Epilepsy in Greco-Roman Mythology

Abstract

Objectives Perceptions existed about epilepsy in the ancient Greco-Roman civilization, which is referred to as the primordial age of modern medicine. This study was conducted to explore the ideas of the ancient Greeks and Romans about epilepsy through an investigation of relevant myths that reflected their culture. Methods We used the keywords ‘Greek mythology,’ ‘epilepsy,’ ‘seizure,’ ‘Roman mythology,’ and ‘myth’ in English and Korean to search Google and PubMed for information on epilepsy and seizures in Greek and Roman mythology. Results The ancient Greeks regarded epilepsy as a "sacred disease," and considered it to be a punishment caused by the curses of various gods, especially the goddess of the moon, Selene or Artemis. The story of Cydippe deals with the illness caused by the curse of the goddess of the moon, and the features depicted in the story resemble the symptoms of epilepsy. Furthermore, the stories of Pythia, Hyacinthus, and Hercules seem to be metaphors for the symptoms of epilepsy. Conclusions The descriptions of epilepsy and seizures in Greco-Roman myths are diverse, and can be thought of as an accumulation of the ancients' perceptions and experiences of epilepsy. This can be interpreted from a medical point of view as underscoring the significance of epilepsy and seizures. Key words: Epilepsy; Seizure; Greek mythology; Roman mythology; Myth.