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Texts of the Quadrivium

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Sources, Ancient & Modern

As interest in the study of the quadrivium has grown, there yet remains a need accessible texts for curricular resources and scholarly engagement for faculty.

This need includes primary sources spanning the ancient, medieval, and modern eras.

For those beginning the journey into the study of the quadrivium, sources have been tabulated below.

Several texts still require reprinting, editing, or original translation into English. New Chartres Press has been established to satisfy this need.

Photius' Review of
Nicomachus' Theology of Arithmetic

Photius' Bibliotheca contains a book review of Nicomachus' Theology of Arithmetic, which yields a rare insight into the original text which has now been lost. The work is brief and will include both the Greek text and original English translation.

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Commentaries of Nicomachus' Arithmetic

Both Iamblichus and John Philoponus left commentaries on Nicomachus' Arithmetic which have not been translated into English.

This project will provide Greek-English texts for both works with commentary.

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Pseudo-Psellus' Quadrivium

This 11th century Byzantine Quadrivium purported to be authored by Michael Psellus has never been translated into English. This text includes sections devoted to Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy with copious references to the classic authors, especially Nicomachus, Euclid, and Ptolemy.

This project will provide a dual Greek-English text for the work with footnotes for references to ancient quadrivium authors.

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Rithmomachia Primary Texts

The rules of Rithmomachia were never set before the game declined in popularity. As a result, there are several rulebooks containing variations of the game rules. Recent scholarship has provided the original Latin & vernacular texts which will now be translated into English.

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Quadrivium Primary Sources

Many texts have been written which address the liberal arts, the quadrivium, philosophy, and education. Below are the primary source texts which can be considered foundational for the study of the quadrivium and its immediate philosophy. The texts linked are currently in press. Missing links indicated out-of-print or untranslated material; some of these texts are current projects for our press. 

Title
Author
Links
Elements of Geometry
Euclid
https://greenlion.com/books/EuclidsElements.html
Introduction to Arithmetic
Nicomachus
Handbook of Harmonics
Nicomachus
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/greek-musical-writings/B2C10B5EAF4C22CD1B1F0A2E4B4071CB
Theology of Arithmetic
Pseudo-Iamblichus
https://redwheelweiser.com/book/the-theology-of-arithmetic-9780933999725/
Harmonics
Ptolemy
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/greek-musical-writings/B2C10B5EAF4C22CD1B1F0A2E4B4071CB
On Music
Aristides Quintilianus
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/greek-musical-writings/B2C10B5EAF4C22CD1B1F0A2E4B4071CB
Almagest
Ptolemy
https://greenlion.com/books/PtolemyAlmagest.html
Mathematics Useful for Understanding Plato
Theon of Smyrna
https://www.wizardsbookshelf.com/theon.html
Commentary on Ptolemy's Harmonics
Porphyry
https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/classical-studies/ancient-philosophy/porphyrys-commentary-ptolemys-harmonics?format=PB&isbn=9781009490863
On the Pythagorean Life
Iamblichus
Exhortation to Philosophy
Iamblichus
On the General Science of Mathematics
Iamblichus
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/iamblichus-on-the-general-science-of-mathematics-9781350194847/
On Arithmetic
Iamblichus
Commentary on the First Book of Euclid's Elements
Proclus
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691020907/proclus
Commentary on Plato's Timaeus
Proclus
https://www.cambridge.org/core/series/proclus-commentary-on-platos-timaeus/B013F9C4226049F9F293F81C8C04C020
Commentary on Nicomachus' Arithmetic
John Philoponus
On Music
Augustine
https://www.cuapress.org/9780813213194/the-immortality-of-the-soul-the-magnitude-of-the-soul-on-music-the-advantage-of-believing-on-faith-in-things-unseen/
The Principles of Arithmetic
Boethius
https://brill.com/display/title/30682
The Principles of Music
Boethius
On the Quadrivium
Pseudo-Psellus
On the Quadrivium
Georges Pachymeres

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