Download Ancient Egyptian Inventions

Ancient Egyptian Inventions
From papers to clocks, the Egyptians produced a number of inventions that are
used―albeit in a different form―in our day-to-day activities even today. Know the various
things invented by the ancient Egyptians through this Buzzle write-up.
The Egyptian civilization was born on the banks of the Nile River around 3150 BCE,
when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under the first Pharaoh. The civilization prospered
for the next three millennia till it ceased to exist around 31 BCE, when it was conquered by
the powerful Roman empire. From archaeological excavations and interpretation of ancient
literature, it has come to light that the ancient Egyptians were way ahead of their time and
hence, invented several things that have proven to be extremely valuable to mankind.
Though we usually associate the ancient Egyptian Civilization with mummies and
pyramids, they did come up with a number of inventions which go beyond just mummification.
Some of their most outstanding inventions are as follows:
♦ Papyrus
Egyptian papyrus
We owe the invention of paper to the ancient Egyptians who, as early as 3000 BCE, had
developed a technique of making paper from the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus) that is
commonly found along the banks of Nile. The pith of the plant was taken out and cut into long
strips. These strips were placed diagonally over each other, and for better binding, were
placed under a weight for a couple of days. The quality of papyrus is evident from the fact that
they are still intact almost 5,000 years after they were first written on.
Historical sources tell us that the ancient Egyptians were very secretive about the
manufacturing technique of their papyrus. This was because papyrus was one of the main
commodities that was exported by Egypt all over the region. Keeping its manufacturing
process a secret enabled them to achieve monopoly in the market.
♦ Reed Pen
Reed pen
With the invention of papyrus to write on, it was also necessary for the ancient Egyptians to
figure out how they would write on it. Papyrus sheets were thick and stiff, and hence the tool
that would be used to write on them had to be equally sturdy. Reed pens were invented by
the ancient Egyptians, which could serve this purpose. These pens, with split nibs, have been
recovered from several ancient Egyptian sites, showing how widely they were used during the
ancient times. Many of these specimens date back to the 4th century BCE.
The Egyptians made reed pens by cutting reed straws, and then shaping them in different
sizes. These pens were able to make bold strokes on the papyrus, and even today, they
continue to be used in calligraphy.
♦ Black Ink
Black ink
Of all the astounding inventions by the ancient Egyptians, one of the greatest and most used
was the invention of black ink. The Egyptians mixed soot with vegetable gum and beeswax.
They substituted soot with other organic material to make ink of different colors. For example,
they used ocher in place of soot to make red ink.
These mixtures were quite effective and potent, as the Egyptian manuscripts―which were
written as early as 3000 BC―survive till date, in a full or partially readable condition.
♦ Hieroglyphic Script
Language
The writing system first started in the form of pictures, technically known as pictograms. In
Egypt, the first pictogram dates back to around 6000 BCE. These pictograms represented
drawings or symbols that indicated meaningful words. With the passage of time, ancient
Egyptians started adding more and more symbols/pictures to represent words and even
sounds. Later, they also added symbols which represented abstract ideas, and wrote names
with the help of them. The ancient Egyptians also used these illustrations and ideograms to
write about culture, war, and politics.
Today, we know the script of the ancient Egyptians by the name hieroglyphics. Several
remnants of Egyptian hieroglyphs have been found during archaeological excavations, and
fortunately we have been able to decipher the script, owing to which a lot of interesting and
important aspects of ancient Egyptian life, culture, and politics have come to light.
♦ Solar Calendar
Calendar
Ancient civilizations marked the passage of the month by following the phases of the Moon.
The ancient Egyptians were the first to have established a solar calendar. The solar calendar
indicated the position of the Earth, when revolving around the Sun. It consisted of twelve
months, each of which had 30 days plus 5 extra days at the end of the year.
There was a miscalculation in the ancient solar calendar as it did not account for the
additional fraction of the day. Hence, this calendar showed wrong months and dates.
However, this was later rectified by Ptolemy III Euergetes in 238 BC; he added one day to
365 days every 4 years.
♦ Sundial and Water Clock
Clock
The ancient Egyptians taught the world to tell time by inventing the clock. They invented the
sundial and the water clock. The sundials were obelisks whose moving shadows helped the
early Egyptians to divide the day into morning and afternoon. The Egyptians also determined
the longest and the shortest days of the year by noting when the shadow of the obelisk was
the longest and shortest at noon.
The Egyptians also invented the water clock as early as 1417 BCE, during the reign of
Amenhotep III, that allowed them to read time at night. It was a stone vessel with slanting
walls and a small hole at the bottom, much like an inverted cone, through which water would
drip at a constant rate. The stone vessel was divided into 12 columns which had equally
marked spacing inside. The changing level of water along the markings on the inner walls of
the vessel, as it dripped out, would indicate the passage of each hour.
♦ Pyramids
Pyramids
The word "pyramids" have become synonymous with the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
However, the world got its first pyramid in the form of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara that was
built in 2750 BCE for King Djoser of the Third Dynasty of Egyptian kings. Before this, the
Egyptian kings would be buried in a rectangular mud-brick tomb called mastaba. However,
King Djoser's architect Imhotep placed a number of mastabas of decreasing size one on top
of the other to make the world's first pyramid. The pyramids portray the role of a pharaoh or
an Egyptian King in society. Besides this, the pyramid also has a spiritual significance, where
each side represents God as the creator, the preserver, and the transformer respectively (trinatured aspect of God).
The pyramids have always attracted tourists from all over the world. Besides tourists, they
have also attracted scholars, archaeologists, and historians who keep going to Egypt to study
the mysteries hidden inside these mighty structures.
♦ Wigs
Wigs
The adorned wig, which has become a style statement nowadays, traces its history back to
the ancient Egyptian civilization. Wigs were also discovered from the ancient Egyptian
artifacts. Baldness was not considered to be aesthetically pleasing, hence wigs were
invented. Ancient scrolls reveal that wigs were used by both men and women to cover their
baldness, and also to protect their head from the Sun. These wigs were curled in an elaborate
manner, and adorned in a sophisticated way.
Wigs were used for the purpose of fashion as well. They were made according to the length
and style desired by wearer. They were made out of human hair, or sometimes supplemented
by plant fiber or sheep wool. They were then coated with beeswax and resin, which made
them stiff and gave them a braided look. Not only black, but blond wigs were also made.
♦ Eye Makeup
Makeup
The ancient Egyptians are credited with the invention of kohl that was used for decorating
eyes, as early as 4,000 B.C. They made kohl by combining soot with a special kind of mineral
called galena. Some ancient Egyptian paintings also depict people wearing a green eye
makeup, which they made by mixing a mineral called malachite with galena.
It is needless to say that just like wigs and high heels, eye makeup was also applied by
people of both sexes. Moreover, the amount of makeup applied went hand in hand with the
person's social status. On the other hand, it was also believed that applying kohl, protected
the wearer from evil eyes of his/her foes. Furthermore, they had also realized the potential of
the substance in preventing/curing certain eye diseases.
♦ High Heels
Heels
Women desiring a new pair of heels is not as recent a phenomenon as it may seem. In fact, it
is around 5,500 years old. Archaeological findings have established that during 3500 BCE,
high heels were worn by the upper-class people of ancient Egypt. Incidentally back then,
heels used to be worn by both genders. Certain lower-class people who were not able to
afford high-heeled shoes saw it as a sign of privilege, as heels were considered a work of art.
Typically wood was used to create heels.
It is quite obvious that high heels back then would have been more uncomfortable than the
heels we get today! During the ancient period, high heels were worn for ceremonial purposes
as well. The butchers and the meat sellers used to wear them, as it was easier for them to
walk across the blood.
♦ Surgical Instruments
Surgical tools
The first medical document ever discovered was the Edwin Smith Papyrus. The document
has survived till date, and according to archaeologists, it states a simple way of studying
neuroscience. According to it, the ancient Egyptians did not carry out elaborate surgeries,
rather brief ones for increasing their knowledge in human anatomy.
They used certain techniques to treat dislocated bones or injuries to the neck, shoulders, or
chest. They had around 48 distinctive surgical techniques to heal the injured areas. There is
also a mention of plasters, stitches, and bandages which were used in surgeries or
cauterization.
♦ Ox-drawn Plows
Plow
The ox-drawn plow was an invention that not only revolutionized the way agriculture was
carried on in the Egyptian communities, but a modified version of it is still used by farmers of
many countries to plow their fields. The use of the power of oxen to pull the plow made
loosening of the soil much easier and faster than doing it with hands, or using human beings
for the task.
According to sources, in the very first version of an ox-drawn plow, the plows were hooked to
the horns of cattle, however, it was realized that this affected their ability to breathe freely.
Therefore, in the more developed version, the ancient Egyptians began to attach the plows to
the bodies of their oxen by means of straps. The technique proved to be very effective, and
saved the ancient Egyptians from toiling too hard on their lands.