# Egyptian Brain surgery **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 12, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289 "2000-07-12T06:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dubikan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@dubikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dubikan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/1 "2000-07-12T06:53:46Z")
(following the column on why the heart is considered the seat of emotions - [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_271.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_271.html)) IIRC, egyptian skulls of Tut-Ankh Amon, or one of the other horror-film stars, had a hole in the back, where, supposedly, some sort of brain surgery took place - how does this coincide with the idea that the brain is mainly a source of mucous"? (edited to fix link: don’t forget to put a space after the text of the URL!) [Edited by Arnold Winkelried on 07-12-2000 at 12:25 PM] ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/2 "2000-07-12T11:56:29Z")
I thought the hole in Egyptian skulls was drilled _after death_. Removing brainsand other organs was part of the mummification process, and, if I recall correctly, the brain was sucked out through the hole. Since you brought it up, seems like I remember that _other_ internal organs, such as the heart and liver and so forth, were embalmed and entombed with the mummy, but the brain was just thrown away, 'cause it was unimportant. Can anyone else confirm/deny? ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/3 "2000-07-12T14:50:58Z")
According to the Egyptian exhibit at The Field Museum, the brain was pulled out through the nose. (Ewwww!) I don’t recall if it was saved, but I rather doubt it was in any recognizable shape. The heart (and probably some other internal organs) were removed and saved in canopic jars. These often had carved heads of gods on them. Pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/4 "2000-07-12T17:29:36Z")
According to [Encyclopædia Britannica](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,33068+2+32500,00.html), the brain was also saved and included in the canopic jars. > [@](#): > > Although it is held that embalming skill reached a peak during the New Kingdom period between 1738 and 1102 BC, the most detailed description of the various methods was given by the 5th-century-bc Greek historian Herodotus. The most elaborate method, at first reserved for the royal dead, involved surgical procedures. The brain, intestines, and other vital organs were removed, washed in palm wine, and placed in vases, known as canopic jars, filled with herbs. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/5 "2000-07-12T17:56:10Z")
Hah! I was hoping to get into a round of self-congratulatory back-slapping about how we modern folks are so darn superior to ancient folks ‘cause **we** know enough not to throw away peoples’ brains after they’re through using them. I guess it was not to be, though. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/6 "2000-07-12T21:50:31Z")
Trepanning (making holes in the skull) was common among some ancient cultures, including the Egyptians. [Here’s](http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n02/historia/psicocirg_i.htm) a great site on the practice. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-brain-surgery/25289/7 "2000-07-13T06:35:27Z")
The column ( **including** Slug Signorino’s illustration) can also be found on pages 271-272 of Cecil Adams’ book “[_Triumph of the Straight Dope_](http://www.straightdope.com/otheroutlets/books.html)”.