They’re “ancient” to us, but to the Egyptians alive thousands of years ago, they were pretty advanced.
They had impressive healthcare and education systems, and even men and women were treated as equals. And their architectural abilities were out of this world!
It wasn’t easy for everyone though. Farmers and workers would sweat it out under the desert sun, and the average life expectancy was pretty low. Still, it made for an interesting period in time.
Take a look at some of the facts of life in ancient Egypt that you probably didn’t learn about in school:
1. Education was only for rich boys
The sons of scribes and officials enjoyed education in ancient Egypt – and it was reserved for only them. Reading and writing hieroglyphics, learning mathematics and geography, and many other subjects were bestowed upon them while anyone else with the ability and time had to be self-taught.
The Prince’s school hosted the sons of noble families and pharaohs, teaching them everything they needed to learn, and exceptionally gifted students were granted scholarships as well.
2. By law, men and women were equal
Women could own property and slaves, even having the right to sue others or petition for a divorce.
When the Greeks took Egypt in 332 BCE, they learned that Egyptian women could exercise way more rights than Greek women. However, upper-class women had far more rights than those of lower economic means.
3. Egyptian linens were fancy even back then
The Nile grew flax plants that took around 100 days to mature from seed to full-grown plant. Harvesting the fibers, they then spun them into threads to weave the fibers into cloth. The quality and finish of the fabric defined the social status of the wearer.
It wasn’t just about fashion and status though. The fabric feels cool to the touch meaning it was a very practical fabric for the hot and dry desert. The high conductivity of the flax fibers helped keep the ancient Egyptians cool.
4. Ancient Egyptians were mostly vegetarians
They may have lived by a river, but fish wasn’t really on their diet.
The Journal of Archeological Science shows that the Egyptians primarily feasted on vegetables.
Carbon isotopes from 45 Egyptian mummies revealed that their diets were based primarily on wheat and barley. Fruits and vegetables were a staple in their diets top, though meat could be served once in a while, usually when requested by the upper classes.
5. Temples doubled as banks
Workers would receive their wage-rations from administrators who would distribute them accordingly. The standard wage could be 10 loaves of bread and two full jugs of beer for the lowliest-paying job of the time.
6. Lead-based makeup for men and women
Ancient Egyptians wore lead-based eyeliner. They made eye makeup by grinding ores into a substance known as kohl.
They didn’t know then that lead is toxic but research has found that this mix had a high concentration of nitric oxide.
That means the makeup possibly helped boost the immune system and fight diseases like eye infections.
7. Circumcision didn’t happen at birth
Circumcision was considered a rite of passage into manhood. Most of the pharaohs were circumcised. Only Ahmose I and Amunhotep I were exceptions to the rite. 4000 BCE temple paintings depicted priests performing circumcisions using sharp tools.
There are also theories that circumcision was a mark for slavery. Captured soldiers had their penises circumcised as a means to humiliate them before being sold. Their descendants were all circumcised, which could be related to the adoption of the practice by Judaic peoples, as they were once slaves to the Egyptians.
8. They played board games
Ancient Egyptians loved playing Senet, among many other board games they had at the time. Senet consists of 30 painted squares laid out in three rows of 10. Players would have pieces they could move across the board after throwing dice or sticks.
It was such a popular game for the ancient Egyptians that temple paintings of Nefertari playing Senet were discovered. Even King Tutankhamen’s tomb revealed a version of the game among the possessions found.
9. They used garlic for fertility tests
Ancient Egyptians, like other ancient empires, knew that sex leads to pregnancy. It’s just that they weren’t quite sure how it was all connected.
It was believed that the womb was attached to the alimentary canal. The same path food passes through from the mouth to the anus. That’s why they would put a clove of garlic in the vagina to test for fertility.
If the woman’s breath smelled like garlic, that meant she was fertile. And if her mouth didn’t smell like garlic, then she couldn’t get pregnant as they believed the passage was blocked.
Ancient Egyptians also believed that sperm came from bones and not the testicles.
10. Children remained naked until they were six
Egyptian children may have been nude, but necklaces and anklets adorned their bodies.
It was only when they got older that the children would wear clothing in the style of their parents, all while following their place in the social hierarchy of the era.
11. Statues helped decide cases
Two judicial courts decided cases in ancient Egypt, namely the kenbet and the great kenbet. Minor disputes were handled by the lower kenbet, while serious crimes fell under the great court. The vizier ruled in these cases while the pharaoh, as official head of the legal system, was the final judge.
Ancient Egyptians, when faced with complicated cases, turned to oracles or the statues of deities as well.
Both sides compiled their written arguments on papyrus and would then would place them on either side of the street. The winner was decided by the side to which the statue leaned closer to.
12. They believed the heart helped them think
To be fair, we often say we “lead with our hearts,” so the fact that the Egyptians didn’t understand all of the body’s organs and corresponding functions is understandable.
The heart, or the ib, was where they believed thought originated from. That included the belief that the center of love, sadness, and bravery, was the heart, not the brain.
They just got rid of it during the mummification process.
13. Hygiene was very important
Even though they lived in a hot and dry place, ancient Egyptians made sure to stay clean. They understood the connection between poor hygiene and illnesses, so frequent bathing was practiced.
Soaps were made from animal and vegetable oils mixed with alkaline salts to ensure the body stayed clean. Ancient Egyptians also shaved from head to toe using razors and tweezers.
They also made the effort to smell good with the use of different perfumes. And it’s also believed they created their own deodorant using a combination of citrus and cinnamon.
14. They had medical care
Ancient Egypt had a pretty advanced healthcare system for their time with many specialized fields. Dentistry, gynecology, surgery, and even autopsies were practiced in conjunction with a religious ceremony of sorts. Healthcare wasn’t reserved for the nobility either. Even slaves were given medical treatment.
The Edwin Smith and Ebers Papyrus, dating back to roughly 3000 BCE, contained most of the evidence for the practice of medicine. There is a mention of medicinal practices and even details of how to treat certain ailments.
15. Beer was a real necessity
Ancient Egypt began making beer as far back as 18,000 years. The Paleolithic site of Wadi Kubbaniya showed evidence of this. The ancient Egyptians depended on beer for sustenance, and even children had beer as part of their diet. Wages were even paid in grain. This is how they made bread and beer.
Their beer isn’t like what we drink today – the ancient Egyptians’ beer was thick and soupy.
Ancient Egyptians held beer in such high esteem they had several gods and goddesses related to it. Ra, the sun god, was considered to be the creator of beer.
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