The great land of Egypt was founded beyond the temporal veil where pharaohs lived and built great pyramids that pierced the sky! Between our attractive lines, we will take you on an unforgettable adventure to discover some interesting facts about Egypt that are specially designed for our dear kids and curious minds.
You will also explore the world of kings and mummies where myths become reality and where archaeological wonders keep awing the whole world. Trips In Egypt Team wraps the secrets of the Sphinx, the ancient writings of the past, and the mysteries of Egypt which is a land of lasting magic.
Now, are you ready to be amazed by the mysteries that have captivated people from all over the world for ages? Let’s start our Egyptian adventure together!
Ancient Egypt: A Glimpse into History
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Palestine (Gaza Strip) and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west; the Gulf of Aqaba in the northeast separates Egypt from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Egypt has one of the longest histories of any country, tracing its heritage along the Nile Delta back to the 6th-4th millennia BCE. Considered a cradle of civilisation, Ancient Egypt saw some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanisation, organised religion and central government.
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Egypt was an early and important centre of Christianity, later adopting Islam from the seventh century onwards. Alexandria, Egypt's former capital and currently second largest city, was a hub of global knowledge through its Library. Cairo became the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate in the tenth century and of the subsequent Mamluk Sultanate in the 13th century.
Egypt then became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517, until its local ruler Muhammad Ali established modern Egypt as an autonomous Khedivate in 1867. Following the 1952 revolution, Egypt declared itself a republic. Between 1958 and 1961 Egypt merged with Syria to form the United Arab Republic.
Egypt fought several armed conflicts with Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, and occupied the Gaza Strip intermittently until 1967. In 1978, Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, which recognised Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from the occupied Sinai.
After the Arab Spring, which led to the 2011 Egyptian revolution and overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, the country faced a protracted period of political unrest; its first democratic election in 2012 resulted in the short-lived, Muslim Brotherhood-aligned government of Mohamed Morsi, which was overthrown by the military after mass protests in 2013.
Egypt is a developing country with the second-largest economy in Africa. It is considered to be a regional power in the Middle East, North Africa and the Muslim world, and a middle power worldwide. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is official language.
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Interesting Facts About Egypt
1. The Pyramids of Egypt are Tombs
The Pyramids of Giza were built thousands of years ago by ancient Egyptians in order to bury their pharaohs who were like kings of their era. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest pyramid, was erected for a king named Khufu.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is made up of several blocks, each weighing around 2.5 tonnes, and it took 20 years to build. The pyramids were covered in white limestone, but it has been removed over time, however, they are still beautiful and mysterious, and there is still much that we do not know about them to this day and age.
There were special rooms inside these pyramids that were called burial chambers where they buried the bodies of the Pharaohs and their treasured riches in these special chambers. The ancient Egyptians believed that by building these huge pyramids, the spirits of Pharaohs and queens could back safely to the afterlife. Is not that a fascinating way to honor and remember their powerful rulers?
2. The Valley of the Kings is the Final Resting Place of the Pharaohs
The Valley of the Kings is a super cool place in Egypt! A long time ago, there were powerful Pharaohs who were like kings and were buried inside the Valley of the Kings such as King Tutankhamun.
The Valley of the Kings is like their secret hidden city! You can find hidden tombs and special rooms inside the valley where the mummies of the Pharaohs and precious treasures were kept safe to the day and age. Just imagine finding golden jewelry and ancient stuff like adventure movies! So, when you hear about the Valley of the Kings, remember it is where the ancient Pharaohs rest!
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3. Ancient Egyptian Men and Women Wore Makeup
Did you know that in Ancient Egypt, both men and women used makeup? Ancient Egypt used unique cosmetics that were created from natural materials such as minerals, herbs, and flowers which they applied using mall sticks, brushes, and sponges.
Boys and girls would paint their eyes with a dark color called "Kohl" to protect them from the sun and evil spirits, however, makeup was used not only for protection but also to look stylish and lovely throughout this historical period.
Girls would wear colorful eyeshadows and paint their lips brilliant colors, whilst boys would paint their lips reddish and wear some eye makeup. Egyptian cosmetics were an important element of daily life for both genders of Ancient Egyptians. So, the next time you see someone wearing makeup, know that it has been a trend for thousands of years, all the way back to the magnificent world of Ancient Egypt!
4. Cats Were Very Special in Ancient Egypt
Cats were very special and adored by the ancient Egyptians as they believed that cats had magical powers and were connected to the gods in ancient Egypt, so cats were like sacred guardians that protected their homes from pests like mice and rats and helped to keep the food safe.
Egyptians created special laws to protect cats, to cause harm to them was considered a serious crime and you should be punished. Cats were worshipped also in the city of Bubastis which was a major center of cat worship and there was a special festival dedicated to cats called "The Festival of Bastet".
Cats were depicted in ancient Egyptian art including paintings, sculptures, and jewelry, the remains of over 300,000 mummified cats have been found in the ancient city of Bubastis. Egyptian families had statues of cats in their homes to bring good luck and when a pet cat passed away, the family would mourn by shaving their eyebrows as a sign of sadness. So, you see, cats were not just pets back then, they were truly treasured and respected creatures in ancient Egypt!
5. The Sphinx is the Mysterious Guardian of the Pyramids
The Sphinx is a mysterious creature that is located near the famous pyramids of Giza. This unbelievable structure has the body of a lion, the head of a human, and the eye of the Sphinx are made of obsidian, a type of volcanic glass, and these unique features make the Sphinx an intriguing guardian.
The Sphinx is incredibly old with its construction which dates back over 4,500 years during the time of the ancient Egyptians, it stands tall at about 66 feet and was carved from a single massive limestone block, and there are so many secrets about the Sphinx remain unsolved until today.
The Sphinx of Giza continues to attract the minds of travelers from all over the world as it has a great role as a guardian of the pyramids to become a timeless tale of ancient times.
6. King Tut Died and Left Behind Many Treasures
Did you know that when archaeologist Howard Carter first entered the tomb of King Tutankhamun, he found an amazing collection of wonderful treasures that had been buried for over 3,000 years? The tomb of the little pharaoh who was only eighteen years old is one of the most amazing discoveries especially "The Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun". This unbelievable mask was made of solid gold and was so created that it became one of the most iconic symbols in the whole world.
Carter found many other precious and interesting artifacts inside the tomb such as statues, jewelry, and chariots. There is one item which is a chest shaped like a boat which was believed to carry the pharaoh to the afterlife. It is incredible to think that these treasures have been hidden away and preserved for so long until today with their original status.
The young age of King Tutankhamun at the time of his death was around eighteen or nineteen years old, and it added to the mystery surrounding his tomb. King Tutankhamun became pharaoh at just nine years old and ruled for a short time before his death. Today, you can see many of these incredible artifacts at The Grand Egyptian Museum where they continue to captivate people of all ages.
7. The Gods and Goddesses Worshipped in Ancient Egypt
Once upon a time, in the land of history where gods and goddesses in Ancient Egypt roamed, there was a quirky twist! These divine beings decided to play a hilarious game of "Ancient Gods and Goddesses" With their godly powers on hold, they transformed themselves into great powers to experience the joys and challenges of growing up such as:
- "Ra" was the Sun God who made sure the sun rose every morning and gave us light to play and learn.
- "Isis" was a caring Goddess who protected families and our loved ones, and she was also a clever Goddess.
- "Anubis" was the jackal-headed God who guarded the souls of the dead and guided them to the afterlife.
- "Bastet" was the gentle cat Goddess who watched over homes and brought joy and music to our lives.
- "Horus" was the Falcon God, and he kept an eye on the sky of Egypt.
These amazing Gods and Goddesses were a great part of the ancient Egyptian culture, and ancient Egyptians believed that they had special powers to help and protect them.
8. Ancient Egyptians Mummified Their Bodies
Ancient Egyptian Mummification was a significant part of ancient Egyptian religious practices, ensuring a proper journey to the afterlife for both humans and their revered animals. The priests cleaned the body of the dead and removed its internal organs except for the heart, and then they used special herbs to dry the body.
They wrapped the body in linen bandages, but did you know that not only humans were mummified? Ancient Egyptians mummified animals like cats, dogs, and crocodiles as they were considered sacred and to be with them once again in the afterlife.
Ancient Egyptians thought that preserving their bodies would help them meet the Gods and live forever. That is why mummies were placed in big tombs filled with treasures and objects they might need in the afterlife like food and toys. You can witness now mummies that were hidden away in secret tombs with their treasures and favorite animals. Are not those just fun facts?
9. Ancient Egyptians Used Hieroglyphic Writing
You can travel back in time with us to ancient Egypt where incredible things happened! Instead of using the alphabet that we use today, the clever ancient Egyptians had a special way of writing called "Hieroglyph", but what are hieroglyphs? Well, they are like magical pictures that stand for words and ideas, imagine writing a story using only pictures of objects and symbols like drawing a sun to mean "Day" or a bird to say "Freedom".
Ancient Egyptians wrote these cool hieroglyphs on big stones, temple walls, and scrolls made of papyrus! It was like they had their secret code to share stories and record history. We can still discover their fascinating world today and know the mysteries of these ancient hieroglyphs.
10. Ancient Egyptian Fashion Was Practical and Simple
Get ready with me to be amazed my little adventurers! Boys and girls were stylish in those ancient days dresses designed from colorful linen and cotton that were perfect for the hot desert climate, but it did not stop there! They had accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, and amulets that added a touch of magic and protection.
Pharaohs donned the magnificent "Nemes" headdress that exuded grandeur, and you will not believe this, King Tutankhamun was quite the fashion icon with 145 outfits buried alongside him! Makeup was not just for women, it was for both ladies and gentlemen who wore their makeup with breathtaking eye colors like black and green. Their fashion choices spoke volumes about their place in society and profession, how exciting is that!
The ancient Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar. The Egyptian calendar was based on 12 30-day lunar cycles (360 days in total).
| God/Goddess | Role |
|---|---|
| Ra | Sun God |
| Isis | Caring Goddess who protected families |
| Anubis | God who guarded the souls of the dead |
| Bastet | Cat Goddess who watched over homes |
| Horus | Falcon God who kept an eye on the sky of Egypt |
One of the earliest known writing systems was invented by the ancient Egyptians.
The world’s oldest dress is from Egypt.
The UNESCO-listed city of Thebes was the capital of Egypt during much of Ancient Egypt.
The longest documented reign of any monarch is that of Egypt’s Pharaoh Pepi II, who ruled for 94 years from around 2281 BC.
From 1859 to 1869, the Suez Canal was built in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via a 193.3km (120 miles) artificial sea-level waterway.
Daily Life In Ancient Egypt (3D Animated Documentary - Life Of An Egyptian)
The longest river in the world, the Nile, runs through Egypt.
The Nile River - and the rich soil found along its banks and delta - was critical to the development of ancient Egypt.
The rest of Egypt is largely covered by the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert (excludes Arctic and Antarctic deserts) and covers 8.5 million square kilometers (3.3 million square miles).
Egypt is the most successful national football team in Africa.
On 25th January 2011, Egypt erupted into what would come to be known as the ‘Egyptian Revolution’, part of the wider ‘Arab Spring’ regional movement. Millions of protesters took to the streets in Egypt, demonstrating against police brutality and Hosni Mubarak’s presidency.
Egypt is in the process of relocating its capital city, 45km (28 miles) away from Cairo, to a brand new purpose-built city.
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