Egypt is an extraordinary civilization with an immense past and fascinating present. While most are familiar with its iconic pyramids, there’s so much more to this fascinating civilization than meets the eye.
Here are some amazing facts about Egypt that will leave you speechless! From how Egyptian ancients pronouced their words to why they mummified cats, these facts will change your view of this remarkable country!
The Great Pyramids
Giza’s iconic pyramids are some of the world’s best-known ancient monuments, with the Great Pyramid of Khufu being its oldest and largest example, dating back to around 2550 BC for Pharaoh Khufu himself. Constructed over twenty years, it stands as the tallest man-made structure ever built; additionally it’s one of seven wonders of ancient world, one of three still standing undamaged after being established over 2000 years ago.
Khafre’s Pyramid was constructed for King Khafre and his father; Menkaure’s was built later, using granite blocks from Aswan like its counterpart; interestingly enough it stands as a mirror image to the Great Pyramid with its base at an exact point that corresponds with the north star.
Many mysteries remain about the construction of these remarkable structures, though most experts agree they were built by skilled craftsmen and workers, supplemented with seasonal crews of conscripted peasants from rural Egypt. With recent findings of worker villages near pyramids providing insights as to their construction process, answers may now exist regarding how these monumental monuments came to be constructed.
Egyptians used copper tools that were useful for cutting soft stone used for pyramid inner cores as well as harder exterior limestone casing. Furthermore, their knowledge of astronomy would have allowed them to orient them with cardinal points for easier alignment of pyramids. Logs or sledges may have also been placed under stones for easier movement; tomb paintings that depict large statues being transported may even suggest that long poles with buckets at one end and counterweights at another could have lifted stones up from underneath similar to cranes could have lifted them off the ground.
Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian
Cleopatra was more than just a pretty face; she was more powerful as ruler, administrator, warrior, linguist, naval commander, intelligence genius (Plutarch likened her intelligence to that of Isis!). Fluency in ancient Egyptian and Koine Greek was among her talents.
Cleopatra was 18 when her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, died in 51 BCE and she took control of Egypt with him. Although initially co-ruling with brother XIII for some time, eventually becoming sole ruler – her name appearing on coins and documents independently as ruler of Egypt in Roman correspondence.
Mark Antony was both romantic and political partner to Cleopatra; they shared an affinity for luxury and excess, spending winter 41-40 BCE together in Alexandria. Although both had feelings for one another, their obligation was to Egypt’s independence – hence fighting Rome in war which ultimately proved futile.
Cleopatra was an iconic figure who transcended national borders, adapting her image over the course of history to meet the needs of different regimes; she was still known throughout the world for her beauty and power; even 400 years after she died, Egyptians still worshiped her in Egypt as she continued to be revered as goddess-like figure. So when Netflix announced Jada Pinkett Smith would play Cleopatra in its docudrama Queen Cleopatra some individuals responded strongly negatively while others called for its cancellation – some even demanding its cancellation!
The sun was worshipped
Ancient Egyptians revered the sun as a source of life, so they worshiped its god, Ra. They believed he was responsible for harvesting crops every season and providing nourishment, light and warmth – an integral part of their religion, given they relied heavily on agriculture for survival. Additionally, temples were frequently built to honor him.
Ra was the most beloved sun god among Egyptians. He represented power and strength, serving as a divine father figure to each new pharaoh who emerged. Not only was Ra the sun god but he was also considered war god, fertility deity and protector of earth from nightmarish forces of darkness – something Egyptians believed directly connected them with Ra as they died each night while living through glorious dawn sunrises together with him.
Ancient Egyptians were an intriguing people with unique customs and beliefs, advanced technology (they created the first 65-day calendar!) and an exceptionally high literacy rate. Furthermore, they believed in over 2,000 gods and goddesses with both human bodies and animal heads, often seen alongside animals such as hawks and lions; this led them to think these animals represented manifestations of gods themselves!
The country has a high literacy rate
Egypt stands out among Arab countries by having an excellent literacy rate. According to one recent study, it ranks seventh among Arab nations and 23rd in Africa in terms of global illiteracy rates due to Egypt’s commitment towards providing all children with quality education.
Egypt is also an excellent way to learn Arabic, which is spoken by most locals. Furthermore, Egypt boasts the world’s oldest known writing system – hieroglyphs – which you may want to practice reading and writing while there.
This complex script is now considered the first true alphabet and remains an intriguing part of Egyptian history. Although still used today, its writing system has been slightly simplified to facilitate easier reading and writing.
Ancient Egyptians lived a very different lifestyle than modern people do today. Only five percent of land was used for crop production while the rest was desert. Due to this difference, their homes and pyramids were constructed near the Nile River because flood waters provided essential nutrients necessary for farming their fields.
As one can expect from ancient Egypt, women were highly respected and allowed to run their own businesses independently. Women could bring cases before law courts and act in place of their husbands for matters related to business transactions. Furthermore, they were encouraged to have children while living separately from their spouses.
Ancient Egypt was also one of the first places in history to introduce medical specialization. Doctors would specialize in healing only certain areas of the body – this practice became known as “Egyptian way.” Today, Egyptian physicians still practice this form of specialization.
Aswan is the sunniest place in the world
Aswan, one of Egypt’s bustling market cities and one of its sunniest locations. Situated along the Nile in southern Egypt with a subtropical desert climate that features rainfall as a rare event and abundant sunshine.
Aswan is home to many temples, including the 3,500-year-old Unfinished Obelisk and 2,000-year-old temple of Kom Ombo. Additionally, Aswan contains numerous quarries that provided statues, obelisks and other building materials for ancient Egyptian temples and shrines – many were relocated after construction of Lake Nasser was created by Aswan Dam and submerged their former sites into Lake Nasser.
The Aswan Museum boasts many ancient Egyptian artifacts, such as the Gold Mask of King Tut, discovered in 1922 and considered to be one of the greatest treasures ever discovered. Open to visitors with guided tours available daily.
Egypt is home to diverse religious practices and cultures, but its iconic structure remains the pyramid. Constructed over 20 years by over 100,000 workers, this impressive feat of engineering stands as one of the greatest accomplishments ever undertaken by humanity.
Egypt stands out as an early leader of modern learning. With an impressive literacy rate and one of the highest rates for women participating in STEM fields, Egypt boasts numerous universities providing both undergraduate and graduate programs. Furthermore, their government invests in education while working to expand opportunities for women while providing a strong economy that ensures its citizens enjoy a good standard of living.