Clearchus
（
*Kle/arxos), of Soli, one of Aristotle's pupils, was the author of a number of works, none of which are extant, on a very great variety of subjects. he seems to have been the same person whom Athenaeus (i. p. 4a.) calls
τρεχέδειπνος, or the
diner out.
Works
A list of his principal writings is subjoined, all the references which may be found in Vossius (
dc Hist. Graec. pp. 83, 84, ed. Westermann) being omitted for the sake of brevity:--
Βίοι, a biographical work, extending to at least eight books. (See
Athen. 12.548d.) 2.
A commentary on Plato's "Timaeus." (Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. iii. p. 95.)
Πλάτωνος ἐγκώμιον (
D. L. 3.2.)
Περὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ Πλάτωνος Πολιτείᾳ μαθηματικῶς εἰρημένων.
Γεργίθιος, a treatise on flattery, so called, according to Athenaeus (vi. p. 255), from Gergithius, one of
Alexander's courtiers.
Περὶ παιδείας. (
D. L. 1.9;
Athen. 15.697e.)
Περὶ φιλίας.
Παροιμίαι.
Πεπὶ γρίφων, on riddles.
Ἐρωτικά, probably historical, a collection of lovestories, not unmixed with the discussion of some very odd questions on the subject (
e. g. Athen. 12.553f.).
Περὶ γραφῶν, on paintings. (
Athen. 14.648f.)
Περιγραφαί?
The reading in Athenaeus (vii. ad init.) is doubtful ; see Dalechamp and Casaubon,
ad loc.
Περὶ νάρκησς, on the Torpedo.
Περὶ τῶν ἐνύδρων, on water-animals.
Περὶ Δινῶν, on sand-wastes.
Περὶ σκελετῶν, an anatomical work. (Casaub.
ad Athen. ix. p. 399.)
Περὶ ὕπνου, the genuineness of which, however, has been called in question. (Fabr.
Bibl. Graec. iii. p. 481.)
This is the work to which Clement of Alexandria refers (
Strom. 1.15) for the account of the philosophical Jew, with whom Aristotle was said to have held much communication, and therein, by his own confession, to have gained more than he imparted.
On Military Tactics
It has been doubted also whether the work on military tactics referred to by Aelianus Tacticus (ch. 1) should be ascribed to the present Clearchus or to the tyrant of Heracleia.
Further Information
See Voss.
l.c. ; Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. iii. p. 481.
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E.E]
