RE 1.2 (1894) 2368–2369, Fr. Hultsch; Heath (1921) 2.203; E. Darmstaedter, “Anthemios und sein
‘künstliches Erdbeben’ in Byzanz,” Philologus 88 (1933) 477–482; Downey (1948) 112–114; G.L.
Huxley, Anthemius of Tralles (1959); Soulis (review of Huxley), Speculum 35 (1960) 123–124; RBK 1
(1963) 177–178, M. Restle; Warren (1976); W.R. Knorr, “The Geometry of Burning Mirrors in
Antiquity,” Isis 74 (1983) 63–70; A. Jones, “On Some Borrowed and Misunderstood Problems in
Greek Catoptrics,” Centaurus 30 (1987) 1–17; Mainstone (1988) 157; ODB 109, M.J. Johnson and A.
Kazhdan; PLRE 3 (1992) 88–89 (#2); Rashed (2000).
Kostis Kourelis and Alain Bernard
Anthemustio ̄n (unknown date)
Author of a recipe for a trokhiskos for snake-bite or bites of other venomous creatures,
preserved in the C and L recensions of the Hippiatrika (Hippiatrica Cantabrigiensia 71.22).
CHG v.2; McCabe (2007).
Anne McCabe
Anthimus (of Constantinople?) (ca 475 – 525 CE)
Greek-speaking physician, born ca 455, wrote an extant food manual/cookery book in
Latin, the Epistula Anthimi De obseruatione ciborum. The short booklet carries the full title Viri
inlustris comitis et legatarii ad gloriosissimum Theudoricum regem Francorum de obseruatione ciborum,
thus dedicated to the Frankish king, Theuderic. Malkhos of Philadelpheia (fr.15 Blockley)
writes that Anthimus had been deeply involved in the complicated and treacherous bargain-
ing by two Gothic chieftains (Theodoric Strabo ̄, and Theodoric the Amal, son of Theod-
emir, who would become Theodoric the Great) as they attempted to manipulate advantage
in making alliance with the emperor Ze ̄no ̄n in Constantinople. In 478, letters addressed to
Theodoric the Amal, signed by Anthimus and two other officials, were intercepted while
negotiations were ongoing with Theodoric Strabo ̄. Ze ̄no ̄n arrested all three, had them
whipped in public, and sentenced them to perpetual exile. Anthimus spent some years in
Ravenna at the court of Theodoric the Amal (Strabo ̄ was killed in 481), and was sent as an
ambassador by the Ostrogothic king to Theuderic, king of the Franks, sometime after 511.
Dates of Anthimus’ birth and death are unknown, but Grant (23–24) speculates that De
obseruatione was written either in 516 or 523.
De obseruatione is essentially a “letter” to the king of the Franks about foodstuffs: some are
good for maintaining health, others are not. Occasionally Anthimus suggests how to cook
and serve foods according either to a “Greek” style or perhaps to what was customary in
Ravenna. He occasionally reveals his native language in offhanded comments: e.g. §64 (fit
etiam de hordeo opus bonum, quod nos graece alfita, latine uero polentam, Gothi uero fenea: “Also from
barley is made a good (recipe) from what we call alfita in Greek, in Latin termed polenta, but
in the foreign tongue of the Goths, fenea”), 78 (oxygala graece quod latine uocant melca id est lac:
“curdled milk is called oxygala in Greek and melca in Latin”), etc. Anthimus’ Byzantine
medical background often shows through (specific dietetics on consumption of fowl, e.g.
§23), and he is sometimes clearly impressed by Frankish foods that are both medicines and
fit nourishment (§14: bacon eaten raw is an excellent vermifuge, and is likewise a superb
wound-healer; §15: Frankish beer is of the finest quality as is mead “if the honey is good”).
The Goths and Franks were very fond of venison, ox, pork, hare, lamb, beef, and boar:
Anthimus (§3) suggests such might be even better for one’s health if cooked with spices,
including peppercorns, kostos, spikenard, cloves, pennyroyal, celery, and fennel.
ANTHIMUS (OF CONSTANTINOPLE?)