Krateuas was physician in ordinary to
Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus (died 63 B.C.).
Krateuas described as well as illustrated plants.
Some fragments of his writings have been recognized in
the Anicia Codex of Dioscorides in the Vienna
State Library to which reference has been made above.
Krateuas presumably produced the figures in natural
color and they were continuously copied in many
manuscripts and printed herbals from the 6th Century
on. Krateuas is mentioned by Pliny.
