of the H C, A by “Pelops” mentioned by (the Latin) pseudo-
O In Hipp. Aph., pr., and attributed to P S (RE S.10 [1965]
531 [#5], Fr. Kudlien), more likely belongs to a medical writer known to the Latin tradition
(Pliny). Fabricius (1726) 360 anachronistically identifies this man with Galen’s teacher. The
name is very rare (LGPN), rendering possible a family relation with Pelops of Smurna,
perhaps a grandson.
(*)
PTK
Pelops of Smurna (140 – 160 CE)
Student of N, teacher of G; wrote commentaries on the H
C, E 2 and 6, a Hippokratic Introduction, and an Epitome on the Muscles, but
many more writings, unpublished, perished in a house-fire. Pelops (a Rationalist) came to
Pergamon to debate the Empiricist physicians; Gale ̄n in 149 CE then traveled to Smurna
for study with Pelops. He distinguished bodily constitutions by signs, e.g., red indicated
the warm mixture, a thin nose and small eyes the dry mixture: In Hipp. Epid. II (CMG 5.10.1,
pp. 347–348). In his commentaries, he sought to explain obscurities by rearrangements of
text: In Hipp. Epid. VI (CMG 5.10.2.2, p. 291). Although he taught that the brain is the source
of all vessels, his anatomy commenced from the liver: Opinions of Plato and Hippokrates 6.5.23
(CMG 5.4.1.2, p. 392). He tried to explain how burnt river-crabs could cure hudrophobia
because of their watery nature, said when combusted to absorb the poison that caused
the diagnostic symptom: Simples 11.24 (12.356–359 K.; cf. A); but he also used
M’ potion, without river-crabs: Antid. 2.11 (14.172–173 K.). A fragment of his
anatomy of the bovine tongue is preserved in Dissection of the Muscles (18B.959 K.), translated
by Goss; and P A, 3.20.1 (CMG 9.1, pp. 167–168), preserves his explanation
of tetanos: the muscles around the spine fill with pneuma that is thick and cloudy.
C.M. Goss, “On the Anatomy of Muscles for Beginners by Galen of Pergamon,” Anatomical Record 143
(1963) 477–501; Grmek and Gourevitch (1994) 1521–1522; Manetti and Roselli (1994) 1591–1635;
Ihm (2002) #196–197; BNP 10 (2007) 713 (#5), V. Nutton.
PTK
Penthesileus (325 BCE – 300 CE)
Wrote a work on Kolkhis, cited by the R C 4.4. Cf. M. The
masculine form of the name seems otherwise unattested.
J. Schnetz, SBAW (1942), # 6, pp. 58–59, 61–62.
PTK
Pephrasmenos of Tyre (500 – 350 BCE?)
Is said to have invented a type of ram wherein a cross-beam, suspended from a transverse
beam, can be thrust back and forth violently, for an otherwise unattested siege at Gade ̄s
(A M. p. 9 W.; V 10.13.2), although such designs are Assyrian.
K C later improved the device. Pephrasmenos (“Designer”) seems
otherwise unattested as a name (Pape-Benseler; LGPN), although H, T, and
T seem similarly formed.
RE 19.1 (1937) 560, K. Orinsky.
PTK and GLIM
PELOPS OF SMURNA