Chapter Five. Using Calcidius’s Commentarius In Carolingian Astronomy
Bruce S. Eastwood
The fourth-century commentary by Calcidius on Plato’s Timaeus is offered far more astronomy. Calcidian sections follow with detailed, frequently geometrical, descriptions of the planetary motions, including epicyclic and eccentric patterns. second chapter Compend provided Carolingians their first useful account an orbit, something not to be found in Capella’s text. third Paris Compend, “On Various Rising Setting Planets”, presents concisely rising setting phenomena from Pliny. early manuscripts Calcidius’s diagrams are limited number but informative. This looks primarily at seven these texts, dating ninth opening eleventh century. We therefore find that, as Sun moves uniformly its circle, it appears move through zodiac corresponding arcs.Keywords: commentarius; Carolingian Astronomy; Commentarius; manuscript; motion; sun; zodiacal circle
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