Seneca and Anaxagoras in Pseudo-Bede’s De mundi celestis terrestrisque constitutione.

Harry M. Hine.

The De mundi celestis terrestrisque constitutione is a fascinating example of the scientific thinking that was current in the Middle Ages before the rediscovery of Greek and Arabic scientific writings. The recent edition by Charles Burnett has put study of De mundi celestis terrestrisque constitutione upon a completely new and sound footing, providing a text that is far superior to Migne’s (PL 90.881-910), together with an introduction, translation, and notes. The work was first printed by Herwagen in his 1563 Basel edition of the works of Bede. It is strange that he accepted the attribution to Bede, for in the text of De mundi celestis terrestrisque constitutione Bede is twice named as a source (1.44, 1.154), besides which there are references to astronomical events recorded in Carolingian chronicles under the years A.D. 798 and 807. These references give a terminus post quem which has provided the starting point for modern discussion of the time and place of composition of De mundi celestis terrestrisque.

Harry M. Hine. Seneca and Anaxagoras in Pseudo-Bede’s De mundi celestis terrestrisque constitutione. Viator, ‘Medieval and Renaissance Studies‘, Volume 19, pp. 111-128. 1988.

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