1st prosthetic limb known to mankind was made in ancient Egypt

CAIRO – 11 April 2022: In the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in  Fustat, the ancient capital of Islamic Cairo, resides the first artificial limb known to mankind, which was made in ancient Egypt.

Reflecting the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians, the artificial limb belonged to the daughter of a priest, who lived between 950 and 710 BC. The girl's mummy was found in 2000 in the Sheikh Cemetery in Qurna, west of Luxor.

The prosthetic part was created by an ancient Egyptian doctor to replace the amputated big toe on the girl's right leg. It was modified more than once and was made in the form of sandals made of wood and leather. 

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the first of its kind in Egypt and the Arab world, is the first integrated museum in the region. It is a comprehensive cultural beacon shedding light on the Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day. 

The museum highlights the interaction between the Egyptians and the land they lived on throughout history through cultural themes.