From the Womb to the Page: Gynaecology and History in John of Lydia

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the cultural history of late antique embryology and gynaecology, by focusing on the historian John Lydus (ca. AD 490 – ca. 565). In an overview of his numerous passages on gynaecology, we show that he had a coherent view on these sciences. We shall contextualise the interest of John of Lydia in a subject matter which is ostensibly far removed from his historical interests, by taking into consideration three factors: 1) the legal context of imperial policy, 2) the function of gynaecology in John’s historical thinking, and 3) the personal concerns of the author.