The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek tradition and its many heirs

(Ron) #1

Parmeniskos of Alexandria (120 – 80 BCE)


Grammarian who commented on H and Euripide ̄s, and also on A, from which
astronomical explanations are cited by P 18.312 and I H 2.2, 2.13.


RE 18.4 (1949) 1570–1572 (#3), C. Wendel; FGrHist 1026 T19.
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Pasikrate ̄s (of Sido ̄n?) (170 – 100 BCE?)


Reported on the machines of A, A, N, and N,
according to O Coll. 49.7, 49.13, and 49.22 (CMG 6.2.2, pp. 14, 23–26, 34–35).
Pasikrate ̄s, working in Sido ̄n, improved the trispaston (triple-pulley) of Apellis, by adding a
winch to give it greater traction, and, by adding a locking mechanism to maintain constant
traction, improved the traction machine of Neileus, used to reduce dislocations and set
fractures. E fr.40 ( p. 111 Nachm.) records that he wrote a commentary on
H’ Mokhlikon; A P. in G CMLoc 8.8 (13.213–214 K.)
preserves his diuretic, including anise, carrot-seed, cassia and cinnamon, hazelwort, Indian
nard, root of Pontic rhubarb, and saffron. Compare Pasikrate ̄s’ father and son, both
A, as well as H (M.) and T.


RE S.9 (1962) 799–800, J. Kollesch; Drachmann (1963) 174–175, 180–181, Michler (1968) 87–88,
130 – 131.
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Pasio ̄n (250 BCE – 10 CE)


A  A 15 (Zervos 1909: 89–90) cites from G (not in Kühn) and H
the widely-useful trokhiskos of Pasio ̄n: litharge, pine-resin, and beeswax in olive oil
and aged dry wine; Gale ̄n often approves it: MM 5.6 (10.330 K.), MM Glauk. 2.3, 2.11
(11.87, 136–137 K.), and Simples 10.2.13 (12.276 K.), along with those of A and
P. A, in Gale ̄n CMGen 2.2 (13.493 K.), describes his “green”
plaster of alum, sal ammoniac, frankincense, verdigris, etc. O, Syn. 3.102
(CMG 6.3, p. 95), cites his very similar trokhiskos, made by grinding copper flakes, roast
copper, sal ammoniac, alum, and verdigris, in vinegar, under the sun, then adding
frankincense; repeated by Aëtios 14.50 ( p. 792 Cornarius) and P  A 7.12.22
(CMG 9.2, p. 318), the last adding aloes. A, in Gale ̄n CMGen 5.14 (13.854 K.),
cites a wound ointment (with orpiment, khalkanthon, myrrh, realgar, etc.) of “Prasio ̄n”
(an attested name: LGPN 3B.362). Aëtios 14.58 ( p. 803 Cornarius) = Paulos of Aigina 4.25.2
(CMG 9.1, pp. 346–347) lists Pasio ̄n, with Andro ̄n and Polueide ̄s, as among those offering
remedies for anthrax; Aëtios 14.53 ( p. 797 Cornarius) mentions his melinon, and H’,
again citing Gale ̄n. The name is rare after the 1st c. CE: LGPN.


Fabricius (1726) 358; RE 22.2 (1954) 1699, H. Diller.
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Paterios (250 – 400 CE)


In his explanations of the “geometrical number” governing human generations in P’s
Republic (546b3–c7), P exposes two geometrical methods to find the numbers 27,
36, 48 and 64, in continuous proportion with epitrite ratio (4:3). The second method


PATERIOS
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