Epistolae lectu dignitissimae, in utriusque linguae studiosorum gratiam Graecè ac Latinè editae: Thoma Naogeorgo Straubingensi interprete.

SYNESIOS of Cyrene.

Published by Basle, J. Oporinus (1558).

About this Item

Sm.-8vo. (24) lvs., p. 17-515 (thus compl.), (1) p. (blank). (Bound with): (Pseudo-)Phalaris of Agrigent: Epistolae doctissimae, Graecè ac Latinè. Thoma Naogeorgo interprete. Basle, J. Oporinus (1558). Sm-8vo. 253, (3) pp. (last blank). Contemporary vellum (soiled, spine defective. I: Second Greek edition, first bilingual. II: Fifth Greek edition, 2nd bilingual. Writing of the missing letter 'a' in Synesios, Hieronymus: " In 1551/52 and again at the beginning of 1552 Naogeorg (Kirchmeyer, 1511-1563) was residing in Basel, in 1557-59 he is in Stuttgart. His letter of dedication to the mayor and council of his place of birth near Straubing is dated Stuttgart, 1. March 1559. This letter of over 40 pp. reached the printer in Basle one year after the translation and printing of the Synesios text. For this reason it has been bound instead of gathering a and has the gathering marks a - y". Synesios of Kyrene (c. 370 - c. 415 A.D.) belonged to the so-called Alexandrian School of Neoplatonism, i.e. in the direction of the successors of Plotin, who placed scientific character above religious-metaphysical ideas. Thus, in his later office of Bishop (from 410; it is reported that he allowed himself to be baptised only after he took office) he saw no contradiction with philosophy. Especially in his hymns, the connection between Christianity and Philosophy is a major theme. His numerous letters are an important witness to his thoughts and, at the same time, give clear insights into the period. "This collection (of letters), of which there are 156 written by him, offer us a biography and a history of the culture, behind which we can perceive the imposing personality of the academic author" (Lesky p.987). Phalaris, from 570 - 555 Tyrant of Akragas (Agrigent) and, traditionally, the archetype of the terrible tyrant, has not been considered to be the author of the collection of letters which were issued under his name since the end of the 17th century. Title and front end-papers with ownership entries (1559!! and later). Fly-leaves loose, slightly browned throughout, the margins in places stained. Provenance: Laßberg library; Court Library Donaueschingen. I: VD 16, S 10412; Hoffmann III, 465; Hieronymus/GG 467; BMSTC (German Books) 846 (mistakenly dated "1559"); Adams S 2208. Not with Schweiger. II: VD 16, P 2431; Hoffmann III, 54; Schweiger I, 226; Hieronymus/GG 269; BMSTC (German Books) 691; Adams P 976.

Seller Inventory # 812

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Epistolae lectu dignitissimae, in utriusque linguae studiosorum gratiam Graecè ac Latinè editae: Thoma Naogeorgo Straubingensi interprete.
• Publisher: Basle, J. Oporinus (1558).
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Gut