This chapter focuses on Galen of Pergamum, antiquity’s most important medical author and practising physician, who was also a key philosopher of the Roman Imperial period. It examines his engagement with Greek drama within the framework of his educational theory, both in a narrow sense, as a formal instructor in medicine and philosophy, and in a broader sense, as a guide and exemplar. Despite the contested status of Greek drama in Galen’s time, the chapter argues that he was attuned to its educational potential in both technical and literary contexts. More specifically, it explores how Galen employs drama as a didactic tool, both to reinforce his central ideas and to polemicize against his intellectual rivals. Furthermore, Galen’s use of dramatic material as an oppositional tool is not limited to targeting specific individuals or groups, but extends to abstract concepts as well. Ultimately, the analysis supports the view that, for Galen, poetry is not a substitute for scientific practice but an integral part of the rhetoric of science.
