86 RICHARD MCKEON 



homogeneous parts, and members.^^ Nemesius defines the cor- 

 poreal element {elementum rriundanuin) as the least part in 

 the composition of bodies. The mundane elements are four: 

 earth, water, air and fire. " They are the first and simple bodies 

 relative to other bodies. For every element is of the same kind 

 as the bodies of which it is an element. A principle is not of 

 the same kind as the things of which it is a principle, but an 

 element is wholly of one kind." -" He analyzes the four elements 

 by means of the four qualities hot and cold, wet and dry, but 

 he argues that these qualities are not elements because bodies 

 cannot be constituted of incorporeal things, and he treats the 

 problem of the order of elements in the organization of the 

 universe by interposition of elements to mediate between con- 

 trary qualities. He also expounds the Platonic analysis of 

 elements, distinguishing two ways in which he classifies ele- 

 ments: (1) by the regular solids, (2) by assigning three 

 qualities to each element — fire having sharpness, rarity, motion, 

 and earth, at the other extreme, having dullness, density, rest. 

 To these he added a third way used by some philosophers, 

 who distinguish the heavy elements, earth and water, from the 

 light elements, air and fire."^ The elements and the body enter 

 into the analysis of the functions of the soul, and Nemesius 

 expounds the Galenic theory of the localization of functions: 

 imagination in the anterior lobe of the brain," understanding 

 in the intermediate lobe,"" and memory in the posterior lobe,"* 

 adding that evidence for the localization of these functions was 

 derived from observation of brain lesions and diseases affecting 

 the brain." 



Nemesius' On the Nature of Man was translated into Latin 

 in the eleventh century by Archbishop Nicholaus Alfanus under 

 the title Premnon Physicon or Key to Natural Things but with- 

 out mention of the name of the author or of the title he gave 



"/6i(Z., IV, pp. 59-61. 



'" Ibid., V, 1-2, p. 62. '" Ihid., XII, 3, p. 87. 



" Ihid., V, 24-25, pp. 67-69. ^* Ibid., XIU, 7, p. 89. 



" Ibid., VI, 4, p. 73. ^^ Ibid., 8-13, pp. 89-90. 



