The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt [Paperback]

James P. Allen (Author), Metropolitan Museum of Art (Other Contributor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 115 pages
• Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588391701
• ISBN-13: 978-1588391704
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Union of Science and Art, April 18, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Paperback)

One of the more interesting and important exhibitions from the Metropolitan Museum is richly illustrated in this catalogue from THE ART OF MEDICINE IN ANCIENT EGYPT. The exhibition was organized to highlight many of the artifacts owned by the museum, works that show the very close relationship between the practice of medicine and the need for artifacts to represent science.

The Egyptian obsession with death and the afterlife is well known: the secrets of preservation of bodies as mummies and the intricate, complex manner in which the tombs were created and decorated have long mesmerized us. But in this fine catalogue it is demonstrated how the 'art of medicine' as we use the term (meaning the sensitive manner in which healing and succor are delivered) is not the only manner in which the Egyptians employed the concept. Ritual and art objects were an important part of the delivery of healing, preservation and restoration of health. Included in the catalogue are some sixty images of art: pomegranate jars, a statue of Yumy, a bowl with human feet, Isis nursing horus, a portrait of a mummy, the Metternich Stela, and the sole borrowed piece for the exhibition - the Edwin Smith Papyrus (with translation) which is one of the oldest documents of ancient medical arts.

The contributing essays are well written, easily digestible, and serve to enhance the appreciation of the art illustrated. They emphasize the Egyptian preoccupation with understanding the world of this life as well as the afterlife. The medicine aspects of the exhibition contain both scientific and magical solutions to healing and repairing. This book is one that should appeal to those fascinated by Egypt, by the history of medicine, and by the ritualistic art that accompanies the cultures of the universe in both past and present times. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, April 06

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt, February 28, 2006

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A. Wasila (Luxembourg, Luxembourg) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Paperback)

A good ressource for those interested in the history of medicine or egyptology . Some of the items are rarely seen in catalogues and the Smith papyrus transcription and translation is helpful in understanding one particular aspect of understanding ancient Egyptian medicine (the scarcity of transcripted and translated papyri might make this purchase worthwile for that reason alone)

That being said for the experienced armchair egyptologist many of the items presented here will be familiar , and in most cases the explanations while informative for the newcomer will be well known to the enthusiast

The introductory essay is vanilla as well , not substantially squaring the circle but instead stating the importance of the contribution the ancient Egyptians made to medical understanding then and now .

However , the medical annotations that dot the Smith papyrus can be helpful in assessing the competence of Egyptian physicians or elucidate problems of comprehension that may arise from reading the translation

Overall this is a solid purchase, though not an essential one . It might make a good diving-board into egyptology however as the explanations are clear and concise