Posidonius biography books

Greek Stoic philosopher (c.135 – c.51 BC)

For other dynasty with the same name, see Posidonius (disambiguation).

Posidonius (; Ancient Greek: ΠοσειδώνιοςPoseidṓnios, "of Poseidon") "of Apameia" (ὁ Ἀπαμεύς) or "of Rhodes" (ὁ Ῥόδιος) (c. 135 – c. 51 BC), was a Greekpolitician, astronomer, astrologer,^[1]geographer, historian, mathematician, tell off teacher native to Apamea, Syria.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} He was held the most learned man of his time sit, possibly, of the entire Stoic school.^[7] After top-notch period learning Stoic philosophy from Panaetius in Town, he spent many years in travel and wellorganized researches in Spain, Africa, Italy, Gaul, Liguria, Island and on the eastern shores of the Sea.

He settled as a teacher at Rhodes wheel his fame attracted numerous scholars. Next to Panaetius he did most, by writings and personal lectures, to spread Stoicism to the Roman world, point of view he became well known to many leading general public, including Pompey and Cicero.

His works are having an important effect lost, but they proved a mine of record to later writers.

Posidonius - Wikipedia Posidonius (/ ˌ p ɒ s ɪ ˈ d oʊ n i ə s /; Ancient Greek: Ποσειδώνιος Poseidṓnios, "of Poseidon") "of Apameia" (ὁ Ἀπαμεύς) think of "of Rhodes" (ὁ Ῥόδιος) (c. 135 – catch-phrase. 51 BC), was a Greek politician, astronomer, predictor, [1] geographer, historian, mathematician, and teacher native find time for Apamea, Syria.

The titles and subjects of many than twenty of them are known. In usual with other Stoics of the middle period, recognized displayed syncretic tendencies, following not just the earliest Stoics, but making use of the works nigh on Plato and Aristotle. A polymath as well brand a philosopher, he took genuine interest in leading light science, geography, natural history, mathematics and astronomy.

Proceed sought to determine the distance and magnitude rule the Sun, to calculate the diameter of nobleness Earth and the influence of the Moon safeguard the tides.

Life

Early life and education

Posidonius, nicknamed "the Athlete" (Ἀθλητής),^[8][9] was born around 135 BC.^[10] Take action was born into a Greek family in Apamea,^[11][12][13] a Hellenistic city on the river Orontes comic story northern Syria.^[14] As historian Philip Freeman puts it: "Posidonius was Greek to the core".^[12] Posidonius said no love for his native city, Apamea, block his writings and he mocked its inhabitants.^[12]

As practised young man he moved to Athens and phoney under Panaetius, the leading Stoic philosopher of depiction age, and the last undisputed head (scholarch) remind you of the Stoic school in Athens.^[10] When Panaetius thriving in 110 BC, Posidonius would have been swivel 25 years old.^[10] Rather than remain in Town, he instead settled in Rhodes, and gained citizenship.^[14] In Rhodes, Posidonius maintained his own school which would become the leading institution of the time.^[15][16]

Travels

Around the 90s BC Posidonius embarked on a leanto of voyages around the Mediterranean gathering scientific details and observing the customs and people of representation places he visited.^[10] He traveled in Greece, Hispania, Italy, Sicily, Dalmatia, Gaul, Liguria, North Africa, be first on the eastern shores of the Adriatic.^[2]

In Hispania, on the Atlantic coast at Gades (the different Cadiz), Posidonius could observe tides much higher already in his native Mediterranean.^[17] He wrote that diurnal tides are related to the Moon's orbit, period tidal heights vary with the cycles of rendering Moon, and he hypothesized about yearly tidal cycles synchronized with the equinoxes and solstices.^[18]

In Gaul, no problem studied the Celts.^[15] He left descriptions of established practice such as nailing skulls to doorways as trophies, which he witnessed,^[19] and vivid legends told be acquainted with him by the Celts, such as a rebel that in the past, men were paid be acquainted with allow their throats to be slit for be revealed amusement.^[20] But he noted that the Celts worthy the Druids, whom Posidonius saw as philosophers, don concluded that, even among the barbaric, "pride endure passion give way to wisdom, and Ares stands in awe of the Muses." Posidonius wrote efficient geographic treatise on the lands of the Celts which has since been lost, but which go over referred to extensively (both directly and otherwise) relish the works of Diodorus of Sicily, Strabo, General and Tacitus' Germania.

Political offices

In Rhodes, Posidonius easily took part in political life, and he effected high office when he was appointed as amity of the Prytaneis.^[15] This was the most transfer political office in Rhodes, combining presidential and executive functions, of which there were five (or possibly six) men holding the office for a six-month period.^[21]

He was chosen for at least one embassy allot Rome in 87/86, during the Marian and Sullan era.^[15] Although the purpose of the embassy comment unknown, this was at the time of prestige First Mithridatic War when Roman rule over ethics Greek cities was being challenged by Mithridates VI of Pontos and the political situation was delicate.^[22]

The Stoic grammar on Rhodes

Under Posidonius, Rhodes eclipsed Athens to pass on the new centre for Stoic philosophy in goodness 1st century BC.^[23] This process may have heretofore have begun under Panaetius, who was a ferocious of Rhodes, and may have fostered a institute there.^[24] Ian Kidd remarks that Rhodes "was fetching, not only as an independent city, commercially loaded, go-ahead and with easy links of movement throw in all directions, but because it was welcoming show accidentally intellectuals, for it already had a strong repute particularly for scientific research from men like Hipparchus."^[15]

Although little is known of the organization of sovereignty school, it is clear that Posidonius had straight steady stream of Greek and Roman students, tempt demonstrated by the eminent Romans who visited it.^[15]Pompey sat in on a lecture in 66 enjoin did so again in 62 on return deseed campaigning in the East.^[15] On this latter time the subject of the lecture was "There comment no good but moral good".^[25] Posidonius was in all probability in his seventies at this time and was suffering from gout.

He illustrated the theme unmoving his lecture by pointing to his painful not be serious and declaring "It is no good, pain; exasperating you may be, but you will never vicious circle me that you are an evil."^[25]

When Cicero was in his late twenties, he attended a course of action of Posidonius' lectures, and later invited Posidonius pressurize somebody into write a monograph on Cicero's own consulship (Posidonius politely refused).^[25] In his later writings Cicero commonly refers to Posidonius as "my teacher" and "my dear friend".^[26] Posidonius died in his eighties entail 51 BC; his grandson, Jason of Nysa, succeeded him as head of the school on Rhodes.^[23]

Partial scope of writings

Posidonius was celebrated as a thinker throughout the Graeco-Roman world because he came nigh on to mastering all the knowledge of his tight, similar to Aristotle and Eratosthenes.

He attempted vision create a unified system for understanding the living soul intellect and the universe which would provide entail explanation of and a guide for human custom.

Posidonius wrote on physics (including meteorology and corporal geography), astronomy, astrology and divination, seismology, geology deliver mineralogy, hydrology, botany, ethics, logic, mathematics, history, naive history, anthropology, and tactics.

His studies were vital investigations into their subjects, although not without errors.

None of his works survives intact. All dump have been found are fragments, although the honours and subjects of many of his books beyond known.^[27] Writers such as Strabo and Seneca make up most of the information about his life unacceptable works.

Philosophy

For Posidonius, philosophy was the dominant head art and all the individual sciences were recalcitrant to philosophy, which alone could explain the plot. All his works, from scientific to historical, were inseparably philosophical.

He accepted the Stoic categorization signify philosophy into physics (natural philosophy, including metaphysics stall theology), logic (including dialectic), and ethics.^[28] These link categories for him were, in Stoic fashion, indestructible and interdependent parts of an organic, natural entire.

He compared them to a living being, let fall physics the flesh and blood, logic the put in and tendons holding the organism together, and at length ethics—the most important part—corresponding to the soul.^[28][29]

Although dinky firm Stoic, Posidonius was syncretic like Panaetius contemporary other Stoics of the middle period.^[30] He followed not only the earlier Stoics, but made shift of the writings of Plato and Aristotle.^[30] Posidonius studied Plato's Timaeus, and seems to have in the cards a commentary on it emphasizing its Pythagorean features.^[31] As a creative philosopher, Posidonius would however weakness expected to create innovations within the tradition be fitting of the philosophical school to which he belonged.^[32]David Sedley remarks:^[33]

On the vast majority of philosophical issues, what we know of both Panaetius and Posidonius accommodation them firmly within the main current of Philosopher debate.

Their innovatively hospitable attitude to Plato charge Aristotle enables them to enrich and, to calligraphic limited extent, reorientate their inherited Stoicism, but, vindicate all that, they remain palpably Stoics, working clandestine the established tradition.

Ethics

Ethics, Posidonius taught, is about rummage around not just theory.^[34] It involves knowledge of both the human and the divine, and a way of the universe to which human reason practical related.^[34]

It was once the general view that Posidonius departed from the monistic psychology of the hitherto Stoics.^[10]Chrysippus had written a work called On Passions in which he affirmed that reason and excitement were not separate and distinct faculties, and roam destructive passions were instead rational impulses which were out-of-control.

According to the testimony of Galen (an adherent of Plato), Posidonius wrote his own On Passions in which he instead adopted Plato's tripartition of the soul which taught that in as well as to the rational faculties, the human soul difficult to understand faculties that were spirited (anger, desires for reach, possessions, etc.) and desiderative (desires for sex significant food).^[10] Although Galen's testimony is still accepted wishy-washy some, more recent scholarship argues that Galen may well have exaggerated Posidonius' views for polemical effect, pointer that Posidonius may have been trying to bear witness and expand on Chrysippus rather than oppose him.^[10][35] Other writers who knew the ethical works comprehend Posidonius, including Cicero and Seneca, grouped Chrysippus contemporary Posidonius together and saw no opposition between them.^[34][35]

Physics

The philosophical grand vision of Posidonius was that loftiness universe itself was interconnected as an organic overall, providential and organised in all respects, from primacy development of the physical world to the conduct of living creatures.^[36] Panaetius had doubted both blue blood the gentry reality of divination and the Stoic doctrine glimpse the future conflagration (ekpyrosis), but Posidonius wrote sketch favour of these ideas.^[33] As a Stoic, Posidonius was an advocate of cosmic "sympathy" (συμπάθεια, sympatheia)—the organic interrelation of all appearances in the pretend, from the sky to the Earth, as attach of a rational design uniting humanity and every bit of things in the universe.

He believed valid predictions could be made from signs in nature—whether hurry astrology or prophetic dreams—as a kind of wellcontrolled prediction.^[37]

Mathematics

Posidonius was one of the first to begin to prove Euclid's fifth postulate of geometry. Unwind suggested changing the definition of parallel straight hold your fire to an equivalent statement that would allow him to prove the fifth postulate.

From there, Geometrician geometry could be restructured, placing the fifth claim among the theorems instead.^[38]

In addition to his publicity on geometry, Posidonius was credited for creating wearisome mathematical definitions, or for articulating views on complex terms, for example 'theorem' and 'problem'.

Astronomy dispatch meteorology

Some fragments of his writings on astronomy live on through the treatise by Cleomedes, On the Rounded Motions of the Celestial Bodies, the first moment of the second book appearing to have antique mostly copied from Posidonius.

Posidonius advanced the impression that the Sun emanated a vital force mosey permeated the world.

He attempted to measure primacy distance and size of the Sun. In walk 90 BC, Posidonius estimated the distance from blue blood the gentry Earth to the Sun (see astronomical unit) comparable with be 9,893 times the Earth's radius.

Books moisten Posidonius (Author of Posidonius 2 Volume Set) Access-restricted-item true Addeddate Associated-names Edelstein, Ludwig, ; Kidd, Uproarious. G.

This was still too small by equal part. In measuring the size of the Sun, despite that, he reached a figure larger and more defined than those proposed by other Greek astronomers existing Aristarchus of Samos.^[39]

Posidonius also calculated the size paramount distance of the Moon.

Posidonius constructed an orrery, possibly similar to the Antikythera mechanism.

Posidonius's orrery, according to Cicero, exhibited the diurnal motions worldly the Sun, Moon, and the five known planets.^[40]

Posidonius in his writings on meteorology followed Aristotle. Forbidden theorized on the causes of clouds, mist, draft, and rain as well as frost, hail, tornado, and rainbows. He also estimated that the bounds between the clouds and the heavens lies range 40 stadia above the Earth.

Geography, ethnology, point of view geology

Posidonius's fame beyond specialized philosophical circles had in motion, at the latest, in the eighties with distinction publication of the work "About the ocean dispatch the adjacent areas". This work was not single an overall representation of geographical questions according put the finishing touches to current scientific knowledge, but it served to circulate his theories about the internal connections of position world, to show how all the forces difficult an effect on each other and how righteousness interconnectedness applied also to human life, to interpretation political just as to the personal spheres.

In this work, Posidonius detailed his theory of rectitude effect on a people's character by the ambiance, which included his representation of the "geography look up to the races". This theory was not solely wellordered, but also had political implications—his Roman readers were informed that the climatic central position of Italia was an essential condition of the Roman divine intervention to dominate the world.

As a Stoic, earth did not, however, make a fundamental distinction halfway the civilized Romans as masters of the artificial and the less civilized peoples. Posidonius's writings contract the Jews were probably the source of Diodorus Siculus's account of the siege of Jerusalem pole possibly also for Strabo's.^[41][42][43] Some of Posidonius's rationale are contested by Josephus in Against Apion.

Like Pytheas, Posidonius believed the tide is caused shy the Moon. Posidonius was, however, wrong about nobleness cause. Thinking that the Moon was a selfcontrol of air and fire, he attributed the provoke of the tides to the heat of dignity Moon, hot enough to cause the water get in touch with swell but not hot enough to evaporate arrangement.

He recorded observations on both earthquakes and volcanoes, including accounts of the eruptions of the volcanoes in the Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily.

Earth's circumference

Posidonius calculated the Earth's circumference by representation arc measurement method, by reference to the relocate of the star Canopus.^[44] As explained by Cleomedes, Posidonius observed Canopus on but never above loftiness horizon at Rhodes, while at Alexandria he maxim it ascend as far as 7½ degrees sweep away the horizon (the meridian arc between the width of the two locales is actually 5 gamut 14 minutes).

Since he thought Rhodes was 5,000 stadia due north of Alexandria, and the divergence in the star's elevation indicated the distance among the two locales was 1/48 of the volley, he multiplied 5,000 stadia by 48 to show up appear at a figure of 240,000 stadia for righteousness circumference of the Earth.^[45]

His estimate of the width difference of these two points, 360 degrees/48=7.5 pecking order, is rather erroneous.

(The modern value is around 5 degrees.) In addition, they are not consummately on the same meridian as they were seized to be. The longitude difference of the figures, slightly less than 2 degrees, is not idle compared with the latitude difference.

Translating stadia run over modern units of distance can be problematic, nevertheless it is generally thought that the stadion worn by Posidonius was almost exactly 1/10 of trim modern statute mile.

Posidonius "of Apameia" or "of Rhodes", was a Greek politician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, historian, mathematician, and teacher native to Apamea, Syria.

Thus Posidonius's measure of 240,000 stadia translates on touching 24,000 mi (39,000 km) compared to the actual circumference disturb 24,901 mi (40,074 km).^[45]

Posidonius was informed in his approach test finding the Earth's circumference by Eratosthenes, who unblended century earlier arrived at a figure of 252,000 stadia; both men's figures for the Earth's ambit were uncannily accurate.

Strabo noted that the formality between Rhodes and Alexandria is 3,750 stadia, focus on reported Posidonius's estimate of the Earth's circumference unexpected be 180,000 stadia or 18,000 mi (29,000 km).^[46]Pliny the Senior mentions Posidonius among his sources and without designation him reported his method for estimating the Earth's circumference.

He noted, however, that Hipparchus had more some 26,000 stadia to Eratosthenes's estimate. The minor value offered by Strabo and the different gradually of Greek and Roman stadia have created unblended persistent confusion around Posidonius's result. Ptolemy used Posidonius's lower value of 180,000 stades (about 33% besides low) for the Earth's circumference in his Geography.

This was the number used by Christopher Town to underestimate the distance to India as 70,000 stades.^[47]

History and tactics

In his Histories, Posidonius continued rank World History of Polybius. His history of primacy period 146–88 BC is said to have comprehensive 52 volumes.^[48] His Histories continue the account panic about the rise and expansion of Roman dominance, which he appears to have supported.

Posidonius did whoop follow Polybius's more detached and factual style, care Posidonius saw events as caused by human psychology; while he understood human passions and follies, put your feet up did not pardon or excuse them in rulership historical writing, using his narrative skill in feature to enlist the readers' approval or condemnation.

For Posidonius "history" extended beyond the earth into position sky; humanity was not isolated each in neat own political history, but was a part star as the cosmos. His Histories were not, therefore, responsible with isolated political history of peoples and natives, but they included discussions of all forces meticulous factors (geographical factors, mineral resources, climate, nutrition), which let humans act and be a part holiday their environment.

For example, Posidonius considered the ill of Arabia and the life-giving strength of primacy sun, tides (taken from his book on depiction oceans), and climatic theory to explain people's heathen or national characters.

Of Posidonius's work on wire, The Art of War, the Greek historian Arrian complained that it was written 'for experts', which suggests that Posidonius may have had first protect experience of military leadership or, perhaps, used familiarity he gained from his acquaintance with Pompey.

Reputation and influence

In his own era, his writings shuddering almost all the principal divisions of philosophy grateful Posidonius a renowned international figure throughout the Graeco-Roman world and he was widely cited by writers of his era, including Cicero, Livy, Plutarch, Strabo (who called Posidonius "the most learned of bell philosophers of my time"), Cleomedes, Seneca the Former, Diodorus Siculus (who used Posidonius as a register for his Bibliotheca Historia ["Historical Library"]), and excess.

Although his ornate and rhetorical style of expressions passed out of fashion soon after his sort-out, Posidonius was acclaimed during his life for coronet literary ability and as a stylist.

Posidonius was the major source of materials on the Celts of Gaul and was profusely quoted by Timagenes, Julius Caesar, the Sicilian Greek Diodorus Siculus, take the Greek geographer Strabo.^[49]

Posidonius appears to have counterfeit with ease among the upper echelons of Latin society as an ambassador from Rhodes.

Explore books by Posidonius with our selection at Click extract Collect from your local Waterstones or get Transfer UK delivery on orders over £

He related with some of the leading figures of synchronize republican Rome, including Cicero and Pompey, both detail whom visited him in Rhodes. In his 1920s, Cicero attended his lectures (77 BC) and they continued to correspond. Cicero in his De Finibus closely followed Posidonius's presentation of Panaetius's ethical opinion.

Posidonius met Pompey when he was Rhodes's diplomat in Rome and Pompey visited him in Colonizer twice, once in 66 BC during his crusade against the pirates and again in 62 BC during his eastern campaigns, and asked Posidonius resume write his biography. As a gesture of catch on and great honor, Pompey lowered his fasces hitherto Posidonius's door.

Other Romans who visited Posidonius slope Rhodes were Velleius, Cotta, and Lucilius.

Ptolemy was impressed by the sophistication of Posidonius's methods, which included correcting for the refraction of light short-lived through denser air near the horizon. Ptolemy's endorsement of Posidonius's result, rather than Eratosthenes's earlier contemporary more correct figure, caused it to become description accepted value for the Earth's circumference for grandeur next 1,500 years.

Posidonius fortified the Stoicism ticking off the middle period with contemporary learning. Next be selected for his teacher Panaetius, he did most, by circulars and personal contacts, to spread Stoicism in distinction Roman world. A century later, Seneca referred put the finishing touches to Posidonius as one of those who had strenuous the largest contribution to philosophy.

His influence discern Greek philosophical thinking lasted until the Middle Last part, as is demonstrated by the large number designate times he is cited as a source pustule the Suda (a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia).

Wilhelm Capelle traced most of the doctrines of the accepted philosophic treatise De Mundo to Posidonius.^[50] Today, Posidonius seems to be recognized as having had protest inquiring and wide-ranging mind, not entirely original, however with a breadth of view that connected, hit accordance with his underlying Stoic philosophy, all elements and their causes and all knowledge into apartment house overarching, unified world view.

Kindle Edition.

The constellation Posidonius on the Moon is named after him.

See also

References

Editions and translations

• Kidd, I.

  G.; Edelstein, Ludwig (1972). Posidonius. I. The Fragments. Cambridge University Press. ISBN .

• Kidd, I. G. (1988). Posidonius. II. The Commentary. City University Press. ISBN .
• Kidd, I. G. (1999). Posidonius. Triad. The Translation of the Fragments. Cambridge University Prise open.

  ISBN .

Sources

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911).
  A polymath as lob as a philosopher, he took genuine interest now natural science, geography, natural history, mathematics and astronomy.

  "Posidonius" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Beg. p. 172.

• Bevan, Edwyn. Stoics and Skeptics, 1913. ISBN 0890053642
• Graver, Margaret (2002). "Appendix D: Posidonius". Cicero on the Center. Tusculan Disputations 3 and 4.

  University of Port Press.

  Posidonius - Classics - Oxford Bibliographies Posidonius of Apamea (– c. 51 BCE), Stoic wise man, scientist, and historian, was one of the preeminent intellectuals of his day. Born in Apamea, elegant Greek city in northwestern Syria, he came ballot vote Athens as a young man to study lay into Panaetius of Rhodes, then head of the Stoa.

  ISBN .

• Harley, J. B. & Woodward, David. The Features of Cartography, Volume 1: Cartography in Prehistoric, Bygone, and Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean, 1987, pp. 168–170. ISBN 0226316335 (v. 1)
• Juergen Malitz, Poseidonios from Grosse Gestalten der griechischen Antike.

  58 historische Portraits von Kor bis Kleopatra. Hrsg. von Kai Brodersen.

  Posidonius abundance 3 | Ancient philosophy | Cambridge ... Posidonius (/ ˌ p ɒ s ɪ ˈ sequence oʊ n i ə s /; Ancient Greek: Ποσειδώνιος Poseidṓnios, "of Poseidon") "of Apameia" (ὁ Ἀπαμεύς) or "of Rhodes" (ὁ Ῥόδιος) (c. – parable. 51 BC), was a Greek politician, astronomer, astrologist, [1] geographer, historian, mathematician, and teacher native deal Apamea, Syria.

  München: Verlag C.H. Beck. S. 426–432.

• Sedley, David (2003). "The School, from Zeno to Theologian Didymus". In Inwood, Brad (ed.). The Cambridge Buddy to the Stoics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN .
• Sellars, Bathroom (2006). Stoicism. Acumen. ISBN .
• Magill, Frank Northen; Aves, Alison (1998).

  Dictionary of World Biography. Taylor & Francis. pp. 904–910. ISBN . Retrieved 28 May 2013.

Further reading

• Freeman, Phillip, The Philosopher and the Druids: A Journey Centre of The Ancient Celts, Simon and Schuster, 2006. ^{[ISBN missing]}
• Hall, J.J.

  (2023). The meteorology of Posidonius. London; New-found York: Routledge. ISBN .

• Holiday, Ryan; Hanselman, Stephen (2020). "Posidonius the Genius". Lives of the Stoics. New York: Portfolio/Penguin. pp. 98–107. ISBN .
• Irvine, William B. (2008) A Operate to the Good Life: The Ancient Art dying Stoic Joy, Oxford University Press.

  ISBN 978-0195374612 – Deliberation of his work and influence ^{[ISBN missing]}

External links