dislocations of the thigh. He, or P, invented the thaïs bandage: pseudo-Gale ̄n, de
Fasciis 16 (18A.789 K.).
Michler (1968) 47, 98; van der Eijk (2000–2001) fr.164.
PTK
Mona ̄s (350 – 270 BCE)
Mentioned by T, Sweat 12, as theorizing about sweat. (The rare name is
attested from Epidauros, LGPN 3A.305, and Egyptian The ̄bai, CIG 4951.)
(*)
PTK
M ⇒ S
Mo ̄(u)se ̄s (600 – 800 CE)
Alchemist, perhaps pseudonymous and alleging to be the prophet Moses. A brief late
alchemical recipe for doubling the weight of gold (The Doubling of Mo ̄se ̄s: CAAG 2.38–39)
may in fact be the work of the alchemist P (Letrouit 1995: 87). A Domestic Chemical
Treatise is ascribed to the prophet Mo ̄use ̄s in an anonymous Byzantine discussion on dying
stones (CAAG 2.353). The text entitled Chemistry of Moses by Berthelot (CAAG 2.300–315) is
an acephalic collection of alchemical recipes, following a brief introduction ( paraphrasing
Exodus 31.1–5) in which God tells Mo ̄use ̄s that he gave Beselee ̄l mastery over metal, stone
and woodworking (CAAG 2.300). However, the rest of the text refers neither to Mo ̄use ̄s nor
this story.
(*)
Bink Hallum
Moses of Xoren (Arm., Movse ̄s Xorenac‘i) (traditionally
400 – 500 CE: disputed)
Known as the “father of Armenian history” (Arm. patmahayr), there is next to nothing
known of his life. Explicit references to him or to his work are not found before the mid-9th
c. His History of Armenia traces the beginnings of the Armenian people from a descendant of
Noah to the middle of the 5th c. He provides the most detailed account of pre-Christian
Armenia and makes use of much – some otherwise unattested – archival material, as well as
extensive use of Greek historical and scientific works. In addition to his History, Moses, who
claims to have worked as a translator (III.65), was long considered to have been the author
of a Geography of Armenia, which is clearly dependent on Greek sources, such as P and
P. This attribution, however, is found only in late MSS ( post 17th c.); the work is
now generally ascribed to A S.
J. Marquart, E ̄ransˇahr nach der Geographie des Ps. Movse ̄s Chorenac‘i (1901); see also sources cited on Anania
of Shirak.
Edward G. Mathews, Jr.
MONA ̄S