complex array of regular circular motions. Once the paradigm of regular circular motion is
established, an enormously successful research program ensues, resulting in one of the finest
products of ancient science, Ptolemaic astronomy, and it is not until ca 1600 that Kepler first
questioned that astronomy should be done in this fashion.
A further part of Plato’s legacy was the Academy, a school of intellectuals researching
in Athens down to its closure by Christian authorities in 529 CE. We are by no means
certain of the nature of the school’s activities, though it is reported that “Let no one
ignorant of geometry enter here” was written above the door.
G.E.R. Lloyd, “Plato as Natural Scientist,” JHS 28 (1968) 78–92; J.P. Anton, ed., Science and the Sciences
in Plato (1981); Andrew Gregory, Plato’s Philosophy of Science (2000).
Andrew Gregory
Platuse ̄mos (?) (100 BCE – 360 CE)
O, Ecl. Med. 86.6 (CMG 6.2.2, p. 263), records his blood-stanch (iskhaimon)
of lime, orpiment, realgar, and sulfur. The word seems otherwise unattested as a Greek
name (LGPN, Pape-Benseler), but represents the Latin laticlauia (S 3.5.1), the senat-
orial stripe, or its rank; compare the late Roman name Senator, PLRE 2.989–991, esp.
C S. (Or perhaps cf. Platulaimos in Alkiphro ̄n 1.23.)
(*)
PTK
Pleistonikos (300 – 240 BCE)
Greek physician, P’ pupil (C 1.pr.20), cited by G mostly with his
teacher and other Dogmatic physicians, especially D (4.732, 10.28, 10.110 K., etc).
Although his place of origin is unknown, he probably practiced in Ko ̄s. His opinions on
physiology and anatomy must have been similar to Praxagoras’, but it is difficult to dis-
tinguish Pleistonikos’ theories in Gale ̄n’s general lists: certainly Pleistonikos described and
analyzed the humors (Gale ̄n, Atra Bile 1.2 [CMG 5.4.1.1, p. 71], PHP 8 [CMG 5.4.1.2,
p. 510]). He believed that air entered the arteries not only from the heart but also from the
entire body (Gale ̄n Blood Arter. 8.1, pp. 176–177 Furley and Wilkie) and approved phle-
botomy (Gale ̄n On Venesection, Against Erasistratos 5 [11.163 K. = p. 25 Brain]). To him alone
is attributed the opinion that digestion is a process of putrefaction (sepsis: Celsus 1.pr.20). He
claimed that water is a better aid to digestion than wine (Ath., Deipn. 2 [45d]), treated some
illness with radish (P 20.26), and used hellebore in a peculiar way, employing it as
a pessary and making patients smell it to induce vomit: O Coll. 7.26.194
(CMG 6.1.1, p. 245).
Ed.: Steckerl (1958).
KP 4.925, F. Kudlien; BNP 11 (2007) 379–380, V. Nutton.
Daniela Manetti
Plentiphane ̄s (500 – 90 BCE)
Agricultural writer whose work was known to C D (V, RR 1.1.9–10).
Since “Plentiphane ̄s” is not a plausible Greek name, one may infer textual corruption of
e.g. L.
RE 21.1 (1951) 226, K. Ziegler.
Philip Thibodeau
PLATUSE ̄MOS (?)