The Eleventh-Century Shift in the Reception of Plato's "Timaeus" and Calcidius's "Commentary"
Anna Somfai
T he Timaeus is the only one of Plato's dialogues to have been continuously available in Latin translation West from time classical antiquity.' Two versions, both incomplete, circulated period prior Renaissance: by Cicero first century BC (Timaeus, 27D-47B, with some passages omitted), other Calcidius around 400 AD 17A-53C), accompanied his Commentary. In Middle Platonic commentary does not provide a detailed explanation each theme which arises Timaeus. Instead discusses selected issues dealt portion dialogue translated and considered him be need further explanation. The Commentary was often copied bound together medieval manuscripts. Scant knowledge Greek Ages blocked access original text extant commentaries scholia. Calcidius's consequently became most important tool for interpretation manuscript evidence shows that annotated its earliest readers long before itself object scrutiny. twelfth-century glosses on Timaeus, attributed Bernard Chartres William Conches, also relied as their chief source. And even this new hermeneutic apparatus did displace Commentary, attained renewed popularity during Renaissance. order understand reception therefore, we explore transmission There are total 156 manuscripts two translations, many equipped marginal interlinear diagrams were produced later augmented generations scholars. These annotations, dating ninth still found fifteenth-century manuscripts, texts. Their presence made possible variety readings interpretations, generating an ongoing texts Plato Calcidius. Apart registering impressions readers, outline main currents interpretation. central aim my inquiry determine how changed over course eleventh
Journal of The Warburg and Courtauld Institutes