Poisons and poisoning among the Romans

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dc.contributor.authorRichards, Elizabeth Jenniferen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-15T17:36:54Z
dc.date.available2024-08-15T17:36:54Z
dc.date.copyright1994en_US
dc.date.issued1994
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Classicsen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this thesis is to explore poisons and poisoning in Roman antiquity - to find out what poisons were available and possibly used, to try to establish the identity, toxicity, and effectiveness of orally administered toxic substances, and to discuss the social and political context of intentional poisoning. The best sources of information on the poisons themselves are the medical and pseudo-scientific writers. The Roman historians and biographers are useful for their accounts of alleged incidents of intentional poisoning, but their reliability is very difficult to establish. Modern sources of toxicological information were used in an attempt to understand the toxicity of the poisonous substances. A variety of poisons was available to the Romans, but it is unclear how often and to what effect poisons were used. Chapter I, the introduction, elaborates on the focus of the thesis - the types of poisons and poisoning included and excluded and the main chronological period. Methods and some of the problems in researching the topic are mentioned. This chapter also includes a brief survey of some of the ancient sources and a summary of general toxicology. Chapter II covers the botanical sources of poison. Brief surveys of climate and plant toxicity are followed by the main poisonous plants of antiquity - hemlock, aconite, the nightshade family, autumn crocus, hellebore, poppy, yew, and a particularly toxic mushroom. Chapter III explores metallic (with a focus on lead) and animal sources of poison. It also covers substances that were thought to be poisonous in antiquity but were probably not. Chapter IV examines the remedies of the ancient world and also ways of avoiding being poisoned. The ancients were aware of the most important and effective treatment for oral poisoning, but they also believed in the power of amulets and talismans as preventatives. Chapter V deals with alleged motives for poisoning, ways of acquiring and administrating poison, and superstitions and theories surrounding poisons and poisoning. This chapter also contains a brief summary of the thesis.en
dc.format.extent153 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/19418
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titlePoisons and poisoning among the Romansen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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