Situated in the northeast corner of Africa, Egypt is the oldest and greatest civilizations in the world. With a population of around 99 million people, it is ranked as the 29th largest country globally. From the ancient Great Pyramids to Egyptian to the Nile River, Egypt is full of history and has so much more to offer to its visitors. Most people dream about visiting the pyramids, but there is so much more to see and explore. The country has many hidden yet interesting facts people are not aware of. In this article below, we have picked a few facts for you to check out. If you find this interesting, be sure to give this article a read.
Egyptians invented the 365-day Calendar
Yes, you heard it right. Thanks to Egyptians, we have 12 months and 365 days a year. The ancient Egyptians were possibly the first to embrace a mainly solar calendar. They invented the calendar primarily to predict the flooding of the Nile River yearly. The Egyptian calendar was invested more than a few thousand years before the Common Era. It was the first calendar known to have a year of 365 days, nearly equal to the solar year. Ancient Egyptians also had a second calendar based on the phases of the moon.
Slaves didn’t Build the Great Pyramids of Egypt
There is a consensus amongst Egyptologists that slaves did not build the Great Pyramids. Earlier this year, Egypt displayed newly discovered tombs that are more than 4,000 years old. They said these tombs belonged to people who worked on the Great Pyramids of Giza. They gathered more evidence suggesting that slaves did not build the ancient monuments. The new study suggests that free workers who built The Great Pyramids were not a slave.
Egypt has Two Seasons
Though the climate is typically hot throughout the year, Egypt does experience winters. The country has only two seasons, mild winter and hot summers. Winters start from November and lasts until April, while summers from May to October. If you plan to visit Egypt soon, and then be sure to choose the weather you are comfortable in. You can also check out egypt travel packages before visiting.
Cleopatra Was Not Egyptian
Yes, you read that right. Though Cleopatra was a queen of Egypt, she was not actually Egyptian. She was the last of the Macedonian Greek dynasty initially descended from Ptolemy I, companion of Alexander the Great. The Macedonian Greek Dynasty ruled Egypt from 323 to 30 BCE. Moreover, Cleopatra could fluently speak the Egyptian language. In fact, she was one of the first members of the Ptolemaic dynasty to speak the language.
Egypt Wasn’t Always Desert
Over 10,000 years ago, the iconic Sahara Desert of Egypt was actually not a desert. During the last Ice Age, the famous Egyptian desert and the greater Sahara Desert were grass-grown plain with tall green trees and small lakes. At the end of the last Ice Age, the region was just as dry as it is today.
