In the second book, "What's Wrong with the Diet? What is the role of the psyche?" the key role of the psyche in people's eating behavior was revealed. Harmony in the psyche becomes the engine for future changes in the eating behavior of people with...
What we are exploring: How is the art of a blacksmith and cloth maker related to the process of forming a beautiful and strong body?
What's new: What do pedotrib and physician-philosopher mean and what was remarkable in their approach to the formation of kalokagathia?
What we will learn: What is the main thing in the essay "On Diet" and why is it important for us?
1. Using skillful techniques they melt iron, forcing the fire with air, eliminating existing food, and thinning the metal; they beat, and squeeze, and it becomes strong due to the nutrition supplied by other water. A human experiences the same thing from a gymnastics teacher; he is deprived of the available food by fire, forced to do this by air; Having become loose, it is subjected to shock, friction, and purification and becomes strong through the introduction of water from the outside (Hippocrates, 1944. On diet. I. 13) [1].
2. Сloth makers do the same; they kick, beat, and pull; by striking, they give the matter more strength; by cutting off what protrudes and weaving it in, they make it more beautiful. A human experiences the same thing (Hippocrates, 1944. On diet. I. 14) [1].
3. The role of the pedotribe in paideia. Previously, we discussed the knowledge that the teacher of gymnastics possessed (III fr. 15. 7, 8). This knowledge, with the help of various loads in short and long-distance running, javelin and discus throwing, wrestling, and boxing, allowed forming a healthy and beautiful body for adolescents. This shaping process was similar to the art of a blacksmith, who subjected the metal body to blows, friction, purification, and hardening with water. The actions of the pedotrib are also similar to the art of the fuller (felts wool cloth), who crushes the wool with his feet, beats, pulls and strikes, cuts off what protrudes, and then straightens it, weaving it back. As a result of these actions, a beautiful and strong product is formed, suitable for use. This is how one ancient doctor figuratively describes the difficult process carried out by a gymnastics teacher [1]. Perhaps that is why it received the name παιδοτρίβης.
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4. What does παιδοτρίβης mean? The prefix παιδο [pá͜ɪdo] indicates something related to children. The noun τρίβης [tríbēs] is formed from the root of the verb τρῑ́βω [trī́bō] – the act of "friction", and the suffix –ης [-ēs] which translated from other Greek in English means to rub, clean, move, scratch. Which exactly corresponds to the image of the pedotribe described by the doctor. As a result, we get a skilled master who effectively uses different methods of influencing the child so that he can form a healthy (strong) and beautiful body. What is the role of the doctor in paideia kalokagathia?
5. The role of the doctor in paideia. The doctor, who was also present at the gymnastic classes in the Palaestra, was responsible for treating injuries and the state of health during the paideia process [2, 3]. To what extent did the gymnasium doctor correspond to his calling to help the pedotrib and shape a teenager's body? The art of medicine reached its peak in the era of classicism. What was the level of knowledge and practice of ancient doctors?