Aëtius Amidenus
Encyclopedia
Aëtius of Amida (fl. mid-5th century to mid-6th century) was a Byzantine
physician and medical writer, particularly distinguished by the extent of his erudition. Historians are not agreed about his exact date. He is placed by some writers as early as the 4th century; but it is plain from his own work that he did not write till the very end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th, as he refers not only to Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria
, who died 444, but also to Petrus archiater, who could be identified with the physician of Theodoric the Great
, whom he defines a contemporary. He is himself quoted by Alexander of Tralles
, who lived probably in the middle of the 6th century. He was probably a Christian
, which may account perhaps for his being confounded with Aëtius of Antioch, a famous Arian
who lived in the time of the Emperor Julian
.
, a city of Mesopotamia
, and studied at Alexandria
, which was the most famous medical school of the age.
He travelled and visited the copper mines of Soli, Cyprus
, then Jericho
and the Dead Sea
.
In some manuscripts he has the title of komēs opsikiou , Latin
comes obsequii, which means the chief officer in attendance on the emperor. This title, according to Photius, he attained at Constantinople
, where he was practising medicine.
ians, such as that of Saint Blaise
in removing a bone which sticks in the throat, and another in relation to a fistula
.
The division of his work Sixteen Books on Medicine into four tetrabibli was not made by himself, but (as Fabricius
observes) was the invention of some modern translator, as his way of quoting his own work is according to the numerical series of the books. Although his work does not contain much original matter, and is heavily indebted to Galen
and Oribasius
, it is nevertheless one of the most valuable medical remains of antiquity, as being a very judicious compilation from the writings of many authors, many from the Alexandrian Library
, whose works have been long since lost.
In the manuscript for book 8.13, the word (acme) is written as , the origin of the modern word acne
.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
physician and medical writer, particularly distinguished by the extent of his erudition. Historians are not agreed about his exact date. He is placed by some writers as early as the 4th century; but it is plain from his own work that he did not write till the very end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th, as he refers not only to Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria
Cyril of Alexandria
Cyril of Alexandria was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 412 to 444. He came to power when the city was at its height of influence and power within the Roman Empire. Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the Christological controversies of the later 4th and 5th centuries...
, who died 444, but also to Petrus archiater, who could be identified with the physician of Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
, whom he defines a contemporary. He is himself quoted by Alexander of Tralles
Alexander of Tralles
Alexander of Tralles in Lydia was one of the most eminent of the ancient physicians. His date may safely be put in the 6th century, for he mentions Aëtius Amidenus, who probably did not write until the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century, and he is himself quoted by Paul of...
, who lived probably in the middle of the 6th century. He was probably a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, which may account perhaps for his being confounded with Aëtius of Antioch, a famous Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
who lived in the time of the Emperor Julian
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
.
Life
He was a native of AmidaAmida (Roman city)
Amida was an ancient city located where modern Diyarbakır, Turkey. The Roman writers Ammianus Marcellinus and Procopius consider it a city of Mesopotamia, but it may be more properly viewed as belonging to Armenia Major....
, a city of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
, and studied at Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, which was the most famous medical school of the age.
He travelled and visited the copper mines of Soli, Cyprus
Soli, Cyprus
thumb|right|250px|Map showing the 10 ancient city Kingdoms of CyprusSoli or Soloi is an ancient Greek city in the island of Cyprus, located south-west of Morphou and on the coast in the gulf of Morphou and dates back to about the 6th century BC...
, then Jericho
Jericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
and the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
.
In some manuscripts he has the title of komēs opsikiou , Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
comes obsequii, which means the chief officer in attendance on the emperor. This title, according to Photius, he attained at Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, where he was practising medicine.
Works
Aetius seems to be the first Greek medical writer among the Christians who gives any specimen of the spells and charms so much in vogue with the EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ians, such as that of Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea . According to his Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, and beheaded...
in removing a bone which sticks in the throat, and another in relation to a fistula
Fistula
In medicine, a fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. It is generally a disease condition, but a fistula may be surgically created for therapeutic reasons.-Locations:Fistulas can develop in various parts of the...
.
The division of his work Sixteen Books on Medicine into four tetrabibli was not made by himself, but (as Fabricius
Johann Albert Fabricius
Johann Albert Fabricius was a German classical scholar and bibliographer.-Biography:Fabricius was born at Leipzig, son of Werner Fabricius, director of music in the church of St. Paul at Leipzig, who was the author of several works, the most important being Deliciae Harmonicae...
observes) was the invention of some modern translator, as his way of quoting his own work is according to the numerical series of the books. Although his work does not contain much original matter, and is heavily indebted to Galen
Galen
Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus , better known as Galen of Pergamon , was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher...
and Oribasius
Oribasius
Oribasius or Oreibasius was a Greek medical writer and the personal physician of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate. He studied at Alexandria under physician Zeno of Cyprus before joining Julian's retinue. He was involved in Julian's coronation in 361, and remained with the emperor until...
, it is nevertheless one of the most valuable medical remains of antiquity, as being a very judicious compilation from the writings of many authors, many from the Alexandrian Library
Library of Alexandria
The Royal Library of Alexandria, or Ancient Library of Alexandria, in Alexandria, Egypt, was the largest and most significant great library of the ancient world. It flourished under the patronage of the Ptolemaic dynasty and functioned as a major center of scholarship from its construction in the...
, whose works have been long since lost.
In the manuscript for book 8.13, the word (acme) is written as , the origin of the modern word acne
Acne
Acne is a general term used for acneiform eruptions. It is usually used as a synonym for acne vulgaris, but may also refer to:*Acne aestivalis*Acne conglobata*Acne cosmetica*Acne fulminans*Acne keloidalis nuchae*Acne mechanica...
.
External links
- Olivieri's CMG Greek text (1935-1950)
- http://books.google.com/books?id=dh9M-FiskWQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=thorndike+tetrabiblos+bacon+%22history+of+magic%22&source=bl&ots=MIPCTYvDdJ&sig=NEyHSusN2gwrkAwcZcvi_SDPVXU&hl=en&ei=t3fbS6R7wv3wBojuweED&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tetrabiblos%20aetius&f=false History of Magic and Experimental Science, Part 2, by Lynn Thorndike who reviewed both Aetius and Galen