Krateuas (100 – 60 BCE)
Herbalist (D MM 1.pr.1: rhizotomos)
belonging to the entourage of M VI
E; among P’s physicians (1.ind. 20 –
27). He wrote a Rhizotomikon (“Herbal”) in alpha-
betical order and most probably owed to
D K more than just the title.
The entries on plants included their synonyms,
description and a list of their medicinal properties.
The plant he named Mithridatia (25.62) in honor
of the king is unidentified, an “antidote against all
poisons and magical practices” (25.127), unknown
to any other but Pliny and (following Pliny)
-A (66.12 = CML 4, p. 123). He
dealt with remedies extracted from metals (metal-
lika pharmaka: Diosk. l.c., cf. G 15.134.17 K.)
which, as in the case of his writings about medi-
cinal botany, may have been part of an extended
pharmacological work. He also wrote a popular
alphabetical Herbal in which descriptions were replaced by colored plates: see Pliny 25.8
pinxere (sc. Krateuas et alii) ... effigies herbarum atque ita subscripsere effectus. Dioskouride ̄s’
illustrated alphabetical revision, which has passed down to us through Vindob. med. gr. 1 (late
5th c. CE), includes several extracts from this Herbal and his portrait (f. 3V). These are the
only direct fragments that we have, besides the testimonies of Dioskouride ̄s, Pliny, and the
Scholia to Theokritos and N.
Ed.: M. Wellmann, Diosk. Mat. med., v. 3 (1914) 139–146.
M. Wellmann, AGGW philol.-hist. Kl. 2 (1897) 3–32; Idem, Festgabe für Fr. Susemihl (1898) 1–31; RE 11.2
(1922) 1644–1646 (#2), F.E. Kind; KP 3 (1969) 329, F. Kudlien.
Jean-Marie Jacques
Kratippos (100 BCE – 80 CE)
Wrote a Narthe ̄x (“Casket”), and kept hounds. A, in G CMLoc 6.6
(12.946 K.) = 6.7 (12.959), cites his gargle, of alum, saffron, pine-nuts, roses, and
starch, in honey; A, in Gale ̄n Antid. 2.11 (14.170 K.), cites his antidote for
hudrophobia: ashed crabs, plus saffron, gentian (cf. G), myrrh, and white pepper,
in wine.
RE 11.2 (1922) 1659 (#4), F.E. Kind.
PTK
Kratistos (of Athens?) (ca 430 – 485 CE)
P (In Eucl. p. 211.16 Fr.) cites Kratistos’ natural talent in arriving at desired results of
mathematical problems from the fewest possible first principles.
Netz (1997) #48.
GLIM
Krateuas (Vind. Med. Gr. l, f.3V) © Öster-
reichische Nationalbibliothek
KRATISTOS (OF ATHENS?)