Le patologie di Giustiniano e le profilassi mediche in voga nella Proto Bisanzio. Gli Adynata come eccezionale cura / Justinian’s pathologies medical prophylaxis in the early byzantium. Adynata as an exceptional care

Questa ricerca confronta i dati raccolti dai testi riguardanti l’imperatore Giustiniano con le informazioni concernenti la casistica delle malattie sessuali nel contesto della Proto Bisanzio. Un testo agiografico, la Vita di San Sansone, racconta: una grave malattia colpisce Giustiniano agli organi genitali e i medici non sono in grado di curarla. La patologia viene risolta da un miracolo di San Sansone. Questo adynaton pone l’imperatore in uno ‘spazio di copertura’. Dopo il 23° o 24° anno del suo regno, Giustiniano soffre disturbi ad una gamba, accompagnati da dolore durante la minzione. Körbler ipotizza che questi sintomi siano dovuti alla sifilide. Il disturbo alla gamba viene curato dall’intercessione dei santi Cosma e Damiano. La malattia dell’imperatore si rivela dunque come luogo della letteratura agiografica. L’adynaton poi conferma l’istituzione imperiale ed afferma l’adeguatezza del sovrano.(AU)

This research compares the collected data from texts regarding the life of Emperor Justinian with information on cases of sexual diseases in the Early Byzantium contest. A hagiographical text, The Life of Saint Samson, recounted: a serious illness affected Justinian to the genital organs and doctors didn’t have a care. The disease was resolved by a miracle of San Samson. This adynaton placed the Emperor in a coverage space. After, in the 23rd or 24th year of his reign, Justinian suffered a leg pain, accompanied by pain during the urination. Körbler hypothesized that these symptoms were due to syphilis. The disturbance at the leg was cured by the intercession of Saints Cosma and Damian. Rather the emperor’s illness was detected as a literary locus of hagiography. The adynaton confirms the foundation of the imperial institution and affirms the adequacy of the sovereign. (AU)

Human parasites in the Roman World: health consequences of conquering an empire.

The archaeological evidence for parasites in the Roman era is presented in order to demonstrate the species present at that time, and highlight the health consequences for people living under Roman rule. Despite their large multi-seat public latrines with washing facilities, sewer systems, sanitation legislation, fountains and piped drinking water from aqueducts, we see the widespread presence of whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) and Entamoeba histolytica that causes dysentery. This would suggest that the public sanitation measures were insufficient to protect the population from parasites spread by fecal contamination. Ectoparasites such as fleas, head lice, body lice, pubic lice and bed bugs were also present, and delousing combs have been found. The evidence fails to demonstrate that the Roman culture of regular bathing in the public baths reduced the prevalence of these parasites. Fish tapeworm was noted to be widely present, and was more common than in Bronze and Iron Age Europe. It is possible that the Roman enthusiasm for fermented, uncooked fish sauce (garum) may have facilitated the spread of this helminth. Roman medical practitioners such as Galen were aware of intestinal worms, explaining their existence and planning treatment using the humoural theory of the period.