Health, Economics and Ancient Greek Medicine

An analysis of ancient Greek medicine from the perspective of modern health economics improves our understanding of the ancient world and provides new insights into contemporary society. Ancient Greece pioneered secular and scientific medicine, but equally noteworthy is the prominence of healing cults, such as that of Asklepios. The simultaneous emergence of a scientific and rational approach to medicine and the proliferation of religious medicine provides an interesting vantage point for a study of the current market for alternative medicine. The underlying mechanism in both periods is hypothesised to be increased uncertainty in everyday life.