Lesson plan based on Fallen Warrior
Read ancient Greek texts to explore evidence for healing wounds.
Skills and Focus: Biology
Subject Area: Science
Thematic Connection: Comparing Cultures
Grade Level: Elementary School
Time Needed: 100 minutes
Objectives
• Understand Greek healing practices for wounds.
• Compare ancient healing practices to those of modern times.
Instructional Materials Needed
Story: The Shield of Athena
Patroclus bandage
(found at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/image?lookup=1992.07.0327&type=vase)
Activity
Step 1: Have class read the passage from the Homer’s Iliad (see below).Then ask the following questions:
• What happened to Eurypylus?
• How did Patroclus heal the wound of Eurypylus?
• How did he stop the pain?
• Do you think the crushed plant might have helped to sterilize the cut?
• Why did the cut stop bleeding?
Step 2: Direct the class to study the image of Achilles binding the wound of Patroclus. Ask the following questions:
• How different do ancient Greek medical practices seem to be from today’s?
• Is this a surprising scene for a 2,500 year—old vase? Why?
Step 3: Discuss with the class contemporary first-aid practices in the case of cuts, and have students compare them to the ancient examples.
Goals
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 12: Have a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts and principles of the life, physical, and earth/space sciences and their connections.
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 13: Have a working knowledge of the relationships among science, technology, and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
Homer, Iliad XI.963- (Fagles 1990 trans.)
"Sprinting close to king Odysseus’ fleet
where the Argives (Greeks) met and handed down their laws,
the grounds where they built their altars to the gods,
there he met Eurypylus, Euaemon’s gallant son,
wounded, the arrow planted deep in his thigh,
and limping out of battle…
The sweat was streaming down his face and back
and the dark blood still flowed from his ugly wound
but the man’s will was firm, he never broke his stride.
And moved at the sight, the good man Patroclus
burst out in grief with a flight of winging words,
"Poor men, Lords of the Argives, O my captains!
How doomed you are, look–far from your loved ones
and native land–to glut with your shining fat
the wild dogs of battle here in Troy…
But come, tell me Eurypylus, royal fighter,
can the Achaeans, somehow, still hold monstrous Hector?–
or must they all die now, beaten down by his spear?"
Struggling with his wound, Eurypylus answered,
"No hope, Patroklus, Prince. No bulwark left.
They’ll all be hurled back to the black ships.
All of them, all our best in the old campaigns
are laid up in the hulls, they’re hit by arrows,
pierced by spears, brought down by Trojan hands
while the Trojans’ power keeps on rising, rising!
Save me at least. Take me back to my black ship.
Cut this shaft from my thigh. And the dark blood–
wash it out of the wound with clean warm water.
And spread the soothing, healing salves across it,
the powerful drugs that they say you learned from Achilles
and Chiron, most humane of Centaurs taught your friend…
The brave son of Menoetius (=Patroclus) answered quickly...
"…I won’t neglect you, even so, with such a wound."
And bracing the captain, arm around his waist,
he helped him towards his shelter. An aide saw them
and put some ox hides down. Patroclus stretched him out,
knelt with a knife and cut the sharp, stabbing arrow
out of Eurypylus’ thigh and washed the wound clean
of the dark running blood with clear warm water.
Pounding it in his palms, he crushed a bitter root
and covered over the gash to kill his comrade’s pain,
a cure that fought off every kind of pain…
and the wound dried and the flowing blood stopped.
© 2000, by The Art Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Use of this program is subject to the terms below. No part of this program may be reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, except for personal or classroom use. All Copyright in and to the program, in whole or in part, belongs to the publisher and its licensors and is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office
