Women playing an official role at the highest levels
Few ancient civilizations enabled women to achieve important social positions. In Ancient Egypt, there are not only examples indicating women high officials were not so rare, but more surprising (for its time), there are women in the highest office, that of Pharaoh. More than a kind of feminism, this is a sign of the importance […]
Pregnancy and Childbirth
There is much evidence of complex beliefs and practices in Ancient Egypt related to the important role fertility played in society. Religious beliefs included rules concerning purification, similar to other religions in the region. Women in Egypt were believed to be eliminating impure elements during menstruation, and were excused from work and could not enter […]
Women’s Legal Equality with Men
Current knowledge of Ancient Egypt indicates that Egyptian women were the equal of men under the law (unlike Greco-Roman or Mesopotamian women during the same period). Thus, they could own land, manage their own property and represent themselves in court cases. They could sit on juries and testify in trials. At the same time, they […]
Mythological Beliefs & Scientific Reasons for the Mummification of the Royals in Ancient Egypt
Mummies, elaborate tombs, and gold funerary coffins are synonymous with ancient Egypt. The most famous ancient Egyptian royal mummies, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses II, are on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt. If not for mummification, the bodies of these kings would have never been preserved thousands of years after death. Mummification began […]
The Burial Process of Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs
Much of what we know today about ancient Egypt has been pieced together by archeologists using artifacts and information gathered from the tombs of pharaohs and other high-ranking individuals. The Egyptians observed a complex series of rituals when burying dead pharaohs, designed to aid the dead king’s transition into the afterlife. Mummification and burial were […]
When Did People in Ancient Egypt Start Mummifying Pharaohs?
A common tenet of the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptian people throughout their civilization is a strong emphasis on the afterlife, and preparing the earthly remains of the deceased for that new existence. Basic methods for mummification were in practice before the reign of the first pharaoh, and developed in sophistication through the course of […]
Cleopatra – For Kids
Cleopatra was the second to last pharaoh of Egypt. Her son was pharaoh briefly after her death, but Egypt became part of the Roman Empire when he was killed just a few days later. Cleopatra is famous for her reign, her love life and her tragic death. She was one of the most powerful women […]
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ASTROLOGY
Ancient Egyptian astrology is not the same astrology we use today, although there are a few links that tie them together. But ancient astrology in general was used a little differently than the way we use astrology today. For the most part, astrology in the ancient times was used more for predicting planetary shifts that affected […]
Ancient Egyptian Papyrus
Papyrus began as the world’s first type of paper, derived from the Cyperus papyrus plant. Even though it was developed in Egypt, it spread across the ancient world and was used throughout West Asia. Before papyrus became common, many cultures wrote on clay tablets. It was eventually replaced by the Chinese method of making paper […]
Tomb Robbers in Ancient Egypt
Tomb robbing in ancient Egypt played an important part in the economic well-being of the society. Although by today’s standards it is considered a dastardly deed, the Egyptians did not view tomb robbing with the same disdain and disgust that modern society does. History of Tomb Robbing Tomb robbers existed in all levels of society, […]
