Egypt is best-known for its ancient pyramids and temples, Nile River cruises and bustling cities; however, Egypt also features vast landscapes filled with vibrant wildlife that boast an incredible diversity of life forms.
Your may have heard that Napoleon used a cannon to blow away the nose of the Sphinx out of frustration that there weren’t any secret passages inside, however this tale is entirely false!
The High Literacy Rate
Egypt currently boasts a high illiteracy rate, yet the government is actively taking steps to decrease it. The Ministry of Education and UNESCO have joined forces to come up with a plan for combatting rural illiteracy through online platforms that teach reading to students. Presently, 20.1 percent of Egyptian women are illiterate.
Egypt has ambitiously made plans to eliminate illiteracy by 2030. They have begun by implementing their “decent life without illiteracy” initiative across 11 governorates with literacy convoys, workshops, meetings and training centers for teachers of adult literacy education.
People over 60 years of age experience high rates of illiteracy, so it is crucial for older adults to enroll in literacy classes. Attending these classes will allow them to learn how to read and write, providing employment opportunities along the way. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education offers scholarships specifically targeted towards older adults attending literacy courses.
Egypt, an ancient nation located on the northeast corner of Africa, is bordered by Libya, Sudan, the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea. Egypt is best-known for its pyramids, Great Sphinx and other landmarks, along with a vibrant culture including cuisine and literature. Egypt belongs to the Arab League and contributed significantly to Arab nationalism during Cold War times – serving as one of the key players for inter-Arab relations.
The Great Pyramids
The Great Pyramids remain one of the world’s great wonders, representing ancient Egyptian civilisation’s ability to construct such enormous structures using primitive tools. Pyramids were constructed as tombs for Pharaohs who were seen as living gods that brought life after death into this realm; henceforth their tombs became pyramids allowing them to live out eternity within its confines.
Pharaohs utilized large stones mined from nearby quarries when creating pyramids, some weighing as much as two tons each. When stacking these huge blocks together to build pyramids near the Nile River for ease of transportation. Logs would often be placed underneath giant stone blocks for further ease during lifting operations.
One of the greatest mysteries surrounding pyramids is how Egyptians managed to move such heavy stone blocks into place without modern machinery. Author E. Raymond Capt offers one solution in his book The Great Pyramid Decoded; according to this theory, each pyramid’s interior included ramps designed to move blocks up, powered by human muscle rather than machinery – which enabled Egyptians to effortlessly maneuver huge stone blocks into position.
One of the most fascinating aspects of pyramids is their place in early Egyptian religion. Pyramids were often constructed to point in one particular direction – usually north – with each pyramid designed with rooms where pharaohs would be interred, as well as items they thought they needed in their afterlife home.
The 12-Month Calendar
As early as 3,000 BC, Egyptians were fascinated with the annual rise and fall of the Nile. To track its movement more effectively, they devised a seasonal calendar divided into three parts. “The Flood Season” ran from June to September; Emergence occurred between October and November when water from the river flooded fields for harvest; Low Water season occurred from February through May; month names like January (which symbolizes new beginnings) or March (Isis) came directly from this cycle of seasonal change on its banks.
This calendar was so integral to these people’s religious practice and agriculture, especially as the Nile would flood fields from June through September – making its rise and fall an annual predictability event for these farmers.
Scholars differ on when and why the first 12-month calendar was introduced, although some believe it began during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom when Egyptians started writing month and date information onto tomb walls. Others point to Julius Caesar who, following his victories in Egypt, revamped Roman calendar so as to be solar and add two months for reforming calendar.
Calendars require constant adjustment because twelve lunar cycles of 29 or 30 days don’t fit evenly into a solar year of 365 days, necessitating leap years and 13-month calendars to account for them.
The Tombs of Mummies
Ancient Egyptians would mummify their bodies before placing them in tombs that had been constructed especially for them, often including furniture, toys and jewelry to ensure a happy afterlife for themselves and their loved ones. It was an effective way of creating lasting relationships in death.
Egyptians believed in two distinct parts to a person’s soul: Ba, who provided fun and adventure; and Ka, responsible for family. Each night the Ba would come together with Ka to rest together in their tomb; therefore it was important that souls have names so they would not get lost after death.
At one time, having an elaborate tomb was considered a sign of wealth. Many wealthy individuals commissioned these tombs that contained goods for the afterlife such as jewelry, food, beer and wine for enjoyment by those left behind in death.
As well as these goods, burial tombs also included portraits of the dead made of gold that allowed them to recognize themselves after death in the afterlife. Egyptians believed so strongly in this idea that they even provided guides and protective amulets for deceased loved ones during their journey towards heaven or Field of Reeds.
Ancient Egyptians would bury their pets alongside their owners; we even have some mummies with monkeys inside! In Victorian-era parties where anything neo-Gothic was cool, people would bring back Egyptian mummies from ancient tombs and unwrap them; unfortunately many were destroyed by tomb robbers later on.
The Love for Cats
Feline friends are much-beloved companions. But did you know that those same cats were once vital lifelines in ancient Egypt?
Wild cats were first “self-domesticated” around 10,000 years ago in ancient Egypt and the Near East, aiding hunters with their hunting by killing snakes, killing rodents that devoured vast quantities of grain, and scaring away other dangerous animals – these cats were seen as gifts from god!
Ancient Egyptians revered many gods and goddesses, with cats being their favorite deity. Egyptians so revered these felines that when one died naturally they put the safety of the feline above themselves – as Herodotus reported stories of families who sacrificed everything they owned to save it from burning houses – rather than save themselves personally belongings from being burned down themselves! Some Egyptians even buried their beloved cats in cemeteries while others mummified and mummified them before placing them into temples following death.
Egyptians believed domestic cats embodied some of the divine essence of Bastet, an Egyptian cat-headed goddess who represented fertility, music, dancing, and pleasure. This belief may explain why cats often appear sitting under women’s chairs.
Felines have always held an honored place in Egyptian society; even regime changes couldn’t tarnish this legacy. Now, at the Smithsonian’s Sackler Gallery there is an exhibit called Divine Felines that shows their longstanding fascination. From ornery cats to sweet ones – every feline friend makes for fascinating company! If you find yourself nearby be sure to stop in for a glimpse!