Basel, Switzerland/basel402
Previous | Home | NextThis particular building at Leonhardstraße 3 is now a finance center, but was the site of Paracelsus' home after spending a few weeks in "zum Sessel," the home of Froben. Because of his vexing personality, Paracelsus was always at odds with the established community, and he never stayed long in one place. But the conflict went deeper than that in Basel -- he was caught in the middle of a political struggle between the bourgeoisie, who were turning to Martin Luther, and the conservative population (the catholic church, the university, and the aristocracy). The physicians, well versed in the old theories, grew to be a wealthy and prestigious class, "dressed in their red robes and riding about on their white horses." Meanwhile, the prosperity of the pharmacies was guaranteed by the physicians who prescribed the most preposterous concoctions. It was against this background of ignorance that the Renaissance was emerging. Paracelsus was really a man of the Reformation, viewing man as an individual; and all of his works and philosophies were directed toward this end. It was just a matter of time before Paracelsus was banned from Basel; and when Froben died not even a year after the "successful" treatment, Paracelsus' reputation was severely tarnished.
