Some of the earliest sources of ancient Greek medical knowledge and descriptions of ancient Greek medical practice is Homer, and within the Iliad, Homer mentions almost one hundred fifty wounds. Most of these are described with excellent anatomical accuracy.
Take for example Harpalion, a prince allied with the Trojan, is struck from behind with an enemy arrow. Homer explains this is a fatal wound, although the arrow entered near the right of the buttock, it sliced through the body and missed the pelvic and pubic bone, and hit the bladder. Many other wounds are described in a similar manner in the Iliad. Spears and arrows strike specific internal organs according to the point of entry and trajectory. Homer seems to have had an appreciation for what types of wounds were lethal. Wounds to the arms and legs were painful but not fatal -- the story of Achilles and the famous heel is not mentioned in the poem.
Achillea millefolium, known commonly as yarrow, has a long history as a powerful 'healing herb'. The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical, Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. (Bk XI:804-848 Patroclus tends Eurypylus’ wound. Iliad)
The wounded Eurypylus replied:...'help me to my black ship, and cut out the arrow-head, and wash the dark blood from my thigh with warm water, and sprinkle soothing herbs with power to heal on my wound, whose use men say you learned from Achilles, whom the noble Centaur, Cheiron, taught. ...’
... Patroclus lowered the wounded man to the ground, and cut the sharp arrow-head from his thigh. Next he washed the dark blood from the place with warm water, and rubbing a bitter pain-killing herb between his hands sprinkled it on the flesh to numb the agony. Then the blood began to clot, and ceased to flow.
Apart from a description of wounds, to a lesser extent Homer also recorded the care given to an injured warrior. Generally speaking, medical care focused on the comfort of the wounded man and not treating the wound itself. Among the warriors, however, there were a few who were considered to be specialists of the art of healing through the means of herbal remedies and bandages. Machaon was wounded himself -- both Machaon and his brother Podalirius were highly valued surgeons and medics -- however was treated by being given a cup of hot wine sprinkled with grated goat cheese and barley. From these beginnings, Greek medicine rapidly developed.
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