[1285] See end of B. ii.
[1286] See end of B. iii.
[1287] See end of B. ii.
[1288] See end of B. xi.
[1289] Nothing whatever is known of him. His Book seems to have been a compendium of “Things useful to life.”
[1290] A physician and Pythagorean philosopher, born at one of the cities called Larissa, but which, is now unknown. He was banished by the Emperor Augustus, B.C. 28, on the charge of practising magic, a charge probably based on his superior skill in natural philosophy. He is frequently mentioned by Pliny in the course of this work.
[1291] Fée remarks, that the commencement of this exordium is contrary to truth, and that Pliny appears to forget that in the Eighteenth Book he has treated, at very considerable length, of the various cereals, the art of preparing bread, pottages, ptisans, &c. He suggests, that the author may have originally intended to place the Eighteenth Book after the present one, and that on changing his plan he may have neglected to alter the present passage. From his mention, however, of man’s “ignorance by what means lie exists,” it is not improbable that he may have considered that the nutritive qualities of plants are really based upon their medicinal virtues, a point of view little regarded by the majority of mankind in his time, but considered by Pliny to be the true key to a just appreciation of their utility.
[1292] “Quibus cuncta constant.” See B. xxiv. c. 1.
[1293] See B. xxxiv. c. 42.
[1294] The “theamedes.” See B. xxxvi. c. 25.