VII

PREFACE

I have published this small book from the Greek Paris Codex 2064. The Paris Codex dates to the 10th century; it is made of parchment and is square in format. It contains, in the first position, an explanation of Aristotle’s On Interpretation and the three figures original Greek: ἐξήγησις εἰς τὸ περὶ ἑρμηνείας ἀριστοτέλους καὶ εἰς τὰ γ σχήματα by an unknown author, who nevertheless does not seem to be Ammonius Ammonius Hermiae (c. 440–520 AD) was a highly influential philosopher and commentator on Aristotle. Then, on folio 36 recto, appear the Notes of Stephanus on the Hermenian [On Interpretation], which we are now editing. Following this, on folio 88 recto, are notes on the first book of the Prior Analytics from the lectures of Ammonius original Greek: σχόλια εἰς τὸ ᾱ τῶν προτέρων ἀναλυτικῶν ἀπὸ φωνῆς ἀμμωνίου. It begins: "The philosopher, when he discusses sounds, does not discuss those that are meaningless," etc. These are various commentaries on the Prior Analytics, which M. Wallies distinguished as follows: "From folio 88 recto to 112 recto, Ammonius himself provides the commentary; on folio 108 verso he uses the phrase 'our father' original Greek: ὁ ἡμέτερος πατήρ; a respectful way of referring to his teacher, likely Proclus. Folio 112 verso was left blank. The scribe notes: 'look for the sequence by turning four leaves, where you will also see the mark' original Greek: ζήτει τὴν ἀκολουθίαν τέσσαρα φύλλα στρέψας ὅπου καὶ τὸ σημεῖον ἴδοις ἂν [compare folio 116 recto]. But this part, from folio 113 recto to 155 verso, is not by Ammonius, but by Philoponus John Philoponus (c. 490–570 AD), a Christian philosopher and commentator [Zanetti’s edition, folios X verso to XXXI verso], and even the closing signature subscription confirms this name. Notes by an anonymous author follow, along with an anonymous commentary on the second and third sections of Book I of the Prior Analytics up to folio 185 recto. Next comes a longer dissertation on conversions original Greek: ἀντιστροφαῖς (antistrophais); a logical term regarding the reversal of propositions. Folios 202 verso to 208 verso contain again commentaries on the second section of Prior Analytics Book I, and folios 209 recto to 225 verso on the third. Folios 226 recto to 261 verso present a commentary on chapters 8 to 26 of Aristotle’s work. This is similar to Philoponus’ commentary, but the method is different. For example, on folio 227 verso, the opinions of various commentators are listed; this passage is missing in Philoponus and is similar to Ammonius’ style on folio 108 verso. Therefore, it is likely that this part is attributable to Ammonius or to someone of his school. For instance, on folio 228 verso, there is a phrase: 'the one who explained these things to me, following Iamblichus' original Greek: ὁ ταῦτά μοι ἐξηγησάμενος Ἰαμβλίχῳ ἑπόμενος. This suspicion is confirmed by a heading appearing in the middle of the commentary on folio 254 recto: 'On hypothetical syllogisms from the single-volume work of Ammonius' original Greek: περὶ ὑποθετικῶν συλλογισμῶν ἐκ τοῦ μονοβίβλου Ἀμμωνίου." But these matters will have to be examined more closely when the edition of Ammonius is prepared.

Stephanus’ commentary, which became known from this single codex not only to Brandis and Waitz but also to Torstrik, was transcribed in Paris by Hermann Diels; his copy was later reviewed by E. Schwartz of Göttingen. Regarding the handwriting, Diels noted the following: "It was derived from a manuscript written in uncial a script using large, rounded capital letters, which, because it was marked with either no accents or very rare ones, the scribe often fell into error. He more often omitted the accent where he hesitated, such as in the word action original Greek: πραξις (praxis). However, there are places where he is consistent in either placing or omitting the accent, as in no one original Greek: οὐδεῖς (oudeis), for original Greek: γαρ (gar), and mostly in the particles on the one hand and on the other original Greek: μεν (men) and δε (de). The same uncertainty applies to the breathing marks marks used in Greek to indicate the presence or absence of an 'h' sound. The phrase 'the same' original Greek: τὸ αὐτό (to auto) is usually consistent. The form of the breathing marks is square, as suits an ancient book The symbols ┤ and ├ represent ancient square rough and smooth breathings, but with the lower part omitted, an angle is not rarely made The symbols ∟ and ⌟. Words beginning with the letter rho ρ̄ never have a breathing mark. The movable nu a 'v' sound added to the end of words to avoid a vowel clash is abundant in the ancient manner, but no trust should be placed in my copy regarding the words 'is' and 'are' original Greek: ἐστὶν (estin) and εἰσὶν (eisin), since I have interpreted the almost constant use of the symbols /, //, or */. according to my own judgment."