Glossary
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- * Important Dates in The Aristotle Quest
- Academy, The (385 BCE–529 CE)
- Plato’s school of philosophy, founded in 385 BCE at Akademia, a sanctuary north of Athens, Greece. When Plato died in 348 BCE, he was succeeded, first by his nephew, Speusippus, and then, upon Speusippus’ death, by Xenocrates. The school persisted until the Roman emperor Justinian closed it 529 CE. The Academy is considered the first institution of higher learning, providing the root of the English word academic.
- akrasia
- Derived from the ancient Greek word κρασία, meaning lacking command. Akrasia is the state of acting against one’s better judgment. In the Protagoras, Plato argues against the existence of akrasia on the grounds that it is impossible to knowingly choose evil. In the Nicomachean Ethics, however, Aristotleargues that akrasia is an empirically observable problem for human beings.
- Alexander the Great (356–323 BCE)
- Macedonian king, considered one of the most successful military commanders in history. By the time of his death at age thirty-three, he conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks. Tutored in his youth by Aristotle at Mieza, he is said to have slept with Aristotle’s copy of Homer’s Iliad under his pillow.
- Amyntas, III (King of Macedonia from 393–369 BCE)
- Father of King Philip II and grandfather of Alexander the Great. Aristotle’s father, Nicomachus, was his personal physician.
- Andromeda
- A constellation of stars named for the princess Andromeda, a character in Greek mythology. Queen Cassiopeia bragged about her daughter Andromeda’s beauty. She thereby unleashed Poseidon’s fury, which could only be appeased by sacrificing Andromeda to the sea monster, Cetus. Chained to a rock by the sea, Andromeda was rescued in the nick of time by Perseus.
- Antipater (397–319 BCE)
- Macedonian general who served under both Phillip II and Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death, he became supreme regent of the entire Macedonian Empire. He was also a friend of Aristotle, who named him executor of his will.
- Arimnestes (348 BCE)
- Aristotle’s older sister. Married to Proxenus of Atarneus, who raised Aristotle in Stageira after the parents of Aristotle and Arimnestes died.
- Arimnestos (4th century BCE)
- Aristotle’s brother, who died childless, according to Aristotle’s will.
- Aristotle (384–322 BCE)
- Ancient Greek philosopher. Student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great. Founder of the Lyceum. Author of twenty-one lost dialogues.
The following definition has been added from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
Ancient Greek philosopher, logician, and scientist who was a student of Plato and a teacher of Alexander the Great. He founded the Peripatetic school in 335 BCE at the Lyceum, a gymnasium located outside the walls of Athens, and was the author of a philosophical and scientific system that became the framework and vehicle for both Christian Scholasticism and medieval Islamic philosophy. Some of his most important treatises include Physics, Metaphysics, Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, De anima (On the Soul), and Poetics. Aristotle single-handedly founded the sciences of Logic, Biology and Psychology, and his system of thought is arguably the most influential ever put together by a single mind.
- Aristoxenus, of Tarentum (4th century BCE)
- Ancient Greek philosopher. Wrote treatises on music and rhythm. Accompanied Aristotle on his diplomatic mission to the court of King Hermias of Atarneus. Reported to have been upset whenTheophrastus took over the Lyceum on Aristotle’s death.
- Atarneus
- Ancient city on the mainland of modern-day Turkey, across from the island of Lesbos. Flourished underKing Hermias until he was assassinated by the Persians. Aristotle’s adoptive father, Proxenus, was also from Atarneus.
- Athens, ancient
- Powerful, democratic city-state and cultural center. Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum were located there.
- avatar
- Computer user’s graphic identity. A pictorial representation for interacting in a virtual world, such asSecond Life.
- Cardinal
- Member of a college of senior officials of the Catholic Church.
- Catholicism (Roman)
- The original form of institutionalized Christianity, which remained after the Protestant Reformation. Unlike Protestants, Catholics continue to follow the Pope and believe that the bread and wine of theEucharist become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
- Chalcis
- Chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, approximately twenty-five miles from Athens. Aristotle’smother, Phaestis, came from Chalcis and her family owned the estate there where Aristotle died.
- Christianity
- The largest religion in the world. Centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God who suffered, died, and was resurrected in order to save humanity from sin. They also maintain that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, granting everlasting life to his followers.
- Cloisters, The
- Branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the European Middle Ages. Located in New York City at Fort Tryon Park, four acres of land overlooking the Hudson River.
- Cubit
- Measure used by various ancient peoples. One cubit equals approximately 45 centimeters or 18 inches.
- Dionysus
- Ancient Greek god of wine. Known as the “Liberator,” for freeing people from their normal limits through the madness and ecstasy of drunkenness. In Greek mythology, Dionysus is the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Semele, a mortal woman.
- Epirus
- Ancient Greek state now occupied by northwestern Greece and southern Albania. Was occupied from Neolithic times by Epirote tribes and was known around the time of Homer as the home of the oracle of Dodona. Molded into a state by the Molossi tribe in the fourth century BCE, Epirus reached the height of independent power in the third century BCE before falling under the rule of the Roman, Byzantine, and eventually Ottoman empires. In the early nineteenth century Epirus was divided among Turkey and Albania.
- Eroticus
- One of Aristotle’s dialogues according to the third-century biographer, Diogenes Laertius. All but the title is lost.
- Eucharist
- Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread saying, “This is my body,” and wine saying, “This is my blood.”
- Eudemus, of Rhodes (ca. 370–300 BCE)
- One of Aristotle’s friends and most important students. Accompanied Aristotle on his diplomatic mission to the court of King Hermias of Atarneus. On Aristotle’s death, Eudemus returned to Rhodes, where he founded his own school, continued his own philosophical research, and edited copies of Aristotle’s work.
- Eurymedon (4th century BCE)
- Hierophant of the cult of Dionysus who persecuted Aristotle.
- First Corinthians
- A letter from Saint Paul to the Christians of Corinth, Greece that became a book of the New Testament. It contains a famous love poem often used at weddings.
- four elements
- Earth, air, fire, and water. Assumed by many ancient Greek thinkers, including Aristotle, to be the primal ingredients of all natural substances. Aristotle also believed the four elements to have natural motions.
- Hermias, of Atarneus (ca. 342 BCE)
- Former slave who studied with Aristotle at Plato’s Academy and went on to become King of Atarneus and the vicinity. In 348 BCE, Aristotle led a diplomatic mission, including Theophrastus, Eudemus,Aristoxenus, and Xenocrates, to his court to help him reach a peace agreement with King Philip II ofMacedon. When the Persians discovered the alliance between Hermias and Philip, however, they crucified Hermias, leaving Aristotle to marry his adopted daughter, Pythias.
- Hero (4th century BCE)
- Daughter of Aristotle’s sister Arimnestes and mother of Callisthenes, who studied with Aristotle at Plato’sAcademy and became a military reporter for Alexander the Great. He was accused of treachery in 328 BCE and executed.
- Herpyllis (4th century BCE)
- Aristotle’s second wife and the mother of his son, Nicomachus.
- hierophant
- Chief priest of the pagan Mysteries.
- Homer (9th century BCE)
- Greek poet and author of two of the most famous epics ever written: The Iliad and The Odyssey.
- immanent realism
- Doctrine traditionally attributed to Aristotle based on the Lyceum Lecture Notes according to which all members of a kind share a common essence.
- Ibadi
- Conservative branch of Islam dominant in Oman.
- Interpol
- The International Criminal Police Organization, whose purpose is to facilitate international police cooperation.
- Islam
- The second-largest religion in the world. Originated with the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, as revealed in the Qur’an. Recognizes Moses and Jesus as prophets as well, but holds that Judaism andChristianity have distorted their message. An adherent of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning one who submits to God.
- jihad
- A Muslim duty, generally understood in the West to mean war against those who are not Muslim.
- Judaism
- One of the oldest religions in the world. Based on the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, it has strongly influenced both Christianity and Islam. Its central belief is that there exists a single, omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent, transcendent God, who created the world and governs human affairs through laws and commandments revealed to the prophet Moses.
- kafir
- Arabic word referring to any non-Muslim or to a Muslim who denies the truth. Usually translated asinfidel or unbeliever.
- Lesbos
- Island across from the ancient city of Atarneus in modernday Turkey.
- Lyceum
- School for philosophy founded by Aristotle and Theophrastus in 335 BCE in Lykeios, a sanctuary just outside the walls of Athens. Aristotle was succeeded by Theophrastus, who was in turn succeeded by Strato of Lampsacas. The Lyceum was sacked in 86 BCE by the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who stole all of its books for the Palatine Library in Rome. The Lyceum was rebuilt and used for many years thereafter; the date of its ultimate demise is not known.
- Lyceum. Edited by Theophrastus, Eudemus of Rhodes, and Andronicus of Rhodes. Today known as Lyceum Lecture Notes
- Notes from lectures given at the The Complete Works of Aristotle .
- lynx
- Medium-sized wild cat. The lynx is a cunning, solitary hunter, with large eyes and a keen sense of hearing that enables it to hunt at night. In Greek mythology, the lynx is known as the keeper of the secrets of the forest and is associated with Dionysus.
- Macedonia
- Ancient kingdom in the northern-most part of ancient Greece, bordered by Epirus to the west and Thraceto the east. Under Alexander the Great, Macedonia became the home base of the most powerful empire in the known world.
Appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
Historical region in southeastern Greece, ruled by Alexander the Great before being overtaken by the Ottoman Empire. Upon the Ottoman defeat in the Balkan Wars, Macedonia was divided by the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913 among Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania. (Not to be confused with the Republic of Macedonia which was formerly a part of ex-Yugoslavia, and is independent since 1991.)
- Maenad
- Term from ancient Greek meaning the raving ones, used to refer to the female worshippers of Dionysus, who were known for engaging in wild orgies involving intoxication, dancing, sexual activity, and violence.
- Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE)
- Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. Author of the Meditations.
- Mithras
- Persian god of the sun. Worshiped in the Mithraic Mysteries, whose stories, symbols, and rituals merged with the Dionysian Mysteries.
- Muscat
- Capital city of the Muslim sultanate of Oman.
- Nerinthus
- One of Aristotle’s dialogues according to the third-century biographer, Diogenes Laertius. Reputed to have been named after a farmer-turned-philosopher. All but the title is lost.
- New Testament
- The second half of the Christian Bible. Written in Greek by various authors, but predominantly Saint Paul, between 45 and 140 CE. Its twenty-seven books were gradually collected into a single volume over a period of several centuries.
- Nicomachus (ca. 374 BCE)
- Aristotle’s father, physician to King Amyntas of Macedon. Aristotle remembers all of his family members in his will except for his father, suggesting a significant rift between the two. Aristotle does, however, refer in his will to a male descendent named Nicomachus, who could be his son or his grandson.
- Nicanor of Stageira (4th century BCE)
- Son of Arimnestes, the sister of Aristotle.
- Nikanor (318 BCE)
- General of Antipater. Aristotle’s chief heir as first husband of his daughter Pythias.
- nominalism
- Doctrine discussed in the Lyceum Lecture Notes according to which everything that exists is an absolute individual. There are no common essences, as held by immanent realism, or abstract forms, as held bytranscendent realism.
- Homer’s epic poem, Odysseus
- Mythic hero of The Odyssey.
- Olympiad
- An interval of four years between celebrations of the Olympic Games, by which the ancient Greeks reckoned dates.
- Important Olympiads in Black Market Truth
- The third year of the 103rd Olympiad. 366 BCE.
- The first year of the 108th Olympiad. 348 BCE.
- The first year of the 111th Olympiad. 336 BCE.
- The third year of the 114th Olympiad. 322 BCE.
- Olympias (376–316 BCE)
- Wife of Philip II of Macedon and mother of Alexander the Great. Known to have been involved in the cult of Dionysus.
- paganism
- Modern term for Ancient Greek religion.
- Palatine Library
- Considered the first public library. Established in Rome by the Emperor Augustus in 28 BCE. Destroyed by fire in 191 CE.
- paleography
- The study of ancient writing.
- Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem, Penelope
- Wife of The Odyssey.
- Philip, II King of Macedon (382–336 BCE)
- Son of King Amyntas and father of Alexander the Great. Destroyed Stageira when it tried to resist annexation to the Macedonian Empire. Negotiated with King Hermias of Atarneus to use his territory as a bridge to conquer the Persians. Assassinated by a young man who may have been hired by his wife,Olympias.
- Plato (428–348 BCE)
- Ancient Greek philosopher. Follower of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. Founder of The Academy. Author of thirty-five dialogues, all of which survive.
Appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
Ancient Greek philosopher, student and friend of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle. He founded the Academy in Athens, which lasted almost a thousand years (387 BCE to 529 CE), and was the first institution of higher learning in the western world. He wrote over twenty philosophical dialogues and numerous letters, all of which played and continue to play an integral role in the study of philosophy, classics and world literature.
- Provenance
- Documentation of history of ownership. Required for legal sale of artifacts in order to prevent tomb raiding.
- Proxenus, of Atarneus (ca. 348 BCE)
- Husband of Aristotle’s older sister, Arimnestes. Adoptive father of Aristotle.
- Pythagoras (ca. 580–500 BCE)
- Greek mathematician and founder of the religious movement called “Pythagoreanism,” which emphasized the role of numbers in understanding the universe.
Appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
Pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician, cosmologist, and revered by followers as a sage. He left Samos during Polycrates’ tyranny and made his home in Croton, then Metapontum. He is one of the most important and influential historical figures, and it is due to him and his followers that mathematics had such great influence on many philosophical works.
- Pythias (ca. 362–336? BCE)
- Adopted daughter of King Hermias of Atarneus. First wife of Aristotle. Pythias bore Aristotle a daughter, whom Aristotle named Pythias in her honor, perhaps because she died in childbirth.
- Romans, Letter to the
- Regarded by many as the most important book of the New Testament. Written by Saint Paul.
- Second Life
- A virtual world on the Internet. Launched in 2003 by Philip Rosedale, founder of Linden Lab. Members create avatars through which they can meet people, buy property and build things. The Second Life world is a group of islands where avatars can walk, run, fly, or teleport from one location to another.
- Saint Paul (1–67 CE)
- Disciple of Jesus. Wrote fourteen of the earliest books of the New Testament. Born in Tarsus, he was both a Jew and a Roman citizen, educated in Greek literature.
- Santayana, George (1863–1952)
- Naturalist philosopher, poet, and novelist, best known for his many aphorisms.
- Socrates (469–399 BCE)
- Considered the founder of Western philosophy. Known mostly through Plato’s dialogues. Executed inAthens for impiety and corrupting the youth.
Appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
Ancient Greek philosopher considered one of the founders of Western philosophy. He strongly influenced Plato, who was his student, and Aristotle, whom Plato taught. His most important contributions were to the field of ethics, but he also lent his name to the concepts of Socratic irony and the Socratic Method, or elenchus. He was famously accused and found guilty of corrupting the minds of the Athenian youth, and, although given opportunity to go into exile, he preferred to stay in the city, which sentenced him to death by drinking hemlock. An account of his trial is given in Plato’s dialogue, Apology.
- Speusippus (407–339 BCE)
- Plato’s nephew and successor as head of the Academy. While no great philosopher himself, Speusippus abided by the views of Plato, according to the thirdcentury biographer, Diogenes Laertius. After eight years as head of the Academy, he died of a stroke, leaving Xenocrates as his successor.
- Stageira
- Town in Macedonia where Aristotle was raised from age ten by his older sister Arimnestes and her husband, Proxenus of Atarneus.
- Symposium
- One of Aristotle’s dialogues. All but the title is lost.
- Theophrastus, of Eressos in Lesbos (371–287 BCE)
- The lifelong friend and successor of Aristotle at the Lyceum. He wrote many scientific works, some of them surviving, including the first scientific study of perfume.
- Thrace
- Ancient kingdom that included present-day, north-eastern Greece and the vicinity. Conquered and ruled by King Philip II of Macedon and his successors.
Appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
An ancient southeastern European country on the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, encompassing modern-day Turkey, northeastern Greece and southern Bulgaria. In Greek mythology, Ares, the god of war, was said to reside in Thrace; his son Thrax was the Thracians’ mythical ancestor. Homer also mentions Thrace in the Iliad. From 1300 to 600 BCE, the Thracians controlled a large area of the Balkan lands, before being reined in and conquered by various forces, including the Macedonians, Bulgarians, and Ottoman Turks. The area eventually set its modern-day borders around the World War I era.
- transcendent realism
- Doctrine espoused by Plato, according to which every kind of object has its own Form, a pattern that exists in an abstract realm, separate from the objects. It is because this Form is reflected in these objects that they are members of that kind. All Forms ultimately unite in a single abstract reality called the “Form of the Good” that is reflected to some extent in every object in this world.
- Vatican, The
- Sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It is the smallest independent state in the world, consisting of only approximately 110 acres and 800 inhabitants. Vatican City is a non-hereditary, elected monarchy ruled by the Pope, who is the highest ranking clergymen of the Catholic Church.
- Xenocrates, of Chalcedon (396–314 BCE)
- Studied with Aristotle at Plato’s Academy. Accompanied Aristotle’s diplomatic mission to the court ofKing Hermias of Atarneus. Succeeded Speusippus as head of Plato’s Academy in 338 BCE.
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Term appended from the Pythagorean Crimes glossary
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