Galen was born in Pergamum (Asia), in AD 129. After studying medicine in Corinth and Alexandria he became a gladiatorial doctor in Pergamum.

In AD 162 Galen went to Rome where he gave public lectures on medical matters. He soon gained a reputation as an expert on medicine and was appointed the personal doctor of Emperor Commodus.

Galen was a prolific writer and his body of work provides the most important information that we have on Roman medicine.

Galen died in Rome in about AD 199.