hollows, arises a numerous second generation of gods, the five-nook generation ( problem-
atic, since Theopompos entitles Pherekude ̄s’ book The Seven-Nook Mingling of the Gods or Birth
of the Gods). This auto-erotic act can be seen as the first stage of creation, the genesis of the
larger kosmos. The second stage occurs when Za ̄s weds Khthonie ̄ and presents her with a
robe embroidered with Ge ̄ (Earth) and Oge ̄nos (Ocean). By the investiture of the robe,
Khthonie ̄ becomes Ge ̄, Earth actualized. This earth-robe is also depicted as cloaking
a winged oak tree, possibly to explain the suspension of the Earth in the kosmos.
Ophioneus, a snake-god, threatens the created order but is defeated and cast into the
Ocean. The account concludes with a division of cosmic portions among the gods, similar
to H.
A (Metaphysics 14 [1091b6–10]) names Pherekude ̄s as one of the early theo-
logians who did not explain everything “in myth.” Although Pherekude ̄s clearly draws from
He ̄siod and Greek mythology, he also reveals rudimentary notions of a philosophical and
natural-scientific nature about eternity and time, first principles and causes, and demiurgic
creation.
Hermann S. Schibli, Pherekydes of Syros (1990); OCD3 1157 (#1), J.S. Rusten; BNP 10 (2007) 951 (#1), L.
Käppel.
Hermann S. Schibli
Philagrios of E ̄peiros (300 – 340 CE)
The Souda (Phi-295) says Philagrios was a physician from E ̄peiros (or the Lukian island
of Makra), a student of Naumakhios, and that Philagrios practiced in Thessalonike ̄.
Long rejected is the tradition of Philagrios’ “brother-doctor” Poseido ̄nios ( Temkin
1931); but reference works attempt to match our Philagrios with the family described by
P, Ecclesiatical History 8.10 ( p. 111): “.. .in the days of Valens and Valentin-
ian [I], there lived a Philostorgios, the most famous physician of his time [who] had two
sons, Philagrios and Poseido ̄nios [of whom] Poseido ̄nios was also famed as a doctor.. ..”
Philostorgios the historian thus refers to Philostorgios the doctor, and his likely non-
physician son Philagrios, of ca 365 – 375 CE. Our physician Philagrios, however, is first
extracted by O, establishing a terminus ante of roughly the mid-4th c. CE (Masullo,
Frammenti, 19). Perhaps initially identifying himself as a Pneumaticist physician, Philagrios
seems to have become more eclectic through the years (Wellmann 1895). The Souda also tells
us Philagrios wrote 70 books, including commentaries on H. The Souda entry is
supplemented by six from Arabic testimonia (Rhazes, Avicenna, ibn ad-Nadı ̄m’s Fihrist,
others) whence we have recovered most of the titles and subjects of Philagrios’ lost writings
(Masullo, Test. 2–7).
Philagrios gained fame for his skills in treatment (surgery and application of plasters) of
kidney and bladder ailments, including urinary obstruction and commonly occurring
stones (Masullo, fr.95 = A A 11.5); he improved the techniques of A
and H A in curing ganglia (swellings or tumors of nerves or
tendons occurring from blows, especially to the joints and articulations of the hands and
feet), particularly those of fingers, toes, wrists, and ankles (Masullo, fr.210 = Aëtios 15.9); he
refined procedures for surgical correction of damaged ligaments and tendons in the leg,
especially those providing articulation of the tibia and bones of the ankle (Masullo, fr.211 =
Aëtios 15.13), accompanied by careful cicatrization and application of wine-and-honey
PHILAGRIOS OF E ̄PEIROS