The ancient Egyptians are credited with the oldest known written use of the word "brain" and providing the first written accounts of its anatomy.
While pinpointing the single individual who "first named" the brain with certainty is difficult due to the passage of time and incomplete historical records, the Egyptians were among the earliest civilizations to recognize and document the existence of the brain. Their early writings provide evidence of their knowledge of the brain's anatomy, its coverings (meninges), and cerebrospinal fluid. The Edwin Smith Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text dating back to around the 17th century BC (though likely based on even earlier material), contains descriptions of brain injuries and their effects, demonstrating an awareness of the organ's importance.
Although other ancient civilizations, such as the Mesopotamians and Greeks, also contributed to the understanding of anatomy and medicine, the Egyptian records offer the earliest tangible evidence of the brain's recognition and description. Therefore, while not a specific person, the ancient Egyptians, as a civilization, are regarded as being among the first to acknowledge and document the "brain."
