Beschreibung:

AETIUS AMIDENUS (fl. mid-5th - mid-6th century). Aetii Amideni quem alii Antiochenum vocant medici clarissimi libri xvi, in tres tomos divisi . Basel: Froben, 1533-1535. First edition thus, the rare first complete Froben edition , of the medical corpus by the 6th-century Byzantine Greek physician, among the earliest recorded Christian medics and the first to record the ‘template wording’ of many popular healing prayers of intercession. Though his work, printed several times with the editorial care of different Renaissance scholars, relies primarily on Galen and Oribasius, it is regarded as a valuable witness to ancient medical thought, as a compilation of the writings of many authors, many of which were preserved in the Alexandrian Library and are lost. One detail in Aetius’ work has remained in our vocabulary: in the extant relevant manuscript the word ??µ? (acme) is written as ???? – the origin of the modern word acne. 3 parts in one volume, folio (317 x 205mm). Books 2 and 3 with separate titles, printer’s device on titles and last pages (occasional very light marks). Contemporary panelled calf, sides tooled in blind, brass corner-pieces and catches, paste-downs from a theological manuscript of the 14th century (rebacked with new end-papers but preserving the originals, with the front one repaired probably following removal of a bookplate, clasps perished, abrasions to rear cover). Provenance: near-contemporary brief biographical note on the author (inscription at end) – 18th-century and 19th-century illegible names at front.