[Iamblichou Chalkideos Tes Koiles Syrias Logoi Dyo] = Iamblichi Chalcidensis Ex Syria Coele De Vita Pythagorae, & Protrepticae Orationes Ad Philosophiam Lib. II : Nunquam Hactenus Visi: Nunc Vero Graece & Latine Primum Editi Cum Necessariis Castigationibus & Notis : Additae Sunt in Fine Theanus, Myiae, Melissae & Pythagorae Aliquot Epistolia Gr. & Lat.

[franeker or Heidelberg]: Aegidius Radaeus for Commelin. Good with no dust jacket. 1598. First Edition Thus. Leather. [16], 224, 176, 80 pp. The editio princeps of the first and second book of late antique Neoplatonist Iamblichus’s 10 volume work on Pythagorism Greek text with Latin translation in parallel columns. A small quarto, 8" x 6.5", in calf with gilt ruling, floriated corner decorations, spine with 5 raised bands and gilt decorations in the compartments. Joints cracking, edges rubbed, spine top and tail chipped. Interior first free end paper has a few old owner inscriptions, paper lightly toned, ink marginalia in Greek and Latin especially in the first of the 3 parts, including a small geometric figure on P1. Dd2 has small margin hole, BB has corner missing, but otherwise intact and in nice condition. Lovely head and tail pieces, some Pythogorian charts and diagrams. Latin translation by Joannes Arcerius Theodoretus (1538-1604) , a Frisian professor of Greek at the University of Franeker, of Iamblichus's biography of Pythagoras. The book includes Iamblichus’s Protrepticus, which preserved the work of the otherwise unknown 5th-century BCE Sophist knowns as the “Anonymous Iamblichi." Arcerius had discovered an unknown manuscript of Iamblichus while touring in France and arranged to have it published by the printer to the University of Franeker, Aegidius Radaeus (Gilles van de Rade) as seen in the colophons. The title page gives no place of printing but gives the printer as Bibliopolio Commeliniano. The Commelin family were major printers in Heidelberg, but the printer often associated here, Jerome Commelin, died the year before this work was printed. However, the printers' mark is clearly that of Commelin with "naked truth" seated, surrounded by fruits and a banner with "truth, the all-subduer" in Greek. Colophons: p. [24] last sequence: "Excudebat Aegidius Radaeus ordinum Frisiae typographus Franekerae, ann. M. D. XCVIII. XVIII. Cal. Septemb." ; p. 80 last sequence: "Excudebat Aegidius Radaeus ordinum Frisiae typographus Franekerae, ann. M. D. XCVIII. X. Cal. Decemb. “ Iamblichus (c. A. D. 250-325) is among the most important of the so-called Neoplatonic philosophers, second only to Plotinus and the biographer of the Greek mystic, philosopher, and mathematician Pythagoras. Iamblichus founded a school near Antioch, a city known for its Neoplatonic philosophers, where he designed a curriculum for studying Plato and Aristotle, and wrote commentaries on the two which survive only in fragments. Pythagoras was his supreme interest, and he wrote the ten-volume Collection of Pythagorean Doctrines with extracts from several ancient philosophers; only the first four volumes and fragments of the fifth survive. A nice copy of the editio princeps of this important work. OCLC 931246999 ; 4to 11" - 13" tall .