Egyptian Life

Egyptians were one of the most fascinating and enduring civilizations in human history, and their culture and way of life continue to captivate and intrigue people around the world today. From their art and architecture to their language and beliefs, the ancient Egyptians left a lasting legacy that still resonates with us today.
Egyptian life was centered around the Nile river, which provided fertile land for agriculture and transportation for trade and commerce. The society was hierarchical, with the pharaoh at the top and a complex system of government officials, priests, and nobles below. However, the ancient Egyptians also had a strong sense of community and family, with the family unit being the basic unit of society.
Discover the daily routines and customs of the ancient Egyptians, the religious beliefs and practices, and the achievements and innovations that made them one of the most remarkable civilizations in history. Experience the wonder and beauty of their art, architecture, and language, and gain insight into the culture and way of life of one of the most enduring and fascinating societies in human history.

23 August, 2020 - 20:04 Bryan Hill

Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Language of the Gods

Egyptian hieroglyphs are among the oldest writing systems in the world, dating back some 5,200 years. Known in ancient Egyptian as the “language of the gods” and said to have been created by the god...

Polish archaeologists in Egypt looking for ancient evidence relating to the importance and role played by Egyptian deserts in early Egyptian civilization. Source: E. Kuciewicz / Science in Poland

14 August, 2020 - 21:41 Ed Whelan

How Deserts Played A Key Role in the Building of Egypt

Egyptian deserts surrounded the ancient civilization of Egypt, and for many they were feared as places of danger and chaos. However, the Egyptians were also very dependent upon these desert regions...

The Gebel el-Arak Knife (Rama/CC BY SA 3.0) and detail of one side of the ivory handle. (Rama/CC BY SA 3.0)

12 July, 2020 - 14:04 Aleksa Vučković

Gebel El-Arak Knife – A Link to Ancient Egypt’s Distant Beginnings

The ancient, far reaching civilizations of the world are for many people a continuous source of inspiration. Ancient, ageless myths and wonders of emerging societies and archaic technologies are not...

Ahmose I against Hyksos. Source: Public Domain

24 June, 2020 - 02:04 Aleksa Vučković

Ancient Egyptian Wars – Navigating the Millennia of Bloodshed

In the histories of great ancient empires there was one thing that was always a certainty: war. To maintain power, to achieve wealth, and to ensure the prosperity of the people, war had to be waged:...

Trade in Ancient Egypt portrayed in ‘Israel in Egypt’ by Edward Poynter Source: Edward Poynter / Public Domain

5 June, 2020 - 14:10 dhwty

The Vagaries of Trade in Ancient Egypt

Along with a lust for building enigmatic and long lasting structures, trade was an important feature of Ancient Egypt . The ancient Egyptians traded with many lands that bordered their country,...

Dendera light relief, Temple of Hathor, Dendera, Egypt

21 May, 2020 - 03:14 Alicia McDermott

The Dendera Light: Myths, Tests and Truth

The Dendera light is a particularly controversial topic since it is not exactly an artifact of potential ancient technology, but the possible depiction of such an artifact on a wall of one of the...

Sarcophagus of Tutankhamun with close up on the crook and flail. Source: Public Domain

7 May, 2020 - 19:14 Michelle Freson

Why Did the Humble Crook and Flail Symbolism Appeal to the Pharaohs?

Kings and queens, monarchs, emperors and rulers all over the world, through time immemorial, have had the responsibility of leading their people and defending their kingdoms. Monarchs are viewed as...

Top 15 interesting facts about ancient Egypt. Source: Maurizio / Adobe stock

31 March, 2020 - 18:59 Aleksa Vučković

Top 15 Interesting Facts About Ancient Egypt That You May Not Know

One of the greatest civilizations in our history belonged to the ancient Egyptians. It flourished in the fertile valleys of the world’s longest river - the Nile, where a magnificent civilization rose...

Several packages wrapped in linen canvas (top left and bottom right) were found inside the chest. One package contained a wooden box (bottom left and top right), which is evidence that Thutmose II’s lost tomb is nearby. Source: Andrzej Niwiński / Warsaw University’s Institute of Archaeology

11 March, 2020 - 21:37 Ed Whelan

Treasure Chest Found in Egypt Reveals Clues to Thutmose II’s Lost Tomb

Archaeologists working at one of the most famous Egyptian archaeological sites have made an amazing discovery. They have come across a stone chest and a wooden box with unusual contents. Experts...

Virtual rendition of the painting of the leopard face found on the ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. Source: University of Milan

3 March, 2020 - 19:02 Ed Whelan

Rare Masterpiece Uncovered on Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus

An Italian-Egyptian team have reconstructed a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art. They have been able to virtually recreate the face of a leopard that was found on a sarcophagus lid in a necropolis...

IMAGE Upload an image to go with this article. Show row weights FILE INFORMATION OPERATIONS Image icon Egyptian-Game-of-death.jpg (113.35 KB) Alternate text Depiction of an ancient Egyptian queen playing senet (‘game of death’) from Nefertari's burial chamber, wife of Ramses II. Source: Public domain This text will be used by screen readers, search engines, or when the image cannot be loaded. Image icon game-of-death.jpg (100.58 KB) Alternate text This text will be used by screen readers, search en

10 February, 2020 - 13:56 Ed Whelan

Enigmatic Evolution of Ancient Egypt’s ‘Game of Death’ Revealed

An ancient Egyptian board game that was similar to Ludo or backgammon is offering new insights into ancient religious beliefs. It was not only a game, but it was seen as a way for the dead to...

One of the Amarna graves found with a head cone. Source: Courtesy of the Amarna Project via Antiquity Publications Ltd

10 December, 2019 - 16:04 ancient-origins

First Examples of Ancient Egyptian Head Cones Found at Amarna

Ancient Egyptian art frequently depicted people wearing cone-shaped headgear, but for a long time no physical examples were found. Now, an international team of archaeologists report the discovery of...

Egyptian mummy. Credit: markrhhiggins / Adobe Stock

3 August, 2019 - 22:57 Sarah P Young

Nine Parts of the Human Soul According to the Ancient Egyptians

The idea of the human soul has fascinated humankind for thousands of years. Cultures around the world have sought to explain the soul or spirit in a wide and fascinating variety of ways. The soul is...

Mask of pharaoh Tutankhamun. Source: Dieter Hawlan / Adobe Stock

17 July, 2019 - 01:51 Sarah P Young

The Boy King Behind the Mask: Tutankhamun’s Life and Legacy

The incredible golden mask with its dark blue stripes of lapis lazuli and serious young face is probably the most famous ancient artifact in the world. It is instantly recognizable, and the iconic...

Giza pyramids where the Dixon relics were discovered. Source: kanuman / Adobe.

30 May, 2019 - 18:55 Morgan Smith

Lost Artifacts of the Great Pyramid: The Mysterious Case of the Dixon Relics

There is a certain perception of the Great Pyramid as an utterly void arrangement of empty halls and chambers, strangely bereft of artifacts and inscriptions that might offer clues to its...

1000s of animal petroglyphs found in Egypt

14 May, 2019 - 22:57 Ed Whelan

1000s of Neolithic Engravings Reveal Egyptians' Ancient Reverence For Animals

The Ancient Egyptians had a remarkable relationship with the animals, who they respected and revered. An astonishing discovery in the deserts of north-eastern Egypt is illustrating that this likely...

Plates vi and vii of the Edwin Smith Papyrus

15 April, 2019 - 19:01 dhwty

Edwin Smith Papyrus: 3,600-Year-Old Surgical Treatise Reveals Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Medical Knowledge

The Edwin Smith Papyrus is a medical treatise from ancient Egypt. This papyrus is named after Edwin Smith, the American collector of antiquities who purchased the papyrus. The Edwin Smith Papyrus is...

Colossal statue of Amenhotep III in the British Museum. (Public Domain) Background: Detail of Amarna letter: Royal Letter from Abi-milku of Tyre to the king of Egypt. (CC0)

18 July, 2018 - 13:59 dhwty

To the King, My Sun, My God, the Breath of My Life… Amarna Letters Paint Remarkable Picture of Ancient Egyptian Rulership

“Your city weeps, and her tears are running, and there is no help for us. For 20 years we have been sending to our lord, the king, the king of Egypt, but there has not come to us a word from our lord...