Amazing Ancient Egypt-30 Centuries of the Egyptian Empire

When you think of Ancient Egypt, you automatically think about the magnificent pyramids and powerful pharaohs. But what else did the Ancient Egyptians get up to?

This article will explore everything in Ancient Egypt, from their food and clothes to their gods and rulers.

Table of Contents

• History of Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Egyptian Clothing
• Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs
• Pyramids of Egypt
• Ancient Egyptian Burials
• Egyptian Hieroglyphics
• Egyptian Deities
• Ancient Egyptian Cats
• Ancient Egyptian Inventions

History of Ancient Egypt

For over 3000 years, the Ancient Egyptian civilisation was one of the world’s most potent and most remarkable civilizations. Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt were unified by King Menes around 3150 B.C. to create the tremendous Egyptian state. For this reason, King Menes then became the first pharaoh known as Narmer. The civilization of ancient Egypt was located along the Nile River in northeast Africa. With three significant periods associated with Ancient Egypt, the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom, the Ancient Egyptians have a long, rich and exciting history. We know so much about the Ancient Egyptians today thanks to the number of artefacts, objects, and monuments that have been preserved. 

The Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom was the first period of Ancient Egypt, and it began with the third dynasty of pharaohs. The Old Kingdom spanned from around 2600-2180 B.C., which included the third to the sixth dynasties. It is also known as the “Age of Pyramid” as it was during this period that King Sneferu perfected the art of pyramid building, and the famous Great Pyramids of Giza were built during kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure’s reigns. The Great Sphinx of Giza was also constructed during Khafre’s reign, who closely associated himself with the god Horus. At the end of the 6th Dynasty, a period of social unrest and reformation emerged known as The First Intermediate Period. This period lasted from around 2181 to 2040 B.C., during which Egyptian districts were ruled by local magistrates or rulers who made their laws. During this time, which ran from the seventh to the tenth dynasty, the scale of wealth that was previously only available to the upper class became more widespread.

The Middle Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom began with the start of the 12th dynasty, marking the end of the first intermediate period. This period lasted from about 2040-1640 B.C. The Middle Kingdom reached its peak under Amenemhet III and began declining under the reign of Amenemhat IV. During this time, Egypt had it first female ruler, sister and regent of Amenemhat IV, Queen Sobekneferu, who was the last ruler of the 12th dynasty. The 13th dynasty was another unsettled period in Egyptian history, during which many kings failed to hold power. As a consequence of this unstable leadership, the Second Intermediate Period began. This lasted from roughly 1780-1560 B.C. and during this time a line of foreign rulers known as the Hyksos took advantage of Egypt’s instability and took control over the country.

The New Kingdom

The New Kingdom spanned from around 1560 to 1085 B.C. it was a time known for its monumental architecture and honouring of the gods and pharaohs with statues through the 18th to the 20th dynasties. It was nearly 500 years of economic prosperity and political stability. During this time, the country established the world’s first great empire, which stretched from Nubia to the Euphrates River in Asia. The controversial 18th dynasty ruler Amenhotep IV undertook a religious revolution during this period, in which he disbanded the priesthoods dedicated to Amon-Re and instead forced the exclusive worship of another sun god, Aton. After the New Kingdom went into decline, Egypt split into smaller parts and was eventually taken over by stronger neighbours, in particular the Roman Empire took over in 31 B.C. and later in A.D. 640, Muslim warriors took over Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian Clothing

We are all familiar with Ancient Egyptian clothing, from the reliefs and painted scenes they left behind us to the many movies and programmes depicting them. Let’s look at the different kinds of clothing the Egyptians wore and the materials they used. The Ancient Egyptians were quite particular about cleanliness and their appearance. Those who didn’t keep themselves looking well were looked at as inferior. 

Clothing

The Ancient Egyptians wore clothing made from linen. This is a light and excellent fabric that we still use today. The line was the perfect material for the hot climate of Egypt. Linen was made from the fibres of the flax plant. Egyptian workers would have to spin the fibres into thread and then use a loom to wove it into linen fabric that could be used to make clothing. It was a long and laborious process. All Egyptians wore linen, but the type of linen worn depended on a person’s status. Wealthy people wore softer linen clothing made from thin flax fibres, while the poorer people in society and peasants wore quite rough linen clothing made using thicker fibres.

Men

Most Egyptian men wore linen kilts. These kilts were rectangle-shaped linen skirts wrapped around the body and tied with a belt, similar to the kilts that the Scottish wear. Kilts were excellent and easy to wear in Egyptian weather. Working-class Egyptian men would have worn loincloths or short kilts; some wore garments similar to shirts tied with a sash at the waist.

Women

Women would have worn long, fitted linen dresses. Wealthier women wore intricate dresses made from beads. Some dresses even had jewellery pieces on the hem that sounded like bells when they walked. Working-class Egyptian women wore full-length wraparound gowns. 

Children

We cannot imagine this now, but in Ancient Egypt, it was customary for children not to wear clothes. Children usually didn’t wear any clothing until the age of six. Although children didn’t wear clothes, they did wear jewellery, such as bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Older children would wear clothing similar to that of their parents. 

Egyptian Shoes

Straw and leather were the two primary materials used to make Egyptian shoes. From the many wall reliefs that the Egyptians painted, we know that most Egyptians didn’t wear shoes but instead chose barefoot. However, sandals were the shoe trend during Ancient Egyptian times if someone wanted protection for their feet. Most Egyptians would have worn sandals made of straw, while wealthier Egyptians wore sandals made of leather.

Ancient Egyptian Beauty

I don’t know about you, but when I think of Egyptian makeup, I picture Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra with big dark eyeshadow and dramatic eyeliner. During Ancient Egyptian times, Egyptians wore eye make-up to make them look beautiful and to also protect their eyes from the glare of the sun. Both Egyptian men and women wore makeup. Egyptians mostly used kohl and malachite powder for eye makeup. Kohl was a black paint that protected their eyes, and malachite powder made the eyes appear more prominent. Black was mainly used around the eyes in an almond or feline-inspired shape. They would have also covered their skin with creams and oils. They used beauty tools that look similar to the ones we use today, such as mirrors, razors, tweezers and tubs to hold their eye makeup.

Ancient Egyptian Hairstyles

When you picture Egyptians, you imagine straight black hair with fringes adorned with beads. But what exactly were the Egyptian hairstyles like? Ancient Egyptian hairstyles changed throughout the different periods, similar to how our hairstyles changed throughout the decades. 

Men

The most common hairstyle for men was to cut their hair short or to shave their heads. It was also widespread for men to wear short wigs with elaborate jewels. Hairstyles were essential to Ancient Egyptians and changed over time. 

Women

Women wore their hair short and long throughout the different periods of Ancient Egypt. Many women also wore large wigs, and the wealthy would have jewels and beads on their wigs. 

Children

Both boys and girls wore their hair in a braid on the right side of their heads. This hairstyle was called the “sidelock of youth.” They kept their hair long in this braid until they became adults. Once they became adults, they could shave their heads or wear shorter braids as a sign that they were growing up. At 14 years old, children would have been considered adults.

Ancient Egyptian Jewellery

Both Egyptian men and women wore jewellery. Amulets were considered good luck charms and believed to protect their owners. Wealthier Egyptians used jewellery to enhance their appearance. The kind of jewellery worn by Egyptians was earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

Many pharaohs ruled throughout ancient Egypt. Some have gone down in history as well-known, influential figures, while others have been forgotten. Let’s have a look at some of the better-known Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs.

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut may not be the first pharaoh to come to mind when think about Ancient Egyptian times, however she was one of the greatest pharaohs that the Egyptian civilisation had. Although not the first female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut did hold the longest reign of any female Pharaoh. Hatshepsut’s road to becoming pharaoh was certainly not ordinary, and as a woman during Ancient Egyptian times, this is no surprise. Even though she was the daughter of a king, she didn’t inherit her rulership. At the time only sons were allowed to succeed their fathers, however when King Thutmose I died, Hatshepsut was his only heir. To fix this problem, Hatshepsut married her half-brother, Thutmose II, and allowed him to become a pharaoh.

Thutmose II had poor health and wasn’t pharaoh for very long. His heir, Thutmose III, who was Hatshepsut’s stepson, became pharaoh instead. Thutmose III was too young to rule, so Hatshepsut stepped in a coruler around 1473 B.C. The two would successfully rule together for over 20 years. The only male heir to the throne was a young boy who was Hatshepsut’s nephew, Thutmose III. Hatshepsut dressed like a pharaoh so that people would accept her as a pharaoh. She often wore the pharaoh’s headdress with a cobra and a fake beard. She established excellent trade relationships with many foreign countries during her reign, making Egypt prosperous. She also built magnificent buildings during her time. Her time of rule was a time of peace and prosperity.

Menes

The history of Menes is quite unclear, and many historians find it hard to distinguish between the fact and fiction of the legendary Egyptian ruler, similar to Romulus and Remus of Ancient Rome. Over 5,000 years ago, Menes became ruler of Egypt and is now considered the very first Egyptian Pharaoh. During this time, there was rivalry between Upper and Lower Egypt. Menes successfully ruled over Upper Egypt and decided to conquer Lower Egypt and combine the two.  He is credited for joining Upper and Lower Egypt into a single monarchy known as “The Two Lands”, which became known as Egypt. He also founded the capital city of Ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom, Memphis. Menes ruled over Ancient Egypt for 62 years until a hippopotamus killed him.

Khufu

Pharaoh Khufu was the second pharaoh of the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom and took the throne at 20 years of age. He ruled over Egypt for 24 years. Khufu is best known for building the Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the ‘Pyramid of Khufu’.He had built the pyramids to serve as his tomb and acted as his stairway to heaven and passage to eternal life.  It took almost 20 years for Khufu’s incredible tombs to be built, and today, they are considered one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The architect of Khufu’s pyramid was Hemiunu, the grandson of King Snefru, making him a member of royalty. During his reign, Khufu had many wives and 24 children: 9 sons and 15 daughters.

Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun is by far the most recognised and well known Egyptian pharaoh, however it is not because of his incredible rulership and achievements but because of the historic discovery of his famous tomb. The Egyptian pharaoh was nicknamed the Boy King as he was only nine years old when he became king. Tutankhamun only ruled for 10 years, and he died at the young age of 19. King Tut’s father was the pharaoh Akhenaten, who had got rid of the idea of many gods and changed worship to one god: Aten, the sun god. For this reason, Tutankhamun was originally named Tutankhaten. In defiance, Tutankhamun changed his name when he became king. During his short reign, his advisors significantly influenced Tutankhamun, and he changed many of the laws his father had implemented. In particular, he brought back worship to many gods and began rebuilding some temples to the gods. Tutankhamun had no heirs when he died.

In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the burial tomb of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Many Ancient Egyptian tombs were emptied and plundered throughout the years because of all the gold inside. This was the first tomb that still had everything inside, untouched and intact. This discovery gave us a great insight into what Pharaohs brought with them to the afterlife. His golden coffin was buried in a tomb in the Valley Of The Kings and surrounded by 5,000 priceless treasures. The discovery revealed that Tutankhamun was buried inside three coffins, with the last one being made of gold and the one that held his mummified body. Historians still do not know how exactly Tutankhamun died as his mummy is far too fragile to examine, and no stories recount it. Among the riches found in his tomb were golden shrines, jewellery, statues, a chariot, weapons and clothing. Tutankhamun’s golden burial mask was one of the most magnificent finds.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra is probably one of the most well-known figures of Ancient Egypt. She is known as the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Cleopatra’s history is fascinating, especially her connections with Ancient Rome. Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. Her family came from Macedonia in Europe and ruled Egypt for 300 years. They were known as the Ptolemy dynasty, established by the Greek ruler Alexander the Great. Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XIII, became rulers after their father died in 51 BC. When Cleopatra was eighteen years old, her father died in 51 B.C. He left the throne to her and her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII. Cleopatra and her ten-year-old brother were married and were to rule Egypt together. As Cleopatra was much older, she took control as the paramount ruler of Egypt. However, as her brother grew older, he wanted more power and earned more followers, which soon drove Cleopatra from power. Ptolemy XIII then became the sole ruler of Egypt.

In 48 B.C., Roman ruler Julius Caesar came to Egypt. Cleopatra convinced Caesar to help her win back the throne. Caesar defeated Ptolemy’s army at the Battle of the Nile, and Ptolemy was killed. Cleopatra then took back power and ruled Egypt again, this time with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar soon fell in love and had a child named Caesarion, meaning little Caesar. 

Caesarion became co-ruler of Egypt when he was three years old with Cleopatra. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated shortly after, and three leaders emerged in Rome to rule. One of these rulers was Marc Antony, and in 41 BC, he met and fell in love with Cleopatra. The two formed a military alliance against another of Rome’s leaders, Octavian. Octavian was the legal heir of Julius Caesar, which angered Cleopatra as she wanted her son, Caesarion, to be heir and ruler of Rome. A battle between Cleopatra and Marc Anthony’s forces and Octabions erupted at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian and had to retreat to Egypt. The mystery of Cleopatra’s death is unclear, but it is said that she killed herself by allowing a poisonous cobra to bite her after learning of Marc Anthony’s death. Cleopatra’s death ended the Ptolemy dynasty and the Ancient Egyptian Empire. Soon after, the Roman Empire took over the Egyptian Empire, headed by Octavian, who became known as Emperor Augustus.

The Great Pyramids of Egypt

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as the burial site for great pharaohs and was intended to last an eternity, and they have done just that. Nearly 5000 years after they were built, these magnificent structures still stand today. Pharaoh Khufu first began the construction of the Great Pyramid to prepare for the next world when he died. The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of a collection of three pyramids known as the Giza Necropolis, which includes the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Pyramid of Khafre. The Giza Necropolis also has the famous Great Sphinx located close by. These pyramids were filled with everything each ruler would need to guide and sustain himself in the next world, including stuffed animals, particularly cats, gold, clothing and statues.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

When the pyramid was built, it stood at around 481 feet tall. However, due to erosion and the removal of the top piece, the pyramid now stands at around 455 feet tall. It is over 700 feet in width, and it covers an area of over 13 acres. It was built using about 2.3 million stone blocks and took 20,000 workers around 20 years to complete. Historians are unsure as to how exactly the Egyptians built the pyramids. There were three main rooms in the Great Pyramid: the King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, and the Grand Gallery.

Pyramid of Khafre and Menkaure

The two other major pyramids at Giza are the Pyramid of Khafre and Menkaure. The Pyramid of Khafre was built by Khufu’s son, Pharaoh Khafre. It is the second largest pyramid of the three. The Pyramid of Menkaure was built for Khufu’s grandson, Pharaoh Menkaure. It originally stood 215 feet tall and was the smallest of the three.

Ancient Egyptian Burials

The journey to the afterlife was an essential ritual for people during Ancient Egypt. The afterlife was known as The Fields of Reeds. The life the deceased had on Earth was said to be awaiting them in the afterlife. Inside an Egyptian coffin would be all the essentials for their journey to the Fields of Reeds, such as jewellery, clothing and even stuffed pets. Mourning the deceased was a huge part of the burial rituals that the Egyptians took part in, the louder their cries the more the deceased was mourned.

The body would be sent to be mummified before it was buried. Once the body was embalmed, it would be put in a wicker or terracotta coffin. At the deceased’s funeral, some mourners carried canopic jars and other grave goods on the way to the grave. The coffin’s procession continued to the edge of the Nile, where all mourners were required to board boats and cross the river to the western side. This was a favoured location for burials. Not everyone could afford to be mummified appropriately or have big funerals; poorer Egyptians may have just been buried in the ground without a coffin.

Mummification Process

The Ancient Egyptians used a process called mummification to preserve the bodies of the dead. Mummification was a long process with many steps. It took 70 days to complete the mummification process fully. Mummification was done by special priests who knew the human body, and the reasoning was to ensure that the body would be reunited with its spirit in the afterlife. The embalmer or priest who did the mummification wore the mask of Anubis, the God of mummification, throughout the process. Mummification was done to ensure that the soul of the deceased could be reunited with its body in the afterlife.

The Steps of Mummification

1. The body was first washed, and all organs were removed by cutting the left-hand side of the body. Every organ in the body would be removed except for the heart. Ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the centre of a person’s intelligence and being. For this reason, it had to stay with them in the afterlife. Ancient Egyptians, however, removed the brain because they believed this was unnecessary in the afterlife. To remove the brain, the priest would shove a hook up the person’s nose to pull the brain out through it.
2. Once all the organs, including the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines, were removed from the body, they were cleaned and put into four separate canopic jars. Each lid of each separate jar had the head of a god or deity on it. There was a specific god for each organ. The four gods were Hapy, the baboon who protected the lungs; Imsety, the human who guarded the liver; Duamutef, the jackal, who guarded the stomach; and Qebehsenuef, the falcon, who guarded the intestines.
3. The Egyptians then used a unique salt called natron, which they put all over their bodies. This salt removes all moisture from the body. The body would be left in this salt for 40 days to dry out completely. Once completely dried, the body was removed from the natron. The empty cavities would then be stuffed with cloth rags, plants, herbs, and sawdust to keep the body’s original shape. Fake eyes were also added to the mummified bodies.
4. The final step of mummification was the necessary wrapping of the body. The body would be wrapped in linen strands that looked similar to bandages. Each toe and finger were often wrapped individually. Ancient Egyptians would put charms, known as amulets, intertwined in the wrapping for good luck. They offered protection into the journey of the afterlife. The mummy was then placed in a coffin called a casket, and the coffin was put into a tomb.

Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Although hieroglyphics are Egyptian, the word hieroglyphics is Greek. “Hiero” means “holy”, and “glyphics” means “marks” or “writings”, translating to “holy writings“. The Egyptians believed there was power in a name; if your name were remembered, you would survive in the afterlife. For this reason, many pharaohs’ names are written in hieroglyphics in their tombs. Some pictures can stand for the object they represent, but they can also stand for sounds. For example, the owl stands for the sound “m” in Egypt. The Egyptian symbol for a foor can mean foot, but it can usually be read as the sound “b”. Throughout the years, historians have devised a simplified translation of our alphabet and Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Hieroglyphics can be pictures of living creatures, objects used in daily life, parts of the body or symbols. Some are easy to identify by eye, while others are pretty difficult to decipher. Below is a simple translation of hieroglyphs. Read more about the Egyptian language.

A	an Egyptian vulture	P	a square stool
B	a foot	Q	a symbol for the slope of a hill
C	a basket with handle	R	a mouth
D	a hand	S	a piece of linen folded over
E	a reed	T	a bun
F	a horned viper (an Egyptian snake)	U	a quail chick
G	a jar-stand	V	a horned viper
H	a reed shelter	W	a quail chick
I	a reed	X	a basket and folded linen
J	a cobra	Y	two reeds
K	basket with the handle (hard “C” is like “K”)	Z	a door bolt
L	a lion	CH	a hobble
M	an owl	KH	a ball of string
N	a zigzag symbol for water	SH	the rectangle (symbol for land)
O	a lasso

Rosetta Stone

TheRosetta Stone was found by Pierre-François Bouchard, one of the soldiers in Napoleon’s army, in 1799. While digging in a town called el-Rashid, which translates to Rosetta, the stone was found with two different languages inscribed: hieroglyphic and Greek and three different types of script were used.

The stone is a piece of black granite that was used to announce a new divine cult established by 13-year-old pharaoh Ptolemy V, and it includes a list of all of the good things the young pharaoh had done for Egypt in his first year as Pharaoh. The Rosetta Stone became the key to unlocking the messages and writings found on and inside so many buildings in Egypt. The Rosetta Stone is currently in the British Museum in London. It was shipped to England in 1802, and King George presented it to the Museum in the same year.

Egyptian Deities

There were over 2,000 Gods and Goddesses in Ancient Egyptian religion. The Ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods, and each one represented something different. Whatever you can think of, the Egyptians had a god for it, from chores to music. Gods and Goddesses were depicted as having a human body with the head of an animal. Some Gods and Goddesses were more human-like. Examples of some animals that the Gods looked like included crocodiles, snakes, dogs, cats and birds.

Gods and Goddesses were worshipped all over Egypt. Pharaohs built prominent temples to honour the Gods. A temple could be dedicated to one or more Gods, and giant statues of the Gods would be found inside. Only priests could enter the sacred temples, and they would spend their time serving the Gods. Some famous temples in Egypt include the Temple of Kom Ombo, the Temple of Horus and Edfu, the Luxor Temple and the Temple of Dendur. Understanding these gods and their crucial role in every person’s immortal journey was the basis of ancient Egyptian culture.

Osiris and Isis

Osiris is one of the most important deities in Ancient Egypt, and he was the underworld god. He symbolised death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. He was married to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, who represented protection, healing, motherhood and children. Egyptians believed that she was their protector. Osiris’ brother, Seth, was viewed as a villain in Ancient Egypt. The legend has it that Osiris was murdered by his brother, Seth and that Isis was able to bring Osiris back to life and have a son named Horus. Osiris and Isis were two Egyptian Gods with human heads instead of animal heads. Osiris was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that only exposed the green skin of his hands and face. Isis’ image was drawn onto coffins to protect the dead from evil spirits.

Horus

Horus was the son of Osiris and Isis. The God Horus is depicted as a man with a falcon’s head. Horus was the god of the sky, associated with war and hunting. Many pharaohs were said to be the living image of Horus, as he was known as the king of the Gods. When pharaohs died, they were told to become Osiris. Horus was raised to avenge his father’s murder by defeating Seth. During the battle, Horus lost his eye, and this is where the term “eye of Horus” comes from. The Eye of Horus is one of the most important symbols in Ancient Egypt. It was often worn as an amulet, a piece of jewellery worn by Ancient Egyptians to protect and fight evil and disease.

Re

Re, also known as Ra, was the primary Sun god. According to legend, Recreated the universe. The god Re was typically represented as a human body with the head of a hawk. He was believed to sail across the sky in a boat each day and then through the underworld each night. Here, he would meet the evil snake Apopis, who would try to prevent the sun from rising. Re would successfully defeat him each night and begin his journey across the sky again, allowing the sun to rise.

Ra was later merged with the god of wind, Amun, making him one of the greatest Egyptian gods. Amun-Ra was so powerful that even the Boy King, Tutankhamun, was named after him. His name translated means “Living image of Amun”.

Anubis

Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. Legend has it that Anubis embalmed and wrapped the body of the murdered king Osiris, making him the patron god for embalmers. This is why embalmers wore Anubis’ mask during the mummification process. In ‘The Book of the Dead, ’ Anubis is shown to be weighing the deceased’s heart during a ‘Weighing of the Heart’ ceremony. This determined whether or not they were accepted into the afterlife.

Thoth

Thoth was the God of knowledge, wisdom, and hieroglyphs. He did many jobs in Egyptian mythology, including maintaining the universe, settling arguments among the other Egyptian gods, and judging those who would die. Thoth is usually shown as a human with the head of an ibis. An ibis is a long and skinny bird with a curved beak, symbolising the curve of the moon.

Sekhmet

Sekhmet was the goddess of war and battle. She was depicted with the head of a lioness and a woman’s body. One of the oldest and most respected Egyptian goddesses was Sekhmet, also known as the “great lady,” “holy one,” and “mighty one.” She had a reputation for being violent and powerful. Because of her ferocious temper, Sekhmet was frequently linked to the desert and fire.

Ancient Egyptian Cats

Ancient Egyptian Cats were Pets
The ancient Egyptians were fascinated with cats, and it is thought that most Ancient Egyptian families kept at least one as a pet. Cats were often used on hunting trips to fetch birds and fish from marshes around the Nile River. Cats were probably allowed initially into the houses of the Ancient Egyptians because they caught rats and chased snakes away from their homes.

Ancient Egyptian Cats were God-like creatures
They looked at spiritual importance and were considered to be sacred animals with magical powers. Ancient Egyptians believed that keeping a cat would protect their home and bring them good luck. Several gods and goddesses were associated with cats, the most famous of which was the goddess called Bastet. Bastet had the body of a woman and the head of a cat. Bastet was the ‘household goddess’ responsible for mothers, children, pet cats, fertility and dancing. If an Egyptian dreamed about a cat, it was thought to bring good fortune.

Ancient Egyptian Cats were mummified and put on jewellery

Due to their link to the goddess Bastet, many Ancient Egyptian cats were mummified. The popularity of the cat grew during the Ancient Egypt period and was a common motif on jewellery, ornaments and amulets.

Killing Ancient Egyptian Cats was a crime
The penalty for killing a cat in Ancient Egypt, even accidentally, was often death. Even pharaohs couldn’t avoid this capital punishment. In Egypt, cats were also forbidden from being taken out of the country. A law was even enacted in this regard. The death of a family cat was a tragedy in Ancient Egypt that the family would mourn. An ancient cat cemetery was discovered in 1890, where over 170,000 cats were buried.

Ancient Egyptian Inventions

Papyrus Sheets

The Egyptians learned how to make durable sheets of parchment from the papyrus plant. They used parchment for essential documents and religious texts. The Egyptians kept the process of making the sheets a secret so they could sell the parchment to other civilizations, such as Ancient Greece. Papyrus sheets are the earliest paper-like material. Before this, all other civilisations used stone, clay tablets, animal hides, wood materials, or wax as a writing surface. For over 3000 years, Papyrus was the most important writing material in the ancient world.

Makeup

The Egyptians invented eye makeup as far back as 4000 B.C. All Egyptians wore makeup, even the men. They made a dark eye makeup called kohl from soot and other minerals. The makeup was a fashion statement, but it was also used to protect their skin from the hot desert sun. They also made green eye makeup with malachite to tint the ointment. Many wore the kohl ointment on their eye in the design of a cat’s eye or “Eye of Horus”.

Toothpaste

Because their bread had so much grit and sand, the Egyptians had many problems with their teeth. They invented the toothbrush and toothpaste to take care of their teeth. They used various ingredients to make their toothpaste, including ashes, eggshells, and powdered ox hooves. A toothpaste recipe and a how-to-brush your teeth guide written on a papyrus from the fourth century AD describes how to mix precise ingredients to create a “powder for white and perfect teeth.”

Wigs

The Egyptians were the first to invent the wig. During the hot summers, many Egyptians shaved their heads to keep them clean and prevent pests such as head lice. Although priests remained bald as part of their purification rituals, those who could afford it had wigs made in various styles and set with perfumed beeswax. Wigs were made out of real hair and most were long in length.

Ox-drawn Plough

The Egyptians were among the first societies to use an ox-drawn plough for farming. Early designs were connected to cattle horns but proved to interfere with the animal’s ability to breathe. Later versions incorporated a system of straps and were much more effective. The plough revolutionised farming in ancient Egypt and, combined with the use of the Nile River, made farming more accessible for the Egyptians than perhaps any other society.

Engineering

The Egyptians created dams, canals, and irrigation systems. They used these to harness the Nile River’s yearly flood and bring water to distant fields. This was revolutionary for Egyptian farmers, who faced the problem of the Nile overflowing every year.

When the floodwaters subsided and the fields dried out, the plants withered and died. The Nile left behind mud that required copious watering in the scorching Egyptian sun. To avoid constantly obtaining water from the river, the ancient Egyptians attempted to capture as much flood water as they could. They built reservoirs out of mud bricks to capture and store the water. They also developed a system of irrigation canals that replenished the fields with water from the reservoirs after the flood.

They used a tool called a shaduf to lift the water from the canal. A shaduf was a large pole balanced on a crossbeam, with a rope and bucket on one end and a heavy counterweight at the other. The bucket was dropped into the canal by pulling on the rope. The farmer then lowered the weight and raised the pail of water. The pail was then dumped onto the field as he turned the pole around.

Knowing now all that the Ancient Egyptians achieved, it is easy to understand why they are still considered one of the greatest civilisations ever. Now that you know the history of Ancient Egypt, why not read our articles on places in Egypt that you should visit: Top Things to Do in Egypt, Top 10 Things to do in Egypt with Amazing Tips , Top Adventures to Have in Egypt , Egypt’s Most Attractive Summer Destinations, Restored Historical Sites to Visit in Egypt and Unique Places to Visit in Cairo that Will Help You Learn about Egypt’s History.