Week 11: Religion and Medical Treatment

Question 1

Reasons for turning to the supernatural divine related to medical conditions (2)

Answer 1

a) Miracles
b) Alleviation of pain

Question 2

What is the relationship between religion and healing?

Answer 2

a) It covers the limitations of medicine
b) Compatible with healing, not antithetical

Question 3

What examples show the influence of religion in healing?

Answer 3

a) Plage of Florence
b) Jesus as the healer (Lepra)

Question 4

Brief description of Egyptian medicine

Answer 4

Mix of religious, supernatural, and natural treatments

Question 5

Who was in charge of healing?

Answer 5

Domain of priests

Question 6

What was the methodology used for healing?

Answer 6

Natural treatments, curses, and incantations

Question 7

Was there any progress in Egyptian medicine? Why?

Answer 7

a) No progress due to close relationship with religion
b) Religions are conservative bodies

Question 8

Description of early hospitals
a) Location
b) Infrastructure
c) Etymology
d) Main elements

Answer 8

a) Byzantium and the West
b) Attached to monasteries
c) Latin ‘hospitium’
d) Faith + Healing + Christian charity
(Monks washing others feet)

Question 9

Healing Christian saints
a) No natural element
b) Mainly based on faith

Answer 9

a) Brothers Cosmas and Damian
b) Artemios

Question 10

Brothers Cosmas and Damian

Answer 10

a) Relevant Arab martyrs in 3rd Century
b) Known as Anargyroi (Unmercenary / No money) as they treated their patients for free

Question 11

St Artemios

Answer 11

a) Heals male genitals (urological conditions) by squeezing them or appearing in a dream
b) Patients came from the entire empire to the Church of St. John in Constantinople and slept in it until they were cured.

Question 12

Examples of famous Saints in modern times

Answer 12

a) Lady of Lourdes in France
b) Island of Tenus (Virgin Mary

Question 13

Ceremony used in Island of Tenus to show gratitude for being healed

Answer 13

Pilgrims crawl on their knees from the harbor to the temple

Question 14

Role of the Virgin of Lourdes in healing

Answer 14

Healing by drinking at the spring and washing in it

Question 15

Greek Gods of Healing

Answer 15

a) Apollo
b) Asclepius (5th C)
c) Machaon/Podalirios
d) Hygieia
e) Panacea
f) Eileithyia

Question 16

Apollo description

Answer 16

a) Senior god (Son of Zeus)
b) Domains: Sun/Light/Music/Harmony/Healing

Question 17

Asclepius description

Answer 17

a) Mortal healer in the Illyad
b) Seen as a deity for medicine in 5th Century
c) Son of Apollo

Question 18

Machaon/Podalirios description

Answer 18

The two sons of Asclepius healed with natural drugs

Question 19

Hierarchy of Gods in the Hippocratic Oath

Answer 19

Apollo => Asclepius => Hygieia (Healing/Cleanliness) => Panacea (All healing)

Question 20

Eileithyia description

Answer 20

a) Goddess of childbirth and midwifery
b) Daughter of Zeus and Hera

Question 21

Equivalent of hospitals in Ancient Greece

Answer 21

Asclepeia (Temples of Asclepios)

Question 22

What services were provided in an Asclepeia?

Answer 22

Holistic approach
a) Rational medicine
b) Faith-based/supernatural healing
c) Natural treatments (e.g., surgery)
d) Spiritual uplifting
- Theater performances
- Baths
- Entertainment

Question 23

What could you find in an Asclepia?

Answer 23

a) Amenities: Theaters / Shops
b) Group of practitioners / Senior physician attending the sick with the help of assistants
Note: No midwives

Question 24

What does “mens sana in corpore sano” mean?

Answer 24

A healthy mind in a healthy body

Question 25

Examples of Asclepions in Greece

Answer 25

a) Epidaurus (Largest / Earliest) b) Kos c) Pergamon d) Corinth

Question 26

Infrastructure of Asclepia of Epidaurus

Answer 26

a) Temples of Asclepius, Artemis, and Aphrodite b) Stoa c) Priests house d) Baths e) Stadium (Entertainment) f) Theather (Good acoustics)

Question 27

Description of treatment process in Asklepion of Epidaurus

Answer 27

a) Visitors arrived by boat b) Extensive course of purification (katharsis) to prepare for god c) Sleeping (enkoimesis) under drugs influence and waiting for a healing dream / instructions d) Execution of rational medicine

Question 28

Description of katharsis (purification) process

Answer 28

a) Diet b) Baths c) Purgatives d) Drugs e) Surgery

Question 29

Description of enkoimesis

Answer 29

Surgery performed in a twilight state under heavy soporific drugs like opiates and mandragora

Question 30

Description of rational medicine methods

Answer 30

a) Healthy, hygienic conditions b) Good diet c) Clean air and water d) Assisted by faith in recovery e) Superficial cancer / cataracts were treated with surgery

Question 31

What is the sacred role of snakes?

Answer 31

a) Symbolic of the power of the earth and regeneration b) Serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius c) Believed to cure a patient or a wounded person just by touch

Question 32

What shapes were put on marble (or gold) for those who are healed or already healed?

Answer 32

Parts of the body (Ears/Limbs

Question 33

Asclepion of Kos

Answer 33

a) Hometown of Hippocrates b) Massive complex for reciting prayers

Question 34

a) Asclepion of Pergamon b) Asclepion of Corinth

Answer 34

a) Theather b) Several parts of the body as puppets

Question 35

Description of Nekromanteion Ephyra

Answer 35

a) Underground (Oracle of dead) b) People went to speak with dead c) A lot of hallucinogenic drugs were found d) Intimidating space

Question 36

Description of Gnosticism/Drugs

Answer 36

a) Sect through the transition of Christianity b) Heal by speaking with god through faith c) Entire cities with hallucinogenic drugs d) Create the illusion of heavy drugs e) Healing environment by asking advice f) No addiction due to restricted use

Question 37

What is the problem with drug consumption?

Answer 37

High doses Use of opioids was not that detrimental due to the lack of access