The generally accepted designation is ancient Egyptian kings, from the XXII Dynasty the title of king. The term Pharaoh comes from the ancient Egyptian word pero (literally, great house), rendered by biblical tradition as Pharaoh. Originally the term Pharaoh meant... Encyclopedia of Mythology

- (French faraon, Hebrew paroh king). 1) The name of the ancient Egyptian kings. 2) a gambling game of French cards, so named because one of the kings portrayed the pharaoh. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N.,... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Designation of ancient Egyptian kings, later the title of king. The term pharaoh comes from the ancient Egyptian great house. Originally meant royal palace, and later from the 16th century. BC the king himself. The pharaoh wore different crowns: white like the king... ... Historical Dictionary

Nickname of the policeman (Ushakov) See... Dictionary of synonyms

- (Egyptian translation about, big house), Egyptian title. king, in the Bible is often used as a proper name. In this regard, numerous arise. difficulties in identifying the personalities named in the Bible by F., since the bib. reports about them are undoubtedly not... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

PHARAOH, pharaoh, husband. (Greek pharao from Egyptian). 1. Title of ancient Egyptian kings (historical). 2. Nickname of a policeman (pre-modern simple contempt). 3. only units. A type of card gambling similar to baccarat. "The ladies played pharaoh." Pushkin. Dictionary … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Pharaoh- PHARAOH, ah, m. Policeman. Wed. outdated ug. "Pharaoh" policeman, gendarme... Dictionary of Russian argot

Ancient Egyptian king. He was considered the son of the Sun God and had unlimited power... Legal dictionary

Traditional designation for ancient Egyptian kings, from the 16th century. BC e. king's title. Comes from the Egyptian pero (big house) in the original meaning of the royal palace... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

PHARAOH 1, a, m. Ozhegov’s Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

PHARAOH 2, a, m. A type of gambling card game. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

• Pharaoh, Boleslaw Prus. PHARAOH Prusa differs from his literary predecessors primarily in the absence of a self-sufficient love affair. The theme of Prus's novel is the political struggle for power, depicted...
• Pharaoh, Boleslaw Prus. "Pharaoh" - historical novel famous Polish writer Boleslaw Prus from the life Ancient Egypt. The work touches on many important issues: the plight of the people, the role of the people...

Pharaoh- This is the highest position in the hierarchy of ancient Egyptian society. The very concept of “pharaoh” was not an official title and was used to avoid naming the name and title of the king. This euphemism first appeared in the New Kingdom. Translated from the ancient Egyptian language, this concept means “great house,” which meant the palace of the king. Officially, the title of the pharaohs reflected their ownership of “both lands,” that is, both Upper and Lower Egypt. IN different eras the pharaohs of ancient Egypt had different status, the degree of concentration of power and influence in the state.

History of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Highest influence pharaohs of egypt had during the Old Kingdom after Upper and Lower Egypt were united into single state. This period is characterized by a decrease in the despotic and aggressive nature of the Egyptian monarchy, along with the development of bureaucracy and the transition of most industries state economy under the direct control of the king. The power of the pharaohs during this period rapidly became sacralized. The pharaoh was considered one in earthly and divine forms, and was thus a mediator between the world of people and the gods. Before the Fourth Dynasty, the pharaohs were considered the earthly incarnation of the god Horus, while after death they were considered to be transformed into Osiris. Later, the pharaohs began to be considered the sons of the sun god Ra.

The semi-divine essence of the pharaohs in the minds of the Egyptians imposed on them the obligation to maintain world order (Maat) and in every possible way fight chaos and injustice (Isfet). Therefore, the pharaoh was endowed with the ability to communicate directly with the gods through the construction of temples and sanctuaries and abundant sacrifices. In the Old Kingdom, the authority of the pharaohs was so great that mourning after their death lasted in the country for ninety days, and the death of the king was perceived as the greatest grief, a violation of the order and foundations of the universe. The accession of a new legitimate heir was understood as the greatest benefit for the country and the restoration of a shaky position.

The maximum power of the pharaohs and their authority in Egyptian society remained during the Old Kingdom. After his fall and during I transition period power in the country largely passed into the hands of the priests and nobility, which is why the role of the pharaohs began to decline and no longer reached the same importance as under the Old Kingdom. Subsequently, traditions of individualism began to develop in the society of Ancient Egypt, which affected many areas of life, including the perception of the figure of the pharaoh. The moral and ideological dependence of the country's inhabitants on the ruler was no longer so great, and the pharaohs began to maintain their authority mainly through conquests to other countries.

However, the New Kingdom, characterized by a large number conquests and a serious expansion of the state's possessions, disintegrated as a result of the ever-increasing influence of temples, priests and rulers of individual provinces, as a result of which the power of the pharaohs completely ceased to enjoy the same authority as before. They ceased to seriously influence the lives of their subjects and neighboring states, and their role as intermediaries between the world of people and the world of gods was completely leveled. After Egypt was conquered by the Persians, pharaohs were officially considered Persian kings, after them Alexander the Great took this title, and after his death - the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Titles of the pharaohs of Egypt

As already noted, “pharaoh” was not the official title of the rulers of Ancient Egypt. In fact, they were called "belonging to the Reed and the Bee" or "lords of both lands", reflecting in these titles their power over both parts of Egypt - Upper and Lower.

Official naming of pharaoh, from the time of the Middle Kingdom until the beginning of Roman rule, necessarily consisted of five names. The first of them, the earliest in time, was associated with the god Horus and reflected the people’s belief that the pharaoh was their earthly incarnation. The second name was associated with two goddesses - Nekhbet and Wadjet - who were considered the patroness of Upper and Lower Egypt, respectively. This name symbolized the power of the pharaoh over them and embodied the power of the monarchy. The third name is golden. Its meaning has not been clarified, and the two main versions associate it either with the sun (that is, the pharaoh was compared to the sun) or with gold, symbolizing eternity. The fourth name of the pharaoh is the throne name. It was given to him during his coronation. Finally, the fifth name of the Egyptian ruler is personal. The future king received it at birth.

Pharaohs of early dynasties are often known by Horus' name, since this part of the title appeared earlier than the others. The rulers of later dynasties belonging to the Middle and New Kingdoms are most often known by their personal names and are also mentioned in scientific works.

Attributes of the pharaohs

Pharaohs were forbidden to appear in front of their subjects without a headdress, so one of their attributes was necessarily a crown. Most often, it was a combination of the red crown of the ruler of Upper Egypt and the white crown of the ruler of Lower Egypt and was called "pschent"(Fig. 1). Both of these crowns also symbolized the patron goddesses of both parts of the country, who were often depicted on the king’s single crown. In addition to a single crown, pharaohs sometimes wore a blue crown for military campaigns and a gold one for various religious rites.

Rice. 1 - Pschent

Pharaohs also wore a scarf on their heads. This headdress was worn by all residents of the country, but depending on the class it had different colors. Pharaohs wore gold scarves with blue stripes.

Another attribute of the pharaoh was a short staff with a hook on the top. This is one of the most ancient attributes royal power, known since the times of Predynastic Egypt and, according to most researchers, descended from a shepherd's staff. The pharaohs also wore a whip, the Uas scepter, which had a forked lower end and a pommel in the form of a dog or jackal's head, and a cross with a loop - ankh(Fig. 2), symbolizing eternal life.

Rice. 2 - Ankh

Also, one of the attributes of the pharaohs was a false beard. It was always made artificially and worn to emphasize the power and masculine strength of the ruler. Female pharaohs, such as Hatshepsut, also wore beards. Often they had to wear them in order to pretend to be a man in front of their subjects.

The most famous pharaohs of Egypt

The ancestor of a united Egypt is considered Pharaoh Menes, who, being the king of Upper Egypt, subjugated Lower Egypt and was the first to wear the double red and white crown. Despite the many mentions of Menes in the texts of Egyptian priests and Greek and Roman historians, he may also be a mythological figure.

The Golden Age of Ancient Egypt is considered to be the reign of Pharaoh Djoser, second representative of the Third Dynasty. It was under him that the construction of pyramids - the tombs of the pharaohs - began. Djoser also conducted many military campaigns, subjugated the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and drew the southern border of the state along the first Nile cataract.

Egypt reached significant prosperity under Queen Hatshepsut. She equipped a trade expedition to Punt, was engaged in architecture, and also carried out conquest activities.

Pharaoh Akhenaten became famous as a religious reformer. He tried to abolish the cult of the old gods, replacing it with the cult of the pharaoh himself, and moved the capital of the country to new city and stopped the construction of temples. Akhenaten's reforms were not popular, so after his death they were largely canceled, and the name of the reformer pharaoh was subjected to oblivion.

The last great pharaoh of Egypt was Ramesses II, who was able to return his former power for some time as a result of many military campaigns. However, after his death, Egypt finally plunged into the abyss of civil strife, uprisings and wars, which led to its collapse and conquest.

The rulers of Ancient Egypt were considered sons of God and governors with magical powers. How and where the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt lived will be briefly discussed in this article. The place of residence of the pharaoh, his family members and servants was the palace, the shape of which changed over time. In the era of the Early and Old Kingdoms, it was simply a castle, surrounded by a fortress wall and surrounded by towers. In subsequent eras, the pharaoh's palace stood on par with temple buildings, which was dictated by the conditions of that time - as the power of Egypt grew throughout the world, the ruler's residence had to look as rich, elegant and luxurious as possible. The pharaoh and his family were surrounded by servants, consisting mainly of the children of the priests. Also on the territory of the palace lived the priests themselves, whose duties included monitoring that all necessary rites and rituals were performed correctly. At the same time, the priests also considered themselves royal servants.

But, despite all the luxury and splendor, the life of the pharaoh was not easy and carefree. They rarely managed to do what they really wanted. Almost the entire life of the pharaoh was spent in various ceremonies, from participation in religious rituals to familiarization with the reports of officials. He had to perform many rituals, make sacrifices to the gods, and accept prayers. The pharaoh carried out not only a religious function, but also ruled state affairs and administered justice.

The morning awakening of the ruler began with the singing of a hymn in honor of rising sun, after which a long ceremony began that preceded the appearance of the pharaoh. The Egyptians had a special attitude towards personal hygiene - upon waking up, the pharaoh took a bath, his body was smeared with oils and incense to repel evil spirits. Afterwards, the barber shaved his face and head, leaving only a beard. Then other masters applied makeup to him, and only after all hygiene procedures were completed, the king could get down to business.

The life of the pharaoh was always in the center of attention of the Egyptians. Since he was considered the divine vicegerent, everything that happened in the country was in one way or another connected with the pharaoh. Thanks to him, the sun rises in the morning and sets below the horizon in the evening. Thanks to Pharaoh, the Nile floods. If suddenly, for some reason, the Nile overflowed less than usual, which resulted in a crop failure, or Egypt began to fight with someone, or an epidemic began, then it was believed that the gods were dissatisfied with the ruler of Egypt.

The family life of the pharaoh was also subject to certain regulations. First, he was obliged to enter into a marriage with his own blood sister, and only then was he allowed to marry other women. Only the pharaoh's son from his own sister could inherit the throne. History also knows cases when the pharaoh was a woman. For example, Yahhotep ruled the state until her son Ahmose grew up. Moreover, she even took part in military campaigns. Or Queen Hatshepsut, whose reign lasted twenty years. Moreover, she was not a regent under a minor ruler, but was a real crowned king, and ruled the country single-handedly.

During the reign of the pharaoh, the Egyptians built a mortuary temple for him. After his death, the pharaoh was mummified and buried in this temple. The Egyptians believed that the pharaoh was passing into the afterlife and so that he would not need anything, various things were buried with him.

Pharaoh (Pharaoh) is a youth idol, a new phenomenon in modern Russian rap culture. He is a representative of the so-called “cloud rap”, which is characterized by slow beats, smooth readings and philosophical, often depressive lyrics (although disputes about Pharaoh’s affiliation with cloud rap continue to this day).

At the age of 19, Pharaoh, whose real name was Gleb Golubin, became the leader and ideological inspirer of the Dead Dynasty formation, the leitmotif of which was a defiant mixture of nihilism and rudeness. The main themes of his tracks are drugs, girls and sex.

Childhood and family of Gleb Golubin (rapper Pharaoh)

Gleb Gennadievich Golubin was born and raised in Moscow, in the Izmailovo district, in the family of a sports functionary. His father Gennady Golubin was the general director of the Dynamo football club, and later became the head of a company specializing in sports marketing.

Rapper Pharaoh as a child

Naturally, the parents predicted a sports career for their son. From the age of six, the boy played football professionally. IN at a young age Gleb managed to play for Lokomotiv, CSKA and Dynamo. Until the age of thirteen, his life consisted mainly of daily workouts and studying at school. But in adolescence the realization came that he would not turn out to be a second Pele, and his father was not delighted with his son’s sporting achievements.

Music replaced football. At the age of 8, Gleb became interested in the work of the German band Rammstein, for which he even enrolled in courses German language. Another idol of the teenager was American rapper Snoop Dogg. The musical sympathies of the future musician did not find support from his classmates (other performers were in fashion at that time), but this did not bother Gleb.

At the age of 16, the young man went to America for six months. There he finally decided on his musical preferences and opened new horizons for creativity.

Rapper career Pharaoh

In 2013, Gleb returned to Moscow and entered the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. At the same time, he recorded his first track, Cadillak, and began performing as part of the Grindhouse group under the pseudonym Pharaoh.

But the video clip for the track “BLACK SIEMENS” brought real fame to the aspiring musician. In it, Gleb raps against the backdrop of a white Lincoln, which Dmitry Dyuzhev drove in the cult TV series “Brigada”. The song constantly repeats the “skrr-skr” sounds, which later became his trademark.

Rapper Pharaoh - skrrt-skrrt

Tired of constant questions from fans about what this mysterious “skrr-skr” actually means, Pharaoh eventually explained that this was the sound that Bruce Lee made during training. Another version said that “skrt” is an imitation of the sound of car tires.

Pharaoh's next video, "Champagne Squirt", has nearly 10 million views on YouTube. After the premiere of the video, the phrase “Champagne squirt in the face” spread across social networks, and Pharaoh became truly cult character with a youth audience.

Since 2014, Pharaoh has collaborated with rappers Fortnox Pockets, Toyota RAW4, Acid Drop King, Jeembo and Southgarden as part of the Dead Dynasty project.

Pharaoh - 5 Minutes Ago

Because of the mysterious image that Pharaoh cultivates in social networks, fantastic rumors are constantly spreading about his life. In 2015, information appeared that the rapper died of a drug overdose. After this, Pharaoh released a new album, Phosphor (“Phosphorus”), the video for the composition from which “Let’s Stay Home” again gained a huge number of views on the Internet.

In February 2017, he traditionally posted on the Internet new track“Unplugged (Interlude)”, which stood out from the rapper’s general work - it was recorded with a guitar. Fans of Pharaoh suggested that this is a composition from the upcoming acoustic album, which Pharaoh has mentioned more than once before.

Personal life of Pharaoh

Pharaoh has no shortage of girlfriends. One of his ex-girlfriends is the current lead singer of the Serebro group, Katya Kishchuk.

At the beginning of 2017, Gleb began dating the scandalous model, daughter of the famous tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Alesya.

For the first time they appeared in public in one of the capital's cinemas, openly demonstrating their feelings for each other. The model has repeatedly stated that she became a fan of his work long before they met in person. However, in May of the same year, Alesya Kafelnikova wrote on social networks that she was taking a break in her relationship with Pharaoh. Information appeared in the media that the model’s father insisted on separation, who did not like the aura of “notoriety” around her chosen one.

Pharaoh now

In August 2018, Pharaoh presented listeners with a new album “Phuneral” (play on words: pharaoh + funeral, funeral). It is noteworthy that Sergey Shnurov and his project “Ruble” took part in the recording of the tracks “Flashcoffin” and “Solaris”.

Pharaoh – Smart

In time immemorial, a civilization arose on the territory of modern Egypt in the Nile Valley, leaving behind many secrets and mysteries. Even now it attracts the attention of researchers and ordinary people with its color, its unusualness and rich heritage.

Thirty Dynasties of Egyptian Rulers

It is not known exactly when the hunting tribes entered the Nile Valley and discovered there was a lot of food and a wide river as a reliable source of water. Years passed. Rural communities organized here increased in size and became richer. Then they divided into two kingdoms - the Lower (in the south) and the Upper (in the north). And in 3200 BC. e. ruler Menes was able to conquer Lower Egypt and organized the first dynasty of pharaohs, under whose control was both the delta and the valley of the great Nile.

Map of a 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 effective irrigation systems on the banks of the Nile, huge temples and pyramids that amazed even the imagination modern man. In addition, the Egyptians invented a hieroglyphic writing system and organized an effective 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 Egyptians themselves, and not conquerors from distant lands. The last pharaoh of the Thirtieth Dynasty was Nectanebo 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 yet. Then Alexander the Great was able to recapture Egypt from the Persians, and subsequently Ptolemy, Alexander's military 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 the fact that he died of natural causes 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

Pharaohs stood at the top of the social ladder and were considered equal to gods. The pharaohs were given great honor; they were considered so powerful that people were literally afraid to touch them.

The pharaohs traditionally wore an ankh around their necks, a magical symbol and talisman to which the Egyptians gave great value. There have been many pharaohs over the centuries and millennia of Egypt's existence, but several of them are worth 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 reigned 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 because he built the very first pyramid in Ancient Egypt (it is also the world’s first stone architectural structure). 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 this point, there is nothing left 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 “being in front of noble ladies.” Removing a minor from the throne Thutmose III and declaring herself pharaoh, Hatshepsut continued the restoration of Egypt after the Hyksos raids, erected large number monuments on the territory of their state. In terms of the number of progressive reforms carried out, she surpassed many male pharaohs.

During the time of Hatshepsut it was believed that the pharaohs were incarnations of the god Horus in 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 Hatspsut was given the image of an intelligent, energetic woman endowed with analytical abilities. A place for Hatshepsut was found, for example, in the famous exhibition “The Dinner Party” by artist Judy Chicago, dedicated to the great women who influenced the history of mankind.

Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the 14th 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 insignificant god Aten, associated with the solar disk, the center of the entire religion. At the same time, the cults of all other gods (including Amun-Ra) were prohibited. 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 commoners. On the other hand, most of the hereditary priestly nobility actively resisted the reforms. Ultimately, Akhenaten lost - after his death, familiar 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 truly an extraordinary and, apparently, 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 Emperor Octavian, who was eager to capture Egypt, began to organize endless drinking bouts 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) swore an oath that they would die together. During the same period, Cleopatra tested poisons on slaves, wanting to find out which of them could bring death quickly and without severe pain.

In general, in 30 BC. e. Cleopatra, like her lover 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 ordinary people is Cheops pyramid. Its construction lasted about two decades and was probably completed in 2540 BC. e. For its construction, 2,300,000 volumetric stone blocks were required, their total mass 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 reputation 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 prohibited from being pronounced. And Egypt's resources were so depleted as a result of his rule 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 a little smaller, but at the same time it is located on a higher hill and has a steeper slope. The Pyramid of Khafre 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 m2, which once contained the sarcophagus of the pharaoh. This chamber can be accessed through one of two tunnels.

The third pyramid is the pyramid of Pharaoh Mikerin- was erected later than the other two. Its height barely reaches 66 meters, the length of its square base is 108.4 meters, and its volume is 260 thousand cubic meters. It is known that once the lower part of the pyramid was decorated with red Aswan granite, a little higher the granite was replaced by white limestone. And finally, at the very top, red granite was used again. Unfortunately, the cladding has not been preserved; in the Middle Ages, the Mamelukes took it from here and used it for their own needs. The burial chamber in this pyramid is located at ground level.

Near the three pyramids, everyone can see Great Sphinx- a statue of a lion with a human face. The length of this statue is 72 meters and the height is 20 meters. Once upon a time there was a sanctuary between the front paws. Exact time The creation of the Sphinx is unknown - there is debate about this. Some believe that it was built by Chefren, 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 society and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians

The Egyptians believed that after death they would face the judgment of the god Osiris, who would put their good and bad deeds on different scales. And in order for good deeds to outweigh, it is necessary to behave appropriately in earthly life.

In addition, it was important for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt that their afterlife be similar to earthly life. Therefore, it was necessary to carefully prepare for the transition to another world. A wealthy Egyptian built an afterlife house 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 ascend to the world of the gods.

Egyptian society consisted of several classes and social status was of great importance here. Wealthy Egyptians had wigs and elaborate headdresses in fashion, and they got rid of their own 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 to 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 their social status, Egyptian women (and Egyptians too) wore necklaces, bracelets and other similar accessories.

Some professions in ancient Greek society - warrior, official, priest - were inherited. However, achieving a significant position, thanks to your talents and skills, was also quite possible.

Most 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 played the role of servants, but at the same time they had the right to buy and sell goods and receive freedom. And having become free, they could eventually even enter the nobility. The humane treatment of 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 had an excellent understanding of the characteristics of the human body and carried out very complex operations. According to research by Egyptologists, even transplanting some organs was not a problem for local healers. 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. The process looked like this: internal organs were removed and placed in vessels, and soda was applied to the body itself so that it did not decompose. After the body dried, its cavities were filled with flax soaked in a special balm. And finally on last stage the body was bandaged and locked in a sarcophagus.

Relations between men and women in ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt, men and women had virtually equal legal rights. At the same time, the mother was considered the head of the family. Pedigree was strictly traced through the maternal line and land ownership also passed from mother to daughter. Of course, the husband had the right to dispose of the land while his wife 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. This was also the reason why the pharaoh took his sisters and daughters as wives - he thus protected himself from other possible contenders for power.

Marriages in Ancient Egypt were mostly monogamous. However, a wealthy Egyptian man, along with his legal wife, could maintain a concubine. On the other hand, a woman who had more than one man could be punished.

Marriage in Ancient Egypt was not sanctified by priests, and the Egyptians did not organize lavish wedding festivities either. For the wedding to be recognized as valid, the man had to say, “I take you as my 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 among themselves. Moreover, in the event of 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 a fairly common practice.

Documentary film “Ancient Egypt. The history of the creation of ancient Egyptian civilization"