1548 - Important Commentary on Aristotle's Foundation of Alchemy
Alexander of Aphrodisias was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher flourishing around 200 CE. His significance lies primarily in his meticulous commentaries on Aristotle's works, which became the standard interpretation for centuries and thus shaped the course of Western philosophy. His detailed analysis of Aristotle's metaphysics and psychology, especially concerning the soul and intellect, provided a framework for later esoteric thinkers to explore and interpret. His commentaries on topics such as fate, free will, and the relationship between the soul and the body also offered fertile ground for esoteric speculation and debate.
Alessandro Piccolomini (1508-1579) was a renowned Italian humanist, astronomer, and philosopher. In his youth, Piccolomini was a celebrated playwright, known for comedies somewhat on the risqué side. However, later in life, he experienced some sort of spiritual crisis and awakening, renounced his earlier works, embraced a more devout lifestyle, and took Holy Orders.
This translation of Alexander of Aphrodisias’ commentary on Aristotle’s Meteorology represents a crucial link between the ancient wisdom of Aristotle and the burgeoning intellectual curiosity of the Renaissance. It brought ancient knowledge into the hands of scholars and practitioners who were eager to explore the mysteries of nature and the cosmos. The text explores the connections between the earthly (microcosm) and the celestial (macrocosm). This concept (as above, so below) is ubiquitous in esoteric traditions like Hermeticism and astrology, which sought to understand the interconnectedness of all things and the influence of celestial bodies on earthly events.
1548. Alexander of Aphrodisias; Alessandro Piccolomini, trans. ALEXANDRI APHRODISIENSIS MAXIMI PERIPATETICI, IN QUATUOR LIBROS METEOROLOGICORUM ARISTOTELIS, COMMENTARIO LUCIDISSIMA... Venice: Apud Hieronymum Scotum. Later vellum binding. Folio; π2 A-H6 I8; [2] 55 leaves (leaf 44 mis-numbered). Roman and italic type; text in Latin. With woodcut devices on title page and colophon, woodcut initials, and numerous illustrations. Adams A687; USTC 808690. 11 3/8 x 8 1/2 in. Light discoloration and scuffing to boards, slight warping; bookseller sticker on paste-down endpaper; writing, later blue ink, losses, and tears to title page not impacting text; several pages with chips and small wormholes at outer margin; damp staining, staining, light toning, and occasional marginalia; lacking front endpaper. A sturdy copy of this important mid-16th-century work.
Alexander of Aphrodisias was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher flourishing around 200 CE. His significance lies primarily in his meticulous commentaries on Aristotle's works, which became the standard interpretation for centuries and thus shaped the course of Western philosophy. His detailed analysis of Aristotle's metaphysics and psychology, especially concerning the soul and intellect, provided a framework for later esoteric thinkers to explore and interpret. His commentaries on topics such as fate, free will, and the relationship between the soul and the body also offered fertile ground for esoteric speculation and debate.
Alessandro Piccolomini (1508-1579) was a renowned Italian humanist, astronomer, and philosopher. In his youth, Piccolomini was a celebrated playwright, known for comedies somewhat on the risqué side. However, later in life, he experienced some sort of spiritual crisis and awakening, renounced his earlier works, embraced a more devout lifestyle, and took Holy Orders.
This translation of Alexander of Aphrodisias’ commentary on Aristotle’s Meteorology represents a crucial link between the ancient wisdom of Aristotle and the burgeoning intellectual curiosity of the Renaissance. It brought ancient knowledge into the hands of scholars and practitioners who were eager to explore the mysteries of nature and the cosmos. The text explores the connections between the earthly (microcosm) and the celestial (macrocosm). This concept (as above, so below) is ubiquitous in esoteric traditions like Hermeticism and astrology, which sought to understand the interconnectedness of all things and the influence of celestial bodies on earthly events.
1548. Alexander of Aphrodisias; Alessandro Piccolomini, trans. ALEXANDRI APHRODISIENSIS MAXIMI PERIPATETICI, IN QUATUOR LIBROS METEOROLOGICORUM ARISTOTELIS, COMMENTARIO LUCIDISSIMA... Venice: Apud Hieronymum Scotum. Later vellum binding. Folio; π2 A-H6 I8; [2] 55 leaves (leaf 44 mis-numbered). Roman and italic type; text in Latin. With woodcut devices on title page and colophon, woodcut initials, and numerous illustrations. Adams A687; USTC 808690. 11 3/8 x 8 1/2 in. Light discoloration and scuffing to boards, slight warping; bookseller sticker on paste-down endpaper; writing, later blue ink, losses, and tears to title page not impacting text; several pages with chips and small wormholes at outer margin; damp staining, staining, light toning, and occasional marginalia; lacking front endpaper. A sturdy copy of this important mid-16th-century work.
Alexander of Aphrodisias was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher flourishing around 200 CE. His significance lies primarily in his meticulous commentaries on Aristotle's works, which became the standard interpretation for centuries and thus shaped the course of Western philosophy. His detailed analysis of Aristotle's metaphysics and psychology, especially concerning the soul and intellect, provided a framework for later esoteric thinkers to explore and interpret. His commentaries on topics such as fate, free will, and the relationship between the soul and the body also offered fertile ground for esoteric speculation and debate.
Alessandro Piccolomini (1508-1579) was a renowned Italian humanist, astronomer, and philosopher. In his youth, Piccolomini was a celebrated playwright, known for comedies somewhat on the risqué side. However, later in life, he experienced some sort of spiritual crisis and awakening, renounced his earlier works, embraced a more devout lifestyle, and took Holy Orders.
This translation of Alexander of Aphrodisias’ commentary on Aristotle’s Meteorology represents a crucial link between the ancient wisdom of Aristotle and the burgeoning intellectual curiosity of the Renaissance. It brought ancient knowledge into the hands of scholars and practitioners who were eager to explore the mysteries of nature and the cosmos. The text explores the connections between the earthly (microcosm) and the celestial (macrocosm). This concept (as above, so below) is ubiquitous in esoteric traditions like Hermeticism and astrology, which sought to understand the interconnectedness of all things and the influence of celestial bodies on earthly events.
1548. Alexander of Aphrodisias; Alessandro Piccolomini, trans. ALEXANDRI APHRODISIENSIS MAXIMI PERIPATETICI, IN QUATUOR LIBROS METEOROLOGICORUM ARISTOTELIS, COMMENTARIO LUCIDISSIMA... Venice: Apud Hieronymum Scotum. Later vellum binding. Folio; π2 A-H6 I8; [2] 55 leaves (leaf 44 mis-numbered). Roman and italic type; text in Latin. With woodcut devices on title page and colophon, woodcut initials, and numerous illustrations. Adams A687; USTC 808690. 11 3/8 x 8 1/2 in. Light discoloration and scuffing to boards, slight warping; bookseller sticker on paste-down endpaper; writing, later blue ink, losses, and tears to title page not impacting text; several pages with chips and small wormholes at outer margin; damp staining, staining, light toning, and occasional marginalia; lacking front endpaper. A sturdy copy of this important mid-16th-century work.