Skip to content
— CH. 1 · EPHESUS TO ROME —

Soranus of Ephesus

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
5 sections

  • Soranus of Ephesus was born in the ancient city of Ephesus during the first or second century AD. He traveled to Alexandria to practice medicine before moving on to Rome. Historical records place his active years within the reigns of Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian, spanning from 98 to 138. He served as a tutor to Statilius Attalus, who later became the personal physician to Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Galen wrote his work De Methodo Medendi around 178, noting that Soranus had already died by that time. The Suda encyclopedia lists him as the son of Menander and Phoebe. He spent some time in Aquitania treating skin diseases that were very prevalent there at the time.

  • Soranus belonged to the Methodic school of medicine and stood out as one of its most eminent physicians. This medical philosophy emphasized specific therapeutic doctrines rather than complex theoretical systems. Archigenes used one of Soranus medicines, proving their practical application among contemporaries. Pseudo-Galen identified him as a chief representative of this distinct medical tradition. His approach focused on observable symptoms and immediate treatment methods for patients. Ancient sources describe him as a leading figure whose ideas shaped the direction of Greek medicine during his lifetime.

  • His four-volume treatise on gynecology remains extant today despite centuries of loss. The text was first printed in 1838 before being edited again by V. Rose in 1882. A sixth-century Latin translation by Muscio survives alongside the original Greek fragments. Manuscripts from around 900 AD contain illustrations likely based on drawings made directly by Soranus himself. These images show positions of the embryo within the uterus with remarkable detail. The Brussels Royal Library holds Codex 3714, folio 28r as a key example of these surviving visual records. Modern scholars continue to study this work as a foundational text for women's medicine in antiquity.

  • Parts of treatises On Signs of Fractures and On Bandages still exist for modern researchers to examine. A complete Latin translation of On Acute and Chronic Diseases exists thanks to Caelius Aurelianus in the fifth century. Only a few fragments in Greek remain of that most important work. Galen quotes passages from two works on Pharmacy written by Soranus. Tertullian references a four-book work called De Anima where Soranus divided the soul into seven parts. He denied the immortality of the soul in those writings. Paulus Aegineta notes that Soranus described the Guinea worm earlier than other Greek medical writers.

  • Augustine called him Medicinae auctor nobilissimus or Noblest author of remedies in his Contra Iulianum. Tertullian referred to him as Methodicae Medicinae instructissimus auctor within his own theological arguments. Paulus Aegineta listed him among the earliest Greek medical writers who had described specific diseases like the Guinea worm. His reputation remained strong enough that later historians cited his opinions with great respect. The Life of Hippocrates likely formed part of a collection of medical biographies he wrote. This text serves as the only authority for the life of the great physician alongside articles found in the Suda and Stephanus of Byzantium.

Continue Browsing

1st-century births1st-century Greek physicians2nd-century deaths2nd-century Greek physiciansAncient EphesiansAncient Greek science writersAncient gynaecologists

Common questions

When was Soranus of Ephesus born and during which Roman emperors did he practice?

Soranus of Ephesus lived during the first or second century AD, with his active years spanning from 98 to 138 under the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian. He traveled to Alexandria before establishing himself in Rome as a practicing physician.

What medical school did Soranus of Ephesus belong to and what were its core principles?

Soranus of Ephesus belonged to the Methodic school of medicine, which emphasized specific therapeutic doctrines over complex theoretical systems. His approach focused on observable symptoms and immediate treatment methods for patients rather than abstract theories.

Which gynecology treatise by Soranus of Ephesus survives today and when was it printed?

The four-volume treatise on gynecology written by Soranus of Ephesus remains extant today despite centuries of loss. The text was first printed in 1838 before being edited again by V. Rose in 1882.

Who are the parents of Soranus of Ephesus according to historical records?

The Suda encyclopedia lists him as the son of Menander and Phoebe. Historical records place his birth in the ancient city of Ephesus during the first or second century AD.

What diseases did Soranus of Ephesus describe that other Greek writers missed?

Paulus Aegineta notes that Soranus of Ephesus described the Guinea worm earlier than other Greek medical writers. He also wrote about skin diseases prevalent in Aquitania where he spent time treating patients.

See all questions about Soranus of Ephesus →