Asclepius
(Asklepios)
was the Greek
god of healing.
He had two
daughters, called
Panacea and
Hygeia who helped
him cure the sick.
Temples dedicated to
Asclepius were called
Asclepions.
Greeks would visit the temple and
make offerings to Asclepius. They
would then spend the night in the
temple, when they believed they were
visited by the god and his daughters
who cured them.
The temple was
surrounded by other
buildings that encourage
good personal health
Bath house
Stadium
Gymnasium
The temple served as an
escape from stress.
The priests did treat
people with natural
remedies.
A lot of people were cured due to
faith healing. People visiting the
temple believed in Asclepius' power,
and this cured them!
Hippocrates
The Hippocratic Oath
Still used today. It sets out high
standards of treatment and behaviour
that doctors must adhere to. They must
work for the benefit of patients, rather
than to make themselves rich.
Hippocratic Collection
A collection of books, used for centuries
by other doctors. This collection
contained the first detailed list of
treatments and symptoms.
Observing and Recording.
Hippocrates showed doctors how important it was to
observe and record symptoms. It meant future doctors
could chose the right cure and also diagnose and treat
future patients more effectively.
Causes of diseases
Developed the theory of the four humours.
Natural treatments
Hippocrates encouraged people to look for
natural cures, rather than asking the Gods.
The Four Humours
Phlegm
Water/Winter
Blood
Air/Spring
Yellow Bile
Fire/Summer
Black Bile
Earth/Autumn
Greeks believed that all people had four humours in
them. They thought that a person became sick when
these humours were out of balance.
Each humour was linked with
one of the four elements, and
one of the four seasons. This
was because doctors noticed
in winter more people
suffered from runny noses, an
excess of phlegm.
This theory lasted for over
1000 years.
Who treated the sick, and how?
Doctors
Observe, record, diagnosis,prognosis.
Balance the humours, via bleeding, purging or making the patient vomit.
Surgery - Doctors had beeter tools, and cut set bones and in extreme
cases amputate limbs. Very few operations took place in the body,
the one exception was the draining of the lungs.
Basic antispetics used, such as washing wounds with wine and vinegar.