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Ancient Egypt Magazine Issue One - May / June 2000
Welcome to Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt still has the power to awe the modern mind. The riches are apparently endless. The world had just learned of the discovery of the immense tomb of the sons of Ramesses II when the equally astounding news of the discovery of a huge cemetery, literally crowded with mummies, emerged from the Bahariya Oasis.These new insights into ancient lives illustrate the potent power of Egyptology to constantly surprise and stimulate. A find in Egypt will always capture the public imagination. The image of the Egyptologist is a charismatic one. Why does this ancient civilisation in a modern land fascinate us so much? Perhaps it is that in times of uncertainty in the future, we look to the past. We find the past populated with larger than life, full-blooded characters who meet our need for drama and excitement. They colour our sometimes drab existence. There can be problems with our view of the past, however, as is the case with the Egyptians and their views on life and death. Far from being a people obsessed with death, the ancient
Egyptians loved life and intended to spend eternity in their tombs dressed in
their best clothes, Kom Ombo Temple The king of Egypt was the living expression of God on earth
to whom his people looked for guidance and example. The glitz and glamour
surrounding the royal family attracted attention. Perhaps Ancient
Egypt had its royal-watchers. The people of Egypt were not, however,
completely in awe of their kings as the many satirical sketches and comments
show. For many, the agricultural revolutions of the Neolithic and
early Bronze Age meant a life of constant toil in a highly centralised
bureaucracy. Even in the afterlife, work awaited the majority of Egyptians.
Labour-saving devices and genetically modified organisms might not have had the
same fear for them as they have for us. Magic was part of their lives, after
all. And it was the Egyptians who came up with the concept of the robot. They believed that the little model figures called ushabtis would magically come to life in their tombs and come running to do the bidding of their owners.
Horus of Edfu
The ancient Egyptians knew all about long hours, too. They
have left us texts listing all the trades of ancient Egypt and the difficulties
and dangers associated with each one. And no sooner had the fisherman, the
laundry-worker, the seamstress or the farmer exchanged the fruits of their
labour than - yes, you've guessed - the taxman descended to take his share.
Symbols of Protection
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wearing make-up, ornate wigs and jewels, eating and drinking
with friends and family. Their tombs show idealised, youthful images of
themselves. They would have loved modern fabrics, cosmetics and cosmetic
surgery.
None-the-less, the Egyptians knew how to enjoy themselves
with parties, perfumes, scented drinks and exotic food. Many of the ideas we
take for granted today could be traced back to their roots in the ancient world.
Where we differ, perhaps, is that we have more anxieties about life and death,
than did our ancestors who believed securely in a happy life and a comfortable
afterlife.
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