end of the 1st c. CE and later refer to Ostane ̄s (sometimes with -Z) as an
expert in astrology, magical amulets, herbology, and in the medical use of stones: cf. e.g.
D. According to later alchemists, Ostane ̄s initiated -D
into alchemy (CAAG 1.57).
Berthelot (1885) 163–167; CAAG (1887) 1.10–12, 3.261–262; R. Reitzenstein, Die hellenistische
Mysterienreligion (19273) 172; Bidez and Cumont (1938) 1.165–212, 2.265–356; RE 18.2 (1942)
1610 – 1642, K. Preisendanz; R. Beck, “Thus Spake not Zarathustra,” in M. Boyce et al., edd., A
History of Zoroastrianism 3 (1991) 491–565; BNP 10 (2007) 279–280, L. Käppel; M. Smith, “Ostanes,”
EI (http://www.iranica.com/articles/sup/Ostanes.html).
Antonio Panaino
Ouranios (500 – 540 CE?)
Wrote a geographical treatise Arabika, in at least five books, of which only a few fragments
are extant in S B and John Tzetze ̄s (FHG 4.523–526), of disputed
and controversial date, possibly early 6th c. (Bowersock). Among other things, Ouranios
gives some useful information on the Nabataeans.
RE 9A.1 (1961) 947 (#4), H. Papenhoff; RE S.11 (1968) 1278–1292 (#4), H. von Wissmann; G.W.
Bowersock, Aporemata 1 (1997) 173–185; NP 12/1 (2002) 1025 (#3), H.A. Gärtner.
Andreas Kuelzer
“Ovid”: P. Ouidius Naso of Sulmo (ca 20 BCE – 17 CE)
Born 43 BCE, famous and gifted poet, belonged to the circle of Messalla Coruinus and was
a friend of Horace and Propertius. Wrote several works on love and mythology and, at the
height of fame, was banished to Tomi (Black Sea), thus leaving unfinished an antiquarian
poem (Fasti). His relegatio has never been adequately explained. In exile, he wrote various
works, including important books of elegies. He died at Tomi.
Two extant technical works are attributed to Ouidius: Cosmetics for Women (Medicamina
Faciei Feminae) and Fishing (Halieutica). Med., mentioned by Ouidius (Ars 3.205–206), and prob-
ably written before the composition of Ars 3 (Pohlenz), is a short didactic poem (100 verses).
The disproportionately long proem (50 verses) indicates that part of Med. is missing, and
abrupt transitions suggest lacunae. The work offers four prescriptions for facial cures, in a
typical didactic style recalling N’ prescriptions against poisons.
Hal. (134 verses) is attributed to Ouidius by P (32.11–12) and its manuscripts. Ouidian
authorship, doubted since the 16th c. (first Muretus, then Vlitius), may be undermined by
prosodic oddities (Housman). The text, full of lacunae and highly corrupted, describes how
the world (mundus) – or deus or natura – gave to each animal the way to defend itself and
escape death (1–9); fishes defend themselves in various ways (9–48); natura impels sylvan
beasts to attack hunters or to flee from them (49–65); horses proudly compete in the circus
and dogs pursue game (66–82); the open sea is unsuitable for fishing (83–91); each fish has
its own habitat (93–134).
From Ouidius’ lost works there survive two fragments (five hexameters total) of Phaenom-
ena, a partial translation of A’ Phainomena (through v. 451). One fragment describes
the Pleiades, the other ends the description of fixed stars. Pliny (30.33) expounds a medical
remedy against angina, attributing it to Ouidius (fr.13): if Pliny’s attribution is accurate and
the text uncorrupted, the prescription might have belonged to the lost part of Med.
OURANIOS