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Alexiponos’ herbs!


MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTGENERAL DIRECTORATE OF ANTIQUITIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

DIRECTORATE OF MUSEUMS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATION

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Nature has hidden healing forces. Since ancient

times many herbs with healing properties have been used as medicines. Alexiponos is a physician in Ancient Greece. Help him find the correct herb to treat his patients. First read

about their health problems. Then cut out and place the correct herb next to each person!

Hail! Welcome to my clinic. My name is Alexiponos, which means to stop pain! From a young age I liked to study the world of plants. I observed their shape, colour, scent and taste… After many trials and errors I learnt

the secrets of medicinal plants. I am very knowledgeable in their healing properties. At my side you can learn how

to use nature to heal….

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1. Daeira with the freckles I can’t stand these freckles on my face! I would like a herb that would help me

get rid of them!

3. Melite with the aching muscles My whole body aches….These last few days I had a lot of house work.

Unfortunately we don’t have the financial means to keep a slave to help us out…

What could you give me?

2. Admetos with the heavy stomach Since the day before yesterday I have a terrible stomach ache. What could

soothe my pain?

4. Eratosthenis with the headacheWhat could soothe this annoying

headache that has been tormenting me since this morning?

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5. Arpina with the bad breathHmm… I am a bit embarrassed to tell you about my problem! Recently I feel that my mouth smells badly. How can I

have fresher breath?

7. Demophile with warts on her feet Suddenly I have these awful warts on my

feet. I don’t even know how it happened.... What do they look like? Like small

annoying and painful moles.

6. Iphigeneia with the toothache Please do something to help me! I have this terrible toothache for the last two

days. I thought that it would soon pass, but the pain persists. What should I do?

8. Berenike the restless I am often restless, especially at night. Is there a herb that could help me rest?

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9. Evanthis with the bee sting I was looking after my plants in my

garden and a bee came and stung me. It hurts so much... What herb could

soothe the pain?

11. Demareti with the nosebleedI need help urgently! My nose bleeds all the time. I tried pressing on my nose to stop the bleeding – but without results.

10. Agesilaos with the aches and pains

My whole body hurts and I don’t have any energy. What infusion should I make

to soothe my pain?

12. Aristoboulos who fell in the street

I hurt absolutely everywhere! I don’t know what got into me and I went out at night

without my lantern! I fell and hurt myself and look at me now! What can I do?

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13. Aerope with the coldI have a cough that just won’t stop and my throat is full of mucus. My throat is very scratchy and sore! I cannot even swallow

a bite of food. What would help?

15. Myrto the sleepless I find it hard to sleep at night! I toss and

turn, without falling asleep...

14. Calliope without a voice My voice has completely closed! I try

to speak a bit louder, but without results. I need a herb that will restore my lovely

voice!

16. Helen the forgetfulSomething is wrong with my memory… I am always forgetting and find it hard to remember even simple things. What herb

could strengthen my memory?

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17. Evdoxia with the hoarse voiceI need a herb to soften and soothe my

irritated throat.

19. Xanthippe with the acne I can’t stand the spots on my face any

longer. I so want the acne to clear up and my skin to be unblemished!

18. Epaminondas with the melancholic mood

Recently my mood is really low and I have lost my interest in things. Nothing

pleases me or gives me joy. I need something that will make me more

optimistic and positive.

20. Orestis with the coughWhat has happened to me! I really have come down with the most terrible cold!

I cannot stop coughing and my lungs feel as if they are full of phlegm. How can I

get better?

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A. Narthex Description & Action: Narthex does not burn fast and therefore is ideal for transporting fire. Prometheus used it to convey the gift of fire to mankind. However its main use was to stabilize bone fractures. In Modern Greek its meaning has evolved and now signifies a cast to im-mobilise the broken limb.

B. RosemaryDescription & Action: Rosemary strengthens and activates memory. In ancient Greece, pupils placed wreaths with rosemary flowers in their hair when studying for exams, while mourners threw rosemary into the grave as a sign of eternal remembrance.

C. ValerianDescription & Action: Valerian is ideal for problems related to anxiety and sleeplessness. It may not have a nice taste, but the infusion of its root has exceptional properties and helps the body to relax.

D. LiquoriceDescription & Action: Liquorice is a plant known for its healing prop-erties since antiquity. Actually it is 60 times sweeter than sugar! Liquo-rice root juice is one of the main ingredients in throat sweets. An infusion of liquorice soothes the throat and treats coughs.

HERBS

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E. Dictamnus or DittanyDescription & Action: A herb capable of miracles that grows wild in the mountain of Crete. Aristotle wrote that when the wild goats of Mount Ida were struck by the arrows of hunters, they ate dittany until the arrow fell and their wounds healed. Indeed, dittany was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, as it made childbirth easier. Often the goddess appears in statues crowned with dittany branches. It helps with pain, lack of energy and healing wounds.

F. Laurel (Daphne)Description & Action: Laurel was the sacred tree of Apollo, given as a prize at the Pythian games and for this reason became a symbol of victory. Dioscourides, the father of pharmacy, lists many pharmaceu-tical properties of laurel. The powder of dried laurel leaves placed on a nose will stop it bleeding. If you need to concentrate for the purpose of studying, a few drops of laurel essential oil in a room diffuser will do the job!

G. MintDescription & Action: Ancient Greeks rubbed their table with mint before their meal and used mint and other herbs to scent their bath-water. In ancient Athens they used a different fragrance for each part of the body. Mint was used for the hands. However, mint played an important role also in Medicine. Hippocrates and Galen used mint for indigestion, nervous disorders, vertigo, insomnia, stomach ache, cough, colds and sore throats.

Η. BryonyDescription & Action: Bryony was one of the herbs used by the cen-taur Chiron. It is used to treat skin problems, such as bruises and burns. Dioscurides names it also ‘wild ivy” and recommended the berries for freckles.

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I. MarjoramDescription & Action: A plant considered to be a symbol of happiness and therefore well loved since ancient times. Girls placed a few marjo-ram leaves in their bed, because they believed that Aphrodite would re-veal the man they would marry in their dreams. Once they found him, they wore a wreath of marjoram on their wedding day. Rich Athenian ladies wore a perfume made out of marjoram that was so strong that it would bring on a headache to anyone that smelt it! Marjoram infusion provides immediate relief from toothache.

J. Dipsacus or TeaselDescription & Action: Dipsacus or teasel is a plant that itinerant travellers used in times past to quench their thirst. The shape of their leaves was such that they would retain water. Dioscorides called it the “Aphrodite’s bath”, as he believed that the girls that drank the water from the leaves would become more beautiful. The infusion of the flowers treats annoying verrucas.

K. DillDescription & Action: The infusion of dill seeds relieves stomach complaints. The flowers were used for flavouring wine and making unction.

L. LavenderDescription & Action: An aromatic plant with a lovely scent. Due to its exceptional fragrance, Romans would put it in their bathwater. Since ancient times, lavender was used in massaging the body to re-lieve muscular pain. Furthermore, a bit of lavender extract helps re-duce swelling. .

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M. Aloe Description & Action: Aloe is a plant whose healing properties have been known for 5000 years! In ancient Greece, it was used for skin problems caused by insect bites, cuts, burns, rashes, etc. Christopher Columbus the great explorer took it with him on all sea voyages, call-ing it “the physician in a plant pot”!

N. OreganoDescription & Action: In antiquity oregano was a symbol of joy, as newlyweds put it in the wreaths they wore on their heads. It has many healing properties and strengthens the immune system. For headaches mix oregano and oil and massage into your forehead.

O. MasticDescription & Action: Mastic is the resin (sap) of the mastic tree. Once extruded from the trunk of the tree it solidifies within a few hours time and can be collected for use. Mastic has many healing properties and chewing it can improve oral hygiene and give clean and fresh breath.

P. ChamomileDescription & Action: Chamomile flowers are well known for their calming and antiseptic properties. They help in insomnia and nervous-ness and are also used to clean various areas. An infusion of chamo-mile in the bath water relaxes and rejuvenates the body.

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Q. St John’s wort or Sword herbDescription & Action: It is best known for healing wounds. In ancient Sparta, it was used to heal wounds and injuries from battles, which was why it was called sword herb. In recent years, when mothers sent their children to war they would give them St. John’s wort. It improves the mood and gives a sense of optimism and joy. It is a natural way of treating a bad mood.

S. SageDescription & Action: A medicine for many ailments! Sage helps cure a cold. Since the beginning of time people have appreciated the heal-ing properties of sage. In fact the Arabs would wonder how somebody could die if they had sage growing in the garden. In combination with vinegar it helps recover from a hoarse voice.

T. Inula or elecampaneDescription & Action: According to myth the herb grew from the tears of Helen of Troy. It is even believed that inula is chironium, the herb that Chiron used most widely by Chiron. Inula’s antimicrobial properties make it an ideal choice for respiratory problems. It clears the lungs from phlegm and cures coughing.

R. GeraniumDescription & Action: Since ancient times geranium infusion has been used for skin acne. It also contributes to a clearer skin without blackheads.


The leaflet “Alexiponos’ herbs! ”, was created and digitized in 2015, within the framework of Act code no. MIS 339815 “Updating and

digitizing educational material to support the educational process, which is implemented by the Directorate of Museums as part of the

Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” and jointly funded by the European Union (European Social Fund) and by

national resources.

SOLUTIONS

1. Η 2. Κ 3. L 4. Ν 5. O 6. I 7. J 8. P 9. M 10. E 11. F 12. A 13. G 14. S 15. C 16. B 17. D 18. Q 19. R 20. T

Copyright © 2015, Ministry of Culture and Sport.

ΙSBN: 978-960-386-211-6

MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTGENERAL DIRECTORATE OF ANTIQUITIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

DIRECTORATE OF MUSEUMS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATION

Αthens, 2015

Project coordinator: Maria Lagogianni, Ph.D. (Archaeology) Souzana Choulia – Kapeloni, Archaeologist

General editors: Tonia Koutsouraki, Archaeologist Alexandra Seleli, Archaeologist / Museologists

Texts: Eleni Fragkaki, archaeologist, Cultural Heritage Management Consultant

Translation into English: Katerina Apostolaki, Translator - Interpreter

Graphic design editor: Spilios Pistas, Graphic artist

Graphic design: Irene Charalampidi, Graphic designer

Illustrated by: Manolis Tsambourakis, Painter

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