Ancient Egypt Glossary Terms

Question 1

Afterlife

Answer 1

Life after death

Question 2

Akhet

Answer 2

The flood and inundation season. From June to September

Question 3

Amulets

Answer 3

A magical charm thought to keep away evil from the wearer.

Question 4

Artisan

Answer 4

A worker highly skilled in a particular craft

Question 5

Aten

Answer 5

Sun god

Question 6

Barter system

Answer 6

To trade goods rather than money

Question 7

Canopic Jars

Answer 7

Pottery jars used to store the intestines, liver, lungs, and stomach of the preserved body

Question 8

Delta

Answer 8

The area where the river splits into separate streams before flowing into the sea

Question 9

Demotic script

Answer 9

Writing system formerly used in Egypt, that is simplified form of the hieroglyphic system. Was found on the Rosetta Stone.

Question 10

Dieties

Answer 10

Plural for god or goddess

Question 11

Hapi

Answer 11

God of the Nile, flooding and fertility

Question 12

Hieroglyphs

Answer 12

Picture-like symbols of which the ancient Egyptian written language was composed

Question 13

Horus

Answer 13

God of the sky and hunting, son of Osiris

Question 14

Isis

Answer 14

Goddess of rebirth and reincarnation, protector of the dead, wife of Osiris

Question 15

Lower Egypt

Answer 15

Northern Egypt, Nile delta located here

Question 16

Middle Kingdom

Answer 16

A time period when dynasties had strong control over Egypt c.2055-1650 BCE

Question 17

Myth

Answer 17

A traditional or ancient story usually involving gods

Question 18

Mummification

Answer 18

The process of preserving a dead body by preventing its natural decay; in ancient Egypt a body was mummified by removing internal organs (except the heart) and drying out the remaining body tissue; the mummy was then buried.

Question 19

Natron

Answer 19

A mineral used to preserve bodies

Question 20

New Kingdom

Answer 20

A time period when dynasties had strong control over Egypt c.1570-1070 BCE

Question 21

Old kingdom

Answer 21

A time period when dynasties had strong control over Egypt c.2686-2181 BCE

Question 22

Papyrus

Answer 22

A kind of paper made from layers of reeds flattened into strips on which to write

Question 23

Peret

Answer 23

The seed/growing season. From November to February

Question 24

Pharaoh

Answer 24

The leader of ancient Egypt who was believed to be a god; the pharaoh had absolute power and total control

Question 25

Rosetta

Answer 25

City in northern Egypt where the Rosetta Stone was found

Question 26

Sarcophagus

Answer 26

A stone coffin usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions

Question 27

Scribe

Answer 27

A person trained in language and writing skills, employed to make written records

Question 28

Seti

Answer 28

God of war, chaos and storms. Brother of Osiris

Question 29

Shomu

Answer 29

The harvest season, March to May

Question 30

Upper Egypt

Answer 30

Located south of the delta

Question 31

Valley of the Kings

Answer 31

A valley in Egypt where many tombs were built for pharaohs and nobles during the New Kingdom

Question 32

Vizier

Answer 32

The highest official in ancient Egypt after the pharaoh