The date of the founding of the Crotonian Medical School is not known,
but as early as the sixth century BC, it had achieved an excellent
reputation. Herodotus (circa 484–425 BC) wrote: “the physicians of
Crotona had the name of being the best, and those of Cyrêné the second
best, in all Greece”.
Croton became a medical metropolis through the distinction of its
medical school and the ability of its doctors, of whom Democedes is one
of the best known. This famous physician came to Croton from Cnidus in
530 B .C., and remained there until 525 B.C., when his services were
retained by Athens as State physician.
Crotonian physicians were considered the first in Greece. One member of
the Crotonian school, Alcmaeon, achieved great distinction in both
anatomy and physiology. He first recognized the brain as the organ of
the mind and made careful dissections of the nerves which he traced to
the brain.
Crotonian Medical School
