The history of Ancient Egypt is undoubtedly one of the most interesting topics of our past. The Egyptians , whose engineering skills were highly advanced, played a vital role in the achievement of a modern society . There are still many secrets and curiosities that even today emerge from the studies of archaeologists , who often come across new finds that completely overturn our beliefs. Let us know then now, the most interesting curiosities and data of ancient Egypt.
The most interesting curiosities and facts of ancient Egypt
One of the greatest mysteries of the people of ancient Egypt is the Pyramid of Giza , the monumental imposing work that houses the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, or Cheops according to translations. Made in 2560 BC. C., is a show of strength and engineering without precedent, especially for the historical period.
And how not to speak of the cradle of the life of the Egyptians, the Nile . Its formation and age have been repeatedly questioned by historians, who recently made an extraordinary discovery. It would be much older than previously imagined and apparently dates from 30 million years ago.
Anecdotes and curiosities about the pharaohs
The history of Ancient Egypt was born from the flow of a flourishing river. The Nile with its fertility allowed a great people to grow and make advances that are still visible to all today. The waterways of this land originated from the highlands of Ethiopia after some movements of the earth’s crust occurred and after 30 million years it could flow undisturbed, suffering only small detours. The main course of the river remained intact, as we know today.
This allowed pharaohs like Cheops to lead one of the richest and most evolved peoples of ancient times. The mystery that still revolves around the construction of the Pyramid of Giza shocks archaeologists. How was it possible to erect a structure 146 meters high and about 203 meters wide? The total weight of the stones used would also exceed 7 million tons.
The construction would have been possible through a gigantic ramp of the width of 3 meters , with a slope of 20 degrees. This was found on the Hatnub site, and could actually be the key to understanding how pyramids are built. The ramp would also extend around the monument itself, allowing you to reach the highest points. At the site, probably still submerged by sand, there would be some drawings that would precisely represent and explain the methods used.
Other curiosities about Ancient Egypt
- Egyptians Invented the 365-Day-a-Year Calendar : Yes, the ancient Egyptians invented the 365-day-a-year calendar to predict the annual floods of the Nile River.
- The Great Pyramids Were Not Built by Slaves : Many people believe that the pyramids were built by slaves, but that is not the case. They were paid laborers, and most of them built with great honor towards the pharaoh and those who died were buried in the tombs near the holy pyramids.
- Another fact that confirms the theory that the builders could not be slaves is that most of the population of Ancient Egypt was engaged in agriculture. And since the soil in the Nile Valley was only available for agricultural work several months out of the year, farmers were free from their main job most of the time. It was then that they worked for the pharaoh building pyramids and temples and got remuneration in the form of beer, from 1 to 1.3 gallons per day.
- Each city had its favorite god: The ancient Egyptians had so many gods that literally every city had its own favorite deity.
- Women worked: Although most women were housewives, some of them (mostly from the lower strata of society) worked the same as men. They worked in the flour and spinning mills. Egyptian noblewomen had the opportunity to receive an education and could assume positions of great authority in exceptional cases: from scribes and doctors to priestesses of female deities, and even as rulers of the state.
- Only the nobility celebrated birthdays : But they didn’t do it like we do today. They celebrated a festival on the day of his coronation. Some historians believe that the custom of wearing crowns on birthdays originated from these early birthday festivals.
- They kept real names secret : A person’s name was kept secret throughout his life. According to their beliefs, if someone knew the name of another, it could influence this person in a magical way. That is why the Egyptians used nicknames, or so-called “nice” names. By the way, that is the reason why many pharaohs took the names of great ancestors upon ascending to the throne. They believed that these names were a guarantee of their own safety and a conductor to eternity.
