Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

the diapente, and the diatessaron. It may likewise be said to
be especially the mistress of geometry, because the triangle is
the principle of all figures. With respect to the triad possessing
authority in whatever pertains to astronomy and the nature
and knowledge of the heavenly bodies, and that it connects and
leads them into effect, this will be evident from considering
that there are three quaternions of the celestial signs, viz. the
fixed, the moveable, and the common. In every sign also,
there are three faces and three decans, and three lords of
every triplicity. And among the planets there are three fortunes.
According to the Chaldeans likewise, there are three
etherial worlds prior to the sphere of the fixed stars. And
we are informed by the anonymous author, "that every traduction
of divine and mortal natures is effected by emission,
reception, and restoration; etherial natures after a certain manner
disseminating; the region which surrounds the earth as
it were receiving; and restoration taking place through things
which have an intermediate subsistence.
011 xat q oupxaoa BcsSayoyq 0ocov~a xat Bvqtov ex ~szpososo~, xar
uro8o~q~, xac T~CTOV av~a?~oBooeo~ xpaTuvemto crzeppa!vov~~v ~ E Y
rpoxov Tcva TUY at0~pt0~. "J'XO~EXO~EVWV BE ~oavct TUV 'XO~L~ECOV~ av
raro2oocog 6e 8ca w v avapeoov ~e'ho~pevwv.
With respect to the mythological appellations of this number,
as no author that is extant has unfolded their recondite
meaning, I shall only observe, that the several divinities by the
names of which it is celebrated, were doubtless referred to it
so far as each of them is of a perfective nature.
CHAPTER VI
THE tetrad, as we learn from Nicomachus, was called by the
Pythagoreans, "the greatest miracle, a God after another man-