84 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



Antaeopolis : his name occurs on these temples both in hieroglyphic 

 and in Greek inscriptions ; and according to Champollion-Figeac, he 

 dedicated some Egyptian temples to the gods of Greece. 



Some applications of steam as a mechanical agent, are described in 

 the writings of Heron of Alexandria. 



The gentiana, discovered (according to Pliny xxv. 34) by Gentius 

 the king of the Illyrians, is admitted to be the officinal gentian (Gen- 

 tiana lutea) . — This plant has not been seen within the proper limits of 

 Greece ; but it grows on the neighbouring Alps. The imported root, 

 according to Alpinus, is one of the ingredients of the Egyptian theriac. 



The nrPE©roN of Nicander (Ther. 938), Celsus, Dioscorides, and 

 Serenus Sammonicus, is referred by Tragus and J. E. Smith to the 

 Anthemis 'pyrethrum. — Macer Floridus enumerates the "pyrethrum" 

 among exotics ; and the dried roots of the A. pyrethrum, are known to 

 be imported from Spain into the rest of Europe, and from Barbary into 

 Egypt. Alpinus and Forskal (Mat. Med.) speak of the medicinal use 

 of "pyrethrum" root in Egypt. 



The ohaais of Nicander (Ther. 840) and Dioscorides, according to 

 the received opinion and Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is one 

 or more species of sorrel (Rumex). — The R. acetosella was seen by Has- 

 selquist at Damietta ; but the cultivated sorrel, R. acetosa, according 

 to Clot-Bey and Figari, has been only recently introduced into Egypt. 



The KTNorAftzsos of Nicander (Geor.), Celsus v. 27, Dioscorides, and 

 Athenasus, is referred by Sibthorp and others to the Cynoglossum offici- 

 nale. — This plant was seen by Hasselquist in Palestine ; but according 

 to Clot-Bey and Figari, has been only recently introduced into Egypt. 



The noArroNON of Nicander (Ther. 901) and Dioscorides, is usually 

 referred to the Polygonum aviculare. — This plant is noticed by Lobel 

 and by TabernaBmontanus : and was seen by Hasselquist in Palestine ; 

 and by Delile, growing spontaneously at Alexandria. 



The boyo>©aamon of Nicander (Georg.) and Dioscorides, is referred 

 by Sibthorp to the Chrysanthemum segetum. — This plant, though 

 common in Greece, has not been seen in Egypt ; for Forskal's notice, 

 is referred by Delile to the closely allied Chrysanthemum coronarium; 

 observed growing in the assigned locality, near Alexandria.* 



* The nxroN ION of Nicander (quoted by Athenaeus xv.), and the "leykoion meli- 

 non" of Dioscorides and Oribasius, are referred by Stapel, Sibthorp, and others, to the 

 gilly-flower, Cheiranthus cheiri. — This plant appears to be common in Greece; but I 

 have met with no evidence, that it is known in Egypt. 



