melancholic temperament

In ancient Western physiological theory, the melancholic temperament was associated with an excess of black bile, one of the four cardinal humors. This theory, originating with figures like Empedocles and Hippocrates, posited that the balance of bodily fluids determined a person's temperament, physical characteristics, and mental qualities. A predominance of black bile was believed to result in a melancholic disposition, characterized by sadness and depression. This humoral theory, which linked body chemistry to temperament, persisted for over 2,500 years before being superseded by more complex scientific understandings of hormones and neurotransmitters.1234