Ancient Egypt

Akh

• Who: Ancient Egyptians believed in the Akh as a transformed spirit of the deceased.

• What: A state of existence after death, where the soul merges with the divine.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: It represented a successful transition to the afterlife.

Ammit

• Who: A mythical creature in Egyptian mythology.

• What: A demon with the head of a crocodile, body of a lion, and hindquarters of a hippo.

• Where: Depicted in funerary texts across Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Devoured the hearts of the unworthy in the Hall of Judgment.

Absolute Dating

• Who: Archaeologists and Egyptologists.

• What: Dating method that provides a specific chronological age.

• Where: Used in sites across Egypt.

• When: Modern scientific method.

• Why important: Helps establish precise timelines of Egyptian history.

Amun

• Who: Egyptian god, later merged with Ra.

• What: God of the air, fertility, and later the supreme deity of Thebes.

• Where: Thebes (modern Luxor).

• When: New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE).

• Why important: Became Egypt’s most powerful deity.

Axial Design (Architecture)

• Who: Ancient Egyptian architects.

• What: A design principle where temples and tombs are laid out along a straight axis.

• Where: Seen in Karnak and Luxor temples.

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Created grand, processional pathways in temples.

Aegyptiaca

• Who: Hellenistic historian Manetho.

• What: A historical account of Egyptian kings.

• Where: Egypt (written in Greek).

• When: Ptolemaic Period (c. 3rd century BCE).

• Why important: One of the earliest sources on Egyptian chronology.

Abydos

• Who: An important religious center.

• What: A sacred city associated with Osiris.

• Where: Near modern Sohag, Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Burial site of early pharaohs and Osiris cult center.

Ba

• Who: Part of a person’s soul in Egyptian belief.

• What: A spiritual entity, often depicted as a bird with a human head.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Allowed the deceased to move between worlds.

Beautiful Feast of the Valley

• Who: Egyptian people and priests.

• What: A festival honoring the dead.

• Where: Thebes.

• When: New Kingdom.

• Why important: Reunited the living and dead in celebrations.

Bes

• Who: A dwarf god in Egyptian mythology.

• What: Protector of households, childbirth, and music.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Warded off evil spirits.

Blue Crown

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: A war crown, also called the khepresh.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: New Kingdom.

• Why important: Worn in battle and during ceremonies.

Book of the Dead

• Who: Egyptian priests and scribes.

• What: A collection of spells for the afterlife.

• Where: Found in tombs across Egypt.

• When: New Kingdom.

• Why important: Guided the deceased in the afterlife.

9 Bows

• Who: Enemies of Egypt.

• What: A term representing Egypt’s traditional foes.

• Where: References found in temples and inscriptions.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Symbolized Egypt’s military dominance.

Canon of Proportions

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: A grid system to maintain consistent human proportions in art.

• Where: Used throughout Egypt.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Created a standardized artistic style.

Canopic Jar

• Who: Used in mummification rituals.

• What: Containers for organs of the deceased.

• Where: Placed in tombs across Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Essential for preserving the body for the afterlife.

Cartouche

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: An oval shape enclosing a king’s name in hieroglyphs.

• Where: Found on monuments, tombs, and jewelry across Egypt.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Signified royal status and divine protection of the name.

Champollion

• Who: Jean-François Champollion, a French linguist.

• What: Deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone.

• Where: France and Egypt.

• When: 1822 (19th century).

• Why important: Opened the field of Egyptology by unlocking ancient texts.

Chaos/Isfet

• Who: Concept in Egyptian mythology.

• What: Disorder, the opposite of Ma’at (order).

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented forces of destruction and needed to be controlled.

Circumpolar Stars

• Who: Observed by Egyptian astronomers.

• What: Stars that never set, associated with the afterlife.

• Where: Used in tomb decorations and religious texts.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Symbolized eternal existence and the pharaoh’s immortality.

Coffin Texts

• Who: Middle Kingdom elites.

• What: Funerary spells inscribed on coffins.

• Where: Found in Middle Kingdom tombs.

• When: Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BCE).

• Why important: Made afterlife spells more accessible beyond royalty.

Composite Art

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: A style where figures are shown in mixed perspectives (e.g., heads in profile, torsos frontal).

• Where: Used in tomb paintings and reliefs across Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Created recognizable, symbolic representations of figures.

Conceptual Art

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: Art that depicted objects based on their ideal form, not how they appear in reality.

• Where: Found in tombs, temples, and monuments.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Ensured the afterlife’s perfection rather than realism.

Coptic

• Who: Christian Egyptians.

• What: The final stage of the Egyptian language, written in Greek letters with some Demotic signs.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Late Antiquity (c. 3rd–10th centuries CE).

• Why important: Preserved Egyptian language and contributed to Christian traditions.

Creation

• Who: Egyptian gods, particularly Atum, Ptah, and Amun.

• What: Myths explaining the origins of the universe.

• Where: Different creation myths from Heliopolis, Memphis, and Hermopolis.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Formed the foundation of Egyptian religion.

Demotic

• Who: Egyptian scribes and officials.

• What: A later script derived from hieratic, used for everyday writing.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Late Period to Roman Period (c. 7th century BCE–5th century CE).

• Why important: Allowed for more efficient record-keeping and communication.

Description de L’Égypte

• Who: Scholars from Napoleon’s expedition.

• What: A massive collection of illustrations and writings about Egypt.

• Where: Egypt and France.

• When: Early 19th century (published 1809–1829).

• Why important: Provided detailed documentation of Egyptian monuments.

Determinative

• Who: Egyptian scribes.

• What: A hieroglyphic symbol that clarifies a word’s meaning but is not pronounced.

• Where: Found in all hieroglyphic texts.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Helped differentiate words with multiple meanings.

Djed Pillar

• Who: Associated with Osiris.

• What: A symbol of stability and endurance.

• Where: Found in tombs, temples, and amulets.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented Osiris’s backbone and resurrection.

Djet/Neheh

• Who: Egyptian philosophers and priests.

• What: Concepts of eternal time (Djet) and cyclical time (Neheh).

• Where: Discussed in religious and funerary texts.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Defined different aspects of time in Egyptian belief.

Double Crown

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: A combination of the White Crown (Upper Egypt) and Red Crown (Lower Egypt).

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: First used in the Early Dynastic Period.

• Why important: Symbolized the unification of Egypt.

Dualism

• Who: Egyptian religious thinkers.

• What: The belief in opposing but complementary forces (e.g., Ma’at vs. Isfet).

• Where: Reflected in mythology and cosmology.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Structured Egyptian religious and philosophical thought.

Duat

• Who: The realm of the dead, ruled by Osiris.

• What: The Egyptian underworld.

• Where: Described in funerary texts.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: The place where souls underwent judgment.

Ennead

• Who: Nine major gods of Heliopolis.

• What: A group of deities, including Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.

• Where: Centered in Heliopolis.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Defined a key creation myth and divine hierarchy.

False Door

• Who: Used in tombs for the deceased.

• What: A carved stone or painted door that symbolized passage to the afterlife.

• Where: Found in Old Kingdom mastabas and later tombs.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Served as a focal point for offerings and communication with the dead.

Fields of Iaru

• Who: The Egyptian afterlife realm.

• What: A paradise where the deceased could live eternally.

• Where: Described in tomb texts.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented the ideal afterlife.

Four Sons of Horus

• Who: Gods associated with the protection of the deceased’s organs.

• What: Imsety (liver), Hapy (lungs), Duamutef (stomach), and Qebehsenuef (intestines).

• Where: Depicted on canopic jars and tombs.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Helped preserve the deceased’s body in the afterlife.

French Expedition

• Who: Led by Napoleon Bonaparte, accompanied by scholars.

• What: A military and scientific expedition to Egypt.

• Where: Egypt, particularly in Alexandria, Cairo, and the Nile Valley.

• When: 1798–1801.

• Why important: Led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and increased Western interest in Egyptology.

Frontality (in art)

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: A stylistic convention where figures are depicted with forward-facing torsos and profile heads.

• Where: Found in statues, reliefs, and paintings.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Created recognizable and symbolic representations rather than realistic portrayals.

Geb

• Who: Egyptian god of the earth.

• What: A major deity associated with the land and fertility.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Part of the Heliopolitan creation myth and father of Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys.

Ground Line

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: A horizontal line that figures stand on in artwork.

• Where: Seen in wall paintings and reliefs.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Created organization in compositions and indicated stability.

Hapi

• Who: Egyptian god of the Nile.

• What: A deity associated with the annual flooding of the Nile.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt, especially near the Nile.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Essential for agricultural fertility and prosperity.

Hall of Judgment

• Who: Osiris, Anubis, and the deceased.

• What: The place where souls were judged in the afterlife.

• Where: Described in the Book of the Dead and tombs.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Determined if a person was worthy of entering the afterlife.

Heart Scarab

• Who: Egyptian priests and the deceased.

• What: A protective amulet placed on the chest of mummies.

• Where: Found in tombs, especially on mummies.

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ensured the heart would not betray the deceased during judgment.

Heb-Sed (Sed) Jubilee

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: A festival celebrating a king’s continued rule after 30 years.

• Where: Throughout Egypt, particularly in Memphis and Saqqara.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Reinforced the king’s divine power and rejuvenation.

Heliacal Rising of Sothis

• Who: Egyptian astronomers and priests.

• What: The first visible appearance of the star Sothis (Sirius), marking the new year.

• Where: Observed throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Linked to the flooding of the Nile and the Egyptian calendar.

Heliopolitan Cosmogony

• Who: Egyptian theologians in Heliopolis.

• What: A creation myth centered on the god Atum.

• Where: Heliopolis (modern Cairo).

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: One of the main Egyptian creation myths, explaining the origins of the gods.

Hermopolitan Cosmogony

• Who: Egyptian theologians in Hermopolis.

• What: A creation myth based on the Ogdoad (eight primordial deities).

• Where: Hermopolis (modern el-Ashmunein).

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Provided an alternative cosmology emphasizing chaos and balance.

Hieratic

• Who: Egyptian scribes.

• What: A cursive script derived from hieroglyphs, used for daily writing.

• Where: Used throughout Egypt.

• When: Old Kingdom to Late Period.

• Why important: Allowed for faster and more practical writing in administration and literature.

Hieroglyphics

• Who: Egyptian scribes and artisans.

• What: A pictorial script used in religious and official inscriptions.

• Where: Found on temple walls, tombs, and monuments.

• When: c. 3100 BCE–4th century CE.

• Why important: The primary writing system of ancient Egypt, preserving its history and culture.

Horus

• Who: Egyptian falcon-headed god.

• What: The sky god and protector of the pharaoh.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt, especially at Edfu.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented kingship and divine rule.

Horus Name

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: One of the official royal names, linked to the god Horus.

• Where: Found in inscriptions on temples and monuments.

• When: Early Dynastic Period onward.

• Why important: Symbolized the king’s divine authority.

Ideogram

• Who: Egyptian scribes.

• What: A hieroglyph that represents a whole word or concept.

• Where: Found in hieroglyphic inscriptions.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: A key element of hieroglyphic writing.

Isis

• Who: One of the most revered Egyptian goddesses.

• What: Goddess of magic, motherhood, and protection.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt, especially in Philae.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Central to myths of Osiris and Horus and widely venerated.

Ka

• Who: A spiritual aspect of a person in Egyptian belief.

• What: The life force or soul of an individual.

• Where: Represented in tomb inscriptions and statues.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Essential for existence in the afterlife.

Ka Priest

• Who: Egyptian temple and funerary priests.

• What: A priest responsible for maintaining a deceased person’s offerings.

• Where: Temples and tombs.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ensured the deceased’s soul remained sustained.

Ka Statue

• Who: Used by the deceased.

• What: A statue that housed the ka spirit.

• Where: Placed in tomb chapels.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Provided a physical vessel for the ka in the afterlife.

Kemet/Deshret

• Who: Egyptians.

• What: "Kemet" (Black Land) referred to fertile land; "Deshret" (Red Land) referred to the desert.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented the contrast between cultivated land and wilderness.

Khnum

• Who: Egyptian god with a ram’s head.

• What: A creator god who shaped humans from clay.

• Where: Worshiped at Elephantine.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Associated with creation and the Nile’s waters.

Kingship

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: The divine rule of Egypt’s kings.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: From the Early Dynastic Period onward.

• Why important: Central to Egyptian political and religious life.

Ma’at

• Who: Egyptian goddess and principle.

• What: Concept of truth, balance, and order.

• Where: Throughout Egypt, represented in temples and tombs.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Essential to maintaining cosmic balance; pharaohs were responsible for upholding Ma’at.

Manetho

• Who: Egyptian priest and historian.

• What: Compiled a history of Egypt in Greek.

• Where: Egypt, under Ptolemaic rule.

• When: 3rd century BCE.

• Why important: His king list is a primary source for modern chronology of Egyptian dynasties.

Mariette

• Who: Auguste Mariette, French Egyptologist.

• What: Discovered the Serapeum of Saqqara.

• Where: Egypt.

• When: 19th century CE.

• Why important: Founded the Egyptian Antiquities Service and helped preserve Egyptian monuments.

Memphite Cosmogony

• Who: Priests of Ptah at Memphis.

• What: A creation myth that emphasized Ptah as the creator god.

• Where: Memphis.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Highlighted the role of Ptah in creation and influenced Egyptian theology.

Middle Egyptian

• Who: Egyptian scribes.

• What: A phase of the Egyptian language, used in literature and inscriptions.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: c. 2000–1350 BCE (Middle Kingdom to early New Kingdom).

• Why important: Considered the classical stage of Egyptian language and used in later religious texts.

Mortuary Cult

• Who: Egyptian priests and families of the deceased.

• What: Rituals performed to sustain the spirits of the dead.

• Where: Tombs and temples.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Ensured the deceased’s continued existence in the afterlife.

Mortuary Estate

• Who: Egyptian royalty and elites.

• What: Land and resources dedicated to maintaining a tomb and its rituals.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Provided financial support for mortuary cults.

Mortuary Temple

• Who: Built for pharaohs and important officials.

• What: A temple dedicated to a deceased king’s cult.

• Where: Near royal tombs, especially in Thebes.

• When: Old Kingdom to New Kingdom.

• Why important: Served as a place for offerings and remembrance of the deceased.

Mummification

• Who: Egyptian embalmers and priests.

• What: The process of preserving a body for the afterlife.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Predynastic Period to Roman Period.

• Why important: Essential for ensuring the deceased’s survival in the afterlife.

Napoleon Bonaparte

• Who: French military leader.

• What: Led the French Expedition to Egypt.

• Where: Egypt, including Cairo and the Nile Valley.

• When: 1798–1801.

• Why important: His expedition led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the rise of modern Egyptology.

Natron

• Who: Egyptian embalmers.

• What: A naturally occurring salt used in mummification.

• Where: Harvested from dry lake beds, such as in Wadi Natrun.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Key ingredient in drying and preserving mummies.

Negative Confession

• Who: The deceased, as described in the Book of the Dead.

• What: A declaration of innocence before judgment in the afterlife.

• Where: Found in tombs and papyri.

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ensured the deceased passed the Hall of Judgment.

Nemes Headdress

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: A striped cloth headdress symbolizing kingship.

• Where: Depicted in art and found in tombs.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: One of the main symbols of royal authority.

Nephthys

• Who: Egyptian goddess of mourning and protection.

• What: A member of the Ennead, sister of Isis and Osiris.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Associated with death, mourning, and protection of the deceased.

Nesu-bit Name

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: One of the royal titles, meaning "King of Upper and Lower Egypt."

• Where: Found in official inscriptions.

• When: Early Dynastic Period onward.

• Why important: Signified the king’s role as ruler of a unified Egypt.

Nome/Nomarch

• Who: Egyptian provincial rulers (nomarchs).

• What: Administrative divisions (nomes) governed by officials.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic Period.

• Why important: Provided regional administration and governance.

Nu/Nun

• Who: Primordial Egyptian deity.

• What: Represented the chaotic waters before creation.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Considered the source of all life in Egyptian cosmogony.

Nut

• Who: Egyptian sky goddess.

• What: Goddess of the heavens and mother of Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Responsible for swallowing the sun at night and birthing it in the morning.

Obelisk

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs and builders.

• What: A tall, four-sided stone pillar with a pyramidion at the top.

• Where: Placed at temple entrances, especially in Heliopolis, Luxor, and Karnak.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Symbolized the sun god Re and divine power.

Offering Formula/Prayer

• Who: Egyptian priests and families of the deceased.

• What: A written invocation ensuring offerings for the dead.

• Where: Found in tomb inscriptions and stelae.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ensured sustenance for the deceased in the afterlife.

Opening of Mouth Ritual

• Who: Egyptian priests and the deceased.

• What: A ceremony performed to restore the senses of the dead.

• Where: Conducted at tombs.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Allowed the deceased to eat, speak, and breathe in the afterlife.

Ogdoad

• Who: Eight primordial deities in Egyptian religion.

• What: Represented aspects of chaos before creation.

• Where: Hermopolis.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Central to the Hermopolitan creation myth.

Opet Festival

• Who: Celebrated by priests and the public.

• What: A religious festival honoring Amun.

• Where: Thebes (Luxor and Karnak temples).

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Strengthened the connection between the king and the god Amun.

Osiris

• Who: Egyptian god of the afterlife.

• What: A major deity associated with resurrection and judgment.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt, especially at Abydos.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Central figure in Egyptian religion and afterlife beliefs.

Palermo Stone

• Who: Egyptian scribes and historians.

• What: A fragment of a royal annal recording early kings.

• Where: Originated in Egypt, now housed in Palermo, Italy.

• When: 5th Dynasty (Old Kingdom).

• Why important: One of the oldest historical records of Egyptian kingship.

Perceptual Art

• Who: Egyptian artists.

• What: Art that represents how something appears in reality.

• Where: Found in some Egyptian reliefs and sculpture.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history but less common than conceptual art.

• Why important: Contrast to conceptual art, which followed strict rules for representation.

W.M.F. Petrie

• Who: William Matthew Flinders Petrie, British archaeologist.

• What: Pioneer of systematic excavation in Egypt.

• Where: Excavated sites like Abydos, Amarna, and Giza.

• When: Late 19th–early 20th century.

• Why important: Developed modern archaeological techniques and established chronological dating for Egyptian artifacts.

Pharaoh

• Who: Egyptian kings.

• What: The ruler of Egypt, considered divine.

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Early Dynastic Period to Roman Period.

• Why important: Central authority in Egyptian society, law, and religion.

Pylon

• Who: Egyptian temple builders.

• What: Monumental gateways to temples.

• Where: Found at major temple complexes like Karnak and Luxor.

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Symbolized the horizon and divine protection of the temple.

Ptah

• Who: Egyptian creator god.

• What: God of craftsmanship, creation, and architects.

• Where: Centered in Memphis.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Central to the Memphite Cosmogony and patron of artisans.

Pyramid Texts

• Who: Written for pharaohs.

• What: Oldest religious texts in Egypt, inscribed in pyramids.

• Where: Found in pyramids of the 5th and 6th Dynasties (e.g., at Saqqara).

• When: Old Kingdom.

• Why important: Contained spells to ensure the king's safe journey to the afterlife.

Re/Ra

• Who: Egyptian sun god.

• What: Chief deity of the Egyptian pantheon.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt, especially in Heliopolis.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Symbolized creation, kingship, and daily rebirth.

Reisner

• Who: George Reisner, American Egyptologist.

• What: Conducted excavations in Giza and Nubia.

• Where: Egypt and Sudan.

• When: Early 20th century.

• Why important: Made significant discoveries about pyramid construction and royal tombs.

Relative Dating

• Who: Used by archaeologists.

• What: Dating method based on artifact comparison.

• Where: Applied at various Egyptian sites.

• When: Used in modern archaeology.

• Why important: Helps establish chronology without exact dates.

Ren/Name

• Who: Every individual in Egyptian belief.

• What: A person’s name, considered part of their soul.

• Where: Found in tomb inscriptions.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Believed that remembering a name ensured eternal existence.

Ritual/Myth

• Who: Egyptian priests and religious figures.

• What: Religious practices tied to mythology.

• Where: Temples and tombs.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Reinforced divine and royal power.

Rosetta Stone

• Who: Discovered by the French army.

• What: A trilingual inscription that helped decipher hieroglyphs.

• Where: Found in Rosetta, Egypt.

• When: Created in 196 BCE, discovered in 1799.

• Why important: Key to understanding ancient Egyptian writing.

Sema Tawy

• Who: Egyptian kings and artists.

• What: Symbol of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

• Where: Depicted in temples and royal inscriptions.

• When: Early Dynastic Period onward.

• Why important: Represented the pharaoh’s power over a unified Egypt.

Serekh

• Who: Egyptian kings.

• What: A rectangular frame enclosing a pharaoh’s Horus name.

• Where: Found in royal inscriptions and seals.

• When: Early Dynastic Period onward.

• Why important: One of the earliest forms of royal identification.

Seth

• Who: Egyptian god of chaos.

• What: Deity associated with storms, war, and disorder.

• Where: Worshiped at temples, especially in Ombos.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Played a key role in Egyptian mythology, especially the Osiris myth.

Shabako Stone

• Who: Commissioned by Pharaoh Shabako.

• What: A stone containing a copy of the Memphite Theology.

• Where: Memphis.

• When: 25th Dynasty.

• Why important: Preserved an important religious text about Ptah.

Shabti/Ushabti

• Who: Included in burials for the deceased.

• What: Small figurines meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

• Where: Found in tombs throughout Egypt.

• When: Middle Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ensured the deceased had servants in the afterlife.

Shen Ring

• Who: Egyptian royalty and gods.

• What: A circular symbol representing eternity.

• Where: Found in royal and religious iconography.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Signified eternal protection and divine authority.

Son of Re Name

• Who: Egyptian pharaohs.

• What: One of the five royal names, linking the king to Re.

• Where: Found in royal inscriptions.

• When: Middle Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Reinforced the king’s divine legitimacy.

Sopdu

• Who: Egyptian deity.

• What: God of the eastern frontier and protector of the pharaoh.

• Where: Worshiped in the eastern delta.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Associated with military strength and protection.

Sothic Cycle

• Who: Egyptian astronomers and priests.

• What: A calendar cycle based on the heliacal rising of Sirius (Sothis).

• Where: Throughout Egypt.

• When: Used in dating events throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Provided a way to track long-term timekeeping.

Symmetry

• Who: Egyptian architects and artists.

• What: A key design principle in art and architecture.

• Where: Found in temples, tombs, and statues.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented order, balance, and Ma’at.

Taweret

• Who: Egyptian goddess.

• What: Protective goddess of childbirth.

• Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Provided protection to mothers and children.

Thoth

• Who: Egyptian god of wisdom and writing.

• What: God of scribes, knowledge, and the moon.

• Where: Worshiped in Hermopolis.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Credited with inventing writing and maintaining order.

3 Seasons

• Who: Egyptian farmers and priests.

• What: The three-part division of the Egyptian year: Akhet (Inundation), Peret (Growing), Shemu (Harvest).

• Where: Throughout Egypt, especially along the Nile.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: The agricultural calendar dictated farming, religious festivals, and economic activities.

Turin Canon/Papyrus

• Who: Compiled by Egyptian scribes.

• What: A king list documenting rulers of Egypt.

• Where: Likely originated in Thebes.

• When: 19th Dynasty.

• Why important: One of the most detailed records of Egyptian kingship, including lesser-known rulers and even rejected or erased names.

Triads (Gods)

Aswan Triad

• Who: Khnum, Anuket, and Satis.

• What: A group of three gods worshiped together in Aswan.

• Where: Elephantine (Aswan).

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Khnum was believed to create humans on a potter’s wheel, Anuket was a water goddess, and Satis was a guardian of the Nile.

Memphite Triad

• Who: Ptah, Sekhmet, and Nefertum.

• What: A divine trio associated with Memphis.

• Where: Memphis.

• When: Old Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Ptah was the creator god, Sekhmet was a warrior goddess, and Nefertum symbolized renewal and healing.

Theban Triad

• Who: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

• What: The main gods of Thebes.

• Where: Thebes.

• When: New Kingdom onward.

• Why important: Amun became the supreme god, Mut was the mother goddess, and Khonsu represented the moon and healing.

Uraeus

• Who: Worn by Egyptian kings and gods.

• What: A rearing cobra symbolizing protection and divine authority.

• Where: Depicted on royal crowns and statues.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Represented the power of Wadjet, the cobra goddess, and served as a protective emblem for pharaohs.

Wadjet Eye (Eye of Horus)

• Who: Associated with Horus, the sky god.

• What: A symbol of healing, protection, and restoration.

• Where: Found in temples, amulets, and tombs across Egypt.

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Used in magical and funerary contexts to ward off evil and promote well-being.

Weighing of the Heart

• Who: Conducted by Osiris, Anubis, and Thoth.

• What: A judgment scene in which the deceased’s heart was weighed against the feather of Ma’at.

• Where: Depicted in tombs and papyri (e.g., Book of the Dead).

• When: Throughout Egyptian history.

• Why important: Determined whether a person was worthy of the afterlife or devoured by Ammit.