Poioumeno ̄n Boe ̄the ̄mato ̄n); (2) Cathartic Remedies (Peri to ̄n Kenoumeno ̄n Boe ̄the ̄mato ̄n); (3) External Rem-
edies (Peri to ̄n Exo ̄then Piptonto ̄n Boe ̄the ̄mato ̄n). Gale ̄n, referring to a second book on Materia
Medica (Alim. Fac. 1 [6.516 K.]), draws material from one or more treatises, perhaps on
simple medicines and compound medicines (CMGen 5.3 [13.788–789, 801 K.]). A papyrus
contains a further fragment of his work (Marganne 1981). He ̄rodotos has been identified
as the author of -G, I, probably incorrectly (Kudlien 1963:
253 – 254), and was also thought to have written the treatise now known as the P
, and a glossary containing Hippokratic data (Gossen).
M. Wellmann (1895); RE 15.1 (1931) 990–991 (#12), H. Gossen; J. Steudel, “Die physikalische
Therapie des Pneumatikers Herodot,” Gesnerus 19 (1962) 75–82; F. Kudlien, “Die Datierung des
Sextus Empiricus und des Diogenes Laertius,” RhM 106 (1963) 251–254; Idem (1968) 1098–1099;
J. Scarborough, Roman medicine (1969); KP 2.1103, F. Kudlien; M.-H. Marganne, “Un fragment du
médecin Hérodote: P. Tebt. II 272,” Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Congress of Papyrology (1981)
73 – 78; OCD3 698, V. Nutton; BNP 6 (2005) 271, Alain Touwaide.
Alain Touwaide
He ̄ro ̄n (Math.) (ca 410 – 460 CE)
P’ mathematics teacher, who initiated him into some mystery cult (M
N, Vita Procli 9; Souda H-552). Our He ̄ro ̄n may be identifiable with H.
RE 8.1 (1912) 1080 (#6), C.R. Tittel; Netz (1997) #25.
GLIM
He ̄ro ̄n (Med.) (100 – 50 BCE)
C 7.pr.3 lists him among surgeons, after P and before A; and
7.14.2 records his four-fold categorization of tumors around the navel. A
P., in G CMLoc 4.7 (12.745–746 K.), records the “Parrot” collyrium of He ̄ro ̄n
the oculist, containing saffron, glaukion, mandrake, opium, sarkokolla, and tragacanth,
in rainwater; and S, Gyn. 2.5.3–4 (CMG 4, pp. 53–54; CUF v. 2, p. 7), disputes his
advice that the midwife stand in a pit to assist delivery. P. C C 1 prefers the
method of treating ocular flux (by localized incisions) used by He ̄ro ̄n (and others).
Michler (1968) 63, 108–109.
PTK
He ̄ro ̄n of Alexandria (ca 62 CE)
Date: He ̄ro ̄n’s dates have been the topic of extended discussion; the only explicit markers
cover a 500-year span: he quotes A, and is quoted by P. Neugebauer
settled the question, observing that He ̄ro ̄n, in his Dioptra, described a lunar eclipse visible
in both Rome and Alexandria. The only eclipse fitting He ̄ro ̄n’s data occurred in 62 CE.
Neugebauer argued that He ̄ro ̄n was earlier than P, as he did not make use of his
results, and one of his devices is described as a “new invention” by P (15.5).
Wo rk : Very little is known of He ̄ro ̄n’s life, but a large number of his treatises on mechan-
ical and mathematical topics have been preserved. The Pneumatics (Pneumatika), one of
He ̄ro ̄n’s best-known works, concerns the construction of devices driven by the properties of
water, air and steam. He ̄ro ̄n explains how to construct novelty drinking cups, mechanical
singing birds, water-organs, a pump, medical instruments and many other devices. A long
HE ̄RO ̄N (MATH.)