How did Ancient Egypt use cannabis in their everyday lives? Read on to find out.
There are many misconceptions worldwide about CBD. The legality of CBD oil in certain countries is unclear, even though CBD contains .3 or less of Delta 9 THC unless the CBD is isolated. One of these countries is Egypt, which ironically has a rich history of using cannabis for medical treatment, religious rituals, and fabric production.
Mummified Pharaohs
Many of the mummies that were examined and had their remains tested contained traces of cannabis, including Pharaoh Ramesses II. It is unclear if the cannabis is in the remains because it was part of a medical treatment or if it was part of the larger religious rituals to ready them for the afterlife. Seshat – a goddess strongly tied to cannabis – has been shown in art, helping the goddess Nephthys usher the dead into the afterlife. When it is examined alongside cultural artifacts, cannabis was a prominent part of ancient Egyptian culture, starting from the very top.
A Goddess of Knowledge (And Likely Cannabis)
Seshat was an Egyptian goddess associated with knowledge, written word, and the House of Life. Most of her imagery includes a “star” that appears to be a cannabis plant. This connection makes more sense in context with other ceremonies. For example, temple opening rituals included stretching a hemp rope, or cord, to pay tribute to Seshat.
Fabric, Ropes, and Construction
Speaking of hemp ropes, cannabis was used in Ancient Egypt to produce ropes and fabric. Some of these ropes were so durable, they are still on display as part of historical exhibits. Dry cannabis fibers were also used by construction workers to split large rocks into smaller rocks, making them easier for workers to move.
Health Care and Pain Management
The Ebers Papyrus, which is one of the world’s oldest medical textbooks, was used in Ancient Egypt for treating common ailments. Among its 700 formulas and remedies, cannabis was utilized in treatments for inflammation, pain management, menstruation pain relief, and even childbirth. Cannabis was also used in treating mental illness, such as depression.
The Ramesseum Papyri also includes a formula, which translates to, “A treatment for the eyes: celery; hemp; is ground and left in the dew overnight. Both eyes of the patient are to be washed with it early in the morning.” Bringing this back to the start, the Ramesseum Papyri was found in the temple of the Ramesseum, a temple built in memorial to Pharaoh Ramesses II, and Pharoah Ramesses II was one of the mummified bodies that contained traces of cannabis!
Readers, we want to hear from you! What era of cannabis history do you want to delve into, and what do you think was a Pharaoh’s preferred strain? (Our money is on Creme de la Creme, only the best for a god-king.) Leave a comment below!
The History of CBD: Mummies and Medicine
How did Ancient Egypt use cannabis in their everyday lives? Read on to find out.
There are many misconceptions worldwide about CBD. The legality of CBD oil in certain countries is unclear, even though CBD contains .3 or less of Delta 9 THC unless the CBD is isolated. One of these countries is Egypt, which ironically has a rich history of using cannabis for medical treatment, religious rituals, and fabric production.
Mummified Pharaohs
Many of the mummies that were examined and had their remains tested contained traces of cannabis, including Pharaoh Ramesses II. It is unclear if the cannabis is in the remains because it was part of a medical treatment or if it was part of the larger religious rituals to ready them for the afterlife. Seshat – a goddess strongly tied to cannabis – has been shown in art, helping the goddess Nephthys usher the dead into the afterlife. When it is examined alongside cultural artifacts, cannabis was a prominent part of ancient Egyptian culture, starting from the very top.
A Goddess of Knowledge (And Likely Cannabis)
Seshat was an Egyptian goddess associated with knowledge, written word, and the House of Life. Most of her imagery includes a “star” that appears to be a cannabis plant. This connection makes more sense in context with other ceremonies. For example, temple opening rituals included stretching a hemp rope, or cord, to pay tribute to Seshat.
Fabric, Ropes, and Construction
Speaking of hemp ropes, cannabis was used in Ancient Egypt to produce ropes and fabric. Some of these ropes were so durable, they are still on display as part of historical exhibits. Dry cannabis fibers were also used by construction workers to split large rocks into smaller rocks, making them easier for workers to move.
Health Care and Pain Management
The Ebers Papyrus, which is one of the world’s oldest medical textbooks, was used in Ancient Egypt for treating common ailments. Among its 700 formulas and remedies, cannabis was utilized in treatments for inflammation, pain management, menstruation pain relief, and even childbirth. Cannabis was also used in treating mental illness, such as depression.
The Ramesseum Papyri also includes a formula, which translates to, “A treatment for the eyes: celery; hemp; is ground and left in the dew overnight. Both eyes of the patient are to be washed with it early in the morning.” Bringing this back to the start, the Ramesseum Papyri was found in the temple of the Ramesseum, a temple built in memorial to Pharaoh Ramesses II, and Pharoah Ramesses II was one of the mummified bodies that contained traces of cannabis!
Readers, we want to hear from you! What era of cannabis history do you want to delve into, and what do you think was a Pharaoh’s preferred strain? (Our money is on Creme de la Creme, only the best for a god-king.) Leave a comment below!