Random Strange Facts About What Everyday Life Was Like In Ancient Egypt (17 items)

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  (#16) Education Was Reserved For The Rich

  Education in ancient Egypt was reserved for the male children of upper-class citizens like scribes and officials. These boys were taught to read and write hieroglyphics and learned mathematics and geography. They were taught other subjects like medicine, history, and science as their schooling progressed.

  The Prince’s school was attended by the sons of the pharaohs and other nobility. However, there was a scholarship of sorts that allowed exceptionally gifted students to attend.
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  (#5) They Believed They Thought With Their Hearts

  While the ancient Egyptians understood many things about anatomy, they weren’t always correct about the organs’ biological functions. They believed that the heart - or the ib - was where thought originated from within the body. They also thought it was the center of love, sadness, and bravery, images that remained in the popular consciousness until modern times.

  So what did ancient Egyptians think of the brain? Not much, apparently - they discarded the brain during the mummification process.
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  (#10) Circumcision Happened Later In A Boy's Life

  Circumcision in ancient Egypt didn’t happen at birth, but was considered a rite of passage into manhood. The majority of Egyptian pharaohs were circumcised, with a few exceptions - namely Ahmose I and Amunhotep I. Circumcision might have been reserved for the elite, or perhaps it just wasn't the cultural norm. Temple paintings dating back to 4000 BCE show priests performing the ritual using sharp utensils.

  Some historians also theorize that circumcision was a mark for slavery. Captured soldiers would have their penises circumcised to humiliate them before being sold. Eventually, the male descendants of these slaves were all circumcised. This could speak to the adoption of the practice by Judaic peoples, who were enslaved by the Egyptians.
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  (#4) They Were Obsessed With Hygiene And Invented Deodorant

  The ancient Egyptians were known for their cleanliness. They were terrified of disease and correctly made the connection between poor hygiene and illness. They bathed frequently and made soaps from animal and vegetable oils mixed with alkaline salts. Both men and women would shave their head and body hair. Gold razors were even discovered in tombs, along with tweezers.

  They also liked looking and smelling good. The Egyptians concocted many different perfumes using ingredients like lily, myrrh, and cardamom. They are also thought to have created the first deodorant with a combination of citrus and cinnamon.
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  (#11) Men And Women Wore Lead-Based Makeup

  Ancient Egyptian men were not shy about wearing a little makeup, particularly lead-based eyeliner. Eye makeup was made by grinding ores into a substance known as kohl.

  Although it's now widely accepted that lead products are toxic to humans, research has shown that these cosmetics had a high concentration of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a compound that boosts the immune system and fights off disease - meaning that this ancient eye makeup could potentially help stave off eye infections.
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  (#13) They Were Mostly Vegetarians

  Despite living on the Nile River, ancient Egyptians didn’t consume much fish. According to a study published in the Journal of Archeological Science, Egyptians had a primarily vegetarian diet. The researchers tested carbon isotopes in the remains of 45 Egyptian mummies and found that their meals were based primarily on wheat and barley. They would also eat fruits and vegetables like celery, dates, pomegranates, and garlic.

  This doesn’t mean that they didn’t have meat once in a while. The poor were more likely to eat meat during festivals, while the rich enjoyed the luxury of eating meat more often.

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