When it comes to medicinal herbs, cannabis is often regarded as one of the most popular options. However, the plant’s popularity was significantly larger in ancient times, and its use was far more prevalent in several facets of daily life. As it turned out, modern regulations have now made it illegal to practice many of the cultural and religious traditions that have been part of Egypt’s history and culture for thousands of years. It wasn’t simple to find the history and evidence to back up these assertions, but now that we’ve done so, let’s look at some of the ways the ancient Egyptians used cannabis.
In Ancient Egypt, cannabis was used as a medicine.
Ancient Egyptians discovered and utilized the curative qualities of cannabis in ways that contemporary medicine has yet to discover. The Ebers Papyrus, which was written approximately 1550 BC, is one of the oldest complete medical textbooks ever discovered. It mentions several hemp-based formulae for treating pain and inflammation produced by a variety of ailments and injuries. In the early days of Egypt, it appears that women in particularly utilized marijuana to alleviate despair and other psychiatric issues.
The herb’s first therapeutic use in the region may date back to 2000 BC when it was used to treat glaucoma, cataracts, hemorrhoids, vaginal bleeding, and even cancer. Cannabis was most likely not a cure, but rather a symptom reliever in the majority of cases. Modern medical science, on the other hand, is only now beginning to recognize that cannabis has some genuinely wonderful pain-relieving characteristics, as well as being a very effective calming agent for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease who have an imbalanced neurological system.
Egyptian Religion and Culture: Cannabis
When the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses II was unearthed and analyzed in 1881, no one expected to find signs of cannabis in the remains, but they did. Since then, more mummies have been discovered with similar residues of the herb in their systems, validating the notion that cannabis was a part of ancient Egypt’s normal culture.
In paintings from thousands of years ago, Seshat, the goddess of wisdom, was frequently represented with a cannabis leaf above her head. Bastet, the feline goddess of war, was also linked to cannabis use in the area, but more so in terms of witchcraft. Evidence also implies that during specific religious celebrations and ceremonies, devotees may have taken marijuana in some way.
Cannabis’s Real-World Applications
Cannabis was utilized in the creation of ropes, sails, and cloth in particular, which may sound unusual if you haven’t heard of it before. Indeed, research reveals that ancient laborers used a precise method of breaking down larger rocks with cannabis fiber before transporting them to construction sites. The method often entailed smashing dry cannabis fiber into the pores of larger boulders before fully soaking them in water. The cloth became strong enough to fracture the massive rocks as it expanded.
The herb was so popular in ancient Egypt that it was nearly taxed by the great Roman Emperor Aurelian! If these facts have piqued your interest, you may learn more about cannabis in modern Egypt.
