David (commentator)

David (Greek: Δαυΐδ; fl. 6th century) was a Greek scholar and a commentator on Aristotle and Porphyry.

He may have come from Thessaly, but in later times he was confused with an Armenian of the same name (David Anhaght).^[1] He was a pupil of Olympiodorus in Alexandria in the late 6th century.^[1][2] His name suggests that he was a Jew or a Christian.^[3]

Three commentaries to Aristotle's works attributed to him have survived:^[1][4] as well as an introduction (prolegomena) to philosophy:

• Definitions and Divisions of Philosophy
• Commentary on Porphyry's Isagoge
• Commentary on Aristotle's Categories
• Commentary on Aristotle's Prior Analytics (in Armenian)

All these works will be published, with an English translation, in the series Commentaria in Aristotelem Armeniaca - Davidis Opera (five volumes), edited by Jonathan Barnes and Valentina Calzolari.^[when?]

Another anonymous commentary on Porphyry's Isagoge which was falsely ascribed to Elias, was also falsely ascribed to David. Its author is known today as Pseudo-Elias.^[5]