New scrolls have just come in. We have new additions to the Law, Philosophy, and Medicine and Sciences sections. Take a look!
We now have the work of Aristoxenos (born c. 375-360 B.C.), who
studied under Aristotle. He wrote Political Laws.
For those with a cynical outlook, we have the works of Menippos
of Gadara (3rd century B.C.) a cynic who wrote Descent to the
Underworld, Wills, and Letters from the Gods.
We also have works by the Epicureans. Kolotes of Lampsacus was an Epicurean philosopher who lived in the 4th-3rd centuries B.C. He felt following earlier philosophies would make life impossible. We have several of his works, including Against Plato's "Lysis", and Against the "Republic." Other Epicurean works include Metrodoros of Lampsacus' Eurylochus, and Metrodorus.
We have other philosophical works, which include those of Krantor, (4th-3rd century B.C.), who was a philosopher who studied at the Academy, under Xenocrates and Polemon. His On Grief is praised by later authors. Diogenes of Apollonia (440-425 B.C.) wrote many works, including On Nature, Against the Sophists, and Nature of Man. Eukleides of Megara, (around 450-380 B.C.) was an associate of Socrates, founded the Megarian school of philosophy, and took in Plato after Socrates died. He emphasized logic and logical paradoxes. Protagoras of Abdera (c. 490-420 B.C.) was a friend of Perikles who wrote Truth, and On the Gods, which we have.
Medicine
Hippocratus (about 460-380 B.C.) is the most famous doctor of
rational medicine. The Hippocratic Oath is attributed to him.
We of course have the whole Hippocratus Corpus, 60 works written
in the Ionic dialect, which is attributed to him. Highlights include
On Ancient Medicine, On the Sacred Disease (it's on epilepsy),
and On Airs, Waters, Places, and Epidemics. Also part of the Corpus
is the Nature of Man, which suggests that there are four humors
(blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm) which mirror the
four elements (air, earth, fire, and water). This idea has dominated
medicine for years. Some say that Hippocrates did not write these
works, but that they represent his whole school. We also have
the work of Diokles of Carystus (4th century B.C.) who is the
second most famous physician, and he was the first to write in
Attic.
We also have the critically acclaimed work of Erasistratos of Cos (first half of the 3rd century B.C.). Critics say his work on blood circulation is the best available.
Zoology
We have many works by the famous Aristotle, who wrote many treatises
on animals. His most important included History of Animals, On
the Generation of Animals, On the Parts of Animals, On the Motion
of Animals, and On the Progression of Animals. The careful classifications
in his works laid the groundwork for systematic zoology. He also
wrote Inquiry into Animals. We also have Apollodorus of Alexandria's
On Poisonous Creatures. He lived in the early 3rd century B.C.
Botany
We also have Theophrastus of Eresus' (c. 370-288/285 B.C.) History
of Plants, and Causes of Plants. Theophrastus was influenced by
Aristotle and took over the Lyceum after Aristotle.
Mathematics
Archimedes, born in Syracuse, lived from 287 to 212 B.C. He was
the son of the astronomer Pheidias. He was the greatest Greek
mathematician, and was also an inventor, physicist, and astronomer.
We have all his works, including On the Sphere and Cylinder, On
Spirals, Method of Mechanical Theorems. In the Sand-Reckoner,
he described a way to express large numbers in words. In On Floating
Bodies, he talks about a science which could be called hydrostatics,
which he invented.
Apollonius of Perge, a mathematician in the last half of the 3rd century B.C., is considered second only to Archimedes in mathematics. He wrote the eight-volumed Conics, which we have. Diokles, (possibly 200 B.C.), wrote On Burning-Mirrors, which is an important work for the history of conic sections.
Eukleides (300 B.C.) lived in Alexandria. He wrote the famous 13 volumes of Stoicheia (Elements), which made his name synonymous with geometry. We also have many works that influenced Eukleides. We have the Elements of Geometry, by Hippokrates of Chios (about 470-400 B.C.), which is considered to be a forerunner. Although some say Hippokrates' Elements of Geometry are lost, we have a copy. Theatetos (c. 415/414 - 369 B.C.) was an Athenian who developed the idea of irrational numbers. Critics say he is the main source for the 10th and 13th volumes of Eukleides. Eudoxos of Cnidus also wrote a work on geometry that is used by Eukleides in his work.
Aristoxenos, born around 375-360 B.C., studied in Athens. We have his Pythagorean Maxims.
Astronomy
Aristarkhos of Samos, from the first half of the 3rd century B.C.,
has the novel idea that the sun and stars do not move, but that
the Earth moves around the sun. The additional works we have for
him are On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon. We also
have Aristotle's On the Heavens, and Autolykos of Pitane's On
Moving Spheres, and On Risings and Settings.
Meteorology
For those looking for meteorological works, we have Aristotle's
Meteorologica and Diogenes of Apollonia's (440-425 B.C.) Meteorology.
Lyric Poetry? (Music)
Aristoxenos, born in Tarentum around 375-360 B.C., studied in
Athens under Xenophilus, and then under Aristotle. He wrote Principles
and Elements of Harmonics, Elements of Rhythm, On Music, and On
Melody.
Source:
Adkins, Lesley, and Roy A. Adkins. 1997. Handbook to Life in Ancient
Greece. New York: Oxford University Press.
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