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Trauma in antiquity: 4000 year old post‐traumatic reactions?
Author(s) -
Ben–Ezra Menachem
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1003
Subject(s) - cuneiform , psychology , psychological trauma , violent death , history , poison control , injury prevention , medicine , ancient history , psychiatry , medical emergency
‘The lamentation over the destruction of Ur’ and ‘The death of Urnamma’ are probably the earliest documented evidence of post‐traumatic reactions in recorded history. The author of this article suggests extending the time line for the known existence of post‐traumatic reactions back to 2000–2100 BC. The author would like to present a new perception relating to the existence of ancient knowledge regarding psychological trauma. This article is based on cuneiform tablets found in the ruins of the Sumerian city, Ur. The author found that reactions to traumatic events elicit post‐traumatic symptoms have not changed dramatically over the millennia. These data support the thesis that reaction to traumatic events leading to psychological trauma was a known concept in antiquity. Future implications to the study of traumatic reactions are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.