PEF LECTURES IN 2000
PEF Lectures in 2000
PEF Lectures in 2001
PEF Lectures in 2002
PEF Lectures in 2003
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Wednesday, 11 October, 2000 at 6:00 p.m.
MEDICINE IN BIBLICAL PALESTINE
by Walter Loebl, MD
Dr Walter Loebl, a retired consultant Rheumatologist and scholar of ancient medicine, presented an informative and entertaining lecture on "Medicine in the Bible"
which was illustrated with beautiful slides of scenes from the Bible in art from the Byzantine era to the Renaissance.
The speaker pointed out that medical issues in the Bible begin with the creation of Adam and Eve, with the latter originating, so to speak, as a clone of her partner. In the Biblical narrative, God is portrayed as the arbiter of life and death, health and disease. Illnesses and disabilities are
interpreted as God's punishment for sins. David's playing the harp before Saul is an interesting case of anti-depressant therapy. Other treatments mentioned include the administration of "balm" and the bandaging of a fracture. Two powerful drugs were employed and exploited for deception and seduction, wine (the daughters of Lot and Noah) and mandrake (Rachel and Leah).
Dr Loebl noted that there is scanty mention of physicians (Hebrew: rofim) in the Bible. The term is usually applied to embalmers and references are mainly derogatory. Procreation figures prominently in the Bible and issues relating to obstetrics include menstrual discomfort and abnormal position of a baby awaiting delivery (breech presentation). The ancient Israelites, like the Egyptians, practised circumcision.
Whereas the episode of the brazen serpent is the sole instance of faith healing in the Old Testament, 24 acts of such healing are recorded in the Ministry of Jesus. The spectrum of diseases mentioned in the New Testament is varied. Curing mental illness and epilepsy appear to be synonymous with driving out demons, and it is a subject that receives much attention in the artistic repertoire, with some choice examples illustrated by Dr
Loebl.
Wednesday, 8 November, 2000 at 6:00p.m.
AERIAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE LEVANT
a lecture by Dr. Bob Bewley
Royal Commission for Historic
Manuscripts
Wednesday, 13 December, 2000 at 6:00 p.m.
TEXTILES FROM DEAD SEA SITES: ROMAN AND PREHISTORIC
a lecture by Hero Granger-Taylor