The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek tradition and its many heirs

(Ron) #1

Asarubas or Asdrubas (55 – 75 CE)


Wrote on electrum, relaying that the mud of lake Cephesis – known to the Mauri as
“Electrum” – produced electrum when dried by the sun (P 37.37, see also 1.ind.3).
Some scholars read Asdrubas, i.e., the Punic name Hasdrubal.


Fr. Buecheler, “Zwei Gewährsmänner des Plinius,” RhM 40 (1885) 304–307; RE 2.2 (1896) 1518, P. von
Rohden; RE S.1 (1903) 151, G. Knaack.
Eugenio Amato


Asinius Pollio of Tralleis (40 – 10 BCE)


Freedman of the historian Asinius Pollio, described by the Souda Pi-2165 as both a sophist
and a philosopher. Besides writing various historical works, he made an epitome of
D  N’ Geo ̄rgika, reducing it from six books to two, and wrote ten books
“against A on animals.”


RE 2.2 (1896) 1589 (#23), E. Schwartz.
Philip Thibodeau


Asklatio ̄n (Astrol.) (50 – 535 CE)


Astrologer (I “L,” Ost. p. 6.24 Wa.). Dubiously identifiable with Domitian’s
astrologer Ascletario whom, upon predicting his own rending by dogs, the emperor executed
as an object-lesson in the mendacity of astrology. Dogs mangled the corpse (Suet. Dom. 15.3).


RE 2.2 (1896) 1622 (#2), E. Riess; Gundel and Gundel (1966) 158–159.
GLIM


Asklatio ̄n (Med.) (250 BCE – 65 CE)


Commentator on H, mentioned by E (A-103.9, p. 23.10 Nachm.),
probably distinct from the homonymous astrologer.


RE 2.2 (1896) 1662 (#1), M. Wellmann; Ihm (2002) #25.
Alain Touwaide


Askle ̄piade ̄s Pharmakio ̄n (ca 90 – 100 CE)


Greek pharmacologist, distinct from A  B, wrote a pharmacological
work quoting A  C (Y) and cited by A  A-
; scholars view the citation at Pliny 14.183 as interpolated. Perhaps, like many con-
temporary pharmacologists, he lived in Rome. He studied medicine under L 
T (as did K); he also cites M, and seems to have read S
L in a Greek edition. Askle ̄piade ̄s authored ten books of recipes, perhaps a single
compilation, more likely two works of five books each; he also composed works on theriac
and gynecology (whose precise nature is uncertain: G, CMGen 1.16–17, 13.441–442 K.).
His ten books treated medicines for external use (called, and possibly dedicated to a, Mar-
cella) and for internal use (called, and dedicated to a Mnaso ̄n), organized by place; he often
provides detailed preparations. Gale ̄n, highly praising Askle ̄piade ̄s for his careful cata-
loguing of recipes, quotes him firsthand in over 50 lengthy extracts (Fabricius), more than
from H, A, and K together.


ASKLE ̄PIADE ̄S PHARMAKIO ̄N
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