DiotimosReading Desk

Heavens and weather

Milky Way

γαλαξίας

galaxias

Galaxias is the milky band or circle, named in the opening description through its white appearance.

From the book

Stobaeus, Volume I

John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordGalaxias is the milky band or circle, named in the opening description through its white appearance.
  • In StobaeusOne account makes it a fiery track; another explains it through reflection.
  • In this edition“Milky Way” names the observed band without endorsing every ancient theory offered for it.
  • A place to beginThe opening description explains the milky name.
English renderings
Milky Way; milky circle

Meaning

Galaxias is the milky band or circle, named in the opening description through its white appearance. The chapter preserves alternatives concerning what produces that appearance.

Use in the book

One account makes it a fiery track; another explains it through reflection. The notice with the supplied name Democritus attributes it to the combined radiance of closely gathered stars, whereas Aristotle’s report makes it an ignition of continuous dry exhalation. These accounts place the visible band within very different physical explanations.

Places to read

  1. I.27.1The opening description explains the milky name.
  2. I.27.6The band is the combined radiance of stars.
  3. I.27.7.1Dry exhalation supplies an alternative account.

Translation in this edition

“Milky Way” names the observed band without endorsing every ancient theory offered for it. The supplemented attribution to Democritus remains qualified.

Source note

Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 225–226.