Dietética e os cuidados com a saúde para a cidade de Sevilha na obra de Juan de Aviñón (século XIV)

Abstract

This study focuses on the medical treatise Sevillana Medicina, written by Juan de Aviñón in the 14th century, within the context of the Late Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. The research aims to analyze the theoretical and philosophical foundations of the work, especially the Galenic tradition and Aristotelian natural philosophy disseminated by Arab commentators, as well asto identify the dietary and hygienic recommendations applied to Seville’sreality. The text highlights the uniqueness of the treatise, which, unlike other health regimens addressed to kings or nobles, was dedicated to an entire city, thus underscoring its social and collective significance. Preventive measures against the plague are also examined, linked to the theory of non-natural elements and Arab-Medieval Galenism, in addition to references to key medical authorities from Antiquity and the Islamic world. The research is structured in three chapters: the first contextualizes the life and work of Juan de Aviñón in the Sevillian setting; the second addresses the proposed dietary and hygienic practices; and the third analyzes reflections on the plague and prevention strategies. Therefore, the study contributes to the understanding of medieval medicine, emphasizing its preventive, regulatory, and social role, while also valuing the circulation of medical knowledge in the Latin West and its reception in Seville’s urban environment.