Tree of Hippocrates

The Tree of Hippocrates is the plane tree (or "platane", in Europe) under which, according to the legend, Hippocrates of Kos (considered the father of medicine) taught his pupils the art of medicine. Paul of Tarsus purportedly taught here as well.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = HIPPOCRATES PLANE TREE - KOS GREECE
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.ihfk.gr/gr/hippotree_gr.html
format =
doi =
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006] The "Platanus" in Kos is an Oriental plane, with a crown diameter of about 12 meters, said to be the largest for a plane tree in Europe.

Hippocrates' tree resides on the "Platía Platanou" (Square of the Platane, in Greek), in front of the Castle of Knights and next to the Gazi Hassan Mosque (erected in 1776) in the center of Kos town. The current tree is only about 500 years oldcite book
last = Hendriksen
first = Bartho
authorlink =
coauthors = Leo Platvoet
title = Ródos, Kós & Dodekánisos
publisher = Babylon-De Geus
year = 1996
location = Amsterdam
pages = 69
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 90-6222-518-7 ] , but may possibly be a descendant of the original tree which allegedly stood there 2400 years ago, in Hippocrates' time.cite web
url = http://www.platanos-kos.gr/album/newphoto/DSC00182.jpg
title = Kos Facts - Voyageur's Europe online
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
author = Voyageur Tours] The tree has become hollowed out over the years, and some branches are supported by metal scaffolding. Next to the tree is a white tap with engravings in the Arabic language, also built by the Turkish Governor Gazi Hassancite web
url = http://www.islasdelegeo.com/english/islands/kos/
title = Greek Islands - Aegean Islands - Kos
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006] .

Traditions

During summertime, cultural festivals are held in this location. On September 5, it is custom for housewives to take an old and a new wreath with leaves from the Hippocratic tree and other plants to the sea. The old one is cast into the sea, and the new one (symbolising the beginning of a new year) placed at the shore line so that it is lapped by forty waves. The women then return to Hippocrates' tree and clasp it for strength, weight and a long life. Meanwhile they hold with sea water and pebbles. Back at home, they hang the wreath on the iconostasis, and use the water to sprinkle their rainwater.cite web
url = http://www.platanos-kos.gr/album/newphoto/DSC00192.jpg
title = Kos - Platanos Tree, Dodecanese Greece
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
authorlink = http://www.platanos-kos.gr]

History

In retaliation during the Greek War of Independence, the Turks hanged Greek priests below Hippocrates' tree in Kos on July 11, 1821.cite web
url = http://www.ihfk.gr/gr/ihfkstory_gr.html
title = The History of Kos Island and Hippocrates
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006]

Derivatives of the original tree

Seeds or cuttings from the tree have been spread all over the world.cite web
url = http://www.world-publishing.com/medicine/articles/march2004/healing_killing_3rd_reich.asp
title = HEALING BY KILLING: MEDICINE IN THE THIRD REICH
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
author = Sheldon Rubenfeld, M.D.
year = 2004
month = March
publisher = Houston Medicine Magazine ] A cutting of the tree was presented as a gift from the island Kos to the United States and the National Library of Medicine, and planted on december 14, 1961 on the grounds surrounding the library. cite web
author = National Library of Medicine
title = Objects of Art: Tree of Hippocrates
publisher = United States National Institutes of Health
date = March 1, 2000
url = http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/tour/hippocrates.html
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006] Many medical colleges, libraries or institutions have, or claim to have, trees cut or seeded from the original tree in Kos. It is probably because of its connection to the history of medicine that some institutions planted a plane tree.cite web
url = http://www.utah.edu/fyi/archives/2006/archive_060906.html
title = FYI archives, September 6, 2006
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
author =
last = Williams
first = Ann
authorlink =
coauthors =
date = September 6
year = 2006
month =
format =
work =
publisher = The University of Utah
pages =
language =
archiveurl =
archivedate = ] Trees cut or seeded from the original tree can be found, among others:
* in the U.S. state of Alabama. The Canadian Medical Association obtained a cutting in 1969, which was planted in Alabama.cite web
url = http://www.forestry.state.al.us/publication/PDFs/famous_and_historic_trees.pdf#search=%22tree%20of%20hippocrates%22
title = ALABAMA’S FAMOUS & HISTORIC TREE PROGRAM - 2003
accessdate =
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
format = PDF
publisher = Alabama Forestry Commission]
* at the University of Glasgow, Department of Medical Geneticscite web
url = http://www.yorku.ca/agyu/exhibitions/borland.html
title = Christine Borland
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
publisher = York University Art Gallery]
* at Mercer University School of Medicinecite web
url = http://www.mercer.edu/advancement/news/2000/0403tree.htm
title = AHEPA Organization Donates Statue of Hippocrates
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
publisher = University of Michigan Health History Research Center]
* at the University of Michigan Medical School cite web
url = http://www.si.umich.edu/HCHS/Retrospex/RetroV3N1/retro3.1e.html
title = Hippocrates Tree to be Planted, Blessed at Medical School
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
publisher = Mercer University]
* at University of Sydney's School of Rural Health in Dubbo, Australia.cite web
url = http://www.racgp.org.au/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/AustralianFamilyPhys/2006issues/20060906/20060906kidd.pdf
title = Hippocrates' tree
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
last = Kidd
first = Michael
month = September | year = 2006
format = PDF
publisher = The Royal Australian College of General Practicioners
pages = 733 ] cite web
url = http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_11_051205/til10773_fm.html
title = Hippocrates came across our desks
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
author = David J Tiller
coauthors = Rick McLean, Bruce C Harris
year = 2005
month = November
publisher = Medical Journal of Australia
pages = 602]
* at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine cite web
url = http://southmed.usouthal.edu/com/thebeat/apr97/clikas.htm
title = CLIKAS HONORED FOR PLANTING OF "THE TREES OF HIPPOCRATES"
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
date = May 1, 1997
publisher = University of South Alabama Biomedical Library]
*at the University of Victoria [ cite web
url = http://web.uvic.ca/forbiol/news/Treewalk.pdf
title = Forest Biology Tree Walk
accessmonthday = September 9
accessyear = 2008
publisher = University of Victoria
format=PDF]
* at Yale University cite web
url = http://yalemedicine.yale.edu/ym_sp06/archives.html
title = Yale Medicine, Spring 2006, archives
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
year = 1981
publisher = Yale Medicine ]

Seedlings or saplings aren't the only derivatives from the tree awarded to medical organisations; the Medical Association of Cos presented a gavel made from wood of the plane tree to the President of the Canadian Medical Association in 1954.cite web
url = http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/communications/50th/history/default.asp?s=1
title = Brief History
accessmonthday = September 22
accessyear = 2006
date = August 23, 2004
publisher = The College of Family Physicians of Canada]

Footnotes