Early Greek Philosophy, Volume II Beginnings and Early Ionian Thinkers, Part 1 by Laks, André Most, Glenn W. (Eds.)

LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY
EARLY GREEK
PHILOSOPHY
BEGINNINGS AND EARLY
IONIAN THINKERS
PART 1
Edited and Translated by

ANDRÉ LAKS
GLENN W. MOST
CO N T E N T S
PRELIMINARI E S
1. Doxography and Successions 3
BACKGROUND
2. Cosmological Speculations 56
3. Reflections on Gods and Men 85
EARLY IONIAN THINKERS, PART 1

4. Pherecydes 155
5. Thales 206
6. Anaximander 271
7. Anaximenes 331
PRELIMINARIES
1 . A N C I E N T WAY S OF
O RGA N IZ I NG A N D
P R E S E N T I NG E A R LY G R E E K
T HOUG H T: DOXOG R A P H Y A N D
SUCCE S S IO N S [ DOX . ]
In this preliminary chapter, we present a series of texts

intended to clarify the way in which the summaries of
doctrine and the doxographic manuals, to which we owe a
large part of our information on the doctrines of the ar
chaic philosophers, were produced during the course of
the history of Greek philosophy and how some of them
have been reconstructed by modem philologists. Although
doxographical literature goes back to pre-Aristotelian
sources, notably the sophist Hippias and Plato, the system
atic investigation of the 'opinions' (doxai) of predecessors
arises with Aristotle and Theophrastus, who are the ulti
mate source-beyond the compressions, transformations,
and additions that accumulated in the course of time---of
a handbook of which the most ancient version probably
dates to the third century BC and which scholars custom
arily refer to as the manual of Aetius. TI 7 illustrates how
a version of that manual is hypothetically reconstructed on
the basis of the various ancient authors who made use of
it, Tl8 the way in which the summaries scattered through-
3
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
out the different chapters o f our anthology may have

originally been presented in it. In this chapter, the critical
apparatus is reduced to a very small number of indica
tions, and references to parallels with texts that appear in
other chapters are given only exceptionally.
B I B LIOGRAPHY
Editions of Doxographic Sources
H. Daiber. Aetius Arabus. Die Vorsokratiker in arabischer
Uberlieferung (Wiesbaden, 1980).
H. Diels. Doxographi Graeci (Berlin, 1879; repr., 1963).
J. Mansfeld and D. T. Runia. Aetiana. The Method and
Intellectual Context of a Doxographer. Vols. I-II: The
Sources (vol. I), The Compendium (vol. II) (Leiden
New York-Cologne, 1997-2009) .
General Studies
J. Mansfeld and D. T. Runia. Aetiana. The Method and
Intellectual Context of a Doxographer. Vol. III, Studies
in the Doxographical Traditions of Ancient Philosophy
(Leiden, New York, Cologne, 2009).
Particular Studies
J. Mansfeld. Heresiography in Context: Hippolytus' 'Elen
chos' as a Source for Greek Philosophy (Leiden, New
York, Cologne, 1992).
J. Mejer. Diogenes Laertius and His Hellenistic Back
ground (Wiesbaden, 1978).
4
D OXOGRAPHY A N D S U C C E S S I O N S
--- . "Diogenes Laertius and The Transmission of

Greek Philosophy," ANRW 11.36.5 ( 1992): 3556--602.
A. Patzer. Der Sophist Hippias als Philosophiehistoriker
( Munich, 1986).
O U T L I N E O F THE C H APT E R
B y Topics ("Doxography") (Tl-T19)
Pre-Aristotelian Schemes (Tl-T7)
Peripatetic Doxography (T8-T16)
Aristotle (T8-T12)
Reasons for Studying Ancient Opinions (T8-
Tl0)
Some Examples (Tll-Tl3)
Theophrastus (Tl4-Tl6)
Aetius' Doxographic Manual (Tl 7-T1 9)
An Example Showing the Sources for Its Reconsti
tution (Tl 7)
Some Examples Showing the Structure of the
Chapters (Tl8)
An Example Showing the Effects of Abridgment
(Tl9)
By Schools and Successions (T20-T22)
Two Lines of Descent (T20)
Three Lines of Descent (T21)
A Doxographic List Based on a Succession (T22)
5
DOXOG R A P H Y A N D
SUCCE S S IO N S
By Topics ("Doxography") (Tl-T19)

TI (86 B6) Hippias in Clem. Alex. Strom. 6.15.2 [ =
HIPPIAS 022]
Towwv i<Tws- t:ip71rai Ta µev 'Op</>t:'i, Ta Se Mov<Taicp,

KaTa f3paxv aA.\cp aHaxov, Ta Se 'H<Ti6Scp, Ta Se
'OµT,pcp, Ta Se To'is- aA.\ois- TWV 1TOL7/TWV, Ta Oe f.v <TVY
ypa</>a'is- Ta µev "'EH71<Ti, Ta Se f3apf3apois- · f.yw Se f.K
1TaVTWV TOVTWV Ta P,EYL<TTa Kat oµ6<f>vA.a <TVV0Et<;' TOV
TOV Kaivov Kat 1ToAvt:iS-ij Tov A.6yov 1ToiT,<Toµai.
T2 (> 23 A6) Plat. Theaet. l52e
[�n.] Kat 1Tt:pt TOVTov 1TaVTES' it-i)s- oi <To</>ot 1TA7,v

ITapµt:viSov <TVµ</>t:pE<TOwv, ITpwmy6pas- TE Kat 'Hpa
KAELTOS' KUL 'Eµ1Tt:SoKA-ijS', Kat TWV 1TOL7/TWV 0£ axpoi
T-ijs- 7ToiT,<Tt:ws- EKaTEpas-, KwµcpSl.as- µev 'E1Tixapµos-,
TpaycpSias- Se "'0µ71pos-, 8s- t:l7Twv,
6
DOXOG R A P H Y A N D
SUCCE S S IO N S
By Topics ("Doxography") (Tl-T19)

TI (86 B6) Hippias in Clement of Alexandria, Stromata
[ HIPPIAS D22]
=
Of these [scil. probably: ancient opinions] some have

doubtless been expressed by Orpheus, others by Musaeus,
to put it briefly, by each one in a different place, others by
Hesiod, others by Homer, others by the other poets; oth
ers in treatises; some by Greeks, others by non-Greeks.
But I myself have put together from out of all these the
ones that are most important and are akin to one another,
and on their basis I shall compose the following new and
variegated discourse.
T2 (> 23 A6) Plato, Theaetetus

[Socrates:] And on this point [i.e. that nothing exists but
everything is always changing] let us admit that all the
sages except Parmenides in sequence were in agree
ment-Protagoras, Heraclitus, and Empedocles, and
among the poets the greatest representatives of both kinds
of poetry, Epicharmus for comedy and Homer for tragedy,
who when he says
7
EARLY G RE E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
'!lKEav6v T E ()Ewv yevEaw Kat WfJTEpa T71()vv,

7Tavra ELP7JKEv eKyova poi'jc; TE Kat KwrjCTEW<;.
T3 (> 22 A6) Plat. Grat. 402a--c

[!!l.] >...EyE t 7TOV 'HpaKAEtTO<; OTt "7TaVTa xwpE'i KaL ov
OEV µ,frei," Kat 7Tomµ,ov f>ofi a7TeiKa�wv Ta ovm .\eyei
w<; "Ot<; E<; TOV aVTOV 7TOTaP,OV OVK Clv €µ,f3ai71c;." [ . . . ]
Tl oilv; OOKEL CTOt d,\.\otOTEpov 'HpaKAELTOV VOELV 0
n()eµ,EVO<; TOL<; TWV a.\.\wv ()EWV 7Tpoy6vot<; "Peav' TE
KaL 'Kp6vov'; dpa OLEt U7TO TOV avroµ,aTOV aVTOV dµ,
if>oTepot<; pEvµ,aTwv 6v6µ,am ()€CT()ai; WCT7TEp ail ''0µ,71-
poc;
'nKEav6v TE ()Ewv yevECTLV, i/>7JCTtv, Kat /J>YJTEpa
Trievv ·
'!lKEavoc; 7TpwTo<; KaA.\ippooc; i,ptE yaµ,ow,

O<; pa Kamyv�T7JV oµ,oµ,�Topa T71()vv 07TVtEV.
mvT' oliv CTK07TEt OTt Kat d,\,\ �Aot<; CTVµ,if>wvE'i KaL 7Tpo<;
Ta TOV 'HpaKAEirov 7TUVTa TElvet.
8
Ocean, the origin o f the gods, and mother Tethys

[ COSM. TIOa] ,
=
is stating that all things are born from flux and movement.
T3 ( > 22 A6) Plato, Cratylus

[Socrates:] Heraclitus says something like this: that all
things flow and nothing remains; and comparing the things
that are to the flowing of a river, he says that you could not
step twice into the same river [cf. HER. D65c] . [ . . . ] Well
then, do you think that the man who gave the names 'Rhea'
and 'Cronus' to the ancestors of the other gods had some
thing different in mind from Heraclitus? Do you suppose
that it is by chance that he gave to both of them the names
of flowing things (rheumata)?1 So too, Homer says,
Ocean, the origin of the gods, and their mother
Tethys, [ COSM. TlOa]
=
and I think Hesiod too [cf. Th. 776-77; COSM. T7, lines
789, 805-6] . And Orpheus too says somewhere that
Fair-flowing Ocean was the first to make a beginning
of marriage,
He who wedded his sister Tethys, born of the same
mother. [ COSM. Tl5]
=
Just look how these all agree with one another and tend
toward Heraclitus' doctrines.
I The sound of the Greek term can be taken to refer both to
Rhea and to Kronos (cf. krene, krounos).
9
EARLY GRE E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
T4 (cf. 21 A29, 2 2 AlO, 31 A29) Plat. Soph. 242c-243a

[SE.] µf)(}6v nva EKUG'TO<; cf>aiverni µoi OtTJYELG'Oai
1TatG'tv w<; oiiG'iv Y,µ'lv, o µev w<; Tpia ovTa, 7ToA.eµe'L
OE dA.A.7}A.ot<; EVLOTE aVTWV aTTa 1T7J, TOTE OE Kat cf>iA.a
yiyv6µeva yaµov<; TE Ka£ T6Kov<; Ka£ Tpocf>as Twv
eKyovwv 1Tapexerni· ovo OE frepo<; Ei1TWV, vypov Kat
t71pov � Oepµov Kat ifroxpov, G'VVOtKL'Et TE avTa Kat
EKOLOWG't' TO OE 1Tap' Y,µ'lv 'EA.eartKOV €0vo<;, d7To
Sevocpavov<; TE Kat ETt 1TpoG'0Ev dptaµevov, w<; EVO<;
ovTo<> Twv 1TavTwv KaAovµevwv o&rw oietepxerai To'l<;
µvBoi<;. 'IaSe<; of. Kat �tKeA.ai nve<; VG'Tepov MovG'ai
G'UVEVO'T/G'UV on G'Vfl1TAEKEtv dG'cpaAEG'TUTOV dµcpoTepa
Kat A.eyetv W'> TO tiv 1TOAAa TE Kat EV EG'Ttv, exBpq, OE
Ka£ cf>iA.iq, G'vvexerni. oiacpep6µevov yap de£ G'Vµcpepe
Tai, c/>aG'tV ai G'VVTOVWTepai TWV MovG'wv· ai of. µa
A.aKWTEpat TO µev de£ TUVTa OVTW<; exew exaA.aG'aV, ev
µepei Se TOTE µev EV elvai c/>aG't TO 1Tav KUl cpiA.ov v1T'
'AcppoOtrTJ<;, TOTE Se 1TOAAa Kat 1TOAeµwv UVTO avTfi>
oia ve'LKo<> n.
10
T 4 (cf. 21 A29, 2 2 AlO, 31 A29) Plato, Sophist

[The stranger from Elea:] Every one of them [scil. the
early philosophers] seems to me to tell some kind of story
to us as though we were children. One says that there are
three beings, that at one time some of them wage war
against each other, and that at another they become
friends, get married, give birth, and raise their offspring
[ = PHER. R2]; another, speaking of two [scil. beings], the
moist and the dry or the hot and the cold, makes them live
together and gives them to each other in marriage;1 our
Eleatic tribe, which begins with Xenophanes and even
earlier, explain in their stories that what are called "all
things" is one [= XEN. Rl]. Certain Ionian Muses [i.e.
Heraclitus] , and later some Sicilian ones [i.e. Empedo
cles] ,2 recognized that it would be safest to weave together
both positions [i.e. monist and pluralist] and to say that
being is at the same time many and one, and that it is held
together by discord and friendship. For what is separated
is always brought together, as the more tense of these
Muses say [cf. HER. R3 1 ] . The other ones, more relaxed,
have softened the idea that this is always how things are,
and say that it is in alternation that at one time the whole
is one and friendly under the dominion of Aphrodite, at
another time many and hostile to itself because of a certain
strife [ = EMP. D78].
1 The opposites function as principles for various natural
philosophers, but no precise identification is required here.
2 Plato is presumably referring to the title of Heraclitus' book
[HER. R3c] and is extending it to Empedocles' poem.
11
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
T5 ( � DK) Xen. Mem. 1 . 1 . 13-14

[ . . . ] TWV TE 7TEpl Trj<; TWV 7TaVTWV cf>v<rEW<; µEpiµvwv
TWV TOt<; µev DOKEtV EV µ6vov TO <lv ELvai, TOt<; D'
a7Teipa TO 7TArjBo<;, KUl TOt<; µev aEl 7TaVTa KWEt<TBai,
TOt<; D' ovDev av 7TOTE KWYJBrjvai, KUl TOt<; µev 7TaVTa
yiyvE<rBai TE KUl a7ToAAV<TBai, TOt<; De OVT' liv YEVE
<rBai 7TOTe ovDev OVTE a7TOAE<TBai.
T6 (> 24 A3, > 36 A6, > 82 Bl) Isocr. Ant. 268-69

DiaTpti/Jai µev o-Ov 7TEpl Ta<; 7TUtDEta<; TUVTU<; xpovov
nva <TVµ/3ovAEV<Taiµ' liv TOt<; VEWTEpoi<;, µiJ µEvToi
7TEpttDEtll Ti/v cpv<riv Ti/v aVTWV KUTU<TKEAETEVBEt<Tav
E7Tl TovToi<; µ1)D' €toKeiA.a<rav eli; mu<; A.oyov<; rou<;
Twv 7TaA.aiwv <rocpi<rTwv, &v o µev a7Teipov To 7TA.r)Boi;
ecf>'YJ<TEV elvai TWV OVTWV, 'Eµ.7TEDOKArj<; De TETTapa KUl
VEtKO<; KUl cf>iA.iav EV avTOt<;, "Iwv D' ov 7TAEtW Tpiwv,
'AA.Kµewv 8e 8vo µova, ITapµevio"f/<; De Kai, MeA.i<r<ro<;
Ell, ropyia<; De 7TUVTEAW<; ovDev. T]yovµai yap Ta<; µev
TOiavTa<; TEpaTo'Aoyia<; oµoia<; elvai Tat<; BavµaT0-
7TOttai<; Tat<; ovoev µev wcf>eA.ov<rai<;, V7TO 8e TWV avo-i]
TWV 7TEpi<rTaTOi<; yiyvoµevai<;.
T7 ( � DK) Isocr. Hel. 3

7TW<; yap av Ti<; V7Tepf3aA.oiTO ropyiav TOii roA.µT,<ravTa
A.eyew W<; ov8ev TWV OVTWV E<TTW 17 ZT,vwva TOV TaVTa
8vvaTa KUl 7TaAw aDvvaTa 7Tetpwµevov a7Tocf>aivew 17
12
T5 ( ;t: DK) Xenophon, Merrwrabilia

[ . . . ] [Seil. Socrates was astonished that] among those who
are preoccupied with the nature of all things, some think
that what is is only one, others that it is infinite in number;
the ones that all things are always in motion, the others
that nothing could ever be in motion; and the ones that all
things come into being and are destroyed, the others that
nothing could ever either come into being or be destroyed.
T6 ( > 24 A3, > 36 A6, > 82 Bl) Isocrates, Antidosis

I would advise young men to spend some time on these
kinds of study [i.e. philosophy] but not to allow their na
ture to become desiccated by them nor to run aground on
the arguments of the ancient wise men (sophistai), of
whom one said that the number of the things that are is
unlimited [cf. ATOM. 045-047]; Empedocles that
there are four, and strife and love among them [cf. EMP.
056]; Ion that there are not more than three; Alcmaeon
only two [cf. ALCM. 03]; Parmenides and Melissus that
it is one [cf. PARM. 08. 1 1 , R22 ; MEL. 06-07]; and
Gorgias that it is none at all [cf. GORG. 026a[l]] . For I
think that these kinds of marvelous tales are similar to
magicians' tricks, which are of no use whatsoever but are
admired by mindless people.
T7 ( ;t: DK) Isocrates, Encomium of Helen

For how could one surpass Gorgias, who dared to say that
nothing exists of the things that exist [cf. GORG. 026a[l],
026b[65]] , or Zeno, who tries to demonstrate that the
same things are possible and then again impossible [ cf.
13
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
M€At1T1To11 () , rhreipwv To 1TAi,8o, 1TEcpvKoTwv Twv 1Tpa

yµ.rfrwv w• €110• 01/TO• TOV 1Tal/TO• E1TEx_eipYJITEIJ a1To8ei
tei• eVptlTKEW;
Peripatetic Doxography (T8-T16)

Aristotle (T8-T12)
Reasons for Studying Ancient Opinions (T8-T10)
T8 (� DK) Arist. Top. l . 14 105a34-bl8
Ta• µ.f.v ovv 1TpoTaO"et• EKAEKTeov oO"ax_w• 8iwpi<T8YJ

7TEpt 1TpOTaO"EW,, � Ta• 1TaVTWIJ 86ga, 1Tpox_eipi,6µ.e
IJOV � Ta• TWV 1TAELO"TWIJ � Ta• TWV O"ocpwv, Kat TOVTWIJ
� 1Ta11Twv � Twv 1TAEtO"Twv � Twv yvwpiµ.wTaTwv, µ.7,1
Ellal/Tta• Ta'i, cpawoµ.evai•, Kat OO"at 86tai KaTa TE
x_va• ei<Tiv [ . . . ] . EKAE{'Etv 8€ x_p7, Kat EK rwv yeypaµ.
µ.evwv A.6ywv, Ta' 8€ 8iaypacpa• 1Toie'i<T8ai 7TEpt eKa
<Trov yevov• V1Tort8EvTa, x_wpi,, Ololl 7TEpt aya8ov �
7TEpt '<[>ov, Kat 7TEpt aya8oiJ 1Tavr6,, aptaµ.evov a1TO
Toil Ti EO"Tw. 1Tapa<TYJµ.aive<T8ai 8€ Kat Ta' eKaO"Twv
86ga,, olov on 'Eµ.1Te8oKAi,• TErrnpa ecpYJITE Twv O"W
µ.aTwv O"TOtx_e'ia Elvai· 8ELYJ yap av rt• TO V1TO nvo•
eipYJµ.Evov Ev86tov.
1 µ:Y, Brunschwig (post Waitz): 7} Ta<; vel 7} Kat Ta<; mss.
T9 (� DK) Arist. Metaph. A3 983a33-b6

Te8ewpYJTat µ.f.11 ovv iKavw• 1TEpt avTwv .Y,µ.'iv Ell To'i•
14
ZEN. 04-0 1 1 ] , o r Melissus, who, although things are by

nature infinite in number, tried to find proofs that the
whole is one [cf. MEL. 06-07, R24c] ?
Peripatetic Doxography (T8-Tl 6)

Aristotle (T8-Tl2)
Reasons for Studying Ancient Opinions (T8-T10)
T8 ( � DK) Aristotle, Topics
The premises should be chosen in just as many ways as the
distinction we made regarding a premise [cf. 104a8-16],
either selecting the opinions of all or those of the majority
or those of the experts (sophoi) , and of these latter either
those of all or of the majority or of the most celebrated,
when they are <not> opposite to the manifest ones [ . . . ] .
One should also collect them [i.e. the premises] from writ
ten books, and make lists about every subject, setting
them out under separate headings, for example "about the
good" or "about the animal," (and "on every [scil. type] of
good"), beginning with the essence.1 And one should also
mark in the margins the opinions of each author, for ex
ample that Empedocles said that the elements of bodies
are four [cf. EMP. 056] ; for what is said by someone
reputable (endoxos) is likely to be accepted.
1 For a list deriving ultimately from this program, see Tl 7.
T9 ( � DK) Aristotle, Metaphysics

Although we have examined them [i.e. the four causes]
15
TTEpL cPV<TEW<;, oµw<; 8 € TTapaAa{3wµev KaL TOV<; TTPOTE

pov �µwv el<; ETTL<rKeifliv Twv ovTwv EA8oVTa<; Ka'i </Ji
Aoa-o</Jfia-aVTa<; TTEPL Tij<; aAYJ8Eia<;. 8ij>.. o v yap OTt
KaKELVOL >.. eyov<rtv apxa<; nva<; KaL aLTLa<;· ETTEA0ov<rtv
oilv E<rrnt n TTpovpyov Tfj µe86S.. eyoµe
Vat<; µa>..>.. o v TTt<rTeva-oµev.
TIO ( � DK) Arist. An. 1 .2 403b20-25
ETTt<TKOTTOVVTa<; 8€ TTEp'i iflvxii<> avayKatov, aµa StaTTO

povVTa<; TTep'i <J'Jv dmope'i:v Sa TTpoe>.. 86vTa<;, Ta<; Twv
TTPOTEpwv 86�a<; <rvµTTapaAaµ{3avetv O<TOL Tt TTEPL av
Tij<; aTTe</JfivavTO, OTTW<; Ta µ€v KaAW<; elpTjµEva >.. a{3w
µev, el 8€ Tt µ� KaAw<;, TOVT' w>.. af3TJ8wµev [ . . . cf. Tl2].
Some Examples (Tll -T13)
Tll (> 68 Al35) Arist. Phys. 1.2 184bl4-24
avayKYJ 8' .J]Tot µiav elvai T�V apx�v r, TTAELOV<;, Ka'i

el µiav, .J]Tot aKLVYJTOV, W<; cPTJ<TL ITapµeviSYJ<; Ka'i Me
At<T<TO<;, r, KtvovµEVYJV, W<TTTEP OL </Jva-tKOL, OL µ€v aepa
cf>a<TKOVTE<; elvai OL 8' vSwp T�V TTPWTTJV apxfiv· el 8€
TTAELoV<;, r, TTETTEpa<rµeva<; r, aTTELpOV<;, KaL Et TTETTEpa
<rµeva<; TTAefov<; 8€ µia<;, r, 8vo r, Tpe'i:<; r, Tfrrnpa<; r,
a>.. >.. o v nva api8µ6v, Ka'i el aTTELpov<;, r, OVTW<; W<TTTEP
flYJµoKptTo<;, To yevo<; lv, <rxfiµan 8€ <Sia</Jepov<ra<;>,1
1 add. Torstrick
16
su fficiently i n our Physics [cf. Phys. 2.3] , all the same let
us also call upon those who, before us, proceeded to study
beings and philosop hized about the truth. For it is clear
that they too speak of certain principles and causes; so it
will be useful for the present investigation [scil. to con
sider them] , for either we shall discover some different
kind of cause, or else we shall have more confidence about
the ones that we are speaking about now.
TIO (� DK) Aristotle, On the Soul

It is necessary, when we investigate about the soul, at the
same time to consider the difficulties for which a solution
is found as further progress is made, and to call upon the
opinions of all of our predecessors who stated something
about it, so that we can accept what has been said well,
while if something has not been said well we can be wary
of it [ . . . ] .
Some Examples (Tll-Tl3)

Tl l (> 68 Al35) Aristotle, Physics
It is necessary that the principle be either one or several,
and if it is one, then either motionless, as Parmenides and
Melissus say, or in motion, as the natural philosophers
[ scil. say] , some saying that the first principle is air, others
water; if it is more than one, then either limited [scil. in
number] or unlimited, and if limited but more than one,
either two or three, or four or some other number, and if
unlimited then either as Democritus [scil. says], one in
kind, but <differing> in shape [cf. e.g. ATOM. 031-
032], or else different in kind or even contrary. Those too
17
� EtOEt Ota<{>Epov<Ta� � Kat EVUVTta�. oµ,oiw� S e ,Y/_

TOV<Tt Kat oi Ta OVTa 'YJTOVVTE� 7TO<TU' Et 6lv yap Ta
ovTa E<TTt 7TpwTwv, 'YJTOv<Tt TavTa 7TOTEpov &v � 7TOAAa,
Kat El 7TOAAa, 7TE7TEpa<Tµ,€va � a7TEtpa, W<TTE TT,v clp
xiiv Kat TO <TTOtXELoV 'YJTOV<Tt 7TOTEpov &v � 7TOAAa.
Tl2 (cf. ad 31 B l09) Arist. An. 1.2 403b27-31 , 404b 8---l l

7TapEtA.fi<f>aµ,Ev Se Kat 7Tapa Twv 7TpoyEvE<TT€pwv <TXE
oov ovo ravra 7TEp£ tfroxii�· <{>a<TI. yap Eviot Ka£ µ,6.A.t
<Tra Kat 7TpwTw� tfroxT,v Eivai To Kwovv. olYJIHvTE� Se
TO µ,T, KWOVfJ-EVOV aVTO µ,T, EVO€XE<T8at KWEtV ErEpov,
Twv Kwovµ,€vwv n TT,v tfroxT,v v7T€A.af3ov Eivat [. . . ]
OU"Ot o ' E7Tt T O yww<TKEW Kat T O al<T8avE<T8at TWV
OVTWV, OVTOt Se A.€yov<Tt TT,v tfroxiiv Ta� clpxa�, oi µ,ev
7TAEtov� 7TOtovvrE�, TavTa�, oi Se µ,iav, TaVTYJV [ . . ] .
.
Tl3 (cf. 42.5) Arist. Meteor. l . 6 342b25-343a4

7TEpt Se Twv KOfJ-YJTwv Kai. Tov KaAovµ,€vov yaAaKTo�
A.€ywµ,Ev, Ota7Topfi<TaVTE� 7Tp0� Ta 7Tapa TWV aA.A.wv
EtpYJµ,€va 7TpwTov. 'Avatay6pa� µ,ev ofjv Kat l:i..YJp.6Kpt
To� <f>a<Ttv Ei:vat Tov� Koµ,fiTa� <TVµ,<f>a<Ttv Twv 7TAavfi
Twv U<TT€pwv, OTaV Ota TO 7TATJ<TWV EA8EtV o6tw<Tt
OtyyavEW d.A.A.fiA.wv· TWV o' 'fraAtKWV TtVE� KaAovµ,€
vwv ITvOayopEtWV eva A.€yov<TtV UVTOV Eivat TWV 7TAa
vfiTwv a<TT€pwv, &.Ha Ota 7TOAAOV TE xpovov TT,v <f>av
Ta<Tiav avTOV Ei:vat KUL TT,v V7TEpf3oA.T,v E7TL p.tKpov,
18
who inquire into how many beings there are inquire i n a

similar way: for they inquire whether the first things out
of which beings derive are one or many, and if they are
many, whether they are limited or unlimited, so that they
inquire whether the principle and the element is one or
many.
Tl2 (cf. ad 31 B l09) Aristotle, On the Soul

We have received from our predecessors roughly speaking
the following two [scil. opinions] regarding soul. For some
say that what imparts motion is especially and first of all
soul. Believing that what is not itself moved is not capable
of moving something else, they assumed that the soul is
one of the things that are moved [ . . . ] But all those who
[scil. considered] the fact of knowing and perceiving the
things that are say that the soul is [scil. constituted out of]
principles, those who posit several, those principles, those
who posit only one, that principle , [ . . ] .
.
T l 3 (cf. 42.5) Aristotle, Meteorology

Let us speak about comets and what is called the "milk"
[i.e. the "Milky Way"] after we h ave first examined the
di fficulties regarding what others have said. Anaxagoras
and Democritus say that comets are a simultaneous
flashing of the planets, when by reason of coming closer
they seem to touch each other [ ANAXAG. D50; ATOM.
D99], while some of the It alians called Pythagoreans say
that it [i.e. a comet] is one of the wandering heavenly bod
ies [i.e. a planet] but that it only becomes visible at great
intervals and that it only rises a little [scil. above the hori-
19
01TEp <TVµ,fJa[vEt Kat 1TEpl TOIJ TOV 'Epµov a<TTEpa· Ota

yap ro p,tKpov bravaf3a£vEw 'TTo AAas- EKAEL'TTE t cf>a<rEtS",
W<TTE Ota xp6vov cf>aLVE<T8at 'TTO AAOV. 1Tapa1TAYJ<TLWS" OE
rowots- Kat ol. 1TEpt 'l'TT'TOT KpaTYJV rov X'Lov Kat rov
µa8YJTTJV avrov Al<TXVAOIJ a'TTEcf>'t/vavTo [42 A5 DK] ,
'TTA TJV r't/v YE K6p,YJV OVK Et avrnv cpa<TtlJ EXHV, aAAa
'TTAavwp,EVOIJ Ota TOV r61TOIJ EIJLOTE Aaµ/3avEW avaKAW
P,EVYJS" rijs- �µETf.pas- at/JEWS" a'TTo rijs- €AKOP,EVYJS" vypoTYJ
TOS" v'TT' avrov 1TpOS" TOV i}Awv.
Theophrastus (T14-T16)
Tl4 (1 1 Al3, 38 A4, 1 1 Bl, 18.7, 22 A5, 12 A9) Simpl. In

Phys., p. 23.21-24.6 (< Theophr. Frag. 225 FHS&G)
TWV OE µ[av Kal KtlJOVP,EIJT}IJ AEf'OIJTWIJ rTJV apx't/v, oi)s
Kal cpv<rtKOVS" lo[ws- KaAEt, ot p,Ev 1T€1TEpa<rp,EVYJV avr't/v
cpa<rtv, w<T'TTEP 0aAij<> µEv 'Etaµvovs- MtA't/<rws- Kat
''l'TT'TW
T IJ, OS" OOKE'i Kal a8EOS" yEyovf.vat, vowp EAEyov
TTJV apxT/v EK TWIJ cpatvoµf.vwv Kara TTJV a1<r8Yj<Tt1J ElS"
TOVTO 1Tpoax8f.vTES". Kat yap TO 8Epµov rT/ 'TTU<Ta XVAWOYJS" · Et oil of. E<Triv
EKa<TTa, TOVrq> Kal TpEcpE<r8at 1TEcpVKEIJ" TO OE vowp
apxT/ Tij<; rypiis- cf>v<TEWS" E<TTt Kal <TVIJEKTtKOIJ 'TTUIJTWIJ.
Oto 'TTUIJTWIJ ap-x_T/v V1TEAa/3ov Elvat TO vowp Kal TTJV
yijv Ecp' vOaTOS" a1TEcp7/vavTO KEt<TOat. 0aAijs- OE 1TpWTOS"
1Tapa0f.oorat rT/v 1TEpt cf>v<rEws- l.<rrop[av ro'is- �EAAYJ-
20
D OXOGRAPHY A N D S UC C E S S I O N S
zon]-this happens also with Mercury [PITHS. ANON.

043] , which because it only rises a little often is not seen,
so that it becomes visible at great intervals. Hippocrates
of Chios and his pupil Aeschylus1 express a view very
similar to these, except that they say that the tail is not an
intrinsic part of it but that it sometimes becomes attached
to it while it is wandering through that area, when our
sight is reflected toward the sun by the moisture that is
attracted by it.
1 Not the tragedian.
Theophrastus (Tl4-Tl6)
Tl4 (1 1 Al3, 38 A4, 11 Bl, 18.7, 22 A5, 12 A9) Theo
phrastus in Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Physics
Among those who say that the principle is one and in mo
tion, whom he [i.e. Aristotle] calls natural philosophers in
the proper sense, some say that it is limited-as Thales of
Miletus, son of Examyes, and Hippo, who is considered to
have been an atheist, said that the principle is water, an
opinion to which they were led by perceptible appear
ances. For what is warm lives by what is moist, and corpses
dry out, and the seeds of all things are moist, and all nour
ishment is juicy; and that from which each thing comes is
also that by which it is nourished by nature. And water is
the principle of moist nature and is what holds all things
together. And this is why they supposed that water is the
principle of all things and declared that the earth rests
upon water [cf. THAL . 07; HIPPO 020] . Thales is re
ported to have been the first to reveal the study of nature
21
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
aw EK</>ijvat, 7TOAAwv µev Kat aAAwv 7rpoy€yov6rwv,

w<; Kat ri{J ®€o<f>pa<rT<fJ 8oK€L, aura<; 8€ 7ToAv 8i€vqKwv
EK€LVWV, w<; a7TOKpvifiai 7TaVTa<; TOV<; 7rpo avTOV· Aey€
Tat 8€ f!v ypa<f>a'L<; µY}8€v KarnAt7T€LV 7TAYJV rij<; Ka
AovµevYJ<; NavnKij<; a<rrpoAoy[a<;.
"l7r7Ta<To<; 8€ o M€ra7Tovr'Lvo<; Kat 'HpaKA€iro<> o
'E<f>ecrw<; �v Kat o&oi Kat Kwovµ€vov Kat 7T€7T€pacrµ€
vov, &.Ha [24] 7rVp E7TOLYJ<TUV TTJV apxiiv Kat EK 7TVpO<;
7Towvcri ra ovra 7TVKvw<r€t Kat µavw<rH Kat 8mA.vovcri
7TaAtv €is 7rVp, w<; TaVTYJ<; µta<; OV<TYJ<; <f>v<r€W<; Tij<;
V7TOK€tf.LEVYJ<;· 7Tvpo<; yap aµoif3Tiv €lva[ <f>71crtv 'Hpa
KA€£TO<; 7TavTa. 7T0£€L 8€ Kat ra(tv nva Kat xp6vov
wpt<rµevov Tij<; TOV KO<Tf.LOV f.L€Ta{3oAij<; Kara nva €t.
µapµev71v avayKYJV.
Tl5 (cf. 31 A86, 24 Bla, 59 A92, 62.2, 64 Al9, 68 Al35)

Theoph �Sens. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 25, 27, 38, 39, 49
[l] 7r€pt 8' alcr8r/<r€W<; ai µev 7roAAat Kat Ka86A.ov 86-
(at 8v' €t<Ttv · OL µev yap ri{J Of.LOL<fJ 7TOWV<TW, OL 8€ ri{J
t!vavTt<fJ. ITapf.L€vt8YJ'> µev Kat 'Eµ7T€8oKAij<; Kat ITA.a
rwv ri{J oµOt<fJ, OL 8€ 7T€pt 'Ava(ay6pav Kat 'HpaKA€t
TOV r<iJ t!vaVTt<fJ [ . . . ] .
[2] [ . . . ] Ka86A.ov µev ovv 7r€pt alcr8r/<r€W<; atJrnt 7rapa-
8€8ovrni 86(ai. 7T€pt eKa<rTYJ'> 8€ rwv Kara µ€po<; oi
µev aAAot <TX€8ov a7roA€t7Tov<rw, 'Eµ7r€8oKAij<; 8€ 7TH
parat KUL rawa<; avay€tV €t<; riiv oµotOTYJTU.
22
D OXOGRAPHY A N D S UC C E S S I O N S
t o the Greeks. Many others had preceded him, as i s the

view of Theophrastus too, but he was far superior to them
so that he eclipsed all his predecessors [cf. THAL. RIO].
He is said to have left behind nothing in writing except for
the so-called Nautical Astronomy [cf. THAL. R6-R8] .
Hippasus o f Metapontum [ cf. HIPPAS. D4] and Her
aclitus of Ephesus too [scil. said] that it is one, in motion,
and limited, but [24] they established fire as the principle
and make beings come to be out of fire by condensation
and rarefaction and dissolve them again into fire, on the
idea that this is the one nature that is a substrate. For
Heraclitus says that all things are an exchange of fire [ cf.
D87] ; and he establishes a certain order and a determi
nate period for the transformation of the world in confor
mity with a certain necessity that is fixed by destiny [ cf.
D85 ] .
T l 5 (cf. 31 A86, 2 4 B la, 5 9 A92, 62.2, 6 4 Al9, 6 8 Al35)

Theophrastus, On Sensations
[ l] Concerning sensation, most of the general opinions are
of two kinds: for some explain it by the similar, others by
the contrary: Parmenides, Empedocles, and Plato by the
similar, the followers of Anaxagoras and Heraclitus by the
contrary. [ . . . ]
[2] [ . . . ] These are in general the opinions concerning
sensation that have been transmitted. Concerning each of
the particular sensations, the others almost entirely ne
glect them, but Empedocles tries to reduce them too to
similarity.
23
E A R LY GRE E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
[3] ITapµ,Evt07]'> f.LEV yap OAW<; OVOEV a<f>wptKEV &.Ha

µ,6vov on [ . . . ] .
[5] ITl.. arwv O E E7Tt 7TAeov µ,Ev '1j7Trai rwv Kara µ,epo<>
[. . .].
[7] 'Eµ,7TEOOKAij<; OE 7TEpL a7Ta<TWV oµ,oiw<; A.eyH [ . . . ].
[25] 'TWV OE µ,T, rfi> oµ,oicp 7TOWVV'TWV rT,v a£cr()71crw
AAKµ,aiwv f.LEV 7Tpwrov [ . . . ] .
[27] 'Ava(ayopa<; O E yivEcr()ai µ,Ev rot<; evanioi<;· [ . . . ] .
[38] KAEL07Jj.l0'> O E µ,6vo<; loiw<; Etp7]KE 7TEpt rij<; ol/JEW<;
[. . .].
[39] D.. wyev71<; o' [ . . . ] rfi> aept KaL 'TU<; alcr()f,crEt<; ava-
7T'TEL" Oto KaL oo(HEV llv rfi> oµ,oicp 7TOLElll [ . ] .
. .
[ 49] D..71µ,oKpt'TO<; O E 7TEpL f.LEV alcr()f,crEw<; ov o wpt,Et,

7TO'TEpa 'TOl<; evavrtot<; :;, 'TOl<; oµ,ofot<; E<T'TLV.
Tl6 (cf. 59 All 7, 62.3, 64 A32) Theophr. HP 3 . 1 .4

[ . . . ] KaL E'Tt 'TU<; avroµ,arov<;, <h KaL ol <f>vcrw>.. 6yoi
f..eyovcrw 'Ava(ayopa<; f.LEV 'TOil aepa 7TaVTWV <f>acrKWV
EXHV CT7Tepµ,ara KaL ravra crvyKara<f>EpOµ,Eva rfi>
voan yEwa,v 'TU <f>vra· D.. wyev71<; OE <T7)7TOf.LEVOV 'TOV
voaro<; KaL µ,i(w 'TWU >.. aµ,{Javovro<; 7Tp0<; rT,v yijv·
KAEt071µ,o<; OE <TVVECT'Tavai f.LEV EK 'TWV avrwv 'TOl<;
'<[>oi<;, o<r<tJ OE ()of..Epwrepwv Ka£ l/Jvxporepwv rocroilrov
a7TEXELV 'TOV 'fi>a Elvai. >.. eyovcri OE 'TWE<; KaL aHoi
7TEpt rii<> YEVECTEW<;.
24
D OXO G RAPHY A N D S U C C E S S I O N S
[3] Parmenides has not defined absolutely anything, but

only that [ . . . ] .
[5] Plato has approached the particular [scil. sensations]
to a greater extent [ . . . ] .
[7] Empedocles speaks about all the sensations in the
same way [ . . . ] .
[25] Among those who d o not explain sensation by the
similar, Alcmaeon begins by [...].
[27] Anaxagoras: sensation comes about by the contraries
[ . . . J.
[38] Cleidemus is the only one to have spoken differently
from the others about vision [ . . . ] .
[39] Diogenes [ . . . ] connects sensations too to air. And that
is why one might think that he explains them by the simi
lar [ . . . ] .
[ 49] Democritus does not define, concerning sensation,
whether it is produced by the contraries or by the similar.
T16 (cf. 59 All 7, 62.3, 64 A32) Theophrastus, History of

Plants
[ . . . ] and also the spontaneous [scil. modes of generation
of trees], about which the natural philosophers speak too:
Anaxagoras, when he says that air contains the seeds of all
things and that these descend together with rainwater and
generate plants; Diogenes, when water decomposes and
takes on some kind of mixture with earth; Cleidemus, that
they [i.e. plants] are composed of the same things as ani
mals are, but that they are more removed from being ani
mals, the murkier and colder they are [62.3 DK]; and
some others too speak about their generation.
25
EARLY G R E E K P H I LO S OPHY I I
Aetius' Doxographic Manual (T1 7-T1 9)

An Example Showing the Sources for Its
Reconstitution (T1 7)
Tl7 (Dox. Gr., pp. 327-29) Aet. 2.1 [·m;p£ Kocrµov]
Theod. Cur. Ps.-Plut. Plac. Stob.

I l.21.6c: ITvOayopa�
�TJ,.<T'i yeV7];0v �ar'
E1TLVOtav TOV Ko<rµov,
2.1.1: ITvOayopa� oV Kara xp6vov.--/Jr;
7rpWror; Wv6µa<TE rT,v Ka'i 7rp&ror; Wv6µacre
rwv o>..wv 7rEpwxT/v rT,v rWv OA.wv 7TepwxT,v
K6crµov EK riji; Ev K6<rµov EK rfjr; Ev aVrip
aln-<fi r<itewr;. rag•w�.--apgaa-Oai OE
rT,v yE.vecrtv roV K6-
CTJ.l:.ov �7TO 7rVpOr; Kal
TO� 1TEJL7T7,0V CTTOlr
X"ov.-7T•vr• o., a-x.,,-
1-!arwv OVT::'v <rTeeeWv,
aTTEP Ka� ei:ai �at µr;:-
871µ.aTLKa, EK µev TOV
Kv{1ov <f>"la-< yeyovevai
TT/v yfjv, EK OE rfi�
1T�pa1:i�or; r,.O TrVp, fK
�� 'TOV.DKT�eSpov TOV
aep�. EK Se ro_,v..... etK
.
°:
<YUEOpov (TO, VOWp, EK
OE roil owoeKaeopov>
rT,v Toil TTavrOs
a-</>a'ipav.
26
Aetius' Doxographic Manual (T1 7-T1 9)

An Example Showing the Sources for Its
Reconstitution (T1 7)
TI 7 ( � DK) Aetius , Chapter "On the World" 1

Ps.-Plutarch,
Theodoret, Cure of Opinions of the
the Greek Maladies Philosophers Stohaeus, Anthology
I l.21.6c: Pythagoras says
that the cosmos is
created in concept, not in
2.1.l: Pythagoras was time.-He was also the
the first to name what first to call what
surrounds everything surrounds everything the
"world" (kosmos) be "world" (kosmos)
cause of the order in it. because of the order in
it.-The creation of the
cosmos began out offire
and thefifth element.-
There beingfive solid
figures, which are also
called mathematical, he
says that out of the cube
comes earth, out of the
pyramidfire, out of the
octahedron air, out of the
icosahedron <water, out
of the dodecahedron> the
sphere of the whole.
1 The portions of the translations in italics correspond to

additions in Stobaeus regarding Pythagoras that derive from
the pseudepigraphic tradition, to rearrangements of the notices
about the Stoics in Stobaeus that are due to Stobaeus himself, and
to an introductory phrase that has been added by Theodoret.
27
E A R LY G R E E K P H I LO S OPHY I I
Theoo. Cur. Ps.-Plut. Plac. Stob.

2 4.15: OU µ,ovov oi EV
roV�oic; '8u:;c/J�viq. ye
1T�ELU:TJ, aA � a K,av,
TOLS aAAOL< •xp71-
U'�VTO. Kat y�p o� TO� 2 } .2� �aAiJs Kat , Ot a?T' l.22.3b (1): IBJaAijs,
KOU'fLOV 18!aA71s fLEV Kat aVTOV eva TOV , KOU'fLOV. Ilv8ay6pas, 'Eµ,?T<Oo-
ITv0ay6pas Kat 'Avaf- KAijs, "EKcpavros,
ay6pas Kal Ilapµ,evi- Ilapµ,evio71s, MiAiuuos,
?'1/> ,Kat Miltiuc;os Kal 'HpaKAeiTo>, 'Avaf-
HpaKAeiros Kat ayop�s, ITA�Twv, �pt-
ITA.cirwv Kai Apurro- <rroreA17r;, Z17vwv eva
rEA17c; Kai Z1}vwv Eva rOv K6u-µov.
elvai �vvwµoA.6YYJ <rav.
3 4.15: Avafiµ,av�pOS Oi �.l.�: !J.71µ,oKpt:oy Kat l.22.3b (2): Avafiµ,av-
�a£ �vaf,iµiv'?!� KaL E�LKovpo'i' KaL � 8�oc;, "Av�f,iµEv;Jc;, 'Ap-
Apx•Aaos Kat =•vo- TOVTOV Ka071y71T71S x•Aao>, =•vocpa"71>,
<f>a ""IS �at t!.wyiv�s M71Tpoowpos a?Teipovs t!.toyi"71>, AEVKt1T1TO>,
Km,, AevKL'TT'Troc; Kai K6a-µovc; Ev Tip &:rrelprp D..17µ61<ptroc;, 'E7TiKovpoc;
6.:,.,µ61<piroc; Kai KarO. 1Tii<rav 'TrEplura- d:TTeipovc; 1<6crµ,ovc; Ev
·�1TlKov�o� 1T?AAoVc; cnv. ref) d.7Teipcp KarO. 1Tii<rav
eivai Kat a1Tetpovc; 1TEpiayw'Y71v.
€o6fauav.
4 2.1.4: 'Eµ,?TeOoKAijs Tov 1;21.3ay) : ;Eµ,?T<O?KAijs
roV T,Alov 7rEpi8poµov TOV T�V TJA.Wv 7TEpt3eo
e'lvai 1TEpiypac/JT,v roV µ,ov «vat 1TEptypacp71v
K6<rµov Kai roil TTEpa ToV TTEpaTO� ToV K6-
roc; airroV. uµ,ov.
5 2.1.5: !.eAfVKOS a?Tei l.21.3a (2): !.eAfVKOS 0
pov rOv 1<60-µov. 'Epv8pa'ios Kat 'Hpa
u:lteio71s 0 IloVTtKOS
/I,7Tetpov T0V K6<rµ,ov.
6 2. � .6: t!.tO'yi,,.,,, To 11;,<v l.2 l.3a, (3): t!.wy�v71�
.
1T�v a1Tetpov, r:'v Se , K�L, �eA.iucro� �o µ,�v
Ko<rµov 7T'E1TEpav8ai. 1Tr;v aTTEtpov, T�v 8e
Kocrµ,ov 1TE7TEpavOat.
28
DOXOGRAPHY A N D S U C C E S S I O N S
Ps.-Plutarch,
the Greek Maladies Philosophers Stobaeus, Anthology
2 4.15: Not only in these
matters was there the
greatest difference of
opinion amang them,
but also in others. For 2.1.2: Thales and his l.22.3b (1): Thales,
in fact Thales, followers: the world Pythagoras, Empedocles,
Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, [scil. is] one. Ecphantus, Parmenides,
Parmenides, Melissus, Melissus, Heraclitus,
Heraclitus, Plato, Aris Anaxagoras, Plato, Aris
totle, and Zeno agreed totle, Zeno: the world
that the world is one. [scil. is] one.
[see 3]
3 4.15: Anaximander, 2.1.3: Democritus, l.22.3b (2):
Anaximenes, Archelaus, Epicurus, and his Anaximander,
Xenophanes, Diogenes, teacher Metrodorus: Anaximenes, Archelaus,
Leucippus, Democritus, worlds unlimited [scil. Xenophanes, Diogenes,
and Epicurus had the in number] in the Leucippus, Democritus,
opinion that they are unlimited, throughout Epicurus: worlds un
many and infinite. the entire surrounding limited [scil. in number]
area (peristasis). in the unlimited, through
out the entire circumfer
ence (periagoge).
4 2.1.4: Empedocles: the l.21.3a (1): Empedocles:
circular course of the the circnlar course of the
sun is the outline of the sun is the outline of the
world and of its limit. limit of the world.
5 2.1.5: Seleucus: the l.21.3a (2): Seleucus of
world [scil. is] Erythrae and Heraclides
unlimited. of Pontus: the world
[scil. is] unlimited.
6 2.1.6: Diogenes: the l.21.3a (3): Diogenes
universe [scil. is] and Melissus: the
unlimited, but the world universe is unlimited,
is limited. but the world is limited.
29
Theod. Cur. Ps.-Plut. Plac. Stob.

7 2.1. 7: oi iTwiKot Sw. l.21.3b: oi iTwtKOt
TEpEtv r__,0 1T�V K�L rOO�a<f:Epetv �O 1T�v K�L
o:ov· �av f'ev 'Y°:_P T� oAov; 'Tfa� µ.,ev 'Ya(!
e;vaL TO a;1v KEV Cf' ELVaL a-vv T'f' KEV<p" Tlp
a7r<ipov, o.l.ov Se, xwa1Teipcp, OA.ov OE xwp'i,r;
p"i1c; roil K;voV rO� roV KEvoV rOv K6-
,
Korrµ.ov· W<TTE [ovl TO rrµ.ov.-µ.�TE avgerr0ai
aVrO elvai rO OA.ov Kai 8� µ,TjrE µ.E�oVa-�at rOv
,
rOv K6crµ,ov. Koa-µ.ov, TO<� Se µ.ep•
a-iv Or€ µ.Ev 7TapeKreive
a-�at 7T�O� 1T�eiova
,
roTrov, ore Oe a-va-reA.
�ea-Oai. --0.TT o Yii,< 8€
, ')'E E<TW
apffarr_Oai T'T/V �
rov Ko<rµ.,ov, Ka0a1Tep
d7TO 1KiVTp�v, �PX� SE
<Tc/>atpac; 'TO KEVTpov.
8 �.22.3c: rW� &.1TEip�vc;
a1Tocf>71vaµ.evwv rove;
Koa-µ.ov�. 'A.vagiµ.av8po�
rO icrov aVroVc; ci7TExew
�AA:ijAwv 'E1Ti�ovpoc;
..;
a�icro� Et.vat TO 1 µ,era�v,
TWV KO<TflWV lJtU<TT1)flU.

Chapters (T18)
TIS
a (Dox. Gr., pp. 364-66) Aet. 3. 1 (Ps.-Plut., Stob., cf.
Gal.) [7rept rov ya>.. a�fov KVKAov]
1. KVKAo<> €crrt ve<Pe>.. o etST,i; ev p.Ev r<tJ Id.pi Sia ?Tavroi;
<Paiv6µ,evo<;, Sia S€ r,Y,v AEVKoxpoiav ovoµ,a�6µ,evo<;
ya>.. a�iai;.
30
D OXOGRAPHY A N D S U CC E S S IO N S
Ps.-Plutarch,
the Greek Maladies Philosophers Stobaeus, Anthology
7 2.1.7: The Stoics: the l.21.3b: The Stoics: the
universe and the whole universe and the whole
differ; for the universe differ; for the universe is
is the unlimited with the unlimited void,
together with the void, while the whole is the
while the whole is the world without the
world without the void. void.-The world neither
So that the whole and increases nor decreases,
the world are [not] the but sometimes it extends
same. in its parts farther in a
greater space, and at
other times it
contracts.-The
generation of the world
started from the earth, as
from a center, and the
starting point of a sphere
is the cente�
8 l.22.3c: Among those
who assert that the
worlds are infinite,
Anaximander: they are
equally distant from one
another. Epicurus: the
distance between the
worlds is unequal.

Chapters (T18)
T18
a (� DK) Aetius , Chapter "On the Milky Way"
1. It is a cloud-like circle which is visible everywhere in
the air and is called " galaxy" (i.e. milky) because of its
white color.
1 ovo/La,6/LE11oc; yaAa�iac; Stob. Gal. : yaA- ov- Plut.
31
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
2. TWV IIvOayopEiwv o t /LEV ecpacrav aCTTEpoc; Elvai �na

Kavcrw, fK1TE<TOVTO<; /LEV a1TO rijc; ioiac; lopac;, oi' oil OE
1TEpiEopaµE xwpfov KVKAOTEpwc; avro 7TEpicpAEtavroc;
f7Tt rov Kara cf>aEOovrn iµ1TpY)crµov· ot OE rov �A.iaKov
TaVTY/ cpacr£ Kar' apxac; yEyovEvai op6µov. TWE<; OE
KaT01TptKY,v ElVat cf>avracriav TOV �>.. iov Ta<; avyac;
1Tpoc; TOV ovpavov avaKAWVTO<;, 01TEp Ka1Tl rijc; 'tpiooc;
f7Tt rwv vEcpwv crvµ{JaivEi.
3. MY)Tpoowpoc; Ota rY,v 1Tapooov TOV �A.fov, TOVTOV
yap Etvai rov �>.. i aKov KvKA.ov.
4. IIapµEvLOYJ<; TO TOV 1TVKVOV Ka'i apawv µ'iyµa yaA.a
KTOEtOE<; a7TOTEAE<Tai xpwµa.
5. 'Avatay6pac; rY,v <TKiav rijc; yijc; Kara roOE ro µEpoc;
icrrncrOai TOV ovpavov, OTaV V7TO rY,v yijv 0 i/A.ioc; YE
voµEvoc; µY, 7TUVTa 7TEpicpwri'Y/ ·
6. flY)µOKptTO<; 1TOAAWV Kal µiKpwv Kal <TVVEXWV acrTE
pwv crvµcf>wn,oµEvwv a>.. >.. 1) >.. o ic; crvvavyacrµov Sia rY,v
rrVKVW<TtV.
7. Apt<TTOTEAYJ<; avaOvµiacrEwc; tYJpac; etwflw 7ToAAijc;
TE Ka£ crvvExovc;· Ka£ ovrw KD/LYJV 1Tvpoc; v1To rov
aiOEpa KaTwTEpw rwv 1TAaVYJTWV.
8. IIocrEi8wvwc; 1TVpoc; crVCTTa<TW acrrpov µf.v µavo
TEpav avyijc; OE 1TVKVOTEpav.
2 1TEpi€opaµ,e Stob. Gal.: E1TEOpaµ,e Plut. 4 Kat TO Toil
apawiJ Stob. 5 KaTa TOO€ Stob. Gal.: KaTa TOVTO Plut.
1TEpupwTi'v Stob. Gal.: </JwTi'v 7 Kat ovTw KTA. non hab.
Stob. 8 a<rTpov KTA. om. Gal., sed ante IIouei'Owvw� hab.
OL !TWtKOL TOV aUhpiov 1TVpo� apatOT'f}Ta aVWTEpov TOW 1TAa
V"f/TWV.
32
2. Among the Pythagoreans, some said that it is the

burned-up remains of a heavenly body that fell from its
proper place and burned up the area that it moved around
in a circle, at the time of the conflagration caused by
Phaethon; others say that the course of the sun went there
at the beginning. Some too [scil. say] that it is the mirror
image of the sun reflecting its rays against the heavens,
which also happens with the rainbow on the clouds.
3. Metrodorus: because of the passage of the sun, for this
is the solar orbit.
4. Parmenides: the m ixture of dense and rarefied makes a
milk-like color.
5. Anaxagoras: the shadow of the earth is projected onto
this part of the heavens when the sun passes under the
earth and does not illuminate everything all around it.
6. Democritus: the combined illumination of many small
adjacent stars illuminating one another simultaneously
because of their crowding together.
7. Aristotle: the igniting of a dry exhalation that is both
abundant and continuous; and in this way a tail of fire
under the region of the aether below the planets.
8. Posidonius: an accumulation of fire more rarefied than
a heavenly body but denser than a sunbeam.
33
b (Dox. Gr. , pp. 381-82) Aet. 3 . 1 6 (Ps.-Plut.) [m:pt {}a

>..acnrri<> 1TW<; <TV/JE<TTTJ Kat 1TW<; i<Tn mKpa]
1 . 'Avafiµ.av8po<; rTiv ()0.A.a<T<Tav c/JTJ<TlV Etvai rij<; 7rpw
TTJ'> irypa<Tia<; AEitjJavov, .ry., TO µ.Ev 7TAE'iov µ.f.po<; d.v
ef�pave ro 7T"Vp, ro 8' V1TOAEicp()Ev 8ia rTiv EKKavmv
µ.erf.{3aA.ev.
2. 'Avafay6pa<; TOV Kar' d.pxYiv A.iµ.va,ovTO<; vypov
1TEpiKaf.noi; v1To riji; iJ>.. iaKij<; 1TEpicpopai; Kat roil A.i-
1Tapov ifarµ.i<T()f.no<; eli; aA.vKi8a Kat 7TlKpiav TO AOl-
7TO/J V1TO<TTijvai.
3. 'Eµ.7Te8oKAiji; i8pwrn riji; yiji; iKKaioµ.f.vrii; v1To roil
i]>.. iov 8ia rYiv i7Tt ro 7TAE'iov 7TtATJ<TlV.
4. 'Avncpwv i8pwrn ()epµ.ov, if ol'i ro 1TEpi>.. ri cpeEv
vypov a1TEKpi(}TJ, ri{J Ka(}et/J'Y/(}ijvai 1TapaAVKt<TaVTa
o1Tep i7Tt 1Tavro<; i8pwrn<; <TVµ./3aivei.
5. M'Y/rp68wpoi; 8ia ro 8i'Y/()ef:<T()ai 8ia riji; yiji; µ.ETei
A'"f/cpf.vai TOV 7TEpt avrYiv 7Taxov<;, Ka()a1TEp Ta 8ia Tij<;
rf.cppa<; v>.. i,6µ.eva.
6. oi d.7To ITA.arwvo<; TOV <TTOlXElw8ov<; v8arn<; TO µ.Ev
if d.f.po<; Kara 1TepitjJvfiv <TVVi<Traµ.evov yA.vKv yive
u()ai, TO 8' a1TO yiji; Kara 7TEptKaV<Tl/J Kat iK1TVPW<Tl/J
d.va()vµ.iwµ.evov a>..µ.vp6v.
34
b ( -:t: D K ) Aetius, Chapter "On the sea, how it was formed

and why it is salty"
1 . Anaximander says that the sea is a residue of the original
moisture, of which the fire dried up the greater part, while
what remained was transformed by the heat.
2. Anaxagoras: the moisture that formed stagnant pools at
the beginning was heated by the sun's revolution, and
when the fatty part evaporated the rest turned toward
saltiness and bitterness.
3. Empedocles: it is the sweat of the earth that has been
completely burned up by the sun because of an ever
greater compression.
4. Antiphon: it is the sweat of heat, from which the residue
of humidity has separated out, becoming salty by being
boiled down-which happens with every kind of sweat.
5. Metrodorus: by being strained through the earth it takes
on a portion of the latter's density, like what is filtered
through ash.
6. The followers of Plato: one part of the elementary water,
condensing from air by being cooled, becomes sweet,
while the other part rising up from the earth by combus
tion and burning [scil. becomes] salty.1
l Cf. Aristotle, Meteorology 2.3 357b24-358a27.
35
c (Dax. Gr., pp. 406-7) Aet. 4 . 1 6 (Ps.-Plut. , Stob. Johan.

=
Damas.)1 [1TEpL aKofji;]

1 . 'Ep,1TEDOKAfji; TTJV aKOTJV ytvE<T(}ai KaTa 1TpO<T1TTW<T£V
1TVWP,UTO<; Ti/i xov8pwDE£, 01TEp cf>TJ<TLV EgTJpTfj<T()ai EV
TO<; Toil wToi; KwDwvoi; DtK'Y}V alwpovµ,Evov KaL TV1TTO
p,Evov.
2. 'Ahµ,aiwv aKOVEW i]µ,us Ti/i KEvi/i Ti/i EVTO<; TOV WTO'>'
TovTo yap Elvai To 8i"f/xovv KaTa TT,v Toil 1TvEvµ,aTo<>
eµ,{3oAT,v· mfvrn yap Ta KEVa 7iXEt.
3. Llwy€v"f/'> TOV EV TV KE</>a>-v aepoi; V1TO Tfj<; </>wvfii;
TV1TToµ,€vov KaL Kwovµ,€vov.
4. IIAaTWV KUL oi a1T' avTOV 1TAi,TTE<T()ai TOV EV TV
KE</>a>-v aepa· TOVTOV 8' avaKAa<T()ai EL<; Ta TJYE/LOV£Ka
KUL ytVE<Teai Tfj<; aKofji; TTJV a'i<T()TJ<TW.
I Stobaeus 1 .53 (p. 491 Wachsmuth) supplies only the final
doxa (with a slight variant), which is completed by a citation of
Plato, Timaeus 67a-<:. His text is restituted on the basis of the
florilegium attributed to John of Damascus.
An Example Showing the Effects of

Abridgement (T19)
Tl9 (Dax. Gr., p. 327) Aet. 2.1.2-3 [1TEpL Ko<rµ,ov]

a (Stob., Theod.)
2. ®a>.fii;, ITv()ay6pai;, 'Eµ,1TEDOKAfji;, "EK</>avroi;, IIap-
36
c (;t: DK) Aetius, Chapter "On hearing"

1. Empedocles: hearing comes about when air strikes car
tilage, which, he says, hanging suspended inside the ear,
oscillates and is struck like a bell.
2. Alcmaeon: we hear by means of the void inside the ear;
for this is what resounds when air strikes it. For all empty
things resound.
3. Diogenes: when the air located in the head is struck and
set in motion by a sound.
4. Plato and his followers: the air located in the head is
struck; this rebounds toward the governing parts and the
sensation of hearing is produced.
An Example Showing the Effects of

Abridgment (T19)
Tl9 ( ;t: DK) Aetius, Chapter "On the world"
a (Stobaeus, Theodoret)
2. Thales, Pythagoras, Empedocles, Ecphantus, Par-
37
EARLY GRE E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
µ,evio71•;, MifA.ia-a-os-, 'HpaKAeiTos-, 'Avatay6pas-, IIA.a

Twv, 'Apia-To'TEA71s-, Z�vwv lva Tov Koa-µ,ov.
3. 'Avatiµ,avopos-, 'Av�iµ,fr71s-, 'ApxifX.aos-, 'Sevocpav71s-,
Ll.wyifv71s-, AevKL1T1TOS', Ll.71µ,oKpLTos-, 'E7TiKovpos- a1Tei
povs- KO<Tjl-OVS' EV Tit> U1TElpcp KU'Ta 7TUCTUV 1TEpiaywy�v.
b (Ps.-Plut.)
2. ®aX.1]s- Kat oi a1T' aV'TOV lva 'TOV Koa-µ,ov.
3. Ll.71µ,oKpL'TOS' Kat 'E1TiKovpos- Kat 0 'TOV'TOV Ka071y71-
rYis- M71Tpoowpos- U1TElpovs- KOCTf.LOVS' ev Tit> U1TElp<f!
Ka'Ta 1TUCTav 1TEplCT'TUCTLV.

T20 (;t; DK) Diog. Laert. 1 . 13-15

(13] cpiAoa-ocplaS' 0€ OVO YEYOVUCTLV ap-x_ai, ii 'TE U7TO
'Avatiµ,avopov Kat r, a1TO IIv0ay6pov· 'TOV µ,€v ®aAov
OLaK71KoOTOS', IIv0ay6pov OE <l>EpEKilo71s- Ka071y�a-aTo.
Kat EKaAt:'iTo r, µ,Ev 'IwviK�, on ®aX.1]s- "Iwv wv, Mi
A�a-ws- yap, Ka071�a-aTo 'Avatiµ,avopov· r, OE 'Irn
AiKT, a1TO IIv0ay6pov, O'TL Ta 7TAf:tCT'TU Ka'Ta TT,v
'IrnA.iav ecpiAoa-6cp71a-t:v. [ 14] KarnA�yt:i OE r, µ,Ev f:tS'
KAt:iToµ,axov Kat Xpva-L1T1Tov Kat ®t:6cppaa-Tov· r, OE
'IrnAiKT, t:ls- 'E1TiKovpov. ®aX.ov f.LEV yap 'Avatiµ,av
opos-, oii 'Avatiµ,ifV7Js-, oii 'Avatay6pas-, oii 'ApxifX.aos-,
oii '!-wKpaT71S' o Tiiv fi0iKT,v t:la-ayaywv· oii o'l Tt: aAAoi
38
DOXOGRAPHY A N D S U C C E S S I O N S
menides , Melissus , Heraclitus , Anaxagoras , Plato , Aris

totle , Zeno: the world is one.
3. Anaximander, Anaximenes , Archelaus , Xenophanes ,
Diogenes , Leucippus , Democritus, Epicurus: worlds
unlimited in the unlimited throughout the entire circum
ference.
h (Ps.-Plutarch)
2. Thales and his followers: the world is one.
3. Democritus , Epicurus , and his teacher Metrodorus:
worlds unlimited in the unlimited throughout the entire
surrounding area.

T20 (;e DK) Diogenes Laertius
[13] There were two starting points of philosophy, one
from Anaximander and the other from Pythagoras. The
former had studied with Thales , while Pherecydes taught
Pythagoras. And the one [scil. line of descent] is called
Ionian , because Thales was an Ionian (for he was from
Miletus) and taught Anaximander; the Italian one is [scil.
named] from Pythagoras , for he did most of his philoso
phizing in Italy. [14] An d the one [i.e. t he Ionian one]
co mes to an end with Cleitomachus , Chrysippus , and
Theophrastus , and the Italian one with Epicurus. For of
T hales [s cil. the disci ple was] Anaximander; of him , Anax
imenes; of him , Anaxagoras; of him , Archelaus; of him ,
Socrates , who intro duced ethics; of him , the other Socrat-
39
EARLY G RE E K P H I LO S O P HY I I
"$wKpanKOl Kal IlAaTWV O T�V apxaiav AKaOT/fLLav

<TV<TTT/<Taµ,evo<>· ov "$7l'eV<Tt7l'7l'O'> Kat SevoKpaTT/'>, ov
IloAeµ,wv, ov Kpanwp Ka'i KpaTT/'>, ov 'ApKe<riAao<> o
T�v fLE<TT/V 'AKaOT/µ,iav EWT/YT/<Taµ,evo<>· oV AaKVOT/'>
o r¥ veav 'AKaoT/µ,iav cpiAo<rocpr}<ra<>· ov KapveaOT/'>,
ov KAeir6µ,axo<>. Kat cll o e µEv et'> KAeir6µ,axov. [ 15] et<>
OE Xpv<rt7l'7l'ov ovrw KaraAr}yei· "$wKparov<> 'Avn<rOe
vT/<>, ov Awyel'T/'> o Ki.lwv, ov KpaTT/'> o ®T/f3a'io<>, ov
Zr}vwv o Kmev<>, ov KAeavOT/'>, ov Xpv<rt7l'7l'O'>. ek OE
®e6cf>pa<rrov ovrw<>· IlAarwvo<> 'Api<rroreAT/'>, ov ®e6-
cf>pa<rro<>. Kat ii µEv 'IwviK� rovrov KaraAr}yei rov
Tp07l'OV.
ii OE 'ITaAtK� ovrw· <PepeKi.loov<> Ilv8ay6pa<>, oV
TT/AavyT/'> o via<>, ov Sevocf>avT/'>, ov IlapµeviOT/'>, ov
Zr}vwv o 'EAeaTT/'>, ov AevKt7l'7l'O'>, ov AT/µoKpiro<>, ov
7l'OAAot µev, E7l', ov6µ,aTO') OE Nav<rtcpaVT/'> Kal NavKV
OT/'>, cll v 'E?TiKovpo<>.
Three Lines of Descent (T21)
T2 1 ( ;>t DK) Clem. Alex. Strom. 1 .62. 1-64.5

[62.l] cpiAo<rocpia<> roivvv µera rov<> 7l'poeipT/µevov<>
avopa<> rpe'i<> yey6va<Tt oiaooxa'i E1TWvvµoi TOW T01TWV
40
ics, and Plato, who founded the Old Academy; o f him,

Speusippus and Xenocrates; of him, Polemon; of him,
Crantor and Crates; of him, Arcesilaus, who introduced
the Middle Academy; of him, Lacydes who [scil. intro
duced] the New Academy; of him, Carneades; of him,
Cleitomachus. And in this way [scil. it came to an end]
with Cleitomachus. [ 15] It came to an end with Chrysip
pus in the following way: of Socrates [ scil. the disciple was]
Antisthenes; of him, Diogenes the Cynic; of him, Crates
of Thebes; of him, Zeno of Citium; of him, Cleanthes; of
him, Chrysippus. [Seil. It came to an end] with Theo
phrastus in the following way: of Plato [scil. the disciple
was] Aristotle; of him, Theophrastus. And the Ionian one
[scil. line of descent] comes to an end in this way.
The Italian one [scil. line of descent] in the following
way: of Pherecydes [scil. the disciple was] Pythagoras; of
him, his son Telauges; of him, Xenophanes; of him, Par
menides; of him, Zeno of Elea; of him, Leucippus; of him,
Democritus; of him, many, but by name Nausiphanes and
Naucydes; of them, Epicurus.
Three Lines of Descent (T21) 1

T2 1 ( ;t: DK) Clement of Alexandria, Stromata
[62.1] After the men about whom I have just spoken [scil.
the Seven Sages] , there were three successions of philoso-
1 Plato at Sophist 242c [ T4] derives the Eleatic School from

=
Xenophanes. Aristotle identifies the Italian philosophers with the

Pythagoreans (cf. PITHS ANON. D2, 036). Combining these
two indications produces, for the Ionian line of descent, three
successions.
41
EARLY G RE E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
7TEpt ov� 8ifrpiiJ!av, 'fraAiKii µ,iv iJ aTTo IIvBayopov,

'IwviKii 8i iJ aTTo 0aA.ov, 'EA.rnnKii 8i iJ aTTo 'Sevocpa
vov�. [2] IIvBayopa� µ,iv oJv MVYJCTapx_ov 'i.aµ,w�, w�
cf>YJCTLV 'fo7To/3oro�, w� 8i 'A.ptCTTotevo� EV ri[i IIvBa
yopov f3i<f.J Kat 'ApiCTroreAYJ� 1 Kat 0eoTTOJL7TO� TvppYJ
vo� i/v, w� 8i NeavBYJ�, 'i.vpw� .;, Tvpw�, WCTTE elvai
Kara rov� TTAeiCTrov� rov 1Iv8ay6pav f3apf3apov ro
yevo�. [3] at..Aa Kal 0aA.Yj�, w� Aeav8po� Kal 'Hp68o
TO� L(TTOpOVCTl, oZvit i/v, w� 8€ nve� V7TELAficpaCTL,
MiA.fiCTw�. [4] µ,ovo� o&o� 8oKEL roZ� rwv AlyvTTriwv
7Tpocf>firai� CTvµ,/3e/3AYJKEVat, 8i8aCTKaAO� 8i avrov ov-
8e£� avaypacf>erai, WCT7TEp ov8i epeKv8ov TOV 'i.vpiov,
<ii IIvBayopa� f.µ,aBfirevCTEV. [63. l ] at..A ' Yi µ,iv EV Me
Ta7TOVTt<f_J rYj� 'fraA.ia� Yi Kara IIvBayopav cf>iA.oCTocf>ia
Ti 'fraAiK-Yi KareyfipaCTev. [2] 'Avatiµ,av8po� 8i 1Ipati
a8ov MiA.fiCTw� 0aA.Yjv 8ia8ex_erai, TOVTOV 8i 'Avati
JLEVYJ� EvpvCTrparov MiA.fiCTw�, µ,eB' f'>v 'Avatayopa�
'HyYJCTt/3ovA.ov KA.a,oµ,evw�. o-Oro� µ,erfiyayev aTTo
TYj� 'Iwvia� 'A.Bfiva'e r-Yiv 8iarpi/3fiv. [3] rovrov 8ia8e
x_erai 'A.px_e\ao�, o-0 ""i.wKparYJ� 8ifiKovCTev.
EK 8' apa TWV ct1TEKALVEV <o> A.atoo�,2
EVVOJLOAECTXYJ�,
'EAA.fivwv E7Taoi86�.
o Tiµ,wv cf>YJCTLV f.v roZ� 'i.it..Aoi� [Frag. 25. l-2a Di
1 'Api<rrorl'Jl.71<; Preller: 'Apl<napx_o<; mss.
42
phy, named after the places i n which they were active: the
Italian one from Pythagoras, the Ionian one from Thales,
and the Eleatic one from Xenophanes. [2] Pythagoras, the
son of Mnesarchus, was from Samos, as Hippobotus says,
but as Aristoxenus [scil. says] in his Life of Pythagoras,
Aristotle and Theopompus, from Tyrrhenia, or as Nean
thes [scil. says], Syrian or Tyrian, so that Pythagoras was,
according to most people, a barbarian by descent. [3] But
Thales, as Leander and Herodotus report, was a Phoeni
cian, although some people suppose that he was from Mi
letus. [ 4] He is thought to have been the only one to have
met with the priests of the Egyptians, but no teacher of
his is recorded, just as little as for Pherecydes of Syros too,
with whom Pythagoras studied. [63.l] But the Italian phi
losophy of Pythagoras grew old in Metapontium in Italy.
[2] Anaximander of Miletus, son of Praxiades, followed in
succession after Thales, and he was followed by Anax
imenes of Miletus, son of Eurystratus, after whom [scil.
came] Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, son of Hegesiboulus.
He transferred the discipline from Ionia to Athens. [3] He
was followed in succession by Archelaus, with whom Soc
rates studied.
From them then the sculptor turned aside, the law
chatterer, Enchanter of the Greeks,
says Timon in his Mockeries, because he turned aside from
2 <o> >.afoo<; Meineke: >.afoo<; Diog. Laert. 2.19: >.aofoo<;

Clem.
43
Marco] Sia T O a7TOKEKAtKEllat a7TO TWll </>v<rtKWll E7Tl Ta

r,BiKa. [4] !wKparovi; Se aKOV<ra<; Allrt<r8EllYJ'> µell
EKVllt<rE, IT'AaTWll Se Et<; rY,ll AKaSY]µiall allEXWPYJ<TE.
[5] 7Tapa ITA.arwllt 'ApicrroTEAYJ'> <f>i'A.ocro</>ficrai; µETEA
Bwll Et<; ro AvKHOll KTL,Et rY,ll ITEpmaTY)rtKY,ll aipE<rw.
rovroll Se SiaSExErai 0Eo</>pacrrni;, oil !rparwll, oil
AvKwll, Etrn Kpir6A.aoi;, Etrn t1i6Swpoi;. [6] !7Tev<rt7T-
7TO'> Se ITA.arwlla SiaSExErai, rnwoll Se 'SwoKparYJ<>,
Oil IloAEµWll. IToA.EµWllO<; Se aKOV<rTal KpaTY)'> TE Kal
KpallTWp, Et<; oi)i; Ti a7TO ITA.aTWllO<; KaTEAYJtEll dpxaia
'AKaSriµia.
Kpanopoi; Se µETE<rXEll 'ApKEcriA.aoi;, &.</>' ov µExpi
'HyYJ<rLllOV �llBYJ<rEll 'AKaSriµia Ti µE<rYJ. [64.1] Etrn
KapllEaSYJ'> StaSEx_Ernt 'HyY)<rtllOVll Kal oi E</>Efiji;·
KpaTY)TO'> Se Zfillwll 0 KtnEV<; 0 riji; !rwiKij<; aptai;
alpE<rewi; yillerni µaBYJrfii;. rnwoll Se SiaSExerni KA.E
all()YJ'>, Oil Xpv<rt7T7TO<; Kal oi µer' aVTOll.
[2] riji; Se 'EA.EanKiji; dywyiji; 'SEllo</>allYJ'> o Ko'A.o
</>wllwi; Karapx_Ei, oil <f>YJ<ri Tiµaioi; Kara 'Upwlla Toll
!tKeA.iai; Svlla<rTTJll Kai, 'E7Tixapµoll roll 7TOtYJTiill yeyo
llEllat, A7ToA.A.6Swpoi; Se Kara rY,ll TE<r<rapaKocrrY,ll
'OA.vµmaSa YEllO/LEllOll 7TapaTETaKEllat axpi TWll ila
pELoV TE Kal Kvpov x_pollwll. [3] ITapµEllLSYJ'> TOLllVll
'SEllo</>allOV<; aKOV<rTY,i; YLllETat, TOVTOV Se ZfillWll, EtTa
AEVKt7T7TO<;, Etrn ilriµoKptTO<;. [4] ilriµoKpirov Se aKOV
G"Tal ITpwrnyopai; o 'AfJSripirri<> Ka£ MYJrp6Swpoi; o
X'toi;, ov ilwyEllYJ'> o !µvpllatoi;, ov 'Allatapxoi;, rnv-
44
natural philosophy t o ethics. [4 ] After they had studied

with Socrates, Antisthenes became a Cynic and Plato with
drew to the Academy. [5] After Aristotle philosophized
with Plato he moves to the Lyceum and founds the Peri
patetic school. Theophrastus follows him in succession,
Strato him, Lycon him, then Critolaus, then Diodorus. [6]
Speusippus follows Plato in succession, Xenocrates him,
Polemon him. Polemon's pupils [scil. were] Crates and
Crantor, with whom the Old Academy, which had begun
with Plato, came to an end.
Arcesilaus participated [scil. in the teaching of] Cran
tor; from him [i.e. Arcesilaus] , the Middle Academy flour
ished until Hegesinus. [64.1] Then Carneades and those
in sequence after him follow in succession Hegesinus.
Zeno of Cilium, the initiator of the Stoic school, was the
pupil of Crates. Cleanthes followed him in succession,
Chrysippus and those after him, him.
[2] Xenophanes of Colophon is the initiator of the El
eatic school; according to Timaeus he lived at the time of
Hieron, the ruler of Sicily, and of the poet Epicharmus,
while Apollodorus says he was born in the 40th Olympiad
and lived until the times of Darius and Cyrus. [3] Par
menides then becomes Xenophanes' student; Zeno, his;
then Leucippus, then Democritus. [ 4] Democritus' pupils
[scil. were] Protagoras of Abdera and Metrodorus of
Chios; Diogenes of Smyrna, his; Anax:agoras, his; Pyrrho,
45
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S O PH Y I I
rov O E Ilvppwv, oi) Navcnc/>all'I'/'>" ro6rov c/>a<Ttv evwi

µ,alJTJTTJV 'E1TiKovpov y€ve<TIJai.
[5] Kai. 7] µEv oia8ox7J rwv 1Tap' "EAAYJ<TL cf>iA.oCTo
cf>wv W<; EV f.mroµfi 7)8€, oi xpovoi OE TWV 1TpOKarap
favTWV rfi<; c/>iAoCToc/>ia<; avrwv E1Toµevw<; A€KTEOL, tva
87] iv <TVYKPL<T€L U7TOO€if wµ€v 7TOAAa'is y€v€aL<; 1Tp€
<T/3vrepav rY]v Kara 'Ef3pafov<; cf>iA.o<Toc/>iav.
T22 (Dax. Gr. , pp. 589-90) Epiph. 3.2.9

1 . avro<; yap 0aAfj<; 0 MiA.'l}<Tw<; €i<; WV TWV fora CTO
c/>wv apxeyovov 1TclVTWV U7T€c/>1}varo TO -Dowp· it voa
TO<; yap cPTJ<TL TU mivra €lVaL Kat €t<; vowp 1TclALV
avaAv€CTIJai.
2. 'AvafiµavOpo<; o rov Ilpafiaoov Kat avro<; Mi>..1]
<TW<; TO a7T€Lpov apxY]v a1TUVTWV EcPTJ<T€V €lvai· EK
TOVTOV yap Ta 1TUVTa yiv€<TIJai Kat €t<; avro TU 7TUVTa
avaAv€<TIJai.
3. 'AvafiµevT/<> o rov Evpv<Trparov Kat avro<; Mi>.. 1]
<TW<; TOV aepa TOV 1Tavro<; apxY]v €lvai A.eyH Kat EK
rovrov ra 1Tavra.
4. 'Avafayopa<; o rov 'HyYJ<Ti/3ovA.ov o KA.a,oµevw<;
apxa<; TWV 1TclVTWV Ta<; oµowµ€p€ta<; EcpTJCT€V €lvai.
5. 'Apxe>.. a o<; o 'A7ToA.A.o8wpov, Kara 8€ nva<; Mi>..rw
vo<;, 'AIJYJva'io<; OE �v, cpvmKo<;, EK 'Yfi<> ra 1Tavra A.eyH
yeyevY,a-Oai. aVT'YJ yO..p dpxTJ rWv OAwv Ea-rlv, Ws
c/>TJ<TL.
46
this man's; Nausiphanes, his; some say that Epicurus be

came the pupil of this last.
[5] And this is, in summary form, the succession of the
philosophers among the Greeks; next we must state the
dates of those among them who made a beginning of phi
losophy, so that we can demonstrate by comparison that
philosophy among the Hebrews was older by many gen
erations.

T22 ( � DK) Epiphanius, Panarion (Against Heresies)
1 . For Thales of Miletus himself, who was one of the Seven
Sages, declared that water is the origin of all things; for he
says that all things come from water and in tum are dis
solved into water.
2. Anaximander-from Miletus too, son of Praxiades,
said that the unlimited is the principle of all things; for out
of this all things come to be and into it all things are dis
solved.
3. Anaximenes-from Miletus too, son of Eurystratus
said that air is the principle of the whole and that all things
come from it.
4. Anaxagoras-from Clazomenae, son of He gesiboulus
said that the homoiomeries are the principles of all things.
5. Archelaus-son of Apollodorus (but according to some
people, son of Milton), and he was an Athenian natural
philosopher-says that all things have come to be out of
earth. For this is the principle of all things, as he says.
47
6. !.wKpUTYJ<; 0 epµ,oy>.:vcpov !.wcppoviaxov KaL <l>ai

vapETYJ<; Tfj<; µ,aia<; o ,Y,8iKo<; Ta Ka8' eavTov €'11. eye µ,6-
vov 8etv 7TEpiepya,eu8ai TOV av8pw7TOV, 7TAELova 8€
µ,fi.
7. <l>epEKV87J<; KaL avTo<; yfjv cpYJ<TL 7Tpo 7TUVTWV ye
yevfju8ai.
8. ITv8ay6pa<; o "!.aµ,w<; Mv7Juapxov vwi;; 8eov €cpYJ
e'tvai Ti/v µ,ova8a KaL 8ixa raVTYJ<; µ,7]8€v yeyevfju8ai.
€'11. eye 8€ µ,iJ 8etv 8vew TOt<; Oeot<; '�a µ,7]8€ µ,iJv f.u8iew
n TWV eµ,lfivxwv µ,7]8€ KVaµ,ov<; µ,7]8€ olvov 7TLVEW TOV<;
uocpov<;. EAEYE 8€ Ta U7TO <TEATJVYJ<; KUTW 7TU8TJTU Elvai
7Tavra, Ta 8€ v7Tepavw Tfj<; ue'll.fi vYJ<; a7Ta8fj e'tvai.
€'11. eye 8€ KaL µ,era{3aivew Ti/v lfivxiiv eli;; 7TOAAa '�a.
EKEAEVU"E 8€ KaL TOt<; µ,a8TJTUt<; avTOV <TLW7TaV E7TL 7TEV
TUETfj xp6vov KaL TO TEAEVTatov 8eov EaVTOV E7TWVO
µ,a<TE.
9. SevocpavYJ<; o Tov 'Op8oµ,Evov<; Ko'll. o cpwvw<; EK yfji;;
KaL v8aTO<; EcpYJ Ta 7TUVTa yiveu8ai. e'tvai 8€ Ta 7TUVTa
W<; EcpYJ ov8€v UAYJ8E<;. OVTW<; TO aTpEKE<; a87JAOV, 86K7]
<TL<; 8€ E7TL 7Ta<Tt TETVKTat µ,aALU"Ta TWV acpavEWV.
10. ITapµ,evi8TJ'> o rov ITvpYJTO<; To yEvo<; 'E'll. eaTTJ'> KaL
avTO<; TO a7TEtpov EAeyev apxiJv TWV 7TUVTWV.
ll. Zfivwv o 'E'll. eaTYJ'> o epiunKo<; L<Ta T� ETEP<t> Zfi
vwvi KaL Ti/v yfjv aKLVYJTOV AEYEt KaL µ,7]8Eva T07TOV
KevOv elvai. Ka£ AEyet oVrw�· rO KtvoVµevov 7}roi f.v �
48
6. Socrates-son o f the sculptor Sophroniscus and the

midwife Phaenarete-philosopher of ethics, said that a
human being should only concern himself with himself,
and with nothing more.
7. Pherecydes too says that earth came to be before all
things [ cf. PHER. D5].
8. Pythagoras-from Samos, son of Mnesarchus-said
that the monad is god and that nothing has come to be
without this. He said that wise men must not sacrifice
animals to the gods, nor eat anything animate or beans,
nor drink wine. He said that all the things below the moon
are subject to affections while those above the moon are
impassible. He also said that the soul passes into many
animals. He also ordered his pupils to remain silent for a
period of five years and in the end he proclaimed himself
a god.
9. Xenophanes-son of Orthomenes, from Colophon
said that all things come from earth and water. And he said
that the totality of things is not at all true; so what is certain
is unclear, and opinion extends over all things, especially
invisible ones.
10. Parmenides too--the son of Pyres, from Elea by fam
ily-said that the unlimited is the principle of all things.I
ll. Zeno of Elea, the eristic philosopher, says like the
other Zeno [scil. of Citium] both that the earth is immobile
and that no place is empty. And he says the following: what
is in motion is in motion either in the place in which it is
1 This is an error, perhaps indirectly caused by a confusion

with Melissus.
49
EARLY G R E E K P H I LO S O P H Y I I
, , ,..,
HTTL T07TC[J KLVELTaL 7J" ev
, "' , ,, ' ,, , ?' ,
CfJ OVK €<TTL. KaL OVTE: ev CfJ €<TTL
, ..... ,, , ?' , ,, , ,,
T07TC[J KLllELTaL OVTE: ev CfJ OVK E<TTLV' OVK apa TL KLll€LTaL. ,..,
12. MiAt<r<ros- o roil '18ayi11ovs- '!.aµws- ro yi11os- �11 ro

7Tiiv Ecp7J i::ivaL, µ'Y]Sev Se f3i/3aLOll V7Tap-x_E:LV rii c/.>v<rEL,
aAAa 7Ta11Ta i::ivaL cf.>()apra iv Sv11aµi:: L .
13. Ai::vKL7T7Tos- o Mt>.1)<rws-, Kara Se TL11as- 'E>.i::ar7Js-,
Kat OVTOS- ipL<rTLKOS"" iv a7TE:tp<[J Kat OVTOS" TO 7Tiill €cf.>7J
i::ivat, Kara cpa11rarriav Se KaL SoK7J<rL11 ra 7Tavra yi11i::
<r()aL KaL µ'Y]Sev KaTa a>.1)()€La11, a>.>.' OVTW c/.>atvi::<reaL
Kara rT,11 iv rif> vSaTL KW7T7111.
14. A71µ0Kptros- o roil Aaµa<rt7T7TOV 'Af3S71pir71s- TOii
Ko<rµov Q7T€Lpo11 ecf.>71 KaL V7Tep KEVOV KE:t<reaL. ecf.>71 Se
Ka£ �11 riAos- i::i11at rwv 7Ta11rw11 KaL eli()vµiav ro KpaTL
<rrov ei11at, TUS" Se Av7Tas- opovs- KaKias-. KaL 'TO SoKOVll
SiKaLOll OVK ei11at SiKatOll, aStKOll Se TO ivavrio11 rijs
cf.>v<rEWS". i7Tivowv yap KaKT,v rovs- 116µovs- €>.eye Ka£
OV x_pT, 116µ0Ls- 7TE:Leapx_etv TOV <rocf.>6v, aAAa iAevee
piws- {ij11.
15. M71rp6Swpos- o Xtos- ecf.>71 µ71Siva µ71Se11 i7Ti<rra
<r()at, aAAa TaVTa & SoKovµi:: v YLVW<TKELV, aKpt/3ws- OVK
i7TL<rTaµeea, ovSe Tats- al<r()1)<rE:<TL Set 7Tpo<rix_ew So
K1/<reL yap i<rTL ra 7Ta11ra.
16. IIpwray6pas- 0 TOV Mi:: va11Spov 'Af3S71pir71s- ecf.>71 µT,
()i::o vs- i::ivaL µ71Se oAws- ()eo11 V7Tapx_i::L V.
17. Awyi1171s- o "'iµvpvatos-, Kara Si TL11as- Kvp7111atos-,
TU avra r(f> IIpwray6pq, iS6�a<re.
50
or in the one in which it is not. And neither is it in motion

in the one in which it is nor in the one in which it is not.
Therefore nothing is in motion.
12. Melissus-son of Ithagenes, from Samos by family
said that the whole is one, and that nothing stable comes
about in nature, but that all things are potentially destruc
tible.
13. Leucippus too-from Miletus (but according to some
from Elea)-an eristic philosopher too, said too that the
whole is in the unlimited, and that it is in appearance and
opinion that all things come to be and that this is not true
at all, but that it appears in the same way as an oar in
water.
14. Democritus-son of Damasippus, from Abdera-said
that the world is unlimited and rests upon the void. He
also said that the end of all things is one and that content
ment (euthumia) is the best thing, while sufferings are the
limits of evil. And what is thought to be just is not just,
while what is contrary to nature is unjust. For he said that
the laws are a bad invention, and that the wise man should
not obey the laws but live freely.
15. Metrodorus-from Chios-said that no one knows
anything, but that what we think we know, we do not know
exactly, nor should we pay attention to sense perception.
For all things are by opinion.
16. Protagoras-son of Menander, from Abdera-said
that the gods do not exist and that on the whole there is
no god.
17. Diogenes-from Smyrna (but according to some from
Cyrene)-had the same opinions as Protagoras.
51
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S O PH Y I I
1 8 . IIvppwv a1TO "HA.iOO'i' TWIJ aUwv <To</Jwv TU 06-

yµara <Tvvayaywv 7TUIJTa avrdUCTEi'i' avrols Eypmp€v
avarpE1TWIJ TU'> o6ga., avrwv Kat OV0€1Jt o6yµan fipe
CTK€TO.
19. 'Eµ7T€OoKA.fj., o roil Mfrwvo" 'AKpayavr'ivo" 7Tvp
Kat yfjv Kat VOwp Kat aepa TETTapa 7Tpwroyova €LCT
e</J€p€ CTToix€'ia Kat EA€Y€V Ex0pav 1nrapx€w 7Tpwrov
rwv <Trnixfl.wv. K€xwpi<Tro yap, </J7J<Tt, ro 7rp6r€pov,
vvv OE a-vvr}vwrai, c:,., A.ey€i, <{JiA.wOevra &.Ur}A.oi.,. ovo
ovv €L<Ti Kar' avrov apxat Kat OvvaµeiS" Ex0pa Kat
</JiA.ta, c1v .;, µev ECTTW EVWnK.Y, .;, OE oiaxwpi<TnKr}.
20. 'HpaKA.eiro" o rov BA.eCTwvo" 'E</Je<Tw" EK 1Tvpo.,
EAfY€ Ta 7TUVTa €tvai Kat fLS' mp 7TUAW avaAV€<T0ai.
21. IIp6oiKo'> ra TE<T<Tapa <Troix€'ia Owu., KaA€'i €tra
ifA.wv Kat <T€ArJV7JV. EK yap rovrwv 7Tu<Ti ro �wnKov
€A.€y€v imapx€w.
52
1 8 . Pyrrho-from Elis-after having collected all the

opinions of the other wise men, wrote antitheses to them,
reversing their opinions; and he did not accept any opinion.
19. Empedocles-son of Meton, from Acragas-intro
duced fire, earth, water, and air as four firstborn elements
and said that hatred exists before the elements. For, he
said, earlier they had been separated, but now they are
united, as he says, having become friends of one another.
Thus there are two principles and powers according to
him, hatred and love, of which the one unifies and the
other separates.
20. Heraclitus-son of Bleson, from Ephesus-said that
all things come from fire and in turn are dissolved into fire.
21. Prodicus calls the four elements gods, then the sun and
moon. For he said that it is out of these that life comes for
all things.2
2 The list continues with the Socratic schools (Plato, the Cyre
naics, the Cynics) and their descendants (New Academy, Aris
totle, and the Peripatetics), the Stoics, and concludes with Epi
curus.
53
BAC KGRO U N D
2 . CO S MO LOG I CA L
S P E CU LAT IO N S [ CO S M . ]
The thinkers traditionally identified as the first philoso

phers were not the first people in ancient Greece to have
speculated about the origin and structure of the world:
various traces of cosmological reflection are preserved in
the earliest surviving Greek poetry. Aristotle distinguished
terminologically between theologoi, the archaic poets
who wrote about gods (cf. Metaphysics B4, 1000a9), and
phusiologoi, the early philosophers who wrote about na
ture (cf. A6, 107lb27; AlO, 1075b26); but he was also
careful to indicate the continuities, indeed the similarities
between the two groups (cf. N4, 109la34; cf. also THAL .
R32). Indeed, a number of 'philosophical' cosmologies
only become fully comprehensible against the background
of traditional representations, which they presuppose
even on the level of specific expressions.
The present chapter brings together a number of cos
mological passages drawn from archaic Greek poets and
thereby presents one kind of background that is useful for
contextualizing the thought of the early Greek philoso
phers. Some of these texts are of interest as surviving ves
tiges of kinds of speculation that must have been wide
spread in early Greek oral culture but have otherwise been
lost; others are presupposed, in content or expression, by
56
C O S M O LOGICAL S P E C U LATI O N S
various texts that are classified as philosophical and that

are found in the following chapters.
In this chapter, as in those dedicated to ancient doxog
raphy (chap. 1), to the most ancient reflections on gods
and men (chap. 3), and to the echoes of philosophical
doctrines found among the Greek dramatists (chap. 43),
the critical apparatus for the Greek texts is reduced to a
minimum, indicating solely our divergences, if any, from
the editions of reference listed in volume 1. We have also
refrained from providing bibliographical indications,
which would not have made much sense here.
O U T L I N E O F T H E C H A PT E R
The Structure of the World (Tl-T9)

Earth and Heavens (Tl)
Ocean (T2-T3)
Tartarus (T4-T5)
Styx (T6-T7)
Night and Day (T8-T9)
Forms of Cosrrwtheogony (T1 0-T22)
Homeric Traces (TlO)
Hesiod (Tl l)
Orphic Texts (T12-T20)
In the Derveni Papyrus (T12)
In Orphic Theogonies Reported by Later Authors
(T13-T20)
Various Starting Points (T13-T18)
The Cosmic Egg (T19-T20)
Musaeus, Acusilaus, and Other Authors of Archaic
Cosrrwtheogonies (T21-T22)
57
CO S MO LOG I CA L
S P E CU LATIO N S

TI ( > 7 B2) Hom. Il. 18.483-89

EV f.LEV yal:av fTEvf, EV o' ovpavov, EV OE
()6-A.a<r<rav,
T,EAtOV T' aKaµ,avra <TEATJVYJV TE 1TATJ{)OV<TUV,
485 EV OE Ta TEtpEa 7TaVTa, Ta T' ovpavo<;
e<rTE</>avwTai,
II}..71 i:aoac; ()' 'Taoac; TE To TE cr()ivoc; '!lpiwvoc;
"ApKTOV ()', .f,v KUL "Aµ,atav E7TtKA71criv KaAiovcriv,
1J T' avTov <rTpi<f>Erat Kai T' '!lpiwva OoKEVEt,
0£71 o' aµ,µ,opo<; E<TTt AOETpwv 'fiKEavol:o.
Ocean (T2-T3)
T2 Hom. II.
a ( > 1 B2, ad BIO, Bl3; 3 B5; 1 1 Al2; 70 A24) 14.200-201
"" 14.301-2
Elf.Lt yap ol/Joµ,iv71 7TOAvcpop{3ov 7TEtpara yai71c;,
58
CO S MO LOG I CA L
S P E CU LAT IO N S

TI ( > 7 B2) Homer, Iliad
He [i.e. Hephaestus] made the earth on it [i.e.
Achilles' shield] , and the heavens, and the sea,
And the tireless sun and the full moon,
And all the constellations with which the heavens are 485
crowned,
The Pleiades and the Hyades and Orion's strength
And the Bear, which they also call the Wagon by
name,
Which turns around in place and watches Orion,
And is the only one to have no share of Ocean's baths.
Ocean (T2-T3)
T2 Homer, Iliad
a ( > 1 B2, ad B IO, B l3; 3 B5; 1 1 Al2; 70 A24)
For I [i.e. Hera] am going to see the hmits of the all

nourishing earth,
59
'ilKEav6v T E [ . . . = TlOa] .
h ( > 7 B2) 18.607-8

ev SE rffht 1TOTaµ,o'io µ,iya a-Oivo<; 'ilKEavo'io
avrvya 1Tap 'TTV/1-UTYJV <TUKEO<; m'JKa 1TOtY)TOto.
T3 ( � DK) Hes. Th. 274-75

I'opyov<; 8', at vaiovai 1TEPYJV KAvrov 'ilKEavo'io
eaxanfj 1Tp0<; VVKTO<;, Zv' 'Ea1TEpi8E<; '11. iyvcf>wvot
[. . .] .
Tartarus (T4-T5)
T4 ( > 28 A44) Hom. Il. 8. 13-16

i) µ,iv €.'11. w v pii/Jw e<; Taprnpov T]EpoEvrn
rijAE µ,a'll. ' , ,ryxi {3a8t<TTOV V1TO x8ov6<; E<J'Tt
{3ipE8pov,
15 €.v8a ai81)pEtal TE m'JAat KaL XUAKEO<; ov8o<;,
TO<T<TOV EVEp8' 'A:tSEw O<TOV ovpavo<; ear' a1TO
yaiYJ'> ·
T5 ( > ad 31 B39) Hes. Th. 717-45

[ . . . ] KaL TOV<; µ,Ev V1TO x8ovo<; EVpvoSEiYJ<;
1TEµ,i/Jav KaL 8Eaµ,o'iatv EV apyaAEot(J'tV €.SY)aav,
viK'1)aavrE<; XEpatv v1TEp8vµ,ov<; 1TEp €6vra<;,
60
And Ocean [ . . . ] .
h ( > 7 B2) [Description o f the shield of Achilles]

And he [i.e. Hephaestus] put on it [i.e. Achilles'
shield] the great strength of river Ocean,
Along the outer rim of the very well made shield.
T3 ( � DK) Hesiod, Theogony

And the Gorgons who dwell beyond glorious Ocean
At the edge toward the night, where the clear-voiced
Hesperides are [ . . . ] .
Tartarus (T4-T5)
T4 ( > 28 A44) Homer, Iliad
Or I [i.e. Zeus] will seize him1 and throw him into
murky Tartarus,
Very far away, where there is the deepest gulf
beneath the earth,
Where iron gates and a bronze threshold are,
As far below Hades as the sky is from the earth.
1 Any god who defies Zeus' orders not to help the Greeks or
Trojans.
T5 ( > ad 31 B39) Hesiod, Theogony

They [i.e. the Olympian gods] sent them [i.e. the
Titans] down under the broad-pathed earth
And bound them in distressful bonds
61
E A R LY G R E E K P H I LO S O P H Y I I
720 TOCTCTOll EPEpO' V1TO yfi> OCTOll ovpavo> ECTT' a1TO

yat'Y]>
TOCTCTOll yap T' a1TO yfi> E> Taprnpov 1,EpoEPTa.
EllllEa yap llVKTa> TE KaL 7'Jµ,aTa xaAKEO> aKµ,wv
ovpa1108E11 KaTLWll, SEKaTTJ K' E> yai:av LKOtTO'
723a [lCTOll S' ai5T' a1TO yfi> E> Taprnpov 1,EpoEPTa]
EllllEa S' ai5 vVKTa> TE KaL �µ,aTa xaAKEO> aKµ,wv
725 EK yal.'Y/> Kanwv, SEKaTTJ K, E> TapTapov tKoi.
TOP 1TEpt xaAKEOll EpKO> EAl)A.arnt· aµ,<f>L Se µ,w
vV�
TptCTTOtXL KEXVTat 1TEpL SEtpl]v· aVTap V1TEpflE
yfi> pi,ai 7TE<f>vaCTt KaL aTpvyfroio OaA.aCTCT'YJ>.
EvOa 0EoL TtTfjvE> vTTo '6<f>cp 1,EpoEPTL
730 KEKpv<f>arni f3ovA.fJcri Ato> 11E</>EA7JyEpfrao,
xwpcp Ell EVpWEPTL, 1TEAWp7]> ECTXaTa yat'Y]>.
Tot> ovK E6T611 ecrn, Ovpa> S' E7TE07JKE IIocrEtSewv
xaAKEta>, TElXO> S' E7TEA7)Aarnt aµ,<f>oTEpwOEv.
EvOa rvy'Y}> KoTTO> TE KUL 'Of3piapEW> µ,EyaOvµ,o>
735 llULOVCTW, <f>vAaKE> 1TtCTTOL Ato> alyi6xoio.
EvOa SE yfi> Svo<f>Epfi> KaL TapTapov 1,EpoEvTo>
73�5 sec!. West
62
C O S M OLOGICAL S P E C U LATI O N S
After they had gained victory over them with their

hands, high-spirited though they were,
As far down beneath the earth as the sky is above the 720
earth:
For it is just as far from the earth to murky Tartarus.
For a bronze anvil, falling down from the sky for nine
nights and days,
On the tenth day would arrive at the earth;
[And in turn it is the same distance from the earth to 723a
murky Tartarus;] 1
And again, a bronze anvil, falling down from the
earth for nine nights and days,
On the tenth would arrive at Tartarus. 725
Around this a bronze barricade is extended, and on
both sides of it night
Is poured out threefold around its neck; and above it
Grow the roots of the earth and of the barren sea.
That is where the Titan gods are hidden
under murky gloom
By the plans of the cloud-gatherer Zeus, 730
In a dank place, at the farthest part of huge earth.
They cannot get out, for Poseidon has set bronze
gates upon it,
And a wall is extended on both sides.
That is where Gyges, Cottus, and great
spirited Obriareus2
Dwell, the trusted guards of aegis-holding Zeus. 735
That is where the sources and limits of the dark earth
are, and of murky Tartarus,
1 This line is rejected as an interpolation by many editors.

2 The Hundred-Handers.
63
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S O PHY I I
7TOVTOV T , aTpvyfrow KaL ovpavov ao-TEpOEVTO<;

€gEl:r1<> 1TavTwv mJYal. Kai, 7TELpaT' Eao-w,
apyaAE' EvpWEVTa, Ta TE o-rvyfovo-L fJEoL 1TEp'
740 xao-µ,a µ,ey', ov8€ KE 7TaVTa TEAEmp6pov Et<;
EVLaVTOV
ov8a<; iKOLT', el 7TpWTa 1TVAEWV EVToo-fJE yevoLTO,
a'A.Aa KEii EvfJa Kai. EvfJa c/Jepoi 7Tp0 fJvEAAa
fJvf.A'A.YJ<>
apyaAEYJ' 8Ewov 8€ KaL afJavaTOLO-L fJEoto-L
TOVTO TEpa<;' Kal NvKTO<; EpEµ,vY,<; OLKLa 8Ewa
745 lo-TYJKEv vEc/JeATJ<> KEKaAvµ,µ,eva KvavETJO-Lv.
Styx (T6-T7)
T6 ( > 1 1 Al2) Hom. Il. 15.37-38

Kai. TO KaTEL{3oµ,Evov �Tvyo<; v8wp, O<; TE µ,eyio-TO<;
opKO<; 8ELVOTaTo<; TE 7TEAEL p.,aKapE0-0-L fJEoto-L ( ]
. • •
T7 (ad 31 Bll5) Hes. Th. 782-95, 805-6

07T7TOT0 EpL<; Kai. l'EtKO<; Ell afJavaTOLO-LV OPYJTaL,
Kai // oo-n<; tjJEv8YJrni 'OA.vµ,7TLa 8wµ,aT' ix6nwv,
ZEv<; 8€ TE ,.Ipiv E7TEf.l-tPE fJEWV µ,eyav opKOV EVEtKaL
64
Of the barren sea, and of the starry sky,

Of everything, one after another,
Distressful, dank, things which even the gods abhor:
A great chasm, whose bottom one would not reach in 740
a whole long year,
Once one was inside the gates,
But one would be borne hither and thither by one
distressful blast after another-
It is terrible for the immortal gods as well,
This monstrosity; and the terrible houses of dark
Night
Stand here, shrouded in black clouds. 745
Styx (T6-T7)
T6 ( > 1 1 Al2) Homer, Iliad
[ . . ] the downward-flowing water of the Styx, which
.
is the greatest
and most dreadful oath for the blessed gods [ . . ] 1 .
1 For other Homeric references to the Styx as the gods' oath,

see Il. 2.755, 14.271 (= Od. 5.184-86, Hymn to Apollo 84-86);
Hymn to Demeter 259; Hymn to Hermes 518-19.
T7 (ad 31 B l l5) Hesiod, Theogony

Whenever strife and quarrel arise among the
immortals
And one of those who have their mansions on
Olympus tells a lie,
Zeus sends Iris to bring the great oath of the gods
65
785 TYJA08Ev EIJ XPV<FEYJ 1Tpox6cp 1TOAVWIJVµov vowp,

tfroxp6v, o T' EK 1TETPTJ'> Karaf... Et{3Erat T,f... i{3aTow
vl/Jrif... fj r;· 1Tof... A ov OE v1To xBovor; d1pvoOEtYJ'>
€g tEpofi 1Toraµol,o peEt oia v6Kra µ€/...a wav·
'!lKEalJOto Kepa<;, OEKaTTJ o' E1Tt µotpa OeOaa-rai·
790 Evvea µEv 1TEpt yijv TE Kat d1p€a vwra Baf... aa-a-ri<>
OtVYJ'> apyvpEYJ<; EtAtyµevo<; Eis a/... a 1Tt1TTE£,
ii OE µ£' EK 1TETPTJ'> 1TpopeE£, µeya 1Tijµa 8Eota-w.
O<; KEIJ T�IJ E1TtopKolJ a'TTO AAEtl/Jar; E'TTOµo<r<rYJ
aOavaTWIJ Ot EXOV<F£ Kapri vtcpOEIJTO<; 'Of...vµ'TTO V,
795 KEtTat vfivTµor; TETEAE<rµevov Et'> EvtavTov.
[. . . ]
805 TOLOIJ ap' opKOIJ E0EIJTO 8EOt �Tvyor; acf>OtTOIJ
vowp,
wy{Jywv· TO o' tYJ<Ft Karaa-rocf>e/...ov Ota xwpov.
TB ( � DK) Hes. Th. 746-57

r . T5J TWIJ 1Tpoa-e· ·1a1TEToto 1Ta£<; EXE£
. . =
ovpavov wpvv
E<FTTJW'> KEcf>a/...fi TE Kat aKaµaTYJ<F£ xepE<r<F£1J
aa-TEµcf>ew<;, 08£ Nvt TE Kat 'Hµepri iia-a-ov lova-at
66
From afar in a golden jug, the much-renowned water, 785

Icy, which pours down from a great, lofty crag.
It flows abundantly from under the broad-pathed
earth,
From the holy river through the black night-
A branch of Ocean, and a tenth portion has been
assigned to her.
For nine-fold around the earth and the broad back of 790
the sea
He whirls in silver eddies and falls into the sea,
And she as one portion flows forth from the crag, a
great woe for the gods.
For whoever of the immortals, who possess the peak
of snowy Olympus,
Swears a false oath after having poured a libation
from her,
He lies breathless for one full year [ . . . ] 795
It is this sort of oath that the gods have established 805
the imperishable water of Styx,
Primeval; and it pours out through a rugged place.1
1 For another Hesiodic reference to the Styx as the gods' oath,
see Theogony 400.

T8 ( � DK) Hesiod, Theogony
In front of these [i.e. the gates of Tartarus], Iapetus'
son [scil. Atlas] holds the broad sky
With his head and tireless hands, standing
Immovable, where Night and Day passing near
67
aAA'ljAa<> 1Tpoa-eei1Tov aµ,eif36µ,evai µ,eyav ovoov

750 xaAKEOV" ii µ,€v E<TW Karnf31}a-erai, ii 0€ Ovpa'e
€pxern£, ovoe 7TOT' aµ,rf>orepa<> ooµ,o<> EVTO'> Upyei,
aAA' ale'i ETEPTJ ye 06µ,wv EKTOa-()ev €ova-a
ya'i:av E1T£<rTperf>erni, ii o' ail ooµ,ov EVTO<> €ova-a
µ,[µ,vet TYJV avrfi<> WPYJV ooov, €a-r' av iKTJTa£"
755 ii µ,€v e7Tixeov£oia-i rf>ao<> 7ToAvoepKe<> €xova-a,
ii o' �T7TVOV µ,era XEp<rt, Ka<rtYVYJTOV @avarow,
Nv� 0.\.01}, verpEAYJ KEKaAvµ,µ,evY) T,epoeioe'i:.
T9 ( � DK) Stesich. Frag. Sl 7 = 185 PMGF
TUjl-0'> o' T7Tepwv[oa t.,

'
Oe7Ta<> ea-Karef3a <7Tay>xpva-eov o

rf>pa Ot' 'fiKEaVOLo 7TEpa<ra£'>
arptKOt(}' tapa<> 7T0Tl f3ev8ea VV
KTO'> epeµ,va<>
7TOTl µ,arepa KovptOLaV r' aAoxov
7Tat0a<> TE rptAOV'> [ . . . ]
textus valde incertus

1 Taµ,o-, Barrett: cL\w-, mss. 'T1Tepwvi8a t-, West:
-8a-, mss.
68
Greet one another as they cross the great bronze

Threshold. The one is about to go in and the other 750
Is going out the door, and never does the house hold
them both inside,
But always the one, being outside of the house,
Passes over the earth, while the other in tum
remaining inside the house
Waits for the time of her own departure, until it
comes. 1
The one holds much-seeing light for those on the 755
earth,
But the other holds Sleep in her hands, the brother
of Death-
Deadly Night, shrouded in murky cloud.
1 Cf. Homer, Od. 10.82-86.
T9 ( � DK) Stesichorus, Fragment of Geryoneis

Then the strength of Hyperion's son [i.e. Helios]
Went down into a cup of solid gold so
That he could travel across Ocean
And arrive at the depths
Of holy, gloomy night,
To see his mother, his wedded wife ,
And his dear children [ . . . ] .
2 e<rKaTe{3aive xpv<reov mss., corr. West apud Fuhrer

3 1TEpa<ra> mss. , corr Page
4 a</>tKYJ(}', corr. Blomfield iepas mss., corr. Page
69
Forms of Cosrrwtheogony (T10-T22)

TIO Il.
a ( > 1 B2, ad B lO, B l3; 3 B5; 11 Al2; 70 A24) 14.201 =
14.302
[ . . . T2a] '!!Keav6v
= n Bewv yeveaw Kat µ71repa
T71Bvv [ . . . ] .
b (< 3 8 Bl) 21.194-97

rfii ovDe Kpeiwv 'Axe>.. w i:os- l<ro<f>api,ei,
ovDe f3a0vppeiTao µ.Eya <rOevos- '!!Keavo£o,
et ol'J 7T€p 7TaVT€S' 7TOTaµot Kat 7TU<Ta BaAa<T<Ta
Kat 7Ta<Ta£ Kpi}vai Kat <f>petaTa µaKpa VaOV<T£V.
c ( ':;!: DK) 14.245-46

[ . . . ] 7Tornµo£o peeBpa
'!!Keavov, os- 7Tep yeve<ris- Travre<r<ri rervKrai.
Hesiod (Tl l)
Tll ( > 7 B la, 9 B2, 30 A5, 31 B27) Th. 1 16-38

1)ro£ µev 7TpWT£<TTa Xaos- yever'· avrap E7T€£Ta
ra£' evpv<rrepvos-, 7TaVTWV EDOS' a<r<f>a!.. e s- alei
aBavarwv ot exov<T£ Kap71 vi<f>oeVTOS' 'OA.vp,7TOV
70
Forms of Cosnwtheogony (T10-T22)

TIO Iliad
a ( > 1 B2, ad B lO, B l3; 3 B5; 11 Al2; 70 A24)
[ . . . ] Ocean, the origin of the gods, and mother
Tethys [ . . . ]
h (< 38 Bl)
Not even does mighty Achelous equal him [i.e. Zeus],
Nor even the great strength of deep-flowing Ocean,
From whom all the rivers and all the sea
And all springs and deep wells flow.
c ( � DK)
[ . . . ] the streams of the river
Ocean, who is the origin of all [ . . . ]
Hesiod (Tll)
T l l ( > 7 B la, 9 B2, 30 A5, 31 B27) Theogony
In truth, first of all Chaos [i.e. Chasm] came to be,
and then
Broad-breasted Earth, the ever immovable seat of all
The immortals who possess snowy Olympus' peak
71
Taprnpa r' T,€po€vrn µvx_<fi x_Bovor; €vpvo0€L7J'>,

120 Y,o' "Epo<;, CJ<; KaAAUTTO<; €v aBavaTOt(Tt B€o'icrt,
Avcrtµ€Afir;, 7TUIJTWV T€ (}€(;,v 7TUVTWV r' avBpw1TWV
oaµvarai €v crrT,B€crcrt v6ov Kat €7Ti<f>pova
(3ovA.T,v.
EK XaEo<; o' ''Ep€{3or; T€ µi.A.atva T€ Nv� eyi.vovrn·
NvKTo<; o' ailr' AiBfip T€ Kat 'Hµip71 E�€yivovro,
125 olir; TEK€ KVcraµi.v71 'Epi(3H </>iA.6r71n µiy€'icra.
ra'ia OE TOt 1TpWTOV µEv Ey€ivaTO lcrov EWVTfj
Ovpavov aCTT€po€vB', iva µiv 1T€pl 1TUVTa
KaAV1TTOt,
o<f>p' €t7J µaKap€crcrt ()€o'ir; €oor; acr</>aAE<> at€t,
'Y€LVaTO o' ovp€a µaKpa, Bdiv x_api€VTa<; €vavAov<;
130 Nvµ<f>i.wv, at vaiovcrtv av' ovprn (371crcrfi€vTa,
Y,oE Kat arpvy€TOV 7TEAayor; TEK€V o'ioµan Bv'iov,
II6vrov, UT€p </>tAOT7JTO'> €</>iµi.pov· avrap Err€tTa
Ovpav<fi €vv71B€'icra TEK' 'llK€avov (3aBvoiv71v
Ko'i6v r€ Kp€'iov ()' 'T7T€piova r' 'la7T€Tov T€
135 0Eiav T€ 'P€iav T€ 0i.µiv T€ Mv71µocrvv71v T€
'1>oi(371v T€ x_pvcrocrri<f>avov T71Bvv r' €paT€tvT,v.
rnvr; OE µ€()' D7TAOTaTO<; yi.v€TO Kp6vor;
ayKvAoµfir71<>,
O€tvornrnr; 1Taiowv, BaA€pov o' Tix.B7Jp€ roKfja.
72
C O S M OLOGICAL S P E C U LAT I O N S
And murky Tartarus in the depths of the broad

pathed earth,
And Eros, who is the most beautiful among the 120
immortal gods,
The limb-melter-he overpowers the mind and the
thoughtful counsel
Of all the gods and of all human beings in their
breasts.
From Chaos, Erebos and black Night came to be;
And then Aether and Day came forth from Night,
Who conceived and bore them after mingling in love 125
with Erebos.
Earth first of all bore starry Ouranus [i.e. Sky]
Equal to herself, to cover her on every side,
So that there would be an ever immovable seat for
the blessed gods;
And she bore the high mountains, the graceful haunts
of the goddesses,
Nymphs who dwell on the wooded mountains. 130
And she also bore the barren sea seething with its
swell,
Pontus, without delightful love; and then,
Having bedded with Ouranos, she bore deep-eddying
Ocean
And Coeus and Crius and Hyperion and lapetus
And Theia and Rhea and Themis and Mnemosyne 135
And golden-crowned Phoebe and lovely Tethys.
After these, Cronus was born, the youngest of all,
crooked-counseled,
The most terrible of her children; and he hated his
vigorous father.
73

In the Deroeni Papyrus (T12)
Tl2 ( ;i!o DK)
a ( lOF Bernabe = DERV. Col. XIV.5-6 + :XV.6)

<k µf.·y' lpEf,Ev . .
Ovpavo<; Evcf>povl.871<>, t'><; 7Tpwna-ro<; {3aa-l.A.Eva-Ev,
EK roil 87, Kp6vo<; aJn<;, E7TEtrn 8€ µ71rl.Era ZEv<;.
b (12F Bernabe = DERV. Col. XVI.3-6)

7Tpwroy6vov f3aa-iA.ew<; al8ol.ov· TWt 8' apa 7TaVTE<;
&.Oavaroi 7Tpoa-ecf>vv µaKapE<; 0Eol. 7,8€ 0€aivai
Kai. 7Toraµol. Kai. Kpijvai E7Tfiparoi 0..A. A.a TE 7Tavra,
au-a-a TOT' .f/v yEyawr', avTo<; 8' apa µovvo<;
EYEVTO.
c ( 14F Bernabe) (1 = 31.lF Bernabe + DERV. Col.
XVII.6; 2 = DERV. Col. XVII. 12; 3 = 31 .5F Bernabe +

DERV. Col. XVIII.l; 4 = DERV. Col. XIX. 10)
ZEv<; 7Tpwro<; <yevEro, ZEv<;> va-raro<;
( apytKEpaVVO<; >
ZEv<; KEc/>a<A.fi, Zev<; µf.a->a-a, .'.lio<; 8' EK <7T>avra
rer<vKrai,>
<Zev<; 7Tvoii, 7Tavrwv, Zev<; 7Tavrwv l7TA.ero> µo'ipa
Zev<; f3aa-tAEV<;, Zev<; 8' apxo<; U7TaVTWV
d.pyiKepavvo<;.
74

1n the Deroeni Papyrus (T12)
Tl2 ( -:#- DK)
a
. . . he who did a great deed . . .

Ouranos, son of Euphrone [i.e. Night] , who was the
first of all to rule,
From him in turn came Cronus and then prudent
Zeus.
b
Of the firstbom king, the reverend one. And upon
him all
The immortals grew, blessed gods and goddesses
And rivers and lovely springs and everything else
That was born then; and he himself was alone.
Zeus <was born> first, <Zeus with bright lightning>

last
Zeus is the head, Zeus the middle, and by Zeus all
things <are made >
<Zeus is the breath of all things, Zeus > the fate <of all
things >,
Zeus the king, Zeus the ruler of all, god of the bright
bolt. 1
1 The sequence of verses and the supplements are due to the
editor A. Bernabe and are reproduced here exempli gratia. For
the way in which these verses are transmitted in the Derveni
Papyrus, see the corresponding columns in the chapter DERV.
75
EARLY G R E E K P H I LO S O P HY I I
d ( 16F Bernabe, cf. DERV. Col. XXIII.4-6, 1 1 )
<µ:r1<raTo 8 ' ali> rat:av (TE Kat> Ovpavov Evpvv

<V1TEp0Ev, >
µ-f]<rarn 8' 'OKEavol:o µE-ya <rBEvo<; Evpv pfovro<;,
Iva<; 8' iyKaTEAEt° 'AxEAWLOV apyvpoOLVEW
it oii 1Tfi<ra Oa>.. a<r<<ra>
e (l 7F Bernabe = DERV. Col. XXIV.2-3)

. . . t<roµEAT]<; . . .
Ti 7TOAAot<; cf>aivEL µEpcmE<T<TL E7T' a'TTEipova yal:av.
In Orphic Theogonies Reported by

Later Authors (Tl3-T20)
Various Starting Points (Tl3-Tl8)
Tl3 (< 1 Bl2) Dam. Princ. 124 (3. 162. 19-23 Westerink)
Yi 8€ 1Tapa r<fl 1TEpt1TaT'T)TLK<fl Evo-f]µqi [Frag. 150 Wehrli]
avayEypaµµEV'T) W<; TOV 'Opcf>Ew<; oli<ra 0EOA.oyia [ . . . ]
U'TTO 8€ Tij<; NvKTO<; E1Tot-f]<TaTO rT]v apx-fiv [ . . . ] .
Tl4 (20F, V Bernabe) lo. Lyd. Mens. 2 . 8 (26.l Wunsch)

[ . . . ] TpEt<; 1TpwraL Kar' 'Opcf>Ea EtE/3Act<TTTJ<TaV apxat
rij<; JIEVE<TEW<;, Nvt Kat rr; Kat Ovpavo<; [ . . . ] .
76
C O S M O LO G ICAL S P E C U LATI O N S
d
<And he [i.e. Zeus] devised> Earth <and> broad
Ouranos <up above,>
And he devised the great strength of broadly flowing
Ocean,
He placed in it the sinews of silver-eddying Achelous.
From which the whole sea . . . 1
1 The same applies here as in the preceding note.
. . . equal-limbed . . .
She [i.e. the moon] who shines for many mortals
upon the boundless earth.
In Orphic Theogonies Reported by

Later Authors (T13-T20)
Various Starting Points (T13-T18)
Tl3 (< 1 B l2) Damascius, On the Principles
The theogony recorded by the Peripatetic Eudemus as
being by Orpheus [ . . . ] it took Night as the starting point
[. . .] .
Tl4 ( ;t;. DK) John Lydus, On the Months

[ . . . ] according to Orpheus, three starting points of gen
eration blossomed: Night, Earth, and Sky [ . . . ] .
77
Tl5 ( < 1 B2) Plat. Grat. 402b

'nKEaVOS' 1TpWTOS' Ka'AA.[ppoo<;" -t,pgE yaµow,
OS' pa Ka<nyv'T/T"f}V oµoµT/ropa T"f}8vv 01TvtEV.
Tl6 (< 1 B l3) Dam. Prine. 123 bis (3. 160. 17-20
Westerink)
.;, S€ Kara rov 'IEpwvvµov <f>Epoµev"f/ Kai 'EA.A.aviKov
[ . . . ] OVTWS' EXE£. vSwp -1,v, </>"f}<Ttv, €g apxi]S' Kat VA"f}
€g .ryS' €7Taf'"f} .;, yij, Svo TaVTaS' apxaS' imon8eµEVOS'
7TpwraS" [ . . . ] .
T I 7 ( 109F, I Bernabe) Prod. In Grat. 59. 17 Pasquali
[ . . . ] 'Op<f>EvS" TT,v 7rpWT"fJV 1TavTwv alriav Xpovov Ka

AEt oµwwµWS' fTXESov r<fl Kpovq> [ . . . ] .
Tl8 ( l l lF Bernabe) Prod. In Remp. 2. 138.8 Kroll (v.

1-2), Simpl. In Phys. 528.14 (v. 3)
AlOepa µ€v XpovoS" o�roS" dy'T/paoS", d<f>Oiroµ"f/nS"
f'Etvaro Kat µeya Xa<rµa 1TEAwpwv EvOa Kat
Ev8a,
ovSe n 1TEtpap v1Tijv, ov 7TV0µ7/v, ovSe nS" lSpa.
78
T l 5 (< 1 B2) Plato, Cratylus

Fair-flowing Ocean was the first to make a beginning
of marriage,
He who wedded his sister Tethys, born of the same
mother. 1
1 Cf. the testimonia collected as 23F Bernabe.
Tl6 ( < 1 Bl3 DK) Damascius, On the Principles

The [scil. theogony] reported by Hieronymus and Hel
lanicus [ . . . ] goes as follows: there was from the beginning
water and the matter out of which the earth was solidified,
[scil. Orpheus?] establishing first of all these two princi
ples [ . . . ] .
T l 7 ( :;t: DK) Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Cratylus

Orpheus calls the first cause of all things Time [Khronos],
almost identical i n sound with Cronus [Kronos] .
Tl8 ( :;t: DK) Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Republic

(v. 1-2); Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Physics
(v. 3)
This Time, unaging, etemal-counseled, begot Aether
And great Chasm, immense here and immense there,
And there was no limit, no bottom, nor any abode.
79
The Cosmic Egg (T1 9-T20)
Tl9 ( 103F, V; 104F, I; 1 15F; l l 7F Bernabe) Appio ap.

Ps.-Clem. Rom. Hamil. , 6.3.4-4.3
[ . . . ] Cl'Tl'Ep 'Op<f>ev<; <!iov Aeyei YEVYJTOV, ;_g a7TEtpov Tij<;
vAYJ<> 7rpof3e/3ArJ1J.hov, yeyovo<; Se ovTw· Tij<; TeTpaye
vov<; VAYJ<; eµl/nlxov OV<TYJ<;, KUL oAov a7Teipov TWO<;
{3v0ov de£ pEoVTO<;, KUL aKpLTw<; <f>epoµevov, KUL µv
pta<; aTEAU<; Kpa<TEl<; aAAOTE aAAw<; E7TavaxeovTO<;,
KUL Sia TOVTO avTa<; avaAVOVTO<; T'fj aTatiq., KUL KEXYJ
VOTO<; w<; els yeve<Tiv '<f>ov SeOijvai µY, Svvaµevov,
<TVVE/3YJ 7TOTE, UVTOV TOV a7TEtpov 7TEAayov<; V7TO lSia<;
<f>v<Tew<; 7Tepiw0ovµevov, Kwrj<Tei <f>v<TiKfi evTaKTW<;
pvijvai a7TO TOV aVTOV et<; TO UVTO W<T7TEp £>.. iyya KUL
µ"itai Ta<> ov<Tia<> Ka£ ovTw<> ;_g iKa<TTov Twv 7TavTwv
To vo<TnµwTaTov, o7Tep 7rpo<; yeve<Tiv '<f>ov emTYJSei
oTarnv �v, W<T7TEp EV xwvn KUTa µe<TOV pvijvai TOV
7TUVTO<; KUL V7TO Tij<; 7TaVTa <f>epoV<TYJ<; LAiyyo<; xwpij
<TUL el<; {3a0o<; Ka£ To 7TEpiKeiµevov 7Tvevµa em<T7Ta<Ta
<T0ai Ka£ w<; EL<; yoviµwTaTov <TVAAYJ<f>Oev 7Toie"iv Kpi
nKY,v CTUU'Ta<TLV. W<T7TEp yap EV vypfii </>iA.e"i yive<TOai
7Toµ<f>6>..vt, ovTw<; <T</>aipoeiSe<; 7Tavrnx60ev <TVveA.1)
<f>OYJ KVTO<;. E7Tetrn avTo ev €avTfii KVYJ0Ev V7TO rnv 7TEpi
ELAYJ</>OTO<; OeiwSov<; 7Tvevµarn<; &.va<f>ep6µevov 7rpoeKv
ijiev EL<; <f>w<; µeyi<TTOV TL TOVTO a7TOKVYJµa, W<; llv EK
7TUVTO<; TOV a7Teipov {3v0ov a7TOKEKVYJµEvov Eµijivxov
SYJµiovpyY}µa, KUL Tfj 7TEpi<f>epeiq. Tfii wfii 7TpO<TEOLKO<;
Ka£ Tfii Taxei Ti/<> 7TT�<Tew<;.
80
The Cosmic Egg (Tl 9-T20)

Tl9 ( :;t: DK) Appian in Ps.-Clement, Homilies
[ . . . ] the egg that Orpheus says was generated, sent forth
from the infinity of matter, and born in the following way:
the four-fold matter is animate and a whole infinite abyss
is always flowing, which moves in a confused way, inundat
ing each time differently innumerable imperfect mixtures,
and for this reason, by reason of its disorder, it dissolves
them, and it gapes open as though for the birth of an ani
mal since it cannot be bound; in these circumstances, it
happened once that, the infinite sea being impelled by its
own nature, it flowed in an orderly manner with a natural
motion from itself into itself like a whirlpool and mixed
together the substances; and in this way, out of every thing
in the universe, the element that was most nutritious and
most suitable for the generation of an animal flowed to
ward the center of the universe, as in a funnel, and pro
ceeded into the depths by the effect of the whirlpool that
carries all things; and the surrounding wind was attracted
by it and, when it had been assembled in the direction of
the most perfect generative element, it produced an or
ganism endowed with discernment. For just as a bubble
tends to come about in a liquid, in the same way a spheri
cal container was assembled from all sides. Then, when it
had been procreated within itself and was lifted up by
the surrounding divine wind, this greatest procreation
emerged into the light, like an animate contrivance that
emerged from the whole infinite abyss, similar to an egg
in its round form and in the speed of its flight.
81
T20 ( 1 14F Bernabe) Dam. Prine. 5 5 (2.40. 14 Westerink)
- u E'ITELrn S' frev�e µ,Eya<; Xp6vo<; AlfHpi Sicv

WEOV apy6<f>eov.

Cosrrwtheogonies (T21-T22)
T2 1 (< 2 B l4, 9 Bl) Philod. Piet. 137.3-5, pp. 61-62

Gomperz
EV µiv I [ncn]v EK NvKTO<; KaL I [Tap]Tapov AEyErnL I
[Ta 'IT]avrn, EV SE nl [cnv E]� 1\iSov KaL All[{Up]o<;· 0
SE TYJV Td [rnvo]µ,axiav ypal [t/Ja<; E�] AUHpo<; </>7Jl [cri'.v] ,
AKovcriAao<; I [S' EK] Xaov<; 1Tpwrov I [nl'A]'Aa· ev SE
To'i<; I [ava]<f>epoµhoi<; el<; I [Mo]vcra'iov yEypa'ITTaL I
[TapT]apov 1TpwTov I [Kat N]vKrn. 1
1 [Kat N]vKrn Zeller, cett. Gomperz
T22 (< 9 B l ) Dam. Princ. 124 (3. 163. 19-164.8 Westerink)
AKovcri'.Aao<; SE Xao<; f.LEV v'IToTi'.OecrOai'. µ,oi SoKe'i TYJV

'ITPWT7JV apx�v, W<; 'ITaVTY/ ayvw<TTOV, Ta<; SE Svo f.LETa
rYJV µ,i'.av, "Epe(3o<; f.LEV TYJV appeva, TYJV SE ()�AELav
NvKTa [ . . . ] eK SE TovTwv </>7Jcrt µ,ixOEvTwv Al0Epa
yevEcrOai Kat "Epwrn Kat M7jnv [ . . . ]. 1Tapayei SE E'ITt
TOVTOL<; EK TWV aVTWV KaL aAAwv Oewv 'ITOAVV apiOµ,ov
KaTa TYJV EvS�µ,ov icrropi'.av [ < Frag. 150 Wehrli] .
82
T20 ( � DK) Damascius, On the Principles

then great Time produced for divine Aether
An egg shining like silver.

Cosmotheogonies (T21-T22)
T2 1 (< 2 B l4, 9 Bl) Philodemus, On Piety
Among some it is said that all things come from Night and
Tartarus, among some from Hades and Aether. The author
of the War ofthe Titans [i.e. perhaps Eumelus of Corinth]
says [ scil. that they came from] Aether, Acusilaus [ scil. says
that] all other things [scil. came] first from Chaos. In the
writings attributed to Musaeus it is written that Tartarus
and Night were the first.
T22 ( < 9 Bl) Damascius, On the Principles

Acusilaus seems to me to establish Chaos as the first be
ginning, supposing that it is entirely unknown, and then
the two after the one: Erebus the male, and the female
Night [ . . . ] . He says that from these, when they were
united, were born Aether, Eros, and Metis [ . . . ] . And he
adds, besides these, also a large number of other gods
that came from the same ones, according to the history of
Eudemus.
83
3 . R EF L E CT IO N S O N GO D S
A N D M E N [ MOR . ]
Reflection on the similarities and, especially, the differ

ences between the lives of gods and of human beings
dominates Greek thought from the beginning. If the as
sertions of the early Greek philosophers about the gods
and about men are to be understood fully, they need to be
seen in relation with their predecessors', of whom (as, too,
in the case of cosmological reflection) they take up some
themes and formulas but also do not hesitate to distance
themselves from other ones, criticizing and polemicizing,
sometimes explicitly, against ideas endowed with a very
strong cultural authority-just as their precursors them
selves had often done.
The present chapter puts together a number of pas
sages on the nature of human and divine life drawn from
archaic and Classical Greek poets and traditional prose
wisdom literature. It thereby presents one background
to the thought of the early Greek philosophers. Some of
these texts are of interest as surviving vestiges of kinds of
popular thought that must have been widespread in early
Greek oral culture but have otherwise been lost; others
are presupposed specifically, in content or expression, by
a number of the texts classified as belonging to early Greek
philosophy and presented in the following chapters. The
85
presence o f theological and political patterns i s evident

everywhere, but it must be emphasized that wisdom lit
erature is echoed interestingly not only among philoso
phers even before the fifth century BC but also in the ways
in which the later tradition depicts philosophers' character
and behavior.
In this chapter, as in the ones dedicated to ancient
doxography (chap. 1), to the most ancient reflections on
the world (chap. 2), and to the echoes of philosophical
doctrines found among the Greek dramatists (chap. 43),
the critical apparatus for the Greek texts is reduced to a
minimum, indicating solely our divergences, if any, from
the editions of reference indicated in volume 1. In the case
of the Orphic bone tablet and gold leaf (T33-T34) , we
have not reproduced the diacritical signs that appeared in
the original edition. We have limited the bibliographical
indications to the Seven Sages.
B I B LI O G R A P H Y O N T H E
S E VE N S A G E S
A. Busine. Les sept sages de la Grece antique: Transmis
sion et utilisation d'un patrimoine legendaire d'Herodote
it Plutarque (Paris, 2002) .
J. Engels. Die sieben Weisen: Leben, Lehren und Legen
den (Munich, 2010).
L. Kurke. Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition,
Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose
(Princeton, 201 1 ) .
B. Snell, ed. Leben und Meinungen der Sieben Weisen:
Griechische und lateinische Quellen aus 2000 Jahren
( Munich, 1938).
86
R E F LECTIO N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
O U T LI N E O F T H E C H APTE R
The Condition of the Gods (Tl-T6)

'.Zeus (Tl-T3)
Aphrodite and Other Divinities (T4-T6)
The Human Condition (T7-T39)
Men in Their Difference from Gods (T7-T9)
Human Time (T10-T13)
Kinds of Human Excellence and Fallibility (T14-T39)
The Varieties of Human Excellence (T14-T16)
Uses and Abuses of Human Language (T1 7-T21)
Poetry and Troth (T1 7-T19)
The Power of Persuasion (T20-T21)
Nature and Consequences ofJustice and Injustice
(T22-T34)
Justice and Injustice in This World (T22-T31)
The Afterlife (T32-T34)
Varieties of Human Wisdom (T35-T39)
The Wisdom of the Seven Sages (T35-T38)
Human Wisdom and the Study of Nature (T39)
87
R E F L E CTIO N S O N
GOD S A N D M E N

Zeus (Tl-T3)
TI ( ;e DK) Aesch. Ag. 160-83

[xo.J ZEV<;, OO"TL<; '1TOT' EO"TlV, EL Too' av
Tiii cpiA.ov KEKAYJJLEV<p,
TOVTO VLV 7TpO<TEVVE'1TW"
ovK lxw 7Tpo<TELKa<Tai
'1TavT' em<TTa8µ,wµ,Evoi;;
165 7TATJV Llto<;, EL TO µ,arnv a'1TO cppovTlOO<; ax8oi;;
XPTJ /3aAEtv ETYJTVJLW<;.
ov'i3' O<TTL<; 7Tapot8Ev �v µ,eya<;,
'1Taµ,µ,axcp 8pa<TEL f3pvwv,
170 ovoe AE�Ernt 7Tptv wv·
o<; (j' E'1TELT, lcpv, Tpta
KTi)po<; OlXETUL TVXWV.
Zi]va 0€ ni;; 7Tpocpp6vwi;; emvtKta KAa,wv
175 TEV�Ernt cppEvwv To '1Tuv,
TOV cppoVELV f3poTOV<; o'i3w
(TUVTU, Tov 7Ta8EL µ,a8oi;;
88
R E F L E CTIO N S O N
GO D S A N D M E N

'Zeus (Tl-T3)
Tl ( "# DK) Aeschylus, Agamemnon
[CHORUS:] Zeus, whoever he is, if this is what
pleases him to be called,
I call upon him as this.
For I am not able to compare,
pondering everything,
Except for Zeus, if I am to cast truthfully 165
The futile weight from my thought.
Neither whoever earher was great,
bursting with all-battling force,
Will be even spoken of as having existed formerly; 170
And as for him who was born later, he is gone,
having encountered a victor.
That man will hit completely upon wisdom
(phrenes)
Who eagerly proclaims Zeus victorious- 175
Zeus, who sets men on the path to wisdom (phro
nein),
Who has established the law that learning
89
8€.vra Kvpiw<; EXHV.

r:TT<L'El 8' dv{)' l57TVOV 7Tp0 Kap8ia<;
180 f.LVYJ<TL7T{iµ.wv 'ITOVO<;' Kat 7Tap' a
KOVTa<; liA.Oe r:rw<f>pove"iv.
OaLf.LOVWV 8€ 'ITOV xapt<; {3Lato<;
r:reA.µ.a r:reµ.vov �µ.evwv.
182 8€ 1Tov TF, 8€ 1TOV cett. {Jtaio<; Tumebus: f3iatw<;
mss.
T2 ( � DK) Aesch. Heliad. Frag. 70 R

Zev<; Er:rTtv al8{ip, Zev<; 8€ yij, Zev<; 8'ovpav6i;,
Zev<; Toi Ta 'ITavTa xw n Twv8' tJ'ITepTepov.
T3 ( � DK) Soph. Trach. 1276-78

[TA.] [ . . . ] µ.eyaA.ov<; µ.ev l8ovr:ra veov<; Oavarnv<;,
7TOAAa 8€ 7T{iµ.arn Kal KaLV07Ta81],
Kov8€v TovTwv o n µ.Y, Zev<;.
T4 (ad 59 Al l2) Aesch. Danaid. Frag. 44 R
[ A<t> .] Epq, µ.ev ayvo<; ovpavo<; Tpwr:rat x86va,

Epw<; Se ya"iav A.aµ.f3avei yaµ.ov TVXE'°iv·
90
R E F L E C TI O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
Comes through suffering.

There drips down instead of sleep before the heart
Anguish, mindful of misery; wisdom 180
Arrives to the unwilling too.
From the deities throned on lofty seat
Comes somehow a grace, violent.
T2 ( "# DK) Aeschylus, Fragment from Daughters of the

Sun
Zeus is the aether, Zeus the earth, Zeus the sky:
Indeed, Zeus is everything, and whatever is beyond
that.
T3 ( "# DK) Sophocles, Trachinian Women

[HYLLUS TO THE CHORUS:] [ . . . ] seeing terrible recent
deaths,
And sufferings, many and unprecedented
And of these things, nothing that is not Zeus.

T4 (ad 59 AI12) Aeschylus, Fragment from The Danaiik
[APHRODITE: ] The pure sky desires to penetrate the
earth,
And desire seizes the earth to experience wedlock.
91
E A R LY G RE E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
oµ/3po<; 8 ' a7T' EvvaEvTo<; ovpavov 7TE<rwv

EKV<TE ya'iav· Y, 8E TtKTETat /3poTols
µfi>.. w v TE f3ou-Ka<; Kat /3fov flYJµfiTptov
8fr8pwv T' o7rwpav· EK voTi,ovTo<; yaµov
TEAEW' au-' E<TTt' TOW 8' eyw 7Tapatrto<;
3 verbi £vva£vro<; forma et significatio valde incertae
T5 ( ;t: DK) Soph. Frag. 941 R

6J 7Ta'i8E<;, 1/ Toi Ku7rpt<; ov Kv7Tpt<; µ6vov,
d>..A ' E<TTL 7TOAAWV ovoµaTWV E7TWvvµo<;.
lu-Ttv µEv 1\i8YJ<;, €u-n 8' atjJ(Jiroc; /3foc;,
E<TTtv 8E >..vu-u-a µaviac;, lu-ri 8' 'lµEpoc;
5 aKpaTO<;, E<TT' oiµwyµ6c;. EV KEtVY/ TO 7Tav
<T7Tov8a'iov, Y,u-vxa'iov, er; f3iav ayov.
EvT1,KETat yap 7TAevµ6vwv O<TOt<; E/Jt
i/roxfi· Tt<; ovxi riju-8E Tijc; 0EOV 7TOpoc;;
Eiu-ipxErni µEv lxOvwv 7TAwT<fi yivei,
10 EVE<Trt 8' ev xipu-ov TErpa<rKEAEL yovfi,
vwµq. 8' ev olwvo'i<rt TOVKEtVYJ> 7TTEp6v.
<. . . >
EV OYJp<rtV, EV f3poTOL<TtV, EV 0EOL<; avw.
Ttv' ov 7TaAafovu-' er; rpt<; EK/3aAA€t 0Ewv;
Et µot Oiµic;-Oiµic; 8E TUA'YjOij AEyEtv-,
15 fl.toc; rvpavvE'i 7TAEvµ6vwv, avev 8op6c;,
avEV u-i8fipov· 7Tavra Tot <TVVTEµVETat
Kv7Tpt> ra Ov'YJTWV Kat 0Ewv /3ovAEvµarn
92
Rain, falling from the well-flowing ( ? ) sky,

Impregnates the earth; and she gives birth for mor
tals
To pastures for sheep, and Demeter's sustenance
for life [i.e. grain] ,
And the fruit of trees: from moistening wedlock
Is fulfilled all that exists. Of these things I am part
cause.
T5 ( # DK) Sophocles, Fragment from an unidentified

play
Children, Cypris [i.e. Aphrodite] is not only Cypris,
But her name is equivalent to many names:
She is Hades, she is imperishable life,
She is insane frenzy, she is unmixed
Desire, is lamentation. In her resides all that is 5
Noble, calm, leading to violence.
For she melts into the lungs of all that are
Animate-what resource does not belong to this
goddess?
She enters into the fishes' swimming tribe,
She is located within the land's four-legged offspring, 10
Her wing plies among birds.
<. . .>
Among animals, among mortals, among gods above.
Which of the gods does she not wrestle and
overthrow three times?
If it is lawful for me-and it is lawful to say the
truth-
She is tyrant over Zeus' lungs, without a spear, 15
Without iron. Cypris cuts short
All the plans of mortals and of gods.
93
T6 ( 7' DK) Eur. Frag. 898 K

TT]v 'A<f>pooirriv ovx opqs D<T'"f/ 8eo<;;
�v ovo' Clv efaoi<; OVOE µ,eTpf,<reia<; Clv
O<T7J 1TE</>VKE Ka</>' O<TOV oi/.pxerai.
aVTTJ TPE</>EL <TE Kaµ,€ Kat 1TaJJTa<; f3porov<;.
5 TEKµ,f,pwv SE, µ,T] .\oyq.i µ,ovov µ,a8yw
epq_ µ,€v oµ,f3pov ya'i', orav �TJpov 7TEOov
aKap1TOV avxµ,c'/J VOTtOO<; EVOEW<; EXT/>
epq, o' o <reµ,vo<; ovpavo<; 7TAYJpovµ,Evo<;
10 oµ,f3pov 1TE<TELV EL<; ya'iav 'A<f>poOLrYJ<; V1TO'
orav OE <TVµ,µ,ix8ijTOV E<; TaVTOV ovo,
</>VOV<TLV Y,µ,tv 1TaJJTa Kat TpE<f>ov<r' aµ,a
OL' dJv f3poTELOV rn TE Kat {)6,,\,\ei YEVO<;.
5 post hunc versum hab. mss. epy<p 8€ 8Ei(;w To a-fN.vo<; To
Tij<; BEov, de!. Gomperz

T7 ( 7' DK) Hom. Il. 24.525-33
525 w<; yap E1TEKAw<ravTo 8Eot oei.\o'i<ri f3poTot<TLV,

'WELV axvvµ,/.vov<;· aVTOL OE T, aKYJOEE<; EL<TtV.
ooiot yap TE 1T£()oi KaTaKEtaTai ev �io<; ovoei
owpwv ola OtOW<TL, KaKWV, ErEpo<; OE eawv.
<Ti µ,/.v K, aµ,µ,Ei�a<; own ZEV<; TEp1TLKEpavvo<;,
94
REFLECTIO N S O N G O D S A N D M E N
T 6 ( � D K ) Euripides, Fragment from an unidentified

play
Do you not see how great a goddess Aphrodite is?
You could neither say nor measure
How great she is by nature, and how far she reaches.
She nurtures you and me and all mortals.
Here is evidence, so that you can learn it not only 5
through words.
The earth desires rain when the dry soil, 7
Infertile because of drought, is in need of moisture,
And the majestic sky, when it is filled
With rain, desires to fall upon the earth-because of 10
Aphrodite:
And when these two are commingled into one and
the same,
They generate and nurture for us all the things
Through which the mortal race lives and flourishes.

T7 ( � DK) Homer, Iliad [Achilles to Priam:]
For this is how the gods have spun matters for 525
wretched mortals,
To live in grief, while they themselves are free of
care.
For two urns are set on Zeus' floor,
Of gifts of the sort he gives, [scil. the one] of evils,
the other of benefits.
To whomever thunder-delighting Zeus gives a
mixture of these,
95
530 (j),)wn µ,€v TE KaK</j O ')'E KVpETat, a).. AoTE o'

f.a-()A.<i) ·
C[i 8€ Ke Twv A.vypwv own, A.wfJryTov €81)KEv,
Kai f KaKiJ /3ovf3pw<rn<; E7TL x06va o'iav EAavvei,
cpotTfj. o' OVTE Oeo'i<rt Tenµ,€vo<; OVTE f3poTOt<FtV.
T8 ( 'if! DK) Hom. Od.

a 1.31-34
TOV 0 y' E1Ttf.LV1)<F0EL<; E7Te' aOavaTOt<Ft f.LET1)VOa·
"w 7T07Tot, oiov 01) vv Oeov<; f3poToL aln6wvTat.
E� �µ,€wv yap cpaa-L KaK' lµ,µ,evai· oi OE KaL avToi
a-cpfia-iv arna-OaA.i11a-w v7TEp µ,6pov 0.A.ye' lxova-w
[. . ]. ."
b 18.130-37
130 OVOEV UKtOVOTepov ya'ia TpEcpet av0pW7TOW

7Tanwv, o<r<ra TE ya'iav E7Tt 7Tveiet TE KaL lp7Tet.
ov p.,Ev yap 7ToT€ cp1)<rt KaKov 7Teia-ea-Oai o7Tia-a-w,
ocpp' apeTiJv 7Tap€xwa-t OeoL KaL yovvaT' opwp11·
dH' OTE oiJ KaL A.vypa OeoL µ,aKape<; TeA€wa-t,
135 KaL TU cp€pet aeKa�6µ,evo<; TETA1)0Tt Ovµ,<i) .
Toto<; yap VOO<; E<FTLV EmxOoviwv av0pw7TWV,
oiov E7T' -fiµ,ap ay11a-i 7TaTiJp avopwv TE Oewv TE.
96
R E F L E C T I O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
That man sometimes meets with evil, and sometimes 530

with good;
But to whomever he gives only of the evils, he treats
that man outrageously,
And evil hunger drives him over the sacred earth,
And he wanders honored neither by gods nor by
mortals.
T8 ( � DK) Homer, Odyssey

a [Zeus to the gods:]
Thinking of him [i.e. Aegisthus] he [i.e. Zeus] spoke

to the immortals:
"Oh for shame, how mortals blame the gods!
For they say that evils come from us, but it is they
themselves too
Who by their own follies get sorrows beyond what is
fated [ . . . ] . "
b [Odysseus t o Amphinomeus:J
Earth nourishes nothing weaker than man, 130
Of all the things that breathe and move on the earth;
For he says that he will never suffer evil in the future
So long as the gods give him manliness and his knees
move.
But when the blessed gods fulfill misfortunes too for
him,
These too he bears, sorrowing with an enduring 135
spirit.
For the mind of men upon the earth is such
As the day that the father of gods and men brings
upon them.
97
EARLY GRE E K P H I LO S O P H Y I I
T9 ( ;e DK) Aesch. Choe. 585--602
585 [xo.] 7ToAA.cl. µ,€v yii Tpicfm

OELVU Oeiµ,aTWV axYJ,
m5vnaL T, ayKaAaL
KVWOaAWV avTaiwv
f3pvova-i· /3A.aa-rnva-i Kat 7TEOaixµ,wi
590 A.aµ,7Taoei;; 7TEOaopoi·
7TTava 8€ KaL 7TE8of3aµ,ova Kaveµ,oevT' av
alyiowv <f>paa-aL KOTOV"
aH' v7Tiprnft..µ,ov av-
595 opoi;; <f>p6v"f/µ,a TL<; A.iyoi
Kat yvvaiKwv rppea-iv
TAaµ,6vwv 7TaVTOAJWV<;
epwTa<;, aTaL<JL <JVVVO/l,OV<; f3poTwv;
�v�vyov<; 8' oµ,avft.. iai;;
600 ()YJAVKpaTi]<; U7TEpW7TO<; epw<; 7TapaviK<j,
Kvw8aA.wv TE Kat f3poTwv.
589 {3A.acrrovcri $M: {3A.a7rrov<ri Butler 591 7rrava oi
Hermann: 7rrava re mss.
TIO ( ;e DK) Soph. OC 607-13, 617-18
[m.] [ . . . ] µ,6voii;; ov yiyverni

{)eol<JL yijpa<; OVOE KaT{)aVElV 7TOTE,
98
REFLECTI O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
T 9 ( � DK) Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers

[CHORUS:] Many are the terrible sufferings of dread 585
that the earth nurtures,
And the sea's arms brim
With hostile beasts;
And lights blossom, suspended high up
Between earth and sky; 590
And winged things and ones that tread the ground
could also tell of
The whirlwinds' tempestuous rage.
But man's over-daring
thought-who could tell of this, 595
And of the all-daring lusts of women
Audacious in their hearts,
Dwelling together with disasters for mortals?
Female-ruling implacable passion conquers the 600
marriages
Of beasts and of mortals.

TIO ( � DK) Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus
[OEDIPUS:] [ . . . ] it is only for the gods
That there is no old age nor ever death.
99
T a 8 ' a>..A.a ITTJ')'XEL 7TU/J(}' 0 7rayKpaTY,<; xp6-

/JO<;.
610 cp(}[vei µ,ev t<rx_v<; y1)<;, cp(}[vei 8e rrwµ,aTo<;,
BvfirrKEL 8e 7TtU'T£<;, (3A.a<rTU/JEL 8' am<rTta,
Kat 71'/JEVµ,a TalJTO/J OV7TOT' OVT' Ell av8parrw
cpi'A.oi<; (3€f3TJKEV OVTE 7rpo<; 7TOAW 7rOAEt.
[ . . . ] µ,vpl.a<; o µ,vpfo<;
XPOVO<; TEK/JOVTaL vVKTa<; Y,µ,epa<; T' tW/J ( . . . ) .
Tl l ( � DK) Soph. Aj. 646-49
[AI.] (foavB' 0 µ,aKpo<; KavapWµ,TJTO<; xp6vo<;

cpvei T' a8ri\a Kat cpavE/JTa KpV7TTETa£'
KOVK E<rT' aEA7TTO/J ov8€v, a'A.A.' aAtU'KETat
XW 8eivo<; opKo<; xal 7TEpt<rKEAEL<; cppEVE<;.
Tl2 ( � DK) Soph. Frag. 918 R
7TU/JT' EKKaAV7TTW/J 0 xp6vo<; Et<; TO cpw<; ayei
Tl3 ( � DK) Soph. Hipponous Frag. 301 R
[ . . . ] w<; o 7ravB' opwv

Kat 7TU/JT' aKOVW/J 7TU/JT' ava7TTVU'U'EL x_p6vo<;
100
R E F L E C T I O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
All others things all-mastering Time overwhelms.

The earth's strength withers, the body's withers, 610
Trust dies, distrust blossoms,
And the spirit never continues the same, neither
among men
Who are friends nor for one city to another one.
[ . . . ] countless time
Fathers countless nights and days as it proceeds
[. . .] .
T l l ( :;t: DK) Sophocles, Ajax

[AJAX:] Lengthy and unnumbered time makes
All unseen things grow and conceals them once re
vealed;
And there is nothing so unexpected, but they are
caught fast,
Fearsome oath and rigid resolutions.
Tl2 ( :;t: DK) Sophocles, Fragment from an unidentified

play
Time, uncovering all things, brings them to light.
Tl3 ( :;t: DK) Sophocles, Fragment from Hipponous

[ . . . ] for time, which sees all
and hears all, unfolds all things.
101
Kinds of Human Excellence and

Fallibility (T14-T39)
Tl4 ( ;e DK) Hom. Il. 11.784
al€11 api<TTEVEW Kat V'TTE tpoxov Eµµevat aA.A.wv

[. . . ] .
Tl5 ( ;e DK) Hom. Od.
a 8.167-71, 174-75
OVTW<; OV 1Ta/JTE<T<Tt 8eot xapievra OtOOV<Tt/J
avopacrw, OVTE <{>vi,11 ovr' llp <{>pEPa<; ow'
&.yop71rov.
aA.A.oi; µ€11 yap r' elooi; aKtOvorepoi; 7TEAet av�p,
170 &.Ha 8eo<; µop<{>i,11 E7TE<Tt <TTE<{>et· Ot OE r' E<; aVTO/J
rep1Toµevoi A.evcrcrovcrw [ . . . ] .
aAAo<; o ' a� elooi; µ€11 aA.iyKw<; a8avarotcrw,
175 &.A.A.' ov oi xapt<; &.µ<{>t 7TEpt<TTE<{>Ernt E'TTEE<T<TW
[. . . ]
.
b 9.5-1 1
5 ov yap EYW YE Tt <f>71µt TEAO<; xapdcrrepov elvat
1} or' Ev<{>po<TVPTJ µ€11 exv Karn Sijµov lhaPTa,
OatrvµovE<; 8' &.va Swµar' aKOVa,W/JTat aotOov
iJµevoi €tei71i;, 1Tapa 8€ 1T'A-tj8wcri rpa1Te,ai
102
Kinds of Human Excellence and

Fallibility (T14-T39)
Tl4 ( � DK) Homer, Iliad [Peleus to his son Achilles:)
Always to be the best and to be superior to the others

[. . .) .
Tl5 ( � DK) Homer, Odyssey

a [Odysseus to Euryalus:]
The gods do not give delightful things to all men in
the same way,
Neither bodily shape nor intelligence nor eloquence.
For one man is weak in his appearance,
But the god garlands his words with beauty, and upon 170
him
Men look with delight [ . . . )
And then another is similar to the gods in his
appearance,
But no delight is set as a garland upon his words 175
[. .].
.
b [Odysseus to Alcinous:]
I think that no fulfillment (telos) is more delightful 5
Than when festivity holds sway over all the people,
And banqueters throughout the rooms listen to a
bard
While they sit next to one another, and beside them
the tables are full
103
<TLTOV Kat KpHwv, µ,€8v S ' E K KPYJT'rypo� a<f>v<T<TWV

10 olvox6o� <f>opEYJ<Tt Kat eyxeiYI Se7TaE<T<T£'
TOVTO TL µ,oi KaAA£<TTOV ev£ <f>pe<TtV e'iSeTat eivai.
c 1 1 .489-91
/3ovA.oiµ,T]V K, E7Tapovpo� ewv 8T]TEVeµ,ev aA.A.cp,
avSp£ 7Tap' aKA.fipcp, ii µ,Y, /3toTO� 7TOAV� ELYJ,
� 7Ta<T£ VEKVE<T<T£ KUTa</>Oiµ,evoi<Ttv ava<T<TE£V.
Tl6 ( � DK) Sapph. Frag. 16. 1-4
o]l µ,ev t7T7Tfiwv <TTPOTOV, ol Se 7TE<TSwv,

al Se vawv <f>a'i<T' e7T[£] yav µ,€>.. a i[v]av
E]µ,µ,evai KaA.A.i<TTov, €yw Se K7jv' oT-
Tw n� €paTai.

Poetry and Troth (T1 7-T19)
Tl 7 ( > ad 3 B l ) Hes. Th. 26-28

7TOtµ,eve� aypavAoi, KaK' eA.eyxea, ya<TTEpE� oiov,
'iSµ,ev tflevSea 7To>..A a A.eyeiv eroµ,oi<Ttv oµ,o'ia,
'iSµev 13' eilT' efHA.wµ,ev dA.YJ8€a YYJPV<Ta<T8ai.
104
O f bread and meats, and drawing wine from the

mixing bowl
The cup-bearer carries it about and pours it into their 10
cups.
This seems in my mind to be the loveliest thing.
c [The shade of dead Achilles to Odysseus:]

I would prefer to work the earth laboring for another
man,
Some man without his own land, who did not have a
lot to live on,
Then to lord it over all the perished dead.
Tl6 ( ;t: DK) Sappho, Fragment

Some say that a host of horsemen, others one of
footsoldiers,
Others one of ships, is the most beautiful thing
On the black earth: but I say it is that thing, whatever
it is,
That one loves.

Poetry and Truth (T1 7-Tl 9)
TI 7 ( > ad 3 Bl) Hesiod, Theogony [The Muses to the
shepherd Hesiod:]
Field-dwelling shepherds, ignoble disgraces, mere
bellies:
We know how to say many false things (pseudea)
similar to genuine ones (etuma),
But we know, when we wish, how to proclaim true
things (alethea) .
105
Tl8 ( � DK) Solon Frag. 29
Tl9 ( � DK) Pind. Nem. 7.20-24
i:yw DE 7TAfov' EA7Toµai

>.. oyov 'OovcrcrEfo<> 7} mifJav
Ota TOV aovmfj /'EVECT8' ''0µ71pov·
E7TEL l/JEvOE<Tt oi 7Tornv(j, TE µaxav(j,
crEµvov E7TE<TTt n· crocf>ia
DE KAE7TTEt 7Tapayot<Ta µv8ot<;. rvcf>>.. o v 8' EXH
�rnp oµtAo<; avopwv o 7TAELCTTO<;.
T20 ( � DK) Aesch. Ag. 385-86
(XO.) {3taTat 0' a TaAatVa IlEt8w,

7rpo{3ovAov 7TaL<; acf>EpTo<; 'Arn<;.
T2 1 ( � DK) Soph. Frag. 865 R
106
T l 8 ( � DK) Solon, Fragment from a poem probably in

elegiac couplets
Poets tell many lies.
Tl9 ( � DK) Pindar, Nemeans
I myself believe
That Odysseus' story is greater than his suffering
Because of sweet-songed Homer,
For on his lies (pseudesi) and winged craft (mtikhanti)
There resides a sort of majesty; and skill (sophia)
Deceives, misleading with stories. And the great
swarm
Of men possess a blind heart [ . . . ] .

T20 ( � DK) Aeschylus, Agamemnon
[CHORUS:] Wretched Persuasion commits violence,
The unendurable child of counseling Madness.
T2 1 ( � DK) Sophocles, Fragment from an unidentified

play
Awe-inspiring is Persuasion's face.
107
Nature and Consequences ofJustice

and Injustice (T22-T34)
T22 ( � DK) Hom. Il. 18.497-508
.\aol S' Etll &:yopfi E<Tall aBpooi· EllBa Se llELKO<;

wpwpEL, Svo S' all8pE<; EllELKEOll EtllEKa 7TOWij<;
all8po<; a7Toc/J(}iµEllOV. (} µell YJV)(_ETO 7TaVT'
a7To8ovllal
500 Sr/µqi mc/Jav<rKWll, a 8' allaLllETO µYJ8Ell E.\ea-Bai·
aµc/Jw 8' Ua-BYJll E7Tl t<TTOpl 7TELpap EAea-Bai.
.\aol 8' aµc/JoTepoi<rw E7Trl7TVOll aµc/J(i; apwyo[·
KrlPVKE<; 8' apa .\aoll epr/TVoll. OL Se yepOllTE<;
EtaT' E7Tl tE<TTOL<TL .\Woi<; LEP<ii Elll KVKA<p,
505 a-Ki)7TTpa 8€ KYJPVKwll ell x_epa-' lx_oll Y,Epoc/Jwllwll·
TOL<Tlll ErrELT, 7}t<r<TOll, aµoif3YJ8L<; 8' €8iKa,oll.
KELTO 8' ap' Ell µE<T<TOl<Tl 8vw XPV<TOLO TaAaVTa,
Ti!i SOµEll, &r; µETa To'ia-i 8iKYJll Wvllrnrn Et7TOL.
108
Nature and Consequences ofJustice

and Injustice (T22-T34)
T22 ( ;t: DK) Homer, Iliad [Description of a scene on the
shield Hephaestus makes for Achilles:]
The people were gathered in the marketplace; there
a quarrel
Had arisen, and two men were quarreling over the
blood price
For a man who had been killed. The one man swore
he had paid back everything,
Speaking to the people, but the other refused to 500
accept [or: denied that he had received] anything
at all;
And both were going for an arbitrator, to win the
decision.
People were cheering both men, to help each of
them.
But heralds held the people back, and the elders
Were sitting on polished stones in a sacred circle,
Holding in their hands the staves of the loud-voiced 505
heralds.
They sprang up with these, and gave judgment in
turns.
And amidst them there lay on the ground two talents
of gold,
To be given to the one among them who spoke the
straightest judgment.
109
EARLY G R E E K P H I LO S OP H Y I I
T23 ( � DK) Hes. Th.
a 881-85
avrap iJrEt pa 1TOVOV µ,aKapE<; fJEot €tETEAECTCTav,
Tir-r/vEcrcri OE nµ,awv Kpivavrn f3iYJcPt,
01) pa Tor' wrpvvov f3acrtAEVEf.LEV T,oE avaCTCTEtv
ralYJ'> cPPa0µ,ocr6vYJCTtV 'O>..vµ,mov EVpV01Ta Zijv
dfJavarwv· 0 OE TOtCTtv €.v OtEOaCTCTaTO nµ,ar;.
b 901-3
OEVTEpov T,yayEro >.. map�v 0f.µ,iv, i] TEKEV .,flpar;,

Evvoµ,iYJv TE AiKYJV TE Kat Elp-r/vYJv TEfJa>..v'iav,
a'£ r' Epy' wpEVOVCTt KaTafJVYJTOtCTt f3porn'icrt [ . . . ] .
T24 ( � DK) Hes. Op. 225-31, 238-55
225 ot OE oiKa<; f Etvotcrt Kat €vo1)1.ioicri oioovcriv

lfJEiar; Kat µ,1) n 1TapEK/3aivovcrt OtKaiov,
TOtCTt TEfJYJAE 7TOAt<;, Aaot o' dvfJf.ovCTtV €.v avrfi"
Elp-r/vYJ o' dva yijv KovporpocPO'>, OVOE 7TOT' aVTOt<;
apyaAEOV 1TOAEf.LOV TEKµ,aipETat EVpV01Ta ZEv<;·
230 ovof. 1Tor' WvoiKYJCTi µ,d dvopacri >.. iµ,or; o7TYJOE'i
ovo' aTYJ, fJal.. iYJ'> OE f.LEf.LYJAOTa Epya VEf.LOVTat.
[. . . ]
l lO
T23 ( ;t; DK) Hesiod, Theogony

a
But when the blessed gods had completed their toil,

And by force had reached a settlement with the
Titans regarding honors,
Then by the counsels of Earth they urged Olympian
far-seeing Zeus
To become king and to rule over the immortals;
And he divided their honors well for them.
b
Second [scil. after Intelligence (Metis) ] , he [i.e. Zeus]
married bright Ordinance (Themis), who gave
birth to the Seasons (Horai),
Lawfulness (Eunomia) and Justice (Dike) and
blooming Peace (Eirene),
Who care for the works of mortal human beings [ . . . ].
T24 ( ;t; DK) Hesiod, Works and Days

But those who give straight judgments to foreigners 225
and fellow citizens
And do not turn aside from justice at all,
Their city blooms and the people in it flower.
For them, Peace, the nurse of the young, is on the
earth,
And far-seeing Zeus never marks out painful war;
Nor does famine attend straight-judging men, 230
Nor calamity, but they share out in festivities the
fruits of the labors they care for.
[. . .]
111
E A R LY GRE E K P H I LO S OPHY I I
ok 8 ' vf3pir; TE JLEJLTJAE KaK� Kat <FXETALa Epya,

TOL<; 8E 8iKTJV Kpovi8rir; TEKµaiperni evpvo7Ta
Zevr;.
240 7ToA.A.aKi Kat (vµ7Taa-a 7ToA.ir; KaKov civ8por;
a7Trivpa,
oa-nr; ciA.iTpaivei Kat aTaa-Oa>.. a µrixavaaTai.
TOL<FLV 8' ovpav68ev µey' E7T'i7yaye 7TiJµa Kpoviwv,
}uµov oµov Kat A.oiµov· a7To<f>Oivv8ov<rt 8E A.aoi·
ov8E yvvaLKE<; TiKTOV<rtv, µivv() ov<ri 8E oiKot
245 Zrivor; <f>pa8µoa-Vvrwiv 'OA.vµ7Tfov· aAAOTE 8' ailTe
fi TWV ye <rTpaTOV evpvv a7TWAE<FEV -Yi' 0 ye TELXO>
fi vear; ev 7TOVTCf! Kpovi8rir; a7TOTeivvrni aVTWV.
Ji {3aa-i>.. iJr;, vµeLr; 8€ Karn<f>pa,ea-Be Kat avToi
T'i1v8e 8iKTJV' eyyvr; yap ev civBpw7TOL<FLV EOVTE<;
250 ciBavaToi <f>pa,ovTai, oa-oi a-KoA.i'fia-i 8iKva-iv
ciA.A.'i7A.ovr; Tpif3ova-i Bewv 07Ttv ovK ciA.eyovrer;.
Tptr; yap µvpwi ela-iv E7Tt xBovt 7TOVAv{3oTeipv
ciBavaToi Zrivor; <f>vA.aKer; BvriTwv civBpw7Twv,
Ot pa </>vAa<r<FOV<riv TE 8iKa<; Kat <FXETAta Epya,
255 7Jepa E<r<raµevoi, 7TaVTY/ </>otTWVTE<; E7T' aiav.
T25 ( � DK) Solon
a Frag. 4. 1-8, 30-39
1 12
But to those who care only fo r evil outrageousness

and cruel deeds,
Far-seeing Zeus, Cronus' son, marks out justice.
Often even a whole city suffers because of an evil 240
man
Who sins and devises wicked deeds.
Upon them, Cronus' son brings forth woe from the
sky,
Famine together with pestilence, and the people die
away;
The women do not give birth, and the household are
diminished
By the cunning of Olympian Zeus. And at another 245
time
Cronus' son destroys their broad army or their wall,
Or he takes vengeance upon their ships on the sea.
As for you kings, too, ponder this justice yourselves.
For among human beings there are immortals nearby,
Who take notice of all those who with crooked 250
judgments
Grind one another down and have no care for the
gods' retribution.
Thrice ten thousand are Zeus' immortal guardians
Of mortal human beings upon the bounteous earth,
And they watch over judgments and cruel deeds,
Clad in invisibility, walking everywhere upon the 255
earth.
T25 ( � DK) Solon, Elegiac poems
a
Our city will never be destroyed through the fate of

Zeus
113
at(}"aV KaL µ,aKapwv fhwv <f>piva<; a8avaTWV'

TDiYJ yap fLEyaOvµ,o<; E7Ti(}"K07TO<; of3piµ,o7TaTpYJ
IIaHa<; 'AOYJvaiYJ XE"ipa<; V7TEp8Ev EXH"
5 aVTOL OE <f>OEipHv µ,qaAYJV m5A.iv a<f>paoiywiv
U(}"TOL {3ovAoVTai xpfiµ,a(}"i 7TEi86µ,Evoi,
ofiµ,ov 8' �YEfLOVWV aOiKO<; VOO<;, Ol(}"W ETo'iµ,ov
vf3pw<; EK fLEyaAYJ<; aA.yEa 7TOAAa 7Ta8E'iv·
[. . . J
30 rnilrn oio�ai Ovµ,o<> 'AOYJvaiov<; fLE KEAEVH,
w<; KaKa 7TAEt(}"Ta 7TOAEi /1v(}"voµ,iYJ 7TapixH·
Evvop,lYJ o' EVKO(}"µ,a KaL apna 7TavT' U7To<f>aivH,
KaL Oaµ,a TOt<; aOlKOL<; aµ,<f>iTlOYj(}"L 7TE0a<;·
Tpaxia AEtalVH, 7TaVH Kopov, vf3piv aµ,avpo'i,
35 avalVEL 0' aTYj<; av8Ea </>VOfLEVa,
Ev8vvEi OE oiKa<> (}"KoA.ia<>, v7TEpfi<f>ava T' Epya
7TpaiivH· 7TaVH o' Epya oixo(}"Ta(}"lYj<;,
7TavH o' apyaAEYJ'> EpiOo<> x6A.ov, E(}"rt o' v7T'
avT1j<;
7TaVTa KaT' av8pW7TOV<; apna KaL mvvTa.
b Frag. 13. 16-17, 25-32
ov yap oY,v 8VYJTOt<; vf3pw<; Epya 7TEAH,

aHa ZEv<> 7TavTwv e<f>opq. TEAo<> [ . . . J .
1 14
R E F L E C TI O N S O N G O D S A N D M E N
O r the intentions o f the blessed immortal gods;

For such a great-hearted guardian, Pallas Athena,
Born of a mighty father, holds her hands over it.
But the citizens themselves are willing, by their 5
follies
And obedience to money, to destroy this great city,
And unjust is the mind of the people's leaders, for
whom it is made ready
That they will suffer many pains because of their
great arrogance (hybris).
[. . .]
This my heart bids me teach the Athenians: 30
That Lawlessness (Dysnomia) gives the city
countless evils,
But Lawfulness (Eunomia) makes all things ordered
and well-fitting,
And often puts fetters on the unjust.
She smoothes the rough, stops excess, weakens
arrogance,
Withers the blooming flowers of disaster, 35
Straightens crooked judgments, softens arrogant
deeds,
And stops acts of civil strife,
And stops the anger of evil contention. Under her
All things among men are well-fitting and wise.
b
For the works of arrogance do not last long for
mortals.
No, Zeus looks upon the outcome of all things [ . ] .
. .
1 15
E A R LY GRE E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
25 TOtaVT7J Z71vo<; 7TEAETat TL<Tt<;• ovS' ecf>' EKU<TT<tJ

tJ<r1TEp fJV'T}TO<; avYip yiyverat otvxoAo<;,
ai'.et S' OV € AEA71fJe Siaµ1Tep€<;, O<TTt<; aAtrpov
fJvµov €xei, 1Tavrw<> S' e<; r€Ao<> f.tecf>av71·
aU' 0 µf.v avTLK' ErEt<TEV, 0 S' V<TTEpov· ot Sf.
</>VyW<TtV
30 avTOL, µ71Sf. fJewv µo'ip' E1TtoV<Ta KLXTJ,
fi'AvfJe 1TUVTW<; aVn<;· avafrtot €pya TLVOV<TtV
� 7Ta'iSe<; TOVTWV � y€vo<; f.to1TL<TW.
c Frag. 9. 1-4
EK vecf>€A71<; 7TEAETat xiovo<; µ€vo<; T,Sf. xa'Aa,71<;,
f3poVTTJ S' EK Aaµ1Tpf'i<> yiyverat a<TTEpo1Tf'i<;·
avSpwv S' EK µeyaAwv 7T0At<; OhAVTat, E<; Sf.
µovapxov
SY,µo<; a"iSptT) SovAo<TVv71v E1TE<TEV.
d Frag. 12
et av€µwv Sf. fJaAa<T<Ta rapa<T<TETat" �v S€ Tt<;

avr{iv
µTi Ktvfj, 1Tavrwv E<TTL SiKatorar71.
T26 ( � DK) Theogn.
a 197-208
xpY,µa S' 0 µf.v f1tofJev Kat <Tliv StKTJ avSpl,
y€v71rat
116
Such i s the vengeance o f Zeus: h e is not quick to 25

anger,
Like a mortal man, at everything,
But whoever has a wicked heart does not ever escape
his notice
And in the end certainly he is exposed.
But one man pays immediately, another later, and
those who themselves escape
And the gods' pursuing destiny does not catch 30
them,
It certainly comes at some other time; the innocent
pay for their deeds,
Either their children or their descendants later.
From a cloud comes the force of the snow and hail,

And thunder is born from brilliant lightning;
From great men comes a city's destruction, and in its
foolishness
The people fall under the slavery of a monarch.
d
From winds comes the sea's agitation; but if
It is not stirred up, it is the most just of all things.
T26 ( ;t;. DK) Theognis, Elegiac poems

a
A possession that comes to a man from Zeus, and

with justice
1 17
Kat Ka8apwc;, alEt TTapµ,6viµ,ov TEAe8Ei·

Et 8' a8ixwc; TTapa Kaipov aviJp cpiAOKEp8ei Bvµ,fii
200 KT�<TETal, EW' opK<[> Trap TO 8iKawv EAWV,
avTLKa µ,ev n cpepELv Kep8oc; 00K€L, E<; 8E TEAEVT�V
a:08ic; eyEvro KaK6v, BEwv 8' VTTEPE<TXE v6oc;.
&.AA.a ra8' av8pw7TWV aTTaT� v6ov· ov yap E7T'
aVroV
TLVOVTal µ,aKapec; 7rp�yµ,aroc; aµ,TTAaKiac;,
205 &.A.A.' 0 µ,Ev avroc; ErEl<TE KaKOV xpfoc;, ov8E
cpi'Aoi<rw
ar71v etoTTL<TW 7Tal<TLV E7TEKpeµ,a<TEV"
aAA.ov 8' ov Kareµ,apt/JE 8iKY/" Bavaro<; yap
avai8�c;
7rp6<r8Ev ETTL f3A.ecpapoic; e'Ern Ki)pa cpepwv.
b 731-36, 741-52
ZEv TTarEp, EWE yevoiro BEo'ic; cpiA.a ro'i:c; µ,Ev
a'A.irpo'i:c;
vf3piv a8e'i:v, Kai <rcpiv TOVTO yevoiro cpi'Aov
Bvµ,f{i, <TXETAla epya· µ,Era cppe<TL 8' O<Tn<;
taB�VY/'>
epya,OlTO, 8EWV µ,718Ev om,6µ,EVO<;,
735 avrov E7TElTa 7TctAlV TEL<Tal KaKa, µ,718' fr' 07Tl<T<TW
TTaTpO<; UTa<T8aALal 7Tal<Tl YEVOWTO KaK6v·
[. . .]
741 ravr' Ei71 µ,aKapE<T<Tl 8Eot<; cpi'A.a· vvv 8' o µ,Ev
lp8wv
eK</JEvyEL, ro KaKov 8' aA.A.oc; ETTElrn </JepEL.
118
REFLECTIONS ON GODS AND MEN
And purely, lasts forever;

But if a man acquires it unjustly, unduly, with a
greedy spirit,
Or seizes it by an oath against what is just, 200
At first he thinks he is getting a profit, but in the end
It turns out badly, and the mind (noos) of the gods
overcomes him.
But these things deceive the minds of men, for it is
not at the very moment
That the blessed gods punish an act of sinfulness,
But one man pays his evil debt himself, and does not 205
hang destruction
Over his own children later;
While another one is not overtaken by justice, since
ruthless death
Settles first on his eyelids, bringing him doom.
b
Father Zeus, if only it pleased the gods that
outrageous arrogance (hybris)
Delighted sinners and that this pleased them
In their hearts: wicked deeds; but that whoever acted
in their minds t . . . t,
Without any regard for the gods,
Would then pay an evil penalty himself, and that evil 735
later
Would not come about for children by their
father's sins. [ . . . ]
If only this pleased the blessed gods! But as it is, the 741
perpetrator
Gets away, and then another man gets misery.
1 19
Kai. TOVT', aOavcfrwv f3a(TiA€V, 7TW'> €rrn 8iKatOIJ,

epywv O<TTtc; av�p €KTOc; €wv a8tKWIJ,
745 µ,iinv' V7T€p{3arririv KaTEXWV µ,Y,O' opKOIJ aAtTpov,
&.A.A.a 8iKaioc; Mw, µ,� Ta 8iKata mWYJ;
Tfs 8ii K€1J f3poToc; aA.A.oc; opwv 7Tpoc; TOVTOIJ
f1TELTa
a'OtT' aOavaTOV<;, Kai. Ttva Ovµ,ov exwv,
07T7TOT' av�p a8tKO<; Kai. aTarrOaA.oc;, OVTE TEV
av8p6c;
750 OVTE TEV aOavaTWIJ µ,ijviv aAEVOfLEVOc;,
v{3pt'YJ 7TAOVT<p KEKOPYJfLEIJO<;, oi 8€ 8iKatOt
TPVXOVTat XaA£7Tfj TEtpop.€VOt 7T€lltYJ;
T27 ( ;t: DK) Pind.
a Frag. 169a. l--5

v6µ,oc; o 7TavTwv {3arrtA£vc;
OvaTWIJ TE Kai. aOavaTWIJ
ayEt 8tKatWIJ TO {3iat6TaTOIJ
V7TEpTaTq. XEtpi. TEKµ,aipoµ,ai
epyoirrtv 'HpaKAEoc; [ . . . ] .
h Frag. 213
7TOTEpov 8tK<[- TEtXO'> vi/Jtov
1} <TKOAtatc; U7TUTatc; avaf3aivH
€mx06viov yivoc; av8pwv,
8ixa µ,oi vooc; aTpEKHav £i7T€tll.
120
And this, king of the immortals: how i s it just

That a man who keeps away from unjust deeds
And does not commit any transgression or a wicked 745
oath,
But is just, suffers unjustly?
What other mortal, looking upon him, would then
Revere the immortals? What spirit would he have,
Whenever an unjust and wicked man, who does not
avoid the wrath
Of any man or of any of the deathless gods, 750
Commits an outrage, sated in wealth, while the just
Are worn out and wasted away by harsh poverty?
T27 ( 7' DK) Pindar, Fragments

a
Law (norrws), king of all,

Of mortals and of immortals,
Leads them, rendering the greatest violence just
By his supreme hand. I cite as witness
Heracles' deeds [ . . . ] .
h
Whether the race o f men on the earth
Ascends the loftier wall by means of justice
or by crooked deceits-
my mind is divided in saying this precisely.
121
T28 ( ;e DK) Aesch. Ag. 250
[xo.] .6:.. iKa 8E rots- µ,Ev 7Ta()ov<nv µ,a()Etv e7TippE7TH

[. . . ] .
T29 ( ;e DK) Aesch. Eum.
a 517-37
[xo.] fo·()' o7Tov ro 8 r;.ivov El),
Kai cf>pEvwv E7Tt<rKo7Tov
8Etµ,' UVW Ka()fiµ,EVOV'
520 tvµ,cf>€p r;.i
<rwcf>povEtv v7To <TTEVH.
TtS' 8E µ,718Ev ev tc/>cfot
Kap8ias- 8€os- rp€cf>wv-
� 7ToAis-, f3por6s- ()' oµ,oi
525 ws--fr' llv <rE/3oi .6:.. iKav;
µ,fir' avapKTOV /3toV
µ,firE 8EU'7TOTOVµ,Evov
alvE<TYJS' ·
530 7Tavri µ,€<rep ro Kparos- {}r;_os- w7Ta<rEv,
aH' aHq. 8' ecf>opEVEt.
tvµ,µ,Erpov 8' E7TOS' A.€yw·
8v<r<rE{3ias- µ,Ev vf3pis- TEKOS' WS' eruµ,ws-,
535 EK 8' vyiEias-
cf>pEVWV o 7TUU'W c/>tAOS'
Kat 7TOAVEVKTOS' oA/3os-.
122
T28 Aeschylus, Agamemnon

[CHORUS:] Justice weighs out learning to those
who suffer [ . . . ] .
T29 ( '#- DK) Aeschylus, Eumenides

a
[CHORUS:] Sometimes terror is good,

And, a sentinel for minds,
Dread, seated on high (?):
There is a benefit 520
In wisdom coming with duress.
For he who does not at all nourish
His heart's dread in tlightt-
Either a city, or a mortal in the same
Way-would still revere justice? 525
Neither the life without a ruler
Nor the one under a despot
Should you praise.
To all in the middle a god 530
Has granted strength, though he oversees
Differently in different places.
I speak an appropriate word:
In truth, arrogant violence
Is impiety's child;
But from health 535
Of the mind comes all-loving
And all-invoked prosperity.
123
b 696-702
[A@.] TO µfir' avapxov µfirE DECT7TOTOVµEVOIJ
acrrot<; 7TEpicrri>,A_ovcri {3ovAEVW crE{3ELv,
Kat µi'] ro DEivov 7Tav 7TOAEw<; Etw {3aAEtv·
ri<> yap DEDoiKw<; µ'T/8€11 EvDiKo<; f3porwv;
roi6v8€ roi rapf3ovvrE<; evDiKw<; crif3a<>
Epvµa TE xwpa<; Kat 7TOAEW<; crwrfipwv
EXOLT' av, olov OVTL<; av8pw7TWIJ EXEL [ . . . ] .
T30 (31 Bl35) Soph. Ant. 450-60
[AN.] ov yap ri µoi ZEV<; �IJ 0 K7Jpvta<; raDE,

ovS' Ti tvvoLKO<; TWIJ KaTW 8EWIJ LiLK'TJ
TOLOvcrS' EIJ av8pw7TOLCTLIJ wpicrEIJ v6µov<;,
ovSe crOivELIJ TOCTOVTOIJ <f:6µ7JV TU era
K7Jpvyµa8' wcrr' aypa7TTa KacrcpaAij 8EWIJ
455 v6µiµa Svvacr8ai 8117Jra y' 0118' V7TEp8paµEi:v.
ov yap n vilv YE Kaxet..,, aH' aEi 7TOTE
rn TaVTa, KOVD€t<; OlDEIJ et OTOV 'cf>av7J.
TOVTWIJ €yw OVK EµEAAOV, avSpo<; OVDEVO<;
cf>p6v7Jµa DEicracr', €11 8Eotcri ri']v DtK7JV
DWCTELIJ.
124
R E F L E CTI O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
b
[ATHENA:] Neither absence of a ruling power nor submis
sion to an absolute master-
This is what I advise the citizens to defend and to
revere,
And not to cast fear altogether from the city.
For what mortal who fears nothing is just?
If you fear justly the object of such a veneration
You will have protection for your country and salva-
tion for your city
Such as no one among men possesses [ . . . ] .
T30 (31 B l35) Sophocles, Antigone

[ANTIGONE: ] For me, it was not Zeus who made that [i.e.
Creon's] proclamation,
Nor did Justice, who dwells with the gods below,
Stipulate such laws to be valid among humans;
Nor did I suppose that your proclamations were so
strong
That they, being mortal, could outrun
The unwritten and immovable ordinances of the 455
gods.
For they are not of now and of yesterday, but for all
eternity
Do they live, and no one knows when they ap
peared.
So I was not, out of fear of any man's spirit,
Going to make myself liable to the gods because of
them.
125
T3 1 ( ;t: DK) Soph. O T 863-96
[xo.] EL µ,oi tvvef:ri <f1€povTL 1w'ipa Tav

EVO'E7TTOV a:yvEiav Aoywv
,
Epywv TE TTaVTWV, �
WV ,
VOfWl ,
7TpOKElVTal
865
>I
{JljJL7To8et;, oVpavfq, 'v

aUNpt TEKvw(J€vTE<;, &v "OAvµTTo<;
7TaTT/p µ6vo<;, ovU VlV
()vaTa <flvO"i<> av€pwv
870 ETLKTEV, ov8e fl�7TOTE Aa-
ea KaTaKOtftaO'TJ'
µ€yai; ev TOVTOt<; ()Eo<;, ov8e YYJPaO'KEl.
v{3pt<; </lvTEVEl ropavvov· v{3pt<;, Et
7TOAAWV tmEp7TAYJO'()fj µarav
875 & µ-TJ '7rtKatpa µY}Se O'Vfl<fl€povra,
aKpOTaTa ')'EtO'' avaf3a0''
aTTOTOftOV wpOVO'EV eis avayKaV,
ev()' ov TTo8£ XPYJO"tfl<tJ
xpfirat. TO KaAw<; S' exov
880 TroAEt TTaAaiO"µa µ�TToTE Av-
O"ai ()Eov alTovµai·
()Eov ov A�tw TTOTe TTpoO'Tarav tO"xwv.
Et 8€ TL<; V7T€po7TTa XEPO'LV
7) AOY<fl 7TOpEVETal,
885 .iltKa<; a<flof3YJTO<;, ovSe
8aiµ6vwv l8YJ 0"€{3wv,
KaKa viv lAotTo µo'ipa,
126
R E F L E CTI O N S ON G O D S A N D M E N
T3 1 ( � DK) Sophocles, Oedipus the Tyrant

[CHORUS:] May my destiny help me
To practice reverent purity in words
And in all deeds for which the laws are fixed 865
Standing on high, sired in
The heavenly aether, those of which Olympus
Alone is father, nor did
Men's mortal nature
Father them, nor will oblivion ever put them to 870
sleep:
For in them god is great and never does he grow
old.
Arrogance (hubris) makes a tyrant grow
Arrogance, if it is overfull of many things in vain,
Inopportune, unprofitable, 875
Climbing up to the roof-top it plunges into sheer
necessity,
Where it finds no useful footing. But the contention
That is good for the city-I pray that god never 880
destroy that.
For never will I cease to hold a god as our protector.
If someone proceeds overweening in hands or
word,
Unintimidated by Justice nor revering the deities' 885
shrines-
May an evil destiny catch him
Because of his ill-fortuned luxury,
127
8v<T7TOTµov xapw XAL8us,

EL µ� TO KEp8oc; KEp8avE'i 8iKatwc;
890 KaL 'TWV a<TE7T'TWV l!p�E'TaL,
7) 'TWV d()iKTWV ()i�ETaL µangwv.
Tt> l!n 7TOT' ev TOt<r8' av�p Ovµov {3EATJ
EV�ETaL i/Jvxac; aµvvELv;
895 EL yap ai roiai8e 7rpa�EL> riµiai,
Tt 8Et µe XOPEVELV;
T32 Pind.
a ( > ad 31 B l46) OZ. 2.53-54, 56-77

o µav 7TAOVTO> apem£c; 8e8ai8a!..µivoc;
cpipei rwv TE Kat rwv
Kaipov f3a0e'iav V7TEXWV µipiµvav ayporipav
[. . . ] .
EL Si viv l!xwv nc; oi8ev ro µi!.. A. ov,
on OavovTWV µi.v €v-
Oa8' avTtK' a7TaAaµvoi cppivec;
7TOLVac; ETEL<TUV-'Ta 8' ev rq.Se 6.ioc; apxil
a!.. irpa Kara yac; 8iKa'EL nc; exOpq.
60 Aoyov cppa<raic; avayKq.·
Lcrais- SE vVKrea-a-iv alel,
L<Taic; 8' aµipaic; 0.. A. iov lfxovTE>, a7TOVE<TTEpov
128
I f h e does not acquire profit justly

Nor refrains from irreverence 890
Or in his folly lays hand on things untouchable.
Among such people, what man will boast
That he wards off the gods' shafts from his breast?
For if these are the kinds of practices that are held 895
in honor,
Why need I dance [scil. at the festivals of the gods]?

T32 Pindar
a ( > ad 31 B l46) Olympians
Wealth ornamented by virtues
brings the occasion for some things and for others,
Repressing down deep fierce anxiety [ . . . ] .
I f someone who possesses it knows what is to
come,
That of those who have died here
the helpless spirits (phrenes) immediately
Pay the penalty-and for the sins in this realm of
Zeus
Someone passes judgment below the earth,
Speaking with hateful necessity; 60
But always possessing the sunlight in equal nights
And in equal days, good men receive
129
E<TAOt 8EKOVTat (3iorov, o v x06va Ta

pa<T<TOVTE<; EV xepo<; aKµ,q.
ov8E 7TOVTtoV v8wp
65 Ketvav 7rapa 8iairav, aAAa 7rapa /LEV nµ,ioi<;
Oewv OtTtvE<; Exaipov evopKtat<;
a8aKpVV VE/LOVTat
aiwva, TOt 8' a7rpO<Toparov OKXEOVTt 7TOVOV.
o<Toi 8' fr6Aµ,a<Tav €<Trpi.;
EKaTEpwOi µeivaVTE<; a7TO 7Taµ7TaV &.8iKwv EXHV
70 ifroxav, ETEtAav �to<; o8ov 7rapa Kp6-
vov rvp<Ttv• EV0a µaKapwv
vn<Tov wKeavi8ec:;
a:Opat 7rEpt7rVEOt<TW avOeµa 8E XPV<TOV cPAEyEt,
Ta fLEV xep<ToOev a7T' ayAawv 8ev8piwv,
v8wp 8' aHa <Pip(3ei,
opµot<Tt TWV xipa<; ava7TAEKOVTt Kat <TTECpavov<;
75 (3ovAal,c:; EV opOa'i<Tt 'Pa8aµav0vo<;,
CJV 7TaTT,p EXEt µiyac:; fro'iµov avrfii 7rape8pov,
7TO<Tt<; 0 7TaVTWV 'pfo<;
V7TEprarov €xoi<Tac:; Op6vov.
b ( ;t: DK) Frag. 13la
oA{3tot 8' U7TaVTE<; aZ<Tq, AV<Tt7TOVWV TEAETUV.
130
A li fe free o f toil, not worrying

the earth nor the sea's water with the might of
their hands
For a meager living; but instead, beside those 65
honored
By the gods, those who rejoiced in good oaths
pass a tearless
Existence, while the others endure pain impossible to
look upon.
But all those who have managed, staying three times
In both places, to keep their soul away from all
injustices,
They travel the road of Zeus to Cronus'
tower; there around the Island 70
Of the Blessed blow the ocean winds, and flowers of
gold blaze,
Some on the ground from gleaming trees,
while water nourishes others,
They weave garlands for their hands and crowns
In the straight decrees of Rhadamanthys, 75
Whom the great father keeps seated ready beside
him,
The husband of Rhea, who possesses the loftiest
throne of all.
b ( #: DK) Fragment
Blessed [scil. are] all those who have a share in the rites
that release from toil.
131
c ( 7: DK) Frag. 13lb

<Twµ,a µ,€.v 7TavTwv E7TETai ()avaT<p 7TEpi<T()EvEt,
�wov 8' ln AEt7TETai alwvoc; EtOw-
A.ov· To yap e<Tn µ,ovov
eK ()Ewv· Ev8Ei 8€ 1Tpa<T<TovTwv µ,E'Aiwv, <i'Tap Ev-
8ovTE<T<Tw ev 7ToA'Ao'tc; ovEtpoic;
OELKIJV<Tl TEP7TVWIJ ecpEp7T0l(J"UIJ xaAE7TWIJ 'TE Kpt<Tl/J.
d (ad 31 Bl46) Frag. 133
ot<Ti 8€ cf>Ep<TEcpova 7Toivav 7Ta'Aawil 7Tiv()Eoc;

OE�E'Tal, Ee; 'TOIJ V7TEp()EIJ aA.wv KELIJWIJ EIJU'T<tJ E'TEl
av8i8o't tfmxac; 7TUAllJ, EK 'TUIJ /3a<TlAT]Ec; ayavo[
Kat <T()EvEl Kpai7TVOL <Tocptf!- TE f-lE'Yl<T'TOl
avOpEc; av�o/J'T" ec; 8€ 'TOIJ AOl7TOIJ XPDVOIJ iJpoEc; a
yvoL 7Tpoc; av()pw7TWIJ KUAEoJJ'TUl.
e ( 7: DK) Frag. 137

oA.fJwc; O<T'Tl<; l8wv KEtv' EL<T' V7TO xeov"
olOE µ,€.v {3fov TEAEV'TUV,
olOEv 8€ OlO<TOO'TOIJ apxav.
132
c ( ;t: DK) Fragment

The body of all men obeys overwhelming death,
But a living image of the vital force (aiOn) still
remains:
for that alone
Comes from the gods. It sleeps while the limbs are
acting,
but to men as they sleep, in many dreams
It reveals the approaching choice of delights or of
pains.
d (> 31 B l46) Fragment

For those from whom Persephone accepts requital
For her ancient grief [scil. the murder of her son
Dionysus by the Titans] , in the ninth year she
sends
Their souls back up to the upper sun; from them rise
up noble kings
And men quick in strength and those who are
greatest in wisdom,
And for the rest of time they are called
Sacred heroes by men.
e ( ;t: DK) Fragment

Blessed is he who sees them [i.e. the Eleusinian
mysteries J and then goes beneath the earth;
he knows the end of life
And knows too its god-given beginning.
133
T33 ( � DK) Lamellae osseae saec. V a . Chr. Olbiae

repertae
a Frag. 463 T Bernabe
fJfoc;, (}6.varoc;, f3ioc;
aAfi(}Eta
Aio(vvcroc;) 'Op</>iKoi
b Frag. 464 T Bernabe

ElpfivYJ 7TOAEµoc;
aAfi(}Eta l/Jw8oc;
Ai6v( vcroc;)
c Frag. 465 T Bernabe

Ai6v( vcroc;)
<l/JEv8oc;> aA{i(}Eta
crwµa lflvxii
<i/Jwooi;> Vinogradov
T34 (cf. l BI 7-20) Lamella aurea ca. 400 a. C. n. Hipponii

reperta (Frag. 474 F Bernabe)
Mvaµocrovac; To8E f!pyov. E7TEt i'iv µeAAYJCTt
(JavEZcr(Jai
Elc; 'Ai8ao 86µovc; w{ipEa<;, l!crT' E7TL 8Etia Kp{iva,
1Tap 8' avTav ECTTaKVa AwKa KV1TaptCTCToc;·
134
T33 ( � DK) Bone tablets from Olbia, 5th century BC
life death life

truth
Dion(ysus) Orphic men
b
peace war
truth falsehood [or: lie]
Dion(ysus)
Dion(ysus)
<falsehood [or: lie] > truth
body soul
T34 ( cf. 1 B 1 7-20) Orphic gold leaf from Hipponion, ea.

400 BC
This is the work of Mnemosyne [i.e. the goddess of
memory] : when you [i.e. the initiate] are about to
die
Into the well-constructed houses of Hades, there is
on the right a spring,
And beside it standing a white cypress;
135
lv8a KaTEpx_oµ,Evai 1/rox_at VEKvwv tfnlx_ovTai.

5 rnvrn<> Tas «pava<> p,YJDe <rx_EDov €yyv8Ev l'J... (J TI" ·
rrpo<r8Ev Se Evpfi<rEL<; TUS Mvaµ,o<rvva<; cl'TT"O
'J... iµ,va<;
tfivx_pov v8wp rrpopfov· cpv'J... a KE<; Se ErrV7rEp8EJJ
Ea<TL.
,,
ot 8€ <TE Etpfi<rovTaL evt cppa<rt 'TT"EVKa'J... iµ,ai<ri

OTTL 87, etEp€EL'> ALDO<; <TKOTO<; opcpvTjEVTO<;.
10 Eirro v· 'T7)<> rra'i<> Etµ,i Kat Ovpavov a<rTEpoEvTo<;·
8itfiai 8' Etµ,' aVo<; Kat arro'A.Avµ,ai· &.AA.a 8oT' cii K a
1/rox_pov v8wp m€vai T7]<> MVYJP,O<TVVYJ'> cl'TT"O
ALP,VYJ<>."
Kat 8fi TOL epEoV<TLV vrrox_8ov[qi {3a<rLAELCf:"
Kat 8w<rov<ri mE'iv Tas Mvaµ,o<rvva<; arro 'J... iµ,va<;
15 Kat 87, Kat <TV mwv 68ov lpx_EaL av TE Kat aAAOL
µ,v<rTai «at f3a«x_oi iEpav <rTeix_ov<ri «AEEwoi.

T35 (10.3) Demetr. Phal. in Stob. 3 . 1 . 1 72 ( = Frag. 1 14

Wehrli)
[l] K'J... Eo{3ov'J... o ., Efoyopov Aiv8w., lcpYJ·
1. µ,€.rpov apt<TTOV. 2. 1T"aT€pa 8E'i a£8E'i<r8ai. 3. EV

To <rwµ,a lx_etv Kat Ti,v tfivx_fiv. 4. cpi'J...fi «oov Eivai
136
Going down there, the souls (psukhai) o f the dead

cool off (psukhontai) .
D o not g o anywhere even near these springs. 5
Further on you will find cold water that flows forth
From the pool of Mnemosyne. There are guards set
over it.
They will ask you, in their wise minds,
Why you are exploring the shadow of gloomy Hades.
Say: "I am a son of Earth and of starry Sky. 10
I am parched with thirst and am being destroyed.
Come, give quickly
Cold water to drink from the pool of Mnemosyne."
And they will announce you to the queen under the
earth,
And they will give you to drink from the pool of
Mnemosyne;
And then you too, after you have drunk, will go on 15
the holy road where the others,
Initiates and Bacchants, walk in glory.

T35 ( 10.3) Demetrius of Phalerum, Apophthegms of the
Seven Sages, in Stobaeus
[l] Cleobulus of Lindus, son of Euagoras, said:
1. Measure is best. 2. Revere your father. 3. Be well
in body and in soul. 4. Enjoy listening and don't talk
137
KUL µ:Y, 7TOAVAUAOV. 5 . 7TOAvµa(H1 1 -Pi aµa()ij. 6 .

YAW<T<TUV EV</>TJJLOV KEKTijcr(}ai. 7 . apETij<; olKEtov,2
KaKta<; a>.. >.. oTpwv. 8. a8iKiav µicre'iv. 9. EV<TE
f3eiav <f>v>.. acrcrew. 10. TToAiTai<; Ta {3€>..ncrTa
crvµf3ovf... eveiv. l l . 7J8ovij<; KpaTe'iv. 12. {3iq, µri8€v
7TpaTTELV. 13. TEKVU 7Tat8eveiv. 14. TVXTJ evxecreai.
15. f!x()pa<; 8ia>..vew. 16. TOV TOV 87]µov exepov
TTof...eµwv voµ[,ew. 17. yvvaiKL µ-Y, µaxecr()ai
µri8€ ayav <f>pove'iv a>..A oTptwv 7TUpOVTWV' TO
µ€v yap avoiav, TO 8€ µaviav 8vvaTaL 7Tapexew.
18. olKern<; µe()voVTa<; µ-Y, Kof... a ,ew el 8€ µ1],
86gei<; 7Tapowe'iv. 19. yaµe'iv EK TWV oµoiwv. Eav
yap EK Twv KpELTTovwv, 8ecrTToTa<;, ov crvyyeve'i<;
KT"lj<TTJ. 20. µ-Y, emyef... a T<fi <TKW7TTOVTL' aTTex(}-Y,<;
yap f!crn To'i<; <TKWTTToµevoi<;. 21. evTTopovVTa µ-Y,
V7Tep"lj<f>avov eivaL, aTTopovVTa µ-Y, TU7TELVOV<Teai.
l 1ToAvµa8iJ µaAA.ov Diog. Laert. 1 .92 2 olKe'iov < el-

vat> Hense
1 . µYJ8Ev ayav. 2. KpLT-Y,<; µ-Y, Ka(}YJ<TO" EL 8€ µ"lj,

T<fi >..ri<f>()€vn EX()po<; E<TTJ . 3. 7J8ov-Y,v <f>evye, ijn<;
AVTTTJV TiKTEL. 4. <f>v>.. acrcre TpoTTov KaAoKaya()[av
opKOV 7TL<TTOTepav. 5. cr<f>payt,OV TOV<; µ€v \6-
yov<; criyi), T-Y,v 8€ criy-Y,v Kaip<fi. 6. µ-Y, 1/Jev8ov,
a>..A ' af... "lj(}eve. 7. Ta <T7Tov8a'ia µe>..fra. 8. TWV yo
vewv µ-Y, A.eye 8iKULOTEpa. 9. <f>if... o v<; µ-Y, rnxv
138
too much. 5 . [Seil. I t i s better] t o know a lot than

to know nothing. 6. Possess a tongue that speaks
auspiciously. 7. A kinsman of virtue, a stranger to
evil. 8. Hate injustice. 9 Preserve piety. 10. Counsel
your fellow-citizens what is best. l l . Dominate over
pleasure. 12. Do nothing with violence. 13. Educate
your children. 14. Pray to fortune. 15. Settle enmi
ties. 16. Consider the people's adversary to be your
enemy. 17. Do not fight with your wife, or be arro
gant when others are present: the one can make you
seem foolish, the other insane. 18. Do not punish
your slaves when they are inebriated: otherwise it is
you who will seem to be drunken. 19. Marry from
your own social class; for if you marry superiors, you
will acquire masters, not relatives. 20. Do not laugh
with a mocker; for you will be hated by those he
mocks. 21. If you are affluent do not be arrogant, if
you are poor do not abase yourself.
[2] Solon of Athens, son of Execestides, said:

1. Nothing in excess. 2. Do not sit as a judge: other
wise you will be hated by the accused. 3. Flee plea
sure that begets pain. 4. Preserve nobility of char
acter, more credible than an oath. 5. Seal your
discourses with silence, and silence with the right
moment. 6. Do not lie, but tell the truth. 7. Devote
yourself to serious matters. 8. Do not speak more
justly than your parents. 9. Do not acquire friends
139
EARLY G R E E K P H I L O S OP H Y I I
KTW, of!<; 8 ' a v KT-r/a-rJ, µ,� rnxv U7To8oKtµ,a,€. 10.

apxea-Bai µ,aOwv, apxeiv €m<rT-r/<rYJ. 11. eVOvvai;
f.repov<; dgiwv 8i86vai, KUL UVTO<; V7T€XE. 12. <TVµ,
f3ov.\eve µ,� Ta i/8i<rrn, d.\.\a Ta [3€.\n<rrn.
13. rni:i; 7To.\trnt<; µ,� Opa<rvvov. 14. µ,� KaKoti;
oµ,tAEL. 15. XPW TOt<; 0Eot<;. 16. <f>£.\ov<; EV<TE{3EL.
17. 0 avl i8YJ<; jL� AeyE. 18. Et8w<; <rtya. 19. TOt<;
EaVTOV 1Tpfi.o<; i<rOL. 20. Ta d</>avij TOt<; </>avEpot<;
TEKjLatpov.
1 Cl av <µ:ry> Walz
1 . yvwOi <TUVTOV. 2. 1TlVWV, µ,� 7TOAAa .\a.\EL·

aµ,apT-r/<TYJ yap. 3. µ,� U7TEtAEL TOt<; EAEvOepot<;• ov
yap 8£Kaiov. 4. µ,� KaKo>.. 6yEi Tov<; 1TATJ<Tfov· El
8€ µ,�, aKOV<TYJ €</>' oTi; AV1TTJ0-r/<TYJ . 5. E'TT L Ta 8Et-
1TVU Twv <f>i.\wv f3pa8ewi; 1Top€Vov, E'TTL 8€ Ta<;
UTVXlU<; Taxew<;. 6. yaµ,ov<; EVTEAEt<; 'TTO LOV. 7. TOV
TETEAEVTTJKOm µ,aKapi,E. 8. 1Tpe<r{3vTEpov <re{3ov.
9. Tov Ta d.\.\oTpia 1TEptEpya,6µ,Evov µ,t<rEL. 10.
'T]jLlaV aipov µ,a.\.\ov 11 Kep8oi; al<rxp6v· TO µ,ev
yap U7Tag AV'TT-r/ <TEL, TO 8€ aEl. 1 1 . T<f> 8v<rTV
xovvn µ,� E7Ttye.\a. 12. Tpaxvi; WV, i/<TVxov <TE
UVTOV 1TapEXE, o1Tw<; <TE al<rxvvwvrai µ,a.\.\ov, 17
</>of3wvmi. 13. Tij<; l8£ai; OtKlU<; 7TpO<rTaTEL. 14. ii
y.\w<r<ra <rov µ,� 1TpoTpExfrw Tov vov. 15. Ovµ,ov
140
quickly, but those that you d o acquire do not reject

quickly. 10. If you have learned how to be ruled you
will know how to rule. 1 1 . If you demand that oth
ers be examined, then submit to examination your
self too. 12. Do not counsel what is most pleasant,
but what is best. 13. Do not be arrogant with regard
to your fellow-citizens. 14. Do not associate with
wicked people. 15. Consult the oracles of the gods.
16. Respect your friends. 17. Do not say what you
see. 18. If you know, remain silent. 19. Be gentle to
your own people. 20. Estimate what is invisible by
what is visible.
[3] Chilon of Lacedaemon, son of Damagetus, said:

1. Know yourself. 2. When you drink do not speak
too much: for you will commit a wrong. 3. Do not
threaten free men; for that is not just. 4. Do not
speak ill of those nearby; otherwise you will hear
things that will cause you pain. 5. Go slowly to your
friends' dinners, but quickly to their misfortunes. 6.
Arrange inexpensive weddings. 7. Bless the de
ceased. 8. Respect an older man. 9. Hate the man
who meddles in other people's affairs. 10. Prefer
loss rather than shameful gain: for the one will
cause you pain one time, the other forever. l l . Do
not laugh at the unfortunate. 12. If you are harsh,
show yourself to be gentle, so that people will feel
respect for you rather than fear. 13. Lord it over
your own household. 14. Your tongue should not
run faster than your mind. 15. Dominate over anger.
141
E A R LY G RE E K P H I L O S O P H Y I I
KpaTEt. 1 6 . µiJ Em8vµEi &.Svvara. l 7a. E ll oSct> µiJ

<T7TEVSE 7TpoayEtv, l 7b. µ'T]Si T7,v xli.pa KtvE'iv·
µavtKOV yap. 18. voµot<; 1TEt8ov. 19. aSiKovµEvo<;
Sia>.. >.. acrcrov· vf3pi,oµEVo<; nµwpov.
1. Eyyva, 1Tapa S' am. 2. <f>i>.. w v 1TapoVTWIJ KUL

a7TOVTWV µEµV'T]<TO. 3. µiJ T7,v oi}ltv KaAAW1TL,OV,
&.A.A.' EV Tot<; E1TtTTJSEvµacriv Tcr8i KaAo<;. 4. µiJ
1TAOVTEt KUKW<;. 5. µT, <TE Siaf3a>.. A.frw A.oyo<;
1Tpo<; Tov<; 1Tt<TTEw<; KEKoivwv'T]KoTa<;. 6. KoA.a
KEvEw yovE'i.<; µiJ oKvEi. 7. µiJ 1TpocrSExov To <f>av
>.. o v. 8. OtaV<; i'I.v Epavov<; EVE'YK"{I<; TOt<; yovwcri,
TovTov<; avTov<; Ev Tel> yiJpq. 1Tapa Twv TEKvwv
1TpocrSEx_ov. 9. x_aAE1Tov To di yvwvai. 10. i}Si
<TTov TO Em8vµl.a<; TVXEtV. 11. &.viapov &.pyl.a. 12.
f3>..af3Epov aKpacria. 13. f3apv a1TatSEvcria. 14.
SiSacrKE Kat µav8avE TO aµEtvOV. 15. apyo<; µiJ
'icr8i, µ..,, s · i'I.v 7TA.ovTfi<;. 16. KaKa Ev o£K86vov x_apw µiJ olKTEtpov. 18. µfrpcp XPcl> ·
19. µiJ 7Ta<Tt 7TL<TTEVE. 20. apx_wv Ko<TµEi <TEaVTOV.
1. Kaipov yvw8i. 2. () µEAAEi<; 7TotE'i.v µiJ AE'YE'
142
16. D o not desire what is impossible. l 7a. On the

road do not hasten to be first, l 7b. and do not ges
ture with your hand, for that is typical of the insane.
18. Obey the laws. 19. If you suffer injustice, be
reconciled; if you suffer outrageous mistreatment,
avenge yourself.
[4] Thales of Miletus [cf. THAL. Pl6-Pl7], son of Exa
myes, said:
1. Give a pledge, and disaster is near. 2. Be mindful
of your friends when they are present and also when
they are absent. 3. Do not beautify your appear
ance, but be beautiful in your way of life. 4. Do not
become rich by wickedness. 5. Let no word bring
discredit for you upon those who share your trust.
6. Do not hesitate to flatter your parents. 7. Do not
accept what is substandard. 8. The kinds of benefits
you give to your parents, accept these yourself in old
age from your children. 9. It is difficult to know the
good. 10. The most pleasant thing is to obtain what
one desires. 11. Laziness is vexatious. 12. Lack of
self-control (akrasia) is harmful. 13. Lack of educa
tion is burdensome. 14. Teach and learn what is
better. 15. Do not be inactive, even if you are
wealthy. 16. Conceal evils within the house. 17. Be
cause of envy, do not show pity. 18. Use measure.
19. Do not trust all. 20. If you are performing a
magistracy, keep yourself orderly in appearance.
[5] Pittacus of Lesbos, son of Hyrras, said:
1. Know the right moment. 2. Do not say what you
143
a1Torvxwv yap KarayE'A.aa-efia-YJ. 3. ro'i<> imrri

oEfoi<> xpw. 4. oa-a VEfLE<Tfi.<; rq> 1TAY]<TtoV, UVTO<;
µ,� 1TOLEL. 5. a1Tpayovvra µ,� OVELOL,E" E1TL yap
rovroi<; VEfLE<TL<; ()Ewv KU()YJTUL. 6. 7TapaKara()fi
Ka<; a1T6oo<;. 7. avExov v1To rwv 1TAYJa-fov µ,iKpa
i'A.arrovµ,wo<;. 8. rov </Ji'A.ov KaKw<; µ,� AEye, µ,rio'
Eli TOV ix0p6v· aa-v'A.'A.6yia-rov yap TO TOLOVTOV.
9. OELvov a-vviDE'iv ro fLEAAov, aa-</Ja'A.E<; ro yEvo
fLEVov. 10. ma-rov yij, ama-rov Oa'A.aa-a-a. l l .
a1TAYJ<rrov KEpOo<;. 1 2 . Krija-ai dioia· 0Epa1TEiav,
EV<rE{3ELav, 1TatOEiav, a-w</Jpoa-vvriv, </Jpovria-w,
a'A.fiOELav, 1TL<TTLV, EfL1TELpiav, E1TLOEtioTYJTU, €.rai
pEiav, E1TLfLEAELav, olKovoµ,iav, TEXVYJV.
[6] Bia<; TEvraµ,ioov ITptYJVEV<; €<Pri·
1 . Ot 1TAEt<TTOL av0pw1TOL KUKOi. 2. E<; TO E<T01TTpov
iµ,{3'A.Etflavra OE'i, El fLEV KaAo<; </JaivYJ, Ka'A.a 7TOL
E'iv, El OE ala-xpo<;, TO TYJ<; </Jv<rEW<; EAAL7TE<; owp
Oova-Oai rfj KaAoKayaOiq,. 3. {3paDEw<; E"fXEtpEt"
0 o' av apfo, Oia{3E{3awv. 4. fLL<TEL TO raxv 'A.a
AELV, µ,� aµ,apTYJ<;" fLETUVOLa yap UKOAov()e'i. 5.
µ,fir' EVTJOYJ<; Ta-Oi, fLTJTE KaKofiOYJ<;. 6. d</Jpoa-Vvriv
µ,� 1Tpo<r0EXOV. 7. cPPDVYJ<TLV dya1Ta. 8. 1TEpL 0Ewv
AEyE, w<; Ela-L Oeoi. 9. VOEL TO 7rparr6µ,evov. 10.
aKovE 1To'A.'A.a. l l . 'A.a'A.EL Kaipia. 12. 1TEvYJ'> &v
1TAOV<TLOL<; µ,� E1TLTLfLU, �v µ,� fLEYU w</JEAfj<;. 13.
avatwv avopa µ,� E1TULllEL Ota 7TAOVTOV. 14. 1TEL
<ra<; 'A.a{3E, µ,� {3ia<rUfLEllO<;. 15. 0 TL av ayaOov
144
are going t o do; fo r if you do not succeed you will

be laughed at. 3. Use what is suitable. 4. Whatever
you rebuke your neighbor for, do not do it yourself.
5. Do not speak ill of the man who fares badly; for
the vengeance of the gods is set upon these things.
6. Repay sureties. 7. Accept to be a little bit less than
your neighbors. 8. Do not speak ill of a friend nor
well of an enemy, for such a thing is illogical. 9. It
is terrible to see the future, safe to see the past.
10. The earth is reliable, the sea is unreliable.
l l. Gain is insatiable. 12. Acquire what is eternal:
service, piety, education, moderation, prudence,
truth, credibility, experience, cleverness, comrade
ship, diligence, housekeeping, skill.
[ 6] Bias of Priene, son of Teutamides, said:

1. Most humans are bad. 2. You should look into a
mirror: if you look fine, then do fine things; if you
look ugly, correct by nobility the defect of your na
ture. 3. Set to work slowly; but where you begin,
persist. 4. Hate fast talking, do not commit a wrong:
for regret follows after. 5. Be neither simple-minded
nor evil-minded. 6. Do not accept folly. 7. Cherish
prudence. 8. Say about the gods that they exist. 9.
Think about what you are doing. 10. Listen a lot. ll.
Speak opportunely. 12. If you are poor, do not re
buke the wealthy, unless you are benefiting them
greatly thereby. 13. Do not praise an unworthy man
because of his wealth. 14. Take by persuasion, not
by force. 15. Whatever good you do, ascribe to the
145
1Tpa<r<TYJ'>, Owu<;, /LTJ <TEaVTOV alnw. 1 6 . KTij<raL

€v µ,€v VEOTTJTL dnrpatiav, €v 0€ Ti{J y�pq, <ro
cf>iav. 17. etet<; epycp /J,V�/J,'YJV, Katp<{J EVAa/3EtaV,
Tp01T6f3cp
w<ri{3ELav, 1TAovTcp cf>iA.iav, A.6ycp 1TEL0w, <riyfi
Ko<rµ,ov, yvwµ,n OtKaLO<TVVTJV, TOAP,YJ avopeiav,
1TpatEL OVVa<TTEiav, OOtYJ -Y,yEp,oviav.
[7] ITepiavopo<> Kvlfl€.A.ov KopivOio<; e<f>TJ·

1. µ,eA.fra To 7TO.v. 2a. KaAov i/<TVxia· 2b. E1TL
<rcpaA.€., 7rpo7rfrEta. 3. Kipoo<; alfFXpov cpv<rew<;
KaT'YJyopia. 4. OTJp,OKpaTia KpetTTOV ropavviOo<;.
5. ai µ,€v -Y,oova"i Ov'YJTal, ai o' apETat aOavaTOL.
6. EVTVXWV µ,€v µ,frpio<; t<TOL, aroxwv 0€ cf>povi
µ,o<;. 7. cpEtDoµ,evov KpEtTTOV a1To0ave'iv � 'wvTa
€v8e'i<r0at. 8. <TEaVTOV abov 1Tapa<rKEVa'E TWV
yov€.wv. 9. 'wv µ,€v €7Tawov, a1To0avwv 8€ µ,a
Kapi,ov. 10. cpiAot<; EVTVXOV<TL Kat aroxov<rw 0
aVTO<; t<TOL. 1 1 . Bv &v EKWV oµ,oA.oy�<TYJ'> 1TOVTJ
p6v, 1Tapaf3awe. 12. A.6ywv a1Topp�TWV EKcpopav
µ,Ti 1TOLOV. 13. A.oi8opov W<; mxv cf>Dw<; f.<roµ,Evo<;.
14. TOt<; µ,€v VOP,OL<; 1TaAaLOt<; xpw, TOt<; o' olflot<;
1Tpo<rcpaTOL<;. 15. µ,Ti µ,6vov TOV<; aµ,apTaVOVTa<;
KOAa,e, aHa Kat TOV<; µ,€.Hovmc; KWAVE. 16.
OV<TTVXWV KpV1TTE, rva /LTJ TOV<; €x0pov<; wcf>pa
VYJ'>·
146
gods, not yourself. 16. Acquire proper conduct in

youth, wisdom in old age. 17. You will acquire repu
tation by your deed, discretion by [scil. choosing]
the right moment, nobility by your character, self
control by your effort, piety by your fear, friendship
by your wealth, obedience by your speech, orderli
ness by your silence, justice by yourjudgment, man
liness by your courage, dominion by your action,
supremacy by your fame.
[7] Periander of Corinth, son of Cypselus, said:

1. Practice is all. 2a. Calmness is fine; 2b. rashness
is dangerous. 3. Shameful gain is an accusation
against your nature. 4. Democracy is better than
tyranny. 5. Pleasures are mortal, but virtues immor
tal. 6. If you are fortunate, be moderate; if unfortu
nate, prudent. 7. It is better to die being frugal than
to live not having enough. 8. Make yourself worthy
of your parents. 9. Be praised while you are alive,
be blessed when you have died. 10. Be the same to
your friends both when they are fortunate and when
they are unfortunate. 1 1 . Avoid the man that you
yourself recognize to be wicked. 12. Do not reveal
secret words. 13. Blame like someone who wants to
quickly become a friend. 14. Use laws that are an
cient but food that is fresh. 15. You should not only
punish those who commit wrong, but also prevent
those who are intending to do so. 16. If you are
unfortunate, conceal it, so that you will not make
your enemies happy.
147
T36 ( � DK) Pind. Frag. 35b

crocpo'i Se KUL TO µ:9Sev ayav E7TO<; atVYJ
crav 7TEpt<r<TW<;.
T37 (cf. 80 A25) Simon. Frag. 542
1 avSp' ayaBov µ,f.v aA.aBiw> yevicrBai

xaA.mov xepcriv TE KUL 7TO<TL KUL VO<f
TETpaywvov UVEV tjJoyov TETV"fJ.tEVOV'
11 ovSi µ,oi EJ.tJ.tEAEW<; TO IIiTTUKEWV

VEJ.tETat, KUtTOt crocpov 7Tapa cpwTO<; el
PYJJ.tEVOV' xaA.mov cpaT' EcrBA.ov lµ,µ,evai.
Beo<; av µ,6vo<; TOvT' lxoi yipa<;, avSpa S' OVK
15 lcrn µ,� ov KUKOV lµ,µ,evai,
Bv aµ,�xavo<; crvµ,cpopa KaBi>.. r r
7Tpaga<; yap EV 7TU<; av�p aya(}6<;,
KaKo<; S' el KaKw<; [
[E7Tt 7TAEt<TTOV Se KUL apt<TTOt elcriv
20 [ov> av oi Oeo'i cpiA.wcriv.]
TovveKev ov 7ToT' Eyw To µ,� yevicr8ai
SvvaTOV Si,�µ,evo<; KEVEUV E<; a-
7rpaKTOV EA7TiSa µ,o'ipav alwvo<; {3aA.iw,
trav<fµwµov 0.v()pw1TOV, eVpveSEoli' O(J"ot
25 Kap7TOV alvvµ,e8a x8ovo<;"
E7Tt S' vµ,'iv evpwv a7TayyeA.iw.
7TUVTU<; S' E7Taivriµ,i KUL cpiA.iw,
19-20 paraphrasis Platonica sententiae Simonideae
148
REFLECTIO N S O N G O D S A N D M E N
T36 ( � DK) Pindar, Fragment

The wise have also praised surpassingly
The saying, "nothing in excess."
T37 (cf. 80 A25) Simonides, Fragments of an encomium

for Scopas (cf. PROT. D42)
For a man to be truly good (agathos) 1
Is difficult, four-square in his hands, feet, and mind,
Constructed without any blemish.
Nor does Pittacus' saying seem well-said to me, 11

Although it was spoken by a wise man:
He said that it is difficult to be good (esthlos).
Only a god could have that honor: a man
Cannot help being bad, 15
When irresistible disaster seizes hold of him.
When he is doing well, every man is good;
But when badly, he is bad.
[And for the most part those are the best ones
Whom the gods love.] 1 20
And for that reason I myself shall never
Throw away my portion of life onto an empty, futile
hope
Looking for what cannot come about, the
completely blameless man
Among all of us who enjoy the fruit of the broad 25
earth.
I shall tell you when I have found one.
I praise and love all men,
1 The words in brackets are a paraphrase by Plato of the con

tents of these lines of Simonides.
149
EARLY G RE E K P H I L O S OPHY I I
EKWV O<TTL<; EpOYJ

µr/bf.v alax_pov· avayK<[-
30 o' ovof. (Jeot µaxovrni.
T38 ( < 58C.4) Iambi. VP 83
Ea"TL o' UVTYJ .;, avT.Y, Ti/ TWV E7TTa <ro</>unwv A.eyoµEVYJ
<ro<f>iq.. Kat yap eKe'ivoi €'7]Tovv ov Ti e<rn Taya86v,
aHa Tt µaAL<TTU; ovof. Tt TO xaAE7TOV, aHa Tt TO
xaAE7TWTaTov; OTL TO UVTOV yvwvai E<TTW ovof. Tt TO
f>4,owv, aHa Tt TO pq<TTOV; OTL TO Wei xpfi<r8ai. Ti/
ToiavTYJ yap <ro<f>iq. µeTYJKoA.ov8riKEvai foiKe Ta Toi
avrn aKov<rµarn· 7TpOTEpOL yap oi'JTOL I1v8ayopov eyE
VOVTO.
T39 ( i"' DK) Pind.
a Frag. 61
Tt EA7TEUL <ro<f>iav Eµµev, &.v oA.iyov TOL
av.Y,p v7Tf.p avopo> t<TXei;
ov yap E<r8' o7Tw> Ta 8ewv
/3ovAevµaT' epevva<TEL f3poTE<[- <f>pevi:
8vUTOS o'a7To µaTpo<; E<f>v.
b Frag. 209
TOV> <f>v<rwA.oyovvrn> E</>YJ ITivoapo>
ctTEAfi <ro<f>ta<; Kap7ToV 0pE7TELV.
150
Whoever does nothing shameful willingly: but against

necessity
Not even do the gods fight. 30
T38 ( < 58C.4) Iamblichus, Life of Pythagoras

This [i.e. the wisdom of the Pythagorean akousmata, cf.
PITH. c D 15) is the same as the so-called wisdom of the
Seven Sages. For they too investigated not what the good
is, but what it is most of all; nor what is difficult, but what
is the most difficult (that is, to know oneself); nor what is
easy, but what is the easiest (that is, to follow habit). For
the akousmata of this sort seem to be later than this kind
of wisdom: for these [i.e. the Seven Sages] lived before
Pythagoras.

T39 ( ;z!: DK) Pindar, Fragments
a
What do you expect wisdom to be, if it is only by a

little
That one man possesses it more than another?
For it is impossible for him
To discover the gods' plans with a human mind
(phreni) :
H e was born o f a mortal mother.
b
Pindar said that the philosophers of nature
"pluck the fruit of wisdom before it is ripe."
151
E A R LY I O N I A N T H I N K E R S
PA RT 1
4 . P H E R E CYD E S [ P H E R . ]
The ancient sources date Pherecydes' maturity toward

the middle of the sixth century BC (544/40), making him
younger than Anaximander. But the chronological data are
not certain enough to allow us to say which man is the
likelier candidate for the title of the most ancient author
of philosophy in prose-if indeed the term "philosophy"
is meaningful in the case of Pherecydes. But what is cer
tain is that he represents an interesting transitional figure
between two types of discourse, theogony and cosmogony,
which were becoming differentiated from one another at
that time. Already Aristotle described Pherecydes' thought
as "mixed."
Scholastic reconstructions, distorting somewhat the
chronology, attribute to Pherecydes the same kind of func
tion within the Italic line of descent as Thales' within the
Ionian one: he is said to have been Pythagoras' teacher, as
Thales was Anaximander's. This line of descent gave rise
to stories often repeated in antiquity [cf. PYTH. a P12-
P15] but is most probably fictitious.
155
B I B LI O G RA P H Y
Edition
H. S. Schibli. Pherekydes of Syros (Oxford, 1990).
Studies
H. Granger. "The Theologian Pherecydes of Syros and the
Early Days of Natural Philosophy," Harvard Studies in
Classical Philology 103 (2007): 135-63.
M. L. West. "Three Presocratic Cosmogonies," Classical
Quarterly 13 ( 1963): 157-72.
-- . Early Greek Philosophy and the Orient (Oxford,
1971), pp. 28-75.
O U T LI N E O F T H E C HA PT E R
p
Chronology (Pl-P4)
His Teachers (P5-P7)
Did He Have a Greek Teacher? (P5)
Or Did He Leamfrom Oriental Sources? (P6-P8)
His Student Pythagoras (P9)
Predictions (PlO)
Pherecydes at Sparta (Pl l-P12)
Death: The Role of Pythagoras (P13-Pl6)
D
Title and Contents of Pherecydes' Book (Dl-D4)
The Principles (D5-D7)
156
P H E R E CYD E S
Zas ' Cosrrwgonic Marriage (D8-D10)

War Against Ophioneus (Dll-D12)
Cosrrwlogy (D13-D15)
Other References to the Gods (D16-D18)
A Reference to the Hyades (D19)
R
The Earliest References and Allusions (Rl-R3)
Pherecydes' Book (R4-R9)
The First Prose Author (R4-R7)
In Ionic Dialect (RB)
The Survival of His Book (R9)
One of the Seven Sages (RlO)
Pherecydes as a Pythagorean (Rl l-R1 8)
The Initiator of the Pythagorean Line of Descent of
Greek Philosophy (Rl l-R12)
A Substitution (R13)
Doctrinal Rapprochements (Rl4-R18)
Metempsychosis (R14-R16)
The One (Rl 7)
Seed (Rl8)
Other Allegories and Interpretations (R1 9-R26)
The Form of the Narrative (R19)
The Principles and Elements (R20-R26)
Pherecydes Arrwng the Christians (R27-R30)
Does Pherecydes Derive His Inspiration from Homer
or the Bible? (R27)
Other Testirrwnia on Pherecydes' Dependence Upon
the Scriptures (R28-R29)
Hermias' Fatigue (R30)
An Apocryphal Correspondence Between Pherecydes
and Thales (R31)
157
P H E R E CY D E S [ 7 D K ]
Chronology (Pl-P4)
PI ( < AI) Diog. Laert. l . 12I

yEyove 8E Kara r�v 7TEVrYJKoa-r�v Kat Evarriv 'OA.vµ,-
7Tia8a.
P2 (< A2) Suda <l>.214

epeKv8TJ'» Baf3vo<;, "!.vpio<; [ . ] yEyove 8E Kara rov
. . ·
Av8wv f3aa-iA.ia 'AA.varrriv, w<; a-vyxpove'iv ro'i<; ,, a-o

<f>o'i<; Kat rerEx()ai 7TEpt r�v µ,e' 1 '0A.vµ,ma8a [ .P6] .
. . =
'
1 µ€' ] ve G: µ8' Rohde
P3 ( < A5) Cic. Tusc. 1 . 16.38

[ . . RI4] antiquus sane; fuit enim meo regnante gentili
. =
[ . . .] .
158
P H E R E CY D E S
Chronology (Pl-P4)
Pl ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius

He lived during the 59th Olympiad [ = 544140] .
P2 ( < A2) Suda

Pherecydes, son of Babys, of Syros [ . . . ] ; he lived at the
time of Alyattes, king of the Lydians [i.e. 605/560] , so that
he was contemporary with the Seven Sages and was born
around the 45th Olympiad [= 600/596] . 1
1 This is often corrected to the 49th Olympiad (584180) on the
supposition that the indication given in Pl refers to Pherecydes'
floruit (forty years old).
P3 ( < A5) Cicero, Tusculan Disputations

[ . . . scil. he was] quite ancient, for he lived during the
reign of my ancestor and namesake [i.e. Servius Tullius,
578/35] .
159
P4 (8 Schibli) Ps.-Luc. Long. 22
( . . . J iP€p€KV071<; o !,vpw<; [ . . . J oyoo'ljKOVTa Kat 7TEV'T€.

P5 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 16
<P€p€KV071<> Baf3vo<; !.vpto<;, Ka8a cp71<Tw 'A>..etavopo<;

f.v .::i taooxaZ<; [FGrHist 273 F85], ITtTTaKov OtaK'ljKo€.
Or Did He Learn from Oriental Sources? (P6-P8)
P6 (< A2) Suda <P.214

[ . . . P2] aVTOV OE OVK E<TXY/KEVa£ Ka871y71T'ljv, &.AA.'
=
�aVTOV a<TKij<Ta£, KTY/<TUfL€VOV TU iPo£VtKWV U7TOKpvcpa

/3£{3>.. ia [ . . . R5a].
=
P7 (< B4) Eus. PE 1 . 10.50 ( Ph. Bybl., FHG III Frag.

=
9)
7Tapa iPo£VtKWV OE Kat 'P€p€KV071<; f.. a{Jwv TU<; acpop
µa<; E8€0A6y71<T€ 7T€pt TOV Trap' avT/i> A€yoµevov 'Ocpi
OVO<; 8€oV Kat TWV 'OcpwvtOwv [ . . . ] .
P 8 (38 Schibli) Flav. Jos. Apion. 1 . 14

&.Ha µ'ljv [. . . = D4] iP€p€K'6071v T€ Tov !.vpwv Kat
160
P H E RECYD E S
P4 ( � DK) Ps.-Lucian, Long-lived Men

[ . . . ] Pherecydes of Syros [ . . . scil. lived] eighty-five years.

P5 ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius
Pherecydes, son of Babys, of Syros, studied with Pittacus, 1
as Alexander says in his Successions.
1 One of the Seven Sages, cf. MOR. T35[5].
Or Did He Leamfrom Oriental Sources ? (P6-P8)

P6 ( < A2) Suda
[ . . . ] he did not have a teacher himself, but he trained
himself after he had acquired the secret books of the
Phoenicians.
P7 ( < B4) Philon of Byblos in Eusebius, Evangelical

Preparation
Pherecydes, taking his starting point from the Phoeni
cians, expressed theological doctrines about the god that
he calls Ophion and the Ophionids [cf. Dl l-Dl2] [ . . . ].
P8 ( � DK) Flavius Josephus, Against Apion

But as for [ . . . ] Pherecydes of Syros, Pythagoras, and
161
IIv0ay6pav Kat ®a!..17rn 7TaVTE<; <FVµ,<f>wvw<; oµ,o!..oyov

aw Alyv7Triwv Kat Xa!.. o aiwv yEvoµ,ivov<; µ,a017ras
[ . . . R7] .
=
P9 (< A2) Suda <l>.214

[ . . . P2] oioaxOfivai OE v7T' avrov IIv0ay6pav A.6yo<>
=
[ . . . P6] .
=
Predictions (PlO)
PIO (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 16-- 1 7

7TOAAa OE Kat Oavµ,a<na AEYETat 7TEpt avroV - Kat yap
7Tapa TOV alyia!.. o v Tij<; "!.aµ,ov 7TEpi7TaTOVVTa Kat vavv
ovpwOpoµ,ovcrav lo6vra EL7TELIJ W<; /J,ET' ov 7TOAV1 KaTa
OVU"ETai· Kat EV o<f>Oa!..µ,o'i<; avrov KaraOvvai. Kat avi
µ,170EVTO<; EK <f>pforo<; vOaTO<; m6vra 7rp0Et1TELV W<; Ek
rplT1Jll ,Y,µ,ipav EU"OtTO U"Eicrµ,o<;, Kat YEVEcrOai. avi6vra
TE EL<; 'OA.vµ,7Ttav2 ev MEcrcr1)v173 r<fi tiv<fJ IIEpiA.a<tJ <FVµ,
{3ov!.. Evcrai etoiKijcrai µ,Era TOJIJ OLKElWV" Kat TOV µ,�
7TELcr0ijvai, MEcrcr1)v17v OE EaAWKEvai. (1 17] Kat AaKE
Oaiµ,ovfoi<; EL7TELV µ,1jrE xpvcrov nµ,av µ,1jrE apyvpov,
w<; <f>71cri ®Eo7TO/J,7TO<; €11 ®avµ,acrfoi<; [FGrHist 1 15 F71 ] ·
1 µer' o v 1rOAv rec . : o v µer' o v 7roAv BP<l>: o v µera 7roAv

Diels 2 Ei> 'O/\vµ7rtav BP<l>: a7r' 'O/\vµ7rta> Casaubon
162
P H E R E CYD E S
Thales, everyone agrees that they were students of the

Egyptians and Chaldaeans [ . . . ] .

P9 ( < A2) Suda
There is a report that Pythagoras was taught by him [ cf.
PYTH. a Pl2-Pl5] .
Predictions (PlO)
PIO (< Al) Diogenes Laertius
Many marvels are reported about him. While he was walk
ing on the beach of Samos, he saw a boat sailing with a fair
wind and said that soon it would sink-and it sank before
his eyes. When he drank water drawn from a well, he
predicted that there would be an earthquake two days
later-and it happened. When he traveled to Olympia, he
advised his host Perilaus in Messene to leave his home
together with his household-but he was not persuaded,
and Messene was captured. [ 117] He told the Lacedaemo
nians to hold neither gold nor silver in honor, as Theopom
pus says in his Marvels; he had received this order in a
3 €v ME<T<T'ljv71 von der Miihll: E<; ME<T<T'ljv17v (ME<T'lj- P)

BP 1<1>: EK ME<T<T'ljv17.;; Richards
163
1TpO<TTatai S e avT<f! ovap TOVTO TOIJ 'HpaKAEa, Bv Kat

Tij<; awij<; JIVKTO<; TOt<; {3a<rtAW<Tt KEAEV<Tat <PepeK6Sv
Trei()e<T()ai. evwi Se IIv()ay6p� 1TEpta1TTOV<Tt TUVTU [ .
. .
= Pl4] .
Pherecydes at Sparta (Pll-P12)
Pl l (23 Schibli) Plut. Agis 10. 6
E7rEt TepTravSp6v ye1 Kat ®aATJTa Kat <PepeKvST/v tf.

vov<; OVTa<;, on Ta avTa Tc/i AvKovpycp OtETeAovv ifSov
TE<; Kat cfnAo<rocf>ovvTe<>, ev "!TrapT!J nµ,TJ()ijvai Sia
cf>epovTw<;.
1 re mss . , corr. Reiske
Pl2 (25 Schibli) Plut. Pelop. 21.3
[. . .] <PepeK6ST/v TE Tov <rocpov vTro AaKeSaiµ,oviwv

&.vaipe()evTa Kat TTJV Sopav avTov KaTa n Aoywv vTro
Twv {3a<riAewv cf>povpovµ,ev7]v [ . . ] ..
Death: The Role of Pythagoras (P13-P16)
Pl3 (32 Schibli) Arist. HA 5.30 556b30-557a3
evfot<; Se TOVTO <TVµ,fjaivei TWIJ 1iv()pw1TWIJ IJO<TTJf-lU,

OTalJ vypa<rta 1TOAATJ EIJ Tc/i <Twµ,an n· Kat Siecf>()apTJ
<TaV TWE<; 7/STJ TOVTOIJ TOIJ TP01TOIJ, W<T1TEP 'AAKµ,ava TE
cf>a<ri Tov TrOtTJTTJV Kat <PepeKvST/v Tov "!vpwv.
164
P H E R E CYDE S
dream from Heracles, who that same night ordered the

kings to obey Pherecydes. But some people attach this
story to Pythagoras [cf. Rl3].
Pherecydes at Sparta (Pll-P12)

P l l ( � DK) Plutarch, Agis
Although Terpander, Thales, and Pherecydes were for
eigners, they are particularly honored in Sparta because
they constantly sang and proclaimed philosophically the
same things as Lycurgus.
Pl2 ( � DK) Plutarch, Pelopidas

[ . . . ] Pherecydes the sage was killed by the Lacedaemoni
ans and, in conformity with an oracle, his skin was pre
served by the kings [ . . .] .1
1 Presumably this is the trace of a story of ritual sacrifice, of
which the details are obscure.
Death: the Role of Pythagoras (P13-P16)

Pl3 ( � DK) Aristotle, History of Animals
This disease [i.e. phthiriasis] affects certain humans when
there is an abundance of moisture in the body; and some
people have already died in this way, like, they say, Aleman
the poet, and Pherecydes of Syros.
165
P l 4 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 17-18

[. . . = PIO] cp7Ju"i 8' "Epµ,t1T1TD'> [FGrHist 1026 F20]
1To'A€µ,ov <TVveurwro<> 'Ecpeuioi<> Ka"i MayvTJ<TL {3ovA.6-
µ,evov rov<> 'Ecpeufov<> viKi/uai 1Tv8€uBai TWO'> 7rapi6v
TD'> 1T6()ev EtTJ· rov 8' EL7TOVTO'> "Et 'Ecpiuov," "l'AKvuov
µ,e roivvv," €cpTJ, "rwv <TKEAwv Ka"i ()€., EL'> r,Y,v rwv
Mayv'l/rwv xwpav, Kal a1Tayyei'A6v U'OV TOl') 7TOAlrUt')
µ,era TO IJtKi/<Tat avr6Bi µ,e Batfiai· E1TEU'KTJ<Pivat TE
ravra ct>epeKv8Tjv." [ 1 18] o µ,ev < oiJv >1 a1T°1/yyeiA.ev· oi
8€ µ,era µ,iav E1Te'AB6vre<> Kparovui rwv Mayv'l/rwv,
Kal TOV ct>epEKV8TJV µ,era'AA.atavra 8a7TTOVU'LIJ avr6Bi
Ka"i µ,eyaA.o7rpE1TW'> nµ,wuw. €vwi 8€ cpauw EA.86vra
ELI) /::;. e'Acpov') a1TO TOV KwpvKfov opoV') avrov 8t<TKi/
U'at. 'Apiur6tevo<> 8' Ev r<fi IIep"i IIvBayopov Kal rwv
yvwpiµ,wv avrov <PTJU't [Frag. 14 Wehrli] IJO<T'l/<Tavra
avrov V1TO IIvBayopov racpi/vai EV !::;.1/ 'Acp. oi 8€ cpBei
pta<Tavra rov {3fov re'Aevri/uai· ore Ka"i IIvBayopov
7rapayevoµ,€vov Ka"i 1TVv8avoµ,€vov 1TW'> 8iaKEoiro, 8ia
{3a'AoVTa rfi<> Bvpa<> TOIJ 8aKTVAOV EL7TEtV, "xpot 8iiA.a."
1 < olw > Cobet
Pl5 ( < A4) Diod. Sic. 10.3.4

on IIvBayopa<> 7TV86µ,evo<> ct>epeKv8TJv rov E1Tt<TTUTTJV
avrov yeyEVTJfLEVOV EV !::;.1/ 'Acp VOU'ElV Kal TEAEw<>1 E<TXU
TW') €xew, E7TAEVU'EV EK ri/<> 'IraAia<> EL'> TY/V .tlfj'Aov.
1 reA.ew<; del. Cobet

166
P H E RECYD E S
Pl4 (< Al) Diogenes Laertius

[ . . . ] Hermippus says that during a war between the Ephe
sians and the Magnesians, he [i.e. Pherecydes] wanted the
Ephesians to win and so asked someone who was passing
by where he was from. When that man answered, "From
Ephesus," he said, "Then drag me by the legs and put me
down in the territory of the Magnesians, and proclaim to
your fellow citizens that after their victory they must bury
me right there; and that it is Pherecydes who has com
manded these things." [1 18] So the man made this proc
lamation, and they attacked the next day and gained vic
tory over the Magnesians; and they buried Pherecydes,
who had died, right there and honored him magnificently.
But some say that he went to Delphi and threw himself
from Mount Corycius. Aristoxenus says in his book On
Pythagoras and His Disciples that at the end of his illness
he was buried by Pythagoras at Delos. Others say that he
died of phthiriasis; and when Pythagoras, who was there,
asked how he was doing, he stuck his finger through the
door and said, "It is clear from my skin."
Pl5 ( < A4) Diodorus Siculus

When Pythagoras found out that Pherecydes, who had
become his tutor, was sick in Delos and finally was near
death, he sailed from Italy to Delos. There he took care of
167
EKEt O E xp6vov iKavov TOV avopa yriporporpfiaw;; , 1TU

crav etcr71veyKaro <r1Tovo�v wcrre rov 1Tpecr/3vrriv eK
rij<; VO<TOV oiacrwcrai. Kancrxv8€vro<;2 OE TOV <J>epeKiJ
oov oia TO yijpa<; Kat Dia TO µ€ye8o<; Tij<; VO<TOV, 1TEpi
E<TTEt'Aev avrov KT/OeµoviKW<;, Kat TWV voµi,oµevwv
dbwcra<; wcrave[ Ti<; vio<; 1TaTepa mf'Aw E1Tavij'A8ev Et<;
r�v 'Ira'A[av.
2 Kancrxvcravro� mss., corr. Reiske
Pl6 (28 Schibli) Heracl. Lemb. in Diog. Laert. 8.40
'HpaKAELDT/<> 0€ </>ricrw [FHG III Frag. 6] ev rfi rwv !a

rupov /3[wv emroµfi µera TO Oat/Jai <J>epEKVOT/V EV
ilfi'A E1Tave'A8e'iv Et<; 'Ira'A[av [ . . ] .
.
168
P H E RECYD E S
the old man fo r a considerable time and applied all his

efforts to save him from his illness. But when Pherecydes
has been defeated by old age and the seriousness of his
illness, he wrapped up his body carefully and after he had
honored him with the traditional rites, like a son for his
father, he returned once again to Italy.
Pl6 ( ;t: DK) Heraclides Lembos in Diogenes Laertius

Heraclides says in his Epitome of Satyros' Lives that he
[i.e. Pythagoras] returned to Italy after he had buried
Pherecydes in Delos.
See also PITH. a Pl2, Pl5
169
P H E R E CYD E S [ 7 D K ]
D I (< A2) Suda <P.214

e<rn OE a7TavTa & <TVviypmflE, TavTa· 'E7TTaµ,vxo<> 7/Toi
®EoKpa<ria � ®Eoyovia. E<TTl OE 8EoAoyia1 exov<ra
8Efvv YEVE<TlV KUL oiaooxa<;. 2
1 ev f3i/3A.iot<> t1 post OrnA.oyia habent mss, de!. Jacoby ut ad
Pherecydum Atheniensem spectantia 2 llia86xov<> mss.,
corr. Preller
D2 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 16

TOVTov <f>YJ<rl 0Eo7TOf.l-7TO<; [FGrHist 1 15 F71] 7TpwTOv
7TEpt <f>v<rEw<> Kat1 8Ewv EA.A.YJ<ri2 ypa1Jmi.
"
1 Kat <yeve<TEW<>> Gomperz

rot:<>> "EA.A71<Tt Marcovich
D3 (Al l) Max. Tyr. Diss. 4.4.5

aA.A.a KUL TOV !,vpiov TT]v 7TOLYJ<TlV <TK07TEl, TOV Zijva
170
P H E R E CY D E S
D
D I (< A2) Suda

These are all of his writings: The Seven Nooks 1 or Mixture
of the Gods or Theogony. It is a theology comprising the
birth and successions of the gods.
1 D6 speaks of Five Nooks.
D2 (< Al) Diogenes Laertius

Theopompus says that he was the first to write for the
Greeks about nature and the gods.
D3 (Al l) Maximus of Tyre, Philosophical Orations

Consider also the poetry of the man from Syros: Zeus,
171
KaL TTJV XOoviTJV Kai, TOV E V TOVTOt� "EpwTa Kai, TT/v

'O</>wvew� yev€aW KaL TT/v 0€WV 1uixTJV KaL TO oevSpov
Kai, TOV TTE7TAov.
04 (38 Schibli) Flav. Jos. Apion. 1 . 14

a>.. >.. a µT/v KaL TOV� 1T€pl TWV ovpaviwv T€ KaL 0€iwv
1TpwTov� TTap' "EAATJCTt <f>i>.. ocro<f>-r)cravTa�, olov <Ii€p€
Kt!S71v T€ Tov !.vpwv [ . . . PS]
= .
05 ( .. f ov [. . .] ov r, apx-r/· za.� µev Kat
Xp6vo� �crav 1 a€L Kat XOovl,71 �v·2 XOovl:n Se ovoµa
EYEV€TO r7) E1T€tST/ avTii Zas y7)v3 yepa� SiSot.
1 �<Tav Diels: �� B : Et� P1 (Q): er� P" 2 x86VTJV B, x8wv
�v P: corr. Casaubon 3 YTJV B: yTj P \ Q): eras. P"
06 (< A8) Dam. Prine. 124b ( Eudem. Frag. 1 1 7 Wehrli)

=
<Ii€p€KVS'YJ� SE o !.vpw� [ . . . ] Tov Se Xp6vov 1Toi7)crai

EK TOV y6vov EaVTOV 1Tilp KaL 1TV€Vµa KaL uSwp [ . . . ]
€( dlv EV 1TEVT€ µvxols StTJP7Jf.LEVWV 1TOAATJV aAATJV Y€-
11€UV crvcTT7jvai 0€WV TT/v 1T€VTeµvxov KaAOVf.LEVTJV [ . . . ]
[cf. R23].
172
P H E RECYD E S
Chthonie, Eros who i s among them, the birth o f Ophio

neus, 1 the battle of the gods, the tree, and the robe [cf.
D5, D8, D9, D l0-D l2] .
1 A monster, whose name suggests a snake, cf. R27.
D4 ( # DK) Flavius Josephus, Against Apion

But as for those who were the first among the Greeks to
philosophize about celestial phenomena and divine mat
ters, like Pherecydes of Syros [ . . . ] .

D5 (< Bl) Diogenes Laertius
[ . . . ] the book [ . . . ] its beginning is: Zas [i.e. Zeus] and
Chronos were always, and Chthonie was. But the
name of Chthonie became Earth when Zas gave her
the earth as a present [cf. R4] .
D6 (< AB) Eudemus in Damascius, On the Principles

Pherecydes of Syros [scil. says] [ . . . ] that Chronos made
out of his own seed fire, breath, and water [ . . . ] out of
which, when they had been distributed in five nooks, was
created another numerous generation of gods, called "the
five-nook" one [ . . . ] .
173
D 7 ( EpEKV07J<; 6 "!.vpw<; apx.Y,v
TWV oAwv TO vowp v<Picrrnvrni, 15 87, Kat xao<; KaAEl 6
<f>EpEKV07J<; [ . . . R22].
=
'Zas ' Cosmogonic Marriage (D8-D10)
08 (< B3) Prod. In Tim. 3 ad 32c (vol. 2, p. 54.28-30

Diehl)
[ . . ] 6 <f>EpEKV07J<; EAEyEv El<; "Epwra f.LETa/3E/3Ai'Jcr8ai
.
Tov 6.ia f.LEAAovrn 07Jf.LWvpyEZv [ . . . cf. R24] .
09 (B2) P. Grenf. 2. 1 1 ed. Schibli (et al.)
[Col. l ] [avlTWL 7TOLOV<TLV T a o[l]Kta I 7TOAAa T E Kat

f.LEya.\.a· I €7TEt 8€ ravTa €tETEl [5]AE<Tav 7Tavra Kat
xp7/lf.LaTa Kat 8Epa7roVTa<; I Kat 8Epa7Tatva<; KaL I
TilAAa O<Ta OEl 7TclVTa, I €7TEL 87, 7TclVTa €ToZl[ 10]µ.a
yiyvETai, Tov yalµ.ov 7TOtEvcrw. Ka7TEilo.Y, Tpir71 �f.LEP7J
yilyvErai Twi yaf.Lwi, To I TE LZa<> 7TOiE'i: <Papo<> µ.El [ l5]
ya TE Kat KaAOv, KaL I €v avTw[i] F��[tAAEL rr,v I Kat
'Oy71[vov Kat Ta 'Oly71vov [owf.LaraJ . . .
[Col. 2] [/3ov.\.6µ.Evo<;] I yap <TEO Tov<; yaf.Lov[ <> I Eivai,

TOVTWL <TE TLf.t[Ew. I crV OE f.LOL xa'i:pE KaL c:r¥[vl [5]i]
Col. 1 1 av]rwi suppl. Diels, 16-18 r7Jv . . . owµ,ara suppl.

edd. ex Clem. Alex. Strom. 6.9.4, cett. suppl. Grenfell-Hunt
Col. 2 1 /3ov'Aoµ,evo<; suppl. Weil, 4-5 \TY[vi]cr8i Blass
174
PHE RECYD E S
D7 ( < B la) Achilles Tatius, Introduction to Aratus' Phae

nomena
Thales of Miletus and Pherecydes of Syros posit as the
principle of all things water, which Pherecydes also calls
Chaos [ . . . ] .
'Zas' Cosmogonic Marriage (D8-Dl 0)

D8 (< B3) Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Timaeus
[ . . . ] Pherecydes of Syros said that when Zeus was about
to begin his work of creation, he transformed himself into
Eros [ . . . ] .
D 9 (B2) Grenfell Papyrus

[Col. l] . . . for him [i.e. Zas] they make buildings,
many and great; and when they had finished them
all, the objects, male servants, female servants, and
everything else that is necessary, when then every
thing is ready, they perform the wedding. And when
the third day of the wedding comes, then Zas makes
a robe, great and beautiful, and on it he embroiders
Earth, Ogenos [i.e. Ocean] , and the houses of Ogenos
[Col. 2] [Zeus speaks to Chthonie:] . . . "since I want this

marriage to he yours, it is you that I honor with this.
But you, receive my greeting and he my wife." They
175
uOi. TaVTa cpa<rtll ar[alKaAV1TT'1jpia 1TPWT011 I ye11e

uOai, EK T9VTOV �[ f I 0 116µ,oc; eye11e[ TO] Kat I Oeo�<Tt
Kat a110P.[W1T]9�l[lO]uw .;, 8€ µ,i[11 aµ,eifjelrai ��ea
•
If[ EJ/7/ ro TO I cpij.[poc; . . .
10-12 suppl. Diels, cett. Grenfell-Hunt 3 � (600) in marg.
DIO (< B2) Clem. Alex. Strom. 6.53.5

[ . . . ] 7i V1T01TTEpoc; 8pvc; Kat TO E1T' avTfi 1TE1TOtKtAf.LE11011
cp8.poc; [ . . . ] [cf. R28].
War Against Ophioneus (Dl l-D12)
D l l (< B4) Orig. Cels. 6.42

rJ>epeKv8-rJV 8€ ?TOAArtJ apxai0Tepo11 ye116µ,e11011 'Hpa
KAEtrov µ,vOo?Toiel,11 1 <rTpaTeia11 <rrpaTeiq. ?TapaTaTTO
f.LEVYJll, Kat T1jc; µ,€11 iJyeµ,611a Kp611011 8i8611at Tfjc; ere
pac; 8€ 'Qcpw11ea, 1TpOKA'1j<rEt<; TE Kat aµ,tAAac; aVTWll
t<rTope'i,11,2 a-v1101}Ka<; TE aVTOl<; y£11ea-Oat, 'L11' 01TOTepot
aww11 eic; TOll 'fiy71vo11 Ef.L1TE<TW<rt, TOVTOVS' µ,€11 elvai
11ElltK'YJf.LE110V<;, TOV<; 8' etwa-a11rac; Kat lltK1}<raVTac; TOV
TOV<; �xew TOll ovpav611.
1 µ,v801roiiav ms., corr. Bouhereau 2 t<TTopii ms., corr.
Bouhereau
012 (< B4) Tert. Car. 7.4

Saturnum Pherecydes ante omnes refert coronatum [ . . . ] .
176
P H E RECYD E S
say that these were the first anakalypteria 1 that were

performed, and from this time this custom has ex
isted, for both gods and men. And she answers him,
receiving the robe from him . . .
1 A nuptial ceremony in ancient Greece, during which the
groom unveiled the bride and gave her gifts.
DI 0 ( < B2) Isidore in Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

[ . . . ] the winged oak and the embroidered robe on it
[. . .] .
War Against Ophioneus (Dl l-D12)

D 1 1 ( < B4) Celsus in Origen, Against Celsus
Pherecydes, who is much more ancient than Heraclitus,
invented the myth of one army set in order against another
army, gave the command of the one to Cronus and of the
other to Ophioneus, and recounted their challenges and
combats, and that they made an accord according to which
whichever ones of them fell into Ogenos would be de
feated, while those who expelled them and defeated them
would possess the heavens.
012 (< B4) Tertullian, On the Soldier's Garland

Pherecydes reports that Saturn [i.e. Cronus, Khronos] was
crowned before everyone [ . . . ] .1
1 This doubtless refers to the victory of Cronus over Ophi
oneus.
177
Cosmology (Dl3-Dl5)
D 13 ( < B5) Orig. Gels. 6.42
K€£v71r; 8€ -rfjr; µ,o£par; ev€p(H.v eu--rw T, -rap-rapi71

µ,o'ipa· cpvA.au-u-ovu-i 8' av-rTiv ()vya-rep€'> Bopfov "Ap-
1Tvia£ 'T€ KUL ®v€AAa, ev()a Z€v<; EKfJaAAH ()dJv OTaJJ
Tt<; etvfJpiu-v.
D l4 (< B6) Porph. Antr. 31
[ . . . ] Ka! -rov !vpfov c:I>€pEKv8ov µ,vxovr; Kat fJ6()povr;

KaL av-rpa KaL ()6pa<; KaL 1TVAa<; A.l.yov'TO<; [ . . . ] [cf.
R26] .
Dl5 (< B7) Porph. Gaur. 2.2
[ . . . ] 1Tapa 8E -r<fi ct>ep€Kv8v -rTiv eKpoTiv [ . . . ] [cf. RIB] .
Other References to the Gods (D1 6-D18)
Dl6 Hdn. Mon. Lex.
a ( < B9) 7.5 (91 1.23-34 Lentz)

[ . . . ] KaL T, 'Pia 'Pfj KEKAYJTat V1To rnv !vpfov [ . . . ] .
b ( ep€Kv8H KaTa KtPYJU"lV £8iav.
178
PHE RECYD E S
Cosrrwlogy (Dl3-Dl5)
D l3 (< B5) Celsus in Origen, Against Celsus
Below that portion is the portion of Tartarus. The
daughters of Boreas, the Harpies and Thyella [i.e.
Storm], guard it. It is to there that Zeus banishes any
of the gods when he commits an outrage.
Dl4 (< B6) Porphyry, The Cave of the Nymphs

[ . ] and Pherecydes of Syros, who speaks of nooks, of
. .
hollows, of caves, of doors, of gates [ . . . ] .
D l 5 (< B 7 ) Porphyry, To Gaurus o n the Animation of the

Embryo
[ . . . ] the outflow in Pherecydes [ . . . ] .
Other References to the Gods (D1 6-Dl8)

D l 6 Herodian, On Particular Usages
a (< B9)
[ . . . ] Rhea is called Re by the man from Syros [ . ] .
. .
b (< B l )
For one finds Dis, Zen, Den, Zas, and Zes i n Phere
cydes, according to the appropriate declension.
179
D I 7 (Bl2) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 19
D I S (fiuoµev [ . . . ] T.Y,v ue'A.fiv71v [ . . . ], Tpe<f>eiv
TOV<; avopa<; aµf3pouiav av£Etuav1 aVTOt<; €<f>71µ€pwv,
w<; <PepeKv071<; o 7TaAaio<; oteTat uiTetuOai Tov<;2 Oeov<;.
1 aVEL<TaV mss., corr. Emperius 2 aVToVt; mss.,

corr. Wyttenbach
Dl9 ( B l3) Schol. in Arat. Phaen. 1 72, p. 369.27

'17T7Tta<; [ cf. D36] oi Kat <PepeK6071<; E7TTU .
180
P H E R E CY D E S
D l 7 (B l2) Diogenes Laertius

And he also said that the gods call the [scil. banquet] table
a table for offerings.
Dl8 (< B 13a) Plutarch, On the Face in the Moon

Unless we say [ . . . ] that the moon [ . . . ] nourishes the men
[scil. who live on it] by sending up ambrosia to them every
day, as the ancient Pherecydes thinks that the gods them
selves are fed.

Dl9 ( B 13) Scholia on Aratus' Phaenomena
Hippias [cf. D35] and Pherecydes say [scil. that the Hya
des] are seven in number.
181
P H E R E CY D E S [ 7 D K ]
Rl (< 36 B4) Ion Chius in Diog. Laert. 1 . 120
&,, & µ-f.v fivop€ri TE KEKaa-µho<; fiSe KaL alSol:

KaL <f>8iµEvo<; ifroxii TEpTrvov lxi:i {Jiorov,
Et7TEp Ilv8ay6p17<; fruµw<; 0 a-ocpo<; 7TEpl 1TUVTWV
dv8pwTrwv yvwµa<; EWE KaL €f,€µa8Ev.
R2 (p. 88 Schibli) Plat. Soph. 242c-d
0 µev W<; Tpia Ta ovra, 7TOAEµEt Se d>..A -r} 'Aoi<; €vioTE

aVTWV aTra 1TT/, TOTE Se Kal <f>i>.. a yiyvoµEva yaµov<;
TE Kal TOKOV<; Kal Tpocpa<; TWV €Kyovwv 1TapEXETal.
1 It is possible, but not certain, that Plato is implicitly alluding

to Pherecydes.
182
P H E RECYD E S
R
Rl ( < 36 B4) Ion of Chios in Diogenes Laertius

Ion of Chios says about him [i.e. Pherecydes 1 ] :
Thus adorned with prowess and reverence,
He has a pleasant life for his soul even though he
is dead,
If indeed Pythagoras, truly wise beyond all [or: about
all things],
Made acquaintance with men's thoughts and knew
them thoroughly.
[cf. PYTH. a P29] .
1 The pronoun could also refer to Pythagoras, whose name

appears in an epigram that Diogenes Laertius has just cited.
R2 ( � DK) Plato, Sophist

[ . . . ] the one1 says that there are three beings, that at one
time some of them wage war against each other, and that
at another they become friends, get married, have chil
dren, and raise their offspring [cf. D5, D8-Dl2].
183
R3 ( < A7) Arist. Metaph. N4 109lb8-10

[ . . . ] E7TEt Ot ye µeµiyµevoi avTWV Kat Ti!i µT, µvBtKW<;
7TaVTa AE')IEtV, oiov cI>epeiol871<; Ka'i erepo[ T£VE<;, TO yev
vfj<Tav 7TpWTOV apt<TTOV rt0Ea<T£ ( . . . ] .

R4 (9 Schibli) Plin. Nat. hist. 7.205

[ . . . ] prosam orationem condere Pherecydes Syrius insti
tuit Cyri regis aetate, historiam Cadmus Milesius [ . . . ] .
R5 ( < A2 ) Suda
a cI>.214
[ . . . P6] 7TpwTov 8€ <TV')l')lpacf>T,v E!�eveyKe'iv 7TE'i!i
=
A.6y(f.> nv€<; t<TTopov<Tw, €Tepwv TovTo el<; Ka8µov Tov

Mi'A1)<Twv cf>epovTwv [ . . . Rl5] .
=
b .216
ITopcf>vpw<; [ . . . ] EKE'ivov µ6vov -T,ye'irat apx71yov <TV')l
ypacpij<;.
R6 ( 13 Schibli) Strab. 1.2.6

etTa EKeiv71v [sc. TT,v 7TOL7JTLKT,v KaTa<TKW7JV] µiµovµe
voi Av<TaVTE<; TO µfrpov, TaAAa 8€ cf>vA.a�aVTE<; Ta 7T0£-
7JTtKa <TVveypaiflav ol. 7Tep'i Ka8µov Ka'i epeKv871 Ka'i
'EKaTa'iov.
184
P H E RECYD E S
R 3 ( A7 ) Aristotle, Metaphysics
[ . . . ] those among them [i.e. the ancient poets] whose
position is mixed, also because they do not say everything
in a mythic way posit as the best that which engendered
first, like Pherecydes and certain others [ . . . ] .

R4 ( � DK) Pliny, Natural History
[ . . . ] Pherecydes of Syros founded the composition of
discourse in prose under the reign of Cyrus [ 559/29],
=
Cadmus of Miletus did the same for history [ . . . ] .
R5 ( < A2) Suda

a
Some people report that he was the first to publish a trea

tise in prose, while others attribute this to Cadmos of Mi
letus [ . . . ] .
b
Porphyrius [ . . . ] thinks that he alone [i.e. and not Phere
cydes of Athens] was the originator of the [scil. prose]
treatise.
R6 ( � DK) Strabo, Geography

Then Cadmus, Pherecydes, and Hecataeus wrote treatises
that imitated this [i.e. poetic presentation] : they aban
doned meter but preserved all the other poetic features.
185
R7 (< 3 8 Schibli) Flav. Jos. Apion. 1 . 14
[. . . = P8] 6>.. iya croyypaiflai.
R8 Apoll. Dysc. Pronom.
a (Bl3) p. 65. 15 Schneider

Kat epeKv871i; €.v rfi ()eoA.oyiq. Kat €n [ . . cf. ATOM.
.
R3a] xpwvrni rfi €.µev Kat ln rfi €.µio.
b (B l l ) p. 92.20-93.2 Schneider
ai 7TA7J(}VVTLKa"i, KOLIJOAEKTOVVTaL Kar' ev(}iiav 7Tp6<; TE
'Iwvwv KaL 'AniKWIJ, iJµels, vµErs, <TCpEt<;, E<TTL <8€> 1
7TL<TTW<Ta<T()ai Kat TO &.8iatpETOIJ rf)<; EV()Eta<; 7Tap' "Iw
<TLIJ €.K rwv 7TEpt f171µ6Kpirov [ATOM. R3b], <'f>EpEK6871v
[. . .].
i <Se> Wilamowitz
The Survival of His Book (R9)
R9 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 . 1 19

<T<gErnL 8€ TOV "!.vpiov r6 TE f3if3Hov Cl croveypaiflEv,
ov ;, &.pxir [ . . . D5J .
=
186
P H E RECYD E S
R 7 ( � DK) Flavius Josephus, Against Apion

[ . . . ] they [i.e. Pherecydes, Pythagoras, and Thales] wrote
only very little.

R8 Apollonius Dyscolus, On Pronouns
a (Bl3)
Pherecydes in his Theology, as well as [i.e. Democritus]
[ . . . ] often use "emeu" and also "emeo" [i.e. both the
contracted and the uncontracted form of "my"] .
b (Bll)
In the nominative, the plural forms hemeis, humeis, spheis
("we,'' "you,'' "they") are used by both Ionian and Attic
writers, but the uncontracted forms of the nominative are
also attested in Ionic writers in the writings of Democritus
[cf. ATOM. R3b], Pherecydes, [ . . . ] .
The Suroival of His Book (R9)

R9 (< Al) Diogenes Laertius
Of the one from Syros [scil. not Pherecydes of Athens] the
book he wrote is extant;1 its beginning is [ . . . ] .
1 This might refer to the time of Diogenes Laertius, or to that
of his (unknown) source.
187
RIO (cf. A2a) Diog. Laert. 1 .42

�Epµl1T7TO<; D' ev r<fi IlEpl TWV <ro<f>wv E'ITTaKULDEKa </>YJ
(TlV [Frag. 6 Wehrli] , <ilv TOV<; E'/TTa aA>.. o v<; aAAw<; aipe'i
cr8ai· eivai DE [ . . . ] <l>epEKVDYJV [ . . . ] .
Pherecydes as a Pythagorean (Rl l -R1 8)

The Initiator of the Pythagorean Line of Descent
of Greek Philosophy (Rl l -R12)
R l l (58 Schibli) Arist. in Diog. Laert. 2.46 (= Frag. 65

Rose)
[ . . . J e<f>iA.oveiKEl [ . . . J eaA.YJn DE <1>epeKVDYJ' [ . . . J .
Rl2 (46b Schibli) Clem. Alex. Strom. 1.62.4

OiDacrKaAo<; OE avrov OVDEl<; avaypa<f>eral, WCT'ITEP
ovDE <l>epEKVDov TOV !vpiov, <[i Ilv8ay6pa<; eµa8firev
CT€V.
Rl3 (< A6) Porph. apud Eus. PE 10.3.7-9 (< Frag. 408
Smith, p. 480.30-46)
[7] ravr' ovv TOV "AvDpwvo<; 1TEpl Ilv8ay6pov LCTTOpYJ
KOTO<; '/Tavra v<f>eiAETO 0E01TOfL1TO<;' [. . .] vvv OE r¥
KAo'/TY,v D1/AYJV 17'€'/TOLYJKEV Yi TOV ov6µaro<; µera8E<Tl<;'
188
P H E R E CYD E S

RIO (cf. A2a) Diogenes Laertius
Hermippus in his book On the Sages says [scil. that the
Sages were] seventeen, out of whom different people
made different selections of seven; and that they were
[ . . . ] Pherecydes [ . . . ] .
Pherecydes as a Pythagorean (Rl l-R1 8)

The Initiator of the Pythagorean Line of Descent
of Greek Philosophy (Rl l-R12)
R l l ( ;it DK) Aristotle, On the Poets, in Diogenes Laer
tius
[ . . . ] Pherecydes was the rival of Thales [ . . . ] .
R l 2 ( ;it DK) Clement o f Alexandria, Stromata

No teacher is recorded for him [i.e. Thales] , just as there
is none for Pherecydes of Syros either, with whom Py
thagoras studied [cf. P9] .
Rl3 ( < A6) Porphyry in Eusebius, Evangelical Prepara
tion
[7] All these stories that Andron has told about Pythago
ras, Theopompus has purloined [ . . . ] . But as it is, the
change of name renders the theft obvious. For he uses the
189
TOt<; µ,ev yap 1Tpayµ,acn KEXPYJTai TOt<; avrn'i<;, ETEpov

S' 0110µ,a f.LETEvfivoxE· Cf>EpEKvSYJv yap Tov !.vpiov 1TE-
1TOtYJKE TaVTa 1TpoA.€yovTa. [8] ov µ,611011 Se TovTcp Ti{>
0116µ,an a1ToKpV1TTEt TT/v KAo1Tfiv, &.A.A.a KaL T01TWV
f.LETafJECFEi. To TE yap 1TEp'i Tij<> 1TpoppfiCFEW'> Tov CFEi
CFµ,ov Ev METa1TovTicp im' 'A.vSpwvo<; pYJ8ev Ev !.vpcp1
ElpijCF8ai <PYJCFW o 0E01TOf.L1TO<; TO TE 1TEpt TO 1TAo'iov
OVK a1TO MEyapwv Tij<; "!.tKEAta<;, a1TO Se !.aµ,ov <PYJU'l
8EWpYJ8ijvai· KaL TT/v !,vf3apEw<; aAWU'tll E1Tt TT/v MECF
�VYJ'> f.LETE87JKEv. [9] iva S€ n SoKfj A.€yEiv 1TEpiTTOV,
Kat TOV t€vov 1TpOCFTE8EtKE TOVvoµ,a, lIEpiA.aov avTOV
KaAE'iCF8ai A.€ywv.
1 !vpiw mss., corr. Miiller
Doctrinal Rapprochements (R14-R18)

Rl4 (< A5) Cic. Tusc. 1 . 16.38
[ . . ] sed quod litteris exstet, Pherecydes Syrius primus 1

.
dixit animos esse hominum sempitemos [ . . . P3] . hanc =
opinionem discipulus eius Pythagoras maxime confirmavit

[ ].
. . .
1 primum mss. , corr. Bentley
Rl5 (< A2) Suda Cf>.214
[. . R5] Kat 1TpwTov Tov 1TEpt Tij<; f.LETEf.LifroXwCFEW<;

. =
A.6yov ElCFYJyfiCFaCF8ai.
190
P H E RECYD E S
same events but substituted one name for the other. For
he has made Pherecydes of Syros the one who made this
prediction [cf. PIO] . [8] And it is not only by this name
that he conceals his theft, but also by a change of location.
For while Andron located the story about the prediction
of an earthquake at Metapontum, Theopompus says that
it was made in Syros; and also the incident concerning the
ship was seen not from Megara in Sicily but from Samos;
and he has substituted the capture of Messene for that of
Sybaris. [9] And finally, in order to create the impression
that he was saying something extraordinary, he has also
added the name of the host, saying that he was called
Perilaus.
Doctrinal Rapprochements (R14-R18)

Rl4 ( < A5) Cicero, Tusculan Disputations
[ . . . ] to judge from written records, Pherecydes of Syros
was the first to say that the souls of humans are eternal
[ . . . ] . His disciple Pythagoras strongly supported this view
[cf. PITH. c D4-D5] .
R l 5 ( < A2) Suda

[ . . . ] [Seil. Some report that] he was the first to introduce
the idea of metempsychosis.
191
R l 6 (< A5) Appon. 5.23 (ad Cn. 3:5)
[ . . . = THAL. R43 ] Ferecides autem vocabulo animam

hominis prior omnibus immortalem auditoribus suis tra
didisse docetur, et earn esse vitam corporis, et unum nobis
de caelo spiratum, 1 alterum credidit terrenis seminibus
comparatum.
l spiritum RMpcb
The One (Rl 7)
Rl 7 ( < A7a) Plot. 5.1. 9.28-30
[ . . . ] WCTTE TOJIJ apxafwv oi µaAtCTTa CTVVTUCTCToµevoi

'T0t')1 IIvBay6pov KUl TWV µer' avrov KUl epeKVOOV OE
'TTEpl ravrriv µEv ;_CTxov rT]v </>v<Tiv.
l avToi� mss., corr. Creuzer
Seed (R18)
Rl8 ( B7) Porph. Gaur. 2 (p. 34.26-35.3 Kalbfleisch)
[ . . ] 'TTO AV'> o Novµ�vw<> Kai oi ra<> IIvBay6pov vTTo

.
voia<> E�YJ')'ovµevoi, Kai rov 7rapa µEv rip IIA.arwvi 'TTO

raµov 'Aµe'Arira [Rep 62la], 7rapa OE rep 'H<Tioocp [cf.
.
COSM. T7] Kai ro'i<> 'Op</>tKOt'> [Frag. 344 F Bernabe]

rY]v !rvya, 7rapa OE rip epeKVOYJ rT]v eKpoT]v E'TTL rnv
CTTTepµaro<> eK8ex6µevoi [ . . . ] .
192
PHE RECYD E S
R l 6 ( < A5) Apponius, Commentary o n the Song of Songs

[ . . . ] They say that a certain Pherecydes, before all others,
taught his students the doctrine that the soul of man is
immortal and that it is the life of the body, and he believed
on the one hand that it is breathed into us from heaven
and on the other that it is supplied by earthly seeds [cf.
PHER. R29; THAL. R43].
The One (Rl 7)

R l 7 ( < A7a) Plotinus, Enneads
[ . . . ] so that among the ancients, those who most align
themselves with the doctrines of Pythagoras and his suc
cessors as well as with those of Pherecydes were con
cerned with this nature [i.e. the One] [ . . . ] .
Seed (R18)
R l 8 (B7) Porphyry, To Gaurus on the Animation of the
Embryo
[ . . . ] the great Numenius and the interpreters of Pythago
ras' hidden thought [cf. PITHS. R69] understand as seed
the river Ameles in Plato, the Styx in Hesiod and the Or
phics, and the outflow in Pherecydes [ . . . ] [cf. D l5] .
193
Other Allegories and Interpretations (R19-R26)

Rl9 ( Al2 ) Procl. In Tim. 1 ad 22b-c (vol. 1, p. 129. 15-16

Diehl)
[ . . . ] � IV..aTwvo<> 7Tapa8o<n<> ovK €<Tn ToiavT'YJ ai
viyµ,aTw87J <> , ol'.a � epeKv8ov [ . . . ] .
R20 (cf. A9) Herm. Irris. 12

[ . . . R30] Zfjva µ,€v TOV al0€pa, XOovi'Y/v 8€ TTJV yfjv,
=
Kpovov 8€ TOV xpovov- 0 µ,€v aifJTjp TO 7TOlOVV, � 8€

yfj TO 7Ta<Txov, 0 8€ xpovo<; ev <Ti Ta ywoµ,eva.
R21 (AlO) Sext. Emp. Pyr. Hyp. 3.30

epEKV8'YJ" µ,€v yap 0 !.vpio<; yfjv Et7TE TTJV 7TctVTWV
elvai apxfiv [ . . . ] .
R22 ( > B la) Ach. Tat. Introd. Arat. 3

[ . . . D7] TO v8wp [ . . . ], B 8-Yj Kat xao<; KaAe'i 0 e
=
peKV87J<;, w<> eiKo<>, Towo eKAe�aµ,evo<; 7Tapa Tov 'H<Ti-

68ov oilTw A.€yovTo<;·
f/Toi µ,€v 7rpwn<TTa xao<; yfreTo.
7Tapa yap TO xe'i<TfJai V7TOAaµ,{3avei TO v8wp xao<;
wv6µ,a<T8ai.
194
P H E R E CYD E S
Other Allegories and Interpretations (R19-R26)

Rl9 (Al2) Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Timaeus
[ . . . ] Plato's teaching [scil. on the war of ancient Athens
against Atlantis] is not enigmatic in the same way as Pher
ecydes' is [ . . . ] .

R20 (cf. A9) Hermias, Satire on the Pagan Philosophers
[ . . . ] Zeus the aether, Chthonie the earth, and Cronus time
(khronos): the aether is the agent, the earth the patient,
the time that in which the things that come about exist.
R21 (AlO) Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism

Pherecydes of Syros said that the principle of all things is
the earth [ . . . ] .
R22 ( > B la) Achilles Tatius, Introduction to Aratus' Phae

nomena
[ . . . ] water, which Pherecydes also calls "Chaos," having
probably derived this name from Hesiod, who says, "In
truth, first of all Chaos came to be" [ C OSM T l l ] . For he
.
thinks that water was called "Chaos" from the fact that it
pours out (kheisthai).
195
R23 ( > A8) Dam. Prine. 124b ( = Eudem. Frag. 1 1 7

Wehrli)
<f>epeKvo71c; oi o !.vpwc; Zavra µiv elvai1 ael Kal Xpo
vov Kal XOoviav rac; rpe'ic; 1Tpwrac; apxac;, rY,v µiav
<f>71µl 7Tpo rwv ove'iv Kal rac; ovo µera rY,v µiav, rov
oi Xpovov 7Toiija-ai EK rov yovov Eavrov '7Tilp Kal
7TVEVµa Kal vowp, rY,v rpt7TAijv, olµai, </>vmv TOV vo-
71rov, Et <1v EV 7TEVT€ µvxo'ic; oinp71µEVWV 7ToHY,v aA.
A.71v yeveav a-va-rijvai Oewv rY,v 7TEVTEµvxov KaAov
µEv71v, ravrov OE 'ia-wc; €t7T€tV, 7T€VTEKo<rµov.
1 µ,evEvai mss . , corr. Kopp
R24 ( > B3) Procl. In Tim. 3 ad 32c (vol. 2, p. 54.28-55.2

Diehl)
Kal 'ia-wc; 7Tpoc; rovro a7To/jA.fowv Kal o <f>epeKv071c; €A.e
yev elc; "Epwra µern/jefjA.ija-Oai rov D.. ia µEAAovrn
071µwvpye'iv, OTt oY, TOV Ko<rµov EK TWV Evavriwv <TVV
t<TTac; elc; oµoAoytav Kal </>tAtaV 7jyayE Kal TaVTOT7/Ta
7Ta<TtV EVE<T7T€tp€ Kal EVW<TtV rY,v oi' oA.wv oifiKova-av.
R25 (A9) Lyd. Mens. 4.3
R26 (B6) Porph. Antr. 31

[ . . . ] Kal rov !.vpiov <f>epeKvoov µvxovc; Kal /joOpovc;
196
P H E RE CYD E S
R23 ( > AS) Eudemus in Damascius, On the Principles

Pherecydes of Syros [scil. says] on the one hand that Zas
always exists as well as Chronos and Chthonie, the three
first principles-the first of these, I mean, before the other
two, and these two after the first one-and on the other
hand that Chronos made out of his seed fire, breath, and
water-the triple nature, I suppose, of the intelligible
out of which, when they had been distributed in five
nooks, arose another numerous generation of gods, called
"the five-nook" one [cf. D6]-what is surely the same
thing as "the five-cosmos" one.
R24 ( > B3) Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

And it is perhaps with a view toward this [scil. that love is
the cause of the harmony in these products] that Phere
cydes of Syros said that when Zeus was about to begin his
work of creation, he transformed himself into Eros, be
cause, since he was putting the world together out of the
contraries, he led them to agreement and friendship and
sowed in all things identity and the unity that pervades the
universe [cf. D8] .
R25 (A9) John Lydus, On the Months

He [i.e. Zeus] is the sun according to Pherecydes.
R26 (B6) Porphyry, On the Cave of the Nymphs

[ . . . ] and Pherecydes of Syros, who speaks of nooks, of
197
Kat avTpa Kat Ovpa-. KO.t ml>.a-. AeyovTO'> Kat Sul

TOVTWV alvirroµevov Ta'> TWV lfroxwv yevECTEt'> KO.t a1TO
yevE<TEt'> .1
1 Kat a1TOYEVEO"Et� V: om . M
Pherecydes Anwng the Christians (R27-R30)

Does Pherecydes Derive His Inspiration from
Homer or the Bible? (R27)
R27 Orig. Gels.

a (< B5) 6.42
ravra 8€ Ta 'Oµfipov f1TTJ ovTw vofi<TavTa1 Tov if>epeK6-
8'Y/v </>TJ<TLV elpTJKEVat TO' "KetVTJ'> 8€ T-ij'> µ,oipa-. [ . . . ]
f.gv{3picru" [Dl3].
1 voriOevTa m s . , corr. Guiet
h (79 Schibli) 6.43

[ . . . ] µ� Karavofi<Ta'> on Ta 7ToAAw ov µ6vov 'Hpa
KAeiTov Kat if>epeKvSov apxaioTepa aAAa KUL 'Oµfipov
Mwii<TEW'> ypaµµaTa elcrfiyaye Tov 7TEpt Tov 7TOV"f/pov
TOVTOV KaL f.K7TEG'OVTO<; TWV ovpaviwv >.6yov. 0 yap
ocpt<;, 7rap' tJv o 7Tapa TqJ if>epeKVl)T/ yeyovev 'Ocptovev<;
[ . . . ] TOtaVTa TtVa alvt<T<TETat [ . . . ] .
198
P H E R E CYD E S
hollows, of caves, o f doors, of gates, and means by these

terms allegorically the births and departures of the souls
[cf. Dl4].
Pherecydes Anwng the Christians (R27-R30)

Does Pherecydes Derive His Inspiration from
Homer or the Bible? (R27)
R27 Origen, Against Celsus
a (< B5)
He [i.e. Celsus] says that it is because he understood these
verses of Homer [Iliad 1.590-91 and 15.18-24] 1 in this
way that he [i.e. Pherecydes] said, "Below that portion
[ . . ] he commits an outrage" [= D l3] .
.
1 The gods, including Hephaestus, who have come to the help

of Hera (whom Zeus had suspended in the air), are expelled from
Olympus.
b ( � DK)
[ . . . ] he [i.e. Celsus] does not understand that Moses'
writings, which are far more ancient not only than Hera
clitus' and Pherecydes' but also than Homer's, introduced
the story about this evil being [i.e. Satan] , that he fell from
the heavens. For the snake (ophis), from which Ophioneus
is derived in Pherecydes, [ . . . ] allegorically signifies things
of this sort [ . . . ] [cf. D l l ] .
199
Other Testinwnia on Pherecydes' Dependence

upon the Scriptures (R28-R29)
R28 ( < B2) Clem. Alex. Strom. 6.53.5

[ . . . ) Kat yap 1wi OoKet1 rovi; 7rpo<nroiovµivovi; <f>iA.o
cro<f>et:v tva µ,afJwcri ri Ecrnv r, v7To7Trepoc; opvc; Kat ro
E7T' avrfi 7TE7TOtKtAµ,evov <f>Eipoc;, 7Tavrn ocra <PepeKl1071c;
aH71yopficrac; EfJeoA.6y71crev, A.af3wv2 a7TO rijc; TOV Xaµ,
7rpo<f>71reiac; rT]v v7To8ecriv.
1 8oKe'i < 8i8a<TKeiv > vel < €A.€yxeiv > Frlichtel 2 A.af3e'iv
Heyse
R29 ( < A5) Appon. 5.22 (ad Cn. 3:5)
in priore enim 'ftliarum adiuratione,' in caprearum et

cervorum' personas thalesianae et ferecidensis philoso
phiae intellegi diximus [ . . . ] .
R30 (cf. A9} Herm. Irris. 12

vevpoK07TOV<Tt1 yap µ,ov TTJV t/JvxiJv apxaiorepot TOV
TWV yepovrec;, <PepEKVOYJ<; f.LEV apxac; ElVat A.eywv Zijva
Kat XfJovi71v Kat Kpovov [ . . . R20] . =
1 vevpoK01TOWV<T< mss. , corr. Hanson: vevpo<T1Ta<Trov<Ti

Usener
200
P H E RECYD E S
Other Testirrwnia o n Pherecydes' Dependence

upon the Scriptures (R28-R29)
R28 ( < B2) Isidore in Clement of Alexandria, Stromata
[ . . . ] it seems to me that the pretenders are philosophizing
in order to learn what are the winged oak and the em
broidered robe on it [ D 10] , everything that Phere
=
cydes has said allegorically in a theological form, taking

his starting point from the prophecy of Cham [ cf. Genesis
9:20-27] .
R29 ( < A5) Apponius, Commentary on the Song of Songs

For we said about the earlier 'adjuration of the daughters'
that 'the roes and stags' are to be understood as the rep
resentatives of the philosophy of Thales and Pherecydes1
[cf. PHER. Rl6; THAL. R43].
1 The reference seems to be to his commentary (4: 1 ) on Cn.
2.7 (where in fact he does not name Thales or Pherecydes, but
the Platonists and the Stoics).

R30 (cf. A9) Hermias, Satire on the Pagan Philosophers
Ancient philosophers earlier than those [scil. probably:
Plato and Aristotle] exhaust my spirit-Pherecydes, when
he says that the principles are Zeus, Chthonie, and Cronus
[ . . .] .
201
A n Apocryphal Correspondence between

Pherecydes and Thales (R31)
R3 l Diog. Laert.
a (Hercher 740) 1 .43--44
0aX:T)<; <'I>EpEKV8Et-'ITVll8a11oµai (TE 7TpW'TOll 'Iw11w11
µf.AA.Et11 >.. 6yov<; dµ<f>L Tw11 8Eiw11 XP'YJfLaTw11 ;.., Tov<;
"E>.. >.. 'YJ 11a<; <f>a£11Et1J. KaL Taxa µE11 r, y11wµ'Y] Toi SiKai'YJ
;.., To two11 Karn8f.<r8at ypa<f>T,11, µ,ah>.. 0 11 � €.<f>' 01Towt
<rov11 E1Tl'TpE1TElll XP'TJ/La E<; ov8E11 o</>EAO<;. El 8T, 'TOl
i}8w11, €.BF.>.. w yE11F.<r8ai AE<rXYJllW'T'YJ '> 7TEPL 0TF.w11 ypa
</>Et<;· KaL �11 KEAEVYJ<>, 1Tapa <rE d<f>itoµ,at ;.., !,vpo11.
[ . . . ] 7)tH yap KaL o !,6>.. w 11, �11 €.mTpE7TYJ'>· [44] <TV
fLEll'TOl xwpo</>tAEWll o>.. iya cf>ot'TEEl<; E<; 'Iw11i7111, ov8F. <TE
1To8� t<:TXEt d118pw11 tE£11w11· &.AA.a, c:i, l.>..7Toµai, €11L
µov11fi. i,µEE<; 8€ oi µ71-
8€11 ypa<f>o11TE<; 7TEptxwpfoµE11 TT,11 TE 'E>.. >.. a 8a KaL
'A.<ri7111.
h (test. 238 Wohrle) 1 . 122

<'I>EpEK6871<; 0a>..ij-.:-O 811T,<rKOl<; 0Ta11 Tot 'TO XPEWll
7}KYJ. 11ov<ro<; fLE Karn>.. E>.. a/371KE 8E8Eyµ,F.11011 'Ta 1Tapa
<rEo ypaµµarn. <f>8Etpw11 l.f3pvo111 1Ta<; Kai fLE ElXE11
�1Tia>..o <;. E7TE<TKYJt}la 8' c111 'TOtlTlll olKtfi'TYJ<Tlll, E1TT,11 fLE
Karn8atjJwrTt11, E<; <TE T�11 ypa<f>�11 €.11F.yKat. rTV SE �11
1 li{3pvov Frobenius: Wvov mss.
202
P H E RECYD E S
A n Apocryphal Correspondence between

Pherecydes and Thales (R31)
R3 1 ( ;t: DK) Diogenes Laertius
a
[Thales to Pherecydes:] I hear that you are going to be the

first Ionian to set forth discourses on divine matters for
the Greeks. And perhaps your decision is wise, to make
your text public instead of entrusting it to any individuals,
something that has no advantage. If you wish, I am willing
to become your interlocutor for whatever you write; and
if you ask me, I will come to you in Syros. [ . . . ] Solon
will come too, if you permit. [44] You are attached to
your country and so you come only rarely to Ionia, and
the desire to meet foreigners does not possess you; but,
as I suppose, you dedicate yourself to only one activity,
writing-whereas we who write nothing travel throughout
Greece and Asia.
h
[Pherecydes to Thales:] May you die well when your time
comes. An illness has befallen me since I received your
letter. I am completely full of lice and an ague has taken
hold of me. So I have ordered my servants to carry my text
to you after they have buried me. If you, together with the
203
OOKlfLW<T17<; <Ti.i v TOt<; aAAOL<; <Tocf>ol:<;, OV'TW µ, w cf>iivov·

f,v OE ov OOKlfLW<TTJ'TE, µ,� cf>fiv17<;. eµ,o'i fLEV yap OVKW
i}voavEV. E<T'Tl OE OVK aTpEKEtTJ TTPTJY/La'TWV, ovo' V1Tt
<Txvfoµ,ai <K>ov T<VATJ(JE.;2 EtOEVUL, U(]"(]"U o' llv em
AEyw3 8EoAoyEwv· 'TU aA.A.a XP� VOEtV' U1TUV'TU yap
alvi<T<Toµ,ai. [ . ]
. .
2 <K>ov TWAT/(Jfs Diels post Reiske : ovTw AT/fNs B: ov TW-

AT/8E> P 1 (ut vid.: OVTW aAT/8€, Q): ov 7' aA.T/8€, P4 3 E7T£-
A.€yw Menagius: €mA.€yT/ BP: €mA.€rn Dorandi
204
P H E RECYD E S
other sages, approve o f it, publish it as it is; if you do not

approve, do not publish it. As for myself, I am not yet sat
isfied with it. There is a lack of precision about the subject
matter nor do I promise in any case that I know the truth,
but only what I say when I speak about the gods. All other
things one has to think about, for I hint at them all alle
gorically [ . ] .
. .
205
5 . THALE S [THAL . ]
Thales' activity is situated at Miletus between the second

half of the seventh century and the first decades of the
sixth century BC. He is included in the canonical list of
the seven "Sages," which goes back to an early date (Pih,
cf. R2-R4). Histories of philosophy often present him as
"the first philosopher," largely because of the way in which
Aristotle introduces him in the Metaphysics, as the first
to have practiced a philosophy of "nature" (R9 ) . But the
most ancient testimonia, notably those of Aristophanes
and Herodotus, rather suggest a multifaceted figure en
gaged above all in politics and (especially hydraulic) engi
neering. It is most likely that he left no writings behind,
as is suggested by the fact that already Aristotle seems to
have no direct knowledge of his ideas. A large number of
mathematical and scientific discoveries are attributed to
him by later authors, but it is usually difficult or impossible
to say whether, and if so to what extent, they really do go
back to him; in any case, we have put all these reports into
the section on Thales' reception (Rl3-R31 ) . In general,
the distinction, maintained here as in the other chapters,
between doctrine and reception is more hypothetical in
the case of Thales than in most other ones.
206
B I B L I O G RAPHY
Edition
G. Wohrle, ed. The Milesians: Thales. Coll. Traditio Prae
socratica vol. 1 (Berlin, 2009), revised and enlarged
English translation, 2014.
History of the Reception

H. Blumenberg. The Laughter of the Thracian Woman: A
Protohistory of Theory (London, 2015).
A. Schwab. Thales van Milet in der friihen christlichen
Literatur (Berlin-Boston, 2012) .
O U T LI N E O F T H E C H APT E R
p
Chronology (Pl)
Origins and Family (P2)
Alleged Education in Egypt (P3-P5)
Disciple of Pherecydes, Like Pythagoras? (PYTH. a Pl3)
The Engineer (P6)
The Political Advisor (P7-P8)
Prediction of a Solar Eclipse (P9-P10)
Married? (Pl l)
Attitude to Life (P12-Pl5)
Indifference to Human Affairs (P12-Pl3)
Practicality (P14-Pl5)
Apothegms and Other Sayings (P16-Pl8)
Death (P1 9)
Statue (P20)
Iconography (P21)
207
D
Thales (Probably) Left Behind No Writings (Dl-D2)
Water as the Principle (D3-D4)
The World (D5)
The Heavenly Bodies (D6)
The Earth (D7-D8)
The Flooding of the Nile (D9)
Souls and Divinities (DlO-Dll)
R
Earliest Testimonies to His Fame
Xenophanes, Heraclitus, Herodotus, and Democritus
(Rl)
Hippias (THAL. Dl lb)
Aristophanes (DRAM. T13-T14)
From the Sage to the Theoretician (R2-R4)
Alleged Writings (R5-R8)
The Science of Nature (R9-Rl2)
The Initiator of the Ionian Line of Descent of Greek Phi
losophy (DOX. T20, T21)
Scientific Discoveries Attributed to Thales (R13-R31)
A General Catalog (R13)
Astronomical Discoveries (R14-R25)
Trajectory and Size of the Sun (R14)
The Solar Eclipse (R15-R18)
The Light of the Moon (R19)
Other Heavenly Bodies (R20-R22)
Zones of the Heavens (R23)
Position of the Earth (R24)
Division of the Year (R25)
Geometrical Discoveries (R26-R31)
Theorems and Demonstrations (R26-R30)
208
THALE S
The Measurement of the Pyramids (R31)

Aristotle's Reconstructions and Criticisms of Thales' Ar
guments (R32-R34)
Assimilations to Later Doctrines (R35-R39)
Gnostic and Christian Interpretations (R40-R43)
A Pseudepigraphic Text (R44)
209
THALE S [ 1 1 D K ]
Chronology (Pl)
PI ( < Al) Diog. Laert.

a 1.37-38
<f>YJ<Tl S' 'A7ro'AA6owpo<; €v Tot<; XpoviKot<; [FGrHist 244
F28] yqevij<TOai avTov KaTa To 7Tpwrnv ETO<; Tij<; Tpt
aKo<TTij<; 7TEf.l7TTYJ<;1 '0A.vµ,7Tla0o<;. freAEVTYJ<T€ o' frwv
€(3Soµ,..fiKovrn oKTw, 1), w<; �wmKpaTYJ'> </JYJ<Tiv [Frag. 1
Giannattasio Andria] , €vev..fiKovTa· TEAwTij<Tm yap E7Tt
Tij<; 7T€VTYJKO<TTij<; oyOoYJ<; '0f..vµ,7Tla0o<;, yeyovoTa KaT<L
Kpot<Tov [ . . . ] .
1 7TEf.l7TTYJ<>] €var17<> prop. Diels
b 1 .22
Ka'i 7TpwTO<; <To</Jo<; wvoµ,a<TBYJ apxovTo<; 'AO..fivYJ<Tl 6.a

µ,a<Tiov, Ka(}' <Jv Ka'i oi E7TTa <To</Jo'i EKA..fi0YJ<Tav, w<;
</JYJ<Tl 6.YJµ,..fiTpw> 6 <PaAYJpev<; €v Tfj Twv 'Apx6vrwv
avaypa</Jfi [Frag. 149 Wehrli] .
210
THAL E S
Chronology (Pl)
PI ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius
a
Apollodorus in his Chronicles says that he was born in the

first year of the 35th Olympiad [ 640/39] . 1 He died at the
=
age of seventy-eight; or, as Sosicrates says, at ninety; for

he died during the 58th Olympiad [ 548/44] , having lived
=
at the time of Croesus [ . . . ] . 2

1 Diels suggested correcting "35th" to "39th" ( 624123).
=
2 A competing ancient chronology (A2, A8 DK) dated Thales

to the mid-eighth century BC.
b
And he was first called a "sage" when Damasius was ar
chon in Athens [ 582/81]; it was during this time that the
=
Seven Sages were named, as Demetrius of Phalerum says

in his Catalog of the Archons [cf. R2-R4].
211
P2 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .22

.ryv Totvvv o ®aA.1js-, ws- µ,ev 'Hp6Soros- [cf. 1 . 1 70] Kat
aovpts- [FGrHist 76 F74] Kat a71µ,6KptTOS' [cf. ATOM.
P23-P26] rf>acri, TTarpos- µ,ev 'E�aµ,6ov, µ,71rpos- Se
KA.eo/3ovAtV7JS', EK TWIJ ®711.. i Swv,1 or ei<rt <l>otlJLKES', ev
yeve<rTaTOL rwv aTTo KaSµ,ov Kat 'Ayfivopos-. [. . . ]
ETT0Airoyparf>fi071 S e i v MiA.firct>, ore .ry>.. O e o-Vv NetAE<tJ2
EKTTE<rovn <l>owtKTJS'" ws- S' 0£ TTAefovs- rf>a<rtv, lOayevY,s
MiA.ficrws- .ryv Kat yevovs- A.aµ,TTpov.
i N71A.eiowv Bywater 2 varia mss . , corr. Diels
P3 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .27

ovSets- Se aVTOV Ka071yfi<raTO, 1TATJV OTL eis- A'tyvTTTOIJ
lA.Owv ro'is- £epev<ri crvvSdrpil/Jev.
P4 (Al l) Aet. 1.3.1 (Ps.-Plut.) [7rept apx_wv Tt ei<rtv]

rf>iA.ocrorf>ficras- iv AiyVTTT<tJ .ry>.. O ev eis- MtATJTOV 7rpe
crf36repos-.
P5 (Al l) Iambi. VP 12
[ . . . ] TTporpEl/Jaro eis- A'tyvTTrov StaTTAEV<rat Kat ro'is- iv
Meµ,rf>tSt Kat aw<rTTOAEL µ,aAt<rTa crvµ,/3aA.el:v £epeV<rL"
212
THALE S

Thales, as Herodotus, Duris, and Democritus [cf. Rl] re
port, had as father Examuas and as mother Cleobuline, of
the family of the Thelides, who are Phoenicians, the most
noble of the descendants of Cadmus and Agenor. [ . . . ] He
became a citizen of Miletus when he went there with N ei
leus, who had been exiled from Phoenicia. But according
to what most authors report, he was of genuine Milesian
lineage and belonged to an illustrious family.

P3 (< Al) Diogenes Laertius
No one showed him the way, except that he went to Egypt
and spent time with the priests.
P4 (Al l) Aetius
After he had practiced philosophy in Egypt, he came to
Miletus as an old man.
P5 (Al l) Iamblichus, Life of Pythagoras

[ . . ] he exhorted him [i.e. Pythagoras] to sail to Egypt and
.
to spend time above all with the priests of Memphis and
213
vrn
·o.Btl?A? S�.Lvf:jmg Ud°!.Locj>rlp 'St;Jr!V.Lo.LL ? V.L.D

-1Xy.L IJ.().DJX.D? �v>1 3.LJ3.LL? '3.L.D� '10v_v_yfi.o? v�vXdp -p.L
S? 't1og3.1.Lt;J.LVd.L.D �.L SOt13rlt;JfiHr/vdv.LL 'SW]V zv>I 't1rod()°!
-3<j t1roJvXdp tl<J.L >I? SOt13rlt;J.LLVd.L>1? vXrtdf:ng tl�.L -p.Lv>I
U.L9-V.L '10f:jyv_ rtO.L<JM -p.Lv>1 t10t1?rlrtdg7 r1og3.1.Lt;J.LVd.L.o �.L
tl(? Sro>I� 'v?gHot1/J.rl V.LtlOA'f! tlH.D.D9-d9 tlV?()Vf:j vXndiy
-1g t10t13rly)dp nog?.LL O.LVd.L.D !J O.L t13()rot1p ·3g T � g m.o
-!!-10.LL 't1H?</ s!!-1 ]3g >I? �7))/ !JO.LVd.L.D !JO.L V.LtlO?</ s �dnX
S !!- d3.L.D1d-p J? t1�r/V.L0.1.L tl�.L rJ.LQ-V m.o !!-10.LL rog?.LL O.LVd.L.D
rJ.L tl? r1!!- v. v0 tl�.L V.Ltlt;J3dV.LL 17J.L3A"!V. '(SV.L9-'D.L s vd9-rfHA
S-p.L t1ot19dX tl�.L tlO.L(JO.L ro>1 1'Dt113 �g d-pA IJ-0) St;J.LVd.L.o
? t1�r/V.L0.1.L tl�.L 1V.L3.olff:jmg ?O Sro>1� rtO.DJOd)J_ d-pA
SO.Lt1o?do.1.Lp ·3.ovtfJtf31g sowifv.1w ? ?o sl!-v.v0 't1rot11fV.
-v. a, SOA? V. s�v.v.o.1.L ? � g S f? 'tl t;J .LVd.L.D tl�.L 3.DVf:jJ fi31g
s vd9-cf>3A SV.D9-0? S-p.L -P.LV>I 'roA?V. f!?A? tl �rl S f? 't13.L(J3()t1?
�.L 'SO.D�Od)J_ ? tl�r!V.L0.1.L tlrtY.V,, tl�.L Z.LL? O.L3>1J.1.L-p �g S f?
.
S::L " T lPH ( 9V < ) 9d
(9d) .iaau1?1ua atfJ,
.
Eld Hlld 88S
rf SV.JO?JD!flhd iJ)frJ 'S&ph:Ja.JiJifd Jo azdpS!G_
·1v.L3"]Jrlot1 s�ov_v_o.LL s�o.L -pdv.LL s� cj>o.o �

/ g 'V.L !JV.L 1 V().D ;>1gro <f>? t1�.Lrtv� �v>I t1rot1J 3>1? d-pA -pdv.LL
II X H d O S O'I I H d ){ 3 3l:I O A'I l:I V 3

THALE S
of Diospolis [i.e. Thebes] . For it was from them that he

himself had obtained what made most people regard him
as a sage.
See also PHER. P7
Disciple of Pherecydes, Like Pythagoras?

See PYTH. Pl3
The Engineer (P6)

P6 ( > A6) Herodotus, Histories
When Croesus arrived at the river Halys, he got his army
across it, as I say for my part, on bridges that existed at the
time; but according to a report widespread among the
Greeks, it was Thales of Miletus who got them across for
him. For when Croesus could not figure out how to get his
army across the river (for they say that these bridges did
not yet exist at that time), they say that Thales, who was
present in the camp, made the river, which was flowing on
the left side of the army, flow on its right side too. And he
did this in the following way: he dug a deep canal in the
shape of a crescent beginning above the camp so that the
water, diverted in this way along the canal from its original
course, would flow around to the rear and then, once it
had passed the camp, would flow into its original bed. So
that as soon as the river had been split into two it became
fordable on both sides.
215
P7 (A4) Hdt. 1 . 170

XPTJ<TTTJ Se Kat rrptv fi Simf>Oapijvai 'Iwvi71v 0aA.€w
avSpo<; M£ATJ<TLOV €yeveTO, Ta UVEKaBev yevo<; €6vTo<;
oiviKo<;, &., €KeAeve �v {3ovA.evT�pwv "Iwva<; iiKTij
<rOai, TO Se elvai EV Teq.> (Tewv yap µe<rov elvai
'Iwvt71<>), TU'> Se aA.A.a<; rr6A.ia<; olKeoµeva<; µ71Sev �<T
<TOV voµi,e<rOai KaTa rrep el Sijµoi elev.
PS (< AI) Diog. Laert. 1 .25

SoKe'i Se KUL €v TOl<; 7TOA£TtKOl<; ap£<TTa /3e/3ovA.w<r0ai.
Kpot<TOV yovv rreµt/Javro<; rrpo<; MiATJ<TLoV<; €rrt <rvµ
µaxiq, iiKwAv<rev· orrep Kvpov KpaT�<TaVTO<; E<TW<TE
TTJV 7TOA£V [ . . P l l ] .
. =

P9 (A5) Hdt. 1 . 74
Sia<flepov<ri Se <r</li €rrt L<TTJ'> Tov rr6A.eµov T<fi EKT<f> €.Tei
<TVµ/3oA.ij., yevoµev71<> <rvvr} veiKe w<rTe, Tij<> µaxTJ<>
<TVve<rTeW<TTJ'>, TTJV T]µep71v €tarriv71<> vvKrn yeve<rBai.
TTJV Se µernA.A.ayTiv rnvT71v Tij<> Y,µepYJ'> 0aA.ij<> o Mi
A.�<TW'> TOl<T£ "lw<T£ rrpo71y6pev<re l<re<rBai, oilpov rrpo
Beµevo<; €viaVTOIJ TOVTOV €v T<fi s.ry Kat €yevern .;, µern
/3oA.�.
1 This solar eclipse occurred on May 28, 585 BC. It is uncer

tain whether Thales possessed the means to predict it.
216
THALE S

P7 (A4) Herodotus, Histories
Useful too [scil. like that of Bias of Priene] , before the
destruction of Ionia, was that [i.e. advice] of Thales of
Miletus (who was Phoenician by descent). He urged that
the Ionians establish a single council, which should be
located in Teos (for Teos is in the middle of lonia), and
that the other inhabited cities should be considered as
being nothing less than demes.

And he seems to have given excellent advice in political
matters too. Indeed, when Croesus sent an embassy to the
Milesians to propose an alliance, he prevented it; and this
saved the city after Cyrus' victory.1
1 Cyrus conquered Croesus and Lydia in the middle of the
sixth century BC.

P9 (A5) Herodotus, Histories
After they [i.e. Alyattes and Cyaxares] had been waging
war inconclusively, it came to pass at an encounter in the
sixth year that just when they had engaged a battle, the day
was suddenly transformed into night. Thales of Miletus
had predicted to the Ionians that this transformation of
the day would take place, and he had determined before
hand as the exact time the very year in which the change
actually took place. 1
217
P I O (AS) Clem. Alex. Strom. 1.65

0a,\:f)v 8€ Eu871µ.,o<; iv ra'i<; A<TTpoAoyiKa'i<; L<TTopiai<;
[Frag. 143 Wehrli] rTiv yEvoµ.,€v71v EKAEufliv rov Y,>.. iov
7Tp0Et7TELV </>"f/<Tl, Ka(}' ofJ<; XPOVOV<; <Tvvijl/Jav flUX"f/V
7Tp0<; aA>.. 1) >.. ov<; Mfj8oi TE KUL Av8oL /3a<TlAEVOVTO<; Kv
a�apov<; µ.,€v rov A<Trvayov<; 7Tarpo<; M1)8wv, 'A >..var
rov 8€ TOV Kpoi<TOV Av8wv [ . . ] EL<Tl 8€ OL xp6voi aµ.,<f>L
.
rYiv v' 'O>..vµ.,7Tia8a.
Married? (Pl l)
P l l ( < A l ) D iog Laert. 1.25-26

.
[ . . = PS] KUL avro<;1 8€ </>"f/<TlV, w<; 'HpaKAei871<; L<TTO

.
pe'i [Frag. 45 Wehrli] , µ.,ov1)p71 avrov yeyov€vai KaL l8i

a<Tr1)v. lvioi 8€ KaL yfjµ.,ai avrov Kat Kvf3i<T0ov vfov
<TXELV' OL 8€ ayaµ.,ov µ.,E'ivai, Tij<; 8€ a8e>.. <f> ij<; TOV VLOV
0€<T0ai [ . . = PI 7a] .
.
1 Kat avro<;] Kitvro<; Menagius
Attitude to Life (Pl2-Pl5)

Indifference to Human Affairs (P12-P13)
Pl2 (A9) Plat. Theaet. l 74a

[�il.] W<T'ITEP Kat 0aAijv U<TTpovoµ.,ovvra [ . . . ] Kal avw
f3>.. €7Tovra, 'ITE<Tovra El<> <f>p€ap, 0p<i:rra ri<; lµ.,µ.,E"-Yi<>
218
THALE S
PIO (A5) Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

Eudemus says in his History ofAstronomy that Thales had
predicted the solar echpse which took place at the time
when the Medes and the Lydians-Cyaxares, father of
Astyages, was reigning over the Medes, and Alyattes, son
of Croesus, over the Lydians-were joining battle with
one another [ . . . ] This happened around the 50th Olym
piad [= 580/76] .
See also Rl5-Rl8
Married? (Pll)
Pll ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius
And yet he himself says, as Herachdes [scil. of Pontus]
reports, that he lived in solitude and as a private person.
Some say that he married and had a son named Cybisthus,
others that he remained a bachelor but adopted his sister's
son [ . . . ] .
Attitude to Life (Pl2-Pl5)

Indifference to Human Affairs (Pl2-Pl3)
Pl2 (A9) Plato, Theaetetus
It is said [ . . . ] that Thales, while doing astronomy and look
ing upward, fell into a well, and that a witty and charming
219
Kai. xapiecnra (JEparratvt<; U7TOO"KW1/Jat AEYETat W<; TU

µ,€.v f.v ovpavifi rrpo(Jvµ,o'iTo el8Evat, TU 8' eµ,rrpoo-eev
avTOV Kat rrapu m58a<; Aaveavot avTOV.
Pl3 (59 A30) Arist. EN 6.7 1 14lb2-8
Oto [ . . . cf. ANAXAG. P29] Kai. 0aA.ijv Kai. rov<; Totov

rov<; o-o<f>ov<; µ,€.v <f>poviµ,ov<; 8' ov <f>ao-tv elvat, OTav
'£8wmv ayvoovvTa<; TU o-vµ,<f>EpovTa faVTOt<;, Kal
7TEptTTU µ,€.v Kal (Javµ,ao-Ta Kal XaAE7Ta Kat Datµ,ovta
elDEvat avTOV<; <f>ao-w, axp'YJO"Ta 8', on ov Ta civ(Jpw
mva aya(Ju ''Y}TOVO"tV.
Practicality (P14-P15)
Pl4 (Th 22 Wohrle) Plat. Rep. 10 600a
[l'.n.] ciAA.' ola 87, el<; TU epya o-o<f>ov av8po<; 7TOAAal.

f.rrl.votat Kai. evµ,fixavot el<; TEXVa<; 11 nva<; aAAa<; rrpa
gei<; AEyovTat, W0"7TEp all 0aAew TE 7TEpt TOV MtA'Y)O"LoV
Kai. 'Avaxapo-w<; Toil l'.Kv(Jov;
Pl5 ( < AlO) Arist. Pol. 1 . 1 1 1259a9--18

ovet8t,OVTWV yup avTifi Dtu T.Y,v rrevl.av w<; avw<f>eA.ov<;
Tij<; </>tAoo-o<f>l.a<; OVO"'Y)'>, KaTavor',o-avTa <f>ao-w avTOV
220
THALE S
Thracian handmaiden made fun of him, saying that he was

eager to know what was in the sky but did not see what
was in front of him and at his feet. 1
1 This anecdote, which may derive from Aesop (Fab. 40 Haus
rath, 65 Chambry) and was destined to enjoy an enormous
success, is repeated and varied in a large number of texts (includ
ing e.g. ANAXIMEN. Rl la; Diogenes Laertius 1.34; (Ps.?)
Hippolytus, Refutation ofAll Heresies 1 . 1; etc.).
Pl3 (59 A30) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

That [scil. because wisdom is knowing what is most honor
able by nature] is why people say that [ . . . ] Thales and
men like that are wise but not prudent, when they see
that they do not know what is advantageous for them
selves; and they say that what they know is extraordinary
and marvelous and difficult and divine-but useless, since
they do not try to find what is good for humans.
Practicality (P14-P15)
Pl4 ( "# DK) Plato, Republic
[Socrates:] Or, as would be appropriate for the accom
plishments of a wise man, are many ingenious inventions
for the arts or any other practical activities reported [scil.
for Homer] as they are for Thales of Miletus and Anachar
sis the Scythian?
Pl5 (< AlO) Aristotle, Politics

As people reproached him on account of his poverty, say
ing that philosophy is useless, he is reported to have ascer-
221
EAalWIJ <f>opav E<roµhriv E K T1j<; a<rTpoA.oyia<;, €n XEl

µ,wvo<; OVTO<; EV1TOp�<ravTa XPYJP,UTWV oA.iywv appa
/3wva<; OtaOovvat TWV eA.awvpyiwv TWV T, ev MtA�TqJ
Kat Xilfi 1TUIJTWV, oA.iyov p,t<rOw<raµ,evov (fr' ovOevo<;
€mf3aHovTo<;· E1TEl0� o' 0 Katpo<; tjKe, 1TOAAWV ,YJ_
TOVP,EVWIJ aµ,a Kat etai<f>vYJ<;, EKp,t<rOovvTa 8v Tp01TOIJ
T,/3ovAETO, 1TOAAa xp�µ,ara <TVAAEtavra emoe'ital OTl
pffn6v e<rn 1TAovTe'iv To'i<; </>tA.o<ro</>ot<;, &v f3ovA.wvrat,
aA.A.' ov TOvT' E<TTt 1TEpt () <T1TOV0a,OV<Tl/J.
Apothegms and Other Sayings (Pl6-P18)
Pl6 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .35
ov Tl Ta 1TOAAa €7TYJ <f>povtp,YJV a7Te<f>�vaTo o6tav·

lv n µ,anve <ro<f>6v,
EIJ Tl KEOVOIJ aipov·
AV<TH<;l yap avopwv KWTtAWV
yA.wmra<; a7repavToA.6yov<;. [SH 521 ]
1 8'lj<TEL> Diels
PI 7 ( < Al) Diog. Laert.

a 1.26
[ . . . Pll] DTE Kat epwTYJ0EVTa Ota Tt OV TEKV01TOlEL,
=
Ota </>tAoTeKviav el1Te'iv. Kat A.€yovmv on T1j<; P,YJTpo<;
222
THALE S
tained on the basis of astronomy, while the winter was still

in its course, that there was going to be a large crop of
olives; with the little money he possessed, he paid depos
its on all the olive-presses in Miletus and Chios, renting
them cheaply since no one was competing with him. When
the moment came, as all at once many people needed
them suddenly, he rented them out at as high a price as he
pleased and made a lot of money-thereby demonstrating
that it is easy for philosophers to become rich if they wish,
but that this is not what they are eager to do.
Apothegms and Other Sayings (P16-P18) 1

1 Some of these sayings are also attributed to the Seven Sages
(cf. MOR. T35).

Among his songs there are the following:
Many words do not manifest a sensible opinion.
Search for one thing: what is wise.
Choose one thing: what is good.
For you will undo the endlessly talking tongues
Of chattering men.

a
[ . ] When he was asked why he did not have children, he

. .
replied, "because of my love for children." And they say
223
avayKa,ov<T71<; avrov yijµai, EAEyEv, ovSbrw Kaipo<;.

ELra, bmST] TTapfi{371<TEv €yKEiµev71<>, EtTTE'iv, ovKen
Kaipo<;.
b 1.33
dEpµiTTTTO<; S' €v ro'i<; Bi'.o i<; [Frag. 11 Wehrli] Et<; rovrov
ava<f>epEi TO AEyoµEvov Vn-6 TtVWV 7T€pl !wKparov<;.
€<f>a<TK€ yap, </>a<:Ti'., rpiwv TOVTWV EV€Ka xaptv EXEtv rfi
roxrr 7TpWTOV µf.v OTt av0pw7TO<; €yEvoµ71v Kal OV 071-
pi'.ov, €LTa OTt avT]p Kal ov yvvfi, rpi'.rov OTt dE>.. >.. 71 v Kai,
ov {3ap{3apo<;.
c 1 .35-37
<f>epErai Sf. Kal a1ro<f>Oeyµara avrov raSe 7Tp€<T{3vra
TOV TWV OVTWV 0Eo<;· ayev71rov yap. KaAAi<:TTOV KO
<:TfJ-0<;' 7TOt71µa yap 0EoV. µeyi<:TTOV T07TO<;' U7TaVTa yap
xwp€t. raxi<TTOV VOV<;' Sia 7TaVTO<; yap rpex€i. t<TXV
porarov avayK71° Kparlt yap 7TaVTWV. <TO</>WTaTOV
XPOVO<;' av€Vpt<:TK€i yap TTavra.
ovSf.v €</>71 TOV Oavarov Sia<f>ep€tv TOV 'ijv. a-Ii oov,
€</>71 Tt<;, Sia ri'. OVK aTToOv..;,<:TKEi<;; on, €<f>71, ovSf.v Sia
<f>epEi.
[36] 7Tp0<; TOV 7Tv06µEVov ri'. 7TpOT€pov yEyovoi, vvf
� �µepa, � vvf, €cf>71, µif!. �µepq. 7Tpor€pov.
T,pwr71<Te rt<; avrov Et >....;, Ooi 0Eov<; avOpwTTo<; &.Si
Kwv · &.>.. >.. ' ovSf. SiavoovµEvo<;, €</>71. 7Tp0<; TOV µoixov
224
THALE S
that when his mother tried to compel him to marry he

would say, "It is not yet the right time," and then, as she
insisted when he was no longer young, "It is no longer the
right time."
b
Hermippus in his Lives attributes to him what certain
people say about Socrates. For they say that he used to say
that he was grateful to fortune for three things: first, that
he was born a human being and not an animal; second,
that he was born a man and not a woman; and third, that
he was born a Greek and not a barbarian.
The following sayings of his are also reported: "The oldest

of beings is god; for he is unborn." 'The most beauti
ful thing is the world; for it was made by god." "The big
gest thing is place; for it contains everything." "The fastest
thing is mind; for it races through everything." "The stron
gest thing is necessity; for it rules over everything." "The
wisest thing is time; for it discovers everything."
He said that death is not at all different from life.
Someone said, "Then why don't you die?" He answered,
"Because there is no difference."
[36] To the man who wanted to know which came
about earlier, night or day, he replied, "Night, earlier by a
day."
Someone asked him whether a man escapes the notice
of the gods ifhe commits injustice; he answered, "not even
225
E A R LY G R E E K P H I LO S O P HY I I
Epoµr=vov r; l, oµo<rTJ1 µTJ µr=µoixr=vKEVat, o v xr='ipov, ecp'Y),

µoixr=ia<; F.mopKia;Z
EPWT'Y)0ft<; TL Dv<rKOAov, ecp'Y), TO EaVTOV yvwvai· TL
DE fVKOAov, TO aAA<tJ inro0€cr()ai· TL 7/Dt<TTOV, TO E7TL
royxavr=w TL TO Or='iov, TO µfiTr= apxYiv exov µfiTr= Tf
Ar=vTfiv. TL DE Katvov ft'Y) nOr=aµevo<; ecp'Y)· yepovrn
Tvpavvov.
7TW<; av TL<; aTvxiav pq.crrn cpepot, ,,;, TOV<; F.xOpov<;
xr=lpov 7rpa<r<rOVTa<; {3AE7Tot· 7TW<; av apt<rTa Kat DLKat
OTaTa f3iwcraiµr=v, F.av & TOl<; aAAot<; E7TLTLµwµr=v, avTOt
µTi Dpwµr=v· [37] TL<; r=vDaiµwv, 0 TO µEv crwµa vyifi<;,
TTJV DE ifroxTiv3 r=v7Topo<;, TTJV DE cpvcriv4 r=v7TaiDr=vrn<;.
cPLAWV 7TapOVTWV Kat a7TOVTWV µr=µvijcr(}ai cp'Y]<rt· µTJ
TTJV ol/Jtv KaAAW7Tt,r=crOat, &.AA.a TOl<; E7TLT'Y)Dr=vµacrtv
r=ivai KaAov.
µTi 7TAOVTH, cp'Y)<rL, KaKW<;, µ'Y)DE Diaf3aAA.frw err= A.6-
yo<; 7rpo<; TOV<; 7TL<rTr=w<; KfKOLVWV'Y)KOTa<;.
oil<; av F.pavov<; r=i<rr=VEYKY/<;, cp'Y)<rL, TOl<; yovr=v<rLV,
Tov<; avrnv<; 7rpocrDexov Kat 7Tapa TWv TEKvwv.
1 oµ,6crTIEl mss . , corr. Roeper 2 ita interpunxit Stembach
3 tf;vx,Y,v BP1 (Q): rvx71v FP3 4 <f>vcrw BP1 (Q): tf;vx,Y,v FP3
d 1.40
TOVTOV E<TTLV TO rvwOi <raVTOV, cmr=p 'Avncr0EV'Y)<; EV
rnt<; AiaDoxa'i<; W'Y)µovo'Y)<; r=lvai cp'Y)<rtv [FGrHist 508
F3] , F.tiDto7TotficracrOai DE avTo XiA.wva.
226
THALE S
if he intends to." And to the adulterer who asked whether

he should swear that he had not committed adultery, he
answered, "Is not perjury worse than adultery?"
Asked what is difficult, he answered, "to know oneself';
what is easy, "to give advice to someone else"; what is most
pleasant, "to have success"; what is divine, "that which has
neither beginning nor end"; what was the most unheard
of thing he had seen, he said, "an old tyrant."
How one could most easily endure misfortune? "If one
sees one's enemies doing worse." How we could live best
and most justly? "If we do not do ourselves what we blame
others for doing." [37] Who is happy? "He who is healthy
in body, resourceful in spirit, well trained in nature."
He says that we should remember our friends, be they
present or absent; not to beautify our appearance, but to
be beautiful in what we do.
He says, "Do not enrich yourself dishonestly, nor let
any utterance set you against those who share your trust."
He says, "The very same favors that you did for your
parents, expect them from your children too."
d
To him belongs the saying "Know yourself," which Antis
thenes in his Successions attributes to Phemonoe, saying
that Chilon appropriated it for himself.
227
Pl8 ( < Al9) Apul. Flor. 18
"[ . . . ] satis [ . ] mihi fuerit mercedis [ . ] si id quod a

. . . .
me didicisti cum proferre ad quosdam coeperis, sibi non

adsciveris, sed eius inventi me potius quam alium reper
torem praedicaris."
Death (P19)
Pl9 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1.39

0 8' o�v o-o<f>o<; ETEAEV'T'Y)O"EV aywva Oewµevo<; yuµvi
KOV VTTO TE Kavµaro<; Kat 8[ifrov<; Kat ao-Oeve[a<;, 7i8'Y/
Y'YJPULO<;.
Statue (P20)
P20 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .34 (< Lobon Frag. 1 Garulli]
[ . . . = R8] emyeypa<f>Oai 8' avrov ETTL r7}<; elKOVO<; r68e ·
r6v8e ®a>..7] v MtA'Y)TO<; 'la<; OpEi{lao-' ave8eitev
ao-rpoAoywv TTUVTWV 7rpeo-/3vrarov o-o<f>trJ.
228
THALE S
Pl8 (< Al9) Apuleius, Florida

[to Mandrolytus of Priene, who offered to pay him what
ever he wished for teaching him the calculation of the
sun's orbit, cf. Rl3:] "It would be an adequate recom
pense for me [ . . . ] if, when you begin to tell people what
you have learned from me, you do not attribute it to your
self but declare that I am the author of this discovery
rather than anyone else."
Death (P19)
This sage died while he was observing an athletic compe
tition, because of the heat, thirst, and his weakness, when
he was already old.
Statue (P20)
[ . . . ] [Seil. Lobon says that] his statue bears the following
inscription:
Ionian Miletus nursed this man, Thales, and revealed
him
As the most venerable of all astronomers in
wisdom.
Iconography (P21)
P21 ( ;e DK) Richter I, pp. 82-83 and Figures 321-25;
Richter-Smith, pp. 209-10 and Figures 171-72; Koch,
"Ikonographie," in Flashar, Bremer, Rechenauer (2013),
I.l, pp. 217-19.
229
THALE S [ 1 1 D K]
Thales (Probably) Left Behind

No Writings (Dl-D2)
DI (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .23
KaL Kara nva> µf.v U'vyypaµµ,a KaTEAL1TEV ovoiv [ . .

= R6] .
D2 (< Th 184 Wohrle) Gal. In. Hipp. Nat. ham. 1.27 ( =

p. 37.9-11 Mewaldt)
[ . . ] on 0aA.7)> a1TEcpf,vaTO U'TOLXEtOV µ6vov Eivai TO
.
vowp, EK <TVyypaµµarn> avrov OELKVVVaL OVK EXOµEV,

aA.A.' oµw> a1TaU'L Kat TOVTO 1TE1TlU'TEVTaL.
D3 ( < Al2) Arist. Metaph. A3 983bl8-22

TO µEVTOL 1TA7)8o, Kat TO ElOO> TT)> TOLaVTYJ> apx7/> ov
230
THALE S
D
Thales (Probably) Left Behind
No Writings (Dl-D2)
D l (< Al) Diogenes Laertius
According to some, he did not leave behind a written trea
tise [ . . . ] .
D 2 ( ;e DK) Galen, Commentary on Hippocrates' On the

Nature of Man
[ . . . ] we are not able to demonstrate on the basis of a
treatise by Thales that he declared that water was the only
element, even if this is what everyone believes.

D3 ( < Al2) Aristotle, Metaphysics
However, not all [scil. of those earliest philosophers who
assert that things comes from a substrate] say the same
231
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
TO aVTO 1TUVTE<; >.i-yovaw, a>..A.a ®aA.7/i; µev [ . . . R9] =
vSwp <f>TJ<TlV elvai (Sto Kat TT,v yi/v €</>' vSarn<; 1l'ITe<f>f,
vaTO elvai) [ . . . R32a] .
=
D4 (< Th 210 Wohrle) (Ps.-?) Hippo!. Ref 1 . 1

[. . . Rl2] OVTO<; E</>TJ apxT,v TOV 1TaVTO<; elvai Kat
=
TEAO<; TO vSwp. EK yap aVTOV Ta 1TUVTa <TVvi<rTa<r8at

1TTJ"jvvµfrov Kat 1TUAtv SwvieµEvov €m<f>Epe<r8ai TE
avT Ta 1TUVTa, a</J' oV Kat <TEt<TfLOV<; Kat 1TVEVfLUTWV
<TV<rTpo<f>a<; Kat a<rTpwv KWY,<ret<; yive<r8at [ . . R39] .
. =
The World (D5)
D5 (Al3b) Aet. 2.1.2 (Ps.-Plut. ) [1Tept Ko<rµ,ov]
®aA.7/<; Kat oi a'/T' avrnv lva TOV KO<TfLOV.
D6 (Al 7a) Aet.

a 2.13.1 (Ps.-Plut.) [Ti<; � ov<ria TWV a<rTpwv 1TAaVTJTWV
Kat a1TAavwv]
b 2.20.9 (Stob . ) [1Tept ov<riai; �A.iov]

®aA.7/i; yeoeiS7/ TOV i}A.wv.
232
THALE S
thing regarding the number and the kind of a principle of

this sort. But Thales [ . . . ] says it is water (and it is for this
reason that he declared that the earth rests upon water)
[. . .].
D4 ( � DK) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation ofAll Heresies

[ . . . ] He said that the beginning of everything and its end
is water. For it is out of this that all things are formed,
when it solidifies and liquefies in turn, 1 and all things rest
upon it, and it is also from this that earthquakes, concen
trations of winds, and the motions of the stars come [ . . . ] .
1 This explanation seems more like reconstruction (of Aristo
telian origin) than information.
The World (D5)

D5 (A13b) Aetius
Thales and those who follow him: there is [scil. only] one
world.

D6 (Al 7a) Aetius
a
Thales: the stars are made of earth, but they are on fire.
b
Thales: the sun is made of earth.
233
The Earth (D7-D8)
07 (< Al4) Arist. Gael. 2. 13 294a28-32

oi o' €</>' VOaTO> K€t<r0al. TOVTOV yap apxalOTUTOV
7Tap€lAficpaµ€v TOV A.6yov, ov cpa<rw €L7T€tV ®aA.ijv Tov
MlAfi<rwv, we; Ola TO 7TAWT�V €lVal µivov<rav W<T7T€p
tvA.ov � n rnwvTov fr€pov (Kat yap TovTwv E7T, d.ipoc;
µ€v ov0€v 7TEcpVK€ µEV€lV, &.A.A' Ecp' voarnc;) [ . . . =
R33a] .
08 (< Al5) Sen. Quaest. nat. 3 . 14

ait enim terrarum orbem aqua sustineri et vehi more
navigii mobilitateque eius fluctuare, tum quum dicitur
tremere. non est ergo mirum si abundat humor ad flumina
fundenda, quum mundus in humore sit totus.
09 (Al6) Aet. 4 . l . l (Ps.-Plut.) [7r€pt N€tAov ava/3a<r€wc;]
®aA.ijc; rnvc; fr71<riac; d.viµovc; otETaL 7TVEoVTac; TV Al

yV7TT<f:l UVTl7TpO<rW7TOVc; E7Tatp€w TOV N€iAov TOV oyKOV
Ola To Ta> EKpoac; avTov TV 7Tapolofi<r€l Tov d.vn-
7TapfiKovTo> 7T€Aayovc; d.vaK07TTE<r0al.
234
THALE S
The Earth (D7-D8)

D7 ( < Al4) Aristotle, On the Heavens
The others say that it [i.e. the earth] rests on water. For
the most ancient explanation that has come down to us,
which they say that Thales of Miletus stated, is that it stays
put because it floats like wood or something else of this
sort (for by nature none of these things stays put in the air,
but rather on water) [ . . . ] .
D 8 ( < Al5) Seneca, Natural Questions

For he says that the terrestrial globe rests upon water and
moves like a boat and fluctuates by reason of its mobility
when there is what is called an earthquake. So it is not
surprising if there is an abundant quantity of fluid that
pours forth as streams, since the whole world is located in
a fluid.

D9 (Al6) Aetius
Thales thinks that the Etesian winds that blow upon Egypt
in the opposite direction raise the Nile's bulk because its
outflow is driven back by the swelling of the sea which
comes to meet it. 1
1 Herodotus 2.20 mentions this theory without attributing it
to anyone.
235
EARLY G R E E K P H I LO S O PHY I I
Souls and Divinities (DlO-Dl l)
0 10 (< A22) Arist. An. 1.5 4lla7-8

[ . . . ] 0aA:i]<; cf:n/OYJ 7Tavrn 7TATJP'Y/ fJEwv Elvai.
Oll
a (A22) Arist. An. 1.2 405al9-21
EoLKE 8e Kat 0aA7j<; E� 6Jv a7Toµv'Y)µOVEVOV<TL KLV'Y)TLKOV
n TT/v ifivxiJv v7ToAa{3E'iv, Et7TEp Tov 1.[fJov ifivxiJv EXELV
on TOV <ri8'Y)pov KLVE'i.
b ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .24
[ . . . R37] 'Apt<TTOTEAYJ<; [Ol la] 8€ Kat "fo7Tfo<; [HIP

=
PIAS 023] <jJa<TtV UVTOV Kat atfnlxoi<; µErn8i86vai

ifivx7J<>, TEKµaipoµEvov EK T7j<; >.ff)ov T7j<; µayvfin8o<;
Kat TOV Y,!.iKTpov.
236
THALE S
Souls and Divinities (DlO-Dl l)

D lO (< A22) Aristotle, On the Soul
[ . . . ] Thales thought that all things are full of gods.1
1 Cf. Plato, Laws 899b.
See also R34a
Dll
a (A22) Aristotle, On the Soul

Thales too seems, from what is reported, to have thought
that the soul is something that moves, for he says that the
stone [i.e. the magnet] has a soul, given that it moves iron.
b ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius

[ . . . ] Aristotle and Hippias say that he attributed a soul to
inanimate beings too, judging from the evidence of the
magnet and of amber.
237
THALE S

Xenophanes, Heraclitus, Herodotus,
and Democritus (Rl)
R l ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .23
[ . . . Rl5] Mhv avrov Kat Eevo<f1av7J<> Kat 'Hp6Soroi;

=
Oavµ.a,ei. µ.aprope'i S' avrfi.> Kat 'HpaKAEiTO<; Kat 117]

µoKpiro<;.
Hippias
See THAL. D l lb
Aristophanes
See DRAM. Tl3-Tl4
238
THALE S
R
Xenophanes, Heraclitus, Herodotus,
and Democritus (Rl)
Rl ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius
[ . . . ] That is why Xenophanes and Herodotus [ cf. P2, P6,
P7, P9] admire him. Heraclitus [cf. HER. 026] and De
mocritus [cf. THAL. P2] also bear witness to him.
Hippias
See THAL. D l lb
Aristophanes
See DRAM. T13-T14
239
From the Sage t o the Theoretician (R2-R4)
R2 ( < Th 20 Wohrle) Plat. Prot. 343a

[IIP.] TOVTWV 1/v Kal 0aA:1js- o MiA'ljcrws- Kal IIiTTaKOS"
o MvnA'l']vat:os- KaL Bias- o IIpi'l'}vEvs- KaL !oAwv o T,µi.
TEpos- KaL KAEo(3ovAos- o Aiv8ws- KaL Mvcrwv o X'l'}
veVs-, KaL Ef3Soµos- Ev r0Vro1s EA€yero AaKe'8aiµ6vtos
XiAwv.
R3 (Th 1 10 Wohrle) Plut. Sol. 3.8. l-3 BOB-C

KUl oAws- EoLKEV .;, 0aAEW µ,ovov crocf>ia TOTE 7TEpairEpw
Tijs- XPElUS" EtLKECT8ai Tfj 8Ewpiq.· TOtS 8' aHois- U7TO
Tijs- 7TOALTLKijS" apETijS" TOVvoµ,a Tijs- crocf>ias- V7TijptE.
R4 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .34

olDE 8' UVTOV acrTpovoµ,ovµ,Evov KUl Tiµ,wv, KUl EV TOlS"
!iAAOLS" E7TULVEt avTOV A€ywv [Frag. 23 Di Marco]·
olov 8' E7TTU 0aA'Y)Ta crocf>wv crocf>ov
<acrTpovoµ,ijcrai>1 [ . . . R8]
=
1 < arnpoVofLii<Tat> Magnelli
R5 ( < All) Flav. Jos. Apion. 1.2
aAAa µ,�v KUl TOVS" 7TEpL TWV ovpaviwv TE KUl 8Eiwv

240
THALE S
From the Sage to the Theoretician (R2-R4)
R2 ( ':# DK) Plato, Protagoras

[Protagoras: J To such men [scil. those capable of making
laconic pronouncements] belonged Thales of Miletus, Pit
tacus of Mytilene, Bias of Priene, our own Solon, Cleobu
lus of Lindos, Myson of Chenae, and people say that the
seventh among them was Chilon of Sparta [cf. MOR.
T35].
R3 ( ':# DK) Plutarch, Solon

And in general it seems that at that time only Thales'
wisdom, by reason of its theoretical aspect, went beyond
practical necessity: the others [scil. of the Seven Sages]
possess the name of wisdom from their excellence in pol
itics.
R4 ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius

Timon too knows of him as an astronomer, and he praises
him in his Mockeries (Silloi), saying,
As, among the Seven Sages, Thales the sage
<practiced astronomy> [ . . ] .
.
See also Plb

R5 (< All) Flavius Josephus, Against Apion
Everyone agrees unanimously that the first Greeks who
241
7rpWTOV'> 7Tap' "EAA'l'JCTL cfnA.oa-ocf>�a-avrn<>, oiov [ . . . -

PHER. PS] 0aA'l'Jrn, 7TavTE'> a-vµ,cf>wvw<> oµ,ohoyova-iv
[ . . . ] oA[ya a-vyypa•Jmi· Kat 'TUV'Ta 'TOL'> "Ehh'l'JCTLV elvai
8oKEt 7TaV'TWV apxaio'TU'TU, Kat µ,ohL'> UV'Ta 7TLCT'TEVOV
ITLV v7T' €Keivwv yeypacf>Oai.

[. . . =D I ] � yap el<> UV'TOV avacf>epoµ,EV'l'J NavnKT]
aa-Tpohoy[a <l>wKov AEyerni eLvai 'TOV °!.aµ,[ov. ( . . . ]
KaTa Twa<> 8 E µ,6va 8vo a-vv/.ypaipe, Ilep£ Tpo7Tij'> Kat
'llT'l']µ,EpLa'>, Ta aAA' aKaTahYJ1T'Ta eLvai 80Kiµ,aa-a<>.
R7 (< Bl) Plut. Pyth. orac. 18 403A

[ . . . ] Et ye 0aAij<> f7TOL'l'JCTEV W'> aA'T]OW'> el1TELV <TT]v>
el<> avTov1 avacf>epoµ,EV'l'JV 'Aa-Tpohoy[av.
I <ri/v> el, avrov Tumebus: el, ami,v mss.
R8 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1.34
[ . . . R4] aa-Tpovoµ,�µ,arn1 8E yeypaµ,µ,/.va V1T' aV'TOV

=
cf>'l'Ja-L A6{3wv o 'Apyel:o<> [Frag. 1 Garulli] el<> foYJ TELveiv

8iaKoa-ia ( . . . ] .
242
THALE S
philosophized about celestial phenomena and divine mat

ters, like [ . ] Thales, [ ] wrote only very little; these
. . . . .
writings seem to the Greeks to be the most ancient ones

of all, and they can scarcely believe that they were written
by them.

[ ] for the Nautical Astronomy attributed to him is said
. . .
to be by Phocus of Samos. [ . . ] But according to other

.
people he wrote only two works, On the Solstice and On

the Equinox, for he was of the opinion that everything else
was impossible to know.
R7 (< B l ) Plutarch, On the Pythian Oracles

[ . ] if Thales really did write the Astronomy that is at
. .
tributed to him.

[ ] Lobon of Argos says that what was written by him
. . .
about astronomy amounts to two hundred lines [ . . ] .

.
See also R44
243
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S O PHY I I
The Science of Nature (R9-R12)
R9 ( < Al2) Arist. Metaph. A3 983b20-21
[ . . . D3] 0a.\:i)> µ,€.v 0 rij> TOLaVTTJ'> apxTJYCJ > <fn>..o

=
awf>ia> [ . . . R32a] .
=
RIO ( < Bl) S impl . In Phys., p. 23.29-32

0a>..ij > 8€ 7rpwrn<; 7Tapa8€8orai ri']v 7TEpt <f>vaEw> iaro
piav TOL> "EAAYJ<Tlll EK</>ijvai, 7TOAAwv f.lEll Kat a>.. >.. w v
7Tpoyqov6rwv, W> Kat r<fi 0Eo<f>paarcp 8oKEL [ < Frag.
225 FHS&G] , alrrO') SE 1ToA.V SieveyKWv €Kelvwv, wf)
R l l ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .23, 24
f.lETa 8€ Ta 7TOAlTlKU Tij> </>vmKij> EYEVETO ()Ewpia>.

[ . . . J 7Tpwrn> 8€. Kai 7TEpi <f>vaEw<> 8iE>.. ixeTJ, w> nvE>.
Rl2 (< Th 210 Wohrle) (Ps.-?) Hippol. Ref 1 . 1
>.. iyETal ea>..ij v TOIJ Mi>.. 1/aiov eva TWIJ E7TTU ao<f>wv
7rpwrov ETrlKEXElPYJKEvai <f>i>.. oao<f>iav <f>vaiK'1jv. [ . .
D4]
The Initiator ofthe Ionian Line of

Descent of Greek Philosophy
See DOX. T20, T2 1
244
THALE S
The Science of Nature (R9-Rl2)

R9 ( < Al2) Aristotle, Metaphysics
[ . . . ] Thales, the founder of this sort of philosophy [i.e. the
one that asserts that things derive from one or more prin
ciples that serve as their substrate] [ . . . ] .
RIO (< Bl) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Phys

ics
Thales is reported to have been the first to reveal the study
of nature to the Greeks; many others had preceded him,
as is the view of Theophrastus too, but he was far superior
to them so that he eclipsed all his predecessors.
R l l (< Al) Diogenes Laertius

After having engaged in politics, he devoted himself to the
observation of nature. [ . . . ] And he was the first to speak
about nature as well, according to some people.
Rl2 ( � DK) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Here

sies
They say that Thales of Miletus, one of the Seven Sages,
was the first to make an attempt at natural philosophy.
The Initiator of the Ionian Line of

Descent of Greek Philosophy
See DOX. T20, T2 1
245
E A R LY G RE E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
Scientific Discoveries Attributed to

Thales (R13-R31)
Rl3 ( < Al9) Apul. Flor. 18
Thales Milesius ex septem illis sapientiae memoratis viris

facile praecipuus (enim geometricae penes Graios primus
repertor et naturae certissimus explorator et astrorum
peritissimus contemplator) maximas res parvis lineis
repperit: temporum ambitus, ventorum flatus, stellarum
meatus, tonitruum sonora miracula, siderum obliqua cur
ricula, solis annua reverticula: itidem lunae vel nascentis
incrementa, vel senescentis dispendia, vel delinquentis
obstiticula. idem sane iam proclivi senectute divinam
rationem de sole commentus est; quam equidem non
didici modo, verum etiam experiundo comprobavi: quoties
sol magnitudine sua circulum, quern permeat, metiatur.
246
THALE S
Scientific Discoveries Attributed to

Thales (R13-R31) 1
I Among the many other discoveries attributed to Thales are
the armillary sphere (Cicero, On the Republic 1.22), the solstices
(Heron, Definitions 138. 1 1 Eudemus, Frag. 145 Wehrli), and
=
the phases of the moon and the equinoxes (Eusebius, Evangelical

Preparation 10. 14. 10).
Rl3 (< Al9) Apuleius, Florida

Thales of Miletus, the most preeminent by far of those
Seven famous for their wisdom-indeed, he was the first
among the Greeks to discover geometry, and was an un
erring investigator of nature and a most experienced ob
server of the stars-discovered the greatest things by
means of small lines: the procession of the seasons, the
blowing of the winds, the course of the stars, the prodi
gious sounds of thunderclaps, the slanting trajectory of the
stars, the yearly reversion of the sun; and so too the in
creases of the moon when it waxes, its decreases when it
wanes, the obstacles when it is eclipsed. The same man,
though already in advanced old age, invented a divine cal
culation with regard to the sun, which I not only learned
but have also confirmed by experiment: it measures the
orbit that the sun follows as a multiple of the sun's magni
tude.
247

Rl4 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .24

7Tpwro<; OE Kat T�V a7TO rpo7Tf'i<; E7Tt rpo7T�V 7Tapo0ov
t:.flpt:., Kat 7Tpwro<; ro roil ,Y,A.iov µIyd}o<; <roil ,Y,A.iaKov
KVKAov WfT7Tt:.p Kat ro ri]<; a-t:.A.1/v71<; µ,€yd}o<;>1 roil a-f.
A.71vafov E7TTaKOfTWfTTOV Kat f.LKOfTTOV µ,€po<; a7Tt:.<f;1/
varo Kara nva<;.
1 suppl. Diels
Rl5 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .23

OOKf.L OE Kara nva<; 7TpWTO<; aa-rpoA.oyi]a-ai Kat ,Y,A.ia
KUS EKAt:.ii/m<; Kat rpo7TUS 7TpOH7Tf.LV, W<; <f;71a-w Evo71-
µ,o<; ev rfi 7TEpt rwv 'Aa-rpoA.oyovµ,€vwv ia-rop[q. [Frag.
144 Wehrli] [ . . . R l ] .
=
Rl6 (< Al7) Theon Sm. Exp., p. 198. 14-18

Evo71µ,o<; ia-ropt:.'i ev rn'i<> 'Aa-rpoA.oyiai<; [Frag. 145
Wehrli] [ . . . ] 0aA.f'i<> OE ,Y,A.iov EKAt:.itflw Kat r�v Kara
Ta<; rpo7Ta<; avrov 7Tt:.pfooov, w<; OVK ia-71 af.t a-vµ,f3ai
Vf.L'
248
THALE S

He was the first to discover the trajectory from one tropic
to the other, and according to some people the first to
declare that the size of the sun <is the 720th part of the
solar circle, and the size of the moon> is the 720th part of
the lunar one.

Some people are of the view that he was the first to do
astronomy and to predict solar eclipses and solstices, as
Eudemus says in his History of Astronomy.
R16 ( < Al 7) Theon of Smyrna, Mathematics Useful for

Understanding Plato (extract from Dercyllides)
Eudemus reports in his Astronomy [ . . . ] that Thales [scil.
was the first to discoverJ the eclipse of the sun and the fact
that the periodicity of its revolutions is not always equal.
249
EARLY G RE E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
R l 7 (Th 91 Wohrle) Aristarch. Samius in Comm. i n Od.

20. 156 (P.Oxy. 3710 Col. 2.36-43; vol. 53 [ 1986] , 96-97,
ed. Haslam)
on EV vovµ71vtat ai EKAetl/Jet<; S77A.o[t] I 'Apfrrrapxo<; 0
l:aµ[i]o<; ypacpwv· €cp17 re I 0 µev @aA.fj<; on EKAetnetV
rov 'ljA.[t] lov CTeA1}v17<; E1Tt1Tpo<TBev avrwt yevloµev17<;,
<T17µewvµ€[v71<; c. 6] . . . rfi<; I T,µepa<;, ev �t Trotetrat
rY,v €.yA.eil/Jiv, I T)[v] oi µev rptaKaSa KaAov<Tiv o[i] Se
vovlµ71v£av.
Rl8 ( < Al 7a) Aet. 2.24.1 (Ps.-Plut.) [rrepL eK'Ae£lfiew<;

T,A.fov]
@aA.fi<; rrpwro<; €cp17 eKA.e£rreiv rov 'ljA.wv rfi<; <Te'A1}v71<;
avrov vrrepxoµEV7J<; Kara KaBerov, OVCTTJ <; cpv<TEt yew
Sov<;· /3AE1TE<TBat Se rovro KaTOrrrptKw<;1 vrronBeµev<p
rq! St<TK<f.
1 verbum obscurum et fortasse corruptum
Rl9 (Al 7b) Aet. 2.28.5 (Stob.) [rrepL cpwn<Tµwv <TE

A.1}v17<;]
@aA.fi<; rrpwro<; €cp17 vrro rov T,A.£ov cpwr£,e<TBai rY,v
<TEA1}V7Jv.
250
THALE S
Rl 7 ( "#- DK) Aristarchus of Samos in an anonymous com

mentary on Homer's Odyssey
The fact that eclipses take place at the new moon is ex
plained by Aristarchus of Samos, who writes, "Thales said
that the sun is eclipsed when the moon comes to be lo
cated in front of it, the day on which it produces the
eclipse (some people call this day 'the thirtieth' and others
'the new moon') being marked [ . . . ] ."
Rl8 (< Al7a) Aetius

Thales was the first to say that an eclipse of the sun occurs
when the moon, which by nature is made of earth, passes
perpendicularly beneath it; this is seen in the manner of a
mirror (?), when the disk comes to be placed under it.

Rl9 (Al7b) Aetius
Thales was the first to say that the moon is illuminated by
the sun. 1
1 This is a typical case of honorific attribution. In fact, the
discovery belongs to Parmenides (PARM. 028).
251
R20 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1.23

KaA.A.iµaxo<> 8' avTOV oWEv EVPETYiv Ti/'> apKTOV Ti/'>
µiKpG.s A.iywv €.v Tot<> 'Iaµ/3oi<> ovTW'>·
KaL Ti/'> aµafYJ'> EAEYETO CTrnOµfiaw:rOai
TOV'> aCTTEPLCTKOV'>, ii 7TAEoVCTL oivLKE'>
[Frag. 191.54-55 Pfeiffer]
R2 1 (Al8) Plin. Nat. hist. 18
occasum matutinum Vergiliarum Hesiodus (nam huius

quoque nomine exstat Astrologia) tradidit fieri, quum
aequinoctium autumni conficeretur [Frag. 290 Merkel
bach-West] , Thales vigesimo quinto die ah aequinoctio
[. . .] .
R22 (B2) Schol. in Arat. 172, p. 369.24
0aAij<> ( . . . ) 8vo UVTOS El7TEV ElvaL, TYiv µEv f3opELOV

TYiv 8i v6nov.
R23 (Al3c) Aet. 2.12.l (Ps.-Plut.) [ 7rEpt 8iaipECTEW'> ov

pavov]
0aAij<> (. . .) µEµEpiCT(JaL TYiv TOV 7TUVT0'> ovpavov
CT</>al:pav EL'> KVKAOV'> 7TEVTE, ovCTnva<> 7TpoCTayopEvovCTL
�wva<> [ . . . ] .
252
THALE S

R20 ( < Al) Callimachus in Diogenes Laertius
Callimachus knows of him as the discoverer of the Great
Bear, for he speaks in his Iambs as follows:
And he was said to have numbered the little stars
Of the Great Bear, by means of which the
Phoenicians navigate.
R21 (Al8) Pliny, Natural History

Hesiod (for an Astronomy is also extant under his name)
reports that the morning setting of the Pleiades takes place
at the autumnal equinox, Thales twenty-five days after the
equinox [ . . . ] .
R22 (B2) Scholia on Aratus' Phaenomena

Thales [ . . . ] said that there are two of them [i.e. the Hya
des], the northern one and the southern one.

R23 (< Al3c) Aetius
Thales [ . . . ] : the sphere of the whole of heaven is divided
into five circles, which they [i.e. besides Thales, Pythago
ras and his disciples] call zones.
253
R24 (Al5) Aet. 3. 1 1 . 1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [1TEpL ()€<TEW<; yr)<;]

ol a7To E>aA.Ew rT/v yr)v µ€<TTJ v [ . . . = XEN. 043].

Ta<; TE wpa<; TOV f.viavrov cf>aa-w avrov Evp{iv KaL El<;
rpiaKO<rLa<; �tfiKovra 7T€vrE T,µ€pa<; SiEAEtv.

Theorems and Derrwnstrations (R26-R30)
R26 (A20) Prod. In Eucl. Prop. 15, theor. 8 (299. 1-5

Friedlein)
TOVTO TOLVVV TO ()Ewp71µa SELKVV<TW, on Svo Ev()Eiwv
UAAfiAa<; TEµVOV<TWV at Kara KOpV</>TJV YWVLa£ t<rai El
<TtV, wp71µ€vov µ€v, w<; <f>TJ<rLv EvS71µ0<; [Frag. 135
Wehrli] , v7To E>a>.. ov 7Tpwrov [ . . . ] .
R27 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1.24-25

7Tapa TE Alyv7Triwv yEwµErpE£v µa()6vra cf>TJ<rL IIaµ
cf>i>.. 71 [Frag. l Cagnazzi] 7Tpwrov Karaypaif1ai KVKAov ro
rpiywvov op()oywvwv, KaL ()iJa-ai f3ovv. 0£ SE IIv{}a
yopav cf>aa-iv, &v f.a-rw 'A7To>.. >.. 6 Swpo<; o >.. oyi<rnKo<;.
254
THALE S

R24 (Al5) Aetius
The followers of Thales: the earth is in the center [ . . . ].

They say that he was the one who discovered the seasons
of the year and divided it into 365 days.

Theorems and Demonstrations (R26-R30)
R26 (A20) Proclus, Commentary on the First Book of
Euclid's Elements
Thus this theorem demonstrates that when two straight
lines intersect one another, the corresponding angles are
equal, a discovery, as Eudemus says, first made by Thales
[ . . .] .

Pamphile says that after he learned geometry from the
Egyptians, he was the first to inscribe a right triangle in a
circle, and that he sacrificed a bull [scil. in celebration] .
Others, including Apollodorus the arithmetician, say that
it was Pythagoras [cf. PYTH. c D7a] .
255
R28 (A20) Prod. In Eucl. Prop. 6 , theor. 2 (250.20-251 .2

Friedlein)
T<{> fLEV ol'Jv 0aA.fi T<{> 7TaAat<{> 7TOAAwv TE aA'Awv EVpE
<TEW<; lvEKa Kal TOVOE TOV (JEwpfiµ,aTO<; xapt<;. AEyETat
yap oY, 7TpWTO<; EKEtVO<; E7Tt<TTij<Tat Kal El7TEtV, W<; apa
7TaVTO<; l<TO<TKEAOV<; ai 7Tp0<; Tfj (3a<TEt ywviat l<Tat El
<TlV, apxatKWTEpov OE Ta<; l<Ta<; oµ,oia<; 7TpO<TEtpYJKEVat.
R29 (A20) Prod. In Eucl. Prop. 26, theor. 17 (352. 14-18

Friedlein)
EvOYJfLO<; OE ev Tat<; rEWfLETptKa'i<; l<TTopiat<; [Frag. 134
Wehrli] El<; 0aA.ijv TOVTO avayEt TO fJEwpYJµ,a. TY,v yap
TWV ev 8aAaTTYJ 7TAoiwv a7TO<TTa<TtV oi' ov Tp07TOV
</>a<TLV avTOV OEtKVVVat TOVTYJ<TW
avayKatOV.
R30 (A20) Prod. In Eucl. Def. 17 ( 157. 10-11 Friedlein)
TO µ,Ev ol'iv oixoToµ,E'i<TfJai Tov KVKAov V7TO Tij<; oia

µ,frpov 7TpWTOV 0aA.ijv EKE'ivov a7TOOE'itai <f>amv [ . . . ] .
256
THALE S

Euclid's Elements
We are indebted to ancient Thales for the discovery,
among many other ones, in particular of the following
theorem. For they say that he was the first to understand
and to state that the angles at the base of every isosceles
triangle are equal, even though he used the archaic ex
pression "similar" for "equal." 1
1 Diels infers from this passage that Proclus or Eudemus was
making use of a mathematical text that was attributed to Thales.

Euclid's Elements
Eudemus in his History of Geometry assigns this theorem
[i.e. the equality of two triangles of which one side and the
two neighboring angles are equal] to Thales. For he says
that the method by which they say that he demonstrated
the distance of ships on the sea requires that one make use
of it.

Euclid's Elements
They say that the celebrated Thales was the first to dem
onstrate that a circle is divided into two by its diameter
[. . .] .
257
R3 1
a ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 1 .27

0 S€ 'Iepwvvµor; [Frag. 40 Wehrli] Kat eKµeTpfjuai cf>YJ
aw avTov Tar; 7TVpaµiSar; EK Tfjr; <TKia.r;, 1TapaTYJP+
<ravrn OT€ T,µ'iv l<roµey€()7]<; E<rTiv.
b (A21) Plin. Nat. hist. 36.82

mensuram altitudinis earum deprehendere invenit Thales
Milesius umbram metiendo qua hora par esse corpori
solet.
c (A21) Plut. Sept. Sap. Conv. 2 147A

TYJV {3aKT7]piav <rTrJ<rar; E7Tt TqJ 1TEpan rfjr; <rKiar; 1,v T,
7TVpaµt<; E1Toiei, yevoµivwv Tfj E7Tacf>ii Tfjr; aKTtVO<; Sv
e'iv rpiywvwv eSeigar;, ov r, <TKLa 1Tpor; r-Tiv <TKLaV AO
yov eixe, TYJV 7TVpaµi8a 7rpor; TYJV {3aKTTjpiav EXOV<rav.
Aristotle's Reconstructions and Criticisms of

Thales' Arguments (R32-R34)
R32
a ( < Al2) Arist. Metaph. A3 983b25-984a3

[. . . = D3 ] >ta{3wv £<rwr; TYJV inroA7Jl/Jiv rnvTYJV l.K Toil
258
THALE S

R31
a ( < Al) Hieronymus in Diogenes Laertius
Hieronymus says that he also measured [scil. the height
of] the pyramids exactly on the basis of their shadow, by
waiting for the moment when it [i.e. our shadow] has the
same size as we do.
h (A21) Pliny, Natural History

Thales of Miletus discovered how to take their [i.e. the
pyramids'] measure by measuring their shadow at the
hour when it is equal to [scil. the height of] the body.
c (A21) Plutarch, The Dinner of the Seven Wise Men

You [i.e. Thales] placed a stick at the edge of the shadow
which the pyramid made, and as two triangles were
formed by contact with the sunbeam, you demonstrated
that the pyramid is in the same ratio to the stick as the
shadow of the one was to the shadow of the other.
Aristotle's Reconstructions and Criticisms of

Thales' Arguments (R32-R34)
R32
a (< Al2) Aristotle, Metaphysics
[ . . . ] Perhaps he had derived this assumption [cf. D3]
259
7TaVTWV opO.. v TTJV Tpo<f>Yiv vypav olxrav KUL UVTO TO

Oepµ,ov EK TOVTOV yiyv6µ,evov KaL TOVT<tJ 'wv (To 8' Et
oii yiyverai, TOVT' E<TTLV apxT/ 7TaVTWV )-8ia TE 8-Yi
TovTo TTJV v7T6'A:rytfiw A.a{3wv TavTY/v Kal 8ia To 7TavTwv
Ta <T7TEpµ,arn TTJV <f>vmv vypav EXElV' TO 8' v8wp apxT/
Tfj<; <f>vcrew<; E<TTl TOl<; vypol:<;. EL<Tl 8i. TlVE<; ot KUL TOV<;
7Tap.,7TaAaiov<; KaL 7TOAv 7rpo Tfj<; vvv yevi.crew<; KaL
7rpwTov.:; OeoAoyf,cravra.:; ovTw<; otovTai 7TEpL Tfj<; <f>v
crew.:; V7ToAa{3el:v. '0Keav6v TE yap KaL TY/Ovv E7ToiY/
crav Tfj<; yevE<TEW<; 7TUTEpa<;, Kal TOV opKOV TWV Oewv
v8 wp, TTJV KaAOVP.,EVY/V V7T' UVTWV �roya TWV 7TOlY/
Twv· 1 TLP.,lWTUTOV µ,f.v yap TO 7Tpecr{3vTaTOV, opKo<; 8f.
TO TLP.,lWTaTOV E<TTlV. el µ,f.v ovv apxaia n<; UVTY/ Kal
7TaAaia TETVXY/KEV ovcra 7TEpl Tfj<; <f>vcrew<; 86ta, Tax'
ltv a8Y/AOV ELY/, ®aAfj.:; P.,EVTOl A.i.yerni OVTW<; U7To<f>f,
vacr8ai 7TEpL Tfj<; 7rpWTY/'> alTia.:;.
1 rwv 1Tot71rwv sec!. Christ
b (< Th 191 Wohrle) Alex. In Metaph. A3, p. 26. 16-18
ELKOTW<; TO "A.i.yernl OVTW<; U7To</>T,vacr8ai"· ov8f.v yap

7Tpo<f>i.peral avrov crilyypaµ,µ,a, Et oii Tl<; TO {3i.{3aiov
E�El TOV TUVTa A.i.yecr8ai TOVTOV TOV Tp07TOV V7T' UVTOV.
260
THALE S
from seeing that what nourishes all things is moist and that
what is warm itself comes from this [i.e. water] and lives
because of it (and what things come about from is the
principle of all things )-it is for this reason then that he
had this idea, and also from the fact that the seed of all
things has a moist nature; and for things that are moist,
water is the principle of their nature. But there are some
people who think that those who spoke about the gods in
ancient times, long before the present generation, and
indeed were the first to do so, had formed the same con
ception about nature: for they made Ocean and Tethys the
parents of becoming and the oath of the gods water, what
they, being poets, called Styx [cf. COSM. T6, T7] ; for
what is most ancient is most honorable, and an oath is what
is most honorable. Well, whether this really is a primeval
and ancient view about nature, might well be unclear;
however, at least as far as Thales is concerned, people say
that he expressed himself in this way about the first cause.
b ( � DK) Alexander of Aphrodisias, Commentary on Ar

istotle's Metaphysics
The phrase "people say that he expressed himself in this
way" is appropriate; for no treatise by him is cited on the
basis of which one could be certain that this was said by
him in this way.
261
R33
a (< Al4) Arist. Gael. 2.13 294a32-33

[ . . . D7] Wfr1ff.P OV TOV UVTOV Aoyov OVTa TTep'i Tij')
=
yij .. Ka'i TOV vOaTO') TOV oxovVTO') TTJV yijv.
b (< Al4) Simpl. In Gael. 522.16-18
[ . . . ] TTPO'> TaVTYJV 0€ TTJV o6�av 0 'Apia-TOTEAYJ'> civn

Aeyei µnAAov £a-w., emKpaTova-av oia To Ka'i Trap' Al
yvTTTfoi., OVTW') EV µvOov crxfiµan Aeyea-Oai Ka'i TOV
0aAijv £a-w., eKeWev Tov Aoyov KEKoµiKevai.
R34
a (A22) Arist. An. 1.5 411a7--8

Ka'i EV T<ii oAqi Se TWE') avrTjv µeµe'ixOai <f>aa-iv, oOev
la-w., Ka'i 0aAij'> cf!fiOYJ TTavra TTAfipYJ Oewv eivai [DIO] .
b ( < AI) Diog. Laert. 1 .27

[ . . . ] TOV Koa-µov eµlflvxov Ka'i Oaiµ6vwv TTAfipYJ.
R35 (A23) Aet. 1.7. 1 1 (Stob.) [TTep'i Oeov]

@aAij') vovv TOV Koa-µov TOV Oe6v, TO 0€ 7TUV eµl/Jvxov
262
THALE S
R33
a ( < Al4) Aristotle, On the Heavens
[ . . . ] as though the explanation given for the earth [cf. D7]
did not apply as well to the water that bears the earth.
b (< Al4) Simplicius, CommentaTlj on Aristotle's On the

Heavens
Aristotle contradicts this opinion, which perhaps is more
prevalent because it is also stated among the Egyptians in
the form of a myth and because Thales perhaps brought
back this explanation from there.
R34
a (A22) Aristotle, On the Soul
Some people say that it [i.e. the soul] is mixed in with
the whole, which is perhaps also the reason why Thales
thought that all things are full of gods [cf. DlO] .
b ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius

[ . . . he thought] that the universe is animate and full of
divinities.

R35 (A23) Aetius
Thales: god is the intelligence of the world, the universe
263
aµa Kat oaiµ6vwv 1TAi]pE<;' oil)KELV O E Kat Ota TOV

<TTOLXELWOOV<; vypov ovvaµiv 8Eiav KWT)TLKT,v UVTOV.
R36 (A22a) Aet. 4.2. 1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [7rEpt ifroxiJc;]

0a'J...i] c; a1TE<f>1)vaTO 1TpWTO<; TY,v ifroxT,v </>v<TLV aELKiV'T)
TOV 1} UVTOKiV'T)TOV.
R37 ( < AI) Diog. Laert. 1 .24
EVLOL OE Kat UVTOV 1TpWTOV El1TELV </>a<Ttv aOavcfrov<;

Tac; ifroxas &v €crn XoipiA.oc; o 1TOL'TJT1/c; [SH 331 ] [ . .
= D l lh].
R38 (A23) Cic. Nat. dear. 1. 10.25
Thales enim Milesius, qui primus de talibus rebus quae

sivit, aquam dixit esse initium rerum: deum autem, earn
mentem, quae ex aqua cuncta fingeret.
R39 (< Th 210 Wohrle) (Ps.-?) Hippol. Ref 1 . 1

[ . . . D4] Kat Ta 1TaVTa <f>epEcr8ai T E Kat pE'iv Tfj rov
=
1Tpwrov d.px'TJYOV riJc; YEVE<TEW<; avTWV <f>v<TEL crvµ

</>EpoµEva. 8Eov OE TOvr' ElVaL, TO µ1/TE apxY,v µ1/rE
TEAEvrT,v lxov.
264
THALE S
is animated and at the same time full of divinities; and the

divine power passes through the elementary moisture and
moves it.
R36 (A22a) Aetius

Thales was the first to state that the soul is a nature which
is always in motion or which moves itself.1
1 The disjunction is connected with a celebrated textual prob
lem in Plato, Phaedros 245c.

Some people also say that he was the first to say that souls
are immortal; one of them is Choerilus the poet [ . . . ] .
R38 (A23) Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods

For Thales of Miletus, who was the first to investigate
these matters, said that water is the beginning of things,
but that god is the intelligence capable of making all things
out of water.
R39 ( '#- DK) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Here

sies
[ . . ] And all things are borne along and flow, carried along
.
by the nature of the first principle (arkhegos) of their be

coming. This, having neither beginning nor ending, is god.
265
R40 (< Th 145 Wohrle) Iren. Adv. haer. 2. 14.2

Thales quidem Milesius universorum generationem et
initium aquam dixit esse: idem autem est dicere aquam et
Bythum.
R4 1 (Th 213 Wohrle) (Ps.-?) Hippol. Ref 5.9.13

Elval DE TOV o<fnv Aeyovaw ol'Jroi rT]v vypav ov<riav,
Ka0a1TEp o MiA.1/<rws-, Kai, µ7JDEv Svva<rOai rwv ovrwv
DAWS', a0av6..rwv � ()VTJTWV, iµtfnlxwv1 � atfnlxwv, O'"VV
EO'"T'YJKEVal XWPLS' avrov.
1 TWP ante eµ,ifnJxwv de!. Cruice
R42 (< Th 229 Wohrle) Min. Fel. Octav. 19.4
sit Thales Milesius omnium primus, qui primus omnium

de caelestibus disputavit. idem Milesius Thales rerum
initium aquam dixit, deum autem earn mentem, quae ex
aqua cuncta formaverit. esto 1 altior et sublimior aquae et
spiritus ratio, quam ut ab homine potuerit inveniri, a Deo
traditum; vides philosophi principalis nobiscum penitus
opinionem consonare.
1 eo ms., corr. Vahlen
R43 ( < 7 A5) Appon. 5.22-23 (ad Cn. 3:5)
in priore enim 'filiarum adiuratione,' in 'caprearum et

266
THALE S

R40 ( � DK) Irenaeus, Against Heresies
Thales of Miletus said that water is the source and begin
ning of all things; but it is the same thing to say "water"
and "Abyss" (Buthos)." 1
1 According to some Gnostics, Bythos is the abyss out of which
all things come.
R4 1 ( � DK) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Here

sies
These people [i.e. some Gnostics] say that the serpent is
the moist substance, just like the Milesian [i.e. Thales],
and that nothing at all of the things that are, immortal or
mortal ones, animate or inanimate ones, is capable of be
ing formed without it.
R42 ( � DK) Minucius Felix, Octavius

Let Thales of Miletus be first of all, he who was the first
of all to discuss celestial phenomena. This same Thales of
Miletus said that water is the beginning of things, but that
god is the mind (mens) that formed all things out of water.
This theory of water and spirit (spiritus), too lofty and
sublime to have been invented by a human being, may well
have been transmitted by God. You see that the opinion
of the founder of philosophy entirely agrees with ours.
R43 ( < 7 A5) Apponius, Commentary on the Song of

Songs
For we said about the earlier 'adjuration of the daughters'
267
cervorum' personas thalesianae e t ferecidensis philoso

phiae intellegi diximus [ PHER. R29] . [ . . . ] [23] de
=
quibus Thales nomine initium omnium rerum aquam in

suo esse dogmate pronuntiavit, et inde omnia facta sub
sistere ab inviso et magno; causam vero motus aquae
spiritum insidentem confirmat, simulque geometricam
artem perspicaci sensu prior invenit, per quam suspicatus
est unum rerum omnium creatorem [ . . . PHER. Rl6].
=
R44 (B3) Ps.-Gal. In Hipp. Hum. 1 . 1
0aA7/<> µ,f.v Et7TEp Kat E K TOV vOaTO<; cf>TJG't G'VVEG'Tavat

TralJTa, a.\.\' oµ,w<> Kat 'TOV'TO /3ovAETat. aµ,Etvov OE Kat
avTov TY,v p1/a-tv 7rpoa-BE'ivai EK TOV OEVTEpov lIEpt TWV
apxwv €xova-av 6'oi 7TW<;' TU µ,f.v ovv 7TOAv8pvATJTa
TETTapa, 6'v TO TrPWTOlJ elvat vowp <f>aµ,ev Kat WG'alJEL
µ,ovov a-roixe'iov TiBEµ,Ev, Trpo<> a-VyKpia-iv TE Kat m/
yvva-iv Kat a-Va-TaG'tlJ TWV EyKoa-µ,iwv 7Tp0'> aAATJAa
a-vyKEpavvvrni. 7TW'> oi, -YjoTJ AEAEKrnt T,µ,'iv Ev Titi
TrPWT<tJ.
268
THALE S
that 'the roes and stags' are to be understood as the rep

resentatives of the philosophy of Thales and Pherecydes.1
[ . . . ] [23] Among these philosophers [i.e. the pure ones
who can be compared to roes and stags], the one named
Thales declared in his doctrine that water is the origin of
all things, and that everything that has been made from
this subsists because of a great invisible being, and he
states that the cause of the movement of the water is the
spirit that dwells within it. At the same time, it was he who
by his intelligence was the first to discover the science of
geometry, and this permitted him to surmise that there is
only one creator of all things [cf. PHER. R16, R29] .
1 The reference seems to be to his commentary (4. 1) on Cn.
2:7 (where in fact he does not name Thales or Pherecydes, but
the Platonists and the Stoics).

R44 (B3) Ps.-Galen, Commentary on Hippocrates' On
Humors
Although Thales says that all things are constituted out of
water, nonetheless he also wants this [i.e. that the ele
ments are transformed into one another] . It is better to
cite his own words from Book 2 of On the Principles,
which are as follows: "Therefore the celebrated four, of
which we say that the first is water and posit it as being as
it were the only element, mix with one another for the
combination, solidification, and composition of the things
of this world. How this happens we have already said in
Book l."
269
6 . A N AXI M A N D E R
[ A N AXI M A N D . ]
The ancient sources situate the maturity of Anaximander

of Miletus a little before the middle of the sixth century
BC. Like Thales, of whom he is said to have been the
disciple, he is credited by the biographical tradition with
political activity, connected to the colonial expansion of
Miletus. Again like Thales, various inventions are attrib
uted to him, notably the gnoman, the construction of a
"sphere" (i.e. a tridimensional model of the universe), and
a geographical map. His doctrine, unlike Thales', has out
lines we can grasp. Only a single sentence of his has been
transmitted in its original wording. But the fairly numer
ous testimonia indicate that Anaximander recounted the
generation of the world and of its constitutive parts all the
way to living beings, explained its present function, and
envisaged its disappearance. Thus he stands at the origin
of a new kind of investigation bearing upon the totality of
the world. One tradition calls Anaximander the first Greek
to have written a treatise on nature. Theophrastus called
the style of the phrase he transmits "poetic"; nevertheless,
this must have been a text in prose. The 'unlimited,' from
which everything that exists derives and to which every
thing returns, and 'separation' are the two concepts that
271
have secured fo r Anaximander a place o f horror i n the

history of philosophy.
B I B L I O G RA P H Y
Editions
G. Wi:ihrle et al., ed. Die Milesier: Anaximander und
Anaximenes. Coll. Traditio Praesocratica vol. 1 (Berlin,
2012).
Studies
C. H. Kahn. Anaximander and the Origins of Greek Cos
rrwlogy (New York, 1960, 19943 ) .
O UT L I N E O F T H E C H A PT E R
p
Chronology (Pl-P3)
Origin and Intellectual Line of Descent (P4-P7)
Political Activity (PB)
Prediction (P9)
Character (PlO)
Apothegm (Pll)
Iconography (P12)
D
Anaximander's Book (Dl-D3)
Terrestrial Map and Celestial Globe (D4-D5)
Three Summaries Ultimately Derivingfrom Theophras
tus (D6-D8)
272
A N AXI M A N D E R
The Unlimited (D9-D12)

The Unlimited Number of Worlds (D13-D14)
The Destructibility of the Worlds (D15-D16)
The Heavens and Worlds (D1 7-D1 9)
The Heavenly Bodies (D20-D22)
Sun and Moon: Their Nature and Eclipses (D23-D28)
The Shape and Position of the Earth (D29-D32)
Meteorological Phenomena (D33-D34)
The Formation and History of the Sea (D35-D36)
The Nature of the Soul (D37)
The Origin of Animals (D38-D40)
R
The Unlimited of Anaximander (Rl-R6)
As Intermediary Substance (Rl-R5)
As Reservoir (R6)
A Comparison with Empedocles and Anaxagoras
(R7-R9)
Four Peripatetic Criticisms (R10-R13)
Astronomical Discoveries and Inventions Attributed to
Anaximander (R14-Rl 7)
An Ironic Allusion to a Notorious Doctrine (R18)
A Christian Polemic (R19)
A Greek Alchemical Adaptation (R20)
Anaximander in The Assembly of Philosophers (R21)
273
A N AXI M A N D E R [ 1 2 D K ]
Chronology (Pl-P3)
PI (< All) (Ps . ?) Hippo!. Ref l.6.7
oilro<; €yev€ro Kara fro<; rpfrov rij<; THr<rapaKo<rrij<;

Swripa<; 'OA.vµmaao<;.
P2 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 2.2
[ . . . ] o<> Kat <frq<rw avrov €11 rols XpovtKols [FGrHist

244 F29] rfi> a€VTEP<f:l ET€t rij<; 7T€11TTJKO<rTij<; oySoYJ<;
'OA.vµmaao<; how €.t/Jat ebJKOIJTa T€TTapwv Kal ,U€T'
oA.iyov T€AWTij<rat aKµa<ravra 7TTJ µaAt<rTa KaTa IIo
AvKpUTYJ TOIJ !aµov rvpawov .1
1 aKµacravra 7T1/ [ . . . ] mpavvov sec!. Diels ut ab Anaximandro
aliena
P3 ( < A5) Plin. Nat. hist. 2.31
[ . . . ] Anaximander Milesius [ . . . ] Olympiade quinquagesima

octava [ . . . cf. Rl6] .
274
A N AXI M A N D E R
Chronology (Pl-P3)
PI (< All) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies
He was born in the third year of the 42nd Olympiad [ =
610/9 BC].

[ . . . ] He [i.e. Apollodorus of Athens] also says in his Chro
nology that he was sixty-four years old in the second year
of the 58th Olympiad [ = 547/6 BC] and that he died a
little later, having reached his maturity approximately at
the time of Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos.1
1 This last indication causes some difficulty: since Polycrates
reigned from 538 to 522 BC. Anaximander cannot have reached
his full maturity (forty years) at this time if he was sixty-four years
old in 547/6.
P3 ( < A5) Pliny, Natural History

[ . . . ] Anaximander of Miletus [ . . . ] , at the time of the 58th
Olympiad [= 548/44] [ . . . ] .
275
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S O PHY I I
P4 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 2.1
'Avaf,iµ,av8po<; IIpaf,ia8ov MiA.'1j<Tw<; [ . . . = Dll].
P5 ( < A9) Simpl. In Phys., p . 24. 13-14 (< Theoph. Frag.

226A FHS&G)
[ . . cf. 06] 'Avaf,iµ,av8po<; p,Ev IIpaf,ia8ov MiA'1j<Tw<;
.
0aA.ov y€vop,€vo<; 8ia8oxo<; Ka'i µ,aBTJriJ<; [ . . ] . .
P6 ( < A6) Strab. 1 . 1 . l l
[ . . cf. D4] 'Avaf,iµ,av8p6v T € 0aA.ov y€yov6ra yvwpi

.
µ,ov Ka'i 7rOAlTTJV [. . . ] .
P7 (Ar 23 Wohrle) IG XIV 1464 Frag. V. 1-3

'Avaf,iµ,av8po<; l.IP.a4ili;i8ov MiA.'1j<Tw<;· vacat I h€[vkro
µEv 0[aA.]€w . . .
P8 (A3) Ael. Var. hist. 3.17

Kai 'Avaf,iµ,av8po<; 8E Y,y7)<Taro rij<; E<; 'ArroA.A.wviav EK
MiA.1)rov arroiKLa<;.
276
A N AXI M A N D E R

Anaximander of Miletus, son of Praxiades [ . . . ] .
P 5 ( < A9) Theophrastus i n Simplicius, Commentary on

Aristotle's Physics
[ . . . ] Anaximander of Miletus, son of Praxiades, who was
the successor and disciple of Thales [ . . . ] .
P6 ( < A6) Strabo, Geography

[ . . . ] Anaximander, who had been Thales' friend and fel
low citizen [ . . . ] .
P 7 ( ;t: DK) Inscription in the gymnasium of Taormina

Anaximander son of Praxiades, of Miletus. He was [scil.
probably: the disciple] of Thales . . . 1
1 The inscription, dated by the editor to the second century
BC, may have been part of a list of writings available in this gym
nasium.

P8 (A3) Aelian, Historical Miscellany
Anaximander headed the foundation at Apollonia1 of a
colony from Miletus.
1 On the Black Sea.
277
Prediction (P9)
P9 (A5a) Cic. Div. 1.50. 1 12
ab Anaximandro physico moniti Lacedaemonii sunt ut

urbem et tecta linquerent armatique in agro excubarent,
quod terrae motus instaret, tum cum et urbs tota corruit
et monte Taygeto extrema montis quasi puppis avolsa est.
Character (PlO)
PIO (A8) Diog. Laert. 8.70

Lli6owpoi; 0€ o 'Ec{>fowi; 1Tepl. 'Ava6µ,av8pov1 ypa<f>wv
[FGrHi.st 1 102 Fl] cf>YJ<rlV on TOVTOV E'YJAWKEL, Tpayi
KOV a<rKWV ro<f>ov Kai. <TEf.LV�V ava>.. af3wv E<r()T,ra.
l 'Avatayopov Gigante ex 8.56
Apothegm (Pl l)
PU ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 2.2
Tovrov cf>a<rl.v c'f.8ovTo<; KaTaye!.. a<rai Ta 1Taioapia, Tov

0€ µ,a()6vra <f>avai· "f3ihwv ollv T,,iiv l[,<rTEov Sia Ta
1Taioapia."
278
ANAXI M AN D E R
Prediction (P9)
P9 (A5a) Cicero, On Divination
The Lacedaemonians were warned by the natural philoso
pher Anaximander to leave their city and houses and to
sleep fully armed in the fields because an earthquake was
imminent, at the time when the whole city was destroyed
and the peak was torn away from Mount Taygetus like the
stern of a ship.
Character (PlO)
PIO (A8) Diogenes Laertius
Diodorus of Ephesus, writing about Anaximander, says
that he [i.e. Empedocles, cf. EMP. Pl5] imitated him
in cultivating a theatrical pomp and wearing pretentious
clothes.
Apothegm (Pl l)
Pll ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius
They say that while he was singing, children made fun of
him; and when he found out, he said, "So I must sing bet
ter for the sake of the children."
Iconography (P12)
Pl2 (cf. vol. 1, p. 90 App., and Nachtrag p. 487.3-4)
Richter I, pp. 78-79 and Figures 299-301 ; Richter-Smith,
p. 86 and Figure 50; Koch, "Ikonographie," in Flashar,
Bremer, Rechenauer (2013), I.l, pp. 219, 220.
279
A N AXI M A N D E R [ 1 2 D K ]
DI (A7) Them. Grat. 26 317c
[ . . . ] Ef)appri<re 1Tpwror; JJv Z<rµ,ev 'EA.\r}vwv Aoyov €t

eveyKe£v 1TEPL cf>u<rewr; fuyyeypaµ,µ,€vov.
D2 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 2.2

TWV Se apE<rKOVTWV avrCf! 1T€1TOtTJTat Kecf>aAaiwSri TTJV
EK8e<riv, fi1 1TOV 1Tepifrvxev KaL A1ToAAo8wpor; o 'ABri
val:or; [FGr Hist. 244 F29] .
1 ii Cobet: w<; mss.
D3 ( < A2) Suda A. 1986

E')'palpE Ilept cf>u<rewr;, r7jr; 1TEpto8ov KaL IIepL TWV
U1TAavwv Kat '5..cf>al:pav Kat aAAa nva.
280
A N AXI M A N D E R
D
D I (A7) Themistius, Orations
[ . . . ] he was the first Greek we know of to have ventured
to publish a written discourse about nature.
02 ( < Al) Diogenes Laertius

He made a summary exposition of his opinions, which
Apollodorus of Athens seems to have come across.
03 ( < A2) Suda

He wrote On Nature, Map of the Earth, On the Fixed
Stars, The Sphere, and some other works.1
1 The first three titles at least might refer to different parts of
Anaximander's book, but cf. D5.
281
D4 ( < A6) Strab. 1 . 1 . 1 1

<fi v Tov<; 1Tpwrnv<; µEf)' "Oµripov Svo cf>ri(]'tv 'EpaTo
(]'8Ev,,.,<> [Frag. IB5 Berger] , 'Avat£µavi3p6v TE [ P6]
. . . =
Kat 'EKaTatov Tov MiA1)(]'wv· Tov µEv ovv €K8ovvai

7TpWTOV yEwypac{>iKOV 7TlvaKa [ . . . ] .
D 5 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 2.2

Kat yij<; Kat BaAa(]'(]'T/'> 1TEplµETpov 7TpWTO<; EypmpEv,
aAAa Kat (]'cf>a£pav KaTE(]'KEVa(]'E,
Three Summaries Ultimately Derivingfrom

Theophrastus (D6-D8)
D6 (< A9, BI) Simpl. In Phys. , p. 24. 13-25 (< Theoph.

Frag. 226A FHS&G)
TWV 8E �v Kat KwovµEvov Kat a7Teipov AE')'OVTWV 'Avat
£µav8po<; [ . . . P5] apx1)v TE Kat (]'TOtXElOV ELPT/KE TWV
=
ovTwv TO U1TEipov, 1TpWTO<; TOVTo1 Tovvoµa Koµ[(]'a<;

Tij<; apxij<;. AEYH 8' avTT,v µ'1jTE vi3wp µ'1jTE aAAo n
TWV KaAovµEvwv Elvai (]'TOtXElWV, aAA' ETEpav nva
cf>v(]'tV U7Tetpov, €t 11<> a1TavTa<; ')'lVE(]'8ai TOV<; ovpa
VOV<; Kat TOV<; f.v avTot<; KO(]'µov<; · f.t tii v 8E 7, ')'EVE(J'l<;
1 avro coni. Usener
282
ANAXI M AN D E R

D4 ( < A6) Strabo, Geography
Eratosthenes says that the first two [scil. geographers] af
ter Homer were Anaximander [ . . . ] and Hecataeus of Mi
letus; and that the former was the first to publish a map of
the earth [ . . . ] .
D 5 ( < A l ) Diogenes Laertius

And he was the first to draw the outline of the earth and
sea, and he also constructed a [scil. celestial] sphere.
Three Summaries Ultimately Derivingfrom

Theophrastus (D6-D8)
D6 ( < A9, B l ) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's
Physics
Among those who say that it [i.e. the principle] is one, in
movement, and unlimited, Anaximander [ . . . ] said that the
principle (arkhe) and element of beings is the unlimited
(to apeiron); he was the first to call the principle by this
term. 1 He says that it is neither water nor any other of what
are called elements, but a certain other unlimited nature
from which come about all the heavens and the worlds in
them. And the things out of which birth comes about for
1 It is also possible that what Simplicius means is that the term

Anaximander was the first to use was not 'unlimited· (apeiron) but
rather 'principle' (arkhe).
283
icrn ro'Li; oilcrt, Kai, rY,v <PfJopav Eli; rawa yivEcrfJat

KaTa TO XPEWIJ. 8t86vat yap avra 8tK'T]IJ Kal TtCTW
aA.A.7]A.otc;2 riji; a8tKta<; Kara �IJ TOV xpovov rabv,
'TTOtTJTtKWTEpOt<; OVTwi;3 0116µ,acrw avTa >.. eywv.
3 OVTW<; OID. F
D7 (< All, B2) (Ps.-?) Hippo!. Ref 1.6. 1-7
[l] [ . . . ] oi1roi; apxY,v EcPTJ TWIJ OIJTWIJ <Pvcrw TWa TOV

U1TEtpov, it �.. yivEcrfJat TOV<; ovpavovi; KaL TOil Ell
aVTOL<; Kocrµ,ov. 1 TaVTTJll OE diowv Etvat KaL ay1]pw, 7)11
KaL 1Ta1JTa<; 'TTEPtEXEW TOV'> Kocrµ,ovi;. >.. eyEt OE xpovov,
W'> wptcrµ,eVTJ'> riji; YEVECTEW'> KaL Tij<; ovcriai;2 Kal Tij>
<PfJopai;. [2] oiJro<; µ,Ev oiJv3 apxY,v KaL CTTOtXELOIJ Etp'T]
KEIJ TWIJ OIJTWIJ TO a1TEtpov, 1TpWTO<; TOtJIJoµ,a4 KaAecrai;
riji; apxiji;. 1Tp0<; OE TOVT - [3] rY,v OE yijv
Etvat µ,Erewpov, v'TTo /LTJOEvoi; Kparovµ,ev'Y}v, µ,evovcrav
(0E>6 Ota rY,v oµ,oiav 'TTalJTWIJ U'TTOCTTacrtlJ. TO OE crxijµ,a
avriji; trypovt , 7 crrpoyy{,>..o v, KlolJ£8 >.. W .. 1]
crtov· rwv OE E1Tt1TeOwv <{i9 µ,Ev E1Tt{3E{3Y,Kaµ,Ev, ti OE
alJTifJETOIJ V7rapxEt. [ 4] Ta 8E acrTpa 'YLVEcrfJat KVKAOIJ
1TVpoi;, a1TOKpt8e1JTa TOV KaTa TOil Kocrµ,011 1Tvpoi;,
1 TOV<; . . . KO<rJLOV<; Ritter 2 KaL rfj<; yev€crew<; TOt<; overt

Marcovich 3 oliv T: om. LOB 4 1Tpwro<; <rofiro> rov-
voµa Kirk 5 crvµf3aivei mss. , corr. Roeper 6 die>
Diels 7 irypov mss.: yvp6v Roeper 8 xiovi mss. , corr.
Gronovius: Kiovo<; Teichmiiller 9 & mss. , corr. Gronovius
284
A N AXI M A N D E R
beings, into these too their destruction happens, accord

ing to obligation: for they pay the penalty (dike) and
retribution (tisis) to each other for their injustice
(adikia) according to the order of time2-this is how he
says these things, with rather poetic words.
2 Precisely where Simplicius' verbatim citation of Anaxi
mander's sentence ends and his paraphrase or interpretation of it
begins is uncertain and controversial.
07 (< All, B2) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation ofAU Her

esies
[l] [ . . . ] He said that the principle of beings is a certain
nature, that of the unlimited, from which the heavens
come about and the world that is in them. It is eternal and
unaging and it surrounds all the worlds. He speaks of
time, on the idea that generation, subsistence, and de
struction are limited. [2] He said that the principle and
element of beings is the unlimited; he was the first to use
this term for the principle. 1 Besides this, there is an eter
nal motion, in which the birth of the heavens comes about.
[ 3] The earth is suspended; it is not controlled by anything,
but remains where it is because it is at the same distance
from all things. Its form is tmoistt,2 round, similar to a
stone column; of its surfaces, one is that upon which
we walk, the other is opposite to it. [4] The stars are a
wheel of fire; they have been separated from the fire in
the world and are surrounded by air. There are certain
1 See note 1 in D6, above. 2 Most editors correct to

"curved."
285
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O SOPHY I I
1Tf.piATJ</>fNvrn 8 ' v'Tfo Mpo<;. €K'Tfvoas 8 ' v7raptai, 7TO

pov<;10 nvas avAw8H<;,ll KaO' OV<; </>atVf.<T0at12 Ta
a<rrpa· 8io Kat €mcf>pa<r<roµ€vwv TWV fK'TfVOWV Ta<;
fKAf.tl/JH<; ytvf.<T0at. [5] TTJV 8€ <Tf.AfiVTJV 'TfOTE µev 'TfATJ
povµivTJV </>atVf.<TOai, 'TfOTE 8€ jLf.WVjLEV'T)V Kara T�V
TWV 7ropwv f'Tft</>patw � avoitiv. f.lvai 8€ TOV KVKAov
rov T,A.fov E'TfTaKatHKo<Ta'TfAacrfova13 rij<; <Tf.AfivTJ<;, Kat
avwTaTW µev f.lVat TOV i}Awv,14 KaTwTaTw 8€ TOV<; TWV
a'TfAavwv a<TTEpwv KVKAOV<;. [6] Ta 8€ 'o/a ytvf.<T0ai
€tarµi,oµf.va15 V'TfO TOV T,A.fov. TOV 8€ av0pw1TOV ETEpq>
'cPCf> yqovivai-rovrf.<rrw lx0vi-7rapa7rArwwv Kar'
apxa<;. [7] aviµov<; 8€ ytVE<TOat TWV Af.'TfTOTaTWV arµwv
TOV a€po<;16 U'TfOKpwoµivwv Kat OTav aOpoi<rOwcri Kt
vovµivwv· Vf.TOv<;11 8€ fK Tij<; arµi8o<;18 rij<; EK y1)<; vcf>'
T,A.fov ava8i80µ€vTj<;019 a<rrpa7ra<; 8€, ornv UVf.jLO<; €µ
'Tft'TfTWV 8iicrr<i- Ta<; Vf.</>EAa<;.
1 0 7Topov<; Diels (ex Cedrenus 276.15-277. 14 Bekker): r6-

7TOV<; mss. 11 av>.woet<; Diels: aEpwOei<; mss. 12 <f;ai
vETat mss. , corr. Usener 13 <rij<; yij<;, EvvEaKaiOEKU7TAa
<Ytova ( OKTWKat0EKa7TAa<Ytova post Tannery maluerunt Frank et
Becker) 8€ r(w> rij<; <YEAfiVYJ<> Diels l4 rov ij>.wv <µ,Er'
avrov OE TTJV <YEA{iv71v> prop. Diels 15 Etarµ,i,oµ,eva
mss . : <Et vypov>, Etarµ,i,oµ,evov Diels 16 (EK> TOV aepo<;
Marcovich 17 vETOV<; Cedrenus: vErov mss. 18 EK
rij<; arµ,iOo<; Cedrenus: om. mss. 19 rij<; EK yij<; v<f;' T]>.iov
ava8i80µ,.'.v71<; Diels: rij<; EK TWV v</;' ij>.wv (T]>.iov Par. ) ava8i-
80µ,ev71<; Cedrenus: EK yij<; ( rij<; T) ava8i80µ,ev71<; EK TWV v</;'
ij>.wv mss.
286
ANAXI M A N D E R
passages serving a s orifices as in an aulos, through which

the stars appear; this is why eclipses happen, when these
orifices are obstructed. [5] The moon appears sometimes
to increase, sometimes to decrease, because of the ob
struction or opening of these passages. The wheel of the
sun is twenty-seven times that of the moon; and the sun
occupies the highest position, the circles of the fixed stars
the lowest one.3 [6] The animals are born by evapora
tion from the effect of the sun. Human beings were at
first similar to a different animal, i.e. to a fish. [7] Winds
come about when the finest vapors of the air are detached
and when, set into movement, they are agglomerated; and
rains from the vapor coming from the earth by the effect
of the sun is released; and lightning when the wind falls
upon clouds and bursts them.
3 Diels suggests that this sentence is lacunose and supple
mented, "The wheel of the sun is twenty-seven times that of <the
earth, nineteen times that of> the moon; and the sun occupies the
highest position, <and after it the moon,> and the circles of the
fixed stars <and of the planets> the lowest one" (cf. D22, D24).
287
D 8 (< AlO) Ps.-Plut. Strom. 2 ( = Eus. PE 1 .8.2)

µ,d)' 811 'A.11atiµ,a11Spo11 [. . . ] TO d.7TEipo11 c/Javai T�v
7Ta<ra11 alriav €xei11 ri/<> rnv 7Ta11To<> yEvE<rEW'> n KaL
c/JOopa<>, e( oii Sl/ <f>71<ri TOV'> TE ovpal!OV'> a7TOKEKpi
<r0ai KaL Ka06A.ov TOV'> a7Ta11Ta'> U7TEtpov<> 011Ta'> Ko
<rµ,ov<>. a7TE<f>1/11aTO Se T�ll <f>Oopav yi11E<r8ai, KaL 7TOAV
7TpoTEp011 T�ll YEllE<TW, e( a7TEtpov alWllO'> a11aKVKAOV
fLEllWll 7TUllTWll aVTWll. imapxEw S€ <f>71<ri rfi> µ,ev <TX+
µ,an r�v yijv KvA.wSpoeiSij, €xei11 Se ro<rovrov {3&.Bo<>
O<TOll av Et7) Tptroll 7TP0'> TO 7TAUTO'). </>7J<TL Se TO EK TOV
aiSiov y611iµ,011 0Epµ,ov TE KaL 1/Jvxpov Kara T�ll yfrE
<TW TovSE TOV Ko<rµ,ov a7TOKpiOij11ai Kai nva EK TOVTOV
<f>A.oyo<> <r<f>a'ipav 7TEpic/Jvijvai rfi> 7TEpL T�ll yijv aipi W'>
Tfi> Si11Spcp <f>A.oio11· ij<rTWO'> a7ToppayEt<T7]'> KaL Et'> n
lla') a7TOKAE£<T0Et<T7)'> KVKAOV') V7TO<TTij11ai TOii i}A.wv
KaL T�ll <TEA'l/117)11 KaL TOV') a<TTEpa<>. €n </>7J<TLll on Kar'
apxas et aAAOEtSwv '<fiwv 0 a110pw7TO') eyE11117/ 871 , EK
TOV Ta µ,ev a>..A a Si' EaVTWll rnxv 11EfLE<T0ai, µ,611011 Se
TOii a110pw7TOll 7TOAvxpo11iov Se'i<rOai n871111/<TEW')" Sio
Kai KaT' <lpxO.s oVK O.v TTOTE roioiirov Ovra SiacrwfJ�-
vai.
D9 (< Al5, B3) Arist. Phys. 3.4 203b7-15

€n Se KaL ayEll7]TOll KaL a<f>OapTOll WI) apx'l/ n<> oil<ra ·
TO TE yap YEllOfLEl/011 a11ayK7] TEAO<> A.af3E'ill, KaL TE-
288
ANAXI M AN D E R
D B (AlO) Pseudo-Plutarch, Stromata

After him [i.e. Thales] , Anaximander [ . . . ] said that the
unlimited is responsible for the birth and destruction of
the whole, and from this he says that the heavens are
separated out and in general all the worlds, which are
unlimited. He declared that destruction, and much earlier
birth, come about after an unlimited eternity, as all of
these revolve. He says that the earth is cylindrical in form,
and that its depth is one third of its breadth. He says that
the seed1 of the warm and the cold, coming from the eter
nal, was detached at the birth of this world and that a
certain sphere of fire coming from this grew around the
air surrounding the earth like the bark around a tree.
When this was tom away and enclosed within certain
circles, the sun, the moon, and the stars were formed. He
also says that at the beginning human beings were born
from animals of different species, because of the fact that
the other animals nourish themselves quickly by them
selves, while only human beings are in need of a long pe
riod of nursing; that is why, being of this sort, they could
not have survived at the beginning.
1 The term may go back to Anaximander.

D9 ( < Al5, B3) Aristotle, Physics
Moreover, it [i.e. the unlimited] is ungenerated and inde
structible, inasmuch as it is a principle. For what is gener-
289
A.evTY, 7TU<T7J'> lcrnv cp()opfii;. 8i6, Ka()a1Tep A.eyoµev, ov

TaVT'Y]'> apx1), a'A.A.' aVT'Y] TWV a'A.A.wv elvat 8oKEt Kat
1TEpiExew a1TaVTa Kat 7TUVTa KV{3epvfiv, W'> cpacrw O<TOt
µY, 1TOWV<Tl 1Tapa TO a1Tetpov a'A.A.ai; atTla'>, [ . . . ] Kat
TOVT' elvat TO ()e'iov· aOavaTOV yap Kat avw'A.eOpov,
W<T1TEp cp'Y]<Ttv 'Avatiµav8poi; Kat oi 7TAEt<TTOt TWV cpv
crw'A.oywv.
DIO (< Al4) Aet. 1 .3.3 (Ps.-Plut.) [7rept apxwv]

'Avatiµav8poi; [ . . . ] cp'Y]<Tl TWV OVTWV TY,v apxY,v elvai
TO a1TEtpov· EK yap TOVTOV 7TUVTa yivecr()ai Kat di;
TOVTO 1TUVTa cp()eipecr()ai· 8io Kat yevvO.cr()ai a1TEtpovi;
Kocrµovi;, Kat 7TUAtv cp()eipecr()ai Et<; TO et oil yivovrai.1
A.eyei yovv 8ion a1Teip6v ecrnv, iva µ7]8Ev e'A.'A.et7TYJ Yi
yevecrii; T] vcpicrraµev'Y/ [ . . . Rl3] .
=
1 yivovrat m: yivETat MIT: yivHr8at Diels
D l l (< Al) Diog. Laert. 2. 1-2

[. . . P4] oilTo<; lcpa<TKEV apxY,v Kat <TTOtXEtoV TO
=
U1TEtpov, ov 8wpi�wv aepa 1) v8wp 1) a'A.Ao Tl. Kat TU

µEv µep'Y] µera(3aHew, TO 8E 1TUV aµETaf3'A.71ToV Eivat.
012 (Al6, > A9) Arist. Phys. 1 .4. 187al2-16, 20-21

wi; 8' oi cpvcriKot A.eyovm, 8vo Tpo1Tot Etcriv. oi µEv
yap EV 7TOt'ljcravTE<; TO ov1 crwµa TO V1TOKELfLEVOV, 1) TWV
1 llv sec!. Ross
290
ANAXI M AN D E R
ated must necessarily have an end, and there i s an ending

to every destruction. That is why, as we say, there does not
seem to be a principle of this, but it itself is [scil. a prin
ciple] for everything else and surrounds all things and
steers all, as is said by all those who do not con sider other
.
causes besides the unlimited [ . . . ] And the divine is this:
for it is deathless and imperishable, as Anaximander
says and most of the natural philosophers.
D IO (< Al4) Aetius

Anaximander [ . . . ] says that the principle of beings is the
unlimited. For it is from this that all things come about,
and into this that all things are destroyed. And that is why
worlds unlimited [scil. in number] are generated and are
destroyed in tum into what they come from. In any case
he says why it is unlimited, so that the existing becoming
be lacking in nothing [ . . . ] .
D l l ( < A l ) Diogenes Laertius

[ . . . ] He said that the principle and element is the unlim
ited, without defining whether it is air, water, or some
thing else. And the parts change, while the whole is
changeless.
012 (Al6, > A9) Aristotle, Physics

There are two ways in which the natural philosophers
speak. For the ones, who posit the existing body, the sub-
291
rpiwv T L 11 aA.A.o 0 E<:TTL TrVpo<; µ,ev 'ITTJ KVOTEpov aepo<;

oe A.e1Trorepov, r«iA.A.a yevvwrri TrVKvOT'"f/TL Kat µ,av6r'Y/TL
7TOAAa 1TOLOVVTE<; [ . . . ] oi o' EK TOV EVO<; evov<ra<; Ta<;
evaVTLOT'"f/Ta<; EKKptver:rOai,2 W<:T1TEp 'Ava(£µ,avopo<;
</>'"f/<:TL [. , ,].
2 EKKptvovaw P e t fecit J
The Unlimited Number of Worlds (D13-D14)
Dl3 (< Al7) Aet. 2.l.3 (Stob.; cf. Ps.-Plut.) [7rEpt Korrµ,ov]
'Ava(£µ,avopo<; [ . . . ] a1TEt.pov<; KO<:Tf.LOV<; EV rfi> a1TEtp'Y/vaµ,evwv TOV<; Ko<rµ,ov<; 'Ava(

£µ,avopo<; TO l'.r:rov aVTOV<; a1TEXELV d.A.A.1]A.wv [ . . . ] .
Dl5 (< Al 7) Aet. 2.4.6 ( Stob.) [el a<f>Oapro<; 0 Ko<rµ,o<;]

'Ava(iµ,av'bpo<; [ . . . ] <f>Oaprov rov Korrµ,ov.
292
A N AXI M AN D E R
strate, as [scil. only] one, whether i t i s one o f the three

[scil. elements] or something else, denser than fire but
finer than air, make it multiple by generating all other
things by condensation and rarefaction. [ . . . ] The others
say that the opposites are present in the one and are sepa
rated out from it, as Anaximander says [. : ] [cf. Rl-R4]
. .
The Unlimited Number of Worlds (Dl3-D14)

Dl3 (< Al7) Aetius
Anaximander [ . . . ]: worlds unlimited [scil. in number] in
the unlimited, throughout the entire surrounding area
(peristasis). 1
1 This statement is probably due to an erroneous extrapolation
from the fact that the principle of Anaximander is the 'unlimited.'
For similar cases, see Stobaeus l.22.3b (2) (DOX. TI 7) and
ANAXIMEN. D l l .
D l4 (Al 7 ) Aetius
Among those who assert that the worlds are unlimited,
Anaximander: they are at an equal distance from one an
other [ . . . ] .

D 15 ( < Al 7) Aetius
Anaximander [ . . . ] : the world is destructible.
293
0 1 6 (Al 7 ) Simpl. In Phys., p . 1121 .5-9
oi µ€.v yap a/lT€lpov<; rfi> 7TA:f,0H TOV<; KO<Tf.LOV<; 1moOi

f.L€VOt, w<; oi 7T€pL Avat£µav0pov [ . . . ], yivoµivov<; av
TOV<; KaL cp0€tpoµivov<; lJ7TE0€VTO E7T' U7T€tpov, aAAwv
µ€.v a€L yivoµivwv aAAwv 8€. cpOHpoµivwv KaL rY,v
KlVY/<Ttv a£8wv EA€yo1r avw yap KW{i<T€W<; OVK ECTTt
yiv€a-t<; Tj <f>Oopa.
D I 7 (Al 7) Aet. 1 .7.12 (Ps.-Plut.; cf. Stob.) [rt<; €.a-rw o

0€6.,J
1 a1Tetpov> ovpavov> Stob.: a<Jrepa> ovpavtov> Plut.
0 1 8 (< Al 7) Cic. Nat. dear. 1 . 10.25-26
Anaximandri autem opinio est nativos esse deos longis

intervallis orientis occidentisque, eosque innumerabilis
esse mundos.
019 (Al 7a) Aet. 2. 1 1 .5 (Stob.) [7r€pt Tfj<; ovpavov ov

CTta<;]
294
ANAXI M AN D E R
D 16 (Al 7 ) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Phys

ics
Those who posit that the worlds are unlimited in number,
like Anaximander [ . . . ], posited that they come about and
are destroyed in an unlimited way, some always coming to
be while others are perishing, and they said that the mo
tion is eternal. For without movement there is not coming
to be nor destruction.

D I 7 (Al 7) Aetius
Anaximander declared that the unlimited heavens are
gods.
0 1 8 ( < Al 7) Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods

The opinion of Anaximander is that the gods are born, that
they appear and disappear at long intervals, and that they
are innumerable worlds.
019 (Al 7a) Aetius

Anaximander: [scil. the heaven are constituted] out of a
mixture of warm and cold.
295
D20 (Al8) Aet. 2.13.7 (Stab.) [7rEpt ovu-iac; ciu-rpwv]

'Avatiµavopoc; m>.:fiµara dEpoc; rpoxoEtofj, 7Tvpoc; Eµ-
7TAEa, Kara n µ€po<; a7To u-roµiwv EK7TVEovra cf>>..6 yac;.
D21 ( < A20) Plin. Nat. hist. 18.213

occasum matutinum Vergiliarum [ . . . ) tradidit fieri [ . . . )
Anaximander xxx:1. 1
l XXXI Schol. Germ. : XIXX F 1 E : XXIX d v. : XXX F2 D.
D22 ( < Al8) Aet. 2. 15.6 (Ps.-Plut.) [7rEpt ratEwc; au-r€

pwv]
'Avatiµavopo<; [ . . . ) avwrarw µev 7TclVTWV TOV if>.. w v
TEraxOai, µEr' avrov OE T�V <TEAf,v71v, V7TO o' avrov<;
TU U7TAavfj TWV au-rpwv Kat TOV<; 7TAavi,ra<;.
Sun and Moon: Their Nature and Eclipses

(D23-D28)
D23 (A21, B4) Aet. 2.20.1 (Ps.-Plut.) [7TEpt ovu-iac;

1}>.. fov]
'Avatiµavopoc; KvKAov ELvai OKTWKaLELKO<Ta7TAau-fova
rfjc; yfjc;, d.pµan. icp rpox 1 7Tapa7T>..Y, u-wv,2 r�v d.tjlioa
€.xovra Koi>..71 v, 7TAf,p71 7TVpoc;, Kara3 n µ€poc; EKc/>ai
vovu-av4 oia u-roµfov ro 7Tilp W<T7TEp oia TTp71u-rfjpoc;
av>.. ov. Kat row' ELvai TOV if>.. w v.
296
ANAXI M A N D E R

D20 (Al8) Aetius
Anaximander: [scil. the heavenly bodies are] wheel-shaped
compressions of air, full of fire, exhaling flames in a certain
part via orifices.
D21 (< A20) Pliny, Natural History

Anaximander [ . . J reports that the morning setting of the
.
Pleiades takes place [ . . . ] thirty-one days [scil. after the

autumnal equinox] .
D22 ( < Al8) Aetius

Anaximander [ . . . ] : the sun is placed highest of all [scil.
the heavenly bodies], after it comes the moon, and under
them the fixed stars and the planets.
Sun and Moon: Their Nature and Eclipses

(D23-D28)
D23 (A21 , B4) Aetius
Anaximander: [scil. the sun] is a circle twenty-eight times
the size of the earth, similar to the wheel of a chariot; it
has a hollow rim filled with fire, and in a certain place it
reveals the fire through an orifice as though through the
nozzle (aulos) of a bellows (prester) . And this is the sun.
1 apµ,arfov rpoxcp Mm: apµ,areiov rpoxov II 2 7Tapa-

7TA�crwv post rY,v d.pi8a mss. , transp. Diels 3 .ry, ante
Kara hab. mss., de!. Diels 4 EK</>aivovcrri> Plut., corr. Diels
297
D24 (A21) Aet. 2.2 1 . 1 (Ps.-Plut.; c f. Eus., Stob.) [7rept

µeyi()ov<; 1).\iov]
'Avatiµavopo<; TOV µf.v 7}.\wv tCTOV elvat rii yfi, TOV of.
KVKAOV a<f/ oil TTJV EK1TVOYJV exei Kat v</J' 1 oil 1TEpt</J€pe
'
Tat,2 brraKatetKocra7T.\acriova rfj<; yfj<;.
1 v<f/ Stob. Eus. (PE 15.24. 1 ) : €</J' Plut. 2 7repi</Jeperai

Stob.: <fl/.perai Plut. Eus.
D25 (A21) Aet. 2.24.2 (Ps.-Plut. ) [7rept EKAei'.l/Jew<; 1).\iov]

'Avatiµavopo<; rnv crroµiov rfj<; rnv 1TVpo<; oieK1Tvo1j<;
a1TOKAELOJLEVOV.
026 (A22) Aet. 2.25 . 1 ( Stob., cf. Ps.-Plut.) [7rept cre.\fivri<>

ovcria<;]
'Avatiµavopo<; KVKAOV elvat evveaKat0EKa1TAacriova
Tfj<; yfj<;, OJLOLOV apµaTEt<f} Tpoxfi.Jl KOtAT/V EXOVTL TYJV
al/J'ioa Kat 1TVpO<; 1TAfipri Ka()a1Tep TOV TOV 1).\iov, KEi
µevov .\ ot6v, W<; KaKe'ivov, exovra µiav EK1TVOYJV olov
1TPT/CTT1jpo<; av.\6v. EKAEt7THV of. Kara TU<; E1TtCTTpo</Ja<;2
roil rpoxov.
1 rpox<fJ Plut., om. Stob. 2 founpo</Ja<; Plut: rpo7ra<;

vel cnpo<fla<; Stob.
298
ANAXI M A N D E R
D24 (A21) Aetius

Anaximander: the sun is equal to the earth, but the circle
from which it produces its exhalation and by which it is
carried in a circle is twenty-seven times the size of the
earth.
D25 (A21) Aetius

Anaximander: [scil. a solar eclipse happens] when the ori
fice of the exhalation of the fire becomes closed.
D26 (A22) Aetius

Anaximander: [scil. the moon] is a circle nineteen times
the size of the earth, similar to the wheel of a chariot; it
has a hollow rim filled with fire, hke that of the sun; it lies
aslant, as does that one, and it has a single place of exha
lation hke the nozzle (aulos) of a bellows (prester) .
Eclipses happen as a result of the turnings of the wheel.
299
027 ( > A22) Aet. 2.28.l (Ps.-Plut. ) [m::p t c/Jwncrµ,wv

crEA'ljv71<>]
'Avatiµ,avopo<; LOtOV avTYiv EXELV c/Jw<;, apaLOTEpov OE
1TW<;.
028 (A22) Aet. 2.29 . 1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [7rEpt EKAEit/JEw<; crEA'lj

v71<>]
'Avatiµ,avopo<;1 Tov crTOµ,iov Tov 1TEpt Tov Tpoxov em
c/JpaTToµ,f.vov.
029 (A25) Aet. 3. 10.2 (Ps.-Plut. ) [7rEpt crx-r}µ,aTo<; y7J<>]

'Avatiµ,avopo<> A.iO2
1 ri,v yijv II: rfj yfj Mm 2 lac. ind. Diels
030 (A26) Arist. Gael. 2 . 13 295bl l-16

Etcrt 8€ TLVE<; ot OLa T7Jv Of.LOLOT7JTU c/Jacriv avTYiv µ,€
VELV, WCT"1TEp TWV apxaiwv 'Avatiµ,avopo<;· µ,iiA.A.ov f.LEV
yap oVOEv avw ,;, KUTW ,;, Et<; TU 1TAayia c/JepEcrOai
1Tpocr-r}KEL TO E7Tt TOV µ,ecrov iopvµ,evov KUL oµ,oiw<;
1Tp0<; TU Ecrxam EXOV" aµ,a o' dovvaTOV Et<; TO €vav
Tiov1 1TOLEtcrOai T7Jv KLV'1JCT"LV" wcrT' et avayK7J'i f.LEVELV.
300
ANAXI M AN D E R
D27 ( > A22) Aetius

Anaximander: it [i.e. the moon] possesses its own light, but
it is somewhat weaker.
D28 (A22) Aetius

Anaximander: [scil. a lunar eclipse happens] when the
orifice on the wheel is obstructed.

D29 (A25) Aetius
Anaximander: the earth resembles a stone column. Ofits
surfaces . . . 1
1 What follows, presumably a reference to the antipodes (cf.
D7 [3]), is lost.
D30 (A26) Aristotle, On the Heavens

There are some who say that it is because of equality (ho
moiotes) that it [i.e. the earth] stays in place, as among the
ancients Anaximander. For it is appropriate that what is
located in the middle and maintains an equal relation to
the extremities should not move at all more up than down
or to the sides; and it is impossible to move in opposite
directions at the same time. So of necessity it remains in
place.
1 TO f.vavTtov E: nivaVT[a JHE4
301
D31 ( < A l ) Diog. Laert. 2 . 1

µf.<rYJV T E Ti}v yfjv KEt<r8ai, Kf.vTpov Ta6v eTTf.x_ov<rav,
oil<rav <r</Jaipoeiofj·
D32 (A26) Theon Sm. Exp., p. 198.18-19 ( = Eudem.

Frag. 145 Wehrli)
[ . . . ] 'Ava�iµavopo<; of. OTt E<TTLV Yi yfj µETiwpo<; Kai.
KEtTat1 1TEpl. To TOV Ko<rµov µf.<rov.
I KiveZTai mss., corr. Montucla
D33 (A23)
a Aet. 3.3. l (Ps.-Plut. ) [1TEpL f3povTWV a<rTpa1TWV KE
pavvwv 1TpYJ<rr{ipwv TE Kai. rv</Jwvwv]

'Ava�iµavopor;; EK rov 1TVEvµaro<; ravTI. 1Tavra <TVµ{3ai
vEw o-rav yap 1TEptA.YJ</J8ev vf.c/JEt 1Tax_E'i' {3ia<raµEvov
EK1Ti<rYJ TU A.EmoµEpEL</: Kai. Kov</JoTYJTt, r68' Yi µev pfj
gir;; rov tfi6</Jov, Yi oe Oia<rroA.iJ TTapa ri}v µEA.aviav roil
vf.</Jov<; TOV Otavya<rµov a1TOTEAE'i'.
b Sen. Quaest. nat. 2. 18
Anaximandrus omnia1 ad spiritum retulit. tonitrua, inquit,

sunt nubis ictae sonus. quare inaequalia sunt? quia et ipse
I omnia <ista> Hine

302
A N AXI M AN D E R
D 3 1 ( < A l ) Diogenes Laertius

The earth is in the middle, occupying the position of the
center, and it is spherical.1
1 This last indication, which contradicts D20 (cf. D7[3]), is
doubtless inHuenced by Plato, Phaedo 108e-109a.
D32 (A26) Eudemus in Theon of Smyrna, Mathematics

Useful for Understanding Plato
Anaximander [scil. discovered] that the earth is suspended
and that it rests at the center of the world.

D33 (A23)
a Aetius
Anaximander: all of these phenomena [ scil. thunder, light
ning, thunderbolts, whirlwinds, and typhoons] come about
from wind. For when this has been caught in a thick cloud
but then breaks out violently by reason of its fineness and
lightness, the tearing causes the noise, and the crack,
against the blackness of the cloud, causes the flash.
b Seneca, Natural Questions

Anaximander relates all these phenomena [scil. those con
nected with thunder] to wind. Thunder, he says, is the
noise produced by a cloud when it is struck. Why are they
unequal [scil. in intensity]? Because <the wind> itself [scil.
303
<spiritus>. 2 quare e t sereno tonat? quia tune quoque per

erassum et scissum aera spiritus prosilit. at quare aliquando
non fulgurat, et tonat? quia spiritus infirmior non valuit in
flammam, in sonum valuit. quid est ergo ipsa fulguratio?
aeris didueentis se eorruentisque iaetatio, languidum
ignem nee exiturum aperiens. quid est fulmen? aerioris
densiorisque spiritus eursus.
2 <spiritus> Hine: ictus inaequalis est 8 (om. 'OTr): <spiritus

inaequalis est> Diels
D34 (A24) Aet. 3.7.l (Ps.-Plut.) [1npt aveµwv]
'Avatiµavopo<; aveµov elvai pvaw aepo<; TWV AE1TTO

TclTWV EV aim(> KaL vypoTaTWV V1TO TOV �Aiov KLVOV
µevwv � TTJKoµevwv.
D35 (A27)
a Arist. Meteor. 2.1 353b6-ll

Elvat yap TO TrPWTOV vypov a1Tavra TOV 1TEpL T�V yijv
T01TOV, V1TO OE TOV �Afov tripaiv6µevov TO µEv OtaTµi
<rav 1TvevµaTa Kat Tpo1Ta<; �Afov KaL <reAfivYJ<; </Jacri
1Tote'Lv, TO OE Aeup(JEv ()6.AaTrnv e'i:vai· oio Kat iAaTTW
yivecr()ai tripaivoµevriv ofovTai KaL TEAo<; lcrecr()ai
1ToTe 1Ta<rav tripav.
304
ANAXI M AN D E R
i s unequal]. Why i s there thunder even i n a cloudless sky?

Because at this moment too the wind rushes through the
crack in thick air. And why is there sometimes no lightning
but there is thunder? Because the air is too weak to pro
duce a flame, but not too weak [scil. to produce] a sound.
Then what is lightning? The agitation of air which, extend
ing and retracting itself, reveals fire that is weak and can
not escape. What is the lightning bolt? The passage of air
that is sharper and denser.
D34 (A24) Aetius

Anaximander: wind is a current of air, when the most fine
and moist parts in it are set in motion or melted by the
sun.

D35 (A27)
a Aristotle, Meteorology
For they [i.e. the thinkers whose wisdom is human, by
contrast with the theologians] say that the terrestrial re
gion was at first entirely moist, but that, while it was being
dried out by the sun, the part that evaporated produced
the winds and the returns of the sun [i.e. the solstices] and
moon, and what remained formed the sea; and this is why
they think that it diminishes while it dries out and that one
day it will be completely dry.
305
b Alex. In Meteor. , p . 67. 1-12

oilToi S€ YEJJE<TW 7TOtOV<Tt Tij<; Oa>.. cia-a-71<;, aA.A.' OVK
ayeJJ71ToJJ avTT,JJ A.eyova-w lSia<; rr71yas exovcraJJ, W<; oi
OeoA.oyoi. oi µ,€JJ yap aVTWJJ imoA.eiµ,µ,a AeyovcriJJ elJJai
TT,JJ Oci>.. aa-a-aJJ Ti/<> rrpwTY/<> vypoT71To<;. vypov yap
OJJTO<; TOV 7TEpt TT,JJ yijJJ T07TOV Ka7TE£Ta TO µ,eJJ n 1 Tij<;
irypoT71To<; V7TO TOV T,A.iov etaTµ,i,ea-Oai Kat yiJJea-Oai
7TJJEV/LaTcL TE et aVTOV Kat Tpo7Ta<; T,AlOV TE Kat
<TEA�JJ71<;, W<; Sia Ta<; aTµ,iSa<; TaVTa<; Kat Ta<; aJJaOv
µ,iam:i<; KaKeivwJJ Ta<; Tporra<; rroiovµ,EJJWJJ, EJJ0a2 .;,
TaVT71<; aVTOlS xop71yia yiJJETai, 7TEpt TaVTa TpE7TO
µ,frwp· TO Se Tt avrij<; V7TOAEup0€JJ EJJ TOl<; KoiA.oi<; rij<;
yij<;3 Torroi<; (Jci>.. aa-craJJ EtJJai· Sio Kat eAaTTW yiJJEa-Oai
t71paiJJoµ,ev71JJ EKa<TTOTE vrro Tov T,A.fov Kat TeAo<; ea-E
a-Oai 7TOTE t71paJJ. rnw71<; Tij<; Sot71<; eyEJJETO, W<; ia-To
pEl 0Eocppaa-To<; [Fr. 221 FHS&G] , 'Amtiµ,aJJSpo<; TE
KaL llioyev71<; [ . . . = DIOG. D24 ] .
1 Ka1THTa T o µlv n ] T a 1TpwTa Awa

Usener 3 ri)> y1J> om. AWa
D36 (A27) Aet. 3.16.1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [rrEpt Oa>.. cia-a-71<; rrw<;

a-vJJea-TY/ KaL rrw<; €a-n mKpa]
'AJJatiµ,aJJSpo<; TT,JJ (JciA.aa-craJJ cp71criJJ EtJJai Tij<; 7TpWT71'>
irypaa-ia<; Aeit/laJJOJJ, -ii <> TO µ,€JJ 7TAEloJJ1 µ,epo<; aJJet+
paJJe TO rriJp, To S€ vrroAEicp0€JJ Sia TT,JJ EKKava-w µ,eT
€{3aAEJJ.
306
A N AXI M A N D E R
b Alexander o f Aphrodisias, Commentary o n Aristotle's

Meteorology
These authors [scil. the ones Aristotle is discussing] attri
bute a birth to the sea, instead of saying, as the theolo
gians do, that it is ungenerated and provided with its own
sources [cf. COSM. Tl0] .1 For some of them say that the
sea is a residue of the original moisture. For at first the
region around the earth was moist, but then part of the
moisture evaporated by the effect of the sun, and this is
why the winds and the turnings of the sun [i.e. the sol
stices] and moon came about, for these [scil. heavenly
bodies] too make their turnings as a result of these vapors
and exhalations, returning to the place where they find an
abundant supply of these. But the part of it [i.e. the origi
nal moisture] that remained in the hollows of the earth
forms the sea; and that is why it is diminishing, since it is
being constantly dried out by the sun, and will end up one
day becoming dry. As Theophrastus reports, Anaximander
and Diogenes [scil. of Apollonia] were of this opinion
[. . .] .
1 Alexander, who is referring to the theologians (i.e. Homer
and Hesiod), interprets Ocean as the sea.
036 (A27) Aetius

Anaximander says that the sea is a residue of the original
moisture, of which the fire dried up the greater part, while
what remained was transformed by the heat.
1 7TAEtoJJ MIT: 7TAEt<TTOJJ m
307
D37 (< A29) Aet. 4.3.2 (Theod. Cur. 5.18) [El uwµ,a ii
tfroX� Kal TlS ii OV<rta avTij<;]
'Avafiµ,avOpo<; [ . . . ] aEpw071 Tij<; t/Jvxij<; T�ll cpv<rw Ei
p{iKa<rw.
D38 (A30) Aet. 5. 19.4 (Ps.-Plut. ) [1TEp£ Miwv yEvE<rE<»<;,

1TW<; iy€vono 'qia Kat Et cpOapnf]
'Avaf iµ,avOpo<; Ell vypq! YEllll'Y} Oijvai TU 1Tpwrn 'qi a
cpA.ow'i<; 1TEptEXO/LElla aKa118wOE<r£, 1Tpo{3awov<r71<; DE
Tij<; iiALKta<; a1To{3ai11E£11 E1Tl TO f71p6npo11 Kat 1TEpip
P7JYllV/LEllOV TOV cpA.owv E1T' oA.iyov xp611011 µ,Ern{3iw
vai.
D39 (A30) Cens. Die nat. 4.7

Anaximander Milesius videri sibi ex aqua terraque cale
factis1 exortos esse sive pisces seu piscibus simillima
animalia; in his homines concrevisse fetusque2 ad puber
tatem intus retentos, tune demum ruptis illis3 viros muli
eresque, qui iam se alere possent, processisse.
1 coalefactis coni. Meursius 2 et usque coni. Meursius

3 iliis coni. Meursius
308
ANAXI M AN D E R

D37 (< A29) Aetius
[ . . . ] Anaximander [ . . . ] said that the nature of the soul is
air-like.

D38 (A30) Aetius
Anaximander: the first animals were born in moisture, sur
rounded by thorny bark, but as they increased in age they
moved to where it was drier, and when the bark burst open
they changed their way of life in a short time.
D39 (A30) Censorinus, The Birthday

Anaximander of Miletus thought that when the water and
earth were heated, there arose from them either fish or
animals very similar to fish; human beings developed in
these and remained inside as embryos until they reached
puberty; then finally they [i.e. these animals] burst open,
and men and women came forth who were already capable
of nourishing themselves.
309
040 ( < A30) Plut. Quaest. conv. 8.8.4 730E-F

[ . . . cf. Rl8] ov yap Ev TOL<; aVTOL<; EKELVO<; lx8v<; Kat
av8pw7TOV<;, a>.. >.. ' EV lx8vaw f.yyevea8ai TO 7TpWTOV
av8pw7TOV<; a7Tocpa[verai Kat rpacf>evra<; W0"7TEp oi ya
>..e ot1 Kat yevoµevov<; iKavov<; eavro'i<; f3o'Y/8e'iv EK{3fjvai
TTJVLKUVTa Kat yfi<: >.. af3ea8aL [ . . . ] .
1 ya.>..eot Doehner, Emperius: ?Ta.>.. a wt mss.
310
ANAXI M A N D E R
D40 ( < A30) Plutarch, Table Talk

[ . . . ] For he does not think that fish and humans [scil.
developed] in the same circumstances, but he declares
that at first humans developed and were nourished inside
fishes, like sharks, and that they went out and reached land
when they had become capable of protecting themselves
[ . . .] .
311
A NAXI M A N D E R [ 1 2 D K ]
The Unlimited of Anaximander (Rl-R6)

Rl ( ;e DK) Arist. Phys. 3.4 203al6-18
oi SE 7rEpt </Jvcnw<; 7Tavre<;1 v7Ton8€aaw ETEpav nva

</Jvaw r<f:i a7Teipcp rwv A.eyoµ€vwv cTToixeiwv, olov
vSwp � a€pa � TO µerafv TOVTWIJ.
l 1TavTE<; Philop. In Phys., p. 395.8, Simpl. In Phys., p. 458.17:
a1Tal'TE> de' FHIJ: ad 1TavTE<; E
R2 (< A9) Simpl. In Phys., p. 24.21-22

SfjA.ov SE OTt Tryv el<; aA.A. "f/Aa µeraf3oX:ryv TWIJ TETTapwv
rTToixeiwv o-iir o<; Oeaaaµevo<; ovK T,�iwaev Ell n rovrwv
V7TOKEiµevov 7TOtfjaai, aA.A.a Tt aA.A.o 7Tapa ravra [ . .
= R9] .
312
A N AXI M A N D E R
The Unlimited ofAnaximander (Rl-R6)

Rl ( ;e DK) Aristotle, Physics

All those who study nature assign to the unlimited a cer
tain other nature belonging to what are called the ele
ments, like water, air, or what is intermediary between
these. 1
1 For other passages in which Aristotle mentions a doctrine of
the intermediary element and seems to be alluding to Anaxi
mander (without ever naming him) , cf. Physics 1.6 189bl-8,
205a25-29; Generation and Corruption 2.1 328b35, 2.5 332al9-
25; Metaphysics A7 988a29-32, 989al4. The identification de
rives from the commentators on Aristotle (cf. e.g. R2, R4). In
D 12, Aristotle explicitly distinguishes Anaximander from those
who posited an intermediary.
R2 ( < A9) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Physics

It is clear that, having observed the transformation of the
four elements into one another, he thought that he should
not make one of these the substrate, but some other thing
besides them [ . ] .
. .
313
R3 (Al6) Arist. Gael. 3.5 303bl0-13

EVtot yap �v µ,6vov v7ToTt8EvTat, Kat Tovrn 1 ol µ,ev
vowp, ol o' aepa, ol OE 7Tilp, ol o' vOaTO> µ,ev AE7TTOTE
pov, aepo> OE 7TVKVOTEpov, o 7TEptEXEtv <f>acrt 7T<LVTa>
TOV> ovpavoV> t17Tetpov ov.
1 TOVTO EH: TOVTWV J
R4 (Al6) Alex. In Metaph., p. 60.8-10

7rpocre8TJKE 8€ Tfj lcrTopiq. Ka£ TTJV 'Avatiµ,avopov
86tav, O> apxiJv E8ETO ri/v µ,Erntv </>v<Ttv aepo> TE Kal
7TVpo>, r} aepo> TE Kal v8aTO>· AeyErnt yap aµ,<f>o
TEPW>.
R5 ( � DK) Simpl. In Gael., p. 615.13-15
'Avat[µ,avopo> [ . . ] a6pt<TTOV Tt vOaTO> µ,ev AE1TTOTE

.
pov aepo> 8€ 7TVKVOTEpov, OtOTt TO V7TOKEiµ,evov Ev<f>ve>

expi;v Etvat 7TpO> TTJV e<f>' EKUTEpa fLETa/3a<Ttv [ .
. . =
R6] .
As Reserooir (R6)
R6 (< Al7) Simpl. In Gael., p. 615.15-18

a7TEtpov 8€ 7TpWT0>1 V7TE8ETO, iva EXT/ xpi;cr8at 7TpO>
TU> YEVE<TEt> a<f>86vw>· Kal KO<T/.tOV> 8€ a7TEtpov> ol,To>
Kal EKa<TTOV TWV KO<TfLWV et a7Tetpov TOV TOtoVTOV
<TTOtXEtov V7Te8eTo, w> 8oKe'i.
l 7rpwro> A: 7rpwrw> DEF
314
ANAXI M AN D E R
R 3 (Al6) Aristotle, On the Heavens

For some people posit only one [scil. element] , and the
ones [scil. posit] that this is water, others air, others fire,
others something finer than water and denser than air; and
they say that this, being unlimited, surrounds all the
heavens.
R4 (Al6) Alexander of Aphrodisias, Commentary on Ar

istotle's Metaphysics
He [i.e. Aristotle] has added to his historical presentation
the opinion of Anaximander, who posited as principle a
nature intermediary between air and fire, or between air
and water-for it is reported in both ways.
R5 ( "'" DK) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's On

the Heavens
Anaximander [ . . . ] [scil. posed as element] something
undefined (aoristos), finer than water but denser than air,
since the substrate had to be well suited for transformation
into both of these [ . . . ] .
As Reservoir (R6)
R6 ( < Al 7) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's On the
Heavens
He was the first to posit an unlimited, so that he would
have something he could make use of unstintingly for gen
eratings; and he said that the worlds are unlimited [scil. in
number] and that each one of the worlds comes from this
sort of unlimited element, as it seems.
315
EARLY GRE E K P H I L O S O PHY I I
A Comparison with Empedocles

and Anaxagoras (R7-R9)
R7 (A9) Arist. Phys. 1 .4 187a20-23

oi 8' EK rov �vo<; Evov<ra<; Ta<; EVavnOTY)Ta<; EKKpive
<.rOat, W<.T1T€p 'Avatiµav8p6<; </>YJ<rt Kat o<.rot 8' �v Kat
7TOAAa rpa<rw eivat, w<r1Tep 'Eµ1Te8oKA7]<> Kat 'Avat
ay6pa<>· EK rov µeiyµaro<; yap Kat oiirot EKKpivov<.rt
raHa.
R8 (A9a, 59 A41 ) Simpl. In Phys., p. 154.14-23 ( = Theo

phr. Frag. 228B FHS&G)
Kat ®e6<f>pa<.rTo<; 8E rov 'Avatay6pav el<; rov 'Avat
iµav8pov <TVvwOwv Kat ovrw<; EKAaµ/3avet ra v1To
'Avatay6pov A.q6µeva, w<> 8vva<r0at µiav avrov <f>v
<.rtv >.. iyew ro V1TOKeiµevov. ypa<f>et 8E ovrw<; EV rfi
vmKfj t<.rropiq.· "ovrw µEv oi'iv >.. aµf3av6vrwv 86�etev
llv 1TOt€lV TU<; fLEV VAtKU<; apxa<> a1Teipov<;, W<T1T€p
€tpY)Tat, T�V 8E r7]<; KWfi<.rew<; Kat r7]<; 'Y€VE<.T€W<; alriav
µiav. el 8i n<; �v µ�w rwv a1Tavrwv V1Tol..a/3ot µiav
eivat rpv<rw a6pt<TTOV Kat Kar' ei8o<; Kat KUTU µiye
Oo<;, o1Tep llv 86tete /3ovAe<r0at >.. iyew, <TVµ/3aivet 8vo
TU<; apxa<> avrfii >.. iyew T'rlV T€ TOV a1Teipov rpv<.rtv Kat
rov vovv, w<rre 1Tavrw<; <f>aiverat ra <rwµanKa <.rTot
xe'la 1Tapa1TAY)<.TtW<; 1TOtWV 'Ava�tµav8pqi."
316
ANAXI M A N D E R
A Comparison with Empedocles

and Anaxagoras (R7-R9)
R7 (A9) Aristotle, Physics
The other ones [scil. than those who posit a single sub
strate] say that the contraries are present in the One and
are separated out from it, as Anaximander says and all
those who assert the existence of both the one and the
many, like Empedocles and Anaxagoras; for these too
think that all other things separate out from the mixture
[cf. EMP. D81; ANAXAG. D20] .
R8 (A9a, 59 A41) Theophrastus in Simplicius, Commen

tary on Aristotle's Physics
And Theophrastus, pushing Anaxagoras toward Anaxi
mander, understands in this way too what Anaxagoras says,
i.e. that it is possible that he is saying that the substrate is
a single nature. He writes as follows in his Natural History:
"If we take things in this way, he would seem to posit
material principles that are unlimited [scil. in number], as
we have said, and a single cause of motion and of genera
tion. But if one supposed that the mixture of all things is
a single nature, undefined both in form and in size, which
is what he would seem to have meant, then the result is
that he is saying that there are two principles, the nature
of the unlimited and mind, so that he seems absolutely to
conceive corporeal elements in the same way as Anaxi
mander" [= ANAXAG. R19] .
317
R9 ( < A9) Simpl. In Phys., p . 24.23-25
[ . . . R2] oVTO<; 8€ OVK aA.A.owvµi.vov TOV <TTOLX€loV

=
T�V YEV€<TLV 7TOL€t, &.A.A.' a7TOKpwoµevwv TWV EVaVTtWV

Sul Tij<; ai8iov KLV�<T€W<;· 8io Kat TOt<; 7TEpt 'Avaf,
ay6pav rovrov o 'Api<rTOTEAT/'> rrvvfraf,Ev.
Four Peripatetic Criticisms (Rl0-R13)
RIO (Ar 12 Wohrle) Arist. GC 2.5 332al9-25
[ . . . ] OVK E<TTLV �v TOVTWV Ef, ov Ta 7Tavra. ov µ�v ov8'

a.\.\o Tt YE 7Tapa TaVTa, oiov µerrov TL aepo<; Kat v8a
TO<; � aepo<; Kat 7TVp6<;, aepo<; fl-EV 7TaXVTEpOV � 7TVp6<;,
TWV 8€ A€7TT6T€pov· E<TTaL yap a�p Kat 7TVp EK€tVO µd
evavn6TT/T0'>" &.A.A.a <TTEPT/<TL<; TO frEpov TWV evavTiwv·
W<TT' OVK ev8exETaL µovovrrBai EK€tVO ov8E7TOT€, W<T7T€p
</>arri TLV€'> TO a7T€Lpov Kat TO 7TEpiExov.
Rll (Al6) Arist. Phys. 3.5 204b22-29
a.\.\a µ�v ov8e �V Kat tl7TAOVV €lVaL rrwµa a7TELpov

€v8exETai, owE w<> .\eyovrri nvE<> To 7Tapa Ta rrToixE£a,
ef, ov railra YEVVW<TLV, ovB' tl7TAW<;. Elrr£v yap TLV€<; ot
TOVTO 7TOLOV<TL TO a7TELpov, &..\.\' OVK aepa � v8wp,
07TW<; µ� Ti1.\.\a </>BEtPT/TaL l17TO TOV a7T€tpov awwv·
EXOV<TL yap 7Tp0<; a.\.\T/.\a evavTtW<TLV, oiov 0 µev a�p
iJivxp6<;, TO 8' v8wp vyp6v, TO 8€ 7Tilp 8Epµ6v· cLv El -ryv
318
ANAXI M A N D E R
R 9 (< A9) Simplicius, Commentary o n Aristotle's Physics

[ . . . ] He does not explain birth by the alteration of the
element but by the separation of the contraries because of
the eternal motion. And that is why Aristotle has placed
him together with Anaxagoras and his followers [cf.
ANAXAG. D2].
Four Peripatetic Criticisms (R10-R13)

RIO ( ;t: DK) Aristotle, On Generation and Corruption
[ . . . ] not one of these things [i.e. fire, air, earth, water] is
something from which all things could derive. But cer
tainly neither is anything else besides these, such as some
thing intermediary between air and water or between air
and fire, denser than air or fire, and finer than the others.
For that air or that fire will include a contrariety; but one
of the contraries is a privation, so that it is not possible that
that [ scil. intermediary] ever exist alone, as some say is the
case of the unlimited and of what surrounds.
R l l (Al6) Aristotle, Physics

But neither is it possible for an unlimited body to be one
and simple, whether it is, as some say, something beside
the elements from which they generate these, or abso
lutely speaking. For there are some who identify the un
limited with this, and not with air or water, so that the
other things are not destroyed by their being unlimited.
For they stand in contrariety to one another, for example
air is cold, water moist, fire hot; and if one of them were
319
�v U7TEtpov, �</J8apro t w 7]S71 T<iA.A.a· vVV S ' ETEpov Elva[

</Jaaw et oi'i ravra.
Rl2 ( < Al 4) Arist. Phys. 3. 7 208a 2-4

</Jaivovrai SE naVTE<; Kal oi aA.A.oi W<; VAYJ xpwµEVOL Tf>
a7TElp<[r Sio Kai, UT07TOV TO 7TEpd.xov 7TOtEtV avTO &.A.A.a
µTi nEpiExoµEvov.
Rl3 (< Al4) Aet. 1.3.3 (Ps.-Plut.) [nEpl, apxwv]

[ . . . D IO] aµapTaVEL SE oi'iTo<; µTi A.eywv Tl E<rTL TO
=
aneipov, noTEpov a'l]p e<rnv 11 vSwp 11 y7} 11 a.\.A.a nva

<rwµara. aµapTavei oilv TTJV µEv vA.71v ano</JaivoµEvo<;,
TO SE 7TOWVV a'trwv avaipwv. TO yap aneipov ovSEv
aA.A.o 11 vA.71 ea-Tiv· ov Svvarai SE ii vA.71 Etvai evEpyEiq,,
eav µTi TO 7TOWVV V7TOKE71Tat.
Astronomical Discoveries and Inventions

Attributed to Anaximander (Rl 4-Rl 7)
Rl4 (< Al) Diog. Laert. 2 . 1

Ei'ipE S E Kai, yvwµova npwTo<; Kat E<rT71<rEv Ent Twv
<rKw8'1}pwv ev AaKESaiµovi, Ka8a </J71<rt <Paf3wp'ivo<; ev
ITavToSanfi ia-ropiq, [Frag. 65 Amato] , Tpona<; TE Kai,
t<r71µEpla<; a-71µaLVOVTa· KUl wpo<rK07Tta KUTE<rKEVU<rE.
320
ANAXI M AN D E R
unlimited, then the others would already have been de

stroyed. But as it is, they say that what these latter come
from is different.
Rl2 ( < Al 4) Aristotle, Physics

It is evident that all the others make use of the unlimited
as matter. And for this reason it is absurd to say that it
surrounds and not that it is surrounded.
Rl3 (< Al4) Aetius

[ . . . ] He errs in not saying what the unlimited is, whether
it is air or water, or earth or some other bodies. Thus he
errs in declaring the matter but in suppressing the effi
cient cause. For the unlimited is nothing else than matter.
But matter cannot be in activity if one does not posit the
efficient [ scil. cause] .
Astronomical Discoveries and Inventions

Attributed to Anaximander (Rl4-Rl 7)
Rl4 (< Al) Diogenes Laertius

He was also the first to discover the gnomon and he placed
it on the sundials in Sparta, as Favorinus says in his Miscel
laneous History, to indicate the solstices and the equi
noxes, and he constructed clocks.
321
R l 5 (< A4) E us . PE 10. 14.11

olJTo<; 7rpwTor;; yvwµ,ova.;; KaTE<TKeva<Te 7rpo.;; oiayvw
<Ttv TPO'TTW V TE T/A.fov Kat xp6vwv Kat wpwv Kat l<T'Y]
µ,epia<;.
Rl6 ( < A5) Plin. Nat. hist. 2.31

obliquitatem eius intellexisse, hoe est rerum fores1 aper
uisse, Anaximander Milesius traditur primus [ . . . P3] . =
1 fortissimi vel -mas ante fores hab. FEaz., del. R
Rl 7 ( < Al9) Simpl. In Gael., p. 471 .4-9
[. . .] 'Ava�iµ,avopov 7rpwTov Tov 'TTEpt µ,eyeOwv Kat

a'TTO<TT'Y]µ,<frwv A.6yov EVPTJKOTO<;, W<; EVOT]µ,O<; t<TTope'i
[Frag. 146 Wehrli] [ . . . PITHS ANON. D39] . Tu 0€
= .
µ,ey€0'Y] Kat TU a'TTO<TTYjµ,arn T/A.fov Kat <TEAYjV'Y]'> [ . . . ]

elKo<; �v rnvra Kat Tov 'Avagiµ,avopov evp'Y}Kivai [ . . . ] .
An Ironic Allusion to a Notorious Doctrine (RIB)
Rl8 ( < A30) Plut. Quaest. conv. 8.8.4 730D-E

Ot o' &.cf>' �EAATJVO<; TOV 'TTaAawv Kat 'TTaTpoyeveicp IIo
<TetOwvi Ovov<Tw, EK Tij<; vypos TOV avOpw'TTO V OV<TLa<;
cpvvai o6gavTE<;1 W<; Kat "ivpoi· Oto Kat <Ti/3ovrni TOV
lxOvv, W<; oµ,oyevij Kat <TVVTpocf>ov, E'TTtEtKi<TTEpov
322
AN AXI M A N D E R
R l 5 ( < A4) Eusebius, Evangelical Preparation

He was the first to construct gnonwns to distinguish the
solstices of the sun, the periods of time, the seasons, and
the equinox.
Rl6 (< A5) Pliny, Natural History

Anaximander of Miletus is reported to have been the first
person [ . . . ] to have understood its [i.e. the zodiac's] incli
nation, that is to have opened up the gates of these matters
[. . .] .
Rl 7 (< Al9) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's On

the Heavens
[ . . . ] Anaximander was the first to discover the explanation
for the sizes and distances [scil. of the planets], as is re-
ported by Eudemus [ . . . ] . As for the sizes and distances of
the sun and moon [ . . . ] , it is probable that Anaximander
discovered them too [ . . . ] .
An Ironic Allusion to a Notorious Doctrine (R18)

Rl8 (< A30) Plutarch, Table Talk
The descendants of ancient Hellen sacrifice to their ances
tor Poseidon too, since they believe, as the Syrians do, that
human beings were born from the moist substance. And
323
'Avatiµavopov <fnA.o<rocf>ovvTe<>· [ . 040] Ka0a1Tep

. . =
o�v TO 1TiJp T�v vA"f/ll, Et .ry., dvficf>O"f/, µ"f/TEpa Kat 1Ta

'TEp' o�<rav �<rOiev [ . . ] ovTW'> o 'Avat[µavopo<> Twv
.
dv0pw1Twv 1TaTEpa Kat µ"f/TEpa Koivov a1Tocf>fiva<> Tov

lxOvv od(3aA.ev 1Tpo<> 'T�v (3pw<riv.
Rl9 (Ar 52 Wohrle) Iren. Adv. haer. 2. 14.2

Anaximander autem hoe quod immensum est omnium
initium subieeit, seminaliter habens in semetipso omnium
genesim, ex quo immensos mundos eonstare ait: et hoe
autem in Bythum et in Aeonas ipsorum transfiguraverunt.
R20 (Ar 216 Worhle) Ps.-Olymp. Ars sacra 25

'Avat£µavopo<> OE To µerntv eA.eyev apx�v elvai ·
µerntv OE A.iyw 'TWIJ aTµwv � 'TWIJ Ka1TIJWIJ · 0 µEv yap
aTµo<> µerntv E<T'Ttll 1TVp0'> Kal yij<>, Kal Ka06A.ov OE
Et7TEtll, 1Ta/J 'TO µerntv Oepµwv Kal vypwv a'TµO<> E<T'TW ·
Ta OE µerntv Oepµwv Kat t"f/pwv Ka1Tvo<>.
324
ANAXI M AN D E R
that i s why they revere the fish as belonging to the same

line of descent as they do and as having been raised to
gether with them-philosophizing thereby more plausibly
than Anaximander [ . . . ] . So just as fire devours the wood
from which it was kindled and which is its father and
mother [ . . . ] , so too Anaximander, having declared that
fish is the common father and mother of all human beings,
criticized its use for eating. 1
1 The discussion bears upon the Pythagoreans' prohibitions
(cf. PITH. c D20[83] ).

Rl9 ( ;t. DK) Irenaeus, Against the Heresies
Anaximander posited as the origin of all things the unlim
ited, which contains within itself in the form of seeds the
generation of all things, and from which, he said, the infi
nite worlds come. And this is what they [i.e. the Valentin
ian Gnostics] transformed into their own Bythus and
Eons.

R20 ( ;t. DK) Ps.-Olympiodorus, On the Sacred Art
Anaximander said that the intermediary is the principle; I
say that the intermediary belongs to vapor or smoke. For
vapor is intermediary between fire and earth, and to speak
generally everything that is intermediary between what is
hot and what is moist is vapor; and what is intermediary
between what is hot and what is dry is smoke.
325
Anaximander in The Assembly of

Philosophers (R21)
R21 ( � DK) Turba Phil. Sermo I
a p. 109. 15-16 Ruska; 38. 1-6 Plessner

iussit autem, ut Eximedrus prius loqueretur, qui optimi
erat consilii.
incipiens ait omnium initium esse naturam quandam
et earn esse perpetuam ac omnia coquentem et quidem
videtur naturas eorumque nativitates et corruptiones esse
tempora, quibus termini, ad quos pervenire videntur et
noscuntur. doceo autem vos stellas esse igneas et aera ipsas
continere et quod si aeris humiditas et spissitudo non
esset, quae solis flammam separaret a creaturis, omnia
subsistentia sol combureret. Deus autem aerem separan
tem constituit ne combureret quod in terra creavit.
b (Ar 242 Wohrle) Mulfammad ibn Umayl al-Tamimi,

Kitab al-mii ' al-waraq'i wa al-an! al-nagmiyya ( cf.
p. 39. 15-40.24 Plessner)
�I_, �I _} � u....;l ul_,.ic. .;lll l_, .WI! [ . . ] ._..;t., _r.JI i..>"�1 JI.!
.
� t.. �li ..,.J...; �w . 1�1 t;;,li ..,.J...; �.;Li .w1_, t...;1.:i •�b .;1 i11 u'il
..
u.- � c:: l_,.;'i11_, . .;lll l _, .w1 U:!i w...... .1�1 .;1 9 .u.;1_� � .u.i_,i..Y.
........
.:ii 41 IJ":iJ9 �_,.1..)1 � 4.oµ1 W&41 l �j -.;,Y ufo . 1�1 .;� U;1J
i!fa �I •.;I >" u'il \.:.,i.; _,1 1.;� � U;1J � u.- i!fa. 01 u.-
326
ANAXI M AN D E R
Anaximander i n The Assembly of

Philosophers (R21)
R2 1 ( "# DK) The Assembly of Philosophers
a in Latin translation
He [i.e. Pythagoras] ordered that Eximedrus [i.e. Anaxi
mander] speak first, since he was the best in counsel.
Beginning, he said that the beginning of all things is a
certain nature and that this is eternal and concocts all
things, and indeed it seems that their natures, generations,
and destructions are times that have limits that they reach,
as is seen and known. But I teach you that the stars are
fiery and that air surrounds these and that, if there did not
exist the moisture and density of the air, which keeps the
sun's flame separate from the creatures, the sun would
burn up everything that exists. But God created the air as
a separation, so that it would not bum up what He had
created on the earth.
b in Arabic translation in MuJ:.iammad ibn Umayl al

TamimI, Book of the Silvery Water and the Starry Earth
Aksimidus al-Gur'anI [i.e. Anaximander] said, " [ . . . ] Water
and Fire are two enemies and there is between them no
affinity and close connection, because Fire is hot and dry
while Water is cold and moist; as for Air, it is hot and moist,
and it has been established between the two due to its
humidity accompanied by heat; thus Air became the rec
onciler between Water and Fire. All the spiritual realities
that derive from the refined exhalation of Air come to be
because, when warmth mixes with humidity, it is inevita-
327
EARLY GRE E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
.& \ y,.iiJ U.. yi. WJ 1 11. JSJ ...:;� JS.I o__,,,J,.. bJ.J Y-'-":I \.O;l.l • 1-*11 u..
.w1 '-i_,.b.J u.. � -...;l 'l)J .w1 u.. '-1_,.t._)1 � WJ • '-*'J .�
•'-*' � 'J )J \.\_).....; •'-*' �I ..:.i_;til �l oJ.>"" c)c. "-! LS-"' L..
S>::iL:JI U.. � U.. L.. �I �� S>::iL:JI � �_;;:; �I C IJ.J'i.'4 �
<l.:i;_,.b.J <..Ji')t;j \J 4-J)->"'-! ....:iJJ"" <..Ji')t;j'J • l-*11 4,iJc LS� W)J \.\_).....;
. • w1 '-l_,.bY.
328
ANAXI M A N D E R
ble fo r them t o have something refined proceeding from

them both, which becomes an exhalation or a breath, be
cause the sun's heat extracts from air something refined,
which becomes breath and life for all the creatures, and
all this depends upon the design of God Almighty. Air, in
its tum, acquires humidity from water; if it did not acquire
something of the water's humidity, by means of which it
can counter the sun's heat, the sun would dry the air by its
heat; and if air did not blow through the spiritual realities
out of which all the creatures come, then the sun would
annihilate all the creatures below it, because of its heat;
but air overcomes the latter by means of the connection it
establishes between its own heat and that heat, and be
tween its own humidity and the humidity of water."1
1 Translated by Germana Chemi.
329
7 . A N AXI M E N E S [ A N AXI M E N . ]
The data provided by the ancient sources for the dates of

Anaximenes' birth and death are confused, but his activity
can be situated toward the middle of the sixth century BC,
a little after Anaximander's. Of his original writings only a
few isolated terms survive. Diogenes Laertius reports that
his mode of expression was "simple and plain" (R2) : this
is surely to be understood by contrast with the poetically
charged style of Anaximander, to whose thought he is cer
tainly responding. The evanescent character of his per
son-despite the fact that his name seems to have re
mained famous for a long time (cf. RIO, P5)--contrasts
with the importance to be assigned philosophically to his
monism, which is founded on the properties of air.
B I B LI O G RA P H Y
Editions
G. Wohrle, ed. Anaximenes aus Milet. Die Fragmente zu
seiner Lehre (Stuttgart, 1993).
G. Wohrle et al. , ed. Die Milesier: Anaximander und
Anaximenes. Coll. Traditio Praesocratica vol. 1 (Berlin,
2012).
331
Studies
D. Graham. Explaining the Cosmos. The Ionian Tradition
of Scientific Philosophy (Princeton, 2006), Chapter 3.
O U TLI N E OF T H E C HA PT E R
p
Chronology (Pl-P4)
Statue (P5)
Iconography (P6)
D
Three Summaries Deriving Ultimately from Theophras
tus (Dl-D3)
Air as Principle (D4)
Air as God (D5-D6)
The Transformations of Air (D7-D8)
Is There Only One World or an Unlimited Number of
Worlds? (D9-Dl l)
Astronomy (Dl2-D20)
Heavens and Heavenly Bodies (D12-D14)
The Sun (D15-D18)
The Shape and Position of the Earth (D1 9-D20)
Clouds, Thunder, Lightning (D21-D23)
Rainbow (D24-D25)
Winds (D26)
Earthquakes (D27-D29)
The Soul (D30-D31)
332
ANAXI M E N E S
R
Ancient Treatises on Anaximenes (Rl)
Style (R2)
A Probable Criticism in Plato (R3)
Two Peripatetic Criticisms (R4-R5)
A Stoicizing Scholastic Interpretation (R6)
An Epicurean Criticism (R7)
Discoveries Attri"buted to Anaximenes (R8-R9)
A Fictional Scene from a Fragmentary Greek Novel: The
Philosopher at the Court of Polycrates (RlO)
An Apocryphal Correspondence Between Anaximenes
and Pythagoras (Rl l)
Anaximenes Among the Christians (R12-R13)
Anaximenes in The Assembly of Philosophers (R15)
333
A N AXI M E N E S [ 1 3 D K ]
Chronology (Pl-P4)
PI (< Al) Diog. Laert. 2.3

'Avagiµhrir; Evpv<npcfrov, MiA'ljcrwr;, fiKovcrev 'Avag
iµ,av8pov. evwi 8€ Kat ITapµ,evi8ov <f>acrtv UKOV<rat
avTc>V1 [ ]. Kat yeyevrirni µ,ev, KaOa <f>ricriv 'A1ToAA6-
• . .
8wpor; [FGrHist 244 F66], < . . . >2 1TEpt TTJV !ap8ewv

aAwaw, iTeAEVTYJCTE 8€ TV €gYJKOCTTV TPlTTJ '0Avµ,
ma8i.3
1 ITapp,evLl'rqv . . . avTov Volkmann: itvwi . . . avTov sec!.

Marcovich 2 <. . .> lac. posuimus 3 Tfj €�1/KO<TTfj
TPLTYJ oA.vp,ma8i, €rEAEVT1/<TE 8€ 7rEpt rT,v rrap8ewv aAW<TLV
mss., transp. Simson
P2 (< A7) (Ps.- ?) Hippol. Ref 1 . 7.8
oilTor; 7']Kµ,acrev 1TEpt €Tor; 1Tpwrnv Tijr; 1TEVTYJKO<TTijr;

oy86rir; 'OAvµ,maoor;.
334
A N AXI M E N E S
Chronology (Pl-P4)
Pl (< Al) Diogenes Laertius
Anaximenes, son of Eurystratus, of Miletus, studied with
Anaximander; some people say that he also studied with
Parmenides [ . . ) .1 And as Apollodorus says, he was < . . >2
. .
around the time of the capture of Sardis [ 546/5 BC], and

=
he died during the 63rd Olympiad [ 528/4].=
1 Editors usually correct in order to reestablish the only pos

sible chronology: "Some people say that Parmenides studied with
him." But perhaps the fiction is meaningful, emphasizing that
Anaximenes is a 'monist.' 2 The transmitted text says that
Anaximenes was born at the time of the capture of Sardis, but this
is incompatible with the date given for his death. We suggest that
an adjective indicating a particular age or meaning "famous" [ cf.
P3] or "mature" [cf. P2] has dropped out of the text.
P2 (< A7) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies

He reached full maturity around the first year of the 58th
Olympiad [ 54817] .
=
335
P3 (A3) Eus. Chron. (Hier. ) , p. 102b

[ad 01. 55] Anaximenes physicus agnoscitur.
P4 (< A2) Suda A. 1988

yiyovEV iv Ti/ vE' 'OA.vµmaSi iv Ti/ !.apSEwv ciAwO"Et,
oTE Kvpo<; o IlEpCT'YJ'> Kpo'iCTov Kaf)E'iAEv.
Statue (P5)
P5 (As 176 Wohrle) Christod. Ecphr. 50-51

.ryv µEv 'AvatiµEIJ'Y}'> voEpo<; O"ocpo<;, iv SE µEvoivfi
Saiµovt'r}<; iA.eA.t'E vof]µara 7TOtKtAa /3ovAi,<;.
336
ANAXI M E N E S
P 3 (A3) Eusebius, Chronicle

55th Olympiad [ 560/56] : The natural philosopher Anax
=
imenes is well known.
P4 ( < A2) Suda

He was born in the 55th Olympiad [ 560/56] during
=
the capture of Sardis, when Cyrus the Persian destroyed

Croesus [ 546/5] .1
=
1 The indication is erroneous or the text corrupt (cf. the un

certainties involved in PI).
Statue (P5)
P5 ( ;z!: DK) Christodorus, Description of the Statues in
the Gymnasium of 'Zeuxippus at Constantinople
Anaximenes was there, the intellectual sage; in his
enthusiasm
He brandished multifarious thoughts of a divine
intention.
Iconography (P6)
P6 ( ;z!: DK) Richter I, p. 79; Koch, "Ikonographie," in
Flashar, Bremer, Rechenauer (2013), 1.1, pp. 219-20.
337
A N AXI M E N E S [ 1 3 D K ]
Three Summaries Deriving Ultimately from

Theophrastus (Dl-D3)
DI (< A5) Simpl. In Phys., p. 24.26-25. 1 ( = Theophr.

Frag. 226A FHS&G)
'Ava[iµhYJ'> 8E [ . . . ] µiav f.LEV Kal avror;; 1 T�V V1TOKetµe
VYJV <f>vaw Kal a1Tetpov </>YJUW W<T1Tep EKe'ivor;; , 2 OVK
aopi<rrov 8E w<rTrep EKe'ivor;; , a.>.. >.. a3 wpi<rµevYJv, aepa
Aeywv avr'Tjv· 8iacf>epeiv OE µavOTYJTt Kal 1TVKVOTYJTt Kara
Ta<; OV<Tta<;, Kal apawvµevov4 f.LEV n1ip yive<rBat, 1TVKVOV
µevov 8E aveµov, elm ve<f>or;; , En 8E µuA.A.ov v8wp, elm
yijv, elm >.. Wovr;; , Ta 8E aAAa EK TOVTWV" KLVTJ<TtV 8E Kal
O�TO<; a£8wv 1TOte'i, 8i' �v Kal T�V µera{3oA�v yive<rBat.
1 Kat aVTO> om. A 2 wcrrrEp EK€LVO> <lei. Usener

3 a.\,\a Kat F 4 SiapovµEvov mss., corr. Diels
D2 (A6) Ps.-Plut. Strom. 3 ( Eus. PE 1.8.3)

=
'Ava[tµEvYJV 8€ <f>a<rt T�V TWV oAwv apx�v TOV aepa
338
A N AXI M E N E S
D
Three Summaries Deriving Ultimately from
Theophrastus (Dl-D3)
D 1 ( < A5) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Physics
Anaximenes [ . . . ] says too, as he [i.e. Anaximander] does,
that the underlying nature is [scil. only] one and unlim
ited, but not that it is indeterminate, as he [i.e. Anaxi
mander] does, but rather that it is determinate, for he
says that it is air. It differs by its rarefaction or density
according to the substances: rarefied, it becomes fire; con
densed, wind, then cloud; even more, water, then earth,
then stones; and everything else comes from these last. As
for motion, he too considers it to be eternal; and it is be
cause of it that change too comes about.
D2 (A6) Ps.-Plutarch, Stromata

They say that Anaximenes affirms that the principle of
all things is air and that this is unlimited in kind but limited
339
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1TEpl avrov 1TOtOT7JUW wpurµivov· YEVVa<rOai TE 1TUVTa
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YE µT,v KLV7J<TtV et alwvo<; V1TUPXEW mA.ovµ€vov1 8€
rov Mpo<; 1TPWT7JV yEyEvij<rOai A.€yEt rT,v yijv, 1TAa
TEtav µaAa· 2 Oto Kal KaTa A6yov avrT,v E1TOXEt<r0at r<))
Mpi· Kat rov i]A.iov Kat TT,v <rEA'ljv71v Kal Ta A.ot1Ta
a<rrpa TT,v apxT,v ri/<> YEVE<TEW<; EXEtV EK yij<;. a7Tocf>ai
VETat yovv TOV i]A.tov yijv, 8ia 8€ rT,v otEtav KLVTJ<TtV
Ka£ µaA.' iKavw<; 0Epµ6T7Jra3 A.af36v.4
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ANDV: µa>..Ao v BON (in marg.) 3 8epµ.0T71m D (o�
superscr. prima manus): 8epµ.0T71To� Usener: 8epµ,0TaT71v
ABONV 4 Ktv71aiv >.. a{3e'iv ABOND (in marg., prima
manus) V: Ktv71aiv om. D
D3 (< A7) ( Ps.-?) Hippol. Ref 1.7. 1-8
[l] 'AvatiµEVTJ'> 8€ [ . . . ] aipa a1TEtpov ecf>71 rT,v apxT,v

Elvat, et oil Ta ywoµEva Kall Ta yEyov6ra Kal Ta E<roµEva
Kat2 BEov<; Kat 0Eta yivE<rOai,3 ra 8€ A.ot7Ta eK rwv rovrov
a1Toy6vwv. [2] TO 8€ ElOo<; TOV Mpo<; TOtoVTOV" OTaV µev
oµaAwraro<; V, 01/m a871A.ov, 871/..o v<rOat 8e r<)J l/Jvxp<fl
KUl r<)) 0Epµ<)) KUl r<)) VOTEp<)) Kal r<)) KtVovµivq>. KtVEt<r8at
8€ aEi· OU yap < <lv >4 µErn/3aAAEtV O<Ta µEra{3aAAEt, el µT,
KtVOtTO. [3] 7TVKVOVµEVOV yap KUl apatoVµEVOV 8iacf>opov
cf>aivE<rOai· OTaV yap5 El<; TO apatoTEpov 8iaxv8fi, 7TiJp
yivE<rOai· av€µov<;6 8€ 7TUAtV Elvai7 Mpa 1TVKVOVµEvov·
340
A N AXI M E N E S
by the qualities it possesses; and that all things are gener

ated according to a certain condensation and, in tum, rar
efaction on its part; but that motion is present from eter
nity. He says that when the air is compressed the first thing
to come about is the earth, which is extremely flat. That is
why it is appropriate that it rides upon the air. And the
sun, the moon, and the other heavenly bodies have the
principle of their generation from the earth. In any case
he states that the sun is of earth, but that it is strongly
heated by reason of the swiftness of its motion.
D3 (< A7) (Ps.-?) Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies

[l] Anaximenes [ . . . ] said that the principle is unlimited
air, from which comes about what is, what has been, and
what will be, the gods and divine things, while everything
else comes from its descendants. [2] The form of air is the
following: when it is perfectly homogeneous, it is invisible
to the eye, but it becomes visible by cold, heat, moisture,
and motion. It is moved incessantly: for whatever is trans
formed would not be transformed if there were no motion.
[3] For its appearance is different when it is condensed or
rarefied. For whenever it expands and becomes more rar
efied, it becomes fire, and in tum winds are air that has
become condensed; and from the air, a cloud is created by
1 Kai Cedrenus (cf. p. 277.15-24 Bekker), om. mss.

2 Ta yiv6,.,,eva . . . Ta e<rOf.LEVa Kai sec!. Marcovich 3 €� oi'i
. . . yiverr8ai damn. Heidel 4 < av > Th. Gomperz
5 yap Roeper: 8€ mss. 6 aVEf.LOV') Zeller: f.LEU'W') mss.
7 mDuv Roeper, elvai Diels: brav ei<> mss.
341
EARLY G RE E K P H I LO S O P HY I I
E� aipo<; <Oe>8 vi</io<; d.rrorEAEtaBat9 Kara T�V TrtATJ<TW

En 0€ µ,aA.A.ov i'iSwp, ETrL rrAEtov <Se>10 TrVKvw8ivrn y7Jv
Ka£ EL> ro µ,aA.ia-ra 1TVKvorarnv11 A.Wov<;. wa-rE ra
Kvpiwrara r7J<> yEvE<rEw<; Evavria Elvai, 8Epµ,6v 'TE Kat
ifroxp6v.
[ 4] 'T�V S€ y7jv TrAU'TELUV Elva£ E'Tr, aipo<; oxovµ,iv71v·
oµ,otW<; S€ KUL ifA.wv KUL <TEAfiv71v KUL 'Ta aA.A.a aa-rpa
rravra 12 m)piva ona ErroxE'ia-8ai rc[> &.Epi Sia rrA.aro<;.
[5] YEYOVEVUt S€ ra aa-rpa EK y7J> Sia TO T�V LKµ,aoa EK
ravr71<; avia-raa-8ai· -ry., apatovµ,iv71<; ro rrvp yivEa-8at,
EK S€ 'TOV rrvpo<; JA-E'TEWpt,oµ,ivov 'TOV<; aa-ripa<; <TVV
t<Traa-8at. Etvai 0€ Kat yEwOEt<; </iva-Et<; Ev rc[> rorrq.i rwv
a<TrEpwv fTVJA-<TrEpt></iEpoµ,iva<;13 EKEtVOt<;. [6] ov K£
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KE</iaA.�v a-rpi</ierat ro Trt Ato v 14 Kpvrrrea-8ai S€15 rov
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vtfl71A.oripwv µ,epwv <TKETrOJA-EVOV, KUL Ota 'T�V 'TrAEtova
T,µ,wv UV'TOV yevoµ,iv71v aTrOfT'TU<Ttv. ra S€ UU'rpa µ,�
8epµ,aivetv Ota TO µ,7}Ko<; r7}<; aTrO<T'TU<TEW<;.
[7] aviµ,ov<; S€ yevvaCT8at, O'TUV EK'TrE'TrVKVWJA-EVO<;l6 0
a�p apaiw8et<;1 7 </iip71rni· U'VVEA86vrn OE KUL ETrL TrAELOV
rraxvv8ivra18 VEcPTJ yevv0..CT 8at, KUL oi'irw<; EL<; i'iowp
8 di€> Diels 9 a7rOTEAE0""0ij mss . , corr. Roeper

10 </) €> Diels 11 1rVKvorarov sec!. Diels
12 yap post 7ravra hab. LOB : om. Cedrenus, de!. Diels
13 O""V/L<f>epoµ,€va<; mss., corr. Diels ex Cedrenus
342
ANAXI M E N E S
compression, water when this increases, earth when it is

condensed even more, and stones when it has reached the
maximum condensation. So that the principal factors re
sponsible for generation are contraries, heat and cold.
[4] The earth is flat, borne upon the air; similarly, the
sun, the moon, and the other heavenly bodies, which are
all fiery, ride upon the air because of their flatness. [5] The
heavenly bodies have come about from the earth because
moisture rises up and leaves it; from its rarefaction, fire
comes about; and from fire that rises aloft, the stars are
composed. There are also earthy natures in the region of
the heavenly bodies that accompany them in their revolu
tion. [6] He says that the heavenly bodies do not move
below the earth, as the others supposed, but around the
earth, just as a felt cap turns around our head. And the
sun is hidden not because it comes to be located below
the earth, but because it is covered by the higher parts of
the earth and because of the greater distance between it
and us. The heavenly bodies do not cause heat because of
the size of their distance.
[7] The winds are created when air that has become
very condensed becomes rarefied and is set in motion.
When it collects together and is condensed even more,
clouds are created and in this way are transformed into
water. Hail comes about when water coming from the
14 mAe'iov mss., corr. Menagius 15 8€ L in marg. : TE

LOT: om. B 16 EK7rEmJKvwpi.vo<; LOB, -P.,EVYJ'> T: Et<; 7rEmJ
Kvwµ,€vov usener: ..) 7rE7rVKVWP.,EVO<; Diels 17 apaiw8Et<;
mss.: ap8et<; Zeller: Kat wa-Oet<; Diels 18 7raxv8evra mss.,
corr. Salvin: <Tvve>.86vro<; . . . 7raxvv8€vro<; Zeller
343
fLETa/3aAAElV. xaAa{av 8€ yivE<rOai, OTaV a1TO TWV VE

c/>wv TO v8wp Karnc/>EpOfLEVOV 1TayiJ" xi6va 8€, OTaV aim'i
TaVTa €vvypOTEpa OVTa 1Tijtiv Aa/3n. [8] a<rTpa1TTJV 8',
OTaV Ta vecf>'T/ 8u<rTijTal {3iq. 1TVEVfLUTWV' TOVTWV yap
8ll<TTafLEVWV AafL1Tpav Kal 1TVpw8'T/ yivE<rOai TTJv avy1}v.
lpw 8€ YEVVU<T8ai TWV ,Y,AlaKWV avywv Et') aepa <TVV
E<TTWTa m1TTOV<rwv· <TEl<TfLOV 8€ ri)'> yiJ'> €7Tt 7TAEtov
aAAOWVfLEV'T}'> V1TO (JEpµ,a<ria') Kal tfivtEw').
D4 (A4) Arist. Metaph. A3 984a5--6

'Avaflµ,ev'T/'> 8€ aepa Kal !:J.wyEV'T}'> 1TpOTEpov v8aro')
Kal fLUAl<TT' apxiiv nOea<Tl TWV a1TAWV <TWfLUTWV [ . . . ].
Air as God (D5-D6)
D5 ( < AIO) Aet. 1.7. 13 (Stob.) [1TEpl 0Eov]

'AvatlfLEV'T}'> TOV aepa [ . . . = R6] .
D6 (< AlO) Cic. Nat. deor. 1.10.26

[ . . . ] Anaximenes aera deum statuit eumque gigni esseque
inmensum et infinitum et semper in motu [ . . R7] .
. =
344
ANAXI M E N E S
clouds freezes while it descends; snow, when these same

[scil. drops] possess more moisture and become frozen;
[8] lightning, when the clouds burst by the violence of the
winds-for when these burst, the bright and fiery flash is
produced. The rainbow is born when the rays of the sun
fall upon an accumulation of air; the earthquake, when the
earth is transformed more by the effect of heat and cold.

D4 (A4) Aristotle, Metaphysics
Anaximenes as well as Diogenes [cf. DIOG. D7] posit air
as being anterior to water and as most of all principle
among the simple bodies [ . . . ] .
Air as God (D5-D6)

D5 ( < AlO) Aetius
Anaximenes: air [scil. is god] [ . . . ] .
D 6 ( < AlO) Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods

[ . . . ] Anaximenes declared that air is god, that it is born,
and that it is immense and unlimited and always in motion
[ . . .] .
345
E A R LY G R E E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
07 (< A5) Simpl. In Phys. , p. 149.32-150.2 ( Theophr.

=
Frag. 226B FHS&G)

E7Tt yap Towov µlwov ®t:.6</>pacrro> €v Tfj 'Ia-ropiq. T0v
µavwa-w €lpYJK€ Kat 7TVKVWUW.
08 (< Bl) Plut. Prim. frig. 7 947F

[ . . . cf. R4] TO yap UVU"Tt:AAoµwov avri}> Kai. 7TVKVOV
µt:vov l/Jvxpov t:lvai <f>YJU"L, TO 8' apatov Kat TO xa
'J... a pov (ovTW 7TW'> ovoµaa-a> Kat Tfii pi,µan) Ot:pµ6v.
oOt:v OVK a7T€LKOTW> 'J...Eyt:a-Oat TO Kat Ot:pµa TOP av
Opw7TOV EK Tov a-ToµaTo> Kai. lf!vxpa µt:Odvai· lf!vxt:Tai
yap � 7Tvo0 mt:a-Ot:£a-a Kai. 7TVKvw0t:£a-a TOl> xt:i>.. t:a-iv,
avt:tµEVOV 8€ TOV U"ToµaTO> EK7Tl7TTOVU"a yivt:Tat Ot:p
µov v7To µavOTYJTO> [ . . . ] .
Is There Only One World o r an Unlimited

Number of Worlds? (D9-Dl l)
09 ( < 59 A65) Aet. 2.4.6 (Stob.) [t:l a<f>OapTO> 0 Koa-µo>]

[ . . . ] 'AvatiµEVYJ> [ . . . ] <f>OapTov Tov Koa-µov.
010 (< All) Simpl. In Phys., p. 1121. 12-15
yt:vYJTOv 8€ Kai. <f>OapTov Tov Eva Koa-µov 7Towvmv,

O(TOL at:I. f.tEV </>au-iv t:lvat Koa-µov, ov µ0v TOV aVTOV
346
ANAXI M E N E S
D7 ( < A5) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's Physics

It is only about him [i.e. Anaximenes] that Theophrastus
in his History has spoken of rarefaction and condensa
tion.
D8 (< Bl) Plutarch, On the Principle of Cold

[ . . . ] For he [i.e. "ancient Anaximenes," cf. R4] says that
the contraction and concentration of this [i.e. matter] is
cold, while what is loose in texture and slack (calling it this
very way in his own words) is hot. And that is why it is
said, not implausibly, that a man emits both heat and cold
from his mouth: for the breath is cooled when it is pressed
together and condensed by the lips, whereas when the
mouth is distended it comes out of it heated by the effect
of its rarefaction [ . . . ] .
ls There Only One World or an Unlimited

Number of Worlds? (D9-Dl l)
D9 ( < 59 A65) Aetius

[ . . . ] Anaximenes [ . . . ] : the world is perishable.
DIO (< All) Simplicius, Commentary on Aristotle's

Physics
All those who state that the world is eternal, but that it is
not eternally the same but is generated successively in
different forms according to certain periods of time, like
347
UEt, &.A.A.a aAAOTE aA.A.ov yivoµEvov Kara nva<; xpovwv

1TEpi68ovr:;, w<; 'Ava6µevri> [ . . . ] .
O l l ( < 1 2 A l7 ) Aet. 2.1.3 (Stob . ; cf. Ps.-Plut.) [1TEpL

Koa-µov]
[ . . . ] 'AvatiµEVYJ> [ . . . ] a1TEtpovr:; Koa-µov<; €v r<fi a1TEtp<[J
Kara 1Taa-av 1TEpt<rra<riv. 1
1 7TEptcTTa aw Plut.: 7TEpiaywyfiv Stob.
Astronomy (D12-D20)
012 ( < Al3) Aet. 2 . 1 1 . l (Stob.) [1TEpL r.ry, ovpavov

oVcr£a�]
'Avatiµev-ryr:; [ . . . ] rT]v 1TEpicf>opav TT]v €twrarw r.ryr:; y.ry.,
ElVaL TOV ovpavov.
013 (Al4) Aet. 2. 13.10 ( Stob.) [1TEpL OV<Tta<; a<rrpwv]

'AvatiµEvYJ<; 1TVptV'YJV µev TT]v <f>va-w TWV a<rrpwv,
1TEPLfXELV1 8e nva KaL YEW8TJ <rwµara U"Vf.l1TEpL<f>Epo
f.lEVa TOVTOL<; aopara.
348
ANAXI M E N E S
Anaximenes, posit that the one world i s subject to genera

tion and destruction and that it is generated successively
in different forms according to certain periods of time,
like Anaximenes [ . . . ] .
D 1 1 ( < 1 2 A l7 ) Aetius
[ . . . ] Anaximenes [ . . . ] : worlds unlimited [scil. in number]
in the unlimited, throughout the entire surrounding area
(peristasis) .
Astronomy (D12-D20)
Dl2 (< Al3) Aetius

Anaximenes [ . . . ] : the revolution farthest from the earth
is the heavens.
Dl3 (Al4) Aetius

Anaximenes: the nature of the heavenly bodies is fiery, but
they also comprise certain invisible earthy bodies that ac
company them in their revolution.
349
Dl4 (Al4) Aet. 2. 14.3-4 (Ps.-Plut.; cf. Stob.) [1TEpL

<TXTJfLaTwv a<TTEpwv]
[3] 'Ava6µ,EVTJ'> if!.. w v DtKTJV KaTa1TE1TTJ'YEvat 1 Tctl Kpv
<TTaAAoetDE'i.
[4] €vwi 8€2 1TETaAa3 elvat m1pwa W<T1TEp 'cpypacf>+
µ,aTa.
1 KaTa1TE1T'Y}/'EJJat MIT: -7TA'YJYEJJat m 2 EJJtOt 8€ MIT:

om. m: f.11£ov<> 8€ Heath 3 Ka8a1Tep ante 1TeraA.a add. m
The Sun (D15-D18)
Dl5 (Al5) Aet. 2.22.1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [?TepL axfiµ,aro<;

1)1.. iov]
'Ava6µ,EVTJ<; 1TAarov w<; 1TETaAov TOV i)A.wv.
Dl6 (Al4) Arist. Meteor. 2.1 354a28-32

[ . . . ] ?ToAAov<; 1TEt<T(Hjvat TWV apxaiwv f.LETEwpoA.6yw11
ro11 7)1.. iov µ,T] cpEpeaOai v?To yij11 &.Ha ?TEPL rT]11 yij11
KaL 1'011 T01TOV TOVTOV, acf>a11i,ea8ai S€ Kal 1TOi€iv
VVKTa Sia TO v1/rfJAiJ11 Et11at 1Tpo<; apKT011 TT]v yijv.
Dl 7 (Al4) Aet. 2. 19.2 (Ps.-Plut.) [?Tepl. E'lTt<TTJf.Laaia<;

a<TTEpwv Kal 1TW<; yi11erai XEtf.LW11 Kal 8Epo<;]
'A11a�if.LE1ITJ<; S€ Sia µ,€v mvrn1 f.LTJDEV TOVTW11, Sia S€
TOV 7)1.. iov µ,611011.
1 raiha m : ravT'Y}JJ MIT
350
A N AXI M E N E S
0 1 4 (Al4) Aetius
[3] Anaximenes: the stars are stuck into the crystalline
[scil. sphere] like nails.
[4] Some people say that they are fiery leaves like paint
ings. I
1 "Some people" might refer t o sources that present Anax
imenes' doctrine in a different way, rather than to other philoso
phers (cf. the term "leaf' in Dl5).
The Sun (D15-D18)

015 (Al5) Aetius
Anaximenes: the sun is flat like a leaf.
0 1 6 (Al4) Aristotle, Meteorology

[ . . . ] many of the ancients who spoke about heavenly
phenomena (meteorologoi) were convinced that the sun
goes not below the earth but around the earth and this
region, and that it disappears and causes night because the
earth is elevated in the north [cf. 03[6] ] .
D I 7 (Al4) Aetius
Anaximenes: none of these phenomena [scil. the signs of
the change from summer to winter and from winter to
summer] occurs because of this [scil. the risings and set
tings of the various heavenly bodies], but because of the
sun alone.
351
D l 8 (AlS) Aet. 2.23.l (Ps.-Plut.) [m:pt TpoTTwv 7,!tiov]

'Avagiµ,EVYJ<; V1TO 1TE1TVKVWJLEVOV aepo<; Kat UVTLnJ1TOV
Egw(Je'iaf)ai Ta a<npa.
Dl9 (< A20) Arist. Gael. 2.13 294bl3-23

'Avagiµ,evTJ<> De Kat [ . . . ANAXAG. D58; ATOM. D l lO]
TO 1TAaTO<; afrwv elvai <f>mn TOV µ,eveiv avTi,v. ov yap
TEJLVELV at.It' E1TL1TWJLa,eiv TOV aepa TOV KaTwOev, 01TEp
<f>aiveTaL Ta 1TAaTO<; ex_ovTa TWV crwµ,aTWV 1TOte'iv·
TUVTU yap Kat 1Tp0<; TOV<; aveµ,ov<; Ex_ei DvcrKivi,TW<;
Dia T�V UVTEpeicrw. TUVTO D� TOVTO 1TOLElV Tij> 1TAaTEL
<f>acrt T�V yijv 7rpo<; TOV V1TOKeiµ,evov aepa ( TOV D' OVK
ex_ovTa1 jLETUCTTijvai T01TOV tKavov2 afJpow<;3 KaTwfJev
T,peµ,e'iv), WCT1TEp TO EV Tat<; KAE1jn1Dpa<; vDwp. OTL De
Dvvarai 1TOAV /36.po<; <f>epeiv a1TOAaµ,/3av6µ,evo<; KUL
µ,evwv o a..f]p, TEKµ,f,pia 7TOAAa AEyovcrw.
1 i!x_oVTa < TOV > Diels 2 an roTTov tKavov µ,eracrrfi-

vai? 3 r,P post &.Opow<> utrum delendum an ante &.Opow<>
ponendum dub. Moraux
D20 (A20) Aet.

a 3. 10.3 (Ps.-Plut.) [7rept crx_..f]µ,aTo<; yij<;]
'Ava6µ,evYJ<; TpaTTe,oeiDij.
352
A N AXI M E N E S
0 1 8 (Al5) Aetius
Anaximenes: the heavenly bodies [scil. retrograde] be
cause they are pushed back by the condensed air that
opposes them.

019 (A20) Aristotle, On the Heavens
Anaximenes and [ . . . ] say that [scil. the earth's] flatness is
the cause for its stationary position. For it does not cut the
air beneath it but covers it like a lid, which is what bodies
possessing flatness are seen to do; for winds too have dif
ficulty moving these bodies, because of their resistance.
And [ scil. they say] that the earth acts in the same way with
regard to the air underlying it because of its flatness, and
that since it [i.e. the air] does not have sufficient room to
move, it remains motionless below [scil. the earth] in a
dense mass, just like the water in clepsydras. And for the
fact that air that is enclosed and stationary can bear a great
weight, they provide many proofs.
020 (A20) Aetius

a
Anaximenes: it [i.e. the earth] is table-shaped.
353
b 3.15.8 (Ps.-Plut. ) [1TEpt <rEi<rµwv y1/s-]

D21 (Al 7) Aet. 3.4. 1 (Ps.-Plut. ) [m:pt ve<f>wv veTwv

xiovwv xaAa,wv]
'Avatiµevris- ve<f>TJ µ�v yivE<r0ai 1Taxvv0evTo> €?Tt 1TAE'i
<rTov Tov aepos-, µaHov 8' €m<TVvax0evros- €K0Ai{3e
<r0at 'TOVS' oµf3pov>, xiova De, €1TEiDav 'TO Karn<f>ep6-
µEvov vDwp ?Tayfi, xaAa,av1 8' O'TaV <TVµ1Tepikq<f>Oii
T<!i vyp<!i 1TVEvµa n.2
1 xi6va . . xa>.a,av mss. (-'a M): xa>.a,av . .

.
xi6va Diels 2 rii vyp0 7Tvwµa n m : n vyp0 7TPEvµart

MIT
D22 (As 24 Wohrle) Sen. Quaest. nat. 2.17

quidam existimant igneum1 spiritum per frigida atque
umida meantem2 sonum reddere, nam ne ferrum quidem
ardens silentio tinguitur3 sed, si in aquam fervens massa
descendit, cum multo murmure extinguitur. ita, ut Anax
imenes ait, spiritus incidens nubibus tonitrua edit et, dum
luctatur per obstantia atque interscissa4 vadere, ipsa ig
nem fuga accendit.
354
A N AXI M E N E S
b
Anaximenes: because of its [i.e. the earth's] flatness it
rides upon the air.

D21 (Al 7) Aetius
Anaximenes: clouds are formed when the air becomes
extremely condensed, and if it becomes even more con
centrated rains are squeezed out; snow when the water
freezes while it descends; and hail when some air is en
closed together with the moisture.
D22 ( � DK) Seneca, Natural Questions

Some people think that a current of fiery air passing
through what is cold and moist produces a sound, for nei
ther is a blazing piece of iron dipped in silence, but if a
burning lump of metal is plunged into water its quenching
is accompanied by a great noise. So too, as Anaximenes
says, a current of air that falls upon clouds produces
a thunderclap and, while it struggles to find a passage
through obstacles and fissures, it ignites a fire by its very
escape.
1 igneumZ: ineum<P: eumET: ipsum6.: istumB 2 ineun-

tem 6.P 3 tinguitur 8j1KZ: tingitur <P: extinguitur A2e
4 interscissa HTZ2 : intercissa LOPZ1 : intercisa 6.E (-cisam) JK
355
023 (Al7 ) Aet. 3.3.2 (Stob.) [7rep£ f3povrwv a<rrpa7Twv

Kepavvwv 7Tp"f/<rrfipwv re Kat rocpwvwv]
'Ava6µEV"f/<; TaVTa TOVT<f 1 7Tpo<rn()e£i; TO €7Tt riji; ea
'A.a<T<T"f/<;, ifni; <rXi,oµiv'Y/ ral:i; Kw7Taii; 7Tapa<rri'A.{3ei.
1 Tav'Ta 'TOV'TO ms., corr. Heeren
Rainbow (D24-D25)
024 (Al8) Aet. 3.5.10 (Ps.-Plut.) [7Tep£ ZpiDoi;]

'AvatiµEV"f/<; lpw yive<r()ai Kar' avya<rµov ii'J.. iov 7Tp0<;
vicpei 'lTVKv<{> Ka'i 7Taxel: Ka'i µi'A.avi 7Tapa ro µT, Dvva
<r()ai Ta<; aKTtVa<; eli; TO 7TEpav DiaK07TT€tV E'lTi<TVv
i<rraµiva<; avr<{>.
025 (Al8) Schol. in Arat., p. 515.27

rT,v 'lpw 'Ava6µiV"f/> cp"f/<rt yive<r()ai, iiviKa av em'lTE
<rw<rw ai TOV ii'A.iov avya'i eli; 7Taxvv Kat 'lTVKVOV TOV
&Epa. o()ev TO µiv 7TpOrepov avrov1 TOV ii'A.iov cpowi
KOVV cpaiverat, DiaKai6µevov V'lTO TWV aKTLVWV, TO Di
µi'A.av, KaTaKparovµevov2 V'lTO riji; vypoT"f/TO<;. Kat
VVKTO<; DE cp"f/<Fi yive<reai TT,v 'lpw a'lTO riji; <re'A.iJV"f/<;,
&A.A.' ov 'lTO'A.'A.aKi<; Dia TO µT, 'lTaV<TEA"f/VOV e'lvai Dia
'lTaVTO<; Kat a<r()EVE<TTEpov avrT,v cpw<; lxew TOV ii'A.iov.
1 avrYj� M 2 KpaTovµ,evov A
356
A N AXI M E N E S
D23 (Al 7 ) Aetius

Anaximenes: the same as he [i.e. Anaximander about thun
der, lightning, and other related phenomena, cf. ANAXI
MAND. D33a] , adding what happens on the sea, which
flashes when it is broken by oars.
Rainbow (D24-D25)
D24 (Al8) Aetius
Anaximenes: the rainbow is produced because of the shin
ing of the sun upon a dense, thick, and dark cloud, since
the rays cannot penetrate through it and therefore accu
mulate against it.
D25 (Al8) Scholia on Aratus' Phaenomena

Anaximenes says that the rainbow is produced when the
rays of the sun fall upon thick and dense air. That is why
the part of it that is closest to the sun appears purple, since
it is completely burned by the rays, while the other part
appears dark, since it is dominated by the moisture. And
he says that at night too the rainbow is produced because
of the moon, but that this does not happen often, because
there is not always a full moon and its light is weaker than
the sun's.
357
EARLY GR E E K P H I L O S O P HY I I
Winds (D26)
026 (Al9) Ps.-Gal. In Hipp. Hum. 3

'Ava�l/LEVYJ<; OE E� voaro<; Kal Mpoi:; yivwfJai TOV<;
av€.µ,ovi:; {3ovAE'TUl Kal1 pvµ,YJ TlVl ayvwcrrqi (3iaiwi:;
cf>€.pwfJai Kal TUXlCTTa w<; TU 1TTT)VU 1TETEcrBai. 2
1 rfi post Kat mss., sec!. Kaibel 2 n€raa-Oat mss., corr.

KaibeI
027 (A21) Arist. Meteor. 2.7 365b6-12
'Avatiµ,EVYJ<; 8€. cPTJCTl (3pEXO/LEVYJV T¥ yfjv KUl tYJpat

voµ,€.vYJV pfiyvvcrBai, Kal V1TO TOVTWV TWV a1ToppYJyvv
µ,€.vwv Kof...w vwv EfJ..1Tl1TTovTwv crEtEcrBai· oio Kal yiyvE
crBai TOV<; CTEicrµ,ovi:; EV TE TOt<; avxµ,o'ii:; Kal 1TUAW EV
rnt<; E7Toµ,(3piaii:;· 1 EV TE yap TOt<; avxµ,o'ii:;, WCT1TEp EtpYJ
rni, �YJpawoµ,€.VYJV pfiyvvcrBai Kal V1TO TWV voaTwv
V1TEpvypawoµ,€.v7]V Oia7Tt1TTEw.
1 1mepoµ,f3piai<; duo mss.
028 (> A21) Sen. Quaest. nat. 6.10. 1-2
[l] Anaximenes ait terram ipsam sibi causam esse motus,

nee extrinsecus incurrere quod illam impellat, sed intra
ipsam 1 et ex ipsa: quasdam enim partes eius decidere, quas
aut umor resolverit aut ignis exederit aut spiritus violentia
358
A N AXI M E N E S
Winds (D26)
026 (Al9) Ps.-Galen, Commentary on Hippocrates' On
Humors
Anaximenes supposes that the winds are produced out of
water and air, and move violently with an unknown rush,
and fly with great speed like birds.
027 (A21) Aristotle, Meteorology
Anaximenes says that when the earth is moistened and
dries out, it breaks apart and is shaken by the collapse of
its supports by the effect of this breaking. And that is why
earthquakes occur both when there is a drought and also
in periods of rainstorms. For when there is a drought, as
has been said, it is dried out and breaks apart, and when
it is moistened too much by the rains it collapses.
028 (> A21) Seneca, Natural Questions

[l] Anaximenes says that the earth itself is the cause of
earthquakes and that nothing happens to it from out
side that would shake it, but rather [scil. the cause] is lo
cated in itself and comes from itself: for some of its parts,
which either water has dissolved, or fire has consumed, or
a strong wind has shaken, collapse. But when these factors
1 sibi . . . ipsam am. �
359
excusserit. sed his quoque cessantibus non deesse, propter

quad aliquid abscedat2 aut3 revellatur;4 nam primum
omnia vetustate labuntur nee quicquam tutum a senectute
est; haec solida quoque et magni roboris5 carpit: [2] itaque
quemadmodum in aedificiis veteribus quaedam non per
cussa tamen decidunt, cum plus ponderis habuere quam
virium, ita in hoe universo terrae corpore evenit ut partes
eius vetustate solvantur, solutae cadant et tremorem su
perioribus afferant, primum, dum abscedunt (nihil enim
utique magnum sine motu eius, cui haesit, absciditur6);
deinde, cum deciderunt, solido exceptae resiliunt pilae
more (quae cum cecidit, exultat ac saepius pellitur, totiens
a solo in novum impetum missa); si vero in stagnantibus
aquis delatae7 sunt, hie ipse casus vicina concutit fluctu,
quern subitum vastumque illisum ex alto pondus eiecit.
2 accedat 8 3 ac pZ 4 relevetur 8 5 corporis 8

6 abscinditur BT: abscond. 0: absorb. P 7 delatae
Gertz: delata A: demissa g2p: delapsa B
029 (< 12 A28) Amm. Marc. 17.7. 12

Anaximenes1 ait arescentem nimia aestuum siccitate aut
post madores imbrium terram rimas pandere grandiores,
quas penetrat supemus2 aer violentus et nimius, ac per eas
vehementi spiritu quassatam cieri propriis sedibus. qua de
1 Anaximenes ed. Accursii: Anaximander mss. 2 supemus

EAG: supemos V: super nos B
360
A N AXI M E N E S
too are lacking, there is always some reason for something

to be detached or tom away. For first of all, all things decay
as they age and nothing is free from old age; this weakens
even solid things and ones of considerable sturdiness. [2]
And so, just as in old buildings some things fall down even
without having been struck hard, since they have more
weight than strength, so too in the whole body of the earth
it happens that parts of it are dissolved by age, and when
they are dissolved they fall down and shake what is above
them-first, at the moment they are detached (for noth
ing, whatever its size, is detached without causing a jolt to
what it is attached to); then, at the moment they fall, for
when they hit something solid they rebound like a ball
(which, when it falls, bounces up and springs many times,
as many as it rebounds from the ground at every bounce):
but if they fall into stagnant waters, this fall itself shakes
the nearby areas by causing a sudden, huge wave, which
is produced by the weight crashing down into them from
above. 1
1 It is difficult to distinguish Seneca's elaboration from what
belongs to Anaximenes.
D29 ( < 12 A28) Ammianus Marcellinus, Histories

Anaximenes says that when the earth is dried out by an
excessive drought caused by heat or after it has been
drenched by rainstorms, very large cracks open up, which
a violent and excessive current of air penetrates from
above, and that when it is shaken by the forceful wind
passing through these it quakes in its very foundations.
361
causa tremores3 huiusmodi vaporatis temporibus aut

nimia aquarum caelestium superfusione contingunt.
3 tremores Lind. in adn. Btl. : terrores mss.
The Soul (D30-D31)
030 (cf. A23) Aet. 4.3.2 (Stob.) [m:p£ ifrox1J<>]

'Avatiµ,EVTJ'> [ . . . ] aEpwSTJ.
031 (< B2) Aet. 1.3.4 (Ps.-Plut. ) [?TEpt apxwv]
'Ava6µ,EVTJ'> [ . . . ] apxiJv TWV OVTWV &.Epa a'lTE</JT]vaTO"

EK yap TOvTov Ta 1 ?TavTa yiyvEcrOai Ka£ Elr; avTov
?TaAiv avaAvEcr0ai, "otov ii ifrox7}," </JTJcriv, "ii iiµ,ETEpa
aT]p o:Ocra crvyKpaTEl iJµ,os, KUL oAov TOV K6crµ,ov
'lTVEvµ,a Kat aT]p 'lTEplE)(Ei"· AEyE-rai Se crvvwvvµ,wr; aT]p
Ka£ ?TvEvµ,a [ . . . R5] .
=
1 Ta de!. Diels
362
A N AXI M E N E S
This is why tremors o f this sort happen i n warm seasons

or when there is excessive precipitation of water falling
from the sky.
The Soul (D30-D31)
D30 (cf. A23) Aetius

Anaximenes [ . . . ] : [scil. the soul is] of air.
D31 ( < B2) Aetius

Anaximenes [. . . ] asserted that the principle of beings is
air. For it is out of this that all things come about and it is
into this that they are dissolved in turn. He says, "Just as
our soul, which is air, dominates us, so too breath and air
surround the whole world.'' 1 ('Air' and 'breath' are being
used synonymously) [ . . . ] .
1 Diels considers this sentence to b e a direct quotation from
Anaximenes, but it is more likely to be a paraphrase reflecting
later terminology.
363
ANAXI M E N E S [ 1 3 D K ]
Rl Diog. Laert.
a (As 7 Wohrle) 5.42 (Theophr. )
b (As 14 Wohrle) 10.28 (Epicur.)
'Avatiµivri<;
Style (R2)
R2 ( < Al) Diog. Laert. 2.3
1 >..€get B et P1 in marg.: yA.wcrcr71 P 1 in textu
364
A N AX I M E N E S
R
Rl ( ;t: DK) Diogenes Laertius
a From the catalog of books written by Theophrastus
On the Doctrines of Anaximenes, one book
b From the catalog of books written by Epicurus

Anaximenes
Style (R2)
He makes use of an Ionic style that is simple and plain.
365
R3 (As 1 Wohrle) Plat. Tim. 49b-d

7rpWTOV µev, fJ OTJ vVV vowp wvoµa«aµev, 1TYJyvVµEVov
W> OOKOVµEv X.Wov> Kat yijv yiyvoµEvov opwµEv, TYJ
KOfLEIJOIJ OE Kat OtaKptvoµEvov aii TaVTOIJ TOVTO 7TIJEVµa
Kat aepa, <TVyKavOevra OE aepa rriJp, ava1Ta°A.tv OE
<TVyKpt0Ev Kat KaraafJEa0Ev EtS tOEaJJ TE amov afi0t>
aepo> rrVp, Kat 1Tct°A.tv aepa <TVIJ£01JTa Kat 7TVKIJOVµEVOIJ
vetf>o> Kat OfLtX°AYJV, EK OE TOVTWIJ fTt µaX.X.ov avµm
X.ovµevwv pEOIJ VOWp, e( VOaTO> OE yijv Kat °A.l,(}ov>
aMi-, KVK°Aov TE OVTW OtaOtOOIJTa Ek ax."A.YJX.a, '°' </>at
IJETat, TTJV yevE<TtlJ. OVTW oiJ TOVTWIJ OVOE7TOTE TWIJ av
TWIJ EKct<TTWIJ tf>avra,oµevwv, 7TOtOIJ avTWIJ W> Sv OTt
OVIJ TOVTO Kat OVK aX.X.o 1Taytw> ouaxvpt,oµEVO> OVK
alaxvvE'iTat T£> eavTov;
R4 ( < BI) Plut. Prim. frig. 7 948A
[ . . ] 7}, Ka0a1TEp 'Ava(tµEvYJ> o 1TaAato> c;JETo, µ�TE To

.
tfroxpov ev oval,q. µ�TE TO 0Epµov a1TO°A.El,1TwµEv, aUa

7TctOYJ KO£Va Ti/> V°AYJ> emywoµEva Tat> µEra{JoX.a'i.
[ . . . D8] TOVTO fLEV oiiv ayv6YJµa 1TO£EtTa£ TOV avopo>
=
0 'Apt<TTOTE°AYJ>' avEtµevov yap TOV <TToµaTO> EK1TIJEt

aOat TO 0EpµOv f.( -fiµwv avTWIJ, OTalJ OE <TV<TTpEl/Ja
VTE> Ta XE[,X.YJ tf>v�<TWfLEV, ov TOIJ f.( -fiµwv aHa TOIJ
366
A N AXI M E N E S
R3 ( ;t:. DK) Plato, Timaeus

First, we see that what we now call water, when it solidi
fies, becomes, as we think, stones and earth, but then again
the same thing, when it liquefies and becomes dissolved,
[scil. becomes] wind and air, and when air is strongly
heated [scil. it becomes] fire, and conversely when fire is
brought together and extinguished it returns once again
into the form of air, and again air, coming together and
condensing, [scil. becomes] cloud and mist, and that out
of these, when they are compressed together even more,
water flows, and out of water earth and stones once again,
and that in a circle they pass on generation to one another
in this way, as it appears [cf. DI, D3[3]] . But since none
of these things ever manifests itself as being the same,
which of them is there about which one could claim with
confidence and without embarrassment that it really is this
and not something else?

R4 (< B l ) Plutarch, On the Principle of Cold
[ . . . ] or else, as ancient Anaximenes thought, let us accept
neither cold nor hear as substance, but consider them to
be common affections of matter supervening during its
transformations. Aristotle attributes this [cf. D8] to igno
rance on the part of that man. For when the mouth is
distended, we breathe out the heat that comes from our
selves, but when we draw our lips together and blow out,
367
ai.pa TOV 7Tpo TOV U'Toµ,aro<; wBe'iU'Bai tfroxpov ovra

Kat 1TpOU'1TL1TT€tv.1
l 1Tpo<r1Tt1TTEtv gX (et BE teste Wyttenbach): 1Tpoueµ,1Tt1TTEtv
0
R5 (< B2) Aet. 1 .3.4 (Ps.-Plut. ) [7rept apxwv]

[ . . . 031] aµ,apravei 8€ Kat OVTO<; et a7TAOV Kat
=
µ,ovoei8ov<; <LEpo<; Kat 1TVeVf-laTO<; 8oKWV (J'VVEU'Tavat ra

'<Ila· a8vvarov yap apxY,v µ,iav rT,v i'iA.71v TWV OVTWV
et 'lj<; Ta 7TUVTa V1TO<Trfjvai· &.A.A.a Kat TO 1TOWVV aLTtOV
XPii V1TortB€vai· olov apyvpo<; OVK apKe'i 1Tpo<; TO EK-
7Twµ,a yev€<rBai, av µ,T, Kat TO 7TOWVV y;, TOVTE<TTtV 0
apyvpoK07TO<;' Of.LOLW<; Kat e7Tt TOV xaAKOV Kat TOV
tv>.. ov KaL rfj<; aA>..71 <; i'iA71<;.
R6 ( < AlO) Aet. 1. 7. 13 (Stob.) [rt<; e<TTtV 0 Bea<;]
[ . . . 05] 8e'i' 8' V7TaKOVEtv e1TL rwv oi'irw<; A.eyoµ,€vwv

=
Ta<; ev8tYJKOV<Ta<;1 TOt<; <TTOtXELOt<; r, TOL<; <rwµ,a<rt 8v

vaµ,ei<;.
368
A N AXI M E N E S
then it i s not the air that comes from u s but cold air in
front of the mouth that is pushed and ejected.
R5 ( < B2) Aetius

[ . . . ] he too [scil. like Anaximander, ANAXIMAND. Rl3]
is mistaken in thinking that animals are composed out of
simple and uniform air and breath. For it is impossible to
posit the matter of the beings from which all things come
as the sole principle: it is also necessary to posit the effi
cient cause-for example, the silver is not enough for the
cup to come about, if there is not what makes it, that is the
silversmith; and so too for bronze, wood, and all other
kinds of matter.

R6 (< AlO) Aetius
[ . . . ] With regard to what is said in this way [scil. that air
is god] , one must understand the powers that traverse the
elements or the bodies.
369
R7 (< AlO) Cic. Nat. deor. 1 . 10.26
[ . . D6] quasi aut aer sine ulla forma deus esse possit,
. =
cum praesertim deum non modo aliqua, sed pulcherrima

specie deceat esse, aut non omne quod ortum sit mortali
tas consequatur.
Discoveries Attributed to Anaximenes (R8-R9)
R8 (< Al4a) Plin. Nat. hist. 2. 187
umbrarum hanc rationem et quam vocant gnomonicen

invenit Anaximenes Milesius [ . . . ] primusque horologium
quod appellant sciothericon Lacedaemone ostendit.
R9 (< Al6) Theon Sm. Exp. 3. 10, pp. 198.19-99.2
Evo71µoc; ia-ropE'i €v rn£c; 'Aa-rpo'Aoyl.aic; [Frag. 145

Wehrli] [ . . . ] 'Ava6µiv71c; Oe on ii <JEA7]v71 €K TOV T,A.fov
EXEL ro cpwc; KaL riva €KAEi7TEL rp67Tov.
370
A N AXI M E N E S

R7 (< AlO) Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods
[ . . . ] as though air without any fonn could be a god
whereas it is fitting especially for a god to have not just
some appearance, but the most beautiful appearance pos
sible; or as though everything that comes into being were
not subject to mortality.
Discoveries Attributed to Anaximenes (R8-R9)
R8 (< Al4a) Pliny, Natural History

Anaximenes of Miletus [ . . . ] discovered this calculation of
shadows, which they call "gnomic," and he was the first to
exhibit in Sparta the clock they call skiotherikon. 1
1 Probable confusion with Anaximander, cf. ANAXIMAND.
Rl4. The skiotherikon is a kind of sundial.
R9 ( < Al6) Theon of Smyrna, Mathematics Useful for

Understanding Plato
Eudemus reports in his Astronomy [ . . ] : Anaximenes [scil.
.
was the first to discover] that the moon gets its light from
the sun and in what way it is eclipsed. 1
1 Probable confusion with Parmenides, cf. PARM. D27-
D29.
371
EARLY G R E E K PHILOS OPHY I I
A Fictional Scene from a Fragmentary

Greek Novel: The Philosopher at the
Court of Polycrates (RlO)
RIO (As 18 Wohrle) P. Berol. 7927, 9588, 21179 Col.
1.24-33; Col. 2.34-36, 53-57, 62-68 (Stephens-Winkler,
pp. 82-89)
[l .24] . . . 7TUVTWV OE rw[v] €[.] I Oav]µ.aCTUVTWV TO
evOapCTE<; K� t I rwv] Aoywv 0 II0AvKpar71r:; V7T€p I ]v,"
.
l</>71, "riKvov, 1Torov Kaipor:; I ]'lfew xPYi ra Av7Tovvra

µ.e871 I ]vrwvoµ.eia CTXOAa,oµ.ev I [30] [ ] . wv elr:; rov
'Ava�iµ.iv71v oi I ] . . . r:; T,µ.'iv," l</>71, "CTfiµ.epov al lr[o]y
1Taioor:; ijKovror:; evwl ]µ.avrevoµ.ai µ.ovCTav, 7rponl [2.34]
[Oet<; rlTi!' cp[iA]gCTo<f>ov 'fir71CTiv Kara rox71v r[ . . ].''I
. .
[35] [Kat erapaxO]YJCTav Ot ovo Ta<; lflvxar:; Aa-

,8[6v] l [r€<; . . . . . . . . Joy 1Ta0ovr:; aVUfLV71CTW e<f>o[ . . ] .
I [. . .]
[2.53] [et71] o' av KaKe'ivo 1TaVT€AW<; a1TL0a!'i;i[v, el] I
[,8pi<f>]or:; ECTTtV 0 ''Epwr:;, 7T€pWOCTT€tV avr[o]!' g[A71]!'
rY,v I [55] [olKov]µ.iv71v, ro�evew µ.Ev rwv v7ravrwvlrwv,
oiir:; av avror:; e0EArJ, ��? 7rVp7r[o]Ae'iv I [wCTr' €]!' fLEV
ra'ir:; TWV epwvrwv lflvxa'ir:; eyyiyvel[CTOai] �epov 1TVEvµ.a
n ofov Oe[o]cpgf.J . . .·
[2.62] e,Bov-1 [ . . . . ]v AO'J!OV 1T€patV€W Kat 0 ['Ak[a]-

6µ.ivnr:; oil [eAiy]ero 7rpor:; rT,v IIapOev67r71v avnAa,8i
CT0ai I [65] [r1jr:; ']71rfiCTewr:;· KaK€tV71 I o[i' o]py1)r:;
lxovCTa rov M71rioxov ?�� ro µ.Y, gµ.olAoy1jCTai µ.fi7Tw
i;i'(i?eµ.iij.'i epac;r101)vai (Kat ev�aro µ.710E µ.efH��v· )
" . . . . . " l<f>71, [ . . . ]
372
A N AXI M E N E S
A Fictional Scene from a Fragmentary

Greek Novel: The Philosopher at the
Court of Polycrates (RlO)
RIO ( 7:- DK) Metiochus and Parthenope 1
While all of the . . . marveled at the courage and . . . of the
words, Polycrates . . . said, "Child, it is time to drink . . .
inebriation must . . . what causes grief . . . we are at leisure
. . . " . . . [scil. looking?] at Anaximenes . . . for us," he said,
"today . . . since the boy has arrived . . . I predict a . . .
Muse, as I have proposed . . . the philosopher's inquiry by
chance . . . " [And] the two [scil. were thrown into a tur
moil?] in their souls when they heard . . . the recollection
of suffering.
[scil. Metiochus said,] "[ . . . ] And that too would be
entirely implausible, if Eros is a child, that he wanders
about the whole inhabited world, shoots arrows at whom
ever he wishes among the people he encounters, and sets
them ablaze, so that in the lovers' souls some kind of holy
breath (hieron pneuma ti) is produced, as it is in people
who are inspired (?). [ . . . ]"
. . . He wanted to finish his speech, but Anaximenes
told Parthenope to take part in her tum in the inquiry. And
she, being angry with Metiochus because he refused to
admit that he had ever loved any woman (and he prayed
that he never would), said . . .
1 This anonymous novel, which may date to the first century
BC, illustrates the cultural role of Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos.
Metiochus is the son of Polycrates and Hegesipyle. The poet
Ibycus is present too.
373
An Apocryphal Correspondence between

Anaximenes and Pythagoras (Rl l)
RU Diog. Laert.
a (As 73 Wohrle) 2.4
0aA.7jc; 'Etaµ:vov 1 E?Tt yf,pwc; ovK €V1TOTf-tO'> oi'x€rni· €V
cpp6V'TJ'>, &<nr€p EOJ(fo,2 aµ,a Tfj aµ,cpt1TOA<fJ 1Tpo"iw11 EK
TOV avA.fov Ta U<TTpa €07]€lTO" Kat (ov yap €., µ,11fiµ,7111
E0€To) B71€vµ€11oc; €., To Kp7Jµ,11wS€., €K/3a<> Karn1Tt1TT€t.
MiA.71crfoicn µ€11 vvv3 o al0€poA.6yoc; €v Toi4JS€ K€tTai
TEA€t. �f-tE€c; Se oi A€CTX7J11WTat avTot T€ f-t€f-t11Wf-t€0a TOV
a11Sp6c;, or TE �µ,ew11 1Ta'lSec; T€ Kat A€CTX7Jl1WTat, E1Tt
S€6oiµ€0a4 S' ETt TOl'> EK€tl10V A.6yoic;. apx-ti f-tE11TOt
1TalJTO'> TOV A.6yov 0aA.fi a11aK€tCTOw.
1 EK KaA.ov mss., corr. M. Gudius ap. Menagium

2 ew8ev mss., corr. Cobet 3 vi!v mss., corr. Casaubon
4 em8etwvµ,e8a prop. dub. Von der Miihll
b (As 74 Wohrle) 2.5
€v/3ovA.6rnTO<> .ry., �µ,ew11, f-t€Ta11acrTac; EK !,riµ,ov €c;

KpoTWl1a, €11BaS€ €lp7111e€tc;. oi Se AlaKEo<> 1TatS€c; aAa
CTTal KaKa epSovCTt Kat MtAT)CTtovc; OVK EmA€t7rOVCTt
alcrvµ,111/rni. S€woc; Se �µ£11 Kat o MY,Sw11 /3acriA€vc;,
ovK �11 Y€ €BeA.wµ€11 Sacrµ,ocf>ope€w &.AA.a µ,eA.A.ovcri S-ti
dµcpt T1/<> EA€V0€pt7]'> a1Tal1TWl1 "Iw11€c; MY,Soic; KaT-
1 aAa<na Porson: aAAOt<; Ta mss.
374
A N AXI M E N E S
An Apocryphal Correspondence between

Anaximenes and Pythagoras (Rl l)
R l l ( � DK) Diogenes Laertius
a [Anaximenes to Pythagoras: ]
Thales, the son o f Examyas, i n his old age was not fortu
nate in his passing. At night, as was his custom, he went
forth from the courtyard with his serving-maid to observe
the stars. And forgetting where he was, he came to a cliff
while he was observing and fell over. This is how the Mile
sians lost their student of the heavens [cf. THAL. Pl2] .
But let us, his pupils, cherish this man's memory, and so
too our children and our pupils; and let us continue to
enjoy (?) his discourses. May the starting point of our ev
ery discourse be dedicated to Thales.
b [Anaximenes to Pythagoras: ]
You were the best advised o f u s all: fo r now that you have
moved away from Samos to Croton, you live in peace
there. Aeaces' sons [i.e. the tyrant Polycrates and his
brothers] commit dreadful evils, and tyrants continue to
rule the Milesians. The king of the Medes too is terrifying
for us, unless indeed we are willing to pay him tribute. But
the Ionians are about to start a war against the Medes for
375
i<TTa<rOai E '> 7TOAEµ,ov· KaTa<rTa<ri 8 € ovKen EA7TL'> �µ,'iv

<TWTYJPLYJ'> · KW<; <iv ovv 'Avattf.LEVYJ'> EV Ovµ,Cf! ETL EXOL
atOEpoA.oyfov, EV 8Eiµ,an EWV oA.eOpov 7} 8ovAO<TVVYJ'>;
<TV 8€ El KaTaOVµ,io<; µ,ev KpoTwvifiTTJ<TL, KaTaOvµ,io<;
8€ KUL TOL<TL aAAOL<TL 'IraALWTTJ<TL' </>otTEOV<TL 8€ TOL
AE<TXYJVWTUL KUL EK '!tKEALYJ'> ·
c (As 77 Wohrle) 8.49-50

KaL <TV, Ji A.Cf!<rTE, Et µ,ri8ev aµ,Eivwv 71<> IIvOayopEw
yEvEfiv TE KaL KAEO<;, f.LETava<rTas <iv ol'.xEo EK MiA.fi
Tov· vvv 8€ KaTEpvKEt <TE � TTaTpoOEv EVKAEta, KaL Ef.LE
yE1 <iv KUTEtpvKEv 'Ava6µ,evEL EotKoTa. Et 8€ vµ,Et<; oi
ovfit<TTOL TU<; 7TOAta<; EKAEtl/JETE U1TO f.LEV UVTEWV 0 KO
,
<Tf.LO'> aipd)fi<TETUL, E1Tl 8€ Ktv8vv6upa avTfi<Tt TU EK

Mfi8wv. [50] ovTE 8€ atEL KaA.ov alOEpoA.oyiri2 f.LEAE8w
v6v TE Elvai Tii 1TaTpi8i KaA.A.wv. KaL Eyw 8€ ov TTavra
1TEpl TOV<; Ef.LEWVTOV µ,vOov<;, aA.A.u KUL EV 7TOAEf.LOL<; oil<;
8ia<f>epov<rw E'> aA.A.fiA.ov<; 'IraA.iwrai.
1 TE mss . , corr. Von der Miihll 2 al8epoA.oyi'I} PF: -ye'i:v

B
Anaximenes Arrwng the Christians (R12-R13)
R12 (As 59 Wohrle) Min. Fel. Octav. 19.5

Anaximenes deinceps et post Apolloniates Diogenes aera
deum statuunt infinitum et inmensum; horum quoque
similis de divinitate consensio est.
376
A N AXI M E N E S
the sake o f everyone's freedom.1 But if this happens, we

shall lose any hope of being saved. How then could Anax
imenes still think to study the heavens, living as he does
in fear of death or slavery? But you find favor with the
Crotonians and also the other Greeks in southern Italy [ cf.
PITH. a P24-P26]; and pupils come to you even from
Sicily.
1 An allusion to the Ionian revolt against Cyrus.
c [Pythagoras to Anaximenes:]
You too, worthy friend, if you had not been superior to

Pythagoras in family and fame, would have moved away
and left Miletus. But as it is your ancestral renown detains
you, as mine would have detained me had I been the
equal of Anaximenes. But if you, the best of men, abandon
the cities, then their fine order will be destroyed and the
Medes' schemes will become more dangerous for them.
[50] To study the heavens is not always a fine thing: it is
finer to be concerned for your fatherland. I too am not
completely occupied by my discourses, but I am also en
gaged in the wars that the Greeks in Italy fight against one
another.
Anaximenes Among the Christians (R12-R13)
Rl2 ( -:F. DK) Minucius Felix, Octavius

Then Anaximenes and later Diogenes of Apollonia declare
that air is an infinite and immense god; the view they too
share regarding divinity is similar [scil. to ours].
377
R l 3 August.
a ( < AlO) Civ. Dei 8.2
[ . . . ) non tamen ab ipsis aerem factum, sed ipsos ex aere
ortos credidit.
b (< As 101 Wohrle) Conf 10.6

et quid est hoe? interrogavi terram, et dixit: "non sum"; et
quaecumque in eadem sunt, idem confessa sunt. interro
gavi mare et abyssos et reptilia animarum vivarum, et
responderunt: "non sumus deus tuus; quaere super nos."
interrogavi auras flabiles, et inquit universus aer cum
incolis suis: "fallitur Anaximenes: non sum deus."

R14 (B3) Ps.-Olymp. Ars sacra 25
fLlaV Se KLVOVfLEVYJV aTTELpov d.px.Y,v 1TctV7'WV TWV OVTWV
Soga,Ei 'A.va(iµEV7J'> rov &.Epa. AEyEi yap ovrwr;· "€y
yvr; €rrrw o &..Y,p rov &.rrwµarov· Kat on Kar' €Kpoiav
TOVTOV yw6µd)a, &.vayK'T} avrov Kat aTTELpov ElVaL Kat
1TAovrriov Sia ro µ'T]SE7TOTE EKAEL7TEw."
378
A N AXI M E N E S
R l 3 Augustine
a (< AlO) City of God
[ . . . ] however he believed not that air was made by them
[i.e. the gods] but that they came to be out of air.
h ( � DK) Confessions
And what is this [i.e. God] ? I asked the earth, and it said,
"I am not He"; and all the things that are in it admitted
the same thing. I asked the sea and the abysses and, among
the animate creatures, the ones that walk the earth; and
they replied, "We are not your God; seek above us." I
asked the blowing winds, and the whole air together with
its inhabitants said, "Anaximenes is mistaken: I am not
God."

Rl4 (B3) Ps.-Olympiodorus, On the Sacred Art
Anaximenes is of the opinion that air is the one principle,
moved and unlimited, of all beings. For he speaks as fol
lows: "Air is near to the incorporeal. And since we are born
from an outflow of this, it is necessary that it be infinite
and rich, because it never fails."1
1 This citation is inauthentic.
379
Anaximenes in The Assembly of

Philosophers (R15)
Rl5 (As 232 Wohrle) Turba Phil. Sermo II, p. 45. 1-9
Plessner
ait Exumdrus: magnifico aera et honorifico-ut Eximedri
roborem sermonem1-eo quod per ipsum opus emenda
tur, et spissatur et rarescit et calefit et frigescit. eius autem
spissitudo fit, quando disiungitur propter solis elongati
onem; eius vero raritas fit, quando in coelo2 exaltato sole
calescit aer et rarescit. similiter vero fit in veris complex
ione,3 in temporis nee calidi nee frigidi distinctione. nam
secundum alterationem dispositionis constitutae ad dis
tinctiones anni alterandas hyems alteratur. aer igitur
spissatur, cum ah eo sol elongatur, et tune hominibus
frigus pervenit; aere vero rarescente prope fit sol, quo
propinquo et aere rarescente calor pervenit hominibus.
1 ut . . . sermonem secl. Ruska 2 in coelo solus M, am.

cett. 3 complexione BM: compilatione E: copulatione N
380
A N AXI M E N E S
Anaximenes i n The Assembly of

Philosophers (Rl5)
Rl5 ( "#- DK) The Assembly of Philosophers
Exumdrus [i.e. Anaximenes 1 ] said: "I exalt the air and
honor it-so that I might corroborate Eximedrus' [i.e.
Anaximander's] discourse-because by its means the work
[scil. of alchemy] is rectified, and it becomes dense and
rarefied, and hot and cold. Its condensation comes about
when it is separated [scil. from the sun] because of the
increase in the distance of the sun; but its rarefaction
comes about when because of the height of the sun in the
sky the air becomes warm and rarefied. But it becomes
homogeneous in the mixture of the spring, in the season
of the year that is neither hot nor cold. For according to
the alteration of the arrangement that is constituted for
altering the seasons of the year, the winter is altered. Thus
the air becomes condensed when the distance of the sun
from it is increased, and at that time coldness reaches
humans; but when the air becomes rarefied the sun comes
near, and when it is near and the air becomes rarefied
warmth reaches humans. "
l Identified a s Anaximenes b y Plessner, as Anaximander by
Ruska.
381

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Early Greek Philosophy, Volume II Beginnings and Early Ionian Thinkers, Part 1 by Laks, André Most, Glenn W. (Eds.)

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LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY

Edited and Translated by

EARLY IONIAN THINKERS, PART 1

In this preliminary chapter, we present a series of texts

out the different chapters o f our anthology may have

--- . "Diogenes Laertius and The Transmission of

By Topics ("Doxography") (Tl-T19)

TI (86 B6) Hippias in Clem. Alex. Strom. 6.15.2 [ =

Towwv i<Tws- t:ip71rai Ta µev 'Op</>t:'i, Ta Se Mov<Taicp,

T2 (> 23 A6) Plat. Theaet. l52e

[�n.] Kat 1Tt:pt TOVTov 1TaVTES' it-i)s- oi <To</>ot 1TA7,v

By Topics ("Doxography") (Tl-T19)

Of these [scil. probably: ancient opinions] some have

T2 (> 23 A6) Plato, Theaetetus

'!lKEav6v T E ()Ewv yevEaw Kat WfJTEpa T71()vv,

T3 (> 22 A6) Plat. Grat. 402a--c

'!lKEavoc; 7TpwTo<; KaA.\ippooc; i,ptE yaµ,ow,

Ocean, the origin o f the gods, and mother Tethys

T3 ( > 22 A6) Plato, Cratylus

T4 (cf. 21 A29, 2 2 AlO, 31 A29) Plat. Soph. 242c-243a

T 4 (cf. 21 A29, 2 2 AlO, 31 A29) Plato, Sophist

T5 ( � DK) Xen. Mem. 1 . 1 . 13-14

T6 (> 24 A3, > 36 A6, > 82 Bl) Isocr. Ant. 268-69

T7 ( � DK) Isocr. Hel. 3

T5 ( ;t: DK) Xenophon, Merrwrabilia

T6 ( > 24 A3, > 36 A6, > 82 Bl) Isocrates, Antidosis

T7 ( ;t: DK) Isocrates, Encomium of Helen

M€At1T1To11 () , rhreipwv To 1TAi,8o, 1TEcpvKoTwv Twv 1Tpa­

Peripatetic Doxography (T8-T16)

T8 (� DK) Arist. Top. l . 14 105a34-bl8

Ta• µ.f.v ovv 1TpoTaO"et• EKAEKTeov oO"ax_w• 8iwpi<T8YJ

1 µ:Y, Brunschwig (post Waitz): 7} Ta<; vel 7} Kat Ta<; mss.

T9 (� DK) Arist. Metaph. A3 983a33-b6

ZEN. 04-0 1 1 ] , o r Melissus, who, although things are by

Peripatetic Doxography (T8-Tl 6)

T9 ( � DK) Aristotle, Metaphysics

TTEpL cPV<TEW<;, oµw<; 8 € TTapaAa{3wµev KaL TOV<; TTPOTE­

TIO ( � DK) Arist. An. 1 .2 403b20-25

ETTt<TKOTTOVVTa<; 8€ TTEp'i iflvxii<> avayKatov, aµa StaTTO­

Some Examples (Tll -T13)

Tll (> 68 Al35) Arist. Phys. 1.2 184bl4-24

avayKYJ 8' .J]Tot µiav elvai T�V apx�v r, TTAELOV<;, Ka'i

TIO (� DK) Aristotle, On the Soul

Some Examples (Tll-Tl3)

� EtOEt Ota<{>Epov<Ta� � Kat EVUVTta�. oµ,oiw� S e ,Y/_

Tl2 (cf. ad 31 B l09) Arist. An. 1.2 403b27-31 , 404b 8---l l

Tl3 (cf. 42.5) Arist. Meteor. l . 6 342b25-343a4

who inquire into how many beings there are inquire i n a

Tl2 (cf. ad 31 B l09) Aristotle, On the Soul

T l 3 (cf. 42.5) Aristotle, Meteorology

01TEp <TVµ,fJa[vEt Kat 1TEpl TOIJ TOV 'Epµov a<TTEpa· Ota

Tl4 (1 1 Al3, 38 A4, 1 1 Bl, 18.7, 22 A5, 12 A9) Simpl. In

zon]-this happens also with Mercury [PITHS. ANON.

aw EK</>ijvat, 7TOAAwv µev Kat aAAwv 7rpoy€yov6rwv,

Tl5 (cf. 31 A86, 24 Bla, 59 A92, 62.2, 64 Al9, 68 Al35)

t o the Greeks. Many others had preceded him, as i s the

T l 5 (cf. 31 A86, 2 4 B la, 5 9 A92, 62.2, 6 4 Al9, 6 8 Al35)

[3] ITapµ,Evt07]'> f.LEV yap OAW<; OVOEV a<f>wptKEV &.Ha

[ 49] D..71µ,oKpt'TO<; O E 7TEpL f.LEV alcr()f,crEw<; ov o wpt,Et,

Tl6 (cf. 59 All 7, 62.3, 64 A32) Theophr. HP 3 . 1 .4

[3] Parmenides has not defined absolutely anything, but

T16 (cf. 59 All 7, 62.3, 64 A32) Theophrastus, History of

Aetius' Doxographic Manual (T1 7-T1 9)

Tl7 (Dox. Gr., pp. 327-29) Aet. 2.1 [·m;p£ Kocrµov]

M€At1T1To11 () , rhreipwv To 1TAi,8o, 1TEcpvKoTwv Twv 1Tpa

TTEpL cPV<TEW<;, oµw<; 8 € TTapaAa{3wµev KaL TOV<; TTPOTE

ETTt<TKOTTOVVTa<; 8€ TTEp'i iflvxii<> avayKatov, aµa StaTTO

2. TWV IIvOayopEiwv o t /LEV ecpacrav aCTTEpoc; Elvai �na

b (Dox. Gr. , pp. 381-82) Aet. 3 . 1 6 (Ps.-Plut.) [m:pt {}a

µ,evio71•;, MifA.ia-a-os-, 'HpaKAeiTos-, 'Avatay6pas-, IIA.a

menides , Melissus , Heraclitus , Anaxagoras , Plato , Aris

this man's; Nausiphanes, his; some say that Epicurus be

6. !.wKpUTYJ<; 0 epµ,oy>.:vcpov !.wcppoviaxov KaL <l>ai

The thinkers traditionally identified as the first philoso

For I [i.e. Hera] am going to see the hmits of the all