Theodorus Priscianus

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Theodorus Priscianus was a Roman physician of late antiquity who probably came from North Africa . All that is known about his life is the self-testimony that he was a student of Vindicianus , i.e. lived at the turn of the 4th to the 5th century AD, and that he wrote Latin and Greek specialist literature, but also wrote Latin noster sermon , so was the language he was familiar with. The fact that he worked as a doctor results from the frequent reference to his own experience in the recipes. But he also sees nature as beneficial for people through the remedies that it provides.

Euporiston

The work Euporiston = easy to obtain remedies from Theodorus Priscianus has been preserved in 4 books. In a foreword, the author takes a critical look at the doctors. Nevertheless, his treatment instructions are also aimed at the doctor, because some, such as B. the burning out of boils are unimaginable in lay hands.

Book 1, External Diseases, Euporiston Faenomenon

The first book deals with ailments that show up in human appearance. This ranges from cosmetics, such as dyeing the hair black, to serious illnesses such as erysipelas = De igne sacrö . Mainly Pliny the Elder , Galen and Oreibasios , but also Aulus Cornelius Celsus and Scribonius Largus are used as sources . Theodorus Priscianus complements the pharmaceutical products with treatments by the methodologists , such as baths, rubs and diets.

Book 2, Internal Diseases, Logici

In the second book, Theodorus Priscianus treats diseases that are not manifested by external signs. The book is closely related to the work of Sorano, which was translated into Latin by Caelius Aurelianus : De morbis acutis et chronicis . Theodorus Priscianus has also divided his work into acute and chronic diseases and largely treats the same diseases. Some of these are clinical pictures such as epilepsy , which have a certain proximity to their current definition in the ICD-10 , some are symptoms such as coughing, and others are imprecise information such as de cardiacis = from stomach sufferers . The descriptions of diseases and healing methods have numerous equivalents in the works of other medical writers, such as Galenus of Pergamon, Oribasius, Pedanios Dioskurides and Caelius Aurelianus. From the latter he could also have taken over the therapies of the methodologists, which he makes extensive use of. Theodorus Priscianus has other priorities than Caelius Aurelianus. This draws cholera into a theoretical system of diseases: "Cholerica passio est solutio stomachi ac uentris et intestinorum cum celerrimo periculo" "Cholera is a state of slackness of the stomach and internal organs with great danger." On the other hand, Theodorus Priscianus writes in a practical way: "Cholera ... sub unius diei spatio frequenter ... vitae terminum fecit, dum subitanei vomitus, ventris quoque innumerae effusiones" "Cholera often ends life after a day with sudden vomiting and countless diarrhea."







Book 3, Women's Diseases, Gynecia

The book is a short excerpt from the περι γυναικεὶων παδῶν of Soranos. Theodorus Priscianus dedicates the work to a Victoria artis meae dulce ministerium , probably a midwife with whom he worked. From the much more extensive work of Soranos he has selected topics from the border area of ​​the work of doctor and midwife.

Book 4, Miracle Cure , Physicorum

In the fourth book, Theodorus Priscianus collects the magical remedies and remedies of the dirty pharmacy for two diseases , which he finds in abundance in Pliny the Elder, among others. The contrast to Book 2 is great. While epilepsy is treated there with bloodletting , fasting and oil rubs, here he recommends donkey urine, swallow blood, and the killing of a sacred bird.

Aftermath and Tradition

Theodorus Priscianus was quoted by Alexander von Tralles and other writers of late antiquity. It was not forgotten in the Middle Ages either. Valentin Rose published an edition in 1894 using several codices, in particular the lost codices of Sigismund Gelenius (edited in 1532) and the Codices Bruxellensi No. 1342-1350 from the 12th century.

Text editions and translations

literature

  • Theodor Meyer: Theodorus Priscianus and Roman Medicine , Explanations and Notes, Jena 1909
  • Valentin Rose: Theodori Prisciani Euporiston libri III , introduction, Leipzig 1894
  • Christian Schulze: The pharmaceutical specialist literature in antiquity , Göttingen 2002
  • Wolfgang Wegner: Theodorus Priscianus. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 1385.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Theodorus Priscianus: Euporiston , Book IV, 3.
  2. ^ Theodorus Priscianus: Euporiston , Book I, 1.
  3. ↑ Christian Schulze: The pharmaceutical specialist literature in antiquity , p. 102.
  4. ^ Theodor Meyer: Theodorus Priscianus and the Roman medicine, notes.
  5. ^ Theodor Meyer: Theodorus Priscianus and the Roman medicine, notes.
  6. ^ Caelius Aurelianus: celerum passionum , III, 191.
  7. ↑ Theodorus Priscianus: Logicus , XIII, 37
  8. ↑ Theodor Meyer: Theodorus Priscianus and Roman Medicine, Special Pathology and Therapy, pp. 71–72.
  9. ^ Theodor Meyer: Theodorus Priscianus and Roman medicine, The life and writings of Theodorus Priscianus, pp. 30–31.
  10. ^ Theodori Prisciani Euporiston libri III , editi a Valentino Rose, p. IV, VIII.
personal data
SURNAME Priscianus, Theodorus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sermon, noster
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman physician of late antiquity
DATE OF BIRTH before 400
DATE OF DEATH after 400