Progymnasmata

Theon

5. AeliusTheon, of Alexandria, a sophist and rhetorician.

Works

Theon wrote a treatise on Rhetoric (τέχνη), a work περὶ προγυμνασμάτων (or, as some scholars read the text of Suidas, the words τέχνη περὶ προγυμνασμάτων form only one title), Commentaries on Xenophon, Isocrates, and Demosthenes, Rhetorical Themes (ῥητορικαὶ ὑποθέσεις), Questions respecting the Composition of Language (ζητήματα περὶ συντάξεως λόγου), and numerous other works (Suid. s.v. Eudoc. p. 231).

The Προγυμνάσματα

The Προγυμνάσματα is still extant. It is an excellent and useful treatise on the proper system of preparation for the profession of an orator, according to the rules laid down by Hermogenes and Aphthonius.

Editions

It was first printed, in Greek only, by Angelus Barbatus, Romae, 1520, 4to; again, with an amended text and a Latin version, by Joachim Camierarius, Basil. 1541, 8vo.; by Dan. Heinsius, from the Elzevir press, Lugd. Bat. 1626, 8vo.; by Joan. Schefferus, with the Progymnasmata of Aphthonius, Upsal. 1670 or 1680, 8vo.; and recently, with the Scholia, Notes, and Indices, by C. E. Finckh, Stuttgard. 1834. 8vo. and also in Walz's Rhetorci Graeci, vol. i. pp. 137, foll.

Other Works Possibly by Aelius Theon

Küster (ad Suid. s. v.) thinks that Aelius Theon was the author of the Commentary on Apollonius, mentioned above (No. 1), and also of the extant Scholia on Aratus, which others refer to the father of Hypatia.

Further Information

Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. vi. pp. 97, 98; Hoffmann, Lexicon, Bibliogr. Scriptor. Graecorum, s. v.