Greek Medicine By: Gwen Johnston
Introduction Like in most civilizations, ancient Greece was subject to illness. One out of three children would die of illness before they turned one year old. After that death toll, half of all the surviving children would die of illness before they turned ten. We all must remember that medicine was not an educated study in ancient Greece. It all depended on what that person believed.
Hippocrates Hippocrates is considered as the “father of western medicine�. He was a very important figure in the history of greek medicine. His story was that, unlike almost all other greeks, Hippocrates believed that illnesses came from a natural cause. All others believed that illness came as a punishment from the Gods. After studying the body, Hippocrates found that our bodies had four fluids. He called them the four bodily humors, or blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. Hippocrates used these humors to decide whether or not his patients were healthy. He believed that a healthy person had a balance of all the fluids, and that if a person fell ill, it could be because they had an imbalance in their humors. Hippocrates obviously had big impact on modern medicine as well as ancient greek medicine. He created the Hippocratic oath, which is the oath that all physicians swear. And that is the promise that all doctors make, to treat their patient to the best of their ability.
Herophilus and Erasistratus
Hippocrates
For a short period of time after the death of Hippocrates, there were two physician scholars by the names of Herophilus and Erasistratus. They performed the first known dissections of human bodies. They recorded anything and everything they learned. Sadly, all of their research was destroyed in the fire that destroyed the Great Library in Alexandria. Herophilus and Erasistratus did not have a very big impact on medicine, though. Since 150 BCE, the dissection of human bodies and cadavers was banned in the world of the Helenes.
Disinfecting Cuts Greek Healers used crushed garlic to disinfect cuts. Ow.
How Greek Gods Knew What to Heal Greeks would bring models of the limb or part of their body to a temple to a medicine god because they thought that that god would take pity on them and heal them.
Prescriptions Hippocrates thought that fevers were caused by an excess of blood in the body. So when someone came to him with a fever, he prescribed the dangerous method of bloodletting. Timeline 800 BCE- Greek medicine is mentioned in the Iliad, one of homer's works of art. 700 BCE-The first medicine school is opened in Cnidus 500 BCE- Ascelpius, the god of medicine, becomes a "principle god of worship" at the temple of Epidarus. 460-370 BCE- The life of Hippocrates began and ended Thsi is called the 325-280 BCE- Herophilus and Erasistratus study the human body Rod of Asclepius. It This is a caduceus, it is the symbol of is similar to the and every aspect of it. Hermes, and Hermes is the God of travel. caduceus.
How Like the Egyptians and Indians, the Greeks believed that illness was a punishment from the gods. Asclepius, son of Apollo, is the greek god of medicine. Often times, when someone came to a healer, they would pray and make sacrifices to Asclepius and Apollo. And while it was originally used in Egypt, the greeks used Aloe to treat burns. We still use it today. Greek healers did use actual stuff proven to work. There were three substances that greeks used to treat pain, headaches, and toothaches. They were wine, opium and henbane.
Symbols and Olympians of Greek Medicine Achilles was a famous healer and hero. In one battle, Achilles helped heal his friend Patroclus’ injuries. Chiron is a the famous centaur of Greek mythology. He was injured in battle by the hero hercules, and it is rumored that he created his own substances and medicines to heal his wounds. And if you have ever read the Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian series, you would know that Chiron is the director of Camp Half Blood, and the healer in battle and when they play capture the flag. Asclepius, son of Apollo, is a healing god. When people brought models of the part of them that needed to be fixed, it could be brought to his temple. Apollo is worshipped as a healer, as well as honored as the god of music, light, poetry, and prophecy. The symbols of Greek medicine include the caduceus, a post with a ball and wings at the top with two snakes twining around the post. Another symbol is the Rod of Asclepius, almost like the caduceus, except without the wings and only one snake.
This is a greek statue of Apollo, he is the Greek god of music, poetry, light, the sun, and prophecy. He is also worshipped as a healer. Above is a sculpture of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing.