Classics Lecture, 6-7 p.m., Monday 19th June 2017
St Benedict’s School, 54 Eaton Rise, Ealing, London W5 2ES

‘From diabetes to haemorrhoids’ – ancient Greek medical language & practice

Dr Peter Jones MBE

Much of the terminology of modern medicine derives from ancient Greek, often via the Latin into which Roman doctors converted it, e.g. Greek στόμαχος→Latin stomachus, Greek καρκίνος ‘crab’→Latin cancer. This rich inheritance is fortunately not matched by any modern adherence to ancient medical practice, though Greeks are credited with the invention of ‘rational’ medicine, to some of whose basic principles we still adhere.

This talk will explore the language and practice of ancient medicine, with many eye-opening and sometimes eye-watering examples. All Greek will be transliterated, and (along with Latin) translated where necessary, including that well-known Latin word git, with its many health-giving properties.

We have been very lucky this year to persuade Dr Peter V. Jones MBE to deliver our annual Classics Week lecture. Dr Jones is a distinguished writer, journalist, and broadcaster, who is a former senior lecturer in Classics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His columns for the Daily Telegraph were published as Learn Latin, Learn Ancient Greek, and Classics in Translation. His book Ancient & Modern was based on his columns for The Spectator. As well as many academic works, he has written Vote for Caesar (about how ancient civilisations solved the problems of today), Eureka! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Ancient Greeks but Were Afraid to Ask, and Veni, Vidi, Vici: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Romans but Were Afraid to Ask. His latest book is Quid Pro Quo: What the Romans Really Gave the English Language.

The lecture will commence in the School Library at 6.00 p.m. and will be followed at 7.00 p.m. by refreshments. All are welcome. There is no charge for this event, but to enable us to gauge numbers please e-mail Mr Hullis (shullis@stbenedicts.org.uk) by Wednesday 14th June to let him know that you would like to attend.