5. A New Platonist, who lived at Alexandria about the middle of the fifth century, and
enjoyed a very great reputation.
Works
Commentary on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras
Hierocles is commonly considered to be the author of a commentary on the golden verses of
Pythagoras, which is still extant, and in which the author endeavours to give an
intelligible account of the philosophy of Pythagoras. The verses of Pythagoras form the
basis, but the commentator endeavours to give a succinct view of the whole philosophy of
Pythagoras, whence his work is of some importance to us, and may serve as a guide in the
study of the Pythagorean philosophy.
Editions
Latin Edition
This commentary was first published in a Latin translation by J. Aurispa, Padua,
1474, 4to., and afterwards at Rome, 1475, 1493, 1495, 4to., and at Basel, 1543,
8vo.
Greek Editions
The Greek original with a new Latin version was first edited by J. Curterius,
Paris, 1583, 12mo.A better edition, incorporating also the fragments of other works of Hierocles, was
published by J. Pearson, London, 1654 and 1655, 4to., and with additions and
improvements by P. Needham, Cambridge, 1709, 8vo.A still better edition of the commentary alone is that by R. Warren, London, 1742,
8vo.
On Providence, Fate, and the reconciliation of man's free will with the divine
government of the world.Hierocles was further the author of an extensive work entitled
Περὶ προνόας καὶ εἱμαρμένης καὶ τοῦ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν πρὸς τὴν Δείαν ἡγεμονίαν
συντάξεως, that is,
On Providence, Fate, and the reconciliation of man's
free will with the divine government of the world. The whole consisted of seven
books, and was dedicated to Olympiodorus; but the work is now lost, and all that has come
down to us consists of some extracts from it preserved in Photius (
Bibl.
Cod. 214, 251).
Editions
These extracts are also found separately in some MSS., and were published by F.
Morelli at Paris, 1593 and 1597, 8vo.
They are also contained in Pearson's and Needham's editions of the Commentary on
Pythagoras. From these extracts we see that Hierocles endeavored to show the
agreement between Plato and Aristotle against the doctrines of the Stoics and Epicureans,
and to refute those who attempted to deny the Divine Providence.
A Third Work of an Ethical Nature
A third work of an ethical nature is known to us from a number of extracts in Stobaeus
(see the passages referred to above, under No. 3), on justice, on reverence towards the
gods, on the conduct towards parents and relations, towards one's country, on marriage,
&c. The maxims they inculcate are of a highly estimable kind. The work to which these
extracts belonged probably bore the title
Τὰ
φιλοσοφούμενα (Suid.
s. v.
Ἐμποδών; Apostol.
Prov.
9.90).
Edition
These extracts are likewise contained in Pearson's and Needham's editions of the
Commentary.
ΟἰκονομικόςThere is another work, which is referred to under the title of
Οἰκονομικός, but which probably formed only a part of the
Τὰ φιλοσοφούμενα Notes on the Gorgias of Plato
Lastly, we have to notice that Theosebius, a disciple of Hierocles, published a commentary
on the Gorgias of Plato, which consisted of notes taken down by the disciple in the lectures
of Hierocles. (Phot. Bibl. Cod. 292.)
ἈστεῖαThere is extant a work called Ἀστεῖα, a collection
of ludicrous tales and anecdotes, droll ideas, and silly speeches of school pedants,
&c., which was formerly ascribed to Hierocles the New Platonist ; but it is obviously
the production of a very insignificant person, who must have lived at a later time than the
New Platonist.
Editions
It was first published by Marq. Freherus, Ladenburg, 1605, 8vo., and
afterwards by J. A. Schier, Leipzig, 1750, 8vo.; it is also contained in
Pearson's and Needham's editions of the Commentary on Pythagoras, and in J. de
Rhoer's Observationes Philologicae, Groningen, 1768, 8vo.