Coptic Medicine and its Remedies
Coptic Medicine
and its Remedies
Exploring an Ancient Pharmacopoea
Mona Sawy
22 April 2025 – 5 PM (CET)
This talk delves into the pharmacopoeia of ancient Egypt as preserved and practiced by the Copts, who have inherited and adapted a rich medical tradition that dates back to the time of the pharaohs.
This exploration will uncover the various medicaments used in Coptic medicine, including herbs, minerals, and animal products, and their applications in treating a range of ailments.
Through an examination of ancient texts, medical papyri, and recent archaeological findings, we will shed light on the sophisticated understanding of pharmacology possessed by the Copts. Additionally, this presentation will highlight the continuity and transformation of these medical practices over centuries, illustrating their influence on both medieval and modern medicine.
By understanding the pharmacopoeia of Coptic medicine, we gain insights into the cultural and scientific heritage of one of the world’s oldest civilizations and its enduring impact on contemporary medical practices.
About the Speaker ...
Mona Hassan Ahmed Sawy is an archaeologist specialising in Coptic language and cultural studies.
She currently serves as a lecturer of Coptic language in the Faculty of Arts at Assiut University-Egypt. Mona completed her PhD in 2022 at the George August University of Göttingen, Germany, under the supervision of Heike Behlmer and Heike Sternberg El-Hotabi. The title of here thesis, which is now contracted as a volume for PSMEMM, was “Treatment by Medicine and Magic in Coptic Medicine”.Her research spans a wide range of topics, including medicine, magic, and religion in Late Antique Egypt and the early Islamic period.
