Ἰάκωβος

A physician. He derived his lineage from Damascus. Reaching the greatest precision in science he was accomplished not only in diagnosing diseases but also in curing them, [working] carefully and competently, [having learned] both from reading and from experience. Thus he attained the first place in medical reputation among the physicians of his time, and was even compared with the ancients, and surpassed many of them. As if having a godlike power he was loved and venerated by those who besought him. He was so confident in himself and in judgment by his own methods that if, going to a sick person and diagnosing by the symptoms, he declared that the patient was likely to live, everyone became hopeful that health would ensue; but if not, that death [would follow]. And noone ever was deceived in his expectation. He himself said that the best physician should either despair of the disease or by touching at once change the patient for the better, and leave him in a tolerable condition. Otherwise he should not depart before [sc. this happened]. He relieved nearly everyone from their troublesome afflictions immediately or a little later. For this reason the others¹ used to call Jacob "savior", as formerly they also [called] Asklepios.² But the physicians always used to slander and revile him, as not being any kind of physician but a holy man beloved of the gods; and they were not mistaken. For the man was gentle and truly favored by the god. If it is right to use the expression of the philosopher, he thought that Jacob's soul was Asclepiadian, and his nature Apollonian. In addition he took loving care of his pursuit, which particularly tends to associate all practitioners and attach them to the overseers of the art. Thus Pheidias too³ [was said] to do his work under divine inspiration, thus also Zeuxis⁴ portrayed his statues.