Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources Reading Comprehension Worksheets Ancient Egypt

Medicine in Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt

---

Medicine in Ancient Egypt
Print Medicine in Ancient Egypt Reading Comprehension


Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 8 to 9
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	9.12

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		contraceptive, gynecology, canopic, highest-ranking, anesthetics, aromatic, henna, anatomical, confidential, childbirth, superstitious, lotus, supposedly, fertility, numerous, curse
	content words:		Ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptians

---

Medicine in Ancient Egypt By Phyllis Naegeli

---

¹     We have quite a bit of information about ancient Egyptian medicine. Physician's manuals have been found to tell us what they did for the sick and injured. Although many of the treatments included magic, ancient Egyptians used herbs and other remedies to treat many disorders.
 
²     Religion, magic, and medicine were closely related in Ancient Egypt. Some priests were specially trained as physicians to care for the sick, injured, and mentally ill. Physicians were held to a high standard of ethics. Patients were treated with respect, and their personal information was highly confidential. The highest-ranking doctors were priests of the goddess Sekhmet, who controlled plagues and illnesses. Physicians spent a part of each year serving the goddess. Doctors were thought to be close to the gods and able to ask them for healing.
 
³     Temples were centers for healing. When a person was ill, he or she would come to the temple or call for a doctor for a diagnosis. An obvious problem was treated with medicine, prayer, and magic. If a clear cause was not discovered, the diagnosis would usually be attributed to an evil spirit or curse. The physician would use magic spells or amulets (magic charms) to bring about a cure. Occasionally a diagnosis could not be reached. In this case, a patient would be told to rest for a period of time until another examination could be performed.

Paragraphs 4 to 7:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable

---

Weekly Reading Books

Create Weekly Reading Books Prepare for an entire week at once!

---

Feedback on Medicine in Ancient Egypt

Leave your feedback on Medicine in Ancient Egypt   (use this link if you found an error in the story)

---

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt

---

More Lessons

High School Reading Comprehensions and High School Reading Lessons

---

Social Studies

Social Studies

United States History and Theme Units         American Government         Ancient America         Ancient China         Ancient Egypt         Ancient Greece         Ancient India         Ancient Mesopotamia         Ancient Rome         Biographies         Canadian Theme Unit         Country Theme Units         Crime and Terrorism         Economics         European History: 1600s-1800s

Explorers         Famous Educators         Geography         Grades 2-3 Social Studies Wendy's World Series         History of Books and Writing         History of Mathematics         How Can I Help?         Inventors and Inventions         Middle Ages         Renaissance         World Religion         World War I         World War II         World Wonders

Copyright © 2025 edHelper