21/09/2026
The World's Oldest Prosthetic is in Cairo! π³π¦Ά
This is NOT just a piece of leather. This is the Greville Chester Great Toe, the oldest functional prosthetic limb in human history.
π Where: Thebes (Luxor), Egypt - Now in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), Cairo
π
When: Around 950 - 710 BC (almost 3,000 years ago!)
The story:
A woman from Thebes, around 50-60 years old, lost her big toe due to amputation. To help her walk normally and wear the traditional Egyptian sandals, Ancient Egyptian doctors created this incredibly advanced prosthetic toe from wood, leather, and textile, laced together with thread.
Archaeologists found it STILL attached to her foot in her tomb, with clear signs of wear - which means she actually used it and it WORKED. Modern tests showed a person can walk perfectly with it.
This proves that Ancient Egyptian medicine was thousands of years ahead of its time. They didn't just mummify, they healed the living.
Have you seen this in the NMEC?
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Karim Hagag | Licensed Egyptologist Tour Guide
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