Ocellus Lucanus on the nature of the universe. Taurus, the Platonic philosopher, on the eternity of the world. Julius Firmicus Maternus of the thema mundi; in which the positions of the stars at the commencement of the several mundane periods is given. Select theorems on the perpetuity of time, by Proclus / Translated from the originals by Thomas Taylor.

  • Thomas Taylor
Date:
1831
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ocellus Lucanus on the nature of the universe. Taurus, the Platonic philosopher, on the eternity of the world. Julius Firmicus Maternus of the thema mundi; in which the positions of the stars at the commencement of the several mundane periods is given. Select theorems on the perpetuity of time, by Proclus / Translated from the originals by Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    4: such things as these receive mutation and diminu- tion, conformably to the course of a generated na- ture: for things that are greater and better acquire acme through power, but those that are less and worse are corrupted through imbecility of nature. I denominate, however, the whole and the uni- verse, the whole world; for, in consequence of being adorned with all things, it has obtained this appella- tion; since it is from itself a consummate and perfect system of the nature of all things; for there is no- thing external to the universe, since whatever exists is contained in the universe, and the universe sub- sists together with this, comprehending in itself all things, some as parts, but others as supervenient. Those things, therefore, which are compre- hended in the world, have a congruity with the world; but the world has no concinnity with any- thing else, but is itself co-harmonized with itself. For all other things have not a consummate or self-perfect subsistence, but require congruity with things external to themselves. Thus animals re- quire a conjunction with air for the purpose of respiration, but sight with light, in order to see; and the other senses with something else, in order to perceive their peculiar sensible object. A con- junction with the earth also is necessary to the ger- mination of plants. ‘he sun and moon, the planets, and the fixed stars, have likewise a coalescence with
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