Apollonios of Kition facts for kids

Apollonios of Kition (also known as Apollonius of Citium; Greek: Ἀπολλώνιος ὁ Κιτιεύς) was an important ancient doctor from Cyprus. He lived around 60 BC. Apollonios was part of the Empiric school of medicine. This meant he believed doctors should learn mostly from experience and observation, rather than just theories. He studied medicine in Alexandria, a famous ancient city, with a surgeon named Zopyrus. However, Apollonios lived in Kition, which is now called Larnaca. Some people think he might have studied medicine in Kition itself.

Who Was Apollonios of Kition?

Apollonios was very famous throughout the ancient Greek world. Many people thought he was the most important doctor from Cyprus. Other famous people, like Strabo and Cicero, wrote good things about him. Even though he was mainly a physician (a doctor), Apollonios was also very interested in surgery and treating injuries.

Apollonios's Important Books

Apollonios wrote several books about medicine. His most important book is called Peri Arthron, which means On Joints (Greek: Περὶ Ἄρθρων). This book is special because it is the only one of his works that still exists today.

On Joints: A Guide to Bones

On Joints is a detailed study of what Hippocrates, another very famous ancient doctor, taught about joints. Apollonios wrote this book in Cyprus. A copy of it was found in the library of a Byzantine doctor named Nikitas. Today, this valuable book is kept safe in Florence, Italy.

Apollonios wrote On Joints with the support of King Ptolemaius (Ptolemy of Cyprus). The book is divided into three main parts:

• The first part talks about how to treat dislocated shoulders.
• The second part explains dislocations of the elbow, wrist, jaw, and spine.
• The third part focuses on dislocations of the legs and feet.

The book also includes 30 hand-painted pictures. Many people believe these pictures are copies from Hippocrates's own original writings.

Other Writings by Apollonios

It is thought that Apollonios also wrote a book about epilepsy, a condition that affects the brain. However, this book has not survived. Some historical records suggest that Apollonios wrote or helped write a total of 21 books. One of his books was about general medical treatments.

Apollonios's Legacy Today

Many modern experts who study ancient Greek and Cypriot medicine have written about Apollonios. His hometown, Larnaca, has honored him in several ways. A street in Larnaca is named after him. More recently, a statue of Apollonios was placed in a main square of the town.

The hand-painted drawings from his book On Joints have been shown in many medical and historical exhibitions. The Laurentian Library in Florence, where the original manuscript is kept, only allows the book to be moved for exhibitions on very rare occasions because it is so old and precious.

In May 2013, the Kyriazis Medical Museum in Larnaca held a big event. They celebrated 2000 years since Apollonios's death, showing how important he still is to medical history.