Ancient Egypt captivates the world with its massive pyramids and mysterious mummies. However, the daily life of the Egyptians contained far more surprises than just stone monuments. They invented many things we still use today, such as toothpaste and calendars. Furthermore, their society offered women rights that other ancient cultures completely denied. Prepare to travel back thousands of years to the banks of the Nile.
Ancient Egypt
Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the Great Pyramid. The construction of the pyramids at Giza happened roughly 2,500 years before her birth. Conversely, the Apollo 11 mission took place only about 2,000 years after her death.
King Tutankhamun owned a dagger made from a meteorite. Scientists analyzed the metal blade and found high levels of nickel and cobalt. Therefore, the young king literally carried a weapon forged from a falling star.
Ancient Egyptian police officers used trained baboons to catch criminals. Artwork from the period depicts police handlers unleashing monkeys on thieves in the marketplace. Consequently, criminals had to outrun sharp-toothed primates to escape justice.
People in Ancient Egypt wore heavy makeup called kohl. They applied the black powder around their eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun. Additionally, the lead in the makeup helped fight off eye infections.
They invented one of the earliest forms of toothpaste. Recipes show they mixed rock salt, mint, dried iris flowers, and pepper to clean their teeth. Unfortunately, this gritty mixture likely caused bleeding gums despite its cleaning power.
Workers built the pyramids, not slaves. Archaeologists found tombs of the laborers near the Giza pyramids, showing they received honorable burials. The state paid them in food and beer for their hard labor.
Egyptian doctors used moldy bread to treat infections. Long before Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, these ancient healers placed moldy dough on wounds. Thus, they understood the healing properties of fungi centuries ahead of modern science.
Cats held a sacred status in their society. If a family cat died, the owners shaved off their eyebrows to mourn the loss. Furthermore, killing a cat, even accidentally, carried a penalty of death.
Pharaoh Ramses II signed the first known peace treaty in history. After the Battle of Kadesh, he and the Hittite king agreed to end their war. A copy of this ancient document now hangs at the United Nations headquarters.
People in Ancient Egyptplayed a popular board game called Senet. Kings and commoners alike loved this game of strategy and chance. Paintings show Queen Nefertari playing it, and King Tut took four game boards into his tomb.
Beer served as a primary source of nutrition and currency. The thick, sweet brew contained very little alcohol but provided essential calories. Therefore, laborers often received their daily wages in jugs of beer.
The brain was considered useless during mummification. Embalmers used a long hook to pull the brain out through the nose and threw it away. In contrast, they carefully preserved the heart because they believed it held the soul.
Women enjoyed significant legal rights. Unlike women in Ancient Greece, Egyptian women could own property, run businesses, and initiate divorce. Consequently, they held a level of independence rare in the ancient world.
Napoleon did not shoot the nose off the Sphinx. Sketches from years before Napoleon arrived in Egypt show the nose was already missing. Historians believe a religious fanatic named Sa’im al-Dahr destroyed it centuries earlier.
Finally, they created a calendar of 365 days. They tracked the flooding of the Nile to divide the year into twelve months. This system became the basis for the calendar the entire world uses today.
