other exotic ingredients in compounding effective cough drops and other medicines that
soothed the windpipe.
RE 1.1 (1893) 492–493, P. von Rohden and M. Wellmann; S. Jameson, “Chronology of the Campaigns
of Aelius Gallus and C. Petronius,” JRS 58 (1968) 71–84; G.W. Bowersock, Roman Arabia (1983)
46 – 49; R. Syme, The Augustan Aristocracy (1986); Idem, Anatolica: Studies in Strabo (1995).
John Scarborough
Aelius Promotus of Alexandria (ca 140 – 190 CE?)
Physician, wrote On Curative Remedies, and Natures and Antipathies (cf. N), the latter
unedited. The first work (ed. Crismani) contains 130 chapters of remedies for such condi-
tions as falling hair (1), duspnoia (30), fevers (39–40), anthrax (57), erusipelas (59),
insomnia (85–90), eye disorders (96–99), and colic or dysentery (119–130). Nestled between
the two attributed treatises, two MSS (Vat. Gr. 299, Ambros. Gr. S3) transmit an anonymous
text On Venomous Animals and Poisons, attributed by scholars to Aelius, A, or
A P (but P 14 shows that Arkhigene ̄s offered a differ-
ent analysis of scorpion poisons than Venomous 15). It cites N H
(14), A P. (50), S (56), and E (64–67, etc.); and is cited
first by A A (Book 13, passim). The treatise falls into two parts: poisoning
caused by bites (snakes – cf. N, lizards, humans, hudrophobic dogs, cats, etc.),
and from ingesting plants (aconite, hemlock, henbane, mandrake, etc.), minerals (litharge,
mercury, psimuthion, etc.), or small animals (leeches, etc.). Ihm divides the text into
79 chapters, each describing the poison, symptoms, and remedies. Though references to
Arabia and Egypt may suggest a geographical link, the author’s treatment of crocodiles and
lions makes no particular Egyptian correlation. Ihm dates the core of the treatise to the era
of Aelius, and subsequent additions before Aëtios; Touwaide considers this text a 14th
century compilation.
Ed.: S. Ihm, Der Traktat Peri ton iobolon therion kai deleterion pharmakon des sog. Aelius Promotus (1995);
D. Crismani, Manuale della Salute (2002).
OCD3 19, anon.; A. Touwaide, rev. of Ihm, Medicina nei Secoli 8 (1996) 306–307; BNP 1 (2002) 207,
V. Nutton.
PTK and GLIM
Palladius Rutilius Taurus Aemilianus (ca 375 – ca 450 CE)
Latest surviving Latin agricultural writer, of uncertain date: he used the work of V-
A, and his title uir inlustris postdates ca 375. Author of Opus agriculturae in 13
books: the first treats general matters (e.g. siting, water, building, poultry, beekeeping), while
each of the following is devoted to the range of tasks appropriate for each calendar month.
A 14th book discusses veterinary medicine. An elegiac poem on grafting, addressed to an
unknown Pasiphilus, is appended as literary flourish in the manner of C’
Book 10.
Palladius owned property near Rome (3.25.20) and in the area of Neapolis in Sardinia
(4.10.16); he describes in detail a reaping machine used in the plains of Gaul (7.2.2–4).
Primarily he follows literary sources: Columella on field crops, vines, livestock, and
G M on gardens and fruit trees; these are supplemented by Graeci (i.e.,
Anatolios) and, for building topics, C F’ epitome of V (not
PALLADIUS RUTILIUS TAURUS AEMILIANUS