D 3.3.1, followed by P 25.71, credits him with introducing gentian to the
pharmacopoeia.
BNP 5 (2004) 763–764, L.-M. Günther.
PTK
Geo ̄ponika (ca 950 CE)
Byzantine encyclopedia on agriculture, compiled under Emperor Constantine VII (913–959).
It represents, with some modifications, the Eklogai of C B. Ancient author-
ities cited within the text appear to be reliably transmitted, while those in the chapter-
headings are severely problematical. It is organized into 20 books: astrological weather lore
(1), siting, cereals and legumes (2), monthly calendar (3), viticulture and wine (4–8), olives
and olive oil (9), garden and fruit-trees (10), ornamental and medicinal plants (11), veget-
ables (12), pests and vermin (13), poultry (14), bees (15), horses (16), cattle (17), sheep and
goats (18), dogs, swine and game (19), fishes (20).
Ed.: H. Beckh (1895); M. Meana, J. Cubero, P. Sáez, Geopónica, trans. and comm. (1998).
Oder (1890, 1893); J.L. Teall, “The Byzantine Agricultural Tradition,” DOP 25 (1971) 35–59; ODB
834, A. Kazhdan; BNP 5 (2004) 780–783, J. Niehoff and E. Christmann.
Robert H. Rodgers
Geo ̄ponika, Translation into Pahlavi (ca 700 – 900 CE)
One of the two Arabic translations of C B’ G derived from an
anonymous “Persian” version, i.e., probably Pahlavi (cf. Nallino). The Arabic title Warz-na ̄mah
(“The Book of Agriculture”) followed the Pahlavi (Warz-na ̄mag). The later Arabic text was
translated from Greek by Sergios (Sarjis ibn Hiliyya ̄ ar-Ru ̄mı ̄), and entitled al-Fila ̄h.ah
ar-ru ̄miyyah “The (Roman, i.e.) Greek Agriculture.”
Nallino (1922; 1948); Pingree (1989) 236–237, correcting Bidez and Cumont (1938) 2.173–197;
Panaino (2001) 38–39.
Antonio Panaino
Geo ̄rgios of Cyprus (600 – 620 CE)
Obscure geographer, born in Lapithos on Cyprus, who wrote a description of the Byzantine
Empire similar to H’ Sunekde ̄mos, presenting the secular administrative divisions of
its single districts. Starting with the eparchy of Italy, he transmits unique information on
different spheres of influence of Buzantion and of the Lombards there. Next, he treats
Africa, Egypt, some parts of Asia Minor, Syria and Mesopotamia, Arabia and Cyprus.
Around the middle of the 9th c., an editor, probably the Armenian Basil of Ialimbana,
connected the text with a notitia, a list of episcopal sees, concentrated on the diocese of
Constantinople.
Ed.: H. Gelzer, Descriptio orbis romani (1890); E. Honigmann, Le Synekdèmos d’Hiéroklès et l’opuscule
géographique de Georges de Chypre (1939) 51–70.
E. Honigmann, “Die Notitia des Basileios von Ialimbana,” Byzantion 9 (1934) 205–222; V. Laurent, “La
«Notitia» de Basile l’Arménien,” EO 34 (1935) 439–472; HLB 1.531–532; Tusculum-Lexikon (1982)
276; ODB 837 – 838, A. Kazhdan.
Andreas Kuelzer
GEO ̄PONIKA