Ancient Egyptians were a people with a unique civilization and way of life in ancient times. However, there are some secrets about these ancient people that you might not know anything about. Stay with Saed News to get acquainted with some of these cultures.
Ancient Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians were one of the peoples who had a unique civilization and way of life in ancient times. They lived in Egypt around 3000 years before Christ and yet had a modern lifestyle that was different from other peoples of their time. However, there are some mysteries about these ancient people that you might have no knowledge of.
Importance of Egypt
From a political and cultural perspective, Egypt is one of the most important countries in the Arab world and the Middle East. Many Egyptian citizens have reached leadership positions in international, national, and regional organizations, and Al-Azhar University, the most important religious center (Sunni) in the Islamic world, is located in this country.
Customs and Traditions of Ancient Egyptians
When you think of ancient Egypt, what are the first things that come to mind? The pyramids, right? Maybe the Pharaohs? But ancient Egypt has much more! Egypt was one of the most successful, advanced, and enduring civilizations in history. Egypt is one of those countries where special traditions and customs have always prevailed.
Religion of the Ancient Egyptians
Religion was above everything and beneath everything in Egypt. Religion existed at every stage and in every form, from totemism to divine philosophy and theology, and its effect was evident in literature, governance, art, and everything except ethics. Except for the lands of Rome and India, nowhere else in the world were there as many gods as in Egypt.
An Egyptian individual said that creation began from the sky, and the sky and the Nile River were considered the greatest deity. The moon was one of the gods and possibly the oldest god worshiped in Egypt, but in official religious ceremonies, the sun held the title of the greatest god.
The sun was sometimes worshiped under the name of the supreme god "Ra," considered a shining father who impregnated Mother Earth with his penetrating rays of light and heat.
Sometimes the sun was imagined as a sacred calf that renewed itself with each birth and majestically traveled across the celestial boat of the sky. Like an old man heading to his grave, it would descend toward the west.
The ancient Egyptians particularly revered the male goat and bull, considering them symbols and representatives of creative sexual power. Eventually, the gods took on human form; more precisely, humans took on the form of gods.
These human-like Egyptian gods, like the Greek gods, were nothing more than prominent men and women with large heroic bodies, but all were created from bone, flesh, and blood. They got hungry and ate food, got thirsty and drank water, loved and married, became angry and killed, and ultimately aged and died.
These gods—namely Ra, Amun, and Osiris—were the greatest deities of Egypt. Over time, Ra, Amun, and another god called Ptah merged into a triad, representing three manifestations of a single god encompassing all three.
The Egyptians believed that Osiris and the Nile would be resurrected, and all plants would revive after death. Humans could also return to life after death. The fact that dead bodies stayed intact and preserved for long periods in dry soil is one reason the belief in immortality lasted thousands of years in Egypt.
However, religion in Egypt did not pay much attention to ethics. Priests spent all their time selling spells, performing funerary rites, and engaging in sorcery and magic, and they did not have time to teach ethical principles to people.
The gods themselves used magic and spells to harm each other. Ancient Egyptian literature is full of names of magicians who, with a single word, could dry up a lake, reattach severed limbs, or bring the dead back to life. Every king had special magicians to assist and guide him. People believed so strongly that the Pharaoh had magical power enabling him to bring rain from the sky or cause the Nile to flood.
Another tradition of ancient Egypt is that when a queen or king died, a ladder was placed for their spirit to ascend to heaven. It was believed that if someone passed under this ladder, the spirit would be trapped on earth and could not reach the sky. Before the invention of the gallows, criminals were hanged from the ladder, and it was believed their spirits would remain under the ladder. Also, they believed that when a Pharaoh died, a bird, representing his soul, would leave his mouth.
Life After Death
The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death, and everyone—from poor to rich, even the Pharaoh—strived to prepare comforts and necessities for the afterlife during their lifetime.
Based on this belief, tombs of nobles and Pharaohs were filled with vessels, furniture, and jewelry to use in the other world. Scenes of life, celebration, hunting, and victory over enemies were painted on the coffins of kings.
They even planned for their death from a young age. Their belief in life after death was so strong that they did not weep excessively over the death of loved ones.
They believed the "Ka" (spirit) of the deceased needed a healthy body for eternal life in the land of the west (the world of the dead). Therefore, they mummified the body to preserve it until the "Ba" (free spirit) returned from the Duat (underworld). After mummification, the body was placed in a coffin tailored to its shape, preparing a vessel for the Ka to reside in the afterlife.
The ancient Egyptians believed every living being has a "double" (Ka) that does not immediately perish with death. Therefore, offerings of food were placed near the mummy so that the Ka could feed and remain safe until the Ba returned. When the Ba returned, the Ka would reunite with the mummy for their journey to eternal paradise.
Herodotus, the Greek historian from the Achaemenid era, wrote in his book Histories about Egyptian mummification:
"After washing the dead in the Nile, Egyptians removed the brain through the nose using a hook and washed the skull. Then they made an incision with a sharp stone on the side of the body, removed the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines, placing them in four clay jars. They washed the abdomen with palm wine, sprinkled aromatic spices, and filled it with fragrant herbs."
They sewed the incision and soaked the body in a medicinal bath for seventy days, then wrapped it tightly in waxed linen strips and inscribed magical signs. Priests recited magical spells continuously to keep evil spirits away.
The "Opening of the Mouth" ritual recalled Horus meeting his father Osiris, where Horus reopened his father's eyes, ears, and mouth with a chisel to show him the lost eye and deliver news of victory, and to gain the power to rule the gods.
Officials and relatives had to perform every ritual detail precisely, believing that improper performance would transform the deceased into an evil spirit harming survivors. After the ceremony, the body was placed in a coffin of stone or hard wood along with daily life tools. Some coffins contained papyrus scrolls of the Book of the Dead to guide the deceased through the underworld.
Priests wrote the Book of the Dead on papyrus and sold them in markets. Ordinary people bought and kept them at home or in tombs, hoping these books would help answer the gods' questions and pass gates.
Priests placed golden masks on mummified Pharaohs' faces and inscribed magical texts on coffin lids to protect the Pharaoh's soul from demons.
In ancient times, some servants and slaves were buried alive with the Pharaoh to help him rule in the afterlife, but this custom was later replaced by statues of magicians, servants, and gods placed in the coffin.
The Ba had to pass the gods’ gates to reach Osiris’s place in the Duat. At each gate guarded by gods, the deceased had to prove their deeds for gods and Pharaohs to be allowed through. Passing all gates led to the final gate—Duat’s corridor.
There, a god took the deceased's heart and placed it on one side of the scale. If lighter than a feather, it meant good deeds and service to gods and Pharaohs, granting the right to enter Osiris’s realm.
If heavier, it meant many bad deeds and failure to serve gods and Pharaohs, resulting in punishment by Ammit, a demon with a crocodile head who would devour the soul.
Clothing of Ancient Egyptians
Clothing was very important in ancient Egypt. Egyptians were meticulous about cleanliness and personal appearance. Those who were untidy were considered low-class.
Even when in many European countries in the 19th century women and men faced clothing restrictions due to patriarchy, in ancient Egypt women and men were seen as equal, and fashion and clothing design were similar for both.
Clothing in ancient Egypt was simple, with little difference between men’s and women’s garments. Only during the Old Kingdom did upper-class women wear longer dresses covering their upper bodies, while working-class women wore simpler dresses similar to those of their fathers, husbands, and sons.
Both women and men used cosmetics and jewelry. Egyptians believed amulets protected their owners and gave them power. Linen from harvested flax was used to sew thin clothing.
Working-class men wore linen loincloths, short skirts, or long shirts belted at the waist. These skirts were rectangular linen pieces gathered and tied around the waist. Wealthy men wore longer shirts reaching the knees, loincloths or skirts, and adorned themselves with beaded necklaces, armbands, and bracelets.
Working-class women wore full-length tight dresses. Wealthy women enhanced their appearance with makeup, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Separate Family Breakfasts
It was not customary for family members, especially aristocrats, to eat breakfast together. The head of the family ate alone, served by servants after his morning bath. Women ate breakfast during or just after their morning grooming. Families gathered in the evenings around a table. Wine was important in ancient Egyptian meals.
Equality of Women and Men
In ancient Egypt, women were nearly equal to men in all areas except employment. Women could marry and divorce whomever they wished, pursue any job they liked (with certain limitations), manage their own property, buy and sell goods, travel freely, and more.
A Wooden Mummy Displayed at Banquets
The image below is a painting by Edwin Longsden Long titled An Egyptian Feast. In it, servants drag a mummy in front of the guests at a lavish banquet. The mummy looks real—but what’s the story behind it?
Herodotus, the famous Greek historian, stated that a wooden statue symbolizing the dead was shown to guests during feasts to remind them of the brevity of life. This was accompanied by the phrase: “Look at him (the wooden mummy), drink and enjoy life, for you too will become like him after death!”
They Loved Pets
The ancient Egyptians were among the first people to keep animals as pets. While they especially loved cats, dogs, storks, hawks, and monkeys were also popular. According to some evidence, monkeys and dogs were even used to help soldiers protect Egyptian territory. The Egyptians cared deeply for their pets—so much so that they often had their pets mummified and buried with them to accompany them in the afterlife.
They Wore Fragrant Cones on Their Heads
The ancient Egyptians were highly attentive to pleasant scents. One method of perfuming their surroundings was placing a cone of incense on their heads. These cones were made of wax or animal fat mixed with fragrant resin, cinnamon extract, and other aromatic ingredients. Egyptians attached the cones to their wigs with ribbons. In the warm Egyptian climate, the cones would slowly melt, spreading their scent around the wearer. Additionally, the herbal fragrances helped repel biting insects.
They Wore Special Footwear
Ancient Egyptians often walked barefoot—even the pharaohs. Special servants were assigned to carry the pharaohs' sandals. Sometimes the soles of elite sandals were decorated with the faces or names of enemies, symbolically trampling them. Egyptians also believed the dead would need sandals in the afterlife, so sandals were buried with the deceased. The pharaohs’ sandals were often made of gold—though walking in golden sandals must have been difficult in practice. Both men and women commonly wore sandals made of papyrus, plant fibers, or leather.
Children Had Their Own Hairstyles
Egyptians—especially the nobility—shaved their heads and wore wigs. But children had unique hairstyles: part of their heads was shaved, and a lock of hair was left to one side. This hairstyle was known as the “lock of youth,” and children kept it until they reached adulthood.
In the image below, you can see this hairstyle depicted in the tomb paintings of a high-ranking official named Nebamun, who was responsible for auditing agricultural products. The painting shows Nebamun, his wife (wearing a fragrant cone), and one of their three daughters with the traditional children’s hairstyle. Some believe the style helped prevent lice, though it may also have had a religious meaning.
Wine Was So Important It Was Used to Pay Wages
Ancient Egyptians believed that Osiris, the god of the afterlife, taught them how to make wine. Rather than boiling, they brewed beer using a cold process. Their wine was very different from modern wine—thick as milk, sour, and slightly bitter, it fully quenched thirst. Wine was served with bread and used to pay soldiers, officials, and pyramid workers. Even pharaohs pledged to give their wives ten loaves of bread and two jugs of wine daily upon marriage.
Portraits Replaced Mummies in Roman-Era Egypt
After Egypt became part of the Roman Empire, many ancient customs changed. For example, traditional funerary masks were replaced by Fayum mummy portraits. Thanks to Egypt's dry climate, these portraits are well preserved and show what people of the time looked like, including Egyptians who had adopted Roman customs and Greeks descended from the Ptolemaic dynasty.
These portraits often show youthful faces because they were painted long before the individual’s death. The accessories were meticulously depicted because it was believed the deceased would need them in the afterlife. Around 900 such portraits have survived, and their vivid colors still astonish viewers today.
Dance Design Was More Important Than Dancers’ Costumes
Dance played a vital role in ancient Egyptian life. However, men and women were never shown dancing together. Dance troupes performed at dinner parties, banquets, guest houses, and even religious temples. Some women in wealthy households were trained in music and dance and performed for the royal family alongside male musicians who played instruments like the guitar, lyre, and harp.
Professional groups of singers, musicians, and dancers also performed at major festivals and funerals. In the Old and Middle Kingdoms, they were referred to as “music performers.” The term khener could refer to a group of singers, and dancers were often coordinated through a specific office. Victorian scholars often confused the term khener with "harem" due to a lack of cultural understanding. Khener performers entertained in religious ceremonies and were believed to amuse deceased kings—but their role may not have been strictly religious.
Khener was associated with the temples of Hathor, Bat, Wepwawet, and Horus of Edfu. Some khener members were itinerant performers who traveled to offer their services, as in the story of Rudjedet. Dancers also took on outside work to support themselves.
The main types of khener thought to have existed were those related to cults and temples, the royal court, and funerary estates. Up until the end of the Old Kingdom, women in this role were likely overseen by other women. Foreign dancers and musicians became more prominent during the New Kingdom.
