Aristotle Gallery

Pythagoras, (c570-c495 BC), 1830. Creator: Unknown

Pythagoras, (c570-c495 BC), 1830. Pythagoras (c570-c495 BC) ancient Ionian Greek philosopher whose political and religious teachings influenced the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and through them, Western philosophy. From "Biographical Illustrations", by Alfred Howard. [Thomas Tegg, R. Griffin and Co., J. Cumming, London, Glasgow and Dublin, 1830]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Geocentric or Earth-centred system of the universe, 1528

Geocentric or Earth-centred system of the universe, 1528. At the centre is the world showing Aristotle's (384-323 BC) four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, surrounded by the spheres of the Sun, Moon, planets, and the sphere of the fixed stars. This model, proposed by Aristotle and Ptolemy, continued to be generally accepted as representing the nature of the Universe until the heliocentric (sun-centred) model of the solar system put forward by Copernicus and supported by Galileo and Kepler, began to gain acceptance in the 17th century. From La Theorique des Ciels by Oronto Finaeus. (Paris, 1528)

© Oxford Science Archive / Heritage-Images

St Thomas Aquinas, Italian theologian and philosopher

St Thomas Aquinas, Italian theologian and philosopher. Also known as Doctor Angelicus, St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a member of the Dominican order who attempted to reconcile Aristotle's science with Christian doctrine. He was the first to propose the concept of a Just War. On his left is Aristotle and on the right Plato, while Averroes (Ibn Rushd 1126-1198), the famous medieval philosopher born in Cordoba reclines at the bottom of the picture. Amongthe figures above Aquinas are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At the top Christ sits in Heaven

© Ann Ronan Picture Library / Heritage-Images