Ancient Egypt is renowned for its remarkable contributions to the world, including innovations such as paper, writing instruments, and dental care products. Here are 30 surprising facts about this fascinating civilization.

The Pyramid of Khufu, the largest in Egypt and the second largest globally—only surpassed by the Pyramid of Quetzalcóatl in Mexico—is a monumental achievement.

This enormous pyramid is estimated to weigh as much as 16 Empire State Buildings, necessitating the transportation of all that mass from distant quarries to its construction site.

Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian who traveled to Egypt in 450 BC, claimed it took over 100,000 workers 30 years to complete a pyramid. However, more credible estimates suggest that it required about 10,000 workers over 30 years, as most worked only three months per year during the flood season. The Pyramid of Khufu likely involved around 20,000 workers over 23 years, primarily in three-month shifts. Managing such a workforce in ancient times is a remarkable achievement.

Currently, 118 Egyptian pyramids have been discovered, and it is widely believed that many more remain hidden. The exact number of pyramids built by the ancient Egyptians is unknown, but estimates suggest that many more await discovery.

While the association of slavery with ancient Egypt is common, it was not as prevalent as in some other contemporary societies. Contrary to popular belief, the pyramids were primarily built by farmers and laborers during their off-seasons, not slaves. Nonetheless, slavery existed in three forms: chattel, bonded labor, and forced labor. Chattel slaves, often war captives, were owned outright by the Pharaoh. Bonded labor involved individuals selling themselves or their families into servitude, often due to poverty or debt. Forced labor was a type of conscription, where workers were called upon for various state duties, including military and construction projects, and were compensated for their work.

The laborers who constructed the pyramids were highly esteemed. Those who perished during construction were given honored burials close to the pharaoh's pyramids. It is believed they received ample nutrition, including meat, to sustain them for their arduous tasks.

Most pyramid builders were of lower socioeconomic status, and their labor was grueling. Archaeological evidence of their remains indicates they suffered from health issues, such as arthritis and spinal problems, highlighting the physically demanding nature of their work.

An average Egyptian mummy's wrappings could extend between 1 and 1.25 miles—equivalent to 65 to 87 rolls of toilet paper.

Contrary to popular belief, women in ancient Egypt enjoyed rights and freedoms comparable to those of men. They could own businesses, property, and receive equal pay for identical work. Women typically worked alongside their husbands and managed businesses in their absence. They possessed the legal right to testify in court and enter contracts independently. However, few women held significant positions of power, with most achieving status through familial connections to male rulers. High child mortality rates necessitated that women frequently bear children, which limited their participation in the workforce. Despite this, women were legally equal to men, a rarity in many contemporary societies.

Female physicians existed in ancient Egypt, with Peseshet recognized as one of the earliest known female doctors from the fourth dynasty, believed to have lived around the 25th century BC.

Divorce was permissible and not uncommon in ancient Egypt, accepted as a natural resolution for couples who could not harmonize. Both genders could initiate divorce, but the processes differed. Men could divorce without consent or court involvement, while women had to petition the court. If a man divorced his wife without cause, he was liable for compensation, including her dowry and two years of maintenance. In divorce settlements, women were entitled to a third of marital property, making the financial burden typically heavier for men.

The ancient Egyptians are celebrated for their advancements during the Bronze Age, particularly in metallurgy. Their improvements in metal smelting for gold, silver, lead, and copper significantly influenced subsequent innovations, laying the groundwork for the modern world.

The Nile River was vital to ancient Egypt's success. Its predictable flooding and fertile soil enabled the development of advanced agricultural practices, supporting a growing population.

One of the significant agricultural innovations from ancient Egypt was basin irrigation, which allowed water to flood fields systematically. This technique facilitated the large-scale production of essential crops like wheat, barley, flax, and papyrus, ensuring food security for the populace.

Ancient Egyptians excelled in horticulture, cultivating a variety of plants, fruits, nuts, and herbs. Maintaining these gardens was labor-intensive, as they were often located away from floodplains, requiring significant water transport.

The foundation of modern horticulture can be traced back to ancient Egyptian practices, influencing contemporary gardening and agriculture.

Many believe that ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to create a writing system, providing the earliest evidence of written language and literature. They utilized hieroglyphics, comprising over a thousand unique characters that combined both alphabetic and logographic symbols, necessitating considerable skill to interpret and develop.

The ability to read hieroglyphics was lost by the 5th century and remained obscured for over 1300 years, largely due to the closure of non-Christian temples during the rise of Christianity, which led to the disappearance of the knowledge surrounding hieroglyphics.

The deciphering of hieroglyphics only resumed with the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. It wasn't until the 1820s that French scholar Jean-François Champollion successfully interpreted them, using the stone's inscriptions in three languages: hieroglyphics, Demotic scripts, and Ancient Greek.

Some pharaohs had their servants sacrificed, believing they would continue to serve them in the afterlife.

Board games were popular in ancient Egypt, with pharaohs sometimes buried with them for entertainment in the afterlife. The most well-known games were Senet and Mehen. Senet, possibly the oldest board game, dates back to around 3100 BC, where players moved pieces across the board using senet sticks instead of dice.

Ancient Egyptians developed a 12-month calendar; if it were still in use today, we would be in the year 6263.

They recognized three seasons: Akhet (inundation), Peretor (emergence), and Shemu (harvest). Each season had distinct agricultural activities, with significant labor required during the harvest to gather crops before the floods returned.

Cosmetics were favored by both men and women in ancient Egypt. Ingredients like galena (kohl) for darkening eyelashes and malachite for eyelids were common, while red ochre was utilized as blush and lipstick. Makeup initially served as sun protection, later evolving into a means of enhancing beauty.

Cleopatra is credited with popularizing red lipstick, which was made from a blend of flowers, red ochre, fish scales, crushed ants, carmine, and beeswax. Other colors had previously been trendy, signifying a diverse palette before red became dominant.

The Egyptians also pioneered one of the first waxing methods, known as sugar waxing, combining sugar and beeswax, a technique still favored today for its gentleness compared to modern options.

While once believed to be the first to domesticate cats, evidence suggests the human-feline relationship began around 10,000 years ago, predating ancient Egypt. Cats likely gravitated towards agricultural areas to hunt rodents, leading to their domestication.

Though not the first, ancient Egyptians popularized cats as household pets and revered them to the extent of worship. Their agricultural advancements increased the need for pest control, elevating cats' status within society.

The deep appreciation for cats led women to adopt feline-inspired beauty standards, contributing to the enduring trend of praising women for resembling cats. The cultural legacy of this admiration can be seen in modern representations, from feline-themed aesthetics to characters like Catwoman.

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