Hellenistic Medicine: Key Figures and Texts
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Pharos
Definition:
An island near Alexandria. On the island was a lighthouse.
Location in texts:
Homer’s Odyssey
Significance/theme:
The lighthouse was a great ancient wonder. It shows the large significance and impact that Alexandria had. It also demonstrates the power of Ptolemy.
Callimachus of Cyrene (c. 310-240 BCE)
Definition:
Callimachus was a famous poet and librarian in Alexandria.
Location in texts:
Callimachus’ Pinakes
Significance/theme:
He was responsible for producing a bibliographic survey based upon the contents of the Library. His work provided the foundation for later work on the history of Greek literature.
Nicander of Colophon (2nd c. BCE)
Definition:
Greek poet, physician, and librarian.
Location in texts:
Nicander’s Theriaka and Alexipharmaka
Significance/theme:
Works mention herbs, drugs, things from animals, and snake bites. His works show an enormous amount of detail even though they aren’t necessarily correct. They are also more reflective of knowledge probably due to having access to the Library.
Theriaka
Definition:
A poem by Nicander on the nature of venomous animals and the wounds which they inflict.
Location in texts:
Nicander’s Theriaka
Significance/theme:
Shows an advanced level of detail and is more reflective of knowledge probably due to having access to the Library. The attention to the tiniest details of self-presentation in some ways shows continuity with a concern about the reputation of medicine and doctors
Panacea
Definition:
Means “all-healing.”
Location in texts:
Nicander’s Theriaka
Significance/theme:
Shows that physicians were not necessarily correct because as we know today there is no all-healing medicine.
Aconite
Definition:
A poisonous plant.
Location in texts:
Nicander’s Alexipharmaka
Significance/theme:
Nicander says you should learn about it.
Gypsum
Definition:
A mineral.
Location in texts:
Nicander’s Alexipharmaka
Significance/theme:
The ancient Egyptians used it for the Pyramids. It’s a cure and shows detailed medical knowledge.
Hellenistic Medicine
Problems
Definition:
A work said to be have done by Aristotle.
Location in texts:
Aristotle’s Problems
Significance/theme:
It provides evidence of Hellenistic medicine. Some general features include the four elements, health as balance, diet and exercise, and how the body is affected by seasons, location, and winds. It gives us a fuller portrait of medicine in a period where we lack the famous texts of Herophilus and Erasistratus.
Decorum
Definition:
By Hippocrates and was about how physicians should behave.
Location in texts:
Hippocrates’ Decorum
Significance/theme:
It has the same sense as Prognosis so we still see how physicians should be respected and how you should protect your reputation as a doctor. Decorum gives a better, more detailed sense of the doctor on his rounds. The attention to the tiniest details of self-presentation in Decorum in some ways shows continuity with a concern about the reputation of medicine and doctors (in e.g. Oath, The Science of Medicine, etc.) but the level of specificity is much greater.