Life in Ancient Egypt. (World History).This new pharaoh (ruler), Tutankhamen (TOOT-an-KAH-men), was only about nine years old. He died in 1339 B. C. In about 1347 B.C., a 7 young boy came to power in the vast desert empire now called Egypt. To this day, no one knows who King Tut's parents were. In fact, we probably would have little interest in the boy-king but for the magnificent treasures found in his tomb in 1922. Tut's four-room burial chamber contained nearly 5,000 objects, including bracelets, swords, cups, daggers, toys, ostrich ostrich, common name for a large flightless bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa and parts of SW Asia, allied to the rhea, the emu and the extinct moa. It is the largest of living birds; some males reach a height of 8 ft (244 cm) and weigh from 200 to 300 lb feathers, and a gold death mask death mask n. A cast of a person's face taken after death. death mask Noun a cast taken from the face of a person who has recently died Noun 1. . Ancient Egyptians This is a list of ancient Egyptian people who have articles on Wikipedia. A
Ancient Egypt  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. was called Kemet, or "Black Land," after
the fertile soil along the Nile River Nile RiverArabic Bahr al-Nil River, eastern and northeastern Africa. The longest river in the world, it is about 4,132 mi (6,650 km) long from its remotest headstream (which flows into Lake Victoria) to the Mediterranean Sea. . The civilization is also known for its powerful pharaohs, majestic pyramids, mysterious mummies, and complex hieroglyphics (picture writing used to represent ideas and sounds). What was life like in this kingdom on the Nile? Pharaahs and Pyramids Ancient Egyptians worshiped many gods. But in a land where the sun's power was inescapable, Ra (rah rah interj. Used as an exclamation of approval or encouragement. [Short for hurrah.] )--the sun god--was the most revered (honored). The pharaoh, viewed as Ra's son, served as his earthly representative. The pharaoh led the government, commanded the armies, and directed all business. But he was much more. Writing found in the tomb of one pharaoh called him the "superintendent of all things that heaven gives and the earth produces." Upon his death, this earthly god needed a fitting burial place any place where burials are made. See also: Burial . So, starting in about 2700 B.C., pharaohs ordered the construction of towering pyramids, or tombs, along the western bank of the Nile. Using simple wooden and metal tools, thousands of laborers--including farmers and slaves--worked for decades to complete these monuments. The most famous pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza "Great Pyramid" redirects here. You may have been looking for the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo, Egypt in Africa, and is the only remaining , was built with about 2 million stone blocks, each of which weighed nearly two and a half tons. Filled with fine food, clothing, and furniture, the pyramids were designed to help the pharaoh make a safe and comfortable journey to heaven. The sides of the pyramid were slanted, just as the sun's rays slant through a cloud. Thus the pharaoh's spirit could follow the rays to heaven. The Afterlife Only royalty were buried in the pyramids, but many Egyptians were mummified mum·mi·fy v. mum·mi·fied, mum·mi·fy·ing, mum·mi·fies v.tr. 1. To make into a mummy by embalming and drying. 2. To cause to shrivel and dry up. v.intr. (preserved) after death. This process ensured that the soul would live on in the afterlife. Before burial, embalmers removed internal organs from the dead body. The brain, for example, was pulled out through a nostril nostril /nos·tril/ (nos´tril) either of the nares. nos·tril n. A naris. nostril either of the two apertures (nares) of the nose that lead into the nasal cavity. with a hook. The brain was discarded as useless. But the liver, stomach, intestines, and other organs were wrapped in linen and placed in a jar near the mummy. After being left to dry for at least 40 days, the body was wrapped with linen strips. Charms, jewelry, and spices lined the strips. Then a high priest would perform a sacred rite called the "Opening of the Mouth." This ceremony was said to enable the dead person to speak, eat, and walk again. Growing Up Children in ancient Egypt did not attend formal schools. But spaces in palace gardens and temples were set aside for children of the wealthy to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. Girls generally stayed at home and learned how to care for a family. Such information was important, since young people married and started families around the age of 13 or 14. The son of a painter, carpenter, or jeweler typically trained in his father's craft from the age of four. Rich boys could study to become priests, architects, army officers, or scribes (writers). Instruction lasted 10 or l2 years. If a boy had an influential father, he could then get the job of his choice. Otherwise, he was assigned a position. Scribes enjoyed a prestigious position in society. They kept accounts for merchants, recorded government activities, and ran libraries. They wrote in hieroglyphs (symbols), which were inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. on monuments, temples, pyramids, and religious texts. At the Market At busy market stalls, craftsmen sold baskets, sandals, pottery, and other goods. (In the desert, sandals protected feet from snakes and scorpions.) "Sniffer" baboons helped officials track down thieves. The Nile was Egypt's main thoroughfare THOROUGHFARE. A street or way so open that one can go through and get out of it without returning. It differs from a cul de sac, (q.v.) which is open only at one end. 2. Whether a street which is not a thoroughfare is a highway, seems not fully settled. . Merchant sailors brought home goods from lands along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Red seas. Fishermen plied plied 1 v. Past tense and past participle of ply1. the waters in boats made of papyrus reeds, while hunters chased hippos, crocodiles, and wild bulls. At Home Wealthy families lived in 70-room palaces with formal gardens and swimming pools. But most homes were tiny and made of dried mud and straw. Wet straw mats covered doors and windows Doors and Windows is a multimedia disk by the Irish band The Cranberries. Track listing
Egyptians enjoyed more than 30 types of bread--and cakes sweetened sweet·en v. sweet·ened, sweet·en·ing, sweet·ens v.tr. 1. To make sweet or sweeter by adding sugar, honey, saccharin, or another sweet substance. 2. To make more pleasant or agreeable. with honey, melon, grapes, and other fruits. Popular drinks included beer and wine. Most people could not afford meat, but the wealthy feasted on beef, duck, geese, pork, and antelope. Because of the heat, children often did not wear clothes until the age of 10. Adults wore simple linen gowns or loincloths. But at fancy parties, both men and women dressed elegantly and wore perfume and makeup. Men lined their eyes, while women sprinkled red powder on their bodies and dyed their hair. What kind of life would you have led in ancient Egypt? Your Turn WORD MATCH 1. revered A. symbols 2. mummified B. ruler 3. pharaoh C. preserved 4. hieroglyphs D. writer 5. scribe E. honored ANSWERS 1. E 2. C 3. B 4. A 5. D THINK ABOUT IT Describe ways that ancient Egyptians were ahead of their time. QUICK QUIZ Select the letter of the word, name, or phrase that best completes each sentence. _____6. The ancient Egyptians worshiped _____, the sun god. A. Tutankhamen B. Ra C. Kemet _____7. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids to serve as A. housing for the rich B. landmarks for sailors C. burial chambers for their rulers _____8. Ancient Egyptian merchants traded goods brought from the A. Aegean, Red, and Mediterranean seas B. Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans C. Nile, Congo, and Niger rivers _____9. Most ancient Egyptians lived in A. 70-room palaces B. small homes made of dried mud and straw C. stone buildings carved in the sides of mountains _____10. Most girls in ancient Egypt A. trained in a craft B. went to school to become scribes C. stayed home and helped care for their families ANSWERS 6. B 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. C |
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