Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

y Styx, viz. they continue through this invariably the same.
They appear to have called the monad, horror, from considering
that the ineffable is perfectly unknown, and unconnected
with our nature; for the perception of any sensible thing of this
kind, is attended with terror. But they denominated it void of
mixture, from the simplicity of the nature of the ineffable and
a subterranean profundity from its unfathomable depths, which
are beyond all knowledge. As with respect to the ineffable
likewise, knowledge, as Damascius beautifully observes, is refunded
into ignorance, the monad, which is the image of it, is
very appropriately called Lethe or oblivion. But from the
purity of its nature, the monad is denominated a rigid virgin.
And it is called Atlas, because the ineffable supports, connects,
and separates all things; for of this the fabulous pillars of
Atlas are an image.
Besides these appellations, the Pythagoreans also called the
monad Apollo, as we are informed by Plutarch and Plotinus,
from its privation of multitude. They likewise denominated it
Prometheus, according to the anonymous author of Theologum.
Arithmet. because it in no respect runs to the anterior
part, are 7 0 ~ ~ 0 P$EVC 0 0 ~ P O ~ECV; ~ V for there is nothing beyond
the ineffable. The same author, likewise, informs us that they
called it "essence, the cause of truth, the simple paradigm, the
order of symphony; in the greater and the less, the equal; in
intension and remission, the middle; in multitude the moderate;
in time the present now. And besides these, a ship, a
chariot, a friend, life, and felicity." For as the one is all things
prior to all, it is preeminently the most excellent of things, but
this, according to the one, i.e. without departing from the ineffable
simplicity of its nature. They also denominated it form,
because, as Simplicius observes (in Phys. lib. I.) form circumscribes
and bounds every thing to which it accedes. But they
called it Proteus, as we are informed by the above mentioned