Aurelianus, Caelius (Fifth Century AD)

English Names

Caelius Aurelianus

Date

Fifth century AD

Biography

Caelius is a Latin physician from Sicca Veneria, in North Africa (El-Kef, Tunisia), who probably lived in the beginning of the fifth century. It seems that Cassius Felix (te. 447 AD) depends on Caelius, who therefore should be placed before him.

Caelius was a Methodist physician, who mainly translated and adapted the preceding works of Soranus of Ephesus (first century AD).

Main Achievements in Medicine/Pathology

Caelius is the most important exponent of the learned Latin medicine in late antiquity. Caelius was for medicine what his contemporary St. Augustine (354–430) was for theology. As a Methodist physician and translator of Soranus, he is the best available source for the lost Soranus and the Methodist doctrine.

Caelius gave a very broad and accurate description of treatment of the diseases, the most complete of antiquity. The description of phrenitis or paralysis is particularly remarkable, as well as that of...