Magical honey: some unusual uses in Ancient Egypt

According to an Egyptian legend, honey was born from Ra’s tears, which explains why the ancient Egyptians ascribed so many virtuous properties to this natural product. From the earliest times, it was incorporated in food and used in medicine, mainly to heal wounds and to treat coughs. But, if its therapeutic properties are universally known, as well as its sweetness, honey also had, in the eyes of Egyptians, some quite unusual beneficial properties. This article will explore them and check whether their effectiveness can be proved or disproved by modern science. Gathering honey: a facsimile painting by Nina de Garis Davies of a scene in the Tomb of Rekhmire, from the Metropolitan Museu