Wednesday 13. 5. 2026 15:00
lecture | Center for Medieval Studies Room 114, Jilská 1, Prague 1
Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti: From Italy to the Habsburg Empire: Mattioli on Dioscorides
Organized by the Department for the Study of Ancient and Medieval Thought as a part of the Alchemies of Scent project
Detailed information
Speakers:
Alain Touwaide
Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions
Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University
Emanuela Appetiti
Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions
Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University
The Italian physician Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501–1578) is best known for his commented translation of Dioscorides’ De materia medica. What began as a modest Italian work soon expanded through commentary, plant illustrations, and a Latin translation. In 1562, Mattioli also published a Czech version, which departed from the earlier editions and transformed the translation and commentary into a practical herbal. This seminar follows the evolution of Mattioli’s work, especially its shift from classical scholarship to herbalism.
