A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

an ancient writer on pharmacy, frequently quoted by Galen. He is probably the person sometimes called simply Aelius (Gal. De Compos. Medicam. sec. Loc. 4.7, vol. xii. p. 730), sometimes Gallus (ibid. 3.1, 4.8, vol. xii. p. 625, 784), and sometimes by both names (De Antid. 2.1, vol. xiv. p. 114). In one passage (De Compos. Medicam. sec. Gen. 6.6, vol. xiii. p. 885) Τάλιος Αἴλιος is apparently a mistake for Γάλλος Αἴλιος. He is quoted by Asclepiades Pharmacion (apud Gal. De Compos. Medicam. sec. Loc. 4.7. vol. xii. p. 730), and Andromachus (apud. Gal. ibid. 3.1, vol. xii. p. 625), and must have lived in the first century after Christ, as he is said to have prepared an antidote for one of the emperors, which was also used by Charmis, who lived in the reign of Nero, A. D. 54-68. (Gal. De Antid. 2.1, vol. xiv. p. 114.) Haller (Biblioth. Medic. Pract. and Biblioth. Botan.) supposes that there were two physicians of the name of Aelius Gallus; but this conjecture, in the writer's opinion, is not proved to be correct, nor does it seem to be required.

Besides this Gallus, there is another physician of the name, M. GALLUS, whois sometimes said to have had the cognomen ASCLEPIADES; but this appears to be a mistake, as, in the only passage where he is mentioned (Gal. De Compos. Medicam. sec. Loc. 8.5, vol. xiii. p. 179), instead of Γάλλου Μάρκου τοῦ Ἀσκληπιάδου, we should probably read Γάλλου Μάρκου τοῦ Ἀσκληπιαδείου, i. e. the follower of Asclepiades of Bithynia.

[W.A.G]