Life The Aratus Scholia (Ἄρατου Σχόλια) constitute a body of ancient commentaries on the didactic poem Phaenomena by Aratus of Soli. They are the accumulated work of multiple, mostly anonymous, grammarians and astronomers from the Hellenistic period through late antiquity (2nd century BCE – 6th century CE). Early contributors include the astronomer Hipparchus of Nicaea and the grammarian Theon of Alexandria [1][2].

Works These are not standalone works but scholiastic collections—annotations and explanations transmitted within the manuscript tradition of Aratus’s poem. They encompass critical, grammatical, and astronomical notes on the Phaenomena, with significant early layers attributed to Hipparchus and Theon [1][2].

Significance The scholia are historically vital for understanding the reception of Aratus’s poem, a standard school text. They served as essential tools for teaching grammar, poetry, and astronomy, preserving a wealth of information on Hellenistic astronomy, star myths, and ancient scholarly methods. Their transmission ensured the survival of this knowledge into the medieval period [1][2].

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0229 2. ToposText (Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation): https://topostext.org/work/741