JOURNAL ARTICLE

Sleep, dreams and unconsciousness: Understanding anaesthesia through ancient Greek mythology.

  • Published In: Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, 2025, v. 53. P. 27 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Solomi, Luke A 3 of 3

Abstract

This article explores the historical and mythological roots of anaesthesia through the lens of ancient Greek mythology, focusing on the personifications of sleep (Hypnos) and death (Thanatos) as closely related entities. It highlights how the Greeks conceptualized sleep, unconsciousness, and death as a continuum, with sleep viewed both as a divine power and a state that could be induced by mortals using herbs or potions, paralleling modern anaesthetic practice. The article also examines the distinction between natural physiological sleep and drug-induced unconsciousness, noting that conflating the two in clinical communication may affect patients’ understanding and informed consent. Drawing on mythological allegory, it suggests that artistic and narrative methods might improve patient education about the complexities of anaesthesia.

Additional Information

  • Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care. 2025/09, Vol. 53, p27
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Religion and Philosophy
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0310-057X
  • DOI:10.1177/0310057X251330656
  • Accession Number:187727358
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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