The Great Ancient
Civilizations
Titled:
The wonders of Ancient Egypt
‘The journey into the heart of Ancient Egypt’
This exhibition is presented by Department HAE.1E of the University of
GAC (Great Ancient Civilizations). The heads of this department consists
of:
Dr. Mukund Bala (23)
Dr. Vikram Kasi Kannappan (31)
Dr. Kelvinder Singh (13)
Dr. Manu Neethi Cholan Kapilan (16)
Contents Page
I.
Letter to Manager of Singapore Museum
II.
Brief Write up on Ancient Egypt
III.
Artefact Report
-Rosetta Stone
-The Great Sphinx of Giza
-Egyptian Gods
-Eye Of Horus
-Egyptian Weapons
-Egyptian Games
-Egyptian Jewellery
-King Tutankhamen’s Mummy and the treasures found in the tomb
IV. History Essay on “What Makes A Great Civilization”
IV. Bibliography
V.
Lay Out of Museum
VI. Appendix: List of Gods
To the manager of the Singapore Museum,
We are a group of professors from the University of Great Ancient
Civilizations. We consist of Historians, Archeologists, Political Scientists,
Economists and Anthropologists who are highly certified in the field of
Ancient Civilizations. Our main focus is on Ancient Egypt. It is our
greatest desire to interest and inform the public about this magnificent
civilization through talks and exhibitions. We can ensure you that our
exhibitions are highly engaging with a numerous number of fun
activities and fascinating exhibits from museums around the world. Our
exhibition, The Wonders of Ancient Egypt- the journey into the heart of
Ancient Egypt, has a total of nine exhibits. The Artifacts range from
those that relate to daily Egyptian life and others which were the
treasures of Ancient Egypt, giving viewers a basic idea of what Ancient
Egypt was like. We have put up this exhibition in various countries and
states such as New York and Texas; United states of America, Sydney
and Melbourne; Australia, Rio; Brazil, Tokyo; Japan, Beijing; China, New
Deli and Chennai; India, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bauru; Malaysia, and
many more. Now, we hope to display this exhibition in Singapore in
your Museum. We have included a list of our exhibits and a brief
explanation about them in this proposal. We hope you and the
Singapore Museum agree to be the host for this exhibition. Thank you
for taking the time to read this proposal. We await your decision.
Thank you.
Brief History of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was located along the Nile River in northeastern Africa
for more than 3,000 years, between 3300 BC and 30 BC. It was the
longest ancient civilization to ever have existed. To start of with, there
were two kingdoms in Ancient Egypt, Upper Egypt, located in southern
Ancient Egypt, and Lower Egypt, located in northern Ancient Egypt.
Around 3000 BC, the beginning of the Bronze Age, the king of Upper
Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and made Egypt into one kingdom.
People then started to call the king of Egypt the Pharaoh. From this
time onwards, Egypt was divided into nine time periods. Namely, the
Early Dynastic Kingdom, the Old Kingdom, the 1st intermediate Period,
the Middle Kingdom, the 2nd Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom,
the Late Dynastic Period and the Greek- Roman Period. The Early
Dynastic Period, 3000 BC- 2575 BC, was the beginning of Ancient
Egyptian History. The Old Kingdom, 2575 BC- 2150 BC, was the time of
the pyramids where the pharaohs had the greatest power over Egypt.
During the 1st Intermediate period, 2150 BC- 2040 BC, there was
internal war and Ancient Egypt fell apart into several smaller
Kingdoms. In 2040 BC, the Pharaohs managed to restore peace in
Egypt, forming the Middle Kingdom, 2040 BC- 1783 BC. However, the
pharaohs in this period were never as powerful compared to that of the
old Kingdom and Early Dynastic period. Pyramids were also no longer
built. During the 2nd intermediate period, 1783 BC- 1540 BC, the Hyksos
invaded Lower Egypt and conquered it only be pushed out by the
pharaohs of upper Egypt, reuniting Egypt again. This formed the New
Kingdom, 1540 BC- 1070 BC. At the end of the Bronze Age, there was a
general crisis around the Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia. The
Ancient Egyptian government collapsed, leading to the Late Dynastic
period, 1070 BC- 332 BC. During this period Nubians, then the Persians
ruled most of Egypt. Then, the Greeks and Romans conquered Egypt
resulting in the Greek- Roman period which marked the end of Ancient
Egypt. As a whole, Ancient Egypt was one of the most advanced
ancient civilizations with a long history. It is thus, also one of the most
interesting and well known Ancient civilizations in the world.
Artefact Report
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a rather special artefact. It helped us understand
the Egyptian tongue with clarity and taught us more about the
Egyptian way of life.
The Rosetta Stone is a large black stone, made of basalt, which is
726kg and measures 1.14m in height, 0.72m in width and 0.28m in
thickness. It has carvings on its polished surface in both the Ancient
Egyptian and Greek languages, using three scripts- hieroglyphics,
demotic and Greek.
The inscription on the Rosetta Stone is a decree establishing the status
and cult of Ptolemy V as a deity. Ptolemy V was the Egyptian King at
that period of time.
A group of priests in Egypt wrote a text on the Rosetta stone which
honors the Egyptian pharaohs. It lists all of the things that the pharaoh
has done that were for the well-being of the citizens of Egypt.
We can understand that culture played a main part that lead to the
rise of the stone. The priests wrote it because they wanted hail their king
as a deity. This shows that Ptolemy V was seen and respected as a god.
We can also infer that there was presence of labour specialisation.
Without people specialized in sculpting, it would have been impossible
to carve out the stone and polish it, let alone inscribe on it.
When the Greek came to Egypt and took over its reigns, the
government system went through a rapid change. The Greek took over
the government. A section of the text states the laws and regulations to
be enforced. This shows that the government system had a good control
over the people.
The Rosetta Stone is indeed a great treasure and we request that it
should be displayed in public for everyone to enjoy and marvel at it.
The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the largest single-stone statues in the
world- This magnificent monument is 57 meters long, 6 m wide and 20
m tall with a 10 m long and 4 meter wide head and four 15 meter paws.
It is located on the Giza Plateau which borders the Sahara Desert on
the west bank of the Nile River. This is near the modern-day Cairo. The
Great Sphinx of Giza was estimated to have been built around 2686 BC
- 2181 BC during the time of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. It is oriented to
face the rising sun on the east.
A sphinx is an ancient Egyptian mythical beast with the head of a man
and the body of a lion, which symbolizes the pharaoh as an incarnation
of the sun god Ra. From this, we can infer that the Egyptians were
theocratic people and that the government was influenced by the
belief in god. The people worshipped the sun god Ra and saw him as a
figure that brings life and that led to them building the Sphinx to
represent Ra.
 There are 3 different types of Sphinxs: Androsphinx - The
Androsphinx has the body of a lion and a head of a man
 Criosphinx - The Criosphinx has the body of a lion and a head of
a ram
 Hieracosphinx - The Hieracosphinx has the body of a lion and a
head of a hawk
To build something so monumental, the Egyptians must have had some
kind of efficient building system to move large stones upwards. Ramps,
rollers and pulleys were found at the site of the Sphinx. This shows that
people were specialized in construction.
We request that a smaller version of the great Sphinx of Giza be
displayed in the museum for all to see. There should also be smaller
versions of the three different types of Sphinx.
Egyptian Gods
The Priests of Ancient Egypt devolved a Family tree of Egyptian Gods
and Goddesses to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses were
related. The Priests also created a myth, or cosmogony, to explain how
some of the Gods and Goddesses became alive. A summary of the myth
is that there was an evil source f power called Nun. The Sun God Atum,
Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation, rose and spat out the elements of
moisture and air which were the Goddess Tefnut and the God Shu.
Heliopolis was also one of the most ancient cities of Egypt which was
particularly associated with worship of sun-deities, and Heliopolis and
was believed to be the birthplace of the company of the gods called the
Ennead. The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were often depicted as part
animal and part human frequently shown.
This shows that the Egyptians practised zoolatry, or animal worship. The
priests who created this myth, may have done so to maintain order in
the country. From this, we can say that Egypt was ruled with the help
of these cosmogonies. The kings were also believed to harbour gods
within them. This also show the government system would also be
influenced by these cosmogonies.
Such a wide belief in gods shows that many Egyptians were priests.
They may have made sacrifices to the gods and maybe, sacrificed
themselves. Moreover, we can see that there was theocratic governing
in Egypt.
Till present, there are 25 known gods, whose appearance varies.
We request that a small version of the more important gods (eg. Ra,
Osiris, Set) to be displayed for public viewing.
Eye of Horus
The Wadjet, which means “whole one” in English, was a powerful
representation of protection in Ancient Egypt, also known as the Eye of
Horus. The symbol was commonly used in jewellery made of gold, silver,
carnelian, porcelain, lapis, and wood to ensure the safety and health of
the owner and provide wisdom and wealth.
Figure 1: Pieces of the Eye of Horus
The eye of Horus was created and divided into 64 pieces after the Gods
Horus and Set fought.
Figure 2: Fight between Set and Horus, this led to the creation of the
Eye of Horus.
Egyptian Weapons
The Ancient Egyptians were discovered to have been equipped with a
vast array of weapons during the time of the New Kingdom. During this
period, weapons had moved from wooden and stone weapons to iron
and then to bronze, which was made by a mixture of metals. The types
of weapons the Ancient Egyptians used improved with this new metal
technology. During this period, the Chariot was also introduced as a
weapon for war.
The Ancient Egyptians used a variety of weapons. Some of which are
the Sling, the oldest of weapons dating back to antiquity which was
cheap to produce and remained in use throught all periods of Ancient
Egypt. The Mace, originally with stone heads, then replaced by iron,
copper and bronze, was used as a close combat weapon or from a
horseback. The Spear , Consisting of a shaft, usually made from wood
with a sharpened head and used to thrust at enemies or as a missile.
The spear was versatile, cheap to produce and easy to use requiring
limited experience. Battle Axes, which had crescent-shaped blades and
was used as a close combat weapon but could also, be thrown as a
missile. The Bow and Arrow, a far ranged weapon which was made
from a strip of flexible material, like wood, linked at the two ends with
a cord, to form a tension from which the arrow was shot.
This shows that there were a group of people who were specialized in
the crafting of these weapons and moreover, it also proves that the
Egyptians were well practised in metallurgy. The government may also
have given funding to the weapon craftsmen in order to mass produce
weapon for war times.
We request the plastic replicas of the weapon be put on display in the
museum.
Egyptian Games
The Ancient Egyptians used to play a variety of games be it being
adults or children. There were indoor and outdoor games specifically for
adults and toys and games meant for children only. There are
numerous similarities between the games played in Ancient Egypt and
modern games.
Children had a variety of toys to play with. Girls played with dolls made
out of clay, wood or linen. Boys on the other hand played with play
swords made out of clay. Boys also played ball games made out of
papyrus.
To make the toys played by children, there should be a craftsman who
specialized in this field. This shows that there was labour specialization
in this field. Moreover, in schools, some lessons were taught to children
using dolls.
These Egyptian games showed that people led a pretty care free life
where they played these games to have fun with friends and family.
This also shows that the Egyptians liked to have fun.
We would like to make replicas and put them on display so that people
can see how the ancient Egyptians spent their free time. This exhibit
would also allow people to see the similarities and differences between
the ancients and the modern civilization.
Egyptian Jewellery
The Ancient Egyptians were great lovers of jewelry. These included a
variety of jewelry including amulets, necklaces, pendants, bracelets,
rings, head jewelry and anklets.
The Craftsmen who carved these intricate jewels are specialized in this
field. Moreover, they are also well versed in metallurgy.
Ancient Egyptians did not only wear jewelry for decorative purpose. It
consisted of symbols that would provide the wearer with protection and
prosperity. A common form of jewelry was the amulet. It was designed
to ward off the evil eye and protect the wearer from evil forces. Such
lucky charm jewelry was decorated with images of gods, magical signs,
hieroglyphs and animals. These amulets were, most of the time, blessed
by priests before they are sold.
This shows that they have a strong belief in deities and the Egyptians
believe that they would get protection from god.
Amulets come in many shapes and sizes. 2 of the most commonly seen
are, the eye of Horus and the Silver Ankh.
We request that this exhibition be put up for public viewing.
King Tutankhamen’s Mummy
King Tutankhamen’s Tomb is located at the Valley of the Kings.
His mummy was placed in the tomb somewhere between 1334
BC-1325 BC during the time of the New kingdom in the
Eighteenth Egyptian Dynasty.
The Tomb of King Tutankhamen, KV62, is a world famous
tomb due to the fabulous treasures which were found intact in it.
The tomb and its great treasures had not been stolen by tomb
raiders due to its location, which was underneath the remains of
the huts of workmen which were built during nineteenth
dynasty.
Autopsy on the mummy proved that King Tutankhamen had
been about 5 feet 6 inches tall of a slender build, and that he had
died when he was 18 or 19 years old.
When the tomb was excavated by Howard Carter, 143 precious
items were found on the mummy: 15 rings, 13 bracelets, the
heart scarab, amulets, collars, daggers and earrings.
This was probably done so that king tut can have a comfortable
passage to the afterlife. Egyptians believed in after life and so,
they had done this.
In terms of leadership, King Tutankhamen was an exceptional
leader. This can be inferred from the many jewels that were
found in his tomb. This shows that the people loved the boy king
and appreciated what he had done for Egypt.
The several jewels in the tomb suggest that the economy was
vibrant and people well versed in metallurgy and crafting.
We request that the actual mummy be put on display for the
public.
Essay on “What Makes a Civilization Great”
A Civilisation is a group of people, who have settled in a particular
place, living together by following a particular culture, and with a
government system in place, unlike nomads.
The main features of a civilisation are good geographical location,
government system, labour specialization, social hierarchy, complex
beliefs, writing system, and agriculture, and trade.
Let’s focus on each aspect of a civilisation.
What is the importance of a good geographical location? An example
of a good geographical location is along the river or the sea, as the
Ancient Egyptian Civilisation had settled along the lower part of River
Nile. Settling along a river is very helpful to the Civilisation as the river
provides water, which is very important for many aspects of life. Rivers
provide water for drinking and watering crops such as rice and wheat.
People did not need to depend too much on rain water if they lived
near a permanent source of water. They also provided fish, which was
an important source of food. The soil around rivers was usually fertile
and easy to plough. Therefore, large amounts of crops could be grown.
They also provided means of transport. People could travel long
distances from one village to another. They could trade (buy, sell and
exchange goods) with one another much more easily than before.
A government system’s role in the well-being of a civilisation:
A government help to enforce law and order in a civilisation. It also
helps people to follow a particular culture together. The government
had to keep peace within the civilisation by distributing food equally
and that crime was prevented. They also had to protect them against
enemy attacks. Without a government, the civilisation will go haywire
as people do things in their own ways, affecting others.
What is labour specialization? Labour specialization is basically people
doing different things instead of everybody focusing on simply one
aspect of a civilisation – agriculture. Labour specialization is very
important to a specialization as when there are people specialized in
agriculture, sculpting etc., they could concentrate on other things rather
than basic survival needs, such as music, recreation etc. Labour
specialization also leads to the social hierarchy, which I will talk about
next.
I just mentioned that labour specialization leads to social hierarchy. So
what is a social hierarchy? The social hierarchy is the way people in a
civilisation are classified into groups. Each group plays a different role
and specialises in different kinds of work. For example, leaders govern,
farmers produce food and soldiers protect the people. The way in which
members of a society organise themselves into groups and specialise in
different jobs in order to produce what they need is called a social
hierarchy. A social system often ranks people according to how wealthy
and powerful they are.
The other features of a civilisation are also very important.
Whether a civilisation is great or not is based on the person’s
perspective.
Bibliography
1.
Casson, LC. (1975). Ancient egypt. New york city
2. http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk
3. http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk
4. http://www.napoleon-series.org
5. http://www.greatscott.com
6. Streissguth, TS. (2003). Life in ancient egypt. New york city
7. http://history1900s.about.com
8. http://www.kingtutone.com
9. http://www.fordham.edu