The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek tradition and its many heirs

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Apollodo ̄ros De ̄mokritean (150 – 80 BCE)


P 24.167, listing him before K, records that to -D’ list of
Persian plants, he added aiskhunomene ̄ (Mimosa asperata L.) and krokis, allegedly a spider-bane.
Wellmann, noting that of the sources Pliny lists for Book 27, only “Apollodorus” is not cited
explicitly within, argues that this Apollodo ̄ros is Pliny’s primary source there. He also iden-
tifies this Apollodo ̄ros with the Apolla ̄s cited in the Schol. Nik. The ̄r. (but cf. A 
T), as well as with Apollodo ̄ros On Perfumes (cf. A (M.)); finally he
dates this Apollodo ̄ros to the 1st c. CE. Jacques (2002) fr.15 identifies the man of 24.167 with
A   ̄.


M. Wellmann, “Beiträge zur Quellenanalyse des älteren Plinius. II,” Hermes 68 (1933) 93–105.
PTK


Apollodo ̄ros the the ̄riakos (280 – 240 BCE)


Physician and naturalist, possibly active in Alexandria, though there is no persuasive evi-
dence of links with Egypt, except for a possible but unverifiable hypothesis that Apollodo ̄ros
was the author of a wine handbook for a Ptolemy (P 14.76). Pliny’s Apollodorus adsectator
Democriti (24.167) refers to the the ̄riakos (fr.15; cf. Jacques [2002] 2. with n. 59). Per-
haps the the ̄riakos wrote a general work on pharmacology (frr.16, 18), but his only work to
have been clearly confirmed is his iological work. His book on venom treatments is quoted
as the ̄riakos logos (fr.1), Peri the ̄rio ̄n (frr.4, 8, 10, cf. Pliny 1.ind.11: Apollodoro qui de bestiis uenenatis).
The venomous species mentioned are khershudros (fr.1), pareias (2), tuphlo ̄pes (3), spiders (4) and
scorpions (5). Specific chapters are probably tripartite: see frr.2, 5 (descriptive elements), 1
(symptomatology), 6–10 (therapy). Despite the lack of explicit testimonies referring to an
alexipharmakos logos, the mention of poison renders its actual existence probable: toxikon (11),
mushrooms (12), toad (13), litharge (14), henbane and salamanders (16). Apollodo ̄ros is
concerned with zoological (2, 3) and botanical (10, 17) nomenclature. His work is influenced
by the Peripatos: see frr.4 (A) and 1 (T). It has been said that
N merely put Apollodo ̄ros’ work into verse – an opinion which has become a
dogma – and that it could be reconstructed on the basis of parallel passages in Nikandros’
and Pliny’s works and those of iologists before or after Nikandros’ time. However, there are
several divergences between Apollodo ̄ros and the rest of iological literature, and disagree-
ments between Apollodo ̄ros and Nikandros.


Ed.: O. Schneider, Nicandrea (1856) 181–201; Jacques (2002) 2.285–292 (see –, –
).
RE 1.2 (1894) 2895 (#69), M. Wellmann; Idem, Hermes 43 (1908) 379, n.1; Jacques (2007) 3.301 (see
Index V, s.v. Apollodoros).
Jean-Marie Jacques


Apollodo ̄ros of Artemita (ca 130 – 50 BCE?)


Parthian Greek, wrote Parthika, in at least four books, the primary resource for S’s
evidence on Central Asia, Asiatic Skuthia, Iran, Armenia, India, and P T’
Historiae Philippicae (Books 41 and 42: Nikonorov 108). P lists an unspecified
Apollodo ̄ros among his foreign experts on Central Asian geography (1.ind.6), perhaps his
source on Margiana (6.46–47) and possibly our author (Nikonorov 112). Apollodo ̄ros
determined the borders of Hurkania and Baktria more accurately than others (Str. 2.5.12),


APOLLODO ̄ROS DE ̄MOKRITEAN
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