On the translation of Timaeus 38b 6-c 3

Abstract

In the present paper, I shall discuss certain ambiguities arising from Timaeus 38b 6-c 3, with the object of demonstrating that the construal of χρόνος (‘time’) as subject of the verb ᾖ and the definite article ὁ at 38c 1-2 proves to be just as compelling as the construal of οὐρανός (‘the universe’) as that subject. For it will be shown that τὸ παράδειγμα τῆς διαιωνίας φύσεως (‘the paradigm which is possessed of a thoroughly everlasting nature’) at 38b 8 serves to signify αἰών (‘Eternity’) no less than ζῷον ἀίδιον (‘Eternal Living Being’), meaning that one might well construe χρόνος or οὐρανός as the subject of ᾖ or ὁ, if not χρόνος and οὐρανός as the dual subject of ᾖ and ὁ, as χρόνος is the image of αἰών, and the οὐρανός that of ζῷον ἀίδιον.

Keywords

• Timaeus
• eternity
• eternal living being
• time
• universe