Ancient Egypt Flashcards
Who was Menes (Narmer)?
- first to rule ancient Egypt
- built temple to Ptah, chief god of Memphis
- Founded new capital city, Memphis
- Began first Egyptian dynasty
Who was Hatshepsut?
- first great woman in history
- dressed as a man
- developed new types of sculptures
- mysteriously disappeared with no trace of her body, shrine, or statues
Who was Ramses II?
- most important ruler of nineteenth dynasty
- ruled for 67 years and lived into his eighties
- married to more than 90 wives with over 100 children
- one of the most colourful rulers of the ancient world
- challenged the Hittite empire based in Anatolia
Who was Tutankhamen?
- restored former state of religion
- one of the youngest rulers
- “mummy’s curse”
Who was Akhenaton?
- turned his back on many old traditions of ancient Egypt
- built new capital city in isolated location
- changed nature of Egyptian religion; declares the people can only worship one god, Aton.
Who was Khufu?
- commissioned Great Pyramid of Giza
Who was Nekhbet?
- patron of upper Egypt
- protector of royal children, later all children and expecting mothers
- took the form of a griffon vulture
Who was Wadjet?
- Appeared as a cobra
- considered the personification of lower Egypt, rather than a distinct goddess
Who was Ma’at?
- Ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice
- Personified as a goddess regulating the stars, seasons, and the actions of mortals and the deities
Who was Isis?
- Portrayed as a woman, wearing a headdress shaped like a throne with an Ankh in her hand
- Patroness of nature and magic
- Friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, and the downtrodden
Who was Osiris?
- first son of Geb and Nut
- considered the king of the underworld and the dead
Who was Amen?
- self-created
- champion of the poor or troubled and central to personal piety
- king of the gods
What was mummification?
The preparation of preserving a body for the afterlife.
What were canopic jars?
Used in mummification to store organs for the afterlife of the owner.
What were pyramids?
Square - based pyramid tombs made out of stone, built as a home for whoever was being buried for the afterlife.
What was the Valley of the Kings?
A valley in Egypt where nearly 500 years of tombs for nobles were constructed.
What was the Curse of the Mummy?
An alleged curse of King Tutankhamen after his tomb was opened. It killed most of the original explorers, and caused a blackout in Egypt.
What was the Step Pyramid?
A pyramid made for Djoser in the 27th century BC, consisting of steps.
What is the Bent Pyramid?
A Pyramid with 2 different slopes.
