Dr n' med' Magdalena Wlodarczyk

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Dr n. med. Magdalena Wlodarczyk

• Symbolism in medicine and pharmacy

Department of History of Medicine and
Pharmacy Medical University of Lódz
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• Specific medico-pharmaceutical symbolism has
  retained in human culture for centuries.

• The SNAKE and snake venoms have stimulated the
  mind and imagination of humankind since the
  beginning of our existence.

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Faith in the miraculous power of the snake might
be associated with the phenomenon of periodic
sloughing off the outer layer of its skin,
renewing in this way its own body and becoming
more beautiful.

• The story is disclosed in the epic on
  Gilgamesh a legendary Sumerian king.

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Gilgamesh, the Hero-King

• Ruled in Sumer c. 2700 bc
• Epic of Gilgamesh chronicles his reign
• Evolves from selfish, uncontrolled autocrat to
  benevolent ruler via
• friendship
• rebellion
• loss
• quest
• recognition of mortality
• acceptance of responsibilty and service to the
  goddess Ishtar (Inanna)

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In ancient Egypt, snake design wasnt directly
connected with medical treatment. It was supposed
to be a sign of pharaohs power protecting his
crown, and rising above the pharaohs head. The
patron of medical treatment in Egypt was a
physician and an architect named Imhotep.
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In Greece - the beliefs associated with healing
are presented in the old myths that mainly appear
in Homers works Iliad and Odyssey.
According to Homer the first father of the art
of treatment was Apollo. He cured people but also
sent plaques to them by using his arrows.
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However, the precursor in medicine teaching and
drug preparation in Greko-Roman mythology was
centaur Chiron.
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A popular myth about Asklepius (called later by
the Romans Aesculapius) is associated with
Chirons activity.
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Cult of Asklepios

• The Asklepian cult came to be located in
  Epidauros as well as in Athens, Pergamon and Kos
• From the Asklepieion of Epidauros, the cult
  spread to Athens and the rest of the Greco-Roman
  world

• Right Epidauros
• Left Sanctuary

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After some time Zeus brought Asklepius back to
life and made him a god. Asklepius married
Hepyone (soothing pain) and they had 4
childrenThe oldest daughter Panacea was curing
people (the word panaceum deriving from her
name is a drug for all diseases)The younger
daughter Hygeia was a drug
dispenser (the word hygiene is derived from her
name)Two sons Machaon and Podalejros also dealt
with healing.
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Hygeia according to Greko-Roman tradition was
presented as a statue of a young woman holding a
goblin with a serpent drinking from it. For
centuries, her attribute has symbolised pharmacy
and pharmaceutics and it is different from the
Asklepius staff with a serpent symbolising
medical profession.
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The ancient Romans were to a great degree
influenced by Greek culture. They also introduced
the cult of Asklepius whom they named
Aesculapius. The myth is associated with a
great epidemic that spread in Rome in 291 BC. It
was probably an inspiration for pharmacy where
the snake Aesculapius wreaths itself round the
palm (this symbolicis still present in Iberian
countries).

• .

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In the 1st century AD in Rome the cult of the
ancient Persian god of light Mithra became
popular. A statue exists which presents Mithra
killing the bull, and the snake is drinking its
life-giving blood streaming from the wound.
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In the Middle Ages the pagan snake symbol was
used reluctantly and numerous saints became new
patrons in medicine and pharmacy. The most
popular saints were two brothers Kosma and
Damian. St Kosma was most frequently presented
with a vessel used for urine examination or with
a book, whereas St Damian with a pharmacy can.
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In the period of neoclassicism old ancient
symbols returned- Asklepius with a staff and
entwined snake - Hygeia holding a bowl with a
snake.
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Numerous historians would like to find the answer
to the question What is inside the Hygeias
bowl?