I once had an Uruguayan medicine history teacher who claimed that anatomical theaters were built as such – concentric circles – because they mimic a human eye cut in half. It is not particularly visible in this picture from Bologna, but the one in Padova, which is round, is where it all happened. There is a synchronicity in the design of that latter theater by a certain Paolo Sarpi and his study of ophtalmology. Anatomical theaters are thus giant open eyes where the eventual triumph of looking directly into the body over just trusting ancient treaties is celebrated as the modern, better path to knowledge.
the young Michelangelo Buonarroti wasn’t that lucky, he had to study in secret when he was 18-20 years old, since it was illegal at the time in Firenze.
In the same building is a beautiful old library, the Archiginnasio Library, dating from the beginning of the 19th century. It is totally free to go in and look around.
It has a very odd vibe in person. Sort of an old musty smell which gets the imagination going.
I would have guessed that the Anatomical Theatre might have been used to teach other things.
What you see today was painstakingly reconstructed from pieces the size of a matchbox, or even less, as the whole complex was centered by one or more bombs during the air raid of January 29, 1944, one of the most devastating for the cultural heritage of Bologna as it went through the heart of the historical center of the city. Owing to its extremely important role as the main rail hub between northern and southern Italy, Bologna was made target of at least 43 air raids (at least officially, actual figures are higher) and some areas around the main station and the freight yards were annihilated. [Here](http://badigit.comune.bologna.it/bolognabombardata/1galvani.htm) are several pictures of the complex after the bombardment (some could be enlarged). [This instead](http://badigit.comune.bologna.it/bolognabombardata/partico.jpg) is an enlarged detail of a famous [aerial photograph](https://live.staticflickr.com/2270/2060876432_eef19a2e6d_o.jpg), the smoke plume at the center of the image is directly above the complex.
Anatomy is pseudoscience
Hence the name….
fuck those benches, I’m not sitting on that, ever.
16 comments
“From hell” vibes.
The original photo is from [here.](https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/beautiful-anatomical-theatres-italy/) I have made my own photos, but not good enough.
I once had an Uruguayan medicine history teacher who claimed that anatomical theaters were built as such – concentric circles – because they mimic a human eye cut in half. It is not particularly visible in this picture from Bologna, but the one in Padova, which is round, is where it all happened. There is a synchronicity in the design of that latter theater by a certain Paolo Sarpi and his study of ophtalmology. Anatomical theaters are thus giant open eyes where the eventual triumph of looking directly into the body over just trusting ancient treaties is celebrated as the modern, better path to knowledge.
the young Michelangelo Buonarroti wasn’t that lucky, he had to study in secret when he was 18-20 years old, since it was illegal at the time in Firenze.
In the same building is a beautiful old library, the Archiginnasio Library, dating from the beginning of the 19th century. It is totally free to go in and look around.
https://static.bolognawelcome.com/immagini/b1/18/f5/c6/20200312105452_landscape_16_9_mobile.jpg
Is it still used for this purpose?
>The Anatomical Theatre was used to teach anatomy
Yes, the floor is made out of floor
It was used to teach anatomy.
It has a very odd vibe in person. Sort of an old musty smell which gets the imagination going.
I would have guessed that the Anatomical Theatre might have been used to teach other things.
What you see today was painstakingly reconstructed from pieces the size of a matchbox, or even less, as the whole complex was centered by one or more bombs during the air raid of January 29, 1944, one of the most devastating for the cultural heritage of Bologna as it went through the heart of the historical center of the city. Owing to its extremely important role as the main rail hub between northern and southern Italy, Bologna was made target of at least 43 air raids (at least officially, actual figures are higher) and some areas around the main station and the freight yards were annihilated. [Here](http://badigit.comune.bologna.it/bolognabombardata/1galvani.htm) are several pictures of the complex after the bombardment (some could be enlarged). [This instead](http://badigit.comune.bologna.it/bolognabombardata/partico.jpg) is an enlarged detail of a famous [aerial photograph](https://live.staticflickr.com/2270/2060876432_eef19a2e6d_o.jpg), the smoke plume at the center of the image is directly above the complex.
Anatomy is pseudoscience
Hence the name….
fuck those benches, I’m not sitting on that, ever.
Same Bologna from the War of the Bucket?
probably the oldest in europe?