The First Known Egyptian Physician/Dentist: Artefacts in the Museum of La Plata (Argentina)

Zingarelli, Andrea Paula
Castro, María Belén
Leguizamón, Yesica Jimena
Rosell, Pablo Martín
Salem, Leila

Publication date

January 2017

Publisher

International Society for the History of Medicine

Abstract

In La Plata Museum there are three casts that have representations and inscriptions of Hesyra who lived in times of King Djoser (2686-2613 BC) and correspond to three wooden panels, finely made, found together with others in this official's tomb in Saqqara. In the Cairo Museum, they are currently classified with the reference number CG 1426, CG1427 and CG1428. Hesyra carries the name of head of dentists and physicians in one of the casts (CG 1426) that is located today in the Museum of La Plata. The texts in hieroglyphics accompanying the image record for the first time the existence of medical and dental activities in Ancient Egypt.Le musée de La Plata conserve trois moulages portant la trace d'Hesyra, médecin qui vécut sous le règne du ph...