“The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom made commendable forays into the arts and sciences. The old saying that nothing is new under the sun is surely reflected in the accomplishments of the first six dynasties. A powerful cure for severe cases of leprosy was discovered in a writing case underneath the feet of the divine Anu, in the town of Sekhem. The Egyptians also had an understanding of optics, surgery, and magnification. The Ebers Papyrus states that the Egyptians used pain killers, flea powders, and hair dyes and invigorators. The son of Menes, Teta, developed a formula for making the hair grow. Their architectural feats went unsurpassed. Champollion, who passed almost his entire life in the exploration of archaeological remains, described one of the great temples of ancient Egypt as being so overwhelming that the Cathedral of Notre Dame might stand in it and not touch the ceiling, but merely be considered a small decorative ornament in the center of the hall. The proof that they were proficient in mathematical sciences lies in the fact that those ancient mathematicians we regard as the fathers of geometry went to Egypt to receive instruction; for example, Pythagorus studied in Egypt twenty two years. As one historian noted, the number of Greek scholars visiting Egypt gave rise to the saying that ‘the geometrical knowledge of the pyramid builders began where Euclid’s ended.’ Advances were made in astronomy that truly staggered the minds of our contemporary scientists. Herodotus wrote in the fifth century B.C. ‘… the Egyptians by their study of astronomy discovered the solar year and were the first to divide it into twelve parts—and in my opinion their method of calculation is better than the Greek; for the Greeks, to make the seasons work out properly, intercalate a whole month every other year, while the Egyptians make the year consist of twelve months of thirty days each and every year intercalate five additional days, and so complete the regular cycle of the seasons’. The Egyptians also brewed the best beer of the ancient world. They made paper of such excellent quality that it was immune to the vestiges of time.” Article by Wayne Chandler title “Of Gods and Men: Egypt’s Old Kingdom” Book “Egypt revisited” Editor Ivan Van Sertima Page 138
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:34:21 +0000
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