{"id":9822,"date":"2023-11-18T12:25:14","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T11:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9822"},"modified":"2023-11-18T12:25:14","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T11:25:14","slug":"when-was-galen-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/when-was-galen-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"When Was Galen In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Galen of Ancient Rome-An Overview<\/h2>\n

Galen was a famous physician, philosopher and influential figure in the era of Ancient Rome. His impact in the medical world is unmatched to this day, with many of his pioneering techniques still in use today. He was born in 129 AD at Pergamon, which was a Greek-speaking enclave located in what is now the country of Turkey. He was the youngest of three children and his father was a prominent architect. As a child of an upper- middle-class family, he was able to receive an exceptional education at a young age. He attended schools in nearby cities and notably studied medicine under the influential physician Esontius of Pergamon. By the age of 17, Galen was able to travel to Alexandria, then the center of medical knowledge in the world.<\/p>\n

Galen used his scholarship to study medicine and to learn about the trades and politics of Ancient Rome. He moved to Rome in 161 AD where he served as a physician at the court of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was a Roman emperor from the Antonine dynasty. Galen’s presence in Rome heightened the scientific and medical knowledge of the time. His large body of work from Ancient Rome covered a range of topics from pharmacology to anatomy and physiology, occupying a large portion of early modern medical works. He proudly proclaimed himself to be “second only to the gods” for his achievements in the practice of medicine.<\/p>\n

Galen was well-known in Rome for his medical skills and it is said that he was able to heal the wounded on the battlefield. He was also the first physician to incorporate physics and anatomy into the practice of medicine. He frequently experimented on animals to learn more about anatomy and physiology, though many of his insights were incorrect due to the lack of advanced technology of the era. He was able to identify certain illnesses and develop treatments for them.<\/p>\n

Galen had a practical approach to medicine which would become known as the Galenic approach. It relied on the empirical gathering of anecdotal evidence, which could be logically extrapolated to patients. He believed in the Hippocratic notion of the four humors and the balancing of humors with drugs, therapies and a strict lifestyle. He was also among the first to recognize the importance of diet, hygiene and exercise in achieving good health. He scoffed at prayer as medicine and was known to be very critical of superstitious practices.<\/p>\n