Sphinx and pyramid at Giza, Egypt: Javarman, Dreamstime. 2. The fertility rate in Egypt is 2.97 children per woman, which is the 66th highest fertility rate in the world. Erosion and sandstorms have created fascinating natural formations like nothing else youve ever seen! It served a much different purpose in ancient times. The Egyptian calendar was invested more than a few thousand years before the Common Era. 5) Unwrapped, the bandages of an Ancient Egyptian mummy could stretch for 1.6km. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. Islam is the dominant religion in Cairo. With a height of 2,629 metres, Mount Catherine is the tallest mountain in Egypt (8625 ft). In later years, Pharaohs opted for statues resembling their servants instead. Located in an ancient burial ground called Saqqara, the Step Pyramid is the oldest known pyramid in Egypt and was built around 2630 BC. Tutankhamun Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh. North of, (Egypts capital city) is the sprawling, triangular. Bookmark them for later and watch this selection of 10 Egypt facts first: This post is part of a series of fun facts posts I'm doing for every country I have articles about here on the blog. The red color is a representation of the struggle against the British colonialists before their independence. The tradition of exchanging wedding rings traces its origin back to ancient Egypt. The worlds oldest dress is from Egypt. Arabs introduced. Later, it was known as Hwt-ka-Ptah or House of the Ka of Ptah. Ptah was one of Egypts earliest gods. Dating back to the early 1500s, the Egyptian Sufi Dance, or Tanoura, is a historic religious ritual with roots in the Ottoman Empire. The flag is similar to that of Syria, Iraq and Yemen which are all based on the Arab Liberation Flag. These cookies allow us to target other information on our website, like advertising, towards your interests. Your email address will not be published. had the longest reign in history94 years. Hooked tools pulled the brain (which was always removed, along with the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart) through the. Most of the Land in Egypt Is Unused. Fun Facts About Egypt 1. Weve just returned from a fantastic few weeks in Egypt, and there is so much, Are you planning a trip to this Northern African country and wondering what to wear in Egypt? However, the country still has a long way to go to make that literacy rate equal among the sexes. The country has 386,662 square miles of land and is the 30th largest country in the world by land mass. Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country in Northeast corner of Africa. . Yikes! Unlike most other rivers, it flows south to north, it floods in the. 7. Located at Giza, the Pyramid of Khufu is the largest Pyramid in Egypt. The oldest prosthetic limb in the world was discovered in Egypt. 1. Looking for Egypt language facts? The Egyptian Pound (EGP) is its official currency. Pharaoh Pepi II allegedly would smear naked slaves with honey to attract, The shape of ancient Egyptian pyramids is thought to have been inspired by the spreading rays of the, The Egyptian flag is similar to the flags of. Egypt has the most Facebook users compared to any other country in the Middle East. He has an animal head with a long curved snout. While it is customary for women to wear the hijab in Egypt, tourists are under no obligation to follow suit. Get messy, explore and appreciate nature, all from the safety of home! Egypt has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. By 3000 B.C., a civilisation was established. Want to learn more? There are so many places to visit in Egypt! 21. When this happens, floods cover the rivers valleys, leaving sediments needed for trees, plants and crops to grow. The quality that ancient Egyptians valued most was called, Before an ancient Egyptian scribe wrote anything, he always poured out some water mixed with ink as an offering to the, Just 150 years ago, Americans and Europeans believed that, The word pharaoh began as a nickname for the Egyptian king. Located on the northeast corner of Africa, Egypt is home to one of the world's earliest and greatest civilizations, with a unified kingdom first surfacing around 3,200 B.C. If you'd like to learn more visit the about us page. While desert landscapes likely come to mind when you think of Egypt, you might be surprised to learn that some of the best beaches in the world are located on the countrys Sinai Peninsula, particularly in the southern area of the peninsula. Her mom is believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, the king's spouse (and presumably his half-sister). Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. 36. Reaching more than a million people every month. The Beautiful House is the name of the house or tent where mummification took place in ancient Egypt. Overgrazing and/or. 22. The Great Sphinx of Egypt, which is believed to have been built during the Old Kingdom during the reign of Egyptian Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2558 - 2532 BC). Most economic activity takes place along the Nile River Valley, where the . The ancient Egyptians were possibly the first to embrace a mainly solar calendar. In ancient times, Egyptian children didnt start wearing clothing until after the age of six years, talk about one of the most interesting facts about Egypt! We've got. About 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslim, which means they are followers of theIslam religion. 2. Some of the earliest known civilizations were located in Egypt. , all of Egypt would be desert. The first pharaoh of Egypt is considered to be King Menes, who united the Upper and Lower Kingdoms in 3150 B.C. Sphinxes are generally believed to have been built to guard tombs. If you were to unravel some of the bandages of some Egyptian mummies, the linen bandages would stretch for a mile bet this is one of those Egypt facts you didnt know! Archeologists discovered a 15-foot- (4.5-m-) long mummified crocodile. They believed she cried for her dead husband Osiris. Suggest an edit, Explore our world map to discover some fascinating facts for every country. Fly swatters made from giraffe tails were a popular fashion item in ancient Egypt. Cairo is also the largest city in the Middle East and the Arab World. The oldest surviving mathematical work in Egypt is titled The Entrance into the Knowledge of All Existing Things and All Obscure Secrets. Although I didnt find this one fun 91% of Egyptian women aged between 15 and 49 years have undergone female genital mutilation. 34. Egyptians once believed that the floods were caused by the tears of the goddess Isis when she mourned the death of her husband Osiris. Read on to learn about the Egypt of today. In ancient Egypt, death was seen as just a stepping stone in a persons life. Interesting facts about Egypt 1. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. 9. Ramses II (1279-1212 B.C.) New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010. The oldest pyramid is over 4600 years old. Having so many people in such a small area causes overcrowding everywhere, from schools and hospitals to apartment buildings and public transport.Children are highly valued in Egypt, especially in rural areas where they help on family farms. Well, gang, so did the Ancient Egyptians! Ask a parent or guardian to check it out first and remember to stay safe online. Besides Cairo, other major cities in Egypt are Alexandria and Giza. 11. 12. 42. We rounded up the most bizarre and interesting facts about Ancient Egypt that will answer all the questions you ever had about this incredible civilization and more. Egypt is part of an area known as the Fertile Crescent, also known as the Cradle of Civilization. The Tarkhan Dress has been radiocarbon dated to between 5,100 and 5,500 years old and as such is the worlds oldest woven garment. Source: National Geographic, 26. The last known hieroglyphic inscription was made in A.D. 394 in the temple of Isis in Philae. 9) Love playing board games with your pals? 3. The river empties into the Mediterranean Sea, on the countrys north coast. While the use of makeup is thought to have started in ancient Egypt, cosmetics were not just reserved for the ladies! We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalised ads. 4. The country's population is estimated to be 90%. In fact, its the biggest embankment dam in the world. 2023 Fact Retriever LLC. Here are some facts about Egypt. Don't have time right now to read 67 interesting facts about Egypt? 31. Travel through these interesting Ethiopia facts to learn more. 2017 - Serious Facts All Rights Reserved. Egypt is a transcontinental country that spans the southwest corner of Asia and the northeast corner of Africa by means of a land bridge that is formed by the Sinai Peninsula. By virtue of area, Egypt is the 30th biggest country in the world. Pharaoh Pepi II (2246-2152 B.C.) Egypt is famous for its ancient civilisation. In an attempt to control the annual flooding of the Nile, one of the largest dams in the world was built in Egypt in 1971: Aswan High Dam. The colours represent oppression (black), bloody struggle (red) and a bright future (white). Outdoor cafe in Cairo, Egypt: Jackmalipan, Dreamstime. As of 1 January 2017, the population of Egypt was estimated to be 94,538,320 people. Egypt is the 15th country with the highest population in the world, with 99% of the country's people living on just 5.5% of the land. 1. Learn more about this beautiful Mediterranean country with this selection of Egypt facts. The ancient Egyptians may have been the first people to keep cattle. (David Berkowitz / CC BY 2.0 ) Southern Egypts landscape contains low mountains and desert. The Egyptian mummies were found to contain traces of cocaine and nicotine. Wife of Osiris; guardian and magician. The giant sphinx guarding the three pyramids of Giza is thought to represent the pharaoh Khafre (Chephren), son of Khufu. We just returned from a fantastic month in the country and loved every, The mighty Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt since the beginning of civilization, and visitors in modern times can cruise down it on the Steam Ship Sudan. One of the strangest jobs of any animal in those times was that of the baboons. There are more than 700 symbols in this ancient language that was once used to document history and communicate. Get uplifting news, exclusive offers, inspiring stories and activities to help you and your family The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. 64. 20. Cairo gets its name from the Arabic al-Qahira which means the victorious. Source: CIA World Fact Book, 24. Over its long history, Egypt has been known by many different names. Required fields are marked *. The clear waters of the Red Sea make it one of the best scuba diving destinations on earth. Search for Tutankhamuns hidden chambers continues. Today, 95% of Egypts population still live within a few kilometres of the Nile. Accessed: April 18, 2011. 55. Other exports include metals, textiles, livestock and chemical products. The official language is Modern Standard Arabic. To date, over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Egyptians used the name Aset (alternatively spelled as Ast, Iset or Uset.) The English name Egypt comes from the ancient Greek name for the country Aigyptos while the Arabic name Misr comes from the Akkadian word misru meaning border or frontier. Source: CIA World Fact Book, 25. Learn more about Natasha Alden on The World Pursuit About Us Page. The Aswan Dam, which was completed in 1970, is one of the biggest dams in the world. Unsplash. The pyramid of Giza is among the seven wonders of both the ancient and the modern world. Following the construction of the Aswan high dam, the fertile silt settled in Lake Nasser. Not only were animals worshipped in Ancient Egypt, but they were also trained to do many things. The life expectancy of Egyptians is approximately 72.66 years, which ranks 124th in the world. New York, NY: Checkmark Books, 2008. It also looks like a keyfor ancient Egyptians, the key to eternal life. These facts will help you appreciate why Egypt is a great place that is worth visiting. The toothpaste origins from Egypt Im told. The oldest dress in the world comes from Egypt. In this country, the amount of income tax for individuals is 22.5%, and for companies 22.5% (2018). 2. - Source: Britannica 2. It is a Mediterranean country on the northeast of which lies Israel and Gaza. , one of the oldest branches of the Christian religion. 40. Africa and Asia are both present in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They made these cosmetics from plants and minerals found in their natural environment. To get you started, here are some fascinating facts about Egypt. 23. Do you know any Egyptian fun facts? During this time, the people fast during the day when the sun is up and break their fast when the sun sets and they can party, eat and drink. 35 Facts About Mexico That Will Blow Your Mind, 29 Facts About Singapore That Will Blow Your Mind. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. The Ancient Egyptian civilization spanned more than 3,000 years. In fact, more than 1000 gods and goddesses were worshipped by the Ancient Egyptians. Known for building the world-famous pyramids and mummifying their dead, the Ancient Egyptian empire offered a more advanced form of living and a new way of life for thousands of people. 66. She loves to be outside, hiking in the mountains, playing in the snow on her snowboard, and biking. Sydney, Australia: Weldon Russell Pty Ltd, 1993. Egypts population is growing rapidly. its written on the Rhine mathematical papyrus. The earliest of the pyramids is built in the form of steps. Major televisions and radio broadcasting services in Egypt are controlled by the government. 2. Will scientific evidence unearth an ancient secret? Cleopatra is a famous figure in ancient Egyptian history, but contrary to popular belief, she wasnt Egyptian at all! Approximately 99% of the population lives on about 5.5% of the land. Learn more with our balanced list of interesting Islam facts. Over four million mummies with the shape of a stork-like bird (Ibis) have been unearthed by scientists in Egypt's Western Desert. This article may contain affiliate links. But each summer, the Nile river rises because of rains at its source, far to the south in Ethiopia. The ancient Egyptian calendar was a solar calendar with a 365-day year. It has a land area of 3.89 million sq mi (1.01 million sq km).