c. 460-c. 375 B.C.

Greek Physician and Philosopher

Hippocrates is rightly called the "Father of Medicine. " His own writings and writings attributed to him, as well as legends about him and the oath of medical ethics that bears his name, continue to be important aspects of Western medicine today.

Hippocrates. (Library of Congress. Reproduced with permission.)

According to Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of medicine, settled his mortal son Podarios on the island of Cos in the Aegean Sea just after the Trojan War. Hippocrates is said to be a direct descendant of Podarios. All males in this line were physicians, and were known as Asclepiads. Hippocrates learned medicine from both Herodicus of Cnidus and Heraclitus. He probably lived and taught on Cos his entire life, but died in Larissa, Thessaly.

Hippocrates was esteemed during his lifetime as a medical practitioner, theorist, and scientist...