An autopsy is a process in medical science that determines the cause and manner of the death of a person. An autopsy formed an integral part of the ancient Egyptian medicine. Ancient Egypt autopsy had gradually developed as during that period Egyptians largely practiced religious ritual of mummification.
In an autopsy, the internal organs like the brain, liver, pancreas, heart, lungs, spleen, and the intestine are examined and studied. The Egyptian civilization was one of the first few civilizations that engaged in the practice of mummification.
Ancient Egyptians had advanced knowledge about medicine. To obtain more information on the subject, many of the Greek scholars are known to have referred to the ancient Egyptians writings. The autopsy that opened the body of the deceased provided the medical practitioners a detailed understanding of an injury or disease on the person. It also enabled them in determining the cause and manner of death.
The autopsy provided an insight that led to several remarkable developments in surgeries and healing practices. Many of the modern day physicians are influenced by the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians about autopsy and medicine.
Autopsy in Ancient Egypt
An Autopsy that was conducted on many of the mummified bodies reveals the culture, basic lifestyle, and health of the people. An autopsy of an Egyptian princess believed to have clogged arteries and lived 3500 years ago. This is one of the examples of the oldest person to have heart ailment that can be traced back to several centuries.
Another study revealed from many of the bodies on which the autopsy has been conducted indicated the presence of calcium in the arteries, a sign that the arteries were clogged. The first scientific autopsy ever conducted was the autopsy of Irtyersenu in 1825. It was originally believed that Irtyersenu died of ovarian cancer. But with the re-examination of the mummy, it was suggested that she died of tuberculosis and not cancer.
An interesting thing about Irtyersenu’s mummy was that her internal organs had not been removed. Autopsies conducted on ancient Egyptians indicated that most people suffered from a problem that was related to their dental condition.
Gebelein Man
Well-preserved mummies reveal a great deal about the beliefs, tradition, structure of a particular civilization and the culture of treating its dead. The famous mummy that was found at the site of Gebelein near Thebes in Egypt, was nicknamed as “Ginger” for his red hair. This mummy was officially called the Gebelein Man for where he was found.
Ancient mummies like the Gebelien Man can tell us a great deal about the predynastic culture. It can also shed light on causes of death, various diseases that may have afflicted the ancient Egyptians. A recent study suggested that the Gebelein Man was most likely murdered. This was evident in the CAT Scan at Cromwell Hospital in London that the ribs, shoulder bone of the Gebelien man were damaged and there was a mark on the flesh of his back indicating that he was stabbed from behind with a copper blade. Thus, well-preserved mummies and untouched burials help us to know about the ancient traditions, culture practiced thousands of years ago.
