Views of classical medicine. Theurgical and secular rational medicine in the healing-temples of ancient Greece
Angeletti, L.R.; Esculapius
Forum 1(2): 1-11
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-8142 PMID: 11640012 Document Number: 379589
The medicine described in Homer's epic is essentially a war medicine. The therapies, such as healing herbs, are a gift of the gods, the healing Apollo and Centaur Chiron. According to Hesiod, the author of Opera et dies (Works and days), in the eighth century medicine was a combination of religious and magical elements along with hygienic rules, dietetics and healing herbs. Health and diseases were attributed to the gods and Daímones and Theoí intermediate, as far as human events are concerned, between the Pantheon and men. In ancient times medicine was associated with the gods, especially Apollo, son of Zeus, and only in the 6th-5th century B.C. Asklepius (Asklepiós), the Thessalian king of the Iliad, was deified. Thus, theurgical medicine was practised by the priests of Asklepius and Asklepíeia (Asklepius' temples) were built as places for all kinds of medical treatment. In the 5th century, scientific observation became a common method of medical practice due to the physician working as a craftsman, arising from naturalistic philosophy, knowledge of anatomy, etiopatogenetic view of medicine and consideration of chronic diseases. Therapy was usually ineffective and the best doctors were those especially good at prognosis. Health and diseases were thus seen as a balance of the whole person, holistic view of man. As classical medicine was usually ineffective, in buildings devoted to health (i.e. tà Asklepíeia) the custom was to combine medicine (téchne) with the practice of dreams (incubatio) and theurgical aspects: the sacred spring, an odeîon or theatre, an ábaton for incubation and dreams, a temple devoted to the gods of healing (Apollo, Asklepius, Amphiaraos, etc.) were present together with those health buildings where physicians practised medicine.