Ancient Egypt spanned nearly 3,000 years. To better understand the ebb and flow of this vibrant civilization, Egyptologists introduced three clusters, splitting this vast period of time firstly into the Old Kingdom, then the Middle Kingdom and finally the New Kingdom. Each time period saw dynasties rise and fall, epic construction projects initiated, cultural and …
Geography shaped how ancient Egyptians thought of their land. They perceived their country to be divided into two distinct geographical zones. Kemet the black land comprised the fertile banks of the Nile River, while Deshret the Red Land was the sprawling barren desert that spread out of much of the remainder of the land. The …
Senusret I was the second pharaoh in Egypt’s Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. He ruled Egypt from c. 1971 BC to 1926 BC and Egyptologists viewed him as this dynasty’s most powerful king. He pursued his father Amenemhat I’s aggressive dynastic territorial expansion with expeditions against Nubia in the south and into Egypt’s western …
Ramses III was the Second pharaoh in the 20th Dynasty of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Egyptologists recognize Pharaoh Ramses III as the last of the great pharaohs to rule Egypt with substantial power and authoritative central control. Ramses III’s long rule witnessed the gradual ebbing of Egyptian economic, political and military power. This decline was presaged …
The ancient Egyptians lived in a society that is considered to be one of the most fascinating in human history. The people of that time gave credence to both the physical and spiritual aspects of their culture in the form of symbols, architecture, art, mythology, and mystical objects that were used to bring protection and …
Legend has it that King Menes (c. 3150 BCE) founded Memphis in c. 3100 B.C. Other surviving records credit Hor-Aha Menes’ successor with Memphis’ construction. There is a Myth that Hor-Aha so admired Memphis that he diverted the Nile river bed to create a broad plain for building work. The pharaohs of Egypt’s Early Dynastic …
Today, The temple of Edfu in Upper Egypt between Luxor and Aswan is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved in all of Egypt. Known also as the Temple of Horus, its exceptionally well-preserved inscriptions have provided Egyptologists with remarkable insights into ancient Egypt’s political and religious ideas. A colossal Horus statue in his falcon …
Anyone who has ever gazed upon the Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops) can only stand in awe of the amazing achievement of its builders. From the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh Khufu to its architect the Pharaoh’s vizier Hemiunu, to the team of an estimated 20,000 labourers and skilled …
Xois or Khaset or Khasut as the Egyptians knew it was a large Egyptian town, ancient even by the time of the 14th Dynasty. It enjoyed a Mediterranean-wide reputation for its production of fine wine and the manufacturer of luxury items. It was also home to the cult worship of the ancient Egyptian god Amon-Ra. …
Thutmose II who is believed by Egyptologists to have reigned from c. 1493 to 1479 BC. He was the 18th dynasty’s (c. 1549/1550 to 1292 BC) 4th pharaoh. This was an era in which ancient Egypt rose to the peak of its wealth, military power and diplomatic influence. The 18th Dynasty has also been termed …
The distinctive geography of ancient Egypt with a narrow strip of lush fertile land surrounded by desert saw its cities built close to the Nile River. This ensured a ready supply of water, access to hunting grounds in the Niles marshes and a transport network of boats. Cities and towns were divided into “Upper” and …
Snefru (or Sneferu) was the founding Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty in Egypt’s Old Kingdom. Following his death, his ancient Egyptian subjects remembered him as a good and just ruler. Egyptologists believed he reigned from around c. 2613 to c. 2589 BCE. Ancient Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty (c. 2613 to c. 2494 BCE) is often referred to …
The ancient Egyptian Empire as we know it today emerged at the time of the New Kingdom (c. 1570 to c. 1069 BCE). This was the height of ancient Egypt’s wealth, power and military influence. At its apogee, the Egyptian Empire straddled modern-day Jordan to the east extending westwards to Libya. From the north, it …
At the heart of ancient Egypt’s culture lay a deep reverence for and belief in the afterlife. Enormous care was taken to create vast necropolises to serve not just the royal family and members of the aristocracy but the general population. Saqqara set in Lower Egypt, was one of Egypt’s oldest and most enduring burial …
As with other contemporary civilizations, ancient Egypt’s economy was dependent on a mix of both unskilled and skilled labour. How ancient Egypt organized its labour force was one of the contributing factors to its enduring survival. There were many different careers available in ancient Egypt, ranging from working the fields to brewing, to scribing documents, …
Egyptologists believe Ramses I (or Ramesses I) was descended from a military family hailing from Egypt’s northeast delta region. Horemheb the final king in ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty (c. 1539 to 1292 BCE) was Ramses’ patron possibly due to their shared military heritage. As the aging pharaoh had no sons, Horemheb appointed Ramses as his …
Since Howard Carter discovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the world has been gripped by a mania for ancient Egypt. The find propelled Howard Carter a previously largely anonymous archaeologist to global fame, creating the world’s first celebrity archaeologist. Moreover, the lavish nature of the burial goods interred with King Tutankhamun for his journey through …
Hieroglyphics was a system of writing developed by the ancient Egyptians around c. 3200 BC. These hieroglyphics were based on a system of several hundred ‘picture’ words. This writing system was extremely complex and enormously labour intensive. Egyptologists believe hieroglyphics were first employed on temple complexes, tombs and public buildings. Initially, ancient Egyptians used 700 …
Who was King Tutankhamun? Tutankhamun was the 12th king of ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty. His enduring fame is due more to the vast riches found in his tomb than for his achievements on the throne as he reigned for only nine years around c. 1300’s B.C. How old was King Tut when he died? Tutankhamun …
The Ancient Egyptians relied on a lunar calendar until they migrated to a solar based calendar. While the exact genesis of the ancient Egyptians calendar remains unclear, Egyptologists estimate it was created some 5,000 years ago. While their lunar calendar regulated their rituals and religious festivals, the ancient Egyptians employed a solar calendar in their …
While some elements of marriage in ancient Egypt appear on the surface to be similar to those customs of today, other ancient conventions were radically different. Moreover, surviving accounts of marriage customs in ancient Egypt have failed to provide us with a full picture. As is the case today Egyptian society, saw marriage as being …