The meaning of \(\pi \lambda \alpha \sigma \mu \alpha \tau \iota \kappa {\text{ó}} \nu \) in Diophantus' \(Arithmetica\) (Q2271732)

The paper deals with the interpretation in Diophantus' Arithmetica of the word `plasmatikon', which appears at the end of three `diorismos', in a sort of metasmathematical clause. The misinterpretation of this word was employed to support an unlikely reference to Euclid and, in general, the `geometric algebra' hypothesis in a long lasting debate. According to the careful analysis of the author, the clause is a late addition, the meaning of `plasmatikon' must be found in the rhetorical tradition, maybe translatable as `fictitious', and appears a spurious element in the above mentioned debate.