The role of dreams in ancient medicine

Abstract

The history of medicine provides us with a great variety of topics which give an opportunity to recognize this history in terms of both rational and irrational categories. Rational medicine is based on everything that is logical and scientific. Irrational medicine is in turn focused on beliefs and magical theories. Some researchers assume that the medical empiricism is not a disordered way of inquiring into human nature1. It is thought to play the preeminent role, because making observation is sine qua non in a medical setup2. Dreams, regarded as a messages from gods and signs for the future, were also considered harbingers of coming health problems. The aim of this article is to elaborate chosen passages of ancient authors’ works, which show the important role of dreams in ancient medicine. Furthermore, the great emphasis is put on the interpretation and analyze on account of ancient tradition and culture.