Ancient+Egypt

=Ancient Egypt:A Pathway to the Present =

===Ancient Egypt and its corresponding cultures were critical to man's development - writing, trade, innovations and so much more. ===  Most persons recognize the Sphinx, pictured at the left. However, so many more architectural structures are a part of the advanced Egyptian ancient civilization. For example, think of the Washington Monument in our own Washington, D.C. Do you realize that its form is taken from this ancient culture? Its form is an [|obelisk.] Click on the link to find more about this high rectangle with a pyramid atop. flickr.com  Another aspect of Ancient Egypt that we use is the [|sarcophagus]. Note what the name means!

 Certainly, the [|pyramids] and their allure are an integral aspect of Ancient Egypt as well. Perhaps the Great Pyramid at Giza is the most famous.

 However, probably the most important character that took a life of her own during this period was the River Nile. This life-giving part of his area of the world served as the central connection for trade, government, culture and so much more Watch the short video that travels along the Nile, but imagine that you are there thousands of years ago - in the time of pharaohs and great strides in civilization. What would you see? What would you hear? Smell?  media type="youtube" key="kCAqbhRJAbQ&hl=en&fs=1" height="209" width="248"  One of the plants you might see along the Nile would be the very important plant of [|papyrus]. Do you know its importance? It set the stage for the recording of many records that have helped us understand much of this time period. Does it sound like another word - a substance you probably use in some contact every day!?

=Literature and Writing =  Certainly, books as we know them today were not yet in existence. Writing was on scrolls made of papyrus. Probably one of the greatest collections we have today are the [|Dead Sea Scrolls]. What an amazing find by a poor desert inhabitant!

 Also, we are familiar with the [|ancient writing]of [|hieroglyphics] (pronunciation). Hieroglyphics are the amazing writings of [|the Ancient Egyptian] world, but do you know how they were deciphered? Click on the stone at the left to find out!

 Since writing as we know it was in its infancy, a [|stela] was the first "billboard"!

 One of the famous writings that exists from this period is a religious text called "the Book of the Dead" Do you have any ideas as to what the purpose was? What kinds of things do you think would be recorded there? Take a look at the [|Book of the Dead.]