#dioscorides

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Dioscorides

Just some of the Christie mysteries containing arsenic! Fun Fact: Did you know Agatha Christie used arsenic as a murder weapon, misled investigators with, or referenced the chemical element in nearly 25% of her mysteries? True story! However, ages before Agatha Christie earned the moniker ‘Queen of Poisons’ for her application of arsenic (and other equally baneful substances) within her books,…

Pietro Andrea Mattioli – Scientist of the Day

Pietro Andrea Mattioli, a Renaissance physician and botanist, was born Mar. 23, 1501.

Today is Day 3 of Earth Day, but every day should be Earth Day in the time when our planet really needs our care. This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.” We can do this by restoring soil. Soil is important for our biodiversity, providing nutrients for trees and plants that we use for food and energy, retaining and purifying most of the water on earth, and preventing floods. But we’re seeing soil erosion at an accelerated rate in the last half-century and losing good healthy soil from overgrazing and overplowing.[1] Planting more trees and plants would help restore our soil.

De materia medica (On Medical Material), a 5-volume Greek encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances, is considered one of the great treatises on the therapeutic properties of natural substances such as plants, minerals, and animals.[2] It was written by Dioscorides Pedanius, a Greek physician, botanist, and pharmacologist. It is important to note the root structures included in the illustrations. Roots not only anchor a plant in place, but they are also its lifeline, absorbing water, minerals, and nutrients and providing much needed energy to trees and plants, from which we all benefit. Dioscorides certainly knew the importance of roots.

Folio from a manuscript of the De Materia Medica of Dioscorides Dioscorides Pedanius of Anazarbos, ac.ca.65 [author] Baghdad, Muhafazat Baghdad, Iraq Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper 33 cm; width 24 cm (folio) Folio taken from Istanbul, Süleymaniye Library Islamic Arab Creation Date: 1224/621 AH Repository: Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts HOLLIS number: olvwork69233

De Materia Medica (Leiden, Rijksuniverseit Bibliotheek Cod. Or. 289) Translated Title: Kitâb al-hashâ'ish 227 ff. Arabic translarion of De Materia Medica od Dioscoride Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper 31 x 21.5 cm. Samarkand Islamic Arab Creation Date: 1083 Repository: Rijksuniverseit te Leiden. Bibliotheek, Leiden, Netherlands Cod. HOLLIS number: olvwork539366

[1] https://earth911.com/inspire/regenerative-agriculture-to-restore-our-earth/