De vita Apollonii Tyanei libri octo [and] EUSEBIUS - Contra Hieroclem [Greek text with Latin translations by Alamanno Rinuccini and Zenobius Acciolus].
Estimation :
2000 / 3000
Adjudication :
2200 €
Description
Editio princeps of both works. Apollonius of Tyana (b. ca. 170 A.D.) was a Neopythagorean sage at the beginning of the Christian era, of whose wanderings to India, ascetic teachings and miraculous powers we only have Philostratus’s account, which has been successively admired and dismissed as a fraud from the time of its writing. Hierocles of Nicomedia had drawn parallels between Apollonius and Christ, which provoked this reply from Eusebius. Aldus began publication of this work with his characteristic enthusiasm, but soon concluded that the work was worthless trash, actually stating this in the May 1504 preface. This probably accounts for the long two year delay in its production and the fact that, although dated 1501-1502, the book was only printed in 1504. The ‘Apoll’ quire with Aldus’ preface is missing in some copies (like the present one), which could indicate that a number of them was actually released after February 1502 and before May 1504. Woodcut Aldine device on title and at end. Pt. 1 entirely in Greek. Capital spaces with guide-letters. A few old marg. notes.
