Kaiserman JCC
Kaiserman JCC is a welcoming community center offering fitness, wellness, aquatics, camp, early childhood, senior and youth programs, and Jewish life.
Start date: Tuesday, November 24 2026.
Schedule:
Tuesdays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM ,
From November 24, 2026 until December 1, 2026 ,
Family Hall ,
Resource person: rsakofs@phillyjcc.com
Location: Family Hall | 45 Haverford Road, Wynnewood, PA, 19096
Description:
Medicine in Ancient Egypt – Did the ancient Egyptians understand human anatomy and did they practice medicine? The answer is yes. Data derived from archaeological excavations, including carved reliefs, inscriptions, and surviving ancient Egyptian papyri, that do reveal extensive, perhaps effective, medical procedures relevant to human health care today. Part I of this richly illustrated lecture introduces ancient Egypt’s medical world. We meet history's earliest documented physician, Imhotep, and the earliest documented dentist, Hesy-re. We will investigate the evidence for the practice of dentistry and even the use of a prosthetic device as evident in an Egyptian mummy. Dr. Phillips has traveled extensively and participated in a wide range of archaeological excavations over the past 30 years, including excavations at Petra, Jordan; near Bordeaux in southwestern France; and, he has participated in eight excavation seasons in Egypt - at Giza and Saqqara.
Part II first examines the role of folkloric medicine, such as “magic” and herbal remedies, used for healing in ancient Egypt. Next, we explore surviving evidence for specific surgical interventions, and a case of successful trauma surgery - as evidenced on human skeletal remains recovered by Dr. Steve during recent excavations in the cemeteries behind the Great Pyramids.
Dr. Stephen R. Phillips is the Curatorial Research Coordinator in the Egyptian Section of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Dr. Phillips received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in biological anthropology and Egyptian archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Phillips specializes in the analysis of ancient Egyptian and modern human skeletal remains, mummies and mummification techniques, as well as the tombs and artifacts of the Great Pyramid Complex on Egypt’s Giza plateau.
Available spots: 17 out of 20
Price: $30.00 Taxes waived
Required age: Over 18 years old on the day of the activity
Tags: History & Current Events Gems
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