Apollonides of Cos

Apollonides () was a Greek physician and surgeon from Cos. Like many other of his kinsmen, he went to serve at the court of the Persian Empire, then ruled by Artaxerxes Longimanus (465–425 BC).

At the court he cured Megabyzus, the king's brother-in-law, of a dangerous wound, but was afterwards engaged in a sinful and scandalous amour with his wife, Amytis, who was herself a most profligate woman. For this offence Apollonides was given up by Artaxerxes into the hands of his mother, Amestris, who tortured him for about two months, and at last, upon the death of her daughter, ordered him to be buried alive.

Notes

References

Brosius, M (1998): Women in Ancient Persia, pp. 73, 74, 113, 114.

5th-century BC Greek physicians

Ancient Koans

Ancient Greek emigrants to the Achaemenid Empire

Year of birth missing

Year of death missing

Executed ancient Greek people

5th-century BC executions

People executed by the Achaemenid Empire

Ancient torture victims

Physicians from the Achaemenid Empire