Heracleides Ponticus

Heracleides Ponticus

▪ Greek philosopher and astronomer

born c. 390 BC, , Heraclea Pontica, Bithynia
died after 322, , Athens

      Greek philosopher and astronomer who first suggested the rotation of the Earth, an idea that did not dominate astronomy until 1,800 years later. A pupil of Plato, who left the Academy temporarily in his charge, Heracleides is known to have correctly attributed the apparent motion of Mercury and Venus to their revolving around the Sun; whether he realized that the other planets did so is uncertain. He also taught some kind of atomism. His writings, all lost except for a few fragments, include literary criticism and works on musicology. He also studied trances, cosmological visions, prophecies, portents, and cataclysms, attempting to prove the existence of gods, divine retribution, and reincarnation. He thus exemplified the supranaturalistic tendencies of Platonism and anticipated some aspects of Neoplatonism.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • physical science — physical scientist. 1. any of the natural sciences dealing with inanimate matter or with energy, as physics, chemistry, and astronomy. 2. these sciences collectively. [1835 45] * * * Introduction       the systematic study of the inorganic world …   Universalium

  • cosmos — /koz meuhs, mohs/, n., pl. cosmos, cosmoses for 2, 4. 1. the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system. 2. a complete, orderly, harmonious system. 3. order; harmony. 4. any composite plant of the genus Cosmos, of tropical… …   Universalium

  • Tychonic system — /tuy kon ik/, Astron. a model for planetary motion devised by Tycho Brahe in which the earth is stationary and at the center of the planetary system, the sun and moon revolve around the earth, and the other planets revolve around the sun. [1670… …   Universalium

  • Stock character — A stock character is one which relies heavily on cultural types or names for his or her personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. In their most general form, stock characters are related to literary archetypes, but they are often… …   Wikipedia

  • Cicero, Marcus Tullius — born 106 BC, Arpinum, Latium died Dec. 7, 43 BC, Formiae Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and writer. Born to a wealthy family, he quickly established a brilliant career in law and plunged into politics, then rife with factionalism and… …   Universalium

  • classical scholarship — Introduction       the study, in all its aspects, of ancient Greece (ancient Greek civilization) and Rome (ancient Rome). In continental Europe the field is known as “classical philology,” but the use, in some circles, of “philology” to denote… …   Universalium

  • Origen — This article is about the 3rd century theologian. For other uses, see Origen (disambiguation). Origen Era Ante Nicene Fathers Born 184/5 Probably Alexandria, Egypt …   Wikipedia

  • List of ancient Greeks — This an alphabetical list of ancient Greeks. These include ethnic Greeks and Greek language speakers from Greece and the Mediterranean world up to about 200 AD. compactTOCRelated articles NOTOC A*Acacius of Caesarea bishop of Caesarea… …   Wikipedia

  • Origen — Origenian, adj., n. Origenism, n. Origenist, n. Origenistic, adj. /awr i jen , jeuhn, or /, n. (Origenes Admantius) A.D. 185? 254?, Alexandrian writer, Christian theologian, and teacher. * * * orig. Oregenes Adamantius born с 185, probably… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”