The Practice of Medicine in Ancient Greece
Straight ahead you will see one of the Asclepion, named after Asclepius, the god of
medicine Asclepion in Ancient). I hope you aren’t squeamish. While we owe a great deal to
ancient Greek medicine, it was a far cry from what is practiced today. Let’s take a look around.
The Asclepieion looks like a temple, and it is; but it’s a temple with a difference. This one
actually has dormitory rooms where the sick and injured can spend the night. The hope is that the
god Asclepius will appear to them in their dreams and ease their suffering (Denti, 25). Now
here’s the squeamish part. Sometimes, non-poisonous snakes are set loose in the dormitory so
that they can be near to the patients and bring them luck ("Greece Myths: Asclepius,"). Snakes,
you know, were sacred to Asclepius and he is always pictured holding a staff with a snake coiled
around it. A snake bite was very serious, often fatal; but Asclepius could cure the worst of them
("Greece Myths: Asclepius,"). We see his symbol of healing reflected in our modern cadeusus,
the sign of physicians to this very day (Acslepius' Rod).
Thank goodness Hippocrates came along and moved medicine from myth to science.
Even he was limited, however, because there was a ban on dissecting cadavers. His emphasis
wasn’t on anatomy. He was more into holistic medicine and how the human body related to
everything around it (Osborn). Just take a look at this young chap being treated (Healing). This is
about as invasive as diagnoses ever got. Now, you probably remember Hippocrates for his
Hippocratic Oath which has become the ethical code for doctors today. This code defines the
relationship between doctors and patients and states what they will and will not do.
Those of you who will be taking the Roman tour later this week will no doubt hear about
the Romans’ opinions of Greek physicians. Greek soldiers might be feared, but they were
nothing in comparison to the Greek doctors. Not all of them subscribed to the Hippocratic Oath.
We know this from the writings of Cornelius Celus a Roman physician. Who knew? According
to him, Herophilus and Erasistratus took prisoners and cut them open while they were still alive.
While they were still breathing, these kindly physicians examined all of their internal organs to
see how one related to another. The Romans considered this cruelty, and Cornelius Celus wrote
that they could probably have accomplished the same thing just by examining the wounds of
gladiators (Woods and Woods [63]). Just take a look at some of these surgical instruments, and
keep in mind that no one knew anything about germs, bacteria, or a sterile environment (Medical
instruments). You might be asking yourself how anyone could survive this, but the Greeks
removed cataracts, treated patients for injuries of the spine, and used surgery, and poltices for
healing.
I see that many of you are wearing those little patches behind your ears to prevent motion
sickness. The Greeks actually discovered scopolamine, the same medicine found in the patches
you are wearing. Scopolamine, combined with strong drink, was used as a sedative. I hate to
think about how the patients felt when they woke up—if they woke up. I wee that we are running
short on time, now, so if everyone is feeling well enough to move along, we’ll continue our tour.
Works Cited
“About Us.” healthEnkoi. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthenkoi.com/aboutus>.
Acslepius’ Rod. Photograph. Greeka.Com: the Island Specialists. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/asclepius.htm>.
Asclepion in Ancient Greece. healthEnkoi. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthenkoi.com/aboutus>.
Denti, Mario. Classical Athens. Journey to the Past. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers,
2001.
Frederick, John Kluth. “Ancient Greek Medicine.” Ancient Greek Medicine. 2008. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.fjkluth.com/gmed.html#Pict>.
“Greece Myths: Asclepius, the god of medicine.” greeka.com: the island specialists. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/asclepius.htm>.
Healing. Greek Medicine.Net. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.greekmedicine.net/history/GrecoRoman_Medicine.html>.
Medical Instruments. Photograph. From Sects to Science: A History of Medicine in America.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.uams.edu/
humanities/HOMSYLSAMPLE.asp>.
Osborn, David K. “Greco-Roman Medicine: The Classical Era.” Greek Medicine.Net. 2008. 6
Feb. 2009 <http://www.greekmedicine.net/history/Greco-Roman_Medicine.html>.
Woods, Michael, and Mary B. Woods. Ancient Medicine: from Sorcery to Surgery. Ancient
Technology. Minneapolis: Runestone Press-Lerner Publishing Group, 2000.
Works Cited
“About Us.” healthEnkoi. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthenkoi.com/aboutus>.
Acslepius’ Rod. Photograph. Greeka.Com: the Island Specialists. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/asclepius.htm>.
Asclepion in Ancient Greece. healthEnkoi. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthenkoi.com/aboutus>.
Denti, Mario. Classical Athens. Journey to the Past. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers,
2001.
Frederick, John Kluth. “Ancient Greek Medicine.” Ancient Greek Medicine. 2008. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.fjkluth.com/gmed.html#Pict>.
“Greece Myths: Asclepius, the god of medicine.” greeka.com: the island specialists. 6 Feb. 2009
<http://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/asclepius.htm>.
Healing. Greek Medicine.Net. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.greekmedicine.net/history/GrecoRoman_Medicine.html>.
Medical Instruments. Photograph. From Sects to Science: A History of Medicine in America.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 6 Feb. 2009 <http://www.uams.edu/
humanities/HOMSYLSAMPLE.asp>.
Osborn, David K. “Greco-Roman Medicine: The Classical Era.” Greek Medicine.Net. 2008. 6
Feb. 2009 <http://www.greekmedicine.net/history/Greco-Roman_Medicine.html>.
Woods, Michael, and Mary B. Woods. Ancient Medicine: from Sorcery to Surgery. Ancient
Technology. Minneapolis: Runestone Press-Lerner Publishing Group, 2000.