Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources (60 page)

p. 165
[“untimely born”].

That is, born at the wrong time of the month, or “immature.” Cf. Liddell Scott, A
Greek-English Lexicon
p. 769b under

p. 165
[“stability”].

Literally, “security against stumbling or falling.” Used as an epithet of Poseidon as “The Securer,” who was also associated with the ogdoad. Cf. Plutarch,
Theseus
, 36: “they pay honors to Poseidon on the eighth day of every month. The number eight, as the first cube of an even number and the double of the first square, fitly represents the steadfast and immovable power of this god, to whom we give the epithets of Securer (
) and Earth-stayer.” (Perrin,
Plutarch's Lives
, Vol. 1 pp. 84-86)

p. 165
[“placing in position”].

Used with the sense of ‘establishing' and ‘making stable’, being in the proper place.

p. 166
[“reconciliation”].

Note that this same term is used for the Pentad. (cf.
page 159
, “ ‘
Reconciliation, because the fifth element, Aether, is free from the disturbances of the other four.”

p. 166
[“far-darting”], because there is no shooting beyond it.

The meaning intended is that it prevents the further progression of number (
Theol. Ar.
58-59.) Cf. Ast,
Theologumena Arithmeticae
, p. 58)

p. 166
[“bringing to the end”].

Note that this term is also used of the Heptad. See
page 164
.

p. 182
[“preparations”] and
[“contact, touch”].

'Preparations' in the sense of “musical arrangement.” (Cf. Liddell Scott, A
Greek-English Lexicon
, p. 587b) Likewise,
in this case indicates the touch of a hand upon a musical instrument. (Cf. Guthrie, The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, p. 85. Guthrie translated
as “readiness.”)