De Hexaemeron
Ambrose's adaptation and translation of Basil's Hexaemeron for Latin audiences, transmitting Basil's exegesis of the creation narrative to the Western Church.
Preliminaries
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TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— Described as Ambrose's translation of Basil's Hexaemeron
"Saint Ambrose translated them, and gave to Latin ears not so much his own work as that of Saint Basil, in his treatise On the Work of the Six Days."
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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The Fathers' Defense of the Old Testament
— Ambrose wrote Hexaemeron books following Basil
"Basil and his follower or interpreter St. Ambrose wrote Hexaemeron books on Genesis"
Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)
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In the Beginning: Nine Interpretations
— Cited (Homily 1) on "in the beginning" meaning in the first origin of time
"Ambrose and Basil, homily 1 on the Hexameron"
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In the Beginning: Nine Interpretations
— Cited on "in the beginning" meaning in a moment
"St. Ambrose and St. Basil, homily 1 on the Hexameron"
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— Cited (Book I, ch. 9) on light as the first adornment of the world
"St. Ambrose gives another in Book I of the Hexaemeron, ch. 9"
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Verse 8: And God called the firmament Heaven
— Cited on the derivation of 'coelum' from 'caelatum,' engraved with various stars
"as St. Ambrose says, 'coelum' is called as if 'caelatum,' that is, engraved with various stars."
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Verse 20: Let the Waters Bring Forth
— Cited (Book V, ch. 14) on the kinship between birds and fish
"as St. Ambrose rightly teaches, Book V of the Hexaemeron, chapter 14."
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Verse 22: And He Blessed Them, Saying: Increase and Multiply
— Cited (Book V) on bees, cranes, and other birds, following Basil
"and following him St. Ambrose, Book V of the Hexaemeron"
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Verse 22: And He Blessed Them, Saying: Increase and Multiply
— Cited (Book V, ch. 20) on vultures reproducing without mating
"St. Ambrose says the same, Book V of the Hexaemeron, chapter 20."
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Verse 22: And He Blessed Them, Saying: Increase and Multiply
— Cited (Book V, ch. 13) on geese defending the Capitol; mocking Roman gods
"Wherefore St. Ambrose, Book V of the Hexaemeron, chapter 13"
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Verse 22: And He Blessed Them, Saying: Increase and Multiply
— Cited (Book V, ch. 20) on the voices of parrots, blackbirds, nightingales
"about which St. Ambrose says, Book V of the Hexaemeron, chapter 20"
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Verse 24: Let the Earth Bring Forth the Living Creature
— Cited (Book VI, ch. 4) on the she-bear shaping her young with her tongue
"and following him St. Ambrose, Book VI of the Hexaemeron, chapter 4"
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Verse 26: Let Us Make Man in Our Image and Likeness
— Cited (Book VI, beginning) on nature taming elephants, lions, and tigers for man's service
"Hear St. Ambrose at the beginning of Book VI of the Hexameron"