Cosmas

(Κοσμᾶς), a celebrated physician, saint, and martyr, who lived in the third and fourth centuries after Christ. He is said to have been the brother of St. Damianus, with whose name his own is constantly associated, and under which article the particulars of their lives and deaths are mentioned. Works Medical Prescription

A medical prescription attributed to them is preserved by Arraldus Villanovanus. Editions

Antidot. p. 453, in Opera, ed. Basil. 1585. Homilies in MS.

There are several Greek homilies still extant in MS., written or preached in their honour. Their memory is observed by the Greek and Roman Churches on the 27th of September. Further Information

Acta Sanct., Sept. vol. vii. p. 428; Börner, De Cosma et Dam... Commentatio, Helmest. 1751, 4to.; Fabric. Bihl. Gr. vol. ix. p. 68, 13.128, ed. vet.; Bzovius, Nomenclator Sanctorum Professione Medicorum ; Carpzovius, De Medicis ab Ecclesia pro Sanctis habitis. [W.A.G]

(Κοσμᾶς), of Jerusalem, a monk, the friend and companion of John of Damascus, and afterwards bishop of Maiuma in Palestine (about A. D. 743). Works Hymns

He was the most celebrated composer of hymns in the Greek church, and obtained the surname of μελῳδός. Among his compositions was a version (ἔκφρασις) of the Psalms of David in Iambic metre. Several of the hymns of Cosmas are acrostics. Editions

Many of his hymns exist in MS., but no complete edition of them has been published. Fabricius mentions, as a rare book, an Aldine edition of some of them. Thirteen of them are printed in Gallandi's Biblioth. Patrum. Further Information

Suid. s. v. Ἰωάννης ὁ Δαμασκηνός; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. xi. pp 173-181, 8.596. [P.S]

(Κοσμᾶς), commonly called Indicopleustes (Indian navigator), an Egyptian monk, who flourished in the reign of Justinian, about A. D. 535. In early life he followed the employment of a merchant, and was extensively engaged in traffic. He navigated the Red Sea, advanced to India, visited various nations, Ethiopia, Syria, Arabia, Persia, and almost all places of the East. Impelled, as it would appear, more by curiosity than by desire of gain, eager to inspect the habits and manners of distant people, he carried on a commerce amid dangers sufficient to appal the most adventurous. There is abundant reason for believing, that he was an attentive observer of every thing that met his eye, and that he carefully registered his remarks upon the scenes and objects which presented themselves. But a migratory life became irksome. After many years spent in this manner, he bade adieu to worldly occupations, took up his residence in a monastery, and devoted himself to a contemplative life. Works

Possessed of multifarious knowledge acquired in many lands, and doubtless learned according to the standard of his times, Cosmas began to embody his information in books. Τοπογραφία Χριστιανική (Topographia Christiana, sive Christianorum Opinio de Mundo)

His chief work is his Τοπογραφία Χριστιανική, Topographia Christiana, sive Christianorum Opinio de Mundo, in twelve books. The last book, as hitherto published, is imperfect at the end. The object of the treatise is to shew, in opposition to the universal opinion of astronomers, that the earth is not spherical, but an extended surface. The arguments adduced in proof of such a position are drawn from Scripture, reason, testimony, and the authority of the fathers. Weapons of every kind are employed against the prevailing theory, and the earth is affirmed to be a vast oblong plain, its length from east to west being more than twice its breadth, the whole enclosed by the ocean. The only value of the work consists in the geographical and historical information it contains. Its author describes in general with great accuracy the situation of countries, the manners of their people, their modes of commercial intercourse, the nature and properties of plants and animals, and many other particulars of a like kind, which serve to throw light on the Scriptures. His illustrations, which are far from being methodically arranged, touch upon subjects the most diverse. He speaks, for example, of the locality where the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, their garments in the wilderness, the terrestrial paradise, the epistle to the Hebrews, the birthday of the Lord, the rite of baptism, the catholic epistles, Egyptian hieroglyphics, the state of the Christians in India, their bishops, priests, &c.

But the most curious and interesting piece of antiquarian information relates to that celebrated monument of antiquity which was placed at the entrance of the city Adulite, consisting of a royal seat of white marble consecrated to Mars, with the images of Hercules and Mercury sculptured upon it. On every side of this monument Greek letters were written, and an ample inscription had been added, as has been generally supposed, by Ptolemy II. Euergetes (B. C. 247-222). This was copied by Cosmas, and is given, with notes, in the second book of the Topography. It appears, however, from the researches of Mr. Salt, that Cosmas has made two different inscriptions into one, and that while the first part refers to Ptolemy Euergetes, the second relates to some Ethiopian king, whose conquests are commemorated on the inscription. The author also inserts in the work, in illustration of his sentiments, astronomical figures and tables. We meet too with several passages from writings of the fathers now lost, and fragments of epistles, especially from Athanasius.

Photius (cod. 36) reviewed this production without mentioning the writer's name, probably because it was not in the copy he had before him. He speaks of it under the titles of Χριστιανοῦ Βίβλος, Christianorum Liber, Expositio in Octateuchum; the former, as containing the opinion of Christians concerning the earth; the latter, because the first part of the work treats of the tabernacle of Moses and other things described in the Pentateuch. The same writer affirms, that many of Cosmas's narratives are fabulous. The monk, however, relates events as they were commonly received and viewed in his own time. His diction is plain and familiar. So far is it from approaching elegance or elevation, that it is even below mediocrity. He did not aim at pompous or polished phraseology; and in several places he modestly acknowledges that his mode of expression is homely and inelegant. MSS

Manuscripts vary much in the contents of the work. It was composed at different times. At first it consisted of five books; but in consequence of various attacks, the author added the remaining seven at different periods, enlarging, correcting, and curtailing, so as best to meet the arguments of those who still contended that the earth was spherical. This accounts for the longer and shorter forms of the production in different manuscript copies. Editions

The entire treatise was first published by Bernard de Montfaucon, from a MS. of the tenth century, in Greek and Latin, in his Collectio Nova Patrum et Scriptorum Graecorum, fol., Paris, 1706, vol. ii. pp. 113-346, to which the editor prefixed an able and learned preface. This is the best edition. It is also printed in the Bibliotheca Vett. Patrum edited by Gallandi, Ven. 1765, vol. ix. Other Works

We learn from Cosmas himself, that he composed a Universal Cosmography, as also Astronomical tables, in which the motions of the stars were described. He was likewise the author of a Commentary on the Canticles and an exposition on the Psalms. These are now lost.

Leo Allatius thinks that he wrote the Chronicon Alexandrinum; but it is more correct to affirm, with Cave, that the author of the Chronicle borrowed largely from Cosmas, copying without scruple, and in the same words, many of his observations. Further Information

Montfaucon, Nova Collectio Patr. et Scriptor. Graecor. vol. ii.; Cave, Historia Literaria, vol. i. pp. 515-16, Oxford, 1740; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. p. 255. [S.D]

a Graeco-Roman jurist, usually named Cosmas Magister, probably because he filled the office of magister officiorum under Romanus Senior; although Reiz, in the index of proper names subjoined to his edition of Harmenopulus in the supplementary volume of Meermann's Thesaurus, is inclined to think that Magister was a family surname.

In Leunclavius (J. G. R. ii. pp. 166, 167) are two sententiae (Ψῆφοι) of Cosmas in the style of imperial constitutions, as if he had been authorized by Romanus to frame legal regulations. It further appears from a Novell of Romanus, published in the collection of Leunclavius (ii. p. 158), that Cosmas was employed by the emperor in the composition of his laws. Works Compendium of Law (ἐκλογὴ νόμων τῶν ἐν ἐπιτόμῳ ἐκτιθεμένων)

Hence Assemani (Bibl. Jur. Orient. lib. 2. c.29, pp. 582-584) is disposed to ascribe to Cosmas a legal work which is preserved in manuscript in the Royal Library at Vienna. It is a system or compendium of law, divided into 50 titles, and compiled in the first year of Romanus Senior (A. D. 919 or 920) under the name ἐκλογὴ νόμων τῶν ἐν ἐπιτόμῳ ἐκτιθεμένων. (Lambecius, Comment. in Bibl. Vindob. vi. p. 38; Zachariae, Hist. J. G. R. § 37.) Editions

The preface and title of this work were first published by Zachariae in his edition of the Procheiron of Basileius (ὁ πρόχειρος νόμος, Heidelb. 1837). Identity of Cosmas

Cedrenus (in Constantino et Romano) mentions Cosmas as a patricius and logotheta dromi, the hippodromus being the name of the highest court of justice in Constantinople. Harmenopulus, in the preface to his Hexabiblus, acknowledges his obligations to the Romaica of Magister (τὰ Ῥωμαἲκὰ τοῦ Μαγίστρου λεγομένα), and Jac. Godefroi supposes that Cosmas is meant. In this, as in most other questions in the history of Graeco-Roman law, there is great difficulty in arriving at the truth; but we believe the Magister referred to by Harmenopulus to be Eustathius Patricius Romanus. Further Information

Reiz, ad Harmenop. in Meerm. Thes. viii. p. 6, n. 8, ib. pp. 399, 400; Pohl, ad Snares. Notit. Basil. p. 15, n. (θ), ib. p. 52, n. (χ); Zachariae, Hist. Jur. G. R. § 41. [J.T.G]

(Κοσμᾶς), a Monk, according to the title in Brunck's Analecta, but according to that in Stephen's edition of the Planudean Anthology, a mechanician. Confusion with Cosmas Indicopleustes

Whether he is the same person as Cosmas Indicopleustes, or as the Cosmas of Jerusalem, or whether he was different from both, is altogether uncertain. Works Epigram

is the author of one epigram in the Greek Anthology. (Anab. iii. p. 127; Jacobs, iv. p. 96.) [P.S]

(Κοσμᾶς). An Egyptian priest, often called Indopleustes (Ἰνδοπλευστής) from his voyages, who lived about A.D. 535. In his youth he was engaged in foreign trade and visited many countries, of which he wrote an account in twelve books, most of which are extant. The work was styled Τοπογραφία Χριστιανεκή. In it China is first undeniably mentioned, being styled Tzinista—the Persian Chinistan. Edition by Gallandi (1776).