Questions tagged [egypt]

The questions concerning modern-day Egypt and its history from 7th century AD to present. For questions about ancient Egypt, use the [ancient-egypt] tag instead.

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3 votes
0 answers
80 views

How did Egypt turn from "Breadbasket of the Mediterranean" to second-biggest importer of grain?

Egypt is currently undergoing a severe economic crisis. One key reason is that it is importing much of the grain needed to feed its population (and livestock), and this has become expensive/difficult ...
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When was The Tale of Sinuhe first REdiscovered?

I have found a website that gives the details of all of the sources of The Tale of Sinuhe, but I can't figure out what the actual date of discovery was for each of those sources (in order to find the ...
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1 answer
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How do we reconcile hierarchical and violent aspects of Ancient Egypt with its nonviolent principle of Maat, as exemplified in negative confessions?

Maat represents and refers to the ancient Egyptian concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. Ma'at was also the goddess who personified these concepts, and regulated the ...
3 votes
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How were Ceasar's troops supplied with food during the Siege of Alexandria?

During the Siege of Alexandria, Julius Ceasar and a few thousand troops were stuck in the royal quarter of Alexandria for several months, with a local army surrounding them. Did the royal quarter have ...
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39 votes
2 answers
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What language did Gaius Julius Caesar speak with Cleopatra?

What language did Gaius Julius Caesar (GJC) speak with Cleopatra? My thoughts: GJC spoke Latin. Cleopatra spoke many languages, including Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek. Or did they need a ...
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How did the Ptolemaics inherit the tradition of royal incest?

Cleopatra (VII), the last queen of Egypt, was forced to marry her younger brother to keep the royal blood in the family. This, of course was a form of royal incest. From what I understand, the ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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When did blackouts occur in Cairo during WW2?

In what date was Cairo blackout lifted in WW2? Was the date celebrated in the following years? And, not less important: what notable events were in December 21st 1944? A little background: Someone I ...
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How were elders addressed in Ancient Egypt?

I’m writing a book and want to know how a child would respectfully address an older male and female person—like Sir or Lord or Madam—in Ancient Egypt?
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1 answer
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Since when is the Nile Delta known as "Delta"?

It is common knowledge that the Nile delta looks roughly triangular in form, hence roughly like a greek capital delta (especially when on a map oriented with the south on top). According to wikipedia, ...
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1 answer
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Are modern day Egyptians the genetic descendants of Ancient Egyptians? [closed]

On the one hand Egypt clearly views itself as a member of the Arab world. Nasser advocated pan-Arab unity, Egypt is a prominent member of the Arab league, Arabic is the national language, etc. On the ...
7 votes
3 answers
966 views

Who was Nimet Eloui Bey's father?

Nimet Eloui Bey was a famous Egyptian model in the 1920s and 1930s, whom I'm researching at the moment. Although now largely forgotten, she is still mentioned from time to time due to being the first ...
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1 answer
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What is the Ancient Egyptian word for "Fisher"

Or, failing that, "Fish". Need it for a project but really struggling to find anything definitive online. Thank you!
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Was Mansa Musa's gold as serious an inflationary problem in Mamluk Egypt as is portrayed, and, if so, how did the Mamluks recover from it?

There are numerous sources claiming that Mansa Musa, King of Mali, was one of the richest people alive (#1, #2). Essentially, these claim that Musa was one of the richest people in the history of the ...
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What authority did the US Army have in Egypt between 1945 and 1950?

I am trying to research a brief period of time in Egypt immediately after Britain's withdrawal in 1945, specifically the presence and authority of the US military there (if any) before 1950. Was ...
0 votes
2 answers
305 views

What are the most recommended non-biased books on Egyptian History

I am new to Egyptology, what are the most recommended non-biased books on Egyptian History, Hieroglyphs, mythology, etc... that are not biased and written by experts in the field? By non biased, I ...
2 votes
1 answer
345 views

What is the diplomatic record on President Sadat's 1971 peace offer to Israel?

I have seen a lot of talk in the Israel-Palestine debate about the 1971 peace offer, but I can't find any original sources on it. Even Wikipedia's brief paragraph about it says "citation needed." ...
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1 answer
166 views

How did production of grain change with Hellenistic Egypt coming under Roman rule?

As far as I know Egypt, under the Ptolemies, became famous in Hellenistic world for vast agricultural production due to the strict and harsh administration installed there by Greeks. Still I wonder - ...
4 votes
1 answer
401 views

Could Egyptian hieroglyphs accurately record conversational day-to-day discussion?

Whenever I see Hieroglyphs reproduced and read the translation provided it always strikes me that the text appears very stilted and un-natural. Could hieroglyphs be used to transcribe a normal ...
0 votes
2 answers
455 views

What was the role of Egypt in Soviet-Afghan war?

Just wanted to know the role of Egypt in the Soviet-Afghan war..like what did it do,who were it’s allies and enemies...I have researched on Wikipedia but didn’t find anything useful except that it had ...
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1 answer
278 views

Mesoamerican and Giza's Pyramids [closed]

I am not a history major but I am very interested in Pyramids and their origin. Is there any theory that says Mesoamerican and Giza's pyramids were build before continental drift ?? If so, can you ...
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why were there "Tributary States" to the Ottoman Empire?

Here's something that's always puzzled me: Whenever there was agitation for independence in the territories struggling for independence from the Ottoman Empire, a lot of times the places concerned ...
2 votes
0 answers
189 views

Was the inequality of wealth in 1950s in Egypt the result of the Ottoman Empire's former power in Egypt?

One of Nasser's more historic changes he enacted was land reform. This took the form of placing limits on land ownership in terms of feddans, nationalization of large amounts of land, and the issuance ...
35 votes
2 answers
7k views

How kind were the Muslim occupations of North Africa?

I grew up in Egypt and although I was raised in Muslim-majority country, I am atheist now. In history classes we were told a doubtful story: The Muslims would have been kind and merciful invaders ...
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Primary annalistic sources for ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt

Are there any surviving dynastic annals from any of the various civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt that provide an authoritative record of their rulers and historical events? This is in ...
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Are the Egyptians the only ones to have carved the dead's biography on the coffin?

I know that Egyptians did it. (See Hornedjitef's coffin) It is very interesting to me that they carved a biography on the coffin that was to be buried - not to mention that it was the inner coffin, ...
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1 answer
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Why did ancient Egyptian sculpture Thutmose abandon his masterpiece Nefertiti bust? [closed]

The Nefertiti bust is one of the most famous pieces of ancient Egyptian art that we have. It's thought to have been a master study for others to copy. The Nefertiti bust was discovered sitting on the ...
16 votes
1 answer
3k views

When did the Egyptians stop wrapping their dead in bandages?

I'm curious as to when the Egyptians stopped wrapping their dead in thin strips of fabric and transitioned to burial shrouds. Any historical speculation as to the reasons for this transition would be ...
4 votes
2 answers
353 views

Why did Anwar Sadat establish diplomatic relationship with Israel and did that decision pay off?

Why did Egypt establish diplomatic relationship with Israel and did that decision pay off? As far as I recall, Anwar Sadat was able to convince his people and his followers that establishing ...
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0 votes
1 answer
595 views

Was Cleopatra technically a princess? [closed]

Obviously she eventually became pharaoh/queen, but as the daughter of the king was she technically a princess?
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4 votes
1 answer
352 views

Did Machimoi fight in Phalanx formation?

The 'Machimoi' were low ranking Egyptian foot soldiers, pressed into service by the Ptolemaic Dynasty during a period of manpower shortage. The term Máchimoi... ...commonly refers to a broad ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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When did Sultan Saif ad-Din Qutuz escape from Mongol swords?

In Wikipedia, it is mentioned that Hulagu Khan sent the following letter to Sultan of Egypt, Saif ad-Din Qutuz in 1260: From the King of Kings of the East and West, the Great Khan. To Qutuz the ...
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4 votes
2 answers
455 views

Where was the Temple of Onias located?

Josephus writes that the Temple of Onias (Chonyo) in Egypt was built in Heliopoils, however the Talmud (Menahot 109b) seems to understand that the temple was built in Alexandria, not in Heliopolis?
2 votes
2 answers
441 views

What was the area of the Mamluk Sultanate?

Both in the Baḥrī period and the Burjī period. I've been trying to find an answer for about 30 minutes and I've found nothing, so if you know, a source would be good too.
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6 votes
1 answer
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Why and when were ancient Egyptian hieroglyph phonograms used?

There are writings on the walls of some Egyptian temples of Hellenistic period written in Egyptian hieroglyph phonograms. However it was strange for me to know that these are Greek texts actually. ...
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

How much Ancient Egyptian survived into modern Coptic & Egyptian Arabic?

The Egyptian spoken language has evolved dramatically due to influences from the many foreign powers who ruled Egypt over the ages. Coptic is an Egyptian language with strong influences from Greek, ...
1 vote
3 answers
767 views

Where were the British Forces located during Napoleon's Egypt Campaign?

During Napoleon's Campaign in Egypt 1798-1803, the British destroyed the French fleet near the Abu-Qir bay and had a fleet blockade there. Where did the men on the British fleet get supply from in all ...
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2 votes
0 answers
2k views

What kind of bird is Horus? [closed]

Recently I was reading Brugsch's History of Egypt and he describes the figure of Horus as being that of a "sparrowhawk". Now, I have the greatest respect for Brugsch and consider him the best ...
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3 votes
1 answer
860 views

Are the Egyptians homogeneous? [closed]

I don't know whether this is a myth, but I've run into this in various publications, and a few Egyptians I know personally have confirmed it: that the Egyptians of today and those who lived in the ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Who is the Amyrtaios of Herodotus?

In Herodotus it reads the following of Anoosis, the blind pharoah, and Amyrtaios, a pharaoh living over 700 years after him: ... when the Ethiopian had gone away out of Egypt, the blind man came ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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Did the avenue of the Gods exist? [closed]

In the recent movie, Exodus: Gods and Kings a scene is shown, presumably in Memphis(?) depicting an avenue of the gods, terminated in a pylon. Did such a place actually exist?
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1 answer
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Where can I find a reliable method of translating English to Ancient Egyptian? [closed]

Having no prior knowledge of the language I am working on a project that requires me to name things using languages similar to ancient Egyptian. So far I have been using this website: http://...
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2 answers
7k views

Why didn't the ancient Egyptians conquer an empire? [closed]

If we look for example to Romans and Greeks we will find that they had great empires, they invaded a lot of countries and established civilizations outside their countries. Why didn't ancient ...
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1 answer
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Alignment of South American and Egyptian Pyramids [closed]

I don't remember when and where I hear, but I remember something like this: several pyramids in Egypt are aligned with pyramids in South America . That is, in South America are several (if correctly ...
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

What would've been the outcome of the Yom Kippur War had the UN not intervened? [closed]

As a kid growing up in Egypt, we obviously had things in our official history textbooks that said that we "totally won that war", and I'm very sure that it's the exact opposite in Israel. So please, I ...
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1 answer
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What responsibility did Golda Meir have for the Yom Kippur war?

I read in the book "The Iron Wall" by Avi Shlaim, there was a description of the Yom Kippur war that happened due to Golda Meir's insistence on keeping parts of Sinai and not trading them to Egypt ...
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1 answer
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What machine technology did the Egyptians have to build the great pyramids?

Reading the "Account of Egypt" by Herodotus, it says of the great pyramid of "Cheops" (Macauley translation): This pyramid was made after the manner of steps which some called "rows" and others "...
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3 votes
2 answers
3k views

Were any Egyptian pyramids designed to be half an octahedron? [closed]

Are there Egyptian pyramids which were modeled to resemble half an octahedron? Do the angles of some pyramids correspond to angles of an octahedron? For those who don't know what an octahedron is: ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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Do Egyptian mummies contain DNA? If so, was it viable enough to analyzed it? [closed]

I just had my DNA completed with 23andme and was wondering if we have any information regarding the ancestry of Epyptian mummies.
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9 votes
2 answers
5k views

What did Cleopatra's nose look like?

After some general searches in reference to the subject, I found that 'her beauty ... was in itself not altogether incomparable' and that 'She was a woman of surpassing beauty', as Plutarch and ...
9 votes
4 answers
12k views

Why did a lot of major cities around the world obtain obelisks?

I am just wondering the significance of this. There is a large one in Washington DC and an old Egyptian one in New York. They have them in France, England, Spain, Canada, Australia etc. Wikipedia has ...
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