PAL

Ptolemaeus Arabus et Latinus

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Work C.4

Theon of Alexandria
Little Commentary on the Handy Tables (Greek)

One of the two commentaries on Ptolemy’s Handy Tables by the late 4th-century Alexandrian mathematician and astronomer Theon. It provides straightforward instructions for using the tables, with examples for the years ad 360, 364 and 377. In the surviving Greek manuscripts, the Handy Tables are in most cases accompanied by the Little Commentary rather than by Ptolemy’s own introduction.

Bibl. Nicolas Halma, Commentaire de Théon d’Alexandrie sur les Tables manuelles astronomiques de Ptolemée, Paris: Bobée, 1822, pp. 22–83; Anne Tihon, ‘Le calcul de l’éclipse de Soleil du 16 juin 364 p.C. et le “Petit Commentaire” de Théon’, Bulletin de l’Institut Historique Belge de Rome 46–47 (1976–1977), pp. 35–79; Anne Tihon, Le “Petit Commentaire” de Théon d’Alexandrie aux Tables Faciles de Ptolémée (histoire du texte, édition critique, traduction), Città del Vaticano: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1978; Anne Tihon, ‘Les “Tables Faciles” de Ptolémée dans les manuscrits en onciale (IXe-Xe siècle)’, Revue d’Histoire des Textes 23 (1992), pp. 47–87.

Modern ed. An edition and French translation were published both by Halma and in Tihon, Le “Petit Commentaire”.