When we think of the ancient Egyptians, we usually think of Cleopatra or the charming process of mummification. However, we do not think about the ordinary objects and ideas that we use in everyday life today.
Although most of modern inventions are credited with more late period history, the ancient Egyptians were at the forefront. Like us, they have always been looking for a way to make their lives easier and less stressful. The following is a list of items and ideas that have survived the test of time that most of us don't think about.
10. Government
Although it is often said that the first system of government originated in the Roman Empire, in fact, this is only the first documented system of government in the West. The very first governance structure is associated with the ancient Egyptians.
Even more surprising is that this politic system was not associated with the pharaohs, as many believe. Until about 1570 BC. e. Ancient Egypt was ruled by kings. In the pre-dynastic period, Egypt was under the control of the Scorpio Kings, which sounds suspiciously like the name of a biker gang. We do not know how the government behaved until King Narmer came to power and established the first centralized rule within existing borders.
From that moment on, the economy began to develop thanks to trade that was carried out between classes in individual provinces, individual wealth and taxes. This means that perhaps the ancient Egyptians also tried to evade taxes.
9. Calendar
Until there is no public policy and the current economy, there is no need to keep track of the days. But it's not so much about pesky tax collectors who should have known when to bully people. The Egyptians had an advanced irrigation system and they needed to know when the Nile would flood.
So they created a calendar that had 365 days. At first it had 370 days, until the Egyptians realized that they needed to shorten the year and simply added leap years. So if you were born on a day that is only in leap year, and you are actually only 20 years old, although you already have grandchildren, you can thank the good old Egyptians for this.
8. Wine
New Year's Eve, Christmas, birthdays are all great occasions to party and drink. We can thank the ancient Egyptians for one of our favorite pastimes as they were the first people to invent wine. New calendar probably gave them more more reason drink, as now they could celebrate different dates.
Initially, it was assumed that the vineyards discovered by archaeologists were intended for growing grapes, which were then eaten. Then, at the bottom of several pots, archaeologists found the remains of wine, which proves that the ancient Egyptians liked to relax.
In fact, so many vessels contained this product that it seemed like the ancient Egyptians were obsessed with wine. With so many ancient holidays (including a five-day holiday at the end of the year), it's easy for historians to understand why it was so popular. So, the next time you go to a party, just remember to relax like it's 3000 B.C.
7. Toothpaste
In the 1600s, deaths in London were documented using Mortality Accounts. While this is a rather gloomy document, it lists infected teeth as one of the main causes of death (excluding only severe epidemics such as bubonic plague). This was due to the lack of proper dental care at the time. In fact, people did not even consider that the food they consumed could lead to the development of dental disease.
They also did not know that many centuries ago the ancient Egyptians had already solved this problem. The ancient Egyptians understood the price paid for bad teeth and discovered a simple solution. Yes, the first toothpaste formula was invented by the Egyptians using an almost nauseating list of ingredients like crushed ox hooves, ashes, and burnt eggshells.
Mints appeared along with the toothpaste. They had a less intimidating list of ingredients that included rock salt, dried and dried toffee. In fact, several recipes (along with cooking guides) dating back to ancient Egypt have been discovered. At that time, this simple invention saved the lives of many people.
6. Handles
If you've delved into any conspiracy theories, you've probably come across the belief that aliens were friends with the ancient Egyptians. After discovering some suspicious-looking images and hieroglyphs carved into stone, conspiracy theorists are simply haunted by the idea that ancient aliens and ancient Egyptians coexisted peacefully. However, everyone has overlooked the fact that these images are much rarer than we think.
On early stage The ancient Egyptians realized the inconvenience of such an impractical writing system, which led to the invention of parchment and pens. While most of us assume that progress in the development of writing instruments began with the advent of the goose quill, reed pens were the first to appear.
The ancient Egyptians developed a form of writing that had never existed before. They soaked the ends of long cane stalks in water and then cut the ends to a sharp shape that could distribute the ink properly while writing. This made portable documents possible and improved the overall efficiency of life.
However, they soon found out that such pens dried out quickly, which led to the use of nibs. It was not until the late 1800s that society returned to the original Egyptian idea and developed the modern ballpoint pen, as well as a cap so that it does not dry out so quickly.
5. Clock
Being late for work was a problem even for the ancient Egyptians, as they also had clocks. Obelisk or sundial were the earliest version of the clock, but they showed the time if the sky was clear.
This led to the invention of the water clock. Looking just like the brewing machine you see in your local hipster coffeeshop, this watch was powered by water dripping slowly throughout the day, allowing you to tell the time indoors.
They also invented portable watches, where a shadow was used to determine the time. These devices have had such an impact on everyday life ancient egypt that everyone was fascinated by the idea. Thus began the journey to the modern clock.
4. Dentures
Although it seems that prostheses - new concept, in fact they date back to 950 BC. Although those prostheses were not crammed with electronics, like some modern ones, they helped their owners to lead a fulfilling life.
Archaeologists have discovered an artificial thumb leg, which is the world's earliest prosthesis. Many similar body parts were often found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians, but as it turned out, they served only to make the body whole for afterlife. Everything changed when a three-piece big toe made of wood and leather was found on the mummified body.
To prove that this finger was made to help a person walk, several analogues were created and tested scientific methods. A group of people who were missing their thumb walked with and without a prosthesis to see if it helped. The results showed that the finger had a beneficial effect on the process of walking, which made it possible to identify the found object as an early prosthesis.
3. Scissors
A common misconception is that scissors were invented by Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, the original design was created as early as 1500 BC. Although the Romans designed the cross-bladed design that we have today, the ancient Egyptians had a simpler yet effective version. It was a single piece of metal formed into two blades that were adjusted with a metal strip between them.
With the invention of scissors, the ancient Egyptians were able to create a variety of haircuts. Even the most skilled stylist could not replicate them without a good pair of scissors.
2. Plow
Photo: Joevilliers
Agriculture is the basis for countless civilizations. But the ancient Egyptians were the first to create the technology needed for efficient farming.
Before the invention of the plow, people had to walk around with "digging sticks" that they stuck into the ground to make holes into which they dropped seeds. Without these sticks, the job may take weeks or even months. The Egyptians were tired of these "digging sticks" and long hours spent with them in the field. So they designed the first known plow - ard.
The ard was a common "digging stick" with an arch-shaped handle and a stone or metal point attached at the bottom. With this invention, the ancient Egyptians could simply walk across the field and create a deep ditch where many seeds were placed at once. Although this invention is not comparable to the plows we have today, this small innovation changed the lives of farmers in those days.
1. Hair dye
If you have ever seen images of the ancient Egyptians, then do not be surprised that they looked special. Not only did they create makeup, wigs and hair extensions, but they also developed the first hair coloring technique. Hair not only affected appearance, but also reflected social status. The better your hair looked, the richer you were.
The ancient Egyptians wanted to always look young, and gray hair did not fit this ideal. Therefore, the Egyptians began to use dried henna leaves to produce reddish-brown hair dye. Henna was also used to color nails and lips. achieve desired color it was possible by adding more or less henna leaves to the mixture.
Modern Egypt.
Egypt. Of course, this is very ancient country with a rich and eventful history, about which so many discoveries have been made, many ancient things have been found and even more mysteries have been left. But the life of modern Egypt is also striking, about which we, who live in Russia, know little. Currently, Arabs live in Egypt, who began to develop the territory since the time of the Roman invasion. In total, 60 million people live in Egypt, of which 20 million live in Cairo, the capital of the country. Settlements located along the Nile. Irrigation canals turn the desert into a green garden. Approximately 3% of the population are Copts - the descendants of the ancient Egyptians, who later converted to Christianity. Thus, in Egypt there are two state religions: Islam and Christianity. Naturally, a larger part of the population professes Islam. However, both completely different currents coexist peacefully. An example of this is standing side by side with mosques orthodox coptic churches. It may seem that mosques look richer and more representative. Maybe that's the way it is, or maybe it just seems to be.
There are rules and customs that have come about through national identity. For example, Arab women it is forbidden to marry men of other nationalities, and in particular Copts, and at the same time Arab men allowed to marry women of any nationality. This is due to the fact that the Egyptians do not have a surname as such, but the name of the father is added to their name, and this occurs only through the male line. Therefore, in order to preserve the family line, an Egyptian woman cannot marry men of other nationalities.
The wedding ceremony itself is very interesting and deserves attention from tourists. Polygamy in Egypt is not what many imagine it to be. You can't come and tell your wife that I'm getting married a second time. That's not how it's done. You can marry a second time, for example, after the war, when a woman is left without a breadwinner. And then in the event that the applicant can really feed two wives. Everything should be divided equally between them: one ring and the second ring, one handkerchief and the other handkerchief. In general, after the wedding, women most often sit at home, do not work. But it all depends on her own desire: if he wants, he can go to work.
The groom must first agree with the bride's parents. And if he agreed, then he buys an apartment, furniture, gives them a dowry. Kalym is different, depending on the degree of income. The bride only needs a kitchen set.
You can also get divorced. If you say the word "talaq" once, you can still return to each other. If you say "talaq" twice - too. But after the third time to return to ex-wife, it is necessary to survive a certain "procedure." She must marry another, he must say "talaq" three times, only then can they live together again. This is a kind of punishment for thoughtless actions. After divorce ex-wife takes his kitchen set and returns to his parents.
To religion modern Egyptians are very reverent, however, probably, like the ancient inhabitants of the country. Every day you can hear a prayer several times. You can listen to it just for the sake of music. After all, the melody played by the muezzin is very pleasant and unusual, and the voice of the mullah is beautiful and melodic.
The Egyptians pray five times a day: twice in the morning, twice in the evening and once in the afternoon. Moreover, the intervals between prayers in the morning and evening are no more than fifteen to twenty minutes. The sacred duty of a Muslim also includes giving alms to the poor, making a pilgrimage to Mecca, not recognizing another God except Allah and Muhammad - his prophet, to fast.Most of the Arabs strictly obey the laws in force. This can be easily verified. So, for example, during a cruise on a ship on the Nile, one can observe how all the sailors who are not engaged in urgent work begin to pray at the appointed time. But some young Egyptians say they will begin to regularly fulfill the requirements of the faith when they get old, but for now they go to the mosque only once a week.
According to unofficial data, life expectancy is 87 years for men and 93 years for women.
Most families live in poverty. Engaged agriculture. The climate allows for three harvests per year. That is why there are always many different vegetables and fruits on sale, which are relatively cheap. So, for example, oranges cost 1-1.5 pounds, tangerines and strawberries cost the same. Meat is more expensive, its price is 15-20 pounds.
According to statistics, one of the main incomes of the country is tourism. Therefore, the Egyptians treat visitors with respect, especially in remote areas. They have a special attitude towards those who know the history of their country, are passionate about Ancient Egypt, especially guides.
Arabic cuisine is quite specific. She is spicy or sweet. Some national dishes are especially pleasing to the taste: small cutlets with spices, thin, unleavened dough, baked sheet resembling a pancake, full - ground beans boiled with spices and koshari - rice, vermicelli, peas, fried onions, seasoned with garlic sauce. Exotic fruits filled with juice are very tasty.
Some more interesting facts. In the Arabian desert most countries living interesting people- Bedouins. They chose a peculiar way of life: they roam from place to place, regardless of borders, state, laws. They don't have passports, their children don't go to school, they don't have money. Currently, the Bedouins are trying to make more sedentary. For them, they build houses with amenities, schools, offer jobs. But most do not agree to a change in lifestyle and continue to roam. Travel companies conclude contracts with some of them and take tourists to see their way of life.
In the depths of Egypt, in an area remote from civilization, live tribes who believe in the ancient gods. Their way of life has not changed much since the time of the pharaohs. They deify the water of the Nile and hold festivals in honor of the cow. Unlike the Bedouins, the government does not touch them and does not try to involve them in civilization.
Modern big cities: Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, Aswan are located on the site of ancient cities, so in them modern buildings coexist with the remains of ancient temples and tombs. The neighborhood of the great pyramids, temples of Karnak, mastabas with vanity and noise is perceived a little strange modern city. So, in Cairo, the roads are so densely filled with cars that by the evening you can’t drive even 20 meters so as not to get stuck in a traffic jam. Car brands are very diverse - from our "Volga", "Zhiguli" and ending with Mercedes. Among the flow of cars, you can also meet a cart with harnessed horses and donkeys. However, all this does not prevent the residents from being friendly and calm.
The favorite resting place of Cairo residents is the Giza plateau, where the well-known pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin stand.
Egypt is an agricultural country. The wonderful climate allows for three harvests a year, which is why there are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables.
The modern inhabitants of Egypt are just as interesting as their ancient ancestors. They have developed an equally fascinating culture, which can be talked about for a very long time. Sometimes it begins to seem that their way of life is very similar to the ancient Egyptian one, that history nevertheless left its mark on the fate of modern Egypt.
The territory of Egypt extends across the Arabian and Libyan deserts. The focus of settlements and tourism are on the floodplain of the Nile and the coastal strip.
Egypt is a colorful country. Antiquity combined with modern technologies, camels and donkeys make their way through the rows of luxury cars. Everywhere you can feel the imprint of the past, and for little money you can relax in comfortable hotels, having tasted rich oriental cuisine.
Sunni Muslims make up 90% of the population.
A Muslim is one who observes the 5 commandments:
1. Honors the one God of Allah with the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Pray five times a day (5:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00). The direction of the face of the worshipers is always turned towards Mecca. All mosques have a mihrab - a wall with a notch in the direction of Mecca. Muslims travel with a compass so they always know the direction to pray. Only men enter the mosque. There is a separate room for women.
3. It is supposed to give alms - God has given you, help the needy.
4. Ramadan is celebrated every 9 months - before sunset you can not eat, drink, smoke. Drinking alcohol is generally prohibited by the Koran. In Kareem (generous) the poor eat their food in the streets.
5. A true Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once. Such a trip costs from Egypt 4 thousand dollars. Wealthy Muslims can afford it more often.
Muslim men do not wear gold. Religiosity can be determined by the degree of closeness of women's faces. Strong believers leave only their eyes open. Everything is hidden from the eyes of outsiders: the figure, legs, arms, hair, face. The Egyptians wear a galabiya - a long shirt. A headscarf is required for women.
Christians, who make up 10% of the population, dress more democratically. In Coptic men right hand cross tattoo.
Muslims are also prohibited from smoking and drinking alcohol. In times of crisis, the government raises the price of cigarettes first. Alcohol is sold strictly in selected restaurants.
There is no lunch break at work. Shops on busy streets are open from 12 to 24 hours. Sellers go to the walkway and invite tourists in all sorts of ways. They can offer you a product for $1, ask you to come in for a cup of tea, coffee, or even promise to give you a souvenir. But behind this lies the desire to sell goods at any price. In the absence of a fixed price in Egypt, it is customary to inflate the price several times. If you immediately reduce the price by 2, 5, or even 10 times, you can not only bring gifts home at a good price, but also enjoy communication, learn interesting things about a topic that concerns you. By the way, knowledge of Russian, English, German, Italian are a sales guarantee. Therefore, the bulk of sellers on the streets can boast of their knowledge of polyglots.
There are many cars on the roads. Accidents are also common. Cesspool trucks run around the cities, the drivers of which receive 200 pounds ($40). This is a very small monthly salary for Egypt as well. Drivers fear conflict situations with these hulks - with their drivers and demand for wages.
Traffic lights appeared a few years ago. Pedestrians should beware of passing cars - the temperament of the southern country also affects driving a car. Taxi business is considered profitable. One license costs the owner 10 thousand dollars. The fare should be negotiated first, since the owner, like the sellers of goods, is not averse to making good money.
In Egypt, it is not enough just to have a great rest and get acquainted with the way of life of Africans, without having visited the pyramids and without sharing the sacraments of the burial of the pharaohs.
A total of 3,100 funerary pyramids were built. Currently, only 70 of them have survived. The most famous, of course, are the pyramids of Giza. The peace of the pyramids may be disturbed by the sprawling suburbs of the Egyptian capital of Giza. From the windows of the five-story buildings one can see the peaks of three of them, striving into oblivion: Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin.
And, having got to the foot of the pyramids, you feel like a participant historical events, changing century after century, ruler after ruler. Only being on a stone plateau, rising 40 meters above the level of the city and looking up at a 138-meter mass of 2.5 tons of stones, you think about the greatness and role of man in this world. Before you opens the mystery of knowledge, the power of thought and the greatness of deeds. You feel that you are strong and unique, regardless of age or place of residence.
And I also felt, being at the base of the first Wonder of the World, that all people on Earth are connected with each other by invisible threads and must honor each other forever!
First analysis of a complete genome extracted from Egyptian mummies, showed that the ancient Egyptians were more closely related to other ancient peoples from the Levant region, while modern Egyptians are genetically closer to sub-Saharan Africans.
Study
The results, recently published in the journal Nature Communications, could pave the way for similar genetic studies of mummies in the near future.
Egypt and other nations
Located at the junction of two continents and flourishing for many thousands of years, Egypt is a kind of "melting pot" for many neighboring cultures, ideas, languages and nationalities.
Egypt retained its cultural, scientific, and historical significance as neighboring Arab, European, and African empires changed, collapsed, and rebuilt.
The scientists wanted to test whether the Roman conquest, the conquest of Alexander the Great, or other foreign powers left a genetic imprint on the indigenous population of ancient Egypt.
Questions
To find answers to the questions posed, scientists extracted the mitochondrial genome from 90 mummies, and, for the first time in history, genetic research managed to extract the complete genome from three different mummies.
Having collected enough genetic material for the study, the scientists compared the genomes of the ancient Egyptians with the genomes of other peoples neighboring Egypt in ancient times, as well as with the genome of modern Egyptians, to check how different descendants are from their ancestors.
Answers
The results were very interesting. The researchers found that over 1300 years - a period that covered the genetic material of mummies, no significant changes the genetic lineage of the ancient Egyptians has not undergone.
It turns out that despite successive invasions and migrations to Egypt a large number people from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa, genetic characteristics the local population remained surprisingly stable.
Perhaps the genomes of mummies - the highest "caste" of Egypt, are not able to reflect the genetic changes of the entire Egyptian population. However, the results obtained do not lose their significance for science.
Comparison with modern Egyptians
When scientists compared genetic changes from antiquity to today, they found significant differences.
It turns out that modern Egyptians share a genetic ancestry with sub-Saharan Africans, while their distant ancestors show a closer genetic resemblance to the ancient people of the Middle East and the Levant.
These results suggest that during the past 1500 years, Egypt has experienced an influx of people from the southern regions of Africa. The reasons for this influx could be migration along the Nile or an intensive slave trade that began about 1300 years ago.
Significance of the study
One of the most significant findings of the study is the simple fact that geneticists have finally been able to extract the complete genome of an ancient Egyptian.
Factors such as the hot Egyptian climate, high level The humidity in many graves and the chemicals used in mummification actively promote DNA degradation and make long-term survival in mummies nearly impossible.
Still, the researchers were able to extract enough material to conduct a complete genetic analysis, and this may open the door to new interesting discoveries.
Egypt is not only one of the most favorite places for Russians to relax, but also the cradle of world civilization.
Did you know that this country is the ancestor of most household items: from dishes and tools to personal hygiene items.
1. Cosmetics were first invented in Egypt. But unlike modern woman, which uses it to look more attractive, the Egyptians used cosmetics to protect against active sunlight.
2. The production of faience, glass and even cement is an innovation of Ancient Egypt.
3. The Egyptians were among the first in writing. It was the inhabitants of Egypt who came up with the idea of writing letters using paper and ink.
4. Although France is considered a trendsetter for alcoholic drinks, in particular wine, few people know that the first wine cellar was found in Egypt. In addition, it was there that the first beer on the planet was brewed.
5. Pharaoh Pepi II - is the most "long-reigning" ruler in the world. He ascended the throne at the age of 6, and resigned in connection with his death at the age of 94.
6. It is also interesting that the Egyptians used to sleep on pillows not made of fluff and feathers, as modern people but from stones.
7. Antibiotic treatment is believed to have been discovered in late XIX century, but it is known for certain that the ancient Egyptians treated infected patients with bread mold. Therefore, it can be assumed that Egypt is also the ancestor of antibacterial medicine.
8. Carrier pigeons were first used to send letters in Egypt.
9. One of the famous sights of this country is the figure of the Sphinx. Anyone who has been to Egypt must have seen that the Sphinx has no nose. This sculpture lost it in 1798 when the soldiers of Napoleon's army used it as a target in shooting training.
10. The people of Egypt never celebrate their birthday. The reason for this is still not clear.
11. Even in unbearable heat, men wear white clothes and women black. It is believed that this way a woman will return home faster.
12. The Egyptian pyramids are a wonder of the world. The Great Pyramid of Cheops was built about 3000 years ago. 2,300,000 huge stone blocks were spent on its construction, the total mass of which is 7,000,000 tons.
13. It turns out that this African country gets a large share income not from tourism, but from duties that are levied on ships passing through the Suez Canal. In second place is oil production, and tourism is given only the third position.
14. Property tax in Egypt is very high. Therefore, in order to avoid it, locals do not build roofs on their houses. So the house is considered unfinished, and therefore, it is not necessary to pay tax.
15. The Suez Canal is the largest in the world. It was built in 1869 and connected the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Shipping stopped here only in the period 1967-1975 during the war with Israel. No less famous, the Panama Canal is exactly two times shorter than the Suez Canal.
16. The Aswan Dam, built to protect the fields from the Nile floods, is the most massive building in the world. In terms of the amount of material spent on construction, it exceeded 17 times great pyramid Cheops. After erection aswan dam, there was Lake Nasser - the largest man-made reservoir in the world. And although during the construction of the dam all issues between Egypt and Sudan were agreed upon, it very often causes conflicts between these countries. In some years, when the Nile is very full-flowing, Egypt refuses to artificially lower the water level in Lake Nasser and save Sudan from destruction.
18. Dying, Alexander the Great bequeathed to his commander Ptolemy Lag to bury himself in the Siwa oasis in Egypt. However, his grave has not yet been found. It is assumed that the commander broke the promise of Alexander the Great and buried him near Alexandria, a city built by the Macedonian himself.
19. Almost the entire territory of the country is occupied by desert (95%), so it is not surprising that the entire population of Egypt lives on the remaining five percent of the land.
20. The ancient Egyptians used honey instead of gold to pay taxes.
21. In ancient times, killing a cat was considered a terrible crime.
22. In 1974, Egyptologists discovered that the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II was rapidly deteriorating. It was decided to immediately take her by plane to France for examination, for which the mummies issued a modern Egyptian passport, and in the column "occupation" they wrote "king (deceased)". In Paris, the mummy was received with all the military honors due to kings.
23. wedding rings we also owe it to the Egyptians. It was there that the tradition was born, when getting married, to put a ring on the ring finger of the newlyweds.
24. , one of the resorts in Egypt, is completely covered with water. Externally, El Gouna resembles Venice. As in Venice, in El Gouna you need to travel by boat.
25. Among the rocks is archaeological site history, consisting of two rock temples (Abu Simbel). These temples were completely relocated in 1960 due to the threat of flooding from Lake Nesser. The Temple of Abu Simbel was saved by carefully cutting the entire rock into blocks and moving it 200 m horizontally and 65 m up.
26. The Red Sea got its name from the sand, which, if you look closely, has a reddish tint.
27. Egypt has black and white deserts.
28. The Red Sea is the most favorite place for diving divers all over the world, thanks to the diverse fauna.
