Lecture on Sleep Patterns and Historical Mistranslation

Introduction

• Lecture starts with an anecdote about mistranslation in Homer's The Odyssey.
• Focus on how mistranslation reveals a misunderstanding of historical sleep patterns.

Misinterpreted Mistranslation in The Odyssey

• Reference to a passage involving the nymph Idothea and King Menelaus.
• Mistranslation: "Proteus settles down" vs "Proteus' first leap".
• Link to A. Roger Ekirch's research on historical sleep patterns.

Historical Sleep Patterns

• Monophasic vs Biphasic Sleep:
  • Modern society: Monophasic sleep (single sleep period, e.g., 8 hours a night).
  • Historical: Biphasic sleep (two sleep periods, with a wakeful period in between).
• Traditional Biphasic Sleep:
  • People slept after sundown for ~4 hours, awake for 1-2 hours, then back to sleep until sunrise.
  • Activities during wakefulness included praying, interpreting dreams, writing, visiting neighbors, or intimate relations.

Evidence from Historical Records

• Ekirch found 500+ references to interrupted sleep:
  • 15th-century prayer books, Charles Dickens novels, Don Quixote, ballads, diaries.
  • 16th-century French doctor's manual recommending conception during wakefulness.
• Historians and translators assumed past sleep patterns were the same as present ones.

Experimental Research on Sleep Patterns

• Animal vs Human Sleep:
  • Many animals exhibit polyphasic sleep, including biphasic sleep observed in mammals.
  • Assumed human monophasic sleep was natural, but research suggests otherwise.
• Thomas Weir's Experiment (1992):
  • 7 men experienced 14-hour darkness daily for a month.
  • Participants settled into biphasic sleep: 4 hours sleep, 1-3 hours awake, 4 hours sleep.

Transition to Monophasic Sleep

• Shift due to technological advances and social changes:
  • Artificial lighting reduced fear and danger associated with nighttime activities.
  • Nighttime church services allowed for socialization and avoidance of persecution.
  • Industrial Revolution emphasized efficiency, leading to single sleep period trend.

Global Perspectives on Sleep Patterns

• Siestas:
  • Common in Southern Europe, Mediterranean, China, India, and Middle East.
  • Siestas differ from biphasic sleep; prevalence declining with Western work culture.

Conclusion

• Discussion on modern streaming platforms (Nebula and CuriosityStream).
• Promotion of a bundled offer for access to unique content, including documentaries on sleep.

Note:

• Emphasis on acknowledging both historical understanding and modern developments in sleep research.