What was autism called in ancient times?

Post Reply New Topic

In Anglo society your choices were limited. If you were ASpie, you ended up being the super religious old guy who lived by himself in the woods, or the crazy cat lady who never got married, lived by herself and might be a witch. If you were low functioning Autistic, you were probably labelled 'idiot-savant'. There are historic examples.

I would not be surprised to learn that some were stoned to death in childhood, thus keeping the number of autistic low. and the rest were probably hidden away and not spoken about.

Some became misunderstood scientists, inventors and artists that we now look up to.

Like Nikola Tesla ????

I'm sure before autism was discovered, people probably either thought they were insane, mentally ill, or really eccentric. Some were probably considered witches in the 1600s. Probably a lot were thrown into asylums needlessly as well. I'm so glad I wasn't around during those times.

Well, in some societies those who might have been Autistic were regarded as seers. I guess the thinking was that they were so different, they must be in touch with the divine.

I think I may of hit on it, why is there so much folklore about demonically possessed children illustrated well last century by such block buster movies such as the Exorcist and the Omen?. Probably not only with epilepsy by also other childhood conditions such as autism were treated through trepanation If this theory is correct there should be evidence of a high proportion of children's skulls with holes cut in them.

I found a more modern day case of one here . Not trapanation but for one of those so called excorcism rituals on an autistic child.

Paul

I think it depends on which ancient time we're referring to, and which culture.
Maybe the culture is the more important factor.
I'm sure that there were and are just as many that have seen their autistic and aspie people as prophets, wise men/women, teachers, priests, and oracles as those which have seen them as possessed, witches or retards to be shunned by society.

I bet Jesus was an Aspie. He knew a lot of cool s**t and couldn't get a date...

Autism used to be reguarded as a form of Skitsofrenia (I know that isn't spelled right but I think you know what I mean.)

Crazy cat lady? That's ME!

What did they call autistics in the 1950s?

As far as ancient history, I do not know. But, this I do know: My paternal uncle (born in the 1920's) was profoundly autistic, institutionalized his entire life with no contact, and never spoke a word. At that time, he was classified as "childhood schizophrenia," which was, in that era, synonymous with autism!! !

And, my grandfather (a botanical chemist, MD) said (of those in my family afflicted with autism, especially the women): Hysteria. I think he said this since he was influenced by Freud's pioneering work.

Still, I think many Aspies may just be considered eccentric.

In many northern countries there was a belief that the faeries, landspirits, wee folk or whatever would take away children and replace them with their own. The descriptions of some of these children tally with autism or aspergers- some were mute, some appeared to posess knowledge far beyond their years or had strange fears or habits. Others had some other form of disability, sickness or deformity. In some places and at some times it was permissable to drown or burn the children alive (folk belief dictated that the mothers' real child would be returned if she performed the correct rituals) and the medieval church deemed these children to be "massae carnis" literally lumps of (souless) flesh animated by demons, and condoned their destruction. There are, however, many stories in Scottish folklore (probably in other contries as well) about these children or their descendants becoming great seers, healers or smiths.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/britchange.html

Found some of interest in the link below:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stor ... 309455.htm