Ancient Egypt was is one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in human history. It was located on the banks of the Nile River in Northwest Africa.
Ancient Egypt saw its fair share of war, conquers, and rulers. But it was also an age of agriculture, inventions, and art.
With the boom in archaeology over the last couple of hundred years, Egypt has been the site of many important historical discoveries. Tombs have been opened, inventions and games have been discovered, and many artifacts have made their way into museums across the world.
Artifacts in Egypt have led to many theories about the way of life, technological advances, as well as a fair share of mysteries. Mostly concerning how certain structures were built.
The following list compiles some of the coolest (and sometimes most mysterious) architecture, artworks, death practices, temples, and inventions of ancient Egypt.
Probably the most iconic symbol of Egypt: the Great Pyramids of Giza. Today, they are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, but they date back to the Old Kingdom period (c. 27th century BC)King Tutankhamun’s Death Mask was uncovered in 1922. The mask that adorned the mummy is believed to date back to 1323 BCThe Statue of Anubis: God of the AfterlifeCanopic (organ) jars: Organs were pulled out of the deceased body and placed into separate jars during the mummification process. Nefertiti Bust, Egypt, Tell el-Amarna, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1351–1334 BCThe Edwin Smith papyrus, the world’s oldest surviving surgical document. Written in hieratic script in ancient Egypt around 1600 B.CScarab beetle amuletsThe Sekhmet Statue dating back to the New Kingdom period (c. 16th-11th centuries BC): statues of the lion-headed GoddessThe Nubian Egg, found in a 7000 year old Nubian tomb. 2500 years before the known date of pyramids construction. Step Pyramid of Djoser: One of the earliest pyramid structures in Egypt. 27th century BCA portion of King Tut’s Jewels, found in his uncovered tombPalette of King Narmer, from Hierakonpolis, Egypt, Predynastic, c. 3000–2920 B.C.E., slate, 2′ 1″ high (Egyptian Museum, Cairo)The Disc of Sabu found in the tomb of Prince Sabu: possibly an ancient Egyptian puzzleThe priceless Rosetta Stone that dates back to 196 BC during the reign of King Ptolemy V Epiphanes.The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor, Egypt.Serapeum of Saqqara burial ground: A typical sarcophagus in the Ptolematic section of the SerapeumThe Temple of Luxor: dedicated to the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son KhonsuValley of the kings, Deir el-bahri, Egypt: burial site for numerous pharaohs and nobles during the New Kingdom period (c. 16th-11th centuries BC)The Colossi of Memnon: Massive twin statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III dating back to 1350 BC during Amenhotep III’s reignThe Statue of King Khafre: Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, ca. 2570 BCThe Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt.Egyptian obelisks discovered in Luxor, Egypt that date back to the Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BC).The Book of the Dead scrolls: Scrolls that were placed in tombs to guide the deceased through the afterlife. Dates back to 1550–1070 BCThe Abydos King List: Temple of Seti I at Abydos. Dating to the 19th Dynasty (c. 1292-1189 BC). Contains a chronological inscribed list of pharoahsDendera zodiac: A celestial map with the zodiac representing the 360 days of the ancient Egyptian calendar
