Greek Doctors Performed Brain Surgery
A bronze scalpel and drill were used to open skulls in ancient Greece.
Greek Doctors Performed Brain Surgery, public domain
Ancient Greek Scalpels on the Skull
Archaeologists have discovered ancient Greek skulls with perfectly round holes—evidence of surgical drilling with bronze tools. Some show signs of healing, meaning the patient survived the procedure. This was not guesswork: it was brain surgery.
Hippocrates Describes the Operation
Hippocrates’ treatise 'On Injuries of the Head' lays out detailed instructions for trepanation—removing a section of skull to treat trauma or swelling. He warns about infections and recommends specialized saws and drills. These were not rare experiments, but a standard part of his surgical toolkit.
Archaeologists have uncovered dozens of skulls from ancient Greece showing clear signs of trepanation: carefully cut holes with evidence of bone regrowth. Hippocratic medical texts even describe how to relieve pressure after head wounds by removing part of the skull. Surviving patients? The smooth edges show some lived for years after their operation—a gamble with no anesthesia.
