At school, we ended up getting used to hearing some stories about the Egypt that left many doubts and some curiosity, right? Ancient Egypt may be long gone, but its treasures and mysteries still exist today. inspiration from several films, this incredible civilization still surprises us centuries after it came to an end.
But, after all, what is reality and what is fiction in the stories we tell? Check out now 6 interesting facts about ancient egypt!
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6 unmissable facts about ancient Egypt
- Cleopatra was not Egyptian
Aside from Pharaoh Tutankhamun, Cleopatra VII is the historical figure most closely related to ancient Egypt. But despite her birth in Alexandria, she was of ancient Macedonian Greek lineage, descended from Ptolemy I, one of Alexander the Great's closest advisers. Therefore, she was not, in fact, Egyptian.
- Cats were overrated
The ancient Egyptians valued all animals, but cats were especially prized for their intelligence, hunting skills, and companionship. The ancient Egyptians loved cats so much that anyone who harmed or stole them was severely punished.
- The reason wasn't that important
These people did not attach much importance to the brain. In fact, the ancient Egyptians believed that the heart controlled emotions and thoughts. So they carefully removed and preserved the heart and other organs during the mummification, but the brain was removed through the nose and thrown away.
- Everyone drank beer
In ancient Egypt, beer was often consumed by the families of the rich and the poor, and even by children, as it was considered to be a good source of nutrition for the human body.
- Mummifying a body was not a simple job.
To mummify a body, a special priest was needed to remove all of its moisture and organs. Then they dried the body, but the most time-consuming process was wrapping the mummy. About a kilometer and a half of bandages were used in the mummification process.
- Having hair indicated a lower social status.
Being hairy was an indication of low social status. Ancient Egyptian priests used to shave the entire body in an interval of three days. So society has developed tools to facilitate this task, such as the first depilatory paste made from sugar and beeswax.
