Leisure, pleasure, and healing : : spa culture and medicine in ancient eastern Mediterranean / / by Estee Dvorjetski.

• Superior document: Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism ; v. 116
• Author: Dvorjetski, Esti.
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Language: English
• Series: Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism ; v. 116.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (600 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

The book deals with leisure, pleasure and healing at the thermo-mineral sites in the Levant since the biblical era throughout the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim periods. It looks closely at the question of whether the spas, which are models for social interaction between pagans, Christians and Jews, served as sacred cult places or popular sites of healing. The main objectives of the book are as follows: • Clarifying the leisure-time activities at the spas based on Classical and Rabbinic literature, pilgrims’ travel-books, Syriac and Arabic texts, the Geniza fragments, cartographic evidence, and archaeological findings. • Lightening the daily life, healing cults, medical recommendations and treatments. • Examining the social history of medicine at the curative baths.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter One. Introduction / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Two. Geological, Hydrological And Medicinal Aspects Of Hot Springs In The Eastern Mediterranean—Past And Present / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Three. Medicinal Hot Springs And Healing Spas In The Graeco-Roman World / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Four. Historical-Archaeological Analysis And Healing Cults Of The Therapeutic Sites In The Eastern Mediterranean Basin / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Five. The Healing Properties Of The Thermo-Mineral Baths In The Eastern Mediterranean In Ancient Times / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Six. Daily Life At The Thermo-Mineral Baths According To Rabbinic Literature / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Seven. Roman Emperors At The Spas In The Eastern Mediterranean Basin / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Eight. The Numismatic Expression Of The Medicinal Hot Springs / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Nine. Pilgrimage To The Spas In The Eastern Mediterranean During The Later Roman And Byzantine Periods / E. Dvorjetski -- Chapter Ten. Epilogue / E. Dvorjetski -- Bibliography / E. Dvorjetski -- General Index / E. Dvorjetski -- Greek Words / E. Dvorjetski -- Illustrations / E. Dvorjetski.