Medicine in the Antiquities: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia

This set of flashcards comprehensively covers key concepts, facts, and specifics from the lecture on ancient medicine in Egypt and Mesopotamia.

What civilization reached its height under the Pharaohs around 3000 BC?

Ancient Egypt

What was the key material used for documenting medical achievements in Ancient Egypt?

Papyri made from the Cyperus papyrus plant.

What supernatural causes did Egyptians attribute to diseases?

They believed diseases were caused by supernatural forces and appeased the gods with sacrifices.

Who is considered the greatest physician in Ancient Egypt?

Imhotep.

What two dimensions of healing existed in Ancient Egypt?

• Theurgic (magical cures)

• Ordinary priestly curative medicine (plant based)

What notable medical documents originate from Ancient Egypt?

Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, George Ebers Papyrus, Kahun Gynecological Papyrus, Berlin Medical Papyrus, London Medical Papyrus, Hearst Medical Papyrus.

What does the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus primarily document?

Surgical conditions such as wounds, fractures, circumcision, and broken bones.

What notable role did Imhotep serve in Ancient Egypt?

• Chief vizier to Pharaoh Zozer

• Renowned astrologer

• Pyramid designer

• Physician.

What was the primary purpose of mummification in Ancient Egypt?

To prepare the body for the afterlife.

What were the names of the three categories of healers in Mesopotamia?

Baru (seer), Ashipu (priest), and Asu (physician).

What code includes medical instructions for physicians and societal laws in Mesopotamia?

The Code of Hammurabi.

• Gave instructions on family life,
  occupation and societal laws

• Included medical instructions for
  the physicians and ideas on
  diseases

What was the Mesopotamian approach to diagnosing illness?

Identifying the demon responsible for the illness.

Expelled by spells or incantations

What substances were commonly used in Mesopotamian medical treatments?

Vegetable items along with various fats, as well as salt, oil, beer, or fat for wound dressing.

What insights can we draw from ancient approaches to health and diseases?

Connections to modern medical practices and understanding of health.

What is Egypt known for in surgery?

First to perform surgery on human body

In Egypt dissection was for

Religious significance

What is a swnu in Egypt?

Physician that specialized in one area of medicine or illness.

In Egypt court physicians were at the ______ of the pyramid.

Top

In Egypt what were Sekhmet?

Sorcerers

In Egypt what were Peseshat?

Female physicians or healers who practiced medicine in ancient Egypt, often associated with childbirth and women's health.

What does Imhotep mean?

the one who comes in peace

Who is the Egyptian God of the afterlife?

Anubis

Who is Imhotep comparable to?

Asclepius (god of medicine)

How did Imhotep aid in healing? 

Associated with healing shrines and incubator cures
• In these incubator cures, healing was received
a visit by a god or an emissary in a snake figure

What was quality of mummification based on?

Class or status of the deceased person

Mesopotamia was one of the worlds first ________ ____________.

Great civilizations

In Mesopotamia the liver was regarded as _________. 

The seat of life- Divine inspection of the livers of sacrificed animals

What was Mesopotamia’s interpretation of disease? 

Omen based- beliefs and supernatural causes

In Mesopotamia what were Baru’s?

Seers- specialized in divination

In Mesopotamia what was a Ashipu?

Priests- incantation and exorcism

In Mesopotamia what were Asu?

Physicians- cured diseases using drugs, surgery, bandaging

(Mesopotamia)

If a physician caused the death of a lord _____________

If a slave died at the physicians hands ______________

He lost his hands

He replaced the slave

(Mesopotamia) Headaches, neck pains, stomach issues were seen as _______ _________.

Bad omens

What did Mesopotamians draw from for empirical approches to disease?

Materia medica

Mesopotamians also attributed sickness to: 

• Cold, dust, dryness

• Malnutrition, venereal infections, natural causes