Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §33.1

Xenophanes on the Material Composition of the Sun

Passage 23 of 196 · Greek

Summary

This chunk describes Xenophanes' view on the composition of the sun (either ignited clouds or tiny fiery particles gathered from moist exhalation that constitute the sun), referencing Theophrastus' Physics.

§33.1Fr. 33 Ξενοφάνης ἐκ νεφῶν πεπυρωμένων εἶναι τὸν ἥλιον ἢ ὡς Θ. ἐν τοῖς Φυσικοῖς γέγραφεν, ἐκ πυριδίων τῶν συναθροιζομένων μὲν ἐκ τῆς ὑγρᾶς ἀναθυμιάσεως, συναθροιζόντων δὲ τὸν ἥλιον.
Xenophanes asserts that the sun is made of ignited clouds, or, as Theophrastus has written in his Physics, of tiny fiery particles which are on the one hand gathered from the moist exhalation, and on the other hand gather together to form the sun.

Notes

  1. §33.1εἶναι τὸν ἥλιον — The main governing verb (such as φησίν or ἔλεγεν) is omitted, resulting in an accusative and infinitive construction of indirect discourse.
  2. §33.1συναθροιζομένων ... συναθροιζόντων — A contrast between the passive participle (συναθροιζομένων) and the active participle (συναθροιζόντων). It describes a double process: the tiny particles are "gathered" from the moist exhalation, and in turn they actively "gather together" (constitute) the sun.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §33.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:33.1

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