Cool Facts About Ancient Egypt

Egypt is one of the great civilizations of our world, so it comes as no surprise that many people want to visit. But did you know there are lots of fascinating facts about ancient egypt?

Egyptians believed that pets would join them in the afterlife; in fact, Egyptians often mummified their beloved companions in order to ensure their continuity after death.

The longest river in the world

Egypt is bisected by the Nile River, so it comes as no surprise that over 95 percent of its population lives within a few miles. The river provides irrigation water for agricultural uses as well as drinking and fishing water and even generates electricity; additionally it supports wildlife such as hippos and Nile crocodiles.

The River Nile is the longest river in the world, stretching more than 6,695 kilometres through 10 African countries from Uganda to northern Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea. This powerful force serves as a vital source of water to its people living along its route and serves as habitat for many animals species that live along its waters.

When the Nile floods, its size doubles. The 2011 flood was one of the largest since 1932 and helped replenish soil aridity while simultaneously increasing crop production.

Egyptians believed that Khnum, their god of water and life-renewal, controlled all types of liquid such as lakes and rivers. Later dynasties made him an icon for rebirth.

Egypt is famous for its pyramids and temples, but its natural wonders don’t end there! Wadi Al-Hitan or Whale Valley in western Egypt is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with fossilized whale bones from prehistoric whales!

Animals were an integral part of ancient Egyptian society. Pets would often be mummified and buried alongside their owners after death, while others served as helper animals for police officers or even as helper pets for school students.

Ancient Egyptians were highly focused on beauty and were known for wearing heavy makeup. Both men and women sported eye paint fashioned from copper (green) or lead (black), believing it provided sun protection as well as soul protection when reincarnating as plants or animals. Furthermore, Egyptians loved board games so much they were often buried with them to provide entertainment in the afterlife.

The oldest civilization

Many are unaware that Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, being one of the first countries with an effective government and producing hieroglyphic writing and pyramids.

Ancient Egyptians developed calendars, paper and pencils, musical instruments, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics and board games – not to mention mummification, which they believed had therapeutic qualities.

Ancient Egyptian women enjoyed freedom and were allowed to marry freely, own property and take up jobs; some could even become priestesses while raising a family.

Ancient Egypt was known for its impressive pantheon of gods and goddesses. Egyptians worshiped more than 2,000 of these deities – both human-headed as well as animal-headed beings with special powers believed to have special attributes and represented by symbols on objects found throughout walls, temples, tombs or even simply painted onto tomb walls!

Ancient Egypt was an extremely fertile land due to the Nile River flowing through it and providing an environment in which to grow crops and raise animals for food. Over time, people began settling along its banks and eventually organized themselves into societies led by Pharaohs, similar to modern day monarchies.

Egyptians had also developed their own distinctive religion centered on sun and moon worship. Additionally, they used scarab beetles for medicine purposes and developed complex burial rites.

At their height of power during the Old Kingdom, Egypt controlled most of Africa and much of the Middle East. Their unifying forces allowed them to build pyramids and other striking monuments dedicated to their gods that still stand today.

Ancient Egypt was renowned for more than just being an influential empire; it’s also famous for its breathtaking mummies and hieroglyphic writing. Additionally, they created a 65-day calendar. Egyptians believed the year could be divided into three seasons with each one lasting six weeks of the year.

Ancient Egyptians loved cats and kept them as pets, being so dedicated that some even got tattoos of baboons! Additionally, Ancient Egyptians worshiped jackals and crocodiles as manifestations of gods!

The oldest pyramid

Everyone knows about Giza’s pyramids, but what you might not realize is that there’s another pyramid in Egypt which actually predates them by some 4,700 years: Djoser (also spelled Zoser) built his Stepped Pyramid as his tomb in ancient Egypt during its third Dynasty – around 4,700 years ago!

This tomb is located in Saqqara near the ruins of ancient Memphis and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though initially unassuming, a closer examination reveals its age-old design of six terraced pyramids constructed out of stone – and thus making it one of the oldest monuments ever made of stone in existence.

Djoser’s pyramid may have served as the inspiration behind more famous pyramids built at Giza later, including Khufu and Khafre. So old was this structure that the Egyptian government was surprised to even discover its existence!

Experts from France’s CEA Paleotechnic Institute recently published in PLOS ONE that their expertise suggests Djoser’s pyramid may have employed a hydraulic lift during its construction. Water could flow freely into two shafts within its interior walls and could have been used as force to lift and lower floats carrying building stones during assembly.

The team also observed that Djoser’s pyramid tiers were cut and fitted together precisely, creating an iconic pyramid shape reminiscent of his tomb designed this way to honor his father.

Djoser’s tomb stands out as being notable as it was the first structure ever to feature a helical staircase – this would allow builders to more efficiently transport large stones up the pyramid where they would then be lifted by means of pulleys and levers.

The oldest mummy

Egypt recently discovered the oldest known mummy dating back to 3700-3500 BCE; a male between 20-30 years old who dates from 3700-3500 BCE and dates back 3,500 years is housed at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy since 1901. His discovery marked an important step forward for Egyptian mummification processes by around 1,500 years. He was discovered near Gebelein on the Nile and now sits inside Turin, Italy’s Egyptian Museum since 1901.

Mummification was an elaborate process that usually started long before someone died. At this stage, their dead body would be massaged to soften its muscles and skin before it was wrapped with strips of linen cloth which were later packed together and tied to create a thick mat covering their entire body – this process could involve up to 150 yards!

Once a mummy was complete, it would be painted and filled with objects representing its persona before being sealed inside its tomb and placed back inside for burial. Ancient Egyptians believed this process represented how their soul traveled onto its next life journey.

Royal family mummies tend to be even more intricate and detailed than common people’s, because they were frequently interred alongside their children and other family members. By studying these mummies, scientists can gain more insight into family histories and dynasties; identify an age at death of each mummy; as well as trace ancestry tree through skulls of their relatives.

An amazing fact about Ancient Egyptians was their passion for board games! Senet is still played today while Mehen (similar to cribbage) was popular. Additionally, they enjoyed drinking spicy ginger drinks known as Janzabil which you can still find today at sidewalk cafes and shisha shops!

Ancient Egyptians worshiped over 2000 gods and goddesses, each playing an integral role in daily life of its citizens at that time.