539-550

Contraception and abortion, from Antiquity to the Byzantine Empire : a first approach

• Βακαλούδη, Αναστασία Δ.

Contraception and abortion practices were widespread in the Greco-Roman world, but also in the Byzantine Empire, where they were performed not only by doctors, but also by midwives and magicians. In Antiquity, abortion was discouraged by medical writers and practitioners, because of the potential dangers for the woman’ s health; in the Byzantine Empire, however, not only abortive, but also contraceptive practices were condemned as being sinful acts and were severely punished as crimes against life. This notwithstanding, Byzantine doctors who were concerned with Gynecology and Obstetrics did explore and describe contraceptive and abortive methods, always taking into account the possible nefarious consequences of abortion for the women involved.

• Basic Medicine

• Medical archaeology
• Women

Γυναικολογία