Interesting Facts

Galen's Barbary Ape

Because of the Roman laws prohibiting human dissection Galen chose to perform his surgeries on pigs and primates, Barbary Macaque. This led to a somewhat skewed anatomical understanding of humans.

Imperial Ties

Galen was the personal physician for three emperors, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Septimus Severus.

Patching up Gladiators

In order to accrue experience in the medical field he took a job healing the gladiators of the Temple of Pergamon’s High Priest.

Divine Intervention

Galen's father, Nicon, apparently had had the Greek god Asclepius appear to him in a dream and direct him to put his son in the medical field.