Antyllus Antyllus
| Born | |
| Died |
Related eponyms
Biography of Antyllus Antyllus
Antyllus was one of the most important physicians in Greek antiquity, particularly famous as a surgeon. He lived after Galen, but before Oribasius, late third and early fourth century AD. Nothing is known about his life and his works have all been lost, but writings of various authors, particularly Oribasius, Aëtius and Rhazes, enable us to get some impression of him.
One of the most daring and accomplished of surgeons, Antyllus is particularly remembered for his work on the surgery of aneurysm. He was first to recognize two forms of aneurysm – the developmental caused by dilatation and the traumatic following wounding of an artery. He operated on the eye, did tracheotomies and performed a radical operation for hydrocele. He also gives detailed advice for the operation of tumours, and in a chapter on resection he presents as a keen and skilful operator.
Antyllus wrote extensively on a variety of medical and acquainted themes, among them the importance of walking (warning: jogging is detrimental to your health - but good for Nike), swimming and gymnastics.
Bibliography
- Antylli veteris chirurgi quae apud Oribasium libro xliv, xlv et 1 leguntur fragmenta.
Dissertatio . . . public defendet F. C. Wolz, Jenae, typ. Schreiberi. 1842. A german version of Antyllus is in Janus, 1847, 2: 298-329, 744-771; and Janus, 1848, 3: 166-184.