Egyptian Poetry

English 9Egyptian Poetry

Pastoral

Pastoral PoetryPastoral

Comes from Latin word for shepherd

pastor

Pastoral Poetry1. Deals with the pleasures

of a simple rural life2. Treats the longings and

desires of simple people

Pastoral Poetry3. Written by sophisticated

artists who assume the persona of a simple character

4. Escapist literature

Religion

• Very Important• Temples• Priests

– Alternative medical care from master physicians

• Charms– Still used extensively

Imphotep• Master Physicians

– can be afforded by the very wealthy

• Pharoah Zozer’s Physician– Adviser– Architect on some Pyramids– Healer

• c2600 BC• Becomes God of Medicine

– For Greeks and Egyptians– c500 BC

The Nile Theory• Attempt to Explain how the Body

works and why people get sick• Related to their Natural

Environment and their understanding of how the world works

– River Nile• Channels (River)

– Mixture of Blood and Air– Flows from the centre to

extremeties• Disease

– Caused by blockages of the channels

• Caused by rotting food • Letting off gases• Prevents normal flow

• A Rational Explanation

Ebers and Smith Papyri• Smith Papyrus

– C1700 BC (but refers to Imphotep’s era)– Surgical treatments for wounds

• Ebers Papyrus– C1500 BC– 110 Pages– Treatments for diseases– Herbal Remedies– Remedies used by Gods

Medical Kit• 1) knives; (2) drill; (3) saw; (4)

forceps or pincers; (5) censer; (6) hooks; (7) bags tied with string; (8, 10) beaked vessel; (11) vase with burning incense; (12) Horus eyes; (13) scales; (14) pot with flowers of Upper and Lower Egypt; (15) pot on pedestal; (16) graduated cubit or papyrus scroll without side knot (or a case holding reed scalpels); (17) shears; (18) spoons.

What was new in Egyptian Medicine?

(compared to Prehistoric Medicine)

What was the same?

Master Physicians Herbal remedies

Attempt to explain diseases(Nile Theory)

Role of Gods and Spirits

Can identify parts of the body Little understanding of internal workings of body

Imported new herbs from other civilisations

No idea what actually caused diseases

Metal Instruments Paid for medical care

Some Public Health measures

Hygiene identified

Legacy of Egypt• Greece and Rome conquer Egypt• Greece and Rome respect many of the

Egyptian ideas on medicine• Egyptian Physicians in demand in Ancient

Greece• Role of Alexandria

It is seven days from yesterday since I saw my love,

And Sickness has crept over me,

My limbs have become heavy,

I cannot feel my own body.

If the Master-Physicians come to me

I gain no comfort from their remedies.

And the priest-magicians have no cures,

My sickness is not diagnosed.

My love is better by far for me than any remedies.

She is more important than all the books of medicine.”Egyptian Love Poem c1500 BC

Pastoral Poetry1. How might the lives of the

sophisticated poets who wrote our poems have differed from the lives they present?

2. How are the poets able to make the reader identify with their characters?

Works Cited1. www.britishempire.co.uk/boniface/humanities/.../a

ncientegyptian.ppt

2. Prentice Hall, Masterpieces of World Literature.