How did the ancient Egyptians live? The amazing history of Ancient Egypt: all the most interesting about the country of the pharaohs.

[:RU]Away from street politics and violent protests, these girls live secure, privileged lives in Egypt's wealthy communities. "All roads lead to New Giza", "Cleaner, safer and more beautiful environment”, “The Life You Always Dreamed of” - giant billboards on the Cairo ring road are filled with English signs that are trying to sell goods to members of the wealthy elite living in Egypt, a dream life that almost no one in the city can afford.

The Egyptian elite prefers to settle on the outskirts of the city, away from the traditionally popular areas in the center of the old city, in an artificial environment, in seclusion from the world. Buying a home in these areas promises a range of perks that are typically not found in a crowded city: privacy, green scenery, and security. To protect these mansions from prying eyes, communities are surrounded by an extensive network of walls and an army of security personnel who guard the peace of the masters of life in Egypt.

Photographer Zaza Bertrand managed to get into this hidden world of Egypt and communicate with young girls - representatives of this elite. Her pictures show beautiful girls looking for a sense of identity in the surreal world they live in. The landscapes of micro cities are often under construction and reflect a certain loneliness that is also present in girls. It seems unlikely that this built environment can enable these girls to realize their hopes and dreams.

Esme eats a McDonald's hamburger in a gated community.

Ahella and Nada are having a picnic in the desert, drinking beer and smoking on weekends.

Sarah on a felucca boat. Many young people go on Nile cruises with their friends.

Noor and her friend are relaxing by the pool. The use of the pool is free for the residents of the community and their guests, but is strictly prohibited to anyone else.

Nariman visiting inside the cottage village of Uptown Cairo. She feels sad because she just had a fight with her boyfriend.

Mosquito spray gas in Palm Springs. All elite communities-villages have Europeanized names, such as Beverly Hills, "Mountain View", "Lake View", Mirage City, "Utopia", Swan Lake and etc.

Esme dries her hair extensions. She meets friends for lunch and prepares for the event.

The new settlements are almost completed. cottage settlements like this one, completely isolated from Egyptian street politics, and poor life in Cairo.

All that is needed, the owners can find within their community. This girl does not want to show her face, she is learning to pole dance in her room.

Nariman posing in front of his educational institution, German University in Cairo.

Early in the morning near the entrance to the casino and nightclub.

Thanks to documents written on papyrus, inscriptions on stone blocks, drawings on the walls and objects found in various tombs, historians have a good idea of ​​​​how the Egyptians lived.

How they dressed

Due to the hot climate, the inhabitants of Egypt needed only light clothing, which they made from white linen. Often, clothes were not worn at home. Slaves, artisans and children usually went without clothes. However, the ancient Egyptians were very concerned about their appearance and cleanliness. Both men and women lined their eyes, wore jewelry, and used perfume.

Housing

Houses and even royal palaces were made of sun-dried bricks. The stone was used only for the construction of tombs and temples. Due to the hot weather and bright light, the windows in the houses were small and placed high from the ground. Often doors and windows were curtained with fly and dust mats. When it was very hot, people slept right on the flat roofs.

Entertainment

Wall paintings depict women and men singing and relaxing in the bosom of nature. Men compete in wrestling, hunting ducks, antelopes and hares. Board games were popular with both adults and children; many families kept pets.

Did they eat well?

The inhabitants of Egypt had enough food, they caught fish, including eels, hunted ducks and geese. They also have their own diet. The main part of the daily diet of the Egyptians were fruits, vegetables and pork. The Egyptians developed cultivars of watermelon brought from South Africa, grew a fig tree that came to Egypt from Turkey. They learned how to make wine, beer and cheese. Cakes and cookies were baked from wheat (often with the addition of honey and herbal spices). The Egyptians knew more than forty different types of bread.

The role of religion

The fact that the Egyptians built so many large temples shows that religion was very important to them. They prayed to various gods and believed in life after death. Therefore, they kept the bodies of the dead in the form of mummies and buried them, leaving food, dishes, tools and weapons necessary for the afterlife in the crypts. Clerics played a large and important role in Egyptian society. Simple people they believed that, by interpreting dreams and studying the stars, the priests could predict the fate of a person and even protect from the evil eye with the help of conspiracies and spells.

What did you do?

Most Egyptians were farmers. In their free time from field work, they helped build temples and pyramids. It was also a way to pay taxes. The work of artisans was well paid, but instead of money they were often paid with food, cloth, firewood or salt. Most of the women worked around the house, but were often weavers, dancers, nannies, priestesses, or workers who made perfumes and cosmetics.

How were mummies made?

The human body was cut and the heart, lungs and other organs were removed from there, which were then placed in separate vessels. The brain was removed piece by piece with hooks through the nose and discarded. The body was then treated with caustic soda, a natural chemical compound, which dried it out and prevented decomposition. As a rule, the body was stuffed with cloth and wrapped in bandages, and then buried in a coffin, which in turn was placed in a stone sarcophagus. The whole process took about seventy days.

Work

The inhabitants of Egypt worked ten days in a row, and then they had two days of rest. In addition, they had 65 days off a year, which were intended for various ceremonies and celebrations. The Egyptians canceled work on funeral days or on birthdays. The work was mainly carried out when it was cool outside, "in two shifts" - in the morning and in the evening. In the midday heat, people rested and slept.

Thebes was divided into two parts: the city of the living on the east coast and City of the dead- on the west. And if completely different Egyptians live on the east coast today, then the inhabitants of the west coast have not gone away with the rare exception of mummies that have ended up in museums around the world. According to some reports, hundreds of millions of Egyptians were buried on the west bank of the Nile during the entire existence of the ancient Egyptian civilization, so that the city of the dead is the most populous city on earth in terms of population. How the dead lived - we can see in the numerous excavated tombs, but what was the life of the living?

Children and parents in ancient Egypt

The family is the basis of society in ancient Egypt

The Egyptians considered the family a great value. They were used to living surrounded by relatives and suffered greatly if they had to leave, they considered life in a foreign land a reference. Egyptian soldiers, courageously enduring the hardships of military life and brave in battle, wept from homesickness.

The mother was considered in ancient Egypt as the main member of the family, even in many funerary inscriptions, the genealogy of the Egyptian was based on the mother. And as a grandfather, the maternal grandfather was usually indicated. Wallis Budge: “The father demanded complete obedience from his son, but the Egyptians believed that the boy was more indebted to his mother, and he had to not only obey her, but also love her and constantly prove his feelings to her.” Scribe Ani warns sons ancient egypt from disobedience and resentment of the mother, believing that the mother's complaint to the gods about the disrespectful son will certainly bring divine and earthly troubles to him.

At the same time, of course, there was no matriarchy in Ancient Egypt - men were both warriors, earners, and rulers. Egyptian women ruled in their homes and tried to be less likely to be in public, although they were relatively free and educated. So, Princess Nesitanebtashu copied the Book of the Dead on her own, another woman made an excellent copy of the Zucha manuscript, which is now stored in british museum. At the same time, women independently owned and disposed of their property, made deals, especially in the era of the New Kingdom.

Marriage in ancient Egypt was often concluded with the participation of older relatives, parents and matchmakers, however, based on the will of the future spouses themselves, coercion to marry was not common.

In everyday life, in home life, men carefully listened to the opinions and desires of their girlfriends. Modern men will be interested in the instruction of the sage Ptahotep on the attitude towards his wife: “... Love your wife in your house justly and properly. Fill her stomach and close her back; give oil for anointing - a medicine for her members. Make her heart rejoice all the time you live; she is a profitable field for you. Don't fight with her. May she avoid violence. Make it flourish in your home. If you become an enemy to her, she will swallow you up like an abyss...”.

Another sage, the scribe Ani, gave his contemporaries even more specific advice: “Try not to command your wife in her house when you know that she is an excellent mistress. Don't tell her, "Where is this thing? Bring it to me,” when she put it in the right place... A man who argues in his house only creates a mess in it and will never understand that in fact he is the real owner there always. Apparently, the “give-bring” problem has been living between a man and a woman since the time of Ancient Egypt, and Egyptian men solved it in favor of a woman.

The childhood of the ancient Egyptians depended on the level of prosperity of their parents. The children of slaves were forced to start working from the age of five, the infant mortality rate among slaves and poor peasants was high.

All children in the first years of their lives did not wear clothes. The children of wealthy Egyptians had toys - rag balls, dolls with moving arms and legs, figures of animals and even living animals. So, the son of one of the officials constantly carried a live hoopoe to school, and bird catchers loved to give songbirds to their children.

Education in ancient Egypt

The best profession in ancient Egypt is a non-dusty civil service

Children free people had the opportunity to get an education. Children of the king and members royal family mostly taught at home. But it also happened that the sons of the pharaoh studied with ordinary children in temple schools. The priests attached great importance the natural abilities of a person, and therefore not only the children of the rich, but also the children of the poor could go to school and study in it - everything depended on the talents of the child, and if the priests saw potential in him, then he was taken for state or temple maintenance. Therefore, in the history of Ancient Egypt there are many examples when people from poor, humble families made brilliant military, political and priestly careers.

In schools, they studied arithmetic, writing, reading, and land management. Skills of a scribe, good knowledge of agriculture, market prices for agricultural products were considered valuable knowledge and skills. The role of military schools or cadet corps was performed by the stables of the pharaoh, where experienced veterans taught boys horseback riding, weapons, command skills and tactical methods of warfare.

Boys in ancient Egypt studied for about the same amount as their young peers in the modern world - from ten to twelve years. After the temple school, they usually waited for a career as a scribe, priest or official, after the stable - military service. The girls studied at home. Boys were subjected to corporal punishment, which is well illustrated by the ancient Egyptian saying: "A boy has ears on his back and he listens when he is beaten."

It must be said that the Egyptians were very practical in their approach to choosing a profession, as well as to education and knowledge in general. With the exception of religious knowledge, the Egyptians were very concrete people. They highly appreciated public service, rightly believing that here you can earn good money and stay healthy. This was very different from the private sector, where hard physical labor prevailed, even if you had your own business - a weaving or pottery workshop, a laundry or a fishing gang.

For example, the work of a scribe was considered highly prestigious. But not because literacy itself was valued, but because the work of a scribe was not physically difficult and was well paid. So, a certain Duauf advised his son Pepi to become a scribe not for reasons of “study is light”, but for completely different reasons: “I thought about physical labor and came to the conclusion that books are the best subject for study ... the profession of a scribe is the greatest of all; she has no equal on earth. Even when a scribe is just starting to build his career, everyone consults with him. He is engaged state affairs and never undertakes what another entrusts him... every worker curses his occupation or trade, but not the scribe, to whom no one says: "Go and work in the fields for such and such." Very pragmatic and modern. This view of the profession of a scribe was shared by most of the fathers of Ancient Egypt, and Duauf's teaching became a reader.

Egyptian clothing: fashion and hairstyles

The men of ancient Egypt wore wigs, and the ladies wore foxtrot haircuts.

Clothes of Egyptians and Egyptians

The most ancient Egyptians - both men and women - wore loincloths and short, straight, wraparound skirts. These garments were made from white linen, at first rather coarse, which then began to be dressed into thin flowing fabrics. In general, linen remained throughout the history of Ancient Egypt the main material for making dresses. Leather was used to make belts and jewelry, as well as sandals, which, however, were more often made from cane.

Men's skirts different eras were of different lengths. The older the skirt, the shorter it is. By the era of the decline of the ancient Egyptian state, the skirt gradually transformed into dresses and long tunics. By the way, the number of clothes on a person and its length increased in ancient Egypt over time, but for a long time the Egyptians liked to show their body in public and admire themselves, nudity did not bother them. In agricultural work, men and women worked naked, occasionally wearing only loincloths. The servants in the houses of wealthy Egyptians dressed the same way.

Noble Egyptians for a long time left their neck and chest bare: their dresses made of completely transparent material showed well other body shapes, the dress itself was supported by wide straps connected at the back. The colors of the dresses were mostly limited to white, sometimes red or yellow dresses were sewn. Only later, through cultural exchanges with other peoples, multi-colored and striped clothes came to Ancient Egypt. On the head of the queen they wore headdresses in the form of a neck, personifying the goddess Mut.

The pharaohs tried to dress like the gods. In the course were short skirts, tails and headdresses in the form of crowns and wigs. At different times, the tails were either jackals or artificial. Later, tunics, raincoats, wide collars began to be added.

The clothes of the pharaohs, members of their families and noble Egyptians were washed by special laundries. They laid out garments on flat stones and beat them carefully with stones or palm fronds. Clay was used instead of soap.

Shoes in ancient Egypt

Shoes were not in honor among the ancient Egyptians. It was only worn wealthy people, and even then not always. Mostly, shoes were worn for long journeys and travel to mountainous areas. Closed shoes, similar to shoes, appeared at the very end of the existence of civilization under the influence of the Greeks and Romans, and before that the Egyptians wore sandals, which were made from papyrus, less often from leather and even from wood. The Egyptians did not enter the house in shoes. It is noteworthy that under the pharaohs there was a special position - a sandal bearer - a person who carried his shoes behind the pharaoh. It must be assumed that the pharaoh preferred to walk barefoot, but the presence of shoes was a sign of prosperity and wealth. On the bas-reliefs and paintings in the tombs, one can often see behind the figure of the pharaoh the silhouette of his servant with sandals in his hands. It is also interesting that the ancient historian, who described the expedition of Queen Hatshepsut to the country of Punt, complained about the hardships of the journey, as the expedition members had to drag water, drive cattle and carry sandals. Sandals were also included in the set of things needed by the Egyptian in the afterlife.

Egyptian god fashion

A special "fashion" developed in relation to the robes of the gods. The Egyptians dressed statues of the gods regularly, during many religious holidays and among the offerings to the gods there were always items of clothing, just as in the temples there were special rooms where these items were stored. Interestingly, the Egyptians wore special fingertips made of pure gold on the hands of the gods and the dead pharaohs-gods. These fingertips reached down to the second knuckle and were held in place by thin strips of gold connected to gold bracelets at the wrists and ankles. This jewelry is very reminiscent of modern sets of Arab women, consisting of rings attached by chains to bracelets - the so-called "zhadi". Thin overlays were applied to the nails, repeating the shape of the nail and made of lapis lazuli. Accordingly, modern women of fashion owe false nails and jade to the fashion of the Egyptian gods.

Jewelry of the ancient Egyptians

Other decorations and jewelry had a mystical, religious meaning. The Egyptians - both men and women - wore necklaces, amulets, pendants, bracelets, earrings. In the Old Kingdom, earrings were small and made of gold. Then the earrings were lengthened and stones were added to them. The Egyptians were very fond of rings, mostly gold. But if financial situation did not allow the Egyptian to wear gold rings, he still preferred to walk “ringed”, even if these rings were made of glass and even straw. Scarabs, images of goddesses and gods were depicted on the rings. The rings of the pharaohs reflected their cartouches (names enclosed in an oval in the form of a knotted rope).

Hairstyles of Ancient Egypt

Men shaved their beards and mustaches, cut their hair short, and the priests shaved their entire bodies. At the same time, Egyptian men were seen wearing beards and long hair a sign of power and might, and therefore wore false beards and wigs. Apparently, this was due to climatic features - the exhausting summer heat, in which the removed beards and hair were much more convenient and hygienic than natural ones. Over time, the intricately woven beard or beard in the form of a square tuft of hair in the center of the chin became immutable attribute the authorities of the pharaoh and even Queen Hatshepsut in her ceremonial royal robes is depicted with a false beard. Also, beards were present in the images of the gods.

Most Egyptians' own hair was naturally curly and rather stiff, and therefore, in order to avoid difficulties with combing, all male Egyptians cut it short, replacing ceremonial hairstyles with wigs. Wigs were made from sheep's wool, were short and long, curled, straight and braided. Women wore a wide variety of hairstyles, decorated themselves with ribbons, hairpins, flowers and tiaras. In the era of the New Kingdom, the foxtrot haircut was very popular, when hair to the shoulders descends in large waves.

The Egyptians were very clean people and greatly appreciated the physical comfort that cleanliness gives. Simple peasants and artisans bathed in ponds, pharaohs and nobles took baths with incense. After washing, all the Egyptians anointed themselves with oils and ointments. An interesting way of anointing and moisturizing hair in ancient Egypt. During holidays and feasts, cone-shaped or spherical frames filled with a mixture of oils and incense were placed on the heads of men and women. Under the influence of heat, this mixture melted and dripped onto the hair, moisturizing it and giving it a favorite scent. The Egyptians loved their body and admired it, appreciated beauty and did not want to grow old, so they knew how to dye their hair black, hiding gray hair. And women took their cut hair with them to the grave, hoping that they would serve in the afterlife.

Much of what the ancient Egyptians used, we widely use in our modern life. Yes, and the teachings addressed to husbands sound relevant and fair for today's wives, and the profession of a civil servant has remained very attractive for many, many of our contemporaries, having not lost anything in the eyes of people for four and a half thousand years.

Literature:

• Erman A. Life in Ancient Egypt / Per. from English. I.A. Petrovskaya. - M .: CJSC Tsentrpoligraf, 2008.
• Avdiev V. I. History ancient east. M.: graduate School, 1970.
• Budge W. Inhabitants of the Nile Valley / Per. from English. A.B. Davydova. - M .: CJSC Tsentrpoligraf, 2009.

The ancient Egyptians were very clean people and always took care of the cleanliness of their body, clothing and housing. They performed water procedures several times a day: in the morning, before and after meals.

After the morning bath, they went to the services of hairdressers. Usually women turned to them, while men entrusted themselves to barbers and people doing manicures and pedicures. The daily morning toilet of the pharaoh turned into an important ceremony, at which all the noble people of the state were present. The morning toilet of senior officials (viziers, supreme judges and rulers of nomes) also became a kind of ceremony.

All relatives and servants gathered near the owner of the house. The squatting scribes were ready to carry out any of his commands: while some held brushes in their hands to record orders, others - long papyrus scrolls with names, numbers and a list of works that had already been done or were still in the project.

After the necessary ablutions, the barber set to work. At the end of this procedure, the owner of the house appeared before his relatives and servants cheerful, fresh, with a clean-shaven head and a short square beard.

The Egyptians preferred elongated eyes. And this is not just a tribute to fashion, but also a preventive measure that protects the organs of vision from bright sunlight, wind and dust. The ancient Egyptians used various cosmetics. So, to get rid of the smell of sweat on a hot day, they were rubbed with incense and a mixture of turpentine, incense and an unknown powder. There were all sorts of cleansing ointments that restore elasticity to the skin of the face and body. For this purpose, honey was added to the powder of alabaster, "northern salt" and natron.

There were also special cosmetics to get rid of spots and acne. Usually they were kneaded with donkey milk, after which they wiped the skin with a prepared lotion.

The morning toilet of the pharaoh's wife and any wealthy lady also turned into an event. Usually the hairdresser spent several hours to make a hairstyle for a noble person.

Unlike the rich Egyptians, the poor had to be content with the services of a street barber who sat somewhere under a tree, waiting for clients, who were always quite numerous. The barber conscientiously performed his duties: he shaved his head so cleanly that it became like pebbles rolled in by waves.

The Egyptian peasant woman usually did her hair on her own, without resorting to anyone's help. It is noteworthy that at this time all family members had to leave home so that the hairstyle turned out perfect, otherwise the woman had to start the morning toilet all over again

clothing

The morning attire of a man consisted of a short loincloth and a small amount of jewelry. In this form, he performed water procedures, received a barber and a manicure and pedicure master.

Preparing to leave the house, a rich Egyptian put on one or more bracelets on his wrists, a ring on his finger and a chest necklace of five or six rows of beads with clasps in the form of falcon heads. A pendant made of jasper or carnelian gave him a respectable look, and a loose straight skirt, which replaced the morning loincloth, and sandals gave completeness to the whole look. Known since ancient times, sandals were of particular value in ancient Egypt. It is known that one of the unifiers of Upper and Lower Egypt, Pharaoh Narmer, going anywhere accompanied by faithful servants, always walked barefoot, and one of his associates carried his shoes.

The farmers did the same, only they had to carry the sandals themselves, tying sticks to the end. The poor put on their shoes only when they reached their destination. A law was even passed forbidding soldiers to snatch "precious" sandals from the hands of people passing by.

During the New Kingdom, the Egyptians made shoes from various materials: from papyrus, leather or gold. From the toe of the sole, the strap stretched between the first and second toes to the ankle, where it was connected to others like a stirrup. All these straps were tied behind the heel.

Some wealthy Egyptians preferred straight, long dresses with straps and no jewelry. But most of the wealthy inhabitants of ancient Egypt walked in ruffled linen tunic dresses extended downwards, which, leaving the neck open, fitted the torso.

A mandatory attribute of the attire was a wide corrugated belt, which formed a trapezoidal apron in front.

In addition to this, in holidays the Egyptians wore large curled wigs, the curls of which covered the head and shoulders, ceremonial sandals and numerous jewelry (necklaces, chest pendants, bracelets).

Outfit rich woman, like the outfit of her noble spouse, consisted of a thin shirt and a white ruffled dress worn over it with a slit almost to the waist, which, unlike men's, was translucent and fastened on the left shoulder, while the right one remained open.

Wide fringed sleeves did not cover graceful hands, which allowed noble ladies to demonstrate their wrists with precious bracelets in the form of two plates of chased gold connected by clasps or gold rings, cords, ribbons.

Women's hair was adorned with sparkling tiaras of turquoise, lapis lazuli and gold, the ends of which were connected at the back of the head with two cords with tassels. Quite often, in the hairstyles of women and men, there was a cone-shaped fragrant decoration made of hair smeared with fragrant oils.

The outfit of the less wealthy Egyptians was distinguished by practicality. Farmers and artisans preferred to wear simple loincloths, tied with a palm-wide belt without any embroidery or tassels.

Like the rich inhabitants of Egypt, the poor liked to wear jewelry, only they were made not of gold, but of bronze and ceramics. However, these adornments are of artistic value, as well as the gold products of jewelers, since they are monuments of ancient culture.

Food

A feature of the climatic conditions of Ancient Egypt was that the floods of the Nile, making the land fertile, were periodically replaced by dry and lean years. At such a time, products were valued much more than gold.

According to ancient sources, the Egyptian rulers during the fertile years were obliged to create food supplies that would last for several years, but quite often they neglected their duties.

In the Great Papyrus of Harris, there is information that food was no less valuable offering than precious metals, clothes, fragrant oils and incense.

The daily diet of wealthy residents included meat dishes, ordinary Egyptians ate them only on holidays. On the walls of many tombs, archaeologists have found images of animals intended for slaughter and scenes of the slaughterhouses themselves.

Some phrases characterizing slaughter cattle have not yet been translated into a more understandable language (for example, “bull is the mouth of the herd” or “bull kite”), and the decoding of individual names is only approximate (perhaps the bull “Heris” was the best manufacturer offspring, but this is not certain).

At the slaughterhouse, butchers in the amount of 4-5 people set to work, who attacked the animal and quickly slaughtered it. Butchers' techniques remain unchanged to this day.

During the period ancient kingdom most of the meat was obtained by hunting for desert-dwelling gazelles, oryxes (oryxes) and other representatives of the artiodactyl order. Particularly skilled hunters tried to tame and domesticate the caught animals, but this was not always possible. In the future, this type of animal husbandry almost completely lost its significance.

It is not known whether the ancient Egyptians ate pork, lamb or goat meat, but that they were bred in Upper and Lower Egypt is known for certain.

The inhabitants of Egypt began to breed chickens only from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but poultry farming was widespread much earlier.

Special attention deserves such a food product as fish. AT different time in some Egyptian cities and nomes it was forbidden to eat certain types of fish. Sources report that the Ethiopian king who conquered Egypt, a Muslim by religion, refused to feast at the same table with the rulers of the Delta and the South, because they were not circumcised and ate unclean food (fish), which was a terrible insult to the royal palace. Only a resident of the sacred city of the priests of Shmun, who, according to tradition, did not eat fish, was awarded the great honor.

The diet of the Egyptians also included various vegetables included in the annual calendar of Medinet Abu under the name "renput". Especially valuable products were onions, leeks and garlic. According to the "father of history" Herodotus, the builders of the pyramid of Cheops received radishes, onions and garlic for 1600 silver talents for their work.

However, scientists have not been able to find any evidence for this claim, although there is a hieroglyphic image of these plants in the Great Harris Papyrus.

Bunches of garlic have been found in some Theban tombs, testifying to the lavish gifts of Ramesses III. Watermelons, melons, and cucumbers often feature on sacrificial steles alongside bound papyrus stalks. And peas, beans, and chickpeas (chickpeas shaped like a falcon's head) are common tomb finds.

It is known that in their gardens the Egyptians grew lettuce, the plant of the fertility god Min, whose ithyphallic statue usually stood in front of a plot planted with lettuce. The Egyptians used this plant in large quantities, knowing that it restores sexual power to men, and fertility to women. Lettuce was usually eaten raw with salt and vegetable oil.

The gardens of ancient Egypt were not distinguished by a variety of fruit crops. Pears, peaches, almonds and cherries appeared here only after the Roman conquest, and the ancient Egyptians did not hear about oranges, lemons and bananas at all.

The most common crops were grapes, figs, dates and sycamore (fig tree). The latter plant was cultivated not only for its delicious fruits, but also for its durable wood, which is an excellent material for making mummy coffins.

Pomegranate, olive and apple trees, brought by the nomadic Asian tribes of the Hyksos, took root in Egypt and gave with appropriate care good harvest. Olive oil, obtained from the pulp of olives, was used not only as a food product, but also as a material for lighting. Before the advent of the olive, the Egyptians cultivated other oilseeds, mainly the bak walnut tree.

Doum palm nuts and jujube fruits were good medicines, but only a select few ate coconuts, since their cultivation in Egypt was hampered by unsuitable climatic conditions. The poor inhabitants of Egypt feasted on the core of papyrus stems and the rhizomes of some aquatic plants.

Milk was considered a particularly valuable product. They kept it in pot-bellied earthenware vessels with a clogged neck, which prevented the penetration of insects. In some sources, there is a mention of such dairy products in the diet of the Egyptians as cream, butter, cottage cheese.

To give a drink or a sweet taste, they used honey or carob. The collection of wax and honey from wild bees was carried out by special people who went after them to distant deserts.

These people, like the collectors of turpentine resin, enjoyed the mercy of the pharaoh, who provided them with all kinds of help.

Some Egyptians kept bees in their own gardens using large earthenware jars as hives. The extracted honey was usually used not only for food, but also for sale. They kept it in carefully sealed stone vessels, which allowed the valuable properties of this product to remain unchanged.

meal

Very scarce information has been preserved about how the feasts of the ancient Egyptians were held. It was assumed that the head of the family, who woke up earlier than other household members, had breakfast alone, immediately after washing. His breakfast, served on a small table, consisted of meat, pie, bread and beer.

The mistress of the house had breakfast while combing her hair, or immediately after finishing the toilet. Her morning diet necessarily included fruits, perhaps some sweets and clean water.

Children ate separately from their parents. They were seated on a mat or pillows laid out right on the floor.

The lunch ration supposedly consisted of meat, poultry or fish, bread, pies, vegetables, fruit and beer. It cannot be said that meat was one of the constantly consumed food products. Even in fairly wealthy families, meat dishes were usually served only during dinner or festive feasts. Poor families were more likely to be satisfied with dairy products, vegetables, fruits and flatbreads.

On the walls of the tomb of Tell el-Amarna, a wonderful drawing is depicted, conveying the very atmosphere of a feast that took place more than three thousand years ago. Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV, a representative of the XVIII dynasty) sits at the head of the table, next to him are his wife, queen mother and little princesses sitting on small pillows. The king eats juicy meat, and his wife eats poultry. Around the table are several small tables with a variety of dishes and toiletries.

Among other things, during the excavations of temples dating back to the era of the New Kingdom, many dishes were found, intended for the preparation and use of soups, sauces, compotes, sweets and dairy products. There are also all kinds of plates, forks, spoons and knives. It can be assumed that toiletries (a jug of water and a basin) were necessary for the Egyptians to wash their hands, both before and after eating. This is due to the fact that birds, pies, sweets and some other dishes were then eaten with their hands.

Around four or five in the evening, the Egyptians had a light supper, after which they returned to work or prepared for evening entertainment.

Egyptians

pyramid building

Rich Egyptians

Economy and crafts of Egypt

Parenting

bread baking

AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is the basis of the prosperity of Ancient Egypt. Every year, the Nile, overflowing, left a layer of fertile silt on the banks, thanks to which the Egyptians grew a wide variety of crops. River water used

Water lilies, along with papyrus and white and blue lotus, make up the decoration of the banks of the Nile. Flowers are needed to decorate temples and dwellings. They are collected by young girls. Perhaps these flowers are intended to decorate the table of the master, who (in the background)

In ancient times, a civilization arose on the territory of modern Egypt in the Nile Valley, leaving behind many secrets and mysteries. Even now it attracts the attention of researchers and inhabitants with its color, its unusualness and rich heritage.

Thirty Dynasties of Egypt

It is not known exactly when the hunting tribes entered the Nile Valley and found there a lot of food and a wide river as a reliable source of water. Years passed. The rural communities organized here grew in size and became richer. Then they divided into two kingdoms - Lower (in the south) and Upper (in the north). And in 3200 BC. e. the ruler Menes was able to conquer Lower Egypt and organized the first dynasty of pharaohs, which controlled both the delta and the valley of the great Nile.

Map of unified Ancient Egypt

During the dynastic period, Ancient Egypt often became the dominant state in the region. This state had a complex social structure, advanced technologies for those times, a powerful army and developed internal trade. In addition, the Egyptians managed to achieve fantastic success in the field of construction - they were able to build efficient irrigation systems on the banks of the Nile, huge temples and pyramids that boggle the imagination even modern man. In addition, the Egyptians invented the hieroglyphic writing system, organized an efficient judicial system, and did many other important and amazing things.

In total, starting from 3200 BC. e., until the conquest of the Egyptians by the Persians in 342 BC. e. There were thirty dynasties of rulers of Egypt. These are truly Egyptian dynasties - that is, their representatives were themselves Egyptians, and not conquerors from distant lands. The last pharaoh of the thirtieth dynasty was Nectaneb II. When the Persians invaded his state, he collected his treasures and fled south.

However, the history of Ancient Egypt, as many believe, does not end there. Then Alexander the Great was able to recapture Egypt from the Persians, and subsequently Ptolemy, Alexander's commander, began to rule this region. Ptolemy I proclaimed himself king of Egypt in 305 BC. e. He used local traditions, preserved from the ancient pharaohs, to gain a foothold on the throne. This (and also the fact that he died a natural death, and not as a result of a conspiracy) shows that Ptolemy was a fairly intelligent ruler. As a result, he managed to create his own special dynasty, which ruled here for more than 250 years. By the way, the last representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last queen of Egypt was the legendary Cleopatra VII Philopator.

Some legendary pharaohs

The pharaohs stood at the top of the social ladder and were considered equal to the gods. Great honors were given to the pharaohs, they were considered so powerful that they were literally afraid to touch them.

On the neck, the pharaohs traditionally wore an ankh - a magical symbol and talisman, to which the Egyptians attached great importance. There have been many pharaohs over the centuries and millennia of Egypt's existence, but a few of them deserve special mention.

Almost the most famous Egyptian pharaoh- Ramses II. He ascended the throne when he was about twenty years old, and ruled the country for almost seven decades (from 1279 to 1213 BC). During this time, several generations have changed. And many of the Egyptians who lived at the end of the reign of Ramses II believed that he was a real immortal deity.

Another pharaoh worthy of mention - Djoser. He ruled in the 27th or 28th century BC. e. It is known that during his reign the city of Memphis finally became the capital of the state. However, Djoser went down in history primarily by the fact that he built the very first pyramid in Ancient Egypt (it is also the first stone architectural structure in the world). More precisely, it was built by the vizier of Djoser - a man with outstanding abilities named Imhotep. Unlike the later pyramid of Cheops, the pyramid of Djoser consists of steps. Initially, it was surrounded by a wall with 15 doors, and only one of them opened. On the this moment there was nothing left of the wall.

There were several female pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt.. One of them is Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 15th century BC. e. Her name can be translated as "before the noble ladies." Having removed the infant Thutmose III from the throne and declaring himself pharaoh, Hatshepsut continued the restoration of Egypt after the Hyksos raids, erected big number monuments in the territory of their state. In terms of the number of progressive reforms she carried out, she surpassed many male pharaohs.

In the time of Hatshepsut, it was believed that the pharaohs are the incarnations of the god Horus in the earthly world. In order not to sow confusion among the people, the priests reported that Hatshepsut was the daughter of the god Amon. But at many ceremonies, Hatshepsut still appeared in male attire and with a fake beard.

In modern Western culture Queen Hatshpsut was assigned the image of a smart, energetic woman endowed with analytical abilities. A place for Hatshepsut was found, for example, in the famous exhibition of the artist Judy Chicago " dinner party”, dedicated to the great women who influenced the history of mankind.

Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the XIV century BC. e.- Another popular figure in the history of ancient Egypt. He carried out truly revolutionary religious reforms. He decided to make the previously unimportant god Aten, associated with the solar disk, the center of all religion. At the same time, the cults of all other gods (including Amon-Ra) were banned. That is, in fact, Akhenaten decided to create a monotheistic religion.

In his transformations, Akhenaten relied on people who held high positions in the state, but came from the common people. On the other hand, most of the hereditary priestly nobility actively resisted the reforms. Ultimately, Akhenaten lost - after his death, the usual religious practices returned to the everyday life of the Egyptians. Representatives of the new XIX dynasty, which came to power ten years later, abandoned the ideas of Akhenaten, these ideas were discredited.

Pharaoh-reformer Akhenaten, who, according to many scientists, was simply ahead of his time

And a few more words should be said about Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt for 21 years. It was really outstanding and, apparently, very attractive woman. It is known that she had an affair first with Julius Caesar, and later with Mark Antony. From the first she gave birth to a son, and from the second - two sons and daughters.

And one more interesting fact: Mark Antony and Cleopatra, when they realized that they could not resist the emperor Octavian, who was eager to capture Egypt, began to arrange endless drinking parties and festive feasts. Soon Cleopatra announced the creation of the "Union of suicide bombers", whose members (and all close associates were invited to join it) took an oath that they would die together. During the same period, Cleopatra tested poisons on slaves, wanting to know which one could bring death quickly and without severe pain.

In general, in 30 BC. e. Cleopatra, like her beloved Antony, committed suicide. And Octavian, having established his control over Egypt, turned it into one of the provinces of Rome.

Unique buildings on the Giza plateau

The pyramids on the Giza plateau are the only one of the so-called seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day.

Of greatest interest to Egyptologists and laymen is the Pyramid of Cheops. Its construction lasted about two decades and ended, probably, in 2540 BC. e. For its construction, it took 2,300,000 volumetric stone blocks, their total weight was seven million tons. The height of the pyramid is now 136.5 meters. The architect of this pyramid is called Hemiun, the vizier of Cheops.

The glory of a classical despot was fixed for Pharaoh Cheops. Some sources report that Cheops used harsh measures to force the population to work on the construction of the pyramid. The very name of Cheops after he died was allegedly forbidden to pronounce. And the resources of Egypt as a result of his reign were so depleted that this led to the weakening of the country and the end of the Fourth Dynasty.

The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid on the same plateau is the Pyramid of Khafre son of Cheops. It is indeed slightly smaller, but at the same time it is located on a higher hill and has a steeper slope. The Pyramid of Khafre has the shape of a regular quadrangular figure with sides of 210.5 meters. Inside there is one burial chamber with an area of ​​71 m 2, in which the sarcophagus of the pharaoh was once kept. This chamber can be accessed through one of two tunnels.

The third pyramid - the pyramid of the pharaoh Menkaure- was built later than the other two. Its height barely reaches 66 meters, the length of the square base is 108.4 meters, and the volume is 260 thousand cubic meters. It is known that once the lower part of the pyramid was trimmed with red Aswan granite, a little higher the granite was replaced by white limestone. And finally, at the very top, red granite was again used. Unfortunately, the cladding has not been preserved; in the Middle Ages, the Mamluks took it from here and used it for their own needs. The burial chamber in this pyramid is located at ground level.

Next to the three pyramids, everyone can see Great Sphinx- statue of a lion human face. This statue is 72 meters long and 20 meters high. Once between the front paws there was a sanctuary. The exact time of the creation of the Sphinx is unknown - there are disputes about this. Someone believes that Chefren built it, others say that it was Jephedra - another son of Cheops. There are also versions that the Sphinx appeared much earlier, about twelve thousand years ago (allegedly the ancient Egyptians simply dug it up during the dynastic period), and very dubious versions that the Sphinx was created by aliens.

Features of the society and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians

The Egyptians believed that after death, the court of the god Osiris awaits them, who will put their bad and good deeds on different bowls of special scales. And in order for good deeds to outweigh, in earthly life it is necessary to behave appropriately.

In addition, it was important for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt that their afterlife was like life on earth. Therefore, it was necessary to carefully prepare for the transition to another world. A wealthy Egyptian built an afterlife for himself in advance. When the pharaoh died, not only his body was placed in his tomb, but also many things that could be useful in another life - clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc. In this regard, the fact that the first pyramids were stepped - probably the steps were required so that the pharaoh could somehow rise to the world of the gods.

Egyptian society consisted of several estates and social status was of great importance here. The wealthy Egyptians were in fashion with wigs and elaborate headdresses, and they got rid of their hair. In this way, the problem of lice was solved. But poor people had a hard time - among them it was not customary to cut their hair "under zero".

The main clothing of the Egyptians was the usual loincloth. But rich people, as a rule, also wore shoes. And the pharaohs were accompanied everywhere by sandal bearers - there was such a special position.

Another fun fact: for a long time in Egypt among wealthy women were popular sheer dresses. In addition, to demonstrate the social status of the Egyptians (and the Egyptians too) put on necklaces, bracelets and other similar accessories.

Some professions in ancient Greek society- warrior, official, priest - were inherited. However, to achieve a significant position, thanks to their talents and skills, was also quite realistic.

Most of the able-bodied Egyptians were employed in agriculture, handicrafts or the service sector. And at the very bottom of the social ladder were slaves. They usually performed the role of servants, but at the same time they had the right to buy and sell goods, to receive freedom. And having become free, they could eventually even enter the nobility. O humane attitude the fact that they were entitled to medical care at the workplace also testifies to the slaves.

In general, Egyptian healers were very enlightened for their time. They were well versed in the human body and carried out very complex operations. According to the studies of Egyptologists, even the transplantation of some organs for local healers was not a problem. It is also interesting that in ancient Egypt some of the infectious ailments were treated with moldy bread - this can be considered a kind of analogue of modern antibiotics.

Also, the Egyptians actually invented mummification. This process looked like this: the internal organs were removed and placed in vessels, and soda was applied to the body itself so that it would not decompose. After drying the body, its cavities were filled with linen soaked in a special balm. And finally, at the last stage, the body was bandaged and closed in a sarcophagus.

Relations between men and women in ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, men and women had virtually equal legal rights. The mother was considered the head of the family. The pedigree was conducted strictly along the maternal line, and land ownership also passed from mother to daughter. Of course, the spouse had the right to dispose of the land while the spouse was alive, but when she died, the daughter received the entire inheritance. It turns out that a marriage with the heir to the throne could well give a man the right to rule the country. Including for this reason, the pharaoh married his sisters and daughters - in this way he protected himself from other possible contenders for power.

Marriages in ancient Egypt were mostly monogamous. However, a rich Egyptian man, along with his legal wife, could keep a concubine. On the other hand, a woman who had more than one man could be punished.

Marriage in ancient Egypt was not consecrated by priests, the Egyptians did not arrange magnificent wedding festivities either. In order for the wedding to be recognized as valid, the man had to say "I take you as a wife", and the woman had to answer "You take me as your wife." It is important to add here that it was the Egyptians who were the first to wear wedding rings on the ring finger - this custom was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans.

Ancient Egyptian newlyweds also exchanged gifts with each other. Moreover, during a divorce, you could return your gift (a very good custom). And in the later periods of the history of Ancient Egypt, the conclusion of marriage contracts became quite common practice.

Documentary "Ancient Egypt. The history of the creation of the ancient Egyptian civilization "