The Petosiris-Nekhepso fragments (frr.6–12 Riess) include omens from phenomena such
as eclipses with their colors and the direction of the winds blowing, heliacal risings of
Sirius, and comets, and they are preserved in the works of H T,
P, and I “L”. Fragment 12 bears relation to another demotic papyrus
(G.R. Hughes, “A Demotic Astrological Text,” JNES 10 [1951] 256–264) concerning the
heliacal rising of Sirius, the positions of planets and the directions of winds. Another set of
fragments deals with the date of conception for the purpose of computing the length of a
native’s life by means of the rising times of the zodiacal signs between the ascendant and
mid-heaven at birth.
Another group of texts ascribed to Petorisis-Nekhepso are the “mysteries” revealed to
Nekhepso in a vision and recorded in 13 books, many fragments and passages of which
are given by V V, Anthologies (e.g., 3.16) and by Firmicus Maternus (4.22.2),
who calls him “the most just ruler of Egypt and an exceedingly good astrologer,” as well as
simply “the king.” Here again, the length of life of the native is computed, as is the Lot
of Fortune and other times in a person’s life found to be good or bad, or related to travel,
injury, children and death, on the basis of horoscopic methods, such as the lord of the year.
Nekhepso’s knowledge of the healing power of plants and stones in sympathy with
the zodiac comes down to us in the autobiographical epistolary prologue of T
T. Thessalos, engaged in the study of the miraculous, comes across a book
by Nekhepso, but the remedies are not good and he seeks more direct knowledge from the
god Asclepius (Imhotep) himself.
Finally, numerological treatises addressed to Nekhepso by Petosiris are attested (e.g., CCAG
7 [1908] 161–162).
E. Riess, “Nechepsonis et Petosiridis fragmenta magica,” Philologus, S.6 (1892) 327–394; C. Darmstadt,
De Nechepsonis-Petosiridis Isagoge quaestiones selectae (1916); RE 16 (1935) 2160–2167, 19 (1938) 1165,
W. Kroll; Gundel and Gundel (1966) 27–36; DSB 10.547–549, D.E. Pingree; DPA 4 (2005) 601–615,
P.P. Fuentes Gonzalez.
Francesca Rochberg
Petrikhos (200 – 100 BCE)
Wrote a didactic poem on poisons and remedies (Ophiaka), a physician cited by P
(and scholiasts) as source for Books 20–27 on plants. Petrikhos indicates as remedies for
snake bites hen’s brain, oregano, and fennel (20.258), and recommends small bur-parsley
for wounds caused by poisonous marine animals (22.83).
RE 19.1 (1938) 1189–1190, W. Kroll; Jacques (2002) –.
Arnaud Zucker
Petro ̄n(as) of Aigina (500 – 400 BCE)
Teacher of an Aristo ̄n (P 10, p. 72.13), supposed author of the H-
O , recognized by G as “ancient” (CMG 5.9.1, p. 135): he was known
for giving feverish patients roasted pork, wine and cold water (C 3.9 = E
fr.213 Garofalo, cf. frr.214, 217). His theory about health and disease is quoted by the
L (20.2–24): bodies are composed of two elements (heat and cold),
each of which has a corresponding element (antistoikhon), hot corresponding to dry, and
cold to moist. Diseases can arise from the elements themselves and from digestive residues.
PETRIKHOS