What comes to your mind when you think of Egypt? Pyramids, pharaohs or mysterious hieroglyphs? But have you ever thought about the story of a society awakened thousands of years ago by the might of Ra, who carried the Sun in the sky? Egypt is one of the most fascinating civilisations of history, not only for its gigantic structures and fascinating art, but also for its colourful mythology and interesting beliefs. Let’s get out of the dusty pages of history and dive into the magical world of Egypt. Here are some interesting facts about Egypt…
1. In ancient Egypt, the gods were powerful beings who influenced every aspect of life
We begin our list of interesting facts about Egypt. Each of these gods was associated with an aspect of nature and represented by different symbols. Here are the most well-known gods in Egyptian mythology and their characteristics:
Ra: Ra, the sun god, is one of the most important gods of Egypt. He symbolises the sun and life. He has a sun disc on his head and is usually depicted with the head of a falcon. Ra brings light to the world by carrying the sun in the sky every day and passes into the underworld at night.
Geb: Geb is the god of the earth and is depicted in the colour of the soil, plants and the mud of the Nile River. He is the husband of Nut and father of Osiris.
Osiris: The god of the world of the dead, Osiris represents life after death and rebirth. He wears white clothes and holds a staff and a stick in his hands. He was killed by his brother Seth and resurrected by Isis.
Seth: With the head of a creature with a long, curved nose, Seth rules chaos, destruction and desert. He tried to seize the throne by killing his brother Osiris.
Horus: The patron god of the pharaohs, the hawk-headed Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis. He wears the royal crown of Egypt and protects the pharaohs. He is also known as the sky god and his eyes symbolise the sun and the moon.
Thoth: Depicted with the head of the ibis bird, Thoth is the god of writing, science and knowledge. He monitors the cycles of the moon and keeps records that judge the souls of the dead.
Anubis: The god of mummification and death, the jackal-headed Anubis is the guide who leads the souls of the dead to the underworld. He directs the embalming process and weighs the hearts of the souls with the feather of Ma’at.
Amun: Amun is considered the creator god. He wears a crown of two large feathers on his head. Later he merged with Ra and became known as Amun-Ra.
2. Similarly, goddesses also had an important place in social life
Hathor: The goddess of music and love, Hathor is also associated with motherhood, joy and dance. She is usually depicted with the horns of a cow and a sun disc between her horns. Hathor is a goddess who protects fertility and motherhood.
Sekhmet: The lion-headed goddess of destruction and war, she represents anger and power. Sekhmet shows her anger on the battlefields, but she is also a goddess of healing who can cure diseases.
Nut: Nut symbolises the sky with her blue coloured body. Her body is decorated with golden stars. Nut is known as the god who holds the sky above his head and ensures that the sun rises every morning.
Isis Isis, the goddess of magic and motherhood, is considered a powerful sorceress. She is usually seated on a throne and is sometimes depicted with the baby Horus in her arms. She is the wife of Osiris and is known for her life-giving spells.
Ma’at: Ma’at, with a feather on her head, symbolises order and justice in the universe. The feather used in Anubis’ scales measures the lightness and purity of souls.
Bastet: Bastet, the goddess of cats and protection, is a cat-headed goddess. She symbolises protection and motherhood. She is also known for her hunting skills and cats were considered sacred in Egypt.
3- The Egyptians had a great respect for cats
This is one of the most interesting facts about Egypt! From the 600s BC, cats began to be considered sacred. In 1889, during archaeological excavations, many mummified cat remains were found in cat tombs in Egypt.
Cats were especially dedicated to Bastet. Bastet was the patron goddess of cats, considered sacred for their hunting and night vision abilities. In Egypt, cats were pictured at the feet of the nobility. This was a sign of how much they were valued.
4. The Great Sphinx, one of the most famous monuments of Egypt, is located in Giza
This statue with a lion’s body, human face and eagle wings was considered a wise being. According to legends, the Sphinx used to ask people riddles. Those who gave the wrong answer would be punished mercilessly.
5- The Nile River is 6650 km long and runs through Egypt
The ancient Egyptians owed their lives to the fertility of the Nile. The water from the river made agriculture possible and the land became fertile after floods.
6. Papyrus reeds were one of the most important plants growing on the banks of the Nile. These plants were dried and used to make paper and boats.
7. The ancient capital of Egypt was Thebes and Luxor
Luxor is the site of the ancient capital Thebes and a popular destination for cultural heritage seekers. It was home to famous pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Ramses and Cleopatra.
The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, located near Luxor, harbour huge rock tombs built for the rulers of Egypt during the New Kingdom period (1550-1070 BC). In these tombs, it was believed that the pharaohs would continue life after death.
8. In Sharm el Sheikh, one of the first cities that comes to mind when it comes to tourism, you can swim in the sea for almost 12 months
We continue our list of interesting facts about Egypt. Located in the South Sinai province of Egypt, this holiday city has an average temperature of 15 degrees in winter and 35 degrees in summer. However, diving enthusiasts flock to this region 12 months a year. Because it offers 30 scuba diving spots right in the heart of the Red Sea.
