perhaps the most devastating killer of ancient greeks and romans is one villain we're still battling today cancer the word actually originated from the work of the greek physician hippocrates when he noticed ulcers in non-ulcer forming lesions he described them as carchinos and carcinoma in greek these words refer to crabs hippocrates thought crabs resembled tumors due to their finger-like projections the roman physician kelsis translated these greek terms to cancer which was the latin word for crab the greek physician galen used the word ankos to describe the swelling which later became the basis of the word oncologist currently used to describe modern cancer specialists etymology aside cancer was just as deadly and pervasive during ancient times as it is now it was often diagnosed and described but evidence suggests it wasn't nearly as common as it is today this is probably because people didn't live as long but it could also be due to the lack of carcinogens in the air that the industrial age would eventually bring but that's a story for another time so what do you think would you have wanted to live during ancient greek or roman times let us know in the comments below and while you're at it check out some of these other videos from our weird history
START_INTERACTION_TOKEN so what do you think would you have wanted to live during ancient greek or roman times let us know in the comments below and while you're at it check out some of these other videos from our weird history END_INTERACTION_TOKEN