IN time immemorial On the territory of modern Egypt in the Nile Valley, a civilization arose that left behind many secrets and mysteries. It still attracts the attention of researchers and ordinary people with its color, its unusualness and rich heritage.
Thirty Dynasties of Egypt
It is not known exactly when the hunting tribes entered the Nile Valley and found there a lot of food and a wide river as a reliable source of water. Years passed. The rural communities organized here grew in size and became richer. Then they divided into two kingdoms - Lower (in the south) and Upper (in the north). And in 3200 BC. e. the ruler Menes was able to conquer Lower Egypt and organized the first dynasty of pharaohs, which controlled both the delta and the valley of the great Nile.
Map of unified Ancient Egypt
During the dynastic period, Ancient Egypt often became the dominant state in the region. This state had a complex social structure, advanced technologies for those times, a powerful army and developed internal trade. In addition, the Egyptians managed to achieve fantastic success in the field of construction - they were able to build efficient irrigation systems on the banks of the Nile, huge temples and pyramids that boggle the imagination even modern man. In addition, the Egyptians invented the hieroglyphic writing system, organized an effective judicial system and did many other important and amazing things.
In total, starting from 3200 BC. e., until the conquest of the Egyptians by the Persians in 342 BC. e. There were thirty dynasties of rulers of Egypt. It's true Egyptian dynasties- that is, their representatives were themselves Egyptians, and not conquerors from distant lands. The last pharaoh of the thirtieth dynasty was Nectaneb II. When the Persians invaded his state, he collected his treasures and fled south.
However, the history of Ancient Egypt, as many believe, does not end there. Then Alexander the Great was able to recapture Egypt from the Persians, and subsequently Ptolemy, Alexander's commander, began to rule this region. Ptolemy I proclaimed himself king of Egypt in 305 BC. e. He used local traditions, preserved from the ancient pharaohs, to gain a foothold on the throne. This (and also the fact that he died a natural death, and not as a result of a conspiracy) shows that Ptolemy was a fairly intelligent ruler. As a result, he managed to create his own special dynasty, which ruled here for more than 250 years. By the way, the last representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last queen of Egypt was the legendary Cleopatra VII Philopator.
Some legendary pharaohs
The pharaohs stood at the top of the social ladder and were considered equal to the gods. Great honors were given to the pharaohs, they were considered so powerful that they were literally afraid to touch them.
On the neck, the pharaohs traditionally wore ankh - a magical symbol and talisman, to which the Egyptians attached great importance. There have been many pharaohs over the centuries and millennia of Egypt's existence, but a few of them deserve special mention.
Almost the most famous Egyptian pharaoh - Ramses II. He ascended the throne when he was about twenty years old, and ruled the country for almost seven decades (from 1279 to 1213 BC). During this time, several generations have changed. And many of the Egyptians who lived at the end of the reign of Ramses II believed that he was a real immortal deity.
Another pharaoh worthy of mention - Djoser. He ruled in the 27th or 28th century BC. e. It is known that during his reign the city of Memphis finally became the capital of the state. However, Djoser went down in history primarily by the fact that he built the very first pyramid in Ancient Egypt (it is also the first stone architectural structure in the world). More precisely, it was built by the vizier of Djoser - a man with outstanding abilities named Imhotep. Unlike the later pyramid of Cheops, the pyramid of Djoser consists of steps. Initially, it was surrounded by a wall with 15 doors, and only one of them opened. At the moment, nothing remains of the wall.
There were several female pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt.. One of them is Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 15th century BC. e. Her name can be translated as "before the noble ladies." Having removed the infant Thutmose III from the throne and declaring himself pharaoh, Hatshepsut continued the restoration of Egypt after the Hyksos raids, erected big number monuments in the territory of their state. In terms of the number of progressive reforms she carried out, she surpassed many male pharaohs.
In the time of Hatshepsut, it was believed that the pharaohs are the incarnations of the god Horus in the earthly world. In order not to sow confusion among the people, the priests reported that Hatshepsut was the daughter of the god Amun. But at many ceremonies, Hatshepsut still appeared in male attire and with a fake beard.
In modern Western culture, Queen Hatshpsut has an image of a smart, energetic, endowed analytical skills women. A place for Hatshepsut was found, for example, in the famous exhibition of the artist Judy Chicago " dinner party”, dedicated to the great women who influenced the history of mankind.
Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the XIV century BC. e.- Another popular figure in the history of ancient Egypt. He held a truly revolutionary religious reforms. He decided to make the previously unimportant god Aten, associated with the solar disk, the center of all religion. At the same time, the cults of all other gods (including Amon-Ra) were banned. That is, in fact, Akhenaten decided to create a monotheistic religion.
In his transformations, Akhenaten relied on people who held high positions in the state, but came from the common people. On the other side, most of hereditary priestly nobility actively resisted the reforms. Ultimately, Akhenaten lost - after his death, the usual religious practices returned to the everyday life of the Egyptians. Representatives of the new XIX dynasty, which came to power ten years later, abandoned the ideas of Akhenaten, these ideas were discredited.
Pharaoh-reformer Akhenaten, who, according to many scientists, was simply ahead of his time
And a few more words should be said about Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt for 21 years. It was really outstanding and, apparently, very attractive woman. It is known that she had an affair first with Julius Caesar, and later with Mark Antony. From the first she gave birth to a son, and from the second - two sons and daughters.
And one more interesting fact: Mark Antony and Cleopatra, when they realized that they could not resist the emperor Octavian, who was eager to capture Egypt, began to arrange endless drinking parties and festive feasts. Soon Cleopatra announced the creation of the "Union of suicide bombers", whose members (and all close associates were invited to join it) took an oath that they would die together. During the same period, Cleopatra tested poisons on slaves, wanting to know which one could bring death quickly and without severe pain.
In general, in 30 BC. e. Cleopatra, like her beloved Antony, committed suicide. And Octavian, having established his control over Egypt, turned it into one of the provinces of Rome.
Unique buildings on the Giza plateau
The pyramids on the Giza plateau are the only one of the so-called seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day.
Of greatest interest to Egyptologists and laymen is the Pyramid of Cheops. Its construction lasted about two decades and ended, probably, in 2540 BC. e. For its construction, it took 2,300,000 volumetric stone blocks, their total weight was seven million tons. The height of the pyramid is now 136.5 meters. The architect of this pyramid is called Hemiun, the vizier of Cheops.
Pharaoh Cheops gained the fame of a classical despot. Some sources report that Cheops used harsh measures to force the population to work on the construction of the pyramid. The very name of Cheops after he died was allegedly forbidden to pronounce. And the resources of Egypt as a result of his reign were so depleted that this led to the weakening of the country and the end of the Fourth Dynasty.
The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid on the same plateau is the Pyramid of Khafre son of Cheops. It is indeed slightly smaller, but at the same time it is located on a higher hill and has a steeper slope. The Khafre Pyramid has the shape of a regular quadrangular figure with sides of 210.5 meters. Inside there is one burial chamber with an area of 71 m 2, in which the sarcophagus of the pharaoh was once kept. This chamber can be accessed through one of two tunnels.
The third pyramid - the pyramid of the pharaoh Menkaure- was built later than the other two. Its height barely reaches 66 meters, the length of the square base is 108.4 meters, and the volume is 260 thousand cubic meters. It is known that once the lower part of the pyramid was trimmed with red Aswan granite, a little higher the granite was replaced by white limestone. And finally, at the very top, red granite was again used. Unfortunately, the cladding has not been preserved; in the Middle Ages, the Mamluks took it from here and used it for their own needs. The burial chamber in this pyramid is located at ground level.
Next to the three pyramids, everyone can see Great Sphinx - a statue of a lion with a human face. This statue is 72 meters long and 20 meters high. Once between the front paws there was a sanctuary. The exact time of the creation of the Sphinx is unknown - there are disputes about this. Someone believes that Chefren built it, others say that it was Jephedra - another son of Cheops. There are also versions that the Sphinx appeared much earlier, about twelve thousand years ago (allegedly the ancient Egyptians simply dug it up during the dynastic period), and very dubious versions that the Sphinx was created by aliens.
Features of the society and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians
The Egyptians believed that after death, the court of the god Osiris awaits them, who will put their bad and good deeds on different bowls of special scales. And in order for good deeds to outweigh, in earthly life it is necessary to behave appropriately.
In addition, it was important for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt that their afterlife was similar to life on earth. Therefore, it was necessary to carefully prepare for the transition to another world. A wealthy Egyptian built an afterlife for himself in advance. When the pharaoh died, not only his body was placed in his tomb, but also many things that could be useful in another life - clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc. In this regard, the fact that the first pyramids were stepped - probably the steps were required so that the pharaoh could somehow rise to the world of the gods.
Egyptian society consisted of several classes and social status was of great importance here. The wealthy Egyptians were in fashion with wigs and elaborate headdresses, and they got rid of their hair. In this way, the problem of lice was solved. But poor people had a hard time - among them it was not customary to cut their hair "under zero".
The main clothing of the Egyptians was the usual loincloth. But rich people, as a rule, also wore shoes. And the pharaohs were accompanied everywhere by sandal bearers - there was such a special position.
Another fun fact: for a long time in Egypt, transparent dresses were popular among wealthy women. In addition, to demonstrate the social status of the Egyptians (and the Egyptians too) put on necklaces, bracelets and other similar accessories.
Some professions in ancient Greek society - a warrior, an official, a priest - were inherited. However, to achieve a significant position, thanks to their talents and skills, was also quite realistic.
Most of the able-bodied Egyptians were employed in agriculture, handicrafts or the service sector. And at the very bottom of the social ladder were slaves. They usually performed the role of servants, but at the same time they had the right to buy and sell goods, to receive freedom. And having become free, they could eventually even enter the nobility. The humane attitude towards slaves is also evidenced by the fact that they were entitled to medical care at the workplace.
In general, Egyptian healers were very enlightened for their time. They were well versed in the characteristics of the human body and carried out very complex operations. According to the studies of Egyptologists, even the transplantation of some organs for local healers was not a problem. It is also interesting that in ancient Egypt, some of the infectious diseases were treated with moldy bread - this can be considered a kind of analogue of modern antibiotics.
Also, the Egyptians actually invented mummification. This process looked like this: the internal organs were removed and placed in vessels, and soda was applied to the body itself so that it would not decompose. After drying the body, its cavities were filled with linen soaked in a special balm. And finally on last step the body was bandaged and closed in a sarcophagus.
Relations between men and women in ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, men and women had virtually equal legal rights. The mother was considered the head of the family. The pedigree was conducted strictly along the maternal line, and land ownership also passed from mother to daughter. Of course, the spouse had the right to dispose of the land while the spouse was alive, but when she died, the daughter received the entire inheritance. It turns out that a marriage with the heir to the throne could well give a man the right to rule the country. Including for this reason, the pharaoh married his sisters and daughters - in this way he protected himself from other possible contenders for power.
Marriages in ancient Egypt were mostly monogamous. However, a rich Egyptian man, along with his legal wife, could keep a concubine. On the other hand, a woman who had more than one man could be punished.
Marriage in ancient Egypt was not consecrated by priests, the Egyptians did not arrange magnificent wedding festivities either. In order for the wedding to be recognized as valid, the man had to say "I take you as a wife", and the woman had to answer "You take me as your wife." It is important to add here that it was the Egyptians who were the first to wear wedding rings on ring finger- this custom was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans.
Ancient Egyptian newlyweds also exchanged gifts with each other. Moreover, during a divorce, you could return your gift (a very good custom). And in the later periods of the history of Ancient Egypt, the conclusion of marriage contracts became quite common practice.
Documentary "Ancient Egypt. The history of the creation of the ancient Egyptian civilization "
The ancient Egyptians were very clean people and always took care of the cleanliness of their body, clothing and housing. They made water procedures several times a day: in the morning, before and after meals.
After the morning bath, they went to the services of hairdressers. Usually women turned to them, while men entrusted themselves to barbers and people doing manicures and pedicures. The daily morning toilet of the pharaoh turned into an important ceremony, at which all the noble people of the state were present. The morning toilet of senior officials (viziers, supreme judges and rulers of nomes) also became a kind of ceremony.
All relatives and servants gathered near the owner of the house. The squatting scribes were ready to carry out any of his commands: while some held brushes in their hands to record orders, others held long papyrus scrolls with names, numbers and a list of works that had already been done or were still in the project.
After the necessary ablutions, the barber set to work. At the end of this procedure, the owner of the house appeared before his relatives and servants cheerful, fresh, with a clean-shaven head and a short square beard.
The Egyptians preferred elongated eyes. And this is not just a tribute to fashion, but also a preventive measure that protects the organs of vision from bright sunlight, wind and dust. The inhabitants of ancient Egypt used various cosmetics. So, to get rid of the smell of sweat on a hot day, they were rubbed with incense and a mixture of turpentine, incense and an unknown powder. There were all sorts of cleansing ointments that restore elasticity to the skin of the face and body. For this purpose, honey was added to the powder of alabaster, "northern salt" and natron.
There were also special cosmetics to get rid of spots and acne. Usually they were kneaded with donkey milk, after which they wiped the skin with a prepared lotion.
The morning toilet of the pharaoh's wife and any wealthy lady also turned into an event. Usually the hairdresser spent several hours to make a hairstyle for a noble person.
Unlike the rich Egyptians, the poor had to be content with the services of a street barber who sat somewhere under a tree, waiting for clients, who were always quite numerous. The barber conscientiously performed his duties: he shaved his head so cleanly that it became like pebbles rolled in by waves.
The Egyptian peasant woman usually did her hair on her own, without resorting to anyone's help. It is noteworthy that at this time all family members had to leave home so that the hairstyle turned out perfect, otherwise the woman had to start the morning toilet all over again
Cloth
The morning attire of a man consisted of a short loincloth and a small amount of jewelry. In this form, he performed water procedures, received a barber and a manicure and pedicure master.
Preparing to leave the house, a rich Egyptian put on one or more bracelets on his wrists, a ring on his finger and a chest necklace of five or six rows of beads with clasps in the form of falcon heads. A pendant made of jasper or carnelian gave him a respectable look, and a loose straight skirt, which replaced the morning loincloth, and sandals gave completeness to the whole look. Sandals known since ancient times had special value in ancient Egypt. It is known that one of the unifiers of Upper and Lower Egypt, Pharaoh Narmer, going anywhere accompanied by faithful servants, always walked barefoot, and one of his associates carried his shoes.
The farmers did the same, only they had to carry the sandals themselves, tying sticks to the end. The poor put on their shoes only when they reached their destination. A law was even passed forbidding soldiers to snatch "precious" sandals from the hands of people passing by.
During the New Kingdom, the Egyptians made shoes from various materials: made of papyrus, leather or gold. From the toe of the sole, the strap stretched between the first and second toes to the ankle, where it was connected to others like a stirrup. All these straps were tied behind the heel.
Some wealthy Egyptians preferred straight, long dresses with straps and no jewelry. But most of the wealthy inhabitants of ancient Egypt walked in ruffled linen tunic dresses extended downwards, which, leaving the neck open, fitted the torso.
A mandatory attribute of the attire was a wide corrugated belt, which formed a trapezoidal apron in front.
In addition to this, in holidays the Egyptians wore large curled wigs, the curls of which covered the head and shoulders, ceremonial sandals and numerous jewelry (necklaces, chest pendants, bracelets).
The outfit of a rich woman, like that of her noble husband, consisted of a thin shirt and a white ruffled dress worn over it with a slit almost to the waist, which, unlike men's, was translucent and fastened on the left shoulder, while the right one remained open.
Wide fringed sleeves did not cover graceful hands, which allowed noble ladies demonstrate your wrists with precious bracelets in the form of two plates of chased gold connected with clasps or gold rings, cords, ribbons.
Women's hair was decorated with sparkling diadems of turquoise, lapis lazuli and gold, the ends of which were connected at the back of the head with two cords with tassels. Quite often, in the hairstyles of women and men, there was a cone-shaped fragrant decoration made of hair smeared with fragrant oils.
The outfit of the less wealthy Egyptians was distinguished by practicality. Farmers and artisans preferred to wear simple loincloths, tied with a palm-wide belt without any embroidery or tassels.
Like the rich inhabitants of Egypt, the poor liked to wear jewelry, only they were made not of gold, but of bronze and ceramics. However, these decorations are artistic value, as well as gold products of jewelers, as they are monuments of ancient culture.
Food
A feature of the climatic conditions of Ancient Egypt was that the floods of the Nile, making the land fertile, were periodically replaced by dry and lean years. At such a time, products were valued much more than gold.
According to ancient sources, the Egyptian rulers during the fertile years were obliged to create food supplies that would last for several years, but quite often they neglected their duties.
In the Great Papyrus of Harris, there is information that food was no less valuable offering than precious metals, clothes, fragrant oils and incense.
The daily diet of wealthy residents included meat dishes, ordinary Egyptians ate them only on holidays. On the walls of many tombs, archaeologists have found images of animals intended for slaughter and scenes of the slaughterhouses themselves.
Some phrases characterizing slaughter cattle have not yet been translated into a more understandable language (for example, “bull is the mouth of the herd” or “bull kite”), and the decoding of individual names is only approximate (perhaps the bull “Heris” was the best manufacturer offspring, but this is not certain).
At the slaughterhouse, butchers in the amount of 4-5 people set to work, who attacked the animal and quickly slaughtered it. Butchers' techniques remain unchanged to this day.
During ancient kingdom most of the meat was obtained by hunting for desert-dwelling gazelles, oryxes (oryxes) and other representatives of the artiodactyl order. Particularly skilled hunters tried to tame and domesticate the caught animals, but this was not always possible. In the future, this type of animal husbandry almost completely lost its significance.
It is not known whether the ancient Egyptians ate pork, lamb or goat meat, but that they were bred in Upper and Lower Egypt is known for certain.
The inhabitants of Egypt began to breed chickens only from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but poultry farming was widespread much earlier.
Special attention deserves such a food product as fish. At various times in some Egyptian cities and nomes it was forbidden to eat certain types of fish. Sources report that the Ethiopian king who conquered Egypt, a Muslim by religion, refused to feast at the same table with the rulers of the Delta and the South, because they were not circumcised and ate unclean food (fish), which was a terrible insult to the royal palace. Only a resident of the sacred city of the priests of Shmun, who, according to tradition, did not eat fish, was awarded the great honor.
The diet of the Egyptians also included various vegetables included in the annual calendar of Medinet Abu under the name "renput". Especially valuable products were onions, leeks and garlic. According to the "father of history" Herodotus, the builders of the pyramid of Cheops received radishes, onions and garlic for 1600 silver talents for their work.
However, scientists have not been able to find any evidence for this claim, although there is a hieroglyphic image of these plants in the Great Harris Papyrus.
Bunches of garlic have been found in some Theban tombs, testifying to the lavish gifts of Ramesses III. Watermelons, melons, and cucumbers often feature on sacrificial steles alongside bound papyrus stalks. And peas, beans, and chickpeas (chickpeas shaped like a falcon's head) are common tomb finds.
It is known that in their gardens the Egyptians grew lettuce, the plant of the fertility god Min, whose ithyphallic statue usually stood in front of a plot planted with lettuce. The Egyptians used this plant in large quantities, knowing that it restores sexual power to men, and fertility to women. Lettuce was usually eaten raw with salt and vegetable oil.
The gardens of ancient Egypt were not distinguished by a variety of fruit crops. Pears, peaches, almonds and cherries appeared here only after the Roman conquest, and the ancient Egyptians did not hear about oranges, lemons and bananas at all.
The most common crops were grapes, figs, dates and sycamore (fig tree). The latter plant was cultivated not only for its delicious fruits, but also for its durable wood, which is an excellent material for making mummy coffins.
Pomegranate, olive and apple trees, brought by the nomadic Asian tribes of the Hyksos, took root in Egypt and gave a good harvest with proper care. Olive oil, obtained from the pulp of olives, was used not only as a food product, but also as a material for lighting. Before the advent of olives, the Egyptians cultivated other oilseeds, predominantly "bak" walnut.
Doum palm nuts and jujube fruits were good medicines, but only a select few ate coconuts, since their cultivation in Egypt was hampered by unsuitable climatic conditions. The poor inhabitants of Egypt feasted on the core of papyrus stems and the rhizomes of some aquatic plants.
Milk was considered a particularly valuable product. They kept it in pot-bellied earthenware vessels with a clogged neck, which prevented the penetration of insects. In some sources, there is a mention of such dairy products in the diet of the Egyptians as cream, butter, cottage cheese.
To give a drink or a sweet taste, they used honey or carob. The collection of wax and honey from wild bees was carried out by special people who went after them to distant deserts.
These people, like the collectors of turpentine resin, enjoyed the mercy of the pharaoh, who provided them with all kinds of help.
Some Egyptians kept bees in their own gardens using large earthenware jars as hives. The extracted honey was usually used not only for food, but also for sale. They kept it in carefully sealed stone vessels, which allowed the valuable properties of this product to remain unchanged.
meal
Very scarce information has been preserved about how the feasts of the ancient Egyptians were held. It was assumed that the head of the family, who woke up earlier than other household members, had breakfast alone, immediately after washing. His breakfast, served on a small table, consisted of meat, pie, bread and beer.
The mistress of the house had breakfast while combing her hair, or immediately after finishing the toilet. Her morning diet necessarily included fruits, perhaps some sweets and clean water.
Children ate separately from their parents. They were seated on a mat or pillows laid out right on the floor.
The lunch ration supposedly consisted of meat, poultry or fish, bread, pies, vegetables, fruit and beer. It cannot be said that meat was one of the constantly consumed foodstuffs. Even in fairly wealthy families, meat dishes were usually served only during dinner or festive feasts. Poor families were more likely to be satisfied with dairy products, vegetables, fruits and flatbreads.
On the walls of the tomb of Tell el-Amarna, a wonderful drawing is depicted, conveying the very atmosphere of a feast that took place more than three thousand years ago. Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV, a representative of the XVIII dynasty) sits at the head of the table, next to him are his wife, queen mother and little princesses sitting on small pillows. The king eats juicy meat, and his wife eats poultry. Around the table are several small tables with a variety of dishes and toiletries.
Among other things, during the excavations of temples dating back to the era of the New Kingdom, many utensils were found, intended for the preparation and use of soups, sauces, compotes, sweets and dairy products. There are also all kinds of plates, forks, spoons and knives. It can be assumed that toiletries (a jug of water and a basin) were necessary for the Egyptians to wash their hands, both before and after eating. This is explained by the fact that birds, pies, sweets and some other dishes were then eaten with their hands.
Around four or five in the evening, the Egyptians had a light supper, after which they returned to work or prepared for evening entertainment.
Egyptians
pyramid building
Rich Egyptians
Economy and crafts of Egypt
Parenting
bread baking
AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is the basis of the prosperity of Ancient Egypt. Every year, the Nile, overflowing, left a layer of the most fertile silt on the banks, thanks to which the Egyptians grew a wide variety of crops. River water used
Water lilies, along with papyrus and white and blue lotus, make up the decoration of the banks of the Nile. Flowers are needed to decorate temples and dwellings. They are collected by young girls. Perhaps these flowers are intended to decorate the table of the master, who (in the background)
The Egyptians are among the peoples whose achievements amaze scientists and historians. Their civilization was one of the most powerful and at the same time remains mysterious to this day. Many secrets are not revealed, however, thanks to writing, the Egyptians were able to convey to modern people information about the way of life, features of life and its history.
Story
Egypt belongs to one of the oldest civilizations. The first settlements arose along the valley of the Nile River, rich in fertile lands. The emergence of states dates back to the 4th millennium BC. Gradually, two powerful states were formed, which are usually called Upper and Lower Egypt. They regularly clashed with each other in military battles, and in the 3rd millennium BC. Upper Egypt managed to win, which marked the unification of the country.
Distinctive feature Ancient Egypt became the power that made it possible to achieve prosperity. At the head was the pharaoh, whose origin was deified. He not only ruled the country, but also participated in major military campaigns.
It was military campaigns that allowed the Egyptian civilization to become great. One of the most important campaigns was the conquest of the south, where there were always a lot of slaves and gold.
Having reached Nubia, located in the south, the Egyptians managed to conquer the country, which opened them access to tropical Africa with valuable timber, a variety of livestock, poultry and thousands of people who could be enslaved.
The Egyptians also moved east. There they managed to capture the Sinai Peninsula, taking copper mines, Palestine, Phenicia with important trade routes. Having established trade relations with Asia Minor, the Egyptians were able to receive silver, which at that time was valued much more than gold. In addition to military clashes, the Egyptians had time to conduct exploration of the area. Phoenicians swore allegiance Egyptian pharaoh, were able to explore the coast of the Red Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar and part of the African continent.
Regular wars could not only bring success, it was quite difficult to support the army, so one day the Egyptian dominion began to lose strength, and the lost battle at Pelusium turned out to be fateful for the whole civilization.
Life
The life of the Egyptians was completely dependent on the pharaoh. The origin of a person did not matter - even people from noble families obeyed the will of the ruler and did not have property. Each merchant was given a charter that allowed him to dispose of cattle, house, things that he could exchange or sell. Without this letter, a person lost the right to dispose of any property. The Egyptians used money in rare cases, necessarily drawing up contracts that indicated the amount, the name of the product and specific volumes. Collectivization was an important part of the Egyptian way of life. Thanks to her, they were able to reach great heights and create architectural masterpieces. People did many things together, which allowed the society to develop.
Family was considered the greatest value. The typical Egyptian did not want to leave his relatives under any circumstances, so going to war was considered a punishment. The authority of the father required the complete subordination of the son, but for the child, the mother was most important. This fact is evidenced by the records of scribes of that time. The son was obliged to honor his mother, to protect her from any offense. Otherwise, he could incur the displeasure of the gods. Society, of course, relied on men - there was no matriarchy. However, the role of a woman remained great, since she was given the right to receive an education and apply the acquired knowledge. We have heard stories about the great Nefertiti, Queen Nesitanebtasha. Women often made copies of the manuscripts, which are preserved and displayed in modern museums. The Zuch manuscript can be seen in british museum. A woman was allowed to manage her own property on an equal basis with a man, to conclude deals.
The Egyptians rarely entered into forced marriages. Parents participated in the choice of the bride or groom, often invited matchmakers, but the final decision was always with the spouses. Women and men lived in harmony, asking each other for advice. The sage Ptahhotep wrote that a wife should be valued, fed, protected, and delighted. It is important to avoid quarrels, cruelty. A woman should thrive in a man's house.
The scribes also noted that it was impossible to command a woman, it was dangerous to start a dispute, as this wreaked havoc in family relationships. The real owner of the house always strives to keep order.
Children in slave families began to work as early as 5 years old, only people from wealthy families could dream of toys. In rich families, children were given pets: birds, snakes.
Education
Children could afford education free families. In the families of the pharaoh, children were taught at home. Often, priests were involved in teaching, who assessed learning abilities and natural talents. Even a child from poor family could afford education, and thanks to his talents, become a significant member of society. In ancient Egypt, there were many famous warriors, priests and politicians who came from families of modest means.
Schools made it possible to study writing, learn to read, learn arithmetic. The Egyptians studied market prices, features of the agricultural business. The training of warriors took place in the stables of the pharaoh, where the basics of riding, combat, tactics and command were certainly learned.
Girls were usually educated at home, physical punishment was not applied to them. The use of corporal punishment was necessary in case of disobedience or lack of proper concentration.
The choice of profession for the Egyptians was extremely important. considered the most prestigious public service, because it did not require much effort and could bring a good income. In the private sector, people had to work hard. Even the entrepreneurs of that time, who had workshops, weaving and laundries, coped with difficulty.
The work of a scribe was considered the most significant in Egyptian society. It's simple: a person did not have to worry about income and at the same time make a lot of effort. This view was justified by relatively good earnings and low workload. Many fathers told their sons that if they became scribes, they would never curse their craft. Any plowman languishes, but the scribe always prospers. As a result, this approach has become a textbook.
Cloth
The most common material for tailoring was white linen. Belts were made of leather, and sandals were made of cane. Historians note that for several centuries the clothes of men and women were very open. People were not embarrassed by their bodies, considering nudity to be natural. Of the clothes, the villagers used only loincloths. Among the noble Egyptians, completely transparent dresses connected with straps were common. The most common color was white, sometimes red and yellow were worn. Pharaohs wore skirts and large crowns. Later, cloaks and tunics appeared. Contrary to popular belief, the pharaohs did not constantly renew their clothes. It was often washed using clay as soap.
The Egyptians did not like shoes. It was rarely worn even by representatives of the nobility. She was only needed long road or travel to the mountains. Greeks and Romans on final stage The existence of Egyptian civilization brought closed shoes. The sandals worn by the Egyptians were made from papyrus. It was forbidden to wear shoes in the house. Even the pharaohs went barefoot, followed by shoe-bearers. Compliance funeral rite meant leaving shoes in a set of things that would be needed for afterlife. Surprisingly, the most luxuriously dressed in Egypt have always been the statues of the gods. Their fingers were decorated with plates of pure gold, gold bracelets were fixed on their feet and hands, even their nails were covered with lapis lazuli. It is believed that false nails were invented in ancient Egypt.
The Egyptians themselves also loved jewelry. They gave them a mystical meaning. Rings remained favorite decorations: straw, glass and gold. The rings depicted gods and goddesses, scarab beetles.
The Egyptians paid a lot of attention to hair. In a hot climate, you had to constantly cut your hair, but Egyptian men were very fond of beards and mustaches, so they used false ones. At some point, thin and neat tufted beards, which even women wore, came into fashion. Among them was Queen Hatshepsut.
Hair was difficult to care for, as most Egyptians had coarse hair. Therefore, people cut their hair short, preferring to use wigs made of sheep wool. Women used hairpins, ribbons, wore diadems. Even modern fashion indulges the Egyptians by popularizing the famous foxtrot hairstyle.
Almost all Egyptians bathed regularly. Even the poor had access to clean water ponds. After washing, ointments and oils were necessarily used to make the body fragrant. Women and men dyed their hair black to hide gray hair. The beauty of the body was perceived as something sacred and important, so every Egyptian paid a lot of attention to it.
culture
Ancient Egypt gave the world a great heritage. The minds of Egyptologists and historians are still excited by the ancient Egyptian pantheon of gods, headed by the supreme deity, personifying the sun, Ra. It was with him that the pharaoh was identified.
The Egyptians believed in the immortality of the soul, so during the burial rites they took with them those things that, in their opinion, should certainly be useful in the afterlife. The greatest tombs were the pyramids, where the tombs of the rulers were located.
- Totemism was elevated to a cult, as evidenced by the heads of the gods in the form of animals. The Egyptians revered lions, bulls, cows, ibis, scarab beetles. The Egyptians were one of the first peoples to spread writing through the invention of papyrus.
- The Egyptians were the first to discover beekeeping.
- It was they who began to master the construction and processing of stone on a large scale first.
- Hieroglyphic writing, counting system, mummification - all these are also the merits of the ancient Egyptians.
- The culture of Ancient Egypt is most appreciated for its architecture. The Egyptians primarily focused on the creation of tombs, attaching importance to the afterlife. Over time, the Egyptians began to master sculpture, including portraiture. Many of the statues are well preserved to this day. During the Middle Kingdom, they began to actively improve weapons, improving the technology of metal smelting. Glass production was established, the irrigation system was improved to increase the efficiency of agriculture.
- The Egyptians were interested in medicine, anatomy, mathematics, astronomy. Herodotus, known to the whole world, said that it was Egypt that began to teach us geometry.
- The Egyptians were good at predicting the sun, moon eclipse. They were the first to realize the effect of the influence of the moon on the tide cycle.
According to many scholars, the Egyptian solar calendar considered perfect among other civilizations. During the period of the New Kingdom, the Egyptians were able to improve mummification by learning how to embalm bodies, perfect relief and ornament, and make literature multi-genre. The heyday of poetry and painting fell on the reign of Akhenaten.
dwelling
Initially, the Egyptians built houses from papyrus wood using its stems. They tied them with ropes, dug them into the ground to give strength to the structure. With the manufacture of clay, bricks began to appear. By mixing mud and earth with water, the Egyptians managed to get a good one by the standards of that time. construction material. The rest of the work was done by the sun, drying the stones. With the onset of the Middle Kingdom period, the technology of roasting became available to the Egyptians. Many houses are still preserved in excellent condition, which is explained by the strict observance of building standards.
The nobility lived in brick houses richly decorated with curtains. The high position of the owner of the house was evidenced by the plaster and beautiful murals, which decorated all the rooms. Each yard had a swimming pool and a garden. The house could have several bedrooms, a reception room, a closet, a pantry and a place for ablution. There were separate rooms for women.
The dwellings of the poor were in the form of a block in which square windows were cut. Houses were located close to each other, forming narrow lanes. The floor in such a dwelling was made of earth, and there was only one room. It is rare to find several walk-throughs, although some had housing with a bedroom, kitchen, pantry and even a cellar. An indispensable attribute of the dwelling was the altar, located in the living room.
Housing development was influenced by progress, improved technology allowed the Egyptians to create houses that delight many builders around the world today. Their prototypes are used in fiction and cinematography.
Food
The diet of the Egyptians was varied, but they were directly dependent on the Nile. During weak or excessive flooding, there were lean months. First of all, provisions were stocked up for the pharaohs, so the population had to save food. Bad harvest times provoked robberies: people did not hesitate to break into temples, attacking the guards, and were ready to do anything to get food.
IN harvest years The happiness of the Egyptians knew no bounds. It is known that during the reign of the Ramses, most people ate a varied diet, as evidenced by the rich reserves in the tombs of the pharaohs themselves. This is confirmed by the hieroglyphs deciphered by Egyptologists.
Archaeologist Anthony Harris wrote that Ramses the Third was distinguished by unprecedented generosity, treating temple attendants and making offerings to the gods.
Meat was the most popular food in ancient Egypt. The tombs often depict animals being led to the slaughter. Ioa bull meat was considered the best. Fed, they could reach enormous sizes. Some animals grew so large that they could hardly walk. The quality of the livestock inspection was very strict, so the safety of the products was not in doubt.
Hunting allowed catching antelopes, gazelles, which were later domesticated. The development of animal husbandry eventually ceased, giving way to cattle breeding.
Wild animals were not only eaten, but also sacrificed. For example, oryxes - large antelopes, were mainly sacrificed to the gods.
The Egyptian people ate more poultry. Papyrus Harris shows that total during the record keeping, almost 20 thousand quails were counted.
The Egyptians used a lot of hunting equipment. They caught hippos with harpoons, birds with nets, and fish with tops.
A significant product was flour, which was made from barley, spelt or wheat. The harvesting of grain was mainly done by women. Processing was carried out using mills. Flour served as the basis for making bread. It is not difficult to guess that barley served not only as the basis for baking, but also for beer. It was national drink throughout Egypt, which was served in taverns and consumed at home.
According to Herodotus, the Egyptians liked to eat raw fish, although sometimes they resorted to curing and salting it. Food was often cooked over an open fire using various seasonings. Spreading meat on cakes, the Egyptians received well-known to modern residents Central Asia dishes. Ancient Egyptian recipes are detailed on stone slabs found during archaeological excavations. However, most of the instructions for cooking have not yet been deciphered. It is known, however, that the Egyptians were very fond of sweet pastries. As a filling could use:
- fruits
- milk
- oil.
Historians note that the cuisine of the ancient Egyptians was high in calories - often melted fat was added to the dish.
The civilization of Ancient Egypt showed the whole world that collectivization can lead to prosperity. The Egyptians are among the peoples whose influence can hardly be overestimated. Nowadays, there are many facts that surprise even skeptics. For example, relatively recently it became known that the Egyptians were the first to invent batteries capable of generating electricity. Modern Egypt is a problematic country. Long lived off tourism, the Arabs who occupied it found themselves in a difficult position due to civil crises and a weak economy. Ancient Egypt has disappeared forever, but the memory of its former greatness will live on for a long time.
Of course, our article would not be complete without mentioning the secrets of the people. Therefore, we recommend watching a video about the five most interesting riddles Ancient Egypt.
Thanks to documents written on papyrus, inscriptions on stone blocks, drawings on the walls and objects found in various tombs, historians have a good idea of how the Egyptians lived.
How they dressed
Due to the hot climate, the inhabitants of Egypt needed only light clothing, which they made from white linen. Often, clothes were not worn at home. Slaves, artisans and children usually went without clothes. However, the ancient Egyptians were very concerned about their appearance and cleanliness. Both men and women lined their eyes, wore jewelry, and used perfume.
Housing
at home and even royal palaces were made from sun-dried bricks. The stone was used only for the construction of tombs and temples. Due to hot weather and bright light the windows in the houses were small and placed high from the ground. Often doors and windows were curtained with fly and dust mats. When it was very hot, people slept right on the flat roofs.
Entertainment
Wall paintings depict women and men singing and relaxing in the bosom of nature. Men compete in wrestling, hunting ducks, antelopes and hares. Board games were popular with both adults and children; many families kept pets.
Did they eat well?
The inhabitants of Egypt had enough food, they caught fish, including eels, hunted ducks and geese. They also have their own diet. main part daily diet The Egyptians had fruits, vegetables and pork. The Egyptians developed cultivars of watermelon brought from South Africa, grew a fig tree that came to Egypt from Turkey. They learned how to make wine, beer and cheese. Cakes and cookies were baked from wheat (often with the addition of honey and herbal spices). The Egyptians knew more than forty different types of bread.
The role of religion
The fact that the Egyptians built so many large temples shows that religion was very important to them. They prayed to various gods and believed in life after death. Therefore, they kept the bodies of the dead in the form of mummies and buried them, leaving food, dishes, tools and weapons necessary for the afterlife in the crypts. Big and important role clerics played in Egyptian society. Simple people they believed that, by interpreting dreams and studying the stars, the priests could predict the fate of a person and even protect from the evil eye with the help of conspiracies and spells.
What did you do?
Most Egyptians were farmers. In their free time from field work, they helped build temples and pyramids. It was also a way to pay taxes. The work of artisans was well paid, but instead of money they were often paid with food, cloth, firewood or salt. Most of the women worked around the house, but were often weavers, dancers, nannies, priestesses, or workers who made perfumes and cosmetics.
How were mummies made?
The human body was cut and the heart, lungs and other organs were removed from there, which were then placed in separate vessels. The brain was removed piece by piece with hooks through the nose and discarded. The body was then treated with caustic soda, a natural chemical compound, which dried it out and prevented decomposition. As a rule, the body was stuffed with cloth and wrapped in bandages, and then buried in a coffin, which in turn was placed in a stone sarcophagus. The whole process took about seventy days.
Job
The inhabitants of Egypt worked ten days in a row, and then they had two days of rest. In addition, they had 65 days off a year, which were intended for various ceremonies and celebrations. The Egyptians canceled work on funeral days or on birthdays. The work was mainly carried out when it was cool outside, "in two shifts" - in the morning and in the evening. In the midday heat, people rested and slept.
To the question How did the ancient Egyptians live? What did they eat? What did they drink? Who were they hunting? etc. given by the author Polina Evgrafova the best answer is The main occupation of the Egyptians during this period was agriculture. Great progress has been made in the creation of irrigation systems.
The ancient Egyptians were also engaged in cattle breeding (oxen, donkeys, rams, goats). In lower Egypt, agriculture was less developed than in upper Egypt, but there were great successes in horticulture, horticulture and viticulture.
Also, the Egyptians were engaged in fishing, flax growing, hunting and breeding waterfowl. The Egyptians mined copper, gold, wood, various types of stone.
Of the crafts, weaving, papyrus production and pottery were common. The Egyptians were engaged in trade - in particular, during excavations, dishes were found that were made on the islands of the Aegean Sea.
Because of the features geographical location Egypt of this period - the Nile served as the main route of communication, so river boats and boats were of great importance.
Palaces and rich houses were built of wood, reeds and mud bricks and were often surrounded by brick walls. The houses of ordinary Egyptians were built of reeds and clay. The tombs of noble Egyptians (the rooted name is mastabas (Arabic)) were built of brick and stone and had ground and underground parts. The civil structures of the early kingdom are practically unknown to us.
Many small and a small number of large early Egyptian sculptures of people and animals have survived to our time. Individual sculptures amaze with their skill and precision of detail, but in general, sculptures of this period are often disproportionate. separate parts body. Some progress has been made in painting ( flat images carved on stone). The literature of the early kingdom is practically unknown to us.
The Egyptians had a written language, used the decimal system of counting. Certain advances were made in astronomy, mathematics and geometry. The level of the Nile spill was measured annually.
Answer from 22 answers[guru]
Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: How did the ancient Egyptians live? What did they eat? What did they drink? Who were they hunting? etc.
Answer from cunning[guru]
They ate snakes, drank honey, hunted Jews
Answer from European[newbie]
In the era preceding the formation of the state, Egypt consisted of separate regions, as a result of their unification, two kingdoms arose - Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. After long war the victory was won by the Upper Egyptian kingdom, a merger of both parts took place. The exact date of this event is unknown, but it can be assumed that around 3000 BC. e. a single state already existed in the Nile Valley.
Stele of King Khor Waji
Stele of King Hor Waji from Abydos. I dynasty.
With the name of King Min (Greek Menes) - the founder of the 1st dynasty, probably identical to Horus Aha - the beginning of the Egyptian chronicle tradition is connected. According to the legend preserved by Herodotus, Ming founded the capital of the united kingdom at the junction of Upper and Lower Egypt, erecting a dam to protect the city from flooding. From here it was convenient to manage both the south and the north of the country. The Greeks later named this city Memphis.
Former kingdom
In the era of the Early Kingdom (XXX-XXVIII centuries BC), Egypt was ruled by two dynasties that came from the Upper Egyptian city of Tina (near Abydos). Already under the kings of the 1st dynasty, the Egyptians began to move beyond the borders of their country: to the south - to Nubia, to the west - to Libya, to the east - to the Sinai Peninsula. Pharaoh II of the Khasekhem dynasty finally united the country into a centralized state, suppressing unrest in northern Egypt.
One of the important functions of the royal power was the organization of the irrigation system in the Nile Valley and maintaining it in order. Already Egypt of the Early Kingdom was characterized by high productivity Agriculture. Numerous wine vessels found in Lower Egypt testify to the flourishing of the art of cultivating grapes. Egypt was a country of highly developed cattle breeding. Weaving has made significant progress. The production of papyrus for writing began. His invention was of exceptional importance. Contributing to the wide dissemination of writing, it outlived the ancient Egyptian civilization for a long time, influencing the culture of later eras and becoming famous in the Greco-Roman world and in medieval Europe.
ancient kingdom
Map of Egypt, the period of the Old Kingdom
Map of Egypt. Ancient kingdom.
During the period of the Old Kingdom (XXVIII-XXIII centuries BC), Egypt was a major centralized state, which extended its influence to the regions of the Sinai Peninsula, southern Palestine and Nubia.
The kings led constant wars. It is known, for example, that during a campaign in Nubia, the founder of the IV dynasty, Sneferu (XXVIII century BC), 7 thousand prisoners and 200 thousand heads of cattle were taken away, and during a campaign against the Libyans - 1100 people. During the reign of the IV dynasty, Egypt became the sovereign owner of the area of copper mines in the Sinai Peninsula. Trade expeditions were sent to Nubia for building stone, ivory, acacia and ebony (it was delivered to Nubia from the hinterland of Africa), for precious stones, incense, panther skins and exotic animals. Fragrant resins and "light gold" were brought from Punt. From the Phoenician Byblos to Egypt there was a timber - a cedar tree.
