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Definition of a Human Being and the Four Humors
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John of Damascus opens his letter by defining what a human being is and then locating each of the four humors in its bodily seat.
A human being is a rational mortal animal, capable of intellect and knowledge. It is composed of four elements: namely, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
Blood has its seat in the heart, and the breath is in the heart as well. Yellow bile is in the liver and in the stomach. Black bile is in the spleen and in the loins. Phlegm is in the brain and in the chest.
Greek Ἐπιστολὴ τοῦ μακαριωτάτου καὶ φιλοσοφωτάτου κυρίου Ἰωάννου
πρεσβυτέρου τοῦ ∆αμασκηνοῦ, πρός τινα πεμφθεῖσα. Τί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος;
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Ἄνθρωπός ἐστι ζῶον λογικὸν θνητὸν, νοῦ καὶ ἐπιστήμης δεκτικόν· συνίσταται δὲ ἐκ
τεσσάρων στοιχείων, ἤγουν ἐξ αἵματος, φλέγματος, χολῆς ξανθῆς, καὶ χολῆς
μελαίνης. Καὶ τῷ μὲν αἵματι ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τὸ πνεῦμα· ἡ δὲ χολὴ ἡ
ξανθὴ, ἐν τῷ ἥπατι καὶ ἐν τῷ στομάχῳ· ἡ δὲ μελαίνη χολὴ, ἐν τῇ σπλήνῃ, καὶ ἐν τῇ
ψόᾳ· τὸ δὲ φλέγμα, ἐν τῷ ἐγκεφάλῳ καὶ ἐν τῇ κοίτῃ.
About this text John of Damascus answers what a human being is, with a short account of the four humors, their seats in the body, temperaments, and stages of life.
John of Damascus, a Christian monk and priest, wrote this letter to an unnamed person who had asked him to explain what a human being is. He was born in Damascus and later lived at the monastery of Mar Saba near Jerusalem, where he was ordained a priest. He wrote in Greek, and this letter is his concise answer to that request.
The letter offers a short account of human nature based on the four elements of the body: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. John explains where each element is seated in the body and what temperament it produces. He also describes how these elements dominate different stages of life, from childhood through old age.
A reader should know that John defines a human being as a rational mortal animal capable of intellect and knowledge. He calls the temple of the head the ruler of the body, and says the brain receives power and thought from the liver, with the soul dwelling in the brain. He also describes the skull's sutures and the brain's membranes, contrasting the brain with marrow. The letter quotes no other speakers and cites no scripture.
Printed text used
Translated from PG 94-96; Quid est homo This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.
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