Acron
Encyclopedia
Acron, son of Xenon, was an eminent Greek physician
born at Agrigentum. His exact date is not known; but, as he is mentioned as being contemporary with Empedocles
, who died about the beginning of the Peloponnesian war
, he must have lived in the fifth century BC. From Sicily
he went to Athens
, and there opened a philosophical school .
It is said that he was in that city during the great plague (430 BC), and that large fires for the purpose of purifying the air were kindled in the streets by his direction, which proved of great service to several of the sick. It should however be borne in mind that there is no mention of this in Thucydides
, and, if it is true that Empedocles
or Simonides
(who died in 467 BC) wrote the epitaph on Acron, it may be doubted whether he was in Athens at all during the plague.
On his return to his native country, the physician asked the senate for a spot of ground where he might build a family tomb. The request was refused at the suggestion of Empedocles, who conceived that such a grant for such a purpose would interfere with the principle of equality he was anxious to establish at Agrigentum. As the sarcastic epitaph on Acron is probably the most complete jeu de mots on record, and therefore defies all translation, it will be given in Greek to preserve the paronomasia of the original:
The second line was sometimes read thus:
Some persons attributed the whole epigram to Simonides
.
Pliny
considers him as the first of the Empirics. But this has been considered an error on the part of the Roman naturalist; for the sect alluded to did not arise until the third century BC, roughly 200 years after the time of Acron. Some scholars consider that the sect of the Empirici
, in order to boast of a greater antiquity than the Dogmatics
(founded by Thessalus
, the son, and Polybus, the son-in-law, of Hippocrates
, about 400 BC), merely claimed Acron as their founder.
None of Acron's works are now extant, though he wrote several in the Doric dialect
on medical and physical subjects, of which the titles are preserved by the Suda
and Eudocia.
Medicine in Ancient Greece
The first known Greek medical school opened in Cnidus in 700 BC. Alcmaeon, author of the first anatomical work, worked at this school, and it was here that the practice of observing patients was established. Ancient Greek medicine revolved around the theory of humours...
born at Agrigentum. His exact date is not known; but, as he is mentioned as being contemporary with Empedocles
Empedocles
Empedocles was a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of Agrigentum, a Greek city in Sicily. Empedocles' philosophy is best known for being the originator of the cosmogenic theory of the four Classical elements...
, who died about the beginning of the Peloponnesian war
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
, he must have lived in the fifth century BC. From Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
he went to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and there opened a philosophical school .
It is said that he was in that city during the great plague (430 BC), and that large fires for the purpose of purifying the air were kindled in the streets by his direction, which proved of great service to several of the sick. It should however be borne in mind that there is no mention of this in Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
, and, if it is true that Empedocles
Empedocles
Empedocles was a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of Agrigentum, a Greek city in Sicily. Empedocles' philosophy is best known for being the originator of the cosmogenic theory of the four Classical elements...
or Simonides
Simonides
* Simonides of Ceos, , a lyric poet* Semonides of Amorgos, an iambic poet* Flavius Simonides Agrippa, son of Roman Jewish Historian Josephus* Constantine Simonides, 19th-century forger of 'ancient' manuscripts...
(who died in 467 BC) wrote the epitaph on Acron, it may be doubted whether he was in Athens at all during the plague.
On his return to his native country, the physician asked the senate for a spot of ground where he might build a family tomb. The request was refused at the suggestion of Empedocles, who conceived that such a grant for such a purpose would interfere with the principle of equality he was anxious to establish at Agrigentum. As the sarcastic epitaph on Acron is probably the most complete jeu de mots on record, and therefore defies all translation, it will be given in Greek to preserve the paronomasia of the original:
The second line was sometimes read thus:
Some persons attributed the whole epigram to Simonides
Simonides
* Simonides of Ceos, , a lyric poet* Semonides of Amorgos, an iambic poet* Flavius Simonides Agrippa, son of Roman Jewish Historian Josephus* Constantine Simonides, 19th-century forger of 'ancient' manuscripts...
.
Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
considers him as the first of the Empirics. But this has been considered an error on the part of the Roman naturalist; for the sect alluded to did not arise until the third century BC, roughly 200 years after the time of Acron. Some scholars consider that the sect of the Empirici
Empiric school
The Empiric school of medicine was an ancient school of medicine in ancient Greece and Rome. They were so called from the word empeiria because they professed to derive their knowledge from experiences only, and in doing so set themselves in opposition to the Dogmatic school...
, in order to boast of a greater antiquity than the Dogmatics
Dogmatic school
The Dogmatic school of medicine was an ancient school of medicine in ancient Greece and Rome. They were the oldest of the medical sects of antiquity. They derived their name from dogma, a philosophical tenet or opinion, because they professed to follow the opinions of Hippocrates, hence they were...
(founded by Thessalus
Thessalus (physician)
Thessalus, , a physician from ancient Greece, and the son of Hippocrates, the famous physician and Trichologist. He was the brother of Draco, and father of Gorgias, Hippocrates III, and Draco II. He lived in the 5th and 4th centuries BC and passed some of his time at the court of Archelaus I of...
, the son, and Polybus, the son-in-law, of Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
, about 400 BC), merely claimed Acron as their founder.
None of Acron's works are now extant, though he wrote several in the Doric dialect
Doric Greek
Doric or Dorian was a dialect of ancient Greek. Its variants were spoken in the southern and eastern Peloponnese, Crete, Rhodes, some islands in the southern Aegean Sea, some cities on the coasts of Asia Minor, Southern Italy, Sicily, Epirus and Macedon. Together with Northwest Greek, it forms the...
on medical and physical subjects, of which the titles are preserved by the Suda
Suda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
and Eudocia.