Some anecdotes speak of his interest in divination: at the birth of Octauius (who became
A), Nigidius is said to have predicted that the newborn would become the ruler of
the universe; he also practiced dish-divining (lekanomanteia) and was deeply interested in
astrology (de extis, de augurio priuato). To him was attributed a brontoscopic calendar. Although
connections to Pythagoreanism remain possible, Nigidius’ extant doctrines do not display
typical Pythagorean features.
Ed.: A. Swoboda, P. Nigidii Figuli operum reliquiae (1889; repr. 1964); D. Liuzzi, Nigidio Figulo, “astrologo
e mago”: testimonianze e frammenti (1983).
RE 17.1 (1936) 200–212, W. Kroll; A. Della Casa, Nigidio Figulo (1962).
Bruno Centrone
Nikagoras of Cyprus (375 – 335 BCE)
Wrote a geographical or paradoxographical work cited by K for mineral salt
from Kition and by the A C O F N for the
theory that the rise of the Nile is caused by trans-equatorial rainfall.
BNP 9 (2006) 705 (#3), Fr. Lasserre.
PTK
Nikandros (Nicander) of Kolopho ̄n (150 – 110 BCE)
Physician and poet who wrote The ̄riaka (958 lines),
Alexipharmaka (630) and other epe ̄ (Souda); son of
Damaios (fr.110), hereditary priest of Clarian Apollo
(cf. Alex. 11 ~ The ̄r. 958), he was Aitolian by origin,
and spent much time in Aitolia (Nikandrou Genos);
according to the Vitae of Theokritos, A, and
Lykophro ̄n (= test. C.I–V Gow-Scholfield), a con-
temporary of Aratos (C.I–III), or of Ptolemy V (204–
181) (C.IV–V); according to Souda and Genos, of
A III (138–133). A proxenia decree honoring
“Nikandros, son of Anaxagoras, Kolopho ̄nios, epeo ̄n
poe ̄te ̄s” (SIG^3 452: Delphi, ca 210 BCE) compels us to
distinguish Nikandros (I), the epic poet honored in
Delphi, from Nikandros (II), his grandson or great-
nephew, author of the iological poems and a eulogy
to Attalos III (fr.104) – not Attalos I (241–197), pace
Cazzaniga (PP 27 [1972] 369–396) and Cameron.
The reverse combination (Nikandros [I], the iologist:
Cameron, after Bethe, Hermes 53 [1918] 110–112) as opposed to the Genos attestation, the
most reliable authority (Theo ̄n?) on Nikandros’ biography (also to be rejected is C.V’s dat-
ing: cf. Fantuzzi, BNP 9 [2006] 706: 200 BCE), can no longer be supported by the Delphian
decree (formerly dated ca 250 BCE) but only by the early dating of Vitae which is as ques-
tionable as the exchange of poems between Aratos (writer of The ̄riaka) and Nikandros (of
Phainomena), a legend condemned by his own sources (C.IV–V). Nikandros (I) may be the
author of works ascribed to Nikandros (II), the only one recognized in literary tradition.
Nikandros (Vind. Med. Gr. l, f.3V) ©
Krateuas © Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
NIKANDROS (NICANDER) OF KOLOPHO ̄N