A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀναξίλαος), a physician and Pythagorean philosopher, was born at Larissa, but at which city of that name is not certain. He was banished by the Emperor Augustus from Rome and Italy, B. C. 28, on account of his being accused of being a magician (Euseb. Chron. ad Olymp. clxxxviii.), which charge, it appears, originated in his possessing superior skill in natural philosophy, and thus performing by natural means certain wonderful things, which by the ignorant and credulous were ascribed to magic. These tricks are mentioned by St. Irenaeus (1.13.1, p. 60, ed. Paris, 1710) and St. Epiphanius (Adv. Haeres. lib. i. tom. iii. Haer. 14, vol. i. p. 232. ed. Colon. 1682), and several specimens are given by Pliny (Plin. Nat. 19.4, 25.95, 28.49, 32.52, 35.50), which, however, need not be here mentioned, as some are quite incredible, and the others may be easily explained. (Cagnati, Variae Observat. 3.10, p. 213, &c., ed. Rom. 1587.)

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