The mystery of the Sphynx's missing nose! They believed that by preserving a dead persons body which they did through the process of mummification their soul would live on in the afterlife forever. Ancient Egypt was a great civilisation that existed over 5,000 years ago. To date, over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. The national currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Egypt is largely covered by a desert, receiving only 20mm of rain per year. Female Circumcision Focus of Ferocious Debate in Egypt. The New York Times. Given their nature, these posts are research-based and even though a lot of time has gone into them, it's still possible a mistake has snuck in. Wears a red crown or has two crossed arrows and a shield on her head. Until 2015, no Egyptian president had ever left office without dying or being arrested. The sections are named this way because the Nile flows from south to north. According to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, the king's soul ascended along the sun rays to the sun god. Theres no doubt about it, Egypt is one of the most fascinating places on earth! New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010. 54. They might look like simply triangular-shaped structures but theyre much more complicated! Strong neighbours attacked and took over Egyptian territory in 31 B.C., Egypt fell under Roman control and centuries later, in A.D. 640, Muslim warriors took over Egypt. - Gustave Flaubert, Flaubert in Egypt: A Sensibility on Tour. Following the construction of the Aswan high dam, the fertile silt settled in Lake Nasser. The river empties into the Mediterranean Sea, on the countrys north coast. Bordered partly by the Mediterranean and Red Sea, Egypt borders Africa and the Middle East, sitting between the Gaza Strip, Israel, Libya and Sudan. If you are wondering what the best things to do in Egypt are, I have to say thats a tough one. 8) Cats were considered sacred animals by the Ancient Egyptians. These mummies have been found near Tuna el-Gebel. These cookies allow us to target other information on our website, like advertising, towards your interests. Some of the stone blocks used to build many of Egypt's temples are believed to weigh more than 50 tonnes. Required fields are marked *. We rounded up the most bizarre and interesting facts about Ancient Egypt that will answer all the questions you ever had about this incredible civilization and more. In Ancient Egypt, bread was one of the most important food staples; it was eaten daily by both rich people and the lower classes. The Persians were aware of the Egyptians' reverence for cats and used it to their advantage. We love getting to off-the-beaten-path destinations and arent afraid to go it alone. The British wanted control of theSuez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and greatly shortened the sailing trip from Asia to Europe. In contrast to Englishs 26 letters, there are more than 700 different Egyptian hieroglyphs. Has the head of a hawk, often with a double crown. Because hieroglyphs have no vowels, we will never know for sure how the ancients pronounced their words. It also looks like a keyfor ancient Egyptians, the key to eternal life. These Arab forces ruled Egypt for several centuries and founded the modern capital, Cairo.In 1882, the British invaded and occupied Egypt. Work in Egypt. What to Wear in Egypt Example Egypt Outfits, Onboard the Steam Ship Sudan The REAL Death on the Nile. Pharaoh Pepi II (2246-2152 B.C.) Catherine, standing at 8625 ft high (2,629m). 29. In this country, the amount of income tax for individuals is 22.5%, and for companies 22.5% (2018). It is not made from wheat. 33. The Nile River and the rich soil found along its banks and delta was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. Your email address will not be published. Id al Fitr is one of the biggest celebrations in Egypt. Earlier in ancient Egyptian history, when a pharaoh died, it was common practice to have their live servants buried with them so they could continue to serve their master in the afterlife. 25. 6. These kings built huge pyramids, temples and other impressive monuments. The ancient Egyptians were possibly the first to embrace a mainly solar calendar. Scholars believe the Egyptian symbol called the ankh is the origin of the much later Christian cross. In 1922, Egypt gained independence with Fuad I becoming king. We hope to inspire other independent travelers and provide them with the resources to do so. Probably the most recognised landmarks of ancient Egypt is the pyramid. Egypts most valuable resources are oil and gas, which are exported to other countries. With only a few grasslands and forests, wildlife is not common in Egypt. Egypt has a population of an estimated 91% Egyptian ethnicity. October 8, 1973. Aswan high dam is the world's largest dam, built to contain the raging waters of the world's longest river, the Nile. He is now stored in an antibacterial case. Egypt is home to 7 UNESCO Sites These are Abu Mena, the Necropolis of Thebes, Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, the Nubian monuments (home to the Abu Simbel temple), the Saint Catherine Area and Whale Valley. The British stayed until Egypt declared independence in 1952. Ancient Egypt facts for kids. Cats were held in such high esteem in ancient Egypt that the penalty for killing a cat even accidentally was death. 38. There are 21 protected areas in the country to help this nature thrive. 59. Source: UNESCO, 18. Theres so much to know about this amazing place, but it would be impossible to list it all here! Egyptian history is generally considered to have begun in 3200 B.C. The colours represent oppression (black), bloody struggle (red) and a bright future (white). 18. The first people to live on the banks of the Nile were hunters and fishermen, who settled there over 8,000 years ago. It was also called Deshret, or Red Land, which referred to Egypts vast deserts. The Greeks changed Hwt-ka-ptah to Aegyptus. Join us, ancient explorers, as we head back 5,000 years through history to discover fascinating facts about Ancient Egypt, from its ancient beginnings to Egypt today. 91% of Egyptian women aged between 15 and 49 years have undergone female genital mutilation. Trending 40 Interesting Michael Jackson . 3. For everyday use, Egyptians used a script called hieratic. In 700 B.C., a second script called demotic was used, of which a derivative is used by Coptic Christians today. Egyptian Mythology A to Z. Discover the Nile River, figure out hieroglyphics and learn about Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. The quality that ancient Egyptians valued most was called, Before an ancient Egyptian scribe wrote anything, he always poured out some water mixed with ink as an offering to the, Just 150 years ago, Americans and Europeans believed that, The word pharaoh began as a nickname for the Egyptian king. The Beqa is the oldest standard weight used in Egypt. Accessed: May 5, 2011. The pyramids of Egypt are not only the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world, they are the only ones to survive today. However, no one knows the reason behind that conclusion. 48. Dating back to the early 1500s, the Egyptian Sufi Dance, or Tanoura, is a historic religious ritual with roots in the Ottoman Empire. In 2011, archeologists discovered an enormous statue of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III (grandfather of Tutankhamen). This incredible structure weighs as much as 16 Empire State buildings! The city of Cairo boasts varied cultures and social classes under a robust natural environment. The highest mountaintop in Egypt is Mt. This is one of the most interesting facts about Egypt! Of course, these grains, combined with the sun and heat, started a fermentation process. 3. God of disorder, deserts, storms, and war. 1. There are a lot of interesting facts surrounding the pyramids. February 21, 2011. Namesake. The most popular being cats but also dogs, hawks, lions and baboons were kept at home. There are about 7 hundred hieroglyphs. 03 Egypt's population today numbers just over 100 million people. Archeologists discovered a 15-foot- (4.5-m-) long mummified crocodile. Overgrazing and/or. One of the strangest jobs of any animal in those times was that of the baboons. She is the color of plants and Nile mud. Egypt is the 15th country with the highest population in the world, with 99% of the country's people living on just 5.5% of the land. I admit, the latter is probably not one of the most surprising Egypt interesting facts. They were well fed and looked after because their, The oldest recorded standard of weight is the. They had gods for everything, from dangers to chores! The most famous of which is the Great Pyramid of Giza which is the only wonder of the ancient world that has survived to the present day. Yup, it's just another one of those cool things about Egypt. 57. 53. 13. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalised ads. 7. The Greeks called Egyptian symbols hieroglyphs (, During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, some, Ancient Egyptians called hieroglyphs MDW NTR, which means "speech of the, The ancient Egyptians used a picture of tadpole or immature. The UNESCO-listed city of Thebes was the capital of Egypt during much of Ancient Egypt. Niger ranks first with 7.60 children per woman. 24. This ancient country, which is often referred to as one of the Cradles of Civilization, is an incredible contrast between old and new. Most of the Land in Egypt Is Unused. That's it! 3. Having so many people in such a small area causes overcrowding everywhere, from schools and hospitals to apartment buildings and public transport. The official language of Egypt is Arabic, but some people also speak other languages like French and English. 4. Nestled in the heart of bustling Cairo, you can step back in time and experience market life that has remained unchanged for eons. The Great Sphinx of Egypt, which is believed to have been built during the Old Kingdom during the reign of Egyptian Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2558 - 2532 BC). This fertile land is completely covered with farms. To prepare someone for this next step, they employed a very complex process to preserve and prepare the body so that the soul would move smoothly into the next life. Egypt (along with other countries in the region) has gone to war with Israel several times since 1948 in what has become known as the Arab-Israeli wars. Though Egypt is 90% desert, approximately 30% of their workforce is in agriculture. With over 1.6 billion Muslims around the world, Islam is the second most popular religion.
40 fun facts about egypt
