Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptian culture involves many interesting beliefs that give a glimpse of life way back then. A look at the stylized art forms of this civilization proves the kind of talent that existed in the olden days. Ancient Egyptian fashion as well as the décor showcased their knowledge of the creative field. Their concepts in terms of interiors and architecture were very much advanced. There were many particular characteristics in terms of ancient Egyptian décor and elements used in their architecture. These elements defined this particular style. From painting to fashion and architecture, the ancient Egyptians were surely ahead of their …

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Just the mention of the Egyptian civilization and the legacy it left behind on the pages of history, conjures up an image of the ostentatious lifestyles of kings, the enigmatic pyramids and the eternal mummies. One of the most famous cults of ancient Egypt is the cult of Osiris, which had faith in the myth of Osiris and Isis. Osiris was considered as the god of dead and was worshiped as the controller of the Nile floods, sunrise and sunset. He was at the epicenter of life, death and rebirth, and was also known for his powers to control the underworld. As the religious orientation of …

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Egyptian language has the longest history, of all the languages of the world. The Egyptian started this formal writing system called hieroglyphs, around 4000 years ago. This scripting was in pictorial form. They used various signs instead of letters and words and this is the most fascinating feature of their language. One more interesting fact about the symbols, is that a single symbol had more than three different meanings, which could either be phonetic or simply symbolizing the picture itself. They continued using it until around 500 AD and the language is still the most difficult language to learn. It …

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There are many Egyptian symbols which derive their meaning from natural phenomenon or things found in nature. The mysteries associated with these symbols make them an interesting topic of study. Here are a few Egyptian symbols presented with their respective meanings. Ancient Egyptian Symbols and their Meanings The ancient Egyptian symbols have influenced the culture of this country to a great extent and have led to the development of different belief systems. Read more on ancient Egyptian culture. Ankh One of the Egyptian symbols, Ankh is generally seen in hands of Egyptian gods and denote eternal life. These gods are portrayed as holding …

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We all know that ancient Egypt is one of the earliest civilizations on the earth. Ancient Egyptian symbols are intricately associated with the art and religion of that time. These symbols were depicted on almost everything, like, artifacts, amulets, jewelery, etc. Even today, these symbols are used extensively in various forms, particularly as amulets. One of the most popular among the ancient Egyptian symbols, is the eye of Horus, which is otherwise known as the eye of Ra or Wedjat. This article deals with the ancient Egyptian eye of Horus meaning. What is the Eye of Horus Now you know that the Egyptian eye of …

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The embalming process dates back to the ancient Egyptian period when human bodies were preserved for ages after death. The process, commonly known as mummification was believed to empower the soul, which would return to the corpse, preserved through embalming. In classical antiquity, preservation of human remains would forestall decomposition of the dead. Today, embalming techniques have been modified with the latest methodologies aimed at preservation and sanitization of the corpse for a presentable appearance. Modern embalming techniques are sophisticated, being developed after continuous research and trial and error. In cases of delayed funerals, embalmers or morticians restore the body to prevent …

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People from ancient Egypt developed and made famous the technique of mummification, which was their way of embalming. For them, it had great religious implications, as it kept the body intact till the time it was reunited with the soul that had returned from traversing the netherworlds. Several other civilizations such as the Incas also utilized this science. However, the ones to truly master this art were the embalmers of the Han dynasty in China. Embalming was widely used during several different wars, where it enabled the bodies of soldiers to be returned (withstanding travel over long distances) to their home countries for burial. The …

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Initially, early Egyptians used to bury their dead in small pits, wherein the bodies would get dehydrated and natural mummies were formed. With time, the rituals changed, and they started to cremate the dead in crude tombs. However, problems would arise when these bodies were mutilated by wild animals in the desert. As a solution for this, it was decided to put the bodies in coffins. Problems didn’t end here though, soon enough, the Egyptians realized that the dead bodies in the coffins would decay very soon. The problem of decaying bodies was not taken lightly, as the belief in …

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Is death a definitive end or the beginning of a new journey? This question has baffled humans since ancient times and even today we don’t have an answer. Unlike the existentialist thinkers of today, the ancient civilizations chose to believe in an afterlife. Almost all religions even today believe in afterlife in which we are judged by the deeds we perform in this life. The Egyptians and other ancient civilizations believed that the body of the dead person needs to be preserved for its journey into the afterlife. This gave rise to the mummification process which was aimed at preserving the bodies …

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Until now, it’s been thought that modern risk factors like lack of exercise, smoking and unhealthy food habits contribute to heart disease. But, 3,500 year old Egyptian mummies have proved that the disease is not a modern day phenomenon. Recently, a team of scientists from US and Egypt conducted CT scans using six-splice computed X-ray tomography on 22 mummies from the Egyptian National Museum of Antiquities, Cairo. Five experienced cardiovascular imaging physicians were part of the team, that also included cardiologists, Egyptologists and preservationists. All mummies dating from 1981 BC to 364 AD, were identified to be of high socio-economic class, …

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