PHYSICIAN

Peseshet

2500 BC - 2500 BC

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Peseshet (fl. c. 2500 BC) who lived under the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (albeit a date in the Fifth Dynasty is also possible), is often credited with being the earliest known female physician in history. Some have credited Merit-Ptah with being the first female physician, but she is likely a fictional creation based upon Peseshet. Peseshet’s relevant title was "lady overseer of the female physicians," but whether she was a physician herself is uncertain. Read more on Wikipedia

Her biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Peseshet is the 380th most popular physician (up from 392nd in 2019). (up from 2,287th in 2019)

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Among PHYSICIANS

Among physicians, Peseshet ranks 380 out of 726Before her are Christian Bohr, Paul Janssen, Paul Julius Möbius, Charles Estienne, Johann Kremer, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. After her are Vera Weizmann, Eugene Botkin, Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus, Carlos Chagas, Ferdinand Sauerbruch, and Willi Graf.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 2500 BC, Peseshet ranks 18Before her are En-anna-tum I, Eannatum, Khentkaus III, Ur-Nanshe, Kubaba, and Nefermaat. After her are Tudiya, Nubnefer, and Sesheshet. Among people deceased in 2500 BC, Peseshet ranks 5Before her are Userkaf, En-anna-tum I, Khentkaus III, and Ur-Nanshe. After her are A'annepada, and Akurgal.

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