| Are your medical offices sterile and devoid | | | | personal touch, get the physician's or |
| of character? Then they'd probably fail the | | | | practice name translated into ancient |
| office "IQ" test! Find out how to boost your | | | | Egyptian hieroglypics and painted on papyrus |
| office "IQ", by adding character and interest | | | | for a colorful and interesting addition to |
| to your waiting and examining rooms without | | | | your reception area. |
| spending a fortune. | | | | |
| | | | Victorian painters, as students of antiquity, |
| In this age of HMOs, managed care and reduced | | | | often chose to paint Greek or Egyptian scenes |
| Medicare payouts, many medical offices are | | | | depicting various aspects of life in those |
| pretty spartan affairs, decor-wise. But just | | | | ancient societies--including medical |
| because your decorating budget is small, | | | | consultations--and produced some beautiful |
| doesn't mean your office "IQ" or "interest | | | | and interesting paintings. Inexpensive |
| quotient" has to be zero! | | | | prints can be matted and framed, and make |
| | | | wonderful decorative accents for hallways or |
| The medical profession has been part of human | | | | examining rooms. |
| history for a very long time, and most | | | | |
| ancient civilizations made reference to its | | | | Some examples of ancient symbols, deities and |
| healers, the gods associated with certain | | | | people with a medical connection are listed |
| aspects of healing, or symbols related to | | | | below. |
| life and health. The art of ancient | | | | |
| civilizations depicts many examples of beings | | | | Egyptian |
| and symbols associated with the art and | | | | |
| science of medicine and healing. | | | | • The Ankh - ancient symbol for the |
| Archeological expeditions have yielded many | | | | breath of life. |
| interesting and beautiful sculptures, wall | | | | |
| paintings and other artifacts related to the | | | | • Nekhbet - the goddess of childbirth |
| healing arts. If your main waiting room, | | | | |
| hallways and treatment rooms seem sterile and | | | | • The frog goddess, Heket - who |
| dull, why not enliven your surroundings with | | | | fashioned children in the womb andpresided at |
| a few good copies of these priceless ancient | | | | their births. |
| treasures? | | | | |
| | | | Greek |
| Quality reproductions of healing and | | | | |
| medicine-related ancient art treasures from | | | | • Asclepios, the Greek god of medicine |
| museums and preserved ruins can be an | | | | and healing. Hippocrates was said to be a |
| inexpensive way to add character and interest | | | | descendant of Asclepios. |
| to your office environment and improve its | | | | |
| "IQ". Wallpaper borders echoing an Egyptian, | | | | • Hygeia, daughter of Asclepios and the |
| Greek or other motif can add a finishing | | | | goddess of health. |
| touch and provide a unifying theme | | | | |
| throughout. Small, laminated cards | | | | • Hippocrates, ancient Greek physician |
| identifying the reproductions and their | | | | who is credited with founding the modern |
| relationship to medicine can accompany each | | | | medical profession, and crafting itscode of |
| piece, adding further interest to your decor. | | | | ethics. |
| | | | |
| Reproductions of ancient art include wall | | | | • Hippocratic Oath, the medical code of |
| "reliefs", or statues and figurines, busts | | | | ethics crafted by Hippocrates and |
| and heads, and in the case of Egyptian | | | | traditionally pledged and sworn to by every |
| symbols, you can also find them depicted in | | | | physician. |
| paintings reproduced on papyrus. For a | | | | |