Heraklas was a Greek physician

Medicine in Ancient Greece

The first known Greek medical school opened in Cnidus in 700 BC. Alcmaeon, author of the first anatomical work, worked at this school, and it was here that the practice of observing patients was established. Ancient Greek medicine revolved around the theory of humours...

 of the 1st century AD whose descriptions of surgeons' knot

Knot

A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...

s and sling

Sling

The word sling may refer to:* Sling , a device used to hurl projectiles* Sling is an item of climbing equipment consisting of a sewn loop of webbing that can be wrapped around sections of rock or tied to other pieces of equipment.* Sling * Ski jumping sling is an item of sports training...

s are preserved in book 48 of Oribasius

Oribasius

Oribasius or Oreibasius was a Greek medical writer and the personal physician of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate. He studied at Alexandria under physician Zeno of Cyprus before joining Julian's retinue. He was involved in Julian's coronation in 361, and remained with the emperor until...

' Medical Collections ("Iatrikon Synagogon") under the title From Heraklas ("Εκ των Ηρακλα").

Describing them in detail, Heraklas discussed 16 different knots and slings, including the earliest known written account of a string figure

String figure

A string figure is a design formed by manipulating string on, around, and using one's fingers or sometimes between the fingers of multiple people. String figures may also involve the use of the mouth, wrist, and feet. They may consist of singular images or be created and altered as a game, known as...

. Accompanying illustrations of the knots were added later by Renaissance

Renaissance

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...

 copyists, but modern analysis of the writings by knot experts has shown many of these early drawings to contain significant errors or misinterpretations.

The knots identified

The current understanding of Heraklas' knots results primarily from modern analysis and identification by Hjalmar Öhrvall, Lawrence G. Miller, and Cyrus L. Day, although slightly differing interpretations and refinements continue to be made. The table below shows the knots believed to have been described by Heraklas.

Chapter	Greek name	Translated name	Modern equivalent
I	ertos brokhos	threaded noose	cow hitch Cow hitch The cow hitch is a hitch knot used to attach a rope to an object. The cow hitch comprises a pair of half-hitches tied in opposing directions, as compared to the clove hitch in which the half-hitches are tied in the same direction. It has several variations and is known under a variety of names...
II	nautikos brokhos	nautical noose	clove hitch Clove hitch A clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most essential knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not...
III	khiestos brokhos	crossed noose	overhand noose
IV	boukolikos brokhos or sandalios brokhos	pastoral noose or sandal noose	overhand noose variation
V	drakon brokhos	dragon noose	overhand noose variation
VI	haploun hamma brokhos	single knot noose	(No modern name)
VII	lykos brokhos	wolf noose	reef knot Reef knot The reef knot or square knot is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object. Although the reef knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together, it is not recommended for this purpose due to potential instability of the knot.A reef knot is formed by tying...
VIII	herakleotikon hamma	Hercules knot	reef knot Reef knot The reef knot or square knot is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object. Although the reef knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together, it is not recommended for this purpose due to potential instability of the knot.A reef knot is formed by tying...
IX	haplous karkhesios brokhos	single jug-sling noose	"true lover's knot True lover's knot The true lover's knot is a name which has been used for many distinct knots. The association of knots with the symbolism of love, friendship, and affection dates back to antiquity... " (ABOK Abok -Burma:*Abok, Mon State - a village in south-east Burma in Mon State*Abok, Shan State - a village in north-east Burma in Shan State...  #1038)
X–XII	diplous karkhesios brokhos	double jug-sling noose	bottle sling Bottle sling The bottle sling is a knot which can be used to create a handle for a glass or ceramic container with a slippery narrow neck, as long as the neck widens slightly near the top....
XIII	tetrakyklos plinthios brokhos	four-looped rectangular noose	String figure, "The sun clouded over"
XIV	epankylotos brokhos	interlooped noose	Tom fool's knot Tom fool's knot The Tom fool's knot is sometimes considered a Handcuff knot but is somewhat inferior for this purpose to the knot which usually bears that name. It is a good knot with which to commence a slightly fancy sheepshank. It is also used as a trick knot due to the speed with which it can be made.-Tying:It...
XV	ota brokhos	ears noose	(No modern name)
XVI	diankylos brokhos	two-looped noose	(No modern name)
XVII	ankhon brokhos	strangler noose	true lover's knot (ABOK Abok -Burma:*Abok, Mon State - a village in south-east Burma in Mon State*Abok, Shan State - a village in north-east Burma in Shan State...  #1038)
XVIII	hyperbatos brokhos	transposed noose	clove hitch Clove hitch A clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most essential knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not...