RE 23.2 (1959) 1863 (#81), H. Diller; Michler (1968) 83–84, 122–125.
GLIM
Ptolemaios (Erasi.) (250 BCE – 100 CE?)
Erasistratean who taught that dropsy originated in the “hardness” of the liver, conclud-
ing that parakentesis (direct fluid extraction through an inserted tube) treated only the symp-
tom not the cause of the disease: C A Chron. 3.125, 130 (CML 6.1.2,
pp. 754, 756). The name is much more frequent before the Roman conquests (LGPN),
suggesting an early terminus ante, and our Erasistratean may be identical with C’
surgeon or A’ pharmacist.
Michler (1968) 83–84, 122–125; Fabricius (1972) 224, 228.
PTK
Ptolemaios Platonikos (ca 50 – ca 250 CE)
Philosopher cited by I K (I S 1.378.1–11 W.) and
P (in Tim. 1.20.7–9 D.). Ptolemaios may have commented on P’s Timaeus, since
Proklos (ibid.) claims that Ptolemaios believed the fourth, missing person in the dialogue was
Kleitopho ̄n. Influenced by both Platonic and Aristotelian theories, Ptolemaios thinks that
the soul is always in a body and moves from bodies of a rare nature into the oyster-like body,
the vehicle of the soul. It can reside in the sensible world, inhabiting solid bodies (Stobaios
1.378.1–11 W.). Ptolemaios may also have compiled a list of A’s writings, along
with his biography and testament (E, in Cat.: CAG 18.1 [1900] 107.11–14 [referring to a
certain Ptolemaios Philadelphos], 128.6–7). In this context, his name is likewise mentioned
by Arabic sources.
A. Dihle, “Der Platoniker Ptolemaios,” Hermes 85 (1957) 314–325; RE 23.2 (1959) 1859–1860 (#69),
A. Dihle; PLRE 1 (1971) 753 (#1); Moraux 1 (1973) 60–94; NP 10.571 (#68), M.-L. Lakmann.
Peter Lautner
P A ⇒ P
Ptolemaios of Kure ̄ne ̄ (125 – 75 BCE)
That the skeptic philosopher Ptolemaios of Kure ̄ne ̄ was an Empiricist physician as well
is an idea suggested by the catalogue of skeptic philosophers in D L
(9.115–116), where it is said that Ptolemaios, besides having relaunched skepticism after a
period of decline, was the teacher of He ̄rakleide ̄s. The identification of this He ̄rakleide ̄s
with H T suggested the hypothesis that the Empiricist Ptolemaios
was his teacher after his breaking with the He ̄rophilean M. But this identifica-
tion appears to be highly hypothetical, and it finds little support in the two fragments
Deichgräber decided to ascribe to him (thinking that they had been transmitted by
He ̄rakleide ̄s): the recipe against auricular ulceration that C (6.7.2B) ascribes to a
Ptolemaeus chirurgus (P (M.)), and those against headache that G ascribes
to a Ptolemaios; but Celsus’ Ptolemaeus is possibly to be identified as P (E.),
whereas Gale ̄n’s Ptolemaios is probably the same as the Ptolemaios of A P.:
see P (P.).
PTOLEMAIOS (ERASI.)