Non est mea pigra senectus: old women and folk medicine in Graeco-Roman literature

Meseguer González, Diego (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This paper will examine the old-woman healer figure through Greco-Roman literary sources. First, I will discuss briefly the social reputation of old women in comparison with senex and the creation of a negative stereotype around them. After that, I will focus on the triple relation between woman, old age, and medicine in order to show the reputation of old women as skilled healers. Finally, I will analyse the use of different treatments close to magic, like enchantments and purifications, and the healings of some specific illnesses, such as love, to conclude with a brief overview of the political and social attitude towards them.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.22315/ACD/2021/5

Año: 2021

Publicado en: Acta Classica Universitatis Scientiarum Debreceniensis 57 (2021), 89-94
ISSN: 0418-453X

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Historia Antigua (Dpto. Ciencias de la Antigüed.)