Heraklas () was a Greek physician of the 1st century AD whose descriptions of surgeons' knots and slings are preserved in book 48 of Oribasius' Medical Collections (Ἰατρικαὶ Συναγωγαί, Iatrikai Synagogai) under the title From Heraklas.
Describing them in detail, Heraklas discussed 16 different knots and slings, including the earliest known written account of a string figure. Accompanying illustrations of the knots were added later by Renaissance copyists, but modern analysis of the writings by knot experts has shown many of these early drawings to contain significant errors or misinterpretations.
The knots identified The current understanding of Heraklas' knots results primarily from analysis and identification by Hjalmar Öhrvall, Lawrence G. Miller, and Cyrus L. Day, although slightly differing interpretations and refinements continue to be made. The table below shows the knots believed to have been described by Heraklas.
Chapter Greek name Translated name Modern equivalent I ertos brokhos threaded noose cow hitch II nautikos brokhos nautical noose clove hitch III khiestos brokhos crossed noose overhand noose IV boukolikos brokhos or sandalios brokhos pastoral noose or sandal noose overhand noose variation V drakon brokhos dragon noose overhand noose variation VI haploun hamma brokhos single knot noose (No modern name) VII lykos brokhos wolf noose reef knotAlthough topologically identical, it is used in a different manner than "VII, Hercules knot". Specifically the bound object (e.g. a limb) is placed in the center of the reef knot. VIII herakleotikon hamma Hercules knot reef knot IX haplous karkhesios brokhos single jug-sling noose "true lover's knot" (ABOK #1038) X–XII diplous karkhesios brokhos double jug-sling noose bottle sling XIII tetrakyklos plinthios brokhos four-looped rectangular noose String figure, "The sun clouded over"See Caroline Furness Jayne's String Figures and How to Make Them (1906), p. 383, Roth Plate X, 1. and discussion p. 162. N. B. Miller (1945) correctly points out the difference of a single crossing in Jayne's fig. 359, p 161. XIV epankylotos brokhos interlooped noose Tom fool's knot XV ota brokhos ears noose (No modern name) XVI diankylos brokhos two-looped noose (No modern name) XVII ankhon brokhos strangler noose true lover's knot (ABOK #1038)Although topologically identical, it is used in a different manner than "IX, single jug-sling noose". XVIII hyperbatos brokhos transposed noose clove hitchAlthough topologically identical, it is used in a different manner than "II, nautical noose".
See also Medicine in ancient Greece
Notes and references