What Is a Human Being? · §4 · John of Damascus

Brain versus marrow, and the four humors and their seats

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John of Damascus is closing his account of human nature by contrasting the brain with marrow and then restating the four elements and where each humor builds its own place in the body.

The brain differs from marrow in being without sorrow and bloodless, while marrow is dirty and full of blood. The human body is composed of four elements, since it contains blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Each of these builds its own place: blood on the right side above the liver, yellow bile on the left side above the spleen, black bile in the loins above the kidneys, and phlegm in the chest above the breath. Blood is warm, moist, and sweet; yellow bile is warm...

Greek

∆ιαφέρει δὲ τοῦ μυελοῦ ὁ ἐγκέφαλος καὶ ἀνελυπεὶς καὶ ἀναίματος, ὁ δὲ μυελὸς, ῥυπαρὸς καὶ αἱματώδης. Τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ τεσσάρων στοιχείων συνίσταται, ἐπειδὴ ἔχει ἐν ἑαυτῷ αἷμα, φλέγμα, χολὴν ξανθὴν, καὶ χολὴν μέλαιναν. Ἕκαστον δὲ τούτων τὸν ἴδιον τόπον δημιουργεῖ· τὸ αἷμα εἰς τὸ δεξιὸν μέρος ἐπάνω τοῦ ἥπατος· ἡ χολὴ ἡ ξανθὴ εἰς τὸ ἀριστερὸν μέρος ἐπάνω τῆς σπλήνης· ἡ δὲ χολὴ ἡ μελαίνη εἰς τὰς ψόας ἐπάνω τῶν νεφρῶν· τὸ δὲ φλέγμα εἰς τὸ στῆθος ἐπάνω τοῦ ‹95.245› πνεύματος. Καὶ τὸ μὲν αἷμα ἐστὶ θερμὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν καὶ γλυκύ· χολὴ ἡ ξανθὴ ἐστὶ θερμή .... 1

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 (Greek)

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.