Roger Forshaw

The University of Manchester, KNH Centre, Honorary Lecturer

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I am an honorary lecturer at the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, the University of Manchester in biological anthropology and Egyptology. My research areas include dental studies and healing practices in ancient Egypt, the Saite Period and the role of the lector in ancient Egyptian society.

A former dental surgeon, I qualified at Leeds University in 1972 and then entered general practice. I later went on to study Egyptology at Exeter University and then at the University of Manchester where I obtained an MSc in Biomedical Egyptology and a PhD in Egyptology - my thesis was: The Role of the Lector in Ancient Egyptian Society, a title now published.

My research interests in Egyptology include:
 Healing practices in ancient Egypt
 Medicine and dentistry in ancient cultures
 The medical papyri
 The role of the lector
 Saite Period
 Nubian studies
 Palaeopathology of the skull, particularly relating to teeth
 Scientific investigations of mummies
Address: KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology
The University of Manchester
Stopford Building
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PT

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Books by Roger Forshaw

MEDICINE AND HEALING PR ACTICES IN ANCIENT EGYPT, ROSALIE DAVID AND ROGER FORSHAW

by Paul Skorpen and Roger Forshaw

Contents List of illustrations vii Acknowledgements xiii Chronology xv 1 Introduction to Egyptian... more Contents List of illustrations vii Acknowledgements xiii Chronology xv 1 Introduction to Egyptian concepts of disease and medical ethics 1 2 Providers of healthcare: the healer's perspective 23 3 The temple as a location for medical training and practice 85 4 Medical treatment and healing in a community context 97 5 Methods of treatment 121 6 Recipients of healthcare: the patient's perspective 161

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Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt

Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt provides a new perspective on healthcare and heal... more Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt provides a new perspective on healthcare and healing treatments in Egypt from the Predynastic to the Roman periods. Rather than concentrating exclusively on diseases and medical conditions as evidenced in ancient sources, it provides a ‘people-focused’ perspective, asking what it was like to be ill or disabled in this society? Who were the healers? To what extent did disease occurrence and treatment reflect individual social status?

As well as geographical, environmental and dietary factors, which undoubtedly affected general health, some groups were prone to specific hazards. These are discussed in detail, including soldiers’ experience of trauma, wounds and exposure to epidemics; and conditions - blindness, sand pneumoconiosis, trauma and limb amputations – resulting from working conditions at building and other sites.

Methods of diagnosis and treatment were derived from special concepts about disease and medical ethics. These are explored, as well as the individual contributions and professional interactions of various groups of healers and carers. Medical training and practice occurred in various locations, including temples and battlefields; these are described, as well as the treatments and equipment that were available.

Ancient writers generally praised the Egyptian healers’ knowledge, expertise, and professional relationship with their patients. A brief comparison is drawn between this approach and those prevailing elsewhere in Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. Finally, Egypt’s legacy, transmitted through Greek, Roman and Arabic sources, is confirmed as the source of some principles and practices still found in modern ‘Western’ medicine.

Combining information from the latest studies on human remains and the authors’ biomedical research, this book brings the subject up to date, enabling a wide readership to access often scattered information in a fascinating synthesis.

Egypt of the Saite Pharaohs, 664-525 BC

In the 660s BC Egypt was a politically fragmented and occupied country. However, this was to chan... more In the 660s BC Egypt was a politically fragmented and occupied country. However, this was to change when a family of local rulers from the city of Sais declared independence from the Assyrian Empire, and in a few short years succeeded in bringing about the reunification of Egypt. The Saites established central government, reformed the economy and promoted trade. The country became prosperous, achieving a pre-eminent role in the Mediterranean world. This is the first monograph devoted entirely to a detailed exploration of the Saite Dynasty. It reveals the dynamic nature of the period, the astuteness of the Saite rulers and their considerable achievements in the political, economic, administrative and cultural spheres. It will appeal not only to students of Egyptology but also, because of the interactions of the Saite Dynasty with the Aegean and Mesopotamia worlds, to anyone interested in ancient history.

Mummies, Magic and Medicine in Ancient Egypt. Multidisciplinary Essays for Rosalie David

by Campbell Price and Roger Forshaw

M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s Mummies, magic and medicine in ancient Egypt © ... more M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s Mummies, magic and medicine in ancient Egypt © M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s Rosalie David, c. 1974. (Courtesy of Manchester Museum, University of Manchester.) © M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s Mummies, magic and medicine in ancient Egypt M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s To Rosalie and in memory of Antony © M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s © M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

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The role of the lector in ancient Egyptian society

The lector is first attested during the 2nd Dynasty and is subsequently recognised throughout anc... more The lector is first attested during the 2nd Dynasty and is subsequently recognised throughout ancient Egyptian history. In previous studies the lector is considered to be one of the categories of the ancient Egyptian priesthood. He is perceived to be responsible for the correct performance of rites, to recite invocations during temple and state ritual, and to carry out recitations and perform ritual actions during private apotropaic magic and funerary rites. Previous treatments of the lector have rarely considered the full extent of his activities, either focusing on specific aspects of his work or making general comments about his role. This present study challenges this selective approach and explores his diverse functions in a wide ranging review of the relevant evidence. Why did he accompany state organised military, trading and mining expeditions and what was his role in healing? In the temple sphere he not only executed a variety of ritual actions but he also directed ritual practices. What responsibilities did he fulfil when sitting on legal assemblies, both temple-based and in the community? Activities such as these that encompassed many aspects of ancient Egyptian life are discussed in this volume.

Papers by Roger Forshaw

Dentistry and dental care in antiquity: part 2 – Egypt and the Graeco-Roman World

British Dental Journal, 2026

This second part of the study on ancient dental care explores dental practices in ancient Egypt a... more This second part of the study on ancient dental care explores dental practices in ancient Egypt and the Graeco-Roman world, drawing on both textual and archaeological evidence to shed new light on dental care and early dentistry. The arid climate and distinctive burial customs of ancient Egypt have resulted in the exceptional preservation of numerous skeletal and mummified remains, allowing researchers to study the full spectrum of dental conditions across three millennia. While a few texts reference medicaments for dental care, there is scant osteological evidence for interventive dental procedures. In contrast, classical Graeco-Roman sources offer richer documentation of dental practices and the evolution of dental care; although, again there is limited archaeological evidence. Early Greek texts, including the Hippocratic Corpus and the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus, lay the groundwork for understanding dental anatomy and basic dental treatment, while later, Roman authors such as Celsus, Pliny and Galen describe surgical extractions, prosthetics and pharmaceutical remedies in greater detail. By integrating these diverse lines of evidence, this analysis highlights both the advancements and limitations of ancient dental care, revealing the complex interplay between culture, diet and medical knowledge.

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Dentistry and dental care in antiquity: part 1- prehistory, Mesopotamia, Israel, Etruria and the Far East

British Dental Journal, 2025

Gain an overview of how early humans transitioned from rudimentary dental interventions in prehis... more Gain an overview of how early humans transitioned from rudimentary dental interventions in prehistory to more sophisticated treatment approaches in later ancient civilisations. Explores the multifaceted dental practices across Mesopotamia, Israel, the Mediterranean and the Far East, highlighting how empirical remedies intertwined with ritualistic elements. Illustrates how cultural practices and dietary changes influenced oral health, providing insights into the evolutionary roots of modern dental care.

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Delving into history: how the latest advances in dental analysis can unlock the secrets of the past

Dental Historian, 2025

The study of ancient teeth offers many opportunities for exploring human activity in earlier peri... more The study of ancient teeth offers many opportunities for exploring human activity in earlier periods, primarily due to their exceptional preservation and unique ability to capture diverse biological markers. Unlike other parts of the skeleton, teeth resist postmortem decay, making them reliable repositories of biological data that provide insights into physiology, diet, health, and genetics. This review examines key advances in dental analysis, focusing on cutting-edge bioarchaeological methods for studying both recent and ancient teeth. Topics covered include climate change, stable isotope analysis for reconstructing diets and migration patterns, and the investigation of ancient diseases and medical practices. Advanced techniques, including ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis and proteomic studies of teeth and dental calculus, further expand our understanding by identifying genetic and protein markers linked to health and disease. Collectively, these approaches bridge critical gaps in our knowledge of human history and biology, offering a more comprehensive view of how ancient populations adapted to their environments, managed health challenges, and sustained their ways of life.

Cases of Oral Pathologies from the First Archaeological Survey of Nubia

Journal of the Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, 2024

This study investigates three cases of oral pathology identified in skeletal and mummified remain... more This study investigates three cases of oral pathology identified in skeletal and mummified remains originally excavated during the First Archaeological Survey of Nubia (1907-1911). While the Survey Team conducted an extensive analysis and published their initial findings in the first year of the Project, subsequent results were minimally documented. These remains have now been re–examined, as part of the GRAFTON ELLIOT SMITH PROJECT. The first of the cases involves a significant pathological bony cavity in the maxilla attributed to an odontogenic infection that caused perforation of the maxillary sinus. Evidence of chronic sinusitis on the inner sinus wall suggests the infection persisted during the individual’s life. The second one presents features consistent with leprosy, including the distinctive rhinomaxillary syndrome, characterised by perforation of the hard palate and resorption of the alveolar bone supporting the maxillary anterior teeth. The final case focuses on a bilateral cleft palate found in an adult skull and considers the implications of survival into adulthood with this condition in an ancient societal context. These pathologies have been reassessed in the framework of recent research and discoveries made over the past century.

Windows into the past: recent scientific techniques in dental analysis

British dental journal, Feb 9, 2024

Emphasises the importance of the investigation of ancient teeth to the study of anthropology, arc... more Emphasises the importance of the investigation of ancient teeth to the study of anthropology, archaeology and forensics. Discusses the wide range of analytical techniques that are now available to investigate recent and ancient teeth. Highlights the extent of the information that can be unlocked from teeth and dental calculus.