MAES Zoom: Roger Forshaw - Hesyre: the World’s First Recorded Dentist

Hesyre: Court Official, Scribe, and the World’s First Recorded Dentist

Hesyre served as a high court official under King Djoser around 2650 BC, early in Egypt’s Old Kingdom. He was chief of the royal scribes and held both religious and secular offices, and is also celebrated as the earliest recorded dentist in history. Our understanding of Hesyre derives chiefly from his richly decorated mastaba tomb at Saqqara, whose walls feature depictions of objects from daily life, including tools, furniture and board games.

Among the tomb’s most striking features are eleven exquisitely crafted acacia-wood relief panels that once lined the niches of a long corridor. Six of these panels have survived the ravages of time and show Hesyre in a range of elegant poses and garments, reflecting various stages of his career. Particularly notable is the earliest known depiction of a man seated before a table of bread, accompanied by a short offering list and inscriptions detailing his many titles. These panels are celebrated as some of the finest surviving examples of ancient wooden relief art, offering a vivid testament to the artistry and cultural refinement of third-millennium BC Egyptian court life.

Roger Forshaw is an Honorary Lecturer in Biomedical Egyptology at the KNH Centre, the University of Manchester - and a former dental surgeon. He studied Egyptology at the University of Exeter before completing an MSc in Biomedical Egyptology and a PhD at the University of Manchester. His doctoral research examined the role of lector in ancient Egyptian society, and his broader interdisciplinary work explores medical and dental practices in Pharaonic Egypt. Roger’s publications include Egypt of the Saite Pharaohs, and Medicine and Healing Practices in Ancient Egypt, co-authored with Professor Rosalie David.

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The Manchester Ancient Egypt Society welcomes everyone with an interest in ancient Egyptian history. The oldest and largest Egyptology society in the UK, we organise an annual programme of lectures from visiting Egyptology professionals, as well as conferences, study days and regular trips to Egyptology collections in the UK and further afield. You can find out more about our activities on our website, meet some of our members, download the latest lecture programme and get details about how to join us. www.maesweb.org.uk

The Manchester Ancient Egypt Society is the oldest and largest in the UK and welcomes people from across the world to join us exploring the history of Egypt and the Nile Valley.