Ask an Egyptologist: 10 Common Questions You're Too Afraid to Ask (this)

The sands of time have buried countless secrets, but the allure of ancient Egypt—a civilization of golden pharaohs, towering pyramids, and enigmatic gods—has never faded. Hollywood and popular myths have often painted a picture that's more fantasy than fact. So, what was it really like? We've created this expert Egyptologist guide to answer the top 10 questions about ancient Egypt that you've always wanted to know but might have been too shy to ask.

How did Egyptians light the inside of tombs?

One of the most persistent myths is that Egyptians worked in pitch-black darkness or had some form of ancient electricity. The reality is far more ingenious. The primary method for lighting the deep, winding corridors of tombs was a system of highly polished copper or bronze mirrors. Workers would strategically angle these mirrors to reflect sunlight from the entrance, bouncing it from one mirror to the next, illuminating workspaces deep within the rock. For fine detail work on murals, they used small, simple oil lamps that burned clarified olive or sesame oil with salt. This produced a clean, nearly smokeless flame, which is why the ceilings of most tombs aren't covered in soot.

Is the curse of the pharaohs real?

In short: no. The "curse of the mummy" is a brilliant piece of 20th-century media sensationalism. It gained traction after Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, and his financial backer, Lord Carnarvon, died unexpectedly a few months later. Newspapers ran wild with the story. In reality, Carnarvon died from an infected mosquito bite. Modern scientific theories suggest that sealed tombs could have contained dormant, toxic molds or bacteria, which may have contributed to illness in a few cases. However, the vast majority of Carter's team lived long, healthy lives.

What did ancient Egyptians eat for breakfast?

Forget cereal and orange juice. The ancient Egyptian breakfast was a hearty, practical meal designed to fuel a day of labor. The two staples of the entire Egyptian diet were bread and beer. The bread was dense, made from emmer wheat, and the beer was a thick, nutritious, porridge-like brew that was a primary source of calories. A typical morning meal would consist of this bread, perhaps dipped in beer, along with a handful of dates, figs, or some green onions for flavor.

Did ancient Egyptians have pets like cats?

Yes, and their relationship with animals was profound. Cats were the most famous and revered pets, not just for their ability to control pests like snakes and rodents, but for their divine association with the goddess Bastet. Mummified cats are found in the thousands, a testament to their cherished status. But Egyptians didn't stop there. They also kept dogs for hunting and as guards, monkeys and baboons for amusement, and even birds. The human-animal bond is truly ancient.

How long did it take to build a pyramid?

The Great Pyramid of Giza, the most famous of them all, is estimated to have taken approximately 20 to 27 years to complete. A common misconception is that this incredible feat was achieved by slaves. Archaeological evidence from the Giza Plateau, including a workers' village and tombs, shows that the pyramids were built by a skilled, paid, and well-fed workforce. These were Egyptian citizens, many of them farmers who worked on the construction during the annual Nile flood when their fields were underwater. To see this incredible feat of engineering up close is to truly appreciate their skill, an experience you can have on our Egypt Tour Packages.

Why did Egyptians mummify their dead?

Mummification was central to the Egyptian belief in the afterlife. They believed that to be reborn in the next world, a person's soul (the ba) and life force (the ka) needed to be able to recognize and reunite with their physical body. Mummification was a complex, 70-day process designed to preserve the body as perfectly as possible. Organs were removed, the body was dried out with natron salt, and then it was wrapped in hundreds of yards of linen, often with magical amulets tucked within the layers for protection.

What was daily life like for a normal Egyptian?

While we often focus on pharaohs and priests, over 90% of the population were farmers. Daily life was dictated by the three seasons of the Nile River: Akhet (the inundation), Peret (the growing season), and Shemu (the harvest). Families lived in simple homes made of sun-dried mud bricks and life was centered around the community, local temples, and hard agricultural work. Life was simple, but rich in culture and tradition.

Could women become pharaohs?

Absolutely. While the role was traditionally male, ancient Egypt had several incredibly powerful female rulers. The most famous is Hatshepsut, who reigned for over 20 years and ushered in an era of peace and prosperity, commissioning some of Egypt's most magnificent architecture. She ruled not as a queen regent, but as a full pharaoh, adopting all the male titles and even being depicted with the traditional false beard. Women like Sobekneferu and Twosret also held the ultimate power.

How do you read hieroglyphs?

It's more than just pretty pictures. Hieroglyphic writing is a complex system that combines three types of signs: phonetic signs that represent sounds (like our alphabet), logograms that represent an entire word or idea, and determinatives, which were unpronounced signs placed at the end of a word to clarify its meaning. The direction of reading depends on which way the animal or human figures are facing—you read into their faces. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799, with its identical text in Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek, was the ultimate key to cracking the code.

Was Cleopatra actually Egyptian?

This is one of the most fascinating questions about ancient Egypt. Ethnically, Cleopatra VII was not Egyptian. She was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a line of Macedonian Greek rulers descended from Ptolemy I, one of Alexander the Great's generals. However, what made her unique and politically savvy was that she was the first in her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language and embrace its culture and religion. While her bloodline was Greek, she ruled as a true Egyptian pharaoh. You can explore the land she governed and the history she shaped with our immersive Egypt Tour Packages.

Answering these ten questions has hopefully cleared up some cobwebs and replaced Hollywood fantasy with historical fact. But this is just the beginning. The true wonder of Egyptology is that for every question answered, a dozen more are unearthed. Let this be your invitation to dig deeper. Visit a museum, pick up a book by a real Egyptologist, watch a documentary, and never be afraid to ask, "Why?" Ancient Egypt has countless stories left to tell, and they are waiting for curious minds like yours to hear them.