THE TEXTUAL TRADITION OF NICOMACHUS’ INTRODUCTIO ARITHMETICA AND OF THE COMMENTARIES THEREON: A THEMATIC CROSS-SECTION

Abstract

The entire textual tradition of Nicomachus’ Introductio arithmetica and of the commentaries and scholia thereon is investigated by using a single, unusually cryptic sentence in Nicomachus’ text as case-study. The relations between the “Recensions” of Ammonius’ lecture notes are also clearly established. Finally, the way an entire exegetical tradition has dealt with such a cryptic sentence is discussed.

Keywords

• Nicomachus, Greek arithmetics, manuscript tradition, commentaries