Διαβολὴν δὲ ἔχει ὅλη ἡ τέχνη πρὸς τῶν δημοτέων μεγάλην

Criticismof Medicine and Physicians in Greek Comedy and Its Reflection in the Hippocratic Corpus

Abstract

This article examines Greek comedy from the Classical-Hellenistic period to identify recurring patterns of criticism directed at physicians and contemporary medical practice. By analysing selected texts, it highlights aspects that were perceived as potential weaknesses in medicine from an external perspective. A comparison with the writings of the Hippocratic Corpus reveals concrete guidelines for physicians that appear to respond directly to these deliberately polemical portrayals, aiming to pre-empt or address such criticism on a deontological level.