3. There are five million Facebook users in Egypt, more than any other Middle Eastern country. The first pharaoh of Egypt is considered to be King Menes, who united the Upper and Lower Kingdoms in 3150 B.C. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and will receive emails from us about news, offers, activities and partner offers. In ancient times, Egyptians believed in more than 2,000 gods because they had one for everything. 1) Most Ancient Egyptian pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs (rulers of Ancient Egypt) and their families. They had a god for food, a god for everyday chores and a god for pretty much anything you can think of! The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings (which can still be seen today!) The best places to see Egypts wildlife are in its 21 protected regions, which include oases, deserts, mountains, coastal areas, river islands and wetlands. Join us, ancient explorers, as we head back 5,000 years through history to discover fascinating facts about Ancient Egypt, from its ancient beginnings to Egypt today. 30 Facts About Greece That Will Blow Your Mind, 31 Facts About Austria That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Ecuador Facts That Will Blow Your Mind, 31 Facts About Japan That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts About Italy That Will Blow Your Mind, 34 Facts About Norway That Will Blow Your Mind, 37 Facts About Africa That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts About Bali That Will Blow Your Mind, 34 Facts About Scotland That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts About Ireland That Will Blow Your Mind, 33 Facts About Portugal That Will Blow Your Mind, 32 Facts About Switzerland That Will Blow Your Mind, 31 Facts About Jordan That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts about Japanese Culture That Will Blow Your Mind, 34 Facts About Costa Rica That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts About Peru That Will Blow Your Mind, 30 Facts About Tanzania That Will Blow Your Mind. No one knows for sure how the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun died. Egypt experiences natural dangers such as droughts, dust and sand storms, flash floods, earthquakes, landslides and windstorms (known as khamsin). Cairo, which also has the greatest population, is the country's . February 21, 2011. 22. Id al Fitr is one of the biggest celebrations in Egypt. Because. The Beautiful House is the name of the house or tent where mummification took place in ancient Egypt. Some astonishing facts about the geography of Egypt are: Egypt is generally divided into two sections; Lower Egypt is the northern part, and Upper Egypt is the southern part. It means great house because everyone believed the kings. The minimum wage is 1 200 pound per month (data from 2014). Safety . Ancient Egypt. The average life expectancy is 72.66 years, with males living for about 70.07 years while the female range at 75.38 years. During this period, the pharaohs had a number of majestic pyramids built. The highest mountaintop in Egypt is Mt. It comes immediately after Ramadan and the Egyptians bake special cookies and host parties. In ancient Egypt, death was seen as just a stepping stone in a persons life. The sections are named this way because the Nile flows from south to north. The official language of Egypt is Arabic, but some people also speak other languages like French and English. It's one of those weird facts about Egypt. The eye paint was usually green (made from copper) or black (made from lead).As well as offering protection from the sun, the Egyptians believed make-up had magical healing powers, too! Learn more with our balanced list of interesting Islam facts. Not only were animals worshipped in Ancient Egypt, but they were also trained to do many things. The toothpaste origins from Egypt Im told. Gypsy is a short name for Egyptian. Ask a parent or guardian to check it out first and remember to stay safe online. 49. The famous Great Pyramid at Giza was built as a burial place for King Khufu (2589-2566 B.C.) Egyptian protestors focused on lack of free speech and free. Isis wrapped him in bandages and he came back to life as the, Mud was pushed under the mummys skin to pad it out. Cleopatra was born in 70 or 69 B.C. The Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010. This work was written by Ahmes in the 1650 B.C. Theres so much to know about this amazing place, but it would be impossible to list it all here! The shape of the Egyptian pyramids is said to have been inspired by the sun rays. About 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslim, which means they are followers of the. Just share them in the comments! 56. But each summer, the Nile river rises because of rains at its source, far to the south in Ethiopia. The Sahara Desert at one time was lush grassland and savannah. Be sure to check if your parent or guardian is okay with this first. Egypt is famous for its ancient civilisation. The Egyptian Pound (EGP) is its official currency. Many people love their cats but Egyptians took their love to another level! As of July 2011, the population of Egypt was 82,079,663, making it the 15th most populated country in the world. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. War god. Yup, I have affiliate links on this blog and there may be some in this amazing and completely free content below. The ancient Egyptians were considered extremely powerful in all aspects, including government, arts, writing and religion. Name: Arab Republic of Egypt. Mosque in Egypt: Rraheb, Dreamstime. According to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, the king's soul ascended along the sun rays to the sun god. We are looking to become the #1 facts source on the Internet and we are on our way. These Arab forces ruled Egypt for several centuries and founded the modern capital, Cairo. While most of the photos we see of Pharaohs show them sporting beards, the reality is they preferred a clean-shaven face. In ancient Egypt, every big city supported one favorite. It was a powerful kingdom that flourished in the Nile River Valley in northeastern Africa for over 3,000 years. It was the first calendar known to have a year of 365 days, nearly equal to the solar year. Here's some enlightening and fun facts about Egypt for you to discover 1. 10 weird facts about ancient Egyptians that will surprise you. 3) The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. While desert landscapes likely come to mind when you think of Egypt, you might be surprised to learn that some of the best beaches in the world are located on the countrys Sinai Peninsula, particularly in the southern area of the peninsula. White represents the 1952 revolution that ended the monarchy without a war, while black symbolizes the oppression of the Egyptian under the British rule. 50. Modern Egypt Facts 6: food The main food of Egyptian people is bread. Other exports include metals, textiles, livestock and chemical products. One of the strangest jobs of any animal in those times was that of the baboons. Egyptian hieroglyphs have over 700 symbols. In an attempt to conquer the frequent annual flooding of the river Nile, Egypt has one of the largest manmade dams: Aswan high dam. While it is customary for women to wear the hijab in Egypt, tourists are under no obligation to follow suit. 21. They were thought to bring good luck. Ruler of the Underworld, god of dying vegetation, and husband of Isis. Egypt's pyramids are the second largest on earth. One of the longest rivers in the world runs through Egypt, the River Nile; its 4,258 miles (6,853kilometers) long! 04 There are 100 people in Egypt for every square kilometer of land. Catherine, standing at 8625 ft high (2,629m). Sydney, Australia: Weldon Russell Pty Ltd, 1993. The mystery of the Sphynx's missing nose! of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards and cheetahs. Female Circumcision Focus of Ferocious Debate in Egypt. The New York Times. 14. Here are some interesting Egypt facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids. 1. The English name Egypt comes from the ancient Greek name for the country Aigyptos while the Arabic name Misr comes from the Akkadian word misru meaning border or frontier. Source: CIA World Fact Book, 25. There are so many places to visit in Egypt! Egypt has the largest Arabic population in the world. The Sahara is the worlds largest hot desert (excludes Arctic and Antarctic deserts) and covers 8.5 million square kilometres (3.3 million square miles). The ancient Egyptians invented the calendar that we use today which has 365 days. Millions of protesters took to the streets in Eqypt demonstrating against police brutality and Hosni Mubaraks presidency. Ill check this next time I update the post. 58. Here are 10 interesting facts about Egypt. There are more than 700 symbols in this ancient language that was once used to document history and communicate. Ancient Egyptians believed that the soul of the king ascended along the ramp of the suns rays to the sun god himself, By the time Ramses II died at about 90 years old, he was suffering from severe dental problems, arthritis and hardening of the arteries, The ancient Egyptians regarded beauty as a sign of holiness, which is why cosmetics were integrated heavily into daily lives. Egypts population is growing rapidly. 12 Interesting Facts About Earthquakes. Egyptian cotton is said to be the best in the world. Travel through these interesting Ethiopia facts to learn more. 14Walker, Jane. Other foods served on the meal include beans, couscous, rice, and fruits. For everyday use, Egyptians used a script called hieratic. In 700 B.C., a second script called demotic was used, of which a derivative is used by Coptic Christians today. Egypt is the 66th most fertile country in the world. Facts about Ancient Egypt 1) Most Ancient Egyptian pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs (rulers of Ancient Egypt) and their families. Planning a trip to Egypt or just want to know more about the country? Want to learn more? But this was incompatible with the true solar year which so to solve this, the Egyptians added five extra days to the year. Source: Britannica, 28. These mummies have been found near Tuna el-Gebel. Those beards they are often depicted in were fake and only worn for religious reasons. This ancient language was used by Egyptians to write down their history and communicate, making it one of the earliest languages to be used. The first signs of human activity date back to around 4,500 BCE. Your email address will not be published. Source: BBC News1, BBC News2, 5. Youre leaving natgeokids.com to visit another website! The Tarkhan Dress has been radiocarbon dated to between 5,100 and 5,500 years old and as such is the worlds oldest woven garment. Source: National Geographic, 26. Accessed: April 30, 2010. Senet was the most popular game and was played for more than 2,000 years but there were also Mehen and Dogs and Jackals. The world's oldest D20 dice was found in Egypt. Southern Egypt has deserts and low mountains . 5. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss. If you were caught killing or injuring a cat in Ancient Egypt the penalties were high, usually resulting in death. Men have a literacy rate of 83% while women lag behind at 59.4%. 4) Both Egyptian men and women wore make-up. 13 Remarkable Facts about Mount Kilimanjaro, 13 Fun Facts about the Atlas Mountains, 13 Sensational Facts about The Serengeti, #ThrowbackThursday: The River Ganges A Sacred Place for Spiritual Cleansing. He became king when he was just six years old. Source: Guinness World Records, 11. The oldest pyramid is over 4600 years old. Cradles of Civilization: Egypt. June 19, 2010. 34. Creator god, associated with fertility. These animals were a popular target for sport hunters in ancient Egypt and historical records indicate that the Pharaoh also enjoyed this pastime. The country is ethnically homogeneous, with Egyptians comprising more than 99% of the population. Although it is a popular notion that Napoleons troops shot off the, Scholars believe that ancient Egyptians were the first to sew wounds closed some 4,000 years ago. The Great Pyramid at Giza has vents pointing to the constellation of Orion so the mummys spirit could fly straight up to the gods. One of the top attractions in Hanoi is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. 22 Hot Facts About Venus. Her full name is Facebook Jamal Ibrahim. In Africa, Egypt uses more natural gas and oil than any other country. A popular tourist destination, the site is noted for its temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Source: UNESCO, 27. Egypt is the 15th country with the highest population in the world, with 99% of the country's people living on just 5.5% of the land. The Egyptians also refer to their country as Misr, which can be used as a substitute name for Cairo. Niger is the top on the list, with a birth expectancy rate of 7.6 children for every woman. Accessed: April 18, 2011. 32. 1001 Facts to Make your Brain Explode! Egyptians used the name Aset (alternatively spelled as Ast, Iset or Uset.) Source: Jorge Lscar/Flickr. The Egyptian mummies were found to contain traces of cocaine and nicotine. Your email address will not be published. The most popular sport in Egypt is soccer but they also take part in tennis, squash, and swimming. Egyptian history is generally considered to have begun in 3200 B.C. Man pouring juice, Cairo, Egypt: Jackmalipan, Dreamstime. In Egypt, children (even girls) were considered a blessing. There are around 130 pyramids today, and have stood firm agains the elements for thousands of years. 42. 7. 1. Cairo gets its name from the Arabic al-Qahira which means the victorious. Source: CIA World Fact Book, 24. Ancient Egypt ended when Alexander the Great, of ancient Macedonia, conquered Egypt in 332 BC and founded Alexandria. If you thought board games were a fairly new invention, think again! Its common practice in many cultures around the world, including western ones, but the custom of exchanging wedding rings started in ancient Egypt. Here are 10 interesting facts about Egypt. The population of Egypt is massive. Overgrazing and/or. Discover the treasures of Ancient Egypts most famous pharaoh. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss. Following the construction of the Aswan high dam, the fertile silt settled in Lake Nasser. Sometimes depicted as a baboon. The largest collection of Egyptian artifacts will be housed at the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Accessed: May 5, 2011. The game involved throwing sticks (in the same way we throw dice) to see how many squares to move your piece forward on the board. Most Egyptian traditions and festivals trace their origin back to the time of pharaohs. Reaching more than a million people every month. It is bordered by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Red Sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The Red Sea borders Egypts east coast for 750 miles and has been designated a nature reserve for millions of species including coral reefs. We've got. In an attempt to control the annual flooding of the Nile, one of the largest dams in the world was built in Egypt in 1971: Aswan High Dam. 03 Egypt's population today numbers just over 100 million people. Sometimes the water in the Nile River was too dirty to drink safely. For example, during the Old Kingdom (2650-2134 B.C. Egypt only has two seasons, and they dont differ much. 60. The unemployment rate in 2018 is 9.9% . They learned to grow crops and raise animals, and they began to build villages and towns. The most popular being cats but also dogs, hawks, lions and baboons were kept at home. The meats that people eat are rabbit, goat, beef and lamb. Egypt is the 15th country with the highest population in the world, with 99% of the country's people living on just 5.5% of the land. When this happens, floods cover the rivers valleys, leaving sediments needed for trees, plants and crops to grow.Egypt is often divided into two sections Upper Egyptin the south andLower Egyptin the north. You're leaving our kids' pages to visit a page for grown-ups! At least 118 pyramids were built by the pharaohs as royal tombs. Source: Reuters, National Geographic, 9. Northern Egypt has wide valleys near the Nile, and desert to the east and west. Egypt was ruled by a Macedonian dynasty until 31 BC and then by the ensuing Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman empires. Egypt is part of an area known as the Fertile Crescent, also known as the Cradle of Civilization. Arabic and Egyptian Arabic are its official and national languages, respectively. 23 Surprising Facts About Spain. Fun Facts about Egypt for Kids. Probably the most recognised landmarks of ancient Egypt is the pyramid. Isis conjures up headlines of terrorist attacks nowadays. Don't have time right now to read 67 interesting facts about Egypt? 40 Interesting Facts About Kenya. Source: National Geographic, 15. The red color is a representation of the struggle against the British colonialists before their independence. 2. Fast Fun Egypt Facts The capital city of Egypt is Cairo and it is the largest city in Egypt. In fact, Sudan has more ancient pyramids than Egypt. Measuring 146.7 meters in height, it's one of the oldest historic sites that remain largely intact. The truth is that Egypt is not as dangerous as people think it is. Egypt's lost city of Heracleion was discovered under the sea after 1200 years. With only a few grasslands and forests, wildlife is not common in Egypt. As of July 2011, the population of Egypt was 82,079,663, making it the 15th most populated country in the world. They Were One Of The First Civilizations To Read And Write Credit: Shutterstock image by matrioshka Along with the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to invent reading and writing. 2. Only about an 2.5cm of rain falls throughout Egypt each year. The dance is still passed down to younger generations who keep the tradition going and there are plenty of places around the country where you can see this dance performed including restaurants, nightclubs and theaters. Egypts currency is the Egyptian pound. They believed she cried for her dead husband Osiris. Most economic activity takes place along the Nile River Valley, where the . These cookies are required to make our website work! I admit, the latter is probably not one of the most surprising Egypt interesting facts. It is still not known exactly how this was done. The surviving pyramids of Giza in particular are the most spectacular manmade structures ever made. Source: BBC News, 21. The afterlife was very important to Egyptians. 31. Home Destinations Africa Egypt 35 Fun and Interesting Facts About Egypt. On average, only an inch of rain falls in Egypt per year. He has an animal head with a long curved snout. Dear admins, This article may contain affiliate links. If you were to unravel some of the bandages of some Egyptian mummies, the linen bandages would stretch for a mile bet this is one of those Egypt facts you didnt know! For example, in 1959, Czech Radio engineer Karel Drbal patented the idea that pyramids could sharpen blunt razor blades. Contrary to popular belief, Cleopatra was actually Greek, not Egyptian or African. 26. Essential Facts Interesting Facts 01 Egypt dates back to the 3rd Millennium BC. 8l Slackman, Michael. The country is ethnically homogeneous, with Egyptians comprising more than 99% of the population. The Nile divides the Egyptian desert plateau into two sections known as the Western Desert and the Eastern Desert. Source: National Geographic, Britannica, 16. The museum is more than 100 years old so its had plenty of time to accumulate some of the worlds most amazing collections, housing artifacts of great importance including a room dedicated to the actual mummies of some of the great Pharaohs. A Great and Old Pyramid Great Pyramid of Giza is around 4,500 years old - one of the craziest facts about Egypt! Arabs introduced. Outdoor cafe in Cairo, Egypt: Jackmalipan, Dreamstime. However, Isis was also the name of one of the most worshipped Egyptian gods. You are absolutely right, its not. Niger ranks first with 7.60 children per woman. They have won the Africa Cup of Nations tournament seven times, qualified for the FIFA World Cup three times and, in 1934, became the first team outside the Americas and Europe to participate in the World Cup. Source: Britannica1, Britannica2, FIFA (pdf), 17. Egypt for Kids. The wooden toe belonged to an ancient Egyptian woman at around 1000 B.C. Much of Egypt is Muslim, however, there are Christians and Jewish people living here. Egypts Nile River is the worlds longest. Has the head of a cow or cows horns, often with a sun disk on her head. 100 Things You Should Know about Ancient Egypt. Archeologists discovered a 15-foot- (4.5-m-) long mummified crocodile. The birth expectancy rate is about 2.97 kids per woman. View of Mohammad Ali Mosque, Cairo, Egypt. Egypt is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and cobras. Accessed: April 18, 2011. This is one of the most interesting facts about Egypt! what useful information about the big toe! 11. Seth, the God of the Desert. 4. Ancient Egyptians kept such good flood records on the Nile that scientists today use their data to better understand rainfall patterns. 2. 46. The oldest prosthetic limb in the world was discovered in Egypt. There are many interesting facts about Cleopatra. The life expectancy of males is approximately 70.07 years and 75.38 years for females. Egypts geography, population, history and military strength have made it highly influential in the region. 17. The oldest surviving mathematical work in Egypt is titled The Entrance into the Knowledge of All Existing Things and All Obscure Secrets. 99 Random Fun Facts About Anything & Everything. The sections are named this way because the Nile flows from south to north. There are about 7 hundred hieroglyphs. Flag of Egypt. These cookies allow us to target other information on our website, like advertising, towards your interests. Egypt is known for its oldest and longest history among the modern nations. The ancient Egyptians worshipped more than 1,000 different gods and goddesses. Swaziland may be small, but it boasts an impressive array of adventure and culture. 36. The embalmer who made the first cut in the flank during the mummification process was called the ripper. The Egyptians considered any cut an offense to the bodyso in a symbolic performance, the rest of the embalmers threw stones at the ripper and chased him away with curses. The Nile is the second-longest river on earth, running 4,100 miles from Uganda to the Mediterranean Sea. It served a much different purpose in ancient times. 43. 03 The Ancient Egyptians used either grain or copper or silver as currency. The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound.