hesy-re (re-hesy) (vertical) (panel) (col. 4) in hieroglyphs

Hesy-Ra, alt. Hesire, was an official, physician, possibly the first known in history, ^[1] and scribe who lived during the Third dynasty of Egypt, served under the pharaoh Djoser, and who was buried in an elaborate tomb at Saqqara. He bore titles such as "Chief of Dentists and Physicians" ^[2] and "Chief of the King's Scribes."

Hesy-ra appears to have been renowned for his skill as a dentist and is thought by some to have recognized diabetes and polyuria.^[3]

[edit] Wooden panel set of Hesyre

The wooden panels of Hesy-ra are rare exanples of high execution of hieroglyphs on wood. The panels are in raised bas relief and have some of the oldest forms of the Egyptian language hieroglyphs. The panels contain a hieroglyph story, (at the top) and a thematic portrayal of Hesy-re in different poses.

The panel highlighted in Kamrin's modern day book for the iconographic uses of hieroglyphs, shows a panel with Hesy-re standing, sekhem scepter posed horizontally at his side in his right hand. His left arm is posed forward, holding a vertical staff, and also clutched in his left hand, his scribal equipment, (mixing panel, bag for color inks, reeds). Kamrin translates the 4-vertical columns of hieroglyphs as a lesson in her book:^[4]

"Elder of the qedhetep; father of Min-(="Gods's Father")

Fashioner of the cult image of Mehyt, king's acquaintance

Overseer of the royal scribes

Great one of the 10 of Upper Egypt–

Hesyre"^[5]

[edit] References

1. ^ Adolphe Gutbub, Mélanges Adolphe Gutbub, Université de Montpellier 1984, p.190
2. ^ Helaine Selin, Hugh Shapiro, Medicine Across Cultures: History and Practice of Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, Springer 2003, p.35
3. ^ M. Sara Rosenthal, The Type 2 Diabetic Woman, McGraw-Hill Professional 1999, p.311
4. ^ Kamrin, 2004. Lesson 34: Titles and Filiation on Monuments, Object 6: Wooden Panel of Hesyre, p. 126-127; p. 220.
5. ^ Kamrin, 2004, p. 220.

• Kamrin, 2004. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Practical Guide, Janice Kamrin, c 2004, Harry N. Abrams, Publisher, (Photos or graphics of 73 Ancient Egyptian objects analyzed-(Exercises-(51), Objects)) {hardcover, ISBN 0-8109-4961-X}

[edit] External links

• Article–(with one Hesy-Ra panel photo)

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