15 Interesting Facts about Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt is a civilization that has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and enthusiasts for centuries. Its unique culture, impressive architectural feats, and profound impact on the world continue to intrigue us. Here are some interesting facts about Ancient Egypt.

Interesting Facts about Ancient Egypt:

1. The Step Pyramid of Djoser: The first step pyramid in Ancient Egypt was the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 4,600 years ago.
2. Mammoths and Pyramids: When the Egyptians were building the pyramids, mammoths still roamed the Earth. They went extinct about 4,000 years ago, while Ancient Egypt emerged 6,000 years ago.
3. Wedding Rings: Ancient Egyptians were the first in history to wear wedding rings on their ring fingers.
4. Warriors’ Duties: Warriors in Ancient Egypt served as internal police and collected taxes for the pharaoh.
5. Oldest Pharaoh: The oldest pharaoh of Ancient Egypt was Ramses II. He had 8 wives, about 100 concubines, and fathered over 100 children. He lived for more than 90 years, with over 70 of those years spent in power.
6. Beliefs in the Afterlife: Egyptian culture and beliefs had a significant impact on their understanding of the afterlife. They believed that preserving the body (through mummification) after death would make the soul immortal.
7. Tarkhan Dress: The Tarkhan dress, named after the Tarkhan cemetery in Cairo, Egypt, was discovered there during excavations in 1913. It is the oldest dress in the world.
8. Board Games: Board games were very popular in Ancient Egypt, especially the game Senet, which was similar to chess.
9. Sacred Pets: Pets were very popular among the ancient Egyptians, with cats being considered sacred animals for hundreds of years.
10. Pharaoh Pepi II: Pharaoh Pepi II couldn’t stand flies, so he had slaves smeared with honey to distract these insects.
11. Golden Ratio: Many ancient Egyptian structures, including the pyramids, were based on the golden ratio, though it was discovered much later in Ancient Greece. Egyptian scholars believe that Egyptians intuitively used it due to a sense of harmony.
12. Cosmetics: Ancient Egyptian cosmetics were popular not only among women but also men. Their primary purpose was to protect the skin from the sun. Green cosmetics were made from copper, while black ones were made from lead.
13. Tutankhamun’s Curse: In 1922, archaeologists discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb and supposedly faced the “pharaoh’s curse.” In reality, some expedition members began to die of old age, and journalists inflated the myth.
14. Cleopatras: History counts eighteen women named Cleopatra, most of whom were queens of Ancient Egypt.
15. Oldest Sphinx Image: The oldest image of a sphinx (about twelve thousand years old) was found in Turkey. The word “sphinx” is Greek, referring to a winged monster with the head of a dog and wings. According to legend, the sphinx made travelers solve tricky riddles.