“Eclipses occur when the openings through which the heavenly fires appear are blocked or closed.”
— Anaximander[commonly attributed] Testimony in Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies 1.6, consistent with the ring model; paraphrase, not verbatim
Commentary
This report links eclipses to the closing or obstruction of the apertures through which the celestial fires are visible, extending the ring model to account for darkening of sun and moon. The explanation makes eclipses events of the cosmic structure rather than portents, which is a significant departure from earlier religious interpretations. G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven, and M. Schofield treat the account as an early naturalistic explanation, while acknowledging that its details come from late reports. Charles Kahn argues that the explanation of eclipses is coherent with the mechanical cosmos described elsewhere in the testimonia. Jonathan Barnes cautions that the interpretation of eclipses as blockages may be a doxographer's rationalisation rather than Anaximander's own. W. K. C. Guthrie notes the contrast with Thales, to whom the prediction of an eclipse is credited, and suggests that the two traditions reflect different interests. The sentence is a paraphrase of late testimony and should be labelled as a commonly attributed doctrine.
Commentary
This report links eclipses to the closing or obstruction of the apertures through which the celestial fires are visible, extending the ring model to account for darkening of sun and moon. The explanation makes eclipses events of the cosmic structure rather than portents, which is a significant departure from earlier religious interpretations. G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven, and M. Schofield treat the account as an early naturalistic explanation, while acknowledging that its details come from late reports. Charles Kahn argues that the explanation of eclipses is coherent with the mechanical cosmos described elsewhere in the testimonia. Jonathan Barnes cautions that the interpretation of eclipses as blockages may be a doxographer's rationalisation rather than Anaximander's own. W. K. C. Guthrie notes the contrast with Thales, to whom the prediction of an eclipse is credited, and suggests that the two traditions reflect different interests. The sentence is a paraphrase of late testimony and should be labelled as a commonly attributed doctrine.