Ptolemy's "Tetrabiblos" in the Translation of William of Moerbeke: Claudii Ptolemaei Liber Iudicialium (Ancient and Medieval Philosophy–Series 1)

First ever edition of the Latin translation of Ptolemy's masterwork. This is the first edition ever of Moerbeke's Latin translation of Ptolemy's celebrated astrological handbook, known under the title Tetrabiblos or Quadripartitum (opus). Ptolemy's treatise (composed after 141 AD) offers a systematic overview of astrological science and had, together with his Almagest, an enormous influence up until the 17th century. In the Latin Middle Ages the work was mostly known through translations from the Arabic. William of Moerbeke's translation was made directly from the Greek and it is a major scholarly achievement manifesting not only Moerbeke's genius as a translator, but also as a scientist. The edition is accompanied by extensive Greek-Latin indices, which give evidence of Moerbeke's astonishing enrichment of the Latin vocabulary, which he needed both to translate the technical scientific vocabulary and to cope with the many new terms Ptolemy created. The introduction examines Moerbeke's translation method and situates the Latin translation within the tradition of the Greek text. This edition makes possible a better assessment of the great medieval translator and also contributes to a better understanding of the Greek text of Ptolemy's masterwork. Preface 6 Contents 8 Introduction 12 Chapter I-Manuscript Tradition of the Translation 14 1. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Digby 179, ff. 171r-208v (ox) 14 2. Venezia, Bibl. Marciana, lat. XIV, 242 (= 4295), ff. 1r-12v (Ve) 17 3. The relation of the two manuscripts 18 Chapter II-William of Moerbeke translator of the Iudicialia 20 1. Attribution of the translation to William of Moerbeke 20 1.1. External arguments 20 1.2. Internal arguments: an analysis of the translation method 24 1.2.1. Particles, conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs 24 1.2.2. Vocabulary 26 1.2.3. Syntax 33 1.3. Special character of the translation 35 1.4. When was the translation made? 37 2. Moerbeke: a translator with an interest in science 39 2.1. Astrological terms 39 2.2. Medical terms 44 2.3. Translation of hapax legomena and rare terms 45 2.4. Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus 46 3. Moerbeke and Plato of Tivoli 47 Conclusion 48 Chapter III-The reception of Moerbeke's translation 50 1. Henricus Bate 50 (b) De mundo vel celo 53 2. Agostino Nifo 56 Chapter IV-The Greek text and the translation 60 A. The tradition of the Greek text 60 1. The Vaticanus graecus 1038 and related manuscripts 60 2. The tradition besides V 62 2.1. Class βγ 63 2.2. Class α 66 2.3. Bipartition of the text tradition 66 3. The indirect tradition 67 B. The Greek model of Moerbeke’s translation 69 1. Principal characteristic of G: a representative of branch ψ 69 1.1. G agrees with V (L) alone against variants of all other witnesses 70 1.2. G is dependent neither from V nor L 70 1.3. Bipartition of the tradition: G with V (L) alone against common readings of α βγ 71 2. G with other witnesses against V (L) 80 2.1. Relations of G with readings of (Σ) βγ against V Y (or V α) 81 2.2. G: relations with α 88 3. G different from the whole tradition 92 3.1. Two important cases 92 3.2. G agrees with coniectures of Hübner 93 3.3. Glosses in G 95 3.4. The omission of Ptolemy’s table of terms 95 Conclusion 98 Addendum 100 Examples of readings of U and V against the adopted readings in book I 101 Chapter V-The Contribution of Moerbeke’s translation to the edition of the Greek text 104 1. Book I 106 2. Book II 115 3. Book III 126 4. Book IV 134 App. I: The astrological note translated by Moerbeke 142 App. IIThe conclusion of the Apotelesmatica 144 Editorial Principles 148 1. Text 148 2. Latin apparatus 150 3. Greek-Latin comparative apparatus 151 Bibliography 156 Claudii Ptolemaei Liber Iudicialium translatio Guillelmi de Morbeka 164 Conspectus siglorum 166 170 Capitulum primum: Prohemium 170 Capitulum 2m 172 Capitulum 3m 176 Capitulum 4m 181 Capitulum 5m 182 Capitulum 6m 182 Capitulum 7m 183 Capitulum 8m 184 Capitulum 9m 184 Capitulum 10m 188 Capitulum 11m 189 Capitulum 12m 190 Capitulum 13m 191 Capitulum 14m 192 Capitulum 15m 193 Capitulum 16m 193 Capitulum 17m 194 Capitulum 18m 194 Capitulum 19m 196 Capitulum 20m 197 Capitulum 21m 199 Capitulum 22m 205 Capitulum 23m 205 Capitulum 24m 206 208 Hec sunt capitula libri secundi 208 Capitulum primum 208 Capitulum 2m 210 Capitulum 3m 212 Capitulum 4m 221 Capitulum 5m 223 Capitulum 6m 224 Capitulum 7m 224 Capitulum 8m 226 Capitulum 9m 228 Capitulum 10m 233 Capitulum 11m 234 Capitulum 12m 236 Capitumum 13m 238 Capitulum 14m 239 242 Hec sunt capitula libri tertii 242 Capitulum primum 243 Capitulum 2m 244 Capitulum 3m 246 Capitulum 4m [3] 246 Capitulum 5m [4] 247 Capitulum 6m [5] 250 Capitulum 7m [6] 253 Capitulum 8m [7] 254 Capitulum 9m [8] 255 Capitulum 10m [9] 256 Capitulum 11m [10] 257 Capitulum 12m [11] 259 Capitulum 13m [12] 267 Capitulum 14m [13] 270 Capitulum 15m [14] 275 Capitulum 16m [15] 285 288 288 Capitulum primum 288 Capitulum 2m 289 Capitulum 3m 290 Capitulum 4m 291 Capitulum 5m 294 Capitulum 6m 299 Capitulum 7m 300 Capitulum 8m 303 Capitulum 9m 304 Capitulum 10m 307 I. Index graeco-latinus 316 II. Index latino-graecus 396 III. Supplementum latinum 452 First Modern Edition Of The William Of Moerbeke's Latin Translation Of Ptolemy's 'tetrabiblos' Or 'quadripartitum Opus'. Ptolemy's Treatise (composed After 141 Ad) Offers A Systematic Overview Of Astrological Science And Had, Together With His 'almagest', An Enormous Influence Up Until The 17th Century. In The Latin Middle Ages The Work Was Mostly Known Through Translations From The Arabic. William Of Moerbeke's Translation Was Made Directly From The Greek And It Is A Major Scholarly Achievement Manifesting Not Only Moerbeke's Genius As A Translator, But Also As A Scientist. The Edition Is Accompanied By Extensive Greek-latin Indices, Which Give Evidence Of Moerbeke's Astonishing Enrichment Of The Latin Vocabulary, Which He Needed Both To Translate The Technical Scientific Vocabulary And To Cope With The Many New Terms Ptolemy Created. The Introduction Examines Moerbeke's Translation Method And Situates The Latin Translation Within The Tradition Of The Greek Text. Edited By Gudrun Vuillemin-diem And Carlos Steel With The Assistance Of Pieter De Leemans. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 145-148) And Indexes.