39e–53c respectively), focused on cosmology. The first part, describing the creation and
elemental structure of the universe’s body and soul, contains 25 diagrams. The first dia-
grams explain the workings of mathematical proportions present in the binding of the four
cosmic elements and in the musical and planetary intervals constituting the soul’s harmoni-
ous structure. The remaining diagrams and text explicate astronomy focusing on planetary
motion and providing an astronomical manual. The Commentary’s second part, building
on the mathematical introduction, treats the nature of created beings and matter, silua,
combining Platonic and Aristotelian concepts and terminology.
Calcidius’ original contributions include the concept of analogia as the hermeneutic axis
of his Commentary and his theory of elements that brought together in a coherent system the
Platonic and Aristotelian element concepts.
Calcidius (with ca 130 extant medieval MSS) was one of the chief sources during the
Middle Ages for the study of Platonic philosophy and cosmology as well as for mathematics
and astronomy, and his text was excerpted for encyclopedias.
Ed.: J.H. Waszink, Timaeus a Calcidio translatus commentarioque instructus (1962, repr. 1975) = Plato
Latinus 4.
Dillon (1996) 242–245, 401–408; Anna Somfai, “Calcidius’s Commentary to Plato’s Timaeus and its
place in the commentary tradition: the concept of analogia in text and diagrams,” in P. Adamson,
H. Baltussen, and M.W.F. Stone, edd., Philosophy, Science and Exegesis in Greek, Arabic and Latin Commentaries
= BICS S.83 (2004) 1.203–220.
Anna Somfai
C- ⇒ K-
Calpurnius Piso (I) (90 – 130 CE)
Wrote an elegiac Constellations, contemporary with the younger Pliny (Ep. 5.17) who praised
the Katasterismoi after a recitation. He may be identifiable with C. Calpurnius Piso, consul of
111 (PIR2 C285) or his brother.
OCD3 280, A.J.S. Spawforth; BNP 2 (2003) 1000 (#II.14), W. Eck.
GLIM
L. Calpurnius Piso (II) (175 – 200 CE)
Consul in 175 CE, the dedicatee of G’s Theriac and, after his retirement, much given to
philosophy and learning: 14.210–214 K. A A 13.86 (p. 713 Cornarius) pre-
serves one fragment from his work On Animals: “a partridge we raised was accustomed to call
out, run in circles, and claw at the partridge-hutch, when any drug or poison was being
prepared in the house” – probably part of a case for the intelligence of animals. The
Byzantine scholar Psellos, Epitaph. Xiphil., credits the work to Gale ̄n, presumably its dedicatee
(K.N. Sathas, Mesaio ̄nike ̄ Vivliothe ̄ke ̄ [1886; repr. 1972] v. 4, p. 462). See also A
and S.
Fabricius (1726) 370; E. Orth, “Eine unbekannte Schrift Galens,” Philologische Wochenschrift 54 (1934)
846 – 848; PIR2 C-295.
PTK
CALPURNIUS PISO (I)