywouldnotdescendintogeneration;butiftheyare
sometimestobeunderitsdominion,howcouldtheybeaccusedof
deviationsfromrectitude,whentheyhadnotpreviouslylearnedthe
punishmentordainedforsuchdeviations?Inordertherefore,thatthe
Demiurgusmightnotbeaccusedastheauthoroftheguiltofsouls,he
establishedintheiressencesthelawsofFate.
3,303Hence,thenatureofevilsmustnotbereferredtodivinity:foritis
heresaid,thatthemakerofthewholeworld,isnotthecauseofthem.
AndnotonlyisthisassertedoftheDemiurgusinthisplace,butinthe
Republicalso,*theprophetwhoproclaimsthedecreeofLachesissays,
"thattheelectingsoulisthecause[oftheevilwhichmaybefallit]butGod
isblameless."Sothatdivinityisneithertheantecedentcause,noratall
thecause,ofevils,butisblameless.*Forasitwassaidpriortothis,
divinitywaswillingthatdepravityshould,asmuchaspossible,haveno
existence.Eviltherefore,mustnotbereferredtoadivinenature,nor
tRep.X,617de.
XTim.30a.
mustitbesaid,thatitiswithoutaprinciple.Forifitiswithouta
principle,itwillbeunadornedandindefinite,andwillinjurethewhole
fabricationofthings.Forwhatwillbeabletoadornit,ifithasno

Bprincipleinbeings?Normustaprinciplebegiventoit,butthistotal.
Fornothingthatranksasawhole,isreceptiveofevil.Butallwholes
perpetuallypreservethesamenature,undefiled,andfreefromevil.
Hence,itisevidentthatevilsubsistsfromapartialprinciple.Andafter
whatmannerdoesitsubsistfromthis?Shallwesay,accordingtoa
precedaneoushypostasis?Bynomeans.Forthingswhichthussubsist
arebounded,andhaveanend,andareaccordingtonaturetotheir
generator.Eviltherefore,isimplantedinsoulsaccordingto
parypostasis,oradeviationfromsubsistence,eitherthroughaprivation
ofsymmetry,orthroughcommixture,orinsomeotherway.AndPlato
knowingthissays,"inorderthattheDemiurgusmightnotbethecauseof
thefuturedepravityofeach."Forthetermfuture,manifeststhe
hypostasisofdepravitytobeadventitious,foreign,andexternally
implanted.Butwhatisthelegislativepromulgation?Forevilshave
priortothisbeendiscussed.*Maywenotsay,thatitsignifiestheone
comprehensionintheDemiurgusofallthelawsofFate?*Forthesmos
iscomprehensiveofalllaws.AndthethesmosindeedinAdrastia
comprehendstheSaturnianandJovianlaws,andalsothelawsofFate;
butthethesmosintheDemiurgus,bothcomprehends,andgives
subsistenceto,mundanenatures.Thepromulgationhoweverwiththe
addition5[ofthewords,"allthesethingstosouls,"]signifiesthatthe
Cdominionofthisthesmosisextendedwithallthings,andthatits
providentialinspectionpervadestothelastofthings.
42d"Hedisseminatedsomeofthemintotheearth,othersintothemoon,
3,304andothersintotheotherinstrumentsoftime."
Itmustnotbesupposedthatthisseminationofsoulswaseffected
casually.0Forwhereinthingswhichsubsistperpetuallywith
invariablesamenessisitpossiblethattheindefiniteshouldintervene?
Normustitbethoughttobeameredistributionofthegenerator.For
thethingswhicharedisseminated,areneitheraltermotive,norsuchas
tcf.113Eff,supra.
$cf.Phaedrus,248c.
Insteadofirpodeoeughere,itisnecessarytoreadwpoodeoeuq.
cf.310Df,supra;&319Cf,supra;andalsoPlutarch,Platonic
QuestionsVIII,1006c,MoraliaXIII,vol.1,Loeb.
actwithoutdeliberatechoice.Butthisseminationissupernally
accomplished,conformablytothedemiurgicintellect,andwithwhich
thewillofsoulsthemselvesconcurs.Foreachofthembothknowsand
choosesitsproperorder,andestablishesitsvehicleinappropriateparts
oftheuniverse;eachnotbeingthesamewiththeGodsaboutwhomit
isdisseminated,assomesayitis;thusmakingaparttobethesameas

thewhole.Forifthiswereadmitted,thearrangementofleadersand
followerswouldheconfounded,andtheorderofundefiledsouls,andof
thosethatarenotsuch,wouldbesubverted.Nordoeseachofthese
soulsconnectitselfwithforeignparts,onewiththese,butanotherwith
thosepartsoftheuniverse.Foressentialsimilitudeprecedesasemination
Dofthiskind.Forwhatmaysomeoneassignasthecauseofthis
division?Isitthatpartialoughttobewithoutcoarrangementwithtotal
souls,andthattheirvehiclesoughttobeseparatedfromtotal
circulations?This,however,isimpossible,forpartseverywherefollow
wholes.Isit,therefore,becausesoulsdifferfromeachother?Andhow,
inshort,dotheydifferfromeachother,sincetheysubsistinimmaterial
forms?Shallwesaythen,thattheydifferfromeachother,butwerenot
distinguishedconformablytotheprecedaneousmeasuresofdivinesouls?
Andhowinthiscase,isascentandperfectioninserted*inthen,through
divinesouls?Wemustsaytherefore,thatthisseminationisentirely*
defined,conformablytoadivineandperfectintellect.Andthusmuch
astothisparticular.
Butletusinthenextplace,connectwiththis,asurveyofthewords
3,305severally.Theseminationofsoulstherefore,withtheirvehiclesabout
thejuniorGods,precedeseveryotherfabricationoftheseGods.Forit
isnecessarythattheyshouldhaveleadersnotonlyassouls,butas
mundanenatures;andthatasbeingallottedthegovernmentofanimals,
theyshouldbearrangedundersomeofthedivinecirculations.The
seminationhowever,exhibitsthroughtheverynameofit,thepartible
allotmentofthevehicles;thepowerwhichiscomprehensiveinthe
Einvisibleofallpartialintotalsouls;andtheprolificenergyofdivine
bodies,accordingtowhichtheyfillfromtheirownlife,partialvehicles,
withthepeculiarityofthemselves.Foreverythingthatissownreceives
somethingfromitssubjectearth.Hence,fromallthathasbeensaid,
thisisinthefirstplaceevident,thatthereisnodisseminationaboutthe
souloftheuniverse.Foritisnotpropertoopposethesemination
tFora<pr]Kevhere,IreadetpriKev.
$Insteadofiravminthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadKuvrq.
aboutthissoul,tothataboutothersouls,northewholeworldtoits
parts.Forifitwerepossibleforapartialsoultoremainonhigh,during
thewholeperiodoftheuniverse,itwouldbepossible*forasemination
ofsoulstotakeplace,aboutthesouloftheuniverse.Butthissoul
indeed,isarrangedintheworldasamonad.Foritisthecoarranged
monadofthemundanesouls,thatdistribute*thepowersofit.Forwith
eachofthedivinebodies,apowerofthesouloftheuniverseispresent.
Aboutthisnumberhowever,thegenera,thataresuperiortousand
partialsouls,aredivided,thesehavingtheorderofattendants.Andin

thesecondplace,thereisaseminationofsoulsineachofthesublunary
Felements,andinthecelestialspheres,andthestars.Wehavehowever
beforeshownwhatthenaturesareaboutwhichthedistributionofsouls
takesplace;5sothattheseminationalso,isaboutthevehiclesofthem.
Forallofthemcontributetothegenerationoftime,somebythem
3,306selves,butotherstogetherwithwholes,inthesamemannerasthestars.
Andallofthemaretheinstrumentsoftime.Forallthefixedstars,and
everymundaneGod,beingcircularlymoved,haveentirelyperiodsof
time,accordingtowhich,thewholetimeofthemundanelifeis
measured;andtheyhavelikewiseapocatastases,incommonwiththis
333Alife,andwitheachother.ButPlatoonlymakesmentionofthose
instrumentsoftime,theapocatastaticperiodsofwhichmaybeobtained
fromsense.Dividingthewholeworldhowever,intoheavenand
generation,heassumesthemoon,andtheearth,astheextremesofthese
accordingtoposition,andissatisfiedwiththese,becauseheisspeaking
ofthedivisionofthelastsouls,andtheseminationofthemostpartial
vehicles,whicharenaturallyadaptedtomutation,andtoapproximate,
andenterintothemostgrosscorporealmasses.
Aftertheseparticularsalso,itisworthwhiletoknowinthethird
place,thatvehiclesarelikewisedisseminatedaboutthefixedstars.For
everypartoftheworldisfullofpartialsouls,whoarespreadunder
theirsaviourGods,andfollowthedaemonsthataresuspendedfrom
them.0Butwhetheranyoneofthesepartialbodies,iselevatedabove
fForabwotrovhere,itisrequisitetoreadbvvarov.
XInsteadofmravaiwiiievriqinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoread
KarcaUfiaftfrur.
331Cf,supra.
cf.DamasciusII,9,21;&90,13.
theSaturniansphere;1orwhetherallofthemarearrangedinthe
planetaryspheresaccordingtoanalliancewiththefixedstars,deserves
Btobeconsidered.Foroftheplanetsthemselves,itissaidbythosewho
areskilledintheseaffairs,thatdifferentplanetsarealliedtodifferent
signsofthezodiac.Itisnotthereforeatallwonderful,ifthevehicles
ofsoulsbeingintheplanetaryspheres,differentvehiclesshouldrevolve
inconjunctionwithdifferentfixedstars.Forsomeonemayconceive
thistobemorerational,thantomakethemsituatedabovetheSaturnian
sphere;sincethisplace[i.e.theplanetarysphere]ismoreadaptedto
varietyoflife,*toatendencytogeneration,andtoanaturemingled
frombodiesthathaveacircular,andbodiesthathavearectilinear,
motion.Itisbetterhowevertosay,thatthereisaseminationaboutthe
3,307fixedstars,andthatthevehicleswhicharepurified,starryform,and
unencumbered,havingasimplelife,andamotionaboutintellect,and

wisdom,andfollowingtheperiodofthesame,ascendasfarastothe
inerraticsphere.Foritwouldberidiculous,thatsoulsshouldbe
distributedaboutthefixedstars,andthatthereshouldbeasemination
oftheirvehiclesaboutanotherthing.Forassoulistosoul,soisvehicle
tokindred5vehicle.Itisbetterthereforetoadmitthis,thantoassert
thatsoulsaredisseminatedthere,butthattheirvehicles0donotascend
asfarastothevehiclesofthefixedstars;sinceeverywherepartshasten
Ctowholes,whentheysubsistaccordingtonature,unlesstheyhappento
bedissolvedbythingsforeigntothenaturestowhichtheytend;the
psychicalvehiclesbeingindissoluble,andimmortal,throughtheir
generationfromtheoneDemiurgus.Theseassertionstherefore,are
rathertobeadmittedthantheformer,respectingtheseminationand
distributionofsoulsandtheirvehicles,bothofthembeingeffectedby
theDemiurgus.
Sincealso,theseminationisofsoulswiththeirvehicles,andnotof
soulsonly,aswasthecasewiththeformerdistribution,Platovery
properlysays,thattheDemiurgusdisseminatedsomeofthemintothe
earth,butothersintothemoon,indicatingthateachofthesesoulsisnow
man,andthefirstman;thedefinitionherelikewiseprevailing,thatman
tThereisanomissioninthisplaceintheoriginal,oftheworda^XLipav,which
evidentlyoughttobeinserted.
Xcf.Phaedrus,247b.
Insteadofov/ipiyechere,Ireadovyyeva.
Thereisanomissioninthisplaceintheoriginalofrotoxvmroc.
isasoulusingabody,andtheimmortalmananimmortalbody.*Itis
alsonecessarytoseparatethisimmortalfromeverymortalbody,in
orderthatmanmaybecomethatwhichhewaspriortohislapseinto
generation:*fortheseminationisnowofmen,butnotofsouls.Very
properlythereforeisitsaid,thatsomeofthemweredisseminatedinto
theearth,butothersintothemoon.Hencethesethingsmustbe
observedtogetherwithwhathasbeenbeforesaid,andlikewisethatsouls
willneverhaveasupermundanesituation,notevenaccordingtothose
whoadmit,thatthereareotherspheresbeyondthefixedstars;
Dthoughthehighestandmostsimpleofthevehiclesparticipateofethereal
splendour.Butthedistributionisdifferentfromthesemination.Forthe
former,isofsoulsalone;butthelatter,inconjunctionwithvehicles.
Henceinspeakingoftheformer,Platosays,5theDemiurgusdistributed
eachsoulintoeachstar;buthere,thathedisseminated,someintothe
earth,butothersintothemoon,becausenowtheyexertthehuman
characteristicproperty.Forthere,[i.e.inthestars,]manisasoulusing
animmortal0body,andthemanthereisperpetual.Thedistribution
3,308therefore,isdifferentfromthesemination,andtheformerissaidtobe,

intothestars,butthelatter,intotheinstrumentsoftime.Henceitmay
seem,thateachoftheseisintodifferentplaces.Fortheearthisnota
star,sothattherewillnotbeadistributionofsoulsaboutit;norarethe
fixedstarssaidtobeinstrumentsoftime,sotherewillnotbea
seminationaboutthem.Buttheplanetsalone,arebothstars,and
instrumentsoftime;sothataboutthese,therewillbebotha
distributionandasemination.Itismanifestlyabsurdhowever,that
boththeseshouldnottakeplaceabouttheearthandthefixedstars.For
ifitistheDemiurguswhobothdistributesanddisseminates,boththese
areessentiallyinherentinsouls;andifthisbethecase,itisnecessary
thatbothshouldbeaboutthesamething;inorderthattheapocatastasis
ofeverysoulmaybeintoonething,andthatitmaynotthroughthe
Edistributionmakeitsapocatastasisintoitskindredstar,butbecompelled
tomakeitintosomethingelse,throughaseminationintosomething
differentfromitskindredstar.Forthatwhichissown,isalliedand
adaptedtothatinwhichitisessentiallydisseminated.Iftherefore,these
thingsaretrue,theearthalso,mustbesaidtobeastar,notaccording
tcf.334A,infra.
tcf.Phaedrus,248c.
Tim.41d.
ThewordaBavaruisomittedintheoriginal.
toitsvisiblebulk,butaccordingtoitsetherealandstarryformvehicle;
sinceourvehiclelikewiseisathingofthiskind.Itmustalsobe
admitted,thatthefixedstarscooperateintheproductionoftime.*
Hencethese,sofarastheyhaveperiods,thoughunknowntous,
entirelymeasurethewholeoftime,someinone,andothersina
differentway.Forthereisnotthesameapocatastasisofallthefixed
stars;butwehavenocertainindicationfromsenseoftheircirculation,
aswehaveoftherevolutionsoftheplanets.
Allthepartsoftheworldtherefore,receivedisseminatedpartialsouls,
andeverymundaneGodistheprefectofpartialGodsandsouls,*
distributedanddisseminatedabouthim,5conformablytothedemiurgic
intellect.ButPlatosays,thattheonepeculiarlytakesplaceaboutthe
starts,andtheother,aboutthelastofwholes,themoonandtheearth;
indicatingbythis,theproperdignityofeach,viz.thattheoneismore
Fdivine,foritisincorporeal;buttheothersubordinate,forthe
seminationiswithbodies.Thishowever,isevidentfromthe
precedaneouscausesofthedistributionandthesemination,being
3,309mentionedbyhimseparatelyatdifferenttimes,eachbeingintothesame
things;bywhichhemanifeststhedifferenceofthemwithreferenceto
eachother.Hence,thoughthereisadistributionofthesoulaboutthe
earth,yetitissofarastheearthpossessessomethingstarryformand

incorporeal.Andthoughthereisadisseminationofitaboutastar,yet
itissofarasithassomethingalliedtoearth;butthisiscorporeal.The
earthandthemoonlikewise,wereassumedinthesemination,through
theiralliancetoeachother:foritiscommontothem,toproduce
334Ashadow.Andwhattheearthisinwholes,thatthemoonisamongthe
celestialbodies;sothattherewillbeanapocatastasisintotheearthof
thesoulsthatwereoriginallydisseminatedintoit,andallotmentsof
theminit.Butitisnotwonderful,ifPlatosaysinthePhaedrus,*that
thebetterallotmentsarecelestial,butthelast,subterranean.Forthere,
itwassolelyhisintentiontospeakoftheextremes,neithermentioning
theaerial,northeterrestrialfortunateallotments.Hence,whenhe
mentionsthosethatarelast,hedoesnotsimplysaythattheyare
terrestrial,butmanifestswhattheyarefromthetribunalsunderthe
tcf.261Aff,supra;andTim.38e.
%Vvxuvisomittedintheoriginal.
cf.34Csupra.
Phaedrus,249a.
earth:thedivineallotmentsintheearth,sofarastheearthisadivinity,
beingdifferentfromthoseofapunishingcharacteristic.Aswehavesaid
however,thedistributionmustbedistinguishedfromthesemination.
Forseminationespeciallypertainstocertaincorporealnatures;but
distribution,beingaseparationaccordingtoform,(andnotlike
semination,theplacing*ofsomethingsinothers,)transcendently
pertainstoincorporealnatures.Butsincetheassertionthatthe
Demiurgusdisseminatedsomesoulsintotheearth,butothersintothe
moon,hasareference,aswehavesaid,tomen,itmaybeassumedfrom
thePoliticus,*thatPlatoknewmanthatisanimmortalsoul,usingan
Bimmortalvehicle.Forhetheresays,thatsoulsweremeninthe
Saturnianperiod,accordingtowhichtheimmortalpartaloneofuslives.
Thathealsoknewanotherman,viz.thesoul,whichusesthemiddle
vehicle,isevidentfromthePhaedo,*wherehesays,thatmendwellon
thesummitoftheearth,wholiveforamuchlongertimethanthemen
thatarehere.Moreover,helikewiseknewthelastman,wholivesin
conjunctionwiththisoutwardbody.Andeverywheremanaccording
3,310tohimissoulusingabody;buteitheranimmortal,orthesecond,or
acompositebody.Hence,byaddingthedifferenceofbody,andofthat
whichusesit,weshallbeabletodefineman.
42d"Butthenafterthissemination,hedeliveredtothejuniorGods."
Whattheseminationis,whenceitaccedestosouls,thatitisdifferent
fromthedistribution,andthatitisthepeculiarityofpartible
fabrication,hasbeenfrequentlymentionedbyus,inwhathasbeen

beforesaid.ButitmustnowbeshownwhothejuniorGodsare.For
itisevidentthatthemundanearecalledjuniorGods.Theyappear
however,tobethusdenominatedbyPlato,eitherthroughcomparing
themwiththeancientandvenerablenatureoftheinvisiblefabrication,
andthetranscendencyofpower,andperfectionofintelligencecontained
Cinit.ForthatwhichismoreintellectualintheGodsismoreancient:
ButJovewasbornthefirst,andmoreheknows,
IliadXIII,335
saysHomer.Ortheyarethusdenominated,becausetheyalwaysmake
generationtobenew;andwhenitbecomesoldandimbecilethroughits
tForfleoiehere,itisnecessarytoreadBeaiq.
tPoliticus,271cff.
Phaedo,111aff.
subjectnature,againrecallittoasubsistenceaccordingtonatureby
theirmotions,sendingintoiteffluxionsofallvariousproductive
principlesandpowers,andthusrenderitperpetuallynew.Or,theyare
thuscalled,becausehavingintellectualessencessuspendedfromthem,
theyeternallyenergisewiththeacmeofintellectualvigour.For,asthe
poetssay,Hebepoursouttheirwine,andtheydrinknectar,*and
surveythewholesensibleworld.Employingthereforeimmutableand
undeviatingintellections,theyfillallthingswiththeirdemiurgic
providence.Ortheyhavethisappellation,becauseCureticdeityis
presentwiththem,*[ordeitybelongingtotheorderoftheCuretes,]
illuminatingtheirintellectualconceptionswithpurity,theirmotionwith
inflexibility,andsupplyingthewholeofthemwithrigidpower,through
whichtheygovernallthingswithoutdepartingfromthecharacteristics
oftheirnature.Or,whichisthetruestreasonofallthepreceding,they
arethusdenominated,becausethemonadofthemiscalledtherecent
God.FortheologistsgivethisappellationtoBacchus,5whoisthe
Dmonadofallthesecondfabrication.ForJupiterestablishedhimthe
3,311kingofallthemundaneGods,anddistributedtohimthefirsthonours,
Tho'youngtheGod,andbutaninfantguest.D
Onthisaccountalso,theologistsareaccustomedtocallthesunarecent
God,andHeraclitussaysthatthesunisadiurnalyouth,asparticipating
ofDionysiacalpower.Or,forareasonmostappropriatetoPlatonic
principles,theyarethusdenominated,becausebodieswhichhave
generationaresuspendedfromthem;andtheessenceoftheseisnot
allottedasubsistenceineternity,butinthewholeoftime.Theyare
juniortherefore,notasoncebeginningtoexist,butasbeingalways

generated,and,aswehavebeforeobserved,subsistinginbecomingtobe,
orperpetuallyrisingintoexistence.Foreverythingwhichisgenerated
hasnotthewholeofwhatitpossessespresentatonce,nora
simultaneousinfinity,butaninfinitywhichisperpetuallysupplying.
Thusthereforetheyarecalledjunior,ashavingasubsistencecoextended
tcf.Iliad,IV,2ff.
Xcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,138,12ff.
cf.fr.6.
Intheoriginal,anddoubtlessfromOrpheus,
Kaiireptovnveu,KmegiriueikanvaarTj.
Orph.fr.191,seealso313Bsupra;andProcl.Comm.Parmen.687.
withtime,andalwaysadvancingintoexistence,*andaspossessinga
renovatedimmortality.
42de"Theprovinceoffashioningmortalbodies,andbesidesthistorule
overwhateverelseremainednecessarytothehumansoul,andover
everythingconsequenttotheirfabrications."
Thedeliveryofthefirstfabricationisacommunicationandgeneration
Eofdemiurgicpowers,exemptfromeverythingwhichthesecond
fabricationproducesproximately,aprogressionofproductionfromthe
unapparentintotheapparent,andadivisionofuniformpowerintothe
multipliedgovernmentoftheworld.Buttheformationofbodies
assimilatesthejuniorGodstotheunapparentfabrication.Forthatwas
thecauseofbodiesthatrankaswholes,justastheyarethecausesof
partialbodies,atthesametimeexhibitingadiminutionofpower.For
ofthebody,ofwhichtheyarethemakersandformers,theDemiurgus
alsoisthecause;buttheyaretheformersofpartialbodies,whichare
bodiesenduedwithcertainqualities.Hencebodyindeedissimply
3,312unbegottenasfromtime,andincorruptible,aswasalsotheopinionof
Aristotle.*For,sayshe,therewouldbeavacuumifbodycouldbe
generatedexternal5tothebodyoftheuniverse.Butthisparticular
bodyiscorruptible,asbeingofapartialnature;forthewholesofthe
elementsderivedtheirsubsistencefromtotalfabrication.Theaccession
howeverofthehumansoulwhichremained*tobegenerated,
assimilatesthemundaneGodstothepaternalpower.Foritisthe
provinceofafathertogeneratelife;sincethefirstfather,andevery
Ffatheristhecauseoflife;theintelligiblefatherindeed,ofintelligible,but
theintellectualofintellectual,andthesupermundaneofsupermundane
life.Andhence,themundaneGodswhogeneratecorporeallifeare
fathers.Thefabricationhowever,adaptedtotheseGods,producesthe
natureofpartialanimals.Forthispartialanimal,whichissuspended
fromtheimmortalsoul,consistsofsoulandbody.Thefabricationalso

ofotherthingsregardsthis:forpartsaregeneratedforthesakeofthe
whole.ButthedominionwhichtheDemiurgusgavethejuniorGods,
excitestheirprovidentialinspection,theirconnectivepower,andtheir
guardiancomprehensions.Forwithoutthese,thebodiesthatare
tcf.Politicus270a.
%cf.PosteriorAnalytics,I,24,85bl8;&Generation&Corruption,I,5,320b22ff.
Forelovauiiaroq,itisnecessarytoread6woojfiarog.
ForXU7T7JC,itisrequisitetoreadXonrj;?.
fashioned,andthemortalformoflife,wouldrapidlyvanishintonon
335Aentity.Priortherefore,tothegenerationofthese,theDemiurgusmade
theirrulingGodstobetheguardiansandsavioursofthem.Inthe
juniorGodstherefore,therearedemiurgicpowers,accordingtowhich
theyinvestgeneratednatureswithforms;vivificpowers,accordingto
whichtheygivesubsistencetoasecondarylife;andperfectivepowers,
throughwhichtheygivecompletiontowhatisdeficientingeneration.
Therearealsomanyotherpowersinthembesidesthese,whichare
inexplicablebyourconceptions.
42e"Helikewisecommandedthemtogovernasmuchaspossibleinthe
bestandmostbeautifulmannerthemortalanimal,thatitmightnot
becomethecauseofeviltoitself."
OfallthattheoneDemiurgusdeliverstothejuniorGods,itmustbe
admittedthattherearethreemostbeautifulboundaries,theboniform
willofhimthatdelivers,theperfectpoweroftherecipients,andthe
symmetryofboththesewitheachother.Ofthedemiurgicproduction
3,313however,ofthejuniorGodsthemselves,threeelements,andthesethe
Bgreatest,mustbeagainsurveyed,viz.areductiontoTheGood,a
conversiontointelligiblebeauty,andaliberatedpowersufficienttorule
overallthesubjectsofitsgovernment.ForasPhanes*himself,the
Demiurgusofwholes,renderedthewholeworldasmuchaspossiblethe
mostbeautifulandthebest,thusalsohewaswillingthatthesecond
fabricatorsshouldgovernthemortalanimalinawaythemostbeautiful
andthebest;pouringonthemindeedfromintelligibles,beauty,but
fillingthemwiththatboniformpowerandwill,whichhehimself
possessingfabricatedthewholeworld.Forthusgenerationalsowill
participateofbeautyandgoodness,asfarasitisnaturallyadaptedto
suchparticipation,iftheGods,bywhomitisconnectedandcontained,
adornit,sincetheyarethemselvestranscendentlydecoratedwithbeauty
andgood.
Ifhowever,thesecondDemiurgihavesuchanatureasthis,nothing
evilorpreternaturalisgeneratedfromthecelestialGods;norisitproper

todividetheGodsintheheavensafterthismanner,asmanydo,viz.
intothebeneficentandmalignant;forbeingGodsthisisimpossible.
Butthemortalanimalisthecauseofeviltoitself.Forneitherdisease,
Cnorpoverty,*noranythingelseofthiskindisevil;butthedepravity
tie.Jupiter,whoissocalledinthisplacebyProclus,becausehecontainsin
himselfbyparticipationthePhanesorProtogonus,whoistheparadigmofthe
universe.
%Foriroj'Tjpia,itisnecessarytoreadTtevia.
ofthesoul,intemperance,timidity,andeveryvice.Ofthesethings
however,wearethecausestoourselves.Forthoughbeingimpelledby
otherstotheseviceswearebadlyaffected,yetagainitisthrough
ourselves;sincewehavethepowerofassociatingwiththegood,and
separatingourselvesfromthebad.AccordingtoPlatotherefore,we
mastnotthinkthatoftheGodssomearemalignantandothers
beneficent,butwemustadmitthatallofthem,arethesourcesto
mortalsofallthegoodwhichtheyareabletoreceive;andthatthings
whicharetrulyevilsarenotproduced,butareonlysignifiedbythem,
aswehavebeforeobserved.*Fortheyextendterrificappearancesand
signstothosewhoareabletoseeandreadthelettersintheuniverse,
whichtheframersofmortalnaturesduringtheirrevolutionswriteby
3,314theirconfigurations.Andthoughsomeoneshouldderiveacertainevil
fromthemotionsofthecelestialGods,soastobecometimidor
intemperate,yettheyoperateinoneway,andtheirinfluencesare
participatedbysoulsinanother.Fortheeffluxofintellect,says
Plotinus,*becomescraftinhimwhoreceivestheeffluxbadly;thegift
Dofanelegantlifebecomesintemperancethroughasimilarcause;andin
short,whiletheyproducebeneficently,theirgiftsareparticipatedby
terrestrialnatures,afteracontrarymanner.Hencethegiverswho
bestowbeneficentlyarenottobeaccusedastheauthorsofevil,butthe
recipientswhoperverttheirgiftsbytheirowninaptitudes.Thusalso
JupiterinHomer5blamessoulsasinvainaccusingtheGods,whilethey
themselvesarethecausesofevils.FortheGodsarethesourcesofgood,
andthesuppliersofintellectandlife,butarenotthecausesofanyevil;
sinceevenapartialnatureisnotthecauseofeviltoitsoffspring.What
thereforeoughtwetothinkconcerningtheGodsthemselves?Isitnot,
thattheyaremuchmorethecausesofgoodtotheirproductions,since
withthemthereispower,withthemthereisaselfperfectnature,with
themthereisuniversalgoodness,toallwhicheviliscontrary.Forin
itsownnatureitispowerless,imperfectandwithoutmeasure.
42e"Atthesametimehewhoorderlydisposedalltheseparticulars,
remainedinhisownaccustomedmanner."

EPlatoeverywhere,afterhavingemployedmanywords,summarily
comprehendsthemultitudeofthemintheconclusion.Forheknew
tcf.284A288D,supra.
$Enn.I,7&8.
OdysseyI,32ff.
thatintheDemiurgus,oneintellectualperceptioncomprehendsthe
multitudeofintellectualconceptions,thatonepowerconnectsmany
powers,andthatauniformcausecollectsintooneuniondividedcauses.
3,315Hencethewords[priortothese]"Havingthereforeinstructedsoulsinall
theseparticulars,"andthewordsbeforeus,"Hewhoorderlydisposedall
theseparticulars,"*leadthedistinctenergyoftheDemiurgustoanunited
cause.Fartherstill,thewordall,manifeststhatwhichisconsummated
fromallitsappropriateboundaries.Butthewordsorderlydisposed,
indicatetheorderpervadingthroughallbeings,whichtheDemiurgus
introducedtothemundaneGods,andtopartialsouls;demonstratingthe
formertobeDemiurgi,butinscribinginthelatterthelawsofFate.
Moreover,thewordremained,doesnotmanifeststation,andinflexible
intellection,butanestablishment*inTheOne.Foraccordingtothisthe
Demiurgusisexemptfromwholes,andisseparatedfromthebeingsthat
intellectuallyperceivehim.Butthisestablishmentitselfiseternal,and
Falwaysinvariablypermanent.Thesethingstherefore,arealsoindicated
bythewordsaccustomedandmanner;theoneexhibitingsamenessof
permanency;buttheotherthepeculiarityofthedemiurgicstability.
Formannerisindicativeofpeculiarity;sinceconnectiveisdifferentfrom
immutable,andboththesefromdemiurgicpermanency.
42e"Butinconsequenceofhisabiding,assoonashischildrenunderstood
theorderoftheirfather,theybecameobedienttoit."
WhentheDemiurgusspeaks,thenthejuniorGodshavetheorderof
hearers.Whenheintellectuallyperceives,thentheylearn;forlearning
isdianoetic.Whenheabidesaccordingtounionitself,thenhischildren
intellectuallyperceive.Fortheyalwaysreceivefromhimaninferior
336Aorder.Andasfilledindeedfromhim,theypreservetheanalogyof
hearerswithreferencetohim;butasevolvinghisonepower,theyare
analogoustolearners.Forhewholearnsevolvestheintellectofhis
preceptor.Asbeingdeifiedhoweverbyhim,theyhavetheanalogyof
thosethatperceiveintellectually.Forintellectbecomesdeific,byits
contact5withTheOne.Thefatherthereforeabiding,hischildrenvery
properlyintellectuallyperceive.Fortheyareintellectsparticipatedby
3,316divinesouls,thatrideinthevehiclesofundefiledbodies.Butthey
Tim.42d.

ForiBpvav,itisnecessarytoreadiSpvatv.
Ea<prjiserroneouslyprintedforoxpri.
intellectuallyperceivetheorderofthefartherpresubsistinginhimprior
tothearrangedeffects,accordingtowhichorderhebecameallthings.
ForwhatOrpheussaysofthemonadofthejuniorGods,
ThoughallthingsbythefatherJovewereform'd,
YettheircompletiontheytoBacchusowe;
Fr.192
thisalsomustbesaidofthejuniorGods,viz.thattheygiveperfection
tothefabrication,whichthefatherconstitutedbyintellectionitself;just
asthe[Chaldean]Oraclelikewisesays,*"Thesethingsthefather
understood,andthemortalnaturebecameanimatedforhim."Mortal
Bnaturestherefore,werefashionedandanimatedbythedemiurgic
intellectionalone.ButthejuniorGodsunfoldhistotalproduction,
throughtheirownmanifestfabrication,beingfilledfromthedemiurgic
monad.
42e"Andreceivingtheimmortalprincipleofmortalanimal,inimitation
43aoftheirartificer,theyborrowedfromtheworldthepartsoffireand
earth,waterandair,asthingswhichtheyshouldrestorebackagain;and
conglutinatedthereceivedpartstogether,butnotwiththesame
indissolublebondsasthosebywhichtheywereconnected."
Platoindicatestous,theseparationofthesecondfromthefirst
fabrication,throughmanywordsandsteps.*ForiftheDemiurgus
orderlydisposes,butthejuniorGodsareobedienttohismandates,the
formerbymerelycommandingisthecauseofgeneratednatures,butthe
latterbeingexcitedbytheDemiurgus,receivefromthencetheboundary
ofthewholeoftheirfabrication.Andifindeedheabidesinhimself,
buttheyaremovedabouthim,itisevidentthatheiseternallythecause
ofthingswhichsubsistintime,butthatthey,beingfilledfromhim,
Cenergiseaccordingtothewholeoftime.Andifheperfectlyestablishes
himselfinhisownaccustomedmanner,buttheyproceedingfromhim,
3,317unfoldintolightthisunitedandineffabledispositionofhimself,they
derivefromhimsecondarymeasuresoffabrication.
Moreover,heissaidtohaveapaternaldignity,buttheyare
denominatedhischildren,asexpressinghisprolificpower,andhissingle
goodness.Andheindeed,iscelebratedasdeliveringfromhisexalted
tcf.Chald.Oracl.fr.25.
%ForKmffcxdeuv,itisnecessarytoreadKm(iadjxuv.

abodetheprinciplesoffabrication;*buttheyarecelebratedasreceiving
theimmortalprinciplecontributingtotheorderlydistributionof
mortals.Heissaidtohavethefountainofthevivificationofperpetual
natures;buttheyarethecausesofthesubsistenceofmortalformed
animals.Andheindeed,extendshimselfasaparadigmtothemany
Gods;buttheyaresaidtoimitatethedemiurgicintellect.Heissaidto
producethewholeworld,andtheplenitudesofit;buttheyaresaidto
borrowpartsfromthefabricationsoftheirfather,inordertothe
completionoftheirproperworks.Andheindeed,employsall
incorporealpowers;buttheyalsoemploysuchasarecorporeal.He
Dgivessubsistencetoindissolublebonds;buttheytosuchasare
dissoluble.Andheindeed,issaidtoinsertaunionmoreancientthan
thenatureswhichitunites;buttheyaresaidtointroducean
adventitiousunion,andwhichisofanoriginposteriortothis,tothe
beingsthatconsistofmanycontrarynatures.Andheissaidtoproduce
allthingsimpartibly;buttheywithdivision,minutelydistributingthe
subsistenceofmortalnaturesintosmallandinvisiblenails.Fromthese
thingstherefore,theseparationofthetwofabricationsmaybeassumed;
buttheunionandcontactofthemmaysurveyedfromthewordsbefore
us.Forhereacontactiseffectedofthesecondwiththefirstfabrication;
ofapparentwithunapparent,andofdividedwithmonadicproduction.
Henceitisnecessarythatthelowestpartofthefirstandunapparent
fabrication,shouldcoalescewiththesummitofthesecond.Forthus
alsotheheavensareconjoinedwithgeneration[orthesublunaryregion,]
thelowestofthecelestialbodiesexhibitingtheprincipleofmutation;
butthesummitoftheessenceofsublunarynatures,beingmovedincon
3,318junctionwiththeheavens.Hencetoo,herealsotherationalsoulis
Econjoinedwiththemortalformoflife;viz.thelowestandmostpartial
oftheproductionsofthefatherwiththehighestofthenaturesgenerated
bythejuniorGods.Fortheyindeed,asbeingcertainfathersproduce
lives;butasfabricators,bodies.AndtheyimitateindeedVulcanbythe
fabricationofbodies,butJunobyvivification.*Butthroughboththese
theyimitatethewholeDemiurgus.Forheismakerandfather;butthey
fashionbodiesbyborrowingpartsfromwholes.Foreverywhereparts
derivetheircompositionfromwholes.When,however,thewholesare
incorporeal,theyremainundiminishedbythesubsistenceoftheparts;
butwhentheyarecorporeal;thepartsthataregeneratedfromthem
tcf.Rep.X,617d.
%cf.25A,f,supra.
diminishthewholes.Henceanablationalwaystakingplace,butthe
partsalwaysremaining,thewholesperish.Andthusgenerationwillno

longerexist,andtheworksofthefirstfabricationwillallvanish
throughthesecond,whichitisnotlawfultoassert.Thatnothingof
thiskindthereforemaytakeplaceintheuniverse,thecompositeparts
areagaindissolved,inordertofilluptheirwholes.Andthegeneration
ofonethingisthecorruptionofanother;butthecorruptionofone
Fthingisthegenerationofother;inorderthatgenerationandcorruption
mayalwaysremain.Forifgenerationexistedatacertaintimeonly,it
wouldatacertaintimestop,inconsequenceofconsistingoffinite
things,andthesebeingconsumed.Buttheseperishing,corruptionalso
wouldstop,allthingsbeingdestroyed.Henceifitisnecessarythatone
oftheseshouldexist,theotheralsowillexist.Everythingtherefore
whichisgeneratedfromthesecondfabrication,isacompositeand
dissoluble,andderivingitscompositionfromtime,willalsointimebe
againdissolved.ThejuniorGodstherefore,areveryproperlysaidto
borrowparts,whichareagaintoberestoredtotheirwholes.Butthey
borrowthemfromtheuniverse.*Forthatwhichtheyborrowisfire,
337Aearth,water,andair;andtheyagainrestorethemtotheuniverse.*The
fatherthereforewishesthewholestoremainwhichhegeneratedand
arranged.Andthusmuchconcerningallthefabricationofthejunior
Gods.
3,319Letushowever,directourattentiontoeachofthewordsofTimaeus.
Thewordreceivingtherefore,indicateshowthejuniorGodsreceivethe
immortalsouldescendinginitsfirstvehicle:forhecallsthewhole"the
immortalprinciple."Italsoindicates,thateverywhere,ourconcernsare
providentiallyattendedtobytheGods,aboveindeed,bythefather,but
beneath,byhischildren,ifitberequisitetospeakinadividedmanner.
Foroursoul,atonetimelivesaccordingtothecharacteristicofJupiter,5
andatanotheraccordingtothatofBacchus;butinitsarrangement[on
theearth,]itlivesTitannically.9Thewordprinciplehowever,doesnot
simplymanifest,thatwhichisfirstinthecompositionofman,butthat
whichistheleaderandrulerofsecondarynatures.Forthisisthat
whichisaccordingtonature,andforthispurposeitwasproducedby
theGods.Astherefore,theDemiurgusconstitutedthesoulofthe
Buniversetoruleoverthebodyofit,solikewise,themanyDemiurgi
fForTCUTpoQ,itisnecessarytoreadnavroc,.
$Herealsoforirarpi,itisnecessarytoreadicavn.
cf.313Cff,supra.
establishedoursoulastheprincipleinthemortalanimal.Ifhowever,
wedonotruleoverthemortalnature,thepowerwhichgavethis
arrangementtooursoulisnotthecauseofthis,buttheindolenceof
thatwhichisarranged.Butthewordimmortalcomprehendsevery
naturewhichtheDemiurgusconstituted,boththatwhichisinthe

vehicle,andtherationalsoulitself,whichwasperfectlyproducedbythe
father,whodisseminatedthewholeofit,andfromwhomitoriginated.
Again,however,Timaeusshows,thatthejuniorGodsarethevivific
causesandfabricatorsofthemortalanimal,butthattheyareeachof
these,inconjunctionwithmotion,inorderthattheirfabricationsmay
bemortal.
Moreover,thewords,"inimitationoftheirartificer,"areappropriate.
ForthejuniorGodsfabricatebodies,imitatingthedemiurgic
characteristicofthefather.Andasheconstitutedtheuniverseawhole
fromthewholesoftheelements,solikewisetheyfashionpartialbodies
frompartialbodies,inorderthattogetherwiththeimitation,
diminutionmaybepreserved,andthattheymayremainDemiurgi,but
theDemiurgiofapartialfabrication.Theexpressionalso,they
borrowed,manifests,thatthepartsinusaremorethepropertyofwholes,
andofthingsabove,thantheyareourproperty.Butifthisbethecase
Cwhyshouldmengrievewhentheydie?Andwhyisdissolution
dreadful?Buthowisitpossibleitshouldnotbegood,iftheuniverse
receiveswhatisitsown?Foritiseasytoperceive,thatthepartsinus
3,320belonginagreaterdegreetotheuniversethantotheus.Fortheplaces
ofalltheseareinwholes,andnotinus.But"theconglutinationofthe
receivedpartstogether,"evincesthattheunioninmortalnaturesisof
posteriororigin,andadventitious.Forintheuniversethewhole
precedestheparts,andTheOne,multitude.Butinus,manythings,and
whicharenaturallyseparatedfromeachother,areconglutinated,
receivingaviolentandrenovatedunion.Hencethebondsofthemare
dissoluble;butthebondsofwholesareindissoluble,unionthere
subduingmultitude.
43a"Buttheygavethematenaciousadherencefromthicksetnails,
invisiblethroughtheirsmallness;fabricatingthebodyofeach,onefrom
thecompositionofall[theelements];andbindingtheperiodsofthe
immortalsoulininfluxiveandeffluxivebody."
Becauseinwhatisheresaid,inthesamemannerasbefore,Plato
constitutesthefirstvehicleofthesoulthatisabody,*fromthe
elements,itisevidentthatneitheristhisbodyindivisible,asbeing
generatedfromthingswhicharetobereturned.Butitisnot
immanifest,thatasthatvehicleisone,thistestaceousbodylikewiseis
Dinasimilarmannergeneratedone.Theformerhowever,hasindeeda
moresimpleunionofsimplevestments;butthelatteramorevarious
union,asbeingofamorecompositenature.Hencethereindeed;that
whichwascomposedoffireandwater,airandearth,*beinganalogous
toacrowd,manifestedwesaid,thesecondvehicle,andthelifecontained
init.Butinwhatisnowsaid,thetestaceousbody5issignified.For

Platoinspeakingofit,isnotsatisfiedwiththingsofasimplenature,but
addssuchasareadaptedtoanorganicbody.Foritisnotpossiblethat
thisshouldaloneconsistofsimpleelements.0Beginningtherefore,
fromthingsmoreimperfectandmaterial,andproducingthings
consistingofsimilarparts,andfromthesetheorganicbody,hegivesit
3,321toparticipateofsoul.ForthejuniorGodsborrowingpartsfrom
wholes,assumedsuchpartsasaresimple,andmadethevehiclesof
Eirrationalsouls,whichhebeforedenominated,atumultuousand
irrationalcrowd,composedoffireandearth,airandwater.But
conglutinatingthese,theygeneratedthingsofsimilarparts,the
compositionofwhichisfromthefourelements.Andcausingthethings
generatedtoadherethroughthicksetnails,theygavecompletiontothe
organicbody.Forthisitis,which,ashesays,isinwantofallsmall
andinvisiblenails,throughitscompositionfromdissimilarnatures;and
ofthicksetnails,throughthefacilitywithwhichthecompositionmay
bedissolved.
fi.e.Theaerialvehicle;forthisisthefirstvehicleofthesoulthatisabody,the
etherealorperpetualvehicle,nothavingthreedimensions,butbeingasuperficies,in
consequenceofitsattenuatedandimmaterialnature.HencealsotheChaldaeanOracle
exhorts,nottogivedepthtoasuperficies,andcauseittobeterrestrialandhumid,
throughanimpurelife.[cf.Chald.Oracl.104&134.]
%Tim.42cd.
Intheoriginalinthisplace,thereisanomissionofTOooTpewSec,;butIhaveno
doubtthiswordoughttobeinserted.
Thereisanhiatushereintheoriginal,whichrendersthetwolinesthat
immediatelyfollowitunintelligible,andwhichIhavenotthereforeattemptedto
translate,[ie.fromIII,320,2430.].
Wesaytherefore,thatthethicksetandinvisiblenails,aretheinsertions
ofsmallandinvisibleelements,inthesolidparts*ofthebody.Butthe
colliquefaction*isadaptedtoVulcanianworks;fireproducingthrough
rarefaction5inthecolliquefaction,aprocessionofallthingsthrough
eachother;justasinthingswhicharemeltedtogether,thesmallerenter
intothelargerparts,inthemelting;andthusthemixtureiseffected.
Henceitfollows,thatbyconglutinatingthethingsreceived,thejunior
Godsproduceabody,notconsistingofindissolublebonds,butofparts
Fwhichtenaciouslyadheretoeachother,throughthickset,small,and
invisiblenails.Forliquefaction,0andconglutination0arenecessary
tothegenerationofthingsofsimilarparts,thelatterofwhich,moisture
imparts,**andtheformer,heat.Foreverythingisliquefiedbyfire,
butconglutinatedbywater.Soulthereforeaccedes,aftertheunionof
manythingsofadissimilarnature.Andinthefirstplace,thesoul
whichisentirelymortalaccedes.Forthroughthis,theeffluxivebody

subsists,viz.throughthephysical,sensitive,andorectivelife.Butinthe
secondplace,theimmortalsoulaccedes.Forthisdoesnotentersimply
intobody,butintoaninfluxiveandeffluxivebody.Andtheformer
338Aindeed,isgeneratedwiththebody;butthelatter,entersintothebody.
Thistherefore,istheorderoffabrication,andisattendedwithareason
consentaneoustotruth.Forallgenerationbeginsfromtheimperfect,
3,322andregularlyproceedstotheperfect.Andintheuniverseindeed,
fabricationproceedsfromintellectandsoul,asfarastobodies:forthe
generationiswithouttime.[Butinmortalnatures,fabricationisin
conjunctionwithbody,**]foritistemporal.Everythinghowever,
whichisgeneratedintime,commencesthegenerationfromthe
imperfect.Sothatifthereisanythingwhichdoesnotbeginfromthe
fForwit;neXonevtorepoichere,asthereisnosuchwordintheGreeklanguage,
Iread,701cp.e\em,orepeoiQ.
$InsteadofOVVTOLIIVhere,itisnecessarytoreadovvrqZiv.
Forotpeuoeuc,inthisplace,readapaiuoeuq.
ForTaeuchere,readTTjecoc.
oForKaWrioeuq,readKoXXrjaeuc.
ftInsteadofirapepxiTaiinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTrapexerai.
Thewordswithinthebracketsanomittedintheoriginal;butIhavenodoubt
oughttobeinserted.Sothatthereiswantingintheoriginal,em5eTUVdvifruv,p.era
TOVOUHOITOC..
imperfect,thatthingisnotgeneratedintime.*Hencetheuniversewas
notgeneratedintime.FortheDemiurgusdidnotfirstconstitutebody
butsoul,aswehavebeforeobserved;whichmanifests,thatwhatis
calledgeneration,iswhenappliedtotheuniverse,anunbegottenand
simultaneouscomposition.Andintheuniverseindeed,thewhole
subsistspriortotheparts,andtheone,tomultitude;butinmortal
naturesthemanyaregeneratedpriortotheone;andthesebeing
Bliquefiedthroughthicksetnails,givecompletiontoonething.For
simplebodiesareliquefied,buttheliquefiedbodiesarenailed,thenailed
bodiesarevivified,andthevivifiedbodiesarecoadaptedtothe
immortalsoul.
Fromthesethingsalso,itisevident,thatitmustbesaid,theinsertion
ofthesoulaccordingtoPlatotakesplaceatthetimethattheinfant
proceedsoutofthewomb:forthenthefoetusisperfect,butnotbefore.
Fornaturewouldnotinvaindetainitinthewomb,ifitwasperfect.
Whenthereforethefoetusbecomesoneandwhole,thentheimmortal
soulentersprofoundlyintoit.Butthefoetusbecomesonewhenitis
perfect,andisperfectwhenithasproceededintolight.Forwhileit
remainswithin,*itisapartofanotherthing.Thesoultherefore,isnot
boundtotheseedbytheGods,norisit,assomethink,emitted

togetherwiththeseed,butwhenthebodyisnowgenerated,theperiods
ofthesoulareconnectedwithit.5Forwhereintheseedistherea
bodygeneratedfrommanyandthicksetnails?Hence,whenthe
instrumentisrenderedperfect,thentheGodsbindtoitthesoulthatis
touseit.Andthusmuchastothisparticular.
3,323ButPlatocallstheperiodsofthesoul,theenergiesofit,whichproceedinto
theanimalandthetwofoldpowersofthesameandthedifferent.Allthe
CsoulthereforedescendsaccordingtoPlato.Forhealonegivestoittwo
circlesandtwoperiods,andleadsdownwardbothofthem.Sothat
whatPlotinussays,0whocontendsthatthewholesouldoesnot
descend,isamorenovelassertion.Withrespecthowever,tothethick
setnails,somesupposethemtosignifytheconjunctionofthetriangular
tForOVKaxpopovinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadovKara\povov.
%Intheoriginalthereisanhiatushere.Fortheoriginalis,reXeiov8e,orav
iT6\0T/***p.evovyapaXKovfitpoq<JTIP.Thisdeficiencyhowever,maybesupplied
byreading,conformablytotheabovetranslation,T\eiovSe,oraveirtXftjetc.(puq.
p.evovyaptvbov,aXKov(legeaXKov)ptpoqeanv.
ForavroiQhere,itisnecessarytoreadavru.
Enn.IV,8,8.
elements;butaccordingtoIamblichus,theyindicatethecommunionof
physicalproductivepowers,justasthecolliquefaction*signifiesthe
demiurgicconnectionandunionofthem.Butwehaveshownwhatthe
nails,theconglutinations,andthecolliquefactionsare,andwhatthe
theoryis,whichisadaptedtothenatureofallthese.
43b"Thesehowever,beingboundinavastriver,neithervanquish,norare
vanquished."
Platoconjoiningthesoultothebodyimmediately,omitsallthe
problemspertainingtothedescentofthesoul,theprophet,the
allotments,thelives,theelections,thedaemon,theerectionoftentsin
theplainofLethe,thethunderandlightning,andallsuchparticularsas
DthefableintheRepublic*discusses.Neitherdoesheheredeliverthose
thingswhichtakeplaceaftertheexitofthesoulfromthepresentlife,
viz.theterrors,therivers,Tartarus,thosesavageandfierydaemons,the
thorns,thebellowingmouth,thetriplepath,andthejudges,inwhich
weareinstructed,bythefableintheRepublic,*intheGorgias,0and
inthePhaedo.0Whatthen,someonemaysay,isthecauseofthis
omission?Ireply,becausePlatopreservesthatwhichisadaptedtothe
designofthedialogue,andbecausehehereassumessomuchofthe
theoryofthesoulasisphysical,deliveringtheassociationofthesoul

withthebody.AndAristotlealso,emulatingPlato,inhistreatiseOn
theSoul,inconsequenceofdiscussingitphysically,neithermentionsthe
3,324ascentofthesoul,noritsallotments,butinhisDialoguesheseparately
speaksofthese,**andmakesthemtheleadingsubjectsofconsideration.
Andthusmuchastotheseparticulars.
Thishowever,istobeinvestigatedfromthebeginning,whythesoul
descendsintobodies?**Andtheansweris,becauseitwishestoimitate
theprovidentialenergyoftheGods,andonthisaccount,dismissing
contemplation,descendsintogeneration.Forsincedivineperfectionis
tInsteadofovvra^ivinthisplace,readawryliv.
tRep.X,617de;&621ab.
Rep.X,615e;616a;621c.
Gorgias523e;524a.
oPhaedo111d;112a.
ftForKepiavrovhere,itisnecessarytoreadtepiavruv.TheseDialoguesof
Aristodeareunfortunatelylost[cf.fr.40].
%%SeemytranslationofPlotinus,OntheDescentoftheSoul[En.IV,8].
Etwofold,theonebeingintellectual,buttheotherprovidential,andthe
onesubsistinginpermanency,buttheotherinmotion;thesoul
adumbrates,thestable,*intellectual,andunalterableenergyoftheGods,
throughcontemplation,buttheirprovidentialandmotiveenergy,
throughagenesiurgiclife.Andastheintelligenceofthesoulispartial,
solikewiseisitsprovidentialenergy;butbeingpartial,itisconversant
withapartialbody.Fartherstill,itsdescentcontributestothe
perfectionoftheworld.Foritisnecessary,thatthereshouldnotonly
beimmortalandintellectualanimals,suchasarewiththeGods,nor
alonemortalandirrationalanimals,suchasarethelastofthefabrication
ofthings,butlikewise,suchassubsistbetweenthese,viz.whichareby
nomeansimmortalindeed,*butareabletoparticipateofreasonand
intellect.Therearehowever,manysuchanimalsasthese,inmanyparts
oftheworld.Formanisnottheonlyrationalmortalanimal;butthere
aremanyothersuchlikegenera,someofwhichareofamore
daemoniacalnature,butothersaremoreproximatetoouressence.The
descentlikewiseofapartialsoul,contributestothecompositionofall
animalsthatareatoneandthesametimemortalandrational.Why
therefore,arepartialsoulswhentheydescendintogeneration,filled
Fwithsuchgreatmaterialperturbationandsomanyevils?Itisthrough
thepropensityarisingfromtheirfreewill;throughtheirvehement
familiaritywithbody;throughtheirsympathywiththeimageofsoul,
whichiscalledanimation;throughtheirtotalmutationfromthe
intelligibletothesensibleworld,andfromaquietenergytooneentirely
conversantwithmotion;andthroughadisorderedconditionofbeing

3,325innatelyproducedfromthecompositionofdissimilarnatures;viz.ofthe
immortalandthemortal,oftheintellectual,andthatwhichisdeprived
ofintellect,oftheimpartible,andthatwhichisenduedwithinterval.
339AForallthesebecomethecausetothesoul,ofthismightytumultand
labourintherealmsofgeneration;sincewearedisturbedbythe
abundantmutations,andsympathieswhichtakeplaceabouttheessence
thatisincontinualmotion.Forwepursueaperpetuallyflying
mockery.Andthesoul,byverging[toamateriallife,]kindlesindeed,
alightinthebody,butbecomesherselfsituatedindarkness;andby
givinglifetothebody,destroysbothherself,andherownintellect[in
asgreatadegreeasthesearecapableofreceivingdestruction].Forthus
themortalnatureparticipatesofintellect,buttheintellectualpartof
tForyovipovhere,readnovipov.
$TheoriginalinthisplaceisaBavarovnevovdanui;8eOVTCC;but5iought
evidentlytobeexpunged.
death,andthewhole,asPlatoobservesintheLaws,}becomesa
prodigy,composedofthemortal,andtheimmortal,oftheintellectual,
andthatwhichisdeprivedofintellect.Forthisphysicallaw[which
bindsthesoultothebody,]isthedeathoftheimmortallife,butvivifies
themortalbody.Platotherefore,deliversinthePhaedrus,}thecauses
ofdescentarisingfromthesoul,viz.oblivion,thedefluxionofthe
wings,andsuchthingsasareconsequenttothese.Butherehedelivers
tousthecausesderivedfromtheGods.Forthesearetheywhoconjoin
thesoultothebody.Buthedoesnotaddatpresent,themanner5in
whichthesoulapostatises[fromtheorboflight],andthroughwhat
Bformsoflife,sheproceeds[intotherealmsofgeneration].Andinthe
Republic0hedeliversthecausesarisingbothfromthesoulherselfand
theGods.FortheretheprophetandtheFates,thedaemon,andthe
lots,theparadigmsandtheelectionsoflives,areassumed.These
particularstherefore,mustbeexploredinthosedialogues.0
Whathoweverishereasserted,mustbeconsidered,viz.whattheriver,
thebinding,andthevastare;forthisriverissaidtobevast:andalso
whatitisforsouls,neithertovanquish,norbevanquished.Theriver
thereforesignifies,notthehumanbodyalone,butthewholeof
generation,withwhichweareexternallysurrounded,throughitsrapid,
impetuous,andunstableflux.**Thusalso,intheRepublic,}}Plato
calls,thewholegenesiurgicnature,theriverofLethe;inwhicharecon
3,326tained,asEmpedoclessays,55Oblivion,andthemeadowofAte;the
voracityofmatter,andthelighthatingworld,astheGodssay;andthe
windingstreams,underwhichmanyaredrawndown,asthe[Chaldean]
Oraclesassert.DButthebindingsignifies,acoimpededlife,anda
lifewhichhasarrivedattheextremity.Forthen,beingbound,itis

preventedfromproceeding,andbeingnolongerabletoproceed,it
tLawsI,644d.
XPhaedrus248c.
ForOVTUQhere,itisnecessarytoreadoiruc.
Rep.X,617b,ff.
ocf.alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,241ff.
ffcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,61,6ff.
#Rep.X,621a,andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,347f,&157,f.
Fr.121d.
Chald.Oracl.fr.172.
becomessituatedattheendofitsmotion.Butthesoul,bycommunicating
itspowerstothebody,obtainstheendofitsdescent.
CAgain,thevastindicatesthemultiplied,andineveryrespectdivisible
fluxofgeneration.Buttheneithervanquishing,norbeingvanquished,
signify,thateachoftheessencesthatcometogether,preservesitsown
nature.Forthecongressofthesoulandbodyisnoteffectedbya
mutualcorruption,asinthingsthataremingled.Forthebodyisnot
transferredtotheessenceofthesoul,northesoultothepeculiarityof
thebody;sinceinthiscase,neitherwouldassimilatetheothertoitself.
Henceneitheristhesoulvanquishedbythebody;foritdoesnot
becomeinanimate,nordoesitvanquishthebody,foritdoesnotmake
itincorporeal.Inanotherrespecthowever,thesoulsubduesthebody,
asconnectedlycontainingit;butissubduedbyit,asbeingimpededby
itinitsintellection.Platohowever,ratherdeniesthanaffirmseachof
these,inorderthatwemayconceivethepeculiarityofeachinthe
communion,andtheunmingledunionoftheminthemixture.
43b"Buttheycarryandarecarriedwithviolence,sothatthewholeanimal
ismovedindeed,yetinadisorderlymanner.Foritproceedscasually
Dandirrationally,havingallthesixmotions.Henceitismovedbackward
andforward,andagain,totherighthandandtheleft,upwardand
downward,andwanderseverywhere,accordingtothesixdifferencesof
place."
Thatthegenesiurgicriver,accordingtothewholeofitdisturbsthe
soul,*butisespeciallyampleinyouth,inconsequenceoftheinfluxand
effluxbeingcopious,hasithinkbecomeevidentthroughwhathasbeen
3,327said.Sincehowever,thebodybeingheavy,terrestrial,andcadent,is
correctedbythesoul,andthesoul,whichhasanintellectualnature,is
rendereddestituteofintellect,throughitscommunionwiththebody,
hencehesays,thatsoulscarryandarecarriedwithviolence;theviolence
indicatingtheforeignandrenovatednatureofthevivificationofthe
mortal*animal;butthecarryingandbeingcarried,theactionofthebody

andsouloneachother.Forthesoulcarriesthebody,inspiringitwith
thepowerofmotion;butiscarriedbyitthroughsympathy,toa
genesiurgicnature.Henceheveryproperlysays,thatthewholeanimal
ismoved.Forthebodyismovedthroughthesoul,andthesoul
Elosingitsownlife,livesthelifeofthecomposite[ofbodyandsoul].
tcf.Phaedrus246c;247b;248c.
XForTOdvi\rovhere,itisnecessarytoreadrov8VT\TOV.
Thewholeanimalthereforeismoved.Andafteranothermanneralso
youmaysaythatPlatoassertsthewholeismoved,inordertodistinguish
itfromtheuniverse.Forthis,aswehavebeforeobserved,isnotmoved
accordingtothewholeofitself,butonlyinitsparts.Sincehoweverthe
starsaremovedwithanadvancingmotion[orinantecedentia],eachis
movedaccordingtothewhole,andnotaccordingtothepartsonly;yet
theyaremovedinanorderlymanner,andnotasweare:fortheyfollow
theuniverse.ButPlatoadds,disorderly;indicatingbythis,thatthe
motionismaterial,andallvariouslyanomalous,andthatitbeginsfrom
thesubordinatenature,theorderbeinginverted.Itisnecessary
however,inthesamemannerasindivinenaturesthatthemotion
shouldoriginatefromthemoreexcellentnature.Theexpression
likewisecasually,signifiestherashandunstablenatureofthemotion;
andthewordproceeds,indicatesthedepartureofsoulsfromthemselves;
allwhichparticularsareposteriortodivineanimals,inwhomintellect
isthecause*ofenergy,andeachproceedsandatthesametimeabides.
Thewordirrationallyfollowsalsoinabecomingmanner.Forwhere
orderfailstheretheirrationalsecretlyenters.Forreasonisthecauseof
orderandmeasure,andoftheparticipationofgood.
FMoreover,themultitudeofmotionsbecomesapparentinthese,and
thenumberofallthemotionsofthemortalanimal.Forasbodieshave
threedimensions,andaremingledfromcontraries,contrarietybeinga
3,328duad,*andassumingthetriad,producesthisnumberofmotions.For
itisnecessarythatthereshouldbeonlyatripleinterval,ordimension,
becauseintervalisreason[oraproductiveprinciple],proceedingfrom
theimpartibleintomatter,andinvestingitwithmorphe.Andthe
impartibleindeedismonadic;butprogressionisdyadic;andmorphe
triadic.Forthatwhichhasproceeded,returning,orbeingconvertedto
itsprinciple,hasboundandmorphe.Butitisnecessarythatthere
340Ashouldbecontrarietyinthemotions,accordingtoposition.Forthe
extremitiesofeveryrightlineareopposedtoeachother.Henceofthe
threedimensions,theoppositionaccordingtotheextremitieswillbethe
upwardanddownward,therighthandandtheleft,beforeandbehind.
Thecomplicationthereforeofcontrariety,withthetriadofdimensions,
producesthesixmotions;andthisnumberisadaptedtotheanimated

body.ForaccordingtothePythagoreans,themonadisanalogoustoa
point;theduad,toaline;thetriad,toasuperficies;thetetrad,toa
fThewordairtocisomittedhereintheoriginal,butevidentlyoughttobe
inserted.
XForfitachere,readSuae.
body;thepentad,toabodyenduedwithacertainquality;1andthe
hexad,toananimatedbody.Thisnumberofmotionstherefore,is
appropriatelyattributedtomortalanimals,whosegenerationproceeds
fromtheeven*number,andaformlessnature.Itisnotproper
however,towonder,thatanimalsshouldhavesomanymotions,but
inanimatenaturesonlyonemotion;asthataclodofearthshouldonly
haveamotiondownward,butflame,acontrarymotion.Forweshall
findbyinspection,thatfrequentlytheextremesaremoresimplethan
Bthemedia,butthemediamorevariousthantheextremes.5Thusfor
instance,wesee,thatnatureandmatteraremoresimplethanbody,and
theirrationallifeandintellect,thantherationalsoul.Butintellect
indeed,ismoresimple,accordingtothatwhichismore,andirrationality
accordingtothatwhichisless,excellent.Itliveshowever,without
deliberatechoice,andconformablytonature.Iftherefore,inmotions,
weseethatdivineanimalsandinanimatebodieshaveamoresimple
motion,butthemediaabundantlywander,andaremultiformlyborne
along,whatoccasionistheretowonder?Forthesimplicityindeedof
divinemotion;ismoreexcellentthanthevarietyinmortalnatures;but
thesimplicityofinanimatebeingsislessexcellent;justasdivinebodies
areessentiallysimple,accordingtothatwhichisbetterthancomposite
3,329natures,buttheinanimatepartsoftheelementsaremoresimplethan
concretemasses,accordingtothatwhichislessexcellent,0asnot
havingtheproperlifeoflivingbeings.
43bc"Forthoughtheinundatingandeffluxivewaves,whichaffordnutrition
totheanimal,pouralongwithimpetuousabundance,yetastillgreater
tumultandperturbationisproduced,throughthepassionsarisingfrom
externalimpulsions;eitherwhenthebodyisdisturbedbythesudden
incursionofexternalfire,orbythesolidmassofearth,orisagitatedby
Cthewhirlingblastsoftheair.Forfromallthese,throughthemedium
ofthebody,variousmotionsarehurriedalong,andfallwithmolestation
onthesoul."
tInsteadofrairoii/^J'uinthisplace,itisrequisitetoread,TetoiunevQ.
XForaypiovhere,itisnecessarytoreadapriov.
Theoriginalisdefectivehere;forthereisnothingmorethanrotSep.eoavouct***.
Thisdeficiencyhowever,maybesuppliedbyreading,conformablytotheabove
translation,retStp,eaaKoinikuTepaTUVanpuv.

Thewordxupov,iswantinghereintheoriginal.
Inwhatisheresaid,thephilosopherreferstotwocausesallthis
tumult,viz.tothenutritiveandsensitivelife.Butthesecausesarethat
whichisorectic,andthatwhichisgnostic,inthewholeoftheirrational
nature;intowhichalso,weareaccustomedtodivideallthepowersof
thesoul,assertingthatsomeofthemarevital,butothersgnostic.For
thenutritivelife,vergingtobodies,producesanabundantfluxinthem;
throughtheirmoistureindeed,emittinganabundantmaterialefflux,but
throughvivificheat,receivinganinfluxofotherthings.Butthe
sensitivelifesuffersbythebodiesoffire,earth,air,andwater,fallingon
it.Conceivinglikewiseallthesepassionstobegreatthroughthe
vilenessofitslife,itoccasionstumultandperturbationinthesoul.And
Dtothoseindeed,whohavearrivedatmaturity,allthesehavebecome
habitual;buttosuchashavebeenrecentlyborn,thesmallestthings,
throughbeingunusual,becomethecausesofastonishment.Forwhat
agreatfireistotheformer,thatthesnuffofacandleistothelatter.
Whatthemagnitudelikewiseofveryloftymountainsistotheformer,
3,330thatthesmallestofstonesistothelatter.Forthisissufficienttogive
thempain,andbyimpedingtheirenergies,tocallforththeirtears.And
whatstormywinds,andstreamsofwaterfromtheheavens,areto
adults,thatasmallmotionoftheair,oraslipthroughalittlemoisture,
istoinfants.Forsensebeingagitatedthroughthepercussionofall
these,astonishesthesoulofthosethatarerecentlyborn,andleadsit
intodifficultyandtumult.Thesetherefore,areinshort,thecausesof
theperturbationofsouls,viz.themotionofthenutritivepower,andthe
percussionsofsense.Wemustnothowever,fancythatthesoulsuffers
anythingthroughthese.Forasifsomeonestandingonthemarginof
ariver,shouldbeholdtheimageandformofhimselfinthefloating
stream,heindeedwillpreservehisfaceunchanged;butthestreambeing
Eailvariouslymoved,willchangetheimage,sothatatdifferenttimesit
willappeartohimdifferent,oblique,anderect,andperhapsdivulsedand
continuous.Letussupposetoo,thatsuchaone,throughbeing
unaccustomedtothespectacle,shouldthinkthatitwashimselfthat
sufferedthisdistortion,*inconsequenceofsurveyinghisshadowinthe
water,andthusthinking,shouldbeafflictedanddisturbed,astonished
andimpeded.Afterthesamemanner,thesoul,beholdingtheimageof
herselfinbody,bornealongintheriverofgeneration,andvariously
disposedatdifferenttimesthroughinwardpassionsandexternal
impulses,isindeedherselfimpassive,butthinksthatshesuffers;and
tThereisanhiatushereintheoriginal,whichmaybefilledupbyaddingafter
TOVrctoxovTUthewordsSuxorpcxpTivTOO)TI\V.
beingignorantof,andmistakingherimagefor,herself,isdisturbed,

astonished,andperplexed.*Thispassionhoweverparticularlyexistsin
childrenrecentlyborn;butitalsoexhibitsitselfindreamsinadults.
Thuswhensomeone,inconsequenceofnaturebeingfatiguedinthe
concoctionofthefood,fanciesinadreamthatheisweary,thatheis
journeyingthroughadifficultroad,thatheiscarryingburdens,or
sufferssomethingelseoflikekind,thenthispassionbecomesapparent.
3.331Anditispossiblefromthesethingstosurveythenatureofthepassions
Fofchildren.*Andthusmuchmaysufficeatpresentastothese
particulars.
Itisrequisitehowever,toproceedtothewordsofPlatoandtosay,
thatthewavesmanifestnottheexternallyblowingwind,assomeassert,
butthecongregatedfolly5existinginyouth,andtheabundantinflux
andefflux.Buttheinundationsignifiesinthefirstplace,thatthe
pneumaticvehicleisagitatedandmadeheavier;0foritisthis,which
exhibitsinitselfstainsandvapours;andinthesecondplace,thesoul,for
itisdisturbedbycongregatedimpulses.
43c"Andonthisaccountallthesewerethen,andarestillnow
341Adenominatedsenses."
AccordingtoPlato,thesensesreceivetheirappellationfrompassion.
Iftherefore,weshouldsay,thatthesensesaremotionsplacedinwardly,
3,332theassertionwouldbeattendedwithmuch0accusation,from
grammatical**observation.Butifweshouldsay,thatthesensesare
mingledfrominwardmotionsandpassion,perhapsancientusagewould
testifyinfavouroftheassertion.Forsense(aisthsis)withfour
syllables,isacertainaisthsis,
O'(lege)XX

tForevairoppuhere,readitairopu.
XInsteadofireduvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadiraiduv.
Fora<poprioivhere,itisrequisitetoreadcuppovyoiv.
Chald.Oracl.fr.114.
0ForxoXXouchere,itisnecessarytoreadtoXuc.
ftForypapntKTichere,readypafipxeTUCTfc.
XXie."Hegroan'd,andbreathedhislast."IliadXVI,468.
saysHomer.Butthewordaisthsis,,willbefromaisein,*andthesis;*
sensibleobjectsindeedbeingmovedexternally,butthemotionstending
throughthebodytothesoul,andproducingasPlatosays,sensations.
Veryproperlytherefore,didthosewhofirstperceivedthenatureofthe

passion,andthoseinthepresentperiod,whodidnotentirelyperceive
Bit,thusdenominatethesenses.Andthosewhonowstillgivethis
appellationtothesenses,doitbecausethereissimilarlyacomplication
inthemofpassionandjudgement,orofmotionandposition.Forthe
motionofthesoulitselfalone,isimpassive;butthatwhichpervades
fromthebodytothesoul,isaccompaniedwithpassion.
43cd"Andtheseindeed,boththenandatpresent,receiving5themost
abundantandgreatestmotion,andbeingmovedtogetherwiththat
incessantlyflowingstream,andvehementlyagitatingthecirculationsof
thesoul,theyentirelyfetterthecirculationofthesame,flowingina
directioncontrarytoit,andrestrainitsenergies,asitrulesandproceeds;
butagitatethecirculationofthedifferent."
Senseisofthepresent,inthesamemannerasmemoryisofthepast,
buthopeofthefuture.Henceboththen,andatpresent,sensemoves
thesoul,inconjunctionwiththenutritivepower,whichthrough
influxions,affordsaremedytotheeffluxionsofthebody,andagain
combineswhatithasanalysed,conformablytothewebofPenelope.0
Forthisis"theincessantlyflowingstream,"whichisveryproperlycalled
3,333astream,becauseitisapartofthewholeriverofgeneration,which,as
Cwasbeforeobserved,isabundant.0Togetherwiththistherefore,sense
disturbs,andcausesatumultintheperiodsorcirculationsofthe
immortalsoul;andfettersindeedtheperiodofthecircleofthesame,but
agitatestheperiodofthecircleofthedifferent.Forastherearetwofold
circlesinit,inimitationofdivinesouls,thecirclewhichsurveys
intelligibles,andwhichisthedianoeticcircle,isonlyrestrainedinits
energy,butsustainsnodistortion.Butthedoxasticcircleisdistorted,
andthisfollowsveryproperly.Foritispossibletoopinenotrightly,
tTheverbaiauv,isfroma'iu,whichnotonlysignifiestohear,andtoblowaway,
butalsotounderstandandknow.
Xi.e.Position.
IntheprintededitionsoftheTimatuswefindvapexonevouinthisplace;butit
evidentlyoughttobe,asinthetextofProclus,Tapa8exop.evui.
cf.Phaedo84a.
oTim.43a.
butitisnotpossibletoknowscientifically,falsely.Ifhoweversome
oneshouldsay,thatthedianoeticpartofthesoulmaybeignorantina
twofoldrespect,andthatthethingwhichsuffersthiswillbedistorted,
letsuchaonelearnfromus,thattwofoldignorance1doesnotsimply
pertaintodianoia,butbeginsindeedfromthence,andisimplantedin
thedoxasticpart.Fortwofoldignorance,sofarasitisignorance,and
aprivationofscience,sofar,inconsequenceofbeinganimmobilityof

thescientificpower,itoriginatesfromdianoia.Forignorancesubsists
aboutthat,aboutwhichsciencesubsists.Butsofarasthisignorance
alsoaddsafalsesuspicionofknowledge,itsubsistsinthedoxasticpart.
Forthatwhichisnothingmorethanafalsesuspicionofknowledge,is
this.Andignoranceindeed,isonlytheprivationofintellectindianoia
fettered,*andconcealingitsproductivepowers;butoisis,orafalse
suspicionofknowledge,istheprivationofintellectinopinion,beinga
Dcertaindistortionofit.Forbeingfalse,itinjuresitspossessor.Forwhat
evilisinaction,thatfalseisinknowledge.
Theperiodofthecircleofthesametherefore,isalonefettered,and
resemblesthosethatareincaptivity,andonthisaccount,areprevented
fromenergising.Thiscirculationhowever,remainsinthesoulsthatare
boundwithoutbeingdistorted.*Buttheperiodofthecircleofthe
differentisagitated,beingfilledwithfalsedogmas.Fortheproximityof
thiscircletoirrationality,causesittoreceiveacertainpassionfrom
externals.Fromthesethingshowever,weareimpelledtospeakfreely
inoppositiontoPlotinusandthegreatTheodorus,whopreserveinus
somethingimpassive,andwhichalwaysperceivesintellectually.For
Platoassumesonlytwocirclesintheessenceofthesoul,oneofwhich
3,334isaccordingtohimfettered,buttheotherisagitated;anditisnot
possibleforeitherthatwhichisfettered,orthatwhichisagitated,to
energiseintellectually.Rightlytherefore,doesthedivineIamblichus
contendagainstthosewhoadoptthisopinion.Forwhatisit,thatis
faultyinus,whenwerecurtoanintemperateimagination,throughthe
excitationoftheirrationalnature?Isitnotourdeliberatechoice?And
howisitpossibleitshouldnotbethis;sinceaccordingtothis,wediffer
fromthosewhoimagineprecipitately?Butifthedeliberatechoiceis
Efaulty,howcanthesoulbeguiltless?Whatalsoisitwhichmakesthe
tTwofoldignoranceis,whenamanisnotonlyignorant,butisignorantthathe
isignorant.Andthisisthediseaseofthemultitude.
%InsteadofireiraiBevfievriQhere,itisnecessarytoreadirve5T)iiVTjg.
ForaduxoTpwfmt;here,readaduxoTpocput;.
wholeofourlifetobehappy?Isitnotbecausereasonpossessesits
propervirtue?Wesayentirelyso.Butifwhenthatwhichismost
excellentinusisperfectwearewhollyhappy,whathindersallofus
frombeingnowhappy,ifthesummitofournaturealwaysperceives
intellectually,andisalwayswiththeGods?Forifthissummitis
[wholly]intellect,itisnothingtothesoul;butifitisapartofthesoul,
therestofthesoulalsowillbehappy.Wholikewiseisthecharioteer
ofthesoul?Isitnotthatwhichismostdelightfultous,andassome
onemaysaymostcapital?Andhowisitpossiblenottoadmitthis,if
itisthecharioteerwhogovernsthewholeofouressence,1whoraises

hisheadto,andsurveysthesupercelestialplace,andisassimilatedtothe
greatleader[Jupiter],whodrivesawingedchariot,andisthefirst
charioteerthatproceedsintotheheavens?Butifthatwhichisthe
summitinusisthecharioteer,andhe,asitissaidinthePhaedrus,*at
onetimesublimelytendstotheplacebeyondtheheavens,atanother
timeentersintotheheavens,andatanotherbecomeslame,5andsuffers
adefluxionofhiswings,itevidentlyfollows,thatthesummitofour
naturesubsistsdifferentlyatdifferenttimes.Thistherefore,thereader
willfindelsewheremorecopiouslydiscussed.
FIfhowever,thesethingsaretrue,itisveryproperlysaid,thatthe
3,335periodofthecircleofthesame,asitgovernsandproceeds,isfettered.
Forhavingatwofoldperfection,practicandtheoretic,itisdeprivedof
each.Foritisneitherabletoruleoverthenaturessubjecttoits
command,throughtheirunstablemotion,nortoproceed,i.e.toperceive
intellectually.Fortoproceedistheenergyofacirculation,andto
proceeddianoetically,istheenergyofdianoeticnatures.Thesenses
therefore,strikeagainstthiscirculation,andflowinginadirection
contrarytoit,astendinginwardlyfromoutwardobjects,theyimpede
theintellectualenergy.Hencetheperiodofthecircleofthesameis
342Adeprivedbothofactionandcontemplation.Whatthen,someonemay
say,isitimmovable?Andhowcanthesoulbeimmovable?Maywe
notsayinanswertothis,thatitismovedindeedbyitself,butneither
withacorporealmotion,foritisincorporeal;norwithaphantastic
motion,foritisunfigured;norwithagnosticmotion,foritisignorant
ofitself;butwithanessentiallyvitalmotion.Forastoperceive
intellectually,istheenergyofintellect,andtoexististheenergyof
tcf.Phaedrus246e,f.
%cf.Phaedrus248a,ff.
cf.347B,infra.
being;thusalsotolive,istheenergyoflife.Foritdoesnotpossessan
adventitiousenergyoflife,butderivesitfromitself.Foritislife
generatingitself,andproducingitself.Butalllifeismotion.Sothatif
everythingwhichlivesismoved,thatwhichlivesfromitselfwillbe
moved,andthatwhichalwaysliveswillalwaysbemoved,vitally,but
notintellectually.Hencethesoulisalwaysmoved,andyetnotalways.
Foritisintellectincapacity,butlifeinenergy.Andanotherthirdthing
[i.e.matter]isincapacityonly,butisnotinenergy.Sincetherefore,
thereisatripleorderinus,viz.accordingtoessence,accordingto
power,andaccordingtoenergy,ouressenceindeed,remainsentirelythe
Bsame,asbeingessence,asliving,andasintellectual.Forbeingthe[first]
imageofintellect,itisintellectual;justasthefirstimageofsoulis
animated.Butthepowersindeed,ofdianoiaarefettered;andthoseof

opinionareagitated.Andsincethepowersareanalogoustothelives,
thepowerofoneofthelives[viz.oftheintellectuallife]isrestrained,
butanotherisshaken.Fortheessentiallifeisalwaysinmotion.With
respecttotheenergieshowever,thoseofdianoiaaretakenaway,but
thoseofopinionaredistorted.Andastheseareanalogoustothatwhich
isintellectual,itisevidentthatthesoulispreventedfromperceiving
intellectually.Theessenceofthesoultherefore,isperpetuallyvitaland
3,336perpetuallymoved;butthepowersandenergies,pertainingtoitslifeand
intellect,arenaturallyadaptedtoerr.
43d"Sothattheyturnwitheverykindofrevolution,eachofthethree
intervalsofthedoubleandtriple,togetherwiththemediaand
conjoiningbondsofthesesquitertian,sesquialter,andsesquioctaveratios
Cwhichcannotbedissolvedbyanyone,exceptbyhimbywhomthey
werebound.Andbesidesthistheyintroduceallthefracturesand
diversitiesofcircles,whichitispossibletoeffect."
Allthingsareinallsouls,butappropriatelyineach,insomedivinely,
inothersdaemoniacally,andinotherspartially.Forthemedia,the
sesquialter,thesesquitertian,andthesesquioctaveratios,togetherwith
theleimma,areinallsouls.Forhowcouldthesoulotherwiseknow
totalharmony,andprocreateratiossobeautiful,exceptshecontainedin
herselfthecausesofthem,beingherself,accordingtoherownorder,a
certainharmonyofharmonies;notconsistingofthingsharmonised,
sinceaharmonyofthiskindisinanotherthing,isaltermotive,andis
suspendedfromanothermotivecause;butofthatwhichharmonises
itself,andisharmonisedbywholes?Hence,ithasallharmonisedratios,
fForeotvrohere,itisnecessarytoreadeaury.
andbesidesthese,thedivisionsintosevenofthecircleofthedifferent.
Forthedemiurgicsection*beginssupernallyfromdivinesouls,and
proceedsasfarastothemostpartialsouls;andbesidesthis,suchother
thingsaswehavesurveyedaboutthesouloftheuniverse.Themode
ofinterpretationlikewiseisthesame,exceptthatwemustaddthe
peculiarityineach,adjoining,insomesoulsthedivine,inothersthe
daemoniacal,andinothers,thepartialpeculiarity.Wehavehowever
3,337beforeobserved,*thatthoughalltheratiosareinallsouls,viz.the
divine,thedaemoniacal,andthepartial,afterthemundanesoul,itisnot
Datallwonderfulthattheboundingtermsshoulddiffer,byeachbeing
moremultipliedinthesubordinatesouls,thaninthosepriortothem.
Forthoseofthesouloftheuniversewereprimary,orradicalterms,
(pythmenes,)yetnothinghinderstheirbeingafterwards,theduple,or
triple,orinshort,multiplesofthese,whichthroughdiminutionare
multipliedinorderlyratiosasfarastopartialsouls.Andinsomeof

these,theyaremoremultipliedthaninothers.Forneitherarealldivine
soulsofequaldignity,noralldaemoniacalafterthose,norallpartial
souls.Andthustheyhavesomethingscommontoallofthem,but
othersdifferingaccordingtoessenceitself.Itisalsonecessaryto
rememberthesethings,notcarelessly,inorderthatwemaybeableto
assigntheallvariousdifferencesinthegenerationofsouls;ofthe
mundaneindeedwithrespecttothesupermundane,accordingtothe
multitude,ordiminutionofparts;andalsointhegenerationofthe
mundane,divine,daemoniacal,andpartialsouls,accordingtotheterms
themselves,whichareeitherradical,ormoreremotefromthosethatare
radical,thesameratiosremaining.
Allharmonicratiostherefore,existinapartialsoul,andexist
essentially,andarenotacoacervationofposteriororigin.Forthose
thingswhichthefirstDemiurgusproduces,theseareessentiallyinherent
Einbeings,viz.theseventerms,thethreemedia,thesesquialter,
sesquitertian,andsesquioctaveratios,andtheleimmaswhicharenow
calledcolligations.Itisevidenttherefore,thatalltheseareessences.
Forthingswhichalwayssubsistafterthesamemanner,andthosewhich
givecompletiontoessence,arethemselvesessences.Anditisnecessary
toviewtheseparticularsnotmathematically,butphysically.Forthe
mathematicalratiosandhabitudes,whichsoulsgenerate,through
possessingtheabovementionedratios,areofadifferentkind.Butifall
tInsteadofTOy.evinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadTO\XT\.
\cf.212Eff,supra.
theharmonicratiosareessences,itisevidentthattheyhavepowers.
Fortheonepower,andtheoneformofthesoul,arenotgeneratedfrom
thingsdeprivedofpower,andwithoutquality.Howlikewisecouldthe
harmonicratiosoperate,andproduceotherratios,unlesstheyhada
3,338powerofgenerating?Andhowcouldtheyknow,andexciteother
ratios,iftheydidnotantecedentlycontaingnosticpowers,orifthese
powerswereunenergetic?Itisnecessarythereforethattheratiosshould
beessences,andpossesspowersgnosticofallharmony;thoseindeedin
theperiodofthesame,ofintelligible;butthoseintheperiodofthe
different,ofsensibleharmony.Itislikewisenecessarythattheyshould
energisewhentheyareable;someindeed,aboutintelligibles;butothers
aboutsensibles.Whenhowever,beingbadlyaffectedthroughoblivion,
Ftheybecomeimpeded,sensedrawingdownthesoultomaterialnatures,
then,theyremainindeedessentially;fortheyareperpetual,indissoluble,
andimmutable:butaccordingtoenergy,theyareturnedwithevery
possiblekindofrevolution.Andagain,accordingtopower,theysuffer
allpossiblefracturesanddistortions.Forthisiscommontoboth,*but
notthroughtheperiodofthesame;sincethatisalonesluggish.Butthe

circlesintheperiodofthedifferent,beingseven,andallofthemhaving
343Aalltheharmonicratios;forthusitwassaidofthesouloftheuniverse
thattheyareturnedandfractured.ForwhatisheresaidbyPlato,is
concerningthesemediaandthecolligationinthecircle*ofthedifferent,
assustainingallvariousinjuries,bythesensesandphysicalmotions;but
isnotconcerningthoseinthecircleofthesame.Forthisisalone
fettered;butthecircleofthedifferentisagitated,5andbeingagitated,
sufferssuchthingsashementions.
Socratestherefore,inthePhaedrus,*assimilatesthepowersofthesoul
toacharioteerandhorses,andassertsthatoneofthehorsesisbetter
thantheother.Healsosays,thatsometimesthehorsesfightwitheach
other,10andthebetterofthetwoisvictorious;butthatatothertimes
theyhurryalongirrationally,thebetterbeingvanquishedandfollowing
theintemperatehorse.ButTimaeusbindingthesoulthroughtwomedia
oneofwhichiseffectiveofsameness,buttheotherofdifference,and
onebeingalliedtointelligibles,buttheothertosensibles,saysthatthese
Bmediaareatonetimediscordant,fightingwitheachother,butat
fViz.tobothpowerandenergyinthecircleofthedifferent.
%ForKVKXUVhere,itisnecessarytoreadKVK\U.
cf.Tim.43d.
cf.Phaedrus253d,ff
anothertimearefractured,*thebetterofthetwobeingvanquished,and
3,339aretransferredintoanobliquesituation;andatanother,areallvariously
turned,throughthebetterbeinginsubjectiontotheworse.Forsince
theonepertainstosamenessbuttheothertodifference,whenthesoul
regulateseachofthemedia,shethenperformsthatwhichisherproper
duty,oneofthesemakingonefrommany,andknowingtheoneofthe
many;buttheotherdividingoneintomany,andpossessingaknowledge
ofthingsspecificallydistinguished.Butwhenthesoulvacillates,inthe
firstplace,thereisahostilecontentioninher,respectingwhatisthe
samewithacertainthing,andwhatisdifferentfromit;inthenext
place,theworsemediumisvictorious,throughtendingtoanallvarious
partibility,insteadofsurveyingitself;andinthethirdplace,thereisa
perfectdebilityofthebettermedium,inconsequenceofthesoul
deliveringthesupremedominionandrulingauthoritytoalessexcellent
medium.Forofthetwomedia,aswehavebeforeobserved,*through
whichthedoubleandtripleintervalscollect5thatwhichisdividedinto
sesquialter,sesquitertian,andsesquioctaveratios,onemediumwas
collectiveofthesamenessesinalltheparts,buttheotherofthe
differencesconnascentwithit;justasthegeometricmediumwas
collectiveofessences.Themediumthereforepertainingtosameness,
Cleadsthesoultoadivine,butthatpertainingtodifference,toamortal

nature.Hence,thesoulbecomesirrationalafterthismanner,themedia
inthecircleofdifferencebeingfracturedandturned,andpriortothis,
dissentingfromeachother;theturningperfectlydrawingdownthis
circletothepassions.Forasthecircleofthedifferentwaserectinthe
wholesouloftheuniverse,beingperfectlyfreefromanyinclinationto
thesubjectsofitsgovernment,soinapartialsoulitisturned,being
whollyinclinedtomatter,fallingintobody,andenteringprofoundly
intoit;thefractureimpartingalationintomultitudeandvariety,and
producingadistributionintoparts,throughimpotenceanddebility.For
thingsthatarefractured,fallofffromtheirpower,andbecomenotone,
insteadofone.Butthedissensionproducesnothingbutcontrarietyand
3,340hostility.Theturningtherefore,entirelyinjurestheerectness;the
fracturemakestheonetobemany;andthedissentionaloneintroduces
hostility.Andtheeffectindeed,producedbythedissensionresembles
thatwhichhappenstoonewhoruns,butdoesnotstandfirmly,butthe
fInsteadofKoKaadaiinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadKkaodai.
%cf.203B,f,supra.
Forovve&eihere,itisrequisitetoreadovvayei.
fractureresemblesonewhohasnowfallen,throughhavingbrokenhis
limbs,andonthisaccountbecomesinanobliqueposition.Andthe
turningissimilartooneinasupineposition,andwhofixeshisheadin
Dtheearth,butraiseshisfeetasmuchaspossibleonhigh.Foranoblique
positionisamediumbetweenthatwhichstandserect,andthatwhich
iscontrarytotheerect;inconsequenceoftheheadinthissituation
beingdownwardbutthefeetupward.Thedoxasticparttherefore,
becomesthroughthesensesdistorted,opinesfalsely,andisdisorderly*
anderroneous.Forthisisthecircleofthedifferent,aswehavebefore
observed,*inwhichopinionsandbeliefsareproduced,aswassaidofthe
wholesouloftheuniverse.Hencethispartbecomesfulloffalse
opinion,beingcodividedwiththesenses,andinseditionwithitself.
Allthesepassionslikewisepertaintothepowersandenergiesofthe
soul;buttheessenceofthesoulisindissoluble,except,asTimaeussays,5
byitscolligator.Forheantecedentlycomprehendsinhimself,the
definitecausesofitsratios,anditscircles.Butthatwhichisalone
dissoluble,bythecausethatperpetuallyconnectsit,isindissoluble;just
asthatwhichisproducedbythegoodalone,iswithoutevil;butthat
whichisproducedbyevilalone,isdepraved;andthatwhichisproduced
Ebycoldalone,iswithoutheat.Foritisnottheprovinceofthecoldto
impartheat,norofgoodtovitiate,norofthatwhichconnectsto
dissolve.Sothattheassertionthatthesoulisalonedissolublebythe
Demiurgus,deliverstheincorruptibilityofit,thoughoccultly.
43e"Sothattheyarescarcelyconnectedwitheachother,butareborne

alongindeed,yetirrationally,atonetimeinacontrary,atanotherinan
oblique,andatanotherinasupineposition."
Thedissentionsofthecirclesindeed,causethecompositionofthe
ratiostobemovedincontrarydirections;butthefracturescausethem
tobemovedobliquely;andtheturnings,supinely.Andthesetriple
passionsaresurveyedabouttherationalsoul;buttheyarealso
consentaneouslyseenabouttheirrationalpart.Forwhentherational
3,341soulaccords,andalsowhenitisdiscordantwithitself,itinamuch
greaterdegreehostilelyopposestheirrationalsoul.Forthevirtues
followeachother;thedianoetical,theethical;andtheethical,the
dianoetical.Howthereforearethesethreetobesurveyedintherational
tForroXvutXeqhere,itisnecessarytoreaditXriiifieXec;.
$cf.341C,ff,supra,p.1025.
Tim.32c.
part?Maywenotsay,thatcontrarietyistobesurveyed,whenopinion
hostilelyopposesopinion,andwhenthebetterisnotsubvertedbythe
worseopinion?Butinthosethatopinefalselythereisentirelyacertain
truedogma,fromwhichhewhoentertainsafalseopinionmaybe
Fconfuted.ForhowcouldSocrateshaveconfutedThrasymachus,
Callicleas,andotherswholikethesewereunblushinglyimpudent,unless
inthemalsotherewasacertaintruedogma,fromwhichbeing
acknowledgedbythemincommon,theconclusionsthatfollowwere
deduced?Whentherefore,thesamepersonsays,thatdivinityisgood,
butthathedoesnotprovidentiallyattendtoallthings,thesedogmas*
arecontrarytoeachother,thoughhedoesnotatthesametimesee,that
thecontrarytowhatheassertsfollowsfromthepositionthatGodis
344Agood.Buttheobliquepositiontakesplace,whentwodogmasare
distorted,andarenotabletopreservethatwhichisconsequenttothem;
forthentheyaresaidtoheinconsequent.*Andthispositionisoblique.
Foratthesametime,thewholeopinionfallstotheground,and
becomesapparenttosense.Hencenotonepartofitistrue,andthe
otherfalse,butthewholeisfalse.Andsucharetheassertions,that
justiceisfolly,andinjusticewisdom.Forhewhofancies[thatjusticeis
folly,andatthesametimesays]thatinjusticeisdepravity,speaks
contrarytohimself:foratthesametimehesays,thatjusticeisnotfolly.
Buthewhosaysthatjusticeisfolly,andinjusticewisdom,accords
indeedwithhimself,butatthesametimeassertsbothdistortedly.
Henceheisconfutedwithgreaterdifficulty,andismoreincurablethan
theother.Andthesupinepositiontakesplace,whentheworse
opinionsentirelyvanquishthebetter,andtheinformationsofsense
3,342subduetheconceptionswhicharedrawnforthfromwithin.Forina
passionofthiskind,thingsmoreexcellentareenslaved,andbecome
subjecttothingssubordinate.

Again,abouttheirrationalpart,contrarietymaybesurveyed,asfor
instance,inthosethatarecontinent.Forinthesethebetterfightswith
Btheworse,theimaginationofbeautywiththeappetiteofdeformity.
Butobliquityisseenintheequalsymphonyofjudgementwithappetite,
whenbotharemovedsimilarlyandpassively.Andsupinenesstakes
placeinintemperatelives,inwhichtherationalisentirelyspreadunder
theirrationalpart.Andhere,youmayseehowtheobliquedisposition
proceedsinawellorderedmannerfromthecontrary.Forwhenafter
tForSeiynarcthere,readdoyixara.
XHerealso,forcxicoXovda,readotvotKoXovBa.
agreatcontest,therationalyieldstotheirrationalpart,thenitismoved
obliquely,andfromthissupinely.Forinconsequenceoftheworse
continuallyvanquishingthebetterpart,atlastthereisnoneedof
contest,butthebetterpartisenslavedandledwherevertheworsepart
pleases.Andthisisthelastformoflife,justasthemostperfectisthat
whichaccordswithitself,iswithoutobliquity,andisconformableto
nature,andinwhichthemoreexcellentpartpossessesitsownorder
withouthostileopposition.Theconcordlikewise,isproducedfrom
temperance,thenonobliquityfromfortitude,andthearrangement
accordingtonature,fromjustice.Butthecontrariesofthese,are
producedasfollows:Dissensionindeedproducescontrariety,butthe
Cfracture,obliquity;forthingsthatarefracturedbecomeoblique;andthe
turning,supineness.Foritentirelyinvertstheorderofleadersand
followers.Andthecontrarietyindeedappearstodivulsetheonelifeof
thesoul,andtomaketherationallifediscordantwithitself.Butthe
obliquityproducesirrationalityitself:forthiswhollytendstobody,and
tomatter.Andthesupineposition*causestherationallifetorankwith
plants.Forinthesetheheadisrootedintheearth.Suchtherefore,
beingthedivision,andsuchthepassions,aboutthepowersofthesoul,
3,343Platoveryproperlysays,thattheyarescarcely*connectedwitheachother.
Fortheexistenceoftheiressence,whichisincorruptibleasinmortal
natures,connectsthemtogether.Hence,dissension,fracture,anda
turningareproduced,mattervanquishingform,theformerofwhichis
analogoustothefeet,inthesamemannerasthelatteristothehead.
43e"Justasifsomeoneinasupineposition,shouldfixhisheadonthe
44aearth,andraisehisfeetonhigh;forinsuchasituation,boththe
invertedpersonandthespectators,wouldmutuallyimaginetheright
handpartstobeontheleft,andthelefttobeontheright.Sowith
Drespecttothecirculationsofthesoul,theverysameaffections,and
othersofasimilarkind,vehementlytakeplace;andhence,whenany
thingexternaloccurs,characterisedbythenatureofsame,ordifferent,

theydenominatethingsthesamewith,ordifferentfromothers,ina
mannercontrarytotruth,andbecomefalse,anddestituteof
intelligence."
|Insteadofvyporrighere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadvirnoTTjg.
$Forjiovr\qinthisplace,readfix>yi<;,thisbeingthewordusedbyPlato.
Inwhatisheresaid,Platotragicallydescribesthelastpassionofthe
soul,inwhichthebetterpartisdeceivedandenslaved,buttheworse
parttyrannises;ignobleruleoverOlympian,andmaterialoverdivine
natures.Healsoassimilatestheheadtoourdivinepart,butourinferior
parttothefeet.Fortheformergoverns,butthelatterhastheorderof
thegoverned.Forashesaysfurtheron,theslaveryofthatwhichis
divine,andwhichrulesinus,issimilartofixingtheheadontheearth,
butthetyrannyoftheirrationalparttotheelevationofthefeet;and
thatwhichhappensfromafigureofthiskind,isanalogoustowhat
takesplaceaboutthesoul.Butithappenswithrespecttothebody,that
3,344therightandlefthandpartsareseeninachangedposition.Hencealso,
ithappensaboutthesoul,thatthingsdifferent,andthingsthatarethe
same,arechangedtothespectators.Forthesameisanalogoustothe
righthand,butthedifferenttotheleft,accordingtothePythagorean
Ecustom.Andsuchisthenatureofthewholetext.
Butletusdirectourattentiontotheparticulars.Inthefirstplace,
therefore,theorderistobesurveyed,howPlatomakesthebodyfrom
astandingtobeinanobliqueposition,butfromanoblique,inasupine,
andfromasupineposition,tohavethefeetraisedonhigh.Butfixing
theheadintheearthmakesafigureofthiskind.Andinthesoul,there
isfirstadeparture[fromgood];secondly,anobliquityoflife;thirdly,an
extensiontomatter,*apositiontowardsgeneration,andaconjunction
ofthatwhichisdivinewiththatwhichiswithoutGod;andinthelast
place,theintolerabletyrannyofstupidnatures.Ofpolitieslikewise,
thatwhichisaloverofcontentionisconstitutedaccordingtoa
contrarietyofthiskind;*thatwhichisaloverofrichessubsists
accordingtoobliquity;thatwhichisaloverofpleasureillegallyexists
accordingtoasupinenessoflife;andthatwhichistyrannicalaccording
totheelevationofthefeet.AndthisfigureisdescribedinwhatPlato
nowsays.
Inthesecond,place,itisrequisitetosurvey,howafigureofthiskind
exhibitstherighthandpartsontheleft,andtheleftontheright,both
tohimwhoisinthisposition,andtothespectators.Letoneperson
therefore,besupposedtolooktothenorth,butanothertothesouth.
FOfthese,theformerindeed,willhavetherighthandtotheeast,butthe
lefthandtothewest.Buttheotherwillhavetheseviceversa.Lethim
however,wholookstothenorthbesupine,notasTimaeus[mayseem

fForOXT/Chere,itisnecessarytoreadIAJ/C.
tRep.IX,580d,ff;582e,ff;&577c,ff.
to]say,havinghisheadfixedintheearth,buthisfeetelevated,asweare
accustomedtoassertofhimwholiesinaproneposition[butlethisface
beupward].Andagain,hewillhavetheeasttotherighthand,butthe
westtotheleft.Inorderhowever,thatinthewaymentionedby
Timaeushemaybesupine,lethisfeetberaised,buthisheadbefixedon
theground,sothathisfacemaybeturnedfromthenorth.Looking
thereforetothesouth,hewillsimilarlyhavetherighthandpartstothe
345Aeast,butthelefthandtothewest.Thecontraryhowever,oughttotake
3,345place,aspertainingtothosethatstand,andlooktowardsthesouth.
Hence,hewillfancy,sincehelookstothesouth,thatthingssituatedto
theeast,areonthelefthand,butthosesituatedtothewest,ontheright
hand.Andthespectatorslikewise,willfancythistothecase.Hewill
thereforefancythingsonthelefttobeontherighthand;andthingson
therighttobeonthelefthand;andthisinconsequenceofhissupine
position.Itislikewiseevident,thathewillapprehendthingspertaining
totheerectspectator,tosubsistviceversa,thoughtherightandleft
handpartswillbereferredtothesamethingsinboth.Foreachlooking
tothesouthwillfancythatthelefthandpartsaretotheeast,butthe
righthandpartstothewest,andwillsaythatiftheonethussubsist,the
restalsosubsistafterthesamemanner.Thishoweverwillnotbetrue
withrespecttohimwhohashisfacedownward,thoughheshouldlook
tothesouth.Itiswellsaidtherefore,thateachwillfancythings
pertainingtobothandnottooneofthemonly,willhaveaviceversa
position.
BInthethirdplace,isrequisitetoshow,howthesethingsmaybe
analogouslysurveyedinthesoul.Forthesoulburyingherreason,but
excitingthephantasyandtheirrationalpowers,becomesratheraplant
[thanarationalnature],andimitatesthelifeofplants.Forinthese,the
headisrooteddownward,butalltheresttendsupward,vanquishingthe
betterpart.Hencethesoulformsajudgementofthingscontrarytothe
truth,andnotonlythesoulthatisinthiscondition,butthatalsowhich
doesnotyetsufferthis,butlookstoher.Itisevidenttherefore,thathe
whofixeshisheaddownward,resemblesthosethatareperfectly
distorted;butthathewhostandsindeed,inanaturalposition,butby
lookingattheformer,issimilarlyaffectedwithhim,resemblesthose
thataredistortedbyothers;justastheformeraresimilartothosethat
aredistortedbythemselves.Hence,thesoulimitatingaphysicallife,
thinksdifferentthingstobethesame,andagain,thesamethingstobe
different.Foritthinksthatpleasureisthesamewithgood,thoughit
isdifferentfromit;butitseparatesthedivinefromthegood,andvirtue

fromthebeautiful,thoughtheyarethesame.Inconsequencetherefore,
3,346ofthusthinking,thesoulpossessesthelastlife,departsfromherself,and
Cfollowsthislife.Hence,heropinionsarefalse,andarenotonlythus
affectedaboutsameanddifferent,butalsoaboutmotionand
permanency.Fortheythinkthatthenaturewhichisperpetuallyin
motionhasstoodstill,asthemultitude[i.e.theChristiansofthattime]
dothesun,andalsothatwhatispermanentismoved,assomedothe
earth.Andinmanyotherparticularstheysurveythingschangedfrom
whattheyare.Thesepassionshoweverhappenabouttheenergiesofthe
circlesintheperiodofthedifferent.Hencealsohesays,thattheseven
circulationsinthecircleofthedifferent,sufferthese,andothersuchlike
affections.Foroneofthecircles,viz.thecircleofthesame,isfettered,
aswasbeforeobserved.Hethereforealoneisenduedwithintellect,
whousesthecircleofthedifferentrightly,butliberatesthecircleofthe
same;andhewillentirelybeone,wholoosensthePrometheusof
himself,whowasboundbyEpimetheus.*Forthroughthis*[i.e.
throughpossessingthelastlife],thesoulbecomesboundtotheirrational
order,whichEpimetheushimselfissaidtoadorn.5
44a"Andinthissituation,thereisnotanyoneofthecirculationswhich
possessesarulingandleadingauthority."
Forastherearemanyperiodsinthecircleofthedifferent,inimitation
Dofthesouloftheuniverse,theyarealloftheminjured,become
distortedandimbecile,andareinservilesubjectiontotheirrational
motions,whichitisnotpropertocallperiods,becausetheyhastenina
rightlinetogeneration.Foraperiodisamotionfromthesametothe
same.Buteveryirrationalknowledgeandappetite,hastensfromone
thingtoanotherdifferentthing,beingextendedtothatwhichisexternal
toitself.Forboththeobjectofappetite,andtheobjectofknowledge
areexternal,theformertotheirrationalappetite,andthelatterto
irrationalknowledge.Neitherthereforedoestheperiodofthesame*
tcf.Protagoras320d,ff;andalsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,53,5,ff.
|InsteadofStayaprt\vtpo$TOa\oyovSeHeodaira^iv,inthisplace,whichis
evidendyerroneous,Iread8iayapravTr\v,K.T.X.Butagreatpartoftheabove
commentaryisveryobscurefromitsdefectivestate.Ihavehoweverendeavouredto
renderthetranslationofitasmuchaspossibleperspicuous.
ThePrometheusinmanistherational,andEpimetheusistheirrationalpart.But
consideredasdivinepowers,Prometheusistheinspectiveguardianofthedescentofthe
rationalsoul,andEpimetheusistheguardianoftheirrationalsoul.
*Forravrahere,itisnecessarytoreadravrov.
govern;foritisfettered,andresemblesakinginchains,inconsequence
ofbeinginthepowerofhisenemies;northeperiodofthedifferent;for
itisdistorted,andresemblesageneralwhofavourstheconcernsofhis

enemies.Hence,thisistrulyagiganticwar,makingtheearthborn
generathatareinus,tobemorehonourablethantheOlympic,*and
3,347notasinwholes,subjectinginferiortomoreexcellentnatures.
44a"Butwhencertainsenses,bornealongexternally,fallonthesoul,and
coattractthewholecavityofit,thenthecirculationswhichare
governed,appeartogovern."
Ithasbeenalreadyasserted,thatnooneoftheperiodsgoverns,oris
aleader;andthatourheadisburiedinmatter,andourfeetbecome
Eelevated.Butthroughthepresentwords,itisadded,thatthemortal
ruleovertheimmortalnatures.Forthesensesareexternallybornealong,
becausetheyannounceexternals;andtheyfallonthesoul,becausetheir
enunciationsareaccompaniedwithpassion.Iftherefore,theycoattract
thecavityofthesoul,viz.thewholeofitsessence;forthewordkytos,
cavity,isassertedasofcertainthingsthatareconvolved;andprepare
this*toadoptwhatevertheyassert,theybecometheleadersofthe
wholelifeofthesoul,causeittospeakandthinksuchthingsasthey
announce;andtofancythatwhichisapprehendedbysense,andwhich
amantouches,oreats,ordrinks,hasatrueexistence,butthe
intelligible,andthatwhichischosenbyphilosophy,tobeanonentity.
Thesetherefore,beingtheleaders,theappetitesgovern,andthe
multitudepossessthesovereignpower.Butdeliberatechoiceandreason
havinganarrangementinthepartofthingssubservient,atlength
administertothepassions.Doesthereforesenseinrealityleadand
govern?Andhowisitpossible,sinceitismortalandmaterial,thatit
shouldgovern?Butitappearsindeedtogovernreason,yetitisitself,
Fanddeservedly,governedbyotherthings.Foritisitselfdifferent[or
characterisedbydifference];andonthisaccount,itissuspendedfrom
externals,isvanquishedbythem,andisdifferentlydisposedatdifferent
times.Buttheirrationallifeisthecausetoitselfofslavery.Hence,it
3,348doesnotinrealitygovern,nothavingarulingpowerwhichisincapable
ofbeingvanquished;butbeingsubservienttootherthingsitrulesover
naturesbetterthanitself,inconsequenceoftheirbeingdeceived.
tcf.Procl.Comm.Parmen.692,&849.
XInsteadofravrahere,itseemsrequisitetoreadTOVTO.
44b"Onaccountofthesepassionstherefore,thesoulbecomesstupidat
presentandwassooriginallywhenshewasfirstboundinamortal
body."
346AThisistheconclusionofallthathasbeensaidconcerningthe
incarnationofsouls,fromwhichPlatodiscoversthecausesoftheir
perturbationandtumultarisingfromgeneration;andfinally,ofthe

insanityinthosethatarerecentlyborn.Andhenceagain,itisevident
thatheconceivedtherationalsoultoexistalsoinchildren;butthatit
isfetteredandsluggish,*beingvanquishedbyotherpowers,anddoes
notaccedeinacertainposteriortime,assomefancyitdoes.Forhe
deliversthecausesthroughwhichthoughreasonispresent,yetitisnot
[effectively]present,andconcludingtheenumerationofthesehesays,
thatthesoulthroughthese,becamestupidoriginally,whenshewasfirst
boundinamortalbody,andissoatpresent.Forwhatdifferenceis
therebetweenbeingjuvenileaccordingtoage,andjuvenileaccordingto
life?Astherefore,inthosethatarestupidwhentheyhavearrivedat
maturity,reasonbeingpresent,isquiescent,inthesamemannerinthose
thatarejustborn,*reasonindeedispresent,butbeingvanquishedby
stupidity,issluggish.
44b"Whenhowever,thestreamofincreaseandnutritionflowsalongwith
alessabundantcourse,thecirculationsbeingagainrestoredto
tranquillity,proceedintheirproperpath;inprocessoftimebecome
Bmoreregularandsteady,andpassintoafigureaccommodatedtotheir
nature.Henceinthiscase,therevolutionsofeachofthecircles,being
accordingtorectitude,andcallingbothsameanddifferent,bytheir
properappellations,theyrenderhimbywhomtheyarepossessed,
prudentandwise."
PlatointhePhaedrus,}teachesusthefelicitouslifeofthesoul,
3,349accordingtowhichitrevolvestogetherwiththeGods,recurstothe
supercelestialplace,andsurveysJusticeherself,Temperanceherself,and
eachofthedivinevirtues;andagain,hegraduallyleadsit,fromsupreme
felicity,andthisblessedness,toatonetimeraisingtheheadofthe
charioteerabovetheheaven,andatanotherenteringwithinit;andfrom
thisthroughdiminution,tosurveyingnoneoftheseblessedspectacles,
tForapxuvinthisplace,itisnecessarytoreadapyeiv.
XInsteadofveoiQinthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadpeoyvou;.
Phaedrus247c,ff.
yetstillfollowingfromcustom.Forthelapsetosoulsisnotdirectly
fromanabundantvisionoftheintelligibleintogeneration,butproceeds
throughmanymedia.Inwhatisheresaidhowever,tragicallydescribing
thepassionsofthesoulfallingintogeneration,itsturnings,fracturesand
streams,hewishestoleaditgraduallybacktoanintellectuallife,andto
Califeconformabletoitsnature.Butthereindeed,acessationtaking
placeofthingsmoreexcellent,andofthegoodsimpartedbyintellect
andtheGods,thingsofaworsenaturesucceed,viz.lameness,a
defluxionofthewingsofthesoul,oblivion,themeetingwith[evil
daemons]andagravitatingtendencydownward.Herehoweverthings
ofaworsenatureceasing,andalsotheimpedimentsarisingfrommatter,

immediatelythecirculationsproceedaccordingtonature,andthings
moreexcellentpresentthemselvestotheview,viz.order,andreason,
andaprudentandwiseconditionofbeing.Foradvancingtomaturity
ofage,webecomemoreprudentandconsiderate,andmakethe
progression1ofanequableandorderlylife,naturebeingtheleader.
Whytherefore,shouldGalensay,thatthepowersofthesoulfollowthe
temperamentsofthebody,andthatwhenthebodyismoist,unstable,
andinanallvariousflux,thenthesoulisstupidandunstable;butwhen
thepartsofthebodyareproperlyadaptedtoeachother,sothatthe
wholeisinsymmetry,thesoulactswithrectitude,andbecomesprudent
andwise?Andhowisitpossibleweshouldadmitthis?Forasthe
immortalsoulexistspriortothebody,itisnotlawfultomakeit
intellectualthroughthebody;butweoughtrathertosay,thatthebody
becomesatonetimeanimpedimenttothesoul,initsattainmentofa
wellorderedlife;andatanother,disturbsitinalessdegree.Asthere
Dfore,ifweshoulddwellnearatriflingandgarrulousneighbour,we
3,350shouldnotbecomemorepuerilethroughhim,butitispossibleforhim
tohinderusmoreorlessfromtheenjoymentofaquietlife;afterthe
samemanneralso,theconnectionofthebodyatonetimedisturbsthe
soul,andatanother,remitsthetumult.Thesoulhowever,doesnot
eventhenbecometranquil,tilleruditionaccedes.Thebodytherefore,
isanimpedimentindeed,totheattainmentofaprudentlife,butisby
nomeanseffectiveofit.Andthusmuchastotheseparticulars.
Withrespecthowevertothewordsofthetextseverally,itmustbe
said,that"thestreamofincreaseandnutrition"manifestthephysical
river.Foritisnecessary,thatagreaterincreasetakingplace,there
shouldbeagreaterquantityofnutriment.Buttheincreaseisgreater,
tThereisanhiatushereintheoriginal;anditappearstomethatrr\vvpoobovis
wanting.
becausenaturewhichaffordstheincrease,isthenmorepowerful.For
natureinthosethatareyoung,flourishes,andisveryrobust,butin
thosethatareadvancedinage,withwhom,thesoulismoreconsiderate,
natureisimbecile.Andyoumaynotonlysee,thatthesoulis
Econtrarilyaffectedbyages,butalsobytimes.Forthesoul,inthosethat
areawake,ismorevigorous,butinsleepisindeedsluggish,butthennature
especiallyoperates,andperformsherproperwork.Henceitvery
reasonablyfollows,thatwhenthephysicalstreamisdiminished,
tranquillityandordertakeplaceaboutthesoul.Butitmustbesaid,
that"thepathofthecirculations"isaprogressionintoprudence,
equability,andorder.Forthosethatareadvancedinyears,areforthe
mostpartmoreprudent,moreequable,andmoresteadythanthosethat
areyoung.Andtheseveralcircles,accordingtowhichtheperiodsofthe

circleofdifferencearedivided,revolvingwithrectitude,mustbesaidto
bearenovationfromfracture,andaperfectrestorationtothecircular
form.Foranunbrokenlineisamediumbetweenafracturedrightline
andacircumference,imitatingthesimplicity,theequability,andthe
similitudeofaperiphery.Butthecirculationsthemselves,andsame,and
different,arecalledbytheirproperappellations,bothindianoeticand
3,351sensibleessences.Forallthingsarenolongermovedinapuerile
manner;butthereisanendeavourtoconnectanddivideeachthings
appropriately.Itmustlikewisebeobserved,thateverywherescience
Fandignorancearedefinedaboutthissameanddifferent,eitheraccording
toarightline,oraccordingtoalternation.Forweaffirmsomethings,
whichweoughttodeny;andthisistoconceivethatwhichisdifferent
asifitweresame.Andviceversa,wedenysomethings,whichwe
oughttoaffirm,inconsequenceofbeingignorantofoneofthethings
whichwedeny.Hencewhenthegnosticpowerisproperlyevolvedwe
denominateallthingsconformablytotheirnature;asserting,thatsome
thingsarethesamewith,butothersdifferentfrom,eachother.Thus
therefore,ourcirculationsproceedingaccordingtonature,renderhim
whopossessesthemprudentandwise.Platoalso,veryproperlyhere
usesthewordgignomenon,becausehewhobecomesprudentfromthese
circulations,isphysicallymoved.Italsosometimeshappensinaddition
347Atothesethings,thatthereisarighteducation;ofwhichhesaysas
follows:
44c"Hetherefore,whoreceiveserudition,inconjunctionwithproper
nutriment,willbeperfectlyentireandsame,andwillavoidthegreatest
disease."
Thenaturalpathofsoulstowisdom,isdescribedthroughtheabovementioned
words.ButPlatoconnectswiththispoliticaleducation,
whichisperfectiveofphysicalaptitude,andwhichthroughproper
nutriment,impartstotheirrationalnature,thehabitofgoodconduct,
andalifeconformabletorightopinion;butthrougheruditionnourishes
therationalessence,bydisciplinesanddialectic.Foritisnecessarythat
theirrationalpartshouldbeinstructedbymorals,butreasonby
disciplines,inorderthattheformermaybeobedienttotherationallife,
butthelatterrecurringtointellect,maysurveythenatureofbeings.
Forthesethingstakingplace,thesoulisrenderedentireandsame;entire
Bindeed,ashavingallitspowersunencumbered,andthecircleofthesame
3,352liberatedfromitsfetters;butsame,ashavingappliedaremedytothe
distortedperiodofthecircleofthedifferent,andrestoredittoan
unfractured,andunobliquecondition.Oritmaybesaid,thatthesoul
isentire,aspursuingwholesinsteadofparts,asraisingherselffromthe
astonishmentproducedbythingsbelow,excitingherselftointellect,and
surveyingfromonhigh,*andshakingofffromherself,thebrinywaters

oftheseaofgeneration;butsame,asreturningtoherownnaturalorder,
andrunningbacktoscience.Forignoranceisthegreatestdiseaseofthe
soul,buryingandblindingits[intellectual]eye.*
44c"Buthewhoneglectsthis,will,throughproceedingalongthepathof
lifeinalamecondition,againpassintoHadesimperfectanddestituteof
intelligence."
Thephilosophermanifeststhroughthesethings,thatsomethingis
effectedbythemotionofnatureandpoliticalerudition.Forhecalls
himimperfect,whodoesnotobtainrightnutrimentanderudition.For
likeonewhosefeetareinjured,hewalksindeed,yetnotwell;andis
neitherentirelydeprivedofmotiveparts,norusessuchasareentireand
Cperfect.Afterthesamemannertherefore,hewhoneglectshimself;and
heisonewholooksdownward,dismissingtheknowledgeofhimself;
willproceedthroughthepathoflifeinalamecondition,asalone
havingmadeaproficiencysofarashehasbeenmovedbynature.
HencePlatosays,thathewillagainpassintoHadesimperfectand
destituteofintelligence,notbeingabletogiveperfectiontohisintellect;
becausethelivingarefromthedead.AndthepassingintoHades,
manifeststheproceedingintothatwhichisdark,andwithoutsplendour.
tcf.Phaedrus248c.
%cf.Tim.88b;Rep.VII,533d;&Phaedo99e.
Forthedeparturetothese,isnotaccordingtothegoodandwiseGod
[Pluto],throughthedownwardleadingmouthintothesubterranean
3,353place.*Forhewhohasnotpurifiedhimself,cannotknowthatwhich
iswhollypureandincorruptible.*Hence,heissenttothatplace,in
whichhewillbepurified;andhewhohasalonelivedaccordingtoFate,
willbedirectedintotherightpathbyFateinorderlyperiodsoftime.
44c"Theseareparticularshowever,whichtakeplaceafterwards;butit
requisitetodiscussmoreaccuratelythethingswhicharenowproposed
tobeconsidered."
Thediscussionofthecompositionofthebody,bothofthewholeand
thepartsofit,andalsooftheirrationallife,butnotoftheallotments
ofthesoul,isconsequenttotheconsiderationoftheincarnationofthe
soul.Fortheaccuratediscussionoftheallotmentsistobefoundinthe
DspeculationsintheRepublic;convertingsoulsthroughittoaprudent
andwiselife.Butitpertainstothephysiologisttogiveperfectiontothe
discussionoftheanimal.Thephilosophertherefore,veryproperly
dismissesethicalspeculations,butistransferredtothephysicaldoctrine.
Hence,hesays,thattheseparticulars,viz.theallotmentsofsouls,take

placeposteriortothosethingswhicharenowproposedtobemore
accuratelydiscussed.Andthesentenceindeed,appearstobesomewhat
difficult;butatthesametime,hesays,thatallthathasnowbeen
asserted,willtakeplacehereafter;andthatitisrequisitetospeakof
thoseparticulars,whicharenowproposedbyustobediscussed,and
thesearesuchaspertaintothelifeofthebody.Othershowever,
transposingthewords,forthesakeofperspicuity,write,Itisnecessary
todiscussmoreaccuratelythethingsnowproposedtoconsidered.Butwhat
followsisadversetothistransposition.
44c"Priortothesetherefore,itisrequisitetospeakaboutbodies,
accordingtotheparts5oftheirgeneration,andaboutthesoul;andto
showbyespeciallyadheringtoprobablereasons,throughwhatcauses
andprovidenceoftheGodstheyweregenerated.Forthus,andtothose
thatproceedconformablytothesethings,itisrequisitetodiscussthe
particularsthatremain."
fcf.Rep.X,615e.
%ForctKudapTOVinthisplace,itappearstometobenecessarytoreadUKTipotTOV.
i.e.Tospeakofthegenerationofthepartsofbodies.
Inwhatisheresaid,Platodefinesthescopeofwhatisabouttobe
delivered,viz.thatitisaboutthegenerationofbodiesandaboutthe
Esoul.Foritwasplainlysaid,thatitwashisintentiontospeak
3,354concerningboth,andtoshowfromwhatparticularsthesecond
Demiurgiconstitutedthesoulandthebody.Butconformablytothis,
hehadbeforeasserted,*thatinconstitutingsoul,andbodyitwas
requisitetointroducetheGods,andtoeffectthingsconsequenttothese,
viz.thedivisionsofthesoul,*andamoreminutediscussionoftheparts
ofthebody.Forthusintheuniverse,afteracommondiscussionofthe
whole,hespokeaboutthepartswhichitcontains.Thatalsowhichis
thepeculiarityofthePlatonicphilosophy,tosuspendallgeneration
fromtheGods,henowdoes,byplacingintheGodstheprimordial
causesofmortalbodies,andoftheinseparableformsoflife.Notthat
therearedefinitereasons[orproductivepowers]ofpartialnatures,and
ofparticulars,andthingscorruptibleintheGods;foradivinenatureis
veryremotefrompartialfabrication;butthattheypresideover
generatednaturesinanunbegottenmanner,andovermaterialnatures
immaterially,congregatingfrommanypartialandproximatecauses,that
whichispartialineffectsthroughperpetualmotions,andthroughwell
Farrangedandmultiformcauses.ForasthefirstDemiurgusdelivers[the
productionofmortalnatures]tothejuniorGods,solikewisethe
providenceofthese,proceedsthroughdaemons,asfarustomaterialand
individualprinciples,usingasadjutors,definitenatures,andtheseveral
peculiarmotionsofthesewhichdifferintheirpowers,andlikewise

employingalltheproximatecausesofgeneratedbeings;fromwhich,that
whichisgenerated,derivesitscompletion,isfabricatedapartialnature
insteadofbeingthewhole,andreceivesanhypostasis,circumscribed
differently,andbydifferentpeculiarities.Heretherefore,itisrequisite
348Atospeakaboutthebodyaccordingtoparts;asforinstance;aboutthe
3,355head,thethorax,andthelegs,andineachofthese,abouttheparts
containedinthem:fortheseareorganic.Itisalsorequisitetospeak
aboutthemortalsoul,whichtogetherwiththebodymakesthemortal
animal,thisbeingthefabricationofthejuniorGods;andlikewiseabout
thepartsofitboththegnosticandtheorectic.Forifweproperly
apprehendthesebyareasoningprocess,weshallhavewelldiscussed
whatpertainstoman.
tTim.42d.
XTim.42e.
Itisnecessaryhowever,thatmaninthesamemannerasthewhole
worldshouldbeconsideredperfectly,becausemanisamicrocosm.*
Forhehasintellectandreason,adivineandamortalbody,inthesame
mannerastheuniverse,andheisdividedanalogouslytotheuniverse.
Hencealso,someareaccustomedtosay,thathisintellectualpartis
arrangedanalogoustothesphereofthefixedstars;butthatofreason,
thatwhichistheoretic,isanalogoustoSaturn,andthatwhichis
political,toJupiter.Oftheirrationalpartlikewise,theirasciblenature
isanalogoustoMars;thatwhichisenduedwiththefacultyofspeech,
BtoMercury;thatwhichisepithymetic,toVenus;thatwhichissensitive,
totheSun;andthatwhichisvegetative,totheMoon.Theluciform
vehiclelikewise,isanalogoustotheheavens;butthismortalbody,to
thesublunaryregion.*Inordertherefore,thatyoumayperceivethe
universepartially,thediscourseaboutmaniscoarrangedwithall
physiology.Andthusmuchastothisparticular.
ButhowarethecausesandprovidentialenergiesoftheGodstobe
divided?Isitnot,thattheformerarehypostatic,orthesourcesof
subsistence,butthelatterareofaguardiannature;theformerarethe
suppliersofessence,butthelatterofgood;andtheformerareeffective
ofmortalnatures,butthelatterarethesavioursofimmortalsouls?For
theGodsprovidentiallyattendtothese,receivethemwhentheydescend
[intotherealmsofgeneration],andagain,whentheyarewillingto
ascend,extendtheirhands,andimpartthepitywhichdwellswiththem.
SincehoweverboththecauseandtheprovidenceofthejuniorGods,are
multipliedandunited;forwhencecouldunionbeimpartedfromthem
togeneratednatures,unlessthosethatproducethemwerebyamuch
greaterpriorityunitedtoeachother?Onthisaccount,Platocallstheir
demiurgicpowers,theprovidenceandcausesofthem.Forthereare

CmanyDemiurgi,andtheproductionofeachismultiform.Andagainhe
unitesthemultitudeoftheGods.Forunionanduniformpoweraccede
toallbeings,andbyamuchgreaterpriorityintheGodsthemselves,
fromthedivinepeculiarity;justasintelligenceispresentwithwholes,
andinamuchgreaterdegreewiththeintellectualordersthemselves,
fromintellect.Butwhen,inshort,herefersthecauseofgenerated
naturestotheprovidenceoftheGods,hegivestothemafirst
progressionintoexistence,ineffable,andbetterthanknowledge.Hence,
Iamblichusrightlysays,thatitisnotpossibletocollectsyllogistically,
tcf.Philebus29aff;also2CDsupra;11Csupra;&25A,supra.
%cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.61.
howtheGodsproducebody,andthelifewhichisinit,andhowthey
connectbothwitheachother.Forthesethingsareunknowntous.
Andindeed,westrenuouslyassert,thatallthingsareconstitutedbythe
Gods,inconsequenceoflookingtotheirgoodness;butwearenotable
toknowhowtheyproceedfromthence.Thecausehowever,ofthisis,
thattoenergiseprovidentially,andtogenerate,aretheprerogativesof
adivinehyparxis,andpossessanunknowntranscendency.Ithasbeen
showntherefore,whatthesubjectisofthepresentdiscussion;buthe
Dagainremindsuswhatthemodeofitis,thatitismingledwith
probability.Forsofarasitisconnectedwithnature,andthe
fabricationofmortals,sofaritisaccompaniedwithprobability;butso
farasitrecurstoadivineintellectitself,sofaragain,itparticipatesof
truth.Andfinally,heconnectsthemodeandtheendofthediscussion.
Forhesays,"Thus,andtothosethatproceedconformablytothesethings,
itisrequisitetodiscusstheparticularsthatremain."Butthewordthus,
pertainstothemode;andthewords,conformablytothesethings,belong
totheend.Theendhowever,istospeakaboutthepartsofthebody,
andtodiscussminutely,whatpertainstothemortalsoul.

AdditionalNotestothesecondvolumeofProclusontheTimaeusofPlato
1(Seeline197D)Thiswillbeevidentfromthefollowingdiagram,
whichalsowillbefoundtocontainaquadruplediapason,togetherwiththe
diapenteandtone.
Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.Sesq.Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.
384.432.486.512.576.648.729.768.
Thefirstdupleinterval.

Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.Sesq.Sesq.Sesq.Leimma

864.972.1024.1152.1296.1458.1536.
Theseconddupleinterval.

Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.
1728.1944.2187.*2304.2592.2916.3072.
Thethirddupleinterval.
*2187istheoctupleof273%.

Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.
3456.3888.4374.4608.5184.5832.6144.
Thefourthdupleinterval.

Sesq.Sesq.Leimma.Sesq.
6912.7776.8748.9216.10368.
Thethirdtripleinterval.

Inthisdiagramitmustbeobserved,thatthelasttermofeachintervalformsa
sesquioctavewiththefirsttermoftheintervalthatisnextinorder.Thefirst
tripleintervallikewisebeginswiththeterm384,andendsattheterm1152.
Thesecondtripleintervalbeginsat1152andendsat3456.Andthethirdtriple
intervalbeginsat3456,andendsat10368.
2(Seeline256A)ThisiswellexplainedbyIamblichusDeMysteriis,
VII,3,2534,asfollows:"Sinceeverypartoftheheavens,andeverysignof
thezodiac,everycelestialmotionlikewise,everytimeaccordingtowhichthe
worldismoved,andeverythingcontainedinthewholesoftheuniverse,
receivepowersdescendingfromthesun,someofwhicharecomplicatedwith
thesethingsthemselves,butotherstranscendcommixture,thesymbolicalmode
ofsignificationindicatesthis,byassertingthatthesunisdiversifiedaccording
tothesignsofthezodiac,andthateveryhourhechangeshisform.Atthe
sametimehowever,itindicateshisimmutable,stable,neverfailing,andatoncecollected
communicationofgoodtothewholeworld.Butsincetherecipients
oftheimpartiblegiftoftheGodarevariouslyaffectedtowardsit,andreceive
multiformpowersfromthesun,accordingtotheirpeculiarmotions,hencethe
symbolicaldoctrineevincesthroughthemultitudeofthegiftsthattheGodis
one,andexhibitshisonepower,throughmultiformpowers.Hencealsoit
says,thatheisoneandthesame,butthatthevicissitudesofhisform,andhis
configurations,mustbeadmittedtoexistintherecipients.Onthisaccount,it
asserts,thatheischangedeveryhour,accordingtothesignofthezodiac,in
consequenceofthesebeingvariouslychangedabouttheGod,accordingtothe
manymodesbywhichtheyreceivehim."

3(Seeline278A)Theprecessionoftheequinoxesishowever
admittedbySimplicius,whointhe2ndbookofhisCommentaryonAristotle's
TreatiseontheHeavens,observesrespectingthemotionoftheinerraticsphere
asfollows:
"Iftheinerraticsphereisreallyinerratic,andtheobservationofHipparchus
andPtolemyconcerningit,isnotadmitted,thatitismovedonedegreeina
hundredyearsinacontrarydirection,ifthisbethecase,itwillbemoved
withonesimplemotion,butthestarscontainedinitwithtwomotions,viz.
withtheirowncircumrotatorymotion,andthemotionoftheuniverse.But
theplanetswillbemovedwiththreemotions,viz.withtheirownproper
motion,withthatofthesphereswhichcontainthem,andwiththemotionof
theuniverse.Sincehowever,headds,mypreceptorAmmonius[viz.the
celebratedAmmoniusHermaeas,whowasthediscipleofProclus,]observingthe
starsthroughanastrolabewhileIwaspresent,inAlexandria,foundthatthe
starArcturus,accordingtotheepochofPtolemy,hadbeenmovedsomuch,as
itwasnecessaryitshouldhavebeenmovedattherateofonedegreeina
hundredyears;itwillbemoretruetosay,thatthestarlessspherewhich
comprehendsallthespheres,andwhichwasunknowninthetimeofAristotle,
beingmovedwithonesimplemotionfromtheeast,convolvesatthesametime
alltheotherspheres.Butthatwhichiscalledbyustheinerraticsphere,is
movedwithtwomotions,viz.withthemotionoftheuniversefromtheeast,
andwithitsownmotionfromthewest;andallthestarsinitaremovedwith
thesetwomotions,andwiththeirowncircumrotatorymotion.Inlikemanner
also,withrespecttothesuccessivespheres,andthestarsinthem,theformer
aremovedwithtwo,butthelatterwiththreeofthesamemotions."
IamhoweverdecidedlyoftheopinionofProclus,thattherecordsofafew
observations,andviewsofajuvenilenature,arenottobeadducedin
oppositiontotheveryextendedobservationsoftheChaldeans,whichembraced
awholemundaneperiod,i.e.aperiodof300,000years.AndwhatProclushere
assertsoftheChaldeans,isalsoconfirmedbyCiceroinhisfirstbookOn
Divination,whosaysthattheyhadrecordsofthestarsforthespaceof370,000
years;andbyDiodorusSiculusBibl.lib.II.p.118.whosaysthattheir
observationscomprehendedthespaceof473,000years.
4(Seeline279F)Fromthisextraordinarypassage,wemayperceive
atoneviewwhythesunintheOrphichymnsiscalledJupiter,whyApollois
calledPan,andBacchustheSun;whytheMoonseemstobethesamewith
Rhea,Ceres,Proserpine,Juno,Venus,&c.andinshortwhyanyonedivinity
iscelebratedwiththenamesandepithetsofsomanyoftherest.Forfromthis
sublimetheoryitfollowsthateveryspherecontainsaJupiter,Neptune,Vulcan,
Vesta,Minerva,Mars,Ceres,Juno,Diana,Mercury,Venus,Apollo,andinshort
everydeity,eachsphereatthesametimeconferringontheseGodsthepeculiar
characteristicofitsnature;sothatforinstanceintheSuntheyallpossessa
solarproperty,intheMoonalunarone,andsooftherest.Fromthistheory
toowemayperceivethetruthofthatdivinesayingoftheancients,thatall

thingsarefullofGods;formoreparticularordersproceedfromsuchasare
moregeneral,themundanefromthesupermundane,andthesublunaryfrom
thecelestial;whileearthbecomesthegeneralreceptacleoftheilluminationsof
alltheGods.HenceasProclusshortlyafter[at282D]observes,"thereisa
terrestrialCeres,Vesta,andIsis,aslikewiseaterrestrialJupiterandaterrestrial
Hermes,establishedabouttheonedivinityoftheearth;justasamultitudeof
celestialGodsproceedsabouttheonedivinityoftheheavens.Forthereare
progressionsofallthecelestialGodsintotheEarth;andEarthcontainsall
things,inanearthlymanner,whichHeavencomprehendscelestially.Hence
wespeakofaterrestrialBacchusandaterrestrialApollo,whobestowstheallvarious
streamsofwaterwithwhichtheearthabounds,andopeningsprophetic
offuturity."Andiftoallthisweonlyadd,thatalltheothermundaneGods
subsistinthetwelveabovementioned,andthatthefirsttriadoftheseis
demiurgicorfabricative,viz.Jupiter,Neptune,Vulcan;thesecond,Vesta,
Minerva,Mars,defensive;thethird,Ceres,Juno,Diana,vivific;andthefourth,
Mercury,Venus,Apollo,elevatingandharmonic;Isay,ifweunitethiswith
theprecedingtheory,thereisnothingintheancienttheologythatwillnot
appearadmirablysublimeandbeautifullyconnected,accurateinallitsparts,
scientific,anddivine.
5(Seeline292B)ThisisaveryancientEgyptiandoctrine.And
henceKircherinhisOEdipusEgyptiacussaysthathereadthefollowingwords
engravedinastonenearMemphis:Coelumsursum,coelumdeorsum,quodsursum
idomnedeorsum,haeccapeetbeaberis,i.e.Heavenisabove,andHeavenisbeneath.
Everythingwhichisaboveisalsobeneath.Understandthis,andyouwillbe
blessed.ConformablytothisalsothecelebratedSmaragdineTable,whichisof
suchgreatauthoritywiththeAlchemists,andwhichwhetheroriginallywritten
ornotbyHermesTrismegistus,isdoubtlessofgreatantiquity,saysthatallthat
isbeneathresemblesallthatisabove.Butthetableitselfisasfollows:"Verum
sinemendacio,certumetverissimum:quodestinferius,estsicutidquodest
superius,etquodestsuperius,estsicutidquodestinferius,adperpetrandum
miraculumuniusrei.Etsicutresomnesfueruntabunomediationeunius,sic
omnesresnataeabhacreadoptatione.Paterejusestsol,materejusluna.
Portavitilludventusinventresuo.Nutrixejusterra,pateromnistelesmitotius
mundiesthie.Virtusejusintegraest,siversafueritinterram.Separabis
terramabigne,subtileaspissosuavitercummagnoingenio.Ascenditaterra
inccelum,iterumquedescenditinterram,etrecipitvimsuperiorumet
inferiorum.Sichabebisgloriamtotiusmundi,ideofugietateomnisobscuritas.
Haecesttotiusfortitudinisfortitudofortis,quiavincetomnemremsubtilem,
omniaquesolidapenetrabit.Sicmunduscreatusest.Hinceruntadoptationes
nurabiles,quarummodushieest.ItaquevocatussumHermesTrismegistus
habenstrespartesphilosophisetotiusmundi.Completumestquoddixide
operesolis."i.e."Itistruewithoutalie,certain,andmosttrue,thatwhatis
beneathislikethatwhichisabove,andwhatisaboveislikethatwhichis
beneath,forthepurposeofaccomplishingthemiracleofonething.Andasall

thingswerefromonethroughthemediationofone,soallthingswere
generatedfromthisthingbyadoption[i.e.byparticipation].Thesunisits
father,andthemoonisitsmother.Thewindcarrieditinitsbelly.Theearth
isitsnurse.Thisisthefatherofalltheperfectionofthewholeworld.Its
powerisentirewhenitisconvertedintoearth.Youmustseparatetheearth
fromthefire,thesubtlefromthethicksweetlywithgreatgenius.Itascends
fromearthtoheaven,andagaindescendstotheearth,andreceivesthepower
ofthingssuperiorandinferior.Thusyouwillhavethegloryofthewhole
world,andthusallobscuritywillfliefromyou.Thisisthestrongfortitudeof
allfortitude,becauseitvanquisheseverysubtilething,andpenetratesallsolid
substances.Thustheworldwasfabricated.Henceadmirableadoptionswill
takeplace,ofwhichthisisthemode.IamthereforecalledHermes
Trismegistus,possessingthreepartsofthephilosophyofthewholeworld.
ThatwhichIhavesaidconcerningtheworkofthesuniscomplete."
6(Seeline323C)TheDemiurguswasnurturedbyAdrastea.
"Adrastea(saysHermeasinhisScholiaonthePhaedrus,)isadivinityseatedin
thevestibulesofNight,andistheoffspringofMelissusandAmalthea.Melissus
therefore,istobeassumedasapowerprovidentiallyattendingtosecondary
natures;butAmaltheamustbeconsideredaccordingtotheuninclining,andthe
uneffeminate.HenceAdrasteawasgeneratedfromunincliningProvidence,and
sheisthesisterofIda.
ThebeauteousIda,andAdrasteasprung
Fromthesamesire.
ThisGoddesstherefore,unicallycomprehendsandcontainsinherselfatonce,
thecentresofalllaws,viz.ofthemundane,andthesupermundane,ofthoseof
Fate,andthoseofJupiter;forthereareJovianandSaturnian,divine,
supermundane,andmundanelaws.OnthisaccountsheiscalledAdrastea,
becauseherlegislativedecreesareinevitable.Hence,sheissaidtobeseated
withbrazendrumsticksinherhands,beforethecaveofNight,andthroughthe
soundproducedbyhercymbals,torenderallthingsobedienttoherlaws.For
Phanesindeedisseatedwithinthecave,intheadytumofNight;butNightsits
inthemiddleofthecave,prophesyingtotheGods;andAdrasteasitsinthe
vestibules,legislativelypromulgatingthedivinelaws.Shediffershowever,from
thejusticewhichisthere,afterthesamemannerasthelegislativediffersfrom
thejudicialcharacteristic.Andthejusticewhichisthere,issaidtobethe
daughteroftheLawandPietywhicharethere.ButAdrasteaherself,whois
theoffspringofMelissusandAmalthea,islikewisecomprehensiveofLaw.
Thesetherefore,aresaidtohavenurturedJupiterinthecavernofNight;the
theologistdirectlyassertingthatwhichPlatosaysaboutJupiter.ForPlato
representshimfabricating,andpromulgatinglaws.Butdivinelawisimparted
byAdrasteatotheGodsalso:fortheorderwhichisinthemisderivedfrom
thisGoddess.Itishowever,likewiseimpartedtotheattendantsoftheGods,
andincommontoall,andpeculiarlytoeach."

7(Seeline328B)Thethousandyears,whichPlatodefinesinthe
Phaedrus.
ForthesakeofmorefullyunderstandingwhatProclusreferstointhisplace,
andalsoforthesakeofthePlatonicreader,thefollowingtranslationofan
extractfromtheScholiaofHermeasonthePhaedrusisgiven.ThetextofPlato,
respectingthefirstdescentofthesoulfromtheintelligibleworldintothe
realmsofgeneration,onwhichtheextractisacomment,isasfollows:
"ThisisthelawofAdrastea,thatwhateversoulattendingondivinity,has
beheldsomethingofreality,shallbefreefromdamagetillanotherperiodtakes
place:andthatifsheisalwaysabletoaccomplishthis,sheshallbeperpetually
freefromtheincursionsofevil.Butwhenthroughanimpotencyof
accomplishingthis,shehasnotperceivedreality,andfromsomefortuitous
occurrenceandbeingfilledwithoblivion,anddepravity,shebecomesheavy
anddrowsy,breaksherwings,andfallsagainontheearth,thenthislaw
preventsherinherfirstgeneration,frombeingimplantedinsomebrutal
nature,butcommandsthesoul,whichhasseenthemost,toinformthebody
ofaphilosopher,orofonedesirousofbeauty;ofamusician,orofonedevoted
tolove.Butitordersthesoulwhoseperceptionsrankinthesecondclass,to
descendintoalegitimateking,orofamanstudiousofempireandwar.Butit
distributesasoulofthethirdorder,intoacertainpoliticalcharacter,orthe
rulerofafamily,orthemasterofatrade.Andagain,itdistributesasoulof
thefourthrank,intooneengagedingymnasticexercise,orinprocuring
remedies,andtakingcareofthebody.Butsoulsofthefifthorder,itdistributes
intoaprophetic,orcertaintelesticlife.Inthesixth,itmakesadistribution
intoapoeticorimitativelife.Intheseventh,intoahusbandman,oran
artificer.Intheeighth,intoasophist,orpopularcharacter.Andintheninth,
intoatyranniclife.Butinallthese,hewhopasseshislifejustly,will
afterwardsobtainabetterconditionofbeing;buthewhoactsunjustly,will
passintoaworsestateofexistence.Fornosoulwillreturntoitspristine
conditiontilltheexpirationoftenthousandyears;sinceitwillnotrecoverthe
useofitswingsbeforethisperiod;exceptitisthesoulofonewhohas
philosophisedsincerely,ortogetherwithphilosophyhasbeenaloverofyouth.
Theseindeed,inthethirdperiodofathousandyears,iftheyhavethricechosen
thismodeoflifeinsuccession,andhavethusrestoredtheirwingstotheir
naturalvigour,shallinthethreethousandthyear,returntotheirpristine
abode."
TheScholiaofHermeasonthispassage,areasfollow:
"Whateversoul,saysPlato,followingitsproperGod,isabletoperceive
somethingofintelligibles,willremainwithoutinjuryduringthewholeofthat
period,i.e.willnotfallintogeneration.Fortofallintogeneration,istobe
injured.Andyoumayseehowaccuratelyhere,inthesamemannerasbefore,
heexhibitstousthedifferencebetweendivine,andhumansouls.Forhedoes
notmerelysay,ifithasseen*[reality]but,ifithasseensomething[ofreality];
i.e.ifithasseenwhatispartiallyandindividuallyreal.Iftherefore,inthe

beginningoftheperiod,ithasseensomethingofrealbeing,itwillremain
uninjuredtillanotherperiod.ForthesacredlawofAdrasteaantecedently
comprehendstheprogressionsofalltheGods,andofallsouls,andimpartsthat
whichisadaptedtoeach.Hence,astherewardofhavingseensomethingof
reality,inthebeginningoftheperiod,itwill,duringthewholeofthatperiod,
remainonhigh,andrevolveinconjunctionwiththeGods.Foritsadaptation
totheperiodwillsustainit;justashere,somethingsliveforonesolarperiod,
othersfortwo,andothersonlyforaday,throughbeingadaptedtoacertain
positionofthestars.Certaindaemonsalsobytheirsustainingaid,keepsouls
fromfallingintogeneration,justasweseehere,bodiesthatarewellborn,
thoughtheyshouldbebadlynourished,yetatthesametime,remainhealthy,
throughtheirnaturalconditionfromthebeginning;andthoughtheyendeavour
toperformcertaindefiledactions,yetarepreventedbycertaingooddaemons
fromaccomplishingthem.Afterthesamemannertherefore,thesoulthathas
oncebeheldsomethingofintelligibles,isassistedandsupportedbygood
daemonsandheroes,soasnottofallintogenerationinthatperiod.Butwhen
thesoulbeingunabletofollowtheGods,nolongerperceivessomethingof
reality,Platoenumeratesmanycausesofitslapseintogeneration.Thefirst
causetherefore,whichheassignsofthisis,itsinabilityoffollowingthe
[perpetual]attendantsoftheGods.Thesecondis,itsbeingunabletoperceive
somethingofintelligibles.Thethirdis,afortuitousoccurrence;andthisis
probablytheoccurrenceofcertainmaleficdaemons.Forthesouldeparting
fromtheGods,meetswithevildaemons,whoenkindleitsdesiresofassociating
withgeneration.Henceasimilarthingtakesplace,aswhensomeonefollows
hispreceptor,Socratesforinstance,orsomeotherworthyteacher;forthenhe
becomesmodestandworthy,andparticipatesofacertaingood.Butifhe
abandonshispreceptor,hemeetswithintemperateandimpudentmen,who
excitehimtodesirescontrarytomodestyandworth.Thefourthcause,isthe
entireoblivionofintelligibles,andthepowerofthesoulwhichiseffectiveof
difference,andofalifeconversantwithgeneration.Forfromthesecauses,the
soulbecomesheavy,isfilledwiththepotionofoblivion,andfetteredwiththe
bondsofgeneration,anddepartsfromandbecomesentirelyforgetfulof
tThereisanomissionhereintheoriginal,ofeavKari&tiaXX'.
intelligibles.Forthisisthedepravityofthesoul,whichcausesthedefluxion
ofherwings,andherdescenttoearth.
ButwhenPlatosays,"thesoulfallsagainontheearth,"byearth,hemaymean,
allgeneration;hemayalsointendtosignifythisearthproperlysocalled;and
hemayalsomeanthishumanbody,intowhichthesoulenters,throughits
mostabundantparticipationofearth.ThelawofAdrasteathereforegrantsthis
tothesoulinherfirstfallingfromtheintelligibleintogeneration,thatsheshall
notenterintothebodyofabrute,butintothatofaman.ForPlatocallsthe
firstgeneration,thedescentofthesoulintotherealmsofgeneration,andher
givingcompletiontothisanimalframe,afterhervisionoftheintelligible.
Inthenextplace,itmustbeobserved,thatthenineliveswhicharehere

delivered,differfromthosementionedinthe[10thbookofthe]Republic.For
theliveswhichareheredeliveredarenine,butthoseintheRepublic,are
infinite.Thelatteralso,areallottedconformablytotheelectionsofthesoul;
buttheformeraredistributed,accordingtotherewardandhonourmeritedby
thevisionoftheintelligibles.Andinthelatterindeed,thetransitionofthe
soul,isfromamanintoabrute,andfromabruteintoaman;butinthe
former,thetransitionisonlyintoman,andthisintothemale,andnotintothe
female.Thatlikewise,whichisthegreatestthingofall,isthis,thathere,the
soulfirstproceedsfromtheintelligibleintogeneration;butintheRepublic,it
proceedsfromonelifetoanother.Andinshort,byaccuratelysurveying,you
willfindmanydifferencesbetweentheformerandthelatterlives.Fartherstill,
thisalsomustbementionedbyusasnecessary,thatherethespeciesorforms
themselvesoflives,areenumerated,butnotentirelythefortunesofthem,and
externalcircumstances,suchforinstanceasamilitary,orroyallife;norentirely
alifewhichisconversantwitharms,andemploysafortuneofaparticular
kind.
Itremainsthereforetobeinvestigated,whetherthewholeextentoflifeisto
bedividedintotheseninelives,orwhetheracertainotherdivisionbesides
these,isleft,whichwillmakeforus,tenormorelives.Foritispossibleto
dividethesamething,accordingtodifferentconceptions,intoagreaterorless
numberofparts.ThusinthePhilebus,thedivisionisintothree,butinthe
Republic,intofive,lives.Itmustbedemonstratedbyushowever,thatnowthe
wholeextentoflifemaybedistributedintotheseninelives.Thesefourthings
therefore,beingsurveyedaboutman,viz.reason,anger,desire,andnature,the
souldescendingintogeneration,liveseitheraccordingtoreasonalone,yielding
innothingtothepassions,norsufferinganythingfromthem,andinthiscase,
sheproducesthefirstlifewhichisthephilosophic.Orshelivesaccordingto
anger,reasonatthesametimehavingdominion,andsheproducesthesecond
life,whichisroyalandmilitary.Orshelivesaccordingtodesire,againreason
possessingtheempireofthesoul,andshemakesthethirdlife,whichis
political,andalsopertainstotheacquisitionofwealth.Forthislifeis
employedinprocuringnecessaryfoodfortheanimalandthecity.Oragain,
thesoulisconversantwithnature,reasonstillpresiding,andsheproducesthe
gymnasticandmedicinallife.Forthislife,isconvertedtonatureandbodies,
providentiallyattendingto,andprocuringremediesforthem.Sincetherefore,
wehaveproceeded,asfarastotheendoftheprogressionoflifeaccordingto
nature,thefifthliferemains,whichisthetelestic,andwhichdoesnotpossess
apeculiarpower.ForthislifeisconvertedtotheGods,andfromthence
affordsacertainassistancetothelivesthatprecedeit.ButPlatoassumeshere
thepropheticandtelesticlife,nottheenthusiastic;forthisisphilosophicinthe
extreme,andscientific,andthewholeofitisinspiredbydivinity;buthe
assumesthisartificialandmedicinallife,whichthroughsacrificesandprayers,
affordsacertainaidtothehumanrace.Andtheseindeed,arethefivelives,
whichareeffectedaccordingtorightreason,andareassimilatedtotheenergies
whichsubsistaboutdivinity.ForeachoftheGodsabides,proceeds,and

returnstotheprincipleofhisprogression.Heretherefore,thesouleither
abidesinreason,andproducesthephilosophiclife;orsheproceedsasfarasto
nature,andproducestheotherthreelives;orsheisconvertedtotheGods,and
producesthefifthlife.
Oftheremainingfourliveshowever,whichareimitative,andtheimagesof
thosethatarepriortothem,twoofthem,viz.thesixthandtheseventh,truly
imitatethosethatprecedethem,theonethroughwords,buttheotherthrough
deeds.Sothattheremainingfour,areimitativeofthepriorlives;buttwoof
themimitatetruly,andtheothertwodissimilarly.Thesixthandseventhlives
also,whicharetrulyimitative,differinthis,thattheoneimitatesthrough
words,thephilosopher,theking,andtheremainingcharacters,andthus
disciplinesmen;buttheseventhimitatesthroughdeeds;forsuchistheartificer.
Andtheeightandninthdissimilarlyimitate;theoneagainthroughwords,but
theotherthroughdeeds.Butinthepoetic,considereveryimitativecharacter
included,towhichalsothepainterbelongs;thesecharacters,asPlatosaysinthe
Republic,beingthethirdfromthetruth.Forthedemiurgiccharacter,heisto
beassumedwholeadsathingfromnonbeingtoessence,suchasthecarpenter,
thepotter,andtheshoemaker.Amongtheselikewise,thehusbandmanis
included,sofarashepaysattentiontonature,inorderthathergerminations
maybehealthyandmostexcellent.Thesophisticalhowever,andpopular
characters,differinthis,thatthesophistisateacherofthelawsandvirtue;but
thepopularcharacterexercisesrhetoricamongthevulgar.Butwemustnot
nowassumethedistortedsophisticalandtyrannicallives,butthosethatuse
thesepowerstoagoodpurpose,theformerbydeception,butthelatterby
force.Foritispossibletousethesebothwellandill,asPlatoalsoinfers.And
thusmuchconcerningtheninelives.
Itnowremains,thatweshouldcollectbyhumanscientificreasoning,what
thenatureisoftheintelligibles,bythecontemplationofwhichthesoul
descendsintothefirst,second,andfollowinglives.Thesoultherefore,which
hassurveyedthebeautiful,thewise,andthegood,sincethesebeginningfrom
thefirstprinciples,proceedasfarastothelastofthings,descendsintothefirst
life.Hencealsoitisreasonabletosuppose,thatthesoulwhichhassurveyed
wisdomitself,willchoosethephilosophiclife;butthatthesoulwhichhas
surveyedthebeautifulitself,willchoosealifewhichisstudiousofelegance;and
thisPlatodividesintothemusicalandamatorylife.Forreceivingbeautyeither
throughtheeyes,ortheears,weobtainareminiscenceofintelligiblebeauty.
Butthereascenttoallthelivesistothegood.Again,thesoulwhichhas
surveyedthegeneraofbeing,willchoosethesecondlife.Forakingestablishes
allthings,andisthereforeanalogoustopermanency,*fromwhichalso,heis
denominatedbasileus,i.e.fromabasisandstability,andgivingfirmnessto
things.Helikewisemovesorexcitesallthings,byarrangingandadorning
everything,throughwhichheisanalogoustomotion.Heisalsothecauseof
friendshipanduniontoallthingsthroughcommonlaws,whichitisthe

provinceofsamenesstoeffect.Andhedivideseverything,andrepresses
whateverishostileandinjurious;andthisistheemploymentofdifference.He
likewiserulesoverallthings;andonthisaccountheissaidtobewarlike,and
aprince.Butascausingallthings[inthecity]toexist,mayhenotbesaidto
subsistanalogoustoessence,inconsequenceofleadingeachthingfromnonbeing
toexistence.
Again,whenthesoulhassurveyedthegeneraofbeingmorepartially,andno
longertotally,orhas[principally]surveyedjusticeitself,sheproducesthethird
life:forthosewhoareassumedinthethirdlife,areinagreaterdegree
conversantwithjustice.Thesoulwhichhassurveyedhealthitself,andbody
itself,makesthefourthlife.Andthesoulwhichhasbeheldtheeverlasting
Godsproducesthepropheticortelesticlife.Theremainingfourliveshowever,
havesurveyedsimilitudeitself;butthetwofirsthavesurveyedinagreater
degreesimilitude,andthetwolastdissimilitude.
Platotherefore,havingspokenconcerningthelives,andthegeneradistributed
tosoulsdescendingintogeneration,fromtheintelligiblepriortogeneration,
brieflydiscussesinwhatremains,theconductofthesoulduringitsfallen
condition,conformablytowhatissaidintheRepublic;viz.thatthesoulwhich
haspassedthroughthislifeinajustandholymanner,shallobtainamore
excellent,butthesoulthathasactedunjustly,aworse,conditionofbeing.
Havinglikewise,ledthesoulintotherealmsofgeneration,heagainelevatesit
totheintelligible,andsays,thateverysoulsuchasthesoulsofthemultitude,
isrestoredtotheintelligible,throughtenthousandyears;butthatthesoulof
aphilosopherisrestoresthroughthreethousandyears.Sincehowever,he
makesmentionofaperiodofamyriad,andofthreethousandyears,and
fartherstilloftheperiodofathousandyears,fromaprogressionfrom
generationintogeneration,letusfirstexplainthemathematicalmeaningof
whatissaid,andafterwardsinvestigatewhathewishestoindicate.
Hedefinesthen,intheRepublic,themeasureofthelifeofmantobea
hundredyears,thisnumberbeingthesquareoften,whichcomprehendsin
itselfalltheformsofnumbers.Afterwards,ifyoumultiplyahundredbyten,
youwillproducethecubeathousand.This,asbeingterrestrial,andadapted
tThegeneraofbeingare,essence,permanency,motion,sameness,anddifference.
toearth,Platoattributestoit,andsays,thattheprogressionofthesoulunder
theearth,i.e.itsprogressionfromgenerationtogeneration,consistsofa
thousandyears,inorderthatthepunishmentofitsoffences,ortherewardof
itsgooddeeds,maytakeplaceinatenfolddegree.Fartherstill,thisalsomust
bepreassumed,thatthesoulwhichisabouttoberestoredtoitspristine
felicity,musthavechosenaphilosophiclife.Lettherebetherefore,asoulthat
haslivedtheninelives;butitremainsafterthese,thatonelifewhichis

apocatastatic,must,aswehavesaid,beinvestigated;andthisweshallhaveten
lives.Hencesincetheprogressionofeachlifeundertheearth,consistsofa
thousandyears,tentimesonethousandwillproduceamyriadofyears.Since
alsoitisnecessarythatthesoulwhichisreturningtoitspristinefelicity,should
havephilosophizedthrice,asPlatosays,againthreethousandyearswillbe
produced.Perhapstoo,Platoassumedthisfromhistory.ForthusHermes
TrismegistusreceivedtheappellationofTrismegistus,becausehehadthrice
philosophizedontheearth,andthethirdtimeknewhimself.AndPindar*
says,
Buttheywhointruevirtuestrong
Thethirdpurgationcanendure;
Andkeeptheirmindsfromfraudfulwrong,
Andguilt'scontagionpure;
Theythro'thestarrypathsofJove
ToSaturn'sblissfultowerremove.
Suchtherefore,asIhavesaid,isthemathematicalmeaningofthewords.And
inshort,threeandtenmultiplythejourneyofathousandyearsunderthe
earth,thatis,theprogressionfromgenerationintogeneration,andmakethree
thousandandamyriad.
WhatthendoesPlatoobscurelysignifythroughthesenumbers?Itmustbe
said,thatthreethousandandamyriad,aresymbolsofperfection.ForPlato
doesnotmeanwhatthemathematicalsignificationofthewordsseemto
indicate.Forifthiswerethecase,therewouldbeanapocatastasisofeverysoul
inamyriadofyears,andthusthisworldwouldbecomedestituteofsouls.But
thisisimpossible,asisalsoevidentfromwhatisrelatedofAridaeusin[the
tenthbookof]theRepublic,whowasmanythousandyearsundertheearth,and
yetwasnotabletoascendfromthemouth,thoughothersoulsascendedfrom
it.Platotherefore,doesnotintendtosignifyamathematicalandarithmetical
multitudeofyears,butmeasuresofperfections,andgradationsoffirst,middle,
andlastsouls.Forsomesoulsmaketheirapocatastasismoreswiftly,butothers
moreslowly,andsomerequirebutalittle,butothersanabundant,purification.
Andthreeisaperfectnumber,containingthebeginning,middle,andend.Ten
alsoisaperfectnumber,subsistingaccordingtoanotherform[i.e.accordingto
aformdifferentfromthatofthree],andcomprehendinginitselfallnumbers.
tOlymp.ii.v.123,&c.
Threelikewise,isanalogoustothreethousand,andtentoamyriad:foreach
ofthemisamonad,andiscomprehensiveofallnumbers.Onallthese
accountstherefore,Platousesthreethousandandamyriad,manifestingby
thesenumbers,thatthosewhophilosophizeperfectly,maketheirapocatastasis
totheintelligibleinashortertime,asrequiringbutlittleornopurification;but
thatthesoulsofthemultitudemaketheirapocatastasisinalongertime,as

beinginwantofmuchpunishmentandpurification.Athousandalsomanifests
acertainmeasureoftheperfectionofthesoulthatispurifiedundertheearth;
whichhavingobtained,itagaincomesintogeneration,andhavinglivedwell
orillontheearth,againacquiresitsrequisiteperfectionundertheearth.
Hence,theseperiodsdonotentirelymanifestsogreatamultitudeofyears,so
asthatsoulsmaketheirapocatastasesinsuchagreatlengthoftime,butthey
symbolicallysignify,acertainpropermeasureofperfection;throughwhichthe
soulreceivingwhatisadaptedtoit,andobtainingitsperfection,isrestoredto
itspristinefelicity.
8(Seeline328C)Thehappylife,&c.Thesupremefelicityofthe
soulinanotherlife,consistsinthevisionofintelligiblesinamuchmoreperfect
mannerthancanbeeffectedbyitinthepresentlife.Thisvision,Platointhe
Phaedrus,callsinitiationintothemostblessedofmysteries.Buthisallbeautiful
wordsaretranslatedbymeasfollows:"Wewerethenhowever,permittedto
seesplendidbeauty,whentogetherwiththathappychoir,weobtainedthat
blessedspectacleandvision,weindeedfollowingwithJupiter,butotherswith
someotherGod,seeingandbeinginitiatedinthosemysteries,whichmaybe
lawfullycalledmostblessed.Andthesedivineorgieswereperformedbyus,
whowerethenentire,andfreefromtheevilswhichawaitedusinaposterior
time.Wealsobeheldwithclosedeyes,andwereepopticspectatorsinapure
light,ofsimple,stableandhappyluminousappearances,beingourselvespure,
andfreefromtheimpressionofthatwithwhichwearenowsurrounded,which
wedenominatebody,andtowhichwearebound,likeanoystertoitsshell."
AllthisisthusadmirablyexplainedbyHermeas,"Platoeverywheresays,that
thesovereignSunisanalogoustothefirstprincipleofthings.Forasherethe
sunisthesovereignofthewholesensibleworld,soisthefirstprincipleinthe
intelligibleworld.AndasfromthesovereignSunlightdescends,which
conjoins,connects,andunitesthatwhichisvisivewiththatwhichisvisible;
afterthesamemanneralso,thelightproceedingfromthefirstGod,andwhich
Platocallstruth,conjoinsintellectwiththeintelligible.Youseethereforethat
beautyimitatesthislight.Foritis,asitwere,alight,emittedfromthe
fountainofintelligiblestothisvisibleworld,alluringandcallingupwardall
thingstoitself,andunitingtheloverwiththeobjectoflove.Hencealso,
elevation[totheintelligible]iseffectedthroughit.Platotherefore,summarily
says,thatintelligiblesaretheobjectstowhichLoveelevates.Forthebeauty,
whichishere,isobscureandsensible,(justasthelightwhichishere,ismingled
withair,)andleadsustothereminiscenceofbeautyitself.
Butwhenhesays,"Wewerethenpermittedtoseesplendidbeauty;"hemeans
beautyitselfcoruscating,withoutanymixtureofitscontrary.Andthehappy
choir,inconjunctionwithwhichwethenrevolved,consistsofdivinesouls,
whichonaccountoftheirunitedsubsistence,arecalledachoir.Buthenow
denominatesachoir,thatwhichhebeforecalledthearmyofGodsanddaemons.
Itislikewiseproperlycalledbyhimhappy.Forinreality,hewhosurveys

thoseformsishappyandblessed.
Again,whenhesays,"WeindeedfollowingwithJupiter,"itmustbeobserved,
thatintheTimaeus,herepresentstheDemiurguswhenheismakingtheworld,
disseminatingsoulsequalinnumbertothestars,i.e.equalaccordingtoforms.
Hence,makingsomeofthemtobeSolar,othersLunar,andotherJovian,&c,
hedisseminatedsomeofthemintotheEarth,butothersintotheother
instrumentsoftime.Platothereforenowsays,"Weindeedfollowingwith
Jupiter,"asknowinghisproperGod[i.e.theGodtowhoseserieshebelonged].
Forthisisthefelicityofthehumansoul,torevolveinconjunctionwith
appropriateGods;sinceitisnotpossibletopassbeyondtheGods.
Whenalsohesays,"Beinginitiated,"hedenominatesinitiation(telet)from
thesoulbeingrenderedbyitperfect.
Youseetherefore,thatthesoulwasonceperfect.Hence,whenitisonthe
earth,itbecomesdivided,andthewholeofitisnotabletoenergizebyitself.
Helikewisesays,"Whichmaybelawfullycalled."Forthevisionofthemisnot
simplymostblessed;sincetheperceiversees,asbeingdifferentfromthatwhich
isseen.Itisnecessaryhowever,thatunionshouldtakeplace.The
establishmentthereforeintheseobjectsofvision,ismostblessed.Butitis
necessarytoknowthatteleteisonething,muesisanother,and
epopteiaanother.Teletetherefore,isanalogoustothatwhichis
preparatorytopurifications,andthelike.Butmuesis,whichisdenominated
fromclosingtheeyes,ismoredivine.Fortoclosetheeyes,isnolongerto
receivethosedivinemysteriesbysense,buttobeholdthemwiththesoulitself.
Andepopteiaistobeestablishedin,andbecomeaspectatorofthem.He
likewisesays,"Thesedivineorgieswereperformedbyus,"becausetoperform
orgies,andthemysteries,iscalledorgiazein.
Again,whenPlatosays,"Beingourselvesthenentire,"hespeaksofthosedivine
mysteries,asaspectator;andusesthewordentireforperfect.Whenalso,he
says,"Theevilswhichawaitedusinaposteriortime,"hesignifiesthatthe
communionofthebodybecomesthecauseofthelapseofthesoul.Butbythe
wordstable,heindicatesthefirmandconstantnatureofintelligibles.The
expressionsclosedeyes,andepopticspectators,arederivedfromtheEleusinian
mysteries.Healsosays,wewerespectators"inapurelight,beingourselves
pure,"becausethesplendorinthesublunaryregionisnotpure;foritismingled
withair.Butweourselveswerethenpure,becauseitisnotlawfulforthat
whichisimpuretobeconjoinedwiththatwhichispure.Andlastly,asoysters
areboundtotheirshell,soarewetothebody.
9(Seeline337A)ThisisadmirablyexplainedbyOlympiodorus,
inhisMS.commentaryonthatpartofthePhaedo*wherePlatospeaksofthe
prohibitionofsuicideintheaporrta:"Theargument,"sayshe,"whichPlato
employsinthisplaceagainstsuicideisderivedfromtheOrphicmythology,*
inwhichfourkingdomsarecelebrated:thefirstofHeaven,whomSaturn

assaulted,cuttingoffthegenitalsofhisfather.ButafterSaturn,Jupiter
succeededtothegovernmentoftheworld,havinghurledhisfatherinto
Tartarus.AndafterJupiter,Bacchusrosetolight,who,accordingtoreport,
was,throughthestratagemsofJuno,torninpiecesbytheTitans,bywhomhe
wassurrounded,andwhoafterwardstastedhisflesh:butJupiter,enragedatthe
deed,hurledhisthunderattheguiltyoffenders,andconsumedthemtoashes.
Henceacertainmatterbeingformedfromthevapourofthesmokeascending
fromtheirburningbodies,outofthismankindwereproduced.Itisunlawful
thereforetodestroyourselves,notasthewordsofPlatoseemtoimport,
becauseweareinbody,asinaprison,securedbyaguard;(forthisisevident,
andPlatowouldnothavecalledsuchanassertionarcane)butbecauseourbody
isDionysiacal,orthepropertyofBacchus:forweareapartofthisGod,since
wearecomposedfromthevapoursoftheTitanswhotastedhisflesh.Socrates,
therefore,fearfulofdisclosingthearcanepartofthisnarration,addsnothing
moreofthefablebutthatweareplacedasinacertainprison,securedby
guard:5buttheinterpretersrelatethefableopenly."
(Greektextomitted,ed.)
Afterthishebeautifullyobserves,"Thatthesefourgovernmentsobscurelysignifythe
differentgradationsofvirtues,accordingtowhichoursoulcontainsthesymbolsofallthe
virtues,boththeoreticalandcathartical,politicalandethical.Foriteitherenergises
accordingtothe
tcf.TheGreekCommentariesofPlato'sPhaedo,vol.I,3,ff,LGWesterink,pub.
NorthHolland1976;alsoTTSvols,III,p.417ff,andXII,p.301322.
XFr.220.
Phaedo62b.
theoreticvirtues,theparadigmofwhichisthegovernmentofHeaven,thatwe
maybeginfromonhigh;andonthisaccountHeavenreceivesitsdenomination
paratontaanoran,frombeholdingthethingsabove:oritlives
cathartically,theexemplarofwhichistheSaturniankingdom;andonthis
accountSaturnisdenominated,frombeingapureintellect,throughasurvey
ofhimself;andhenceheissaidtodevourhisownoffspring,assignifyingthe
conversionofhimselftohimself:oritenergisesaccordingtothepolitical
virtues,thesymbolofwhichisthegovernmentofJupiter;andhenceJupiteris
theDemiurgus,socalledfromoperatingaboutsecondarynatures:orthesoul
energisesaccordingtoboththeethicalandphysicalvirtues,thesymbolof
whichisthekingdomofBacchus;andonthisaccountheisfabledtobetorn
inpiecesbytheTitans,becausethevirtuesdonotfollowbutareseparated
fromeachother."(Greektextomitted,ed.)Andthusfar
Olympiodorus;inwhichpassagesitisnecessarytoobserve,thatastheTitans
aretheultimateartificersofthings,andthemostproximatetotheir
fabrications,menaresaidtobecomposedfromtheirfragments,becausethe
humansoulhasapartiallife,capableofproceedingtothemostextreme
division,unitedwithitspropernature.Andwhilethesoulisinastateof

servitudetothebody,shelivesconfined,asitwere,inbonds,throughthe
dominionofthisTitannicallife.
10(Seeline343A)SocratesinthePhaedrussays,thatthehorsesofthe
soulsometimesfightwitheachother,&c.
ForthesakeofthePlatonicreader,Ishallgivethewholeofthepassageinthe
Phaedrus,towhichProclusherealludes,togetherwiththeScholiaofHermeas
onit.Thepassagethen,isasfollows:
"Butwithrespecttoothersouls,suchasfollowdivinityinthebestmanner,
andbecomesimilartoitsnature,raisetheheadofthecharioteerintothe
supercelestialplace;whereheisbornalongwiththecircumference:butis
disturbedbythecourseofthehorses,andscarcelyobtainsthevisionofperfect
realities.Othersoulshowever,atonetimeraise,andatanotherdepress,the
headofthecharioteer:andthroughtheviolenceofthehorses,theypartlysee
indeed,andarepartlydestituteofvision.Andagain,othersoulsfollow,allof
themaffectingthevisionofthissuperiorplace;butfrombeingunableto
accomplishthisdesign,theyarecarriedroundinamergedcondition,trampling
on,andattackingeachother,throughacontentionofprecedencyintheir
course.Hencethetumult,contest,andperspirationareextreme.Andhere
indeed,manybecomelamethroughthefaultofthecharioteers,manybreak
manyoftheirwings,andalloftheminvolvedinmightylabour,departdestitute
oftheperceptionofreality;butaftertheirdeparturetheyuseadoxastic
nutriment;throughwhichthereisagreatendeavourtobeholdwheretheplain
ofTruthissituated.Forfromameadowofthiskind,thatwhichisbestinthe
soulreceivesconvenientnutriment;andfromthis,thenatureofthewingis
nourished,bywhichthesoulisenabledtoascend."
ThefollowingaretheelucidationsofHermeasonthispassage:"Platohaving
spokenconcerningdivinesouls,andthosethatalwayssubsistinvariablythe
same,nowpassestoourpartialandhumansouls,whicharesometimesableto
followdivinity,andsometimesabandonadivinenature.Hence,hemanifests
thembytheindefinitewordothers,aspossessingmuchdepravityand
wandering.Healsodividesthesetriply,intofirst,middle,andlast.Forhehad
likewise,givenatriadicdivisiontothenaturesofasuperiororder.Hence,of
thespectacles,hesays,thatsomearewithintheHeaven,others,inthesubcelestial
arch,andothers,beyondtheHeaven.Andagain,ofthespectacles
beyondtheHeavenhesays,thatthetrulyexistingessencewhichisinthesupercelestial
place,iswithoutcolour,withoutfigure,andwithoutcontact.Priorto
thislikewise,hemadeadivisionintoJupiterandVesta,andthetenleaders:and
againintoJupiter,Gods,anddaemons:oragain,intoJupiter,andthosethat
alwaysfollowhim,whentheyarewillingandable.*Foruniversally,every
thingwhichhasonceproceededfromthefirstprinciple,oughttobetriadic.
Forbeingperfectitwillhaveafirst,middle,andlast,conformablytowhatthe
[Chaldean]Oraclesays,"Thetriadmeasuringallthings."Thustherefore,
respectingoursouls,hesaysthatsomeofthemraisetheheadofthecharioteer,
i.e.thesummitofourintellect,tothesupercelestialplace;butthatothers,

sometimesraisethehead,andsometimesdonot;andthatothers,arenotable
toraiseit,butarebornedownwardtogeneration.Itmustalsobeaccurately
observed,howheindicatesthedifferencebetweenoursoulsandthosethatare
divine.Forinspeakingofourhighestfelicity,andassumingthesoulwhichis
mostexcellentlyassimilatedtodivinity,hesays,thatitisscarcelyable,through
beingdisturbedbythehorses,toraisetheheadofthecharioteertotheplace
beyondtheHeaven;toperceivesomethingofrealbeings;andthustostandon
thebackoftheHeaven,asinawatchtower,*surveyingdifferentobjectsat
differenttimes.Anddivinesoulsindeed,aresaidtobecarriedroundbythe
circulationoftheHeaven;butoursouls,tobecarriedroundinconjunction
[withthosethataredivine].
fAndthese,astheyaresometimeswillingandabletofollowJupiter,and
sometimesnot,makewithJupiter,atriadicdivision.
$ForTiOXOXIJCinthisplace,IreadeirtOKOITL^Q.
Butbytheheadofthecharioteer,wemustunderstand,thehighestandmost
intellectualpartofthesoul,whichunicallypossessesalltheintellectualpower
ofit.Sincetherefore,thesoulismultipotent,andtheotherpowersofitalso
wishtoenergize,hencesoulsofthefirstrank,areveryproperlysaidtobe
disturbedbythehorses.Butsoulsofthemiddlerank,whichhavenotperfectly
disciplinedtheirotherpowers,arenotmerelysaidtobedisturbed,buttobe
forcedbythehorses;andhence,atonetime,theyenergizeaccordingtotheir
summit,andatanotheragain,accordingtotheirmoresubordinatepart.And
soulsofthethirdrank,areentirelyvanquishedbythehorses;onwhich
account,beingunabletoraisetheheadofthecharioteer,theybecomeina
mergedcondition.Takealsoexamplesofthesefromcharactersontheearth.
Andletanexampleofasoulofthefirstrankbeaphilosopherwhoisat
leisure*withhimself,andforcontemplation,butwhoimpartsgoodaloneto
theotherlivesofhimself,andtoeverythinginhisvicinity.Butletthe
politicalcharacterbetheimageofsoulsofthemiddlerank;atonetimebeing
extendedtocontemplation,andatanotheragain,beingconvertedto,and
arrangingthingsofasubordinatenature.Andletsoulsofthethirdrank,be
analogoustothevulgarandimpassionedman.Moreover,thereisagreatextent
insoulsofthemiddlerank,inconsequenceoftheirperceivingsomethings,but
notperceivingothers.Forsomeindeed,haveseenmanythings,buthavenot
seenafew;butothersviceversa,haveseenafew,buthavenotseenmany
things;andothers,haveequallyseensomethings,andhavenotseenothers.
Thistherefore,mustbeattendedto;foritwillcontributetoourknowledgeof
thelivesthatareinafollowingorder.Hencethesoulsthatarethelastof
thosethatfollowtheGods,astheynaturallyaspireafterthesupercelestialplace,
areconvolvedtogetherwiththeGods,butthroughtheirwantofpowerto
surveyit,theytenddownward.Andatlast,willanddesireleavethem:forwill
beginsthefirst,andendsthelast.Astherefore,hereontheearth,thevulgar
andimpassionedman,naturallyindeedaspiresaftergood,butisunableto

distinguishanddiscovertrulyexistinggood,therealsosoulsareaffectedafter
thesamemanner.
Youmaylikewiseassumeotherexamplesofthethreeordersofsouls.Ofthe
firstorderindeed,thetemperateman;butofthesecond,thecontinentman,
where,thoughthereisaseditionbetweenthesubordinateandmoreexcellent
pansofthesoul,yetatthesametime,reasonendeavourstopreserveits
authority.Andofthelastorder,youmayassumetheincontinent,orthe
intemperatemanasanexample.Andagain,youmaytake,asanexampleof
thefirstorder,theworthyman,whoneitheraccuseshimself,noranother.For
fConformablytothisPlatoelsewheresays,thatthegenuinephilosopheris
nourishedintruthandleisure.Butatpresent,astruephilosophyisnotstudied,and
thereareconsequently,nogenuinephilosophers,everymanisbusilyemployedabout
externalconcerns,andnooneisatleisureforspeculationsofthehighestimportance.
"Iamtoobusy,Ihavenotamomenttospareforsuchthings,"isthecommonlanguage
ofthehighandthelow,therichandthepoor.
thefirstofsoulsarenotdisturbedthroughtheirowndepravity,butthrough
thenatureofthesubjectthing,itbeingsuchastocauseperturbation.Hence
also,wemaydissolvethedoubtwhichenquires,howitissaid,thatthesoul
whenperfectandwinged,revolvesonhigh,andgovernsthewholeworld?Forso
farasthesoulfollowstheGods,andgivesitselftothem,itishappy.Butsouls
ofthemiddleclassmustbearrangedconformablytoonewhomakesa
proficiency,andwhoaccuseshimselfalone.
Again,whenPlatoadds,thatsoulsofthethirdrankarecarriedroundina
mergedcondition,hedoesnotsaythattheyfall,butthattheyaremerged,as
beingenslavedbytheviolenceandseditionofotherpowers,butatthesame
time,areconvolvedtogetherwiththeattendantsoftheGods,throughaspiring
afterthesupercelestialplace.Andofdivinesoulsindeed,itissaid,thatthe
circulationoftheHeavenconvolvesthem,inconsequenceoftheirbeing
adaptedtothis,andgivingthemselvestothecirculation.Butofsoulsofthe
thirdclassitissaid,thattheyarejointlyconvolved,asbeingbornealongby
violence;theyindeedtendinginarightlinedprogressiontogeneration,butat
thesametimebeingcircularlyconvolved,throughtheirbeingstillcarriedby
theHeaven,andtheattendantsoftheGods,justastheinflammablematterat
thesummitoftheair,issaidtobecircularlybornealong.Thesesouls
therefore,becomeinamergedcondition,inconsequenceoftheirgenesiurgic
powergravitating,andwishingtoenergize:forwiththispowertheirrational
formoflifeisconnected.Whenalsoitissaid,thattheytrampleoneachother,
itmustnotbesupposedthattheyusefeetthere,butthatonesoulendeavours
tobebeforeanother.Thesuperiortherefore,maybesaidtotrampleonthe
subordinatesoul,andthesubordinatetoattackthesuperior.Soulsofthiskind
however,arenotextendedtotheintelligible,butlooktoeachother,and

contendingwith,endeavourtosurpasseachother.
Hence,aperturbationisproducedinthemofthedianoeticpart,butacontest
ofanger;foritisangerwhichaspiresafterhonourandprecedency;andan
extremeperspirationoftheepithymeticandgenesiurgicpart,whichafterwards
proceedsintogeneration.Butitissaidtobeextreme,incontradistinctionto
thedivineperspirationofascendingsouls,whichPlatomentionsinwhat
follows.Herehoweveralone,insoulsofthethirdrank,heblamesthe
charioteer,becauseitisthecausetothemofaconfusionofthiskind;justashe
saysintheRepublic,thatitisimpossibleforthedecorousconditionofthecity
tobedissolved,withoutthedepravityoftherulers.Youmayalsoassumefrom
hence,thatthewholesouldescendsaccordingtoPlato,ifthecharioteerwhich
isthesummitofit,becomesdepraved,andthatonepartofthesouldoesnot,
asPlotinussays,descend,butanotherpartabideonhigh.
Again,withrespecttothelamenessofthesesouls,thisbecomesknownfrom
themotionofthosepersonsthatarelame.Fortheseproceedslowly,and
inelegantly,andareindangeroffalling.Thustherefore,thesesoulsalso,are
moredullandinelegantintheirintellectualconceptions,andarealwaysin
dangerofbeingdrawndownintogeneration.Hence,Platoassimilatestheir
intellectionstothewalkingofthosethatarelame;sincewalkingisadapted[as
animage]totheirtransitiveintelligence.1Itislikewisebeautifullyobservedby
him,thatmanyofthesesoulsbreaktheirwings;forhedoesnotsaytheydestroy
them,becausethesoulneverlosesitsanagogicpower;butitsenergiesindeed
becomesluggish,andinthisrespect,maybesaidtoperish,butthepower
remainsbroken.Fartherstill,wemayderiveanexplanationofwhatishere
said,fromwingedanimals.Forifanyoneofthesebreaksitswings,itisfora
shorttimeraisedonhigh,throughthewingednaturewhichitpossesses,butis
againdrawndownward.Theydeparttherefore,hesays,destituteofthe
perceptionofreality,i.e.theyflytothatwhichiswithoutGod,anddark.
Heaven'sexilesstrayingfromtheorboflight,
[asEmpedoclessays].Buttheydepartdestitute,orimperfecti.e.uninitiated.
Forthevisionofintelligiblesistrulyinitiation.Theylikewiseusedoxastic
nutriment,i.e.theyexertthereasonsorformsofsensibles,andliveaccording
tothese,nolongersurveyingintelligibles,butsensibles.
Fartherstill,inthewords,throughwhichthereisagreatendeavour,&c.he
deliversthatwhichiscommontothethreeordersofsouls,aswellofthosethat
obtainthevisionofintelligibles,asofthosethatdonot.Sothattheanswerto
thosewhoenquire,whytherefore,doallsoulsthusendeavourandweary
themselvestoobtainthisvisionis,thatallofthemdesiretoperceivereal
beings.Butbythenutrimentadaptedtothatwhichisbestinthesoul,hemeans
thatwhichisadaptedtotheintellectualpartofthesoul;forthisisalone

appropriatelynourishedbytheintelligible.Butthewingofthesoul,whichis
theanagogicpowerofit,isnotappropriately,butalonenourishedbythe
intelligible,andbynothingelse.Andthemeadowistheprolificpowerof
forms.ThemeadowalsomaybesaidtobetheNights:fortherethefountains
oflifearecontained.Thathowever,isanothermeadowwhichismentionedin
the10thBookoftheRepublic,inwhichsoulsabouttoproceedintogeneration
dwellforatime.Andthismeadowistheluminousappearance(phasma)which
isunderthemoon.ThemeadowintheRepublichowever,isanalogoustothat
whichisherementioned.Forintheformer,theprinciplesofnature,andof
thelifeingeneration,arecomprehended."
fForotiodrjouhere,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadvorjaei.

Listofimportantterms
Adrastia
Analogy,physical
Angels,daemonsandheroes
Anger
Animalitself
allperfect
asmostbeautiful
Animalitself(Phanes)
Animal,andanimated
Animal,intelligible
Aristodeandcauses
Art,triplenatureof
Atlanticwar,analogiesof
Atlantis,analogies
Being
generaof
generaofandsoul
andgeneration
perpetual
Bonds
BoundandInfinity
Bound,Infinity&Mixed
Causes
&Aristotle
&Plato

oftheuniverse
principal
ChaosandEther
Childrenandmemory
Choice&selfmotivenatures
City,analogiestotheGods
Corruption
DayandNight
Day,adivinity
Daemons
angelsandheroes
guardianshipof
irrational
Death
Demiurgus
andsoul
andtheintelligible
energyof
fatherandmaker
natureof
oftheuniverse
Desire
Dialectic
Disciplinesintheuniverse
Duadandmonad
Earth
andfire
andHeaven
Education,natureof
Elements
progressionofthe
powersof
andsoul
triplepowersof
Envy,deniedoftheGods
Ericapams
Esculapius
Essence;impartible&partible
Essence,powerandenergy(soul)
Eternityandtime
EtherandChaos
Eunomia
Evil

Fabrication,firstandsecond
Fabrication,threefold
Fabrication,twofold
Fate
Fate,andsoul
Fate,lawsof
Fatherandmaker
Felicity
Fire
Fire(total)intheheavens
Fireandearth
Form
Forms,intelligible
Fortune
Fountainofsouls,Hera
Generationandsoul
certaincauseof&corruption
natureof
ofsoul
oftheuniverse
Gnosticenergiesofthesoul
Gods
abiding,proceeding,
conversion
junior
mundane
notenvious
oppositionsof
ofplanetaryspheres
sublunary&symbols
relationsof
theirknowledge
Good(The)
asfirstprinciple
asfinalcause
Goodness,will&providence
Graces831
Harmonicratiosofthesoul
Health
Heaven
HeavenandEarth
Heavenandtheworld
Heraasfountainofsouls

Heroes,angelsanddaemons
Hestiaascauseofthevirtues
Hippa
Humannature
Ideas,fourintelligible
Immortalandmortal
Inerraticsphere
Infinite,threefold
InfinityandBound
Infinity,BoundandMixed
Intellect
Intellect,soul&body
Intelligence,subsisting
Intelligibleanimal
Intelligibleorder,the
Intelligibles
Ippa
Irene
JuniorGods
Justice
Justice,&mundanegods
Kindredstar
Language
Latona
Law
LawsofFate
Life,nutritiveandsensitive
Lives
orderof
paradigmsof
Maia(Night)
Maleandfemale
Maleandfemale,divisionof
Maleandfemale,natureof
Man,natureof
Manitself
Manias,thefourdivine
Marriages
Matter
Memoryandchildren
Metals,generationfromthe
Gods
Minerva(seealsonextindex)

allotmentsof
andNeptune&placeorinterval
appellationsof
asVirtue
energiesof
numbersadaptedto
placesadaptedto
veilof
Minervalsolemnity
Mixed,BoundandInfinity
Moisture(airandwater)
Monadandduad
MonthandYear
MonthisaGod
Mortalandimmortal
Mortalnature
Motion
andtheplanets
andthestars
ofthestars
MundaneGods
Mundanenatures,theoryof
Myths
Names
Nature
Nemesis
NeptuneandMinerva
Night
Night(Maia)
NightandDay
Night,adivinity
Numbers
adaptedtoMinerva
Demiurgic
massesandpowers
&lives
ratiosofsoul
Olderandyounger
Olympiodorusonmyth
Olympus
Onlybegotten
Onlybegotten,was,is,willbe
Opinion

Opinionandreason
Order
Paradigmofuniverse
Paradigms
Partialsoul
Phaeton
Phaeton,mythof
Physiology,3folddivisionof
Platoniccauses
Poetry
Power
Prayer
causesof
modesof
Principalcauses
Progressionofallthings
Providence
Providence,divine
Providence,will&goodness
Prudence
Purifications
Reason
Reason(logos)
Reasonandopinion
Royalseries
Sais
SeasonsareGoddesses
Seasons,the
Sense
Sevencircles,analogies
Sirens
Sophists
Soul
abiding,proceeding,
returning
andbrutallives
andcauses
andFate
andtheDemiurgus
andtheelements
&generaofbeing
&1,000yearperiod.
aslastofeternal

natures
ascentsanddescents
ascent&descent
throughdivinespheres
charioteerandhorses
composition&divineorders
descentof
disseminationof
disseminationabout
MundaneGods
distribution
elementsof
generation&descentof
generationof
gnosticenergiesof
human
intellect,dianoia&opinion
itsessence,power
andenergy
itsharmonicratios
itsmiddleposition
itsvehicle
middlenatureof
partial
salvationof
sevenpartsof
threepartsof
triplelifeof
twofoldoblivionin
SublunaryGods
Supercelestialplace
Symbols,impressionsoftheGods
Tetrad,the
Themis,threedaughtersof
Trojanwar,analogiesof
Truth
Universe
divisionofpowersin
generationof
Immutableandmutablein
mostbeautiful
Universe
motionof

natureof
nothingexternalto
oneormany?
orderofallotmentsin
Orderofthe
paradigmof
senseof
subsistencesof
visibleandtangible
VeilofMinerva
Virtue
Virtues,Hestiathecauseof
Vulcan(seealsonextindex)
fabricationof
Wealth,thedesirefor
Will,andgoodnessand
providence
Wonder(thaumas)
Words
Worldandheaven
Xanthus
YearandMonth
Youngerandolder
Zeus(seealsonextindex)

Majordeities:
Apollo
Bacchus
Ceres
Crater
Demiurgi
Diana
Hercules
Juno
Jupiter
Mercury
Man
Minerva
Metis
Muses

Neptune
Ocean
Phanes
Phorcys
Proserpine
Protogonus
Rhea
Saturn
Venus
Vesta
Vulcan