Aretes of Durrachium, the philosopher quoted alongside Aristotle and Heraclitus

“Culture in 1 minute” / Episode 4

Prominent personalities, such as philosopher, historian or doctor, have stood out in ancient Durres. Aretes of Durrachium was a historian, astronomer and philosopher who was to enjoy a very positive reputation among the intellectuals of the time, as he is quoted among such figures as the Aristarch of Samos, Aristotle and Heraclitus.

We learn about it in the third century AD, when a Latin author named Censorinus wrote a work entitled “De Die Natali”. It is probably a character who lived after Rome began its rule over the city of Dyrrah.

Aretes had come to the conclusion that the world goes through regular cycles of “enlightenment” and “degradation” or destruction (“cataclysmos”) every 5552 years. The Greatest Year, as Aristotle called it, according to Arethes, began when the sun, moon, and all the planets completed their course and returned to their point of origin.

For more follow the video posted on the top.

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Producer and narrator: Geri Emiri

Script: Dorian Hatibi

Video-Production: Arlind Veshti

This video was developed with the support of the “Media for All” project, funded by the UK Government. The views and opinions expressed on the video are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the constitutions of the donors.

Photo on the head: From the published video.

Reference: Censorinus, “De Die Natali”, 238 AD