Articella

Medieval medical compendium

The Articella was a seminal medical compendium used extensively in the teaching of medicine during the Middle Ages. It served as a foundational text for medical students and practitioners in Europe, particularly from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The collection was a compilation of various classical medical texts, which were considered essential for the study and practice of medicine at the time.

Origins and Composition

The Articella originated in the 11th century as a collection of medical treatises that were initially compiled in the School of Salerno, one of the earliest and most influential medical schools in medieval Europe. The compendium was later expanded and widely disseminated across Europe, becoming a standard text in medical education.

The core of the Articella consisted of several key texts:

• Isagoge by Johannitius (Hunayn ibn Ishaq), which served as an introduction to the art of medicine.
• Aphorisms by Hippocrates, a collection of medical aphorisms that provided practical guidance for physicians.
• Prognostics by Hippocrates, which focused on the prediction of disease outcomes.
• On Regimen in Acute Diseases by Hippocrates, discussing dietary and lifestyle management in acute illnesses.
• Tegni (Articella) by Galen, a concise summary of Galenic medicine.
• On Urines by Theophilus Protospatharius, a treatise on the diagnostic significance of urine examination.
• On Pulses by Philaretus, which explored the diagnostic value of pulse examination.

Influence and Legacy

The Articella played a crucial role in the transmission of medical knowledge from the ancient world to the medieval and early modern periods. It was used as a primary teaching tool in many of the emerging universities of Europe, such as those in Paris, Bologna, and Oxford.

The text was often accompanied by commentaries from prominent medieval scholars, which helped to interpret and expand upon the original works. These commentaries were instrumental in adapting ancient medical knowledge to the contemporary understanding of the time.

Manuscripts and Editions

Articella manuscript, Vaticanus Palatinus lat. 1102

Numerous manuscripts of the Articella have survived, reflecting its widespread use and importance. These manuscripts were often richly decorated and illustrated, indicating the value placed on the text by its owners.

The Articella was also among the first medical texts to be printed following the invention of the printing press. The first printed edition appeared in 1476, and several subsequent editions were published, each incorporating additional commentaries and updates.

Decline and Replacement

By the late 16th century, the Articella began to decline in prominence as new medical discoveries and texts emerged. The rise of anatomy and the works of Andreas Vesalius and others shifted the focus of medical education away from the traditional texts of the Articella.

Related Pages

• School of Salerno
• Hippocrates
• Galen
• Medieval medicine of Western Europe