The plants used by Metrodora
Personajes:
Tema: Lexicon of medicinal plants
Competencias
Competencia en Comunicación Lingüística
Competencia Plurilingüe
Competencia Matemática, en ciencia, tecnología e ingeniería
Competencia Personal, social y de aprender a aprender
Competencia en conciencia y expresiones culturales
Materias y cursos por Sistema Educativo
España > Cultura Clásica > 3º ESO > Pervivencia de las lenguas clásicas. Lengua y léxico
Enunciado
Read this excerpt about Metrodora, a doctor of Greek origin who practised in Rome in the 2nd century AD, and respond to the proposed activities.
“The aforementioned Metrodora treatise begins with a general statement about the uterus as the source of most women's diseases. Then she deals with the general conditions of the uterus: first, a fairly long theoretical and clinical chapter on inflammation; and then, suppuration, hardness (today fibroids), cancer, secretions, haemorrhages, prolapses, coldness and inflation of the uterus. This is followed by a section on diseases caused by excessive dampness: dropsy, cleaning ulcers and recipes for restoring the appearance of virginity. Next, she covers methods to aid conception, cures for infertility and three prescriptions for contraception. These recipes contain some magical elements, although there are no spells or prayers. This is followed by a brief section on childbirth, which covers drug therapy to facilitate childbirth. Subsequently, a bevy of magical recipes: various fertility and virginity tests, aphrodisiacs, and love potions, all of which were a standard part of medicine back then. Later, she treats breast diseases and includes cosmetics as a regular part of medicine. The text of Metrodora ends with recipes for frankincense, a common ingredient in many drug preparations.”
Our own translation from: https://letralia.com/sala-de-ensayo/2018/04/16/la-medicina-en-el-mundo-griego-y-las-rivalidades-de-genero/ (5/9/2022)
1.- Explain in what aspects the contributions that Metrodora made to medicine for women are important.
2.- Match each plant that was used in Greco-Latin medicine with its scientific
| Salvia officinalis | willow |
| Rosmarinus officinalis | hellebore |
| Lavandula officinalis | garlic |
| Scilla bulbus | nettle |
| Salix babylonica | onion |
| Matricaria recutita | parsley |
| Urtica dioica | rosemary |
| Appium petrosilinum | camomile |
| Allium sativum | lavender |
| Helleborus | parsley |
3.- Look in the dictionary and write the meaning of the following words of Greek origin, related to medicine:
- Anatomy
- Pharmacopoeia
- Physiology
- Homeopathy
- Panacea
- Pathology
- Therapy
4. The word pathology derives from the Greek πάθος «illness, suffering». In our language we find derivatives such as “empathy” and “sympathy”. Explain the change of meaning that the prefixes give them.
Observaciones y contexto
Women gatherers in prehistoric times discovered and applied the healing properties of plants. In Egypt, before 3000 BC, there were already female physicians or surgeons, and by 1500 BC, the schools of Sais and Heliopolis were open to women like Sephora and Queen Hatsepshut. In Mesopotamia, healers were very important and in Greek cities there were female doctors and surgeons, but their role was restricted to that of midwives. Popular medicine also stood out: one of the first herbalists was Artemisia II of Caria. In Athens, in the 4th century BC, women were prevented from practicing medicine, accusing them of performing abortions. The figure of Agnodica appeared in this context. In Rome, there were many female physicians who also wrote treatises, such as Elephantis, Lais, Olympias of Thebes, Antiochis and Metrodora. Among the women who wrote about gynaecology and obstetrics, the texts of Cleopatra and Aspasia were the most important until the work of Trotula in the 11th century.
In this case, a vocabulary activity has been thought for the subject of classical culture of 3rd of ESO from the vocabulary block, although it could also be applied to the same block of 4th of ESO.
Descripción
Reading and reflection on a text related to Metrodora.