Refutation of All Heresies 4.4.1–4.17.2
Authorship disputed: The work names no author. Book 1 was long printed among Origen's works as the Philosophumena; after books 4–10 were found in a manuscript from Mount Athos (published 1851), it was assigned to Hippolytus, the usual view today, though some scholars ascribe it to another Roman writer of the same circle. Books 2 and 3 are lost, and book 4 lacks its beginning.
Greek text: Duncker–Schneidewin (Greek text: L. Duncker and F. G. Schneidewin, Refutationis omnium haeresium (Göttingen, 1859), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library; section divisions from P. Wendland (GCS 26, 1916), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin); both CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5 (1886).
item 4, chapter 4
4.4.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 56
Τούτῳ τῷ λόγῳ ἀδύνατόν ἐστιν ἐκ τῆς συλλήψεως στῆσαι τὸν ὡροσκόπον. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ἐξ ἀποτέξεως. Πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἄπορόν ἐστι τὸ πότε ῥηθήσεται ἀπότεξιν εἶναι· ἆρά γε ὅταν ἄρξηται προκύπτειν εἰς τὸν ψυχρὸν ἀέρα τὸ ἀποτικτόμενον, ἢ ὅταν ὀλίγον ἐξίσχῃ, ἢ ὅταν εἰς τὴν γῆν κατενεχθῇ; οὐδʼ ἐν ἑκάστῳ τούτων δυνατόν ἐστι τὸ ἀκριβὲς τῆς ἀποτέξεως καταλαβέσθαι ἢ χρόνον ὁρίζειν.
Toutǭ tǭ logǭ adynaton estin ek tēs syllēpseōs stēsai ton hōroskopon. allʼ oude ex apotexeōs. Prōton men gar aporon esti to pote rhēthēsetai apotexin einai; ara ge hotan arxētai prokyptein eis ton psychron aera to apotiktomenon, ē hotan oligon exischę̄, ē hotan eis tēn gēn katenechthę̄? oudʼ en hekastǭ toutōn dynaton esti to akribes tēs apotexeōs katalabesthai ē chronon horizein.
By this argument it is impossible to fix the horoscope from conception; but not from delivery either. For first, it is hard to say when delivery is to be called delivery: is it when the child begins to emerge into the cold air, or when it has come out a little, or when it has been brought down to the ground? Nor in any of these cases is it possible to grasp the precise moment of delivery or to define its time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Nor can the moment of birth be defined precisely.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 56; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 56
Καὶ γὰρ διὰ παράστημα ψυχῆς καὶ διʼ ἐπιτηδειότητα σώματος καὶ διὰ προαίρεσιν τῶν τόπων καὶ διʼ ἐμπειρίαν μαίας καὶ ἄλλας ἀπείρους προφάσεις οὐχ ὁ αὐτός ἐστι χρόνος καθʼ ὃν προκύπτει τὸ τικτόμενον ῥαγέντων τῶν ὑμένων, ἢ ἐκτὸς ὀλίγον γίνεται, ἢ εἰς τὴν γῆν καταφέρεται, ἀλλʼ ἄλλος ἐπʼ ἄλλων.
Kai gar dia parastēma psychēs kai diʼ epitēdeiotēta sōmatos kai dia proairesin tōn topōn kai diʼ empeirian maias kai allas apeirous prophaseis ouch ho autos esti chronos kathʼ hon prokyptei to tiktomenon rhagentōn tōn hymenōn, ē ektos oligon ginetai, ē eis tēn gēn katapheretai, allʼ allos epʼ allōn.
For because of the state of the mother's soul, the fitness of her body, the choice of place, the midwife's experience, and countless other reasons, the time at which the child emerges when the membranes break, or comes out a little, or is brought down to the ground, is not the same, but differs from case to case.
Notes and citation
Summary: Births vary for many reasons, so their timing is not uniform.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 56; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 56
ὃν πάλιν μὴ δυνάμενοι ὡρισμένως καὶ ἀκριβῶς σταθμήσασθαι οἱ Χαλδαῖοι ἐκπεσοῦνται τοῦ δεόντως τὴν τῆς ἀποτέξεως ὥραν ὁρίζειν. Ὅτι μὲν οὖν ἐπαγγέλλονται ἐπὶ τοῖς τῆς ἀποτέξεως χρόνοις οἱ Χαλδαῖοι τὸν ὡροσκόπον γινώσκειν, οὐκ ἴσασι δέ, ἐκ τούτων συμφανές· ὅτι δὲ οὐδὲ τὸ ὡροσκόπιον ἀπλανὲς αὐτοῖς ἐστί, πάρεστιν ἐπιλογίζεσθαι.
hon palin mē dynamenoi hōrismenōs kai akribōs stathmēsasthai hoi Chaldaioi ekpesountai tou deontōs tēn tēs apotexeōs hōran horizein. Hoti men oun epangellontai epi tois tēs apotexeōs chronois hoi Chaldaioi ton hōroskopon ginōskein, ouk isasi de, ek toutōn symphanes; hoti de oude to hōroskopion aplanes autois esti, parestin epilogizesthai.
And since, again, the Chaldeans cannot measure this definitely and precisely, they will fail to define the hour of delivery as they should. That the Chaldeans profess to know the horoscope at the times of delivery but do not know it is clear from this. That their horoscopic instrument is not unerring either may now be considered.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Chaldeans claim to know the hour of birth but cannot.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): ὂν πάλιν → ὃν πάλιν.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 56; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 56–58
Ὅταν γὰρ λέγωσιν ὅτι ὁ προσεδρεύων τῇ ὠδινούσῃ ἅμα τῇ ἀποτέξει δίσκῳ σημαίνει τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀκρωρείας ἀστεροσκοποῦντι Χαλδαίῳ, κἀκεῖνος εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀποβλέπων παρασημαίνεται τὸ ἀνίσχον ζώδιον, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐπιδείξωμεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι τῆς ἀποτέξεως ἀορίστου τυγχανούσης, καθὼς μικροῦ πρότερον παρεστήσαμεν, οὐδὲ τῷ δίσκῳ ταύτην διασημαίνειν εὔκολον.
Hotan gar legōsin hoti ho prosedreuōn tę̄ ōdinousę̄ hama tę̄ apotexei diskǭ sēmainei tǭ apo tēs akrōreias asteroskopounti Chaldaiǭ, kakeinos eis ouranon apoblepōn parasēmainetai to anischon zōdion, to men prōton epideixōmen autois hoti tēs apotexeōs aoristou tynchanousēs, kathōs mikrou proteron parestēsamen, oude tǭ diskǭ tautēn diasēmainein eukolon.
For when they say that the one attending the woman in labor signals the delivery at once with a gong to the Chaldean observing the stars from a height, and he, looking into the sky, notes the rising sign, let us first show them that, since the delivery is indefinite, as we established a little before, it is not easy to signal it with the gong either.
Notes and citation
Summary: Astrologers claim a gong signals the birth to an observer on a height, but the birth itself is indefinite.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 56–58; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 58
Εἶτʼ ἔστω καὶ καταληπτὴν ὑπάρχειν τὴν ἀπότεξιν, ἀλλʼ οὔτιγε πρὸς ἀκριβῆ χρόνον σημειοῦσθαι ταύτην δυνατόν ἐστι· τὸν γὰρ τοῦ δίσκου ψόφον ἐν πλείονι χρόνῳ καὶ ἐν συχνῷ πρὸς αἴσθησιν δυνάμενον μερίζεσθαι κινεῖσθαι συνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκρώρειαν.
Eitʼ estō kai katalēptēn hyparchein tēn apotexin, allʼ outige pros akribē chronon sēmeiousthai tautēn dynaton esti; ton gar tou diskou psophon en pleioni chronǭ kai en sychnǭ pros aisthēsin dynamenon merizesthai kineisthai synebē epi tēn akrōreian.
Then, grant that the delivery can be grasped: still it is not possible to mark it at a precise time; for the sound of the gong takes a longer time to travel to the height, long enough to be divided into perceptible parts.
Notes and citation
Summary: Even the sound of the gong takes time to reach the observer.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): Εἷτʼ ἔστω → Εἶτʼ ἔστω.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 58; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.6Duncker–Schneidewin, 58
Τεκμήριον δὲ [τὸ] ἐπὶ τῶν πόρρω δενδροτομούντων θεωρούμενον· μετὰ γὰρ ἱκανὴν ὥραν τοῦ κατενεχθῆναι τὸν πέλεκυν ἐξακούεται ἡ φωνὴ τῆς πληγῆς, ὡς ἂν ἐν χρόνῳ πλείονι φθάνουσα ἐπὶ τὸν ἀκούοντα. Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τοίνυν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀκριβῶς τοῖς Χαλδαίοις τὸν χρόνον τοῦ ἀνίσχοντος ζωδίου καὶ κατʼ ἀλήθειαν ὡροσκοποῦντος λαμβάνειν.
Tekmērion de [to] epi tōn porrō dendrotomountōn theōroumenon; meta gar hikanēn hōran tou katenechthēnai ton pelekyn exakouetai hē phōnē tēs plēgēs, hōs an en chronǭ pleioni phthanousa epi ton akouonta. Kai dia touto toinyn ouk estin akribōs tois Chaldaiois ton chronon tou anischontos zōdiou kai katʼ alētheian hōroskopountos lambanein.
A proof is what is observed with those cutting trees at a distance: a good while after the axe has come down, the sound of the blow is heard, since it takes longer to reach the hearer. For this reason too, then, the Chaldeans cannot precisely grasp the time of the sign that is rising and truly in the horoscope.
Notes and citation
Summary: As with distant woodcutters, the sound arrives late, so the rising sign cannot be fixed exactly.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.6 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 58; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.4.7Duncker–Schneidewin, 58
Καὶ μὴν οὐ μόνον φθάνει πλείων διελθὼν χρόνος μετὰ τὴν ἀπότεξιν τοῦ παρεδρεύοντος τῇ ὠδινούσῃ κρούσαντος τῷ δίσκῳ, εἶτα μετὰ τὸ κροῦσαι ἀκούσαντος τοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκρώρειαν, [ἀλλὰ] καὶ περισκοποῦντος καὶ βλέποντος ἐν τίνι τῶν ζωδίων ἐστὶν ἡ σελήνη καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀστέρων ἐν τίνι ἕκαστος, φθάνει ἀναγκαῖον ἀλλοιότερον γενέσθαι τὸ περὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας διάθεμα, τῆς τοῦ πόλου κινήσεως ἀλέκτῳ τάχει φερομένης, πρὶν τηρητικῶς παραφυλάξασθαι τὴν τοῦ γεννηθέντος ὥραν κατʼ οὐρανὸν βλεπομένην.
Kai mēn ou monon phthanei pleiōn dielthōn chronos meta tēn apotexin tou paredreuontos tę̄ ōdinousę̄ krousantos tǭ diskǭ, eita meta to krousai akousantos tou epi tēn akrōreian, [alla] kai periskopountos kai blepontos en tini tōn zōdiōn estin hē selēnē kai tōn loipōn asterōn en tini hekastos, phthanei anankaion alloioteron genesthai to peri tous asteras diathema, tēs tou polou kinēseōs alektǭ tachei pheromenēs, prin tērētikōs paraphylaxasthai tēn tou gennēthentos hōran katʼ ouranon blepomenēn.
And indeed, not only does considerable time pass after the delivery while the attendant strikes the gong, and then, after the striking, while the one on the height hears it, [but] also while he looks around and sees in which of the signs the moon is and in which each of the other stars is; so the disposition of the stars must necessarily change, since the motion of the pole is carried round with indescribable speed, before he can carefully observe the hour of the newborn as it is seen in the sky.
Notes and citation
Summary: By the time the observer checks the heavens, the stars have already moved.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.4.7 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 58; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-4-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 5
4.5.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 58
Οὕτως ἀσύστατος δειχθήσεται ἡ κατὰ Χαλδαίους τέχνη. Εἰ δὲ ἐξ ἐπερωτήσεων φάσκοι τις σκοπεῖσθαι τοῦ πυνθανομένου τὴν γένεσιν ἢ περὶ οὗ ἐπερωτάτω, μηδὲ κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον δύνασθαι ἐφικνεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τὸ ἀκριβές. Εἰ γὰρ τοσαύτη τις ἐπιμέλεια ἱστόρηται κατʼ αὐτοὺς περὶ τὴν τέχνην καὶ μηδʼ αὐτοὶ ἐφικνοῦνται ἐπὶ τὸ ἀκριβές, καθὼς ἐπεδείξαμεν, πῶς ὁ ἰδιώτης κατείληφε τῆς ἀποτέξεως τὸν χρόνον ἀκριβῶς, ἵνα παρὰ τούτου μαθὼν ὁ Χαλδαῖος στήσῃ τὸν ὡροσκόπον ἀληθῶς;
Houtōs asystatos deichthēsetai hē kata Chaldaious technē. Ei de ex eperōtēseōn phaskoi tis skopeisthai tou pynthanomenou tēn genesin ē peri hou eperōtatō, mēde kata touton ton tropon dynasthai ephikneisthai epi to akribes. Ei gar tosautē tis epimeleia historētai katʼ autous peri tēn technēn kai mēdʼ autoi ephiknountai epi to akribes, kathōs epedeixamen, pōs ho idiōtēs kateilēphe tēs apotexeōs ton chronon akribōs, hina para toutou mathōn ho Chaldaios stēsę̄ ton hōroskopon alēthōs?
Thus the art of the Chaldeans will be shown to be incoherent. And if someone should claim to examine the birth of an inquirer from his answers to questions, or the matter he is asking about, not even in this way can he reach precision. For if so much care is recorded among them concerning the art, and even they do not reach precision, as we have shown, how has the layman precisely grasped the time of delivery, so that the Chaldean, learning from him, may truly fix the horoscope?
Notes and citation
Summary: If experts cannot fix the moment of birth, a layman cannot supply it either.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 58; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 58–60
Ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ κατὰ τὴν τοῦ ὁρίζοντος ὄψιν πάντη ὁ αὐτὸς φανήσεται ἀνίσχων ἀστήρ, ἀλλʼ ὅπου μὲν ὡροσκόπος νομισθήσεται τὸ ἀπόκλιμα, ὅπου δὲ ὡροσκόπος ἡ ἐπαναφορὰ παρὰ τὴν τῶν τόπων ἐπιφάνειαν ὄντων ἢ ταπεινοτέρων ἢ ὑψηλοτέρων, ὥστε καὶ κατὰ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος οὐκ ἀκριβὴς φανήσεται ἡ προαγόρευσις, πολλῶν κατὰ πάντα τὸν κόσμον τῇ αὐτῇ ὥρᾳ γεννωμένων, ἄλλου ἄλλως τὰ ἄστρα θεωροῦντος.
Allʼ oude kata tēn tou horizontos opsin pantē ho autos phanēsetai anischōn astēr, allʼ hopou men hōroskopos nomisthēsetai to apoklima, hopou de hōroskopos hē epanaphora para tēn tōn topōn epiphaneian ontōn ē tapeinoterōn ē hypsēloterōn, hōste kai kata touto to meros ouk akribēs phanēsetai hē proagoreusis, pollōn kata panta ton kosmon tę̄ autę̄ hōrą gennōmenōn, allou allōs ta astra theōrountos.
But neither will the same star appear rising everywhere as the horizon is seen; rather, in one place the declination will be taken for the horoscope, in another the succeeding place, according to how the places appear, being lower or higher; so that in this respect too the prediction will not appear precise, since many are born at the same hour throughout the world, and each observes the stars differently.
Notes and citation
Summary: The rising sign looks different from different places, so predictions cannot be precise.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 58–60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Ματαία δὲ καὶ ἡ διὰ τῶν ὑ[δρι]ῶν νομιζομένη κατάληψις. Οὐ γὰρ ὁμοίως [ὁ] ἀμφορεὺς το... θεὶς ῥύσει πληρώσων ὡς ἀπόκενος, αὐτοῦ τοῦ πόλου κατὰ ἐκείνων λόγον ἑνὶ ὁρμήματι ἰσοταχῶς φερομένου.
Mataia de kai hē dia tōn hy[dri]ōn nomizomenē katalēpsis. Ou gar homoiōs [ho] amphoreus to... theis rhysei plērōsōn hōs apokenos, autou tou polou kata ekeinōn logon heni hormēmati isotachōs pheromenou.
Vain too is the supposed grasp by means of water clocks. For the jar … does not fill in the same way by flowing when it is emptied, while the pole itself, on their own account, is carried round at one impulse with equal speed.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Water clocks cannot measure the heavens accurately either.
- The text is damaged here; the gap is marked "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Εἰ δὲ ἀναστρέψαντες λέγοιεν μὴ τὸν ἀκριβῆ χρόνον λαμβάνειν ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἐν πλάτει, σχεδὸν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἐλεγχθήσονται τῶν ἀποτελεσμάτων. Οἱ γὰρ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ χρόνῳ γεννηθέντες οὐ τὸν αὐτὸν ἔζησαν βίον, ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν λόγου χάριν ἐβασίλευσαν, οἱ δὲ ἐν πέδαις κατεγήρασαν.
Ei de anastrepsantes legoien mē ton akribē chronon lambanein allʼ hōs etychen en platei, schedon hypʼ autōn elenchthēsontai tōn apotelesmatōn. Hoi gar en tǭ autǭ chronǭ gennēthentes ou ton auton ezēsan bion, allʼ hoi men logou charin ebasileusan, hoi de en pedais kategērasan.
And if they turn round and say that they do not take the precise time but approximately, in broad terms, they will be refuted by the outcomes themselves. For those born at the same time did not live the same life; but some, for example, became kings and others grew old in fetters.
Notes and citation
Summary: People born at the same time live very different lives.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Οὐδεὶς γοῦν Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τῷ Μακεδόνι γέγονεν ἴσος πολλῶν κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην ὁμοίως ἀποτεχθέντων αὐτῷ, οὐθεὶς Πλάτωνι τῷ φιλοσόφῳ. Ὥστε τὸν ἐν πλάτει τῆς γενέσεως χρόνον ὁ Χαλδαῖος ἀκριβῶς οὐ δυνήσεται λέγειν, εἰ [ὁ] κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον γεννηθεὶς εὐτυχήσει.
Oudeis goun Alexandrǭ tǭ Makedoni gegonen isos pollōn kata tēn oikoumenēn homoiōs apotechthentōn autǭ, outheis Platōni tǭ philosophǭ. Hōste ton en platei tēs geneseōs chronon ho Chaldaios akribōs ou dynēsetai legein, ei [ho] kata ton auton chronon gennētheis eutychēsei.
No one, at any rate, became equal to Alexander of Macedon, though many were born like him throughout the inhabited world; no one equal to Plato the philosopher. So the Chaldean will not be able to say precisely, from the broad time of birth, whether one born at the same time will prosper.
Notes and citation
Summary: Many were born with Alexander or Plato, but none became their equal.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.6Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Πολλοὶ γοῦν κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον γεννηθέντες ἐδυστύχησαν, ὥστε ματαία καὶ ἡ κατὰ τὰ διαθέματα ὁμοιότης. Διαφόρως οὖν καὶ πολυτρόπως τὴν ματαιόπονον σκέψιν τῶν Χαλδαίων διελέγξαντες οὐδὲ τοῦτο παραλείψομεν, ὡς εἰς ἄπορον χωρήσουσιν αἱ προρρήσεις αὐτοῖς.
Polloi goun kata ton auton chronon gennēthentes edystychēsan, hōste mataia kai hē kata ta diathemata homoiotēs. Diaphorōs oun kai polytropōs tēn mataioponon skepsin tōn Chaldaiōn dielenxantes oude touto paraleipsomen, hōs eis aporon chōrēsousin hai prorrēseis autois.
At any rate, many born at the same time were unfortunate, so that likeness according to dispositions is also vain. Having refuted the vainly laborious inquiry of the Chaldeans in different and many ways, we shall not leave out this either: that their predictions will come to a dead end.
Notes and citation
Summary: Same birth time, different fortunes: the similarity of charts proves nothing.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.6 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.7Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Εἰ γὰρ τὸν ἐν τῇ ἀκίδι τοῦ Τοξότου γεννηθέντα, ὡς οἱ μαθηματικοὶ λέγουσιν, ἀνάγκη σφαγήσεσθαι, πῶς αἱ τοσαῦται τῶν βαρβάρων μυριάδες ἀγωνιζόμεναι πρὸς τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἐν Μαραθῶνι ἢ Σαλαμῖνι ὑφʼ ἓν κατεσφάγησαν; οὐ γὰρ δή γε ἐπὶ πασῶν ὁ αὐτὸς ἦν ὡροσκόπος.
Ei gar ton en tę̄ akidi tou Toxotou gennēthenta, hōs hoi mathēmatikoi legousin, anankē sphagēsesthai, pōs hai tosautai tōn barbarōn myriades agōnizomenai pros tous Hellēnas en Marathōni ē Salamini hyphʼ hen katesphagēsan? ou gar dē ge epi pasōn ho autos ēn hōroskopos.
For if one born at the point of the Archer's arrow, as the mathematicians say, must be slaughtered, how were so many myriads of barbarians fighting against the Greeks at Marathon or Salamis slaughtered at once? For surely the horoscope was not the same for all of them.
Notes and citation
Summary: If birth under a sign meant a violent death, thousands slain in one battle could not all share it.
- "Mathematicians" is a common ancient name for astrologers.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): ἤν ὡροσκόπος → ἦν ὡροσκόπος.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.7 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.8Duncker–Schneidewin, 60
Καὶ πάλιν εἰ τὸν ἐν τῇ κάλπῃ τοῦ Ὑδροχόου γεννηθέντα ναυαγήσειν, πῶς οἱ ἀπὸ Τροίας ἀναγόμενοι τῶν Ἑλλήνων περὶ τὰ κοῖλα τῆς Εὐβοίας συγκατεποντίσθησαν; ἀπίθανον γὰρ πάντας μακρῷ χρόνῳ διαφέροντας ἀλλήλων ἐν τῇ κάλπῃ τοῦ Ὑδροχόου γεγεννῆσθαι.
Kai palin ei ton en tę̄ kalpę̄ tou Hydrochoou gennēthenta nauagēsein, pōs hoi apo Troias anagomenoi tōn Hellēnōn peri ta koila tēs Euboias synkatepontisthēsan? apithanon gar pantas makrǭ chronǭ diapherontas allēlōn en tę̄ kalpę̄ tou Hydrochoou gegennēsthai.
And again, if one born in the urn of the Water-Carrier will be shipwrecked, how were the Greeks sailing home from Troy drowned together off the hollows of Euboea? For it is incredible that all of them, differing from one another by a long time, were born in the urn of the Water-Carrier.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Greeks drowned together returning from Troy cannot all have been born under the same sign.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.8 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.5.9Duncker–Schneidewin, 60–62
Οὐ γὰρ ἔστι λέγειν ὅτι διʼ ἕνα πολλάκις, ᾧ εἵμαρται κατὰ πέλαγος φθαρῆναι, πάντες οἱ ἐν τῇ νηῒ συναπολοῦνται. Διατί γὰρ ἡ τούτου εἱμαρμένη τὰς πάντων νικᾷ, ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ διὰ τὸν ἕνα, ᾧ εἵμαρται ἐπὶ γῆς τελευτᾶν, πάντες περισώζονται;
Ou gar esti legein hoti diʼ hena pollakis, hǭ heimartai kata pelagos phtharēnai, pantes hoi en tę̄ nēï synapolountai. Diati gar hē toutou heimarmenē tas pantōn niką, allʼ ouchi dia ton hena, hǭ heimartai epi gēs teleutan, pantes perisōzontai?
For it cannot be said that often, because of one man who is fated to perish at sea, all in the ship perish with him. For why does his fate conquer the fates of all, and why are not all saved because of the one who is fated to die on land?
Notes and citation
Summary: Why should one man's fate to drown overrule the fates of all his shipmates?
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread letter in the digital text (Λ for Δ)): Λιατί → Διατί.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.5.9 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 60–62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-5-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 6
4.6.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 62
Ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ καὶ περὶ τῆς τῶν ζωδίων ἐνεργείας λόγον ποιοῦνται, οἷς φασὶ προσομοιοῦσθαι τὰ ἀποτικτόμενα, οὐδὲ τοῦτον παραλείψομεν, οἷον τὸν ἐν Λέοντι γεννηθέντα ἀνδρεῖον ἔσεσθαι· ὁ δὲ ἐν Παρθένῳ τετανόθριξ, λευκόχρως, ἄπαις, αἰδήμων.
Allʼ epei kai peri tēs tōn zōdiōn energeias logon poiountai, hois phasi prosomoiousthai ta apotiktomena, oude touton paraleipsomen, hoion ton en Leonti gennēthenta andreion esesthai; ho de en Parthenǭ tetanothrix, leukochrōs, apais, aidēmōn.
But since they also give an account of the influence of the signs, to which they say those born are made like, we shall not leave this out either: for example, that one born in the Lion will be brave, and one in the Virgin straight-haired, fair-skinned, childless, modest.
Notes and citation
Summary: Astrologers claim that people resemble the sign under which they are born.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.6.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-6-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.6.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 62
Ταῦτα δὲ καὶ τὰ τούτοις ὅμοια γέλωτός ἐστι μᾶλλον ἄξια καὶ οὐ σπουδῆς. Ἔστι γὰρ κατʼ αὐτοὺς μηδένα Αἰθίοπα ἐν Παρθένῳ γεννᾶσθαι· εἰ δʼ οὐ, δώσει [εἶναι] τὸν τοιοῦτον λευκόν, τετανότριχα καὶ τὰ ἕτερα.
Tauta de kai ta toutois homoia gelōtos esti mallon axia kai ou spoudēs. Esti gar katʼ autous mēdena Aithiopa en Parthenǭ gennasthai; ei dʼ ou, dōsei [einai] ton toiouton leukon, tetanotricha kai ta hetera.
These things and the like deserve laughter rather than serious attention. For according to them no Ethiopian is born in the Virgin; otherwise, he will grant that such a one is white, straight-haired, and the rest.
Notes and citation
Summary: By this logic no Ethiopian could be born under Virgo.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.6.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-6-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.6.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 62
Οἶμαι δὲ μᾶλλον τοὺς ἀρχαίους [τὰ] ὀνόματα τῶν κειμένων ζώων ἐπὶ κλητοῖς ἄστροις προστεθεικέναι οἰκειώσεως χάριν, οὐχ ὁμοιοτρόπου φύσεως· τί γὰρ ἔχουσιν ὅμοιον ἄρκτῳ οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες διεστῶτες ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων; ἢ δράκοντος κεφαλῇ οἱ, ὥς φησιν ὁ Ἄρατος, πέντε; Ἀλλὰ δύο κροτάφοις, δύο δʼ ὄμμασιν, εἷς δʼ ὑπένερθεν Ἐσχατιὴν ἐπέχει γένυος δεινοῖο πελώρου.
Oimai de mallon tous archaious [ta] onomata tōn keimenōn zōōn epi klētois astrois prostetheikenai oikeiōseōs charin, ouch homoiotropou physeōs; ti gar echousin homoion arktǭ hoi hepta asteres diestōtes apʼ allēlōn? ē drakontos kephalę̄ hoi, hōs phēsin ho Aratos, pente? Alla dyo krotaphois, dyo dʼ ommasin, heis dʼ hypenerthen Eschatiēn epechei genyos deinoio pelōrou.
I think rather that the ancients gave the names of the animals mentioned to certain stars for the sake of familiarity, not because of a like nature. For what likeness to a bear have the seven stars, standing apart from one another? Or to a dragon's head the five, as Aratus says: "Two on its temples, two on its eyes, and one below covers the tip of the dread monster's jaw"?
Notes and citation
Summary: The constellations were named for convenience, not because they resemble the animals.
- The quotation is Aratus, Phaenomena 56–57.
Extrabiblical texts: Aratus, Phaen. 56–57 (Aratus, Phaenomena; quotation)
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.6.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-6-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 7
4.7.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 62
Οὕτως καὶ ταῦτα οὐκ ἄξια τοσούτου πόνου δείκνυται τοῖς εὖ φρονεῖν προῃρημένοις καὶ μὴ προσέχουσι τῇ τῶν χαλδαίων ἐμφυσιώσει, οἳ καὶ βασιλεῖς ἐξαφανίζουσι δειλίαν καταρτίζοντες καὶ ἰδιώτας παραθαρρύνουσι μεγάλα τολμᾶν.
Houtōs kai tauta ouk axia tosoutou ponou deiknytai tois eu phronein proę̄rēmenois kai mē prosechousi tę̄ tōn chaldaiōn emphysiōsei, hoi kai basileis exaphanizousi deilian katartizontes kai idiōtas paratharrynousi megala tolman.
Thus these things too are shown not to be worth so much toil to those who have chosen to think rightly and do not heed the conceit of the Chaldeans, who both destroy kings by instilling cowardice and embolden private persons to dare great things.
Notes and citation
Summary: Astrology unnerves kings and emboldens commoners to reckless ventures.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.7.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-7-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.7.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 62
Εἰ δὲ ἀποτύχοι αὐτὸς κακῷ περιπαρείς, οὐ πᾶσι γίνεται διδάσκαλος ὁ βλαβείς, οὓς φρεναπατᾶν βουλόμενοι τοῖς ἀποτεύγμασιν εἰς ἄπειρον τὸν νοῦν αὐτῶν συνωθοῦντες λέγουσιν οὐκ ἄλλως ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ δύνασθαι τὸν συσχηματισμὸν τῶν αὐτῶν ἀστέρων γίνεσθαι ἢ διὰ τῆς ἀποκαταστάσεως τοῦ μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοῦ, διʼ ἑπτακισχιλίων ἐτῶν καὶ ἑπτακοσίων ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ ἑπτά. Πῶς οὖν φθάσει ἀνθρωπίνη παρατήρησις τοῖς τοσούτοις αἰῶσι συνδραμεῖν ἐπὶ μιᾶς γενέσεως;
Ei de apotychoi autos kakǭ peripareis, ou pasi ginetai didaskalos ho blabeis, hous phrenapatan boulomenoi tois apoteugmasin eis apeiron ton noun autōn synōthountes legousin ouk allōs epi to auto dynasthai ton syschēmatismon tōn autōn asterōn ginesthai ē dia tēs apokatastaseōs tou megalou eniautou, diʼ heptakischiliōn etōn kai heptakosiōn hebdomēkonta kai hepta. Pōs oun phthasei anthrōpinē paratērēsis tois tosoutois aiōsi syndramein epi mias geneseōs?
And if a man fails, having fallen into misfortune, the one harmed does not become a teacher to all; and wishing to deceive them in their failures, pushing their mind into the boundless, they say that the configuration of the same stars cannot come round to the same place otherwise than through the restoration of the Great Year, in seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven years. How, then, will human observation manage to keep pace with so many ages for a single birth?
Notes and citation
Summary: Astrologers say a configuration returns only after 7,777 years, beyond any human observation.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): Πῶς οὗν → Πῶς οὖν.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.7.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-7-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.7.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 62–64
καὶ ταῦτα οὐχ ἅπαξ ἀλλὰ πολλάκις οἶμαι, παρʼ ἐλπίδα πλειόνων ἐληλέγχθαι τὴν Χαλδαϊκὴν τέχνην ἔδει· καίτοι διʼ ἕτερα αὐτῆς ἡμῶν μνησθέντων, οὐχὶ ἰδίως διʼ αὐτήν.
kai tauta ouch hapax alla pollakis oimai, parʼ elpida pleionōn elēlenchthai tēn Chaldaïkēn technēn edei; kaitoi diʼ hetera autēs hēmōn mnēsthentōn, ouchi idiōs diʼ autēn.
And these things, I think, the Chaldean art ought to have been refuted not once but many times, beyond the expectation of many; although we have mentioned it for the sake of other things, not for its own sake.
Notes and citation
Summary: Astrology has been refuted here only because the heretics use it.
- The sentence is awkward in the Greek; the rendering gives the probable sense.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.7.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 62–64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-7-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.7.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 64
Ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ προῃρήμεθα μηδὲν τῶν παρʼ ἔθνεσι δογμάτων καταλιπεῖν διὰ τὴν πολύφωνον τῶν αἱρέσεων πανουργίαν, ἴδωμεν τί λέγουσι καὶ οἱ περὶ μεγεθῶν τετολμηκότες, οἳ κατιδόντες τὴν τῶν πλειόνων ματαιοπονίαν, ἄλλου ἄλλως διαψευσαμένου καὶ εὐδοκιμήσαντος, μεῖζόν τι ἐτόλμησαν εἰπεῖν, ὅπως ὑπὸ τῶν τὰ μικρὰ ψεύσματα μεγάλως δοξασάντων μειζόνως δοξασθῶσιν.
Allʼ epei proę̄rēmetha mēden tōn parʼ ethnesi dogmatōn katalipein dia tēn polyphōnon tōn haireseōn panourgian, idōmen ti legousi kai hoi peri megethōn tetolmēkotes, hoi katidontes tēn tōn pleionōn mataioponian, allou allōs diapseusamenou kai eudokimēsantos, meizon ti etolmēsan eipein, hopōs hypo tōn ta mikra pseusmata megalōs doxasantōn meizonōs doxasthōsin.
But since we have chosen to leave out none of the doctrines held among the nations, because of the many-voiced cunning of the heresies, let us see what those say too who have ventured to speak about magnitudes. Seeing the vain toil of the many, each lying in a different way and winning renown, they dared to say something greater, so that they might be more greatly glorified by those who greatly glorified small lies.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus turns to those who speculate about the sizes and distances of the heavens.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.7.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-7-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.7.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 64
Οὗτοι κύκλους καὶ μέτρα τρίγωνά τε καὶ τετράγωνα διπλάσιά τε καὶ τριπλάσια ὑποτίθενται· πολὺς δὲ ὁ περὶ τούτου λόγος, ἀλλʼ οὐ πρὸς τὸ προκείμενον ἀναγκαῖος.
Houtoi kyklous kai metra trigōna te kai tetragōna diplasia te kai triplasia hypotithentai; polys de ho peri toutou logos, allʼ ou pros to prokeimenon anankaios.
These suppose circles and measures, triangles and squares, doubles and triples. There is much to say about this, but it is not necessary for our present purpose.
Notes and citation
Summary: These theorists speak of circles, ratios, and measures.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.7.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-7-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 8
4.8.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 64
Ἱκανὸν οὖν λογίζομαι ἐξειπεῖν τὰ ὑπʼ αὐτῶν τερατολογούμενα. Διὸ τοῖς ἐπιτόμοις χρησάμενος ὧν αὐτοὶ λέγουσιν, ἐπὶ τὰ ἕτερα τραπήσομαι. Λέγουσι δὲ ταῦτα· κράτος ἔδωκεν ὁ δημιουργήσας τῇ ταὐτοῦ καὶ ὁμοίου περιφορᾷ· μίαν γὰρ αὐτὴν ἄσχιστον εἴασε, τὴν δὲ ἐντὸς σχίσας ἑξαχῆ ἑπτὰ κύκλους ἀνίσους κατὰ τὴν τοῦ διπλασίου καὶ τριπλασίου διάστασιν ἑκάστην, οὐσῶν ἑκατέρων τριῶν, κατὰ τὰ ἐναντία μὲν ἀλλήλοις προσέταξεν ἰέναι τοὺς κύκλους, τάχει δὲ τρεῖς μὲν ὁμοίως, τοὺς δὲ τέσσαρας ἀλλήλοις τε καὶ τοῖς τρισὶν ἀνομοίως, ἐν λόγῳ δὲ φερομένους.
Hikanon oun logizomai exeipein ta hypʼ autōn teratologoumena. Dio tois epitomois chrēsamenos hōn autoi legousin, epi ta hetera trapēsomai. Legousi de tauta; kratos edōken ho dēmiourgēsas tę̄ tautou kai homoiou periphorą; mian gar autēn aschiston eiase, tēn de entos schisas hexachē hepta kyklous anisous kata tēn tou diplasiou kai triplasiou diastasin hekastēn, ousōn hekaterōn triōn, kata ta enantia men allēlois prosetaxen ienai tous kyklous, tachei de treis men homoiōs, tous de tessaras allēlois te kai tois trisin anomoiōs, en logǭ de pheromenous.
I think it sufficient, then, to state the marvels they tell. Therefore, using summaries of what they themselves say, I shall turn to other matters. They say this: "The maker gave mastery to the revolution of the same and like; for he left it one and undivided, but the inner one he split six times into seven unequal circles, each according to the interval of the double and the triple, there being three of each; and he commanded the circles to go in directions contrary to one another, three at the same speed, and the other four at speeds unlike one another and unlike the three, but moving in ratio."
Notes and citation
Summary: The speculators follow Plato's account of the circles of the Same and the Other.
- The quotation is from Plato, Timaeus 36c–d.
Extrabiblical texts: Plato, Tim. 36c–d (Plato (works); quotation)
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 64
Κράτος μὲν δεδόσθαι τῇ ταὐτοῦ φορᾷ φησὶν, οὐ μόνον ἐπειδὴ περιέχει τὴν θατέρου φοράν, τουτέστι τοὺς πλανωμένους, ἀλλʼ ὅτι καὶ τοσοῦτον ἔχει κράτος, τουτέστι τοσαύτην δύναμιν, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τἀναντία, τοὺς πλανωμένους ἀπὸ δύσεως ἐπʼ ἀνατολὴν φερομένους αὐτοὺς τῇ
Kratos men dedosthai tę̄ tautou phorą phēsin, ou monon epeidē periechei tēn thaterou phoran, toutesti tous planōmenous, allʼ hoti kai tosouton echei kratos, toutesti tosautēn dynamin, hōste kai tous epi tanantia, tous planōmenous apo dyseōs epʼ anatolēn pheromenous autous tę̄
He says mastery was given to the motion of the same, not only because it encompasses the motion of the other, that is, the planets, but also because it has so much mastery, that is, so much power, that it carries round with itself, by its
Notes and citation
Summary: The outer revolution of the Same carries even the planets round with it.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 64
οἰκείᾳ ἰσχύϊ ὁμοίως καὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῆς ἐπὶ δύσιν ἑαυτῷ συμπεριάγειν. Μίαν δὲ καὶ ἄσχιστον εἰᾶσθαι φησὶ ταύτην τὴν φοράν, πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειδὴ πάντων τῶν ἀπλανῶν ἰσόχρονοι αἱ περιφοραὶ καὶ οὐ διῃρημέναι κατὰ πλείους καὶ ἐλάττους χρόνους· ἔπειτα ὅτι μίαν πάντες ἔχουσιν ἐπιφάνειαν τὴν τῆς ἐξωτάτω φορᾶς, οἱ δὲ πλανώμενοι καὶ εἰς χρόνους πλείονας καὶ διαφόρους τῶν κινήσεων καὶ εἰς ἀποστάσεις ἀπὸ γῆς ἀνίσους διῄρηνται·
oikeią ischyï homoiōs kai apo anatolēs epi dysin heautǭ symperiagein. Mian de kai aschiston eiasthai phēsi tautēn tēn phoran, prōton men epeidē pantōn tōn aplanōn isochronoi hai periphorai kai ou dię̄rēmenai kata pleious kai elattous chronous; epeita hoti mian pantes echousin epiphaneian tēn tēs exōtatō phoras, hoi de planōmenoi kai eis chronous pleionas kai diaphorous tōn kinēseōn kai eis apostaseis apo gēs anisous dię̄rēntai;
own strength, even those that move the contrary way, the planets carried from west to east, likewise also from east to west. He says this motion was left one and undivided, first because the revolutions of all the fixed stars take equal time and are not divided into longer and shorter times; then because they all have one surface, that of the outermost motion; whereas the planets are divided both into longer and different times of their motions and into unequal distances from the earth.
Notes and citation
Summary: The fixed stars move together, while the planets differ in period and distance.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 64–66
τὴν δὲ θατέρου φησὶν ἑξαχῆ εἰς ἑπτὰ κύκλους ἐσχίσθαι, εἰκότως. Ὁπόσαι γὰρ ἂν ὦσιν ἑκάστου αἱ τομαί, μονάδι πλείω τῶν τομῶν γίνεται τὰ τμήματα, οἷον ἐὰν μιᾷ τομῇ διαιρεθῇ, δύο ἔσται τμήματα, ἂν δυσί, τρία τμήματα· οὕτω δὴ κἂν ἑξαχῆ τι τμηθῇ, ἑπτὰ ἔσται τὰ τμήματα.
tēn de thaterou phēsin hexachē eis hepta kyklous eschisthai, eikotōs. Hoposai gar an ōsin hekastou hai tomai, monadi pleiō tōn tomōn ginetai ta tmēmata, hoion ean mią tomę̄ diairethę̄, dyo estai tmēmata, an dysi, tria tmēmata; houtō dē kan hexachē ti tmēthę̄, hepta estai ta tmēmata.
He says the motion of the other was split six times into seven circles, reasonably. For however many cuts there are in anything, the pieces are one more than the cuts; for example, if it is divided by one cut there will be two pieces, if by two, three pieces; and so if something is cut six times, there will be seven pieces.
Notes and citation
Summary: Six cuts make seven circles for the seven planets.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 64–66; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 66
Τὰς δὲ ἀποστάσεις αὐτῶν κατὰ διπλάσια καὶ τριπλάσια ἐναλλὰξ τετάχθαι φησίν, οὐσῶν ἑκατέρων τριῶν· ὅπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς συστάσεως τῆς ψυχῆς, ἐπὶ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀριθμῶν ἔδειξε.
Tas de apostaseis autōn kata diplasia kai triplasia enallax tetachthai phēsin, ousōn hekaterōn triōn; hoper kai epi tēs systaseōs tēs psychēs, epi tōn hepta arithmōn edeixe.
He says their distances are arranged alternately in double and triple ratios, there being three of each; which he also showed in the composition of the soul, in the case of the seven numbers.
Notes and citation
Summary: The planetary distances follow the ratios of Plato's world soul.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 66; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.6Duncker–Schneidewin, 66
Τρεῖς μὲν γάρ εἰσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς διπλάσιοι ἀπὸ μονάδος (??), τρεῖς δὲ... (??) καὶ (??) σταδίων. Περίμετρος δὲ γῆς σταδίων (??) καὶ (??)· καὶ ἀπόστημα δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τῆς γῆς ἐπὶ τὸν σεληνιακὸν κύκλον ὁ μὲν Σάμιος Ἀρίσταρχος (??) ἀναγράφει σταδίων (??), ὁ δὲ Ἀπολλώνιος μυριάδ. (??), ὁ δὲ Ἀρχιμήδης μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδ. (??).
Treis men gar eisin en autois diplasioi apo monados (??), treis de... (??) kai (??) stadiōn. Perimetros de gēs stadiōn (??) kai (??); kai apostēma de apo tēs epiphaneias tēs gēs epi ton selēniakon kyklon ho men Samios Aristarchos (??) anagraphei stadiōn (??), ho de Apollōnios myriad. (??), ho de Archimēdēs myriad. (??) kai monad. (??).
For among them there are three doubles from the monad …, and three … and … stades. The circumference of the earth is … and … stades; and the distance from the surface of the earth to the circle of the moon Aristarchus of Samos records as … stades, Apollonius as … myriads, and Archimedes as … myriads and … units.
Notes and citation
Summary: Various astronomers' figures for the size of the earth and the distance of the moon are listed.
- The numbers in this passage could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misspelling in the digital text): Ἀπολλώνιας → Ἀπολλώνιος.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.6 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 66; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.8.7Duncker–Schneidewin, 66
ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ σεληνιακοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ ἡλίου κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδ. (??). ἀπὸ τοῦδε ἐπὶ τὸν τῆς Ἀφροδίτης κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδας (??). ἀπὸ τοῦδε ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??). ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ πυρόεντος κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??). ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ Διὸς κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), μονάδας (??). ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῦ Κρόνου κύκλον σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??). ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν ζωδιακὸν καὶ τὴν ἐσχάτην περιφέρειαν σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??).
apo de tou selēniakou epi ton tou hēliou kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??) kai monad. (??). apo toude epi ton tēs Aphroditēs kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??) kai monadas (??). apo toude epi ton tou Hermou kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??), monad. (??). apo toutou de epi ton tou pyroentos kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??), monad. (??). apo toutou de epi ton tou Dios kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??), monadas (??). apo toutou de epi ton tou Kronou kyklon stadiōn myriad. (??), monad. (??). apo toutou de epi ton zōdiakon kai tēn eschatēn periphereian stadiōn myriad. (??), monad. (??).
From the circle of the moon to the circle of the sun, … myriads and … stades; from this to the circle of Aphrodite, … myriads and … stades; from this to the circle of Hermes, … myriads, … units; from this to the circle of the Fiery one, … myriads, … units; from this to the circle of Zeus, … myriads, … units; from this to the circle of Cronus, … myriads, … units; from this to the zodiac and the outermost circumference, … myriads, … units.
Notes and citation
Summary: Distances between the planetary spheres are listed, from the moon to the outermost sphere.
- The numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…". The planets are Venus (Aphrodite), Mercury (Hermes), Mars (the Fiery one), Jupiter (Zeus), and Saturn (Cronus).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.8.7 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 66; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-8-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 9
4.9.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 66–68
Τὰ μὲν ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων διαστήματα τῶν κύκλων καὶ τῶν σφαιρῶν βάθη τε ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀρχιμήδους ἀποδίδοται. Τοῦ δὲ ζωδιακοῦ τὴν περίμετρον λαμβάνει σταδίων δευτέρων ἀριθμῶν (??) καὶ μυριάδ. (??)· ὥστε συμβαίνειν τὴν ἐκ τοῦ κέντρου τῆς γῆς εὐθεῖαν ἄχρι τῆς ἐπιφανείας τῆς ἐσχάτης τὸ ἕκτον εἶναι τοῦ λεχθέντος ἀριθμοῦ, τὴν δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τῆς γῆς, ἐφʼ ἧς βεβήκαμεν, ἄχρι τοῦ ζωδιακοῦ, ἄρτι ῥηθέντος ἕκτον τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ, λεῖπον τέτρασι μυριάσι σταδίων, ὃ ἐκ τοῦ κέντρου τῆς γῆς μέχρι τῆς ἐπιφανείας αὐτῆς. ἀπὸ τοῦ Κρόνου δὲ κύκλου ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν φησὶ τὸ διάστημα σταδίων δευτέρων ἀριθμῶν εἶναι μονάδ. δύο καὶ μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδ. (??)βψια. ἀπὸ τοῦ δὲ τοῦ Διὸς κύκλου ἐπὶ γῆν σταδίων δευτέρων ἀριθμῶν μονάδ. (??) καὶ μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδας (??). ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ πυρόεντος κύκλου ἐπὶ γῆν δευτέρων ἀριθμῶν μονάδ. μίαν καὶ μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδ. (??) ἀφʼ ἡλίου ἐπὶ γῆν δευτέρων ἀριθμῶν μονάδ. μίαν καὶ μυριάδ. (??) καὶ μονάδας (??). ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ Στίλβοντος ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδας (??). ἀπὸ δὲ Ἀφροδίτης ἐπὶ γῆν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??).
Ta men apʼ allēlōn diastēmata tōn kyklōn kai tōn sphairōn bathē te hypo tou Archimēdous apodidotai. Tou de zōdiakou tēn perimetron lambanei stadiōn deuterōn arithmōn (??) kai myriad. (??); hōste symbainein tēn ek tou kentrou tēs gēs eutheian achri tēs epiphaneias tēs eschatēs to hekton einai tou lechthentos arithmou, tēn de apo tēs epiphaneias tēs gēs, ephʼ hēs bebēkamen, achri tou zōdiakou, arti rhēthentos hekton tou arithmou, leipon tetrasi myriasi stadiōn, ho ek tou kentrou tēs gēs mechri tēs epiphaneias autēs. apo tou Kronou de kyklou epi tēn gēn phēsi to diastēma stadiōn deuterōn arithmōn einai monad. dyo kai myriad. (??) kai monad. (??)bpsia. apo tou de tou Dios kyklou epi gēn stadiōn deuterōn arithmōn monad. (??) kai myriad. (??) kai monadas (??). apo de tou pyroentos kyklou epi gēn deuterōn arithmōn monad. mian kai myriad. (??) kai monad. (??) aphʼ hēliou epi gēn deuterōn arithmōn monad. mian kai myriad. (??) kai monadas (??). apo de tou Stilbontos epi tēn gēn myriad. (??), monadas (??). apo de Aphroditēs epi gēn myriad. (??), monad. (??).
The distances of the circles from one another and the depths of the spheres are given by Archimedes. He takes the circumference of the zodiac as … of the second order of numbers and … myriads of stades; so that the straight line from the center of the earth to the outermost surface is a sixth of the said number, and the line from the surface of the earth on which we walk to the zodiac is a sixth of the number just mentioned, less four myriads of stades, which is the distance from the center of the earth to its surface. He says the distance from the circle of Cronus to the earth is two units of the second order and … myriads and … units of stades; from the circle of Zeus to the earth, … units of the second order and … myriads and … units; from the circle of the Fiery one to the earth, one unit of the second order and … myriads and … units; from the sun to the earth, one unit of the second order and … myriads and … units; from the Gleaming one to the earth, … myriads, … units; from Aphrodite to the earth, … myriads, … units.
Notes and citation
Summary: Archimedes' figures for the distances of the planets from the earth are listed.
- Most numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…". "Second order of numbers" means multiples of a myriad of myriads (100,000,000). "The Gleaming one" is Mercury.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong breathing in the digital text): ἐφʼ ἦς βεβήκαμεν → ἐφʼ ἧς βεβήκαμεν.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.9.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 66–68; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-9-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 10
4.10.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 68
Περὶ σελήνης δὲ ἐλέχθη τὸ πρότερον. Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἀποστήματα καὶ βάθη τῶν σφαιρῶν οὕτως Ἀρχιμήδης ἀποδίδωσιν, ἑτέρως δὲ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν Ἱππάρχῳ εἴρηται καὶ ἑτέρως Ἀπολλωνίῳ τῷ μαθηματικῷ. Ἡμῖν δὲ ἐξαρκεῖ τῇ Πλατωνικῇ δόξῃ ἑπομένοις διπλάσια μὲν καὶ τριπλάσια οἴεσθαι τῶν πλανωμένων τὰ ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων διαστήματα· σώζεται γὰρ οὕτως ὁ λόγος τοῦ καθʼ ἁρμονίαν συγκεῖσθαι τὸ πᾶν ἐν λόγοις συμφώνοις κατὰ ταῦτα τὰ ἀποστήματα.
Peri selēnēs de elechthē to proteron. Ta men oun apostēmata kai bathē tōn sphairōn houtōs Archimēdēs apodidōsin, heterōs de hyper autōn Hipparchǭ eirētai kai heterōs Apollōniǭ tǭ mathēmatikǭ. Hēmin de exarkei tę̄ Platōnikę̄ doxę̄ hepomenois diplasia men kai triplasia oiesthai tōn planōmenōn ta apʼ allēlōn diastēmata; sōzetai gar houtōs ho logos tou kathʼ harmonian synkeisthai to pan en logois symphōnois kata tauta ta apostēmata.
Concerning the moon it was said before. So Archimedes gives the distances and depths of the spheres thus; Hipparchus has spoken otherwise about them, and otherwise Apollonius the mathematician. For us, following the Platonic view, it is enough to think that the distances of the planets from one another are double and triple; for in this way the principle is preserved that the universe is composed in harmony, in concordant ratios according to these distances.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus prefers Plato's double and triple ratios to the astronomers' conflicting figures.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.10.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 68; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-10-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.10.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 68
Οἱ δʼ ἐκτεθέντες ὑπὸ Ἀρχιμήδους ἀριθμοὶ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων περὶ τῶν ἀποστημάτων λεγόμενοι λόγοι εἰ μὴ ἐν συμφώνοις εἶεν λόγοις, τουτέστι τοῖς ὑπὸ Πλάτωνος εἰρημένοις διπλασίοις καὶ τριπλασίοις, ἔξω δὲ συμφωνιῶν εὑρισκόμενοι, οὐκ ἂν σώζοιεν τὸ καθʼ ἁρμονίαν κατεσκευάσθαι τὸ πᾶν·
Hoi dʼ ektethentes hypo Archimēdous arithmoi kai hypo tōn allōn peri tōn apostēmatōn legomenoi logoi ei mē en symphōnois eien logois, toutesti tois hypo Platōnos eirēmenois diplasiois kai triplasiois, exō de symphōniōn heuriskomenoi, ouk an sōzoien to kathʼ harmonian kateskeuasthai to pan;
But if the numbers set out by Archimedes and the ratios stated by the others about the distances were not in concordant ratios, that is, in the doubles and triples spoken of by Plato, but were found outside the concords, they would not preserve the principle that the universe has been constructed in harmony;
Notes and citation
Summary: Figures not in harmonic ratios would contradict a harmonious universe.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.10.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 68; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-10-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.10.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 68
οὐ γὰρ πιθανὸν οὐδὲ δυνατὸν ἄλογά τε καὶ ἔξω συμφωνιῶν καὶ ἐναρμονίων λόγων εἶναι αὐτῶν τὰ ἀποστήματα, πλὴν ἴσως σελήνης μόνης ἐκ τῶν λείψεων καὶ τῆς σκιᾶς τῆς γῆς, περὶ ἧς μόνης καὶ πιστεύσαι τις ἂν Ἀρχιμήδῃ ἀποστάσεως, τουτέστι τῆς σεληνιακῆς ἀπὸ γῆς· ταύτην δὲ λαβοῦσι ῥᾴδιον ἔσται κατὰ τὸ Πλατωνικὸν αὐτὸ τὰ κατὰ τὸ διπλάσιον καὶ τριπλάσιον, ὡς ἀξιοῖ Πλάτων, καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἀποστήματα ἀριθμῷ περιλαβεῖν.
ou gar pithanon oude dynaton aloga te kai exō symphōniōn kai enarmoniōn logōn einai autōn ta apostēmata, plēn isōs selēnēs monēs ek tōn leipseōn kai tēs skias tēs gēs, peri hēs monēs kai pisteusai tis an Archimēdę̄ apostaseōs, toutesti tēs selēniakēs apo gēs; tautēn de labousi rhądion estai kata to Platōnikon auto ta kata to diplasion kai triplasion, hōs axioi Platōn, kai ta loipa apostēmata arithmǭ perilabein.
for it is neither plausible nor possible that their distances should be irrational and outside the concords and harmonic ratios, except perhaps for the moon alone, from the eclipses and the shadow of the earth, concerning which alone one might trust Archimedes about the distance, that is, of the moon from the earth. Once this is taken, it will be easy, according to the Platonic principle itself, to comprehend the other distances by number in the double and triple ratios, as Plato requires.
Notes and citation
Summary: Only Archimedes' distance of the moon is trustworthy; the rest can be derived by Plato's ratios.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.10.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 68; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-10-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.10.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 68–70
Εἰ δὴ κατὰ τὸν Ἀρχιμήδην ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τῆς γῆς ἡ σελήνη ἀφέστηκε σταδίων μυριάδ. (??), σταδίους (??), ῥᾴδιον τούτους τοὺς ἀριθμοὺς αὔξοντας κατὰ τὸ διπλάσιον καὶ τριπλάσιον καὶ τὰ τῶν λοιπῶν εὑρεῖν διαστήματα, ὡς μιᾶς μοίρας λαμβανομένης τοῦ τῶν σταδίων ἀριθμοῦ οὓς ἡ σελήνη τῆς γῆς ἀφέστηκεν. Ὅτι δὲ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀριθμοὶ οἱ ὑπʼ Ἀρχιμήδους περὶ τῆς ἀποστάσεως τῶν πλανωμένων λεγόμενοι οὐκ ἐν συμφώνοις λόγοις, ῥᾴδιον γνῶναι, πῶς ἔχουσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ ἐν τίσι λόγοις εἰσὶ κατανοήσαντας· μὴ εἶναι δὲ ἐν ἁρμονίᾳ καὶ συμφωνίᾳ ταῦτα τοῦ καθʼ ἁρμονίαν συνεστῶτος κόσμου ὄντα μέρη ἀδύνατον. Τοῦ μὲν δὴ πρώτου ἀριθμοῦ ὃν ἀφέστηκεν ἡ σελήνη τῆς γῆς ὄντος μυριάδ. (??) μονάδων (??), ὁ δεύτερος ἀριθμὸς ὃν ἀφέστηκεν ἥλιος τῆς σελήνης ὢν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδων (??), ἐν λόγῳ ἐστὶ πλείονι ἢ ἔλασσον. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀνωτέρω ἀριθμὸς ὢν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??), ἐν λόγῳ ἐστὶ [ἐλάττονι ἢ ἡμίσει. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀνωτέρω ἀριθμὸς ὢν μυριάδ. (??) μονάδων (??) ἐν λόγῳ ἐστὶ] πλείονι ἢ διπλασίῳ. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀνωτέρω ἀριθμὸς ὢν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδων (??), ἐν λόγῳ ἔσται ἐλάττονι ἢ ἐπιτετάρτῳ. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀνωτέρω ἀριθμὸς ὢν μυριάδ. (??) μονάδων (??), ἐν λόγῳ ἐστὶ πλείονι ἢ ἡμίσει. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀνωτάτω ἀριθμὸς ὢν μυριάδ. (??), μονάδ. (??), ἐν λόγῳ ἐστὶ ἐλάττονι ἢ διπλασίῳ.
Ei dē kata ton Archimēdēn apo tēs epiphaneias tēs gēs hē selēnē aphestēke stadiōn myriad. (??), stadious (??), rhądion toutous tous arithmous auxontas kata to diplasion kai triplasion kai ta tōn loipōn heurein diastēmata, hōs mias moiras lambanomenēs tou tōn stadiōn arithmou hous hē selēnē tēs gēs aphestēken. Hoti de hoi loipoi arithmoi hoi hypʼ Archimēdous peri tēs apostaseōs tōn planōmenōn legomenoi ouk en symphōnois logois, rhądion gnōnai, pōs echousi pros allēlous kai en tisi logois eisi katanoēsantas; mē einai de en harmonią kai symphōnią tauta tou kathʼ harmonian synestōtos kosmou onta merē adynaton. Tou men dē prōtou arithmou hon aphestēken hē selēnē tēs gēs ontos myriad. (??) monadōn (??), ho deuteros arithmos hon aphestēken hēlios tēs selēnēs ōn myriad. (??), monadōn (??), en logǭ esti pleioni ē elasson. pros de touton ho anōterō arithmos ōn myriad. (??), monad. (??), en logǭ esti [elattoni ē hēmisei. pros de touton ho anōterō arithmos ōn myriad. (??) monadōn (??) en logǭ esti] pleioni ē diplasiǭ. pros de touton ho anōterō arithmos ōn myriad. (??), monadōn (??), en logǭ estai elattoni ē epitetartǭ. pros de touton ho anōterō arithmos ōn myriad. (??) monadōn (??), en logǭ esti pleioni ē hēmisei. pros de touton ho anōtatō arithmos ōn myriad. (??), monad. (??), en logǭ esti elattoni ē diplasiǭ.
If, then, according to Archimedes, the moon is … myriads and … stades distant from the surface of the earth, it is easy, by increasing these numbers in double and triple ratio, to find the distances of the others too, taking as one part the number of stades by which the moon is distant from the earth. That the other numbers stated by Archimedes concerning the distance of the planets are not in concordant ratios is easy to see for those who consider how they stand to one another and in what ratios they are; but it is impossible that these, being parts of a world composed in harmony, should not be in harmony and concord. The first number, by which the moon is distant from the earth, being … myriads … units, the second number, by which the sun is distant from the moon, being … myriads … units, is in a ratio of more than …. To this the next number above, being … myriads … units, is in a ratio [less than half. To this the next number above, being … myriads … units, is in a ratio] more than double. To this the next number above, being … myriads … units, will be in a ratio less than five-fourths. To this the next above, being … myriads … units, is in a ratio more than half. To this the highest number, being … myriads … units, is in a ratio less than double.
Notes and citation
Summary: The ratios between Archimedes' distances are shown not to be harmonic.
- The numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…". The words in square brackets are the editor's restoration. The first ratio word is missing in the Greek ("more than" a number now lost).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.10.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 68–70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-10-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 11
4.11.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 70
Οὗτοι δὴ οἱ λόγοι ὅ τε πλείων ἢ [ἐννεαπλάσιος καὶ] ἐλάττων ἢ ἥμισυς καὶ πλείων ἢ διπλάσιος καὶ ἐλάττων ἢ ἐπιτέταρτος καὶ πλείων ἢ ἥμισυς καὶ ἐλάττων ἢ διπλάσιος ἔξω πασῶν εἰσὶ συμφωνιῶν, ἐξ ὧν οὐκ ἐναρμόνιόν τι καὶ σύμφωνον σύστημʼ ἂν γένοιτο. Ὁ δʼ ἅπας κόσμος καὶ τὰ τούτου μέρη κατὰ πάντα ὁμοίως ἐναρμονίως καὶ συμφώνως σύγκειται.
Houtoi dē hoi logoi ho te pleiōn ē [enneaplasios kai] elattōn ē hēmisys kai pleiōn ē diplasios kai elattōn ē epitetartos kai pleiōn ē hēmisys kai elattōn ē diplasios exō pasōn eisi symphōniōn, ex hōn ouk enarmonion ti kai symphōnon systēmʼ an genoito. Ho dʼ hapas kosmos kai ta toutou merē kata panta homoiōs enarmoniōs kai symphōnōs synkeitai.
These ratios, then, more than [ninefold and] less than half, more than double, less than five-fourths, more than half, and less than double, are outside all concords, and from them no harmonious and concordant system could come about. But the whole world and its parts are composed in every respect alike, harmoniously and concordantly.
Notes and citation
Summary: Such ratios cannot belong to a harmonious world.
- The words in square brackets are the editor's.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.11.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-11-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.11.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 70
Οἱ δὲ ἐναρμόνιοι καὶ σύμφωνοι λόγοι σώζονται, καθάπερ προειρήκαμεν, τοῖς διπλασίοις καὶ τριπλασίοις διαστήμασιν.
Hoi de enarmonioi kai symphōnoi logoi sōzontai, kathaper proeirēkamen, tois diplasiois kai triplasiois diastēmasin.
And the harmonious and concordant ratios are preserved, as we said before, by the double and triple intervals.
Notes and citation
Summary: Only double and triple intervals preserve harmony.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.11.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-11-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.11.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 70
Εἰ δὴ πιστὸν τὸν Ἀρχιμήδην ἡγησάμεθα ἐν μόνῳ τῷ πρώτῳ ἀποστήματι τῷ ἀπὸ σελήνης μέχρι γῆς, ῥᾴδιον καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ κατὰ τὸ διπλάσιον καὶ τριπλάσιον αὔξοντα εὑρεῖν. Ἔστω δὴ κατὰ τὸν Ἀρχιμήδην τὸ ἀπὸ γῆς μέχρι σελήνης ἀπόστημα σταδίων μυριάδ. (??) μονάδων (??), ἔσται μὲν δὴ τούτου διπλάσιος ἀριθμὸς σταδίων ὧν ἀφέστηκεν ὁ ἥλιος τῆς σελήνης μυριάδ. (??) καὶ (??), ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς γῆς ἀφέστηκεν ὁ ἥλιος σταδίων [μυριάδ.] (??) καὶ βτ(??). καὶ Ἀφροδίτη δὲ ἀφέστηκεν ἀπὸ μὲν ἡλίου σταδίων μυριάδ.
Ei dē piston ton Archimēdēn hēgēsametha en monǭ tǭ prōtǭ apostēmati tǭ apo selēnēs mechri gēs, rhądion kai ta loipa kata to diplasion kai triplasion auxonta heurein. Estō dē kata ton Archimēdēn to apo gēs mechri selēnēs apostēma stadiōn myriad. (??) monadōn (??), estai men dē toutou diplasios arithmos stadiōn hōn aphestēken ho hēlios tēs selēnēs myriad. (??) kai (??), apo de tēs gēs aphestēken ho hēlios stadiōn [myriad.] (??) kai bt(??). kai Aphroditē de aphestēken apo men hēliou stadiōn myriad.
If, then, we have considered Archimedes trustworthy only in the first distance, that from the moon to the earth, it is easy to find the others too by increasing in double and triple. Let the distance from the earth to the moon be, according to Archimedes, … myriads … units of stades; then the double of this will be the number of stades by which the sun is distant from the moon, … myriads and …; and the sun is distant from the earth … [myriads] and … stades. And Aphrodite is distant from the sun … myriads
Notes and citation
Summary: The planetary distances are recalculated from Archimedes' lunar distance by Plato's ratios.
- The numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.11.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-11-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.11.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 70
(??)χξγ καὶ σταδίους (??), ἀπὸ δὲ γῆς μυριάδων (??) σταδίους (??). Ἑρμῆς δὲ Ἀφροδίτης μὲν ἀφέστηκε σταδίων μυριάδων (??) σταδίων (??), ἀπὸ δὲ γῆς μυριάδων (??) πεντακόσια (??) σταδίους (??). Ἄρης δὲ Ἑρμοῦ μὲν ἀφέστηκε σταδ. μυριάδ. (??), σταδίους (??), ἀπὸ δὲ γῆς μυριάδ. μυριάδα καὶ (??), σταδίους (??).
(??)chxg kai stadious (??), apo de gēs myriadōn (??) stadious (??). Hermēs de Aphroditēs men aphestēke stadiōn myriadōn (??) stadiōn (??), apo de gēs myriadōn (??) pentakosia (??) stadious (??). Arēs de Hermou men aphestēke stad. myriad. (??), stadious (??), apo de gēs myriad. myriada kai (??), stadious (??).
… and … stades, and from the earth … myriads, … stades. Hermes is distant from Aphrodite … myriads, … stades, and from the earth … myriads, five hundred …, … stades. Ares is distant from Hermes … myriads, … stades, and from the earth a myriad of myriads and …, … stades.
Notes and citation
Summary: The recalculated distances of Venus, Mercury, and Mars continue.
- The numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…". Ares is Mars.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.11.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-11-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.11.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 70–72
Ζεὺς δὲ Ἄρεως μὲν ἀφέστηκε μυριάδ. (??), σταδίους (??), ἀπὸ δὲ γῆς μυριάδ. [μυριάδα] καὶ (??), σταδίους (??) Κρόνος ἀπὸ μὲν Διὸς ἀφέστηκε σταδίων μυριάδ. μυριάδα καὶ (??)ξθ, σταδίους (??), ἀπὸ δὲ γῆς μυριάδ. μυριάδας (??) καὶ (??), σταδίους (??)κ.
Zeus de Areōs men aphestēke myriad. (??), stadious (??), apo de gēs myriad. [myriada] kai (??), stadious (??) Kronos apo men Dios aphestēke stadiōn myriad. myriada kai (??)xth, stadious (??), apo de gēs myriad. myriadas (??) kai (??), stadious (??)k.
Zeus is distant from Ares … myriads, … stades, and from the earth [a myriad of] myriads and …, … stades. Cronus is distant from Zeus a myriad of myriads and … myriads, … stades, and from the earth … myriads of myriads and …, … stades.
Notes and citation
Summary: The recalculated distances of Jupiter and Saturn complete the list.
- The numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.11.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 70–72; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-11-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 12
4.12.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 72
Τίς οὐ θαυμάσει τὴν τοσαύτην φροντίδα μετὰ τοσούτου πόνου γεγενημένην; οὐκ ἀχρεῖος δέ μοι οὑτοσὶ ὁ Πτολεμαῖος ὁ τούτων μεριμνητὴς δοκεῖ· τοῦτο δὲ μόνον λυπεῖ, ὡς πρόσφατος γεννηθεὶς οὐκ εὔχρηστος γεγένηται γιγάντων παισίν, οἳ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα ἠγνοηκότες ἐγγὺς νομίζοντες εἶναι ὕψη οὐρανοῦ πύργον μάτην ἐπεχείρησαν ποιεῖν, οἷς εἰ κατʼ ἐκεῖνο παρὼν τὰ μέτρα διηγήσατο, οὐκ ἂν μάτην τετολμήκεισαν.
Tis ou thaumasei tēn tosautēn phrontida meta tosoutou ponou gegenēmenēn? ouk achreios de moi houtosi ho Ptolemaios ho toutōn merimnētēs dokei; touto de monon lypei, hōs prosphatos gennētheis ouk euchrēstos gegenētai gigantōn paisin, hoi ta metra tauta ēgnoēkotes engys nomizontes einai hypsē ouranou pyrgon matēn epecheirēsan poiein, hois ei katʼ ekeino parōn ta metra diēgēsato, ouk an matēn tetolmēkeisan.
Who will not marvel at such great care, taken with so much toil? This Ptolemy, the one who fretted over these things, does not seem to me useless; this alone is a pity, that, being born so recently, he was of no use to the sons of the giants, who, not knowing these measures and thinking the heights of heaven were near, tried in vain to build a tower. If he had been present then and told them the measures, they would not have ventured in vain.
Gen 11:4 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus mocks Ptolemy's measurements: pity he was not there to advise the builders of Babel.
- The tower is the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1–9), whose builders are here called sons of the giants.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.12.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 72; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-12-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.12.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 72
Εἰ δέ τις τούτῳ φάσκει ἀπιστεῖν, μετρήσας πειθέσθω· ταύτης γὰρ φανερωτέραν ἀπόδειξιν οὐκ ἔχει πρὸς τοὺς ἀπίστους. Ὢ ματαιοπόνου ψυχῆς φυσιώσεως καὶ πίστεως ἀπίστου, ἵνα πάντως Πτολεμαῖος σοφὸς νομίζηται παρὰ τοῖς τὴν ὁμοίαν σοφίαν ἠσκηκόσι.
Ei de tis toutǭ phaskei apistein, metrēsas peithesthō; tautēs gar phanerōteran apodeixin ouk echei pros tous apistous. Ō mataioponou psychēs physiōseōs kai pisteōs apistou, hina pantōs Ptolemaios sophos nomizētai para tois tēn homoian sophian ēskēkosi.
And if anyone says he disbelieves him, let him measure and be persuaded; for he has no clearer proof than this against the unbelieving. O the conceit of a vainly toiling soul, and unbelieving belief, that Ptolemy should by all means be thought wise among those who have practiced a similar wisdom!
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus ridicules the pride of the astronomers.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.12.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 72; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-12-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 13
4.13.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 72
Τούτοις ἐν μέρει ἐπισχόντες τινὲς ὡς μεγάλα κρίναντες καὶ λόγου ἄξια νομίσαντες αἱρέσεις ἀμέτρους καὶ ἀπείρους συνεστήσαντο. Ὧν εἷς μὲν Κολάρβασος, ὃς διὰ μέτρων καὶ ἀριθμῶν ἐκτίθεσθαι θεοσέβειαν ἐπιχειρεῖ· καὶ ἕτεροι δὲ ὁμοίως οὓς ἐπιδείξομεν, ἐπὰν τὰ περὶ αὐτῶν ἀρξώμεθα λέγειν, οἳ Πυθαγορείῳ ψήφῳ ὡς δυνατῇ προσέχουσι καὶ τὴν ἀσφαλῆ φιλοσοφίαν διʼ ἀριθμῶν
Toutois en merei epischontes tines hōs megala krinantes kai logou axia nomisantes haireseis ametrous kai apeirous synestēsanto. Hōn heis men Kolarbasos, hos dia metrōn kai arithmōn ektithesthai theosebeian epicheirei; kai heteroi de homoiōs hous epideixomen, epan ta peri autōn arxōmetha legein, hoi Pythagoreiǭ psēphǭ hōs dynatę̄ prosechousi kai tēn asphalē philosophian diʼ arithmōn
Some, attending partly to these things, judging them great and thinking them worthy of account, have put together heresies without measure or limit. One of them is Colarbasus, who tries to set out the worship of God through measures and numbers; and others likewise, whom we shall point out when we begin to speak of them, who give heed to the Pythagorean reckoning as powerful, and improvise the secure philosophy through numbers
Notes and citation
Summary: Some heretics, like Colarbasus, built their teaching on numbers and measures.
- Colarbasus is a figure associated with the Valentinian Marcus; his historical existence is disputed.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.13.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 72; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-13-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.13.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 72
καὶ στοιχείων σχεδιάζουσι μαντευόμενοι μάταια· ὧν ὁμοίως λόγους ἐρανισάμενοί τινες ἀποπλανῶσιν ἰδιώτας, προγνωτικοὺς ἑαυτοὺς φάσκοντες ἔσθʼ ὅτε διὰ τοῦ πολλὰ μαντεύεσθαι ἓν ἐπιτυγχάνοντες καὶ ἐπὶ μὲν τοῖς πολλοῖς ἀποτεύγμασι μὴ αἰδούμενοι, ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ἑνὶ ἐγκομπάζοντες. Οὐδὲ τούτων τὴν ἄσοφον σοφίαν παραπέμψομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐκθέμενος τοὺς ἐκ τούτων ἐπιχειροῦντας θεοσέβειαν συνιστᾶν ἐλέγξω ῥίζης ἀσυστάτου καὶ πανουργίας ἀναπλέου ὄντας μαθητάς.
kai stoicheiōn schediazousi manteuomenoi mataia; hōn homoiōs logous eranisamenoi tines apoplanōsin idiōtas, prognōtikous heautous phaskontes esthʼ hote dia tou polla manteuesthai hen epitynchanontes kai epi men tois pollois apoteugmasi mē aidoumenoi, epi de tǭ heni enkompazontes. Oude toutōn tēn asophon sophian parapempsomai, allʼ ekthemenos tous ek toutōn epicheirountas theosebeian synistan elenxō rhizēs asystatou kai panourgias anapleou ontas mathētas.
and letters, divining vain things. Some, gathering their words likewise, lead laymen astray, calling themselves foreknowers, sometimes hitting on one thing by divining many, and not ashamed of their many failures, but boasting over the one. I shall not pass over their unwise wisdom either, but, setting out those who try from these things to construct a worship of God, I shall refute them as disciples of an unsound root full of knavery.
Notes and citation
Summary: Number-diviners deceive the simple by boasting of their rare successes.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.13.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 72; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-13-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 14
4.14.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 72–74
Οἱ μὲν οὖν διὰ ψήφων τε καὶ ἀριθμῶν στοιχείων τε καὶ ὀνομάτων μαντεύεσθαι νομίζοντες ταύτην ἀρχὴν ἐπιχειρήσεως τοῦ κατʼ αὐτοὺς λόγου ποιοῦνται, φάσκοντες πυθμένα εἶναι ἑκάστου τῶν ἀριθμῶν, ἐπὶ μὲν τῶν χιλιάδων τοσαύτας μονάδας, ὅσαι ἂν ὦσι χιλιάδες, οἷον τῶν ἑξακισχιλίων ὁ πυθμὴν μονάδες ἔξ, τῶν ἑπτακισχιλίων μονάδες ἑπτά, τῶν ὀκτακισχιλίων μονάδες ὀκτώ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ὁμοίως κατὰ τὰ αὐτά,
Hoi men oun dia psēphōn te kai arithmōn stoicheiōn te kai onomatōn manteuesthai nomizontes tautēn archēn epicheirēseōs tou katʼ autous logou poiountai, phaskontes pythmena einai hekastou tōn arithmōn, epi men tōn chiliadōn tosautas monadas, hosai an ōsi chiliades, hoion tōn hexakischiliōn ho pythmēn monades ex, tōn heptakischiliōn monades hepta, tōn oktakischiliōn monades oktō, kai epi tōn loipōn homoiōs kata ta auta,
Those, then, who think they divine by means of reckonings and numbers, letters and names, make this the starting point of their system: they say that each number has a root. For the thousands, the root is as many units as there are thousands: of six thousand the root is six units, of seven thousand seven units, of eight thousand eight units, and similarly for the rest in the same way;
Notes and citation
Summary: Number-diviners reduce each number to its "root" digit.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (missing accent in the digital text): κατὰ τα αὐτά → κατὰ τὰ αὐτά.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 72–74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 74
καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἑκατοντάδων, ὅσαι ἂν ὦσιν αἱ ἑκατοντάδες, τοσαῦται μονάδες ὁ πυθμήν ἐστιν αὐτῶν, οἷον τῶν ἑπτακοσίων ἑπτά εἰσιν ἑκατοντάδες· ὁ πυθμὴν αὐτῶν ἑπτὰ μονάδες· τῶν ἑξακοσίων ἓξ ἑκατοντάδες· ὁ πυθμὴν αὐτῶν τρεῖς μονάδες. Τὸ ὅμοιον· καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δεκάδων· τῶν μὲν ὀγδοήκοντα μονάδες ὀκτώ, τῶν δὲ ἑξήκοντα μονάδες ἕξ, τῶν τεσσαράκοντα μονάδες τέσσαρες, τῶν δέκα μονὰς μία.
kai epi tōn hekatontadōn, hosai an ōsin hai hekatontades, tosautai monades ho pythmēn estin autōn, hoion tōn heptakosiōn hepta eisin hekatontades; ho pythmēn autōn hepta monades; tōn hexakosiōn hex hekatontades; ho pythmēn autōn treis monades. To homoion; kai epi tōn dekadōn; tōn men ogdoēkonta monades oktō, tōn de hexēkonta monades hex, tōn tessarakonta monades tessares, tōn deka monas mia.
and for the hundreds, as many hundreds as there are, so many units is their root: of seven hundred there are seven hundreds, and their root is seven units; of six hundred, six hundreds, and their root is three units. Similarly for the tens: of eighty, eight units; of sixty, six units; of forty, four units; of ten, one unit.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hundreds and tens are likewise reduced to their leading digit.
- "Three units" for six hundred is an error (six is expected); it may be a slip in the transmission.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong breathing in the digital text): αἱ ἐκατοντάδες → αἱ ἑκατοντάδες.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 74
Ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν μονάδων, πυθμὴν αὐταὶ εἰσὶν αἱ μονάδες, οἷον τοῦ ἐννέα ὁ ἐννέα, τοῦ ὀκτὼ ὁ ὀκτώ, τοῦ ἑπτὰ ὁ ἑπτά. Οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν στοιχείων ποιεῖν δεῖ· ἕκαστον γὰρ στοιχεῖον κατά τινα τέτακται ἀριθμὸν, οἷον τὸ (??) πεντήκοντα μονάδων ἐστίν· τῶν δὲ πεντήκοντα μονάδων πυθμήν ἐστιν ὁ πέντε, καὶ τοῦ (??) στοιχείου πυθμήν ἐστιν ὁ πέντε.
Epi de tōn monadōn, pythmēn autai eisin hai monades, hoion tou ennea ho ennea, tou oktō ho oktō, tou hepta ho hepta. Houtōs oun kai epi tōn stoicheiōn poiein dei; hekaston gar stoicheion kata tina tetaktai arithmon, hoion to (??) pentēkonta monadōn estin; tōn de pentēkonta monadōn pythmēn estin ho pente, kai tou (??) stoicheiou pythmēn estin ho pente.
For the units, the units themselves are the root: of nine, nine; of eight, eight; of seven, seven. So one must do the same with the letters too; for each letter is assigned to a certain number: for example, … is fifty units; and the root of fifty units is five, so the root of the letter … is five.
Notes and citation
Summary: Each Greek letter has a number value, which is likewise reduced to its root.
- The letter (ν, value 50) could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 74
Ἔστω ἔκ του ὀνόματος τοὺς τούτου πυθμένας λαβεῖν. Οἷον τοῦ Ἀγαμέμνων ὀνόματος γίνεται τοῦ μὲν ᾱ μονὰς μία, τοῦ δὲ (??) μονάδες τρεῖς, τοῦ ἄλλου ᾱ μονὰς μία, τοῦ (??) μονάδες (??), τοῦ (??) μονάδες (??), τοῦ (??) μονάδες (??), τοῦ (??) μονάδες πέντε, τοῦ (??) μονάδες (??), τοῦ (??) μονάδες (??), ὁμοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἔσονται ᾱ, (??), ᾱ, (??), ταῦτα συντεθέντα ποιεῖ μονάδας (??).
Estō ek tou onomatos tous toutou pythmenas labein. Hoion tou Agamemnōn onomatos ginetai tou men a monas mia, tou de (??) monades treis, tou allou a monas mia, tou (??) monades (??), tou (??) monades (??), tou (??) monades (??), tou (??) monades pente, tou (??) monades (??), tou (??) monades (??), homou epi to auto esontai a, (??), a, (??), tauta syntethenta poiei monadas (??).
Let it be granted to take the roots of a name. For example, of the name Agamemnon: of alpha there comes one unit, of … three units, of the other alpha one unit, of … units, of … units, of … units, of … five units, of … units, of … units; together these will be 1, …, 1, …; added together they make … units.
Notes and citation
Summary: The method is illustrated with the name Agamemnon.
- Several letters and numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 74
Πάλιν τούτων πυθμένας λαμβάνουσι, καὶ γίνονται τῶν μὲν (??) τρεῖς, τῶν δὲ ἓξ αὐτὰ τὰ ἕξ· συντεθέντα οὖν τὰ τρία καὶ τὰ ἓξ ποιεῖ ἐννέα, τῶν δὲ ἐννέα πυθμὴν ὁ ἐννέα. Κατέληξεν οὖν τὸ Ἀγαμέμνων ὄνομα εἰς τὸν ἐννέα πυθμένα.
Palin toutōn pythmenas lambanousi, kai ginontai tōn men (??) treis, tōn de hex auta ta hex; syntethenta oun ta tria kai ta hex poiei ennea, tōn de ennea pythmēn ho ennea. Katelēxen oun to Agamemnōn onoma eis ton ennea pythmena.
Again they take the roots of these, and of … there come three, and of six the six itself; adding the three and the six makes nine, and the root of nine is nine. So the name Agamemnon ended in the root nine.
Notes and citation
Summary: Agamemnon's name reduces to nine.
- A number could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.6Duncker–Schneidewin, 74
Ἔστω τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἐπὶ ἄλλου ὀνόματος ποιῆσαι τοῦ Ἕκτωρ. Τὸ Ἕκτωρ ὄνομα ἔχει στοιχεῖα (??) καὶ κάππα καὶ ταῦ καὶ (??) καὶ (??). Τούτων πυθμένες (??), ᾱ· ταῦτα συντεθέντα ποιεῖ μονάδας (??). Πάλιν τῶν δέκα πυθμὴν εἷς, τῶν ἐννέα ἐννέα, ἃ συντεθέντα ποιεῖ δέκα· τοῦ δέκα γίνεται πυθμὴν μονάς. Ψηφισθὲν οὖν τὸ Ἕκτωρ ὄνομα ἐποίησε πυθμένα μονάδα.
Estō to auto kai epi allou onomatos poiēsai tou Hektōr. To Hektōr onoma echei stoicheia (??) kai kappa kai tau kai (??) kai (??). Toutōn pythmenes (??), a; tauta syntethenta poiei monadas (??). Palin tōn deka pythmēn heis, tōn ennea ennea, ha syntethenta poiei deka; tou deka ginetai pythmēn monas. Psēphisthen oun to Hektōr onoma epoiēse pythmena monada.
Let the same be done also with another name, Hector. The name Hector has the letters …, kappa, tau, …, and …. Their roots are …, 1; added together they make … units. Again, the root of ten is one, of nine nine, which added together make ten; the root of ten is one. So the name Hector, when reckoned, made the root one.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hector's name reduces to one.
- Several letters and numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.6 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.7Duncker–Schneidewin, 74–76
Εὐκολώτερον δέ ἐστι τὸ οὕτως ποιεῖν· τοὺς εὑρεθέντας ἐκ τῶν στοιχείων πυθμένας, ὡς νῦν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἕκτορος ὀνόματος εὕρομεν μονάδας (??), εἰς ἐννέα μέριζε καὶ τὸ περιλειπόμενον πυθμένας λέγε· οἷον τὰ (??) ἐὰν εἰς ἐννέα μερίζω, περιλείπεται μονάς, ἐννάκις γὰρ δύο (??), καὶ λοιπὴ μονάς. Ἐὰν γὰρ ὑφέλω τῶν (??)
Eukolōteron de esti to houtōs poiein; tous heurethentas ek tōn stoicheiōn pythmenas, hōs nyn epi tou Hektoros onomatos heuromen monadas (??), eis ennea merize kai to perileipomenon pythmenas lege; hoion ta (??) ean eis ennea merizō, perileipetai monas, ennakis gar dyo (??), kai loipē monas. Ean gar hyphelō tōn (??)
It is easier to do it this way: divide by nine the roots found from the letters, as we just found … units for the name Hector, and call the remainder the root. For example, if I divide … by nine, one unit remains; for twice nine is …, and one unit is left. For if I subtract from …
Notes and citation
Summary: A shortcut: divide the sum by nine and take the remainder.
- Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.7 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 74–76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.8Duncker–Schneidewin, 76
τὰ δεκαοκτώ, λοιπὴ μονάς· ὥστε τοῦ Ἕκτωρ ὀνόματος πυθμὴν ἔσται μονάς. Πάλιν τοῦ Πάτροκλος ὀνόματος πυθμένες εἰσὶν ἀριθμοὶ οὗτοι, (??), ᾱ, (??), ᾱ, (??), (??) συντεθέντες ποιοῦσι μονάδας (??). Τούτων τὸ λοιπὸν μονάδες ἑπτά, τῶν (??) τρεῖς, καὶ τῶν (??) αὐταὶ αἱ (??). Πυθμὴν οὖν εἰσὶ τοῦ Πάτροκλος ὀνόματος μονάδες (??).
ta dekaoktō, loipē monas; hōste tou Hektōr onomatos pythmēn estai monas. Palin tou Patroklos onomatos pythmenes eisin arithmoi houtoi, (??), a, (??), a, (??), (??) syntethentes poiousi monadas (??). Toutōn to loipon monades hepta, tōn (??) treis, kai tōn (??) autai hai (??). Pythmēn oun eisi tou Patroklos onomatos monades (??).
the eighteen, one unit is left; so the root of the name Hector will be one. Again, the roots of the name Patroclus are these numbers: …, 1, …, 1, …, …, which added together make … units. Of these the remainder is seven units: of … three, and of … the … themselves. So the root of the name Patroclus is … units.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hector reduces to one; the method is applied to Patroclus.
- Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.8 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.9Duncker–Schneidewin, 76
Οἱ μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν κανόνα ψηφίζοντες [τὸ] ἔννατον λαμβάνουσι τοῦ ἀθροισθέντος ἐκ τῶν πυθμένων ἀριθμοῦ, καὶ τὸ περιλειφθὲν πλῆθος τῶν πυθμένων ὁρίζονται, οἱ δὲ κατὰ τὸν ἑβδοματικὸν τὸ ἕβδομον· οἷον εὑρέθη ἐπὶ τοῦ Πάτροκλος ὀνόματος τὸ ἐπὶ τῶν πυθμένων ἄθροισμα μονάδες (??)· τοῦτο μερισθὲν εἰς ἑβδομάδας ποιεῖ (??) ὅ ἐστι (??)· λοιπαὶ μονάδες ἕξ· λέγει ὅτι ὁ πυθμὴν τοῦ Πάτροκλος ὀνόματος εἰσὶν ἓξ κατὰ τὸν ἑβδοματικόν.
Hoi men oun kata ton enneadikon kanona psēphizontes [to] ennaton lambanousi tou athroisthentos ek tōn pythmenōn arithmou, kai to perileiphthen plēthos tōn pythmenōn horizontai, hoi de kata ton hebdomatikon to hebdomon; hoion heurethē epi tou Patroklos onomatos to epi tōn pythmenōn athroisma monades (??); touto meristhen eis hebdomadas poiei (??) ho esti (??); loipai monades hex; legei hoti ho pythmēn tou Patroklos onomatos eisin hex kata ton hebdomatikon.
Those who reckon by the rule of nine take the ninth of the number gathered from the roots and define the remainder as the sum of the roots; those who reckon by the rule of seven take the seventh. For example, in the name Patroclus the sum of the roots was found to be … units; this divided into sevens makes …, which is …; six units remain. He says that the root of the name Patroclus is six by the rule of seven.
Notes and citation
Summary: Some reckon by nines, others by sevens; by sevens Patroclus reduces to six.
- Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray period in the digital text): Πάτροκλος. ὀνόματος → Πάτροκλος ὀνόματος.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.9 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.10Duncker–Schneidewin, 76
Εἰ δὲ ἔσται (??), τὸ ἕβδομον λέγει (??), ἑπτάκις γὰρ ἓξ (??), καὶ λοιπὸν ἔν. Μονὰς οὖν γίνεται ὁ πυθμὴν ὁ ἀπὸ τῶν (??) κατὰ τὸν ἑβδοματικόν. Δεῖ δὲ προσέχειν ἐὰν ὁ ληφθεὶς ἀριθμὸς μεριζόμενος ἀπαρτίσῃ, οἷον ἐὰν ἔκ τινος ὀνόματος συντιθεὶς τοὺς πυθμένας εὕρω λόγου χάριν μονάδας (??)· ὁ δὲ (??) μεριζόμενος εἰς τὸν ἐννέα (??) ἀπαρτίζει ἐννεάδας (ἐννάκις γὰρ (??) (??), καὶ οὐδὲν περιλείπεται)· τὸν πυθμένα οὖν αὐτὸν τὸν (??) δῆλον εἶναι.
Ei de estai (??), to hebdomon legei (??), heptakis gar hex (??), kai loipon en. Monas oun ginetai ho pythmēn ho apo tōn (??) kata ton hebdomatikon. Dei de prosechein ean ho lēphtheis arithmos merizomenos apartisę̄, hoion ean ek tinos onomatos syntitheis tous pythmenas heurō logou charin monadas (??); ho de (??) merizomenos eis ton ennea (??) apartizei enneadas (ennakis gar (??) (??), kai ouden perileipetai); ton pythmena oun auton ton (??) dēlon einai.
If it is …, he says the seventh is …; for seven times six is …, and one is left. So the root from … by the rule of seven is one. One must watch whether the number taken divides exactly: for example, if, adding the roots from some name, I find, say, … units, and … divided by nine … divides exactly into nines (for nine times … is …, and nothing is left), then clearly the root is … itself.
Notes and citation
Summary: When the sum divides exactly, the divisor itself is taken as the root.
- Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): τὸν πυθμένα οὗν → τὸν πυθμένα οὖν.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.10 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.11Duncker–Schneidewin, 76
Κἂν πάλιν τὸν τεσσαράκοντα πέντε ἀριθμὸν μερίζοντες εὕρωμεν ἀπαρτίζοντα ἐννέα· καὶ γὰρ ἐννάκις πέντε (??), καὶ λείπεται οὐδέν· ἐπὶ τῶν τοιούτων αὐτὸν τὸν ἐννέα λέγουσι πυθμένα. Καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἑβδοματικοῦ ὁμοίως, ἐὰν λόγου χάριν τὸν (??) εἰς τὸν ἑπτὰ μερίζοντες ἀπαρτίσωμεν (ἑπτάκις γὰρ (??), καὶ περιλείπεται οὐδέν), τὸν ἑπτὰ λέγουσι πυθμένα.
Kan palin ton tessarakonta pente arithmon merizontes heurōmen apartizonta ennea; kai gar ennakis pente (??), kai leipetai ouden; epi tōn toioutōn auton ton ennea legousi pythmena. Kai epi tou hebdomatikou homoiōs, ean logou charin ton (??) eis ton hepta merizontes apartisōmen (heptakis gar (??), kai perileipetai ouden), ton hepta legousi pythmena.
And again, if we divide the number forty-five and find that it divides exactly by nine (for nine times five is …, and nothing is left), in such cases they call nine itself the root. And likewise with the rule of seven: if, for example, we divide … by seven and it divides exactly (for seven times … and nothing is left), they call seven the root.
Notes and citation
Summary: An exact division by nine or seven gives nine or seven as the root.
- Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text) and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.11 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.12Duncker–Schneidewin, 76
Ὅταν μέντοι ψηφίζῃ τὰ ὀνόματα καὶ εὑρίσκῃ δὶς τὸ αὐτὸ γράμμα, ἅπαξ αὐτὸ ψηφίζει, οἷον τὸ Πάτροκλος ὄνομα καὶ τὸ (??) ᾱ δὶς ἔχει καὶ τὸ (??) δίς, ἅπαξ οὖν τὸ ᾱ ψηφίζουσι καὶ ἅπαξ τὸ (??). Κατὰ τοῦτο οὖν πυθμένες ἔσονται (??), ᾱ, (??), ᾱ, (??), καὶ συντεθέντες ποιοῦσι μονάδας (??), καὶ ἔσται πυθμὴν τοῦ ὀνόματος κατὰ μὲν τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν αὐτὸς ὁ ἐννέα, κατὰ δὲ τὸν ἑβδοματικὸν ἕξ.
Hotan mentoi psēphizę̄ ta onomata kai heuriskę̄ dis to auto gramma, hapax auto psēphizei, hoion to Patroklos onoma kai to (??) a dis echei kai to (??) dis, hapax oun to a psēphizousi kai hapax to (??). Kata touto oun pythmenes esontai (??), a, (??), a, (??), kai syntethentes poiousi monadas (??), kai estai pythmēn tou onomatos kata men ton enneadikon autos ho ennea, kata de ton hebdomatikon hex.
When he reckons names and finds the same letter twice, he reckons it once: for example, the name Patroclus has alpha twice and … twice; so they reckon alpha once and … once. Accordingly the roots will be …, 1, …, 1, …, and added together they make … units; and the root of the name will be nine itself by the rule of nine, and six by the rule of seven.
Notes and citation
Summary: Repeated letters are counted only once.
- The digital text misspells Patroclus as Πάτρολος. Letters and numbers that could not be read (marked (??) in the digital text) are shown as "…"; the example appears muddled in transmission.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (missing letter in the digital text; wrong accent in the digital text): Πάτρολος → Πάτροκλος; Κατὰ τοῦτο οὗν → Κατὰ τοῦτο οὖν.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.12 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.13Duncker–Schneidewin, 76–78
Ὁμοίως Σαρπηδὼν ψηφισθεὶς ποιεῖ μονάδας κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν δύο πυθμένα, Πάτροκλος δὲ ποιεῖ μονάδας (??)· νικᾷ Πάτροκλος. Ὅταν γὰρ ᾖ ὁ μὲν εἷς περισσός, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ἄρτιος, ὁ περισσὸς νικᾷ, ἐὰν μείζων ᾖ. Πάλιν δὲ ἐὰν ᾖ ὀκτὼ ἄρτιος καὶ πέντε περισσός, ὁ ὀκτὼ νικᾷ, μείζων γάρ ἐστιν. Εἰ δὲ εἰσὶν ἀριθμοὶ δύο οἷον ἀμφότεροι ἄρτιοι ἢ ἀμφότεροι περισσοί, ὁ ἐλάσσων νικᾷ. Πῶς δὲ ὁ Σαρπηδὼν κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν ποιεῖ μονάδας δύο;
Homoiōs Sarpēdōn psēphistheis poiei monadas kata ton enneadikon dyo pythmena, Patroklos de poiei monadas (??); niką Patroklos. Hotan gar ę̄ ho men heis perissos, ho de heteros artios, ho perissos niką, ean meizōn ę̄. Palin de ean ę̄ oktō artios kai pente perissos, ho oktō niką, meizōn gar estin. Ei de eisin arithmoi dyo hoion amphoteroi artioi ē amphoteroi perissoi, ho elassōn niką. Pōs de ho Sarpēdōn kata ton enneadikon poiei monadas dyo?
Likewise Sarpedon, when reckoned, makes two units as root by the rule of nine, and Patroclus makes … units: Patroclus wins. For when one is odd and the other even, the odd wins if it is greater. Again, if eight is even and five odd, the eight wins, for it is greater. But if there are two numbers both even or both odd, the smaller wins. But how does Sarpedon make two units by the rule of nine?
Notes and citation
Summary: Rules for deciding which name "wins" a contest, illustrated by Sarpedon and Patroclus.
- A number could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.13 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 76–78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.14Duncker–Schneidewin, 78
παραλείπεται γὰρ τὸ (??) στοιχεῖον· ὅταν γὰρ ᾖ ἐν ὀνόματι στοιχεῖον (??) καὶ (??), παραλιμπάνουσι τὸ (??) ἑνὶ στοιχείῳ χρώμενοι· ἰσοδυναμεῖν γὰρ λέγουσι τὰ ἀμφότερα, δὶς δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐ ψηφίζεται, ὡς ἄνωθεν εἴρηται.
paraleipetai gar to (??) stoicheion; hotan gar ę̄ en onomati stoicheion (??) kai (??), paralimpanousi to (??) heni stoicheiǭ chrōmenoi; isodynamein gar legousi ta amphotera, dis de to auto ou psēphizetai, hōs anōthen eirētai.
For the letter … is left out: when a name has the letters … and …, they leave out the …, using one letter; for they say both have the same value, and the same letter is not reckoned twice, as was said above.
Notes and citation
Summary: Letters counted as equivalent are reckoned only once.
- The letters (probably ω and ο) could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.14 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-14). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.15Duncker–Schneidewin, 78
Πάλιν Αἴας ποιεῖ μονάδας τέσσαρας, Ἕκτωρ κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν ποιεῖ μονάδα μίαν. Καὶ ἔστιν ἡ μὲν τετρὰς ἄρτιος, ἡ μονὰς δὲ περισσή. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν τοιούτων τὸν μείζονα ἐλέγομεν νικᾶν, νικᾷ ὁ Αἴας. Πάλιν Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ Μενέλαος.
Palin Aias poiei monadas tessaras, Hektōr kata ton enneadikon poiei monada mian. Kai estin hē men tetras artios, hē monas de perissē. Epi de tōn toioutōn ton meizona elegomen nikan, niką ho Aias. Palin Alexandros kai Menelaos.
Again, Ajax makes four units, Hector by the rule of nine makes one unit. And four is even, one odd. In such cases we said the greater wins: Ajax wins. Again, Alexander and Menelaus.
Notes and citation
Summary: By the rules, Ajax defeats Hector.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.15 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.16Duncker–Schneidewin, 78
Ἀλέξανδρος κύριον ἔχει ὄνομα [Πάρις]. Πάρις δὲ ποιεῖ μονάδας κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν (??), Μενέλαος δὲ κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν μονάδας (??), νικῶσι δὲ αἱ ἐννέα τὰς τέσσαρας· εἴρηται γάρ, ὁπόταν ὁ μὲν περισσὸς ᾖ, ὁ δὲ ἄρτιος, ὁ μείζων νικᾷ, ὅταν δὲ ἀμφότεροι ἄρτιοι ἢ ἀμφότεροι περισσοί, ὁ ἐλάσσων.
Alexandros kyrion echei onoma [Paris]. Paris de poiei monadas kata ton enneadikon (??), Menelaos de kata ton enneadikon monadas (??), nikōsi de hai ennea tas tessaras; eirētai gar, hopotan ho men perissos ę̄, ho de artios, ho meizōn niką, hotan de amphoteroi artioi ē amphoteroi perissoi, ho elassōn.
Alexander has a proper name, [Paris]. Paris makes … units by the rule of nine, and Menelaus by the rule of nine … units; and the nine defeats the four; for it was said that when one is odd and the other even, the greater wins, but when both are even or both odd, the smaller.
Notes and citation
Summary: Menelaus defeats Paris by the number rules.
- The square brackets are the editor's. Numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.16 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.17Duncker–Schneidewin, 78
Πάλιν Ἄμυκος καὶ Πολυδεύκης. Ἄμυκος μὲν ποιεῖ μονάδας δύο κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικόν, καὶ Πολυδεύκης δὲ ἑπτά· νικᾷ Πολυδεύκης. Αἴας καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐπάλαισαν ἐν τῷ ἐπιταφίῳ. Αἴας ποιεῖ κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν μονάδας (??), Ὀδυσσεὺς ὀκτὼ κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικόν· ἆρα οὖν μήτι τὸ Ὀδυσσέως ἐπίθετον καὶ οὐ κύριόν ἐστιν; ἐνίκησε γάρ. Κατὰ μὲν τοὺς ἀριθμοὺς νικᾷ Αἴας, ἡ δʼ ἱστορία Ὀδυσσέα παραδίδωσιν.
Palin Amykos kai Polydeukēs. Amykos men poiei monadas dyo kata ton enneadikon, kai Polydeukēs de hepta; niką Polydeukēs. Aias kai Odysseus epalaisan en tǭ epitaphiǭ. Aias poiei kata ton enneadikon monadas (??), Odysseus oktō kata ton enneadikon; ara oun mēti to Odysseōs epitheton kai ou kyrion estin? enikēse gar. Kata men tous arithmous niką Aias, hē dʼ historia Odyssea paradidōsin.
Again, Amycus and Polydeuces. Amycus makes two units by the rule of nine, and Polydeuces seven: Polydeuces wins. Ajax and Odysseus wrestled at the funeral games. Ajax makes … units by the rule of nine, Odysseus eight by the rule of nine. Is Odysseus's name, then, perhaps an epithet and not a proper name? For he won. By the numbers Ajax wins, but the story hands the victory to Odysseus.
Notes and citation
Summary: When the numbers give the wrong winner, the diviners claim the name was only an epithet.
- A number could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.17 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.18Duncker–Schneidewin, 78
Ἀχιλλεὺς καὶ Ἕκτωρ. Ἀχιλλεὺς κατὰ τὸν ἐννεαδικὸν ποιεῖ τέσσαρας, Ἕκτωρ μίαν· νικᾷ Ἀχιλλεύς. Πάλιν Ἀχιλλεὺς καὶ Ἀστεροπαῖος. Ἀχιλλεὺς ποιεῖ τέσσαρας, Ἀστεροπαῖος τρεῖς· νικᾷ Ἀχιλλεύς. Πάλιν Μενέλαος καὶ Εὔφορβος. Μενέλαος ἔχει μονάδας ἐννέα, Εὔφορβος ὀκτώ· νικᾷ Μενέλαος.
Achilleus kai Hektōr. Achilleus kata ton enneadikon poiei tessaras, Hektōr mian; niką Achilleus. Palin Achilleus kai Asteropaios. Achilleus poiei tessaras, Asteropaios treis; niką Achilleus. Palin Menelaos kai Euphorbos. Menelaos echei monadas ennea, Euphorbos oktō; niką Menelaos.
Achilles and Hector. Achilles by the rule of nine makes four, Hector one: Achilles wins. Again, Achilles and Asteropaeus. Achilles makes four, Asteropaeus three: Achilles wins. Again, Menelaus and Euphorbus. Menelaus has nine units, Euphorbus eight: Menelaus wins.
Notes and citation
Summary: Further contests of Homeric heroes decided by number.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.18 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-18). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.19Duncker–Schneidewin, 78–80
Τινὲς δὲ κατὰ τὸν ἑβδοματικὸν μόνοις τοῖς φωνήεσι χρῶνται, ἄλλοι δὲ διαστέλλουσιν ἰδίᾳ μὲν τὰ φωνήεντα, ἰδίᾳ δὲ τὰ ἡμίφωνα, ἰδίᾳ δὲ τὰ ἄφωνα, καὶ τρεῖς τάξεις ποιήσαντες λαμβάνουσι τοὺς πυθμένας ἰδίᾳ μὲν τῶν φωνηέντων, ἰδίᾳ δὲ τῶν ἡμιφώνων, ἰδίᾳ δὲ τῶν ἀφώνων, καὶ συγκρίνουσι χωρὶς ἕκαστον.
Tines de kata ton hebdomatikon monois tois phōnēesi chrōntai, alloi de diastellousin idią men ta phōnēenta, idią de ta hēmiphōna, idią de ta aphōna, kai treis taxeis poiēsantes lambanousi tous pythmenas idią men tōn phōnēentōn, idią de tōn hēmiphōnōn, idią de tōn aphōnōn, kai synkrinousi chōris hekaston.
Some, by the rule of seven, use only the vowels; others distinguish vowels by themselves, semivowels by themselves, and mutes by themselves, and making three classes take the roots of the vowels by themselves, of the semivowels by themselves, and of the mutes by themselves, and compare each separately.
Notes and citation
Summary: Some diviners count only vowels or treat classes of letters separately.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.19 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 78–80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.14.20Duncker–Schneidewin, 80
Ἄλλοι δὲ οὐδὲ τούτοις τοῖς νενομισμένοις ἀριθμοῖς χρῶνται, ἀλλʼ ἄλλοις, οἷον ὑποδείγματος ἕνεκα τὸ (??) οὐ θέλουσι πυθμένα ἔχειν μονάδας (??), ἀλλὰ (??), καὶ τὸ (??) στοιχεῖον πυθμένα μονάδας (??), καὶ παντοίως στρεφόμενοι οὐδὲν ὑγιὲς εὑρίσκουσιν. Ὅταν μέντοι δεύτερόν τινες ἀγωνίζωνται, ἀφʼ ἑκατέρου τῶν ὀνομάτων τὸ πρῶτον στοιχεῖον ἀφαιροῦσιν, ὅταν δὲ τρίτον, τὰ δύο ἑκατέρωθεν, καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ψηφίσαντες συγκρίνουσιν.
Alloi de oude toutois tois nenomismenois arithmois chrōntai, allʼ allois, hoion hypodeigmatos heneka to (??) ou thelousi pythmena echein monadas (??), alla (??), kai to (??) stoicheion pythmena monadas (??), kai pantoiōs strephomenoi ouden hygies heuriskousin. Hotan mentoi deuteron tines agōnizōntai, aphʼ hekaterou tōn onomatōn to prōton stoicheion aphairousin, hotan de triton, ta dyo hekaterōthen, kai ta loipa psēphisantes synkrinousin.
Others do not use these customary numbers, but others: for example, they do not want … to have the root … units but …, and the letter … the root … units; and twisting in every direction they find nothing sound. When some compete a second time, they remove the first letter from each of the names; when a third time, two letters from each, and reckoning the rest they compare them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Others use different values and ad hoc rules, finding nothing sound.
- Letters and numbers could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.14.20 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-14-20). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 15
4.15.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 80
Οἶμαι δὲ ἐκδήλως ἐκτεθεῖσθαι καὶ τὴν τῶν ἀριθμητικῶν ἐπίνοιαν διʼ ἀριθμῶν καὶ ὀνομάτων τὸ ζῆν διακρίνειν νομιζόντων.
Oimai de ekdēlōs ektetheisthai kai tēn tōn arithmētikōn epinoian diʼ arithmōn kai onomatōn to zēn diakrinein nomizontōn.
I think the notion of the arithmeticians too has been clearly set out, who think they can determine life by numbers and names.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus concludes his account of divination by numbers.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (missing letter in the digital text): Οἶμα δὲ → Οἶμαι δὲ.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.15.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-15-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.15.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 80
Τούτους δὲ κατανοῶ σχολὴν ἄγοντας καὶ ψήφῳ γεγυμνασμένους τεθεληκέναι διὰ τῆς παραδοθείσης αὐτοῖς ἐκ παίδων τέχνης [θέλειν] εὐδοκιμοῦντας μάντεις προσαγορεύεσθαι· οἳ ἄνω κάτω τὰ στοιχεῖα καταμετροῦντες εἰς λῆρος ἐχώρησαν. Ἐπὰν γὰρ ἀποτύχωσι, τὸ ἄπορον προβάλλοντες λέγουσι, μήτι τοῦτο ὄνομα μενικὸν οὐκ ἐγένετο ἀλλὰ ἐπίθετον· ὡς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως καὶ Αἴαντος ἐκπεσόντες ἐνεκάλουν. Τίς ἐκ ταύτης τῆς θαυμαστῆς φιλοσοφίας ἀφορμὰς λαβὼν καὶ θελήσας αἱρεσιάρχης καλεῖσθαι οὐ δοξασθήσεται;
Toutous de katanoō scholēn agontas kai psēphǭ gegymnasmenous tethelēkenai dia tēs paradotheisēs autois ek paidōn technēs [thelein] eudokimountas manteis prosagoreuesthai; hoi anō katō ta stoicheia katametrountes eis lēros echōrēsan. Epan gar apotychōsi, to aporon proballontes legousi, mēti touto onoma menikon ouk egeneto alla epitheton; hōs kai epi tou Odysseōs kai Aiantos ekpesontes enekaloun. Tis ek tautēs tēs thaumastēs philosophias aphormas labōn kai thelēsas hairesiarchēs kaleisthai ou doxasthēsetai?
I observe that these, having leisure and being practiced in reckoning, have wished, through the art handed down to them from childhood, to be called renowned seers; measuring the letters up and down, they have come to nonsense. For when they fail, they put forward the difficulty and say that perhaps this was not a proper name but an epithet, as they pleaded when they came to grief over Odysseus and Ajax. Who, taking starting points from this marvelous philosophy and wishing to be called a heresiarch, will not win renown?
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: When their method fails, the diviners make excuses; any would-be heresiarch could exploit such nonsense.
- μενικὸν is probably corrupt; the sense "proper name" is clear from 4.14.17.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.15.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-15-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.15.3Duncker–Schneidewin, 80
Ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ καὶ ἑτέρα τις τέχνη βαθυτέρα ἐστὶ παρὰ τοῖς πανσόφοις Ἑλλήνων μεριμνηταῖς, οἷς εὔχονται μαθητεύειν οἱ αἱρετικοὶ διὰ τὸ ταῖς αὐτῶν δόξαις χρῆσθαι πρὸς τὰ ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἐπιχειρούμενα, καθὼς ὑποδειχθήσεται μετʼ οὐ πολύ (αὕτη δέ ἐστι μετωποσκοπικὴ μαντεία, μᾶλλον δὲ μανία), οὐδὲ ταύτην σιωπήσομεν.
Allʼ epei kai hetera tis technē bathytera esti para tois pansophois Hellēnōn merimnētais, hois euchontai mathēteuein hoi hairetikoi dia to tais autōn doxais chrēsthai pros ta hypʼ autōn epicheiroumena, kathōs hypodeichthēsetai metʼ ou poly (hautē de esti metōposkopikē manteia, mallon de mania), oude tautēn siōpēsomen.
But since there is also another, deeper art among the all-wise students of the Greeks, whose disciples the heretics pray to be, because they use their opinions for their own undertakings, as will be shown shortly (this is divination by the forehead, or rather madness), we shall not keep silent about this either.
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus turns to physiognomy, divination from the face.
Topics: Heresy
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.15.3 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-15-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.15.4Duncker–Schneidewin, 80
Εἰσὶν οἳ τοῖς ἄστροις ἀναφέρουσι τὰς μορφὰς τυποῦντες ἰδέας καὶ τὰς φύσεις τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τὰς κατὰ ἀστέρων γενέσεις ἀναλογιζόμενοι. οὕτω δὲ λέγουσιν· Οἱ ἐν Κριῷ γεννώμενοι τοῖοι ἔσονται· κεφαλῇ ἐπιμήκει, τριχὶ πυρρᾷ, ὀφρύσι συνεζευγμέναις, μετώπῳ ὀξεῖ, ὀφθαλμοῖς γλαυκοῖς, ὑπὸ ἄλλοις, μήλοις καθειλκυσμένοις, ἐπίρρινοι, μυκτῆρσιν ἠνεῳγμένοις, χείλεσι λεπτοῖς, γενείῳ ὀξεῖ, στόματι ἐπιμήκει,
Eisin hoi tois astrois anapherousi tas morphas typountes ideas kai tas physeis tōn anthrōpōn epi tas kata asterōn geneseis analogizomenoi. houtō de legousin; Hoi en Kriǭ gennōmenoi toioi esontai; kephalę̄ epimēkei, trichi pyrrą, ophrysi synezeugmenais, metōpǭ oxei, ophthalmois glaukois, hypo allois, mēlois katheilkysmenois, epirrinoi, myktērsin ēneǭgmenois, cheilesi leptois, geneiǭ oxei, stomati epimēkei,
There are those who refer forms to the stars, shaping types and reckoning the natures of men according to their births under the stars. They speak thus: those born in the Ram will be of this kind: long head, red hair, eyebrows joined together, sharp forehead, grey-blue eyes …, drooping cheeks, long-nosed, with open nostrils, thin lips, sharp chin, long mouth.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Physiognomists describe the appearance of those born under Aries.
- The words ὑπὸ ἄλλοις are probably corrupt and are shown as "…".
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.15.4 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-15-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.15.5Duncker–Schneidewin, 80–82
Οὗτοι, φησί, μεθέξουσι φύσεως τοιαύτης· προνοητικοί, ποικίλοι, δειλοί, φρόνιμοι, προσχαριώδεις, ἥσυχοι, περίεργοι, βουλαῖς ἀποκρύφοις, παντὶ πράγματι κατηρτισμένοι, πλεῖον φρονήσει ἢ ἰσχύι κρατοῦντες, τὸ παρὸν καταγελασταί, γεγραμματισμένοι, πιστοί, φιλόνεικοι, ἐν μάχῃ ἐρεθισταί, ἐπιθυμηταί, παιδεραστίᾳ νοσοῦντες, ἀπεστραμμένοι ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων οἴκων, ἀπαρέσκοντες ἅπαντα, κατήγοροι, ἐν οἴνῳ μανιώδεις, ἐξουθενηταί, κατʼ ἔπος τι ἀποβάλλοντες, εἰς φιλίαν εὔχρηστοι διὰ τὴν ἀγαθωσύνην· πλειστάκις ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ γῇ ἀποθνήσκουσιν.
Houtoi, phēsi, methexousi physeōs toiautēs; pronoētikoi, poikiloi, deiloi, phronimoi, proschariōdeis, hēsychoi, periergoi, boulais apokryphois, panti pragmati katērtismenoi, pleion phronēsei ē ischui kratountes, to paron katagelastai, gegrammatismenoi, pistoi, philoneikoi, en machę̄ erethistai, epithymētai, paiderastią nosountes, apestrammenoi apo tōn idiōn oikōn, apareskontes hapanta, katēgoroi, en oinǭ maniōdeis, exouthenētai, katʼ epos ti apoballontes, eis philian euchrēstoi dia tēn agathōsynēn; pleistakis en allotrią gę̄ apothnēskousin.
These, he says, will share such a nature: provident, versatile, timid, sensible, gracious, quiet, curious, of hidden counsels, equipped for every matter, prevailing more by prudence than by strength, mocking the present, lettered, faithful, contentious, easily provoked in a fight, lustful, afflicted with pederasty, turned away from their own homes, displeased with everything, accusers, mad in wine, contemptuous, throwing something away at a word, useful in friendship because of their goodness; very often they die in a foreign land.
Notes and citation
Summary: The character traits supposedly given by Aries are listed.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.15.5 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 80–82; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-15-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 16
4.16.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 82
Οἱ δὲ ἐν Ταύρῳ τύπῳ ἔσονται τῷδε· κεφαλῇ στρογγύλῃ, τριχὶ παχείᾳ, μετώπῳ πλατεῖ, τετραγώνῳ, ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ ὀφρύσι μεγάλαις, μέλασιν, ἐν τῷ λευκῷ φλέβες λεπταί, αἱματώδεις, βλεφάροις μακροῖς, παχέσιν, ὠτίοις μεγάλοις, στόμασι στρογγύλοις, ῥώθωνι παχεῖ, μυκτῆρσι στρογγύλοις, χείλεσι παχέσι· τοῖς ὑπεράνω μέρεσιν ἰσχύουσιν, ὀρθὸς γεγενημένος ἀπὸ σκελῶν·
Hoi de en Taurǭ typǭ esontai tǭde; kephalę̄ strongylę̄, trichi pacheią, metōpǭ platei, tetragōnǭ, ophthalmois kai ophrysi megalais, melasin, en tǭ leukǭ phlebes leptai, haimatōdeis, blepharois makrois, pachesin, ōtiois megalois, stomasi strongylois, rhōthōni pachei, myktērsi strongylois, cheilesi pachesi; tois hyperanō meresin ischyousin, orthos gegenēmenos apo skelōn;
Those in the Bull will be of this type: round head, thick hair, broad, square forehead, large black eyes and eyebrows, thin bloodshot veins in the white of the eye, long thick eyelids, large ears, round mouths, thick nose, round nostrils, thick lips; they are strong in the upper parts, and upright from the legs.
Notes and citation
Summary: The appearance of those born under Taurus.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.16.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 82; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-16-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.16.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 82
οἱ αὐτοὶ δὲ φύσεως· ἀρέσκοντες, νοοῦντες, εὐφυεῖς, εὐσεβεῖς, δίκαιοι, ἄγροικοι, προσχαρεῖς, κοπιαταί, ἀπὸ ἐτῶν (??), ἐρεθισταί, νωθροί· τούτων ὁ στόμαχος μικρός ἐστι, πληροῦνται τάχα, πολλὰ βουλευόμενοι, φρόνιμοι, φειδωλοὶ εἰς ἑαυτούς, εἰς ἄλλους δαψιλεῖς, ἀγαθοποιοί, σώματι βραδεῖ· ἐν μέρει εἰσὶ λυπηροί, ἀμελεῖς εἰς φιλίαν, ὠφέλιμοι διὰ τὸν νοῦν, κακοπαθεῖς.
hoi autoi de physeōs; areskontes, noountes, euphyeis, eusebeis, dikaioi, agroikoi, proschareis, kopiatai, apo etōn (??), erethistai, nōthroi; toutōn ho stomachos mikros esti, plērountai tacha, polla bouleuomenoi, phronimoi, pheidōloi eis heautous, eis allous dapsileis, agathopoioi, sōmati bradei; en merei eisi lypēroi, ameleis eis philian, ōphelimoi dia ton noun, kakopatheis.
The same by nature: pleasing, intelligent, gifted, pious, just, rustic, gracious, hard-working from the age of …, easily provoked, sluggish. Their stomach is small, they are quickly filled; they deliberate much, are prudent, sparing toward themselves, lavish toward others, beneficent, slow of body; at times they are sorrowful, careless in friendship, useful because of their mind, much-suffering.
Notes and citation
Summary: The character of those born under Taurus.
- A number could not be read by the digitizers (marked (??) in the digital text).
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.16.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 82; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-16-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
item 4, chapter 17
4.17.1Duncker–Schneidewin, 82
Ἐν Διδύμοις τύπος· προσώπῳ κοκκίνῳ, μεγέθει οὐ λίαν μεγάλῳ, μέλεσιν ἴσοις, ὀφθαλμοῖς μέλασιν ὡς ἠλειμμένοις, μήλοις κάτω τεταμένοις, στόματι παχεῖ, ὀφρύσι συντεθειμέναις· συγκροτοῦσι πάντα, ἔχουσιν, ἔσχατα πλούσιοι, σκνιφοί, φειδωλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἰδίου, δαψιλεῖς πρὸς τὰ ἀφροδισιακά, ἐπιεικεῖς, μουσικοί, ψεῦσται· οἱ αὐτοὶ δὲ φύσεως·
En Didymois typos; prosōpǭ kokkinǭ, megethei ou lian megalǭ, melesin isois, ophthalmois melasin hōs ēleimmenois, mēlois katō tetamenois, stomati pachei, ophrysi syntetheimenais; synkrotousi panta, echousin, eschata plousioi, skniphoi, pheidōloi ek tou idiou, dapsileis pros ta aphrodisiaka, epieikeis, mousikoi, pseustai; hoi autoi de physeōs;
Type in the Twins: red face, size not very large, even limbs, black eyes as if anointed, cheeks drawn down, thick mouth, eyebrows joined; they gather everything together, they possess, rich in the end, stingy, sparing of their own, lavish in matters of love, reasonable, musical, liars. The same by nature:
Notes and citation
Summary: The appearance of those born under Gemini.
- The run of short phrases is loose in the Greek; the rendering follows it closely.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.17.1 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 82; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-17-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.
4.17.2Duncker–Schneidewin, 82–84
δεδιδαγμένοι, νοοῦντες, περίεργοι, ἰδίᾳ ἀποφάσει, ἐπιθυμητικοί, φειδωλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἰδίου, δαψιλεῖς, ἥσυχοι, φρόνιμοι, δόλιοι, πολλὰ βουλεύονται, ψηφισταί, κατήγοροι, ἀκαίριμοι, οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς, ἀπὸ γυναικῶν φιλοῦνται, ἔμποροι, εἰς φιλίαν οὐκ ἐπὶ πολὺ ὠφέλιμοι.
dedidagmenoi, noountes, periergoi, idią apophasei, epithymētikoi, pheidōloi ek tou idiou, dapsileis, hēsychoi, phronimoi, dolioi, polla bouleuontai, psēphistai, katēgoroi, akairimoi, ouk eutycheis, apo gynaikōn philountai, emporoi, eis philian ouk epi poly ōphelimoi.
learned, intelligent, curious, of their own decision, desirous, sparing of their own, lavish, quiet, prudent, crafty; they deliberate much, are calculators, accusers, untimely, not fortunate, loved by women, traders, not very useful in friendship.
Notes and citation
Summary: The character of those born under Gemini.
Cite (SBL): Hippolytus, Haer. 4.17.2 (Duncker–Schneidewin, 82–84; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/hippolytus-refutatio/4-4-1/#p-4-17-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Duncker–Schneidewin; made independently of existing English translations.