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.
71
questions
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
181
views
What do these Egyptian hieroglyphs mean?
I posted this before and it got closed because it's off topic. However, I looked and saw there were other questions on history asking about Hieroglyphs (for example "are there any Egyptian ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
3
votes
0
answers
99
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 ...
- 1,098
0
votes
0
answers
100
views
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 ...
- 63
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the anomaly in drawing of the Great Pyramid by National Geographic?
In the chart below, which comes from this page, there is a gray outline of another shaft and room behind the Queen's chamber description text. Does anyone know anything about this room or where it ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
39
votes
2
answers
12k
views
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 ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How did Napoleon evade the British fleet and return to France?
After the defeat of the French fleet off the coast of Egypt in 1798, Napoleon's army was cut off in a far away and hostile country.
One year later, after eluding the British fleet, he made it safely ...
- 18.8k
-1
votes
1
answer
125
views
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 ...
- 976
3
votes
0
answers
134
views
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 ...
- 550
3
votes
1
answer
6k
views
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 "...
- 18.8k
4
votes
2
answers
465
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?
- 520
13
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Is there an example of Egypt recording defeat?
Some defenders of the Torah's historical accuracy respond to a lack of evidence for the exodus from Egypt with the claim that Egypt simply didn't make records of its negative events. For example, ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
24
votes
9
answers
7k
views
What is the earliest evidence of contact between Ireland and Egypt?
There is a folk tale of an Egyptian princess in Ireland around 1700 BC. Is there credible evidence of early contact between the two places?
- 296
1
vote
0
answers
204
views
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 ...
- 104k
3
votes
1
answer
866
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
192
views
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 ...
- 9,072
0
votes
0
answers
141
views
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?
- 10.7k
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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, ...
- 71.3k
7
votes
3
answers
984
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 ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
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.
...
- 135
0
votes
2
answers
466
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 ...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
-4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
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 ...
- 71.3k
2
votes
2
answers
464
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.
- 10.7k
0
votes
1
answer
232
views
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!
- 71.3k
0
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Did the British and the French build the Suez Canal?
How is it that British officials and French engineers were responsible for the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869? This was before Egypt became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1914.
2
votes
0
answers
3k
views
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
88
views
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 ...
- 101
5
votes
1
answer
800
views
What is so unique about ushabti that makes them valued and popular?
I know what a shabti is, but what is the uniqueness in shabti that makes it valuable. I tried searching shabti, but all I got is: "They are small man like clay figures who come to life to serve their ...
- 77k
17
votes
6
answers
27k
views
What was the estimated population living in Egypt around 1446 BC?
The biblical narrative in Exodus 11 tells that all firstborn sons of Egypt died in a single night. While maybe there's no historical evidence of that, it would be interesting to know what was the ...
- 107k
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 ...
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
826
views
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 ...
- 83
0
votes
2
answers
315
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
358
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."
...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
4
votes
2
answers
356
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why did the Arab League re-admit Egypt in 1989?
During the years 1979-1989, Egypt was suspended from the Arab League
in the wake of President Anwar Sadat's visit to Jerusalem and 1978
Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel. (See also:...
MCW♦
- 31.7k
5
votes
3
answers
17k
views
What type of workers were there who built the pyramids in Egypt? [duplicate]
What type of workers were there who participated in building the Pyramids. What were they called and what was their role? Also, what sort of treatment did they get?
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
167
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 - ...
- 11.2k
4
votes
1
answer
407
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 ...
- 532
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, ...
- 532
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 ...
- 145
-6
votes
1
answer
283
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 ...
2
votes
0
answers
61
views
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, ...
- 107k
12
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How did Egypt become a protectorate of the British empire?
How did Egypt become a protectorate of the British empire in 1914?
(Feel free to add more content to this question)
- 4,346
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What were the six Mubarak assassination attempts?
Today there's a story about Mubarak in the hospital. He ruled Egypt since 1981 but was overthrown in 2011. Wikipedia says he survived six assassination attempts during that 30-year period, however it ...
- 1
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 ...
- 30.4k
4
votes
2
answers
214
views
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 ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
382
views
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 ...
- 77k
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 ...
- 18.4k
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?
- 2,323
4
votes
1
answer
354
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 ...
- 54.5k