Oribasius

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Oribasius (Greek: Ὀρειβάσιος; c. 320 – 403 AD) was a prominent Greek physician and medical writer during the late Roman Empire. He is best known for his extensive medical compilations, which preserved and transmitted the medical knowledge of earlier Greek and Roman physicians.

Biography

Oribasius was born in Pergamon, a city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. He studied medicine in Alexandria, one of the leading centers of medical knowledge at the time. Oribasius became the personal physician to the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, who reigned from 361 to 363 AD. His close relationship with Julian allowed him to gain significant influence and access to various medical texts and resources.

Works

Oribasius is most renowned for his work, the Collectiones Medicae (Medical Collections), a comprehensive 70-book encyclopedia of medical knowledge. This work compiled and summarized the writings of earlier physicians such as Hippocrates, Galen, and Dioscorides. The Collectiones Medicae served as a crucial source of medical information throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.

Other Works

In addition to the Collectiones Medicae, Oribasius authored several other medical texts, including:

• Synopsis ad Eustathium – A summary of medical knowledge dedicated to his friend Eustathius.
• Euporista ad Eunapium – A collection of practical medical recipes and treatments.

Legacy

Oribasius' contributions to medicine were instrumental in preserving the medical knowledge of antiquity. His works were widely read and referenced by later physicians and scholars, ensuring that the medical practices and theories of ancient Greece and Rome were not lost to history.

Related Pages

• Hippocrates
• Galen
• Dioscorides
• Julian the Apostate
• Alexandria
• Pergamon

See Also

• History of medicine
• Byzantine medicine
• Ancient Greek medicine