Topic ID #8584 - posted 9/14/2010 3:10 AM
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
2000-year-old pills found in Greek shipwreck
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
2000-year-old pills found in Greek shipwreck
* Updated 10:57 10 September 2010 by Shanta Barley
In 130 BC, a ship fashioned from the wood of walnut trees and bulging with medicines and Syrian glassware sank off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. Archaeologists found its precious load 20 years ago and now, for the first time, archaeobotanists have been able to examine and analyse pills that were prepared by the physicians of ancient Greece.
DNA analyses show that each millennia-old tablet is a mixture of more than 10 different plant extracts, from hibiscus to celery.
"For the first time, we have physical evidence of what we have in writing from the ancient Greek physicians Dioscorides and Galen," says Alain Touwaide of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
The box of pills was discovered on the wreck in 1989, with much of the medicine still completely dry, according to Robert Fleischer of the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, also in Washington DC.
Read the rest here.
* Updated 10:57 10 September 2010 by Shanta Barley
In 130 BC, a ship fashioned from the wood of walnut trees and bulging with medicines and Syrian glassware sank off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. Archaeologists found its precious load 20 years ago and now, for the first time, archaeobotanists have been able to examine and analyse pills that were prepared by the physicians of ancient Greece.
DNA analyses show that each millennia-old tablet is a mixture of more than 10 different plant extracts, from hibiscus to celery.
"For the first time, we have physical evidence of what we have in writing from the ancient Greek physicians Dioscorides and Galen," says Alain Touwaide of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
The box of pills was discovered on the wreck in 1989, with much of the medicine still completely dry, according to Robert Fleischer of the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, also in Washington DC.
Read the rest here.
Post ID#18192 - replied 9/16/2010 7:56 PM
Apollonius
I loved reading this.
I hate to post only to say that, but the thought of that ancient Greek medicine being intact after so long just made my day. :) WOW.
I hate to post only to say that, but the thought of that ancient Greek medicine being intact after so long just made my day. :) WOW.
Post ID#18194 - replied 9/17/2010 1:36 AM
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
I'll take all the posts here I can get.. ;> Glad that folks like some of the news items.
Here is another article: http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/roman-ship-medical-kit.html
Here is another article: http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/roman-ship-medical-kit.html
Post ID#18195 - replied 9/17/2010 9:34 AM
Apollonius
It's too bad they didn't find any silphium!
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