Ancient Medicine: From Mesopotamia to Rome

by Laura M Zucconi, Candida R. Moss (Foreword)

This book by Laura Zucconi is an accessible introductory text to the practice and theory of medicine in the ancient world. In contrast to other works that focus heavily on Greece and Rome, Zucconi’s  Ancient Medicine  covers a broader geographical and chronological range. The world of medicine in antiquity consisted of a lot more than Hippocrates and Galen. Zucconi applies historical and anthropological methods to examine the medical cultures of not only Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome but also the Levant, the Anatolian Peninsula, and the Iranian Plateau. Devoting special attention to the fundamental relationship between medicine and theology, Zucconi’s one-volume introduction brings the physicians, patients, procedures, medicines, and ideas of the past to light.

Genres: Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

Published August 13, 2019

Reviews

[Janae Epp · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this work, Zucconi surveys the impact of religion in ancient culture and the corresponding influence on ancient society’s understanding of medicine. Because many locales, especially the ANE, do not possess strictly medical literature, careful study of letters, inscriptions, and other non-medical documents is often required throughout the book to reconstruct ancient conceptions of the body, illness, and healing. Despite the wide range of literature referenced, she pulls together a simplified summary of each culture, covering the same topics within each chapter and thereby creating valuable resources for comparison between cultures.

The book provides an insightful overview of the interplay between religion and conceptions of the body, sickness, and healing. Where it contributes most strongly for those interested in biblical studies is in its information regarding the nations surrounding Israel. The nation of Israel is addressed, but only as a subtopic of the content on Canaanite medicine and the two are not distinguished as much as might be preferred by those interested primarily in Israel’s thought and practice. Overall, Zucconi has written a valuable resource for those interested in an academic study of anthropology, medicine, and Bible backgrounds.