classical Indian astronomy that were apparently derived from Hellenistic spherical astron-
omy models. These include large-integer period relations used to calculate mean celestial
positions, planetary epicycles and equations for correcting mean positions on the assump-
tion of circular orbits, and orbital sizes and geocentric distances. Their details reflect a
rather chaotic mix of (among other things) Babylonian and Aristotelian notions invoked
by various early Hellenistic theories that fell into oblivion after P. Indian astron-
omers combined these concepts with other parameters and techniques in their astronomical
tradition to produce the cosmological and computational models that became standard in
siddha ̄ntas.
D.E. Pingree, “The Paita ̄mahasiddha ̄nta of the Vis.n.udharmottarapura ̄n.a,” Brahmavidya ̄ 31 – 32 (1967–68)
472 – 510; Idem, “The recovery of early Greek astronomy from India,” JHA 7 (1976) 109–123; CESS
4.259; DSB 15 (1978) 555–564, D.E. Pingree; Idem, “A ̄ryabhat
̇
a, the Paita ̄mahasiddha ̄nta, and Greek
astronomy,” Studies in History of Medicine and Science ns 12.1–2 (1993) 69–79.
Kim Plofker and Toke Lindegaard Knudsen
Palladios of Alexandria (ca 500 – 600 CE)
Physician and lecturer on medicine (sophiste ̄s/iatrosophiste ̄s). Transcripts of his lectures on
G’s De sectis and on the H C E VI survive, the former
(Dietz 1840: 2.) in fragments, the latter (Dietz 2.1–204) nearly intact; both are designated
skholia apo pho ̄ne ̄s Palladiou (cf. Richard) in the MSS. The mutilated redaction of a commen-
tary on H C De fracturis appears in a single MS under the name of
S A, and a lecture on his Aphorisms survives only in fragments in
Arabic. All four texts, and presumably also others known only through citation, reflect the
standard format of late 6th c. Alexandrian exegesis, with its ordered approach to the text in
terms of (1) lexical issues, (2) general explication of the lemma, and (3) discussion of earlier
interpretations. Palladios is also credited with a fragmentary text on diet (Peri bro ̄seo ̄s kai
poseo ̄s: Dietz 2.). The authorship of a synoptic work on fevers (Peri pureto ̄n suntomos sunopsis:
Ideler 1 [1841/1963] 107–120) is contested among Palladios, S A,
and Theophilos Protospatharios (9th c.); Stephanos and Theophilos each probably later
reworked an earlier Palladian text.
Ed.: D. Irmer, Palladius Alexandrinus. Komm. zu Hippokrates De fracturis und seine Parallelversion unter dem
Namen des Stephanus von Alexandria (1977).
Diels 2 (1907) 75–76; R. Walzer, “Fragmenta graeca in litteris arabicis: 1. Palladios and Aristotle,”
JRAS (1939) 407–422; RE 18.3 (1949) 211–214 (#8), H. Diller; M. Richard, “Apo pho ̄ne ̄s,” Byzantion
20 (1950) 191–222 at 204–205; G. Baffioni, “Scoli inediti di Palladio al de Sectis di Galeno,” Boll.
dei Classici Graeci e Latini ns 6 (1958) 61–78; KP 4.433 (#5), F. Kudlien; HLB 2.292, 301; G. Endress in
W. Fischer, Grundriss der arabischen Philologie 3 (1992) 120, n. 24; PLRE 3 (1992) 962; BNP 10 (2007)
393 (#I.5), A. Touwaide.
Keith Dickson
P ⇒ A
Pammene ̄s (Alch.) (50 – 250 CE)
Alchemist mentioned in the Physical and Mystical Things of -D where he
is said to have demonstrated his knowledge to the priests of Egypt (CAAG 2.49). Z
P (CAAG 2.148) says De ̄mokritos introduced (invented?; eisagei) Pammene ̄s,
PAMMENE ̄S (ALCH.)