daimo ̄n, -ones initially God or the divine, but later being(s) intermediate between the
gods and humans (H Erga 122 – 126, 314; P Symp. 202e–203a, Polit. 271d–e,
Tim. 41a–d), usually imagined as non-corporeal, but sometimes said to be made of
aithe ̄r (E 984d–985b); D L 7.151 (C and
Z); HWPhil 2 (1972) 1–4, F.P. Hager; OCD3 426, H.S. Versnel; BNP 4 (2004)
275 – 279, P. Habermehl.
See also: A M, N, S, X
K.
decan in Pharaonic Egyptian astronomy, one of a series of 36 constellations used for
time-reckoning (first known from Egyptian coffin lids of ca 2100 – 1800 BCE), parallel to
and south of the ecliptic, rising once every ten days of the civil calendar, providing a
system of marking consecutive hours of night by their successive risings. After transmis-
sion of the zodiac to Egypt in the Ptolemaic period, the decans were adjusted to the new
system, whereby they came to represent one-third of a zodiacal sign.
See also: H T, P (T), S,
S (L.), T B.
de ̄miourgos “Demiurge,” originally “craftsman in public service” (OCD3 451,
F.W. Walbank and P.J. Rhodes), then the divine organizer of the kosmos, the chief god
of P’s pantheon, who models the world to eternal patterns, the Forms: Tim 28 – 30;
HWPhil 2 (1972) 49–50, W. Ullmann; BNP 4 (2004) 261–263, M. Baltes.
See also (most Neo-Platonists employ the term; here we list only entries that mention
it explicitly): A, C L, D (N-P.),
H A, I K, I A,
L, P, T. A., T, T L.
diaphore ̄tike ̄ perspirant compound, intended to extract the cold wet humor (phlegm):
Durling 1993: 128–130.
See also: C, K, M, P (M.), S C,
S.
dioptra optical instrument for sighting, surveying, and star-gazing, consisting in essence
of a tube or other framework, used as a sighting guide, and possibly devices to
indicate azimuth and level: Campbell (2000); BNP 4 (2004) 513–514, E. Olshausen
and V. Sauer.
See also: B, D, E, H A, K-
, P. O.73.
diphruges metallic-yellowish iron ore, either chalcopyrites or pyrites: D,
MM 5.103, 125; Durling 1993: 132–133.
See also: A T, K.
Dogmatists see Rationalists.
dropsy (Grk.: hudro ̄ps) a disease characterized by edema, of varying etiology (i.e., in
modern medicine would be a symptom, not a diagnosis); cf. H C
Affections 22 (6.232–234 Littré), Internal Affections 22 – 26 (7.220–236 Littré). Varieties
included anasarka, G Loc. Aff. 5.7 (8.353 K.) and askites, Gale ̄n, Caus. Sympt. 3.3
(7.224 K.).
See also: A, A, A M, B, C
(P.), C, D A, E I, E,
-G D M, I C,
K, K K (I, II), K (P.), M
GLOSSARY