The Commentaries on the Timaeus of Plato — trans. Thomas Taylor

* Kporot ii erroneously printed for ^o»oi.

1 For r fjt vynat v\rjt cvoim, I read rtj« vypa i c\t)t cioiai.

BOOK V.]

T1M>EUS OF PLATO.

p. 327

middle arrangement according to Plato; because the middle and the centre in incorporeal essences, have a "renter authority than the powers situated about the the middle. We indeed, admire this intellectual explanation of Ianihlichus ; but we think it proper to survey these Gods every where, both in all the elements, and all orders. For thus we shall liehold that which is common in them, and which extends to all things. And we say indeed, that Phorcys is the infective guardian of every spermatic essence, and of physical, and as it were, spermatic productive principles, as Iwiug pregnant with, and the cause of generation. For there are spermatic productive principles in each of the elements ; and different orders of Gods and dvemons preside over them, all which Plato comprehends through Phorcys. But king .Saturn <1 ivivies forms and productive principles, and produces more total into more partial powers. Hence he is not only an animal but pedestrious, aquatic, and a bird. And he is not only pedestrious, but like¬ wise man and horse. For the productive principles in him are more partial than in the celestial deities. Among the intellectual Gods tin refore, he is allotted this power, viz. to multiply and divide intclligibles. Hence, he is the leader of the Titans, as being especially characterized by the dividing peculiarity.

Again, we say that Rhea receives the unapparent powers of king Saturn, leads them forth to secondary natures, and excites the paternal powers to the fabrica¬ tion of visible objects. For thus also, her first order is moved, is tilled with power and life, and produces into that which is apparent, the causes that abide in Saturn. Hence Saturn is every where the supplier of intellectual forms; Ithea is the cause of all souls, and of e r cry kind of life; and Phorcys is prolific witli physical pro¬ ductive principles. Since however another number of (iods pertains to the king¬ dom ofthese, and which Saturn and Ithea comprehend, on this account Plato adds, “ and such as subsist together with these. 7 ' For lie not only through this com¬ prehends d.cmons, as some say, hut both tlie angelic and the da-moniacal Saturn have with themselves a multitude, the one angehr, but the other d.emoniacal. And the multitude which is in the (iods is divme; that which is m the air is aerial; and in a similar manner in the other elements, and in the other more excellent genera arranged under these Gods.

And the multitude which is in the (iods is divme; that which is m the air is aerial; and in a similar manner in the other elements, and in the other more excellent genera arranged under these Gods.

IU the words also “ such as subsist together with these, ' Plato appears to signify the remaining 1 itans viz. Cams and Hy]>erion, Greens, Inpet us, and likewise the remaining 1 itannida-, viz. Pliohe, Theta, Mnemosyne, Themis, and Dione, with whom Saturn and Rhea proceeded into light. Also, those that proceeded toge¬ ther with Phorr.ys, viz. Nereus .and Thaumas, the most motive Furyhia, and those who especially contain and connect the w hole of generation. Moreover, it is worth while to observe that it is not proper to discuss accurately the arrangement in

p. 358

PHOCLUS OX THE

[book V.

these divinities, and whether Saturn or Phorcys i*» the superior deity ; for they are united and similar to eacli other. Hut if it be requisite to make a division, it is better to adopt the arrangement of the divine lamhlichus, viz. that Saturn is a monad; but Hhea a certain duad, railing forth the powers that are in Saturn ; and that Phorcvs gives perfection to their progression. It now remains therefore that we direct our attention to the other kings who produce the apparent sublu¬ nary order of things; for such is the arrangement which they are allotted.

“ Put from Saturn and Hhea, Jupiter, Juno, and all such as we know are called the brethren of these descended, and also the other progeny of these.”

This is the third progression of the Gods who are the fabricators of generation, but the fourth order, closing as a tetrad the nomination of the leading Gods. For the tetrad is comprehensive of tin; divine orders. But as a duad this progression itfassimilated to the first kingdom ; because that as well as this is dyadic. '1 here are however, present with it, the all-perfect according to progression, and the uncir¬ cumscribed according to number. But Plato here, not only adds the words “such as,” as in the progression prior to it, but likewise the word “all, that he may indi¬ cate the progression of them to every thing. For we use the term to gatov, such as, in speaking of things united, but the term to oil, in speaking ot things now divided and multiplied. The total (to gXixov) likewise pertains to this progression. For the Gods which are denominated in it, and those that proceed every where together with them, are charactt rized according to this torin of lubrication. Fur all Dvmiurgi are total. Who therefore are they, and what kind of order do they possess ?

For the Gods which are denominated in it, and those that proceed every where together with them, are charactt rized according to this torin of lubrication. Fur all Dvmiurgi are total. Who therefore are they, and what kind of order do they possess ?

The divine lamhlichus then asserts that Jupiter is the perfecter of all genera¬ tion ; but that Juno is the cause of power, connexion, pit nitmle, and life to all things; and that the brethren of them are those that communicate with them in the fabrication of generation, being also themselves intellects, and receiving a completion according to a perfection and power similar to them. But ! Iieodorus, again dividing the life which animates the total in habitude, and forming it as he is accustomed to do into triads, calls Jupiter the power that governs the npp< r region as far as to the air; but Juno the power who is allotted the aerial part of the world ; and the brethren of them those that give completion to the remaining parts. For Jupiter is the essential of the soul that subsists in a material habit, because there is nothing more vital than essence. But Juno is the intellectual part of such a soul, because the natures on the earth are governed by the produc-

BOOK V.j

TIM.r.US or FLAK)

:V29 live principles proceeding from the air. And lit*' other nnrulirr is the psychical distributed into particulars.