Viola (odorata or tricolor)

[Jorge_Stolfi]

So this tradition lists three different kinds of Viola with yellow, white and purple flowers respectively. The one with yellow flowers was regarded as the most useful as a medicine.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. quotes Theodorus Gaza’s translation of Theophrastus (~1454) as the source for Viola Tricolor.
He says that Gaza renders as “viola flammea” (flaming violet) the Greek names used by Theophrastus (φλόγξ ή φλόγιον, φλόγα). You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

I stand corrected.  First, the binomial name system originated before Linnaeus: in the 1500s, with the work of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. 

Second, I see that indeed "viola" was used since the Greek (ἴον) also for several other similar flowers, hence the Gaza/Theophrastus names "honey viola", "purple viola", "flaming viola".  But was it used for the pansy?  As you say above, Dodoens (late 1500s) identifies Gaza's "flaming viola"  as the pansy -- but is that correct?

Is there a source that positively equates the two?  Here is You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. I found that seems to cast doubt on that:

• Die Gleichungen halten jedoch bei genauer Betrachtung nicht stand. Zum Beispiel bezeichnete Jovis flamma eine rotblühende Blume,45 möglicherweise ein Nelkengewächs.46 Viola tricolor wurde im antiken Südeuropa sehr wahrscheinlich nicht als Heilkraut verwendet.
  
• However, the equations do not hold up under closer scrutiny. For example, Jovis flamma referred to a red-flowering plant,45 possibly a member of the carnation family.46 Viola tricolor was very likely not used as a medicinal herb in ancient Southern Europe.