Complete Works of Diophantus of Alexandria, Vol. 1

PREFACE.

In that sense, regarding the "astronomical table of Diophantus," the Greek should have been written entirely differently. Furthermore, it is beyond doubt that no astronomical table canon: a mathematical table or rule, often used in astronomy was created by the ancient authors after Ptolemy. Therefore, I added the word "on" original: "εἰς" (eis) before the definite article, as it could easily have been lost in copying. Since two versions of the commentaries on Ptolemy’s Handy Tables original: "πρόχειρον κανόνα" (procheiron kanona) still exist (see Suidas under "Theon"), I am inclined to believe that one belongs to the father, Theon, while the other is the work of his daughter, Hypatia. I will discuss these matters at another time.

No work by Diophantus has ever been rightfully mentioned except the Arithmetica and the short book On Polygonal Numbers. If Gesner and Ramus Conrad Gesner and Petrus Ramus were influential 16th-century scholars and bibliographers. spoke of certain Harmonics, the source of their clear error is easy to find. In the Vatican manuscript 191 ¹, following the works of Diophantus and without an author's name, there is an Introduction to Harmonics original: "Εἰσαγωγὴ ἁρμονική" (Eisagōgē harmonikē). This work is usually attributed to either Euclid or Cleonides. The omission of a heading, which has now been corrected in the recent catalog placed at the front of the manuscript, deceived Gesner.

Therefore, the reading of the best manuscripts of Suidas, "on Diophantus," must be preserved. We should understand that Hypatia’s commentary was written on the Arithmetica of Diophantus.

4. In the catalog of Greek manuscripts from the Escorial The Escorial is a historical residence of the King of Spain containing a vast library., Miller reviewed excerpts of Diophantus (Manuscript Υ — III — 12, 14th century, folio 73 recto). A fairly long letter by Michael Psellus A 11th-century Byzantine monk, scholar, and politician. was hidden under a false title (see pages 37 to 42 below). I quickly described this letter during my travels in Spain. But I...

1. In the Madrid manuscript 48, from which the Vatican 191 was copied, the name of Zosimus is found added by a later hand; however, the scribe who copied those Harmonics was not the same one who worked on Diophantus.