Studied by 54 PeopleCairo
Tags & Description
Cairo
modern capital of Egypt
Hieroglyphics
Egyptian writing
Cataracts
Rock filled rapids in the upper Nile; natural barrier from invasion
Herodotus
Greek historian who nicknamed Egypt “the Gift of the Nile”
Khartoum
city where White and Blue Nile meet
Memphis
ancient capital of Egypt
Narmer (aka Menes)
King who united Upper and Lower Egypt
Nile River
World's longest river, ~4000 miles; last 600 in modern day Egypt Dams constructed in 1906 & 1968; River no longer overflows it banks
Papyrus
Reed plant that grows along the banks of the Nile: used to make paper, canoes, baskets, mats, rope and sandals
Playa
temporary lakes created by rainfall in the Sahara ~6000 BCE
Shadoof
see-saw like device used to transport water from the Nile to a canal or basin
silt
Nutrient rich soil left behind after annual Nile flooding
2 ½ tons
avg weight of pyramid blocks
70 days
time body placed in natron
Ankh
symbol meaning everlasting life
anthropoid coffin
human shaped coffin
Anubis
jackal headed god of mummification
Ba
part of soul; head of pharaoh, body of bird, flew around during the day
Canopic Jars
held organs; 4 representing 4 sons of Horus
Devourer
crocodile headed being that ate heart if heart was heavy
Djoser
Pharaoh for whom first step pyramid was made
dynasty
line of rulers all from the same family
East bank
side of Nile where quarries were located
Emabalming
preserving the body
Feather of the truth
weighed against heart
Great Pyramid
largest, built for Pharaoh Khufu
Imhotep
architect of first step pyramid built for Djoser
isis
Egyptian goddess; saddened by the death of her husband Osiris, her tears cause the annual flooding of the Nile
jackal
wild dog, roamed cemeteries eating corpses
Mastabas
flat topped tombs; built before age of Pyramids
mummification
preserving the body and wrapping in linen
Natron
salt like substance used to preserve the body
Opening the mouth
gave the deceased the five senses of the after life
Peasants/Work Gangs
built the pyramids
pharaoh
Egyptian ruler, priest, and god
Pyramids at Giza
only remaining 7 wonders of the ancient world; 10 pyramids in all
sarcophagus
outermost coffin, rectangular
Shawabti
figurines that represent servants for the afterlife;
sledge
sled used to transported pyramid blocks
sphinx
head of pharaoh, body of lion; guarded the way to Khafre’s pyramid
Step Pyramid
1st Pyramid built for King Djoser; Imhotep was architect
thoth
God of wisdom; records results of Weighing of the Heart ceremony
West Bank
location of pyramids
Cartouche
Oval shaped design with name of deceased; name plate