Ancient Egypt: Geography, Deities, and Dynasties

Nile River

Begins in Central Africa, longest river in the world, shaped Egypt's history by providing predictable growing seasons.

Divine Family in Egyptian mythology:

Isis, Osiris, Horace

Scribes and hieroglyphs

Two styles of writing in ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphs for tombs, Hieratics for everyday use on papyrus paper.

Step pyramid of Djoser

First pyramid built by Pharaoh Djoser, designed by Imhotep, later deified, made of stone blocks in a step-like structure.

Khufu and the Great Pyramids

Took 20-30 years to build, not for worship, believed to point towards heavens to emulate pharaoh's soul.

Hyksos

Asiatic peoples who invaded Egypt, leading to the downfall of the Middle Kingdom, settled in northern Egypt.

Pharaohs

Rulers of Egypt, often practiced incest for lineage purity, considered modern deities.

Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms

Successive periods in ancient Egyptian history with distinct characteristics and rulers.

Mummifications and the Afterlife

Egyptian practice of preserving bodies for the afterlife, associated with elaborate burial rituals and beliefs in paradise.

Queen Hatshepsut

Female pharaoh who ruled for 20 years, expanded Egypt politically, presented herself as a man for public acceptance.

Amenhotep

Pharaoh who attempted to introduce monotheism, closed religious temples, reversed by his son after his death.

King Tut

Pharaoh who died young, tomb discovered in 1920s, artifacts well-preserved and displayed in museums.

Ramses II

Pharaoh with numerous monuments, had 80 to 110 children, considered one of the most prolific pharaohs in history.

Isis

god of love

Osiris

god of the underworld

Horace

god of the Nile and war.