Latest / Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History / Ramses II's Medical Legacy: The World's First Surgeon
Transcript
- Lucas: We’ve spent a dozen episodes mapping the physical empire of Ramses II—the cities he built, the battles he fought, the gold he mined. But there’s another kind of construction happening in the background, one that doesn’t leave a visible monument but shapes the very durability of the man himself. Luna: The infrastructure of his own body? Lucas: Exactly. And to understand it, we have to look back two centuries before Ramses took the throne, to the Old Kingdom, where we meet the first name in medical history: Hesy-Re. He wasn’t just a healer; he held the title ‘Chief of Dentists and Physicians’ and was also the royal librarian, linking knowledge directly to power. Lucas: Centuries later, during Ramses’ reign, that lineage continues in figures like Wetjes-heru, who served as the Chief Physician in the capital city of Per-Ramesses. These men weren’t relying on guesswork; they were operating within a system that valued observation over pure superstition, especially when it came to trauma. Luna: So they were treating soldiers like Ramses brought home from Kadesh? Lucas: Precisely. The Edwin Smith Papyrus, which dates to around 1600 BCE but copies older texts, gives us a window into this clinical mindset. It describes forty-eight cases of injury, mostly head and spine trauma, and treats them with a startlingly rational method: diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, categorized as ‘an ailment I will treat,’ ‘one I will contend with,’ or ‘one not to be treated.’ Luna: That sounds remarkably modern compared to what we expect from antiquity. Lucas: It does, because it is. Unlike many other texts that mix magic and medicine, the Smith Papyrus focuses on suturing wounds, splinting fractures, and using honey and meat poultices to prevent infection. For Ramses’ army, these practices were likely standard issue in the field hospitals near the Delta. Luna: Did they actually know why those treatments worked? Lucas: They didn’t have germ theory, obviously, but they understood empirical cause and effect. Honey has antibacterial properties, and keeping a wound clean was a known best practice. The genius was in the systematic recording of outcomes, allowing physicians like Wetjes-heru to refine their techniques over generations. Luna: But even the best doctors couldn’t stop time. Lucas: No, and this brings us back to Ramses himself. When we examined his mummy earlier, we noted the severe arthritis and dental issues, but there was also evidence of ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the spine. Imagine ruling an empire for sixty-six years while your spine slowly fuses. Luna: That must have made sitting on a throne incredibly painful. Lucas: Agonizing. His physicians would have had to manage chronic pain without opioids or anti-inflammatories in the modern sense. They might have used opium poppies or herbal sedatives, but the relief would have been temporary. The real challenge was mobility; late-stage ankylosing spondylitis can lock the joints entirely. Luna: How did he maintain his public image if he could barely stand? Lucas: He leaned heavily on the spectacle. The colossal statues at Abu Simbel and Karnak depict him in prime physical form, young and vigorous. The art was propaganda, ensuring that the divine king appeared eternally strong, regardless of the frailty of his mortal frame. Luna: A carefully curated illusion of vitality. Lucas: And behind the scenes, the medical team at Per-Ramesses was likely working overtime to keep him functional enough for rituals. The Sed Festival, which we discussed in Ep 211, required physical endurance, so his doctors probably devised specific regimens to help him move through those ceremonies. Luna: I never thought of the pharaoh’s health as a state secret. Lucas: In many ways, it was. The stability of Ma’at depended on the king’s strength, both spiritual and physical. If the king failed, the universe might unravel. So maintaining his appearance was not just vanity; it was cosmological necessity. Luna: That adds a whole new layer of pressure to their work. Lucas: It did. But beyond the royal court, this era saw a broader democratization of medical knowledge. Temple schools trained priests in healing, and these skills trickled down to local communities. The legacy of Hesy-Re lived on in every village healer who could set a bone or treat a fever. Luna: So the impact went far beyond the palace walls. Lucas: Absolutely. While Ramses built stones that lasted millennia, his medical legacy lives in the continuity of care. The methods recorded in the papyri influenced Greek medicine, and eventually, our own understanding of trauma surgery. It was a bridge between the mystical and the scientific. Luna: A bridge built on observation rather than prayer alone. Lucas: Yes, though they certainly didn’t abandon prayer. The two coexisted seamlessly. A surgeon might stitch a wound with linen thread while invoking Sekhmet, the goddess of plague and healing, acknowledging both the tool and the divine force. Luna: It feels like a very human way to cope with suffering. Lucas: It is. And looking at Ramses’ broken body, we see that humanity most clearly. He endured decades of pain to project eternal strength, supported by a network of skilled hands and minds. Luna: The hidden cost of immortality. Lucas: If today’s dive into ancient healthcare felt useful to you, the way these stay ad-free is listener support — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Thanks for keeping the history running smoothly. Lucas: Let’s circle back to that idea of enduring strength. We’ve talked about the physical toll, but there was also a psychological resilience required to rule such a vast, complex empire for so long. Luna: How did he handle the constant political threats? Lucas: By surrounding himself with capable administrators and family members. His son Khaemwaset, whom we mentioned in Ep 215, wasn’t just a prince; he became a high priest and a scholar, essentially managing the religious and intellectual apparatus of the state while Ramses focused on diplomacy and grand projects. Luna: A delegation of responsibility. Lucas: Exactly. Khaemwaset is often called the first Egyptologist because he restored old monuments and studied ancient texts. He kept the connection to the past alive, ensuring that Ramses’ legacy wouldn’t just be stone, but memory. Luna: So the dynasty survived through both force and scholarship. Lucas: That balance was key. Without the scholarly preservation of tradition, the military achievements might have faded into legend. With it, Ramses remains a tangible presence in our historical imagination. Luna: A reminder that history is made by more than just warriors. Lucas: Indeed. From the surgeon’s scalpel to the priest’s scroll, every element contributed to the longevity of his rule. Luna: What do you think outlasted his buildings? Lucas: Probably the stories we tell about him. As long as we keep asking how he lived, loved, and suffered, Ramses II remains very much alive.