Magic & Medicine: The Origins of Medical Knowledge

Students journey back to the ancient world to discover how people understood illness, healing and the human body. They will meet the ancient gods and goddesses associated with medicine, and explore the fascinating transition from beliefs in healing magic and divine intervention, to the development of more systematic approaches to medical practice.

Students will learn about influential ancient physicians including Hippocrates, often called the “Father of Medicine”, as well as Dioscorides and Galen. They will discover how these physicians observed the natural world and recorded their knowledge of plants and their medicinal uses, creating works that would influence Western medicine for centuries.

As part of the hands-on experience, participants will make their own herbal amulet using plants associated with ancient Greek medical traditions. The activity provides a tangible way for students to explore the relationship between magic, medicine, nature and science in the ancient world.

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