What do we know about Ancient Egyptians

How much do we know about the Egyptians?

One of the most fascinating groups of people was the ancient Egyptians. Everything about them peak the interest of many people from around the world. Even persons living in Egypt now are still discovering the world their ancestors lived in.

Besides their beautiful architecture and story-telling, unidimensional painting or even their artifacts did explain the whole story of a regular Egyptian. During an exploration to investigate the true significance of a blue lily, scientists discovered much more. The mummified body of an Egyptian temple priestess revealed how painful the life of an Egyptian was.

Without knowledge and help from modern technology and therapy, many Egyptians suffered significantly and died young from their illnesses. While many stories and paintings speak about dying in old age many died young. Now we understand why.

Diseases that ancient Egyptians most likely suffered from.

Very few persons can say they have had a good look into the life of a common Egyptian. Many believed that their life was filled with glamour and health. But scientists and doctors discovered differently. These discoveries were so significant it, they suspected many other persons would have had similar diseases.

Strongyloides Infection

This discovery was made through microscopic evaluation of the intestine of the priestess. Doctors found larva from the Strongyloides stercoralis, a threadworm common in primates.

The live cycle is vicious and begins with infection through contact with worm-infected soil. The larvae then travel in the blood and hatch and grow in the intestines. There that lay more eggs which are excreted to infect more persons. Some adult worms can migrate to the throat and end up in the lungs. Overall, the sufferer would have respiratory problems and severe anemia.

In an environment with almost no sanitary standards, 1 host is a death trap to everyone around them. Moreson, even the greatest physicians had no idea what would be happening to anyone ill from this disease.

Sand Pneumocosis

This was not a surprising discovery to me. Living in a dry sand-filled desert, with sand storms, it is inevitable to get some sand in your lungs. For a priestess like this mummy, part of her responsibilities would cause her to move about outside. Imagine those who worked outside or dug the tombs and caves, all of that sand would have caused the death of many.

Doctors say long-standing fibrosis of the lungs and evidence of sand in lung tissues.

Osteo-Arthritis

One duty of the priestess is to help wake the Pharaoh and play musical instruments to keep them entertained. That means constantly stringing a cello or harp as well as holding bowls and jars. It is not like those who do hard manual labor, but there is great pressure on the joints of the hand and foot.

The evidence, however, suggested malformations consistent with the septic form of arthritis. Although anyone with arthritis would have been in severe pain and agony, it was to be endured to please the pharaoh.

The bones also suggested osteoarthritis to be common, also from the wear and tear of the finger joints. Without the right tools simple bone diseases, like this would not be rectified or treated at the least.

Fractured bones

Dancing and acrobatics were a favorite pastime and the means of entertainment for the Royals in those days. The woman would engage in daring dances that often caused injuries to the back and legs.

After a series of X-rays, doctors discovered a fractured vertebra with a bulging disc. Historians believe this injury might have been from moves like bend over backward, which was commonly done during performances. Relic paintings of festivities often depicted women in such positions.

Today many dancers, have similar injuries even though they might not bend over backward as often as these priestesses would. With the little resources and care back, bone fractures and other injuries would surely frequent.

Schistosomiasis

The discovery of Schistosomiasis was the most memorable for me and the investigating doctors and scientists. Who would have thought that such a devastating disease would be present back then?

During an x-ray, the diagnostic calcification of the bladder walls suggested that this mummy suffered from Schistosomiasis. The parasite is released into freshwater by snails, which then infect persons as they come to this body of water. The Egyptian woman goes to the rivers to bathe, wash, and even for drinking. The worms will then lay eggs which are then released into the water when that person urinates in it.

The problem is the adult worms would block the urethra causing severe pain from difficulty voiding. 5000 years ago who would be able to see these parasites swimming around in the Nile. The rudimentary forms of therapy the Egyptians wouldn’t have helped heal this problem.

The documentary also sheds light on how schistosomiasis still affects the current population.

What have you learned?

Unfortunately, many of the Ancient Egyptians suffered in pain and agony for most of their years. Even though numerous paints and books proved long healthy lives for persons in the Royal house, there are many untold stories about the diseases that plagued the population.

Technology and medicine were noways as close to what it is today. If this mummy was not tested for the effects of a different purpose this discovery would not have been made. Besides, it's good to know were have worked hard to find treatment for their problems since.

The information compiled here is almost exclusively from a video documentary “The ancient Egyptian obsession with sex and death, Private Lives Of The Pharaohs” by Odyssey.