Theatrum Anatomicum in History and Today

Abstract

Anatomy belongs to natural sciences because of the subject, which is an integrated part of nature. Detailed factual anatomical knowledge is already documented in the writings of Assyrian and Babylonian astrologists after hepatoskopia, where sacrificed animals were investigated by temple priests, searching the liver and mapping the findings (Fig. The liver was known as collecting point of blood and believed as the center of life. Models of terracotta and bronze were used for teaching students to prophesy the future or prognosis (Fig.