Soranus of Ephesus: Greek physician

Soranus of Ephesus (circa AD 98-138) was born in Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor towards the end of the first century AD, the son of Menandrus and his wife Phoebe.

He trained in the famous medical school of Alexandria and practised in Rome during the rules of Trajan and Hadrian. He died towards the middle of the 2nd AD.

He wrote approximately twenty books dealing with gynaecology, internal medicine, surgery, pharmacology, ophthalmology, medical history, anatomy, embryology and philosophy, most of which are lost.

A part of his work on Acute and Chronic Diseases has survived, in the transcript of Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD). He wrote also several treatises, on Bandages, on Fractures, as well as Life of Hippocrates.

His work on Gynaecology reflects the views on medical practice during the Roman period and is considered as a leading treatise on the subject, coming down to the middle ages via the School of Salerno.
Soranus of Ephesus: Greek physician