Archiater

Archiatros (Greek ἀρχιατρός " chief physician " ), Latin form archiater, was the ancient name for senior doctors, in particular court physicians. It is the origin of the German word " doctor ".

The term is first occupied for the physician to the king Antiochus VII in an inscription at Delos from the 2nd century BC. In the Roman Empire at the latest from the 3rd century AD were the imperial body doctors officially called archiatri Palatini; previously they had been informally referred to as ἀρχιατροί.

The title archiater also led salaried by the State Doctors ( archiatri populares ), who were entrusted with the supervision of medical practice as well as the training and testing of prospective doctors and a kind of imaginary Medical College ( ordo archiatrorum ). Such a college was in every considerable town.

Latter-day use

In Finland, the title archiater ( arkkiatri ) is the highest medical honorary title of the country. It is awarded by the President of the Republic and always worn by a single physician. The most famous Finnish archiater was Arvo Ylppö.

In the early modern era the title " archiater " for the royal physician was used among other things on the French, English, Danish and Swedish royal court. In Sweden, he was awarded a total of 36 outstanding doctors of the early 17th century to 1856. At the Vatican, the personal physician to the Pope the title archiater traditionally wears ( archiatra pontificio ).