Rosalie David

Rosalie David, a trailblazer in Egyptology and the UK's first female professor in the field, discusses her groundbreaking research on mummies. She reveals the shocking health issues uncovered in ancient mummies, like that of Asru, showcasing the evolution of mummification techniques. Rosalie shares captivating anecdotes from her travels in 1960s Egypt and highlights the interdisciplinary approach that led to the creation of the world’s first mummy tissue bank, offering new insights into ancient medical practices.

Comedians Russel Kane and Lucy Porter, along with bio-medical Egyptologists Rosalie David and Lidija McKnight, join Brian Cox and Robin Ince to explore the science of mummification and the intriguing lives of Ancient Egyptians. They discuss the sophisticated pharmacology of the Ancient Egyptians, their unique death rituals, the challenge of determining the cause of death for mummies, and even compare mummification to modern-day beauty trends. The episode concludes with a funny anecdote and a hint at the next episode on psychology and magic.

Rosalie David, a trailblazer in Egyptology, discusses her groundbreaking work on mummies, highlighting the fusion of ancient history and modern medicine. She reveals her early adventures in Egypt and the pivotal shift in studying mummies as valuable sources of historical insight. David shares startling findings, including a forensic investigation into a young woman's murder 3,000 years ago and the establishment of the world's first mummy tissue bank, uncovering a complex understanding of ancient Egyptian health and society.