Communicating disease, care and healing. The role of medical inscriptions and patient reports in temple medicine from classical antiquity to the roman imperial age

Ancient temple medicine, particularly at the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, was not a binary system of rational versus irrational practices but a complex interplay between natural and spiritual elements. This study challenges the conventional view by demonstrating that rituals permeate even contemporary biomedicine, suggesting a continuity between temple medicine and Hippocratic rational medicine. The research highlights the role of medical inscriptions (iamata) and patient reports, such as those from Aelius Aristides, in communicating healing practices. Additionally, it underscores the political dimension of writing in regulating both bodily and civic health, aligning with ancient philosophical traditions that intertwine state governance and medicine.

Iorio, S., Cilione, M., Martini, M., Zampieri, F., & Gazzaniga, V. (2023). Communicating disease, care and healing. The role of medical inscriptions and patient reports in temple medicine from classical antiquity to the roman imperial age. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2023.2286088