the Anabasis Alexandrou and in the Indika. Nearkhos’ account was skeptical of superstitions
and full of observed detail. He described in detail the topography and climate of the lands
through which he passed, including distances, harborages, islands, and water sources. He
witnessed ocean tides, and speculated on the alluviation of major rivers and the cause of the
flood of the Indus river. His observations of the flora and fauna of India and the sea voyage
contained some misinformation and exaggeration. His astronomical comments probably
derived from speculation or hearsay, rather than observation: he noted the absence of
shadows at midday when he sailed out to sea and described sailing to a region where
shadows pointed south, but it is unlikely that he made it south of the Tropic of Cancer. He
also evidently reported that both Dippers could be seen to set in India, which could only be
observed near the equator.
Ed.: FG rHist 133.
Robinson (1953) 1.100–149; Pearson (1960) 112–149; E. Badian, “Nearchus the Cretan,” YClS 24
(1975) 147–170; A.S. Sofman and D.I. Tsibukidis, “Nearchus and Alexander,” AncW 16 (1987)
71 – 77.
Philip Kaplan
N ⇒ P
Neilammo ̄n (250 BCE – 540 CE)
P A 3.21 (CMG 9.2, p. 179) claims that the best of all anodynes is Neilam-
mo ̄n’s, contraindicated for chronic use because too narcotic. A A 7.106
(CMG 8.2, p. 370), repeated by Paulos 7.16.16 (CMG 9.2, p. 338), records his collyrium of
calamine, pompholux, psimuthion, tragacanth, gum acacia, and opium, in rainwater.
The Egyptian name is not so rare as to require identification with the medical deacon,
PLRE 2 (1980) 784; cf. perhaps N .
(*)
PTK
Neileus (255 – 215 BCE)
Neileus (or Neilos), son of Neileus, was a surgeon and pharmacist, who developed recipes
for muscle relaxation (C 5.18.9), inflammation of the eyes (Celsus 6.6.8–9) – both
often repeated later, an antidote recorded by A (G, Antid. 2.10 [14.165
K.]), and a spleen remedy in A P. (Gale ̄n, CMLoc 9.2 [13.239 K.]),
both connected to A. S in C A repeatedly prescribes
his remedies: Acute 2.153 (CML 6.1, p. 236); Chron. 2.34 ( p. 564), 5.13 ( p. 862). A renowned
authority on dislocated joints, especially the thigh (Celsus 8.20.4), Neileus developed a
spanner for setting bone fractures, an improvement on the Hippokratic bench (cf. Joints
72 – 73). The device was an oblong quadrangle, with holes bored through the centers of the
longer boards to accommodate an axle with a peg and handles on the projecting ends to
maintain tension (H in O, Coll. 49.8, 49.23 [CMG 6.2.2, pp. 13–15,
32 – 33]). The apparatus was lashed to a bench or a ladder to keep the fractured bone
immobile. See H (M.).
Drachmann (1963) 174; Michler (1968) 45, 97; BNP 9 (2006) 619 (#2), V. Nutton.
GLIM
NEILEUS