Colourful Planets: The Reception of an Astronomical Detail in the Myth of Er

M Martijn; Emilie van Opstall; RJ Allan

doi:10.1163/1568525X-bja10135

Colourful Planets: The Reception of an Astronomical Detail in the Myth of Er

M Martijn, Emilie van Opstall (Guest editor), RJ Allan (Guest editor)

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In the Myth of Er, Plato describes the 'Spindle of Necessity', a contraption presenting the cosmos as guided by Sirens and Fates, and ascribes different colours to the planets (Rep. 616e-617a). This paper argues that Plato probably used astronomical data for that passage, but possibly gave them a metaphorical sense, and discusses the likelihood of his having used Mesopotamian sources. The second half of the paper studies receptions of and allusions to the image, with context-based astronomical, political, and metaphysical features. Cicero adjusted the image to contemporary astronomy, and to the political function of the cosmic structures in the Somnium Scipionis. His commentator Macrobius emphasizes empirical correctness, but possibly with metaphysical undertones. Apuleius' Metamorphoses alludes to the image in a portrait of Isis, perhaps to refer to her metaphysical role. Finally, Proclus interprets the Platonic passage as primarily metaphysical, and pointing to truths beyond astronomical phenomena.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	145-168
Number of pages	24
Journal	Mnemosyne: A Journal of Classical Studies
Volume	75
Issue number	1
Early online date	7 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/1568525X-bja10135
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Special Issue in Honour of Gerard Boter, edited by Rutger Allan and Emilie van Opstall: Greek Culture in the Roman World.

Funding Information:
Much of this paper was written during the pandemic and hence to some extent without library access. I thank Maaike Zimmerman, Wytse Keulen, Jonathan Greig, John Dillon, Roelf Barkhuis, Ben Schomakers, Joachim Quack, Hasse Leemans, the participants of Aiste Celkyte's workshop on late antiquity, and my mother Evelien Bodenstaff for their help. I also thank the editors and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments, which made this a better paper. Remaining flaws are all mine.

Publisher Copyright:
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2021

Keywords

Apuleius
Astronomy
Cicero
Colours
Myth of Er
Planets
Plato
Proclus

Access to Document

10.1163/1568525X-bja10135

Persistent URL (handle)

Copy link address

Cite this

@article{6e18c414c0a342a8b0de61b2c8dc4108,

title = "Colourful Planets: The Reception of an Astronomical Detail in the Myth of Er",

abstract = "In the Myth of Er, Plato describes the 'Spindle of Necessity', a contraption presenting the cosmos as guided by Sirens and Fates, and ascribes different colours to the planets (Rep. 616e-617a). This paper argues that Plato probably used astronomical data for that passage, but possibly gave them a metaphorical sense, and discusses the likelihood of his having used Mesopotamian sources. The second half of the paper studies receptions of and allusions to the image, with context-based astronomical, political, and metaphysical features. Cicero adjusted the image to contemporary astronomy, and to the political function of the cosmic structures in the Somnium Scipionis. His commentator Macrobius emphasizes empirical correctness, but possibly with metaphysical undertones. Apuleius' Metamorphoses alludes to the image in a portrait of Isis, perhaps to refer to her metaphysical role. Finally, Proclus interprets the Platonic passage as primarily metaphysical, and pointing to truths beyond astronomical phenomena.",

keywords = "Apuleius, Astronomy, Cicero, Colours, Myth of Er, Planets, Plato, Proclus",

author = "M Martijn and {van Opstall}, Emilie and RJ Allan",

note = "Special Issue in Honour of Gerard Boter, edited by Rutger Allan and Emilie van Opstall: Greek Culture in the Roman World. Funding Information: Much of this paper was written during the pandemic and hence to some extent without library access. I thank Maaike Zimmerman, Wytse Keulen, Jonathan Greig, John Dillon, Roelf Barkhuis, Ben Schomakers, Joachim Quack, Hasse Leemans, the participants of Aiste Celkyte's workshop on late antiquity, and my mother Evelien Bodenstaff for their help. I also thank the editors and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments, which made this a better paper. Remaining flaws are all mine. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2021",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1163/1568525X-bja10135",

language = "English",

volume = "75",

pages = "145--168",

journal = "Mnemosyne: A Journal of Classical Studies",

issn = "0026-7074",

publisher = "Brill",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Colourful Planets

T2 - The Reception of an Astronomical Detail in the Myth of Er

AU - Martijn, M

A2 - van Opstall, Emilie

A2 - Allan, RJ

N1 - Special Issue in Honour of Gerard Boter, edited by Rutger Allan and Emilie van Opstall: Greek Culture in the Roman World. Funding Information: Much of this paper was written during the pandemic and hence to some extent without library access. I thank Maaike Zimmerman, Wytse Keulen, Jonathan Greig, John Dillon, Roelf Barkhuis, Ben Schomakers, Joachim Quack, Hasse Leemans, the participants of Aiste Celkyte's workshop on late antiquity, and my mother Evelien Bodenstaff for their help. I also thank the editors and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments, which made this a better paper. Remaining flaws are all mine. Publisher Copyright: © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2021

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - In the Myth of Er, Plato describes the 'Spindle of Necessity', a contraption presenting the cosmos as guided by Sirens and Fates, and ascribes different colours to the planets (Rep. 616e-617a). This paper argues that Plato probably used astronomical data for that passage, but possibly gave them a metaphorical sense, and discusses the likelihood of his having used Mesopotamian sources. The second half of the paper studies receptions of and allusions to the image, with context-based astronomical, political, and metaphysical features. Cicero adjusted the image to contemporary astronomy, and to the political function of the cosmic structures in the Somnium Scipionis. His commentator Macrobius emphasizes empirical correctness, but possibly with metaphysical undertones. Apuleius' Metamorphoses alludes to the image in a portrait of Isis, perhaps to refer to her metaphysical role. Finally, Proclus interprets the Platonic passage as primarily metaphysical, and pointing to truths beyond astronomical phenomena.

AB - In the Myth of Er, Plato describes the 'Spindle of Necessity', a contraption presenting the cosmos as guided by Sirens and Fates, and ascribes different colours to the planets (Rep. 616e-617a). This paper argues that Plato probably used astronomical data for that passage, but possibly gave them a metaphorical sense, and discusses the likelihood of his having used Mesopotamian sources. The second half of the paper studies receptions of and allusions to the image, with context-based astronomical, political, and metaphysical features. Cicero adjusted the image to contemporary astronomy, and to the political function of the cosmic structures in the Somnium Scipionis. His commentator Macrobius emphasizes empirical correctness, but possibly with metaphysical undertones. Apuleius' Metamorphoses alludes to the image in a portrait of Isis, perhaps to refer to her metaphysical role. Finally, Proclus interprets the Platonic passage as primarily metaphysical, and pointing to truths beyond astronomical phenomena.

KW - Apuleius

KW - Astronomy

KW - Cicero

KW - Colours

KW - Myth of Er

KW - Planets

KW - Plato

KW - Proclus

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124019483&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85124019483&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1163/1568525X-bja10135

DO - 10.1163/1568525X-bja10135

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85124019483

SN - 0026-7074

VL - 75

SP - 145

EP - 168

JO - Mnemosyne: A Journal of Classical Studies

JF - Mnemosyne: A Journal of Classical Studies

IS - 1

ER -

Colourful Planets: The Reception of an Astronomical Detail in the Myth of Er

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this