corrocamino

I was more fortunate. I saw Tut's treasures in their entirety at the Egyptian Museum, several times.

I have stated elsewhere that I can't be hypnotized, but I may have come close when I looked Tut's death mask in its chillingly lifelike eyes.

Louise C

I think it was an amazing and fascinating civilisation. I am not sure what misconception you are thinking of. Most Egyptians were peasants, as in most pre-industrial societies. Life was about getting the crops in, putting food on the table, hoping that the Nile would flood etc. They produced some amazing art and architecture. They had many gods and goddesses.

unclefred

It's fortunate for us all that so much was left of their ancient civilization. Civilizations, like animals and machines, evolve in complexity and information which also increases the rate of change.

AlpinLuke

Well, one view? I think I can list several views of Ancient Egypt.

The long path of that civilization has seen several main periods and several "messes" which can be seen under a different light, anyway keeping intact the background context.

The first "jump" which comes to my mind is the social, religious and economical change from the first dynasties to the following ones which forced the Pharaoh to forget about building giant pyramids made by stone blocks.

The Egypt of the pyramids is not actually the Egypt of Ramses the great [who was the one to move the greatest mass of stone, more than Khufu, but he didn't build eternal pyramids ...], as for environment.

The Egypt of the pre dynastic "animal kings" [Crocodile King, Scorpio King ...] was different from the Egypt of the divine Pharaohs, the "Horo".

Then, I wouldn't idealize Ancient Egypt, even if I adore that civilization, I would remember that the life span was briefly in a dramatic way [a person 30 years old was considered old].

On the other hand, this "confidence" with death generated that never-ending background on which Egypt based its history: the culture of death as part of existence, not as a separated and unreachable realm somewhere. Ancient Egyptians cohabited with death in a positive way, they saw it as a natural development of material life.

corrocamino

I love the handle of Narmer (of the Narmer Palette): "Striking Catfish"! Does that strike fear in your heart, or what?

(I realize that if you're hand-fishing and a 75-lb catfish in a hole bites down on your arm, you just might not get back up for another breath of air.)

Guaporense

Egypt was the first large state spreading over a large territory, instead of the mesopotamian city states we had the first "kingdom". Egypt was the first state to reach 1 million inhabitants and perhaps the first to surpass 5 million.

Satuf

It was exceptional. Way ahead of its time.

RoyalGovnaWatts

One of the greatest, early civilizations to ever exist. A shame the race of the ancient Egyptians is nearly completely diluted.

pixi666

Lucky b******! It wasn't there when I went...

I had fun translating Latin inscriptions in the British Museum this summer But i got no applause...

pixi666

What?