Paul of Aegina
Encyclopedia
Paul of Aegina or Paulus Aegineta (Aegina
, 625?–690?) was a 7th-century Byzantine Greek
physician
best known for writing the medical encyclopedia
Medical Compendium in Seven Books
. For many years in the Byzantine Empire
, this work contained the sum of all Western
medical knowledge and was unrivaled in its accuracy and completeness.
, and that he travelled a good deal, visiting, among other places, Alexandria. He is sometimes called Iatrosophistes and Periodeutes, a word which probably means a physician who travelled from place to place in the exercise of his profession. The exact time when he lived is not known; but, as he quotes Alexander of Tralles
, and is himself quoted by Yahya ibn Sarafyun
(Serapion the Elder), it is probable that Abu-al-Faraj is correct in placing him in the latter half of the 7th century.
says he wrote several medical works, of which the principal one is still extant, with no exact title, but is commonly called Medical Compendium in Seven Books
. This work is chiefly a compilation from earlier writers.
His reputation in the Islamic world seems to have been very great, and it is said that he was especially consulted by midwives, whence he received the name of Al-kawabeli or "the Accoucheur." He is said by the Arabic writers to have written a work, "De Mulierum Morbis," and another, "De Puerulorum Vivendi Ratione atque Curatione." His great work was translated into Arabic by Hunayn ibn Ishaq
.
The sixth book on surgery
in particular was referenced in Europe
and the Arab world
throughout the Middle Ages
and is of special interest for surgical history
. The whole work in the original Greek was published in Venice
in 1528, and another edition appeared in Basel
in 1538. Several Latin translations have been published and it was first translated into English
, with commentary by Dr. Francis Adams
sometime between 1844 and 1848.
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
, 625?–690?) was a 7th-century Byzantine Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
best known for writing the medical encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
Medical Compendium in Seven Books
Medical Compendium in Seven Books
The Medical Compendium in Seven Books or Epitomes iatrikes biblio hepta was a medical treatise of seven books written by Paul of Aegina in the 7th century CE.-Summary:...
. For many years in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, this work contained the sum of all Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
medical knowledge and was unrivaled in its accuracy and completeness.
Life
Nothing is known about his life, except that he was born in the island of AeginaAegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
, and that he travelled a good deal, visiting, among other places, Alexandria. He is sometimes called Iatrosophistes and Periodeutes, a word which probably means a physician who travelled from place to place in the exercise of his profession. The exact time when he lived is not known; but, as he quotes Alexander of Tralles
Alexander of Tralles
Alexander of Tralles in Lydia was one of the most eminent of the ancient physicians. His date may safely be put in the 6th century, for he mentions Aëtius Amidenus, who probably did not write until the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century, and he is himself quoted by Paul of...
, and is himself quoted by Yahya ibn Sarafyun
Yahya ibn Sarafyun
Yahya ibn Sarafyun a Syrian physician, known in Europe as Johannes Serapion, and commonly called Serapion the Elder to distinguish him from Serapion the Younger, with whom he was often confused.-Biography:...
(Serapion the Elder), it is probable that Abu-al-Faraj is correct in placing him in the latter half of the 7th century.
Works
The SudaSuda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
says he wrote several medical works, of which the principal one is still extant, with no exact title, but is commonly called Medical Compendium in Seven Books
Medical Compendium in Seven Books
The Medical Compendium in Seven Books or Epitomes iatrikes biblio hepta was a medical treatise of seven books written by Paul of Aegina in the 7th century CE.-Summary:...
. This work is chiefly a compilation from earlier writers.
His reputation in the Islamic world seems to have been very great, and it is said that he was especially consulted by midwives, whence he received the name of Al-kawabeli or "the Accoucheur." He is said by the Arabic writers to have written a work, "De Mulierum Morbis," and another, "De Puerulorum Vivendi Ratione atque Curatione." His great work was translated into Arabic by Hunayn ibn Ishaq
Hunayn ibn Ishaq
Hunayn ibn Ishaq was a famous and influential Assyrian Nestorian Christian scholar, physician, and scientist, known for his work in translating Greek scientific and medical works into Arabic and Syriac during the heyday of the Islamic Abbasid Caliphate.Ḥunayn ibn Isḥaq was the most productive...
.
The sixth book on surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in particular was referenced in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
throughout the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and is of special interest for surgical history
History of surgery
Surgery is the branch of medicine that deals with the physical manipulation of a bodily structure to diagnose, prevent, or cure an ailment. Ambroise Paré, a 16th century French surgeon, stated that there were to perform surgery: "To eliminate that which is superfluous, restore that which has been...
. The whole work in the original Greek was published in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1528, and another edition appeared in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
in 1538. Several Latin translations have been published and it was first translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, with commentary by Dr. Francis Adams
Francis Adams (translator)
Francis Adams was a Scottish medical doctor and translator of Greek medical works.Adams had a practice in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, from 1819 to 1861...
sometime between 1844 and 1848.
External links
- Heiberg's CMG' Greek text edited by Johan Ludvig HeibergJohan Ludvig Heiberg (historian)Johan Ludvig Heiberg was a Danish philologist and historian. He is best known for his discovery of previously unknown texts in the Archimedes Palimpsest, and for his edition of Euclid's Elements that T. L. Heath translated into English...
(1921-1924)