Proto-Surgery in Ancient Egypt

Abstract

This article investigates the evidence we have for the existence of proto-surgery in ancient Egypt during the Dynastic Period (c.3200 - 323 BC). Climate and chance have preserved medical literature as well as paleoarcheological specimens and these artefacts, along with extant Greek and Roman treatises appear to support the conclusion that protosurgery was practised in ancient Egypt (the prefix proto- designates an original or early form). Elements of proto-surgical development including analgesia and sedation, the incision, trephination, proto-surgery of trauma, mythical proto-surgery and antisepsis, drawing on primary sources, surviving artefacts and modern commentary are discussed. Where appropriate comparisons are made with proto-surgery in ancient Mesopotamia and the Bronze Age Aegean.