Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

tion of parts, and is more properly Venus herself. It is also
Zygia and nuptial, and Androgynaea. It is likewise Zygitis,
benevolence, peace, friendship, health, Acmon, and truth.
Among the Fates likewise they make it to be Lachesis; and
they call it the principle, and the half of the whole. They also
denominate it fardarting and Trivia, pertaining to two times,
and Persea, triformed, Amphitrite and Anchidice, among the
Muses Thalia, and Panacea."
With respect to the first of these appellations the form of
form, Meursius has unfortunately omitted to assign from the
anonymous author, the reason of its being so called, in the true
spirit of a mere verbalist contenting himself with extracting
from that author the words, ~180s E ~ ~ Q UOW C QV 8tapap70t~ev
3 3 7 ~JYOUPEVO~, ~ ~ i.e. "We shall not therefore err in conceiving
that the hexad is the form of form." Perhaps however, it was
thus denominated because the perfect is that which characterizes
all forms or ideas, and 6 is the first perfect number in energy.
But the hexad was said by the Pythagoreans to be the
only number adapted to the soul, because soul from being the
connecting medium or bond of intelligibles and sensibles is
most eminently allied to Venus, who, as we are informed by
Proclus in his MS. Commentary on the Parmenides, "imparts
communion in multitude to intelligibles and all beings," 7rlv cv
From the anonymous author also we learn that the hexad was
called the distinct union of the parts of the universe, because
soul is as it were the animated form of formless matter. He
adds, that no number can be more adapted to soul tharr the
hexad, or can more properly be said to be the fabricator of
soul, because it is found to be effective of the vital habit, from
whence also it derives its appellation, & Q Q ~ ~ ~ O P ~ V V
stow ~~zot~tx~, rap 0 &€a~. And that it is called harmony, because
every soul is harmonic.
vc ~;Q~WS