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Medical Text Inscribed in Hieratic

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Papyrus, ink
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES 664–525 B.C.E.
DYNASTY Dynasty 26, or later
PERIOD Late Period, probably Saite Period
DIMENSIONS e: Glass: 14 3/16 × 24 5/8 in. (36 × 62.5 cm) e: Largest Fragment: 9 3/4 × 21 9/16 in. (24.7 × 54.7 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 47.218.2a-g
CREDIT LINE Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Eight columns of text, the first of which only the left hand edge of the column is preserved. The bottom of each the next seven columns is damaged with some text missing. There are several minor lacunae elsewhere in the papyrus. The text begins with a sequence of spells that deal with the treatment of a woman suffering from a range of disorders related to pregnancy, still birth, and infertility. At column 6, line 15, there begins a book of dispelling terrors and fears (of the night) from children, including one spell for dispelling crying and tears (beginning at column 7, line 17). The texts of this papyrus have no real parallels known from published material, for the most part. There are several hundred additional fragments, both small and of moderate size that still need to be placed; most of them belong to the damaged beginning of the papyrus.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Medical Text Inscribed in Hieratic, 664–525 B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, e: Glass: 14 3/16 × 24 5/8 in. (36 × 62.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.2a-g (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.218.2e_PS20.jpg)
IMAGE component, 47.218.2e_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024
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 <em>Medical Text Inscribed in Hieratic</em>, 664–525 B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, e: Glass: 14 3/16 × 24 5/8 in. (36 × 62.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.2a-g (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.218.2e_PS20.jpg)