Dante, Healthcare and Diseases

Dante Alighieri is renowned for his wide and far-reaching awareness in many fields of knowledge, among which medicine held a significant place. Although Dante was not a practicing physician, he was a member of the Guild of Physicians and Apothecaries of Florence. His literary works, particularly the Divina Commedia, revealed medical concepts influenced by recent advances and discoveries in the field of anatomy. Dante detailed numerous symptoms and diseases and demonstrated an ability to correlate health issues with specific human organs and systems. His precise description of pathologies demonstrates not only remarkable medical acumen but also keen observational skills. After introducing the main locations, friendships, and readings that may have influenced Dante’s interest in diseases and healthcare, this chapter examines selected passages from the Comedia, mainly the Inferno, that delve into observations related to the human nervous, cardiovascular, locomotive, and phonic systems.