5.56), but his “personal contribution to science” (prologue) lies in literary achievement and
scientific popularization. Mixing quasi-quotations and abrupt summaries, the book slips
often into paradoxographical accounts, treating mythical animals, e.g., phoenix (6.58), basi-
lisk (2.7), mantichore (4.21), gryphon (4.27), unicorn (16.20), amphisbaena (9.23). As usual
in such collections, Aelianus included other natural paradoxa in chapters on springs and
rivers (8.21, 9.29, 10.38, 12.36, 12.42, 14.19, 15.25) or on plants (9.31–33, 9.37, 14.27).
Nevertheless, he preserves scientific information, e.g. D on how deers’ horns
grow (12.18); the toxic action of venoms (4.36, 4.41); anatomy of cobra teeth (9.4). His
testimony is especially worthy on Asiatic and African fauna, ichthyology, and angling (even
more than O’ Halieutika): Aelianus discusses butterfly-fish in minute detail (11.23),
the otolith of some fishes (9.7), symbiosis of sponge and hermit crab (8.16), techniques of
musical fishing (6.31–32, 17.18) and submarine hunting (4.58, 8.16), the subtle tactics of
fishing-frogs (9.24), and gives the first reference to fly fishing (15.1, 15.10).
Ed.: A.F. Scholfield, Aelian, On the characteristics of animals 3 vv. (Loeb 1958–1959).
RE 1.1 (1893) 486–488 (#11), M. Wellmann; DPA 1 (1989) 79–81, S. Follet; OCD3 18, M.B. Trapp;
ANRW 2.34.4 (1998) 2954–2996, J.F. Kindstrand.
Arnaud Zucker
A ⇒ P
L. Aelius Gallus, praefect. Aegypti (45 – 5 BCE)
Although the chronology of Gallus’ military expedition into Sabaean country (after 27 BCE)
is debated (Jameson 1968), there is little doubt it was a disaster. Gallus was seduced by
prospects of controlling the spice trade, which had enriched the Roman client kingdom of
Nabatea, which received caravans and camel-loads of frankincense and myrrh from south-
western Arabia, as well as many spices by then imported from India and south-east Asia.
A appointed Gallus Prefect of Egypt 27– 25 BCE, years that witnessed his ill-fated
attempts to control ports on the Red Sea and emporia further south. The Aelii were a late
Roman Republic family of intellectuals, and Gallus’ father, C. Aelius, was a legal lexi-
cographer (Syme 1986: 308); the gens produced scholars known for varied interests, includ-
ing science and medicine (Ibid., 300). Aelius Gallus was patron and friend of S, who
was with Gallus (25 BCE) in Egypt (Syme 1995: 243, 322, 360).
Gallus’ medical interests focused on pharmacology and toxicology. G (Antid. 2.17
[14.203 K.]) records a theriac against the stings of scorpions, a multi-ingredient drug that
“.. .Gallus brought out of Arabia and gave to Caesar [Augustus], [and] many soldiers
received cures from it.” Probably Gallus was an “Askle ̄piadean,” since Gale ̄n cites a “Marcus”
Gallus, “follower of A,” as the inventor of a useful prophylactic aid (for use
before luxurious meals), a compound of henbane seeds, roses, anise, celery seeds, old myrrh,
and saffron crocus, boiled in wine and honey (CMLoc 8.5 [13.179–180 K.]). Gale ̄n writes
that an “.. .antidote of Aelius Gallus was employed by C and K against the
lethal effects of poisons,” which also aids women who have difficulty being purged, and it
“.. .expels a fetus painlessly” (Antid. 2.1 [14.114–115 K.]). Gallus, a gourmand, also
offered digestive “antidotes” for gluttony (Gale ̄n, Antid. 2.10 [14.158–159, 161–162 K.]),
containing myrrh and other costly, imported spices. A S quotes from
Gallus’ books on cough syrups (Gale ̄n quotes the quotes at CMLoc 7.2 [13.28–30 K.]),
suggesting he had learned how useful were frankincense, myrrh, the two cinnamons, and
L. AELIUS GALLUS, PRAEFECT. AEGYPTI