Ancient Egyptian Medicine

The lecture provides an overview of medicine and medical practices from

the 3rd millennium BC to Late Antiquity primarily drawing on ancient Egypt,

but includes material from neighbouring cultures. The focus is on interpreting

and reconstructing ancient practices and theories based on original sources

(in translation) through a modern methodological approach to these by

combining approaches from both the humanities and modern medical

sciences. Both written and material sources are examined and discussed.

One of the main objectives of the module is to make students aware of the

importance of culture to interpret ancient medicine and science in general.

J. Nunn, Ancient Egyptian Medicine, London 1996 (or later)

J.P. Allen, The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt, New York NY 2005

Course reader (provided separately)

The student should:

Knowledge:

-Understand methods, scope, and social setting of ancient medicine

-Sources relating to ancient medicine

-Connection between culture and anthropology and medical theories and

practices

Skills

-Be able to analyses particular topics relating to ancient therapeutic practices

and medicine

-Analyze ancient sources, construct and present an argument, and historical

overview of the medicine and its sources in antiquity.

Competence:

-Awareness of the cultural specificity of the ancient Egypt and its significance

for understanding modern world

-Awareness of significance the culture of the ancient Egypt