In Dioscorus' encomia, the use of Phaëthon as an expression of praise, rather than as an example of hubris, can be explained by Dioscorus' knowledge of Nonnus, Neoplatonism, and late zodiacal lore.

Homer's several statements about the polar constellations prompted ancient critics both to emend the received text, in order to attribute to Homer advanced astronomical knowledge, and to defend it, by means of reinterpretation.