The Medicinal Plants in Ahmed Pasha Kamal’s Dictionary of Plants and Trees: Al-La’ali’ Al-Durriya fi Al-Nabatat wa Al-Ashjar Al-Qadima Al-Misriyya A Glimpse into Ancient Egyptian Remedies
Keywords:
Ahmed Pasha Kamal; Dictionary of Plants and Trees; medicinal plants; herbal remedies science heritage.Abstract
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18436206
Ahmed Pasha Kamal was the first Egyptian scholar to write his own ancient Egyptian dictionary, Le lexique de la langue Egyptienne ancienne totaling 22 volumes, including more than 13,000 hieroglyphic entries translated to French and Arabic, yet following different methodology. Kamal’s knowledge production was varied in languages and in targeting audience. He published in Arabic for the Egyptian people and in French (mainly) and English for westerns. Among his publications is “The Dictionary of the Ancient Plants and Trees” اللآلئ الدرية في النباتات والأشجار القديمة المصرية Al-La’ali’ Al-Durriya fi Al-Nabatat wa Al-Ashjar Al-Qadima Al-Misriyya, which is an encyclopedic work that is considered one of the most important references in the study of ancient Egyptian flora. Published in the late 19th century, this dictionary provides comprehensive information about plants used in ancient Egypt, including their names in hieroglyphics, along with translations into Arabic and French. The dictionary is organized alphabetically, it includes detailed descriptions of specific plants and trees, noting their physical characteristics and traditional uses. Moreover, it outlines how these plants were used in religious rituals, medicinal treatments, and daily life, such as growing grains, preparing oils, and crafting wood. In this research paper, we will present an overview of the medicinal remedies discussed by Kamal in his study of the uses of plants in the Dictionary of Plants and Trees, to be compared with the terms found in his 22 volumes dictionary.
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