Posidonius

Posidonius (Greek Ποσειδώνιος Posidonius Posidonius Latinized; * 135 BC, † 51 BC ) was a Greek philosopher, historian and polymath of classical antiquity from the Syrian Apamea. Although born in Syria, he was of Greek origin. After studying in Athens, he settled on the island of Rhodes, for which he was also active in leading a diplomatic mission over again. Posidonius was respected, especially in Rome, not least because he unconditionally accepted the Roman order power in the contemporary world politics.

Philosophy

Posidonius was a student of Panaetius of Rhodes. He is attributable to the philosophical school of the middle Stoa. Among the listeners of his lectures included, inter alia, Cicero and Pompey. Of particular interest is his contribution to the Stoic doctrine of affections.

In contradiction to the representatives of the older Stoics, especially Chrysippus, Posidonius considered emotions are caused by irrational parts of the soul. The older Stoics had been of the opinion that the soul is a uniform and reasonable carrying capacity of humans. Although the soul is reasonable, but they could be deceived and therefore agree to unreasonable decisions and affects. Posidonius appeared this explanation plausible. So he returned to the opinion of Plato, the soul would consist of the three parts of reason, desire and courage, which also could explain why in children - regardless of a good education - irrational emotions germinate and why the emotions subside with time; Questions that Chrysippus had not adequately answer.

Posidonius as an ethnographer

From about 105 BC Posidonius undertook extended trips that took him, inter alia, to Spain. Is also reported from repeated trips to Rome.

In his work On the Ocean and its problems - like all the works of Posidonius survives only by quotations from other authors - he designed a climate zone theory that the peoples of the North and the South are to be distinguished on the basis of the climate impact: The Peoples of the North would have a more powerful body, a lighter skin, straight reddish hair, blue eyes and a lot of blood. Although they possess a blunt mind, however, were characterized by a great courage to fight for their indiscretion. In contrast, the people living in the south were characterized as small of stature, with brown skin, curly hair, dark eyes, lean legs and little blood. They were characterized by a sharp mind, great resourcefulness, but also larger cowardice.

Posidonius was probably the first to use the word Germans in the literature. In his 30th book, written around 80 BC, but which was lost, and only as a fragment in the 4th book of Athenaeus of Naucratis obtained ( about 190 AD) remained, he gave a short report about their eating habits: the Germans, however, as Posidonius says in the 30th book, contribute to noon on term- fried meat and drink milk and continue the wine unmixed. This message and probably others of their kind gave rise to a new uncustomary ethnographic term in Romans and Greeks until the 1st century BC. More details you could not know because it previously, this structure of the Germanic peoples did not exist, but only individual tribes were also known.

Posidonius as a geographer

From Posidonius ' spring to calculations of the circumference of the earth come, which took over Ptolemy and led to a long-term erroneous doctrine. Among other Columbus is said to have considered his voyage to the West based on these data, at which time he discovered the American continent islands. The correctness of this result chain can, however, prove only conditionally. The only certainty is that Columbus, and Posidonius Ptolemy the calculations made ​​by Eratosthenes centuries before Posidonius may not have known, because the calculation of Eratosthenes comes the actual extent very close, their method is in principle correctly and their knowledge should immediately put Columbus, that it is in the Americas, islands could act to India did not, but had to act to something completely new.

Scientific studies of from the time around the year 80 BC ( others speak of about 65 BC, recent studies v. Have an origin approximately 150-100 BC close) originating " Antikythera mechanism " have recently led to speculation that the metal, a movement resembling ancient artifact to the mathematical calculation of celestial phenomena ( eclipses, etc.) may actually have been invented by Posidonius or even constructed.

From Posidonius the view is narrated that he thought it likely that the Atlantis described by Plato actually existed in Strabo (II 102). He concluded this by his observation of nascent or versinkendem country.

Works

None of his works has survived, that is, his writings have come down to us only as a title and as fragments by quotations from other authors:

• On the Ocean and its problems
• 52 Books History ( a continuation of the historical work of Polybius, covering the period from 146 to about 79 BC)
• About the Gods ( De natura deorum in Cicero used)
• About the affects (of Galen used)
• About the Prophesy Art (5 books)

Text output

• Ludwig Edelstein, Ian G. Kidd ( Eds.): Posidonius. 3 vols, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge from 1972 to 1999. [ Bd 2 ( commentary) and Volume 3 (English translation of the fragments ) ed. by Ian Kidd ]
• Willy Theiler (ed.): Posidonius: The fragments. 2 volumes, de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1982
• Ken Dowden: Posidonius (87). In: Brill 's New Jacoby ( with English translation, extensive commentary, and other literature ).