Antiokhos, Paccius (20 BCE – 14 CE)
S L, Compositiones, 97 (p. 51 Sconocchia), says that Paccius Antiochus was a
student (auditor) of P C, and that after Paccius’ death, his book on gout
and pains in the flanks (deposited among the books of Tiberius’ bibliothecae publicae) finally
became known to fellow physicians. Scribonius seems a bit peeved that Paccius refused to
share his recipe, since he profited handsomely from a compound formulated from well-
known simples, not only hiding the formula from his own students, but preparing the drug
in a barricaded room (clusus). G, CMLoc 4.8 (12.772 K.), calls him an “Askle ̄pia-
dean” in a section of recipes apparently extracted from Scribonius Largus’ Greek books
(12.764–790 K.), attesting again to the bilingual abilities of Sicilian physicians prominent in
early imperial Rome (e.g. the collyrium of F, prepared for Drusus’ mother Antonia
[12.768–769 K.]).
Several pharmacal recipes devised by Paccius were extracted by Scribonius Largus,
Gale ̄n, A A, and P A. Most of Paccius’ drugs were analgesic,
mild pain-relievers occasionally including the latex of the opium poppy, but not mandrake,
henbane, and similar anesthetics: e.g. the Eye-Instillation (enstakton) of Paccius, quoted from
T (12.782–783 K.), the general analgesic in a collection of “Askle ̄piadean”
recipes CMLoc 9.4 (13.284–285 K.), and the Antidotos hiera Paccii Antiochi ad uniuersa corporis
uitia, maxime ad lateris et podagram which consumes three chapters of the Compositiones (pp. 51–53).
Paccius’ Emplastrum album, however, designed to treat breast cancer in women (“lumps” that
have hardened: cum in mammis mulierum alioue quouis durita fuerit... quam Gracei carcinoma aut
cacoethes uocant), does contain quantities of narcotics, if the terrae mali were, indeed, mandrake
“apples” (Compositiones, 220 [p. 100]). This multi-ingredient plaster probably was a good
transdermal anesthetic, certainly in no way curative. The “Hiera of Antiokhos” (Paulos
7.8.1 [CMG 9.2, pp. 286–287]) is a compaction of the recipes in Compositiones, 106– 107
(pp. 57–58), and as a purgative includes saffron crocus (leaves), birthwort, “white” pepper,
cinnamon, spikenard, honey, and myrrh.
RE 18.2 (1942) 2063, H. Diller, corrected by Fabricius (1972) 226, with n. 41.
John Scarborough
Antiokhos VIII Philome ̄to ̄r (141 – 96 BCE)
Born 141 BCE; king of Syria (125/121–
96). His name is linked to a famous anti-
venom compound (opopanax, bitter-
vetch flour, clover and many other
vegetable-garden plants). P (20.264)
says the theriac was “engraved in verse on
stone in Aesculapius’ temple in Cos”: see
the interpolated prographe ̄ quoting
“Antiokhos’ theriac which, according to
Pliny, was inscribed near the doors of
Askle ̄pios” (G Antid. 2.14 [14.183.6–
8 K.]). Both A P. (ibid.
185.3–186.2 K.) and H K-
(2.17 [201.16–202.14 K.]) transmit a formula in verse, suitable for a metrical
Antiokhos VIII Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society
Aratos Courtesy of the American Numismatic Society
ANTIOKHOS VIII PHILOME ̄TO ̄R