The thought of abnormal behavior in the ancient Roman and Greek times emanates from the gods. The gods in both societies were believed to have relationships with humans. Therefore, they were quick to take offense when they felt that humans had broken a particular set of rules. Some of the most common abnormal behaviors during antiquity included mental illness, strange disorders, and possession with spirits. Several contextual factors contributed to the treatment of these conditions in both the Greek and Roman societies. The main aspects considered include religion, spirituality, and disease.
Spirituality and religion were at the heart of the treatment of many abnormalities during the antiquity era. As previously indicated, many people in ancient societies believed that abnormal behavior in humans emanated from revenge or the wrath of god. Therefore, many sought religious and magical remedies such as spending the night in the temple. Others resorted to the powers of healing gods such as Asclepius, hoping that they will figure out the cure for their condition (Beck, 2014). During this period, no one reckoned or believed that the state had a duty to heal individuals with abnormal behavior. Therefore, everything was left at the hands of the individual.
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The knowledge about diseases was also a critical contributor to the healing process of abnormal behavior. During this period, a group of physicians emerged that had insight regarding the working of traditions, herbs and medicines. The emergence of physicians changed the perception of abnormal behavior. For instance, by the 5 th century BC, the school of Hippocrates had developed a treatise known as the “On the Sacred Disease” (Beck, 2014). The text argued that a condition such as epilepsy had a psychological etiology. The medical knowledge changed the narrative as people that were initially regarded as abnormal became known as sick.
Reference
Beck, J. (2014). Diagnosing Mental Illness in Ancient Greece and Rome. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/diagnosing-mental-illness-in-ancient-greece-and-rome/282856/
