Abortion is not a new phenomenon and has been practiced in different societies for thousands of years, including during ancient times. However, it’s important to note that views on abortion varied greatly across different cultures and periods.
- Ancient Egypt: There is evidence that ancient Egyptians practiced abortion and used a variety of methods, including herbal remedies and physical procedures. The ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, dating to 1550 BC, describes the use of plant-fiber tampons to induce abortion.
- Ancient Greece: The Hippocratic Oath, traditionally attributed to Hippocrates in the 5th century BC, includes a clause rejecting the provision of an abortive remedy to a woman, suggesting that abortion was practiced and that it posed ethical dilemmas. However, the Hippocratic Oath represents the ideals of a group of ancient physicians and not necessarily the views of all Greeks.
- Ancient Rome: Ancient Roman views on abortion were mixed. On the one hand, Roman law did not generally consider abortion a crime unless it was performed without a woman’s consent. Some texts suggest that women often resorted to abortion. On the other hand, Roman philosophers and physicians such as Hippocrates and later Galen, who had significant influence on Western medicine, generally disapproved of abortion.
- Ancient Hebrew society: The Hebrew Bible does not explicitly mention abortion. The closest it comes is in Exodus 21:22-25, where it discusses penalties if a man causes a woman to miscarry during a fight. However, interpretations of this passage vary, and it does not provide a clear stance on abortion.
- Early Christian society: In the early centuries AD, Christianity began to form its doctrines, taking influence from Jewish laws, Greek philosophy, and Roman culture. There was no unanimous consensus on abortion, but many early Christian texts condemned it. The Didache, a 1st-century Christian text, explicitly forbids abortion, as do several writings of the Church Fathers.
It’s important to note that medical understanding of conception and embryology in ancient times was limited. The discovery of sperm and ovum, and understanding of their role in conception, did not occur until the 17th and 18th centuries. Consequently, beliefs about when life begins varied, affecting attitudes towards abortion.