Classics News and Events
Classics staff & students at Life Sciences Public Event
Back to the Future: How Studying History Helps Medical Science!
A School of Life Sciences event with contributions from the department of Classics: Dr. Caroline Petit, Matt Smith (MAR student), Tunrayo Olaoshun (4th year UG student).
Come hear about ancient remedies, the role of dreams in diagnostic, teaching anatomy... and lots more exciting topics:
The School of Life Sciences are pleased to invite you to their next Public Science Evening ‘Back to the Future: How Studying History Helps Medical Science’. This event will explore the exciting topic of how we can use historical medical knowledge in today’s practices. A variety of time periods will be explored, from Galenic medicine in the 2nd century, to early 20th century phage therapy advancements. Also included will be talks from not only members of the School of Life Sciences team, but the Classics and History departments as well. If you are a fan of the History of Medicine and its applications today then this is surely an event not to be missed.
This public science evening will take place on Tuesday 12 March 2019 from 18:00 – 20:00 in the School of Life Sciences atrium. Please visit warwick.ac.uk/publicscience for more information and to register for this event.
New publication (open access): Galen's Treatise περὶ ἀλυπίας (De indolentia) in Context: A tale of resilience
Galen's Treatise περὶ ἀλυπίας (De indolentia) in Context: A tale of resilience, edited by Dr. Caroline Petit, Brill, 2019
In 193 AD, Galen of Pergamum, physician to the emperors, discloses crucial information in a letter to an unnamed friend. This long-lost text was rediscovered in 2005 by a then PhD student, and has since generated more literature than any other Galen text. In the wake of Vivian Nutton's authoritative translation (2013), this collection of essays addresses some of the many facets of the text, shedding new light on Galen, Rome, and the reign of Commodus.
Arising from a Wellcome-funded conference, the book is open access, courtesy of Brill and the Wellcome Trust.
New publication: Caroline Petit, Galien de Pergame ou la rhétorique de la Providence
Out in September 2018: Caroline Petit’s book, Galien de Pergame ou la rhétorique de la Providence: Médecine, littérature et pouvoir à Rome is the first comprehensive study of the role of rhetoric in Galen’s œuvre. Physician to several Roman emperors and author of the most impressive body of works in antiquity up to AD 350, Galen created a compelling figure of authority through his medical and philosophical works. The book analyses the range of Galen’s rhetorical mastery through five chapters, studying in turn Galen and the Hellenic tradition, Galen’s demonstrative and refutative tactics, the role of enargeia in Galen’s descriptions and narratives, his ‘hymn’ to Nature in his main anatomical work, De usu partium, and finally autobiography and self-portrait in his œuvre.
New blog by Dr. Caroline Petit "Forbidden material, illicit books? Galen on Xenocrates of Aphrodisias"
In this blog I reflect on Galen's ambivalent take on earlier works dealing with forbidden material, such as Xenocrates' treatise On animal parts.
https://www.medicineancientandmodern.com/2018/01/28/forbidden-material-galen-on-xenocrates-of-aphrodisias/
International workshop at the BSR. Rethinking Ancient Pharmacology: the transmission and interpretation of Galen's treatise On simple drugs
An international workshop at the BSR about Galen's treatise On simple drugs, its textual transmission and interpretation throughout the ages.
22 September, British School in Rome.
Organised by Dr. Caroline Petit, Dr. Matteo Martelli & Dr. Lucia Raggetti.