Ankh-tastic Facts About Ancient Egypt

Papyrus, pharaohs and pyramids — ancient Egypt is a history topic that never fails to fascinate. This handy guide covers the 5 most important aspects of ancient Egyptian life and is packed full of interesting information and facts, as well as links to some of our favourite resources.
 

How were the pyramids built?

Easily the most obvious artefacts left behind by the ancient Egyptians were the pyramids… they’re pretty hard to miss! Pyramids were built to serve as stone tombs for the pharaohs. It is believed that over 180 pyramids were built in total, with around 100 still in existence today.

The most famous Egyptian pyramid is the Great Pyramid of Giza, built for Pharaoh Khufu. Taking over 25 years to complete and standing at 146 metres high, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost 4000 years. Most pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile River. To ancient Egyptians, the west represented death as this is where the sun appears to set at the end of each day. The east was linked to rebirth as this is where the sun appears to rise each morning.

The question of how the pyramids were built from huge limestone blocks weighing as much as 2.5 tonnes, is one that historians haven’t been able to fully agree on. As explained in this great PowerPoint, it is generally accepted that the building of a pyramid would require the effort of thousands of people. Once they had cut the blocks from quarries, the stones may have been transported to the construction site by boat along the River Nile.

Watch this video for more information about the importance of the River Nile to the ancient Egyptians.

The stone would then be made as smooth as possible with hammers and chisels before being dragged into position using a wooden sled over wooden planks. Ramps would probably have been used to get the stones up to the height required.
 

How many Egyptian gods were there?

The ancient Egyptians worshipped over 2000 gods and goddesses! Many of these took the form of humans, but others had a human body with the head of an animal, such as a cat, crocodile or falcon. Each of the gods and goddesses had their own responsibilities and all needed to be regularly worshipped in order for balance to be maintained.

Some of the most notable gods and goddesses include the sun god Ra, the mother goddess Isis, the god of the underworld Osiris, the god of the sky Horus and guardian of the dead Anubis.

For a whistle-stop tour of these and other notable gods, show your pupils this fun Egyptian gods video. They can also have a go at creating their own god or goddess using this activity.
 

How powerful were the Pharaohs?

Approximately 170 pharaohs ruled over ancient Egypt over its 3000-year history, from Narmer in the 31^st century BC, to Cleopatra, who is generally believed to be the last pharaoh before ancient Egypt fell to Roman rule. The pharaoh was all-powerful in ancient Egyptian society — they owned all the land, people and wealth in Egypt. The pharaohs were viewed as living gods, and it was believed that when they died each would rule alongside the god Osiris.

Duties of the pharaoh included making laws, commanding the army, appointing the many governors and priests of the land, and spending time each day worshipping the gods.

Some of the most famous pharaohs include Ramses II (or Ramses the Great), Tutankhamun and Cleopatra. Teach your pupils more about these pharaohs and others with this PowerPoint and then challenge them to complete our Pharaoh Timeline.
 

What are the steps of mummification?

The Egyptians believed in life after death and that they would need their bodies in the afterlife. For this reason, they developed a novel way of preserving the body of anyone who had enough money to pay for it. This method was called ‘mummification,’ and it was pretty gruesome!

Mummification was carried out in 6 steps and could take up to 70 days to complete. This handy video sets out each step for your pupils in an easy-to-understand way.

The first step involved washing the body with water from the River Nile and wine.

In the second stage, the stomach, intestines, lungs and liver were removed and placed in special ‘canopic’ jars which would be placed inside the burial chamber with the mummified body. The brain would be removed through the nose using a long, metal hook and discarded — the Egyptians didn’t think the brain was important! The heart was left in place in the body.

Step 3 was the longest part of the process. The body would be covered with natron salt to dry it out and stop decomposition, and then left for at least 40 days.

Steps 4 and 5 involved stuffing the body with cloths, herbs and spices to embalm it, and then wrapping it carefully in linen bandages — giving it the classic ‘mummy’ appearance.

The final stage was a special ceremony to make sure the body would be able to eat, drink and interact with the gods in the afterlife.

Why not give your pupils the opportunity to carry out mummification for themselves… with a tomato! This great activity will guide them through the process.
 

What did ancient Egyptians use hieroglyphics for?

The ancient Egyptians wrote in pictures, in one of the oldest writing systems in the world, known as ‘hieroglyphics’. The word hieroglyph means ‘sacred carving’.

Hieroglyphs were pictures of various items, including animals and everyday objects. Each one stood for a different sound but could also stand for the object it depicted.

Hieroglyphics were very confusing for historians to understand until 1799, with the discovery of a hugely important item known as the Rosetta Stone. Carved in 196 BC, the Rosetta Stone was found by Frenchman Bouchard and is named after the place it was found close to.

The stone had been carved with a decree about the king Ptolemy V, with the same information in 3 different languages: hieroglyphs, Demotic and classical Greek. It took 20 years, but eventually, the text was decoded, and the secrets of hieroglyphics were unlocked.

Teach your pupils about the secrets of the Rosetta Stone with this handy PowerPoint before challenging them to decode various hieroglyphs and to write their name in hieroglyphics with this fun activity.
 

I have been a teacher for just over 22 years, working mainly in Upper Key Stage 2. More recently, I have worked with Key Stage 1 children as part of the National Tutoring Programme, which has been very enjoyable, giving me a great insight into younger children’s unique view of the world! I have always enjoyed writing resources but often did not have time as a full-time class teacher. Teaching part-time and writing for CGP+ offers the perfect balance.

To see CGP+ resources written by Cathy, click here.