# Who wrote the commentary on Aristotle's Categories found in the palimpsest? · Archimedes Palimpsest > Three answers have been proposed. The commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon. leads, with evidence… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:52+00:00 --- **0** # Who wrote the commentary on Aristotle's Categories found in the palimpsest? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What in the palimpsest remains unread or unidentified?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4VA52VA/what-in-the-palimpsest-remains-unread-or-unidentified)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon. leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The commentary dates from the second or third century AD and is otherwise unknown; its author matters for the history of the ancient commentators⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MVJE0AMG/the-archimedes-palimpsest-scholarship)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MXGY7QDR/a-rediscovered-categories-commentary). ## Answers 3 [**The commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7NBE874VC/the-commentary-is-by-porphyry-and-preserves-fragments-of-the) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7NCDG5302/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The commentary is by another commentator of the second or third century AD.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7NC5P0K05/the-commentary-is-by-another-commentator-of-the-second-or) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2013[Chiaradonna et al. puts forward: the commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MXGY7QDR/a-rediscovered-categories-commentary) 1. 2013[Acerbi: the 2011 edition's discussion of authorship was judged inconclusive by a reviewer.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX1A5S21/review-of-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ed-netz-noel-tchernetska)Against: The commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon. 1. 2013[Chiaradonna et al.: the editors proposed Porphyry, with a question mark, in the title of their study.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MXGY7QDR/a-rediscovered-categories-commentary)For: The commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N5344YNH/who-wrote-the-commentary-on-aristotles-categories-found-in%23add-source) Where it fits Archimedes Palimpsest [**What in the palimpsest remains unread or unidentified?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4VA52VA/what-in-the-palimpsest-remains-unread-or-unidentified)most likely much of what remains is physically lost to scraping, mould and missing leaves and cannot be recovered by any… **Who wrote the commentary on Aristotle's Categories found in the palimpsest?** You're here · the commentary is by Porphyry and preserves fragments of the earlier commentator Boethus of Sidon [ Ask a question under this one ]