Soranos of Ephesus (98-138 CE) is one of the greatest physicians of antiquity, known mainly as a pioneer in the fields of gynecology, obstetrics and pediatrics. He lived in the times of the Roman Empire and was active in Alexandria and Rome, where he continued the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen. His achievements not only influenced ancient medicine but also shaped the foundations of modern medical practices, especially in caring for women and children.
Soranos became famous for its innovative approach to women’s health. He was one of the first doctors to describe in detail the anatomy of the female genital organs and the menstrual cycle, which was rare at that time. His work on midwifery, especially pregnant women’s care, was groundbreaking. He recommended, among others: predicting birth complications and appropriate delivery techniques.
However, he is best known for his book “Gynecology”, which included a description of techniques used during childbirth, treatment of female diseases, and contraceptive practices and abortion, which was a controversial topic even in ancient times. He believed that a doctor should always be guided by the good of the patient, which put him in opposition to some medical traditions.
Soranos was one of the first doctors to devote much attention to newborns and infants. He described newborn care techniques such as feeding, bathing, and swaddling the newborn. He noticed the importance of developing healthy habits from the first days of a child’s life. Interestingly, Soranos was also able to predict some health problems in newborns, such as breathing problems, and developed basic principles of resuscitation.
Soranos adhered to the methodological school of medicine, which emphasized treating the patient as a whole and adapting therapy to symptoms rather than rigidly established diagnoses. Thanks to this, he had a more individual approach to patients, which has survived to this day in modern medicine.
