Greek Medicine

Question 1

Where did Greek civilisation emerge from?

Answer 1

The Mediterranean

Question 2

Where would the Greek people go when they felt sick?

Answer 2

The Asclepion

Question 3

What was the Asclepion?

Answer 3

The temple of Asclepius, the Greek God of Healing. After exercising and resting, and perhaps taking certain potions, patients slept the night in the holy place- called the abaton- of the temple. Here the God and his two daughters Hygeia and Panacea came with 2 holy snakes and cured the patient.

Question 4

What was the theory of the 4 humours?

Answer 4

The physicians Galen and Hippocrates held the four humours at the centre of their teachings of the body.

Question 5

Describe the theory of the four humours:

Answer 5

Blood= Air= Hot and Wet
Yellow Bile= Fire= Hot and Dry
Black Bile= Earth= Dry and Cold
Phlegm= Water= Wet and Cold

Question 6

Who were the most important doctors of Greek medicine?

Answer 6

Galen and Hippocrates

Question 7

Hippocrates is known as…

Answer 7

The father of Modern Medicine

Question 8

What 4 important things did Hippocrates do?

Answer 8

The Hippocratic Oath- doctors swear to treat patients, keep their records and symptoms in confidentiality. Still used today.

Recording of symptoms- encouraged doctors to question patients, find out detailed info about symptoms and to record the accurately. Leading to better treatments.

The Hippocratic Corpus- collection of over 60 books written by Hippocrates and other Greek doctors, noting symptoms, treatments ad their effectiveness.

4 humours- look for natural causes and cure diseases and encouraged doctors to step away from supernatural belief.

Question 9

How influential was humourism?

Answer 9

Very, used until mid-1800s