Flu, Influenza, and Ancient Greece

I have the flu.

Tengo gripe.

Ich habe Grippe.

Ἔχω ________.

In 412 BC Hippocrates—often called the father of medicine—described a disease at Perinthus in Northern Greece that sounds like what we call influenza. Hippocrates’ discussion seems to be the first description of the disease, but he did not use any word related to our current term.

I am almost certain I will not be present at the church on Sunday. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend.