Agnodice. It was not only the first gynecologist in history, but also the first female doctor.And no, it was not easy.Medicine in the Ancient Greece was banned for women, but this restless and risky young woman did not hesitate to dress as a man to break through in that science she wanted to know and exercise.To do this she faced, first, her own father and then her own Athenian society when it was discovered.We are sure that this story will interest you...
Medicine in the 5th century BC
We are in Greece , symbol of progress and culture, where the pillars of Democracy rose for the first time. But was this society as advanced as it seemed to the naked eye? Not at all.In this context, when we talk about politics, we refer only to a policy voted and exercised by men , or to be more exact, "an elite of men" within the male sphere.
And what happened in the medical field? Practically the same.The woman was not only banned from any public space where there was a certain power, moreover, wise men like Platon or Aristotle did not leave the female sex in good place.And if we talked about medicine in this At that time, this science was inevitably associated with the great Hippocrates , as well as the myth of that Apollo healer, his son Asclepius or the wise centauro Quiron , who had unlimited knowledge about healing herbs.
Agnodice, the first doctor of Ancient Greece
Agnodice t was fortunate to grow up in an environment of luxuries and good position.Perhaps that is why he had access to a good education and, above all, to be able to ignite his curiosity towards the field of the human being and, above all, towards the wonderful phenomenon of birth.He wanted to help the parturients .His father was very shocked by this desire and, although he was forbidden at first, it did not prevent Agnodice from going to courses disguised as a man.So, for that, The first thing he did was cut his hair.
He went to the classes of the famous doctor Herofilo, aware that if he was discovered, he could be sentenced to death, as marked by the law.But his academic results were excellent, so much so that even his own father encouraged her to continue training in Egypt. And so he did… always under a masculine appearance.You can imagine how they received his presence all those pregnant women when Agnodice got his title of gynecologist .At the time he was alone with them, the girl revealed her secret, which, every woman felt much more comfortable.This meant that he acquired a large clientele and that most of the country They chose their question in front of that of other colleagues.
This raised suspicions and many envies, so many that he was finally denounced to the Areopagus.It is even said that to study the complaint was even accused of "rapes".And what did Agnodice do? To prove the truth, to reveal that she was a woman.The only thing she had really done was "break" the law, that she said that only men could practice medicine and it was punishable by death.
However, fortunately, none of this happened.As expected, most of the women of Athens came to your aid, defending their good work and their abilities like gynecologist.A spontaneous act that was a great advance for our history because, finally, the law was invalidated.
A brave woman who made history , like than the great Hypatia of Alexandria, whose history we also invite you to know.
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