Like Ptolemaïs, Didumos divided his predecessors according to the methodological cri-
terion of relative emphasis on either sense-perception (aisthe ̄sis) or reason (logos), with the
Pythagoreans inclined to favor the latter when the two appeared to disagree, and the
Aristoxenians requiring that all conclusions be brought to the former for final approval. In
light of this and of his improvements to the monochord, it is noteworthy that one of
Ptolemy’s central criticisms of Didumos’ tetrachordal divisions was that they would not
stand the test of musical perception.
He may be identical with the Neronian Didumos of Souda Delta-875, son of H
(perhaps of H P, J), a grammarian, practicing musician and com-
poser. He may also be same as both the Didumos whose book On Pythagorean Philosophy
(Peri Puthagorike ̄s philosophias) is mentioned by Clement of Alexandria (Strom. 1.16), and the
Didumos whose definition of rhythm is quoted in the musical treatise of B
(313.9 Jan).
RE 5.1 (1903) 473–474 (#11), L. Cohn; I. Düring, Die Harmonielehre des Klaudios Ptolemaios (1930); Idem
(1932); Barker (1989); M.L. West, Ancient Greek Music (1992); A.D. Barker, “Greek Musicologists in the
Roman Empire,” in T.D. Barnes, ed., The Sciences in Greco-Roman Society = Apeiron 27 (1994) 53–74;
OCD3 468, A.D. Barker; Mathiesen (1999); A.D. Barker, Scientific Method in Ptolemy’s “Harmonics”
(2000); BNP 4 (2004) 398 (#1), F. Zaminer and 399 (#4), F. Montanari; NDSB 2.284–286, E. Rocconi.
David Creese
Didumos of Alexandria (I: Metrol.) (30 BCE – 30 CE)
The few fragments of Didumos’ metrological work are mostly transmitted as H’s.
Didumos’ On the Measures of Marble and Wood of All Sorts is a concise technical guide to
estimating the volume of blocks of stone or timber, along with a table of correspondence of
both Ptolemaic and Roman basic units of measurement, to be used for surface areas.
MSR v.1 (1864) 21–23, 180, v.2 (1866) 22–23; Hultsch (1882) 9, 609–610; RE 5.1 (1903) 474 (#12), Idem.
Mauro de Nardis
Didumos of Alexandria (II: Agric.) (ca 350 – 450 CE)
Author of Geo ̄rgika (in 15 books, known from the Souda Delta-876), used extensively by
C B: parts of his Eklogai taken from Didumos concern astronomy and medi-
cine as well as fables of metamorphoses, making likely an identification with the homonym-
ous man whose Phusika is cited by A T (Therap. 7.13); there are
similarities as well with the Iatrika of A A.
Oder (1890) 212–222.
Robert H. Rodgers
Didumos of Knidos (250 BCE – 100 CE)
Wrote a commentary on A (FGrHist 1026 T19), entirely lost.
(*)
PTK
Dieukhe ̄s (300 – 200 BCE)
Greek physician, N H’s teacher (Ath., Deipn. 1 [5b]). G often
associated Dieukhe ̄s with M and D K as one of the great
DIEUKHE ̄S