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Facts about hieroglyphics | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at Nat Geo Kids to discover fascinating facts about hieroglyphics. Discover the Egyptian symbols, what they mean and even spell your own name!

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Scholars of ancient Egypt get most of their knowledge of Egyptian fashion from statues and wall paintings, although some examples of clothing were found in tombs and houses. Tombs also held make-up kits and perfume containers, with caches of jewelry dating to different time periods.

Egyptians wearing various types of clothing

The Egyptians used linen to make most of their clothing, a light and cool material, perfect for a hot climate. White was the most common choice of color, but they also used red, blue and yellow. Clothing was worn draped over the body and was either tied or sewn in a few places. Other items, made of wool, have been found more rarely, since tombs did not shelter objects made from animal products.

Sandals were the usual foot cover in ancient Egypt, made from plant fibers or leather. Scholars also found a fur-lined boot in one ancient house.

The Egyptians believed in cleanliness and felt that hair could make a person less clean. Most men shaved their faces and priests had to shave their entire bodies. Wealthy men and women often shaved their heads and wore wigs made of human hair, sometimes mixed with plant fiber.

The pharonic headdress quite commonly seen in depictions of Egyptian kings was just one of the many headdresses common to ancient Egyptian fashions. The various gods of Egyptian mythology all also had their own headdresses and women also commonly styled their hair in elaborate fashions and donned headdresses; although not of such an elaborate style.

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Jewelry was extremely popular throughout the history of the Egyptian nation. Excavations of tombs have shown that queens of Egypt were almost always buried with a multitude of jewelry to be used in the afterlife.

All classes in the Egyptian society wore jewelry. A popular type of jewelry was the amulet, believed to protect the wearer. Amulets were often made in the form of sacred symbols, like the Eye of Horus or the ankh.

Both sexes wore jeweled collars made of strings of beads, as well as armbands, bracelets and anklets. Finger rings often had seals on them. Beginning in the New Kingdom, some Egyptians pierced their ears and wore earrings.

© Peter Roan - Broad Collar from the 18th Dynasty

The amount of jewelry worn by an individual often indicated their social position and level of wealth. Even the poor, who could not afford much, attempted to adorn themselves with as much jewelry as was possible. While not nearly as expensive, the jewelry of the commoner was usually very brightly colored and was constructed of materials such as pottery.

In the making of jewelry, gold was the most popular metal, as it stayed shiny and was easy to mine and work. From the various semi-precious stones used, one of the most commonly used was lapis lazuli.

Other inexpensive materials were made to resemble semi-precious stones. Colored cement, for example, was covered with transparent quartz to make stones that looked like lapis lazuli. Beginning in the New Kingdom, jewelers made objects of colored glass. The goal of Egyptian jewelers was to make colorful objects, not items that could reflect light.

Scarabs

Scarabs were very popular in Ancient Egypt, mostly due to their religious significance. The scarab beetle of the Scarabaeidae family was worshipped as a symbol of rebirth, of cyclicity of time. This held such importance in the ancient Egyptian culture that the god Khepri (god of rebirth and embodiment of Ra as the rising sun) was depicted either as a scarab beetle, or with a scarab beetle for his head.

It is, therefore, easy to understand why scarabs were often worn as amulets or incorporated in other types of jewelry. They were also carved into seals (either personal or administrative), crafted as commemorative pieces or even buried with the dead for protection in the afterlife. The latter use was often paired with spells, and the scarabs were placed on the chest of the deceased along with a pair of wings.

© ryanophilly - Scarabs

Ancient Make-up

© Peter Miller - Ancient Egyptian Make-Up

Make-up kits found in tombs were stored in chests and included bronze or copper mirrors, small jars of make-up or ointments and a variety of applicators the Egyptians used.

Both men and women in Ancient Egypt wore make-up. It protected their skin from the damaging effects of the desert climate. Cosmetic makers used red ochre to make rouge, and they mixed it with ointment to make lip balm. Malachite was used for green and galena for dark gray paint.

Egyptians used perfume as a deodorant. They wore cones of perfume on their heads at feasts. When the cones melted, they released fragrances into the air.

Eyeliner

The black eyeliner is one of the most recognizable elements of fashion in ancient Egypt. Although appealing to the modern world due to contemporary trends, this type of eye make-up was more than a fashion statement. Egyptians used Kohl, a black substance that served as protection against the glare of the sun. Some theories speculate it was also used for protection against the 'evil eye'.

Women's Fashion

Women of all classes wore ankle-length sheath dresses made of linen. Peasant women wore plain linen dresses and some statues show servant girls wearing dresses made of colored fabrics sewn in a checkered pattern.

Upper-class women wore pleated dresses with fringes, sometimes covered with a transparent garment. Formal clothing was often more elaborate and the later periods brought Greek or Roman fashions.

Men's Fashion

Poor Egyptian men often only wore a loin cloth while working. Upper-class men wore knee-length kilts, made of a rectangular piece of linen, with pleats or a stiffened front. They wrapped the kilts around their bodies and either tied them or used something to fasten them in place. Sometimes, men wore cloaks during cool weather.

© rob koopman - Relief in the tomb of Merymery

Children's Fashion

Images show that poor children wore no clothing until they hit puberty. Wealthy children wore similar clothing to their parents'. Egyptians shaved their children's heads, except for a long section of hair called a youth lock. Children also wore makeup, including kohl (grinded stibnite).

Ancient Egypt Fashion Facts

All Egyptians wore clothing made from linen.

Both sexes used makeup as beauty aids and to protect their skin.

Women wore ankle-length, sheath dresses.

Men wore kilts or loin cloths.

All Egyptian classes wore jewelry.

Some items of jewelry were amulets designed to protect the wearer.

Wealthy children wore clothing and makeup like their parents.

Jewelers made some jewelry of colored glass.

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Scholars of ancient Egypt get most of their knowledge of Egyptian fashion from statues and wall paintings, although some examples of clothing were found in tombs and houses. Tombs also held make-up kits and perfume containers, with caches of jewelry dating to different time periods.

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Egypt is a hot country and so people wore lightweight clothes which kept them cool. We can see what they wore from the many paintings and sculptures they left behind.

Ancient Egyptian clothes covered most of their skin and were made from plant fibres such as linen.

What is Linen?

Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant which the Egyptians grew.

What did the children of Ancient Egypt dress Like?

Most young children went around completely naked. When they were six years old they began to wear clothes that would protect them from the intense dry heat.

What did Egyptian men wear?

Men of the working classes wore a loincloth or short kilt and sometimes a type of shirt.

What did Egyptian women wear?

Women wore straight dresses with one or two shoulder straps.

Why did the Ancient Egyptians wear make-up and jewellery?

The Egyptians wore make-up and jewel to honour the gods. Both men and women wore blue and green eyeshadow and black eyeliner.

One item of jewellery, the amulet, was believed to protect the owners and give them strength.

More informaton about Egyptian clothing
Egyptian Garments

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Egypt is a hot country and so people wore lightweight clothes which kept them cool. We can see what they wore from the many paintings and sculptures they left behind. Ancient Egyptian clothes covered most of their skin and were made from plant fibres such as linen. What is Linen?

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Archeological discoveries have told us much about how ancient Egyptians worshiped, celebrated and mourned. But these scientific finds have also provided tantalizing clues about how-and what-this complex civilization ate. From grains like emmer and kamut to cloudy beer and honey-basted gazelle, this week's Hungry History focuses on the meals of ancient Egypt.

Bread and beer were the two staples of the Egyptian diet. Everyone from the highest priest to the lowliest laborer would eat these two foods every day, although the quality of the foods for the priest would undoubtedly be higher. The main grain cultivated in Egypt was emmer. Better known today as farro, emmer happens to be a fairly well balanced source of nutrition: it's higher in minerals and fiber than similar grains. Breads and porridge were made from the grain, as well as a specially devised product that modern-day archeologists call "beer bread."

Beer bread was made from dough that used more yeast than normal breads, and it was baked at a temperature that didn't kill off the yeast cultures. Brewers crumbled the bread into vats and let it ferment naturally in water. This yielded a thick and cloudy brew that would probably disgust our modern palates. But it was also nourishing and healthy, and filled in many nutritive deficiencies of the lower-class diet.

But ancient Egyptians did not survive on carbohydrates alone: Hunters could capture a variety of wild game, including hippos, gazelles, cranes as well as smaller species such as hedgehogs. Fish were caught, then salted and preserved; in fact fish curing was so important to Egyptians that only temple officials were allowed to do it. Honey was prized as a sweetener, as were dates, raisins and other dried fruits. Wild vegetables abounded, like celery, papyrus stalks and onions.

Although no recipes from the times remain, we have a fair idea of how the Egyptians prepared their food thanks to dioramas and other objects left in tombs. Laborers ate two meals a day: a morning meal of bread, beer and often onions, and a more hearty dinner with boiled vegetables, meat and more bread and beer. Nobles ate well, with vegetables, meat and grains at every meal, plus wine and dairy products like butter and cheese. Priests and royalty ate even better. Tombs detail meals of honey-roasted wild gazelle, spit-roasted ducks, pomegranates and a berry-like fruit called jujubes with honey cakes for dessert. To top it all off, servant girls would circulate with jugs of wine to refill empty glasses: the perfect end to an Egyptian banquet.

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Archeological discoveries have told us much about how ancient Egyptians worshiped, celebrated and mourned. But these scientific finds have also provided tantalizing clues about how-and what-this complex civilization ate. From grains like emmer and kamut to cloudy beer and honey-basted gazelle, this week's Hungry History focuses on the meals of ancient Egypt.

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Ancient Egypt was known for its prodigious culture, the pyramids, the sphinx, and the pharaohs of this once-majestic civilization on the banks of the Nile.

And when it comes to the culinary habits of the people of ancient Egypt, it is clear that they ate much better than people of any other ancient civilization in the world, particularly contemporary civilizations. Much of the information about what the ancient Egyptians ate and drank comes from pictures on tomb walls, offering trays and food left in the tombs, and scrolls of hieroglyphic writings. The most common artwork found is of the growing, finding, or preparation of food. Many tomb walls also show pictures depicting people hunting, fishing, and working in the fields. Here is a list of the top 10 most popular ancient Egyptian foods:

10. Poultry Products

Poultry was popular among both the rich and the peasants of ancient Egypt. The most commonly consumed poultry included geese, swans, ducks, quails, cranes, pigeons, and even doves and ostriches. Pigeons, geese, ducks and other domestic poultry were considered more popular among the richest ancient Egyptians, and cranes, swans, and wild ostriches would end up as the hard-earned kills of the poor. Duck, swan and goose eggs were also regularly consumed. Most of the time, poultry was not eaten as soon as it was produced, but preserved with seasoning for a longer period of consumption.

9. Milk and Other Dairy Products

The advent of agriculture and farming saw an increase in the sustained practices of cattle farming in ancient Egypt. Bulls were exclusively used for the purpose of farming, but other livestock such as goats, sheep, and cows were raised for their milk. Cattle farming was very popular, and the size of the herd would represent the prestige of the owner, as well as that of the temple that worshiped those animals. Apart from consuming milk, other dairy products such as curd, whey, and cream were also consumed as popular delicacies. However, based on whichever temple people followed, certain types of dairy products including milk were forbidden in certain places.

8. Vegetables, Lots of Them

Vegetables were eaten by the ancient Egyptians as a complement to their regular meals. Every year, due to the flooding of the Nile, much of the land surrounding the river was fertile and ripe for cultivation. Since, most poor families settled on its banks, vegetables were a common foodstuff among the poor. However, they were equally popular among well-off Egyptians too, vegetables being consumed along with other foods such as meat and bread. Onions, garlic, leeks, lentils, cabbage, radishes, turnips, legumes, and cucumbers were among the most popular vegetables to be grown and consumed.

7. Fruit

Again, since a lot of land was fertile due to the annual flooding of the Nile, a variety of fruits were grown and eaten by the Egyptians. It is difficult to account for all varieties of fruits that were eaten in ancient Egypt, but there is known documentary evidence of fruits which were high in sugar and protein being popular. Apple, olive, and pomegranate trees were brought to Egypt sometime around the reign of Hyksos or later. Grapes and figs were also popular fruits when they were available. Coconuts, on the other hand, were imported luxury goods which could only be afforded by rich Egyptians. The presence of many such fruits in people's daily diets can be seen from the remains found in several tombs.

6. A Wide Variety of Juices

Though not as widely popular as other food products made from fruits (namely beer and wine), fruit juice was enjoyed by a number of people in ancient Egypt. Citrus fruits which had a sweet taste were primarily used for fruit juice. Most popular were grapes and figs, which the Egyptians would press until every drop of juice was drained out of them. As well as honey, the syrup made from unfermented grape juice and other fruits such as raisins, dates, figs, carob, and even the root of the chuba, a plant growing in the delta marshes, had a nice sweet flavor and was also used for sweetening purposes.

5. Food Additives

The ancient Egyptians used a lot of food additives and seasoning, mainly oil, in cooking. They had 21 different names for the different vegetable oils obtained from sources like sesame, castor, flax seed, radish seed, horseradish, safflower, and colocynth. Horseradish oil was known to have been very popular. They also liked a lot of spices like salt, aniseed, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, marjoram, mustard, and thyme. Sugar itself did not appear in ancient Egypt until many years down the line, but sweeteners like syrups made from dates, grapes, and figs were used for sweetening purposes.

4. Meat

It is assumed, though not widely supported by evidence, that readily available meat sources such as fish and poultry were staples in the diets of the poor, but Egyptologists believe that it was for the most part the rich people who regularly feasted on meat. As well as game hunted in the delta region or the desert, people kept various kinds of domesticated animals, some exclusively as sources of meat, such as geese, certain breeds of cattle and, until the New Kingdom, oryx antelopes for temple offerings. Beef was generally expensive and would at most have been available once or twice a week, and then mostly for royalty. The poor preferred poultry such as goose, duck, quail, and crane, which saw a turnaround when domestication started from the time of the New Kingdom. Most of the edible fish from the Nile was consumed, with the exception of species that were connected to the Egyptian god Osiris.

3. Wine

Wine and ancient Egypt have a very rich history. Wine was known to be consumed by the Egyptians as early as 3000 BC. The Egyptian word for wine, jrp, predates any other known word for wine. By the 18th dynasty, wine had become a popular consumer product in ancient Egypt with both red and white wines available to everyone.

To make wine, the ancient Egyptians picked a bunch of grapes and squeezed all of the juice out by stepping on them in a trough big enough to hold at least six men. This mixture was sealed in a clay pot with the date and vineyard on it, almost exactly like today. For much of ancient Egyptian history, wine was mostly consumed at the court of the pharaohs. They even appointed an official wine taster. Wine was also a common drink on the menus of the rich and powerful.

2. Bread

Bread was an staple food item in the ancient Egyptian diet, but the bread they ate differed in many ways from the bread we are used to eating today. Because of the crude utensils used in making bread, several unwanted ingredients such as quartz, feldspar, mica, and other ferromagnesian minerals were often mixed up with the flour, along with germs and other foreign bodies. Once the flour was made, the bread would be made by mixing dough and kneading it with both hands or even the feet in large dough-kneading containers. To add some flavor, additives such as yeast, salt, spices, milk, and sometimes eggs were added just before the bread was cut into baking pieces. The bread was always rougher and harder because of these extra ingredients, but nonetheless, bread made up the biggest part of the ancient Egyptians' diet.

See also:

1. Beer

Along with bread, beer was the most popular staple in ancient Egypt, and people drank beer on a daily basis. In fact, beer was the preferred drink of mortals and gods, the rich and powerful, adults and even children. Be it the first meal of the day or supper, beer was always a part of it. It is no wonder that with so much booze in their daily diets, almost all Egyptians lived life on a high. Beer, together with bread, oil, vegetables, and spices, formed an important part of the wages that workers received from their employers. The standard daily ration during pharaonic times was two jars containing slightly more than two liters each. It was supposed to be a healthier drink than the water drawn from rivers or canals which were often polluted.

Conclusion

It is clear from the above list that people in ancient Egypt had good eating habits with a variety of food items present in their daily diets. From the rich to the poor, and from the workers to the farmers, regardless of the differences in the quality of food they enjoyed, almost all of them were well fed, with several food options available to them. Food was baked, boiled, grilled, stewed, fried, and even roasted and then served with other seasonings, along with beer or occasionally wine. It is also clear that the food staples that prevailed in ancient Egypt have had a significant impact on the food habits of generations to come.

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Top 10 Most Popular Ancient Egyptian Food

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Ancient Egypt was known for its prodigious culture, the pyramids, the sphinx, and the pharaohs of this once-majestic civilization on the banks of the Nile. And when it comes to the culinary habits of the people of ancient Egypt, it is clear that they ate much better than people of any other ancient civilization in the world, particularly contemporary civilizations.

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Egyptian School

Formal education in ancient Egypt was mostly reserved for the boys of wealthier families.

Although there is some evidence that occasionally, girls did go to school and even became doctors.

Boys usually started school at the age of 7 and they were taught to read and write as well as mathematics.

A recent discovery in Egypt showed classrooms that were set up very similar to today's and there were inscriptions on the walls about the rules for behaving properly in class.

From the pictures and images, it seems that classrooms had tables for the children to use to write on and lessons were taught by teachers.

Some schools were designed for specific talents, such as 'Scribes'.

These were the people that would have the job of writing all of the history, letters and all communications.

Scribe students would spend hours writing and re-writing the hundreds of symbols that made up the Egyptian words.

There is evidence that the kids didn't always like doing the work and when they skipped school, they were punished.

What did they learn?

Most of the education for both boys and girls came from their mothers and fathers.

For boys, they learned the family trade.

For girls, they learned the household responsibilities including cooking, sewing and in some cases, even taking care of the family business.

If a boy was instructed in the art of building or sculpture, his father would hope that his talent was exceptional enough for him to be accepted as part of the tomb-builders.

If a boy failed to learn his trade well, he would be sent out of the village and would have to set up his life in another town.

Wisdom Texts in Ancient Egypt

If a boy attended a formal school they began at the lower grades, what we might consider kindergarten.

They would learn a number of lessons and these might include Egyptian literature.

These were called 'wisdom texts' and included many of the lessons on the way to get a good position in life.

The ultimate goal of the Egyptian student was to be good enough to be accepted in one of the high positions such as the royal palace, the temples or army, a government job, tax assessor or even medicine with the priests.

Learning to write

It seems that the lesson books, called 'Kemty' (which means completion) were not designed in the horizontal way we are taught, but instead, they used vertical (up and down) lines for children to learn and write in.

A majority of the Egyptian population did not receive any kind of formal education.

Many of the people worked in the fields and this type of job was passed down from father to son.

It was a rarity that anyone escaped the fate of their class and rose up to become educated or wealthy.

Girls and education

Some young girls were educated in both a formal manner and by their mothers.

Many Egyptian families required that the husband or father be away at various times, and this meant that the wife or mother had to run the family business.

In the royal families, girls received equal education to the boys and they were often advisors to the pharaoh.

It is said that in a lot of cases, it was the women that had the most influence over some of the major decisions that the pharaoh made.

This meant that the women had to be smart and aware of politics, history, the class writings, mathematics and all of the arts.

The children of royal families and the high officials and nobles had the opportunity to attend the Prince's School.

There is evidence that it was also open to other boys that showed excellent promise.

The school taught: Reading and writing and the Hieroglyphs, history, mathematics, geometry, geography, cartography (study of maps), science, ceremonial dance and music, astronomy, medicine, astrology and religious training.

Facts about Ancient Egyptian Education

School started for boys when they were 7 years old

Girls stayed at home to help around the home

Somethings girls did go to school, but many were home-schooled

Girls from lower-class backgrounds had very little education

Some lower-class and middle-class boy left school at 14 to work as apprentices to their father

Girls stayed at home to help with baking, cooking and running the home

Some boys trained to become scribes they got paid to write down information or read documents

Girls were not usually permitted to become scribes

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Ancient Egyptian Schools for Kids - Fun Facts

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Formal education in ancient Egypt was mostly reserved for the boys of wealthier families. Although there is some evidence that occasionally, girls did go to school and even became doctors. Boys usually started school at the age of 7 and they were taught to read and write as well as mathematics.

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Pyramids always remained a mystery to man. Even in 2018, we are discovering more about these ancient man made marvels. Much to surprise, with every discovery we are realizing that there is more to uncover than ever before!

Here's the list of some of the most interesting pyramid facts that you might not know:

The Engineering Wonder!

The Pyramid of Giza was built 4500 years ago in Egypt, yet it remained as the tallest man-made building until the 19th century. That means it stood its place as the tallest building for 3800 years!

The baffling thing about these ancient pyramids is the Egyptians ability to build something so gigantic with prehistoric building methods!

More in Number Than You Think!

On the subject of pyramids, which number crosses your mind if we were to ask you: how many pyramids are still standing on the earth? 5 or 10? No, the number is well more than 5000!

Though the real purpose of these Egyptian pyramids is highly debated, it is astonishing that such mighty structures were constructed 4000 years ago.

Stones that Weigh More Than Elephants

Imagine a time with no advanced machinery, when there were no cranes or forklifts. It was during this time when the Egyptians erected these pyramids with stones that weigh about 5-10 tons per piece!

All of these stones were hoisted and laid one by one on top of each other. We can only imagine how the processes were carried on.

Researchers are still working on figuring out how they achieved such a feat.

The Intricate Tunnels

Another startling pyramid fact is that there exists an intricate web of passages, shafts and chambers under the pyramids. These tunnels behold hundreds of years of history and thousands of artefacts.

Although the Egyptian authorities have excavated and got hold of most of the found commodities, the details are not available to the common public.

The Slave Hoax

It was widely believed that slaves were tasked to build the enormous pyramids. This was later contradicted and found out that it was paid workers who were the ones tasked with the construction.

Workers from around north and south, respected for their work, worked tirelessly. The worker tombs were discovered much around 2010; the body is preserved in the dry sand along with jars of beer and bread for the afterlife.

Ancient Air conditioner

Another interesting fact about these extraordinary structures is that despite the harsh fluctuating temperatures of day and night, the great pyramids maintain a constant inside temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Say Hola to the mother of ancient air conditioning.

A Pyramid Around the Coffer

Inside the main chamber of Giza is a coffer that is way too large to be brought in through the narrow entrance passage.

This realization led the archaeologists to believe that the great pyramid was built around the coffer and not brought in after construction.

How were They this Accurate 4500 Years Ago?

The Egyptians used two constellations to align their pyramids in a north-south direction. One was big dipper and the other is the small dipper.

The tombs are aligned in north-south with an accuracy of up to 0.05 degrees. This happened in an era where modern-day precision tools were not even imaginable!

The Mystery Mortar

There is an old Arabic proverb which translates to "Man fears time, time fears the pyramids". Pyramids are one of the oldest standing wonders.

The reason is the super adhesive mortar made to fix the stones in place. The mortar used in the construction of these pyramids has been analyzed over and over again.

But the exact combination of the ingredients is still a mystery. Almost 5,00,000 tons of mortar was used, and the strength is more than the stones itself.

The Lightest 20-ton Swivel Door

There exists a total of 3 swivel doors in the pyramid of Giza. One of the enormous doors is a 20-ton swivel door in the great pyramid and is so well balanced that it can be opened from the inside with just one hand!

When it is closed, the fit is so perfect that it blends in with the wall, making an impression that it is not even there!

They Glittered Like Gold!

At the time of construction, these ancient Egyptian pyramids were covered with a well-polished casing of limestone. The limestone, when laid on the pyramids sparkled literally like diamonds when the sun would shine.

This shine made the structures visible from miles away.

Alignment with The Orion

The three pyramids of Giza are aligned exactly to be in line with the three stars of Orion belt. While creating a faithful mimicry of the Orion belt, the three pyramids of Giza actually point directly towards Orion's belt.

Early Flat Pyramid

Did you know that there exist pyramids with flat tops!? YES, many of the early pyramids around the world were made with the top flat.

In fact, the first pyramid constructed by the Egyptians at the site of Saqqara around 4700 years ago, did not have triangular sides. It was the tomb of the Egyptian king, Djoser and had a flat roof, which led archaeologist to believe that the first ever pyramids were indeed flat.

Many similar pyramids from the past exist even today.

The Mastabas Purpose

Mastabas were tombs for the people who did not have high ranks and their tombs were built in special chambers inside pyramids. Historians believe that the only reason for the Mastaba tombs being around would be that the souls inside them may continue to serve the king in their afterlife.

The Guard of Khafre

The huge statue of Sphinx was built near the great pyramid around 4500 years ago. It has the body structure of a lion and the head of a pharaoh.

The sole purpose of the Sphinx was to guard the pyramid of Khafre at Giza.

Multitalented Imhotep

Imhotep was one of the earliest master architects of Egypt. He is known as the inventor of pyramid. His skillsets don't end there as he was a physician, astronomer, high priest, etc.

He was a minister of Djoser, and after his death, he was worshipped as the God of Medicine.

Whopping Weight of Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Khufu weighs a whopping 5750000 tons! If you want a comparison, the Burj Khalifa weighs only a 500,000 tons!

The Great pyramid is made of an estimated 2.3 million blocks of stone, and each block weighs 2267.96 kilograms (2.5 tons) approximately. Do the math!

The Location Theory

In 1877, Dr. Joseph Seiss found an interesting discovery. He showed that the pyramid of Giza is located exactly at the intersection of the longest line of longitude and longest line of latitude.

Or we can put it in this way- the great pyramid in the exact center of all landmass on planet Earth. Interesting right?

An Attempt to Destroy Pyramids

King Al-Aziz, son of Saladin, a Kurdish ruler, planned to destroy the pyramids in the 12th century. Thankfully, he gave up because the job was too big of a task, even for a king!

Though the attack left a gash on Menkaure's pyramid.

Average Time Taken for 1 Pyramid

Though highly sophisticated in terms of accuracy and architecture, the Great Pyramid of Giza took almost 23 years to complete. Most of the pyramids were built simultaneously.

Pyramids are one of the marvelous examples of engineering from ancient history, which still remain a subject of research and curiosity.

The Hieroglyphics Mystery

Everyone associates hieroglyphics with pyramids. Although visitors won't find hieroglyphics inscribed inside, in 2011, researchers found hieroglyphics inside the secret chamber of Giza pyramid with the help of a robot.

Astonishing Number of Workers

The figures about the number of workers vary. Historians take into account various factors including how many men it might have taken to lift one block.

One such account suggests that there might have been almost 60000 men outside the structure and 30000 inside it, requiring a jaw-dropping 90000 workers to build the pyramid.

The Face of Sphinx

The Sphinx was constructed to guard the pyramids. In the records of many, it is noted that the face of the Sphinx is much to the likeness of Pharaoh Khafra.

It is 241 feet long and is facing towards the rising sun.

Burial Goods

Also known as Grave goods, Egyptians believe that Egypt was the best place God could have created for any human to live. They believed that once a person is dead, he/she enters a similar mirrored world like Egypt.

The only difference they imagined was the absence of grief or sorrow. They believed that one might need things in another life just like one need things when alive.

So they buried a body with necessities, and in case of kings in the Pyramids, they used to bury gold and other valuable commodities with the body.

All the precious artifacts found in pyramids are with Egyptian authorities.

Count Them Again!

Though pyramids may give an impression that they have only 4 sides, Pyramid of Giza has 8 sides. Each of the four sides of the pyramids is evenly split from base to tip.

The discovery goes back to 1940 when a pilot named P. Groves noticed the strange site of 8 sides while flying over it.

The indentations are visible from above only with appropriate light.

Descending Passage and Alpha Draconis

In the Great Pyramid of Giza, the descending shaft or passage was aligned exactly to the polar star 'Alpha Draconis' when it was built in 2141 BC.

The polar star comes in alignment with earth once in 25920 years. When the pyramid was being built, the architect used the alignment of Alpha Draconis to determine the direction to the true north.

Logic of Ikhet

The word "Ikhet" means glorious light. When Pyramids were constructed, they were cast in limestone which used to sparkle in the sunlight.

This light was the reason why pyramids were called Ikhet. The limestone casting eventually faded or got destroyed and what was left was just mortar and gigantic stones.

The Sapphire Drill

Khafre's coffer was drilled out from a solid black granite, which required bronze saws 8 to 9 feet long with teeth of Sapphire.

Analysis of the coffer reveals that it was carved out by a single-point drill, which used hard jewel bits and a drilling force of almost 2 ton.

No Shadow Time

Pyramids are one of the most extensively studied structures in the world. The mystery around its construction still haunts researchers.

Among many properties of the pyramid, one was of being a Sundial. It was one of the most sophisticated Sundials found across the globe, which indicated solstice and equinox.

At noon, during the spring, the Great Pyramid of Giza casts no shadow.

Correlation with Pi

Researchers have proposed the idea that Pi might have been incorporated into the design of Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. John Taylor discovered that if one divides the perimeter of Pyramid by its height, the resultant value is equal to 2Pi.

He further suggested that Perhaps Great Pyramid was deliberated to represent the earth, the height is analogous to the radius joining center of the earth in the North Pole, and the perimeter is analogous to earth's circumference at earth's equator.

The Enigma of the Building Process

The Pyramids have been talked about for centuries. They leave us mesmerized with how accurate the architecture was back then. But not much is known about the building process.

For instance, we can only guess how the blocks were lifted so high and what other processes were included.

The researchers are still looking to recreate the mortar, and the web of interconnected tunnels was only recently discovered.

Enough to Build a Wall Around France

The Quarry of Aswan is the place which supplied stones for the construction of the pyramids.

It is suggested that the blocks from these three pyramids are actually enough to construct 10 feet high, and one-foot thick wall around all of France.

The One Stone Coffer

There is a mysterious coffer in the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is made out of a single stone Granite. The Huge Granite block has been drilled and converted into a coffer.

The coffer is inside the king's chamber within the pyramid and it was put in before the ceiling was constructed.

People believe that the coffer has magical properties.

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Explore 33 Interesting Facts about the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

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Egyptian pyramids have been fascinating us since long. Despite a lot of research, there are still many secrets hidden inside these ancient marvels remain to be uncovered. This list highlights some of the interesting facts about ancient Egyptian pyramids that you may not know.

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Pyramids Facts for Kids (All You Need to Know!)

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The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids are one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world. These structures are so impressive for ... Read more

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Discovering Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt, the lives of the pharaohs and their world has been a constant interest throughout my life. It began at the age of five when my grandfather entertained me with stories about the ancient Egyptians. He also gave me a respect for scientific method, inspired me with an appreciation of art and taught me to examine the world around me through observational drawing. As a result I grew up to become an artist with a love of science and Egyptology.

My artistic works over forty years have been heavily influenced by ancient Egyptian artistic conventions and my later works, writing books and reconstructing Egyptian monuments, are the result of twenty years of drawings, paintings, photos and observational notes I made while travelling the Egyptian Nile.

I apply a meticulous regard for material evidence and archaeological knowledge in my work. So if you believe that aliens built the pyramids this website is not for you and I do not reply to emails containing such ideas.

I hope you enjoy this website it has a basic description of hieroglyphic writing, you can have fun with the Hieroglyphic Typewriter - you can write your name in the ancient script and email secret messages to your friends. You will also learn about Egyptian numerals and test your knowledge with some mathematical problems set out using the ancient numbers.

There are stories of the great kings & queens, the ancient Egyptian gods and mummification is covered with diagrams and videos. In the pyramid & temple section you can explore the ancient monuments; using interactive maps, photos, drawings, and paintings. Also check out 3D Temples and see how these shrines, to the gods, may have appeared to ancient eyes.
Mark Millmore

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Discovering Ancient Egypt hieroglyphs pharaohs pyramids mummification

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Discovering Ancient Egypt pharaohs, pyramids, temples, mummification, Egyptian gods hieroglyphic write your name in hieroglyphs Hieroglyphic Typewriter.

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Mummy game included!

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History for kids - Free history network for kids

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Understanding Ancient Egypt We really hope you enjoy these fun facts about Egypt. You will learn about the Pharaoh’s who were the Kings of all the land. Did you know that the ancient Egyptians worshipped hundreds of gods and goddesses? Or that they invented things like the calendar and glass blowing…

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Ancient Egypt Facts For Kids - History Lessons in [year]

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Ancient Egypt was a fascinating time in History. We've got everything you need to know right here, plus some super fun facts. Doing a project on Ancient Egypt, or just want to find out more? Then read on for some interesting facts about Ancient Egypt.

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They had gods for everything, from dangers to chores, and each had different responsibilities and needed to be worshipped so that life could be kept in balance. You can see pictures of the Egyptian gods in hieroglyphics the Ancient Egyptians left behind. Check out our fave Egyptian gods, below...

Hawk-headed sun god Ra was one of the most important gods of all. He was gobbled up every night by the sky goddess Nut, then reborn every morning at sunrise. Later in Egyptian history, Ra was merged with the god of wind, Amun, making him the most powerful of all the Egyptian gods. Amun-Ra was so mighty that even the Boy King, Tutankhamun, was named after him - translated his name means "Living image of Amun".

Controlling the rain and water, lion-headed Tefnut was the goddess of moisture. She was spat into existence by her dad, Ra, the sun god.

A dwarf with lion features, little Bes's job was to look after babies and mums. He also protected against scorpion bites. And nightmares. What a guy!

This dog-faced deity was the god of embalming and the dead. Wild dogs, or jackals, were often seen hanging around in cemeteries, so it was thought they watched over people in the afterlife.

The god of the waterways, Sobek was a fierce protector of Egyptian people. He also liked to eat flesh. Live crocodiles were kept in pools at temples to honour him.

This blue pot-bellied fellow was the god of the Nile, responsible for the annual flooding of the great river. Want to find out more about the Ancient Egyptians and the gods they worshipped? Then check out this cool clip!

Be sure to read our fab features about Ancient Egypt, too!

Illustrations of Egyptian gods: Marek Jagucki

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Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt! | National Geographic Kids

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They had gods for everything, from dangers to chores, and each had different responsibilities and needed to be worshipped so that life could be kept in balance. You can see pictures of the Egyptian gods in hieroglyphics the Ancient Egyptians left behind. Check out our fave Egyptian gods, below...

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Kids learn about the civilization of ancient Egypt including the pharaohs, pyramids, art, government, geography, Nile River, mummies, religion, hieroglyphics, and clothing. Educational articles for students, schools, and teachers.

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Five thousand (5,000) years ago, the ancient Egyptian made their home at the mouth of the Nile River, where the Nile runs into the Mediterranean Sea. It was a wonderful place to live. The soil was rich. Food was plentiful. They were surrounded by desert, which helped to keep them safe from intruders, while the Nile kept their world green.

The ancient Egyptians believed in over 2,000 gods! They were not afraid of their gods, not most of them anyway. They understood they could not always get everything they prayed for. But, when their prayers were not answered, they might give the statue of a god in the temple a little whack with a reed to let the gods know they were quite disappointed.

The ancient Egyptians believed in curses and omens and magical powers, all of which were an important part of their daily life and religion. They bought spells in the marketplace to increase their luck, to change their fate, and to keep themselves safe.

They believed science and magic were intertwined. They would chant a magical spell they bought in the marketplace and swallow medicine they bought from a different vendor to solve the same problem. The thing is, this often solved their problem, although it was probably the medicine. When the ancient Greeks and then the Romans came to Egypt, they were amazed at how advanced the Egyptians were in the sciences, especially in astronomy, mathematics, and cures.

The ancient Egyptians also believed in an afterlife. A popular family outing was visiting the family tomb with armloads of grave goods they had made, things they might need in their afterlife to make their eternity comfortable and fun. The ancient Egyptians believed that after you died, your Ka, your spirit, flew off to enjoy endless, perfect days along a magical Nile River. At night, your Ba, your night spirit, returned to your tomb, because even mummies need a good night's sleep.

The ancient Egyptians were fascinating people, and thanks to the movies are often misunderstood. The ancient Egyptians were not in love with death. They were in love with life! They loved poetry and tall tales and stories. They shivered at curses and danced at festivals. They loved their kids. They loved their families. They loved their life along their beloved Nile River, crocodiles and all.

Come meet the clever, creative ancient Egyptians. We think you'll like them.

Our first feedback (Wow! Thank you!):
"Your units are exactly what I had hoped for
--readable, interesting topics that fit my curriculum objectives
with lots of structured activities to bring it alive.
World History will be the class we all look forward to every day."

Mr. Donn and Maxie's Ancient History PowerPoints Series
Written by Lin & Don Donn,
illustrated by Phillip Martin, Published by Good Year Books

Mr. Donn and Maxie's Always Something You Can Use Series
Written by Lin & Don Donn, Published by Good Year Books

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Ancient Egypt for Kids and Teachers - Daily Life, Religion, Government, Inventions, Achievements, and more, for grades 5-9, middle school - Ancient Egypt for Kids

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Five thousand (5,000) years ago, the ancient Egyptian made their home at the mouth of the Nile River, where the Nile runs into the Mediterranean Sea. It was a wonderful place to live. The soil was rich. Food was plentiful. They were surrounded by desert, which helped to keep them safe from intruders, while the Nile kept their world green.