Ed.: Steckerl (1958).
RE 22.2 (1954) 1735–1739, K. Bardong; OCD3 1241 – 1242, J.T. Vallance; BNP 11 (2007) 782–783, V.
Nutton.
Daniela Manetti
Primio ̄n (100 BCE – 80 CE)
A records and approves Primio ̄n’s remedy to cicatrize severe wounds, in
G CMGen 4.5 (13.695–696 K.). The balm is compounded from so ̄ru, alum, pom-
egranate peel, unslaked lime, frankincense, oak-gall, beeswax, calf-suet, and old olive oil.
Although Pr ̄ımos is a far more common variant, Primio ̄n is not unique, known from the 1st
c. BCE to the 2nd c. CE (LGPN 2.380, 3A.376, 3B.362, 4.290).
RE 22.2 (1954) 1974, H. Diller.
GLIM
P ⇒ T P
Priscianus (ca 300 – 365 CE)
O, Ecl. Med. 54.10 (CMG 6.2.2., p. 218), records his enema for dysentery,
composed of ashed papyrus, lime, orpiment, and realgar, to be used like N’
( pp. 217–218). Unless the recipe is a later insertion (cf. A), this Priscianus
predates T P. The name is attested from ca 300 CE: PLRE 1 (1971)
727 – 728, but perhaps cf. P.
(*)
PTK
Priscianus of Caesarea (Mauretania) (500 – 525 CE)
The widely-used grammarian of Latin, who taught in Constantinople. He also composed
two or three small works, De Figuris, Description of the World-Globe, and perhaps a brief poem
On the Stars. The first gives a false theory of the Roman numerals (§ 1 – 8), an accurate
account of the Roman weights and coins (§ 9 – 18), and the conjugation of the Latin
numeral-words (§ 19 – 32); ed. Keil, GL 3 (1859) 406–417. The geographical poem is a free
interpretation of the poem of D A, omitting most pagan refer-
ences: Priscianus describes in hexameters the parts of the Earth (vv. 1–36), the ocean and its
inlets (37–66), the Mediterranean from the Pillars to the Pontos (67–159), Libya, its peoples
and lands (160–258), Europe, its peoples, lands, and isles (259–567), the isles of the Ocean
(568–613), and Asia, its peoples and lands (614–1034): ed. Paul van de Woestijne, La périégèse
de Priscian (1953). A mnemonic poem listing the constellations, northern, zodiacal, and
southern, may be his: ed. A. Riese, Anthologia Latina (1906) #679.
BNP 11 (2007) 868–870, P.L. Schmidt.
PTK
Priscianus of Ludia (ca 530 CE)
Neo-Platonic philosopher and colleague of S active in Athens when Justinian’s
new laws forbade pagan philosophers to teach (529 CE). Little is known about his life or his
PRISCIANUS OF LUDIA