The New Childrens Encyclopedia

ANCIENT EGYPT

189

O Mural paintings: Images of the
deities meeting a pharaoh in the
afterlife were painted on the walls
of the pharaohs’ tombs.

O Many gods and goddesses: The

ancient Egyptians believed that each

of their deities had a particular role

to play in keeping Egypt successful.

O A living god: The first pharaohs were

thought to be a living version of the

god Horus—a hawk-headed god of the

sky that protected the pharaohs.

Anubis

WHO’S WHO?

O
Hatshepsut: (reign 1473-58 BCE) This

successful queen assumed the role of a

pharaoh in place of her young stepson.

O
Tutankhamun: (reign 1333- 23 BCE)

This boy pharaoh’s splendid tomb was

discovered in 1922.

O
Rameses II: (reign 1279-13 BCE)

His long reign was a period of peace

and prosperity in Egypt.

O
Cleopatra VII: (reign 51-30 BCE)

This last pharaoh of ancient Egypt

was known for her great beauty

and love affairs with the Romans

Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

 GOLDEN MASK

The preserved body, or mummy,

of Tutankhamun was

discovered with a magnificent

golden face mask on its head.

EGYPTIAN GODS AND GODDESSES

Osiris

Egyptian social pyramid The pharaoh at the

top controlled all land, people, and possessions,

and the vizier, his most trusted adviser, oversaw all

the pharaoh’s plans. The peasants at the bottom

worked in the fields, producing the crops collected

as taxes to feed everyone, but during the flood

season joined the craftsmen, working on

building projects.

Isis

HISTORY AND POLITICS

Pharaoh

TAKE A LOOK: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS

 ANKH Hieroglyphic

symbol meaning “life”

often shown being held

by gods and pharaohs.

 SCARAB DUNG BEETLE

Sacred symbol meaning “rebirth,”

relating to the god Khepri, who

pushed the Sun across the sky.

 PAPYRUS The inner

pith of this tall plant that

grew along the Nile was

used to make paper.

Historians have been able to discover much about the lives of ancient

Egyptians from the markings, possessions, and records found.

Vizier

Priests

Soldiers

Craftsmen

Nobles

Scribes

Peasants (about 80% of the population)