Galen. Greek physician & anatomist (c.129-200 AD). His ideas dominated western medicine for 1500 years. Also known as Claudius Galenus, he was born and studied at Pergamum (now in Turkey). He also studied at Smyrna, Corinth, and Alexandria. He became physician to the gladiators at Pergamum. In 161 he went to Rome and in 164 became physician to emperor Marcus Aurelius. He wrote over 100 books, relying heavily on the ideas of Hippocrates. His theories included the four humours & the threefold circulation of the blood. He did important work in anatomy, dissecting domestic animals (human dissection was taboo). He discovered the pulse as a diagnostic aid.