Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Eclecticism in modern and ancient thought
- Chapter 2 Eclecticism and Alexandria in the first century bc
- Chapter 3 Potamo of Alexandria, life and work
- Chapter 4 The eclectic system of Potamo's Elementary Teaching
- Chapter 5 Potamo and Aristotle's On the Heavens
- Chapter 6 Further references to Potamo
- Chapter 7 Conclusions
- Bibliography
- General index
- Index of passages cited
Chapter 2 - Eclecticism and Alexandria in the first century bc
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Eclecticism in modern and ancient thought
- Chapter 2 Eclecticism and Alexandria in the first century bc
- Chapter 3 Potamo of Alexandria, life and work
- Chapter 4 The eclectic system of Potamo's Elementary Teaching
- Chapter 5 Potamo and Aristotle's On the Heavens
- Chapter 6 Further references to Potamo
- Chapter 7 Conclusions
- Bibliography
- General index
- Index of passages cited
Summary
The Background
The capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom was the undisputed centre of intellectual life in the Hellenistic period. It benefited from active royal patronage that went beyond favouring gifted individuals in court, to include the establishment of permanent institutions devoted to learning and research. The achievements of scientists and literary scholars associated with the Museum and Library of Alexandria remained extremely influential for a long time after its heyday in the third century bc. There is therefore a striking contrast with the field of philosophy, where Ptolemaic Alexandria does not have anything as remarkable to offer.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011