Iamblichus; Robin Waterfield trans.; Keith Critchlow fwd

THE THEOLOGY OF ARITHMETIC: On the Mystical, Mathematical and Cosmological Symbolism of the First Ten Numbers [Theologumena Arithmeticae]

Phanes Press, January 1988. First Edition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. First Printing of the new Waterfield translation, limited to 350 copies in cloth binding per the dust jacket. 130pp. 12mo, sewn binding in gray cloth, gilt stamped spine lettering and gilt-stamped Greek title with 10-dotted Decad triangle to the front cover. FINE copy--exceedingly clean and sharp with crisp pages, bright gilt, and sound, square binding; DJ with just some trivial shelfwear to the tips, crisp and bright otherwise with price of $25.00 intact. First translation into any language of the numerological treatise commonly known by its Latin title, 'Theologumena Arithmeticae.' Quite scarce in trade. 'Attributed to lamblichus (4th cent. A.D.), The Theology of Arithmetic is about the mystical, mathematical and cosmological symbolism of the first ten numbers. It is the longest work on number symbolism to survive from the ancient world, and Robin Waterfield's careful translation contains helpful footnotes, an extensive glossary, bibliography, and foreword by Keith Critchlow. Never before translated from the ancient Greek, this important sourcework is indispensable for anyone interested in Pythagorean thought, Neo-platonism, or the symbolism of Numbers.' (From the DJ) The actual authorship of the work has never been satisfactorily determined. Waterfield writes in the introduction, ' The treatise is, in fact, a compilation and reads like a student's written-up notes. Whole sections are taken from the Theology of Arithmetic of the famous and influential mathematician and philosopher Nicomachus of Gerasa, and from the On the Decad of Iamblichus' teacher, Anatolius, Bishop of Laodicea. These two sources, which occupy the majority of our treatise, are linked by text whose origin is at best conjectural, but some of which could very well be lecture notes- perhaps even from lectures delivered by Iamblichus. At any rate, the treatise may tentatively be dated to the middle of the fourth century A.D.'. FINE / FINE. Item #515150
ISBN: 0933999712

Price: $250.00