The Hidden Evidence Of PTSD In The Ancient World
The pain within the stories
“Epizelus, the son of Cuphagorus, an Athenian soldier, was fighting bravely when he suddenly lost sight of both eyes, though nothing had touched him anywhere — neither sword, spear, nor missile. From that moment he continued blinded as long as he lived. I am told that in speaking about what happened to him he used to say that he fancied he was opposed by a man of great stature in heavy armor, whose beard overshadowed his shield but the phantom passed him by and killed the man at his side.” — Herodotus’ description of the Battle of Marathon 490 BC / Abdul-Hamid, Walid & Hacker Hughes, Jamie. (2014). Nothing New under the Sun: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in the Ancient World. Early science and medicine. 19. 549–57. 10.1163/15733823–00196p02.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is described as “a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.” They describe symptoms as follows:
“People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event…
