Matteo Silvatico was one of the most famous doctors of the Middle Ages and contributed significantly to the development of medicine linked to the medicinal use of medicinal plants.
The Silvatico family
The Silvatico family was very influential in the political and administrative life of the city of Salerno, there were many who gave prestige to the name of the house: The first doctor of the Silvatico family was Giovanni Silvatico, who practiced medicine at the beginning of the 12th century; in 1188, another Giovanni Silvatico became a doctor and in 1239, Pietro Silvatico was procurator of Terra di Lavoro and the Molise countryside for Emperor Frederick II. The Silvatico family therefore had a strong presence in the political and administrative life of the time, which favored the rise of the most illustrious doctor of the family: the young Matteo.
What we know about Matteo Silvatico
Matteo Silvatico was a doctor of great fame, a leading figure in the Salerno Medical School, an important medical university founded in Salerno in the 10th century. In addition to being one of the most renowned doctors of his era, he served as personal physician to the King of Naples Robert of Anjou, receiving the title of miles, an honor reserved only for people of high rank and great prestige.
His figure has become an icon in the history of the Medical School of Salerno, especially in the 14th century, considered the culminating period of its long and glorious history. His contribution to medicine was celebrated in the centuries that followed and inspired many doctors and scholars to follow in his footsteps. Furthermore, his legacy has continued to influence medical practice and scientific research to the present day.
There is very little information about Matteo. We have memory since the year 1296, finding himself written in the book of the Benefactors of the Confraternity of S. Spirito of Benevento, “Magister Matthaeus Silvaticus Medicus de Salerno”. He was a knight and in the year 1337 he intervened with others of the fifth Indiction, when the Decree of Bertaldo, marquis of Hohenburch, was read. His name is reported verbatim as follows: Matteo Silvatico from Salerno, doctor of physics, etc. But not only was Matthew a knight, he was also very learned in medicine and wrote the very erudite book of the Pandects, whose title was: "Liber cibalia et medicinalia Pendottarum", which he dedicated to King Robert, of whom he was doctor in the year 1340, in to whom he donated a house within the city walls to the Monastery of S. Maria della Porta dei Padri Predicatori of Salerno. A document from the Archive of Santa Maria della Porta (written by the notary Nicola Tumino in 1342) mentions a Matthaeus Silvaticus de Salerno Milis, Regia Physicus.
"Opus Pandectarum Medicinae", the Pandects
Matteo Silvatico's main work was "The Pandects" (Opus Pandectarum Medicinae), a lexicon on simple plants of plant origin. The manuscript was completed in 1317 and dedicated to the king of Naples Robert of Anjou. "The Pandects" were one of the most important works of medieval medicine and were considered a reference work for many centuries.
In the Venetian edition of 1523, "The Pandects" are composed of 721 chapters. Of these, 487 deal with vegetables, 157 with minerals, 77 with animals and 3 describe simple things for which we have not been able to give a definition. Silvatico's work is a compilation of materia medica, with diligent and exact research into the virtues of herbs. He gives explanations of a large number of words and presents the etymology of many names.
Silvatico personally oversaw the cultivation of various plants in order to study them and better understand their healing properties. For example, he brought the seeds of Canthalis (Athamanta cretensis - Dauco cretico) from Greece, a plant that he studied in depth and described precisely. It is curious to note that Caesalpina was called "Presillum Lignum" (almost Brazilian wood) by Silvatico, long before America was discovered.
Conclusions
Matteo Silvatico left a lasting imprint on the history of medicine. His work was one of the most important in medieval medicine and represented a reference work for many centuries. The Silvatico family had a strong presence in the political and administrative life of the time, but it was above all the figure of Matteo Silvatico who stood out in the history of medicine. His scholarship and research have contributed significantly to the development of medicine and have inspired scholars throughout the centuries.
We at Hentourage also recognize Matteo Silvatico's work as a daily starting point and inspiration to pursue: knowing and respecting the nature of the things around us to take care of those around us.
Bibliography and sources
💻 https://www.giardinodellaminerva.it/chi-siamo/matteo-silvatico.html