Eupalinos of Megara (550 – 500 BCE)
Son of Naustrophos, architect and engineer, built a water supply system for Samos noted
by H (3.60) as one of the three greatest achievements in Greek building and
engineering. The system, dating to ca 550 – 530 BCE, ca 2.5 km long, included a reservoir at
the spring’s source, a covered pipeline leading to a water conduit tunneled 1,036 m through
a large hill rising up behind the city, and a second pipeline that brought the water into the
city. The work may be associated with the patronage of the tyrant Polukrate ̄s in its later
phase (see also P for another impressive hydraulic project). The attribution of a
springhouse in Megara of ca 500 BCE to Eupalinos is uncertain.
H.J. Kienast, Die Wasserleitung des Eupalinos auf Samos (1995); BNP 5 (2004) 176, 177–8 (illus.), C. Höcker;
KLA 1.227–228, M. Weber.
Margaret M. Miles
Euphe ̄mios of Sicily (1000 – 1200 CE)
Greek physician cited with P X R in the Book containing compound
medicines, brought together and tried by Euphe ̄mios of Sicily the most commendable [ physician], and
Philippos Xe ̄ros of Re ̄gion, commendable physicians (Paris, BNF, graecus 2194, ff. 454– 464 V).
Euphe ̄mios’ association with Philippos Xe ̄ros (known also from the 12th c. Vat. graec. 300)
suggests that he also came from Reggio. Euphe ̄mios was probably a member of a family of
physicians, as his son composed pharmaceutical recipes (one quoted in Euphe ̄mios’ work:
the Parisian MS, f.454V). Since some of the formulae in the Parisian MS are introduced
apo pho ̄ne ̄s (“from oral presentation”), Euphe ̄mios and Philippos Xe ̄ros may have taught
medicine at a school in the area of Reggio (Ieraci Bio 228).
Costomiris (1890) 170–171; Diels 2 (1907) 38; S. (1908) 51; G. Mercati, Notizie varie di antica letteratura
medica e di bibliografia (1917) 12; Ieraci Bio (1989) 226–227.
Alain Touwaide
Euphorbos (40 – 20 BCE)
Brother of A M, and like him a follower of A B,
became the personal physician and traveling companion of I, with or for whom he
discovered the plant named for him (euphorbia), and widely used in ancient pharmacy:
P 5.16, 25.77–79.
M. Michler, “Principis medicus: Antonius Musa,” ANRW 2.37.1 (1993) 757–785 at 760–764.
PTK
Euphorio ̄n of Khalkis (275 – 220 BCE)
A scholar-poet in the manner of K, who studied at Athens under L
K, enjoyed the patronage of the wife of Alexander of Euboia, and towards the
end of his life served as librarian for Antiokhos III. His poetry, notorious for its erudition
and obscurity, became an important source for later lexicographers and technical writers
like S B, who used its material on toponyms extensively. His
Mopsopia apparently contained a discussion of perfect numbers (SH 417; cf. Lightfoot).
Among his prose works was a glossary to the Hippokratic corpus in six books (E,
Pr. [p. 5 Nachm.], B-8 [p. 28 Nachm.], fr.29 [p. 107 Nachm.]). That Euphorio ̄n also wrote
EUPHORIO ̄N OF KHALKIS