Phaidros derived from Syrianus’ lessons, and Proklos’ two major commentaries in Tim. and
in Parm. are strongly indebted to Syrianus. Additionally, later commentators, especially
S reproducing Syrianus’ views on place, body and movement, frequently allude
to Syrianus.
Syrianus explicitly followed I’ views on the role of mathematics as a path to
Pythagorean theology and on the structure of reality in various levels. It led him to
important theories later influencing exegetical literature on mathematics, natural phil-
osophy, and psychology. Especially important is his theory of geometrical activity as the
projection of the innate logoi of the soul onto the imagination, similar to the projection of
the cosmic soul’s ideas onto the screen of incorporeal space permeating all bodies like a
beam of intangible light (IM 84 – 86). This implies an analogy between natural phenomena
and mathematical and psychic reasoning as well as an original conception of space and
the soul. Equally important is the relationship between his metaphysical system and his
exegetical method, probably not to be separated from Syrianus’ interests in rhetoric (see
Praechter col.1744).
Meager evidence indicates that Syrianus’ interest in mathematics exceeded epistemo-
logical theories. Thus, the invention of an elementary method of division of numbers of
different sexagesimal orders is attributed to Syrianus in the anonymous P
P’s S (Knorr 1989: 167 and n.78). This endeavor in astronomical logistics,
perhaps in relation to astrology (Proklos in Remp. II.64 Kroll), may be confirmed by allusions
in Theodo ̄ros Melite ̄niote ̄s’ Tribiblos preface (1.163 Leurquin) – that he ( possibly) used
Syrianus’ writings, along with T’s and P’.
RE 4A.2 (1932) 1728–1775 (#1), K. Praechter; O’Meara (1989) 128–141.
Alain Bernard
SYRIANUS OF ALEXANDRIA