Selected Passages from the Dionysiaca of Nonnos Concerning Lactation in the Light of Modern Medical Knowledge
Abstract
The Dionysiaca by Nonnos of Panopolis is the most ample extant epos of ancient Greek literature (consisting of 48 books). Besides very frequent allusions and references to ancient Greek and even Latin literature, in Nonnos’ epos there can be found hints of medical knowledge such as: methods of medical treatment (especially of warriors’ injuries), and the symptoms of pathological conditions, diseases and disorders. The epos also mentions many human physiological phenomena and processes such as: descriptions relating to the physiological characteristics of old age, birth, and breastfeeding. The aim of this article is to present a wide range of issues connected with human lactation as depicted in the Dionysiaca of Nonnos in the light of modern medical knowledge. The presentation of passages concerning lactation includes the most common form of breastfeeding post-partum, and wet-nursing, as well as the rare, but possible, non-puerperal lactation. The description of male lactation is the last of these phenomena. These scenes of breastfeeding seem to serve both to prove the broad medical knowledge of the author as well as to fulfil the literary principle of variety (varietas).
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