Funerary Bust of Asiatikos Physician of the Method and Leader (75-125 CE)

Smyrna (Ionia, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), I CE
ISmyrna 537 = CIG 3283 = SEG 28 (1978), no. 886 = PHI 255164 = AGRW ID# 24357

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Bust of white marble discovered at Smyrna around 1687 (52 x 22 cm). Now in la Bibliothèque nationale de France (inv.57.5; see http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/record/ark:/12148/c33gbhcdm). The inscription is inscribed on the chest of the bust. This is a funerary bust of a physician that identifies with the "method", namely the so-called "Methodist" or "Methodical" school of medicine. The reference to him being a leader may entail leadership of an association, perhaps of physicians. But this is not certain.

Farewell, physician (iatros) of the method, Asiatikos, leader (or: patron; prostatēs), often suffering bravely with heart and often miserable. Marcus Modius Asiatikos, methodical physician (iatros).

Translation by: Harland

ἰητὴρ μεθόδου, Ἀσιατικέ, προστάτα, | χαῖρε | πολλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὰ παθὼν | φρεσί, πολλὰ δὲ λυγρά. || Μ(ᾶρκος) Μόδιος Ἀσιατικός | ἰατρὸς μεθοδικός.

Asiaticus (full bust). Photo from la Bibliothèque nationale de France (http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/record/ark:/12148/c33gbhcdm)

Smyrna Astiacus (inscription) inv.57.5-06

Asiaticus (inscription only). Photo from la Bibliothèque nationale de France (http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/record/ark:/12148/c33gbhcdm)

L0057259 Plaster replica of a Roman bust shows Marcus Modius Asiaticu Credit: Science Museum, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Plaster replica of a Roman bust shows Marcus Modius Asiaticus, Roman, 2nd century AD. Black background. 3/4 angle. Published: - Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Plaster replica of the bust of Marcus Modius Asiaticus
From Wellcome Images (used under a Creative Commons license).

Item added: March 2, 2017
Item modified: March 2, 2017
ID number: 24357
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=24357

Category: 3) Asia Minor, Bust, e) 1st century CE, f) 2nd century CE, f) Ionia, Funerary text, g) Educated professional groups (e.g. physicians and philosophers), i) Images of monuments or buildings

Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

An expanding collection of inscriptions, papyri, and other sources in translation (run by Philip A. Harland)

Funerary Bust of Asiatikos Physician of the Method and Leader (75-125 CE) ║ Smyrna - Ionia

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