Ancient Egypt Quiz 1

Egypt: Egypt dates back to the Paleolithic Era when hominids occupied the territory. Egypt is home to the Nile River which provides fertile land in the surrounding areas. Ancient civilizations that formed in Egypt are some of the oldest on Earth.

Upper and Lower Egypt: Upper Egypt is located in the south of Egypt and is named because it is upstream of the Nile River, while Lower Egypt is in the north. Ancient Upper and Lower Egypt were distinct places with different gods, stories, and cultures. The two were eventually united as one. 

The Nile: The Nile River flows from Southern Egypt to the Northern. The Nile flooded every year and deposited fertile topsoil that was ideal for supporting life along the river. The Nile River was very important in the formation of Egypt and life in Ancient Egypt. 

Nilometer: The Nilometer measures the water level during the flooding of the Nile River. Important in managing the environment along the Nile as well as keeping records of flood seasons. 

Historiography: Historiography is the writing of history. Historiography has changed greatly in ancient Egypt, especially as new information is discovered. Historiography is important to understand the full dynamics of life in Ancient Egypt. 

Egypt’s Prehistory: Egyptian prehistory is the period before the first dynasty in Egypt was formed. It is marked by the Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures. 

3 Means of Dating: The 3 means of dating are relative, absolute, and radiometric which are important in determining the age of artifacts or places. In Egypt, the 3 means of dating have been used to discover Ancient civilizations and peoples. 

Flinders Petrie: Flinders Petrie was an archeologist who developed sequential dating to determine the age of Ancient Egyptian Naquada pots. Sequential dating has helped uncover Egyptian chronology but has also led to advancements in archeology. 

Manetho: Manetho wrote a history of Egypt that contained a King list detailing the rulers of Egyptian dynasties. The list is one of the most comprehensive records of the Kings and is important in understanding Egyptian Chronology.  

The Palermo Stone: The Palermo Stone was created in the 5th Century and provides information about Egyptian dynasties. It is now fragmented but remains an important resource to Egyptian chronology. 

Nabta Playa: Nabta Playa is a Neolithic/predynastic site with megaliths. It may be one of the first megaliths constructed fro astronomical purposes. 

Badarian Culture: Badarian culture may have been one of the first civilizations in Egypt. The culture is marked by its black-top pottery and grave sites. 

Creation Myth: The Egyptian creation myth begins with chaos, but it becomes order as Gods appear. The creation story was important to Ancient Egyptians, even if there were differences, as it provided order and guidance in life. 

Maat: Maat is an Egyptian goddess that represents divine order. Maat is also a concept that emphasizes the importance of maintaining order or Maat. 

Foreigners in Art: Foreigners in art are often represented as looking physically different from Egyptians. They represent chaos and are often shown being defeated by a king who is restoring order. 

The 2 Lands: 

White Crown: The White Crown was the crown of Kings in Upper Egypt. The symbol of the white crown also represented the rulers of Upper Egypt. The crown was tall, white, and bowling ball-shaped.  

Red Crown: The Red Crown was the crown of Kings in Lower Egypt. The shape and symbol of the red crown represented lower Egypt and was shorter and red. 

1. Both crowns were combined when the two lands were united. 

Stone Maceheads and Palettes: Stone Maceheads were weapons used in Ancient Egypt. Palettes were used for mixing pigment for makeup. Both were common in Ancient Egypt and were eventually found within graves to follow Egyptians to the afterlife. 

Narmer’s Palette: Narmer's palette was crafted to depict King Narmer unifying Upper and Lower Egypt. The palette is a piece of art with many symbols representing Egyptian life and affairs. 

Horus and the Serekh: A serekh is a representation of the magical border within a palace. A Horus bird is often depicted on the serekh representing a Kings diving rule and connection to the gods. 

Seth as Protector: Some ancient Kings used Seth as a guardian figure on their serekh instead of Horus. 

Apotropaic: Apotropaic means to turn away. Many Ancient Egyptian motifs were apotropaic and used to protect from evil. The sphynx was seen as apotropaic in Ancient Egyptian culture. 

Propitiate: Propitiate means to ease anger or bad feelings. Ancient Egyptians would make offerings to propitiate the gods, some Egyptian art represents this effort. 

Emergence of Egyptian State: The emergence of the Egyptian state began in the eastern desert of Upper Egypt. The first major sites include Abydos and Heirankonpolis.  

Upper Egypt- formation of the state: Upper Egypt was more prosperous and had more resources. The Naqqada culture replaced other dispersed cultures to form a more unified state. People were likely drawn to this area because of trade. 

Trade Boats: Trade boats were used in Ancient Egypt and were likely developed by gaining technology from surrounding areas. Non-native larger boats had access to Egypt by the Levant. 

Conquest of North by South: Upper Egypt was likely able to conquer Lower Egypt due to a strong king leading the cause. The Cult of Horus was established by this time which shows how a king would have support due to the idea of their divine kingship. The conquest is depicted heavily in art. 

Trade with Ebla: Ebla is one of the worst first civilizations located in Syria. Eblas was a wealthy civilization that drew Ancient Egyptians to trade with the state for goods they did not have access to. 

First Dynasty: The first dynasty of Egypt formed after Upper and Lower Egypt were unified.  Memphis was the first major city during the first dynasty. Evidence of taxation existed which helped support the dynasty. 

Boat Burials: Boat burials emerged during the first Egyptian dynasty. In boat burial rituals village boats were buried to represent one's journey into the afterlife. 

Min: Min is an Egyptian god of fertility and giant statues of Min were found in major cities. Min is often depicted as ithyphallic which is seen as apotropaic. 

Satet: Satet is an Egyptian goddess of war. Satet is seen as a protective deity of the Egyptian border with Nubia. 

Khnum: Khnum is the Egyptian god of the Nile’s first cataract. He invented the “Ka” which is the life force of humans. 

The Great Pyramids at Giza:  The Great Pyramids at Giza were all built for 4th dynasty Kings while they were alive. The pyramids are burial sites and tributes to the kings in their deaths. The Kings the pyramids were built for were Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure who were all related. 

Nomes: Nomes were administrative and territorial divisions in Egypt that were led by nomarchs. Each nome was represented by a primary god or goddess and 

Ra/ Temples to Ra: Ra is the Egyptian Sun God. The cult of Ra was centered in Heliopolis and he was worshiped outside instead of in a sanctuary. 5th dynasty kinds build sun temples to Ra. 

Sed Festival: The Sed festival was first celebrated on the 30th year of a king's rule, but continued every three years after the first. The Sed festival became an important tradition that represented the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. 

Pyramid Texts: Pyramid tests were first painted on the walls of pyramids and became important for Egyptian rituals of death. Kings' tombs, especially 6th century, would have pyramid texts that contained spells to carry you through the afterlife. 

The Ka: The Ka is the part of the soul that remains alive in the afterlife. The Ka was often represented in statues or paintings and placed in the serdab or cellar of a tomb. 

Tombs for the Elite: By the 3rd Egyptian dynasty, elites were also built tombs similar to kings. One major site of tombs of the elite was in the Valley of Kings. 

Netjer-Nefer: 

Frontality: In Ancient Egyptian art many figures are depicted as forward-facing. Statues are forward-facing and meant to watch sacred areas and areas of ritual offering. 

2- Dimensional Art: In Ancient Egypt 2-D art was very prominent and there was no attempt at creating 3-D art or perspectives. In the 2-D pieces different body parts and forward facing while others are facing the side. 

Scale: Scale was used in Egyptian art to symbolize differences in power. For example, the king is often depicted as the same size as deities showing his connection to divine kingship. 

Hieroglyphs: Hieroglyphs were used for writing in Ancient Egypt. No vowels were written, and images were often depicted to represent words instead.  

Painting: Painting in Ancient Egypt was often done on a surface smoothed with mud or plaster. Paintings would be planned out using a grid system before painting. 

Pigments: Pigments were used in Ancient Egypt for painting and makeup. Pigments were made from the ground-up natural resources like minerals and plants. 

Hieroglyphs as Symbols: Hieroglyphs were often used for writing and as symbols. They were often attributed to a god or goddess and symbolized different things such as eternity. 

Age/Sex/Status in Egyptian Art: Egyptian art depicted different people in different ways which was able to show different class structures. For example, young and old men were shown as different heights, and elites were often only shown clothed. 

Pepy II: Pepy II was the last well-attested king of an Egyptian Dynasty. He served for 94 years making him the longest reigning king of Egypt. 

The End of the Old Kingdom: The end of the Old Kingdom occurred because centralized power declined and nomarchs attempted to seize local power. Thebes and Heirakleopolis were major cities where power was seized. 

Nebheptra Montuhotep II: Nebheptra Montuhotep II was an 11th-dynasty king who is credited with reuniting Egypt after the end of the old kingdom. He worshipped the falcon-god Montu. 

Hathor: Hathor is the Egyptian goddess of love and fertility. She is similar to Aphrodite in Greek mythology and is the wife of Horus. The main cult of Hathor is at Dendara. 

Pre-Unification Theban Art: 

Old Kingdom: The term Old Kingdom was invented in the 19th century to describe the period from the first dynasty until the first intermediate period. It important to know the Ancient Egyptians would have never used the term Old Kingdom as they likely never saw a drastic rule change. 

Queen Niamaathap: Queen Niamaathap was known as the mother of the king's children” because all the final kings of the early dynastic period were related to her. Also known as the mother of Upper and Lower Egypt which shows the power she must have had. 

The Turin Canon: The Turin Canon was a list of kings that was written on papyrus. The list contained kings from early dynastic periods to about 13,000 BCE. 

Imhotep: Imhotep was the architect of Djosers’ pyramid and is credited with being the first person to build in stone. He became the High Preist of Heliopolis and was deified as the son of Ptah. 

4th Dynasty: The 4th dynasty is considered the height of the Egyptian Empire. During the 4th dynasty, Egypt had no local enemies and was instead leading expeditions into other territories. During this time the Cult of the Immortal King becomes very popular and people have a lot of trust in there king as a divine entity. 

King Sneferu: 

King Khufu:

King Khafre: 

King Menkaure: