No More Learning

ii. 154). Strabo tells us PSELLUS (Héros). There are several Greek
(xvii. p. 801) that it was in the reign of Psammi- writers of this name, concerning whom Leo Alla-
tichus that the Milesians, with a fleet of thirty tius wrote a valuable dissertation, which was ap-
ships, sailed up the Canopic or western branch of pended by Fabricius to the fifth volume of his
the Nile, and founded the city of Naucratis, which Bibliotheca Graeca, and is repeated by Harless
became one of the great emporia for commerce. It in an abridged form, but with additions and
is certainly untrue that the Milesians founded corrections, in the second edition (vol. I. pp. 41,
Naucratis, as the city was of Egyptian origin ; and | &c. ).
it appears to have been the opinion of Herodotus 1. Simon, surnamed Psellus, though a Hebrew,


## p. 563 (#579) ############################################

PSELLUS.
PSELLUS.
SCS
and not himself a writer, deserves mention here, as her three sons. When Romanus Diogenes, wbom
he was the grandfather of Josephus (Jos. Vit. 1). Eudocia had married, was also declared emperor
2. Michael Psellus, the elder, of Andros, flou- (A. D. 1068), Psellus was one of his counsellors ;
rished in the 9th century A. D. He was extremely but three years afterwards he was the chief ad-
learned in ancient literature and philosophy, and viser, among the senators, of the measure by which
endeavoured to resist the torrent of ignorance and Diogenes was deposed, and Michael VII. Ducas,
barbarism which was coming upon the Christian the son of Constantinus Ducas, elected in his place,
world. He was also an eager student of the A. D. 1071. Michael was the pupil of Psellus
Alexandrian philosophy. By these pursuits he himself, by whom he had been so thoroughly
incurred the suspicion of one of his own pupils, imbued with the love of letters, that, in spite of
named Constantine, who attacked him in some the remonstrances of Psellus, he devoted himself
elegiac verses, as if he had renounced Christianity. to study and writing poetry, to the neglect of his
Upon this, Psellus placed himself under the tuition imperial duties. To this folly Michael added the
of the celebrated Photius; and having thus im- ingratitude of permitting his tutor to be supplanted
proved his knowledge of theology, he replied to in his favour by Joannes Italus, a man of far less
his adversary in a long iambic poem, which is not talent, but an eloquent sophist, and a great fa-
now extant. Cave places him at A. D. 870 (Hist. vourite with the nobles, in discussions with whom
Litt. s. a, vol. ii. p. 55); Baronius and others at the emperor spent his time. The deposition of
A. D. 859 (Saxe, Onomast. ). Some writers have Michael Ducas (A. D. 1078) was followed by the
stated that he was the tutor of the emperor fall of Psellus, who was compelled by the new
Leo VI. , surnamed Sapiens ; but this arises from emperor, Nicephorus Botanias, to retire into a
a confusion of the emperor Leo, who was a pupil monastery ; and in his dishonoured old age he
of Photius, with Leo Byzantinus, surnamed Philoso- witnessed the elevation of his rival to the title of
phus, the grandson of John the patriarch : it was Prince of the Philosophers, which he himself had
the latter who was the pupil of Psellus. Except so long held, and which the next emperor, Alexius
the poem already referred to, we have no mention Comnenus, conferred upon Joannes, in A. D. 1081.
of any writings of the elder Psellus ; but it is sus- Psellus appears to have lived at least till A. D.
pected by Cave, Allatius, and others, that he was the 1105; some suppose that he was still alive in
real author of some of the works which are ascribed 1110, the thirtieth year of Alexius Comnenus.
to the younger Psellus, especially of the Dialogue He was not only the most accomplished scholar,
on the Operations of Daemons, an unedited tract but also the most voluminous writer of his age.
On Daemons, and a small work On Stones. The His works are both in prose and poetry, on a vast
reasons for ascribing these works to the elder variety of subjects, and distinguished by an elo-
Psellus are their inferiority in style to the writings quence and taste which are worthy of a better
of the younger, and the traces they exhibit of the period.
Alexandrian philosophy ; but it is confessed that A great number of the works of Psellus are
these reasons are indecisive. The Paraphrase to still unedited. Of those which have been printed
several Books of Aristotle, which is generally as there is no complete collection. In 1532 a work
cribed to Michael of Ephesus, is also thought by was printed at Venice, in 8vo. , and reprinted at
these scholars to be the work of the elder Psellus. Paris in 1541, in 12mo. , entitled Pselli Introductio
(Compare Brucker, Hist. Crit. Philos. vol. ü. in sex Philosophiae Modus: Synopsis quinque vo-
cum et decem Categoriarum, together with similar
3. Michael Constantinus Psellus the younger, works by Blemmidas and Georgius Pachymerius.
a far more celebrated person, flourished in the With this exception, all his works have been pub-
11th century of our era. He was born at Constan- lished singly, as follows:- 1. Nepl évepyelas
tinople, of a consular and patrician family, A. D. dalyóvwv diároyos, de Operatione Daemonum Dia-
1020. When five years old he was placed in the logus, Gr. ed. G. Gualminus, Par. 1615, 8vo. ;
hands of a tutor, to whom, however, he is said to carelessly reprinted, Kilon. 1688, 12mo. 2. De
have been far less indebted than to his own pro- Lapidum Virtutibus, Gr. Lat. ed. Phil. Jac. Maus-
digious industry and talent. He afterwards sacus, Tolos. 1615, 8vo. ; re-edited by Jo. Steph.
studied at Athens, and excelled in all the learning Bernardus, Lugd. Bat. 1745, 8vo. (It has been
of the age ; so that he was a proficient at once in already stated that some scholars attribute these
theology, jurisprudence, physics, mathematics, phi- works to the elder Psellus. ) 3. Synopsis Organi
losophy, and history. He taught philosophy, rhe- Aristotelici, Gr. Lat. ed. a Elia Ehingero F. , Aug.
toric, and dialectics, at Constantinople, where he | Vind. 1597, 8vo. 4. Mathematical Works,
stood forth as almost the last upholder of the falling namely, (1) complete ; Pselli Opus in quatuor
cause of learning. The emperors honoured him Mathematicas Disciplinas, Arithmeticam, Musi-
with the title of Prince of the Philosophers (pilo- cam, Geometriam, et Astronomiam, ed. Arsenjo,
rópwr évatos), and did not disdain to use his Archiepisc. Monembas. Gr. Venet. 1532, 8vo. ;
counsels, and in effecting their elevation he even reprinted, Paris. 1545, 12mo. ; re-edited by G.
had a share. The period during which he thus Xylander, Basil. 1556, 8vo. ; (2) separate por-
flourished at Constantinople extends over the tions ; Geometria, stud. M. C. Meureri, Lips.
reigns of Constantinus Monomachus (A. D. 1042—1589, 8vo. ; Tepl &pountinñs cúvollis, Arithmetices
1054), his empress Theodora (to A. D. 1056), and Compendium, Gr. Paris. in off. Wechel. 1538, 4to. ;
Michael Stratonicus, who succeeded Theodora, and reprinted, with a Latin version, Paris. 1545, 8vo. ;
who entrusted Psellus with a conciliatory mission Súvotis uovoikais, Compendium Musices, Gr. Paris.
to Isaac Comnenus, whom the soldiers had saluted ap. A. Wechel. 1556, 4to. 5. Synopsis Legum,
emperor in a. d. 1057. He still remained in fa- versibus iambis et politicis, containing the Carmina
vour with both these emperors, and with Constan- politica de Dogmate, Carmina de Nomocanone, and
tinus Ducas, who succeeded Comnenus in A. D. Tractatus de septem sacris synodis oecumenicis, Gr.
1060, and also with his successor Eudocia, and ) Lat. per Fr. Bosquetum, Paris. 1632, 8vo. ; re-
P. 538. )
3
vo 2


## p. 564 (#580) ############################################

564
PSIAX.
PTERAS.
edited, with the omission of the last of the three l in the following form, “ZIAXE LAPAPIEN.
works, hy Corn. Sibenius, in the Novus Thesaurus (R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, pp. 53, 54;
Juris civilis et canonici of Ger. Meermannus, vol. i. comp. pp. 47, 48. )
(P. S. )
pp. 37, &c. , 1571, fol. ; again re-edited by L. H. PSILAS (as), i. e“ the giver of wings," or
Zeucherus, Lips. 1789, 8vo. ; reprinted in the “the unbearded," a surname of Dionysus, under
Auctores Graeci Minores, vol. ii. Lips. 1796. which he was worshipped at Amyclae. (Paus. iii.
6. Aldao Karía Mavrodan, sive de omnifaria doc- 19. $ 6; Lobeck au Phrynich. p. 435. ) (L. S. )
trina capita et quaestiones ac responsiones CXCIII. PSOPHIS (wols), the founder of the town of
ad Michaelem Ducam Imp. Const. Gr. Lat.
in the Psophis in Arcadia, wns, according to some, a son
old edition of Fabric. Biblioth. Graec. vol. v. pp. 1, of Arrhon, but, according to others, Psophis was a
&c. , Hamb. 1705, 4to. 7. Els tas dyias étd woman, a daughter of Xanthus or of Eryx. (Paus.
ouvódous, de Septem Synodis, Gr. , with the epi- viii. 24. § 1. )
(L. S. )
grams of Cyrus Theodorus Prodromus, Basil. )536, PSYCHE (Yuxń), that is, “breath” or “the
8vo. 8. Paraphrasis in Cantica Canticorum, first soul,” occurs in the later times of antiquity, as a
edited, with the similar works of Eusebius, Poly- personification of the human soul, and Apuleius
chronius, and others, by Meursius, Lugd. Bat. (Met. iv. 28, &c. ) relates about her the following
1617, 4to. ; reprinted in the works of Meursius, beautiful allegoric story. Psyche was the youngest
vol. viii. pp. 289, &c. , Florent. 1746, fol. ; also in of the three daughters of some king, and excited
the Paris Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. xiii. pp. 681, by her beauty the jealousy and envy of Venus. In
foll. 9. Cupita XT. de S. Trinitate et persona order to avenge herself, the goddess ordered Amor
Christi, Gr. Lat. , edited by J. Wegelinus, with the to inspire Psyche with a love for the most con-
Argumenta contra Nestorianos of Cyril of Alex- temptible of all men : but Amor was so stricken
andria and John of Damascus, Aug. Vind. 1611, with her beauty that he himself fell in love with
8vo. ; another edition, 1698, fol. 10. Celebres her. He accordingly conveyed her to some charm-
Opiniones de Anima, Gr. Lat. with Origen's Philo- ing place, where he, unseen and unknown, visited
calia, Paris, 1624, 4to. ll. De Vitiis et Virtu- her every night, and left her as soon as the day
tibus, et Allegoriae, in iambic verse, Gr. , stud. began to dawn. Psyche might have continued to
Arsenii, in the Praeclara dicta philosophorum, have enjoyed without interruption this state of
Romae (no date), 8vo. ; reprinted, with the Alle- happiness, if she had attended to the advice of her
gories of Heracleides Ponticus, Basil. 1544, 8vo. beloved, never to give way to her curiosity, or to
12. Encomium in Metaphraslem Dominum Syme- inquire who he was. But her jealous sisters made
onem, Gr. Lat. , in the De Symeonum Scriptis her believe that in the darkness of night she was
Diatriba of Leo Allatius, Paris, 1664, 4to. 13. Ju- embracing some hideous monster, and accordingly
dicium de Heliodori et Achillis Tatii fabulis amato once, while Amor was asleep, she approached him
riis, Gr. , edited by D'Orville, in the Miscellan. with a lamp, and, to her amazement, she beheld
Observ. Crit. in Auctores veteres et recentiores, vol. the most handsome and lovely of the gods. In her
vii. tom. iii. pp. 366, &c. Paris, 1743, 8vo. excitement of joy and ſear, a drop of hot oil fell
14. Carmen Iambicum in depositionem Joh. Chry- from her lamp upon his shoulder. This awoke Amor,
sostomi, in the Excerpta Graecorum et Rhetorum who censured her for her mistrust, and escaped.
of Leo Allatius, Romae, 1641, 8vo. 15. Patria, Psyche's peace was now gone all at once, and after
seu Origines Urbis Constantinopolitanac, i. e. de having attempted in vain to throw herself into a river,
Antiquitatibus Constantinopolitanis Libri IV. Gr. she wandered about from temple to temple, inquiring
Lat. , edited by Anselmus Bandurius, in his Im- after her beloved, and at length came to the palace
perium Orientale, Paris, 1711, repr. Venet. 1729, of Venus. There her real sufferings began, for
folio. 16. Scholia in Zoroastrem, printed with Venus retained her, treated her as a slave, and im-
various editions of the Oracula Magicu of Zoro- posed upon her the hardest and most humiliating
aster, 1599, &c. 17. Annotationes in Gregorium, labours. Psyche would have perished under the
printed with some editions of Gregory Nazian- weight of her sufferings, had not Amor, who still
zen, 1609, 1690. 18. Dlapáopaois eis to nepl loved her in secret, invisibly comforted and assisted
épunvías, De Interpretatione, in the Aldine Editio her in her labours. With his aid she at last suc-
Princeps of Ammonius Hermeas, 1503, folio. ceeded in overcoming the jealousy and hatred of
(Hoffmann, Lexicon Bibliogr. Script. Graccor. s. v. ) Venus ; she became immortal, and was united with
For a list of the numerous unedited works of him for ever. It is not difficult to recognise in this
Psellus, see Fabricius and Cave.
lovely story the idea of which it is merely the
The Greek Anthology contains one epigram mythical embodiment, for Psyche is evidently the
ascribed to Psellus, which, in the absence of any human soul, which is purified by passions and mis-
further information, may be ascribed to the younger fortunes, and is thus prepared for the enjoyment of
Michael Psellus, as the most celebrated person of true and pure happiness. (Comp. Manso, Versuche,
the name. (Brunck, Anal. vol. iii. p. 127 ; Ja- p. 346, &c. ) In works of art Psyche is represented
cobs, Anth. Graec. vol. iv. p. 97, vol. xiii. p. 918. ) as a maiden with the wings of a butterfly, along
4. Joannes Psellus, a Byzantine writer, whose with Amor in the different situations described in
time is unknown, and to whom are ascribed three the allegoric story. (Hirt, Mythol. Bilderb. p. 222,
poems.
Constantinus Psellus, and some other Tafel. 32. )
(L. S. )
writers of the same name, scarcely deserve men- PSYCHRISTUS, JACOBUS. (JACOBUS,
tion. Very little is known of them, and in the No. 1. )
statements which are made respecting them they PTERAS (Nrépas), of Delphi, a mythical
are perpetually confounded with the younger artist, who was said to have built the second
Michael Psellus. (See Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. x. temple of Apollo at Delphi. The tradition was
[P. S. ] that the first temple was made of branches of the
PSÍAX, an Athenian vase-painter, whose name wild laurel from Tempe ; and that the second was
is found inscribed on a lecythus made by Hilinos, | made by bees, of wax and bees' wings. The name
p. 97. )


## p. 565 (#581) ############################################

PTOLEMAEUS.
565
PTOLEMAEUS.
of Pteras shows that the story of his building the entrusted by his uncle with commands of im-
temple is only a rationalistic interpretation of this portance. Thus in B. C. 315, when Antigonus
fable. Another story about Pteras was that the was preparing to make head against the formidable
Apterazi in Crete took their name from him. (Pans. coalition organized against him, he placed Ptolemy
2. 5. § 5, 8, 9, 10. )
[P. S. )
at the head of the army which was destined to
PTOLEMAEUS (Itoneuaios), the name of carry on operations in Asia Minor against the
two mythical personages, one a son of Peiraeas, generals of Cassander. This object the young
who accompanied Agamemnon as charioteer to general successfully carried out-relieved Amisus,
Troy (Hom. Il. iv. 228), and the other a son of which wns besieged by Asclepiodorus, and re
Damasichthon, king of Thebes. (Paus. ix. 5. covered the whole satrapy of Cappadocia ; after
§ 8. )
(L. S. )
which he advanced into Bithynia, of which he
PTOLEMAEUS (fitoneuaios), minor historical compelled the king Zipnetes to join his alliance,
persons. (Several persons of this name, which ap- and then occupied lonia, from whence Seleucus
pears to have been one in its origin exclusively withdrew on his approach. (Diod. xix. 57, 60. )
Macedonian, occur among the officers and generals He next threatened Carin, which was however for
of Alexander the Great, whom it is not always easy a time defended by Myrmidon, the Egyptian
to distinguish from one another. )
general ; but the following year Ptolemy was able
1. Son of Lagus. (PTOLEMAEUS I. king of to strike a decisive blow in that quarter against
EGYPT. ]
Eupolemus, the general of Cassander, whom be
2. Son of Philip, an officer who commanded surprised and totally defeated. (Id. ib. 62, 68. )
the leading squadron of Macedonian cavalry at the The next summer (B. C. 313) the arrival of Anti-
passage of the Granicus. (Arr. Anab. i. 14. ) It is gonus himself gave a decided preponderance to
supposed by Gronovius (ad Arr.