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Interplay of Ancient Medicine: Greece, Egypt, and Babylon in Pre-Rational Understanding

This lecture explores the complex interactions between ancient civilizations, particularly Greece, Egypt, and Babylon, and their medical practices. Focusing on the period around 1500 BC, we examine the decline in European civilization, the influence of ancient Greek views on Egyptian medicine, and the healing practices described by Homer and Herodotus. We delve into important texts like the Ebers Papyrus and the Hearst Papyrus, examining aspects of disease, healing rituals, and the intertwining of religion and medicine. This session highlights the legacy of figures like Asclepius and the evolution of medical thought through artifacts and inscriptions.

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Interplay of Ancient Medicine: Greece, Egypt, and Babylon in Pre-Rational Understanding

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  1. Pre-rational Medicine in Near East and Greece CLAS3051 Lecture 2

  2. Interplay Between Greece, Egypt, Babylon, etc. • 1500ish: great decay in civilization in Europe • In Archaic period (900 – 500 BC) major influence on Greeks • Civilizations of Great antiquity to the Greeks • Commerce

  3. Greek View of Egyptian Medicine • Homer: 'everyone is a healer', 'the bountiful land produces many drugs • (Archeology shows trade in medical goods like opium and coriander)‏ • Herodotus (5th c BC) says that they have medical specialists • (Herodotus also says Babylonians have no doctors, and seek medical advice from passers by)‏ • Very difficult to work out interdependence

  4. Egyptian Medicine • Information recorded in written text, using hieroglyphs, on papyrus (pl. papyri) documents

  5. Papyrus • Reed-like plant • Grows in Nile delta • Pounded into sheets • Written upon with black sticky stuff

  6. Preservation of Papyri • In ideal dry conditions of desert • Last for thousands of years • Treasure hunt in late 19th, early 20th centuries • Leads to forgeries

  7. Ebers Papyrus (LI.1)‏ • Dated to 1500 BC! • ?Some content as early as 3000 BC • Begins with spells • Other sections less magical: i.e. diseases of the head

  8. What Concepts of Medicine Does it Represent? • How does one become ill? • How does one become better? • What forces are at work for and against us?

  9. Hearst Papyrus (LI.2)‏ • Bancroft Library: “near perfect fake”? • Roughly same date as Ebers pap. • coprotherapy from copros 'dung' • What process is taking place? • How is this like the prayer in the Ebers pap.?

  10. Sumerian Cuneiform Tablets • cuneiform lit. means 'wedge-shaped' • preserved through firing of clay in disasters • 3000 BC onwards

  11. Sumerian Incantations • LI.4 How is it like Egyptian ones? • LI.5-6 • – what picture of disease do they offer • on what principle do they operate?

  12. Greek Pestilence from gods • Artemis and Apollo, brother and sister • Here, killing children of Niobe • Bringers of disease • Healers of disease

  13. Zeus's Role • Also brings sudden death • Blindness to Polyphemus • What is his relationship with disease in Hesiod Works and Days L1.13-14?

  14. Wounds in Homer • Homer thought to be a 'medical officer' (!) by German scholar • Emphasis on anatomical correctness • Treatment of Menelaos by Machaon in bk. 4 fairly realistic

  15. Healing Cults • Amphiaraus and Asclepius • How did these work? LI.21

  16. Asclepius • Human son of Apollo • Taught by Chiron • Over-used magical arts • Killed by Zeus, but made a god • Associated with snake, staff

  17. Temple Complex of Asclepius at Epidaurus • Best known for this well-preserved theatre • This a late (4th c. BC) addition • Not crucial to its healing function • Testament to prosperity of 'cult'

  18. Location of Epidaurus

  19. Sanctuary of Asclepius • What happened here? • LI.22-23: myth and legend • LI.24-26: contemporary accounts

  20. Evidence from Inscriptions • Sometimes called 'epigraphic' evidence from Greek for 'carving upon' • Tens of thousands of these documents • Records of healings at Epidaurus • Form of advertisement

  21. Votive Offerings • Repayment to the gods • Often in shape of limb or organ • Here probably in thanks for restored health of child

  22. Surgery at Epidaurus • Bronze medical instruments found at site • See LI.23,25

  23. Evidence from Manuscript Tradition • Books copied through the ages • By 9th c. AD, looked like this

  24. Spread of the Cult of Asclepius • Came to Athens in late 5th c. BC L.27

  25. Organization of Asclepius Cult • So-called Asclepiadai, travelling priests of god • LI.29 shows agreements between these groups

  26. Mixing of Scientific Medicine with Religion • Cult influenced by Hippocratic medicine? • Hippocratic by cult practices? • What distinguished these? • Which was preferable to Greeks?

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