Democedes of Croton, described in The Histories of Herodotus as "the most skillful physician of his time". The Histories of Herodotus by Herodotus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. ...

Democedes's Background

Democedes was a Greek physician and a part of the court of Darius I. He was born in Croton, part of present-day Italy. His father was Calliphon, a priest as part of Asclepius. His first part as physician seems to be in civil service of Athens and Aegina. Later he entered service under Polycrates. In 522 B.C., Polycrates, his entourage, and Democedes were all captured as Lydians by Oroites and sent to Susa. Seal of Darius I, showing the king hunting on his chariot, and the symbol of Ahuramazda Darius the Great (Pers. ... Croton or Crotona (present-day Crotone), in the toe of the Italian peninsula, was an Achaean colony from c. ... Asclepius (Greek also rendered Aesculapius in Latin and transliterated Asklepios) was the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology, according to which he was born a mortal but was given immortality as the constellation Ophiuchus after his death. ... Polycrates, son of Aeaces, was the tyrant of Samos from 535 BC to 515 BC. He took power during a festival of Hera with his brothers Pantagnotus and Syloson, but soon had Pantagnotus killed and exiled Syloson to take full control for himself. ... For other uses of the name Susa please see this page. ...

Democedes's Travels

Herodotus describes the journeys of Democedes with much detail.

Darius and Atossa

Darius once sprained his ankle while he was hunting, and his Egyptian doctors could not help his ankle. This may seem a very small injury today, but medicine around those times was very primitive. However, Democedes was able to heal his ankle, and he was thereafter given great esteem. The court regarded his actions highly enough that he was able to eat in the presence of the emperor. He was the first of many Greek physicians to be within the Persian court. He lived in what the Persians regarded as luxury. Nevertheless, he always wanted to go back to his homeland, Greece. Later on, Darius's wife, Atossa, had a breast ulcer. When Democedes cured her ulcer, as a reward, he was set free and allowed to go to Greece, not necessarily stay.

Democedes's Escape

He went to Greece as passenger on one ship of a reconnaissance mission for a later military campaign. Three Phoenician ships were sent with fifteen Persian nobles. Through the latter half of the mission, the fleet stopped in Tarentum, where Democedes made his escape with help from the Tarentian king. After his escape he went back to Croton. He was guarded from the Persians, and later married Milon. Milo or Milon of Croton (late 6th century BC) was the most famous of Greek athletes in Antiquity. ...

Sources

The Histories of Herodotus The Histories of Herodotus by Herodotus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. ...