Treatments generally include massage, fumigation and the application of various scented oils. Philosophy and practice of ancient egyptian medicine. Although they believed that an angry god or evil spirit caused disease, the ancient egyptians formulated a number of valid treatments and remedies. Incorporating recent insights of modern medicine and egyptology, nunn provides readers with a comprehensive and authoritative book on a fascinating subject. The kahun medical papyrus or gynaecological papyrus translation by stephen quirke. The kahun gynecological papyrus twelfth dynasty 1800 bc is the oldest. It is kept in the petrie museum of egyptian archaeology of the university college london. Ancient egyptian medicine wikimili, the best wikipedia.
The medicine of the ancient egyptians is some of the oldest documented. The skills of the ancient egyptians in preserving bodies are wellknown, but their expertise in everyday medical practices is less familiar and often misinterpreted. Ancient egyptian medical papyri, facts about medicine in. Along with other papyrus scrolls like the kahun gynaecological papyrus, the london medical papyrus, and the edwin smith papyrus, to name only a few, these works attest to the vast medical knowledge and skill of. Ancient origins articles related to kahun gynecological papyrus in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. Seminal works on ancient egyptian medicine tend to treat the field as distinct from religious practices, often fixating on the medical papyri as. Friedrich wilhelm iv of prussia acquired it in 1827 for the berlin museum, where it is still housed. Ancient egyptian medicine smith papyrus ebers papyrus. Griffith in 1893, and published in the petrie papyri.
Many valuable medical papyri on the remote civilisation of the ancient egyptians have discovered during a period of more than 100. The style of writing is that of the 19th dynasty, and it is dated between 50. Egyptian culture civilization far exceeded that of other groups who settled elsewhere more is known about egypt than any other ancient culture egyptian society was held together by an absolute monarchy. Ancient egyptian medicine employed advanced surgical practices, while the. The kahun papyri kp also petrie papyri or lahun papyri are a collection of ancient egyptian texts discussing administrative, mathematical and medical topics. Both edwin smith and ebers papyri were discovered together in one jar. This is a papyrus dealing with womens health gynecological diseases, fertility, pregnancy, and contraception. It was erected for the overseers and workmen employed in constructing the nearby pyramid of allahun, built by sesostris ii reigned 184437 bce, and it was abandoned when the pyramid was completed. Kahun gynecological papyrus ancient egyptian medicine. Kahun, ancient egyptian town, its site lying in modern alfayyum mu. Please check out the ancient egyptian medicine website, which talks in details not only about the ebers papyrus, but also about other famous papyri such as the edwin smith papyrus c. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The ebers papyrus is a medical text which is routinely cited as evidence of how medicine and magic were interrelated in ancient egypt.
The kahun gynaecological papyrus of 1800 bc which dealt with mainly womens health, pregnancy, fertility, contraception and many more. Ancient egyptian medical texts ancient history encyclopedia. The papyrus had been so heavily used that its ancient owner. Aug 06, 2019 the kahun gynaecological papyrus of 1800 bc which dealt with mainly womens health, pregnancy, fertility, contraception and many more.
Examination of a woman aching in her rear, her front, and the calves of her thighs you should say of it it is discharges of the womb. The ebers papyrus is a 110page scroll, which is about 20 meters long. C the kahun medical papyrus, the ramesseum iv and ramesseum v papyri, the edwin smith surgical papyrus, the ebers medical papyrus and the hearst medical papyrus. You should treat it with a measure of carob fruit, a measure of pellets, 1 hin of cow milk boil, cool, mix together, drink on 4 mornings 4. Ancient egyptian medicine facts, worksheets, practices. Overall, it can be claimed that ancient egyptian medicine is grounded in mysticism and herbology. The kahun gynaecological papyrus dated to the middle kingdom specifically c. A note on the recto states the date as being the 29th year of the reign of amenenhat iii c. Those papyri would be brought into the modern world in april and november 1889 by flinders petrie.
Among the oldest and most important medical papyri of ancient egypt, it was purchased at luxor in the winter of 187374 by georg ebers. Excavated by the english archaeologist sir flinders petrie 188890, it revealed a crisscross. Aug 18, 2019 the medicine of the ancient egyptians is some of the oldest documented. Several treatments for some diseases are described, including diseases of cattle, dogs, birds and fish and they are concentrating largely on afflictions that. This article presents a new translation of the papyrus kahun. These are mainly the eight papyri known as the kahun, the edwin smith, the ebers, the hearst, the er man, the london, the berlin, and the chester beatty. They were found on a site near the modern day egyptian town of lehun. Ancient egyptian medical papyri, edwin smith papyrus. The kahun gynaecological papyrus also petrie medical papyrus, kahun medical papyrus, lahun medical papyrus, or uc32057 is the oldest known medical text in egypt, although not the oldest in the world as in philadelphia museum a sumerian medical clay tablet from 3rd millennium is preserved. Medicine and healing in the premodern west traces the history of medicine and medical practice from ancient egypt through to the end of the middle ages. Dated to 1800 bce, it deals with womens health gynaecological.
The kahun papyrus was discovered by flinders petrie in april of 1889 at the fayum site of lahun. A translation of the oldest treatise on gynaecology that has survived from the ancient world. The oldest extant egyptian medical texts are six papyri from the period between 2000 b. Nunn draws on his own experience as an eminent doctor of medicine and an egyptologist to reassess the evidence. Ancient egyptian medicine is particularly well known, its popular characteristics by. The papyrus ebers hardcover january 1, 1974 by cyril p. The name amenemhet iii was written in the right upper corner behind third page name. The kahun gynaecological papyrus also petrie medical papyrus, kahun medical papyrus, lahun medical papyrus, or uc32057 is the oldest known medical text in egypt, citation needed although not the oldest in the world as in philadelphia museum a sumerian medical clay tablet from 3rd millennium is preserved. Ancient egyptian medicine doctors in ancient egypt. The fragmented text is in thirtyfour sections, each section dealing with an explicit medical issue and contains details of the diagnosis and treatment. Jul 09, 2018 today, we will be talking about the kahun papyrus, which is among the oldest and most important medical papyri of ancient egypt and of the world.
The papyrus is currently housed in the university college london. The hearst medical papyrus dated to the new kingdom treats urinary tract infections and digestive problems. Petrie museum of egyptian archaeology, uc page large. It is a three page document, 1 m long and about 33 cm wide. Its many fragments were discovered by flinders petrie in 1889 and are kept at the university college london. Kahun medical papyrus or gynaecological papyrus ucl. All of the treatments talked about in the kahun papyrus are nonsurgical. Jan 14, 2018 the kahun gynaecological papyrus dated to the middle kingdom specifically c. Interest in the papyrus lies in its being indisputably the most ancient document on gynaecology known. Treatments are nonsurgical, comprising applying medicines to the affected body part or. This collection of papyri is one of the largest ever found. It covers contraception, conception, and pregnancy issues, as well as attendant problems linked to menstruation.
It is a surgical papyrus and it presents information about 48 surgical cases. The medicine of the ancient egyptians 9789774166402. The ebers papyrus, also known as papyrus ebers, is an egyptian medical papyrus of herbal knowledge dating to circa 1550 bc. The ellahun gynecological papyrus hektoen international. The former was considered by the ancient egyptians as the text book of surgery while the latter as thetext book of medicine. Edwin smith papyrus is one of the most important ancient egyptian medical papyri. The papyrus was written in about 1500 bc, but it is believed to have been copied from earlier texts. It is currently kept at the library of the university of leipzig, in germany. The first part of the book focuses on ancient egyptian surgery, drawing mainly on. Ancient egyptian medicine article in journal of family planning and reproductive health care 371. A caution on reading the ancient egyptian writings on health reading a passage. Kahun is the name petrie gave to the lehun town site, which in 1825 bc had been a thriving, prosperous town.
Griffith in 1893 and published in the petrie papyri. Jan 27, 2017 the kahun gynecological papyrus twelfth dynasty 1800 bc is the oldest available medical record of egyptian civilization, a three page document one meter long and about thirtythree cm wide that deals with gynecological diseases, fertility, pregnancy, and contraception. Eyes and the womb are, for some reason, closely linked in ancient egyptian health and medicine. The skills of the ancient egyptians in preserving bodies through mummification are well known, but their expertise in the everyday medical practices needed to treat the living is less familiar and often misinterpreted. It covers contraception, conception, and pregnancy issues, as. The kahun gynaecological papyrus is the oldest known medical text in egypt, although not the. It was found at ellahun faiyum, egypt by flinders petrie in 1889 and first translated by f. He also explores ancient egyptian spells and incantations and the relationship of magic and religion to medical practices. The ancient egyptians understood the concept of you are what you eat, the ancient egyptians were aware of the importance of the diet and based it on the principles of moderation. The socalled kahun gynaecological papyrus is one of the largest manuscripts dating from the late middle kingdom 18501700 bc. Today, we will be talking about the kahun papyrus, which is among the oldest and most important medical papyri of ancient egypt and of the world.
Since the ancient egyptians had their own alphabetical and numerical system, they started recording their medical findings, and they compiled the ebers papyrus, which today is the most ancient text concerning medical practice. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online. Egyptian medical papyri wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Kahun gynaecological papyrus around 1800 bce is the oldest known medical text from egypt. It was found at ellahun by flinders petrie in 1889, first translated by f. The kahun gynecological papyrus twelfth dynasty 1800 bc is the oldest available medical record of egyptian civilization, a three page document one meter long and about thirtythree cm wide that deals with gynecological diseases, fertility, pregnancy, and contraception. Featuring nearly one hundred primary documents and images, this book introduces readers to the words and ideas of men and women from across europe and the mediterranean sea, from prominent physicians to humble healers. Ancient egyptian medicine dates back to the days of imhotep, the vizier of djoser during the 27th century b. Philosophy and practice of ancient egyptian medicine kip l. It was discovered by giuseppe passalacqua in saqqara, egypt.
Enass yousif abdelkarim salih doctoral thesis book 2019. Medicine in ancient egypt was understood as a combination of. Papyrus is one of the largest manuscripts dating from the late middle kingdom. The kahun gynaecological papyrus also kahun papyrus, kahun medical papyrus, or uc 32057 is the oldest known medical text of any kind. The darkness of the night enveloped the earth but the moon cast her beams upon all pages of this book and it was brought to the treasury of his majesty king khufu. Kahun, the edwin smith, the ebers, the hearst, the er. Jlncient egyptian medical practice may be quite satis factorily reconstructed from an analysis of the available sources.
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