Isigonos of Nikaia (50 BCE – 70 CE)
Author of high standing (Aulus Gellius 9.4), composed a work of Apista, of which fragments
survive in Cod. Vatic. 12. As the codex mentions a second book, this work consisted of at least
two books. Different themes were discussed: ethnography, zoology, hydrography. Isigonos
seems to have relied on excellent sources, such as A, A K,
T and N. Some disagreement remains regarding chronology.
Albeit, P 7.12, 7.16 functions as the ultimate terminus ante quem. The terminus post quem
depends on whether we can count V among Isigonos’ sources, combined with Isigonos’
possible role as source for P and N D. In all probability,
the author was active towards the end of the 1st c. BCE.
Ed.: PGR 146 – 148.
RE 18.3 (1949) 1137–1166 (§17, 1155–56), K. Ziegler; Giannini (1964) 124–125; KP 2 (1967) 1463,
W. Spoerri; OCD3 768, J.S. Rusten; BNP 10 (2007) 506–509 (I.B.1, 508–509), O. Wenskus.
Jan Bollansée, Karen Haegemans, and Guido Schepens
Isis, pseudo (Alch.) (175 – 225 CE)
An alchemical text entitled Of Isis the Queen of Egypt and Wife of Osiris Concerning the Sacred Art,
Addressed to her son Ho ̄ros survives in two redactions (CAAG 2.28–35; for date see Mertens
[1988] 4). Both begin with variations of a myth in which Isis receives knowledge of alchemy
from the angel Amnae ̄l and end with almost identical procedures for the “whitening of all
bodies.”
Festugière (1950) 253–256; M. Mertens, “Une scène d’initiation alchimique: la Lettre d’Isis à Horus,”
RHR 205 (1988) 3–23.
Bink Hallum
Isis, pseudo (Pharm.) (250 – 10 BCE)
S L 206 explains that G’s excellent plaster was known as “Isis”;
according to H, in G CMGen 5.2 (13.774–775 K.), E’ plaster was so-
named (cf. 5.3, p. 794); Gale ̄n distinguishes M’s, Epigonos’, and “the one called
Isis,” Ad Glauk. Meth. Med. 2.10 (11.126 K.), 2.11 ( p. 138). Gale ̄n cites several remedies thus
inscribed – CMGen 4.13 (13.736–737, 747), as does P A 4.19.2 (CMG 9.1,
p. 339, also Makhairio ̄n), 4.40.3 ( p. 360, also M and the “Athe ̄ne ̄” drug), 4.43.3
( p. 362), 4.45.5 ( p. 366), and 7.17.39–40 (CMG 9.2, pp. 356–357, also “Athe ̄ne ̄”). But at
4.48.2 ( p. 369), Paulos appears to refer to “drugs of Isis and of Makhairio ̄n,” as if “Isis”
were a person. Cf. I, (A.).
Fabricius (1726) 303–304.
PTK
Iskhomakhos of Bithunia (70 BCE – 60 CE)
Physician, wrote On the School of Hippokrate ̄s (CMG 4, p. 175), suggesting that H
E ( perhaps rather H T) attributed Regimen to H.
E censures Iskhomakhos and K M for their alternate orthography
of iktar (I-20 [p. 47.2 Nachm.]) and quotes our author with G T and an
unidentifiable Hippo ̄nax for their explanation of kokhone ̄ (fr.17 [p. 103.15 Nachm.]).
FGrHist 1058; Ihm (2002) #153.
GLIM
ISIGONOS OF NIKAIA