Ancient Egypt
Thebes (Luxor), Egypt
Ancient Egypt flourished for three thousand years along the river Nile, whose yearly floods made the desert bloom. Egyptians believed deeply in the afterlife and preserved their dead as mummies for the journey. Their gods often had animal heads, and their pharaohs were considered living gods.
The gods
Temples & monuments
Temple of Karnak
Thebes (Luxor), Egypt
A vast temple complex where Ra was worshipped, merged with the local god as Amun-Ra.
Temple of Philae
Aswan, Egypt
An island temple dedicated to Isis, one of the last places ancient Egyptian religion was practised.
Temple of Seti I
Abydos, Egypt
A major centre of the cult of Osiris and a sacred place of pilgrimage.
Temple of Edfu
Edfu, Egypt
One of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated entirely to Horus.
Achievements
Built the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza
Developed hieroglyphic writing and papyrus
Made early advances in medicine, astronomy and the 365-day calendar
Natural wonders
The River Nile
The longest river in the world, whose floods made Egyptian farming and civilisation possible.
The Western Desert
The vast sands the Egyptians associated with death, the setting sun and the god Set.
Archaeological Library
Watch how we uncovered Ancient Egypt — real discoveries that revealed this ancient world.
Tutankhamun's Tomb
The near-intact tomb of a boy pharaoh, discovered packed with treasure in 1922.
Watch on YouTube →The Rosetta Stone
The carved slab that finally let scholars read Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Watch on YouTube →The Valley of the Kings
The hidden desert valley where pharaohs were buried for five centuries.
Watch on YouTube →