Calcidius was a 4th-century philosopher whose Latin translation of a portion of Plato's Timaeus, accompanied by an extensive commentary, served as the primary Latin transmission of Plato's work for nearly eight centuries. His commentary also preserved valuable insights into Greek astronomical knowledge. In the 12th century, this work was further explored by scholars, notably those associated with the School of Chartres, who interpreted Platonic concepts through a Christian theological lens.
In the 4th century CE, Calcidius translated into Latin an important section of Plato's Timaeus, complemented by commentary and organized into coordinated parts. Its organization subsequently informed the sense of macrocosm and microcosm-of the world and our place in it-which is prevalent in western European thought in the Middle Ages.