Nursing Homes for the Old (‘Gerocomeia’) in Byzantium (324–1453 AD)
| Autor: | Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou, George Kalantzis, John Lascaratos |
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| Rok vydání: | 2004 |
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| Zdroj: | Gerontology. 50:113-117 |
| ISSN: | 1423-0003 0304-324X |
| Popis: | Background: Research into the welfare institutions for the elderly, which were established in the Byzantine Empire. Objective: The purpose of the study is the research into the texts of the Byzantine chroniclers and the contemporary historical sources so as to determine the social policy of the Byzantine State regarding the homes for the aged. Methods: The histories and chronicles of the Byzantine writers, written in the original Greek language, were studied and analysed, so as to locate the extracts in the texts concerning the interest shown by the Byzantine State to establish institutions for old and ailing people. Results: The care for the elderly in Byzantium was undertaken in special infirmaries, called ‘gerocomeia’, which operated all over the empire mostly in or near the monasteries. All these nursing homes were highly esteemed and the governor of the institution seems to have been a person of high importance. The most important nursing home was located in Constantinople and was established by Emperor John II Comnenus in the 12th century in the famous monastery and hospital of the Pantocrator. Conclusion: The study and analysis of the historical texts of the Byzantine period (324–1453 AD) prove that human-oriented behaviour, which derived from the intervention of religion, contributed to the foundation of many welfare institutions for the elderly by the Byzantine emperors, the church and some individuals who showed great interest in them. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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