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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Who: Egyptian goddess.
What: Protective goddess of childbirth.
Where: Worshiped throughout Egypt.
When: Throughout Egyptian history.
Why important: Provided protection to mothers and children.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.