Open AccessNon est mea pigra senectus: Old Women and Folk Medicine in Greco-roman Literature
Author(s) -
Diego Meseguer González
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta classica universitatis scientiarum debreceniensis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2732-3390
pISSN - 0418-453X
DOI - 10.22315/acd/2021/5
Subject(s) - reputation , stereotype (uml) , magic (telescope) , politics , order (exchange) , relation (database) , psychology , gender studies , sociology , literature , classics , social psychology , history , art , social science , political science , law , quantum mechanics , database , computer science , economics , physics , finance
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.