Sextius Niger

Sextius Niger

Sextius Niger was an ancient Roman physician and pharmacologist, known for his contributions to the field of medicine during the early Roman Empire. His works, though largely lost, were influential in the development of pharmacology and were referenced by later medical writers such as Galen.

Biography

Little is known about the life of Sextius Niger. He is believed to have lived during the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. His exact dates of birth and death are not recorded, but he was active during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Sextius Niger was a contemporary of other notable physicians such as Dioscorides and Celsus.

Contributions to Medicine

Sextius Niger is best known for his work on pharmacology. He wrote a comprehensive treatise on medicinal substances, which was one of the earliest systematic attempts to catalog and describe the properties of various drugs. His work was written in Greek, the scholarly language of the time, and was titled "On Medicinal Substances" (Greek: Περὶ Ὑλῶν Φαρμακευτικῶν).

Pharmacological Works

Sextius Niger's pharmacological treatise was organized by the properties and effects of different substances. He categorized drugs based on their therapeutic uses, such as analgesics, diuretics, and emetics. His work included descriptions of both plant-based and mineral-based remedies, reflecting the diverse sources of ancient pharmacology.

Influence and Legacy

Although Sextius Niger's original texts have not survived, his influence is evident through the citations and references made by later physicians. Galen, a prominent physician of the 2nd century CE, frequently cited Sextius Niger in his own writings, indicating the respect and authority Sextius held in the medical community.

Also see

• Galen
• Dioscorides
• Celsus
• Ancient Roman medicine
• Pharmacology

References

• Galen, "On the Powers and Mixtures of Simple Drugs"
• Pliny the Elder, "Natural History"

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  Vienna Dioscorides Author Portrait