Achilles and the Maggots

Home , Francesco Redi, Lazzaro Spallanzani, Spontaneous generation

millennium essay CORBIS/BETTMANN

Achilles and the maggots ... or how the Iliad inspired a Renaissance scholar to show how flies are made. of Menoetius [Patroclus] and breed worms which, during the period of generation ... Paolo Mazzarello about his wounds, so that his body, now he is eggs and other seeds of worms are laid and any artistic ideas have come directly dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot.” hatched by the animals”. When the worms from science. Scientific inspiration Thetis answered: “My son, be not disquieted were born, they found sufficient food in this Mcan be seen in the writings of Goethe, about this matter. I will find means to protect “nest” to “nourish themselves very well”. Robert Musil and Jorge Luis Borges, in J. S. him from the swarms of noisome flies that Thus Redi gave experimental support to the Bach’s mathematically precise music and in prey on the bodies of men who have been principle of omne vivum ex ovo (every living the use of anatomy and geometry in Leonar- killed in battle.” But, according to Aristotle, being from an egg). In 1668 Redi’s master- do da Vinci’s paintings. Scientific discoveries flies and lower animals such as worms could piece Esperienze Intorno alla Generazione form the basis of an entire genre, science fic- spring directly from decaying flesh. So why degli Insetti (Experiences about the Genera- tion. But there are few examples of scientific protect the body? Enlightened by this pas- tion of Insects) was published in Florence. It research inspired by art, which owes more to sage, Redi wrote, “I started to doubt whether collected his experiments and results, and science than vice versa. the worms were generated directly from the dealt a blow to the doctrine of spontaneous Among the examples of science influ- putrefying flesh, rather than being the conse- generation. enced by art, there are the geological investi- quence of egg deposition by flies”. But the blow was not fatal. Phoenix-like, gations of Bernard Palissy (c. 1510–c. 90) on He launched a formidable attack on the the idea was reborn after Anton van the origin of salts, precious stones, springs, doctrine of spontaneous generation. Redi Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of microorgan- rock formations and fossils, inspired by his exposed meat, cheese and other organic sub- isms. Microscopic beings were seen as a work with ceramics. But I think the best case- stances in jars, some covered with wire gauze, bridge between inanimate matter and organ- history of a scientific discovery inspired by art others uncovered. In due course, he observed isms visible to the naked eye. Only after the — in this case literature — is the refutation of the development of maggots on top of the discoveries of Lazzaro Spallanzani, Louis Pas- the doctrine that macroscopic life could arise gauze in the first cases and directly in the teur and others was the dogma laid to rest. by spontaneous generation. meat and cheese in the second. So, the first serious blow to spontaneous The story took place in Florence, at the With these and other experiments he generation came from the Iliad, a book Medici court, in 1668. The head physician established that flesh and plant which also inspired Heinrich Schlie- and superintendent of the ducal pharmacy “never become verminous if they mann’s discovery of Troy. Mathe- and foundry was Francesco Redi (1626–98), are kept where flies and mos- maticians and logicians know whose scientific reputation was built on his quitoes cannot enter”. Thus Achilles for his race with the tor- studies of viper’s venom (Osservazioni animal and plant tissues “play toise, and anatomists for the Intorno alle Vipere, 1664; a landmark in the no other part, nor have any Achilles’ tendon. With his part history of experimental toxicology). other role in the generation in firing Redi’s imagination, LIBRARY INST. WELLCOME Redi was also a poet and aficionado of of insects, than to prepare a he is certainly the most influ- classical literature. One day, while reading the suitable place or nest into ential mythological figure in nineteenth book of the Iliad, he was puzzled the history of science. I by Achilles’ request to his mother Thetis to Epic idea: the death of Patroclus Paolo Mazzarello is at the Istituto di take care of the corpse of his friend Patroclus: (top) set Redi (right) thinking. Genetica Biochimica ed Evoluzionistica, “I much fear that flies will settle upon the son CNR, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100Pavia, Italy.