Dissertation committee:
Καθηγητής Γεώργιος Ανδρούτσος, Αναπ. Καθηγητής Δημήτριος Κασσάνος, Επίκ. Καθηγήτρια Ελευθερία Πουλάκου - Ρεμπελάκου
Summary:
Teratology deals with the study of the development of monsters and
malformations. These particular disfigurements are considered anomalies
or monstrosities. The History of Teratology is divided in three periods:
the mythical or fantastic period that is extended from Antiquity till the
end of 17th century, the pro-scientific period that includes the 18th century
and the first years of the 19th century, and the scientific one that starts in
1820 till nowadays.
In the present thesis, a particular reference to superstitional and mythical
theories about monsters is done as well as in the work of the eminent
French physician Ambroise Parι (1510-1590) who presented thirty three
images of monsters classifying them according their causes. A particular
attention in the scientific theories of teratogenesis is performed based on
the views of distinguished biologists and physicians as Giuseppe degli
Aromatari (1587-1660), Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680), Marcello
Malpighi (1628-1694), Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777), Etienne
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772 - 1844), Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
(1805 –1861) and Camille Dareste (1822-1899) which put the basis of the
current scientific perception on monsters.
