by: Yuman Na
Throughout history, kidneys have found their way into becoming one of the most important symbols in a variety of religions and cultures. Kidneys often have many symbolisms and meanings ascribed to them, elevating the organs to a mythical role in many societies. In this blog, we’ll be talking about a couple instances throughout the ages where kidneys have been revered and how they’ve been viewed throughout time.
Hebrew tradition is one of the oldest places where kidneys have been recognized as a vital part of human health and spirit, dating around 3,500 years old.1 Here, kidneys are considered one of the most important organs in the human body, being heralded to the same status as the heart. This is because the Old Testament often associates the kidneys with a person’s deepest, innermost emotions. They are thought to be where secret thoughts reside within a person, the origin of their most intense feelings.
Ancient Egyptian culture is just as old, beginning around 3,000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians studied the kidneys extensively and developed medical techniques for urinary disorders.2 They recorded and formulated multiple prescriptions and incantations for kidney health as well. During the process of mummification, the only organs that were not removed were the heart and kidneys because both had a special mythological role ascribed to them.
The ancient Greeks and Byzantines had their own practices too. Kidneys were often used in both religious and secular activities, finding meaning and significance in both.3 They were used as sacrifice, but could also be consumed as food. The idea was that eating an organ would strengthen that same organ of the consumer, hence eating kidneys would strengthen one’s own kidneys.
In the 18th and 19th century, kidneys were studied in a more modern context, leading to the discovery and most complete description of chronic kidney disease by Richard Bright in 1827.4 Later in the 20th century, the formation and function of urine, role of sodium in the body, and the development of multiple new drugs and techniques to combat kidney diseases were created. Now, medicine is advancing faster than ever before as we move away from mythological ritual to scientific inquiry.
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