Today we bring to the pages of Babies and more a curiosity that realizes the importance that childbirth had in Antiquity, with an almost magical meaning and a ritual sense that today has practically disappeared in our society.
The so-called "peseshkef" is considered as the first surgical instrument in history, and is a prehistoric flint knife shaped like a fishtail This instrument was used in Ancient Egypt to cut the umbilical cord after birth, approximately from 5000 B.C.
Given the great importance that the birth ritual had in Egyptian society, it was given a magical religious context and the cordon was considered a symbol. Therefore, the knife that initially served as a tool to easily cut ropes and other materials, in the end was limited to its "magical" use in births.
It had a great religious and mythical meaning, because the action of cutting the cord separated the child from his mother and it is the first moment in which the new being begins to breathe and live for himself.
Etymologically, "peseshkef" means 'instrument to separate', and such was its importance in Egyptian culture, which later became part of ritual mummification ceremonies.
Today the cutting of the cord in our society has become, in general, a routine and accelerated act, although it should be remembered that for mother and child it will always be a unique and special moment.
