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He wrote over 70 essays on medical subjects. He observed his patients
carefully and recorded every symptom. The Hippocratic Oath is still taken by doctors
today and puts the interests of the patients before all other considerations.
Literature
Most Greek plays are tragedies, telling stories about their gods. Stories were
chanted by a chorus. Famous Greek playwrights include Aeschylus, Sophocles and
Euripedes.
1. Aristophanes
He wrote plays which poked fun at the people of the day.
2. Homer
He wrote two long poems; the Iliad and the Odyssey. They tell
about Greek history and stories of gods. Greek school boys learnt lines
from them by heart to recite aloud. Many scenes from Homer’s poems
are shown on Greek vases.
Philosophy
Greeks loved to ask questions and they thought deeply about many of life’s issues.
Eg What is love? What is justice?
1. Socrates
Although he wrote no books, he challenged people to think. He made
many enemies and was sentenced to death for leading people astray
by his talk.
2. Plato
He was a pupil of Socrates and wrote down conversations that
Socrates had with his friends. How also wrote poems, plays and was
interested in politics.
(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 31
