Eudikos (250 BCE – 75 CE)
P 31.13 cites him for two springs near Hestiaia: one which blackens and one which
whitens the skin of drinkers. Pliny, 1.ind.31, lists him among early sources, such as K
and T, explicitly distinguishing him from E, and the name Eudikos
is more frequent than Eudoxos through the 1st c. CE (LGPN): contrast Gisinger, Eudoxos
(1921) 123–124. Perhaps the same as, or confused by Pliny with, the (neo)-Pythagorean of
Lokroi (I, VP 267).
(*)
PTK
Eudo ̄ros of Alexandria (ca 60 – 35 BCE)
An “Academic” (I S 2.24.7–8 W.-H.) considered the founder of Middle
Platonism. His doctrine of principles has a Neo-Pythagorean outlook. The “elem-
ents” Monad and Dyad are transcended by a higher principle “the One.” Eudo ̄ros is
reported to have ventured an emendation of Metaph. 1 (988a11), where A dis-
cusses P’s first principles (A in A A CAG 1 [1891]
58 – 59). A subdivision of ethics survives from Eudo ̄ros’ classif ication of philosophy. P-
(Anim. Procr. 1013B; 1019E; 1020C) refers to a work on the Timaeus, wherein
Eudo ̄ros upheld a non-literal interpretation of Plato’s cosmogony and calculated the
numbers of the soul. In a work on the Categories, Eudo ̄ros raised detailed objections
against Aristotle (S, in Categ. CAG 8 [1907] 159). A work on the heavens or on
the world seems to have been a principal source for A. Drawing on D
A, Eudo ̄ros discussed among other things the division of the Earth into
five zones and argued that the torrid (equatorial) zone is inhabited. Eudo ̄ros also wrote on
the Nile (S 17.1.5).
Ed.: C. Mazzarelli, “Raccolta e interpretazione delle testimonianze e dei frammenti del
medioplatonico Eudoro di Alessandria,” Rivista di filosofia neo-scolastica 77 (1985) 197–209, 535–
555.
Moraux (1984) 509–527; Dillon (1996) 115–135; DPA 3 (2000) 290–293, Idem; BNP 5 (2004) 149– 150
(#2), M. Baltes and M.-L. Lakmann.
Jan Opsomer
Eudoxos of Knidos (ca 365 – ca 340 BCE)
Son of Aiskhine ̄s, born ca 395 – 390 BCE; mathematician, astronomer, and geographer.
D L (8.86–91) provides our principal biographical evidence. At age 23,
though impoverished, Eudoxos visited Athens for two months with the otherwise unknown
Theomedo ̄n, a physician who funded him. After returning to Knidos, he visited Egypt with
K K (I), and stayed for 16 months, where he studied astronomy. The
doxographical tradition also claims that he studied mathematics with A T
and medicine with P L. He then proceeded to the Hellespont where he
lectured and gained many followers, especially from Kuzikos (K, H,
P). He then returned to Athens, where he associated with the Academy.
Having returned home, he did legislative work for Knidos, probably after 347, and died in
his 53rd year, well honored by his city.
EUDIKOS