Toxicology in Antiquity

About this book

Toxicology in Antiquity provides an authoritative and fascinating exploration into the use of toxins and poisons in antiquity. It brings together the two previously published shorter volumes on the topic, as well as adding considerable new information. Part of the History of Toxicology and Environmental Health series, it covers key accomplishments, scientists, and events in the broad field of toxicology, including environmental health and chemical safety. This first volume sets the tone for the series and starts at the very beginning, historically speaking, with a look at toxicology in ancient times. The book explains that before scientific research methods were developed, toxicology thrived as a very practical discipline. People living in ancient civilizations readily learned to distinguish safe substances from hazardous ones, how to avoid these hazardous substances, and how to use them to inflict harm on enemies. It also describes scholars who compiled compendia of toxic agents. New chapters in this edition focus chiefly on evidence for the use of toxic agents derived from religious texts.

Contents

1. Toxicology in Ancient Egypt
2. The Death of Cleopatra: Suicide by Snakebite or Poisoned by Her Enemies?
3. Mithridates of Pontus and His Universal Antidote
4. Theriaca Magna: The Glorious Cure-All Remedy
5. Nicander, Theriaka, and Alexipharmaka: Venoms, Poisons, and Literature
6. Alexander the Great: A Questionable Death
7. Harmful Botanicals
8. The Case Against Socrates and His Execution
9. The Oracle at Delphi: The Pythia and the Pneuma, Intoxicating Gas Finds, and Hypotheses
10. The Ancient Gates to Hell and Their Relevance to Geogenic CO₂
11. Lead Poisoning and the Downfall of Rome: Reality or Myth?
12. Poisons, Poisoners, and Poisoning in Ancient Rome
13. Murder, Execution, and Suicide in Ancient Greece and Rome
14. Chemical and Biological Warfare in Antiquity
15. Anthropogenic Air Pollution in Ancient Times
16. Poisoning in Ancient Rome: The Legal Framework, The Nature of Poisons, and Gender Stereotypes
17. Asclepius and the Snake as Toxicological Symbols in Ancient Greece and Rome
18. Death by "Bull's Blood" in Ancient Greece
19. Drugs, Suppositories, and Cult Worship in Antiquity
20. Kohl Use in Antiquity: Effects on the Eye
21. "Gleaming and Deadly White": Toxic Cosmetics in the Roman World
22. Poisonous Medicine in Ancient China
23. The Venomous Virgin: Fact or Fantasy?
24. Mushroom Intoxication in Mesoamerica
25. Entheogens in Ancient Times: Wine and the Rituals of Dionysus
26. Entheogens (Psychedelic Drugs) and the Ancient Mystery Religions
27. Toxicity of Ayurvedic Medicines and Safety Concerns
28. Pearl, an Ancient Antidote of Eastern Origin
29. Beetle and Plant Arrow Poisons of the San People of South Africa
30. Paleolithic Poisons
31. Did Hannibal really poison himself?
32. Rhetoric, Demons, and the Poisoner's Tongue in Early Christianity and Judaism
33. Infamous Female Roman Poisoners: Locusta, Canidia, Martina
34. Bivalent Pharmacology

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