The plant known as Cannabis sativa has received appreciation from human civilizations around the globe and over thousands of years of history. Some of the oldest uses of cannabis in human history have been traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was recognized for its medicinal properties.
Although cannabis is currently a subject of controversy, there is evidence that the plant has been a feature of human civilizations worldwide for a long time. This article looks back in time at the history of cannabis, giving special attention to the role of the cannabis plant in ancient Egyptian culture.
Cannabis has been used for rituals and medicines in ancient cultures around the globe. The use of cannabis in ancient Egypt, however, remains a mystery to historians and archaeologists, who remain divided on whether or not the plant played any role in the culture of the ancient Egyptians.
Although the evidence supporting the hypothesis that cannabis was used in ancient Egypt is scarce and often contested, there are interesting indicators that the remarkable cannabis plant had popularity there far ahead of the current age.
As far as physical evidence goes, cannabis pollen is said to have been discovered in the tomb of Ramses II, from 1200 BCE. There are even soil samples containing cannabis pollen that date back to pre-dynastic periods, which means that cannabis may have been present as early as before 3200 BCE. However, these samples are small and scarce, and it is contested whether the evidence indicates that cannabis was used in these ancient cultures, or if there was cross-contamination of cannabis pollen via the wind or other human activity over the years.
Despite the weak physical evidence of cannabis use in ancient Egypt, there are written references that some scholars find to be compelling evidence of the presence of the plant in ancient Egypt. The Ebers papyrus is considered the most direct and convincing piece of evidence for cannabis in ancient Egypt. This historic document is an ancient Egyptian medical text from around 1550 BCE. The text refers to a plant called “shemshemet,” which certain scholars are confident was actually cannabis. This plant is featured in various recipes for medicinal applications, most notably topical application to reduce inflammation.
However, whether or not “shemshemet” truly refers to cannabis is still hotly debated, and some experts argue that the term could refer to a different plant altogether. It is overall unclear what evidence supports whether “shemshemet” indeed refers to cannabis or not, which adds to the mystery of cannabis’ history in ancient Egypt.
There is also speculation that the goddess Seshat was associated with the cannabis plant. Seshat is the Egyptian goddess of the written word, her name literally translating as “female scribe.” She immortalizes the works of great writers in the library of the gods.
The goddess is typically featured wearing a leopard skin draped over her robe with a headdress of a seven-pointed star. This star bears interesting resemblance to a cannabis leaf. This interpretation of the headdress has not been confirmed, but the star is strikingly similar in appearance to the leaf we use to symbolize the special plant today.
Cannabis may have been used medicinally in ancient Egypt, but this theory is still a subject of debate and is based on unclear evidence. Because the Ebers Papyrus and other medical texts mention the use of various plants for treating ailments, it would be interesting if this document really did refer to cannabis among its remedies.
Although the evidence is still uncertain, it seems that if cannabis was used in ancient Egyptian medicine, it might have been for its analgesic or anti-inflammatory properties, given that these benefits are well-documented in modern medical research. This would mean that not only is cannabis relevant to medicine today, but also the earliest human civilizations had appreciated the healing benefits of this plant long before it became popular to do so.
Migraines are far more debilitating than typical headaches, often disrupting daily life. More and more people are turning to cannabis to manage their chronic pain, with migraines being the top reason among headache patients. Cannabis is such a powerful tool for migraine and pain relief that many patients even use medical marijuana in place of…
We all know honey comes from bees, and bees need flowers to make honey, so does this mean bees can make infused honey from the flowers of the cannabis plant? The details are more complicated than you’d think. Cannabis flowers don’t produce nectar, so bees can’t make honey from them. Since cannabis plants pollinate via…
Over the last decade, there has been considerable discussion about the future of cannabis. Typically, those conversations center around legality, market size, and social and medical impacts, all of which are interesting topics in their own right. But there has been far less discussion about the digital future of cannabis. With more and more of…
Talking to your family about cannabis can be difficult. You’re often battling with generations of stigma and the impacts of changing social norms in real time. Conversing with a grandparent who grew up believing that cannabis is bad and those who smoke weed are lazy, among other sentiments, can be challenging. With that in mind,…
When Johaness Gutenberg introduced his printing press in the mid-15th century, he sparked a revolution in the way the masses could spread and consume information. For centuries after, the primary way we shared content was through print media, like books and magazines. But when Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, that all…
Sign up for our newsletter
Get your medical marijuana card today
Sign up in under 5 minutes
Start By Selecting Your State
