HERON [PUPIL] OF CTESIBIUS

BELOPOIIKA.

HERON’S TREATISE ON

ARTILLERY CONSTRUCTION.

Wescher p. 71

The most significant and essential part of philosophical study is that which deals with tranquility original Greek: ἀταραξίας (ataraxia), a state of serene calmness and freedom from fear, about which the most numerous inquiries have been made by those who handle wisdom, and continue to be made to this day; and I believe that theoretical inquiry into this matter through words will never reach a conclusion.
p. 72

But Mechanics, having surpassed the verbal instruction regarding this state, has taught all men how to live without disturbance through one single and smallest part of its field—I mean that which pertains to so-called belopoiia the construction of engines of war or artillery. For through this, people will never be disturbed in a state of peace by the incursions of enemies and foes, nor, when war is imminent, will they ever be troubled by the philosophy here meaning "system" or "discipline" provided by it through these instruments of war. Therefore, one must always apply oneself to this part...

The largest and most necessary part of world-wisdom original German: "Weltweisheit," an older term for philosophy is that which deals with peace of mind, concerning which philosophers have conducted the most investigations and continue to do so today; and I also believe that theoretical investigations into it will never find an end. Mechanics, however, stepped beyond the theoretical teaching of peace of mind and taught all people the science: to live in peace of mind through a single, minimal part of it, which deals with so-called artillery construction. For through it, one is placed in a position to be troubled neither in a state of peace by attacks of internal or external enemies, nor at the outbreak of war, as a result of the teaching of machines communicated by it. Therefore, one must apply oneself to this part of mechanics at all times and take every precaution...

Title: HERON [PUPIL] OF CTESIBIUS . . . . . . . . (Erasure of 8 letters, last letters approximately RA) BELOPOIIKA in Manuscript M; HERON [PUPIL] OF CTESIBIUS BELOPOIIKA in Manuscript V; HERON OF ALEXANDRIA ON ARTILLERY CONSTRUCTION in Manuscripts F and P. (R. Schöne, to whom the report of this gap is owed, suspects with good reason that the scribe had intended to copy the Cheiroballistra The "Hand-Catapult," another work attributed to Heron, which follows 10 leaves later in Manuscript M, until he noticed his error, stopped, and only then provided the Belopoiika.)

1, 3 TRANQUILITY (ataraxias) in PV: DISORDER (ataxias) in MF. 4 wisdom (sophian) in F: philosophy (philosophian) in MPV. 7 ever reach (pot' axein) in VP. 12 to know (epistasthai) in M. 16 "ever" is missing in F. 17 incursions (ephodois) in V. 18 after "war," Manuscript M adds "not." 19 Hermann Schöne assumes a gap after "ever." "Having been delivered" in F.