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Aromatherapy and the Romans Many Greek doctors were employed by Rome as military surgeons and personal physicians to many of the Roman emperors. The most famous doctor in the Roman Empire was a Greek, named Galen, born in Pergamum. His parents gave him an education that prepared him to be a philosopher, but at the age of 16, he changed his mind and decided to become a doctor. He studied in Greece, in Alexandria and other parts of Asia Minor and returned home to become chief physician to the gladiator school in Pergamum. It is recorded that no gladiator died of his wounds while Galen was in charge! Galen's most important discovery was that arteries carry blood, not air. Galen's most lasting technique, one that survived his discreditation during the Renaissance, is the taking of the pulse - still done by doctors to this day. As well as running a busy medical practice he ran his own pharmacy, stocked with his own medicines made from animal and vegetables extracts, many of the plants being grown in his own garden. Galen catalogued in great detail various remedies including how each was made and the correct doses to be given. He invented the original “cold cream” which is a prototype of many ointments in use today. Another Greek who worked during Roman times was called Dioscorides and he was a doctor during the reign of Nero working mainly with the Roman army. Between about 50-70 C.E., he wrote his fundamental work, Peri ulhV iatrikhV, known in Latin as De materia medica. This five book study focused upon "the preparation, properties, and testing of drugs" and became the most central pharmacological work in Europe and the Middle East for the next sixteen centuries. As was the case with many Greek medical texts, De materia medica was treated as dogma for many years. By the mid-16th century, however, his message that investigation and experimentation were crucial to pharmacology began to emerge and modern research into medicines began. A great deal of our present knowledge of medicinal herbs comes from Dioscorides. Another man who contributed during Roman times is Crateuas who was a Court physician to Mithridates VI, king of Pontus (120-63 BC). Crateuas was a rhizotomist (root cutter or herb gatherer), whose own illustrated herbal, the oldest treatise on pharmacology and the first to be illustrated, has been lost. Dioscorides speaks respectfully of him in his preface, although commenting that he did omit "many exceptionally useful roots and a few herbs." Singer contends that eleven illustrations in the Codex Vindobonensis which are especially well drawn and include quotations from Crateuas, may have been copied from earlier work. Riddle argues, however, that both Crateuas and Dioscorides originally were written on papyrus scrolls. Their drawings would have been in ink wash; otherwise, the paint would have cracked and flaked off as the scroll was rolled and unrolled. The paintings on parchment in the Vienna Discorides seem to him to be too finely detailed to have been copied from such crude originals (indeed, Pliny is dismissive of their accuracy). That De Materia Medica, itself, originally was illustrated can be assumed from the text, which very often does not describe the plant but only its medicinal uses. An accompanying illustration often would have been required if the text was to make sense. The Romans as a people adored perfumes and aromatic oils and used them to scent their hair and clothing. They also used them for the purpose of massage and in Rome the hetairi (or prostitutes) used scent lavishly. As Roman soldiers went forth into battle they carried myrrh with them to help heal their wounds. Oils were used in their temples, political buildings and bath houses. Nero the notorious Roman Emperor, burned large amounts of incense at the funeral of his wife and had every house in his city smelling fragrant. The Roman public baths were spectacular, and the baths of the Emperor Caracalla were the most famous. One room, called the "unctuarium," had shelves with pots of unguents, jars of fragrant oils, and essences in bottles of varying size. The Romans indulged in the practice of applying perfume three times a day. Pet dogs and horses were also perfumed. At feasts, birds were released from their cages to dispense perfume from their wings; draperies, candlesticks, tables, and cushions were all perfumed. The servants wore musk, marjoram, spikenard, and other aromatics. During this time here in Britain herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and fennel were planted.
Sprigs of bay were worn by Roman Emperors and it was a sign of wealth as well as a means of warding off evil spirits. Black pepper was used during Roman times and references to its use as an aphrodisiac have been made during this period. When Rome fell to the barbarians, the barbarians demanded horses, money and 300 pounds of Black Pepper. Chamomile was dedicated by the Romans to their gods. The Cypress tree is sacred to the Roman God Pluto, who is the ruler of the underworld. In Rome, it is also said that Cupid, the god of love, arrows were made of cypress. Cinnamon which is one of the oldest spices was used by the Romans as well as being mentioned in the Old Testament. Fennel was a herb considered by the Romans to give them strength, to ward off evil spirits, kill fleas and sweeten their breath. Lavender comes from the Roman “lavare” which means to wash. It was probably the most loved bathing aromatics used during the Roman times and they also burned Lavender twigs to purify rooms and ward off the plague. It was also introduced to Europe by the Romans. Neroli is oil which is believed to have been discovered by the Romans. It is said to derive its name from the emperor Nero. Rose is another oil which the Romans loved. During these times it was used in garlands, scented baths and perfumes and Cleopatra reputedly carpeted here bedroom in rose petals to aid her seduction of Mark Antony!! Rosemary was used during Roman times in connection with both love and death. Author: Ruth Wagstaffe |
 
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