Antonius Musa (Ancient Greek:Ἀντώνιος Μούσας,Antṓnios Moúsas) was aGreekbotanist and theRoman EmperorAugustus's physician; Antonius was afreedman who received freeborn status along with other honours.[1] In the year 23 BC, when Augustus was seriously ill, Musa cured the illness with cold compresses and became immediately famous.
Musa, the plant group which includes thebanana, theplantain and numerous other species, was apparently named after him.[2] However,Musa may be a Latinization of the Arabic name for the fruit,mauz (موز).Mauz meaningMusa is discussed in the 11th century Arabic encyclopediaThe Canon of Medicine, which was translated to Latin in medieval times and well known in Europe.[3]
Musa's brother wasEuphorbus, physician to kingJuba II ofNumidia, after whom the plantEuphorbia, which has given its name to a scientific genus, was originally named.
A short medical treatise calledDe Herba Vettonica describing the properties ofbetony has been transmitted under his name, but is thought instead to have been written in the 4th century. It seems to have been a source for the Roman medical writerTheodorus Priscianus.[4]
According toFrancis Atterbury, the characterIapis inVirgil'sAeneid represents Musa whileAeneas represents Augustus.[5]
Media related toAntonius Musa at Wikimedia Commons
