Posidonius: Volume 3, The Translation of the Fragments

Posidonius was a major intellectual figure of the Hellenistic world whose interests and contribution spread over the whole intellectual field: philosophy, history, the sciences. His writings are of interest not only to philosophers and classicists, but also to historians and history of science. His work survives only in fragments. The text of these fragments, collected and edited by L. Edelstein and I. G. Kidd, was published in 1972 (Vol. I The Fragments), with a second edition in 1989. This collection, along with Vol. II The Commentary by I.G. Kidd (1988), has become established as the definitive modern edition. However, many of the fragments are extremely difficult to translate, and this volume of translations has been compiled to make this interesting material more easily accessible to scholars and students. The translations are accompanied by contextual introductions and explanatory notes where necessary. An Introduction summarises the importance of Posidonius and his work.

• Only available English translation of what survives of the writings of Posidonius whose record is a crucial link with the philosophy, history and science of the Hellenistic world • Completion of the definitive edition of the fragmentary evidence of one of the most important and influential intellectual figures of the Hellenistic age • Volume I, The Fragments, and Volume II, The Commentary, have both been very successful

Part I. Testimonia: Life and influence; Characteristics of Posidonius’ philosophy; Doubtful testimonies; Part II. Fragments and Titles of Named Books: Physics; Ethics; Logic; Sciences and history; Doubtful fragments; Part III. Fragments Not Assigned to Books: Divisions and Content of Philosophy; Physics; Ethics; Logic; Sciences; History; History of philosophy; Miscellaneous; Indices.