A question arises as we stand before this bust. Who was Soranus of Ephesus? Soranus of Ephesus was no ordinary man. This bust immortalizes a Greek physician. He hailed from Ephesus. He practiced medicine in Alexandria and Rome.
Soranus flourished in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. He became a leading figure in the Methodic school of medicine. Several of his writings have survived. His treatise on gynecology is the most notable. It spans four volumes. A Latin translation of his work “On Acute and Chronic Diseases” also exists.
Let’s delve deeper into the life of Soranus of Ephesus. Details are somewhat scarce. The Suda sheds some light on his origins. It mentions two entries about him. He was born in Ephesus. His parents were Menander and Phoebe. He practiced in Alexandria and Rome. This was during the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian.
Soranus predates Archigenes. Archigenes used one of his medicines. Soranus tutored Statilius Attalus. Statilius was a physician to Marcus Aurelius. Galen’s writing indicates Soranus was deceased around 178 AD. Galen penned “De Methodo Medendi” around that time.
Soranus’s allegiance to the Methodic school is significant. He stood out as one of its most distinguished members. Records indicate a sojourn in Aquitania. He sought to treat prevalent skin diseases there.
His contributions extend beyond practical medicine. His “Gynaecology” treatise remains a vital historical document. It was first printed in 1838. V. Rose later published it in 1882. This edition included a 6th-century Latin translation by Muscio. Fragments of his treatises “On Signs of Fractures” and “On Bandages” also exist.
His most important work was “On Acute and Chronic Diseases”. Only a few Greek fragments remain. Caelius Aurelianus created a complete Latin translation in the 5th century. “The Life of Hippocrates” is another important work. It likely belonged to Soranus’s collection. This collection contained medical biographies. It serves as a key source of information. It details the life of the great physician Hippocrates. The Suda and Stephanus of Byzantium offer additional insights. “Introduction to the Science of Medicine” is considered spurious.
Soranus authored numerous other works. Only titles and fragments have survived. Galen alludes to two works on Pharmacy. He quotes passages from them. Caelius Aurelianus cites other works as well. Soranus himself mentions many lost works. Tertullian references “De Anima”. This work was in four books. Soranus divided the soul into seven parts. He denied its immortality. Paulus Aegineta quotes him. Soranus described the Guinea worm. This makes him one of the earliest Greek medical writers to do so.
Soranus enjoyed a strong reputation in ancient times. Augustine called him “Medicinae auctor nobilissimus.” This translates to “Noblest author of remedies.” Tertullian hailed him as “Methodicae Medicinae instructissimus auctor.” This means “Most learned author of Methodic Medicine”.
Thus, this bust commemorates a remarkable figure. Soranus of Ephesus left an indelible mark on medicine. His writings shaped medical practice for centuries. He was a true pioneer of his time. Remember Soranus as you continue your journey. Remember his contributions to medical science.