ebers

The Edwin Smith Papyrus was this year touted as “the birth of analytical thinking in Medicine and Otolaryngology,” in the medical journal The Laryngoscope. Along with a collection of other fascinating papyri, the script gives an incredible insight into the knowledge, skills, and procedures of ancient Egyptian medicine, and offers some tips on how to treat trauma issues, such as a man with a massive gouge in his head.

Much of what we know about Egyptian medicine comes from roughly a dozen medical scrolls that have survived. The oldest one is the Kahun Scroll, dating to 1820 BC, which focuses in Gynaecology. The two longest, and arguably most important scrolls, are the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (ca. 1,500 BC) and the Ebers Papyrus, which dates to the reign of Amenhotep I (1526-1506 BC).

About The Author

Owen Jarus

Owen Jarus is a freelance writer based in Toronto ,Canada. He has written articles on archaeology for a variety of media outlets including The Canadian Press newswire (CP), U of T Magazine, The Mississauga News and The Guelph Mercury. Education: BA from the University of Toronto in History, Geography and Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations. BJourn in Journalism from Ryerson University.

Last three pieces by this author: So You Want to go North? Ontario Archaeology Conference Will Look at the Canadian Shield, What was the Most Important Site in Ancient London? The Forum!, They’ve found an opening! Egyptologists reach end of tunnel in Seti I tomb