So ̄ranos’ dependence on earlier medical traditions and dogmas is apparent as he composes
his medico-historical doxography. Both So ̄ranos and Caelius Aurelianus retail previous
written authorities in describing and treating specific diseases, and occasionally add harsh
criticism – even of Hippokrate ̄s. So ̄ranos seems one of the more “practical” in his
approach, but even with his clear adaptation of much midwifery, he imposes the necessity
of Greek literacy for any woman to be a success in what was recognized as the “common
knowledge of women.”
Ed.: V. Rose, Sorani Gynaeciorum vetus translatio Latina nunc prima edita cum additis Graeci textus reliquiis a
Dietzio repertis atque ad ispum codicum Parisiensem (1882); J. Ilberg, Sorani Gynaeciorum libri IV. De signis
fracturarum. De fasciis. Vita Hippocratis secundum Soranum (1927) = CMG 4; O. Temkin, trans.; Soranus’
Gynecology (1956; repr. 1991); Pinault (1992) 8–18; FGrHist 1062 (J. Radicke); P. Burguière,
D. Gourevitch, and Y. Malinas, Soranos d’Éphèse: Maladies des femmes 4 vv. (CUF 1988 – 2003).
RE 3A.1 (1927) 1113–1130, F.E. Kind; John Scarborough, Roman Medicine (1969); DSB 11 (1975)
538 – 542, M. Michler; G.E.R. Lloyd, “The Critique of Traditional Ideas in Soranus’ Gynecology”
in Science, Folklore and Ideology (1983) 168–200; D. Gourevitch, Le mal d’être femme. La femme et la médecine
à Rome (1984); L. Dean-Jones, “The Cultural Construct of the Female Body in Classical Greek
Science,” in S.B. Pomeroy, ed., Women’s History and Ancient History (1991) 111–137; John Scarborough,
“The Pharmacy of Methodist Medicine,” and A.E. Hanson, “The Restructuring of Female Physi-
ology at Rome,” in Mudry and Pigeaud (1991) 204–216 and 255–268; J.M. Riddle, Contraception and
Abortion from the Ancient World to the Renaissance (1992) 25–30, 46–56; J. Mansfeld, Prolegomena. Questions
to be Studied before the Study of an Author, or a Text (1994); R. Polito, “I quattri libri sull’anima di Sorano e
lo scritto De anima di Tertulliano,” Rivista di Storia della Filosofia 3 (1994) 423–468; H. King, Hippocrates’
Woman (1998); Ph.J. van der Eijk, “Antiquarianism and Criticism: Forms and Functions of Medical
Doxography in Methodism (Soranus, Caelius Aurelianus),” in van der Eijk (1999) 397–452; John
Scarborough, “Drugs and Drug Lore in the Time of Theophrastus: Folklore, Magic, Botany,
Philosophy and the Rootcutters,” AClass 49 (2006) 1–29.
John Scarborough
So ̄ranos of Ko ̄s (350 BCE – ca 120 CE)
One of S’ sources for his biography of H (Vita Hipp. 3–5: CMG 4,
pp. 175–176). The Souda Sigma-852 mentions So ̄ranos of Mallos, acclaimed by A-
A as an excellent doctor ( perhaps ca 460 CE, if not a confusion for
So ̄ranos of Ko ̄s or of Ephesos).
RE 3A.1 (1927) 1130, F.E. Kind; Pinault (1992) 7, 11, 83.
PTK
C. Sornatius (before 75 CE)
Roman author, cited by P as an authority on drugs made from aquatic animals
(1.ind.31–32, 32.68). He is hardly to be identified with the legate who accompanied Licinius
Lucullus during the third Mithridatic war (73– 68 BCE: MRR 2.621).
RE 3A.1 (1927) 1137–1138, Fr. Münzer.
Jan Bollansée, Karen Haegemans, and Guido Schepens
So ̄sagoras (250 BCE – 25 CE)
Physician whose remedy for joint pain contained equal parts of roasted lead, poppy “tears,”
henbane-bark, sturax, sulfurwort, suet, resin, and beeswax (C 5.18.29). A rare name,
SO ̄SAGORAS