Antonius ( grc, Ἀντώνιος) was a physician of

ancient Greece Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cult ...

. He was mentioned by the medical writer

Galen Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus ( el, Κλαύδιος Γαληνός; September 129 – c. AD 216), often Anglicized as Galen () or Galen of Pergamon, was a Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in the Roman Empire. Considered to be one of ...

, and referred to as "the herbalist" (ὁ ῥιζοτόμος). He must have lived in or before the first century (and possibly into the second century). The medical formulae of Antonius are several times quoted by Galen, and he is perhaps the same person who is called " the druggist" elsewhere (φαρμακοπώλης). Possibly they may both be identical with

Antonius Castor Antonius Castor was a pioneering botanist and pharmacologist of ancient Rome who lived in the first century. He is several times quoted and mentioned by Pliny the Elder, who considered him the greatest authority on his subjects. Life and identity B ...

, but of this there is no proof whatever. A treatise on the

pulse In medicine, a pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the cardiac cycle (heartbeat) by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the nec ...

, which goes under Galen's name, but which is probably a spurious compilation from his other works on this subject, is addressed to a person named Antonius, who is there called "studious and philosophical" (Φιλομαθὴς καὶ Φιλόσοφος); and Galen wrote his work ''The Passions of the Soul'' (''De Propriorum Animi Cuiuslibet Affectuum Dignotione et Curatione'') in answer to a somewhat similar treatise by an

Epicurean Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism. Few writings by Epi ...

philosopher of this name, who, however, does not appear to have been a physician.

, ''Opera'', vol. v. p. 1, &c. Antonius is possibly the same man as Antonius Castor, the renowned botanist and pharmacologist mentioned

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic '' ...

Notes

{{Authority control 1st-century Greek physicians Ancient Greek science writers Herbalists 2nd-century Greek physicians 2nd-century Romans Antonii