Anatomical theaters in Russia and the world

Imagine a room that is a separate beautiful architectural structure inside another building. This room is an amphitheater, but much smaller. Interested spectators settled on the benches arranged around the circle, and in the center, on the wooden table, the action takes place ... No, this is not a magical ritual, although its significance, perhaps, can be equated with it. In the center of the room there is an opening of the human body, and interested spectators on the benches are medical students. Such educational institutions were many in the Middle Ages, and these are anatomical theaters.

What is anatomical theater

So, for what and where such halls were built? What are anatomical theaters and do they exist in the present? Let's understand together.

The Anatomical Theater is a special institution used at universities to teach students the science of healing. In the center of the room was an autopsy of a human or animal body. It is interesting that at the same time on the benches near the audience could sit real skeletons, used as teaching aids. Many students not only watched the action taking place before their eyes, but also outlined what they saw and the teachers' comments. Well, judging by medieval illustrations, some observers were holding placards with inscriptions like Memento Mori, which literally means "Remember death".

Anatomical theaters. History

The first anatomical theater was built in 1594 at the University of Padua. It has survived to this day. A little later, in 1596, such an educational institution was opened at the University of Leiden. In 1637 the anatomical theater appeared in Bologna.

Another historical fact is also interesting. In the XIX century anatomical theater was opened by a prominent American statesman, author of the Declaration of Independence and part-time third president of the USA Thomas Jefferson. However, this educational institution did not last long and was destroyed before the Second World War.

The most beautiful and still active

What kind of anatomical theaters are in our days and are they still being autopsied? What world institutions of this kind can be rightfully called the most beautiful?

The anatomical theater in London at the church of St. Thomas is still valid. It was opened in the XIX century, and since the 60s of the last century - after reconstruction - exists as a museum. There is an active anatomical theater in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam. The picturesque old building was built in the 15th century, and two centuries later a special building of the university was opened in it. By the way, the inscription Theatrum Anatomicum above the entrance to the building is distinguishable now, but no one is conducting an autopsy here. Now in this room there are meetings of the scientific community.

One of the most beautiful anatomical theaters that have survived to this day is the Sala Gimbernat in Barcelona (Italy). The walls of the hall are draped with rich purple velvet, in the interior - marble and gilding. Of the same noble white marble, an operating table was made, in which autopsy was performed in ancient times. Nowadays a museum is open here.

Russia: Petersburg, Peter I and the Kunstkamera

In 1698 Peter I visited the Leiden anatomical theater. There the Emperor met with Professor Frederick Ruysch, and also took several medicine lessons from him. In 1706 the first anatomical theater was opened on the territory of Russia, and the famous Dutch professor Nicolas Bidloo was invited to teach in it. It is interesting that Peter I himself was interested in the science of the structure of the human body and repeatedly autopsied autopsies and dissected corpses.

In 1726 the anatomical theater was moved to the Kunstkamera building. Here, scientific research was still conducted , led by professors invited from Germany and Holland. Then the theater was moved to the building of the Academy of Sciences, and by the beginning of the 19th century this research institution gradually lost its significance.

Kazan Anatomical Theater

However, it was not only in St. Petersburg that one could study the structure of the human body by observing the demonstration of the autopsy. Anatomical theater also existed on the territory of the present Republic of Tatarstan. Kazan and its museum-theater of the human body and now opens its doors to interested observers, but now there are no autopsies here. Currently, the building of the former anatomical theater houses a museum belonging to the Department of Normal Anatomy of the Kazan State Medical University.

Medical students come here for classes. For them there is a library and a cinema hall, as well as a variety of anatomical products. The interested tourists can come here, the guide of the museum will give a lecture for them.

Anatomical theaters in Russia and the world have survived to this day. Many of them now work as museums, some have become meeting places for medical scientific communities. However, the historical value of anatomical theaters is indisputable, and our task is to preserve them for future generations.