Soranus
- an epithet of Dis, acc. to Serv. Verg. A. 11, 785.
a Sabine divinity of the lower world. Mount Soracte, which probably derived its name from him, was, according to Servius (Serv. ad Aen. 11.785), sacred to the infernal gods, especially to Diespiter; and it is related that during a sacrifice offered to Soranus, wolves snatched away the entrails of the victims from the altar, and that the shepherds pursuing the wolves came to a cave, the poisonous vapours of which caused a pestilence among them. An oracle then ordered them to live, like wolves, on prey, and hence those people are called Hirpini, from the Sabine word hirpus, a wolf, which was joined to that of Soranus, so that their full name was Hirpini Sorani. It was a custom observed down to a comparatively late period that the Hirpi or Hirpini (probably some ancient Sabine families) at the festival on mount Soracte, walked with bare feet upon the glowing coals of fir-wood, carrying about the entrails of the victims (Serv. ad Aen. 11.784, &c.; Plin. Nat. 7.2; Sil. Ital. 5.174; Strab. v. p.226). Strabo connects this ceremony with the worship of Feronia, and this circumstance, as well as the proximity of the sanctuary of the two divinities, shows, that Soranus and Feronia probably belonged to the same religion. Roman poets sometimes identified Soranus with the Greek Apollo. (Verg. A. 11.786; comp. Müller, Etrusk. vol. ii. p. 67, &c.; Hartung, Die Religion der Römer, vol. ii. p. 191, &c.) [L.S]
(Σωρανὸς), the name of several physicians, whom it is difficult (if not impossible) to distinguish with certainty. The following are enumerated by Fabricius (Bibl. Gr. vol. xii. p. 684, ed. vet. See also vol. xiii. p. 426.)
1. A native of Cos, who appears to have written an account of Hippocrates, and is said to have examined the libraries and official records at Cos, in search of materials. His date is unknown, but he may perhaps have lived in the third or second century B. C. He is quoted by Soranus, the author of the Life of Hippocrates. (§ 1.)
2. A native of Mallus in Cilicia * Haller seems to consider this Soranns to be the same as one of the following (Bibl. Medic. Pract. vol. i. p. 207), but probably without sufficient reason., whose date is unknown, but wno is mentioned by Suidas as one of the "more ancient" physicians (πρεσβύτει οι). He appears to have been eminent in his profession ; and as he lived after the time of Hippocrates, he may perhaps be placed in the fourth or third century B. C. (Suid. s. v. Σωρανός.)
3. A native of Ephesus, whose father's name was Menander, and his mother's Phoebe. He first practised his profession at Alexandria, and afterwards at Rome, in the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian, A. D. 98-138. Suidas (who gives the above account of him) adds that he composed several excellent works.
4. Another native of Ephesus, who lived later, and who (according to Suidas) wrote Γυναικείων βιβλία τέσσαρα, Βίους Ἰατρῶν, καὶ Αἱοέσεις, καὶ Συντάγματα, βιβλία δέκα, and other works.
Now it is quite possible that Suidas may be correct in stating that there were two physicians of the name of Soranus, both of whom were natives of Ephesus; but at any rate those modern writers who have attempted to distinguish them by assigning to each his proper writings, have decidedly failed, as is evident since the publication of the treatise Περὶ Γυναικείων Παθῶν, in 1838. For instance, Fabricius considers that the elder Soranus (No. 3) is the physician belonging to the sect of the Methodici who is frequently quoted by Caelius Aurelianus. and who wrote a work, " De Coenotetis," consisting of at least two books; and he thinks that the younger Soranus (No. 4) is the author who is frequently quoted by Aetius, to whom belongs the short fragment Περὶ Μήτρας καὶ Γυναικείου Αἰδοίου, which is still extant. It is, however, now quite clear, first, that the fragment in question forms part of the published treatise " De Morbis Mulierum ;" 2. that the writer of this work belonged to the sect of the Methodici (see Dietz's Notes at pp. 4, 21); 3. that this is the work frequently quoted by Aetius; and 4. that the writer of this work was also the author of a work Περὶ Κοινοτήτων, consisting of at least two books. Upon the whole, therefore, it seems more probable that Dietz (note to Sor. p. 23) and Dr. Ermerins (Observ. Crit. in Sor. appended to his ed. of Hippocr. De Vict. Rat. in Morb. Acut. p. 372) are correct in supposing that the two physicians of the name of Soranus, mentioned by Suidas as being natives of Ephesus, were, in fact, one and the same individual. The only objection to this hypothesis, of which the writer is aware, arises from the fact that in the treatise " De Morbis Mulierum " the names of several physicians occur who lived later than the time of Soranus; and this difficulty would of course be insuperable if the text in these passages were genuine and correct. But the text of the whole treatise is at present in a very unsatisfactory state, and contains many words, &c., that are undoubtedly spurious; so that (until the whole question has been thoroughly examined by some future editor of Soranus) we are quite justified in believing the passages in question to be interpolations. (See Ermerins, l.c. p. 371, &c.)
If, therefore, we suppose that there was only one physician of the name of Soranus who was born at Ephesus, the date assigned by Suidas to the son of Menander will agree tolerably well with that which we gather from other sources; he is quoted by Caelius Aurelianus rather as a predecessor than as a contemporary ; he lived at least as early as Archigenes, who used one of his medicines (ap. Aet. 2.2. 55, p. 277); he was tutor to Attalus [Attalus, Vol. I. p. 412]; and he was dead when Galen wrote his work " De Methodo Medendi," i. e. about A. D. 178. (Gal. De Meth. Med. 1.7. vol. x. p. 53.) But, after all, it must be confessed that the exact chronology of Soranus is not quite satisfactorily made out. He belonged to the sect of the Methodici (Pseudo-Gal. Introd. 100.4, vol. xiv. p. 684), and was one of the most eminent physicians of that school. Besides the few particulars mentioned above, nothing is known of the events of his life, except that he passed some time in Aquitania for the purpose of treating some skin diseases which were very prevalent there at that time. (Marcell. Empir. De Medicam. 100.19, p. 321.) Works
The following medical works are still extant under the name of Soranus : -- 1. Περὶ Γυναικείων Παθῶν, De Arte Obstetricia Morbisque Mulierum 2. Περὶ Μήτρας καὶ Γυναικείου Αἰδοίου, De Utero et Pudendo Muliebri 3. Περὶ Σημείων Καταγμάτων, De Signis Fracturarum 4. Περὶ Ἐπιδέσμων, De Fasciis 5. Βίος Ἱπποκράτους, Vita Hippocratis 6. In Artem Medendi Isagoge Περὶ Γυναικείων Παθῶν Editions
The treatise Περὶ Γυναικείων Παθῶν was first published in Greek in 1838. Regim. Pruss. 8vo. It was partly prepared for the press by F. R. Dietz, and finished after his death by J. F. Lobeck. It is a valuable and interesting work, consisting of one hundred and twenty-two chapters, with a few lines of the hundred and twenty-third, and the titles of thirty-eight more. * The chapters are not numbered regularly in the Greek text. See Dr. Pinoff in Henschel's " Janus," vol. i. p. 708, foll. As has been intimated above, the text is at present in a very corrupt state, and contains numerous interpolations. Dr. Ermerins has published some valuable " Observationes Criticae in Sor. Eph. De Arte Obstetr. Morbisque Mul." at the end of his edition of Hippocr. De Vict. Rat. in Morb. Acut. Lugd. Bat. 8vo. 1841; and a new edition of the work is at this present time (1848) being prepared by Dr. Bell of Paris. With respect to the medical contents of the work the reader may consult a dissertation by H. Häser, " De Sorano Ephesio, ejusque Περὶ Γυν. Παθῶν Libro nuper reperto," Jenae, 1840, 4to.; another by J. Pinoff, entitled " Artis Obstetriciae Sor. Eph. Doctrina ad ejus Librum Περὶ Γυν. Παθῶν nuper repertum exposita," Vratisl. 1840, 8vo.; and four interesting articles by the same Dr. Pinoff in the first and second volumes of Henschel's " Janus," Breslau, 1846, 1847, 8vo. Περὶ Μήτρας καὶ Γυναικείου Αἰδοίου
The short piece Περὶ Μήτρας καὶ Γυναικείου Αἰδοίου is, in fact, merely an extract from the preceding work (of which it forms the fourth and fifth chapters), containing one of the best anatomical descriptions of the female organs of generation that have come down to us from antiquity. It has been preserved by Oribasius (Coll. Medic. 24.31, 32). Editions
It is to be found in Greek in Goupyl's edition of Rufus Ephesius, Paris, 1554, 8vo., and in the first volume of Ideler's " Physici et Medici Graeci Minores," Berol. 1841, 8vo. There is a Latin translation in different editions of Oribasius, in that of Theophilus De Corp. Hum. Fabr. Paris, 1556, 8vo., and in F. Paulini " Universa Antiquorum Anatome," Venet. 1604. fol. Περὶ Σημείων Καταγμάτων Editions
The fragment Περὶ Σημείων Καταγμάτων was published with a Latin translation by Cocchi in his collection of " Graecorum Chirurgici Libri," Florent. 1754, fol. Translations
the Greek text is inserted in Ideler's Phys. et Med. Gr. Min. Περὶ Ἐπιδέσμων Editions
The short piece Περὶ Ἐπιδέσμων is to be found in Greek and Latin in the twelfth volume of Chartier's edition of Hippocrates and Galen, Paris, 1679, fol. Βίος Ἱπποκράτους
The Βίος Ἱπποκράτους is of little value in itself, but is interesting as being the only ancient account of that great physician that remains, except what is told us by Suidas and John Tzetzes. It may perhaps have formed part of the collection of medical biographies mentioned by Suidas as being written by the younger Soranus. Editions
It is published in several editions of the works of Hippocrates; and is inserted also in the old edition of Fabric. Bibl. Gr. (vol. xii. p. 675), in Ideler's Phys. et Med. Gr. Min., and in A. Westermann's " Vitarum Scriptores Graeci Minores," Brunsv. 1845, 8vo. In Artem Medendi Isagoge
The treatise entitled In Artem Medendi Isagoge is extant only in Latin, and is generally considered to be spurious. The author is called " Soranus Ephesius, insignis Peripateticus et vetustissimus Archiater." The only writers quoted in the work are Homer (100.16), Hippocrates (100.3, 4, 23), Erasistratus (100.1), and Galen (100.13); and it has been supposed to be rather an original Latin treatise than a translation from the Greek (see Cagnati, Var. Observ. 4.2). Editions
It is to be found in the collection of medical authors published by Albanus Torinus, Basil. 1528, fol.; and also in the Aldine Collection, Venet. 1547 fol. Other Works
Besides these works (if they were all written by the same person), Soranus was the author of several others, of which only the titles and some fragments have been preserved. Galen mentions two works on Pharmacy, from which he quotes some passages (De Compos. Medicamo. sec Loc. 1.2, 6.7, 8, 7.2. vol. xii. pp. 414, 956, 987, 13.42) ; one, consisting of at least four books, entitled Περὶ Φαρμακείας, and the other Μονόβιβλος Φαρμακευτικός. Caelius Aurelianus quotes " De Adjutoriis," " De Febribus," " Libri Causarum, quos Αἰτιολογουμένους appellavit," and the second book " De Coenotetis " (De Morb. Acut. 2.29, 33; De Morb. Chron. 1.3, 4.1, pp. 143, 153, 289, 494), and says that part of his own work was merely a translation of one by Soranus (De Morb. Acut. 2.1. p. 75). Soranus himself refers to his works entitled Περὶ Σπέρματος (De Arte Obst. p. 10), Περὶ Ζωογονίας (p. 11), Περὶ τῶν παρὰ Φύσιν (p. 20), Περὶ Κοινοτήτων (p. 23), Τὸ Ὑγιείνον (p. 27), Περὶ Νοσημάτων (p. 106), and Περὶ Ὀξέων (p. 106). Tertullian quotes a work by Soranus " De Anima," in four books (De Anima, cc. 8, 15, 25, 44), in which he divided the soul into seven parts (ibid. 100.14), and denied its immortality (ibid. 100.6). He is quoted by Paulus Aegineta (4.59), as being one of the earliest Greek medical writers, who had described the species of worm called Filaria Medinensis, or Guinea Worm (see J. Weihe, De Filar. Medin. Comment. Berol. 1832, 8vo.); and he appears to have enjoyed a great reputation among the ancients, as St. Augustine calls him " Medicinae auctor nobilissimus" (Cont. Julian. 5.51, vol. x. p. 654, ed Bened.), and Tertullian, " Methodicae Medicinae instructissimus auctor" (De Anima, 100.6). See also St. Cyprian, Epist. 76, p. 156, ed. Paris, 1726.) [W.A.G]
[Barea.]
whom Crassus in the De Oratore designates as " literatissimum togatorum omnium," is the author of two hexameters, quoted at second-hand from Varro, by St. Augustine (De Civ. Dei, 7.9), and also by the third of the mythographers first published by Mai. The lines in question, Juppiter omnipotens, rerum regumque repertor, Progenitor genitrixque Deum, Deus unus et idem,
may very possibly, as Meyer conjectures, have been contained in the work spoken of by Pliny (H. N. Praef.) as having been entitled Ἐποπτίδων, while the fragment adduced in the treatise of Varro De Lingua Latina (7.31, comp. 6.5, 10.70), as an example of the word ad agio, is probably extracted from a different piece. It is evident, from the passage in Cicero referred to above, that Soranus mist have been a contemporary of Antonius the orator, and therefore flourished about B. C. 100. (See Anthol. Lat. ed. Meyer. praef. p. x.) The mythographer of Mai calls him Serranus, which is clearly a blunder, perhaps due to the copyist, and in no way must he be confounded with the Serranus of Juvenal (Sat. 7.80), who lived under Nero. Further Information
Compare Plin. Nat. 3.5; Plut. Quaest. Rom. 61; Gerlach's ed. of Lucilius, 8vo. Turic. 1846. p. xxxi. [W.R]
A Sabine deity worshipped on Mount Soracté, and in later times identified with Apollo (Verg. Aen. vii. 785-790; Pliny , Pliny H. N. vii. 19).
A Greek physician from Ephesus, who lived in the first half of the second century A.D., under Trajan and Hadrian. His writings are now represented by a work of considerable extent on the diseases of women, and a surgical treatise on fractures. The writings of Caelius Aurelianus (q.v.) on acute and chronic diseases are translated from him. See Scheele, De Sorano Medico (1884).
Barea. A Roman of great integrity, consul suffectus in A.D. 52. He was accused of treason under Nero, and his daughter Servilia was charged with magic. Both were put to death, the chief witness against Soranus being his former teacher P. Egnatius Celer (Tac. Ann. xvi. 30; Juv. iii. 16).