Archaeologists discover the tomb of an ancient Egyptian physician who specialized in MAGIC 4,000 years ago

Archaeologists have discovered one of ancient Egypt’s most intriguing figures yet – some 4,000 years after his life.

Teti Neb Fu, a physician and royal physician, held prestigious titles in ancient Egypt as chief palace physician, priest and “magician,” experts say.

His tomb and sarcophagus were recently discovered in Egypt’s historic Saqqara cemetery, about 40 kilometers southwest of the capital Cairo.

The interior walls of the tomb feature beautiful artwork, depicting Egyptian pottery, jewelry, hieroglyphs and more.

Archaeologists say the resting place dates back to the time of King Pepi II, meaning Teti Neb Fu lived and died about 4,000 years ago.

King Pepi II became king at a young age during the Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, between 2305 and 2118 BC.

“This incredible find adds to Saqqara’s rich legacy as one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites,” Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a Facebook post.

‘The tomb is decorated with beautiful carvings and vibrant artwork, including a beautifully painted false door and scenes of funeral sacrifices.

In 2022, excavations in this area of ​​Sakkara began with the unearthing of the graves of King Pepi’s state employees, who are buried next to him and his wives, officials said.

The tomb of Teti Neb Fu is a ‘mastaba’: a rectangular superstructure with a flat roof, usually constructed from limestone or mud bricks.

Next to the grave, the team also discovered a stone sarcophagus with inscriptions containing the doctor’s name and titles.

According to his sarcophagus, Titi Nab Fu was given the noble titles of ‘chief dentist’ and ‘director of medicinal plants’.

Teti Neb Fu was also called a priest and the ‘wizard’ of Serket (the goddess of healing poisonous stings and bites in Egyptian mythology).

This suggests that Teti Neb Fu was an expert in treating injuries from poisonous scorpions or snakes, and acquired a ‘magical’ reputation as a healer.

Because of its burial site in Saqqara – a revered village and cemetery – researchers knew Titi Nab Fu would have been important.

But the titles engraved on his sarcophagus reveal more about this man, which was previously unknown.

With an area of ​​approximately 7 by 1.5 kilometers, Saqqara is known as an Egyptian village with ancient burial grounds of Egyptian monarchs.

The legendary chief architect Imhotep was responsible for the Step Pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara and widely believed to be the oldest pyramid in the world.

Despite evidence of ancient looting, the walls of Teti Neb Fu’s tomb remain intact, providing a rare glimpse into daily life and cultural practices during Egypt’s Old Kingdom.

The Old Kingdom, also known as the ‘Age of the Pyramids’ or ‘Age of the Pyramid Builders’, covers the Third to Sixth Dynasties (approximately 2700 to 2200 BCE).

The Old Kingdom, one of the three major classical periods of Egyptian culture and history, is known for the enormous pyramids that were built as tombs for the kings.

At the time, medicine and magic were likely equally revered by the ancient Egyptians, who practiced medicine “with highly professional methods,” according to a study. 2021 study.

“They had advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgery,” the authors said at the time.

‘They also treated many diseases, including dental, gynaecological, gastrointestinal and urinary tract diseases.

“They could diagnose diabetes and cancer.”

Evidence in ancient texts shows that the ancient Egyptians were “exceptionally skilled” in medicine for their time.

They could identify, describe and treat diseases and traumatic injuries and even place dental fillings.

A study published in 2024 found that an Egyptian skull shows signs of attempts to treat cancer.

A modern procedure called decompressive craniectomy – which involves drilling a hole in their skull to reduce swelling – was performed by the ancient Egyptians as a religious ritual.