Overview

Ancient Egyptian woman washing

Archaeologists have discovered that the Egyptians had simple baths and toilets. Egyptian men and women took great care over their personal cleanliness and appearance, and there is evidence that they used eye make-up that helped protect their eyes from diseases. They slept under mosquito nets.

Priests, for religious reasons, kept themselves scrupulously clean. They regularly washed themselves, their clothes and their cups.

The Egyptians didn't use cleanliness to ward off disease, however, but instead appealed to their gods, using charms, amulets and spells.

They didn't have a public health system in the modern sense of state-organised sewers, public hygiene or medical care.