Themison of Laodicea
Encyclopedia
Themison of Laodicea, 1st century BC, was the founder of the Methodic school
of medicine
, and one of the most eminent physicians of his time.
He was a native of Laodicea in Syria, and a pupil of Asclepiades of Bithynia
. Nothing more is known about the events of his life except that he seems to have travelled a great deal; as he mentions Crete
and Milan
, apparently as an eye-witness. Neither is it certain if he ever visited Rome
, though it is perhaps more probable that he did so. He differed from his teacher on several points in his old age, and became the founder of a new sect called the Methodic school
(Methodici), which long exercised an extensive influence on medical science. He wrote several medical works, but in what language is not mentioned; of these only the titles and a few fragments remain, preserved principally by Caelius Aurelianus
, for example: Libri Periodici; Epistolae in at least nine books; Celeres Passiones in at least two books; Tardae Passiones in at least two books; Liber Salutaria; De Plantagine.
He was perhaps the first physician who made use of leech
es, and he is said to have been attacked with hydrophobia
, and to have recovered. Eudemus
and Proculus are said to have been followers of Themison, which may only mean that they belonged to the Methodic school.
Themison is also quoted by Soranus
. Juvenal
satirises a physician by the name of Themison, but whether he means this Themison, or some contemporary, is unknown.
Methodic school
The Methodic school of medicine was an ancient school of medicine in ancient Greece and Rome. The Methodic school arose in reaction to both the Empiric school and the Dogmatic school...
of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and one of the most eminent physicians of his time.
He was a native of Laodicea in Syria, and a pupil of Asclepiades of Bithynia
Asclepiades of Bithynia
Asclepiades was a Greek physician born at Prusa in Bithynia in Asia Minor and flourished at Rome, where he established Greek medicine near the end of the 2nd century BCE. He attempted to build a new theory of disease, based on the flow of atoms through pores in the body...
. Nothing more is known about the events of his life except that he seems to have travelled a great deal; as he mentions Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, apparently as an eye-witness. Neither is it certain if he ever visited Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, though it is perhaps more probable that he did so. He differed from his teacher on several points in his old age, and became the founder of a new sect called the Methodic school
Methodic school
The Methodic school of medicine was an ancient school of medicine in ancient Greece and Rome. The Methodic school arose in reaction to both the Empiric school and the Dogmatic school...
(Methodici), which long exercised an extensive influence on medical science. He wrote several medical works, but in what language is not mentioned; of these only the titles and a few fragments remain, preserved principally by Caelius Aurelianus
Caelius Aurelianus
Caelius Aurelianus of Sicca in Numidia was a Roman physician and writer on medical topics. He is best known for his translation from Greek to Latin of a work by Soranus of Ephesus, On Acute and Chronic Diseases. He probably flourished in the 5th century, although some place him two or even three...
, for example: Libri Periodici; Epistolae in at least nine books; Celeres Passiones in at least two books; Tardae Passiones in at least two books; Liber Salutaria; De Plantagine.
He was perhaps the first physician who made use of leech
Leech
Leeches are segmented worms that belong to the phylum Annelida and comprise the subclass Hirudinea. Like other oligochaetes such as earthworms, leeches share a clitellum and are hermaphrodites. Nevertheless, they differ from other oligochaetes in significant ways...
es, and he is said to have been attacked with hydrophobia
Hydrophobia
Hydrophobia or hydrophobe may refer to:* Rabies, especially a set of symptoms of the later stages of an infection, in which the victim has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and cannot quench his or her thirst....
, and to have recovered. Eudemus
Eudemus (physician)
Eudemus was the name of several Greek physicians, whom it is difficult to distinguish with certainty:* A druggist, who apparently lived in the 4th or 3rd century BC...
and Proculus are said to have been followers of Themison, which may only mean that they belonged to the Methodic school.
Themison is also quoted by Soranus
Soranus
Soranus was a Sabine god adopted into ancient Roman religion. He was worshipped on Mt. Soracte in Etruria. The area was sacred to underworld gods, like Diespiter....
. Juvenal
Juvenal
The Satires are a collection of satirical poems by the Latin author Juvenal written in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD.Juvenal is credited with sixteen known poems divided among five books; all are in the Roman genre of satire, which, at its most basic in the time of the author, comprised a...
satirises a physician by the name of Themison, but whether he means this Themison, or some contemporary, is unknown.