Croatian scientific society for the history of health culture
Abstract
This paper represents some elements of medicine in the frescoes
painted in 1.490 AD by Ivan of Kastav in the Holy Trinity Church in
Hrastovlje, Slovenian Istria. Part one deal with some traditional patron
saints (Christopher, Cosmas and Damian, Apollonia, Agatha,
Rocco and Sebastian). In the series of paintings representing the \u27Creation
ofthe World\u27and the\u27Life ofAdam and Eve\u27, this country artist
has incorporated numerous details from everyday medieval life, such
as farm work, or breast-feeding of the twins Cain and Abel. In part
three, the fresco \u27The Dance of Death\u27 is dealt with in detail. Further
to primarily moral and social elements, the artist points to his own interesting
anatomic imaginations in presenting the human skeletons,
which reflect not only his, but also the general ignorance of the human
anatomy at that time