Ancient Era Hospitals “Asclepions” and their Heritage to the Day

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 14 - 28, 31.01.2025

Hayriye Dilek Akdogan , Yaşar Barış Turgut , Ali Çağlar Turgut , Ilgaz Akdoğan

https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1483020

Abstract

Asclepios is the god of medicine and health in mythology. In ancient times, healing was sought in the worship of Asclepios. Ancient hospitals built in the name of Asclepios are called “Asclepion”. In ancient times, around three hundred and twenty Asclepions were built within the borders of Greece and Türkiye today. The most important of these ancient hospitals are located in Epidauros, Pergamon, Kos, Athens and Knidos. There was also a health center (an ancient hospital) in Allianoi. In this study, the most significant locations, architectural features, treatment methods, historical and cultural roles of the ancient hospitals among the Asclepions in Western Anatolia and Greece were investigated. When the treatment methods in Asclepions are examined, it is seen that holistic medical practices were applied with a biopsychosocial approach to the patients called guests. Diseases were not seen as one-dimensional but as the result of complex processes and negative environmental, social and psychological interactions. Patients were treated with respect as beings with mental, ethical, emotional, social, moral and natural characteristics. Centuries earlier in Asclepions, the first functional applications of hospital architecture and individual and holistic medical approaches are seen. We think that today's hospital architecture and treatment approaches have many features that can be learned from the heritage of ancient hospitals in history.

Keywords

Ancient hospitals, Asclepion, Asclepios, Biopsychosocial treatment, Hospital architecture

Antik Çağ Hastaneleri Asclepionlar ve Günümüze Mirası

Abstract

Asklepios mitolojide tıp ve sağlık tanrısıdır. Antik çağlarda şifa Asklepios'a tapınmada aranırdı. Asklepios adına inşa edilen antik hastanelere “Asclepion” adı verilmektedir. Antik çağda, günümüzde Yunanistan ve Türkiye sınırları içerisinde üç yüz yirmi civarında Asclepion inşa edilmiştir. Bu antik hastanelerin en önemlileri Epidauros, Bergama, Kos, Atina ve Knidos'ta bulunmaktadır. Ayrıca Alliaoni’de de bir sağlık merkezi (antik hastane) bulunmaktaydı. Bu çalışmada Batı Anadolu (Türkiye) ve Yunanistan'daki Asclepionlar arasında en önemli olan antik hastanelerin konumları, mimari özellikleri, tedavi yöntemleri, tarihi ve kültürel rolleri araştırılmıştır. Asclepion'larda tedavi yöntemleri incelendiğinde misafir olarak adlandırılan hastalara biyopsikososyal yaklaşımla bütünsel tıp uygulamalarının gerçekleştirildiği görülmektedir. Hastalıklar tek boyutlu olarak değil, karmaşık süreçlerin ve olumsuz çevresel, sosyal ve psikolojik etkileşimlerin sonucu olarak görülüyordu. Hastalara zihinsel, etik, duygusal, sosyal, ahlaki ve doğal özelliklere sahip varlıklar olarak saygıyla davranılırdı. Asclepion'larda yüzyıllar önce hastane mimarisinin, bireysel ve bütünsel tıp yaklaşımlarının ilk işlevsel uygulamaları görülmektedir. Günümüz hastane mimarisinin ve tedavi yaklaşımlarının, tarihteki antik hastanelerin mirasından öğreneceği pek çok özellik olduğunu düşünüyoruz.

Keywords

Antik hastaneler, Asklepion, Asklepios, Biyopsikososyal tedavi, Hastane mimarisi

Ethical Statement

Çalışma Derleme olduğu için ayrıca Etik Beyana gerek duyulmamıştır.

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