Museums in a Box Teacher s Notes The Egyptians

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1 Contents Papyrus Bowl from Nile clay Anubis Scarab beetle Ankh cross Game comb Hippo Ushabti blue Phaistos disk Nile rushes bowl Musical Instruments

2 Papyrus Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nil Delta of Egypt. Papyrus is first known to have been used in ancient Egypt. Not only has been used for paper but also for boats, mats and mattresses. Anubis Anubis is a jackal-headed god (also known as Inpu or Anupu). He oversees mummification and is responsible for the afterlife. Anubis was the most important god of the dead for Ancient Egyptians. Ankh cross The ankh cross was the Egyptian hieroglyphic for eternal life. Egyptian gods are often portrayed carrying it by its loop or bearing one in each hand, arms crossed over their chest. Scarab beetle The Scarab artefact represents the Scarab beetle, a dung beetle. These were one of the most popular artefacts in Ancient Egypt. In the ancient Egyption mythology, the sun (Ra) rolls across the sky each day and transforms bodies and souls. The dung beetle's rolling of dung into a ball for the purposes of laying eggs was seen as an earthly symbol of this heavenly cycle. During a long period in Ancient Egypt the use of Scarab artefacts became more and more popular and also more varied. They were used as amulets with a flat surface on the bottom or talismans.

3 Ushabti (blue) The Ushabti (also called shabti or shawabti) funerary figurines were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to act as substitutes for the deceased, should he/she be called upon to do manual labor in the afterlife. They were used from around 1900 BC until the end of the Ptolemaic Period nearly 2000 years later. Hippopotamus Hippopotamus is an Ancient Greek word which means horse of river. The Hippopotamus is a large, mostly plant-eating mammal in sub-saharan Africa Comb For ancient Egyptians, appearance was an important issue because it showed their social status. Most women had long hair, so they needed combs for styling. Combs were either single or double sided combs and made from wood or bone. Some were very finely made with a long grip.

4 The Nile The Nile River was vitally important to Ancient Egyptians as every year the Nile floods the surrounding area leaving rich silt deposits and thus re-fertilizing the land for new growth. Ancient Egyptians depended on the Nile for water, food and transportation. They believed that the Nile was the centre of the world. Bowl from Nile clay Nile rushes bowl Senet Game The Senet game is play on boards similar to those found in the tombs of Egyptians Kings such as Rames III and Tutankhamen (King Tut). referred to the game in hieroglyphics such as one of the passages with the movement of the pieces representing the wanderings of the soul in the underworld. The hieroglyphics on the sides of the Senet game are reproductions of hieroglyphics found on a 3,000 year-old papyrus and describe the wandering in the game. Nb. text taken from the game packaging. Phalistos disk Named the Phalistos disk because it was found in the Palace of Phaistos, Crete in There is much controversy over the origin and function of the Phaistos disk including that it is some form of gaming board. The disk dates to approximately 1600BC.

5 Music in Ancient Egypt Music has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since Ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians credited the god Thoth with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilize the world. Guitar Cymbals Flute