S ⇒ S S
Samuel of Nehardea, Mar Samuel (d. ca 254 CE)
Jewish legal scholar, physician, astronomer, and head of a Rabbinic academy in Nehardea.
The Babylonian Talmud preserves many of his teachings and many traditions about him. He
is famous for curing eye diseases (‘Abodah Zarah 28b; Shabbat 78a, 108b). He also advises on
a variety of other ailments, including medical complications of circumcision (Shabbat 133b–
134b, 137a–b; Ketubbot 110b; Nedarim 37b, 41a, 54b; Gittin 70a; Baba Batra 146a; ‘Abodah
Zarah 28a). Samuel is also celebrated as an astronomer (Berakhot 58b; cf. Shabbat 156b). Some
connection between his medical and astronomical interests is suggested by Samuel’s com-
ments on bloodletting, which include astrological elements (Shabbat 129a–b). Most stressed,
however, is his knowledge about lunar, solar, and planetary cycles essential to calculate the
luni-solar calendar and intercalation of months (‘Erubin 56a; Rosh Hashanah 20b; Sanhedrin
12b; Arakhin 9b). Jewish tradition associates him with one of the two traditional methods
for calculating solstices and equinoxes. The earliest Hebrew astronomical work, Baraita
di-Shmuel (ca 8th c.), circulated in his name, was widely read by medieval Jewish astronomers
(e.g. Shabbatai Donnolo, Abraham bar Hiyya, Abraham ibn Ezra). Analysis of traditions
associated with Samuel has led some modern scholars to speculate about the development
of a lunar visibility theory by ancient Jews. The Talmud also preserves a tradition about
Samuel Yarhina’ah (astronomer, lunar expert), physician to the Palestinian Jewish sage
R. Judah the Patriarch, who treated his eye disease (Baba Metzia 85b). Since few traditions
connect Mar Samuel to Palestine, some scholars question whether this tradition refers to the
same Samuel.
J. Preuss, Biblical and Talmudic Medicine, trans. F. Rosner (1978) passim; E. Beller, “Ancient Jewish Mathe-
matical Astronomy,” AHES 38 (1988) 51–66; EJ2 17.757–758, M. Beer.
Annette Yoshiko Reed
Sandarius/Sardacius (550 – 1300 CE)
Known only in Nicolaus Myrepsus (1.202) who attributes to SARDACIVS an “extraordin-
ary” multi-ingredient treatment for irritated bowels compounded from roses, mastic, cin-
namon, bdellium, cardamom, several varieties of pomegranate (including Syrian), ginger,
gum Arabic, acacia sap, rosemary seeds, quince, and Armenian symphutum bulbosum. Kühn,
reading the name as “Sandarius,” is skeptical of his authenticity. If Sardacius, the name
may derive from Sarde ̄s, suggesting a Ludian connection. Cf. Sardanapalus, king of Assyria,
7th c. BCE (Aristophane ̄s, Birds 1021, A, Eth. Nic. 1095b19–22, Ath., Deipn. 8
[335b-337a], 12 [528e-530c]). Cf. also Sandrocottus (Chandragupta), king of India, 3rd c.
BCE (Ath. Deip. 1 [18d–e]). Greek names in ΣΑΡ∆- are rare but attested, names in ΣΑΝ∆- are
even rarer (LGPN). Neither variant is Latin.
C.G. Kühn, Additamenta ad elenchum medicorum ueterum 24 (1836) 7.
GLIM
Sardonius (ca 60 BCE – 430 CE)
Wrote a geographical work, followed by the R C, that treated at least
Sarmatia (4.11) – i.e. before 430 CE, and Dacia (4.14) – i.e. after 60 BCE; cf. A
SAMUEL OF NEHARDEA, MAR SAMUEL