Alexander of Myndus

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Alexander of Myndus (or Myndos) in Caria, was a Greek writer who some believe lived during the first century AD but this date is uncertain. ^[1] He wrote on diverse topics, including zoology and divination. None of his writings are extant, but fragments are preserved in various later authors. Works ascribed to Alexander of Myndus include a History of Beasts (Ktenon historia), On Animals (Peri zoön, probably the same work), On Birds (Peri ptenon, a separate work), a work on myths, and on either the interpretation of dreams or on divination generally.

It is possible that the illustrations of birds in the Vienna Dioscurides, which appear to be based on illustrations from an older, different treatise, as they don't relate directly to the treatise they illustrate, are derived from illustrations of the lost treatise on birds of Alexander of Myndus.

[edit] References and notes

1. ^ Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology [1]

• Darius Del Corno, Graecorum de re Onirocritica Scriptorum Reliquiae (1969) no. 14
• Oder, "Das Traumbuch des Alexander von Myndos," RhM 45 (1890) pp. 637-639
• Alexander of Myndus from Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1867)
• Alexander of Myndos from Greek and Roman Science and Technology by T E Rihll

[edit] Further Reading

• Stannard, Jerry. (1970). "Alexander of Myndos". Dictionary of Scientific Biography 1: 120-121. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.