Hieroglyphics
The hieroglyphic alphabet was a form of writing for ancient Egyptians, starting around 5000 BC to 3000 BC. Instead of letters like we use today, the ancient Egyptians used pictures and drawings (right) to write. "Hieroglyphic" stands for "sacred carving". Since writing in hieroglyphics was so complicated, there were special, educated people to do these things called scribes. They wrote on papyrus, a crop grown along the Nile River. Hieroglyphics was used by ancient Egyptians as early as 3000 B.C. There were thousands of drawings to replace letters and symbols. Most Egyptians could not read or write.
There were about 700 to 800 basic symbols in the hieroglyphic alphabet, and they were called "glyph"s. Egyptian glyphs are divided into two groups, phonograms and ideograms. Phonograms stood for sounds and letters, while ideograms stood for objects and ideas.
There were about 700 to 800 basic symbols in the hieroglyphic alphabet, and they were called "glyph"s. Egyptian glyphs are divided into two groups, phonograms and ideograms. Phonograms stood for sounds and letters, while ideograms stood for objects and ideas.
This message above written in hieroglyphics means "Ancient Egypt".
Scribes
Since writing hieroglyphics were very complicated, there were special trained people to do the writing. It took many years in order to learn how to write hieroglyphics. They would start training as young as age 6. Scribes were high class jobs, so being one had a very dignified honor. Scribes didn't have to pay taxes or go to the army. They were very educated and erudite in the language of hieroglyphics. Sometimes scribes used a faster short form of hieroglyphics on papyrus called hieratic.
Since writing hieroglyphics were very complicated, there were special trained people to do the writing. It took many years in order to learn how to write hieroglyphics. They would start training as young as age 6. Scribes were high class jobs, so being one had a very dignified honor. Scribes didn't have to pay taxes or go to the army. They were very educated and erudite in the language of hieroglyphics. Sometimes scribes used a faster short form of hieroglyphics on papyrus called hieratic.
Medical Technology
The Ancient Egyptians had several types of medicine and cures. Some of their medicines were quite strange. For example, they used honey and human brains to cure eye infections. They also used a whole cooked mouse to help cure coughs. Many of their medicines were accompanied by spells to ward off the evil spirits making the person sick. Since ancient Egypt was mostly desert, sand and grit often got into the Egyptians' teeth, causing tooth problems and infections. Therefore, toothpaste and toothbrushes were invented. Ashes, eggshells, and even ground up ox hooves were used to make these toothpastes.
Doctors Though doctors may have passed their knowledge form father to son, it is possible that there were medical schools as well. Most doctors worked as general practitioners in the community. Some worked in temples, the army, or the most skilled worked to the royal court. Knowledge Egyptians doctors knew a lot about the human body. They knew about the heart's job and the nervous system. The were good at settling broken bones. However, ther were big gaps in their knowledge, thinking that water and air passed trough the heart. Religion and Medicine Any illness was considered as casued by evil spirits entering he body. Therefore, special prayers were made to god for treatment. For this reason there were three types of doctors, surgeon-healers, preiset-doctors, and pure magicians. |
Other Inventions and Technological Advancements
There were many new inventions created in ancient Egypt. Here are some of the most known and important:
Mathematics
The Egyptians needed a good understanding of math and geometry in order to measure and build the famous pyramids. For numbers, they used a decimal system. Instead of having numbers 2-9 or 0, they just had numbers for factors of 10, including, 1, 10, 100, 1000, etc. So instead of writing the number 5, they wrote 5 1's. Or instead of writing 70, they wrote 7 10's. The number system that we use today originated from this Egyptian math.
Makeup
All Egyptians wore makeup, even the men. They were dark eye makeup out of something called kohl from soot and other minerals. Though the makeup was more of for fashion, it had a way of protecting the skin from the hot sun rays.
Calendar
Over 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar, corresponding with the flood cycles of the Nile River. It was originally based on the lunar cycle of 12 months, grouping 3 seasons of 4 months each for one year. Again, the calendar we use today is very similar to our calendar. In fact, this was the first calendar in history that had the system of 365 days and leap years.
Cartouche
A cartouche was a name plate, shaped like an oval, with your name in the middle, and is attached to your coffin. The Egyptians believed that there were two souls, the "Ba" and the "Ka", could find their way back to their home, the tomb, after they died. Nobody wanted their two souls to get lost, so all Egyptians put their name plates on their coffin.
The Egyptians needed a good understanding of math and geometry in order to measure and build the famous pyramids. For numbers, they used a decimal system. Instead of having numbers 2-9 or 0, they just had numbers for factors of 10, including, 1, 10, 100, 1000, etc. So instead of writing the number 5, they wrote 5 1's. Or instead of writing 70, they wrote 7 10's. The number system that we use today originated from this Egyptian math.
Makeup
All Egyptians wore makeup, even the men. They were dark eye makeup out of something called kohl from soot and other minerals. Though the makeup was more of for fashion, it had a way of protecting the skin from the hot sun rays.
Calendar
Over 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar, corresponding with the flood cycles of the Nile River. It was originally based on the lunar cycle of 12 months, grouping 3 seasons of 4 months each for one year. Again, the calendar we use today is very similar to our calendar. In fact, this was the first calendar in history that had the system of 365 days and leap years.
Cartouche
A cartouche was a name plate, shaped like an oval, with your name in the middle, and is attached to your coffin. The Egyptians believed that there were two souls, the "Ba" and the "Ka", could find their way back to their home, the tomb, after they died. Nobody wanted their two souls to get lost, so all Egyptians put their name plates on their coffin.
Amulet
Amulets were tiny objects that Egyptians wore around their necks for the gods, just like sacred necklaces, because they believed that doing so would magically produce power or a form of protection from the gods. There were two kinds, one for life and encouragement, and one for the dead and mummies. Both were made out of stone, metal, glass, and clay. All amulets had different meanings, as most were shaped as gods or animals.
Amulets were tiny objects that Egyptians wore around their necks for the gods, just like sacred necklaces, because they believed that doing so would magically produce power or a form of protection from the gods. There were two kinds, one for life and encouragement, and one for the dead and mummies. Both were made out of stone, metal, glass, and clay. All amulets had different meanings, as most were shaped as gods or animals.
Daily Life
Social Structure
Egypt had a rigid social structure. Boys were trained by their fathers and grandfathers to pass along their jobs. Girls were raised to become good wives and mothers, though they could work outside the home with domestic duties as the priority. There were 3 classes: the Upper Class (Royal Family/Educated Elite), the Middle Class, and the Lower Class (Skilled Laborers/Peasants and Manual Workers).
Egypt had a rigid social structure. Boys were trained by their fathers and grandfathers to pass along their jobs. Girls were raised to become good wives and mothers, though they could work outside the home with domestic duties as the priority. There were 3 classes: the Upper Class (Royal Family/Educated Elite), the Middle Class, and the Lower Class (Skilled Laborers/Peasants and Manual Workers).
Royal Family (UC)
The king was at the top of the Egypt's social pyramid. Under him was the queen and their children. The king, or also called the pharaoh, did not live lazily. They dressed differently then the lower classes, with fancy jewerly and golden tunics. The Egyptians called the Pharaoh "Pharaoh", rather than "The Pharaoh", since there was only one.
Educated Elite (UC)
The Educated Elite was formed of the General, High Priest, High court Lady, Viziers, Scribes, Royal Nurse, and the Viceroy. The General led and took charge of wars, under the command of the pharaoh. The high priest was the highest level of all the priests, and their jobs were to help contact the gods and goddesses and was in charge of religion. The Vizier was the highest official and helper in companion to the pharaoh. Scribes' jobs were to read and write, and record data for the royal family. The Royal Nurse nursed the Royal Family for health, and the Viceroy of Kush was the appointed administrator for ancient Egypt. The Royal Family and the Educated Elite was about 5% of the population.
Middle Class
The Middle Classes were formed of Merchants, Local Priests and Priestesses, Skilled Artisians, Craftsmen, and Musicians. Most people in the middle class were either merchants or craftsmen. Merchants traded and sold items to the rest of the Egyptians society. Local priests worked under the High Priests, working with the local people and religion. Skilled artisans and craftsmen made different products such as pottery and works of art. Middle Class was about 10-15% of the population.
Skilled Laborers (LC)
Skilled Laborers were the higher of the lower class. They were formed of farmers, beer sellers, foot soldiers, peasant women, and archers. Farmers and Peasant Women worked in the fields. Archers and foot soldiers worked in the army under the control of the General and the Pharaoh.
Peasants and Manual Workers (LC)
The Peasants and Manual Workers category was formed of foot soldiers, peasant farmers, servants, quarrymen, and slaves. Slaves and servants weren't very common, and they weren't like the slaves in colonial America, but they were still in the lower class. Slaves and servants were mostly captured prisoners in war, and they could earn their freedom and rights after working for a certain number of years. Foot soldiers were the lowest level of the army, under the command of the General as well. Quarrymen helped move stones and bricks for buildings such as tombs or pyramids. Peasants working the land were about 80-85% of the population.
The king was at the top of the Egypt's social pyramid. Under him was the queen and their children. The king, or also called the pharaoh, did not live lazily. They dressed differently then the lower classes, with fancy jewerly and golden tunics. The Egyptians called the Pharaoh "Pharaoh", rather than "The Pharaoh", since there was only one.
Educated Elite (UC)
The Educated Elite was formed of the General, High Priest, High court Lady, Viziers, Scribes, Royal Nurse, and the Viceroy. The General led and took charge of wars, under the command of the pharaoh. The high priest was the highest level of all the priests, and their jobs were to help contact the gods and goddesses and was in charge of religion. The Vizier was the highest official and helper in companion to the pharaoh. Scribes' jobs were to read and write, and record data for the royal family. The Royal Nurse nursed the Royal Family for health, and the Viceroy of Kush was the appointed administrator for ancient Egypt. The Royal Family and the Educated Elite was about 5% of the population.
Middle Class
The Middle Classes were formed of Merchants, Local Priests and Priestesses, Skilled Artisians, Craftsmen, and Musicians. Most people in the middle class were either merchants or craftsmen. Merchants traded and sold items to the rest of the Egyptians society. Local priests worked under the High Priests, working with the local people and religion. Skilled artisans and craftsmen made different products such as pottery and works of art. Middle Class was about 10-15% of the population.
Skilled Laborers (LC)
Skilled Laborers were the higher of the lower class. They were formed of farmers, beer sellers, foot soldiers, peasant women, and archers. Farmers and Peasant Women worked in the fields. Archers and foot soldiers worked in the army under the control of the General and the Pharaoh.
Peasants and Manual Workers (LC)
The Peasants and Manual Workers category was formed of foot soldiers, peasant farmers, servants, quarrymen, and slaves. Slaves and servants weren't very common, and they weren't like the slaves in colonial America, but they were still in the lower class. Slaves and servants were mostly captured prisoners in war, and they could earn their freedom and rights after working for a certain number of years. Foot soldiers were the lowest level of the army, under the command of the General as well. Quarrymen helped move stones and bricks for buildings such as tombs or pyramids. Peasants working the land were about 80-85% of the population.
How People Lived
Egypt's Upper Class lived in elegant homes and estates along the Nile River. Their homes were out of wood and mud-bricks. Servants waited on them and did household tasks. Egypt's Middle Class lived in smaller homes and dressed more simply than the Upper Class. Finally, Egypt's Lower Class lived in crowded city neighborhoods, in small mud-brick houses with hard-packed dirt floors.
Egyptian women had a legal status similar to men, with the right to own property, buy and sell goods, and obtain divorces. Some wealthy women even served as priests. Not many children attended school. Girls were taught to see, cook, and run a household by their mothers. Boys were taught their fathers' trade in order to inherit his business. When children became teenagers, they were to get married and start families of their own.
Egypt's Upper Class lived in elegant homes and estates along the Nile River. Their homes were out of wood and mud-bricks. Servants waited on them and did household tasks. Egypt's Middle Class lived in smaller homes and dressed more simply than the Upper Class. Finally, Egypt's Lower Class lived in crowded city neighborhoods, in small mud-brick houses with hard-packed dirt floors.
Egyptian women had a legal status similar to men, with the right to own property, buy and sell goods, and obtain divorces. Some wealthy women even served as priests. Not many children attended school. Girls were taught to see, cook, and run a household by their mothers. Boys were taught their fathers' trade in order to inherit his business. When children became teenagers, they were to get married and start families of their own.
If I could be anyone in ancient Egypt, I would be a scribe. Scribes were part of the upper class (sometimes middle), the educated elite, and held a very important and respected job. They were the only ones in ancient Egypt who knew how to read and write. Only scribes were allowed to have this knowledge. Though evidence shows that scribes were mostly men, there were a few women scribes who were trained to read and write medical texts. To become a scribe, they had to attend a special school in order to learn to read and write hieroglyphics. Anyone could not be a scribe. The knowledge and job was usually passed on from generation to generation, though rarely, some craftsmen's sons became scribes. It could take about 5 years for a scribe to pass through scribe school and officially become one. The job was very difficult to do. The ones who mastered the art of writing earned a very high position in society. Being a scribe didn't have specific disadvantages, mostly advantages. As mentioned above, scribes were respected position in the Egyptian society, so being one was an honor.
Scribes used special equipment to write, using wood palettes with brushes and reed pens and a roll of papyrus. They generally wrote in either black or red ink, with red ink indicating importance or the beginning of a new chapter.
Scribes used special equipment to write, using wood palettes with brushes and reed pens and a roll of papyrus. They generally wrote in either black or red ink, with red ink indicating importance or the beginning of a new chapter.
Fun Facts
- Thoth was the god patron of scribes and was often credited with the development of hieroglyphics.
- Seshat was the Goddess of Writing, the wife or daughter of Thoth.
- There weren't any vowels in the hieroglyphic alphabet.
- The word "paper" comes from the papyrus plant.
- The Egyptians invented a game similar to bowling where the bowler had to bowl a ball into a hole.
- The Egyptians invented large door locks with keys. Some of the keys were as long as 2 feet.
by Jenny L.