Leo
20. Of METAPONTUM. Iamblichus (
Pythag. Vit. 100.36) mentions a Pythagorean philosopher of this name and place, but without giving any further particulars, or assigning to him any date.
It is conjectured that he is the Leo to whom Alcmaeon of Crotona [ALCMAEON] dedicated his
Δόλος Φυσικός, or work on natural philosophy (
D. L. 8.83). Fabricius also proposes to identify him with the Leo, son of Neoclis, whose
Στοιχεῖα,
Elementa sc.
Geometrica are mentioned by Proclus (
Comment. in Euclid. Lib. 2. c.4. p. 38 of the Latin version of Fr. Barocius, fol. Padua, 1560), and who gave considerably greater accuracy to geometrical science, especially by showing how to distinguish problems which admit of solution from those which cannot be solved.
There is, however, a chronological objection to the identification of Leo, the friend of Alcmaeon, who lived in the sixth century B. C., with Leo the Geometrician, who was later than Leodamas of Thasos, and Archytas of Tarentum (Proclus,
l.c.), who belonged to the end of the fifth century B. C. : and it is uncertain whether Leo of Metapontum is not different from both. (Fabric.
Bibl. Craec. vol. i. p. 850, vol. vii. p. 718.)
