Ancient Greek Medicine

1683 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Medicine fall of roman

The direct relationship between one and the ability to restore one's body to its original state of health may never be fully comprehended. The fields of medicine and health are two most paramount features affecting the daily lives of all beings. Throughout recorded history, various cultures concoct their own methods of alternative medicine for treatment and therapy which is then relied on by todays nations. Medicine in its earliest times begins with the ancient civilizations' assimilation with the world around and their beliefs on how things function. Ancient Greek medicine may have began with spiritual beliefs but Greek practitioners had steered the medical profession in the right direction for modern times.

To fully comprehend Greek medicine, one must first endeavour to acquire knowledge on how it all begins. “In Greek mythology, a demi-god hero by the name of Asclepius was conceived by Apollo, the god of music, healing and prophecy and Coronis, a mortal princess. The mother of Asclepius, Coronis, was unfaithful to Apollo. Apollo then killed her for her unfaithfulness to the god. She was placed upon a funeral pyre so her body can be cremated. As her body commenced to burn, Apollo felt sorrow for his unborn son and snatched the child Asclepius from his mother's corpse, saving him from death. The god then handed Asclepius to the Centaur Chiron who became his tutor and mentor in the art of healing” (Leadbetter). Asclepius later becomes the god of medicine and healing. “In Epidaurus, his most famous sanctuary was establish in addition to throughout the Greek world. The cult of Asclepius became very popular during the 300s BCE and the cult centres (known as an Asclepieion) were used by priests to cure the sick. ‘The cult develop...

... middle of paper ...

...cyclopedia Mythica. Encyclopedia Mythica Online, 3 Mar. 1997. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. .

Unknown. "Ancient Greek Medicine." SchoolsHistory. N.p., 8 Oct. 2002. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. .

Unknown. "Ancient Greek Medicine." SchoolsHistory. N.p., 8 Oct. 2002. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. .

Unknown. "Beginnings of Modern Medicine: Greece | History of Medicine | PlanetSEED." Beginnings of Modern Medicine: Greece | History of Medicine | PlanetSEED. Schlumberger Excellence in Education Development (SEED), Inc., 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. .

Unknown. "Hippocrates." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detriot: Gale, 12 Dec. 1998. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. .

Show More
Related

  • Medicine in Colonial Days

    3254 Words  | 7 Pages

    Medicine has come a long way from the Greek period. Theories composed of the four elements were used to explain the sick phenomenon that happens to our bodies. Many of the those theories are not relevant as of now. Medicine and remedies has begun with the Earth, providing all types of compounds and mixtures to meddle with. It began with what nature offered: natural lush of sprouts, flowers, trees, bushes, herbs, and more. And now, medicine has become expanded widely through the examinations of scientists and doctors to counter or lessen many types of diseases, poisons, and epidemic that are drawn to humans.

    Read More

  • The Strange Case of Marlise Munoz and John Peter Smith Hospital

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    n.p.. 28 Jan. 2014. Web. The Web. The Web. 08 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Past to Present: a Comparative Look at Hippocrates and Medical Theory

    1437 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC) was born on the Aegean island of Cos, Greece. He learned his medical practices from his father, Heracleides, and Ancient Greek physician Herodicos of Selymbria. Like many big Greek names of the time, Hippocrates was thought to have come from the Gods. He was considered a descendent of Asclepios, the God of Medicine. Two major creations of Hippocrates have upheld the biggest influence on medical history. The peak of his career was during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C), where his healing tactics helped Athenian warriors (“Hippocrates”, 1998).

    Read More

  • The History of Hoovervilles and Government Camps

    1260 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... N.p., 12 Oct. 2012. Web. The Web. The Web. 05

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek Potions

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    Almost all of the medications that we have today are due to the ancient greeks who were the first to use potions for healing and a wide variety of other reasons Herbs were used widely across the world but were especially used in greece. Many things from the greeks we can still find in our daily lives today. Ancient greek potions were one of the most important items in greek culture because they had an interesting mix of ingredients, were used for different reasons, and are the baseline of many of the medications we have today.

    Read More

  • Hippocratic Medicine

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scarborough, John, Van Der Eijk, Philip J., Hanson, Ann, and Siraisi, Nancy. Studies in Ancient Medicine: Hippocrates on Ancient Medicine. Translated by Mark J. Schiefsky. Boston: Brill, 2005.

    Read More

  • Roman Medicine

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Romans used both scientific and mythological methods in their medicine. By adopting the methods of Greek medicine; the Romans obtained a solid foundation. They copied Hippocrates, who separated the study of medicine from philosophy and had an overall approach to the health of humans. Hippocrates also observed the habits and environment of humans to accurately determine illnesses and discover treatments. The Romans adapted the Hippocratic method and combined it with mythical and religious views. The Romans used Greek methods, and also included prayers and offerings to the gods. Although all gods had healing powers, Aesculapius, the god of healing, was the most important.

    Read More

  • Native American Medicine

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Our arrogance leads us to believe that we know the most about health care but the ancient people, who lived in this country before us, knew more than we are willing to give them credit for. "Their medicine was combination of faith, blind luck and relying on the good earth -- relying on what was there" (Howard, 2000. P.2)

    Read More

  • Hippocrates’ Role in the Shift From Irrational to Rational Medicine in Ancient Greece

    2347 Words  | 5 Pages

    In modern medicine when an ailment arises it can be quickly diagnosed, attributed to a precise bacteria, virus, or body system, and treated with medication, surgery or therapy. During the time before rational medical thought, this streamlined system of treatment was unheard of, and all complaints were attributed to the will of the multitude of commonly worshiped Greek gods (Greek Medicine 1). It was during the period of Greek rationalism that a perceptible change in thought was manifested in the attitudes towards treating disease. Ancient Greece is often associated with its many brilliant philosophers, and these great thinkers were some of the first innovators to make major developments in astrology, physics, math and even medicine. Among these academics was Hippocrates, one of the first e...

    Read More

  • Gender Wage Inequality

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    N.p. 25 Oct. 2007. Web. The Web. The Web. 09 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Differences Between the Grimm Brother's and Disney's Cinderella

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    N.p., 1 June 2011. Web. The Web. The Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • The Syrian Refugee Crisis

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Web. The Web. 14 Oct 2014. Smith, Craig. A. A.

    Read More

  • The History of Drugs

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the centuries unrolled and new civilizations appeared, cultural, artistic, and medical developments shifted toward the new centers of power. A reversal of the traditional search for botanical drugs occurred in Greece in the fourth century BC, when Hippocrates (estimated dates, 460-377 BC), the "Father of Medicine," became interested in inorganic salts as medications.

    Read More

  • Hippocrates: Father of Medicine

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hippocrates, often called the “father of medicine” was one of the earliest contributors to modern science. He was called the father of medicine because through his medical school, he separated medical knowledge and practice from myth and superstition basing them instead of fact, observation, and clinical ...

    Read More

  • The Global Water Crisis

    2639 Words  | 6 Pages

    N.p., 30 Mar. 2010. Web. The Web. The Web.

    Read More

More about Ancient Greek Medicine

Open Document