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Ancient Egypt
The land of the pharaohs is famous for its huge pyramids, its bandaged mummies and its golden
treasures. But how much do you really know about ancient Egypt? Here, Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley
shares 10 lesser-known facts
Fresco on the Tomb of Iti showing the transportation of wheat by donkey. Donkeys were more
commonly used by the Ancient Egyptians than camels. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
Food offerings to the dead. From a decorative detail from the Sarcophagus of Irinimenpu. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
Legal text on parchment, written in hieratic: a list of witnesses during the settlement of a quarrel, 1000 BC. (Photo by DEA / G
Dagli Orti/De Agostini/Getty Images)
the full kings titulary. The most successful of these female rulers, Hatshepsut, ruled Egypt for more
than 20 prosperous years.
In the English language, where king is gender-specific, we might classify Sobeknefru, Hatshepsut and
Tausret as queens regnant. In Egyptian, however, the phrase that we conventionally translate as queen
literally means kings wife, and is entirely inappropriate for these women.
His image of men, women and children desperately toiling in the harshest of conditions has proved
remarkably popular with modern film producers. It is, however, wrong.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Great Pyramid was in fact built by a workforce of 5,000
permanent, salaried employees and up to 20,000 temporary workers. These workers were free men,
summoned under the corve system of national service to put in a three- or four-month shift on the
building site before returning home. They were housed in a temporary camp near the pyramid, where
they received payment in the form of food, drink, medical attention and, for those who died on duty,
burial in the nearby cemetery.
Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza, which was not, as many believe, built by slaves. (Photo by MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images)
voice.