Like the modern world, even in ancient times people wanted to know how to live a long and healthy life.
The Greeks and Romans heard fantastic stories from people who lived more than 100 years away.
Greek essayist lucian (circa 120-180 BC) writes: :
In fact, there are even entire nations that live very long, such as the Ceres (Chinese), who are said to live 300 years: some attribute their old age to the climate, some to the soil and some to their diet, for they say this entire nation drinks nothing but water. The people of Athos are said to live up to 130 years, and it is reported that the Chaldeans live over 100, using barley bread to maintain the acuity of their vision.
Library of Congress, Washington DC/Wikimedia
Whatever the truth of these stories, many ancient Greeks and Romans wanted long and healthy lives.
In such a situation, they felt that this could happen.
An ancient physician’s perspective
Ancient doctors were interested in what people were doing every day to live longer lives and how it might help.
unani doctor gallon For example, (129–216 CE) discusses two people he knew personally in Rome who lived to old age.
First, there is a grammarian (a person who studied and taught grammar) named Telephus, who lived about 100 years.
according to galenTelephus ate only three times a day. His diet was simple:
Porridge was boiled in water mixed with raw honey of the best quality, and this alone was enough for him for the first meal. They dined at or slightly before the seventh hour, taking vegetables first and then tasting fish or birds. In the evening he used to eat only bread soaked in alcohol.
Galleon too tells us Telephus had some bathing habits that might seem unusual to us today. Telephus liked to massage himself with olive oil every day and bathe only a few times a month:
He had the habit of bathing twice a month in winter and four times a month in summer. During the seasons between these, he bathed three times a month. On days when he did not bathe, he was anointed with a little massage around the third hour.
The second was an old doctor named Antiochus, who was about 80 years old.
according to galenAntiochus’s diet was also simple.
In the morning, Antiochus usually ate toasted bread with honey. Then, at lunch, he would eat fish, but usually only “fish from around the reefs and from the deep sea”. For dinner, he “will either eat porridge.” oxymel (a mixture of vinegar and honey) or a bird with a simple sauce”.
Along with this simple diet, Antiochus went for a walk every morning. He also liked to be taken around the city in a chariot, or his servants would carry him on a chair.
Galen also said that Antiochus “practiced exercises appropriate for an old man”:
There is one thing you should do for old people early in the morning as exercise: after massaging with oil, let them walk and do passive exercise without getting tired, keeping in mind the ability of the old person.
gallon have concluded Antiochus’ daily routine probably contributed to his good health until old age:
Taking care of himself in this way in old age, Antiochus continued to the end, with no loss of soundness in his senses and in all his limbs.
Galen emphasized that Telephus and Antiochus had certain things in common. He ate only a few meals a day; Their diet was wild meat, whole grains, bread and honey; And he was active every day.
Rabax63/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA
What can you do?
Not all of us may live to be 100 or older, as the Greeks and Romans knew well.
However, Lucian offers us some consolation In his essay on octogenarians:
In every soil and every climate those who follow proper exercise and the diet most suitable for health live longer.
Lucian advised that if we want to do the same, we should emulate the lifestyles of those who have lived long and healthy lives.
So, if you lived in Rome in the second century AD, people like Telephus and Antiochus, who had a simple diet and were active throughout their lives, would be good role models.
