People with disabilities in ancient Egypt
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/eduj.Vol61.Iss3.5066Keywords:
Disabled, humpback, kyphosis, leg defects, ancient Egypt, dwarfismAbstract
The ancient Egyptians left behind a vast legacy of their culture, religion, gods, affairs, and personal and daily life through inscriptions and depictions on the walls of tombs and temples. As a result, we have a good understanding of the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians. Congenital anomalies were common in ancient Egypt, and these conditions were well represented in the sculptures and drawings left by the Egyptians on papyrus and temple walls. Some congenital deformities may have been inherited or caused by factors that negatively affect the fetus during pregnancy. Sometimes, they may appear immediately after birth, or symptoms may manifest later during the growth period. For example, Senb suffered from a form of dwarfism known as kyphosis. Sometimes, there may be some curvature of the spine. Leg deformities also stand out, with one body part depicted ideally with detailed lines showing muscles and bones. Kyphosis, a deformity causing curvature in the upper back, is another example. Clubfoot, a condition where one or both feet are inverted, causing difficulty in walking, is also depicted.
Downloads
References
1.A. Erman and H. Grapow, Wörterbuch der Aegyptischen Sprache (Wb III) [Dictionary of Egyptian Language (Vol III)] (Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1926-1961).
2.A. Hamzaoglu, et al., "Simultaneous Surgical Treatment in Conenital Scoliosis and/ or Kyphosis Associated with Intraspinal Abnormalities," SPINE 32, no. 25 (2007). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e31815b60e3
3.B. Vachala, Abusir VIII: Die Reliefs aus der Ptahschepses-Mastaba in Abusir [Abusir VIII: The reliefs from the Ptahshepses-Mastaba in Abusir] (Prague: Czech Institute of Egyptology, 2004).
4.Baines J., Merit by proxy: The biographies of the dwarf Djeho and his patron Tjaiharpta. J E A 78, 1992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3822075
5.C. Reeves, Egyptian Medicine (Buckinghamshire: Shire Publications, 1992), 33.
Charlotte A.R, Old World tuberculosis: Evidence from human remains with a review of current research and future prospects, Elsevier, vol. 95 (2015). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2015.02.018
6.D. Smith, Introduction to Special Education: Making a Difference (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2007).
7.Dasen, V. "Dwarfism in Egypt and Classical Antiquity: Iconography and Medical History." Medical History 32 (1988). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025727300048237
8.Dasen, V. Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198146995.001.0001
9.Dawsen, W.R. "Pygmies and Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt." JEA 24, no.2 (1938). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3854789
Disability Action Research Kollective Featuring work by Alexandra Morris, Richard Amm, and Kyle Lewis Jordan.
Ebbell, The Papyrus Ebres: The Greatest Egyptian Medical Document (Copenhagen: Levin & Munksgaard, 1937.
Filler, J., Disease, Britsh Museum press, 1995.
G. Steindroff, Das Grab des Ti, vol. II [The Grave of the Ti vol.II] (Leipzig: Hinrichs 1913.
Griffith, "The Teachings of Amenophis son of Kanakht, Papyrus B.M. 10474," JEA 12, no.3/4 (Oct., 1926). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3854387
H. Kamal, Dictionary of Pharaonic Medicine (Cairo: National Publication House, 1967).
H. Madsen, "EinKünstlerisches Experiment imAltenReiche" ["An artistic experiment in Old Kingdom"], ZÄS 42 (1905): 65-66 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1524/zaes.1905.4142.jg.227
H. Solmann, "La Maladie d’ankh-utus" The Disease of ankh-utus", BMSA 17 (1927).
H. Wild, Le Tombeau de Ti, vol. II [The Tomb of Ti] (Cairo, 1953.
H.E Sigerist, A History of Medicine Vol. I, Primitive and Archaic Medicine, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1951).
Hecht F., Bes, Aesop and Morgante: Reflections of achondroplasia. Clin Genet 37, 1990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.1990.tb04190.x
J.E. Quibell, Excavations at Saqqara: vol. II (Cairo: IFAO, 1909).
K. R. Weeks, "The Anatomical Knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians and the Representation of the Human Figure in Egyptian Art," (PhD diss., Yale University, 1970).
K.R Weeks, Mastabas of Cemetery G 6000 (Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1994),
L. Stedman, Medical Dictionary 24th ed. (London: William & Wilkins, 1982).
M. El Shafey, "Congenital Anomalies of Individuals in Ancient Egyptian Art till the End of the New Kingdom," (master’s thesis, Tanta University, 1998).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. II: The New Kingdom (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976).
M.J. Mclaughlin and L. Florian, Disability Classification in Education: Issues and Perspective (California: Crowin Press, 2008).
Marc Stiefel, MD; Arlene Shaner, MA, MLS; Steven D. Schaefer, The Edwin Smith Papyrus: The Birth of Analytical Thinking in Medicine and Otolaryngology, Laryngoscope 116, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlg.0000191461.08542.a3
Mario Novaka, , Mislav Cavka ˇb, Mario Slaus, Two cases of neurogenic paralysis in medieval skeletal samples from Croatia, International Journal of Paleopathology 7 (2014). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.06.002
Mitchell, J. K., Study of a mummy affected with anterior poliomyelitis. Trans Assoc Am Phys 15, 1900
N. Ebeid, Egyptian Medicine In the Days of the Pharaohs (Cairo: General Egyptian Book Organization, 1999).
N. Kanawati and A. Woods, Artists in the Old Kingdom: Techniques and Achievements (Cairo: Supreme Council of Antiquities Press, 2009).
N. Kanawati and A. Woods, Beni Hassan Art and Daily Life in an Egyptian Province (Cairo: Supreme Council of Antiquities Press, 2010).
N. Kanawati and M. Abder-Razi, The Unis Cemetery at Saqqara, Vol.2: The Tombs of Iynefert and Ihy (reused by Idut) (Oxford, UK: Aris and Phillips, 2003).
N. Kanawati and M. Abder-Raziq, The Teti Cemetery at Saqqara: Vol.VI. The Tomb of Nikauisesi (Warminster, England: Aris and Phillips, 2000)
Naglaa Fathy Shehab,” A STUDY IN THE SCENES OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PRIVATE TOMBS”, JGUAA2 vol.7/1, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/jguaa2.2021.95557.1078
Nunn, J.F. Medicine in Ancient Egypt. London: British Museum Press, 1996.
R. Macramallah, Le Mastabad’Idout [The Mastabad’Idout] (Cairo, 1935).
R. Sullivan, "Deformity- A Modern Western Prejudice with Ancient Origins," Proceedings of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh 31, no. 3 (2001). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1478271520013103019
R. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (London: Thames & Hudson, 2003).
Sampsell BM. 1. Ancient Egyptian dwarfs. KMT 12, 2001
W.S. Smith, A History of Egyptian Sculpture and Painting in the Old Kingdom. 2nd ed. (Boston: Oxford University Press, 1949).
W.Y. Loeb and J. F. Nunn, "Staffs as Walking Aids in Ancient Egypt and Palestine," Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, no.90 (1997). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014107689709000811
World Health Organization, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (Geneva: WHO, 2001).
Y. Harpur and P.J Scremin, Chapel of Ptahhotep: Scenes details (Reading: Oxford Expedition to Egypt, 2008.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 جعفر عبد الرزاق علوان، أ.د. فاضل كاظم حنون
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
