Unraveling Egypt: 42 Intriguing Facts About the Country with a Deep History
Egyptian history dates back over 6,000 years. From ancient times to the present day, this history has accumulated many fascinating and remarkable facts.
Interesting Facts About Egypt
● 95% of Egypt's territory is desert. The majority of Egypt's population resides on only 5% of its land.
● Egypt was the birthplace of many innovations, including the first locks and keys, combs and scissors, makeup and deodorant, and toothpaste with a brush.
● The only river in Egypt is the Nile, which divides the country into two parts: Upper Egypt (above Cairo) and Lower Egypt (the Nile Delta). Upper Egypt mainly consists of rural agricultural areas, often the subject of various jokes and anecdotes.
● In Ancient Egypt, both men and women wore makeup. Eye paint was typically green (made from copper) or black (made from lead), believed to have healing properties initially used as protection from the sun and later as decoration.
● Egypt's primary revenue comes surprisingly not from tourism, but from tolls collected from ships passing through the Suez Canal. Oil is the second major source of income, while tourism ranks third.
● The Suez Canal is the world's largest canal, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas since its completion in 1869.
● The Aswan Dam, built to protect farmland from Nile floods, is a massive structure. It used 17 times more material than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
● Many houses in Egypt have unfinished or absent roofs. According to Egyptian law, a house without a roof is considered unfinished, and therefore, the owner is exempt from property taxes.
● The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World. It stands at 146.6 meters tall, comprised of approximately 2.5 million stone blocks stacked into 203 layers, with an average weight of 2.5 tons per block.
● The mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II has a modern Egyptian passport. In 1974, as the mummy deteriorated, it was transported to Paris for examination. To expedite the process and avoid bureaucratic delays, a passport was issued listing Ramses as "King" under the profession section, marked as "ill."
● Egyptians were the first to invent writing, ink, and paper.
● The first pillows used by Egyptians were filled with small stones.
● While antibiotics originated in the 20th century, ancient Egyptians used moldy food (such as bread with mold) or simply moldy soil for treating infections over 4,000 years ago.
● France is often credited as the birthplace of wine culture, but the first wine cellar was found in Egypt.
● Wealthy Egyptians wore wigs, while lower-class Egyptians typically had long hair, sometimes braided. Children under 12 had shaved heads, leaving only a single braid to prevent lice and fleas.
● Ancient Egyptians lacked modern communication methods but employed pigeons to deliver messages to one another.
● Egyptians were the first to use contraceptives.
● The concept of a 365-day calendar and a 24-hour day originated from ancient Egyptians.
● The identity of who destroyed the Sphinx's nose remains unknown. There is a depiction of the Sphinx without a nose dating back to 1737, predating Napoleon's invasion of Egypt by 60 years, during which his enlightened soldiers used it for target practice. The only recorded individual who damaged the Sphinx was an Islamic cleric named Sa'im al-Dahr, who was executed for his actions in 1378.
● Pharaohs never allowed their hair to be seen by their entourage. They always wore a crown or the "Nemes" striped headcloth, famously depicted on the mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
● Pharaoh Pepi II despised flies. He kept several slaves smeared with honey near him, ensuring the flies were distracted, leaving him content. The slaves' opinions were of no concern.
● In ancient Egypt, children did not wear any clothing until adolescence due to the warm climate. Adult men wore skirts, while women wore dresses.
● The first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, built around 2600 BCE, was initially surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall with 15 doors, only one of which was functional.
● Even if the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, men still wear white clothing, while women opt for black attire. It is believed that if a woman wears black, she will return home from a walk more quickly.
● A distinctive feature of ancient Egyptian culture was its complex, multi-step burial rituals, with mummification being the most important part. The brain was extracted through the nostrils, all internal organs were removed from the body and placed in special jars, leaving only the heart intact as Egyptians believed it housed the soul, which should remain connected to the body. The tools used in mummification have a very ominous appearance and were crafted with great expertise.
● Ancient Egyptians worshipped more than two thousand gods.
● The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger originated from ancient Egyptians, adopted by Greeks and Romans. Medieval authors provided an explanation for this custom, suggesting that the "vena amoris" or "vein of love" runs directly from the fourth finger to the heart.
● In preparation for suicide, Cleopatra tested various poisons on prisoners to determine which one caused death most quickly.
● Did you know that the most famous lavish burial of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was not as extravagant as commonly believed? Tutankhamun, a relatively obscure pharaoh who ruled Egypt from approximately 1336 to 1327 BCE and died at the age of 19, was only known for one thing according to Howard Carter, one of the scholars who uncovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922: "The only event of his life was his death and burial."
However, Tutankhamun's name became renowned because his tomb was the only one discovered intact and untouched by grave robbers. In reality, his tomb was modestly decorated and small in size, remaining untouched only because King Ramses VI, who reigned from 1144 to 1136 BCE, constructed an elaborate entrance directly above it for his own tomb, which was later plundered. Considering Tutankhamun's modest burial, one can only speculate on the opulence with which other illustrious pharaohs of Egypt were interred.
● Egyptians themselves say that 10 degrees Celsius is freezing cold for them, and people try to avoid going out. If the temperature drops below +10°C, Egyptian children are given a day off from school due to the high risk of illness.
● Some of Egypt's inhabitants are Bedouins, which translates to "desert dwellers." Bedouins are the wealthiest in Egypt despite living in dire conditions. Each Bedouin believes they have the right to claim desert lands. Consequently, if a businessman wishes to build a hotel or a shop on Bedouin land, they must first buy the land from the Bedouins and then repurchase it from the government.
● The Red Sea located in Egypt is unique. Firstly, it boasts the highest concentration of corals and colorful fish anywhere on the planet. Secondly, it is the saltiest sea in the World Ocean. Thirdly, no rivers flow into it, bringing silt and sand, so the water in the Red Sea is crystal clear.
● Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, has always been a historical figure known for her seductive beauty. This idea was supported by everyone from Shakespeare to director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. However, Roman coins depict Cleopatra with almost masculine facial features: a long nose, prominent chin, and thin lips, not the epitome of beauty. On the other hand, she possessed sharp intellect and charisma.
● Many believe that everything has already been said about Ancient Egypt. But that's simply incorrect. Remarkable discoveries are still being made in Egyptology. For instance, a solar boat was recently found in the Great Pyramid. According to legends, this boat was used to transport deceased pharaohs to battle against Apophis, the dark demon.
● When a pharaoh died, their servants were not killed or buried with them. Many pharaohs ordered statues of servants and warriors to be buried with them to assist them in the afterlife.
● It is believed that the shape of ancient Egyptian pyramids symbolizes the divergent rays of the sun.
● The literacy rate in Egypt is 83% for men and 59.4% for women.
● Hieroglyphs appeared around 3,000 years BCE and possibly originated as early wall paintings. Unlike the letters of our alphabet, there are more than 700 different Egyptian hieroglyphs.
● Ancient Egyptians mummified not only humans but also animals. Archaeologists have discovered a 4.5-meter-long mummified crocodile. In the ancient Book of the Dead, the crocodile is known as the "eater of human hearts."
● Cats in ancient Egypt were earthly embodiments of Bastet, the goddess of solar warmth, joy, fertility, protector of pregnant women and children, guardian of the home and harvest. Bastet embodied refinement, beauty, agility, and gentleness. She is considered the Egyptian counterpart of Aphrodite and Artemis. Sculptures and paintings of her were used to protect the home from evil spirits.
● Cats were treated with great reverence in Ancient Egypt, and killing them was punishable by death. During their lifetime, these animals were equal members of the family, and after death, they were mummified and placed in a sarcophagus, which was then placed in a special necropolis.
● In Ancient Egypt, when a cat died, its owner shaved their eyebrows as a sign of deep mourning. From a burning house during a fire, the first thing Egyptians would rescue was a cat.
