ABSTRACT
Gaius of Neapo l i s (10 — 70 CE) Pharmacist and oculist. Of his 19 preserved recipes, PAULOS OF A I I N A (3.22.16, CMG 9.1, p. 177) attests one, G A L Ē N preserves the others, quoted from ANDROMAKHOS (CMLoc 3.1, 12.628 K.) and ASKLĒPIADĒS PHARM. He is called Gaius the “Neapolitan” (CMGen
GALĒN OF PERGAMON
5.11, 13.830 K.), the “oculist” (CMLoc 4.8, 12.771 K.), “godlike” Gaius (CMLoc 3.1, 12.628 K.) and, more frequently, simply “Neapolitan.” He is perhaps identifiable with the oculist “Gallio” quoted by Galēn, from Asklēpiadēs, in CMLoc 4.8 (12.766 K.), where the name could be textually corrupt. Six of Gaius’ recipes are ophthalmic. The others concern vari ous pathologies: pills, e.g. for rheumatic suppurations (CMLoc 7.4, 13.86-87 K.), emollients for internal affections (CMLoc 8.5, 13.183 K) and against podagra (CMGen 7.12, 13.1020-21 K.), etc. Galen used and approved Gaius’ recipe against throat inflammations (CMLoc 6.8, 12.986 K). AQUILA SEGUNDILLA used the cataplasm of CMGen 7.7 (13.976 K); IULIUS A G R I P P A used the tonic of CMGen 7.12 (13.1030 K). J. Diehl, Sphragis (Diss. Giessen, 1938) 140; von Staden (1989) 566-569 (the three recipes for which
Galēn quotes “Gaius” are doubtfully included under the fragments of GAIUS THE HËROPHILEAN); Marganne (1997) 164-165.
