Jamblichus - Arithmeticam (bound with)//: De vita Pythagorica - 1668

Iamblichus

Jamblichus of Chalcis from Coele-Syria.
Introduction to Arithmetic by Nicomachus of Gerasa and concerning the fact.

Arnhem - 1668 -
at Johann Friedrich Hagius

(14), 181, (3), 239, (1) p.

(bound with)//:

Iamblichus
On the Pythagorean life

Amsterdam - 1707 -
Sebastiani Petzoldi

(bound with)//:

Porphyrius
The book about the life of Pythagoras.

(14), 219, (18), 67, (1), 93, (7) p.
In 40 - 20.5 x 16.5 -


Excellent collection, in prime editions Greco-Latin, of fundamental texts and biographies of Neoplatonists by Iamblichus and his teacher Porphyry.
DSB VII, 1 - X, 112
ROLLER & GOODMAN II, 5
SOTHERAN

The first text (1668) features the first edition in Latin translation (with the original Greek text alongside) of Iamblichus's Neoplatonic commentary on Nicomachus of Gerasa's treatise on Arithmetic (1st century AD), concerning the mystical and divine properties of numbers, with the important explanatory notes by Camerarius and Tennulius.

The comments of Iamblichus and Camerarius are the easiest access to an understanding of the subject of Nicomaco's work, of which there is no Latin version, and about which any mention can be found — Prof. de Morgan.

Nicomaco of Gerasa was the first to treat
Arithmetic as a subject separate from geometry.
In this fascinating text on the 'theology of numbers,' the introduction focuses more on the mystical side rather than the mathematical aspect of arithmetic theory; for example, associating numbers with different deities or classifying them as 'male' or 'female.'

The beautiful woodcut next to the frontispiece depicts the Pythagorean philosophers: Pythagoras, Ptolemy, Euclid, Aristoxenus, Nicomachus, and Gamblico.
Additionally, in xilography, there are figures, diagrams, and explanatory tables, some of which are ancient manuscripts.

The text contains numerous marginal notes, likely contemporary, written in Greek with elegant handwriting.

Gamblichus, a Neoplatonist and Neopythagorean, was celebrated in his Syria of the 4th century and, once again, was a singular voice after the rediscovery of ancient philosophy in Renaissance Europe.


The second work of this large volume, also in its original edition, refers to Giamblico's bilingual Greek-Latin text, edited by Ludolf Kuster, concerning the Life of Pythagoras, taken from the manuscript preserved at the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana.
It contains a large portrait of Pythagoras, next to the frontispiece, based on a coin from Fulvio Ordini's collection.

While the third work, also in its first edition, is composed by Porfirio, master of Giamblico, and narrates, like the previous one, the
Life of Pythagoras

These last two works, both with print number 1707, are estimated neoplatonic biographies of Pythagoras.
Important because they bring together two of the only three biographies of Pythagoras that survived late antiquity.
No one until that time had been committed to restoring that text to its original purity.
Ludolf Kuster took on this task, for which he was particularly suited, being deeply versed in reading the Ancients and long dedicated to the study and collation of the best manuscripts.
(Journal des Savants, October 10, 1707).

Good and sturdy 18th-century binding in full stiff parchment, with five passing straps.
All well preserved.
Manuscript with the author's name on the back.

Interiors generally well preserved, with fresh and clean cards.
Some browning and sporadic foxing are noted, but they are not bothersome.
Numerous woodcut figures, diagrams, and tables, some of which are handwritten.
With two beautiful full-page illustrations, alongside the two frontispieces of Giamblico, both with elegant two-color printing in red and black.
Very interesting contemporary annotations in the text.
Primarily in Greek language, with beautiful handwriting.
Handwritten notes also include diagrams and tables.
Blue cheese spritzed slices.
Small paper label from an old bookstore on the front counter.
Conserved guards.

Fine miscellany of texts and biographies of Neoplatonists, all in first edition, with Greek-Latin text, complete and original in every part.
Mixed. Complete.