ANCIENT ANCIENT ALEXANDRIAN AND ALEXANDRIAN AND ROMAN MEDICINEROMAN MEDICINE

Jonathon Erlen, Ph.DJonathon Erlen, Ph.D..University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh

• Before we discuss the Before we discuss the Hellenistic medical world, we Hellenistic medical world, we need to define what we mean need to define what we mean by the Hellenistic period, which by the Hellenistic period, which is 1 of the most intriguing, yet is 1 of the most intriguing, yet confusing eras in world history.confusing eras in world history.

Unfortunately we hit a major Unfortunately we hit a major roadblock in our roadblock in our

examinations of the work of examinations of the work of these 2 great Alexandrian these 2 great Alexandrian

medical figures because we medical figures because we have none of their original have none of their original

writings. All we have are the writings. All we have are the commentaries about their commentaries about their

work by Galen of Pergamon work by Galen of Pergamon who lived in the 2nd century who lived in the 2nd century AD and other later medical AD and other later medical

compilers.compilers.

After perhaps this one century After perhaps this one century of scientific research freedom, of scientific research freedom,

outside forces such as outside forces such as religions factors were to create religions factors were to create

barriers to medical research barriers to medical research and education that in some and education that in some cases lasted into the 19th cases lasted into the 19th

century in the United States.century in the United States.

In Alexandria, Ptolemy Physcon, In Alexandria, Ptolemy Physcon, during the 2nd century B.C.E., for during the 2nd century B.C.E., for unspecified reasons, decided to unspecified reasons, decided to

severely limit the academic freedom severely limit the academic freedom which had existed under his which had existed under his

predecessors at the predecessors at the museonmuseon. He . He ordered the execution of a number of ordered the execution of a number of scholars for no apparent reason, and scholars for no apparent reason, and dispersed many more researchers to dispersed many more researchers to

various points throughout the various points throughout the Mediterranean world.Mediterranean world.

The remaining medical The remaining medical scholars formed 2 bitterly scholars formed 2 bitterly

opposing factions of medical opposing factions of medical thought, with 1 upholding the thought, with 1 upholding the

anatomical doctrines of anatomical doctrines of Herophilus, while the other Herophilus, while the other

staunchly supported the staunchly supported the precepts of Empedocles and precepts of Empedocles and

the 4 elements.the 4 elements.

What emerged from the What emerged from the Hellenistic and Alexandrian Hellenistic and Alexandrian medical endeavors were 4 medical endeavors were 4

competing schools of competing schools of medical philosophy, all of medical philosophy, all of which were transmitted, to which were transmitted, to

some degree, to ancient some degree, to ancient Rome.Rome.

Dogmatists

Empiricists

Methodists

Pneumatists

PNEUMAPNEUMA

DogmatistsDogmatists EmpiricistsEmpiricists MethodistsMethodists PneumatistsPneumatists

Long before this time; Long before this time; however, ancient however, ancient

Romans had Romans had developed their own, developed their own, very different pattern very different pattern

of health care.of health care.

Common Roman Common Roman DiseasesDiseasesMalariaMalariaAnthraxAnthrax

Typhus FeverTyphus Fever

DogmatistsDogmatists EmpiricistsEmpiricists MethodistsMethodists

PneumatistsPneumatists

The first Greek doctor to The first Greek doctor to supposedly arrive in supposedly arrive in

Rome was Archagathus Rome was Archagathus of Sparta in 219 B.C.E., of Sparta in 219 B.C.E., though there certainly though there certainly

were others who were others who preceded him.preceded him.

Over the following Over the following centuries Greek centuries Greek iatroiiatroi from the from the various parts of various parts of the Hellenistic the Hellenistic

world arrived in world arrived in Rome in ever Rome in ever

increasing increasing numbers.numbers.

At first many of At first many of these these

philosophically philosophically trained trained iatroiiatroi came came as slaves, as Rome as slaves, as Rome

solidified its solidified its military hold over military hold over

the Near East.the Near East.

As Greek medical As Greek medical concepts became more concepts became more

popular, especially popular, especially among members of the among members of the

upper class; however, we upper class; however, we find efforts in the Empire find efforts in the Empire period to actively attract period to actively attract Greek doctors to Rome.Greek doctors to Rome.

Roman emperors granted Roman emperors granted Greek physicians willing Greek physicians willing

to come to Rome:to come to Rome:

high status of Roman high status of Roman citizenshipcitizenship freedom from military servicefreedom from military service

no taxation of their incomesno taxation of their incomes

It was in their practicality It was in their practicality and their greatness in and their greatness in

large‑scale organization large‑scale organization that the Romans made that the Romans made

their major contributions their major contributions to medicine and public to medicine and public

health.health.

This point is well This point is well illustrated by the massive illustrated by the massive

public works projects public works projects during the Roman during the Roman

Empire, undertaken to Empire, undertaken to assure an adequate water assure an adequate water

supply and acceptable supply and acceptable public sanitation.public sanitation.

Roman technical and hygienic Roman technical and hygienic public health achievements clearly public health achievements clearly

surpassed any purely medical surpassed any purely medical advances made in this period, and advances made in this period, and

this fact can at least be partially this fact can at least be partially attributed to the Roman belief that attributed to the Roman belief that

it was far more important to it was far more important to maintain one's good health than to maintain one's good health than to

depend on medicine’s ability to depend on medicine’s ability to cure disease.cure disease.

Medicine=TradeMedicine=Trade

Hippocratic CorpusHippocratic Corpus