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

(Ron) #1

PIR2 F-241.
PTK


T. Flauius Vespasianus (70 – 78 CE)


The Roman emperor “Titus” (reigned 79– 81 CE) is credited by P 2.89 with a work on
the comet of 76 CE, and by G CMLoc 10.3 (13.360 K.), probably from the pharmacist
A, with a recipe for a plaster.


OCD3 1532 – 1533, J.B. Campbell.
PTK


Florentinus (200 – 250 CE)


Author of Geo ̄rgika, a comprehensive work on agriculture, in at least 11 books, the most
influential of its age written in Greek, although only fragments survive, in the G.
Among his sources were the Q. The work mostly conveyed traditional practices
rather than superstitious customs, although innovation, especially through grafting, was of
interest. His homeland is unknown, but he traveled widely: he reports seeing a giraffe at
Rome (Geo ̄pon. 16.22.8) and, in the garden of Marius Maximus, an olive grafted to a vine
and bearing both fruits (9.14.1). His inclusion of therapeutic characteristics of plants
and fruits, not hitherto much addressed by Greek writers, was representative of the age
(cf. G M).


Oder (1890) 83–87; PIR2 P-454a; BNP 5 (2004) 469 (#2), P.L. Schmidt.
Robert H. Rodgers


Florus (20 BCE – 20 CE?)


A P., in G CMLoc 4.7 (12.768–769 K.), records his cure of Antonia,
“almost mutilated by other doctors,” using a collyrium of saffron, henbane, mandrake,
myrrh, opium, roses, etc., in Falernian wine and rainwater; repeated by A  A
7.110 (CMG 8.2, p. 376), and mentioned by Hipp. Berol. 62.6 (pp. 254–255 ed. Oder-Hoppe).
Gale ̄n and Aëtios both read “Antonia, of Drusus the mother,” which is incorrect; restore
“Antonia, of Drusus the mother,” one line of 20 letters
having fallen out of Askle ̄piade ̄s’ text (gune ̄s te kai Germanikou).


RE 6.2 (1909) 2760 (#1), A. Stein.
PTK


Fonteius Capito (50 – 30 BCE)


Born ca 80 BCE, antiquarian, member of the coterie of N F and V.
Citations of “Fonteius,” “Capito,” and “Fonteius Capito” by I “L” probably
all refer to the same man, M. Antonius’ supporter, pontifex after 44, suffect consul in 33
(Horace Sat. 1.5.32–33; P Ant. 36.1; Weinstock 44). Io ̄anne ̄s cites Fonteius on
astrology, the calendar (the beginning of the day in Babylo ̄n, Umbria, Athens, and Rome:
De Mens. 2.2 [ pp. 18–20 Wu.]; the Earth’s warming in May: ibid. 4.80 [p. 132 Wu.]), and
religion. Io ̄anne ̄s also attributes to Fonteius dire predictions from thunder when the Moon is
in Capricorn, including threats to the pax Romana (De Ost. 39 – 41 [pp. 88–91 Wa.]). Although
geographical references, indicating Egypt as the text’s country of origin, and language


FONTEIUS CAPITO
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