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The role of magic and medicine in the lives of ancient Egyptian women and their children

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the role that magic and medicine played in the lives of
ancient Egyptian women and children. In a time when giving birth often ended
in the death of the mother and child, and child mortality was extremely high, a
variety of protective measures were undertaken by the ancient Egyptians.
Medicine as the scientific treatment of ailments and women's health in general
did exist in Egypt, however, life in Egypt was determined by religion and
especially magic.
The health of the ancient Egyptian woman and her child was studied by
looking at the way in which magic influenced medicine, as well as by looking
at how this connection between magic and medicine influenced the life and
health of ancient Egyptian women and children.
The research model followed was that of an interlinking society in which each
aspect of Egyptian life had varying impacts on each other. The degree of
impact of magic on aspects such as menstruation, conception and pregnancy
was investigated, as well as, the magico-medical spells, amulets and other
devices that were used to protect a woman and her baby.
A catalogue of sources is given, including written and non-written sources.
The first included the medical papyri and magical spells against evil forces
and sickness. The second group were visual representations, divine
statuettes, amulets and the specialized magical stelae (cippl) and "magical
wands" ("Zaubermesser").
This thesis attempts to better understand how feminine issues such as
menstruation, pregnancy, and giving birth were perceived and contended
with, as well as to shed some light on the medical and magical treatment and
protection of the women and children in ancient Egypt. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die rol wat magie en medisyne in die lewens van vrouens en
kinders in antieke Egipte gespeel het. In 'n tyd toe die geboorte van 'n kind baie keer
die dood van die ma en haar baba veroorsaak het, en kindersterftes uiters hoog was,
het die antieke Egiptenare 'n verskeidenheid beskermingsmaatreëls gebruik.
Medisyne as die wetenskaplike behandeling van siektes en vroulike gesondheidsorg
het in Egipte bestaan, maar die lewe in Egipte was egter bepaal deur die godsdiens
en veral die magie.
Die gesondheid van die vroue en kinders van antieke Egipte is bestudeer deur te kyk
hoe magie medisyne beïnvloed het, sowel as om te kyk hoe die verband tussen
magie die medisyne die lewe en gesondheid van vroue en kinders in antieke Egipte
bepaal het.
Die navorsingsmodel wat gevolg is, is van 'n samelewing waarbinne elke aspek van
die lewe in Egipte 'n impak op die ander het. Die graad van impak van magie op
aspekte soos menstruasie, konsepsie en swangerskap is ondersoek, sowel as die
"magies-mediese" spreuke, amulette en ander middels wat as beskerming vir die
vrou en haar baba gebruik is.
'n Katalogus van bronne is ingesluit en sluit beide skriftelike en nie-skriftelike bronne
in. Onder die eerste groep val mediese papiri en magiese tekste teen bose magte en
siekte. Die tweede groep gee aandag aan visuele voorstellings, godebeeldjies,
amulette en die gespesialiseerde magiese stelae (cippl) en "toorstaffies"
("Zaubermesser").
Hierdie tesis poog om beter te verstaan hoe vroulike sake soos menstruasie,
swangerskap en geboorte gesien en hanteer is, sowel as om meer lig te werp op die
mediese en magiese behandeling en beskerming van vrouens en hulle kinders in
antieke Egipte.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50522
Date03 1900
CreatorsWitts, Jennifer
ContributorsCornelius, I., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies .
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format157 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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