FAQs - Ancient Egypt

Tell us about the mummification. - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

Mummification was only practiced in a few societies, with Egypt being the most prominent.

In pre-dynastic times, the deceased were placed in shallow graves, in the fetal position. Burial in the desert conditions resulted in natural mummification. Once they started the new practice of constructing formal tombs for burial, some form of artificial mummification was needed. Mummification was highly developed, by Old Kingdom times. It became very elaborate by the late New Kingdom. It then required some seventy days to complete the process. Many of the best preserved royal mummies date from the New Kingdom. Less complex mummification versions were performed on ordinary citizens.

John Anthony West described in his book, The Travelers’ Key to Ancient Egypt, the process of a royal mummification as follows:

(1) The brain extracted through the nostrils. (2) Removal of the viscera through an incision in the flank. (3) Sterilization of body cavity and viscera. (4) Viscera cleaned, treated, dehydrated, anointed, and coated with molten resin. (5) Body packed temporarily with natron (a naturally occurring mixture of carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate of sodium, an effective dehydrating and preserving agent). (6) Body packed in natron for forty days. (7) Temporary packing materials removed. (8) Subcutaneous packing of limbs with sand, clay or other earthy material. (9) Body packed with resin-soaked linens, and fragrances such as myrrh and cinnamon. (10) Anointing with unguents. (11) Final treating and anointing of the body surfaces. (12) Elaborate wrapping in fine linen gauze, with innumerable amulets, magic symbols, and jewelry included in the wrapping.

The mummy was placed in one of several nested wooden coffins. These were in turn placed in a stone sarcophagus.

The viscera of the deceased were placed in four individual containers called canopic jars. The jars were usually made of alabaster, limestone, pottery or faience.

How did Ancient Egypt influence the daily life in the USA? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

Below, are listed a few noticeable points:

Easter - Easter is the happiest day in the Christian calendar. Easter is and has been celebrated in Egypt for over five thousand years, and was initiated to celebrate the death, burial and disappearance of Ausar (Osiris) on Friday, and to celebrate his resurrection the following Sunday. The Christian Easter is a mirror image of the Ancient Egyptian Easter in timing, details, theme, and objectives.

Ballet - Ballet and many other fine arts were practiced in Egypt thousands of years ago, as shown on the walls of the various temples. Ballet, for example, is shown on the walls of the Luxor Temple and the tombs at Sakkara.

The Cinderella Story - Our present-day version of the story closely resembles a story known in Ancient Egypt as The Girl With The Red Rose Slippers, where a young woman’s red slipper was scooped up by an falcon (representing Horus) and dropped near the prince. Upon examining the delicacy of the slipper, the prince declared that the owner would become his bride, and went about finding the woman who fit the slipper.

Why did Egyptians write in pictures instead of words? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

In our modern times, we say, "a picture is worth a thousand words". Ancient Egypt applied this principle in their writing. The Ancient Egyptian language (commonly known as hieroglyphics) is structured according to cosmic and metaphysical principles. The signs of hieroglyphs are images from the Egyptian natural world. The image of each letter contains a specific cosmic meaning.

The meaning was amplified by the sound of the letter itself. Words were constructed of these letters in a manner incorporating and amplifying the meaning of the individual letters, so that the meaning of a word emerged from the interplay of letters. The word is powerful because the word is an image. As such, the pictorial hieroglyphs not only had an overt phonetic script, but a more "hermetic" symbolism which conveyed the subtler metaphysical realities of the universe.
Egypt also used alphabetical forms of writing, as shown below:

How did they make the Step Pyramid? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

The step pyramid of Zoser was built in five stages.

In simple terms, this structure is basically a mastaba-type tomb which was covered with a series of limestone steps. The main purpose of this structure was the burial of Zoser and his family. The Step Pyramid was an afterthought. The burial chambers are not an integral part of the pyramid structure.

How did they choose the Pharaoh? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

The function of the pharaoh was fundamentally religious. He was a priest-king. The pharaoh was a representative of the people in a far more profound sense than that implied by the modern use of the phrase. He was very much like a popular Catholic Pope.

Despite the repeated charges of vanity against the Pharaohs, it is worth remembering that their abodes while on earth were never made of stone, but of mud-brick, the same material used by the humblest peasants. These absolute monarchs could have built stone palaces for themselves. But the impermanent body, formed of clay, called for an equally impermanent abode on this earth. The palaces of the kings have long since returned to the earth from which they were raised.

The line of royal descent in Egypt was through the eldest daughter. Whoever married her became the pharaoh. It was not mere influence that the eldest daughter possessed, it was a right acknowledged by law, both in private and public life.

How was a new Pharaoh chosen if there was no heir to the throne? - Ashleigh, California, U.S.A.

The line of royal descent in Egypt was through the eldest daughter. Whoever she married, became the Pharaoh. If there were no daughters, a new dynasty was formed.

Who or what did the Sphinx symbolize? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

All scholars agree that the Sphinx is a solar symbol. The Sphinx consists of the body of the lion symbolizing the power in its physical form, and the head of man symbolizing intelligence and consciousness. The significance of the Sphinx is an ongoing debate.
Read more about the Sphinx, under The Sphinx of Giza.

How old is Ancient Egypt? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

The Greek and Roman writers of antiquity, basing their accounts on information received either first or second-hand from Egyptian sources, claimed a far greater antiquity for the Egyptian civilization, than that currently established by Egyptologists. These Egyptian sources called for antiquity ranging from 24,000 and 36,000 years during which Egypt was civilized.
The Greco-Egyptian historian Manetho (3rd century BCE), under the early Ptolemies, wrote the only substantive history of Egypt to come down to us. He gathered his information from Egyptian records. A few pre-dynastic inscribed tablets and papyri have been found, but all were incomplete because of their remote age. Manetho acknowledged greater antiquity of the Egyptian history. However, because of the overwhelming task, he chose Menes as a starting point, about 3,000 years earlier.
Manetho started with Menes and then divided the entire chronicle of events into 31 dynasties, from Mena (Menes) to the time of Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. However, Ancient Egyptian history is much older than the dynastic history, based on the following facts:

1. Temples throughout Egypt make reference to being originally built much earlier than its dynastic history. For example, the texts inscribed in the crypts of the temple of Het-Heru at Dendera clearly state that the temple that was restored during the Ptolemaic Era was based on drawings dating back to King Pepi of the 6th Dynasty (2400 BCE). The drawings themselves are copies of pre-dynastic documents.



2. The 40,000 items of stone jars and vessels found underneath the 3rd Dynasty pyramid of Zoser were crafted in previous eras, and were collected and stored by Zoser underneath his pyramid.
   
   
3. The Greek and Roman writers of antiquity, basing their accounts on information received either first or second-hand from Egyptian sources, claimed a far greater antiquity for the Egyptian civilization than that currently established by academicians. These Egyptian sources called for antiquity ranging from 24,000 and 36,000 years during which Egypt was civilized.



4. Herodotus reported that he was informed by Egyptian priests that the sun had twice set where it now rose, and twice risen where it now set. The statement makes a clear indication of the progressional cycles of the equinox. The progression results in the rising against a different sign of the Zodiac approximately every two thousand years. This would mean that the Egyptians counted their history back for at least a cycle and a half, some 36,000 years. This is in a general agreement with other accounts and evidential findings.



5. The remote age of the Sphinx of Giza, and the Ausarion (Oserion) at Abtu (Abydos), ...etc. [See The Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed, by same author, for more information about these subjects.]

How did King Tut [Tut-Ankh-Amen] die? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

What about the curse of King Tut [Tut-Ankh-Amen]? - 6th Grade Student, Natrona, PA, USA

I can't rule out that there was a curse. Upsetting the resting place of a dead person (his tomb) may unleash some negative energies, which you may call a 'curse.' Remember, that opening a tomb is disturbing the final resting place. Some people are against it because we should show respect for the dead by leaving them to 'rest in peace.'
It is also possible that opening a tomb results in exposing chemical compounds to open air. It is possible that these chemical compounds disintegrate into other chemical compounds which are harmful to people. The curse could just be the result of chemical changes and/or reactions.

What was the role of cosmetics in Ancient Egyptian life? Where did they get their makeup: in a store, or gather it up somewhere? - Bea, Singapore

Ancient Egyptians were well aware of, and made frequent use of cosmetics such as lipstick, rouge, and eye shadow. Several bottles and vases were found, containing ointment and kohl, or collyrium, for the eyes.

OINTMENT: The ointment was scented in various ways, some having retained their scent for several centuries. The Egyptian populous used a great deal of ointment, as indicated in numerous paintings, representing the reception of guests. We only discovered a few ointments in the tombs. From the little that we have, it appears that Egyptian ointments were made with nut oil, but it is probable that animal as well as vegetable grease was employed for this purpose. The common people, both men and women, used the oil of the kikki, or castor-berry, for anointing themselves. Other oils were extracted from sesame, olive, almond, flax, selgam (cole-seed), seemga, lettuce and other vegetable products.

EYE MAKEUP: The custom of staining the eyelids and brows, with moistened powder of a black color, was common in Egypt from the earliest times. It is thought to increase the beauty of the eye, and many even suggest that the stimulus given by its application is actually beneficial to the sight. It is made in various ways. Some use antimony, black oxide of manganese, a preparation of lead and other mineral substances; others use the black power of burnt almonds or frankincense; and many prefer a mixture of different ingredients for making the kohl. Many of the kohl bottles have been found in the tombs, together with the bodkin used for applying the moistened powder.

FINGERNAILS AND FINGERS: The custom of staining the fingers red with henna (the pounded leaves of lawsonia,) was used in Egypt since its earliest history. The Greek metaphor of "rosy-fingered Aurora" was attributed to this Egyptian custom. Some Egyptian women appear to have colored their fingernails, but the nature and composition of the red coloring, used by them for this purpose, is still unknown at the present time.

PERFUME: Throughout the ancient world, the Egyptians were famous for their scents and perfumes. In addition to scented oils and ointments, ancient Egyptians had another way of perfuming the body. A solid mass of fat, presumably ox tallow, previously perfumed with herbs and spices, was shaped in the form of a cone, and attached to the wig, or placed on the crown of the head. As the heat gradually melted the fat, the wearer's body and clothes were anointed with its perfume. The practice survives till the present day, amongst certain Bedouin tribes who inhabit the deserts of Egypt.

Was their symbolism associated with makeup? What was it? - Bea, Singapore

For Ancient Egyptians, every action, no matter how mundane, was in some sense a religious act. Every act was viewed as an earthly symbol for a divine activity. This was clear in the case of makeup.
Ointment was usually included in offerings. It was placed before the deity in vases of alabaster or other materials. Often, the name of the neter (wrongly translated as god) was engraved upon the vase that contained the ointment offering. Sometimes the king, or priest, used his little finger of the right hand to extract some ointment to anoint the statue of the deity.

You claim that Egypt is part of the Middle East; correction!! Egypt sits in the northeastern corner of AFRICA, bordered by the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. - Student in Ohio, U.S.A.

The Sinai Peninsula, east of the Suez Canal, is part of Asia. Sinai is and has always been a part of Egypt.
The term, "Middle East" is not a geographical term.
Likewise in the USA, the Midwestern States is located geographically in the East (i.e., east of the Mississippi River). As you know, Ohio (where you are), is considered a midwestern state.

My son, Kevin, is a first grader and they are doing a class project on Ancient Egypt. His task is to find out how the people made money in those days. Do you have an appropriate answer to his question? - Linda, Kennewick, WA, U.S.A.

Very good question. We think of money as officially issued coins and paper currencies. There was no "stamped" money in Ancient Egypt, but we have evidence of weights and measures having been invented by them, since their recorded history. There is strong evidence that they used unstamped copper money, called in the papyri "pieces of brass". They also used money in the form of gold and silver rings, as illustrated in the tombs of Ta-Apet (Thebes--present-day Luxor), as well as references to such rings as "a piece of money".

Do you notice that the coins in each country have different shapes/sizes for each particular value? One would ask, why spend time and money stamping them? It serves no practical purpose, if it is made of valuable material.

On the topic of economics, in a country like the USA, most domestic and ALL international transactions are done without exchange of money. As a matter of fact, economists tell us that the high performance of a society is almost a cashless society. Hmmm. It sounds more and more like Ancient Egypt, doesn't it? As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Some experts say that the Ancient Egyptians were the greatest civilization of all time. Do you agree? - Ashleigh, California, U.S.A.

Yes, emphatically.

Some people say that Aliens came to earth and built the Pyramids. Do you agree? - Ashleigh, California, U.S.A.

People say that, because they don't want to give Ancient Egyptians credit for such magnificent achievements. But every shred of evidence found about the Ancient Egyptians shows that they had the knowledge and ability to do many awesome things, and the pyramids were just a small example. Building the pyramids was so elementary to them, they didn't bother 'writing the instructions down'.

Why did the Ancient Egyptians have so many gods? - Ashleigh, California, U.S.A.

This is the biggest misconception about Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians only believed in one God. See the article on Egyptian Monotheism (The ONE) and Polytheism (The ALL), for more details.

Does anybody in Modern Egypt keep the Ancient Egyptian customs? - Ashleigh, California, U.S.A.

More than they realize. The celebration of Easter, called "The Breath of Spring", in Egypt, goes back to ancient times. They even colored eggs, as a symbol of new life. Many words/expressions still used today go back to ancient times.

I am looking for the main symbol for the Ancient Egyptian Religion. - Vanessa, Alaska, U.S.A. The main symbol would be the ankh, signifying eternal life. The ankh looks like a cross, with a loop at the top. The symbol of the Egyptian ankh was the symbol used by early Christians, that is to say, the cross symbol is derived from the Ancient Egyptian ankh.

I am doing a report on Ancient Egypt and I have decided to research and compare Egyptian entertainment. I was wondering if you could help me out by giving me some information on what the Egyptians did as entertainment. - Todd, 6th grade, Issaquah, U.S.A.

Ancient (like the present-day) Egyptians loved to sing, dance, tell stories, etc. Herodotus, the Greek historian stated, "Of all the nations in the world, the Egyptians are the HAPPIEST, healthiest, and most religious". He described them as singing, dancing, playing music, playing games, wrestling, juggling, performing acts. It was reported that they had a musical chorus of 600 people performing a concert. The temple walls show that they performed pirouettes forward and backwards, cartwheels, splits, and backward flips. Ballet performances date as far back as 1,800 BCE.

I've looked and looked, but cannot find a picture of Upper and Lower Egypt. Could you please find one for me?

The truth is, that there was nothing called "Upper and Lower Egypt". Egyptians refer to "The Two Lands". Academic Egyptologists, who just want to provide any answer, made up their own mind, that the Egyptians were referring to Upper and Lower Egypt.

Ancient and modern-day rural Egyptians believe that there are two lands - a land where they live, and a land that contains your twin of the opposite sex. Read more about this subject in the article, The Two Lands.

Moustafa Gadalla