4째 B
ANCIENT EGYPT
4th B 2015
The civilization of ancient Egypt lasted for over three thousand years.
People began to settle in the Nile valley in about 7000 B.C.. They farmed the land, kept animals, and built permanent homes on the banks of the Nile.
Hieroglyphic was one of the first complete scripts to be used in ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians used it for over 3500 years to record important information..
The Great Sphinx is a large statue carved out of stone. It is located near Khafra's pyramid on the Giza plateau. The Great Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a human.
The largest of the three stone pyramids of Giza was built for the pharaoh Khufu (called Cheops by the Greeks). It stands 147 metres high and its estimated weight is about 6,500,000 tonnes.
The second of the Giza pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khafra (called Chephren by the Greeks). It was built on higher ground than Khufu's pyramid, so it looks taller than Khufu's pyramid, but it is actually shorter.
By Rena Harari and Mechi de Elizalde
4th B 2015
Ancient Egyptians built mudbrick homes in villages and in the country. They grew some of their own food and traded in the villages for the food and goods they could not produce.
Most ancient Egyptians worked as field hands, farmers, craftsmen and scribes. A small group of people were nobles. Together, these different groups of people made up the population of ancient Egypt.
They used a cabinet where their clothes were kept, a cosmetic box, and a lamp for lighting the room in the evening.
Every season a landowner would have to give a portion of his harvest to the pharaoh as tax. It was this man's job to make sure that the boundary stones which marked a farmer's property were in place.
Wine was a very popular drink in ancient Egypt. It was kept in large pottery jugs and served in bowls.
Many different types of fish lived in the Nile river. Some ancient Egyptians ate fish. However, others did not because they thought certain kinds of fish were sacred.
Ducks were very common in ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians hunted them on the banks of the Nile.
Ancient Egyptians often used cats as hunting companions. Some experts believe that the ancient Egyptians trained their cats to catch birds and bring them back to their masters.
Ancient Egyptians often wore wigs for special occasions like banquets or formal gatherings.
Daily life in ancient Egypt revolved around the Nile and the fertile land along its banks. The yearly flooding of the Nile enriched the soil and brought good harvests and wealth to the land.
The ancient Egyptians believed in many different gods and goddesses. Each one with their own role to play in maintaining peace and harmony across the land.
Some gods and goddesses took part in creation, some brought the flood every year, some offered protection, and some took care of people after they died.
The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to recognise and worship these gods and goddesses so that life continued smoothly.
Seth was the god of chaos Seth represented everything that threatened harmony in Egypt. Seth was jealous of Osiris because he wanted to be the ruler of the earth Horus was the king of the earth and Osiris was the king of the underworld. . He grew angrier and angrier until one day he killed Osiris.
Osiris was the god of the dead, and ruler of the underworld. Osiris was the brother/husband of Isis, and the brother of Nepthys and Seth. He was also the father of Horus.
Tefnut was the goddess of moisture. She was the wife of Shu and the mother of Nut (the sky) and Geb (the earth).
Shu was the god of the air.Shu held up the figure of Nut so that the earth and the sky were separated.
The most powerful person in ancient Egypt was the pharaoh. The pharaoh was the political and religious leader of the Egyptian people, holding the titles: 'Lord of the Two Lands' and 'High Priest of Every Temple'
As 'Lord of the Two Lands' the pharaoh was the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt
As 'High Priest of Every Temple', the pharaoh represented the gods on Earth.
Many pharaohs went to war when their land was threatened or when they wanted to control foreign lands. If the pharaoh won the battle, the conquered people had to recognise the Egyptian pharaoh as their ruler and offer him the finest and most valuable goods from their land.
This is a plaster cast of the wall reliefs in a temple built by Ramesses II, originally located in Beit-el-Wali (the modern name for the village near which the ancient temple was located).
Ramesses II has travelled from Egypt to the land called Nubia for a battle. The Egyptian pharaoh wants to control Nubia for two reasons. The first is that Nubia is just south of Egypt and threatens Egypt's borders The second is that Nubia has exotic animals, wood, and gold.
Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom.
There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid
Outside the pyramid The Great Pyramid was part of a complex that included a special walkway, two temples, other pyramids, boat pits and the mastabas of nobles.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu was built in about 2600 B.C.. It is a huge structure built from over two million blocks of stone. To find out the height, area and weight of the Great Pyramid, just follow the instructions in this challenge.
The pharaoh Khufu, like the pharaohs before him, began planning his 'house of eternity as soon as he took the throne. A spot was chosen for building on the west bank of the Nile. Cemeteries were usually built on the west bank because the sun 'died' on the western horizon every night.
Khufu's architects were wise and experienced men. They knew the importance of building the pharaoh's final resting place so that its sides faced directly north, south, east and west.
They planned a large pyramid- the largest one ever built in ancient Egypt. The outlines of the pyramid were measured and marked in the desert sand.
Then the building began. Large blocks of stone were cut from quarries nearby. They were dragged by groups of men across the desert to the site of the pyramid and set in place. Most of the workers were farmers who worked on building the pyramid during the flood season when their fields were under water .
After the first level of blocks was in place, the workers built ramps of mudbrick, limestone chips and clay. The workers dragged the large stones up the ramps to build the next level of the pyramid. For about 20 years, hundreds of men worked on building the pyramid. As they built each level, they also built up the ramps around the pyramid.
When the pyramid was almost finished, a special block covered in shining metal (either gold or electrum) was placed on the top of the pyramid.Then, blocks of white limestone from quarries acoss the Nile were used to cover the pyramid. The blocks were trimmed to make the outside of the pyramid smooth. Finally, the pryramid was finished.
Khufu's pyramid was only part of the complex built for him at Giza.This complex had many different parts: Three pyramids for Khufu's queens. Several deep pits containing boats that had been buried. A mortuary temple where Khufu would be worshipped after he died. A causeway leading from the pyramid complex down to the valley temple.
A valley temple where the pharaoh's funeral would begin. A small 'satellite' pyramid. The mastaba tombs of nobles. To find out more about the pyramid complex, see 'Explore'.
The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in small pits in the desert. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrate the bodies quickly, creating life like and natural 'mummies'.
Later, ancient Egyptians began burying their dead in coffins to protect them from wild animals in the desert.
First, his body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers wash his body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.
One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. The heart is not taken out of the body because it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man will need it in the afterlife. A long hook is used to smash the brain and pull it out through the nose.
The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body After forty days the body is washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.
The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike
In the past, when the internal organs were removed from a body they were placed in hollow canopic jars. Over many years the embalming practices changed and embalmers began returning internal organs to bodies after the organs had been dried in natron. However, solid wood or stone canopic jars were still buried with the mummy to symbolically protect the internal organs.
Finally the body is covered again with goodsmelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen. Finally the body is covered again with goodsmelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen.
According to the Egyptians‌ Imsety the human-headed god looks after the liver.Hapy the baboonheaded god looks after the lungs
Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach. Qebehsenuef the falcon-headed god looks after the intestines
Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomachQebehsenuef the falcon-headed god looks after the intestines
The hypostyle hall was a large room with columns. Most of the room was dark except for the centre aisle which was lit by small windows cut into the roof.
This column was carved to look like a papyrus plant with a closed flower. The papyrus plant was common in ancient Egypt, and the ancient Egyptians often showed the papyrus in their art.
The ancient Egyptians believed that temples were the homes of the gods and goddesses. Every temple was dedicated to a god or goddess and he or she was worshipped there by the temple priests and the pharaoh.
The large temple buildings were made of stone so that they would last forever. Their walls were covered with scenes that were carved onto the stone then brightly painted. These scenes showed the pharaoh fighting in battles and performing rituals with the gods and goddesses.
The pylon was the large gate at the front of the temple. The walls of the pylon were decorated with carved and painted scenes of the pharaoh, gods and goddesses. In front of the pylon were obelisks and large statues of the pharaoh. A tall, thin, four-sided monument with a pyramid shape at the very top.
An obelisk was a tall, narrow block of stone with a pyramid shape at the tip. The pyramid was often covered in metal to reflect the rays of the sun. The tip of an obelisk represented the land on which the first rays of the sun fell
There were often statues lining the walkway leading to the temple. This statue is in the shape of a ram, the animal connected with the god Amun.
There were often statues of the pharaoh placed in front of temples. This statue is of the pharaoh Ramesses II. Pharaohs wanted to have statues of themselves in front of the temples to show that they were close to the gods and goddesses.
The courtyard was a large open room without a roof. The outer walls showed scenes of the pharaoh in battle. The inner walls showed the pharaoh making offerings to the gods and goddesses.
The walls of the courtyard were decorated with carved and painted scenes. This scene shows a person with a table of offerings that have been brought to the temple. This column was carved to look like a palm tree. In the earliest temples, columns would have been made from real trees. Later, some stone columns like this one were carved to look like palm trees.
Craftsmen in ancient Egypt were usually trained and skilled labourers. They were often well-respected in the community and had a comfortable lifestyle.
Every craftsman's lifestyle and social standing depended on the quality of his skills and experience. Some craftsmen had more difficult lives than others.
Most craftsmen worked in workshops with other craftsmen. Objects for temples or the pharaoh were made in temple workshops or palace workshops. Objects for ordinary people were made by local craftsmen in small workshops.
The ancient Egyptians made many different types of jewellery. Craftsmen created necklaces, bracelets, collars, earrings and more from gold, stones and glass.
The work in a jewellery workshop was often divided among many people. For example, to make a necklace, one person would make the beads, another would drill the holes in the beads, and a third would thread them onto papyrus string.
Some craftsmen worked in workshops making furniture. The furniture that was made in these workshops was usually for wealthy people or the pharaoh. Wealthy ancient Egyptians kept clothing and other personal belongings in small cabinets.
Ancient egyptyans used different kinds of tools One of the most common tools used by the ancient Egyptians was the saw. Craftsmen used saws for cutting wood into blocks or lengths. Then, they used finer tools likechisels and adzes to shape the wood to the correct size and form.
One of the most common tools used by carpenters in ancient Egypt was the adze. The adze was made of a metal blade attached to a wooden handle. It was used to hack small pieces of wood off larger blocks, and to shape objects
The bow drill was used for drilling holes in wood. It had two parts. The first part was a straight piece of reed or stick of wood with a sharp flint tip on the end. The second part was a bow-shaped reed or piece of wood.
Wealthy ancient Egyptians kept clothing and other personal belongings in small cabinets.
4thB 2015 BY:
Violeta Ghenadenik, Renata Quindi and Michelle Ku
Ancient Egyptians thought of Egypt as being divided into two types of land, the 'black land' and the 'red land'.
The 'black land' was the fertile land on the banks of the Nile. The ancient Egyptians used this land for growing their crops.
This was the only land in ancient Egypt that could be farmed because a layer of rich, black silt was deposited there every year after the Nile flooded.
The 'red land' was the barren desert that protected Egypt on two sides. These deserts separated ancient Egypt from neighbouring countries and invading armies.
They also provided the ancient Egyptians with a source for precious metals and semi-precious stones.
Modern political map This map shows the modern political boundaries of Egypt and nearby countries.
Ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to record and communicate information about religion and government. Thus, they invented written scripts that could be used to record this information.
The most famous of all ancient Egyptian scripts is hieroglyphic. However, throughout three thousand years of ancient Egyptian civilisation, at least three other scripts were used for different purposes. Using these scripts, scribes were able to preserve the beliefs, history and ideas of ancient Egypt in temple and tomb walls and on papyrus scrolls.
Scribes Not everyone learned to read and write in ancient Egypt. Only one group of people called scribes was allowed to have this knowledge
How did someone become a scribe?To become a scribe, you had to attend a special school for scribes. At this school you would learn how to read and write hieroglyphic and hieratic scripts. This was hard work. These scripts are complicated, and there were many signs to learn. Students spent a lot of time practising the signs by copying them onto sheets of papyrus, old pieces of pottery or flakes of limestone.
What tools did a scribe use? Scribes usually wrote on papyrus with reed brushes dipped in ink. The ancient Egyptians made ink by grinding brightly coloured minerals into powder, then mixing the powder with liquid so that it was easier to apply.
In temples They were the people who performed the sacred rituals that were necessary to keep the gods and goddePriests who worked in the temples were scribes. Temples were the houses of the gods and goddesses. The walls were decorated with writing and pictures that showed the pharaoh's respect for the gods and goddesses. Thus, they needed to be able to read the instructions for the rituals that were written on papyrus scrolls and carved into the temple walls.
In government The government of ancient Egypt kept records about the country. This helped them work out important facts about how the country was running. Government officials were scribes who had been promoted to higher positions. One scribe named Horemheb who was a high government official actually became pharaoh.
In the army When the ancient Egyptians went to battle against their enemies they used writing to communicate with each other. Military leaders were first trained as scribes, so they would be able to read messages that were sent to them.
In scribe school Students in an ancient Egyptian scribe schools had many things to learn. Since it was important for them to learn how to record information correctly, they had to read and write well. They spent hours copying hundreds of signs until they could make them well enough to please their teachers. This was hard work, and many students did not like the work they were given. Sometimes they were punished for skipping classes or not doing their work.
In the fields One of the first jobs that scribes might have after they finished school was working in the fields counting crops or animals.