According to Plato's records, the ancient Egyptian priests pointed out that the sacred family of the pharaohs comes from Atlantis.
The first Egyptian pharaohs in the Predynastic (end of the 5th millennium - c. 3100 BC) and the Early Dynastic period (3120 to 2649 BC) of the history of Ancient Egypt, up to the 4th dynasty, the pharaohs are known only under the single choir name, since the pharaoh was considered the earthly incarnation of the heavenly god Mount Horus, whose symbol was the falcon. Horus is the god of the sky, kingship and the sun. Horus from Vedic: Harshu - hṛṣu - Agni, fire; sun;. According to early Egyptian myths The falcon brought catfish from the sky - the sacred drink of the gods.
At the end of the Old Kingdom, the name of the pharaoh is associated with the myth of the god Osiris. The word pharaoh Pharaoh ; Greek Φαραώ; glory. Perun, from "Paro" - "descendant of the Sun" .)
The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were descended from the gods, incest was seen as an acceptable measure to preserve the sanctity of the royal family. The genealogy of Tutankhamen is rather complicated; there were incestuous marriages in his family.
Tutankhamun was born in 1341 BC and died in 1323 BC. at the age of 19.
His father was Amenhotep IV, who proclaimed monotheism in Egypt, the only god - the Sun, and himself - his son, and took the name Akhenaten - "son of the Sun" (reigned: 1351 and 1334 BC).
As shown by the genetic analysis of the remains of the mummy of Tutankhamun (mummy KV35YL), his mother was the sister of Akhenaten. Tutankhamun was born a weak child, as his parents were brother and sister.
Tutankhamen's stepmother was
white-skinned.
In 1348 BC Nefertiti and Akhenaten had a daughter Ankhesenamun- Half sister of Tutankhamen. At the age of ten, Tutankhamun married her, his half-sister.
Name Tutankhamun (Tutenkh-, -amen, -amon), in Egyptian: twt-nḫ-ı͗mn; belonged to the 18th dynasty of Egyptian kings, ruling from 1333 BC. -. 1324 BC This period of Egyptian history is called the New Kingdom.
Tutankhamen
means " living image of Amun"
. Tutankhaton
(Tutankhaten), means "the living image of Aten" - the god of the Sun.
The researchers managed to identify a number of mummies from the genealogy of Tutankhamun. Research results are based on computed tomography and two summer studies DNA from 16 mummies, including Tutankhamun.
Pharaoh Amenhotep III
(mummy KV35EL) may have been Tutankhamun's grandfather.
Pharaoh Akhenaten
(mummy KV55) Tutankhamun's father.
Teye, wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, mother of Akhenaten and grandmother of Tutankhamen.
Mummy KV35YL - mother of Tutankhamun, although her identity is still shrouded in mystery, DNA analysis shows that she was the daughter of Amenhotep III and Theii, and also she was native sister of her husband Akhenaten, who ruled ancient Egypt in 1351-1334 BC.
Teje (Teje) - wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, Mother of Akhenaten, grandmother of Tutankhamun
After the death of Akhenaten's father, Tutankhamun became pharaoh at the age of 10 in 1333 BC.
, and ruled for only nine years until his death.
At the age of 12, Tutankhamun married his half-sister Ankhesenamun, the daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, but the couple had no surviving children.
Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt in the 18th Dynasty and ruled during a critical period in history, after the death of Akhenaten's father. Egyptian priests
and the priests regained their powers and, rejecting monotheism (monotheism) returned the cult of polytheism,
worship of several deities of ancient Egypt.
Opening of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 owned by British archaeologist Howard Carter. More than 5,000 unique exhibits were found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
In 2009 and 2010 in Zurich at the DNA Genealogy Center (iGENEA) Swiss genetic scientists conducted extensive DNA studies of the mummy of Tutankhamun and other members of his family. In February 2010, the results of Y-DNA studies were only partially published, information about the results of Y-DNA was closed.
It turned out that the Y-DNA of the mummy of Tutankhamen, his father Akhenaten and his grandfather Amenhotep III belong to the Y-chromosomal haplogroup R1b1a2, widespread in Italy, the Iberian Peninsula and western England and Ireland.
Up to 70% of Spanish and British men belong to the same Y-chromosomal haplogroup R1b1a2 as the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. About 60% of French men belong to the haplogroup R1b1a2.
About 50% of the male population in Western Europe belong to the haplogroup R1b1a2.
This indicates that they share a common ancestor.
According to the results of a study by the Swiss Center for DNA Genealogy (iGENEA), among living in Egypt, modern Egyptians haplogroup R1b1a2 is less than 1%. Very few modern Egyptians are related to the ancient pharaohs. 
Director of the iGENEA Center Roman Scholz said that Pharaoh Tutankhamun and members royal family, who ruled Egypt more than 3000 years ago, belonged to the R1b1a2 genetic haplogroup, common among modern Europeans, and not existing among modern Egyptians.
Pharaoh Tutankhamun belongs to the haplogroup R1b1a2, as well as more than 50% of all men in Western Europe, which means that Tutankhamun was "white" - "Caucasian", that is, a man of European appearance, and not "Caucasian", as some smart people translate.
The ancient Egyptians used for embalming various synthetic resins, from which the mummies turned black.
This created the false impression that the ancient Egyptians were Africans. Indeed, white-skinned pharaohs were considered the highest caste dominating the dark-skinned Egyptian population, made up of different tribes. Probably the white skin of the pharaohs also played a role in their deification 3000 years ago. The lighter the skin color, the higher the status of a person in society.
iGENEA researchers believe that common ancestor people, carriers of the genetic haplogroup R1b1a2, lived in the Caucasus approximately 9500 years ago. Haplogroup R1b1a2 comes from the haplogroup R1b and R1a, whose representatives from the Black Sea and the Caucasus came to Africa (Egypt) through Asia Minor during the Neolithic (Neolitic population). Haplogroup R1a is the Proto-Indo-Europeans and ... and the legendary arias, according to the DNA of their modern descendants.
The earliest migrations of people with haplogroup R1b1a2, which originated in the Black Sea region about 9500 years ago, spread throughout Europe with the spread of agriculture in 7000 BC.
New tomb found in Egypt
carved into the desert rocks near the Egyptian city of Thebes, dated approximately 1290 BC —
time after the reign of Tutankhamen. Princesses of ruling dynasties, including the daughters of Pharaoh Thutmose IV, are buried in the tomb. Buried in the same tomb police chief and his wife
, which testifies to the high status of this public office, which ensures peace and order in Egyptian society. Despite the fact that the “princesses tomb” was plundered in ancient times, archaeologists managed to unearth the premises where the robbers had not visited, and find unique ivory items, ritual vessels and jewelry that make it possible to see the wealth and splendor of the pharaohs of Egypt.
On a bas-relief found in the Theban "Tomb of the Princesses" the princesses of Egypt are depicted performing sacred rituals of purification before Pharaoh Amenhotep III in honor of his jubilee. The bas-relief dates from about 1390-1352 BC
The time will come and the pharaohs will come to life. As you wanted
Johannes Krause, a paleogeneticist at the University of Tübingen, reported in the journal Nature Communications that out of 151 single mummies the German researchers worked on, genome of three mummies managed to restore completely, because they DNA is well preserved . Survived to this day, as the scientist put it. Preserved despite the hot Egyptian climate, high humidity in the burial places and the chemicals used for embalming.
Complete genome restoration three mummies promises - albeit in the distant future - restoration and their owners by cloning. This will suit the ancient Egyptians, who calculated somehow and someday rise from the dead, for this they were mummified! They seem to have foreseen that the remains of flesh and bone will come in handy.
The pharaoh played a special role in the life of the Egyptians. This word cannot be translated as king, king or emperor.
The pharaoh was the supreme ruler and at the same time the high priest.
The pharaoh was a god on earth and a god after death. He was treated like a god.
His name was not spoken in vain. The term "pharaoh" itself appeared from the phrase of two Egyptian words per - aa, which meant a great house.
So they spoke about the pharaoh allegorically, so as not to call him by name. According to the beliefs of the Egyptians, the first pharaoh was the god Ra himself. Other gods ruled behind him. Later, the son of Osiris and Isis, the god Horus, appears on the throne. Horus was considered the prototype of all Egyptian pharaohs, and the pharaohs themselves were his earthly incarnation. Every real pharaoh was considered a descendant of both Ra and Horus. The full name of the pharaoh consisted of five parts, the so-called title. The first part of the title was the name of the pharaoh as the incarnation of the god Horus. The second part was the name of the pharaoh as the incarnation of two mistresses - the goddess of Upper Egypt Nekhbet (depicted in the form of a kite) and the goddess of Lower Egypt Wadzhet (in the form of a cobra). Sometimes the "steady manifestation of Ra" was added here. The third part of the name was the name of the pharaoh as "golden Horus. The fourth part included the personal name of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt. For example, the personal name of Pharaoh Thutmose 3 was Men - Kheper - Ra. And finally, the fifth part of the title was what can be roughly translated as patronymic It was preceded by the words "son of Ra", and then followed by the second name of the pharaoh, for example Thutmose - Nefer - Kheper. It was this that usually served as the official name of the pharaoh.
It was also believed that the pharaohs appear from the marriage of the queen, the wife of the pharaoh, with some deity. Kinship in the dynasty of pharaohs was conducted on the maternal side. Not only men ruled - pharaohs.
Queen Hatshepsut is known in history. In all Egyptian temples, the living pharaoh was sung like a god, prayed for his health and well-being. Pharaoh himself addressed the gods with prayers.
In the view of the Egyptians themselves, the pharaoh was presented as a god-man. It was believed that between the gods and the pharaohs there was an unbreakable contract.
According to it, the gods granted the pharaoh longevity, personal well-being and the prosperity of the state, and the pharaoh, for his part, ensured the observance of the cult by the gods, the construction of temples, and the like. He was the only mortal who had access to the gods. Sometimes the pharaoh personally participated in the beginning of agricultural work, which was of a sacred nature. He threw a scroll into the Nile with the order to start flooding, he begins preparing the soil for sowing, he is the first to cut the first sheaf at the harvest festival and offers a thanksgiving sacrifice to the goddess of the harvest, Renenut. In Egypt, there was a constant struggle for the throne of Upper and Lower Egypt. Priests played an important role in it. Sometimes they founded a new dynasty of pharaohs. Often the pharaohs were puppets in the hands of the high priest. The fight went on almost non-stop. With the weakening of the state, separatist sentiments in various regions of Egypt immediately raised their heads.
The pharaoh is the son of a god. His main duty is to bring gifts to the gods and build temples for them.
Ramesses III addressed the gods in this way: “I am your son, created by your hands ... You created perfection for me on earth. I will do my duty in peace. My heart searches tirelessly for what needs to be done for your shrines.” Further, Ramesses III tells which temples he built and which he restored. Each pharaoh built himself a tomb - a pyramid. The pharaoh also appointed governors of the nomes (nomarchs), chief officials, and the chief priest of Amon. During the war, the pharaoh led the army. By tradition, the pharaohs brought trees and shrubs unknown to the Egyptians from distant campaigns. The pharaohs paid great attention to the construction of irrigation systems and personally supervised the construction of canals.
Awards to the best
The pharaohs valued and in every possible way encouraged their commanders and officials, who served as the main support of their power and power and obtained wealth for them. After the campaign, awards were distributed to those who distinguished themselves. Sometimes one person received the reward. In honor of the victory, a great celebration was held. Luxurious gifts were laid out on the tables. Only the highest nobility was allowed to the celebration.
Coronation
The ritual of the coronation of the pharaohs was subject to established rules. But at the same time, there were some differences depending on the day of the ritual. This depended on which god the coronation day was dedicated to. For example, the coronation of Ramesses III took place on the feast of the god Ming, the lord of the desert and fertility. The pharaoh himself led the solemn procession. He appeared in a chair that was carried on a stretcher by the king's sons and senior officials, which was considered a great honor. In front of the stretcher was the eldest son, the heir. The priests carried a censer with incense. The scroll in the hands of one of the priests represented the program of the holiday. Approaching the dwelling of Min, the pharaoh performed the ceremony of incense and libations. Then the queen appeared. Next to her walked a white bull with a solar disk between its horns - a symbolic personification of God. He was also fumigated with incense. The procession sang hymns. The priests carried wooden statues of various pharaohs. Only one of them, the apostate Akhenaten, was forbidden to "appear" at the festival. Pharaoh sent four arrows to each of the cardinal points: in this way he symbolically struck down all his enemies. Under the singing of hymns, the ceremony comes to its final stage: the ruler thanks Ming and brings him gifts. Then the procession withdrew to the pharaoh's palace.
Pharaoh's personal life
The attitude towards wives and families of the pharaohs was different. For example, Akhenaten hardly ever left his palace. He dearly loved his wife, mother and daughters. Reliefs have come down to us that depict his family during walks. They went to the temple together, the whole family even took part in the receptions of foreign ambassadors. If Akhenaten had one wife, then Ramses II had five of them, and they all bore the title of "great royal wife." Considering that this pharaoh ruled for sixty-seven years, that's not much. However, in addition to official wives, he had many more concubines. From those and others he left 162 offspring.
Dwelling of eternity
No matter how important the cares of life, the pharaoh had to think in advance what his dwelling of eternity would be like. The construction of even a small pyramid was not an easy task. Granite or alabaster blocks suitable for this were only in two places - on the Giza and Saqqara plateaus. Later, for the repose of the pharaohs in the Theban mountains, they began to cut down entire halls, connected by passages.
The main thing in the funeral ceremony was the sarcophagus. The pharaoh personally visited the workshop where the sarcophagus was made for him, and meticulously watched the work. He cared not only about the place of burial, but also about the items that would accompany him in the afterlife. The richness and variety of utensils is amazing. Indeed, in the world of Osiris, the pharaoh had to continue his usual life.
On the last journey
The funeral of the pharaoh was a special spectacle. The relatives sobbed and wringed their hands in sorrow. Undoubtedly, they sincerely mourned the departed. But it was considered that this was not enough. Specially invited professional mourners and mourners, who were excellent actors. Having smeared their faces with silt and stripped to the waist, they tore their clothes, sobbed, moaned and beat themselves on the head. The funeral procession symbolized the migration from one house to another.
In the other world, the pharaoh should not have needed anything. In front of the procession were pies, flowers and jugs of wine. Funeral furniture, armchairs, beds followed, as well as personal items, utensils, boxes, canes and much more.
A long line of jewels concluded the procession. And here is the mummy of the pharaoh in the tomb. The wife falls to her knees and wraps her arms around him. And at this time, the priests perform an important mission: they place “trismus” on the tables - bread and mugs of beer. Then they put an adze, a cleaver in the shape of an ostrich feather, a model of a bull's leg, a palette with two curls on the edges: these items are needed to eliminate the effects of embalming and give the deceased the opportunity to move.
After performing all the rites, the mummy is immersed in a stone "grave" to go to better world and lead a new life.
In ancient times, a civilization arose on the territory of modern Egypt in the Nile Valley, leaving behind many secrets and mysteries. It still attracts the attention of researchers and ordinary people with its color, its unusualness and rich heritage.
Thirty Dynasties of Egypt
It is not known exactly when the hunting tribes entered the Nile Valley and found there a lot of food and a wide river as a reliable source of water. Years passed. The rural communities organized here grew in size and became richer. Then they divided into two kingdoms - Lower (in the south) and Upper (in the north). And in 3200 BC. e. the ruler Menes was able to conquer Lower Egypt and organized the first dynasty of pharaohs, which controlled both the delta and the valley of the great Nile.
Map of unified Ancient Egypt
During the dynastic period, Ancient Egypt often became the dominant state in the region. This state had a complex social structure, advanced technologies for those times, a powerful army and developed internal trade. In addition, the Egyptians managed to achieve fantastic success in the field of construction - they were able to build efficient irrigation systems on the banks of the Nile, huge temples and pyramids that boggle the imagination of even a modern person. In addition, the Egyptians invented the hieroglyphic writing system, organized an efficient judicial system, and did many other important and amazing things.
In total, starting from 3200 BC. e., until the conquest of the Egyptians by the Persians in 342 BC. e. There were thirty dynasties of rulers of Egypt. These are truly Egyptian dynasties - that is, their representatives were themselves Egyptians, and not conquerors from distant lands. The last pharaoh of the thirtieth dynasty was Nectaneb II. When the Persians invaded his state, he collected his treasures and fled south.
However, the history of Ancient Egypt, as many believe, does not end there. Then Alexander the Great was able to recapture Egypt from the Persians, and subsequently Ptolemy, Alexander's commander, began to rule this region. Ptolemy I proclaimed himself king of Egypt in 305 BC. e. He used local traditions, preserved from the ancient pharaohs, to gain a foothold on the throne. This (and also the fact that he died a natural death, and not as a result of a conspiracy) shows that Ptolemy was a fairly intelligent ruler. As a result, he managed to create his own special dynasty, which ruled here for more than 250 years. By the way, the last representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last queen of Egypt was the legendary Cleopatra VII Philopator.
Some legendary pharaohs
The pharaohs stood at the top of the social ladder and were considered equal to the gods. Great honors were given to the pharaohs, they were considered so powerful that they were literally afraid to touch them.
On the neck, the pharaohs traditionally wore an ankh - a magical symbol and talisman, to which the Egyptians attached great importance. There have been many pharaohs over the centuries and millennia of Egypt's existence, but a few of them deserve special mention.
Almost the most famous Egyptian pharaoh - Ramses II. He ascended the throne when he was about twenty years old, and ruled the country for almost seven decades (from 1279 to 1213 BC). During this time, several generations have changed. And many of the Egyptians who lived at the end of the reign of Ramses II believed that he was a real immortal deity.
Another pharaoh worthy of mention - Djoser. He ruled in the 27th or 28th century BC. e. It is known that during his reign the city of Memphis finally became the capital of the state. However, Djoser went down in history primarily by the fact that he built the very first pyramid in Ancient Egypt (it is also the first stone architectural structure in the world). More precisely, it was built by the vizier of Djoser - a man with outstanding abilities named Imhotep. Unlike the later pyramid of Cheops, the pyramid of Djoser consists of steps. Initially, it was surrounded by a wall with 15 doors, and only one of them opened. At the moment, nothing remains of the wall.
There were several female pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt.. One of them is Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 15th century BC. e. Her name can be translated as "before the noble ladies." Having removed the young Thutmose III from the throne and declaring himself pharaoh, Hatshepsut continued the restoration of Egypt after the Hyksos raids, and erected a large number of monuments on the territory of her state. In terms of the number of progressive reforms she carried out, she surpassed many male pharaohs.
In the time of Hatshepsut, it was believed that the pharaohs are the incarnations of the god Horus in the earthly world. In order not to sow confusion among the people, the priests reported that Hatshepsut was the daughter of the god Amun. But at many ceremonies, Hatshepsut still appeared in male attire and with a fake beard.
In modern Western culture, Queen Hatshpsut has an image of a smart, energetic woman endowed with analytical abilities. A place for Hatshepsut was found, for example, in the famous exhibition of the artist Judy Chicago "The Dinner Party", dedicated to the great women who influenced the history of mankind.
Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the XIV century BC. e.- Another popular figure in the history of ancient Egypt. He carried out truly revolutionary religious reforms. He decided to make the previously unimportant god Aten, associated with the solar disk, the center of all religion. At the same time, the cults of all other gods (including Amon-Ra) were banned. That is, in fact, Akhenaten decided to create a monotheistic religion.
In his transformations, Akhenaten relied on people who held high positions in the state, but came from the common people. On the other hand, most of the hereditary priestly nobility actively resisted the reforms. Ultimately, Akhenaten lost - after his death, the usual religious practices returned to the everyday life of the Egyptians. Representatives of the new XIX dynasty, which came to power ten years later, abandoned the ideas of Akhenaten, these ideas were discredited.
Pharaoh-reformer Akhenaten, who, according to many scientists, was simply ahead of his time
And a few more words should be said about Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt for 21 years. She was a truly extraordinary and, apparently, a very attractive woman. It is known that she had an affair first with Julius Caesar, and later with Mark Antony. From the first she gave birth to a son, and from the second - two sons and daughters.
And one more interesting fact: Mark Antony and Cleopatra, when they realized that they could not resist the emperor Octavian, who was eager to capture Egypt, began to arrange endless drinking parties and festive feasts. Soon Cleopatra announced the creation of the "Union of suicide bombers", whose members (and all close associates were invited to join it) took an oath that they would die together. During the same period, Cleopatra tested poisons on slaves, wanting to know which one could bring death quickly and without severe pain.
In general, in 30 BC. e. Cleopatra, like her beloved Antony, committed suicide. And Octavian, having established his control over Egypt, turned it into one of the provinces of Rome.
Unique buildings on the Giza plateau
The pyramids on the Giza plateau are the only one of the so-called seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day.
Of greatest interest to Egyptologists and laymen is the Pyramid of Cheops. Its construction lasted about two decades and ended, probably, in 2540 BC. e. For its construction, it took 2,300,000 volumetric stone blocks, their total weight was seven million tons. The height of the pyramid is now 136.5 meters. The architect of this pyramid is called Hemiun, the vizier of Cheops.
Pharaoh Cheops gained the fame of a classical despot. Some sources report that Cheops used harsh measures to force the population to work on the construction of the pyramid. The very name of Cheops after he died was allegedly forbidden to pronounce. And the resources of Egypt as a result of his reign were so depleted that this led to the weakening of the country and the end of the Fourth Dynasty.
The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid on the same plateau is the Pyramid of Khafre son of Cheops. It is indeed slightly smaller, but at the same time it is located on a higher hill and has a steeper slope. The Khafre Pyramid has the shape of a regular quadrangular figure with sides of 210.5 meters. Inside there is one burial chamber with an area of 71 m 2, in which the sarcophagus of the pharaoh was once kept. This chamber can be accessed through one of two tunnels.
The third pyramid - the pyramid of the pharaoh Menkaure- was built later than the other two. Its height barely reaches 66 meters, the length of the square base is 108.4 meters, and the volume is 260 thousand cubic meters. It is known that once the lower part of the pyramid was trimmed with red Aswan granite, a little higher the granite was replaced by white limestone. And finally, at the very top, red granite was again used. Unfortunately, the cladding has not been preserved; in the Middle Ages, the Mamluks took it from here and used it for their own needs. The burial chamber in this pyramid is located at ground level.
Next to the three pyramids, everyone can see Great Sphinx- a statue of a lion with a human face. This statue is 72 meters long and 20 meters high. Once between the front paws there was a sanctuary. The exact time of the creation of the Sphinx is unknown - there are disputes about this. Someone believes that Chefren erected it, others say that it was Jephedra - another son of Cheops. There are also versions that the Sphinx appeared much earlier, about twelve thousand years ago (allegedly the ancient Egyptians simply dug it up during the dynastic period), and very dubious versions that the Sphinx was created by aliens.
Features of the society and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians
The Egyptians believed that after death, the court of the god Osiris awaits them, who will put their bad and good deeds on different bowls of special scales. And in order for good deeds to outweigh, in earthly life it is necessary to behave appropriately.
In addition, it was important for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt that their afterlife was similar to life on earth. Therefore, it was necessary to carefully prepare for the transition to another world. A wealthy Egyptian built an afterlife for himself in advance. When the pharaoh died, not only his body was placed in his tomb, but also many things that could be useful in another life - clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc. In this regard, the fact that the first pyramids were stepped - probably the steps were required so that the pharaoh could somehow rise to the world of the gods.
Egyptian society consisted of several estates and social status was of great importance here. The wealthy Egyptians were in fashion with wigs and elaborate headdresses, and they got rid of their hair. In this way, the problem of lice was solved. But poor people had a hard time - among them it was not customary to cut their hair "under zero".
The main clothing of the Egyptians was the usual loincloth. But rich people, as a rule, also wore shoes. And the pharaohs were accompanied everywhere by sandal bearers - there was such a special position.
Another fun fact: for a long time in Egypt, transparent dresses were popular among wealthy women. In addition, to demonstrate the social status of the Egyptians (and the Egyptians too) put on necklaces, bracelets and other similar accessories.
Some professions in ancient Greek society - a warrior, an official, a priest - were inherited. However, to achieve a significant position, thanks to their talents and skills, was also quite realistic.
Most of the able-bodied Egyptians were employed in agriculture, handicrafts or the service sector. And at the very bottom of the social ladder were slaves. They usually performed the role of servants, but at the same time they had the right to buy and sell goods, to receive freedom. And having become free, they could eventually even enter the nobility. The humane attitude towards slaves is also evidenced by the fact that they were entitled to medical care at the workplace.
In general, Egyptian healers were very enlightened for their time. They were well versed in the features of the human body and carried out very complex operations. According to the studies of Egyptologists, even the transplantation of some organs for local healers was not a problem. It is also interesting that in ancient Egypt some of the infectious diseases were treated with moldy bread - this can be considered a kind of analogue of modern antibiotics.
Also, the Egyptians actually invented mummification. This process looked like this: the internal organs were removed and placed in vessels, and soda was applied to the body itself so that it would not decompose. After drying the body, its cavities were filled with linen soaked in a special balm. And finally, at the last stage, the body was bandaged and closed in a sarcophagus.
Relations between men and women in ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, men and women had virtually equal legal rights. The mother was considered the head of the family. The pedigree was conducted strictly along the maternal line, and land ownership also passed from mother to daughter. Of course, the spouse had the right to dispose of the land while the spouse was alive, but when she died, the daughter received the entire inheritance. It turns out that a marriage with the heir to the throne could well give a man the right to rule the country. Including for this reason, the pharaoh married his sisters and daughters - in this way he protected himself from other possible contenders for power.
Marriages in ancient Egypt were mostly monogamous. However, a rich Egyptian man, along with his legal wife, could keep a concubine. On the other hand, a woman who had more than one man could be punished.
Marriage in ancient Egypt was not consecrated by priests, the Egyptians did not arrange magnificent wedding festivities either. In order for the wedding to be recognized as valid, the man had to say "I take you as a wife", and the woman had to answer "You take me as your wife." It is important to add here that it was the Egyptians who were the first to wear wedding rings on the ring finger - this custom was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans.
Ancient Egyptian newlyweds also exchanged gifts with each other. Moreover, during a divorce, you could return your gift (a very good custom). And in the later periods of the history of Ancient Egypt, the conclusion of marriage contracts became quite common practice.
Documentary "Ancient Egypt. The history of the creation of the ancient Egyptian civilization "
The pharaohs are the almighty rulers of Ancient Egypt, whom the Egyptians considered the vicegerents of God in this world and made them responsible for everything that happened in the country. Including for natural disasters.
The rulers of Ancient Egypt, for its long history, there were many, but today the names of only a few of them, who left any noticeable mark on history, are “on the lips”.
What are the most famous pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and how did they differ from other rulers of this ancient country? Here is a small list of their names and the events that made it possible to remember them. So,
The most famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt
Pharaoh Djoser ruled Ancient Egypt from 2775-2756 BC. He built himself the first pyramid-tomb - a step pyramid in Saqqara.
Pharaoh Khufu (in other words, Cheops). Ruled from 2695-2672 BC. Built the famous Great Pyramid at Giza.
Pharaoh Pepi (Piopi) II. Ruled, presumably, in 2399-2379 BC. Became pharaoh at age 6.
Pharaoh Hatshepsut. 20 years (1489-1468 BC) ruled as pharaoh, wore a ritual false beard and was therefore often portrayed as a man.
Pharaoh Thutmose III. Ruled Egypt from 1490-1436 BC. The great conqueror, who significantly expanded the territory of the country.
Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton). Ruled from 1365-1348 BC. Together with his wife, Queen Nefertiti, he introduced the cult of the single god Aten (Sun).
Pharaoh Tutankhamun. This is perhaps the most famous pharaoh of ancient Egypt from the most famous. He ruled in 1347-1338 BC and died as a young man. He is famous mainly for the treasures found in his tomb.
Pharaoh Ramesses II. Ruled over ancient Egypt from 1290-1224 BC. He built a rock temple in Abu Simbel and, in general, built more in 66 years of his reign than any other pharaoh.
Cleopatra. Ruled Egypt in 51-31 BC. The last queen of Egypt, after whose suicide it was annexed by the Romans.
Half-human, half-god, these rulers were well aware of their own greatness and the sacredness of their duty, imbued with the need to worship the gods, serve the state and fulfill obligations to their subjects, whose love most of them managed to win. Politicians and soldiers, from Narmer to Nectaneb, were all outstanding builders in one way or another.
According to Maneton, the history of ancient Egypt occupies a segment on the chronological axis equal to approximately six thousand years. Today, most researchers suggest that in fact this historical period begins in the 4th millennium BC. e. and ends with the Christian era, which is about three thousand two hundred years.
Three thousand years, marked by the reigns of these amazing half people, half gods - the pharaohs of ancient Egypt ... It was Maneton who first divided into thirty dynasties the lists of these outstanding personalities who were both deities and rulers, heads of state and great priests, military leaders and politicians, conquerors , sorcerers, builders, fathers and spiritual leaders of the people, whose unconditional worship they enjoyed. In our article, we will briefly tell you about the greatest of this long list who brought glory to Egypt, from Narmer, the founder of the Egyptian state, to Nectaneb II, who became the last pharaoh of Egypt.
Narmer and the unification of Egypt
Let's start with the one who gave the Egyptian state unity. Narmer, who is also called Menes, became the very ruler who gave ancient Egypt an impetus for development and led it to power and prosperity. Coming from the south, he conquered the northern territories and thereby united the Two Lands, Upper and Lower Egypt. Starting from him, both the northern and southern kingdoms will be ruled by one pharaoh. This is how Ancient Egypt was formed. Being a far-sighted politician, Narmer divided the country into numerous provinces, nomes, which were at the same time economic, administrative and religious units. This ruler, who built his capital, Memphis, in a symbolic place on the edge of the Nile Delta, according to legend, died during a hunt, becoming a victim of a hippopotamus.
Djoser, founder of the 3rd dynasty, was "Magnificent" in the eyes of his people. His reign was a period of peace and harmony. And in addition, the "stone" period - because it was then that the Egyptians first began to use this material in construction. In addition, the merit of Djoser is that he managed to surround himself with talented and far-sighted advisers, among whom was, for example, Imhotep, the Grand Vizier and a brilliant architect, who contributed a lot to the glory of his master.
The founder of the IV dynasty, Sneferu, also left his mark on history, becoming one of the greatest builder pharaohs. His reign is characterized by the peace and prosperity that reigned in Egypt at that time.
It is difficult to separate the images of the great pharaohs of ancient Egypt - Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin, the three colossi of Giza. Although we know little about the lives of these three rulers, one thing is clear: even more than five thousand years after their death, the great pyramids that they built continue to rise as if nothing had happened on the Giza plateau, near Cairo, becoming unshakable symbols of the power of Egyptian civilization and its architectural genius. Three pyramids, a real challenge to eternity, have not yet revealed all their secrets, and the technique with which they were erected is still a mystery.
WHAT AFTER NEKTANEB?
We have limited our story only to the Egyptian pharaohs, but how not to remember Alexander the Great, who crowned himself pharaoh in Memphis, Alexander, who, according to legend, was the son of Nectaneb I, the last Egyptian pharaoh? Later, the vast empire of the Macedonian conqueror would be divided among his generals, and one of them, Ptolemy, son of Lag, would appropriate the Egyptian lands. He will become the founder of a new Lagid dynasty, one of the most famous representatives of which will be Queen Cleopatra.
Long reign of Pepi II
According to legend, Pepi II, whose reign was central to the era
VI Dynasty, held the throne for ninety years. Egypt, which he ruled, was at that time the greatest state in the world. However, the extraordinary duration of the reign of Pepi II caused the weakening of the central government, hitherto very strong. Under him, the turmoil began, which led Egypt to the first of the greatest declines, the so-called "transitional periods."
Senusret I, the second pharaoh of the XII dynasty, became one of the most prominent pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom. Surprisingly, this pharaoh, who was primarily a soldier, is famous for his peaceful rule. However, it should be noted that in order to maintain peace within the country, Senusret I was forced to fight endlessly, preventing the enemies of Egypt from crossing the borders of the kingdom. The great builder and wise ruler Senusret I made Lisht, a city located near the rich province of Faiyum, his capital, and managed to negotiate with the clergy of Amun in Thebes, who still had great influence.
The reign of Senusret III, symbolizes the apogee of the era of the Middle Kingdom, which was a harmonious period in all respects.
Being at the same time a commander and commander, he managed to wisely and at the same time firmly rule the kingdom, adequately withstanding the onslaught of external enemies. As a true connoisseur of the arts, Senusret adorned Egypt with monuments that testify to the golden age of classical Egyptian architecture.
Ahmose, whom the people called the Liberator, was a young Theban prince whose main achievement was the liberation of the country from the oppressive foreign domination - from the power of the Hyksos, which led to a real revival of civilization. Ahmose founded the XVIII dynasty, which entered the history of ancient Egypt as one of the greatest. She, in turn, was the beginning of one of the most brilliant periods in this history.
Thutmose I, father of Hatshepsut
The blood of the pharaohs did not flow in the veins of Thutmose I, but he was chosen as the heir to Amenhotep I, whose comrade-in-arms he was, not for origin, but for valor and courage. By the time this young military leader took on the royal crown, he was already the father of a girl who was destined for a great future: her name was Hatshepsut.
Hatshepsut ascended the Egyptian throne after the premature death of her husband, who died in the third year of his reign. Beautiful, intelligent and educated, the young queen had a huge impact on her surroundings. Formally, she was only a regent, because the heir of the late pharaoh, the son of one of the concubines, was only five years old. Thus, the future Thutmose III was the queen's stepson and nephew at the same time.
The reign of Hatshepsut fell on a period of peace and prosperity in Egypt. Its main masterpiece in the field of architecture remains the funerary temple of Deir el-Bahri, located near Thebes and built in a place dedicated to the goddess Hathor.
In the end, Thutmose III still inherited his aunt and stepmother. The young Egyptian pharaoh had to languish with impatience behind the scenes of power for too long, and he unleashed his anger on the regent, ordering the destruction of everything that might remind of her rule. The new pharaoh showed himself to be an active and energetic king and conqueror with a good political instinct and love for power. It was he who made the largest conquests in the history of ancient Egypt. Thutmose left behind an empire that stretched from the banks of the Euphrates to the Sudan.
PHAROAHS IN THE CHRONOLOGY OF EGYPT
In this article we talk about pharaohs in chronological order: Nar-mer was a representative of the 1st dynasty (c. 3000 BC) | Djoser - III dynasty (c. 2690 BC); Sneferu, Cheops, Khafre and Miyorin - IV dynasty (c. 2625 BC); Pepi II-VI dynasty (c. 2200 BC); Senusret I and Senusret III-XII dynasty (c. 1900 BC); Ahmose, Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) and Tutankhamun - XVIII dynasty (c. 1543-1295 BC); Seti I and Ramesses II-XX dynasty (c. 1200 BC); Ramesses III - XXI dynasty (c. 1070 BC); Nectaneb II-XXX dynasty (c. 340 BC).
The Heretic Spouses of Amarna
Amenhotep IV was the seventh ruler of the 18th Dynasty, a pharaoh who suffered a most amazing and mysterious fate. He went down in history under the name Akhenaten, which he adopted by imposing on his country the most daring and most revolutionary religious reform. This young ruler, about whose personality we still do not know very much, just as we do not know the reasons that pushed him to this choice, married a young princess of extraordinary beauty: Queen Nefertiti. Its origin, like its fate, remains a mystery.
The royal couple rejected the cult of Amun, accepting and imposing on their people the single god Aton. The couple left the old capital, Thebes, and founded a new one, more in line with their dream - Amarna. As we know, the venture of Akhenaten and Nefertiti ended badly for them, but nevertheless it left an indelible mark on the history of Ancient Egypt in the form of an original artistic movement: the Amarna school.
Although Tutankhamen became the most famous pharaoh in the history of this country, this has nothing to do with either the originality or the greatness of his reign. He became famous only because on November 4, 1922, the British Egyptologist Howard Carter opened his tomb, and this tomb revealed untold treasures that continue to fascinate us. We know little about the reign itself and about the personality of this pharaoh: only that he reigned for a short time, because he died young.
Ramesses II - the winner of the Battle of Kadesh
But we know much more about the personality of Seti I, the son of Ramses I and the father of Ramses II, who was a soldier, a great builder and an outstanding ruler, who was dearly loved by the Egyptian people.
It was from Seti I that the future Ramesses II learned the trade of the pharaoh. He was only sixteen years old when his father died, but despite his youth, he immediately took the throne. Shortly after his coronation, Ramesses demonstrated that he aspired to become a great ruler. His main task was to ensure the security of empires. The pharaoh achieved his goal at the cost of numerous campaigns against the Hittites, whom he finally defeated at Kadesh. This victory was followed by the signing of a treaty that brought Egypt four decades of peace and prosperity. Ramesses II died at the age of eighty-three, having reigned for sixty-seven years. The extraordinary splendor of the monuments with which he adorned his country made him one of the most prominent rulers in the history of ancient Egypt.
Another colossus from the glorious Ramesses dynasty was the third bearer of this name. He, too, had to fight for a long time to defend the country's borders, which were constantly attacked by neighbors - in this case, the Libyans. However, he was the last of the great pharaohs of Egypt. Less than a hundred years will pass after his death, and the New Kingdom, along with the XX Dynasty, will not be.
Now let's take a big leap in time, skip the III transitional period and most of the so-called Late Period, when Egypt was ruled first by the Nubian pharaohs, and then by the Persian dynasties, and talk about who is considered the last Egyptian pharaoh.
Nectaneb, last and brave
Nectaneb II, the third and last pharaoh of the XXX dynasty, managed to restore peace and stability to his country. He was still a military leader leading the Egyptian army when the pharaoh Tahos suffered a serious defeat in the battle with the Persians. Returning to Egypt, Nectaneb managed to prevent civil war and stop the unrest that began after the fall of Tajos. After that, he was recognized as pharaoh and crowned himself with a crown.
The new ruler tried to use the alliance with the Greeks to resist the Persians. However, the latter managed to create a military power, in the face of which both the Egyptians and their allies were powerless. They were defeated, and Artaxerxes III, king of the Persians, founded the XXXI dynasty. Alas, there will never again be Egyptian pharaohs on the throne of Ancient Egypt.