Two Men Giving Birth: Phlegon of Tralles, De Mirab. 26-27

Two Men Giving Birth

Name: Phlegon of Tralles Date:    2nd century CE Region:   Tralles [modern Turkey]      Citation: On Marvels 26-27

In his Commentaries, Dorotheus the Physician reported that in Alexandria, Egypt, a man [1], gave birth. The fetus was preserved and put on display on account of the marvel.

While on campaign in Germany, one of the soldiers in the Roman army led by T. Curtilius Mancias, had a slave who gave birth. This happened when Conon was in charge of Athens, and when Quintus Volusius Saturninus and Publius Cornelius Scipio were consuls of Rome.      

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[1]Phlegon uses the term κίναιδος here to explain the man’s pregnancy. Although this term was often used pejoratively in the ancient world, Phlegon uses it neutrally here.

Δωρόθεος δέ φησιν ὁ ἰατρὸς ἐν Υπομνήμασιν ἐν Αλεξανδρείᾳ τῇ κατ’ Αἴγυπτον κίναιδον τεκεῖν. τὸ δὲ βρέφος ταριχευθὲν χάριν τοῦ παραδόξου φυλάττεσθαι.

Dorotheus medicus in Commentarios suos retulit, Alexandreae in Aegypto cinaedum peperisse: foetum conditum, miraculi causa, asservari.

ἐν Γερμανίᾳ ἐν τῷ στρατῷ τῶν Ρωμαίων ὅς ἦν ὑπὸ Τίτῳ Κουρτιλίῳ Μαγκίᾳ, τὸ ἀυτὸ τοῦτο ἐγένετο. Δοῦλος γὰρ στρατιώτου ἔτεκεν ἄρχοντος Ἀθήνησιν Κόνωνος. υπατευόντων έν Ρώμη Κλίντου Οὐλουσίου Σατορνίνου καὶ Ποπλίου Κορνηλίου Σκιπίωνος.

In Germania, in exercitu Romano, quem T. Curtilius Mancias duxit servus militis peperit: Athenis Conone praeside, Romae Q. Volusio Saturnino, et P. Cornelio Scipione consulibus.    Translated into Latin by Wilhelm Xylander

Phlegon of Tralles [2nd century CE, modern Turkey] According to the Suda [φ527], Phlegon of Tralles was a freedman of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. He wrote numerous works in Greek that are now lost, including the Olympiads and Roman festivals. His work, On Marvels, is a collection of extraordinary occurrences throughout history.

From Aeteta to Aetetus: Phlegon of Tralles, de Mirab. 9

Aetetus

Name:   Phlegon of Tralles Date:     2nd century CE Region: Tralles [modern Turkey] Citation:    On Marvels 9

Also in Laodica (which is in Syria), there was a woman by the name of Aeteta living with her husband when she changed from woman to man, and then changed their name to Aetetus. This happened when Macrinus was in charge of Athens, and when Lucius Lamia and Aelianus Vetus were consuls in Rome. I saw this man with my own eyes.

Kaὶ ἐς Λαοδίκειαν δὲ τῆς Συρίας γυνὴ, ὀνόματι Αἰτητὴ, συνοικοῦσα τῷ ἀνδρὶ ἔτι, μετέβαλε τὴν μορφὴν, καὶ μετωνομάσθη Αἰτητὸς ἀνὴρ γενόμενος, ἄρχοντος Ἀθήνησι Μακρίνου, ὑπατευόντων, ἐν Ρώμῃ Λουκίου Λαμία [1], καὶ Αἰλιανοῦ Οὐέτερος, τοῦτον καὶ αὐτὸς ἐθεασάμην.

Quin et Laodiceae, quae est in Syria, mulier Aeteta nomine, etiamnum cum marito degens, e femina vir exstitit, cui nomen Aetetus: praeside Athenis Macrino, Romae consulatum gerentibus  Aemiliano Aeliano et L. Antistio Vetere. Hunc ipse quoque vidi. Translated into Latin by  Wilhelm Xylander

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[1] There is a corruption of the manuscript here. The two names are either Lucius Lamia and Aelian Vetus, or Lucius Aemulius Aelianus and Lucius Antistius Vetus.

Sympheron the Gardener: Phlegon of Tralles De Mirab. 8

Sympheron the Gardener

Name: Phlegon of Tralles Date:    2nd century CE Region:   Tralles [modern Turkey] Citation:    On Marvels 8

At the same time in Epidaurus, there was another person [1], born of poor parents, whose name was Sympherousa. Turning into a man, they began to be called Sympheron, and spent the rest of their life gardening.

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[1] Whereas modern authors use separate terminology, Phlegon of Tralles used the term ἀνδρόγυνος as an umbrella term for both trans and intersex people. Due to the ambiguous nature of the text, I am not using either label here.  

Καὶ ἄλλος δέ τις ἀνδρόγυνος κατὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους ἐγένετο ἐν Επιδαύρῳ, γονέων ἀπόρων παῖς ὅς ἐκαλεῖτο πρότερον Συμφέρουσα. ἀνὴρ δὲ γενόμενος, ὠνομάζετο Συμφέρων. κηπουρῶν δὲ τὸν βίον διῆγεν.

Eodemque tempore Epidauri alius fuit androgynus, natus inopibus parentibus, cui nomen prius erat Sympherusa: in virum autem mutatus, Sympheron coepit vocari, vitamque colendis hortis trivit. Translated into Latin by  Wilhelm Xylander

Phlegon of Tralles [2nd century CE, modern Turkey] According to the Suda [φ527], Phlegon of Tralles was a freedman of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. He wrote numerous works in Greek that are now lost, including the Olympiads and Roman festivals. His work, On Marvels, is a collection of extraordinary occurrences throughout history.

The Story of Tiresias: Phlegon of Tralles, De Mirab. 4

Hesiod, Dicaearchus, Clitarchus, Callimachus, and many others have this to say about Tiresias:

When Tiresias, the son of Eumaris, was a man, he saw serpents mating on Mt. Cyllene in Arcadia and wounded one of them. From that point on,  his sex was changed and he was turned into a woman--even slept with a man!

The Oracle of Apollo advised Tiresias that the next time they caught sight of serpents mating, they should wound the other one, and then they would return to their original gender. Finding an opportunity to do so, they obeyed the god's words and returned to their original state.

Iam Hesiodus, Dicaearchus, Clitarchus, Callimachus, aliique nonnulli, de Tiresia haec narrant. Tiresiam, Eumaris, filium, in Arcadia cum esset mas in monte Cyllene, serpentum, quos coire videbat, alterum vulnerasse: illicoque, mutato sexu, in feminam mutatum esse, ac cum viro concubuisse. Monitum autem oraculo Apollinis, ut, cum coeuntes serpentes iterum deprehendisset, alterum itidem sauciaret, ita enim in pristinum sexum rediturum, observata opportunitate, consilio dei fuisse obsecutum, itaque recuperasse pristinam naturam.

 

Iστερεί δε και Ησιοδος και Δικαίαρχος και Κλείταρχος και Καλλίμαχος  και άλλοι τινές περι Τειρεσίου τάδε. Τειρεσίαν τον Fυμάρους και εν Αρκαδία άνδρα οντα, εν τω ορει τω εν Κυλλήνη όφεις ιδόντα έχεύοντας τρωσαι τον έτερον και παραχρήμα μεταβαλείν την ιδέαν Γενέσθαι γαρ εξ ανδρος γυναίκα και μιχθήναι ανδρί. Του δε Απόλλωνος αυτώ χρήσαντος, ως εαν τηρήσας έχεύοντας ομοίως τρώση τον ένα έσται οίος ήν παραφυλάξαντα τον Τειρέσιαν ποιήσαι τα υπό του θεού ρηθέντα και ούτως κομίσασθαι την αρχαίαν φύσιν.

--Phlegon of Tralles, De Mirabilibus IV., Translated into Latin by Wilhelm Xylander

According to the Suda [φ527], Phlegon of Tralles was a freedman of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. He wrote numerous works in Greek that are now lost, including the Olympiads and Roman festivals. His work, On Marvels, is a collection of extraordinary occurrences throughout history.

 

A Trans Man: Caeneus, Phlegon of Tralles' De Mira. 5

Name:   Phlegon of Tralles Date:     2nd century CE Region: Tralles [modern Turkey] Citation:    On Marvels 5

They say that Caenis was the daughter of the Lapith king Elatus. When they “met” Neptune, the god promised that he would grant them whatever they wanted: and Caenis asked to be turned into a man, as well as become invincible. Neptune granted his wish, and the man’s name became Caenaeus. 

Iidem perhibent, apud Lapithas Elato regi filiam fuisse, nomine Caenidem. Cum hac Neptunum congressum, promisisse, facturum se ei quodcumque vellet: ipsam petiisse, ut ab eo in virum mutaretur, fieretque invulnerabiis; praestitisse id Neptunum, nomenque viro Caenaeus factum.

Translated into Latin by Wilhelm Xylander 

Phlegon of Tralles [2nd century CE, modern Turkey] According to the Suda [φ527], Phlegon of Tralles was a freedman of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. He wrote numerous works in Greek that are now lost, including the Olympiads and Roman festivals. His work, On Marvels, is a collection of extraordinary occurrences throughout history.