Editing Aratus

{{Short description|Greek didactic poet (c. 315/310–240 BC)}}
{{other uses}}
[[Image:Aratos von Soloi.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Aratus of Soli]]
'''Aratus''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|eɪ|t|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Ἄρατος ὁ Σολεύς}}; c. 315/310 {{snd}}240 BC) was a [[Greeks|Greek]] [[didactic]] [[poet]]. His major extant work is his [[hexameter]] poem ''Phenomena'' ({{langx|grc|Φαινόμενα}}, ''Phainómena'', "Appearances"; {{langx|la|Phaenomena}}), the first half of which is a verse setting of a lost work of the same name by [[Eudoxus of Cnidus]]. It describes the [[constellation]]s and other celestial phenomena. The second half is called the ''Diosemeia'' (Διοσημεῖα "Forecasts"), and is chiefly about weather lore. Although Aratus was somewhat ignorant of [[Greek astronomy]], his poem was very popular in the Greek and Roman world, as is proven by the large number of commentaries and [[Latin language|Latin]] translations, some of which survive.

==Life==
There are several accounts of Aratus's life by anonymous Greek writers, and the [[Suda]] and Eudocia also mention him. From these it appears that he was a native of [[Soli, Cilicia|Soli]]<ref>[http://www.attalus.org/bc3/year240.html#22 attalus website] retrieved 15/09/2011</ref> in [[Cilicia]] (although one authority says [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]]). He is known to have studied with [[Menecrates of Ephesus|Menecrates]] in [[Ephesus]] and [[Philitas]] in [[Kos|Cos]]. As a disciple of the Peripatetic philosopher [[Praxiphanes]], in [[Athens]], he met the [[Stoicism|Stoic]] philosopher [[Zeno of Citium|Zeno]], as well as [[Callimachus]] of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] and [[Menedemus]], the founder of the [[Eretrian school]]. He was the son of Athenodoros, and also had a brother with this name.

About 276 BC Aratus was invited to the court of the [[Macedon]]ian king [[Antigonus II Gonatas]], whose victory over the [[Gauls]] in 277 Aratus set to verse. Here he wrote his most famous poem, ''Phenomena''. He then spent some time at the court of [[Antiochus I Soter]] of [[Syria]], but subsequently returned to [[Pella]] in Macedon, where he died sometime before 240/239.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}<ref>A. W. Mair and G. R. Mair, trans., ''Callimachus and Lycophron''; Aratus, Loeb Classical Library (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1921), p. 363</ref> His chief pursuits were [[Medicine in ancient Greece|medicine]] (which is also said to have been his profession), [[Ancient Greek grammar|grammar]], and [[Ancient Greek philosophy|philosophy]].

==Writings==
Several poetical works on various subjects, as well as a number of prose epistles, are attributed to Aratus, but none of them have come down to us, except his two astronomical poems in [[hexameter]].
These have generally been joined as parts of the same work; but they seem to be distinct poems, the first, called ''Phenomena'' ("Appearances"), consists of 732 verses; the second, ''Diosemeia'' ("On Weather Signs"), of 422 verses.

===''Phenomena''===
[[File:Aratus.png|thumb|right|Aratus and star-signs]]
[[File:Hug. Grotii Bataui Syntagma Arateorum 981373 00009.jpg|thumb|''Phenomena'']]

The ''Phenomena'' appears to be based on two prose works—''Phenomena'' and ''Enoptron'' (Ἔνοπτρον, "Mirror", presumably a descriptive image of the heavens)—by [[Eudoxus of Cnidus]], written about a century earlier. We are told by the biographers of Aratus that it was the desire of Antigonus to have them turned into verse, which gave rise to the ''Phenomena'' of Aratus; and it appears from the fragments of them preserved by [[Hipparchus]], that Aratus has in fact versified, or closely imitated parts of them both, but especially of the first.

The purpose of the ''Phenomena'' is to give an introduction to the [[constellation]]s, with the rules for their risings and settings; and of the circles of the sphere, amongst which the [[Milky Way]] is reckoned. The positions of the constellations, north of the [[ecliptic]], are described by reference to the principal groups surrounding the north pole ([[Ursa Major]], [[Ursa Minor]], [[Draco (constellation)|Draco]], and [[Cepheus (constellation)|Cepheus]]), whilst [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]] serves as a point of departure for those to the south. The immobility of the [[Earth]], and the revolution of the sky about a fixed axis are maintained; the path of the [[Sun]] in the [[zodiac]] is described; but the [[planet]]s are introduced merely as bodies having a motion of their own, without any attempt to define their periods; nor is anything said about the Moon's orbit. The opening of the poem asserts the dependence of all things upon [[Zeus]]. 

From the lack of precision in the descriptions, it would seem that Aratus was neither a mathematician nor observer<ref>comp. Cicero, ''de Orat.'' i. 16</ref> or, at any rate, that in this work he did not aim at scientific accuracy. He not only represents the configurations of particular groups incorrectly, but describes some phenomena which are inconsistent with any one supposed latitude of the spectator, and others which could not coexist at any one epoch. These errors are partly to be attributed to Eudoxus himself, and partly to the way in which Aratus has used the materials supplied by him. Hipparchus (about a century later), who was a scientific astronomer and observer, has left a commentary upon the ''Phenomenas'' of Eudoxus and Aratus, accompanied by the discrepancies which he had noticed between his own observations and their descriptions.

==== Published editions ====
* {{Cite book|title=Phaenomena|volume=|publisher=Officina Plantiniana|location=Leiden|year=1600|language=la|url=https://gutenberg.beic.it/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=4781067}}

===''Diosemeia''===
The ''Diosemeia'' consists of forecasts of the [[weather]] from astronomical phenomena, with an account of its effects upon animals. It appears to be an imitation of [[Hesiod]], and to have been imitated by [[Virgil]] in some parts of the ''[[Georgics]]''.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
The materials are said to be taken almost wholly from [[Aristotle]]'s ''Meteorologica'', from the work of [[Theophrastus]], ''On Weather Signs'', and from Hesiod. Nothing is said in either poem about [[Hellenistic astrology]].

==Later influence==
The two poems were very popular both in the Greek and Roman world,<ref>comp. Ovid, Am. i. 15. 16</ref> as is proved by the number of commentaries and Latin translations. He enjoyed immense prestige among [[Hellenistic]] poets, including [[Theocritus]], [[Callimachus]] and [[Leonidas of Tarentum]]. This assessment was picked up by [[Latin]] poets, including [[Ovid]] and [[Virgil]]. [[Latin]] versions were made by none other than [[Cicero]] (mostly extant),{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}<ref>Cicero, ''de Nat. Deor.'' ii. 41</ref> Ovid (only two short fragments remain), the member of the [[Julio-Claudian dynasty|imperial Julio-Claudian dynasty]] [[Germanicus]] (extant, with [[scholia]]), and the less-famous [[Rufius Festus Avienius|Avienius]] (extant).
[[Quintilian]] was less enthusiastic.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
Aratus was also cited by the author of [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] (believed to be [[Luke the Evangelist]]), in [[Acts 17:28]], where he relates [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]]'s address on the [[Areopagus]].
Paul, speaking of [[God]], quotes the fifth line of Aratus's ''Phenomena'' ([[Epimenides]] seems to be the source of the first part of [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ACTS17%3A28%2C0&version=HCSB Acts 17:28],{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} although this is less clear):
{{Verse translation|italicsoff=y|
{{lang|grc|Ἐκ Διὸς ἀρχώμεσθα, τὸν οὐδέποτ' ἄνδρες ἐῶμεν
ἄρρητον· μεσταὶ δὲ Διὸς πᾶσαι μὲν ἀγυιαί,
πᾶσαι δ' ἀνθρώπων ἀγοραί, μεστὴ δὲ θάλασσα
καὶ λιμένες· πάντη δὲ Διὸς κεχρήμεθα πάντες.
''τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος εἰμέν''. κτλ.|italic=unset}}|attr1=''Phenomena'' 1–5
|
Let us begin with Zeus, whom we mortals never leave unspoken.
For every street, every market-place is full of god.
Even the sea and the harbour are full of this [[deity]].
Everywhere everyone is indebted to god.
''For we are indeed his offspring ...''}}

Authors of twenty-seven commentaries are known; ones by [[Theon of Alexandria]], [[Achilles Tatius]] and [[Hipparchus of Nicaea]] survive. An [[Arabic language|Arabic]] translation was commissioned in the ninth century by the [[Caliph]] [[Al-Ma'mun]]. He is cited by [[Vitruvius]], [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] and [[Stobaeus]]. Several accounts of his life are extant, by anonymous Greek writers.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

The crater [[Aratus (crater)|Aratus]] on the [[Moon]] and the minor planet [[12152 Aratus]] are named in his honour.

==See also==
* [[Acts 17]]
* The [[Hesiod]]ic ''[[Astronomia (poem)|Astronomia]]''
* [[Leiden Aratea]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Aratus of Soli|volume=2|page=321}}
* {{SmithDGRBM|title=Aratus|pages=255–256|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DA%3Aentry+group%3D35%3Aentry%3Daratus-bio-2}}

Two important recent editions of Aratus's work:
* Douglas Kidd, ''Phaenomena'', edited with introduction, translation and commentary, Cambridge, 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-521-58230-8}}.
* Jean Martin, ''Aratos. Phénomènes'', edited with translation and notes, 2 vols., ''[[Collection Budé]]'', 1998. {{ISBN|978-2-251-00470-9}}.

==Further reading==
{{Library resources box |by=yes |onlinebooks=yes |others=yes |about=yes |label=Aratus
  |viaf= |lccn= |lcheading= |wikititle= }}
* Bing, Peter. 1993. "Aratus and his Audiences." ''Materiali e Discussioni'' 31:99–109.
* Faulkner, Andrew. 2015. "The Female Voice of Justice in Aratus' Phaenomena." ''Greece and Rome.'' 62.1: 75–86
* Gee, Emma. 2013. ''Aratus and the Astronomical Tradition.'' Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.
* Gee, Emma. 2000. ''Ovid, Aratus and Augustus: Astronomy in Ovid’s Fasti.'' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press
* Hunter, Richard L. 1995. "Written in the Stars: Poetry and Philosophy in the Phaenomena of Aratus." ''Arachnion'' 2:1–34.
* James, Alan W. 1972. "The Zeus Hymns of Cleanthes and Aratus." ''Antichthon'' 6:28–38.
* Katz, Joshua T. 2008. "Vergil Translates Aratus: Phaenomena 1–2 and Georgics 1.1–2." ''Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici'' 60: 105–123
* Mastorakou, Stamatina. 2020. “Aratus’ Phaenomena beyond its sources”, ''Aestimatio'' 1: 55-70.  
* Mastorakou, Stamatina. 2020. “Aratus and the Popularization of Hellenistic Astronomy”. In Ancient Astronomy in Its Mediterranean Contexts (300 BC – 300 AD), A.C. Bowen and F. Rochberg (eds.), Brill, 383-397. 
* Mastorakou, Stamatina. 2024. “Visualization of Astronomical Knowledge in Hellenistic Times: Aratus, Urania and the Celestial Globe”.  In ''Imagining the Heavens across Eurasia from Antiquity to Early Modernity.'' Edited by R. Brentjes, S. Brentjes, S. Mastorakou, Mimesis.
* Pendergraft, Mary L. B. 1995. "Euphony and Etymology: Aratus’ Phaenomena." ''Syllecta Classica'' 6:43–67.
* Possanza, Mark. 2004. ''Translating the Heavens: Aratus, Germanicus, and the Poetics of Latin Translation.'' New York: Lang
* Volk, Katharina. 2010. "Aratus." In ''A Companion to Hellenistic Literature.'' Edited by James J. Clauss and Martine Cuypers, 197–210. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Aratus}}
{{wikisource author}}
{{Commons category|Aratus of Soli}}
* [http://www.theoi.com/Text/AratusPhaenomena.html Online text: Aratus, Phenomena, translated by G. R. Mair, 1921]
* [http://www.fh-augsburg.de/~harsch/graeca/Chronologia/S_ante03/Aratos/ara_ph01.html Online text: Aratus, Phaenomena, Greek text]
* [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/searchresults?q=Aratus&redirect=true Works by  Aratus at Perseus Digital Library]
* Audio: [https://web.archive.org/web/20100313082103/http://poemsoutloud.net/audio/archive/poochigian_reads_the_maiden ''The Maiden (Virgo)'' an excerpt from ''Phenomena''] read by translator Aaron Poochigian
* [http://spindleworks.com/library/rfaber/aratus.htm The Apostle and the Poet: Paul and Aratus] (Dr. Riemer Faber)
* [http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/1999/1999-09-01.html Review of Kidd's translation of the ''Phenomena''] by Mark Possanza, ''BMCR'' (September 1999).
* [https://sites.google.com/site/hellenisticbibliography/hellenistic/aratus-and-aratea?authuser=0 "Aratus and Aratea"], ''A Hellenistic Bibliography'' by Martin Cuypers
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040809210434/http://www.cisi.unito.it/arachne/num2/hunter.html "Written in the Stars:Poetry and Philosophy in the Phaenomena of Aratus"] by Richard L. Hunter, ''Arachnion'' 2.
* [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?db=REAL&search_method=QUERY&login=guest&enlogin=guest&user_list=LIST&page_num=1&searchstr=alpha%2C3745+&field=adlerhw_gr&num_per_page=100 Suda On-Line: Aratus], with a list of works ascribed to Aratus; the ''[[Suda]]'' is a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] encyclopedia.
* [http://www.atlascoelestis.com/Aratus%20Solensis.htm  Phaenomena et prognostica, Coloniae Agrippinae 1570 da www.atlascoelestis.com]

{{Greek astronomy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aratus}}
[[Category:310s BC births]]
[[Category:240 BC deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Greek poets]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek astronomers]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek didactic poets]]
[[Category:3rd-century Greek philosophers]]