Ancient Egypt Vocabulary

cataract

a waterfall or rapids in a river

delta

a fan-shaped area of silt near where a river flows into the sea

shadoof

a bucket attached to a long pole, used to move water for irrigation

papyrus

a reed plant that grew wild along the Nile

hieroglyphics

an ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent ideas and sounds

dynasty

line of rulers from the same family

theocracy

a government controlled by religious leaders

pharaoh

a ruler of ancient Egypt

bureaucrat

government official

embalming

the process of treating a body to keep it from decaying

pyramid

huge, triangular shaped burial tombs of Egyptian pharaohs built during the Old Kingdom

envoy

a government representative to another country

incense

a material that produces a pleasant smell when burned