Cesti (fragmenta) Index These things are in the <ζʹ> of Africanus' Cesti: 1. Concerning arming. -2. Concerning the destruction of enemies. -3. Agonist

 varied, having prepared their armament in common both against barbarians and against themselves a sign is <that> the faces of the combatants were fre

 Some anoint their arrows with poisons, so that every wound becomes fatal others place their strength in forests. Some, when fleeing, first destroy th

 fortified with food. These things do not bring a one-day death, nor do they immediately destroy the one who has used them, with the art of pestilence

 destruction, to avoid the plague I have anticipated the cure by setting it forth in the parchments before this. Themistocles, while commanding the nav

 Let the children of physicians heal a wound, with the one who is sick readily offering himself to their touch. 1.6 Taming of a horse Just as among men

 only believe him who says, they also see demons, and I know of many who have neighed at crossroads and have fallen and proclaimed the threat with the

 When the horses receive the smell of the evil thing, they go mad and snort fiercely and rear up in haste, as if fearing the exhalation from the ground

 and taking a very small amount of oil, then after moderately crushing it somewhat, pour the complete mixture through a horn into the left nostril of p

 the sides of the triangle are bisected.” For let ABΓ be a right-angled triangle, having the angle at B right. And let AB be bisected at Δ. And let ΔE

 lightest air, and they also abstain from everything hot and from salts, as these are causes of dull vision. So that they are never caught sleeping and

 you happen to be winged, I too get ahead of you with another wing. Thus are the nuptials of Pasithea to Hypnos. Eros indeed keeps watch the theft of

 to himself. And from this, a twofold advantage: for either in his pain he kills his own, consoling an incurable pain, or being unable to stand, he fal

 pinecones, about ten per chous of water having thrown these into the liquid, boil it just enough to warm it let the vessel be lacking 2 kotylai whi

 to shoot a third in succession and the others likewise, with the second always pausing the shot just long enough for the first's arrow to reach the ta

 Anoint with oil in which leeches have likewise been boiled down. <Πίναξ> '1 How one might, through wine, cause those who have drunk it to sleep for th

 This should be done from the beginning of spring until the end of autumn. And again, wormwood wine is drunk for the same purpose, not only before food

 for an elephantiasic horse of Africanus The liver of a land hedgehog, dried in the sun, heals elephantiasic horses. 3.2 Of Africanus for the eyes Th

 a dog's afterbirth, treated with myrrh and properly purified and tied on, becomes a cause of conception. So that the animal may conceive what you wish

 of figs and warts and acrochordons Warts are outgrowths of bodies resembling rough nails and they occur on many people in many places. They call the

 of coriander. And dung also works, when smeared with the juice of a fig tree with mulberry leaves or calamint or lentil smeared with oil. And the roo

 wounds. 3.33 Of Africanus: To prevent cattle from being harmed by a toad that lurks by night or in a dark place, by it puffing on them The toad is acc

 of equal weight to the Italian one which is called a “denarius,” for as a rule many now use the Italian weights. The Attic mina has 25 staters the It

 and tender maidens with the flower of new-grieved hearts and many wounded by bronze-tipped spears, men slain in battle, wearing blood-stained armor

 Put in 1 chous of bran, 4 choes of seaweed, having boiled it, put in the wool and leave it until late, and having taken it out, rinse it with sea-wate

 with slippings of veins, and something else that shines by night. It both kindles and extinguishes loves. And it blackens white hair, and whitens blac

This should be done from the beginning of spring until the end of autumn. And again, wormwood wine is drunk for the same purpose, not only before food, but also after food and during the meal itself. If we do not have wormwood wine, let us give wormwood with hot water. Squill wine also does the same thing. They also prepare squill vinegar, and if someone takes the squill wine, it is before eating, but if the vinegar, after dinner. And the marsh wine, that is, the one made in the marshes, is very healthy. And oven-baked bread, thinly kneaded and dried in the sun, is most useful for health. And if the available water should be unwholesome, [I might be of pulse], let it be boiled until a tenth of it is consumed, then let it be cooled; and thus it will be harmless. 2.7 Against being overcome by poison So that we may suffer nothing from poison (for there being two remedies, to heal and to cause not to suffer is necessary), if someone, fasting from all intake, should take 20 leaves of rue, two dried figs, and an equal amount of walnuts, he would become immune to every poison; and let there be added to these a grain of salt. Many, therefore, attest to this by experience; but those who have compiled it more accurately have doubled the salt and the rue, and added 20 peppercorns. But the more perfect one, which renders all poisons ineffective and which is easy to carry in a military camp, is this: of rich dried figs and likewise of the finest walnuts and of dried rue, and in addition of peppers, juniper berries, and furthermore of Lemnian earth, equal parts to be pounded in a mortar and to make little balls the size of a Pontic nut, and to take one each day. 2.8 For <to> join a wound without stitching Since in war men are often wounded, and when the division from the iron is large, they are overcome more by the stitches, for this we have discovered a natural remedy, able to join without stitching; it is this: crush a bulb which we eat and apply it, and it will join it together. 2.9 For blood flowing uncontrollably Taking human blood, whether from a bloodletter or from some other source in whatever <might> happen to be the way, and putting it into a wide-mouthed vessel, dry it in the sun and on the first day you will find a watery substance floating on top; it is necessary to throw this out and to make the remainder dry, and upon need, apply it as a poultice <and> bind it; for it will be staunched, even if it is uncontrollable. 2.10 For <the> horses not to be sick <The> horses will not get sick, if someone takes a little from a stag's horn and, making it like an ornament, fastens it around their neck. 2.11 To light an automatic fire To light an automatic fire also with this recipe; it is prepared, then, as follows: unburnt sulfur, rock salt, dust, thunder stone, and pyrite, equal parts, are ground in a black mortar when the sun is at midday; and it is mixed with the juice of black mulberry and with liquid and naturally-mined Zakynthian asphalt, an equal amount of each, so that it becomes like soot; then a very little bit of quicklime is added to the asphalt; and it is necessary to grind it carefully when the sun is at midday, and to protect the face; for it will ignite suddenly. And having ignited, it is necessary to cover it with some bronze vessel, so as to have it ready in a box and no longer show it to the sun; but in the evening, if you wish to burn the weapons of the enemy, you will smear these or something else, but secretly; for when the sun appears, everything will be burned. 2.12 Hunting for sound I have read <something> unbelievable to many, and doubtful to me, but because of its paradoxical nature I have related this also; some say that the Maurousians [this is a nation], having rested their neck on a piece of wood, apply their ear unhindered for hearing, having dug a small pit and lying down. And the robbers of the western Galatians are heard to do the same thing. This is an improvised hunt for sound. But as one in a large army might wish to learn either the counsels of his own soldiers [and] or the counsels of the enemy, having dug a deep well, let him lower whatever he wishes, having covered the mouth with any cloak; not one thing will escape the one sitting inside, but he will relate to you the things said or the things that sounded as if he were divining. 3.1 Concerning

τοῦτο δεῖ γίνεσθαι ἀπ' ἀρχῆς ἔαρος μέχρι τέλους τοῦ φθινοπώρου. Καὶ πάλιν οἶνος ἀψινθίτης εἰς ταὐτὸ πέποται, οὐ μόνον πρὸ τροφῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ μετὰ τροφὴν καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ τροφῇ. Ἐὰν δὲ ἀψινθίτην μὴ ἔχωμεν, ἀψίνθιον δῶμεν μετὰ θερμοῦ ὕδατος. Τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ καὶ ὁ σκιλλίτης οἶνος. Παρασκευάζουσι δὲ καὶ τὸ σκιλλιτικὸν ὄξος, καὶ εἰ μὲν τοῦ οἴνου τις λαμβάνει τοῦ σκιλλιτικοῦ, πρὶν φαγεῖν, εἰ δὲ τοῦ ὄξους, μετὰ δεῖπνον. Καὶ ὁ ἕλειος δὲ οἶνος, τουτέστιν ὁ ἐν τοῖς ἕλεσι γινόμενος, σφόδρα ἐστὶν ὑγιεινός. Καὶ ὁ κριβανίτης ἄρτος ἰσχνῶς πεπλασμένος καὶ ἐν ἡλίῳ ξηρανθεὶς χρησιμώτατος πρὸς ὑγείαν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ τὸ παρακείμενον ὕδωρ εἴη νοσερόν, [εἴην ὀσπρόν], ἑψήσθω ἕως ἂν τὸ δέκατον αὐτοῦ ἀναλωθῇ, εἶτα διαψυχέσθω· καὶ οὕτως ἀβλαβὲς ἔσται. 2.7 Πρὸς τὸ μὴ δηλητηρίῳ ἁλίσκεσθαι Ἵνα δὲ μηδὲν πρὸς δηλητηρίου πάσχωμεν (δυοῖν γὰρ ὄντων ἀκῶν <τοῦ ἰᾶσθαι καὶ> τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ μὴ πάσχειν ἀναγκαῖον), νῆστις πάσης ἐπιβολῆς γενόμενος, εἰ λαμβάνοι τις κʹ μὲν φύλλα πηγανίου, ἰσχάδας δὲ δύο καὶ καρύων τῶν ἰσχάδων ἴσον, ἀνάλωτος γένοιτο ἂν παντὶ φαρμάκῳ· προσέστω δὲ τούτοις καὶ χόνδρος ἁλός. Πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν τῇ πείρᾳ μαρτυροῦσιν· οἳ δὲ ἀκριβέστερον συναγαγόντες, ἐδιπλα σίασαν τὸ ἅλας καὶ τὸ πήγανον, ἔθεσαν δὲ πεπέριδος κοκκία κʹ. Τὸ δὲ τελειότερον, ὅπερ ἄπρακτα ποιεῖ πάντα φάρμακα καὶ ὃ εὐχερὲς ἐν στρατοπέδῳ βαστάζεσθαι, τοῦτο· ἰσχάδων λιπαρῶν καρύων τε ὁμοίως τῶν λαμπροτάτων καὶ πηγάνου ξηροῦ, πρὸς δὲ καὶ πεπείρων ἀρκευθίδων, ἔτι τε Λημνίας σφραγίδος ἴσα κόπτειν ἐν ὅλμῳ καὶ ποιεῖν σφαιρία καρύου Ποντικοῦ μέγεθος καὶ λαμβάνειν ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ἕν. 2.8 Πρὸς <τὸ> πληγήν τινα ἄνευ ῥαφῆς κολλῆσαι Ἐπείπερ ἐν πολέμῳ πολλάκις τινὲς τιτρωσκόμενοι, τῆς ἐκ σιδήρου διαιρέσεως μεγάλης οὔσης, ῥαφαῖς τὸ μᾶλλον δαμάζονται, πρὸς τοῦτο φυσικὸν ἐφεύρομεν βοήθημα, τὸ ἄνευ ῥαφῆς κολλῆσαι δυνάμενον· ἔστι δὲ τοῦτο· βολβὸν ὃν ἐσθίομεν λειώσας ἐπιτίθει, καὶ παρακολλήσει. 2.9 Πρὸς αἷμα δυσκατασχέτως ῥέον Λαβὼν ἀνθρώπειον αἷμα εἴτε ἀπὸ φλεβοτόμου εἴτε ἐξ ἄλλου του οἵου δήποτε <ἂν> τύχῃ τρόπου καὶ βαλὼν εἰς ἄγγος πλατύστομον, ξήραινε ἐν ἡλίῳ καὶ ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ ἡμέρᾳ εὑρήσεις ἐπιπολάζον ὑδατῶδες· τοῦτο χρὴ ἐκβάλλειν ξηρόν τε ποιεῖν τὸ λοιπόν, κἀπὶ τῆς χρείας κατάπλασον <καὶ> ἐπίδησον· σταθήσεται γάρ, εἰ κἂν δυσκατάσχετον ᾖ. 2.10 Πρὸς <τὸ τοὺς> ἵππους μὴ νοσεῖν Οὐ μὴ νοσήσουσιν <οἱ> ἵπποι, εἴ τις ἐξ ἐλάφου κέρως λαβὼν ὀλίγον καὶ ποιήσας αὐτὸ ὡς κόσμον τῷ τραχήλῳ περιάψει. 2.11 Αὐτόματον πῦρ ἅψαι Αὐτόματον πῦρ ἅψαι καὶ τῷδε τῷ συντάγματι· σκευάζεται γοῦν οὕτως· θείου ἀπύρου, ἁλὸς ὀρυκτοῦ, κονίας, κεραυνίου λίθου, πυρίτου ἴσα λειοῦνται ἐν θυίᾳ μελαίνῃ, μεσουρανοῦντος ἡλίου· μίγνυταί τε συκαμίνου μελαίνης ὀποῦ καὶ ἀσφάλτου Ζακυνθίας ὑγρᾶς καὶ αὐτορύτου ἑκάστου ἴσον, ὡς λιγνυῶδες γενέσθαι· εἶτα προσβάλλεται ἀσφάλτῳ τιτάνου παντελῶς ὀλίγον· ἐπιμελῶς δὲ δεῖ τρίβειν, μεσουρανοῦντος ἡλίου, καὶ φυλάσσειν τὸ πρόσωπον· αἰφνίδιον γὰρ ἀναφθήσεται. Ἁφθεῖσαν δὲ χρὴ πωμάσαι χαλκῷ τινι ἀγγείῳ, πρὸς τὸ ἕτοιμον οὕτως ἔχειν εἰς πυξίδα καὶ μηκέτι δεικνύναι τῷ ἡλίῳ· ἀλλ' ἐν ἑσπέρᾳ, ἐὰν βούλῃ πολεμίων ὅπλα ἐμπρῆσαι, ταῦτα καταχρίσεις ἢ ἕτερόν τι, λεληθότως δέ· ἡλίου γὰρ φαινομένου, πάντα καυθήσεται. 2.12 Ἀκοῆς θήρα Ἀνέγνων <τι> τοῖς μὲν πολλοῖς ἄπιστον, ἐμοὶ δὲ ἀμφιβαλλόμενον, διὰ δὲ τὸ παράδοξον καὶ τοῦτο ἀνήγαγον· φασίν τινες Μαυρουσίους [ἔθνος δέ ἐστι τοῦτο] ἐπερεισαμένους τὸν αὐχένα ξύλῳ, ἀκώλυτον εἰς ἀκοὴν ἐπαφεῖναι τὸ οὖς, ὀλίγον τε ὑποσκάψαντας βόθρον καὶ κατακειμένους. Τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ δρᾶν καὶ τοὺς Γαλατῶν τῶν ἑσπερίων ἀκούεται λῃστάς. Αὐτοσχέδιος αὕτη θήρα ἀκοῆς. Ὡς ἂν δέ τις ἐν μεγάλῳ στρατοπέδῳ ἤτοι τὰ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ στρατιωτῶν βουλεύματα [καὶ] ἢ τὰ τῶν πολεμίων βουλεύματα θελήσῃ μαθεῖν, φρέαρ ὀρύξας βαθύ, οἷον βούλεται καθιέτω, ἐπικαλύψας τὸ στόμιον ἱματίῳ τῷ τυχόντι· οὐδὲ ἓν τὸν ἐγκαθήμενον λήσεται, ἀλλά σοι τὰ εἰρημένα ἢ τὰ ἠχήσαντα ὡς μαντευόμενος διηγήσεται. 3.1 Περὶ