Keskintos, Inscription of (150 – 50 BCE)
The surviving lower half of an anonymous Greek votive inscription recording a list of
planetary periodicities, discovered in 1894 at Keskintos, near Lardos, Rhodes, and now in the
Antikensammlung, Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Each planet is assigned four periods, and the
table records how many of each kind of period occur in 29,140 and 291,400 solar years.
The underlying planetary theory was apparently geometrical though radically different
from P’s, and the long cycles relate the inscription to the “Great Years” of Greek
philosophy and astrology as well as to the Yugas (enormous astronomical cycles) of Indian
astronomy. The inscription also defines units of arc, the “degree” (moira) as 1/360 of a
circle, and the “point” (stigme ̄) as 1/9,720 of a circle.
Ed.: Alexander Jones, “The Keskintos Astronomical Inscription: Text and Interpretations,” SCIAMVS
7 (2006) 3–41.
P. Tannery, “L’Inscription astronomique de Keskinto,” REG 8 (1895) 49–58; Neugebauer (1975)
698 – 705.
Alexander Jones
Khaireas of Athens (325 – 175 BCE)
Was the author of an agricultural work which distinguished different varieties of wine
(Ath., Deipn. 1 [32c]), and devoted special attention to the properties of thistle, according
to P, 20.263 (ed. CUF), quoting the opinion of G T. V, RR
1.1.8 and C, 1.1.8, knew his work, which, to judge from Pliny, 1.ind.8, 10, 14–15,
17 – 18, may also have treated cereals, livestock, poultry, and arboriculture.
KP 1.1121 (#4), Kl. Stiewe; RE 3.2 (1899) 2023 (#8), M. Wellmann.
Philip Thibodeau
Khaire ̄mo ̄n (25 – 75 CE)
Egyptian priest (hierogrammateus) adhering to Stoicism, among the emperor Nero’s tutors.
Khaire ̄mo ̄n wrote an account of Egyptian hieroglyphics, perhaps as part of his lost Aigup-
tiake ̄ Historia. E reports in his Praeparatio Evangelica (3.4) that Khaire ̄mo ̄n maintained
that Egyptian gods were the planets, zodiacal signs, and constellations, referring to the
S for authority. Origen, Contra Celsum (1.59) asserts that Khaire ̄mo ̄n wrote
On Comets discussing their significance as astral omens, but the testimonia do not suggest that
he was an astrologer in his own right.
Ed.: P.W. van der Horst, Chaeremon: Egyptian Priest and Stoic Philosopher. The Fragments Collected and Translated
with Explanatory Notes (1984).
M. Frede, “Chaeremon,” ANRW 2.36.3 (1989) 2067–2103.
Alexander Jones
Khairesteos of Athens (325 – 90 BCE)
Wrote a work on agriculture used by C D (V, RR 1.1.8–10).
C (1.1.8) gives his name as “Chrestus,” and P (1.ind.14, 15, 17, 18) as
“Chaerestus,” both perhaps confusing him with K A. To judge from
Pliny’s index, he discussed cereals, viticulture, and arboriculture.
RE 3.2 (1899) 2029, M. Wellmann.
Philip Thibodeau
KHAIRESTEOS OF ATHENS