BOTANIST, PHARMACOLOGIST, PHYSICIAN, AGRICULTURALIST

Life
Born in Clarus, near the Ionian city of Colophon. Son of Demaeus. He was a contemporary of Aratus and Theocritus, and served as a priest of Apollo in Clarus.


Work
He wrote:

"Collection of remedies": 3 books.

"On prognostics"

"On farming"

"On bee-keeping"

"On serpents"

"Exegesis on Hippocrates"

"Metamorphoses": Discussed by Antoninus Liberalis and Ovid

"Aetolica" and "Boeotica" - Works of geography.

"Colophoniaca"

"On poets"

"Thebaica"

"Sicelia"

"Europaica"

"Otaica"

"On hunting"

"Theriaca": Poem in 958 hexameters. Describes venomous beasts (including 14 species of snake), the effects of their poisons and the proper remedies. Mentions 125 species of plants. First recorded reference to the use of leeches. Survives.

"Alexipharmaca": Poem in 630 hexameters. Describes poisons in general, analyses 19 specific poisons (8 animal and 11 vegetable), and lists appropriate cures. Survives.