In Byzantium, healthcare was a bit different than today in more ways than one. The whole system was run by the church. The monastic orders ran and had complete authority over the hospitals in the empire.
The most famous of all hospitals was the Pantokrator (Ruler of All) Monastery in Constantinople. Today it is a mosque. So. we shall look at some of its intriguing history. It overlooks the ancient aqueduct of Valens on a hill. It’s complex included three interconnected churches. Empress Irene constructed the largest church in 1118-1124. It’s decorations included mosaics and rare marbles. The church built next to it was dedicated to Vigin Eleosa (mercy.) The south church is one of the largest built during the middle ages in Constantinople. The nave is 52 square feet and the dome is 23 feet across. It was covered in marble, metals, and mosaics with semiprecious stones. The floor consisted of mythological scenes and hunters done with colored marbles.
The space between the churches was joined together by vaulted domes. This became a mausoleum dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. The mausoleum church is said to have the stone Christ was anointed on after his crucifiction. The tombs of the Emperors and Empresses lined the mausoleum. Gold and gems decorated the iconostasis (wall of icons or religious paintings).
However, in the beginning, the church was a hospital. Wards were divided by about 50 beds into special sections. By the 12th Century, there were wards for surgical cases, medical cases, and women.
The staff had male doctors, of course, and one female doctor. They were assisted by both male and female assistants, and an herbalist. To prepare and ready the incoming new doctors, they had a professor to instruct them on medicine.
The patients were served vegetarian meals, as they had their own kitchen personnel.
The Greek and Roman medical traditions were combined with Arab expertise. These combinations created a very sophisticated Byzantium medicine practice for their time period. It also exceeded the standards of the day.
Drugs were administered for chest, heart, and digestive afflictions and maladies. After a person had expired and the rites were done, autopsies and dissections took place. These techniques were used to improve surgical knowledge.
Some of the specialties included ophthalmology (functions, diseases, and anatomy of the eye.) Another was Gynecology (functions and diseases including the reproduction system of the Byzantine Babes.) Dentistry (diseases and conditions of teeth and gums) was also a specialized practice. That’s one I’m glad to have missed out on.
There was a 10th century Byzantine medical textbook that showed how to bandage the head. It was done in “Helmet Style” with the person’s face being almost all covered. The bandages came down from the forehead to cover the nose and mouth while wrapping around the head. The patient peering out piteously from the bandages looked non too pleased about it.
Their form of physical therapy differs from ours as well. Two doctors would raise and lower their patient by ropes against a ladder. Supposedly his dislocated vertebra would be healed by the “stretching and massaging.” That’s quite a “stretch” from our modern day techniques. I’ve discovered that some of their Byzantine techniques are not for me. It would be interesting to know if they worked, though.
modern day techniques. I’ve discovered that some of their Byzantine techniques are not for me. It would be interesting to know if they worked, though.
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The Byzantine NHS
Sharon M. Wolf