History of Egypt.

History of Egypt

Thirty of these amazing buildings can be seen in different places of Egypt. 

    Five thousands years ago the lands along river Nile was ruled by powerful kings, 
   called Pharaohs. These ancient Egyptians believed in a life after death. 
   So when pharaoh died  he was buried, and many treasures were buried with 
   him to take to the next world. To honour him, great pyramids were built. His body
   and the treasures were put in the very middle of the pyramids. In these tombs, pictures
   of everyday life were painted on the walls. These are called hieroglyphics. The biggest
   pyramid is called the Great pyramid. It is 144  metres high, and its base has sides 
   230 metres along. Two millions blocks needed. Each blocks weighed 2000 kg. They
   were cut out of the ground with wooden, copper or stone tools. They were pulled by 
   great gangs of men, and they were put into boats. They carried to the site of the 
   pyramid. They were then shaped so that they all fitted exactly.

              

         The Egyptians had special way of wrapping dead bodies, with special chemicals.

         This made the bodies last for thousands of years. These bodies are called `mummies`.

         The mummy of Pharaoh was put in a wooden coffin, and then covered with a wonderful

         gold mask. In November 1922 the entrance to a Pharaoh’s tomb was uncovered. No 

         one had been in it for over three thousand years. It was full of treasures. It

          was the tomb of Tut- ankh- amen. The  pharaoh died while he was still    only a boy. His 

          body was covered with a wonderful gold mask. So we even know what Tutankhamen

          looked like.                                       

          For a long time modern people tried to read the hieroglyphics. Then in 1799 a big flat

          stone tablet was found at a place called Rosetta. On it was written the same things 

          in Greek and in hieroglyphics. Greek is easily read. So the two were compared, and 

          the meanings of lots of hieroglyphics were found.