Author Information
Sotirios Maipas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens & University of the Aegean, GreecePanagiotis Kousoulis, University of the Aegean, Greece
Nikolaos Kavantzas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Abstract
Both Hippocrates’ work “On Airs, Waters, and Places”, and the second volume of Herodotus’ Histories, known as “Euterpe”, refer to Ancient Egypt. Unfortunately, the page(s) containing Hippocrates’ direct mention of Ancient Egyptians has(have) not survived. However, indirect references to Egyptians can be found throughout the text. Herodotus is the first historian to capture in such detail the interaction between humans and the natural environment in Ancient Egypt. The Nile gave life to a region where rain was scarce, enabling the cultivation of land, creating marshes where papyrus grew, and leaving behind stagnant waters that led to a proliferation of mosquitoes. It also carried sediment, shaping the local soil characteristics. In Euterpe, we also read about the close relationship the ancient Egyptians had with animals, certain customs related to food preparation, how their connection with nature drove them to develop geometry, and issues concerning indoor pollution. Hippocrates mentions that changes in the natural environment affect health, a fact Herodotus also recognized. As Herodotus states, the Egyptians were the healthiest of all people because they did not experience seasonal changes like those found elsewhere. Furthermore, Herodotus refers to an adventure encountered by some Egyptians on a journey east of Egypt, where they met people of small overall body structure, which aligns with Hippocrates’ theory that small body size results from such prevailing climatic conditions. Considering the current understanding of the environmental impact on health, this study reevaluates both works as valuable educational material on the historical trajectory of environmental health knowledge.
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