Life The Ἀνώνυμος ἰατρικός συγγραφεύς, or Pseudo-Galen (ψευδο-Γαληνός), is a modern designation for the unknown author or authors of a corpus of medical texts falsely attributed to Galen. These works were composed between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE, a period when attributing works to famous authorities was a common practice to ensure their preservation and dissemination [1, 2]. The anonymous compilers worked within the Greek medical tradition, summarizing and adapting earlier knowledge across the Eastern Roman Empire.

Works The heterogeneous Pseudo-Galenic corpus includes treatises such as the Definitions medicae (Medical Definitions), a dictionary of medical terms, and the Introductio sive medicus (Introduction or The Physician), a basic overview of the medical art [1]. Other texts address pharmacology, pulse lore, and therapeutics. The entire corpus was transmitted and preserved as part of the larger Galenic tradition.

Significance These writings were crucial for transmitting and popularizing medical knowledge in late antiquity and the Byzantine period. Serving as textbooks and reference works, they made Galenic doctrines more accessible, influencing subsequent Byzantine, Arabic, and Latin medical traditions [1, 2]. They are valuable sources for understanding the practice and pedagogy of post-classical medicine.

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Stanford University): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/galen/ 2. Encyclopædia Britannica (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Galen