become pathological, e.g. if the residues are not yet expulsed and an excess of nourishment
intervenes. He was considered wrongly as a forerunner of the corpuscular theory of
digestion.
RE 1.1 (1893) 964 and S.1 (1903) 36, M. Wellmann; W.A. Heidel, “Antecedents of Greek Corpuscular
Theories,” HSCPh 22 (1911) 111–172 at 165; BNP 1 (2002) 191, V. Nutton.
Daniela Manetti
Aineias Tacticus (370 – 350 BCE)
The earliest author on military topics. His identity is much debated, but he was probably
identical to Aineias Stumphalos, general of the Arcadian League in 367 BCE, who helped
overcome Euphro ̄n, the tyrant of Sikuo ̄n (X Hell. 7.1.44–46). Aineias wrote sev-
eral treatises on military topics, but only the long extract, Siege-Craft, survives (Aelian Tactics
1.2). From the historical examples of sieges used in the treatise it can be dated to the mid-
4th c. Siege-Craft deals with the preparations for and methods for countering sieges, although
he sometimes switches briefly to the viewpoint of the attacker. Aineias refers to other trea-
tises of his: Siege Preparations (Paraskeuastike ̄) (7.4, 8.5, 21.1, 40.8) and Procurement (Poristike ̄) (14.2).
Siege-Craft has no discernible structure. It may, however, be seen as falling broadly into
three parts: preparing for a siege by an unknown threat (1–14); preparing for a siege by an
enemy known to be on its way (15–31); and resisting an actual attack (32–40). Only a minor
part of the treatise thus deals with the attack itself, concerning, for instance, techniques for
protecting walls against attack, dealing with incendiary devices, countering attempts to
undermine walls and making the defending forces seem as large as possible. The majority of
the treatise is concerned with strategies for dealing with potential threats and dangers from
within. Aineias discusses how to select troops, prepare defenses, keep up morale and discip-
line, estimate the approach of an enemy, avoid treachery at the gate and prevent enemies
from communicating with sympathizers inside. The treatise thus gives a vivid picture of life
in a Greek polis and the role of military technology on the scale of a small city state.
Although siege technology and generalship were developing into forms of technical know-
ledge taught outside practical contexts, Siege-Craft appears to be written by someone with a
measure of direct practical experience.
Ed.: D. Whitehead, Aineias the Tactician: How to Survive under Siege (1990).
KP 1.175 (#2), W. Sontheimer; OCD3 23, D. Whitehead; BNP 1 (2002) 221–222, L. Burckhardt.
Karin Tybjerg
Aineias of Gaza (ca 460 – 530 CE)
Christian orator of the Gaza school, Prokopios of Gaza’s contemporary (465–528) and
pupil of the Platonist Hierokle ̄s (Theophrastos 2.9, 2.20). Aineias wrote 25 letters and a
dialogue entitled Theophrastos. The dialogue is between a Platonist called Theophrastos
and two Christians, Aiguptos and Euxitheos, trying to defend Christian doctrine, especially
the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body, rejecting Platonist doctrines
incompatible with Christianity, like the pre-existence of the soul and the eternity of the
world.
Ed.: M.E. Colonna, Enea di Gaza Teofrasto (1958); L.M. Positano, Enea di Gaza Epistole (1962).
DPA 1 (1989) 82–87, A. Segonds; BNP 1 (2002) 222 (#4), P. Hadot.
George Karamanolis
AINEIAS TACTICUS