Andromachus the Elder

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Moyse Charas Theriaque d'Andromachus (1668)

Andromachos , called the Elder , ( ancient Greek Ἀνδρόμαχος Andrómachos , Latin Andromachus ) was a doctor from Crete in the 1st century BC. According to Galenus , under Emperor Nero, he had the position of archiatrist , that is, of personal physician ( Ἀνδρόμαχος ὁ Νέρωνος ἀρχιατρὸς ).

As a doctor, Andromachos mainly dealt with antidotes against animal poisons. Be famous was Galene called antidote, about which he is a 87 elegiac couplets handed down comprehensive and Galen didactic poem written. With this recipe the introduction of the term Theriac for such antidotes is connected. In the poem he places himself in the tradition of Nikandros from Kolophon , a doctor of the 2nd century BC. BC, who also dealt with animal poisons and wrote didactic poems about it. Andromachos dedicates himself in the poem to the description of the individual ingredients, his interest is directed to offer an actually comprehensible and practicable instruction manual.

The formula gained such fame that it became the most effective antidote to date, which was used in the 1st century BC. Developed Mithridatikum of the Pontic king Mithridates VI. Eupator , in importance. Its most controversial ingredient was a preparation made from vipers . Until the 16th century it was considered an important antidote for poisoning after animal bites, its effects and production were also discussed afterwards. Andromachos' son was Andromachos the younger , who also worked as a doctor and devoted himself to ophthalmology , but also to antidotes and pharmacology .

literature

Remarks

  1. ^ Galenos, De antidotis 1.1 ( 14.2 Kühn ).
  2. ↑ Galenos, De antidotis 1.6 ( 14.32–42 Kühn); on the poem, see Ernst Heitsch : Studies in the history of tradition on Andromachos, Markellos von Side and Carmen de virbus herbarum. In: News from the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen. 1963, No. 2, pp. 25-49, and Bernd Effe : Poetry and teaching. Investigations into the typology of the ancient didactic poem (= Zetemata . Volume 69). CH Beck, Munich 1977, pp. 194-196.
  3. ^ Gundolf Keil : Theriak. In: Werner E. Gerabek (Ed.): Encyclopedia of Medical History. De Gruyter, Berlin 2004, p. 1393 f.
  4. ↑ Bernd Effe: Poetry and teaching. Investigations into the typology of the ancient didactic poem (= Zetemata . Volume 69). CH Beck, Munich 1977, p. 196.
  5. ↑ On the Mithridatic see Laurence MV Totelin: Mithradates' Antidote: A Pharmcological Ghost. In: Early Science and Medicine. Volume 9, number 1, 2004, pp. 1-19, and Gundolf Keil: Mithridatikum. In: Werner E. Gerabek (Ed.): Encyclopedia of Medical History. De Gruyter, Berlin 2004, p. 1000 f.
  6. ^ Gundolf Keil: Mithridatikum. In: Werner E. Gerabek (Ed.): Encyclopedia of Medical History. De Gruyter, Berlin 2004, p. 1000 f.
  7. ↑ See for example Georg Bartisch . Real, real and detailed description of the diverse power, virtue, effect and usability of the noble, highly useful and excellent confection or latwergen of the great Theriack Andromachi ... Dresden 1602 (digital copy ) , and Moyse Charas . Histoire naturelle des animaux, des plantes, & des minéraux qui entrent dans la composition de la Thériaque d'Andromachus, dispensée et achevée publiquement à Paris, par Moyse Charas, l'un des Apoticaires de Monsieur le Duc d'Orléans Frère unique du Roy . Avec les reformations & les observations de l'auteur, tant sur l'élection, et sur la preparation, que sur le dernier mélange de tous les ingrédients de cette composition . Olivier de Varennes, Paris 1668 (digitized version) .
personal data
SURNAME Andromachus the Elder
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Andromachus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek doctor
DATE OF BIRTH 1st century BC BC or 1st century
PLACE OF BIRTH Crete
DATE OF DEATH 1st century or 2nd century