Pharaohs of Egypt

A: You know King Tut, right?

In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of a pharaoh known as King Tutankhamen, or King Tut. Inside a small burial chamber, they found three (3) coffins nested inside each other. The smallest coffin was made of solid gold. It held the king's mummy. On the mummy's head was a magnificent golden mask. Jewelry and good luck charms lay on the mummy and in the wrappings that protected it. Other rooms of the tomb were filled with statues, weapons, furniture, and even a chariot.

B: Egyptian "Emperors"

If YOU were there...

You are a peasant farmer in ancient Egypt. To you, the pharaoh is a god, a descendent of the sun god, Re. You depend on his strength and wisdom. For part of the year, you are busy planting crops in your fields. But at other times, you work for the pharaoh. You currently are helping to build a great tomb in which the pharaoh and many of his belongings will be buried when he dies.

How do you feel about working for the pharaoh?

Egyptian Pharaoh's Divine Connection

Pharaohs often were associated with the gods, either as descendants of the gods, gods on Earth, or future gods.

CC: Egypt's Divine Kingship

C: Ancient Accomplishments

Egyptian history is broken down into three distinct periods of time in ancient Egyptian history. Throughout their time in power, pharaohs who ruled during these periods accomplished great feats and left behind monuments to their greatness.

Chapter 08: (16-17) The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

The treasures in King Tut's tomb provided an amazing glimpse into ancient Egypt. Other pharaohs also left behind fabulous riches and artwork. Many of these pharaohs had great monuments built to celebrate their lives and their accomplishments. Like King Tut's tomb, these artifacts have much to teach us about this ancient civilization.

D: Pharaohs' Pheats

CHART - Egyptian Pharaohs (Chapter 8)

E. Pyramids of Giza

How the Great Pyramid at Giza Looked in 2560 B.C.E.

The current outer surface of the Great Pyramid at Giza is made of rough limestone blocks, colored a dark sandy brown from hundreds of years of pollution and weathering. But when it was first built, there was a smooth layer of fine white limestone on the outside of the structure, all cut to the same angle and polished to a shine so bright it almost glowed. It might have looked something like the above illustration.

In addition, the structure would likely have been topped with a pyramidion, a capstone made of solid granite and covered in a precious metal like gold. The sheer size of the pyramid must have been enough to blow ancient minds, but seeing it all shiny and topped in gold… well, no wonder they thought their rulers were gods. (Via: Jason Kottke)

F: Khufu's Kingdom

Ancient Egypt For almost 30 centuries—from its unification around 3100 B.C. to its conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.—ancient Egypt was the preeminent civilization

G: Super Senusret I

H: Here's Hatshepsut!

If YOU were there...

You are an official serving Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt. You admire her, but some people think that a woman should not rule. She goes by the title "king," and she dresses like a male pharaoh - even wearing a false beard. That was your idea! You wish you could help more...