The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek tradition and its many heirs

(Ron) #1

Alkamene ̄s of Abudos (500 – 300 BCE)


Greek physician, who, according to the Peripatetic doxography in L -
 (7.40–8.10), states that diseases are due to the residues of nourishments going to the
head, like E  K, from whom Alkamene ̄s differs in assigning a more
specific role to the head as the origin of diseases.


RE S.1 (1903) 60–61 (#4b), M. Wellmann; S.3 (1918) 82 (#6), H. Gossen; BNP 1 (2002) 439, V. Nutton.
Daniela Manetti


Alkimakhos (250 – 50 BCE)


Cited by A  A, Physical Problems 4.181 (p. 36 Usener), for what the
Celts say about the conception of the mule. The archaic name is hardly attested after the 1st
c. BCE (LGPN: only 5 of 103).


RE S.1 (1903) 62 (#5b), M. Wellmann.
PTK


Alkimio ̄n (120 BCE – 25 CE)


Possibly identifiable with Claudius Alcimus, physician to Tiberius or Claudius (IGRR 1.283);
twice cited with A C (G, CMLoc 7.2 [13.31–32 K.] and CMGen
5.12 [13.835 K.]). The name, a variant of the commonly cited Alkimos (6th c. BCE to 2nd c.
CE: LGPN) is attested only in the 1st c. CE (LGPN). A records his treatments
for various ailments: roughness of the trachea and hoarseness (Gale ̄n CMLoc 7.2 [13.31– 32
K.]); duspnoia (CMLoc 7.6 [13.112 K.]: “Alkimios”); a multi-use green plaster involving
Indian aloes (CMGen 2.2 [13.493–494 K.]); a cicatrizant (CMGen 2.15 [13.529 K.]); a green
plaster attributed to Alkimio ̄n or N, also involving Indian aloes, and effective
especially for ulcers, rejoining bones, and dissipating scrofulous tumors (CMGen 5.5
[13.807–808 K.]), a multi-use lozenge (CMGen 5.12 [13.835 K.]); and a pill for skin lesions
(CMGen 5.13 [13.841–842K.]). A P., in Gale ̄n CMGen 7.6 (13.973–974),
records his emollient compounded from beeswax, “Kolopho ̄n” resin, ammo ̄niakon incense,
galbanum, myrrh, frankincense, opopanax, bee-glue, vinegar, goat-dung, and olive oil.


RE 1.2 (1894) 1541, M. Wellmann; C.A. Forbes, “The Education and Training of Slaves in Antiquity,”
TA PA 86 (1955) 321–360 at 346.
GLIM


Alkinoos (100 – 200 CE?)


The Platonic handbook Didaskalikos is transmitted under the name of the otherwise
unknown Alkinoos, long falsely identified with A. The author begins with “dia-
lectic,” comprising epistemology, the theory of division, and an essentially Peripatetic
syllogistic. Throughout the book arguments are often syllogistic. In the physical section,
Alkinoos praises the usefulness of mathematics and discusses theology and cosmology, the
formation of elements from geometrical shapes, astronomy, anthropology – including a
description of bodily organs, an etiology of diseases, accounts of sense perception and the
partition of the soul. Most of this is based on P’s Timaeus, supplemented by other
Platonic works and more recent ideas (e.g. on the Great Year as measured by the conjunction
of all the planets). The book’s last part treats ethics.


ALKAMENE ̄S OF ABUDOS
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