summer solstice fell on the same day as the lunar conjunction and a day before the visible
new moon. Kallippos’ cycle was used by H and others for astronomical dating.
A (Met. 12.8 [1073b32–38]) credits Kallippos with revising Eudoxos’ celestial
models. Where Eudoxos used four spheres to produce the motions of Mars, Venus,
and Mercury, Kallippos used five. S says that people objected to the latitudes in
Eudoxos’ models, so Kallippos’ additions possibly repaired these aspects. However, other
defects are apparent in Eudoxos’ planetary models, especially for Venus and Mercury.
Additionally, Kallippos added two spheres to Eudoxos’ three each for the Sun and Moon.
Again, we do not know what was being improved. However, if Simplicius (In de caelo, = CAG
7 [1894] 497.18–22) accurately represents his source, E, the extra spheres for the
Sun seemingly improved Eudoxos’ models to make them consistent with the periods for
E and Meto ̄n, and not his own. Hence, the added pair of spheres would create an
anomaly with a hippopede where the Sun accelerates 2½ days in summer/fall, and slowed
down 2½ days in winter/spring. Aristotle seems to have doubted the need for the extra
solar/lunar spheres.
RE S.4 (1924) 1431–1438, A. Rehm; Idem, “Parapegma,” RE 18.4 (1949) 1295–1366; KP 3.83–84, J.
Mau; DSB 3.21–22, J.S. Kieffer; Goldstein and Bowen (1988); OCD3 278, G.J. Toomer; Henry
Mendell, “Reflections on Eudoxus, Callippus and their Curves: Hippopedes and Callippopedes,”
Centaurus 40 (1998) 177–275; I. Yavetz, “On the Homocentric Spheres of Eudoxus,” AHES 51 (1998)
221 – 278; A. Jones, “Calendrica I: New Callippic Dates,” ZPE 129 (2000) 141–158; Henry Mendell,
“The Trouble with Eudoxus,” in P. Suppes, J. Moravcsik, and Henry Mendell, edd., Ancient and
Medieval Traditions in the Exact Sciences: Essays in Memory of Wilbur Knorr (2001) 59–138; BNP 1 (2002)
985 – 986 (#5), W. Hübner.
Henry Mendell
Kallisthene ̄s of Olunthos (356 – 327 BCE)
Relative and student of A, born in Olunthos. Kallisthene ̄s made his reputation as
a writer with a history of Greece from the King’s Peace (386) to the beginning of the Third
Sacred War (356), along with several lesser works including a periplous, fragments of
which concern the Pontic and southern coasts of Anatolia. He accompanied Alexander as
official court historian of the expedition. His account tended towards obsequiousness, with
frequent allusions to Alexander’s divine ancestry and favor. Nevertheless, Kallisthene ̄s
refused to participate in the rituals derived from Persian court ceremonial, including the
proskunesis. Falling out of favor, Kallisthene ̄s was implicated in a plot to assassinate Alexan-
der, and was either executed immediately, or died in 327 after being carted around in
chains for several months. His unfinished account, Deeds of Alexander, survived to be con-
sulted by later writers often on geographical matters. Kallisthene ̄s was particularly inter-
ested in historical and mythological associations of places, as well as natural phenomena.
He speculated that the Nile flood was caused by the summer rains, and that earthquakes
were caused by air trapped in caverns beneath the Earth. He reportedly sent astronomical
data home from Babylo ̄n to Aristotle. He paid some attention to the hydrography of
Central Asia, and so must have discussed the Baktrian campaign to some extent. He also
noted interesting flora and fauna. He reported credulously on portents and accepted the
oracles at Delphi, Dodona, Brankhidai and Siwah. The extant fragments preserve far less
novel data than do the other Alexander historians, due to his curtailed participation in the
expedition.
KALLISTHENE ̄S OF OLUNTHOS