The first western documentation of therapeutic leech use is in the poem alexipharmaca by nicander of colophon 200 b. Given that humans have been using lead in various product for over 8,000 years with the first known mining of it in anatolia around 6500 bce, you might be surprised to learn that we have known that lead is dangerous and shouldnt be trifled with since at least 150 bc, when its effects on the human body were noted by famed greek physician nicander of colophon. A dictionary of greek and roman biography and mythology. Its complicated style, abstruse diction and technical subject matter venomous bites and their remedies have long put off classical scholars. This precious time is spent with friends and colleagues who come together to. Nicander was a fairly prolific author but only the theriaca and the alexipharmaca survive but the bristol edition has fragments from other poems.
Schneiders, who published the alexipharmaca in 1792, halae, 8vo. Medical history new, used and rare books and ephemera at. The most complete and valuable edition that has hitherto appeared is j. Almost nothing is known about nicander nuhkandur of colophons life. Colophon, an inscription placed at the end of a book or manuscript and giving details of its publicatione.
The other, alexipharmaca, consists of 630 hexameters treating of poisons and their antidotes. Nicander 2nd century bce was born near colophon, an ionian city on the western coast of present day turkey. His didactic poetry, along with that of his approximate contemporary aratus, had some influence on later poets, notably virgil and ovid. The paris nicander and the structure of the smallplants. The colophon book shop specializes in the fields of antiquarian and inprint books about books, literary first editions, and military history, especially world war i aviation and world war ii aviation. Nikander, theriaca, 10th century, constantinople nicander of colophon.
Alexipharmaca and georgica nicander of colophon was a greek poet, who probably lived in the middle of the 2nd century b. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. He wrote on medical topics in verse, mostly hexameter. Nicander of colophon, greek poet, physician and grammarian, was born at claros, near colophon, where his family held the hereditary priesthood of apollo. As of july 2017 we have closed our retail store and moved to an onlineonly venture.
Colophons were formerly printed at the ends of books, but in modern works they are usually located at the verso of the title. In eiusdem alexipharmaca diversorum auctorum scholia. Theriaca and the alexipharmaca survive but the bristol edition has fragments. An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. Theriac a term derived from the word theria dangerous or poisonous beastsbecame famous as a result of its association with the earliest extant work on poisonous animals, the theriaca of nicander of colophon second century bc. Theriaca on poisonous creatures, with remedies against their stings and bites, and alexipharmaca on antidotes to. Nicander shows no competence in the subjects or specifics of poisons and toxicology in either the theriaca or the alexipharmaca. A colophon may also be emblematic or pictorial in nature. As the worlds largest independent marketplace for new, used and rare books, you always get the best in service and value when you buy from. One on bites from venomous animals and another poem on botany helpful medicines, etc as cures for the bites. Fragments of other poems also survive, including some fairly substantial pieces of his georgica. Scholia in nicandri alexipharmaca, cum glossis ghent. I will be in saugatuck once again this may, a treasured time for me. Also author of a shorter poem, the alexipharmaca, nicander is the best cohesive source for classical.
Nicander of colophon was a greek poet, who probably lived in the middle of. Another example of this type of poetry is the phaenomena of aratus. Colophons are sometimes found in manuscripts and books made from the 6th century ce on. Each part with its own titlepage, with a woodcut caduceus device on all three. The longest, theriaca, is a hexameter poem on the nature of venomous animals and the wounds which they inflict.
We will continue to stock and specialize in new uk import titles in horror, weird fiction, and sciencefiction, and look forward to. The theriaca and alexipharmaca were printed for the first time in 1499 in venice by the legendary printer aldus manutius and reissued by alduss heirs in 1523. Alexipharmaca is a companion piece, in which nicander enumerates additional animal. Nicander in the first book of his two georgica showing the use of groats also. He was the author of two surviving poems, theriaca and alexipharmaca, and also of several other poems that are now lost. First paris edition of a work on antidotes, by the greek poet and physician nicander of colophon, fl. The other, alexipharmaca, consists of 630 hexameters treating of poisons and their.
From rats, lice, and history to the evolution of preventive medicine in the united states army, 1607 1939, from mere mortals to annual of the universal medical sciences, we can help you find the medical history books you are looking for. In modern times the theriaca of nicander of colophon 2nd century bce has not attracted many enthusiasts. But apollodorus was cribbed by nicander of colophon. Theriaca and alexipharmaca, and also of several other poems that are now lost. The move to new hampshire was made in 1982 and we are now located in exeter, new hampshire, one hour north of boston. He wrote a number of works both in prose and verse, of which two survive complete. Our edition was published in paris in 1557 by guillaume morel. Similarly, his alexipharmaca deals with various types of poisons and their antidotes. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. In nicander theriaca scholia auctoris incerti, et vetusta et utilia. The colophon book shop was established in 1971 in lagrange, illinois, by robert and christine liska. Nicander wrote at least 20 works, of which two survive.
The colophon book shop about us the last word in books. After a poem addressed to protagoras of cyzicus, the alexipharmaca presents 22 substances and entities animal, vegetable, and mineral that are fatal or harmful to human beings. Theriaca et alexipharmaca by nicander of colophon published 1856 by teubner in lipsia. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Nicander of colophon greek poet, physician and grammarian, was born at claros ahmetbeyli. The philosophy behind this disease concept was the. In medieval and renaissance manuscripts, a colophon was occasionally added by the scribe and provided facts such as his name and the date and. Theriaca et alexipharmaca by nicander of colophon, 1856, teubner edition, in ancient greek. Medicine, zoology, botany and mineralogy are the themes of nicanders two extant poems of the hellenistic period theriaca and alexipharmaca. Hahnemuhle ingres antique, mdp flax cord 88, colophons best 183 natural. These poems are interesting survivals of hellenistic literature, of which very little survived the elitist education system of late antiquity and the byzantine empire. Theriaca et alexipharmaca 1856 edition open library. Ta is the longest surviving work of the 2nd century bc greek poet nicander of colophon.
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