06: The Scientist | Colosseum

Duration: 46'30''

Synopsis

One of the most famous scientists of the ancient world, Galen of Pergamon, makes a name for himself as a doctor for gladiators in the arena.

Further Information

More clips from Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 47'02''

In AD80, the Colosseum is open for business. Roman emperor Titus plans 100 days of games to commemorate, including an epic battle to the death...

02: The Builder | Colosseum

02: The Builder | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'28''

Although master builder Haterius constructs the Colosseum where Nero’s Golden House once stood, his work is far from over. Rome's new emperor, Do...

03: The Beastmaster | Colosseum

03: The Beastmaster | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'32''

Over a million animals are slaughtered on the sands of the arena by trained beastmasters, none more famous than Carpophorus. But when met wit...

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'32''

When the Emperor Trajan stages his great games of AD107, the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle - female gladiators. A Roman named Mevia ill...

05: The Martyr | Colosseum

05: The Martyr | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'09''

The public execution of criminals is a staple in the Colosseum, but during Trajan's games, one of these victims is no common prisoner. Bishop Igna...

07: Commodus | Colosseum

07: Commodus | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'54''

All Roman rulers put great value on spectacles and games, but only one, the son of Marcus Aurelius, steps out of the imperial box and onto the sands...

08: The Pagan | Colosseum

08: The Pagan | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 45'56''

By the 4th century AD, the Roman Empire is in decline, and the Colosseum, once a proud symbol of the Empire's glory, lies empty. One man turns to t...

More resources about History of Medicine

05: Bloody Beginnings | Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

05: Bloody Beginnings | Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

BBC Four | 2008 | 59'14''

Michael Mosley looks at how surgery dragged itself kicking and screaming out of the dark ages, transforming itse...

02: Pus | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicines

02: Pus | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicines

BBC Four | 2013 | 58'52''

Dr Michael Mosley explores our earliest attempts to tackle infection and how scientists, chemists and doctors...

01: Black Death | World's Worst Century

01: Black Death | World's Worst Century

Channel 4 | 2004 | 48'57''

Was the 14th century the worst time in history to be alive? The population of Britain was ravaged by a plague that drove mankind to t...

The Story of John Snow | Moments of Genius

The Story of John Snow | Moments of Genius

BBC Four | 2001 | 8'32''

Clinical geneticist Professor John Burn follows in the footsteps of one of his great scientific heroes - Dr John Snow.

The Great Plague

The Great Plague

Channel 4 | 2003 | 1'30'25''

The Great Plague of 1665 killed 100,000 Londoners - one in three of the people living in the city. While kept diaries have provided terrifying testaments to...

The doctor who discovered how cholera spread | Witness History

The doctor who discovered how cholera spread | Witness History

BBC World Service | 2020 | 9'00''

In the 1800s cholera was a mysterious disease killing millions around the world. No-one knew how to stop it ti...

Black Death | Ken Follett's Journey Into the Dark Ages

Black Death | Ken Follett's Journey Into the Dark Ages

Channel 4 | 2012 | 46'53''

Ken Follett tells the story of the Black Death through the true stories of a monk in Winchester, a doctor in Florence ...

Jenner's Marvellous Medicine | A History of the World

Jenner's Marvellous Medicine | A History of the World

BBC One | 2010 | 29'05''

Professor Mark Horton tells the epic story of the world's greatest medical discovery. Edward Jenner's vaccination for s...

04: Fixing Faces | Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

04: Fixing Faces | Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

BBC Four | 2008 | 59'00''

Series about the history of surgery continues with a look at the development of plastic surgery, which started over 4...

Florence Nightingale: Nursing Pioneer

Florence Nightingale: Nursing Pioneer

BBC Four | 2023 | 1'11'10''

Film following the life of an extraordinary woman, a trailblazer who revolutionised modern nursing and reformed healthcare at home and ...

S01E05: King Death | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

S01E05: King Death | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

BBC Two | 2000 | 58'10''

Simon Schama continues his look at British history with the Black Death, the horror of medieval Britain. Those it d...

02: Bad Blood: Stuarts to Hanoverians | Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History

02: Bad Blood: Stuarts to Hanoverians | Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'03''

Lucy Worsley explores how the health of monarchs has shaped the nation. She looks at t...

Breaking the Mould: The Story of Penicillin

Breaking the Mould: The Story of Penicillin

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'21'25''

History books tell us that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, but that's not the whole story. This drama uncovers the forgo...

03: Scientists | Icons

03: Scientists | Icons

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'06''

Chris examines the lives of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Alan Turing and Tu You You. He explores some of their most famous discoveries - as well as t...

Discovery of penicillin | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

Discovery of penicillin | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

BBC Four | 2013 | 5'55''

Fleming initially discovered the antibacterial properties of mould that would lead to the disc...

Medicine Through Time (1989): 01: Medicine, Religion and Natural Causes | History File

Medicine Through Time (1989): 01: Medicine, Religion and Natural Causes | History File

BBC Two | 1989 | 19'00''

This programme looks at ancient Egypt, Hippocrates, Christianity and Islam.

Medicine Through Time (1998): 03: Medicine and Government | History File

Medicine Through Time (1998): 03: Medicine and Government | History File

BBC Two | 1998 | 24'04''

Using historical evidence to recreate 19th century life this programme looks at the relationship bet...

The NHS: A Difficult Beginning

The NHS: A Difficult Beginning

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'17'50''

The story of the birth of the NHS, revealing how close its opponents came to defeating it and why the some of the fiercest opposition came fro...

Medicine Through Time (1989): 05: Medicine, Technology and The Individual | History File

Medicine Through Time (1989): 05: Medicine, Technology and The Individual | History File

BBC Two | 1989 | 19'13''

The principal of the germ theory of disease is credited to Louis Pasteur. But why wa...

Medicine Through Time (1998): 04: Medicine and War | History File

Medicine Through Time (1998): 04: Medicine and War | History File

BBC Two | 1998 | 24'04''

This prog looks at the relationship between medicine and war. Does war help or hinder medicine? Surviving r...