Tradition of Vindanius Anatolius of Berytus’ Sunago ̄ge ̄ geo ̄rgiko ̄n epite ̄deumato ̄n,” WZKM 94 (2004)
73 – 108; McCabe (2007).
Anne McCabe and Robert H. RodgersAnatolios of Laodikeia (250 – 282 CE)
Christian polymath born in Alexandria, succeeded Eusebios as bishop of Laodikeia (268
CE). Because of his high reputation for learning (in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, dialect-
ics, physics, and rhetoric), Alexandrians asked him to establish a school of Peripatetic
philosophy (Eus., EH 7.32.6–21). As testimony to Anatolios’ intellectual scope, E
quotes (rather, misquotes: McCarthy 126–139) the second part of his De ratione Paschali – his
only attested work of substantial length – a defense of an original method of computing the
date of Easter based on a 19-year lunar cycle and drawing from various sources, Greek
(P), Christian (mainly Origen), and Jewish (McCarthy 114–125). An hagiographic
anecdote, underscoring Anatolios’ attitude and virtues during the Roman siege of Alexan-
drian Pyrucheum in 264, suggests his political influence.
At least three other Anatolioi might be identifiable with our bishop: (1) most plausibly, the
Neo-Platonist philosopher of Alexandria mentioned in E as I’ mas-
ter and P’ renowned contemporary, probably the author of the short neo-
Pythagorean tract On the Decade and the numbers within it included in the T
, perhaps part of the Arithmetical introductions mentioned by Eusebios (EH
7.32.20); (2) the source of an appendix to H’s Definitiones (4.160.8–166.22 H.), propos-
ing answers to general questions about the nature and parts of mathematics; (3) one “very
learned Anatolios” mentioned in a letter of Michael Psellos discussing a nomenclature of
“powers of the unknown” similar to, but more general than D’, adding names
for the 5th and 7th powers and proceeding to the 10th power instead of the 7th (Diophantos
2.37–39 Tannery). Tannery’s conjectural identification of the latter with the bishop is weak.
Ed.: D.P. McCarthy, The ante-Nicene Christian Pasch ‘De ratione paschali’ (2003).
DPA 1 (1989) 179–183, R. Goulet.
Alain Bernard
Anaxagoras of Klazomenai (480 – 428 BCE)
Born ca 500, he came to reside in Athens during the golden age of that city, where he
established himself as the leading philosopher-scientist of his day. He associated with the
statesman Perikle ̄s and other prominent figures. After spending 30 years in Athens (probably
ca 480 – 450, though some argue for 460–430), he left under the threat of prosecution and set
up a school in Lampsakos, where he died.
In the wake of P’ criticisms of cosmological theories, Anaxagoras developed
a radically pluralistic theory. According to this theory, nothing comes to be or perishes (a
Parmenidean principle); everything is mixed in everything; matter is infinitely divisible; and
whatever predominates in a mixture determines the character of that mixture. The theory
is designed to explain how the appearance of radical change is possible without there being
any radical change. For instance, he can explain how people add flesh to their bodies by
eating bread: flesh, mixed in the bread, is extracted in the process of digestion. Anaxagoras
seemingly posits an elemental reality corresponding to every kind of stuff in the world:
water, earth, flesh, bone, wood, iron, and so on. A piece of wood, for instance, has portions
of all others in it, but more elemental wood than anything else.
ANAXAGORAS OF KLAZOMENAI