Few sciences are as rooted in shame, infamy, and bad PR as human anatomy. The troubles began in Alexandrian Egypt, circa 300 B.C. King Ptolemy I was the first leader to deem it a-okay for medical types to cut open the dead for the purpose of figuring out how bodies work.
The study of human anatomy has long been associated with negative perceptions, often tied to shame and scandal. This reputation dates back to around 300 B.C. in Alexandrian Egypt, where King Ptolemy I permitted anatomists to dissect corpses to better understand human biology. This groundbreaking decision marked the beginning of a complex relationship between medicine and society regarding the exploration of the human body.