(WT#2) ~*History Thread*~ Little Known Facts About Ancient Egypt (Day 3)

I have always been somewhat of a history enthusiast, an interest which I inherited from my father. I have a particular fascination with ancient supercultures such as Rome and Greece, but I have always had a special love for Egypt.

Now, hopefully there are some other amateur Egyptologists in this house... maybe we can bounce some interesting facts off each other:


? A royal wife in the harem of Ramesses III, plotted to kill him and put her son on the throne. The attempt failed.

? Ancient Egyptians believed all of mans' emotions and thoughts were controlled by his heart. They had no idea what function the brain had, which is why it was removed from the body during mummification.

? To test if a woman was pregnant, she would urinate every day on the grains of barley and emmerwheat. If they sprouted, she was pregnant.

? If the barley sprouted first, it would be a boy, if the emmer did, it would be a girl.

? Most Egyptians had worn teeth due to the sand content found in flour grinded on stone for their bread.

? Senet was a popular board game of ancient Egyptians. It was symbolic of the passage of the dead through the underworld. The object was to move pieces around a board of 30 squares, avoiding various hazards and collecting blessings. The winner was the first to pass into the afterlife.

? King Tutankhamens' tomb contained the mummified remains of 2 infants.

? It was common for woman to breast feed their children for up to 3 years.

? Ancient Egyptians produced the first Zodiac.

? Most woman in ancient Egypt were illiterate, though had rights similar to what women today possess (they could keep anything they inherited from their parents when they married, share equally with their husband any wealth both partners acquired within their marriage, conduct business on their own, own and sell property, be a witness in a court case, represent themselves in court, make a will giving their wealth to whomever they wish, adopt children, go out in public and be in mixed company with men, keep their own name after their marriage, be supported by their ex-husband after a divorce, work at jobs other than being a housewife, and seek any employment they are qualified for).

? Cleopatra was not Egyptian, she was Greek, the daughter of Ptolemy XII.

? In ancient Egypt, lettuce was considered an aphrodisiac.

? Mustaches were commonly worn by men during the Old Kingdom.

? In ancient Egypt, silver was extremely rare and therfore considered much more valuable than gold.

? The first King ever found lying in his own tomb, was King Amenhotep II. It was said that he was such a powerful man, no other could ever bend his bow. He was also buried with his bow beside him, broken in half. Perhaps to ensure no one ever did.

? Although the famous bust of Nefertiti appears to be unfinished (missing an eye). Modern analysis has revealed minute traces of paint, therefore, it may have actually been completed and perfect when it was abandoned!

? Instead of pillows, ancient Egyptians rested their cheek on a wooden headrest. The height of its supporting stand was customized to equal the width of the owners' shoulder.

? The Egyptians measured liquids in a series of graded jar sizes. The standard measurement was called a "hin" and contained approx. 18 fl. oz.

? Rameses II (The Great) fathered over 100 children, lived for more than 90 years, was short, had a hawk nose, prominent ears, and red hair.

 

Interesting.

Ancient Egyptians believed all of mans' emotions and thoughts were controlled by his heart. They had no idea what function the brain had, which is why it was removed from the body during mummification.

It's always fascinating to read about Man's attempt to determine what the heart and the brains were for. Sometimes they were believed to contain the soul. I think it was Descartes who thought the soul was located in the pineal gland!

 

Interesting... isn't that the part of the brain that has no known function?

Oh, I remembered some more interesting facts:

? Akhenaten is believed to have started the world's first monotheistic religion, based on the worship of the sun god, Aten. He was considered a heretic by his successors, and mention of his reign was obliterated from the dynasty records.

? His wife, Nefertiti, apparently disappeared after a certain point during his reign. While many believe she was killed, or exiled, some Egyptologists now suggest that she was given the title of co-Regent, and ruled alongside her husband as a Pharaoh, with a new name: Smenkhkare (who was once believed to be a male companion/lover of Akhenaten's because of art showing an effeminate looking Pharoah in sensual poses with "his" co-Regent).

? Because it was believed that Pharaohs carried the divine blood of Horus in their veins, they often married their sisters or cousins to keep the royal line as "pure" as possible (even though the throne passed through the hands of many families throughout history ? for instance, Rameses II's father, Seti, was from a proud military line.)