Hippokratic Corpus, Airs, Waters, Places (430 – 400 BCE)
Intended to aid itinerant doctors traveling to unfamiliar places, Airs, Waters, Places discusses
the effects of the natural environment, including astronomical phenomena, on constitutions,
illnesses, and ethnic traits. The treatise’s date is debated, but it is doubtless among the
earliest of the extant texts on these topics.
The environmental elements influencing constitutions and illnesses are the city’s position
with respect to the Sun and prevailing winds; the source(s) and qualities of drinking water;
the seasons; and such astronomical phenomena as solstices and equinoxes. Two constitu-
tions are identified (bilious and phlegmatic) and more than 30 illnesses. Variations may
occur according to individual constitution, regimen, sex, or age.
Environmental effects on ethnic groups are discussed more broadly, especially with regard
to Asia Minor (sections on Egypt and Libya are missing). The entire region has an
unchanging, moderate climate producing people of greater beauty and size than elsewhere;
individual variation plays little role and there is no mention of constitutions. Asians’
environment also makes them lack courage and spirit, in contrast to Europeans, whose
changeable and more extreme climates produce an array of physiques and a bellicose
temperament. Political institutions often reinforce such tendencies, but they may also
over-ride them.
The customs of several European ethnic groups are described in detail, perhaps reflecting
contemporary nomos-phusis debates. A relationship with H has been suggested,
particularly because both texts discuss the Skuthians and their sacred disease; relative dates
are debated.
Because Airs, Waters, Places and O S D discuss some topics, most
notably “sacred disease,” with similar ideas and language, a single author, or closely-related
authors, has been posited. There are also points of dispute, including whether bile can
cause the sacred disease.
The recommendation that doctors study astronomy (contra O A M)
may echo contemporary inquiries concerning the impact of the environment (or of the
kosmos) on individual nature and health. Ideas similar to the text’s are found variously in
Epidemics I–III, Humors, A, R, P, and A and his school.
B may have known the treatise. E and G provide some glosses,
and consider it a genuine work of H. Gale ̄n’s commentary survives in Arabic
(now in German).
Littré v. 2; J. Jouanna, Airs, Eaux, Lieux (CUF 1996).
Julie Laskaris
Hippokratic Corpus, Anatomy and Physiology (ca 430 – 370 BCE)
Nature of Man (Littré 6). This work, written in an agonistic debating style, is most celebrated for
its exposition of the nature of the four humors – blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile –
which must be in proper balance to ensure bodily health. It is the only work of the Corpus
which explicitly takes this stance. The treatise is sometimes attributed to H’ son-
in-law P, as A quotes (HA 3.3 [512b13–513a8]), with that ascription, a
passage from it in which the vascular system is described. In all ancient MSS, Nature of Man
and Regimen in Health are transcribed as a single work; the two contain similar provisions for
attaining and maintaining a state of health. ( J. Jouanna, CMG 1.1.3, 2nd ed. [2002])
HIPPOKRATIC CORPUS, AIRS, WATERS, PLACES