Dioscorides
Dioscorides
Dioscorides (/daɪəˈskɒrɪdiːz/; Greek: Διοσκουρίδης, Dioskouridēs; c. 40 – 90 AD) was a Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of De Materia Medica—a 5-volume Greek encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances (a pharmacopeia), that was widely read for more than 1,500 years.
Etymology
The name Dioscorides is of Greek origin, derived from "Dios" meaning "of Zeus" and "korides" meaning "a boy". This name was common in ancient Greece, often given to boys born under the sign of Zeus.
Life and Work
Dioscorides was born in the first century AD in Anazarbus, Asia Minor. He studied medicine and pharmacology and served as a surgeon in the Roman army. His most significant contribution to medicine and botany is his five-volume book, De Materia Medica, which remained an authoritative reference on pharmacology and botany for over 1500 years.
De Materia Medica
De Materia Medica is a pharmacopeia of medicinal plants and their uses, written between 50 and 70 AD. It was translated into Latin, Arabic, and other languages and remained in use until the late 17th century. The book describes approximately 600 plants and 1000 medicines, derived from plants, animals, and minerals.
Legacy
Dioscorides' work had a profound influence on the fields of pharmacology and botany. His descriptions of plants and their medicinal properties set a standard for pharmacopeias that lasted until the modern era. His work is still referenced today in the study of medicinal plants and natural remedies.
Related Terms
- Pharmacology: The branch of medicine that deals with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.
- Botany: The scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, and classification.
- De Materia Medica: A five-volume Greek encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances, written by Dioscorides.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dioscorides
- Wikipedia's article - Dioscorides
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