[782] Of Miletus, the most ancient of the Greek philosophers, and the founder of the Ionian school of Philosophy. He is said to have written upon the Solstice and the Equinox, and a work on Astronomy, in verse, was also attributed to him. It is, however, more generally believed, that he left no written works behind him, and that those attributed to him were forgeries.
[783] See end of B. ii.
[784] An astronomer of Medama, or Medma, in Magna Græcia, and a disciple of Plato. He is said to have written a treatise on the winds, and Plutarch states that he demonstrated the figure of the moon.
[785] An astronomer of Cyzicus, and a friend of Aristotle, whom he assisted in completing the discoveries of Eudoxus. He invented the cycle of seventy-six years, called after him the Calippic.
[786] Of Colonus, a geometrician, to whom Archimedes dedicated his works on the sphere and cylinder, and on spirals.
[787] A grammarian, who is supposed to have written a commentary on Aratus. Varro, De Ling. Lat. x. 10, speaks of him as making the distinctive characteristics of words to be eight in number.
[788] A famous astronomer of Athens, to whom the discovery of the cycle of nineteen years has been attributed.
[789] There were several learned men of this name, but it appears impossible to say which of them is the one here alluded to; probably it is either the Pythagorean philosopher of Ægæ, who wrote on Predestination, or else the historian, a native of Pieria in Macedonia. There was also an astronomer of this name, a native of Naxos, and a friend of Eudoxus of Cnidos.
[790] A famous astronomer, a native of Chios. He is said to have claimed the discovery of the obliquity of the Ecliptic.
[791] Probably Zenon of Elea, one of the most famous philosophers of antiquity. All of his works had perished at a very early period.