From the book
Stobaeus, Volume I
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordDiattōn is a participle meaning darting or shooting across.
- In StobaeusAnaxagoras’s reported explanation makes shooting stars sparks falling from the aether and therefore rapidly extinguished.
- In this edition“Shooting star” suits the named luminous phenomenon; “darting” suits the general participle or verb.
- A place to beginShooting stars are explained as falling sparks.
- English renderings
- shooting star; darting light
Meaning
Diattōn is a participle meaning darting or shooting across. Used substantivally of a celestial light, it gives the familiar designation shooting star.
Use in the book
Anaxagoras’s reported explanation makes shooting stars sparks falling from the aether and therefore rapidly extinguished. Related verbal forms also describe the darting of thunderbolts. The motion word does not by itself identify all its referents as the same physical phenomenon.
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Translation in this edition
“Shooting star” suits the named luminous phenomenon; “darting” suits the general participle or verb.
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 228, 266. The Greek designation describes appearance and motion. It does not assert that an ordinary fixed star has fallen from its position.