Priapismos
Priapismos grece a priapos quod est virga virilis et est priapismus immoderata virge extensio longo tempore perseverans, differt autem a satiriasi ut infra in satiriasi invenies et cetera.
Apparatus:
grece e | gra. A | gř. B | grece C f
et (& C) est C ef | & ē A | & cetera B
ĩmoderata AC f | ĩ moderata B e
longo ef | lõgo AC | lũgo B
difert B | drt A ef | dř? C | differt scripsi
a satiriasi ABC f | a satyriasi e
in satiriasi AC | in satyriasi e | ĩ satirias B | in sati f
et cetera om. B ef
Translation:
Priapismos is Greek derived from priapos, which is the male member; and priapismus is the excessive erection of the member over a long period of time. It is different from satiriasis as you will find out from the entry Satiriasis below, etc.
Commentary:
Πρίαπος /Príapos/, latinised Priapus, is an ithyphallic god associated with sexuality, fertility, gardens and herds. For more information see Price & Kearns (2003: 448-9), s.v. Priapus.
Although many ancient medical authors make no clear distinction between πριαπισμός /priapismós/ and σατυρίασις /satyríasis/ Simon follows Caelius Aurelianus' and Paulus of Aegina's definitions, whereby priapism is a continual erection without sexual desire or seminal discharge, cf. Caelius Aurelianus, Chronic Diseases, 5, 9, 89, ed. Drabkin (1950: 964): De priapismo: Sine ullo dolore vel consensu tentigo veretri fiet et appellatur priapismos, which Drabkin, (1950: 965), translates: "Priapism. Prolonged tension of the genitals without any pain or sensation is called 'priapism'". This is different from satyriasis, which is an acute affliction, i.e. not long-lasting, where the erection is accompanied by strong sexual desire caused by a bodily disease.
The term priapism has survived essentially intact into modern medical terminology, where it is defined as a persistent erection of the penis without sexual arousal, often caused by a blood clot in the spongy erectile tissue.
Wilf Gunther 13/01/14
See also: Satiriasis