The Link Between Ancient Egypt and the Deadly Plague – 3,000-Year-Old Mummy Holds Key Evidence
A groundbreaking discovery is rewriting history: the origins of the infamous Black Death, which devastated 14th-century Europe, can be traced all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Scientists have found molecular evidence of the plague in a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, proving that this deadly disease predates what we previously knew. This astonishing find links the plague to ancient civilizations, revealing how it spread long before it ravaged Europe, China, and beyond. Curious about the shocking details? Read on to learn more!
One of the deadliest diseases in history, the plague, which caused millions of deaths in the 14th century, has been detected outside of Eurasia for the first time!
According to an article in Popular Science, the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, was found in an Egyptian mummy from the Late Bronze Age, approximately 3,290 years ago, housed in the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy.
Research revealed traces of Y. Pestis (the bacterium responsible for bubonic plague) DNA in the mummy's bone tissue!
Plague, one of history's most infamous diseases, spreads when fleas living on rodents bite humans. Once the Y. Pestisbacterium infects a human host, it destroys the lymphatic system. It causes swelling of the lymph nodes, especially in the groin, armpits, and neck, leading to the formation of lumps in these areas. In advanced stages of the disease, symptoms include seizures, vomiting blood, internal bleeding, and death.
According to IFL Science, the individual from 3,290 years ago died due to the disease reaching an advanced stage.
It remains unclear whether this person was isolated from society or part of a widespread outbreak in the region. Scientists hope that this significant discovery will shed light on the 'potential transmission and pathology modes' of the Egyptian version of the disease.
Earlier research had suggested the possibility of the plague in Egypt.
In 2004, scientists discovered thousands of years old fleas in a warehouse along the Nile River. However, this discovery did not confirm the presence of the plague in Egypt—until now!
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