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TAMRA ORR P.O. Box 196 Hockessin, Delaware 19707 Visit us on the web: www.mitchelllane.com Comments? email us: [email protected] Tamra Orr ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 1 4/26/12 3:56 PM Ancient Assyria • Ancient Athens The Aztecs • Ancient Babylon The Byzantine Empire • The Celts of the British Isles Ancient China • Ancient Egypt Ancient India/Maurya Empire • Ancient Sparta Copyright © 2013 by Mitchell Lane Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tamra Orr is a full time writer and author living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. She is the author of more than 300 books for readers of all ages, including numerous titles for Mitchell Lane. A graduate of Ball State University, Orr loves exploring history and learning about ancient cultures and then sharing all she learned with her young adult children. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The facts on which the story in this book is based have been thoroughly researched. Documentation of such research can be found on page 45. While every possible effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher will not assume liability for damages caused by inaccuracies in the ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 2 data, and makes no warranty on the accuracy of the information contained herein. Printing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Orr, Tamra. Ancient Egypt / by Tamra Orr. p. cm.—(Explore ancient worlds) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-61228-279-4 (library bound) 1. Egypt—Civilization—To 332 B.C.—Juvenile literature. 2. Egypt—History—To 332 B.C.— Juvenile literature. I. Title. DT61.O658 2012 932’.01—dc23 2012008638 eBook ISBN: 9781612283548 PLB 4/26/12 3:57 PM CONTENTS Chapter One The Gift from Hapi ............................................5 Sidebar: Egyptian Seasons..................................... 11 Chapter Two In Kebi’s Home ................................................ 13 Sidebar: Egyptian Pets .........................................17 Chapter Three The Season of Peret ........................................... 19 Sidebar: Putting It in Writing ............................. 25 Chapter Four People of the Pharaoh ........................................ 27 Sidebar: The Egyptian Pyramids ............................ 31 Chapter Five Reaping the Harvest ........................................... 33 Sidebar: Egyptian Gestures ...................................37 Ancient Craft: Papyrus Project ..................................38 Ancient Recipe: An Egyptian Treat ........................... 40 Timeline ............................................................. 42 Chapter Notes ...................................................... 44 Works Consulted .................................................. 45 Further Reading .................................................... 46 Books ............................................................ 46 On the Internet ................................................ 46 Glossary .............................................................. 47 Index .................................................................. 48 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 3 4/26/12 3:57 PM The Nile River today 4 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 4 4/26/12 3:57 PM Chapter 1 The Gift from Hapi Kebi walked outside and looked up at the sky. Soon it would show only blueness, but today a few thick, white clouds floated by, carried by the season’s gentle breeze. Her mother motioned to her. Kebi went over to stand with her family as they gathered for their afternoon prayer to the god Hapi, the ancient Egyptian god of the Nile River. Together they said, “Hail to thee, O Nile! Who manifests thyself over this land and comes to give life to Egypt! Come and prosper! O you who make men to live through his flocks and his flocks through his orchards! O Nile, come and prosper!”1 Kebi had been saying this prayer for as long as she could remember. Her mother said people had been reciting it for hundreds of years. When she was very small, she had said the words because her mother and father taught them to her. They had had no meaning for her then. Now they did. She spoke the words with great passion and belief. She knew what terrible things could happen if Hapi did not send enough water to the land. It was the season of Akhet, when the river began overflowing its banks. Later, Kebi would take her two older brothers to the edge of the Nile to throw in the necklaces they had made as offerings to Hapi and his many crocodile gods and frog goddesses. She hoped the god would be pleased with their work. The three of them had spent hours putting small beads onto long strings and tying knots between each one. ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 5 4/26/12 3:57 PM Chapter 1 While Kebi and her brothers cast offerings to the river, Kebi’s parents, like many others, would most likely check how high the water level was that day. They would climb down the steps to the water’s edge and measure the height in cubits. Kebi knew they would be looking to see if the water level was higher than the day before. If it was, they would know Hapi was listening to the people’s hymns and preparing to bring fertility and wealth to the land again. After eating, Kebi sought out her father. As she often did, she spent the afternoon helping him repair the tools that had broken during the harvest season. She mended the handle of one of the sickles, while her father worked to straighten the bent blade on the plow. She liked sitting next to him, working together. It was a peaceful time, compared to the hours of hard work during planting and harvesting times. Wall painting depicting harvesting 6 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 6 4/26/12 3:57 PM The Gift from Hapi Irrigation canals like this one literally meant survival to the ancient Egyptians. They took a great deal of work to construct and maintain, but they brought life-giving water to crops and allowed the people to grow strong crops. Kebi’s two brothers were out in the fields, working to repair a few of the irrigation canals so they would be ready to carry the precious water where it needed to go to keep the crops—and the family—alive. Their labor was hard, but so important. Here in the northeastern corner of Africa, water was a treasure to be honored and respected. Because there was almost no rain, the river’s annual flooding was truly the key to their survival. In just a few days, her father would be leaving to go to work on the pyramid of the pharaoh. So would thousands of other men. Kebi could not remember a time when the pharaoh had not been building this huge stone temple that would house his body when he died. Progress was very slow. She had never seen the pyramid. Her father had told her that the blocks of 7 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 7 4/26/12 3:57 PM The Giza pyramids 8 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 8 4/26/12 3:57 PM The Gift from Hapi The cauldron Stones, ropes, and heavy wood logs were used to help lines of workers pull the enormous stones that built the pyramids. stone were so big and heavy that Kebi could not imagine how hard it must be to move them up the ramps that surrounded the pyramid and put them into place. Kebi glanced over at her father. He looked worried. She knew he was thinking about the days to come. Would Hapi send the right amount of water and mud to the land? She had heard stories of past years when he had sent too little. There hadn’t been enough to water the crops, give to the animals, and use for themselves. Nor had there been enough of the rich, thick, black mud in the fields to provide the nutrients they needed to grow strong crops. The crops did not grow—and so farming families like Kebi’s did not eat. It had been a dark time. Kebi shuddered as she thought of those long-ago days of drought. She hoped that Hapi would never let those hard times come again. Perhaps she needed to pray more often! 9 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 9 4/26/12 3:57 PM Chapter 1 A modern mud brick house “I am sure that Hapi will keep us safe,” she reassured her father. He smiled and then nodded slowly. “Did you know that Hapi can sometimes send too much water?” he asked. Kebi tried to imagine how too much water would be troublesome. Her father saw her confusion. “Too much water is also something to fear, child,” he continued. “So many of our homes, made of mud bricks, can be washed away. And sometimes too much water has brought sickness to our people.” Kebi thought for a moment. For all her life, she had imagined the floods as a gift, a miracle sent by Hapi. The idea that too much of this gift could be dangerous was something new. She would be thinking about it for the rest of the afternoon as she worked with her father. “Stop your worries,” said Kebi’s father, resting his hand on her shoulder. “Go inside and help your mother prepare the bread. Your brothers will come home hungry as always and I need a good meal before I join the pharaoh’s men under the hot sun.” Kebi nodded, but as she walked back into the house, she hoped that her father could not hear her muttering, “Hail to thee, O Nile” under her breath. 10 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 10 4/26/12 3:58 PM Egyptian Seasons In ancient Egypt, there were three seasons of four months each. They were based on the Nile River and what it was doing. Akhet was the first season and it lasted from about mid-July to November. It was also The Nile during Akhet known as the Season of the Inundation. During these months, the Nile flooded due to heavy rains in the highlands of Ethiopia that poured into the river. Water levels were measured daily by the nilometers, or a series of steps leading up from the water’s edge. Typically, a rise of about 25 feet was expected.2 No farming was done during these four months. Instead, the Egyptians focused on other projects such as building temples and pyramids for the pharaoh. They also used these days to repair broken tools and take special care of their animals. This season was followed by Peret, or the Season of the Emergence. It lasted from November to March. This was the growing season because the floodwaters receded, leaving behind wet, rich soil that was ready for planting. The ground was ploughed and seeded. Soon plants began to grow. The last of the three seasons was Shemu, from March to July. This was known as the Season of the Harvest. All the crops were ready to be picked. Time was of the essence because everything had to be brought in before the Nile flooded the area and the seasons started over again. 11 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 11 4/26/12 3:58 PM Houses like Kebi’s still exist in parts of Egypt. 12 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 12 4/26/12 3:58 PM Chapter 2 In Kebi’s Home Now that Kebi knew that the Nile could bring too much water to the land, she honored the mighty river even more. It was such an essential part of everyday life that the waterway was never far from her mind or anyone else’s. The water that crops needed to grow and animals needed to drink came from the Nile. The river was where Kebi and everyone else bathed, washed clothes, caught fish, picked reeds, and played games. In one spot, young boys might splash and swim, while older boys carefully watched for fish to spear in another. Kebi spent many hours helping to make nets for catching wild birds or helping her mother gather bundles of reeds for weaving. After speaking with her father, Kebi also found herself looking at her home differently. The walls that helped to keep her family cooler in the heat now seemed fragile even though they were thick and made with bricks of clay, mud, sand and pebbles that were mixed together and then baked in the sun. It was hard to imagine these strong walls falling apart under the rush of water, but Hapi was a powerful god. The flat roof, made of reeds woven together tightly, also seemed strong. Kebi thought of all the hot nights she and her family had climbed up there to eat, sit and cool off and gaze at the twinkling stars. Could the water of the Nile really wash all of this away? ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 13 4/26/12 3:58 PM Chapter 2 Map of Ancient Egypt Kebi walked into her house. Like the other homes in the town and down the narrow, twisting streets, it had several rooms, including a main room, bathroom, bedrooms and a storeroom for keeping the food from the harvest. Furniture was sparse with simple chairs, stools and tables. Most were low to the ground. Baskets Kebi and her mother had woven over the years held linens and clothing, while colorful rugs hung on the walls and spread out across the floor. Outside, the home had a low fence surrounding it. Ramps led up to front and back doors and the rooftop. Small windows were near the tops of the walls. They let the summer heat out but also often let dust and flies in, so she and her mother took time to weave reed mats to cover the openings. 14 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 14 4/26/12 3:58 PM In Kebi’s Home Kebi loved the cozy, welcome feel of the house. She knew that some of the homes of the wealthy had much finer furniture, often made out of beautiful materials like ebony and ivory, but she thought her house was much more comfortable—it was her home.1 She did not want the colorful tiles on the floors or the brightly painted walls of the rich. She was happy with her home’s simple stools, painted white walls, and smoky hearth where the family’s meals were prepared. Glancing out the front door at the sun overhead, Kebi knew that it was almost time to eat. She was glad—she was hungry. The last meal seemed like a long time ago. It had been simple: beer and bread, as always, plus lentil stew, flavored with garlic and onions. That was one of Kebi’s favorite dishes. She had spent many hours helping to grind the wheat her father had grown into flour for making bread. She sniffed the air. She peeked at her mother and smiled. Her mother was making another favorite for dinner. Beef was cooking in the clay oven. It was a rare treat to have meat in the house and beef was Kebi’s first choice.2 Kebi’s brothers liked it most when their mother made dessert. It was often sweet grapes or dates, but now and then mother made honey cakes with nuts. They were delicious! Kebi’s stomach rumbled at the thought of these treats. She watched her mother move from one place to another preparing the evening meal. Her dress of coarse linen was simple and she wore an amulet around her neck for protection against mysterious forces and illnesses.3 Already, Kebi could see that the sun was sinking lower. Night was only a few hours away. Soon it would be time to light the oil lamps in the house. She had filled the stone bowls with palm-nut oil the night before. Kebi’s mother had made new wicks for the lamps out of strips of flax. Glancing at the darkening sky, Kebi knew she and her brothers would need to hurry if they were going to get down to the river and collect water before it was time to eat. She slid her woven reed sandals onto her feet and went out the back door in search of the boys. Chances were they were outside racing or wrestling, as usual. 15 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 15 4/26/12 3:58 PM Chapter 2 Ancient drawings show how people lived long ago. These wall reliefs depict Egyptian children who spent many hours a day working, but still had time to play. It was good to see them play. Soon enough they would be grown up and kept busy as farmers like their father, or herdsmen, watching over the herds of cattle, sheep or goats. Perhaps, thought Kebi, one of them would learn to be a scribe. Just the thought of it made Kebi laugh. It was hard to imagine either of her scruffy, loud brothers as a serious student able to read and write hieroglyphs. Being a scribe was an important job as they were the only people who could understand what was written on the temples and in tombs. Scribes were also in charge of keeping government records and writing letters for the pharaoh. Although scribes were always men, Kebi wondered if she would enjoy the job. Perhaps she would rather work in the stone quarries or the mines, looking for important minerals and precious stones like many of the people in the town. She shook her head at both ideas. Maybe she would have her own business one day. She could make something beautiful or become a cook for the pharaoh. She giggled. All these ideas seemed very far away. For today, she would gather water from the Nile, throw in her offering and pray for a good flood from Hapi. The future was a long way away and Kebi had lots of time. 16 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 16 4/26/12 3:58 PM Egyptian Pets The ancient Egyptians kept many different kinds of animals for pets. Some animals were used to help hunt, such as hawks and mongooses. Other animals, including lions and other wild beasts, were only pets for royalty since they certainly could not be kept inside a house. Some animals were used to help farmers, such as falcons and ferrets, as they kept the granaries free of mice and other rodents. According to the mummified remains found in ancient ruins, as well as scenes from Egyptian Cat statue paintings, the gazelle was a pet for some families, as were monkeys. Dogs were popular as pets because they also helped with hunting and provided protection for the family. Perhaps the most loved animals of all, however, were cats. They were thought to be magical and greatly honored. In fact, if you hurt a cat, you could be severely punished—or even killed! When cats died, many of them were mummified and buried in cemeteries. The image of the cat can be seen in a great deal of Egyptian art. One of the oddest types of pets for Egyptians was the Nile goose. They were often allowed to walk through the house and were considered a type of “watchdog” as they honked and made a great deal of noise when a stranger came around. These geese often had terrible tempers and it was best to stay away from them. John Dahlgren 17 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 17 4/26/12 3:59 PM An Egyptian farm 18 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 18 4/26/12 3:59 PM Chapter 3 The Season of Peret Kebi opened the door and looked outside. Finally she could see the ground clearly again. The waters of the Nile had returned to the river bed, leaving behind a layer of thick, black mud full of the minerals the earth needed in order to grow strong crops. Even though the land looked dark and messy right now, this condition would not last long. Soon the mud would be divided by the lines of grids and canals of fields. The sight made her smile. The knowledge that her father would be returning from building for the pharaoh and joining them in the fields made her smile even more. They had all missed him. She knew he would be happy to be back with his family. This new season, Peret, was wonderful, but it was also tiring. Soon, everyone in the family would be working from sunup to sundown. It would take all their time and energy to make sure the crops were planted, then taken care of so they would grow rich and lush. Kebi remembered the last season well. She and her brothers had helped clear the land of all the debris that the flood had brought. It took a long time and a great deal of patience. Once the land was cleaned up, it was time to turn the dirt. Kebi’s father used a wooden hoe to turn over the dark soil and break up the largest clods of earth. The brothers worked together to make the cattle pull a wooden plow through the ground. Then it was time to scatter the seeds by hand into the waiting dirt. As always, the family’s primary crops were wheat and barley. They also planted ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 19 4/26/12 3:59 PM Chapter 3 A flax flower quite a bit of flax because it was used for making clothes. Whatever space was left over was used for melons, lettuce, garlic, and onions. To make sure the seeds were pushed deep into the soil, Kebi’s brothers drove the herd of pigs and goats into the field. It was the boys’ favorite part. The animals wandered through the freshly turned dirt, pushing seeds under the surface with their hard hooves.1 It made the boys laugh every time. 20 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 20 4/26/12 3:59 PM The Season ofPeret Of course, the work didn’t end once the seeds were in the ground. While the family waited for the first green leaves and stems to poke up through the soil, there were many other chores to be done. Kebi remembered how she had spent every morning out in the gardens with her sling last year. Her mother had taught her how to weave it. Kebi wore it around her neck and shoulder every day, and the loop that curled around her finger was as familiar to her as her own hand. Each morning, Kebi gathered stones of just the right size and shape to fit in her sling. Once in the garden, she loaded three rocks, and began A sling like this was an important tool for the ancient Egyptians. They could use it to hurl rocks long distances at up to 200 miles an hour. 21 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 21 4/26/12 3:59 PM Daily work in the village ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 22 4/26/12 3:59 PM The Season ofPeret swinging the sling above her head.2 Suddenly, one, two, three! The rocks would fly overhead, scaring away the birds that had landed in hopes of finding a crunchy seed or fresh green leaf for breakfast. After searching for her sling-stones, she would gather them up and wait quietly to see if the birds would return. If they did, it was time to reload and launch again! She smiled at the memory. Kebi looked at the back corner of their house. The floodwaters had damaged it and it would need repair. New mud-bricks would have to be made and set out in the sun to dry and harden. Kebi knew that they had been luckier than others in the town. Some had their entire homes destroyed as this year’s flooding had been stronger than usual. Kebi knew that her mother and father would help their neighbors—that was just what people did for each other. Repairs would come after planting, but after that more jobs would be waiting. The herds would be feasting on the new grasses and flowers that grew and those herds would need watching. Crops would need weeding and watering. This meant daily checks of the irrigation canals to make sure they did not have any broken or damaged spots. Kebi frowned as she thought about those endless rows of canals. They carried the precious gift of water from the Nile to the crops, but they took so many hours of digging to create, and so many more hours of watching and tending to make sure they did not become blocked with rocks or roots, or the sides collapsed under the hot sun. Once the crops began to grow, everyone would be kept busy weeding and making sure that the plants had everything they needed. It took constant care but they would all work together to make sure the crops grew well. Just thinking about all of the work waiting for her and the rest of her family in the next few months made Kebi tired, but she was willing to do whatever was needed to ensure strong crops. Helping her family do well was important to her. She also knew what it was like to not have enough food, and she never wanted that to happen again to her or her parents or 23 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 23 4/26/12 3:59 PM Chapter 3 The family unit was extremely important to the Egyptians and a great deal of their sculptures and paintings reflect this. brothers. She closed her eyes and sent a prayer up to the gods that watched over the crops. Just then she heard someone come through the front door. She knew from the sound of his footsteps that it was her father and she smiled. Father had arrived just in time for Peret. All was well with the world. 24 ANCIENT EGYPT BOOK.indd 24 4/26/12 3:59 PM