THE CONCEPT OF HEART IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu; Sema Ayaz

Article Details

THE CONCEPT OF HEART IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Authors:

Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu | Sema Ayaz

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Eskiçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Archivum Anatolicum-Anadolu Arşivleri Vol.19 Issue 1, pp.29-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354461

pISSN:

1300-6355

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In ancient Egypt, the heart was considered to be the main motivator of the body and also the center of emotions and desires. Thus, the heart is seen as the center of human emotions and also as a body part where the necessary information for life is collected. Heart diseases have been followed with interest by all civilizations because they are the basis of life. However, the cause-effect relationship, the fact that the heart is a mobile organ, and that it was difficult to reach in ancient times except for injuries, has been evaluated between magic and medicine, and the mysterious structure and mobile nature of the heart, especially in injuries, chest traumas in wars, and wounds affecting the heart have always carried magical qualities for the heart. In Egyptian civilization, the heart is so intertwined with magic that distinguishing the real from the unreal is an extremely problematic method according to our current knowledge. Therefore, when examining the subject of the heart in Egyptian civilization, it is important to first examine the meanings attributed to the heart. The Egyptians believed that the heart was likened to the branches of the Nile River, which carries all the fluids in the body, and that all these secretions circulated through veins. When examining the heart, the Egyptians described the areas where the heartbeats were heard as the hearts speech and made comments according to this speech. In this study, the importance that the Egyptians gave to the heart and the concept of the heart were tried to be explained and it was tried to determine on which premise the developments that would emerge in later periods would start.

 In ancient Egypt, the heart was considered to be the main motivator of the body and also the center of emotions and desires. Thus, the heart is seen as the center of human emotions and also as a body part where the necessary information for life is collected. Heart diseases have been followed with interest by all civilizations because they are the basis of life. However, the cause-effect relationship, the fact that the heart is a mobile organ, and that it was difficult to reach in ancient times except for injuries, has been evaluated between magic and medicine, and the mysterious structure and mobile nature of the heart, especially in injuries, chest traumas in wars, and wounds affecting the heart have always carried magical qualities for the heart. In Egyptian civilization, the heart is so intertwined with magic that distinguishing the real from the unreal is an extremely problematic method according to our current knowledge. Therefore, when examining the subject of the heart in Egyptian civilization, it is important to first examine the meanings attributed to the heart. The Egyptians believed that the heart was likened to the branches of the Nile River, which carries all the fluids in the body, and that all these secretions circulated through veins. When examining the heart, the Egyptians described the areas where the heartbeats were heard as the hearts speech and made comments according to this speech. In this study, the importance that the Egyptians gave to the heart and the concept of the heart were tried to be explained and it was tried to determine on which premise the developments that would emerge in later periods would start.

 In ancient Egypt, the heart was considered to be the main motivator of the body and also the center of emotions and desires. Thus, the heart is seen as the center of human emotions and also as a body part where the necessary information for life is collected. Heart diseases have been followed with interest by all civilizations because they are the basis of life. However, the cause-effect relationship, the fact that the heart is a mobile organ, and that it was difficult to reach in ancient times except for injuries, has been evaluated between magic and medicine, and the mysterious structure and mobile nature of the heart, especially in injuries, chest traumas in wars, and wounds affecting the heart have always carried magical qualities for the heart. In Egyptian civilization, the heart is so intertwined with magic that distinguishing the real from the unreal is an extremely problematic method according to our current knowledge. Therefore, when examining the subject of the heart in Egyptian civilization, it is important to first examine the meanings attributed to the heart. The Egyptians believed that the heart was likened to the branches of the Nile River, which carries all the fluids in the body, and that all these secretions circulated through veins. When examining the heart, the Egyptians described the areas where the heartbeats were heard as the hearts speech and made comments according to this speech. In this study, the importance that the Egyptians gave to the heart and the concept of the heart were tried to be explained and it was tried to determine on which premise the developments that would emerge in later periods would start.

 Eski Mısırda kalp, vücudun temel devindiricisi olmakla birlikte aynı anda duyguların ve arzuların merkezi olarak düşünülmüştür. Böylece kalp, insan duygularının merkezi olduğu gibi aynı zamanda yaşam için gerekli bilgilerin toplandığı bir vücut bölümü olarak görülür. Kalp hastalıkları, hayatın temeli olduğu için tüm uygarlıklar tarafından ilgiyle izlenmiştir. Ancak neden-sonuç ilişkisi, kalbin hareketli bir organ olması, antik dönemde yaralanmalar dışında ulaşılmasının zor olması nedeniyle büyü ve tıp arasında değerlendirilmiş, kalbin gizemli yapısı, hareketli doğası özellikle yaralanmalarda, savaşlarda oluşan göğüs travmaları, kalbe nafiz yaralar kalp için hep büyüsel nitelikler taşımıştır. Mısır uygarlığında kalp, büyü ile o denli iç içe geçmiştir ki gerçek ile gerçek dışını birbirinden ayırt etmek bu günkü bilgilerimize göre son derece sorunlu bir yöntemdir. Bu nedenle Mısır uygarlığında kalp konusunu incelerken öncelikle kalbe yüklenen anlamın neler olduğunu incelemek önemlidir. Mısırlılar kalbi, vücuttaki tüm sıvıları taşıyan Nil Nehrinin dallarına benzettikleri, damarlarla tüm bu salgıların dolaştığına inanırlardı. Mısırlılar, kalbi incelerken kalp atımlarının duyulduğu bölgeleri kalbin konuşması olarak nitelemişler bu konuşmaya göre yorum yapmışlardır. Bu çalışmada Mısırlıların kalbe verdiği önem ve kalp kavramı açıklanmaya çalışılmış sonraki dönemlerde ortaya çıkacak gelişmelerin hangi öncülde yola çıkacağı saptanmaya çalışılmıştır.

Article Details

THE CONCEPT OF HEART IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Authors:

Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu | Sema Ayaz

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Eskiçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Archivum Anatolicum-Anadolu Arşivleri Vol.19 Issue 1, pp.29-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354461

pISSN:

1300-6355

Ancient Egypt

Heart

Heart concept

Papyrus.Eski Mısır

Kalp

Kalp kavramı

Papirüs.

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu | Sema Ayaz

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Eskiçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal: Archivum Anatolicum-Anadolu Arşivleri Vol.19 Issue 1, pp.29-38

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354461

pISSN: 1300-6355

Issues

Authors:

Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu | Sema Ayaz

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Eskiçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Archivum Anatolicum-Anadolu Arşivleri Vol.19 Issue 1, pp.29-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354461

pISSN:

1300-6355