Submissions

Currently, we are soliciting essays, book reviews and translations. 

Essays: The Rootcutter publishes scholarly but accessible research on ancient medicine and pharmacology. Typical essays are 1000–1500 words, and we use links and recommended readings instead of footnotes. All essays are accompanied by discussion questions for use in the classroom. Any topics relevant to ancient medicine (or healthcare and antiquity) are welcome. However, we are particularly interested essays that use ancient materials and sources to expand our understanding of modern health practices (or vice versa).

Book Reviews: We are welcome short reviews (500-700 words) of books relevant to the history of medicine in antiquity. We are interested in reviews both of new and forthcoming books and of older works or classics that deserve to be revisited. Please feel free to pitch reviews of both academic and non-academic works.

Translations: We are soliciting contributions for a series of micro-translations of passages from ancient medical texts that are not otherwise available in English. Is there an obscure treatise on astrological medicine you've been working on? An intriguing chapter from a late antique encyclopedia? A medical poem? Here is an opportunity to send us a slice of your source text, together with a brief introduction to contextualise the material and point out its relevance to the history of medicine, along with links to any work you have already published on the text.

Pitches of up to 250 words should be submitted to societyancientmedicine@gmail.com.  

If you have an idea for a different kind of contribution—something we haven't thought of yet—or have any questions, please feel free to send us an email.