GEOGRAPHER, PHYSICIAN

Life
Ctesias was born in Cnidus in Asia Minor and studied at its famous School. He was taken prisoner by the Persians in 417 BC, and remained at the Persian court as physician to the emperor Artaxerxes II for 15 years, returning to Cnidus in 398 BC. He made use of the natural gas of Carmania (ancient Persian land, today called Kerman), and introduced into Persia from Greece a "fragrant balm" of tansy. He is cited by Aristotle, Diodorus, Plutarch and Oribasius.


Work
His principal works are:

"On Persia": 23 books. Geography and history of Persia.

"On India": The first book written in Greek treating exclusively of India, its geography and natural features, and the habits and customs of its people. Exists only in an abstract compiled by the patriarch Photios of Constantinople in the 9th century.

"Travels": 3 books. Work of geography.

"On hellebore": Use and dosage of the drug.