Egypt

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Egypt

• By Heidi Crompton

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Ancient Egypt

• Capital city Thebes

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Burial Grounds

• First, Egyptians buried the dead in graves under
  the ground in a desert area where the bodies were
  naturally mummified by the heat.
• Unfortunately, the bodies were often uncovered by
  the wind blowing the sand, wild animals or
  thieves.

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Mastabas

• So, the Egyptians decided to bury the bodies
  deeper in the ground and cover the top with a
  large building called a Mastaba.
• Unfortunately, the Mastabas were still robbed and
  the pharoahs wanted a better tomb for themselves,
  so they decided to build Mastabas that were
  stacked on top of each other (step pyramid).

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Step Pyramid

• 1st pyramid (oldest pyramid) Saqquara
• 200 feet tall (20 stories high)

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Bent Pyramid

• The first structure with smooth sides.
• Over 300 feet high.
• Outside coated with a fine white limestone.
• Built on top sand and pressure caused walls to
  cave in.

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True Pyramid

• Great Pyramid
• King Khufus tomb
• Located in Giza, north of Cairo.
• Built 4,600 years ago.
• Made of 2,500,000 stones (each weighing 2 ½
  tons).

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Pyramids

• 102 Pyramids in Egypt.
• 3 types Step, Bent, True.
• All built for royalty.
• 80 built for kings.
• Made of limestone.

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Pyramids

• If the pharaohs body could be preserved after
  death, Egyptians believed the pharaoh would live
  forever.
• Buried with food, furniture, and other items
  needed for the afterlife.
• The pharaohs feared their remains would be
  disturbed by grave robbers.

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Pyramids

• Many passageways were built within the pyramid,
  but only one lead to the pharaohs tomb and
  riches, which was sealed with heavy stones.

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Pyramids

• Pyramids were connected to other structures by
  tunnels.
• Priests would visit the tomb of the deceased
  pharaoh by way of a secret passage in order to
  say prayers and leave fresh food.

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How Were the Pyramids Built?

• Paths of wooden rollers were made so that sledges
  carrying the great stone blocks could move
  easily.
• Ramps were built for sledges to carry blocks up
  the side of the pyramid.
• As each layer was completed, the ramp was made
  higher and longer, spiraling up the side of the
  pyramid.
• Ropes and levers were used to move the blocks in
  position.

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Valley of the Kings

• The fact that the pyramids did not deter tomb
  raiders, as well as the amount of time and man
  power needed to construct the great structures
  later funerary monuments were constructed in the
  Valley of the Kings.

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King Tut

• Why is he so remembered?
• His death was a mystery and he died when he was
  only 18.
• Reigned for 9 years (9 years of age-18)
• His tomb was the only one the was left
  undisturbed.

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The Sphinx

• The head of a human (strong mind), body of a lion
  (strong body). -Carved from solid rock.
• Located next to the 3 true pyramids in Giza.
• Over 4,500 years old, one of the oldest
  structures in the world.
• 240 feet in length, 66 feet tall.

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Mummification

• The first Egyptian mummies were
• bodies of people who had been
• buried in desert.
• The body was carefully preserved in preparation
  for the afterlife.

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More on Mummification

• First the body was cut open
• and the organs were removed.
• All major organs taken
• out carefully and mummified
• (stomach, liver,
• intestines, lungs) and placed
• in canopic jars.
• Brain removed through nose
• with iron hook.
• Heart was viewed as the most important organ and
  after being preserved was placed back into the
  body.

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Abu Simbel

• Set of 2 temples on the border of Egypt with
  Sudan- found with just heads above water.
• Constructed for pharaoh, Ramses II, who was king
  for 67 years, died when 94.
• Built to keep away invaders from the south.
• Temples were cut from rock and shifted to higher
  ground in the 1960s.

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Abu Simbel

• Small temple was built for Ramses II, favorite
  wife, Nefertari.
• 6 statues (4 of Ramses II and 2 of Nefertari).
• Both temples took 5 years to reconstruct.

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Nile River

• Longest river in the world 4,000 miles long.
• One of the few rivers in the world that flows
  from south to north.

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Karnak Temple

• Over 2,000 years of building.
• Is located in Luxor (ancient Thebes).
• Over 100 columns, some over 75 feet tall.

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Modern Egypt

• Capital Cairo (population about 18 million)
• Total population 70 million
• Continent Africa (northeast)

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Language

• 1st language Arabic
• 2nd language English

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Currency

• 5.75 Egyptian pounds 1 U.S. dollar

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Major Religions

• Islam- 94 of population (mostly Sunei)
• Coptic-Christian-6 of population

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Clothing

• Women and men wear galabya (robe-like gown)
• Women wear vail, covering hair and sometimes face.

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Life Expectancy

• 70 years of age
• United States 77 years of age

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