Promethean and Tityean hepatic regeneration, unveiling hepar's myth. Post mortem observation, surgical ascertainment, or just fiction?

Abstract

Two ancient Greek myths, the sad stories of Prometheus and Tityus, suggest that ancient Greek medico-philosophers observed hepar's ability to regenerate after a partial excision. For some, hepar was the centre of the soul and an important visceral organ for human's body homeostasis. Although facts such as war surgery, dissections, both human and animal, autopsies and abdominal surgery (hepatic abscesses and malignancies) testify that ancient Greeks had some knowledge on hepar's anatomy and physiology, there is no clear reference that they did witness the hepatic regeneration.

“I Miss My Liver.” Nonmedical Sources in the History of Hepatocentrism

“…Mesopotamian culture also influenced the Greco‐Roman world, which inherited the concept of hepatocentrism, as may be noted by analyzing other nonmedical sources, such as the famous myth of Prometheus and his immortal liver. () According to Hesiod (eighth century BC) and Aeschylus (fifth century BC), Prometheus was a mythical gigantic creature, a Titan, who helped humankind by initiating it in the arts and science. Prometheus stole the fire from Zeus' safekeeping and gave it back to the mortal humans.…”

“…Tityus was a gigantic mythical creature who was born from Zeus and Elara, the daughter of King Orchomenus. () The god decided to hide the pregnant mother deep inside the earth so that his wife Hera would not learn of his infidelity. There, Tityus was born and nursed by the earth itself.…”

“…Tityus was bound to Hades, where every new moon two vultures would feed on his liver, which was capable of regenerating, thus enforcing infinite suffering. () Incidentally, it should be mentioned that the idea of vultures, renowned for feeding only on dead animals, eating the flesh of a living individual appears to be erroneous.…”