Acesias (Greek Ἀκεσίας) was an ancient Greek physician whose age and country are both unknown.[1]

It is ascertained however that he lived at least as early as 4th century BC, as the proverb Ἀκεσίας ἰάσατο, "Acesias cured him", is quoted on the authority of Aristophanes. This saying (by which only Acesias is known to us) was used when any person's disease became worse instead of better under medical treatment, and is mentioned in the Suda,[2] Zenobius,[3] Diogenianus,[4] Michael Apostolius,[5] and Plutarch.[6][7]

It is possible that an author bearing this name, and mentioned by Athenaeus as having written a treatise on the Art of Cooking (ὀψαρτυτικά),[8] may be one and the same person, but of this we have no certain information.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ Greenhill, William Alexander (1867), "Acesias", in Smith, William (ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. 1, Boston, p. 7, archived from the original on 2012-12-02, retrieved 2007-09-25{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Suda, s.v. Ἀκεσίας
  3. ^ Proverb. Cent. i. § 52
  4. ^ Proverb, ii. 3
  5. ^ Proverb, ii. 23
  6. ^ Proverb, quibus Alexandr. usi stint, §98
  7. ^ See also Proverb, e Cod. Bodl. § 82, in Gaisford's Paroemiographi Graeci, 8vo. Oxon. 1836.
  8. ^ Athenaeus. "Book XII, 516c". Deipnosophistae (in Greek). At the Perseus Project.
  9. ^ J. J. Baier, Adag. Medic. Cent. 4to. Lips. 1718

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. (1870). "Acesias". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.