 Egyptian god Imhotep.
| Time
| c. 3000-1700 BCE |
| Title
| Imhotep and the Edwin Smith Papyrus |
| Event
| A seminal compilation of Egyptian medical practice, now called the Edwin Smith Papyrus, is written c. 1700 BCE based on the teachings of the Egyptian physician Imhotep who lived around 2640 BCE.
Imhotep is considered a founder of ancient Egyptian medicine. He performed surgeries and used established methods for examining, diagnosing, and treating patients. Like other healers during this time, spiritual beliefs were an important part of his practice.
The Papyrus itself is named after an American living in Cairo who purchased it in 1862. Smith also purchased another important medical papyrus, the Ebers Papyrus that includes medical information dating back as far as 3000 BCE.
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Successful treatments for mental health are usually attributed to the kindness of a patron god or to the power of an amulet. However, some mental health treatments resemble modern methods, including sleep and occupational therapies.
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Medical writings discuss body anatomy in detail and contain the first descriptions of the brain. They also mention the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and blood vessels. Blood vessels are believed to carry air or mucus. Two vessels flowing to the right ear are thought to contain the breath of life, and two to the left ear the breath of death.
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Healers are also priests. Different priests specialize in different parts of the body, much like modern doctors specialize today. Egyptians believe that different gods govern different sectors of the human body.
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