Philo of Alexandria and the Timaeus of Plato vol 1

466 Pages·1983·25.04 MB·English

by  Douwe Thenuis Runia

DX Runia
FYANT1RTA
AND THE
TIMAEUS OF PLATO
VU Boekhandel
PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA
AND THE
TIMAEUS OF PLATO
I
Druk: Offsetdrukkerij Kanters B.V., Alblasserdam
ISBN 90-6256-183-7 (2 volumes)
© 1983 D. T. Runia, Kampen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing
from the holder of the copyright.
VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT TE AMSTERDAM
PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA
AND THE
TIMAEUS OF PLATO
ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT
ter verkrijging van de graad van
doctor in de letteren
aan de Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam,
op gezag van de rector magnificus
dr. H. Verheul,
hoogleraar in de faculteit
der wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen,
in het openbaar te verdedigen op
donderdag 2 juni 1983 te 15.30 uur
in het hoofdgebouw der universiteit,
De Boelelaan 1105
door
DOUWE THEUNIS RUNIA
geboren te Marknesse
VU Boekhandel
Promotor: Prof. dr. A. P. Bos
Copromotor: Prof. dr. J. C. M. van Winden
Referent: Prof. dr. C. Datema
CONTENTS
Preface v ii
Notice to the reader ix
PART ONE INTRODUCTION
1. Aim and structure of the study 1
2. Recent developments in Philonic studies 5
3. The historical and cultural setting 23
4. The Timaeus from Plato to the age of Philo 27
5. Method 40
PART TWO ANALYSIS
A 'Commentary' on Plato's Timaeus as read and utilized by Philo
^' Timaeus 17a-27d: the dialogue's introduction 48
2. Timaeus 27d-29d: the proemium 67
3- Timaeus 29d-31b: the act of creation 104
^* Timaeus 31b-34b: the body of the cosmos 146
5. Timaeus 34b-41a: the cosmic soul and the heavenly bodies 166
6* Timaeus 41a-42e: the demiurge's speech and final creative act 197
7' Timaeus 42e-47e: man's descent into the body 221
Timaeus 48a-61c: the receptacle and the primary bodies 241
9. Timaeus 61c-*89c: the physiology and psychology of man 257
^* Timaeus 89d-92c: final remarks on man and the lower animals 280
Appendix to Part two: Pentateuchal texts given exegesis with reference
to the Timaeus 308
PART THREE SYNTHESIS
1. The manner of Philo's use of the Timaeus 318
2. The influence of the Timaeus on Philo's thought 349
3. Philo and the interpretative tradition of the Timaeus 394
PART FOUR CONCLUSION
1. Philo and Plato's Timaeus 425
2. Philo's achievement 429
Samenvatting 448
Notes 453
Bibliography 555
Indices 570
A MORE DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS IS FOUND AT THE END OF THE BOOK

PREFACE
Now that this dissertation, and with it my Academic training, has reached
completion, it is a very great privilege to express my heartfelt gratitude to
the many people and the diverse institutions, without whose assistance it
could not have been written.
It. is fitting to begin with my promotor, Prof .dr.A.P.Bos. The warm wel­
come which he gave my wife and me on our arrival in the Netherlands remains
fresh in my memory. It was a suggestion of his that first turned my thoughts
to a study of the writings of Philo of Alexandria. He showed a never-flagging
interest in my research during the long years of preparation, while his conti­
nual stream of penetrating comments proved an indispensable stimulus. It was
a great honour that Prof .dr. J.CM.van Winden (RU Leiden), who at an early
stage had given my plans encouraging support, accepted the task of acting as
copromotor. The final manuscript received much benefit from his vast experi­
ence in the field of Classical and Patristic studies. My thanks are also due
to Prof.dr.Cuaterna for acting as referent and reading through the entire manu­
script. The academic context of my research was the Vakgroep Antieke en Pa-
tristische filosofie in the Céntrale Interfaculteit of the Free University.
Its members, among whom I wish to mention especially Drs.P.Boot, Drs.T.A.Bol-
huis, Drs.V.Kal and Miss M.Maes, provided fruitful discussion and warm encour­
agement. A source of inspiration to me was the shining example set by the
late Prof.M.CSmit. It is a matter of deep regret to me that he did not live
to see the study, which did not escape the polymathic scope of his interests,
finished. Last but certainly not least, I would like to use this opportunity to
express my gratitude to my Australian teachers, and among them especially Mr.
M.B.Keary (The Geelong College), Prof.G.W.Clarke and Dr.K.J.McKay (The Univer­
sity of Melbourne), who instilled in me a love for Greco-Roman antiquity and
first acquainted me with the tools of Classical philology.
Other scholars, who were less directly connected with the institutions at
which I studied, gave generous assistance. Words can hardly convey how much
I am indebted to Prof.V.Nikiprowetzky (Paris). As soon as he heard of my pro­
ject, he placed his time and unparalleled knowledge of Philonic studies at my
disposal. Through the mediation of his extensive letters I was saved from
numerous errors and was kept informed on the very latest developments in
Philonic studies. The keen interest he showed in my work over a period of
three years was a constant source of encouragement. Prof.M.Baltes (Miinster)
kindly answered enquiries on technical aspects of Platonist philosophy.
viü PREFACE
Prof.J.Dillon (Dublin) and Prof.B.L.Mack (Claremont U.S.A.) also showed inter­
est in diverse aspects of my research. A very special vote of thanks must be
given to Drs.J.J.S.Weitenberg (RU Leiden), who generously devoted many hours
of his time to helping me confront the complexities of the Philonic .wqrks pre­
served only in an Armenian translation. Another Armenologist, Prof.A.Terian
(Berrien Springs, U.S.A.), kindly gave me access to an exciting discovery
which he had made and which was relevant to the subject of my study.
Grateful acknowledgement for financial support must be made to two insti­
tutions. A Travelling scholarship awarded by The University of Melbourne
enabled me to commence the orientating period of research. A generous three-
year grant supplied by the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of
Pure Research allowed me to devote all my time to the project and thus bring
it to fruition. I am grateful to the Council and staff of the Fondation Hardt
(Vandoeuvres-Geneva) for giving me the opportunity to write a difficult sec­
tion of the work| in ideal surroundings. The trip to Switzerland was financed
by a Travel grant from the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of
Pure Research. Through the agency of the Buma Bibliotheek (Leeuwarden) and
its assistant librarian, Mr.D.W.Kok, I was given access to the many special­
ized books and journals required for a study of this kind. The VU Boekhandel
and its staff-member, Mr.F.Grijzenhout, gave me invaluable assistance in the
preparation of the dissertation for actual publication.
My greatest debts I have left until last. For as long as I can remember
my parents have encouraged me to study and explore those fields of knowledge
in which I was especially interested. At the same time they showed me by
their own example that there was more to life than merely the acquisition of
knowledge and the pursuit of one's own interests. I regard it as particular­
ly appropriate that I should graduate at the same university from which my
father, twenty-eight years ago, received his doctorate. There was a great
deal that my wife had to leave behind when we embarked together on our Euro­
pean adventure. Throughout the years she has been for me a never-failing
source of support and strength, from the uncertain period at the start to the
final busy months, when day in day out she assisted me in the arduous task of
typing out a long and frequently esoteric manuscript. What I owe to her can­
not be expressed in words. To my parents and to my wife — xoCs pev yovlwv
apbOTOus, xrj 6e YUVOILMUJV cpuAxaxg — I dedicate this book.
Kampen
Easter 1983
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NOTICE TO THE READER
The subject of this study cannot be dealt with in an adequate manner un­
less attention is given to a considerable amount of technical detail. There
is a danger that an excess of such detail will have a numbing effect on the
reader. I have taken this into account in the organization of the study.
Technical aspects are confined as much as possible to the 'Commentary1 in
Part II and the notes. The reader who is not so concerned with specialized
matters is thus advised to commence by directing his attention first to Parts
I, III and IV.
References to scholarly literature are generally (but not in all cases)
given in full on the first occasion and thereafter in an abbreviated form.
Full details of all works cited are given in the Bibliography at the end of
the book. A number of important studies are regularly cited by the author's
name only. These are indicated by means of an asterisk in the Bibliography.
Five abbreviations are used throughout the study for references to the
major editions and translations of Philo's works:
C-W Cohn and Wendland, Editio maior
EE English Edition (Colson-Whitaker-Earp)
EES English Edition Supplement (Marcus)
FE French Edition (Arnaldez-Pouilloux-Mondesert)
GT German Translation (Cohn-Heinemann-Adler-Theiler)
Other abbreviations are explained in the Bibliography at the end of the book.
Philo's treatises are indicated by means of the following abbreviations:
Opif. De opificio mundi
Leg. Legum allegoriae
Cher. De Cherubim
Sacr. De sacrificiis Abelis et Caini
Pet. Quod deterius potiori insidiari soleat
Post. De posteritate Caini
Gig. De gigantibus
Deus Quod Deus sit immutabilis
Agr. De agricultura
Plant. De plantatione
Ebr. De ebrietate
Sobr. De sobrietate
Conf. De confusione linguarum
Migr. De migratione Abrahami