Gynaecology from ancient Egypt: The papyrus Kahun: A translation of the oldest treatise on gynaecology that has survived from the ancient world.
What information does the Kahun papyrus contain?
The Kahun Papyri (KP; also Petrie Papyri or Lahun Papyri) are a collection of ancient Egyptian texts discussing administrative, mathematical and medical topics. Its many fragments were discovered by Flinders Petrie in 1889 and are kept at the University College London.
Who created the Kahun papyrus?
The Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus is the oldest medical text we have. Healers wrote the text during the reign of Pharaoh Amenenhat II. From the accounts in the text – such as diagnoses and treatments – one can assume that gynecological and obstetric practices were already major medical practices in ancient Egypt.
Why is Kahun important?
Kahun, ancient Egyptian town, its site lying in modern Al-Fayyūm muḥāfaẓah (governorate). It was erected for the overseers and workmen employed in constructing the nearby pyramid of Al-Lāhūn, built by Sesostris II (reigned 1844–37 bce), and it was abandoned when the pyramid was completed.
When was the Ebers Papyrus discovered?
Ebers papyrus, Egyptian compilation of medical texts dated about 1550 bc, one of the oldest known medical works. The scroll contains 700 magical formulas and folk remedies meant to cure afflictions ranging from crocodile bite to toenail pain and to rid the house of such pests as flies, rats, and scorpions.
Where is the Edwin Smith Papyrus?
From 1938 through 1948, the papyrus was at the Brooklyn Museum. In 1948, the New York Historical Society and the Brooklyn Museum presented the papyrus to the New York Academy of Medicine, where it remains today.
How old is the Kahun papyrus?
The so-called Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus is one of the largest manuscripts dating from the late Middle Kingdom (1850–1700 BC). ‘Kahun’ is the name Petrie gave to the Lehun town site, which in 1825 BC had been a thriving, prosperous town.
When was Kahun built?
The town, or rather the worker’s village, was built in 1895 BC under the reign of King Senusret II during the Middle Kingdom period of ancient Egypt. The town is located in the modern day governorate of El Faiyum.
What is Kahun?
Kahun may refer to: Kahun, India, Marathi word meaning = “Why”
Who built the pyramid of Lahun?
The complex was built by the architect Anupy for king Senusert II in the 12th dynasty. It consists of the mud brick pyramid and eight mastabas to the north of the pyramid, and the so-called Queen’s pyramid.
What does Ebers Papyrus say?
Ebers Papyrus treatment for cancer: recounting a “tumor against the god Xenus,” it recommends “do thou nothing there against“. Ebers Papyrus is a preserved medical document from ancient Egypt, traced to about 1550 B.C.E.
Where was the Ebers Papyrus discovered?
The source of the papyrus is unknown, but it was said to have been found between the legs of a mummy in the El-Assasif district of the Theban necropolis.
Are enemas written in Ebers Papyrus?
The oldest written text mentioning enemas is the Ebers Papyrus and many medications were administered using enemas. One of the many types of medical specialists was an Iri, the Shepherd of the Anus. Many of their medical practices were effective, such as the surgical procedures given in the Edwin Smith papyrus.
Why is the Edwin Smith papyrus important?
Dating from the seventeenth century b.c., the Edwin Smith papyrus is the oldest known surviving trauma text in history [1]. This ancient medical treatise is credited as containing the earliest known scientific writings on rational observations in medicine.
When was the Edwin Smith papyrus made?
Edwin Smith papyrus, (c. 1600 bc), ancient Egyptian medical treatise, believed to be a copy of a work dating from c. 3000 bc.
What did the Edwin Smith papyrus?
Whereas other medical papyruses consisted solely of spells and recipes, the Edwin Smith papyrus revealed a practical guide to management of wounds based on a rational and inductive process. The papyrus is dated to 1600 BC, but copied from a text several hundred years older, and is the world’s oldest surgical text.
How long did it take to build the pyramid of Teti?
Who built it? It was built by Teti , the first king of the 6th dynasty who ruled Egypt for some 32 years. Why was it built? This pyramid was built as the ancient Egyptians believe in resurrection.
How tall is the pyramid of Lahun?
Restoration works at the pyramid
The pyramid of Al-Lahun is made of mud brick. It had a length of 106 m., a slope of 42 35 and a height of 48.6 m.
Where is Lahun pyramid?
Illahun, Lahun, or Kahun (the latter being a neologism coined by archaeologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie) is a workmen’s village in Faiyum, Egypt. El Lahun is associated with the Pyramid of Senusret II (Greek: Sesostris II), which is located near the modern town, and is often called the Pyramid of Lahun.
How might a Middle Kingdom town have been planned?
The Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC) seems to have been the highpoint for centralised planning of new towns, typically within rectilinear boundary walls, and on a strict orthogonal plan – a street grid as regular as a Roman military camp or a modern New World city.
How old is the pyramid of Lahun?
The pyramid was first discovered by a British archaeologist in 1889. The pyramid was built during the reign of 12th dynasty pharaoh Senusret II, who ruled Egypt from 1897 B.C. to 1878 B.C., according to the antiquities ministry.
Why was the meidum pyramid built?
A Brief History Of Meidum Pyramid
Historical records show that the pyramid was built for Pharaoh Huni who was the last ruler of the 3rd Dynasty. Construction was not completed during Huni’s reign, but it was continued during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu.
How old is the oldest papyrus dated back to?
Danish Egyptologist Sofie Schiødt from the University of Copenhagen calls it the oldest guide to mummification and dating back to 3,500-years.
Who united Upper and Lower Egypt?
Menes, also spelled Mena, Meni, or Min, (flourished c. 2925 bce), legendary first king of unified Egypt, who, according to tradition, joined Upper and Lower Egypt in a single centralized monarchy and established ancient Egypt’s 1st dynasty.
What did Ebers Papyrus say about beer?
A prescription from the Ebers Papyrus for childhood incontinence calls for the mother to drink a cup of beer mixed with grass seeds and cyperus grass for four days while breastfeeding the child. You should say of it ‘it is discharges of the womb’.
How long is the Ebers Papyrus?
The Ebers Papyrus is a scroll 20,23 meters in length and contains 108 columns of text.
How many prescriptions and drugs are in Ebers Papyrus?
Although Egyptian medicine dates back to about 2900 BC, the “Papyrus Ebers,” a collection of 800 prescriptions mentioning 700 drugs, dates back to around 1500 BC. Pharmacy was conducted in ancient Egypt by gatherers and preparers of drugs, and head pharmacists who were called “Chiefs of Fabrication.”
What are the Edwin Smith and George Ebers papyri?
Two of them, known as the “Edwin Smith” and “George Ebers” papyri, contain descriptions of cancer written around 1600 B.C., and are believed to date from sources as early as 2500 B.C. The Smith papyrus describes surgery, while the Ebers’ papyrus outlines pharmacological, mechanical, and magical treatments.
What did the Egyptian doctors use to treat illnesses?
Most disgusting of all, Egyptian physicians used human and animal excrement as a cure-all remedy for diseases and injuries. According to 1500 B.C.’s Ebers Papyrus, donkey, dog, gazelle and fly dung were all celebrated for their healing properties and their ability to ward off bad spirits.
What did Sekhmet look like?
She was usually depicted as a lioness or as a woman with the head of a lioness, on which was placed the solar disk and the uraeus serpent. Sekhmet was sometimes identified with other Egyptian goddesses, such as Hathor, Bastet, and Mut.
What tools did Egyptian doctors use?
Surgeons had an array of instruments, such as pincers, forceps, spoons, saws, containers with burning incense, hooks, and knives. Prosthetics existed, but they were probably not very practical.