The Human Brain in Ancient Egypt: A Medical and Historical Re-evaluation of Its Function and Importance

The Human Brain in Ancient Egypt examines the function and importance of the human brain in ancient Egypt, challenging long-held claims about mummification and the afterlife. The study combines radiological survey, medical papyri, and palaeopathological records to assess treatment of the cranium and evidence of cranial injuries. The results refute the notion that the brain was extracted because it served no purpose in the afterlife, and mummification served a religious ideology of transformation and preservation for eternity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 86 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Archaeopress

The Human Brain in Ancient Egypt delves into a comprehensive medical and historical exploration of the significance and role of the human brain in ancient Egypt. This study aims to assess whether the treatment of the brain during anthropogenic mummification was influenced by medical concepts related to the brain. The prevailing belief that excerebration was performed to remove the brain from the body continues to dominate the literature, with the assumption that the functions of the brain were attributed to the heart, rendering the brain unnecessary in the afterlife. To evaluate the validity of these claims, the study employs a multi-faceted approach. It involves a radiological survey of 33 subjects utilizing the IMPACT mummy database to ascertain the treatment of the cranium. Additionally, a thorough examination of medical papyri seeks references to the human brain. Furthermore, a meticulous inspection of palaeopathological records is conducted to uncover evidence of cranial injuries and subsequent medical treatments.

The findings of this study challenge long-held assumptions regarding the importance of the human brain in ancient Egypt. Numerous aspects of mummification that were once widely accepted are now found to be questionable. Mummification served as a religious practice, where the deceased was transformed and preserved for eternity. The treatment of the brain was not found to differ significantly from the treatment of visceral organs, and the notion that the brain was extracted solely because it had no purpose in the afterlife was deemed unfounded.

The study's findings shed new light on the complex relationship between medicine, religion, and the human brain in ancient Egypt. It challenges the traditional narratives and provides a more nuanced understanding of the historical context surrounding brain treatment and its significance in ancient Egyptian society. This research contributes to our knowledge of ancient medicine and sheds light on the cultural and religious beliefs of the time.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803274775