Aarav

2013

Recreation in Ancient Egypt

By Aarav Goel

Aarav Goel Catherine Cook School 1/1/2013

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Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………………...........2 Toys …………………………………………………………………………………………………….2 Pets………….…………………………………………………………………………………………2 Senet……………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Games…………………………………………………………………………………………….......3 Sports…………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Glossary……………………………………………………………………………………………….4 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………4

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The people of Ancient Egypt played tons of games, sports, and had many types of toys such as rattles, idols, and tops. They kept pets, too! Cats were the most common.

Cats were big pets in ancient Egypt. They were treated well and were used in hunting.

Cats would eat their food right off their owner’s plate! They were given a nice tomb. Egyptians also kept dogs! Greyhounds were raised and bred in ancient Egypt. They were treated well.

Egyptians also used them in hunting. They tried training Hyenas by tying them to a tree and force feeding them meat.

Fun Fact Egyptians designed dolls, tops, balls, and many others. They When children made colorful clay balls and tops made of powered quartz. Even the poorest could have entertainment. Children in ancient Egypt died their toys played with rattles filled with clay balls or pebbles. The rattles were were buried with shaped like bears, lions, pigs and a few others. Egyptians had toys them. shaped like lions or cats, with a movable jaw attached to string.

Another toy was a mouse attached to string. When the string is pulled its tail moves up and down. Egyptians also made dolls. The body was wooden, and the hair was made out of little beads. Usually, Egyptian dolls were idols of their gods.

Egyptians played a board game called Senet.

Senet is about witchcraft and evil. It can be played on a fine board, on a papyrus board, on stone, or scratched in sand; it is about freeing the soul and helping it on its journey to the afterlife. Moves are made by the way a throw stick lands. Players move five ivory or stone pieces across the checkered board. Each square stands for good or bad.

Senet Game Board

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Egyptians played a lot of active games. Usually a pharaoh’s favorite thing to do was ride horses. Men would sometimes play tug of war, while women would play the vine game. Girls especially liked tossing balls.

They would try tossing balls while jumping in the air or while riding on another one’s back.

Egyptians also juggled and they played their own version of rock paper scissors.

Egyptians juggling

Egyptians played a bunch of sports. Egyptians went hunting, had tournaments, and did many other things. They loved wrestling a lot because it didn’t need expensive equipment. All Egyptians could play. They also had water tournaments. The object of the game was to one by one, knock the other players of their boat while not letting yourself get knocked of your boat.

Egyptians would play a game similar to bowling and another similar to hockey.

They would go hunting a lot, either for fun or for food.

When a pharaoh practiced hunting, the animals would be released in a closed area so that the pharaoh could easily be caught by his or hers chariot.

Sharp arrows were used to kill the animal and arrows with a flat edge were used for weakening the animal. When hunting birds, they would toss throw sticks, which are shaped like boomerangs, to paralyze birds. Cats would be brought along to help them. They would also use tame birds to attract the other birds.

Egyptians did all of these things, and a bit more, from board games to sports. They made toys such as rattles, tops, dolls, hoops, and animal figures. They even had pets.

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Glossary afterlife: The life after death. chariot: An ancient horse drawn, two wheeled vehicle used in war, races, and procession. harpoon: A spear like weapon, with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish. idol: An object worshiped as a god. ivory: A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusk of an elephant. papyrus: A tall sedge of the Nile valley. pharaoh: The title given to the rules of ancient Egypt. quartz: A very hard mineral composed of silicon dioxide. spear: A long handled weapon with a blade. tomb: A house, chamber, or vault for the dead. witch craft: An exercise of allegedly magical powers.

Bibliography Hart, G. (2008). Ancient Egypt. London: OK. Hays, J. (2008). Ancient Egyption Sports, Games, and Pets. Retrieved march 21, 2013, from www.factsanddetails.com Millard, D. A. (1985). World History. London: Usborne Publishing.

Philip, S. (2000). Ancient Egypt. Bath Easton: Southwater.