The Timaeus of Plato

D] TIMAIO2. 283
contend more vehemently one with another, the sutures are more
in number; but if less so, they are fewer. Now the whole of
this skin was pricked all about with fire by the divine part: and
when it v/as pierced and the moisture issued forth through it, all
the moisture and heat which was pure vanished away; but that
which was mingled with the substances whereof the skin was
formed, being lifted up by the impulse, stretched far outwards,
in fineness equalling the size of the puncture; but owing to the
slowness of its motion it was thrust back by the surrounding air,
and being forced in and rolled up under the skin it took root
there. Under these conditions hair grows up in the skin, being
of similar nature but of threadlike appearance, and made harder
and denser by the contraction of cooling: for every hair in being
separated from the skin was cooled and contracted. Hereby
has our creator made our.head hairy, using the means aforesaid,
and conceiving that this instead of flesh should be a covering for
the protection of the brain, being light and capable of affording
shade from heat and shelter from cold, while it would be no
hindrance in the way of ready apprehension. The threefold
combination of sinew skin and bone in the fabric of the fingers,
when dried, forms out of all a single hard skin, for the construction
of which these substances served as means, but the true
cause and purpose of its
formation was the welfare of races not
though with considerable hesitation. are formed the nails. Plato's statement
4. dirfl'eiv] They at once departed in here differs somewhat from Aristotle's as
the course of nature to their own habita- cited above.
lion : but the earthier substance, having 20. TWV 2imTa elvai in the the human race. There is however a
prior cause. curious approximation to Darwinism in
1 7. KaraTrXoKifjl That is to say, the his statement : the nails appeared first
three substances of tendon skin and bone in a rudimentary form in the human race ;
are interwoven into one homogeneous and afterwards in course of evolution the
body and completely dried; out of this claws of the lion and the talons of the