Ancient Greek Medicine
Ancient Greek medicine is a foundational aspect of the history of medicine and represents a significant evolution from mythological and religious explanations of health to a more systematic and rational approach. This period saw the emergence of two prominent figures—Hippocrates and Galen—who played critical roles in shaping medical thought for centuries to come.
The Hippocratic Tradition
The influence of Hippocrates of Kos, often regarded as the "Father of Medicine," is profound. Living around 460–370 BCE, Hippocrates established medicine as a profession distinct from other fields that it had traditionally been associated with, such as philosophy and theology. His contributions are encapsulated in the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of around 70 works, though their attribution to him varies.
Hippocrates is famed for the Hippocratic Oath, still relevant in modern medical ethics, which emphasizes principles such as non-maleficence and confidentiality. His approach was based on the concept of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Health was believed to be a balance of these humors, and disease resulted from their imbalance.
Galenic Medicine
Centuries after Hippocrates, Galen of Pergamon, a Greek physician practicing in the Roman Empire, furthered the understanding of medicine through his extensive writings and teachings. Born in 129 AD, Galen's work was heavily influenced by Hippocrates, and he is credited with introducing the integration of anatomy and physiology into medical practice.
Galen performed numerous dissections and vivisections, primarily on animals, due to restrictions on human dissection. His findings laid the groundwork for both the understanding of the human body and the practice of medicine. His theories on the circulatory system, though incorrect regarding the role of the heart, were authoritative for many centuries.
Integration and Influence
The synergy between Hippocratic and Galenic medicine represents the integration of observation and empirical evidence with the theoretical framework. Both practiced a form of medicine that valued patient observation and case studies. Their ideas dominated Western medicine until the Renaissance.
The transmission of Greek medical knowledge was enabled by translation and adoption by the Romans, Byzantines, and later Islamic scholars, who preserved and expanded upon these works, contributing to their eventual revival in Europe.