Home to spectacular desert landscapes, the planet’s longest river and millennia-old monuments found nowhere else, Egypt is quite unlike any other country in the world. Sandwiched between the Middle East and northeast Africa, this unique and fascinating place has given us some of the greatest ancient treasures on Earth. From elaborate tombs to dazzling pyramids, glistening jewels and soaring statues, these are just some of the incredible treasures the Ancient Egyptians left behind.
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The Ancient Egyptians built spectacular mausoleums for their pharaohs and of all these burial shrines, the Valley of Kings has to be the most well-known. Over 60 tombs have been discovered at this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Luxor, along with antechambers filled to bursting with gilded furniture and precious jewels. While mummification preserved the bodies, the tombs acted as gateways to the afterlife, where pharaohs would become one with the gods. Here, Egypt’s most iconic king was laid to rest…
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Tutankhamun ruled over Egypt for just 10 years, until around 1324 BC, when he pᴀssed away at the tender age of 19. The young king was little known until British archaeologist, Howard Carter, discovered his tomb in 1922. The crypt had been sealed for around 3,000 years and the news was met with global excitement. Inside, Carter found more than 5,000 artefacts, including gold coffins, ancient chariots and Tut’s 24-pound solid gold death mask, which is currently on display in The Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This spectacular scarab bracelet is just one of the items found inside Tutankhamun’s shrine. Formed from gold and lapis lazuli, the intricate bracelet shows how ornate Egyptian jewellery was. Regardless of gender or status, every Egyptian owned jewellery and over the centuries endless precious charms and trinkets have been discovered. From The British Museum in London, to The Met in New York, there are countless places you can go to see these gorgeous creations for yourself.
As one of Egypt’s most unique pyramids, Meidum is thought to be the country’s first straight-sided pyramid. However, it wasn’t structurally sound and parts caved in over time, leading to the nickname, “the collapsed pyramid”. Located around 62 miles (99.7km) from Cairo, Meidum is thought to have been built by King Snefru during the 4th Dynasty and once boasted exterior steps. These were eventually packed with stone before the entire structure was wrapped in limestone.
As one of the most famous shrines in all of Egypt, Luxor Temple is a triumph of ancient engineering. Founded in around 1400 BC, the colossal complex was primarily built by two pharaohs, AmenH๏τep III and Ramesses II, but Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great are said to have also added to the structure during their reigns. Two towering kings stand guard at the entrance, while the hypostyle hall boasts 32 gigantic carved columns that have to be seen to be believed.
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We have a lot to thank the Ancient Egyptians for, not least their beautiful pyramids and impressive temples. It might surprise you to learn that this ancient civilisation reportedly invented makeup, toothpaste, clocks and even calendars. Unlike other age-old calendars, the Egyptian system was the first to boast 365 days to a year, following the solar journey. You can witness these incredible inventions across the country, including at Kom Ombo Temple in Izbat Al Bayyarah.
Dedicated to the deity Horus, the spectacular Temple of Edfu is perhaps Egypt’s best-preserved shrine. Also known as The Temple of Horus, the sanctuary was built sometime between 237 and 57 BC, but for two centuries it remained entirely buried beneath the desert. Luckily, the sand preserved the temple in near-perfect condition and today you can witness extensive wall carvings, imposing statues and a granite shrine thought to be the oldest object in the complex.
In 2019, Egypt opened this unique pyramid up to the public for the first time in 60 years. The aptly named Bent Pyramid can be found in Dashur on the outskirts of Cairo and is thought to be 4,600 years old. Built for the pharaoh Sneferu, its riches have only just been uncovered. Following restoration efforts, archaeologists found mummies dating back to the Late Period (664–332 BC), as well as important stone-cutting tools and elaborate funerary masks.
