History Rediscovered- The Story of the Egyptian Pictograph

For a generation of reflexologists it is an iconic image of reflexology, the pictograph of hand and footwork from ancient Egypt. Hugely significant at the time of its discovery in 1980, it gave reflexologists roots in an ancient culture.

Reflexology was given its ancient roots by chance. The pictograph was discovered in 1980 when reflexologist Ed Case and his wife Ellen of Los Angles were on a tour of the Papyrus Museum in Cairo. The tour guide said, there’s something here you’ll be interested in. It was a papyrus rendering of the bas-relief carving found in the Tomb of the Physician, Ankhmahor in Saqqara, Egypt dating from 2300 B. C. E. 

(On a personal note, Kevin had a telephone conversation with Ed when he returned from his trip emphasizing the significance of his discovery. Ed died the next day.)

The familiar black and white silhouette pictograph was created by an artist commissioned by Ed’s friend and fellow reflexologist Jim Ingram. Ed and Jim were founding members of the Foot Reflexology Awareness Association of Los Angeles. The group promoted by providing reflexology samples at health fairs and the Police Olympics. Such promotion in a town where television and movie production is a major industry did not go unnoticed. The group is credited with garnering attention for reflexology on a national level as reflexology has made “appearances” in television programs and movies over the years starting in 1988 with the Roseanne show and Friends.

Proof of Ancient Roots for Reflexology

Looking back in time, it’s easy to picture the need for a barefoot society—ancient Egyptians went barefoot— to pay attention to feet. But, what is it about the scenes of footwork from ancient Egypt that so captures the attention and imaginations of reflexologists? It could be any one of a number of things.

Seeing foot work depicted from ancient times and spanning thousands of years of Egyptian culture links reflexologists to a timeless tradition.

For a generations of reflexologists it is an iconic image of reflexology, the pictograph of hand and footwork from ancient Egypt. Hugely significant at the time of its discovery in 1980, it and other images from ancient Egypt give reflexology roots in ancient times.

“The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past.” William Faulkner

So much of what is represented by foot work artifacts from ancient Egypt speak to reflexologists and reflexology use today.

• Roman emperor Octavian complained of Mark Anthony’s “pathetic enslavement to her (Cleopatra) -- he even massaged her feet at dinner parties.” For reflexologists, however, the scene creates a picture of one person reaching out to another, especially a loved one.

• To reflexologists who often find themselves fighting the battle of tired feet on behalf of foot sore clients, a pictograph of foot work commemorating the battle of Kadesh during the rule of Rameses II conjures up the image of a moment in ancient times on some dusty path when a foot sore soldier needed help. Reflexologists are frequently visited by foot sore clients seeking relief.

• Words attributed to the figures in the pictograph sound familiar to today’s practicing reflexologists: “Do not let it be painful” and “I do as you say.” A discussion of comfort level with the client is a part of the reflexologist’s service.

The enduring mystery of foot work in Egypt / Link to ancient medicine

What exactly were the ancient Egyptians doing? Does the work on feet depicted in pictographs illustrate a therapy, a foot operation, a pedicure? There are arguments to support each and any viewpoint. Each new comment or book on the subject seems to add another layer of mystery.

Among clues to the meaning of pictographs are their locations in tombs. Pictographs of footwork are located in The Tomb of the Physician. They are located in the entry hall the site indicating the profession of the tomb’s owners. 

What is meant by the hieroglyphs?

The hieroglyphs accompanying the foot work pictographs in The Tomb of the Physician have long been accepted to read, “Do not let it be painful” and “I do as you say.” Yet graduate students who spent months studying the Tomb have a different take.

“In one scene the right hand is treated; in the other, the toe of the left foot. The inscriptions do not elucidate the procedure: “Make these give strength!” To which the operator responds: “I will do to thy pleasure, sovereign!” This answer inscribed between the two operators could also be valid for the one to the right, who treats the toe of a patient who is begging: “Do not cause pain to these!”

The comments on “doing thy pleasure” and “not causing pain” are self explanatory. But what could be the meaning of “Make these give strength!”? Could “these” be the feet? The paragraph quoted above begins with: “As a result of walking barefoot, minor accidents and ailments requiring surgery must certainly have been common.”

Foot work spans thousands of years of an ancient culture

It could be said that work on feet for a purpose dates from the earliest times of recorded human history as shown by ancient Egyptian artifacts. Not only that but foot work was practiced throughout ancient times. 

2323-2291 B. C.; Teti. First Pharaoh, Sixth Dynasty

Work on hands and feet is depicted in bas relief carvings at the entrance to the tomb of pharaoh Teti official Ankmahor. The placement of such carvings in an entrance typically signified the profession of the individual. The tomb is referred to as "Tomb of the Physician”

1279-1213 B. C.; Ramesses II; Third Pharaoh, Nineteenth Dynasty

A pictograph of work on feet of "tending" to the feet of foot soldiers on a military campaign involving a long march during the battle of Qadesh during the reign of Ramesses II. The battle is well known because it was commemorated by Ramesses in the building of at least eight temples that have survived.

69-30 B. C. E.; Cleopatra; Greco-Roman Period

Mark Anthony reported to “massage her (Cleopatra's) feet at dinner parties.”

Today

Mohammed elAwany of Egypt’s Vision Travel and Tours notes that individuals who continue the ancient footwork practice may be found in some remote Egyptian villages.

Clogged Arteries: “Maybe mummy should have laid off the salt”

Clogged Arteries: “Maybe mummy should have laid off the salt”

“Researchers using CT scanners found signs of heart disease, long thought to be a modern malady, in centuries old mummies…” A Wall Street Journal article notes that a cardiac physician was intrigued to see arteriosclerosis listed as the cause of death for a mummy on exhibit in Egypt. With the help of a CT scan and twenty-two mummies, “They (researchers) were able to identify the hearts, arteries or both in 16 of the mummies, nine of whom had deposits of calcification.” —indicating artherosclerosis. Eating meat was common to upper-class Egyptians which may have contributed to the condition. In addition, since the meat was preserved in salt,“the possibility (is) that some of these Egyptians had high blood pressure.” “On the scans, ‘atherosclerosis looks just like it does in our modern day patients…,’ ” reported one researcher, a cardiologist. The study, reported at the scientific meeting of the American Heart Association, speculates that clogged arteries may, thus, be a “human condition” rather than a modern malady as long thought.

Too bad the former pharaohs whose bodies are current mummies didn’t avail themselves of reflexology—at least on a more consistent basis. After all, it’s entirely possible that some of them had access. A pictograph showing reflexology work is found in the tomb of Ankh-mahor, physician to the pharaoh in approximately 2350 B. C. E. (more)

OK, we’re being tongue-in-cheek here but for those of us today with high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides, research shows that reflexology can create remarkable improvement in such human conditions. Reflexology work improves cholesterol and triclycerides levels when applied sufficiently—30-40 minutes five or six times a week for 20 sessions. While a less frequent application does not have this effect, research shows that reflexology application in virtually any amount can impact blood pressure levels. From real time measurements to a single session to weekly sessions, ten studies show blood pressure to be lowered significantly. Also effective in lowering blood pressure was the self-help technque of walking on a reflexology mat three times a week for 8 weeks.

Barbara and Kevin Kunz

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