Metrodora�s Work on the Diseases of Women and their Cures

Abstract

The Florence Manuscript, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Laur. Plut. 75.3, has preserved a collection of medical remedies traditionally attributed to an otherwise unknown female author called Metrodora. In this article, I reinforce the argument that probably only the first part of this text was an original composition, whereas parts two and three are excerpts from other medical authors. Moreover, I propose that Metrodora's text must be read according to three different perspectives: the production of Byzantine medical collections (syllogai), the Byzantine hospitals, and the role of women in the medical field in the late antique and Byzantine periods. key-words: Metrodora, Syllogai, Byzantine hospital, Xenones, Female medicine, Cleopatra, Uterus, Alexander of Tralles, Aetius of Amida resumen El manuscrito de Florencia, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Laur. Plut. 75.3, conserva una colección de remedios médicos atribuida tradicionalmente a una escritora, por lo demás desconocida, llamada Metrodora. En este artículo, refuerzo el argumento de que probablemente sólo la primera parte del texto era una composición original, mientras que las partes dos y tres son excerpta de otros autores de medicina. Por otra parte, propongo que el texto de Metrodora se lea de acuerdo con tres perspectivas diferentes: la producción de colecciones bizantinas o syllogai médicas, los hospitales bizantinos y el papel de las mujeres en el ámbito de la medicina tardoantigua y bizantina.

Gender, Diseases, and Sexuality in the Writings of Soranus, Aetius of Amida and Paul of Aegina: Contributions to the Anthropology of Disease in Byzantium

“…One such book was written by the Byzantine physician Metrodora, On the Diseases of Women and Their Cures (᾽Εκ τῶν Μητροδώρας περὶ τῶν γυναικείων παθῶν τῆς μήτρας.) (Storti 2018). 2 Furthermore, manuals written by male physicians contained testimonies from female physicians, indicating that some of them were considered authorities in their respective fields.…”