DOI 10.51255/2311–603X_2025_1_96

T. V. Kudryavtseva. Abortions and abortifacients in ancient practice, public opinion and magic //
Petersburg historical journal, no. 1, 2025, pp. 96–111

Abstract:

The article, which is based on information from the Hippocratic Corpus, the works of Pliny the
Elder, Dioscorides, Galen, Pseudo-Galen and Soranus, examines various forms of abortion used in ancient society. The most prevalent method was the utilisation of various potions and pessaries, with several case studies provided for illustration. Moreover, it is evident that ancient Greek and Roman medical practitioners were cognisant of the fact that external factors, such as injury, physical impact, or exertion, could potentially result in miscarriage and could be employed as abortifacient agents. The surgical abortion was also described in detail in their treatises, evidently for medical reasons. The article emphasises that, given the potions were the primary abortifacient, the topic of abortion acquired a magical context and subtext, because everything related to potions in antiquity was largely referred to magical practices, usually associated with women — witches and healers. A thorough examination of the sources reveals a plethora of abortive recipes and instructions that are imbued with a magical undertone. The ancient authors reported examples of dubious manipulations and exotic potions, but their accounts were more focused on folk beliefs and superstitions rather than on medical facts. They concealed the improbability and absurdity of these beliefs by referencing public opinion and the saying “it is said”, “reportedly”, and “it is known”. On occasion, these learned authors engaged in discourse with “folk medicine” and articulated reservations concerning the efficacy of the proposed remedies. However, they were unable to entirely dispel the gullibility or the hope for a miraculous outcome, instead endeavouring to systemize and partially rationalize the fantastical recipes and rituals.

Key words: Antiquity, abortion, miscarriage, Hippocratic Corpus, Pliny the Elder, Galen, Dioscorides, Soranus, magic.

Author:

Kudryavtseva, Tatyana Vladimirovna — Dr. Sci. (History), Professor, Herzen State Pedagogical
University (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: tvkudryavtseva@herzen.spb.ru, tatyanavk@yandex.ru
ORCID: 0000-0002-1636-5704

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