Religio Medici and Hydriotaphia

Description

Religio Medici and Hydriotaphia are two of the most important writings by Sir Thomas Browne.

Officially published in 1643, Religio Medici (Latin for The Religion of a Doctor) enjoyed immense popularity at the time. The spiritual testament and emotional autobiography of one of the 17th century’s greatest polymaths, Sir Tomas Browne’s book initially circulated in manuscript form among the author’s friends and it was published first in 1642 without Browne’s approval, then a year later again, this time in a revised and authorized form. The writing touches upon various topics, including alchemy, astrology, medicine, philosophy and theology. It also approaches the intricate relationship and the conflict between his profession as a doctor and his faith, including some expressions of Browne’s religious views that led to much controversy later and to the prohibition of the book by the Pope.

Hydriotaphia is another important writing by Browne – published about ten years after Religio Medici.It is about the discovery of a site in Norfolk where numerous burial urns dating back to the Bronze Age were unearthed. The discovery inspired Browne to contemplate about death and the ephemeral nature of life and fame, as well as to engage into an elaborate and detailed anthropological discussion, probably one of the earliest ones, about the different burial customs around the world. Browne discusses other major themes of life and death, too, including man’s struggles with the imminent ending of life.

Both texts by Thomas Browne feature the elaborate, rhythmic and rhetoric style characteristic of Baroque writing.
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