Apelle ̄s (of Thasos?) (250 BCE – 20 CE)
An Apelle ̄s is qualified as the “founder of botany” by the 15th-century Byzantine teacher
and copyist Michael Apostolios (III.60c). An Apolla ̄s wrote On Herbs (Peri Botano ̄n: Schol. Nik.
The ̄r. 559a, p. 214 Crugnola). P cites “Apelles” as a foreign authority on drugs
obtained from animals, especially aquatic (1.ind.28, qualified as “physician;” 31 – 32). Pliny
cites his theory that a decoction of land crocodile (skinkos) flesh is an effective antidote to
arrow poison (28.120) and to poisonous honey (32.43). A P., in G
CMGen 5.14 (13.853 K.), reports Apelle ̄s’ treatment and preventive for ulcers prescribed also
for dysentery, compounded from ashed papyrus, roasted lead, roasted copper, orpiment,
iron scales, and raw sulfur, applied with honey or rose oil. A “M,” in Gale ̄n
Antid. 2.8 (14.148 K.), records Apelle ̄s’ antidote comprising dittany, polion, long pepper, wild
rue, and skordion, taken with honey, effective against pleurisy and as a menstrual
emmenagogue. Wellmann identifies the man in Pliny and Gale ̄n with Apolla ̄s. Fabricius
(1726) 72 assigns the ethnic (not supplied by Pliny or Gale ̄n).
RE 1.2 (1894) 2687 (#1), J. Kirchner, 2688 (#11), M. Wellmann; Jacques (2002) –.
GLIM and Alain Touwaide
Apellis (260 – 120 BCE?)
Invented a trispaston (triple pulley) for hauling ships by winch (ergate ̄s), producing its mechan-
ical advantage through a cascading series of pulleys that drew two paired ropes inward to
the machine when a third single rope was hauled outward. The device is described by
O Coll. 49.22 (CMG 6.2.2, p. 33) probably from H A;
compare P. The rare name is attested through ca 100 BCE (LGPN 3A.48, 4.33).
Drachmann (1963) 178–180.
PTK
Aphroda ̄s (90 BCE – 80 CE)
Student or follower of M (see A, in G, CMLoc 7.2 [13.30– 31
K.]), and thus dated. He is often cited by Andromakhos: for a khalkitis-based blood-
stanch (CMLoc 3.3 [12.695 K.]), henbane- and opium-laced toothache remedies (ibid. 5.5
[12.878]), a complex and costly aromatic arte ̄riake ̄ (ibid. 7.2 [13.30–31]: amo ̄mon, cas-
sia, cinnamon, frankincense, kostos, myrrh, nard, roses, saffron, etc.), an opium- and
henbane-based anodyne (ibid. 7.5 [13.94–95]), a colic remedy involving opium, aloes, etc.
(ibid. 8.2 [13.135–136]), and an akopon (CMGen 7.3 [13.1035 K.]). Andromakhos cites
several of his wound plasters, two “green” (copper-salts-based) – one with verdigris (ibid.
2.2 [13.494–495 K.]), the other with misu, copper flakes, roasted copper, and much else
(ibid. 2.20 [13.551]) – and a bitumen plaster admired by Andromakhos (ibid. 2.22 [13.555–
556]); A P. gives another “green” plaster from Aphroda ̄s (ibid. 4.13
[13.738]: not only khalkitis, khalkanthon, and misu, but also litharge and Sino ̄pian
earth). Aphroda ̄s also compounded antidotes, one used by Andromakhos containing over
two dozen ingredients (including amo ̄mon, cinnamon, Indian nard, kostos, myrrh, and
saffron: Gale ̄n, Antid. 2.2 [14.111–112 K.]), the other cited by Gale ̄n himself (ibid. 2.17
[14.207–208]) for hudrophobia, a rose-water potion of only lathuris (Euphorbia lathyris L., cf.
Gale ̄n, Simples 7.11.2 [12.56 K.]; Durling 1999: 217).
RE 1.2 (1894) 2725, M. Wellmann.
PTK
APHRODA ̄S