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Religious Life For the ancient Egyptians, the universe was composed of dualities � fertile and barren, life and death, order and chaos � held in a state of equilibrium by the goddess Maat. To maintain this balance they built enormous temples dedicated to the gods. Hieroglyphs Hieroglyph means �sacred carved letter� and refers to the beautiful pictorial script used by the ancient Egyptians. Hieroglyphs can convey complex information. They can be read right to left, left to right or top to bottom. The Cult Temple At the centre of every settlement was a cult temple. These temples served as a storehouse of divine power, maintained by the priests. The temple was also an economic and political centre employing large numbers of the local community and serving as a town hall, medical centre and college. The Mortuary Temple In addition to the local cult temples, each pharaoh also built a mortuary temple to serve as a place where, following his death, offerings could be made for his soul. In the Old and Middle Kingdoms the temples were attached to tombs but by around 1500 BC the tombs were separate and hidden away to foil robbers. Burial Traditions The ancient Egyptians believed in an eternal afterlife and they developed a complex funerary cult aimed at maintaining their life after death. This involved preserving the body through a process of mummification. The tombs of the deceased were also stocked with everything that might be needed in the afterlife. Mummification The earliest mummies were probably accidental. True mummification began in the Fourth Dynasty. Special priests first removed the internal organs, which were stored in canopic jars, except for the heart, which remained in place to be weighed in the afterlife. Then the corpse was dried out and wrapped in linen. Tomb Paintings As a guarantee against a successful journey into the afterlife ritual images and texts were used to decorate the tomb. These included scenes from the Book of the Dead, which contained instructions to help the deceased to pass safely through obstacles in the afterlife. Mythology Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex belief system involving a great number of deities originally based on aspects of the natural world. Over time different localities developed many and varied myths relating to their own deities.
The Creation Myth In the beginning there was nothing but the sea of chaos, named Nun. Then Atum thought himself into being, sneezing to create Shu and Tefnut. Shu and Tefnut gave birth to two children: Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky, who in turn gave birth to the stars. Osiris and Isis Osiris was murdered by his jealous brother Seth, who cut up the body scattering it all over Egypt. Osiris�s wife Isis collected up the pieces and put him back together again as the first mummy. Brought back to life, Osiris became lord and judge of the dead.
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Early Dynastic Period (3100�2890 BC) There is evidence of human activity in the Western Desert as far back as 8000 BC, but what we regard as ancient Egypt began in 3100 BC with the unification of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt by King Narmer (also known as Menes), who created a capital at Memphis.
Old Kingdom (2686�2181 BC) Also known as the Age of the Pyramids, successive dynasties of kings raised a chain of pyramids, the greatest of which were the trio at Giza. Subsequently, poor harvests depleted the royal coffers, which led to a decline in royal power, signified by a decrease in the size of pyramids.
First Intermediate Period (2181�2055 BC) During this unstable period of ancient Egyptian history there were numerous ephemeral kings. The weakening of centralized power led to the establishment of local dynasties, notably at Herakleopolis in the Fayoum Oasis and Thebes in the south. Middle Kingdom (2055�1650 BC) The powerful warlord Montuhotep II conquered the north to reunite the country with Thebes (modern-day Luxor) as its new capital, which grew into a major metropolis. Across the river, the first tombs and funerary temples were constructed at the foot of the Theban Hills on the west bank of the Nile. Second Intermediate Period (1650�1550 BC) Migrants from lands north of Egypt, referred to as Hyksos, assumed control and allied with Nubia to dominate southern Egypt. The country became subject to intermittent civil war.
New Kingdom (1550�1069 BC) With the reunification of north and south and the expulsion of the Hyksos, Egypt entered a Golden Age, expanding its rule into Asia Minor and as far as the Euphrates. Captured treasures enriched the royal powerbase at Karnak, seat of the mightiest pharaohs including Ramses II. Third Intermediate Period (1069�715 BC) The New Kingdom gave way to four centuries of disunity and foreign infiltration, with Egypt again divided into north (ruled from Tanis in the Delta) and south (ruled by the priests of Karnak) and subject to invasion by Libyans and Nubians.
Late Period (747�332 BC) The Late Period began with the Assyrian invasion of Egypt, followed by the Persians in 525 BC. The Persians ruled for 200 years interrupted only by the short-lived 30th Dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs (380�343 BC), the last native rulers until the Revolution of 1952. Graeco-Roman Period (332�30 BC) In 332 BC the Macedonian king Alexander the Great �liberated� Egypt from the Persians and founded his new capital, Alexandria, on the Mediterranean. He was succeeded by his trusted general Ptolemy, who founded a dynasty that ruled for 275 years ending with the dramatic death of the last of the Ptolemies, Cleopatra VII, lover of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.
After the Pharaohs With the defeat and suicide of Cleopatra in 30 BC, Egypt became part of the Roman empire. It remained under the rule of Rome, followed by that of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman empire, until the arrival of conquering Arab armies in AD 640. Top 10 Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt
Narmer (c.3100 BC) The king who started 30 dynasties of ancient Egyptian royalty.
Djoser (2667�2648 BC) Djoser�s architect Imhotep built the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the world�s oldest stone monument.
Khufu (2589�2566 BC) A ruthless pharaoh, but celebrated as the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Montuhotep II (2055�2004 BC) Reunited Egypt to initiate the Middle Kingdom.
Ahmose (1550�1525 BC) Defeated the Hyksos to reunite Egypt once again and start the greatest period of Pharaonic history.
Hatshepsut (1473�1458 BC) Egypt�s only woman pharaoh and builder of a striking mortuary temple at Thebes.
Tuthmosis III (1479�1425 BC) A military genius whose victories expanded the Egyptian empire to its furthest extents.
Akhenaten (1352�1336 BC) Labelled as the �Heretic King� due to his attempts to embrace monotheism. Ramses II (1279�1213 BC) Ramses II�s 66-year reign saw royal construction on a huge scale, notably at Abu Simbel.
Cleopatra (51�30 BC) Cleopatra VII�s death brought to an end 3,070 years of ancient Egyptian history. |
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Prince Rahotep and His Wife Nofret Dominating Room 32 in the Old Kingdom Galleries are the twin life-sized, limestone statues of two seated royals of the 4th Dynasty. The pair lived four and a half millennia ago, but the statues� small details, such as the princess�s real fringe poking out from under her wig and her elegant white dress, bring them back to life. The statues were discovered by the museum�s founder, Mariette, at Meidum in 1871. Narmer Palette Dating from 3,000 BC, the Narmer Palette has been called the �first historical document in the world�. It is a flat plate of greenish stone carved with designs that on one side show King Narmer (also known as Menes) wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and on the reverse, wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Historians interpret this to represent the unification of the two main tribes of Egypt under one ruler, making Narmer the founder of the 1st Dynasty and first king of all Egypt. This is when ancient Egypt started. Statue of Ka-Aper Egyptian art is not usually associated with realism, but so lifelike is this 5th-Dynasty wooden statue of the plump priest Ka-Aper that the workmen who discovered it at Saqqara in 1860 nicknamed him Sheikh al-Balad (�Head of the Village�) because of the resemblance to their own headman. The eyes are extraordinary and are outlined in copper with whites of opaque quartz and rock crystals as pupils. Head of Nefertiti The best-known bust of Nefertiti is held by the Berlin Museum but the unpainted quartzite sculpture displayed in the Amarna Room of the Egyptian Museum is also a masterpiece. Although unfinished, it is a magnificent work and, in contrast to the almost grotesque depictions of her husband, Akhenaten, the queen is shown as a wholly human beauty. Statuette of Khufu (Cheops) Ironically, the only portrait of the builder of the famed Great Pyramid at Giza, the 4th-Dynasty king, Khufu, is a tiny ivory statuette just 7 cm (3 inches) high. It depicts the king sitting on his throne wearing a long robe and the crown of Lower Egypt and was found in a temple at Abydos in Middle Egypt. It now sits on its own in a cabinet in Room 37. Tutankhamun�s Lion Throne There are around 1,700 items in the galleries devoted to the treasures of Tutankhamun. It is easy to be overwhelmed, but don�t miss the Lion Throne. Its wooden frame is wrapped in sheets of gold and silver inlaid with semiprecious stones, faience and coloured glass. On the back of the throne the young king sits under the rays of Aten (the sun) in a style derived from Amarna. Tutankhamun�s Death Mask In a museum full of magnificence, the life-sized gold death mask of Tutankhamun remains the show stopper and the most famous example of ancient Egyptian craftmanship. It originally covered the head of the mummy and is an idealized portrait of the pharaoh. The gold of the headdress is interspersed with lapis lazuli and topped by a cobra that spits at the pharaoh�s enemies. Middle Kingdom Models Several rooms on the west wing of the upper floor contain finely detailed models from the 11th Dynasty. These include peasants netting fish from a boat, cattle being driven past scribes recording their number, a weaver�s workshop and marching platoons of soldiers of different ethnicities. Together they offer an invaluable insight into the daily life of the humble ancient Egyptian. Mask of Thuya Discovered in 1905, the tomb of Yuya and Thuya has always been overshadowed by the discovery of the tomb of their greatgrandson, Tutankhamun. It contained many beautiful funerary artefacts including a striking funerary mask of gilded plaster with inlaid glass and quartz. Fayoum Portraits In Room 14 on the first floor are these life-like portraits dating from the period of Roman rule in Egypt (30 BC�395 AD). They represent some of the world�s earliest portraiture. Painted on wooden boards during the subject�s lifetime, they were at death laid over the face of the mummified corpse before it was placed into its sarcophagus. |
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Philae is the most picturesque of all Egypt�s temples, thanks to its site � it sits on a Nile island reached by small motor launch. This Ptolemaic (Graeco-Roman) era temple is devoted to Isis, whose cult was to survive into early Christian times. After the building of the Aswan Dam (1898�1902), the island�s temples were submerged for a part of each year. With the building of the High Dam (1969�71), the temples were relocated to nearby Agilika Island, which was landscaped to match the original site.
Top 10 Features 1 Kiosk of Nectanebo 2 Colonnaded Courtyard 3 Temple of Isis 4 The Sanctuary 5 The Birth House 6 The Osiris Rooms 7 Hadrian�s Gate 8 Temple of Hathor 9 Kiosk of Trajan 10 Sound and Light Show Kiosk of Nectanebo Boats drop visitors at a double stairway that leads up to the Kiosk of Nectanebo, a small structure erected during the 4th century BC that acts as a gateway to the site. Colonnaded Courtyard Beyond the kiosk is an elongated courtyard flanked by colonnades. The west colonnade has columns on which every capital is different and a rear wall punctuated by windows overlooking the water. The east colonnade is interrupted by a series of ruined structures. Temple of Isis The centrepiece of Philae is this beautiful, small temple built over several hundred years by Ptolemaic and Roman rulers. It is fronted by an ancient Egyptian pylon and two stone lions. The Sanctuary Beyond a second pylon, a hypostyle hall leads to vestibules that culminate in the innermost holy sanctuary, containing a stone pedestal that once supported the goddess Isis�s barque. The Birth House The colonnaded Birth House is where the pharaohs legitimized their rule as mortal descendants of Horus by taking part in rituals celebrating the god�s birth. At the bottom of the rear wall are scenes of Isis giving birth to Horus in the marshes. The Osiris Rooms If the caretaker can be persuaded to unlock the way (with a tip), some upper rooms with reliefs depicting the resurrection of Osiris after his dismemberment by Seth can be visited. Hadrian�s Gate West of the temple is a small vestibule dedicated by the Roman emperor, inscribed with the date 24 August AD 394. Above the lintel, Hadrian is depicted presenting himself before a pantheon of ancient Egyptian deities. Temple of Hathor East of the main building is a small, ruinous temple, which still has two columns topped with Hathor heads, as well as a fine relief depicting musicians with the dwarf god Bess playing a harp. Kiosk of Trajan This imposing kiosk was built around AD 100 by the Roman emperor Trajan and served as a royal landing for the temple. It combines Roman architecture with Pharaonic detailing. Sound and Light Show Of all Egypt�s sound and light shows, the one at Philae is the best. It consists of a one-hour floodlit tour through the ruins and is a highly atmospheric experience. The Cult of Isis Isis was the goddess of magic, and no ancient Egyptian cult lasted longer or spread further than hers. She became identified with women, sex and purity, and Isis worship spread throughout the Roman empire, with her cult temples appearing as far as what is now Hungary. For the first two centuries of Christianity�s history, Isis was Christianity�s main rival. It is possible that Christianity�s cult of the Virgin was nurtured as a way of winning over Isis worshippers. Tips For Traveler
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During the greatest period of ancient Egyptian history almost every pharaoh was buried here in tombs hewn into the rock and decorated with extraordinary art. To date, 63 tombs have been discovered and there may still be more to come, making this the richest archaeological site on earth. The numbers assigned to the tombs represent the order in which they were discovered, but a better way to approach the valley is to visit the tombs in the order in which they were constructed, as they are presented here. In this way it is possible to witness the flowering and eventual decline of ancient Egyptian tomb art. Top 10 Features 1 Tomb of Tuthmosis III (No.34) 2 Tomb of Amenhotep II (No.35) 3 Tomb of Tutankhamun (No.62) 4 Tomb of Horemheb (No.57) 5 Tomb of Ramses I (No.16) 6 Tomb of Seti I (No.17) 7 Tomb of Merneptah (No.8) 8 Tomb of Ramses III (No.11) 9 Tomb of Ramses IV (No.2) 10 Tomb of Ramses VI (No.9) Tuthmosis III (No.34) Tuthmosis III was one of the first pharaohs to be buried in the valley. His tomb is at the furthest end, burrowed high into the mountainside in an attempt to thwart thieves. The tomb decorations from this period are very crude, with figures rendered as stick people. Amenhotep II (No.35) This is one of the deepest tombs in the valley, with 90 steps leading down to the various chambers. Amenhotep II ruled immediately after Tuthmosis III and this tomb has similarly basic wall paintings, as well as containing Amenhotep�s sarcophagus. Tutankhamun (No.62) This is a very small tomb, but it is one of the most visited thanks to the story of its discovery by Howard Carter. All of the treasures have been removed and visitors must be content with seeing the king�s mummy, which lies inside a gilded coffin. Horemheb (No.57) The introduction of bas-relief in this tomb, in which figures are carved out before painting, shows an advance in tomb art. Not all figures are finished and it is fascinating to see the work in various stages of completion. Ramses I (No.16) Ramses I ruled only for a single year and his tomb is correspondingly modest in size. It has the shortest entrance corridor in the valley leading to a small burial chamber. However, the colours of the tomb paintings remain particularly vibrant. Seti I (No.17) If you visit only one tomb, it should be this one � the longest, deepest and most lavishly decorated tomb in the valley. The vaulted burial chamber boasts a beautiful ceiling, showing the constellations surrounded by a line-up of deities. Merneptah (No.8) One of the many sons of Ramses II, Merneptah�s tomb almost equals that of Seti I for grandeur. This is the first tomb in which the axis is completely straight, terminating in a tomb chamber containing the pharaoh�s magnificent granite sarcophagus. Ramses III (No.11) This is also known as the �Tomb of the Harpists� after the bas-relief of two musicians. Unusually for a royal tomb, its colourful reliefs include scenes of everyday Egyptian life. Ramses IV (No.2) Ramses III was the last of the great pharaohs. The quality of the craftsmanship in the tomb of his successor is noticeably poorer than those that came before. Ramses VI (No.9) This tomb has very dense decoration, representing sacred texts and imagery, central to which is the voyage of the sun god Ra through the underworld and his victorious reemergence in the morning. Traveler�s Tips:
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