Publication: Female madness between mythical and medical tradition.
Authors
Carra, Esther
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones.
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
https://doi.org/10.6018/myrtia.634951
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
El objetivo de este artículo es analizar cómo la locura femenina se sitúa entre la tradición mítica y la médica. Las fuentes médicas reconocen y tratan la enfermedad mental, cuya etiología se busca en un lugar físico del cuerpo y se asocia siempre al funcionamiento del útero, hasta el punto de percibirlo como objeto de integración en la sociedad. Según los médicos del Corpus Hippocraticum, la interacción entre cuerpo y psique genera afecciones psíquicas, es decir, signos de un desequilibrio biológico. Las patologías del útero pueden resolverse con la actividad sexual y con el embarazo: un ejemplo lo encontramos en Sobre las enfermedades de las vírgenes, el tratado hipocrático examinado. Las fuentes míticas prevén una sanción ética que lleva a considerar la locura como objeto de segregación y aislamiento. A este respecto, se examinan tres mitos: Io en Prometeo encadenado de Esquilo, Fedra en Hipólito de Eurípides y Ágave en Bacantes de Eurípides. En cada caso, la locura de estas tres mujeres está causada por una divinidad. Aunque los personajes en cuestión son inocentes, su locura provoca una violación de los valores éticos. Un caso particular es el mito de las Prétides, en el que las jóvenes desatan la ira divina y el consiguiente castigo. Las hijas de Preto se curan y, finalmente, mediante el matrimonio, respetan las representaciones y creencias relativas al papel de las jóvenes dentro de la sociedad griega.
The aim of this article is to analyze how female madness is placed between mythical and medical tradition. Medical sources recognize and treat mental illness, the etiology of which is sought in a physical place of the body and always associated with the functioning of the uterus, so much so that it is perceived as an object of integration into society. According to the doctors of the Corpus Hippocraticum, an interaction between body and psyche generates psychic affections, that is signs of a biological imbalance. The pathologies of the uterus can be solved with sexual activity and with pregnancy: an example can be found in Girls, the Hippocratic treatise examined. The mythical sources foresee an ethical sanction that leads to considering madness as an object of segregation and isolation. In this regard, three myths are examined: Io in Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, Phaedra in Euripides’ Hippolytus and Agave in Euripides’ Bacchae. In each case, the madness of these three women is caused by a deity. Although the characters concerned are innocent, their insanity causes a violation of ethical values. A particular case is the myth of the Proetides, in which the young women unleash divine wrath and the consequent punishment. Proetus’s daughters are healed and, finally, through marriage, they respect the representations and beliefs relating to the role of young women within Greek society.
The aim of this article is to analyze how female madness is placed between mythical and medical tradition. Medical sources recognize and treat mental illness, the etiology of which is sought in a physical place of the body and always associated with the functioning of the uterus, so much so that it is perceived as an object of integration into society. According to the doctors of the Corpus Hippocraticum, an interaction between body and psyche generates psychic affections, that is signs of a biological imbalance. The pathologies of the uterus can be solved with sexual activity and with pregnancy: an example can be found in Girls, the Hippocratic treatise examined. The mythical sources foresee an ethical sanction that leads to considering madness as an object of segregation and isolation. In this regard, three myths are examined: Io in Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, Phaedra in Euripides’ Hippolytus and Agave in Euripides’ Bacchae. In each case, the madness of these three women is caused by a deity. Although the characters concerned are innocent, their insanity causes a violation of ethical values. A particular case is the myth of the Proetides, in which the young women unleash divine wrath and the consequent punishment. Proetus’s daughters are healed and, finally, through marriage, they respect the representations and beliefs relating to the role of young women within Greek society.
publication.page.subject
Citation
Myrtia : revista de filología clásica, V. 39 (2024), p. 30-46.
item.page.embargo
Collections
Ir a Estadísticas
Este ítem está sujeto a una licencia Creative Commons. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/