Published on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Abstract
Our conference aims to investigate those aspects of the history of ancient and late-antique pharmacology that remain unexplored, not only by examining the substances used for healing but also by exploring the linguistic, cultural, and material contexts in which ancient remedies were acquired, prepared and administered.
Announcement
International Conference, University of Bologna
24-26/11/2025
Argument
“You should consider a physician learned and wise, trained and skillful, if he can cure with drugs diseases which surgeons treat by making incisions” (Galen, Opt.Med.Cogn. I, 10, trans. A.Z. Iskandar). With these words, Galen (2nd century CE) reveals his profound preference for pharmacology over surgery. As a towering figure in the history of medicine, the physician from Pergamon, Galen, lends his name to ‘Galenic formulations,’ yet the origins of pharmacological practices are much more ancient and are often shrouded in myth. In Ancient Greece, traces of this medical knowledge can be found in the Mycenaean Linear B tablets, but the first systematic treatises date back only to the 4th century BC and focus primarily on simples. Jean-Marie Jacques has described the simples as the first “tool” to employ in cases of illness, and has stated that, if these fail, one should turn to the more complex compounded remedies. The science of compounded medicines and toxicology flourishes in the Hellenistic era, driven by the medical breakthroughs of Herophilean physicians, the patronage of Hellenistic rulers, and the introduction of exotic substances. Pharmacological texts proliferated across this era, but they were later overshadowed by the monumental syntheses that emerged in the Roman period, particularly the works of Dioscorides and Galen. Even in Latin literature, Celsus, Pliny the Elder, and Scribonius Largus contributed comprehensive treatises, preserving a mere fragment of what had once been a diverse corpus of medicinal knowledge.
Our conference aims to investigate those aspects of the history of ancient and late-antique pharmacology that remain unexplored, not only by examining the substances used for healing but also by exploring the linguistic, cultural, and material contexts in which ancient remedies were acquired, prepared and administered. Through the analysis of both medical and non-medical technical texts (alchemy, cuisine, law, magic, philosophy, religion, and trade), the archaeological contexts and the tools they have uncovered, skeletal remains, illustrations from early manuscripts, paintings and sculptures from the past, and modern reproductions of ancient recipes, we will uncover the intricate networks of knowledge and practices that shaped the healing arts in the ancient world.
We invite papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
Texts on pharmacology
We will explore ancient and late-antique pharmacological texts, with a special focus on unedited or rarely explored works, that can unlock new insights into the evolution of therapeutic practices. Papers might also look at different recensions of the same text or instances of their reuses, shedding light on how these works were adapted in response to evolving cultural and scientific needs. Equally important is the study of manuscripts and/or papyri containing corrections or marginal annotations, which can provide evidence of how medical practice influenced the reception and reworking of these texts. The goal is also to determine whether these texts were adjusted as a result of new medical challenges. Finally, we aim to explore the structure and organization of pharmacological texts themselves. Are there specific literary genres or particular methods for structuring pharmacological knowledge and recipes? Does this structure reflect the broader intellectual currents of the time?
Words of pharmacology
We will study the vocabulary related to the preparation and administration of remedies, with a particular focus on synonyms and multiprefixed verb forms, that lexicons tend to present as interchangeable (such as κόπτω, λειόω, and τρίβω). The goal is to determine whether these forms are truly synonymous, reflecting stylistic preferences, or if they carry distinct nuances of meaning. We will also examine how this specialized vocabulary connects with other domains—such as cooking, alchemy, and daily life—highlighting the ways in which therapeutic language intersects with broader cultural practices. Additionally, we will pay close attention to words that, while having general meanings, acquire a specific therapeutic connotation when embedded in certain syntactic structures. For example, the verb προστίθημι, meaning “to apply” or “to add”, takes on a specialized sense in medical contexts, often referring to the insertion of a vaginal pessary.
Remedies, economy, and society
We will pay attention to the historical and economic analyses of substances used as pharmacological remedies. The proposed approach will allow the exploration of various aspects, such as the mapping of trade routes through which these substances were exchanged, the examination of taxes and duties that impacted their trade, and the evaluation of market prices. In relation to economic considerations, it will be possible to conduct a deeper exploration on exotic remedies, evaluating their role and impact in the medical practices of the time. Additionally, there will be the opportunity to develop a statistical analysis on the availability of these remedies, shedding light on their distribution and affordability. The combination of economic and medical perspectives will enable a reflection on the issue of accessibility to care, aiming to reconstruct how pharmaceutical therapy was used and distributed among different social classes, and to assess its spread in classical and late-antique society.
Tools and techniques
We will concentrate on the tools used in the preparation of medicinal substances, such as those employed for heating remedies. Archaeological and iconographic analyses of these instruments will provide insights into the various stages of remedy preparation, methods of administration, and the level of sophistication and technicality in classical and late- antique pharmacology. Furthermore, we will examine some points of intersection between ancient medicine and other forms of preparation, such as culinary practices. An example of such overlap is the χύτρα, which, although commonly refers to a cooking pot, is the most frequently mentioned tool in medical texts for heating pharmaceutical preparations (e.g., Orib. Collect. medic. XIII, 1.6).
Paleopathology and contemporary reconstructions
We will focus on the contemporary reconstruction of ancient recipes, and we will delve deeper into the field of bioarchaeology, analyzing both plant and human remains to explore new perspectives on ancient pharmacology. Regarding plant remains, it will be possible to discuss new techniques for identifying ingredients, such as analyzing traces left in containers. These analyses will provide insights not only into the composition and preparation of remedies but also into the complexity of the techniques employed and the availability of substances used. Similarly, the study of human remains, through pathological analysis and examination of skeletal remains, such as dental health and bone composition, will provide valuable data to identify the diseases of the past and, along with them, the lifestyle (e.g., diet and work) of the patients, and build their statistical profile. By comparing these data with other bioarchaeological evidence, it will be possible to gain crucial information about the treatment options and healthcare practices available in the classical and late-antique periods.
Submission guidelines
Please submit a title and an abstract of no more than 300 words to martina.dattilo3@unibo.it and caterina.manco2@unibo.it
by June 15, 2025.
- We welcome presentations (max. 30 minutes) given in Italian, English, French, Spanish or German.
- The organizers will notify authors of the acceptance of their papers by June 30, 2025.
- No registration fee will be required. However, travel expenses and accommodation should be covered by the participants.
- For any inquiries, please contact us at martina.dattilo3@unibo.it and caterina.manco2@unibo.it
Organizers
Martina Dattilo (Università di Bologna) and Caterina Manco (Università di Bologna) in collaboration with Matteo Martelli.
Scientific committee
- Petros Bouras-Vallianatos (University of Athens)
- Marie Cronier (IRHT, Paris)
- Martina Dattilo (Università di Bologna)
- Marco Maiuro (Sapienza Università di Roma, Columbia University)
- Caterina Manco (Università di Bologna)
- Laurence Totelin (Cardiff University)
Keynote speakers
- Valentina Giuffra (Università di Pisa)
- Alessia Guardasole (UMR Orient & Méditerranée, Paris)
- Andrew Koh (Yale University)
- Manuela Marai (indipendent scholar)
- Dario Nappo (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II)
Subjects
- Prehistory and Antiquity (Main category)
- Society > Science studies > History of science
- Society > History > Economic history
- Periods > Prehistory and Antiquity > Greek history
- Periods > Prehistory and Antiquity > Roman history
- Society > Sociology > Sociology of health
- Society > History > Social history
Places
- Università di Bologna
Bologna, Italian Republic
Event attendance modalities
Hybrid event (on site and online)
Date(s)
- Sunday, June 15, 2025
Attached files
Keywords
- ancient medicine, ancient pharmacology, ancient trade, simple drugs
Reference Urls
Information source
- Caterina Manco
courriel : caterina [dot] manco2 [at] unibo [dot] it
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« Exploring ancient pharmacology: drugs, words, and practices », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, https://doi.org/10.58079/13ks9
