Marsilio Ficino, a leading scholar of the Italian Renaissance who translated all the works of Plato into Latin, examines Plato's "Timaeus, " the most widely influential and hotly debated of the Platonic writings. Offering a probable account of the creation and nature of the cosmos, the discussion incorporates such questions as "What is the function of arithmetic and geometry in the design of creation? What is the nature of mind, soul, matter, and time?" and "What is our place in the universe? "To his main commentary Ficino adds an appendix, which amplifies and elucidates Plato's meanings and reveals fascinating details about Ficino himself.