Breathing life into ancient texts: Unveiling Greco-Roman medicine through modern reenactments

EurekAlert! ^ | January 7, 2025 | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

[SunkenCiv]

A team of researchers led by Dr. Orly Lewis from the Department of Classics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has introduced a pioneering multidisciplinary approach to the study of ancient medical texts. Supported by a grant from the European Research Council (ERC), this innovative research combines expertise from veterinary and human medicine, computer and data science, ancient history, and classical philology to shed new light on Greco-Roman medical practices.

By reenacting an anatomical dissection described by Galen, one of antiquity's most influential physicians, the team has provided critical answers to questions that have puzzled historians for centuries. Galen's 2nd-century CE treatise, Anatomical Procedures, offers detailed descriptions of dissections of the entire body, including the abdominal wall, peritoneal cavity, and internal organs. However, textual inconsistencies caused by 14 centuries of hand-copying have posed significant challenges to modern scholars attempting to interpret his work.

Galen's work reflects the broader context of Greco-Roman medicine, which stood at the crossroads of empirical observation and philosophical inquiry. Physicians of this era often relied on a blend of direct anatomical study, primarily through animal dissections, and theoretical frameworks rooted in Hippocratic and Hellenistic traditions. Despite the limitations imposed by cultural and ethical norms against human dissection, Galen's meticulous studies laid the foundation for medical knowledge in both the Islamic world and medieval Europe, shaping the trajectory of Western medicine for over a millennium. By unraveling the complexities of his texts, the study not only enhances our understanding of his methodologies but also sheds light on the enduring influence of Greco-Roman medicine on subsequent scientific thought.

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the palimpsest/s keywords, sorted:

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[mairdie]

Was intrigued until I got to the part about dissections. ICK!

[Jonty30]

This is where AI will come in handy, reading scrolls.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

“”Breathing life into ancient texts””

For a minute there I thought it was about President Trump and the rebirth of the United States Constitution!

[Adder]

By reenacting an anatomical dissection described by Galen..., the team has provided critical answers to questions that have puzzled historians for centuries.

Which one was dissected?

[Doctor Congo]

AI could be used to generate a video of the dissection once the intricate story is fixed. That would be super awesome. With those goggle things you could actually participate. WOW

[SunkenCiv]

My pet frogs covered their eyes when I started reading the article.

[MikelTackNailer]

We are so fortunate to live in this age of medical advancement.
Now we know most problems are usually just a case of unbalanced humours.

[SunkenCiv]

LOL

[SunkenCiv]

:^)