Celsus

Celsus is a Latin surname borne by several notable figures in the Roman world. The name derives from the Latin celsus, meaning lofty or exalted. In antiquity it attaches to a physician, a senator who funded a famous library, and a writer cited in early Christian polemics. The best-known enduring monument associated with the name is the Celsus Library in Ephesus, named for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, a Roman senator and consul who helped fund the building.

Aulus Cornelius Celsus, usually dated to the 1st century CE, is the author of De Medicina, an encyclopedic medical work. De Medicina covers a wide range of topics including diet, pharmacology, surgery, and clinical observations. Although later physicians such as Galen became more influential, Celsus’ methodical presentation and practical clinical guidance left a lasting imprint on Roman and medieval medicine. Much of his text survives through later copies and quotations.

Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the patron associated with the Celsus Library, was a Roman senator who served as consul and funded the construction of the library in Ephesus in memory of his father. Erected in the 2nd century CE, the library is one of the best-preserved ancient libraries, with its monumental façade bearing an inscription that commemorates the benefactor and his family. The building stands as a testament to Roman public architecture and patronage.

Celsus of Pergamon refers to a late 2nd-century philosopher or writer who is cited by Origen in Against Celsus as a critic of Christian claims. The exact identity and works of Celsus are uncertain, and much of what is known about him comes from Christian polemical literature. He is typically portrayed as a non-Christian intellectual engaged in public discourse with early Christians.