Eponymous of Diseases Based on Mythology, Literature, and Art

Abstract

Language includes various tools that are very important in communication and the transfer of experiences. Abbreviations, similes, metaphors, ironies, puns, repetitions, and synonyms play an essential role in this regard. An eponym is another linguistic tool that is effective in communication. Eponymes or aliases also appear in the field of science, especially medicine. These eponyms are derived from the names of physicians, scientists, nurses who first reported the disease or provided treatment or patients who first reported the disease or the area where the disease broke out. The use of eponyms in medical science has its supporters and opponents. Nevertheless, they are known to enrich medical science.This article descriptively studies the manifestation of myths and literary and artistic figures in the eponym of diseases.Of the twenty eponyms mentioned in this article, nine (Ulysses, Hercules, Pan, Proteus, Syringomili, Cyclopia, Gigantesm, Satyr, Phobia) refer to Greek and Roman mythological heroes and gods, and literary figures and other works of art. In addition, five cases (Alice in Wonderland, Pickwicken, Humpty Dumpty, Aguchik and Robin Hood) are related to English literature, three cases (Ondine's curse - which of course is the origin of this story -, Baron Munchhausen, Straw Peter) to German literature, one case (Lazarus syndrome) to the Bible, and two cases to Da Vinci's masterpiece from Italy (Mona Lisa) and the works of Pieter Bruegel from Holland.Eponyms are sometimes associated with myths and characters in literary and artistic works since pain and suffering have accompanied humans throughout history and humans have tried to show this issue using eponyms.

Keywords

• humans
• eponyms
• medicine
• metaphor
• myth