SCo) than by their structure: a skillful combination of theorems and problems, the first
progressively leading the reader to conceive solutions to the second.
Ed.: J.L. Heiberg, Sereni Ant. Opuscula (1896).
P. Ver Eecke, Le Livre de la section du cylindre, et le livre de la section du cône (1929); Decorps-Foulquier (2000)
33 – 39.
Alain Bernard
Sergius of Babylo ̄n (250 BCE – 90 CE)
A P. records two gum and rainwater collyria from Sergius, one for use
over several days, containing saffron, glaukion, hematite, and sarkokolla, in G
CMLoc 4.7 (12.746 K.: cf. H (M.) and P), the other a “one-day” cure,
compounded from saffron, acacia, burnt copper, calamine, opium, and pompholux,
applied in egg-white, ibid. (12.751 K.). The name is probably Semitic rather than Latin, as
Trajan was the first Roman to conquer Babylo ̄n.
RE 2A.2 (1923) 1689 (#5), F.E. Kind.
PTK
Sergius of Resˇaina (500 – 536 CE)
Educated in medicine and theology at Alexandria, and appointed Arkhiatros of Resˇ‘aina,
Sergius was a priest, theologian, doctor and diplomat who towards the end of his life turned
against, and thus incurred the wrath of, his fellow Monophysites. He was sent to Rome
by Ephraim, bishop of Antioch, on a mission to Pope Agapetus, to secure support for
Ephraim’s persecution of the Monophysites, and died in Constantinople in 536 CE, whilst
returning from Rome.
According to the 13th c. scholar Bar Hebraeus, Sergius was the first to translate the works
of G from Greek into Syriac. In addition to translating the entire Alexandrian medical
syllabus into Syriac, Sergius also composed his own medical treatises, including one con-
cerning dropsy. He also composed and translated other philosophical, logical, theological
and astronomical works, including a treatise on the Categories of A, in which he
refers to the work of B. Several of Sergius’ works are dedicated to his pupil and
assistant T.
Although later, mainly 13th c., commentators were critical of the quality of his transla-
tions, such criticisms should probably be understood as revisionist propaganda that, motiv-
ated by the cataclysmic consequences of the Mongol invasions, sought to promote the
accomplishments of the early ‘Abbasids (ca 750 – 900 CE) and did so at the expense of the
pre-Islamic translation movement.
PLRE 3 (1992) 1123–1124; NP 11.453–454, S.P. Brock; Siam Bhayro, “Syriac Medical Terminology:
Sergius and Galen’s Pharmacopia,” Aramaic Studies 3.2 (2005).
Siam Bhayro
Sertorius Clemens (30 BCE – 80 CE)
A records and approves his akopon: chop fresh laurel, myrtle, libano ̄tis, rue,
and sage; steep for a night and a day in a mixture of aged olive oil, laurel oil, myrtle oil, etc.,
then boil with resin, lamb-fat, Pontic beeswax, and galbanum; remove from heat and mix
SERTORIUS CLEMENS