The Hospital of Medieval Venetian Methoni

Abstract

In medieval Venetian Methoni, the provision of medical care could be roughly divided into two phases. During the first phase, Venice provided medical care solely to the staff, the garrison, and the Venetian citizens residing in Methoni. Medical care to the rest of the population was offered by the solitary orders that had settled in the area after the conquest of Methoni, in the context of charity. In the second phase, when trade with the East and also the pilgrimages to the Holy Places increased, the Senate took over medical care, initially by subsidizing the local monasteries and later, according to a decision made by the Senate of Venice since 1423, by taking over the provision from its own hospital, which was located in the residential area of the castle, dedicated to Saint Johannes the Theologian (Evangelist).

Keywords: history of medicine; middle ages; venetian colonies; venetian senate; venice.