Medicine in Ancient Cyprus

Abstract

In ancient times, Cyprus played an important role in the science of Medicine. This was largely due to its rich mineral deposits and its varied vegetation, both of which were primary sources for the preparation of medicaments. These attracted a number of wellknown physicians who studied and, in the case of Galen in the second century AD, visited the island. The paper will present the results of a recently concluded, two-year research project that assembled all available information on the eponymous doctors of ancient Cyprus and the medicaments associated with the island. It also deals with all other evidence related to medicine and cure, such as ancient surgical instruments, the occurrence of healing deities, the use of ex-votos, the use of sympathetic/prophylactic magic, and other.