&NA;The Peseshkef, a prehistoric flint knife in the shape of a fish tail, was used in Egypt to cut the umbilical cord at birth, circa 5000 BC. This was the first special‐purpose surgical instrument. Because of the importance of rebirth in the Egyptian religion, a stylized knife with magical properties became part of the equipment for the “opening of the mouth” ceremony to permit a mummy to partake of nourishment in the afterlife. It also became the emblem of the birth goddess, Meskhenet.(Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:1053‐5)