KOZIAKAS: WHY THE GOD OF MEDICINE LOVES GEOLOGY Ever wonder why…

KOZIAKAS: WHY THE GOD OF MEDICINE LOVES GEOLOGY Ever wonder why…

KOZIAKAS: WHY THE GOD OF MEDICINE LOVES GEOLOGY

Ever wonder why certain of the Greek myths are tied to specific locations? One that I find very logical is tied to the Koziakas Mountain Range in Central Greece.

Rising more than 1800m up from the Plain of Thessaly, the Koziakas Mountains are the frontal range to the Pindos. They are gorgeous in their own right; they are one of the Geowonders of Greece. And when I say they rise from the plain, I mean STRAIGHT UP, uplifted by an enormous Tertiary-aged fault. At their crest are carbonate flysch sequences that were born along the coast of a Triassic-Jurassic Africa. At their feet is a long ophiolite belt, remnants of the lithosphere of the Tethyan Ocean. Oh, yes, it is an amazing place even if…

Even if it weren’t the birthplace of a god!

In pre-Homerian times, Asklepius was the king of ancient Trikki (today’s modern Trikala of West Thessaly). In addition to being a king, Asklepius was a healer, one of the cutting-edge physicians of his day. It is legend that he collected healing herbs from the hills of Koziakas. These medicines helped his reputation as so great a healer that upon his death, he was promoted to a position amongst the Olympian gods as the God of Medicine.

There are, of course, other regions that also vie for the honor of hosting the god of medicine, but I support this one for this scientific observation: the Koziakas region is famous, even today, as an area with abundant plants, herbs, and fungae used effectively in folk medicine. Why this is so is related to the unique geologic setting of Koziakas.

If you look at the back of your vitamin jar, you’ll see listed a number of minerals and elements that are essential to your daily health, yet are rare enough in the foods you eat – chromium, vanadium, idodine, selenium, copper – I can go on. The lithospheric rocks of the Koziakas Range contain these elements in abundance enough that they enrichen the soils, and thence are absorbed into those healing herbs growing in those rare soils. Yes, geology produces vitamin supplements. But so much more – some of the soil constituents derived from the lithosphere can be harmful if ingested in great amount. But some of these deleterious elements, for example platinum, are used today as ingredients of chemotherapy drugs. Poisons can cure on occaision.

So there’s our ancient king, delivering vitamins and medicines derived from a unique ophiolitic setting that were powerful enough that only a god could have “invented” them.

One other note about a particular additive to the soils of Koziakas: this would be sulfur from the lithospheric lavas of Tethys. This is essential to the soils of a world class wine district, and if you don’t believe me… you’ll simply have to come to Koziakas and make a systematic test of all the local wines. They are heavenly and, as Asklepius would agree, good for you!

Annie R

Photo: Mine of Koziakas, with Asklepius added courtesy of a photo from the Archeological Museum of Athens.

Sources: Local Legends garnered from the wonderful old folk of Koziakas.

Hesiod: The Theogeny

http://ofioliti.it/index.php/ofioliti/article/view/242

Try this video, a bit rough, but gives a good feel for the mountain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8QeCPfiJ8