Ancient Egypt
![Hieroglyphics on an Egyptian wall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VjjMFmzCGXChuK4SDG656E-320-80.jpg)
There's something awe-inspiring about ancient Egypt; whether it’s the captivating imagery of hieroglyphics, the great monuments like the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx or the luxurious lives and deaths of its dynasties and rulers like the boy pharaoh King Tut.
Live Science’s expert writers unearth the most compelling discoveries and facts about a civilization that stretched more than 3,000 years — from a guide to the afterlife to mummies covered in gold. Dig out the latest news, features and articles about the ancient Egyptians.
Latest about Ancient Egyptians
![Photo of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus with the engraving of the Egyptian god Banebjedet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient Egyptian tomb was filled with magical spells to ward off snake bites
By Owen Jarus published
An ancient Egyptian tomb just south of Cairo was filled with magical spells intended to protect the dead from snake bites.
![Teratoma with Tooth A (lower) in situ and Tooth B (upper) retrofitted in crypt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
Rare tumor with teeth discovered in Egyptian burial from 3,000 years ago
By Kristina Killgrove published
An ancient Egyptian woman had an ovarian tumor with teeth and was buried with a possible healing object.
![We see an orange sphinx-like mound with orange "erosion" lines going around it.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xsu9CiTjG3iDymvCHKwe2J-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Sphinx may have been built from a natural rock feature eroded by wind, study claims
By Owen Jarus published
It's possible that wind erosion made a rock feature in ancient Egypt look something like a sphinx, and then the Egyptians further refined it into the iconic monument.
![The remains of the mummy within the coffin are seen here.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6UFZusePRBC5CqcwGZckY4-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient Egyptian cemetery holds rare 'Book of the Dead' papyrus and mummies
By Owen Jarus published
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered an ancient cemetery that has stone sarcophagi, coptic jars and even a "Book of the Dead" scroll.
![Restored ceiling in ancient Egyptian temple. Image displays iconography of the gods Orion, Sothis/Sirius and Anukis, above them the sky goddess Nut swallows the evening sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient New Year's scene from Egypt uncovered on roof of 2,200-year-old temple
By Owen Jarus published
Researchers restored an ancient painting of the gods depicted at New Year's during restoration work at the Temple of Esna in Egypt.
![The monumental, square tomb complex of queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, Egypt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbWptQxMMJmZpSfh6g2tTi-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
Egypt had an unusually powerful 'female king' 5,000 years ago, lavish tomb suggests
By Sascha Pare published
Excavations of the tomb of ancient Egyptian queen Meret-Neith reveal she was an influential figure with "unusually high levels of authority," but experts are divided about whether she actually reigned.
![This portrait, painted between A.D. 150 and 200 on wood, shows a young woman with brown doe eyes, a slender nose and thick eyebrows.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjjLmCpxG3PyspPngE9iH4-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
See gorgeous ancient Egyptian 'mummy portraits' from nearly 2 millennia ago
By Laura Geggel published
These ancient 'mummy portraits' provide a window into ancient Egyptian life and culture.
![A collection of treasures found inside a sunken temple in Egypt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PE8fYZ2iyGrpmtaqFLaS5Q-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Sunken temple and sanctuary from ancient Egypt found brimming with 'treasures and secrets'
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Archaeologists discovered a cache of treasure inside a sunken underwater temple and sanctuary in Egypt.
![An ancient Egyptian clay vessel depicting a human.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b347TXW87EyPDabzY4iKKm-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Elite ancient Egyptian woman was embalmed with exotic ingredients smelling of vanilla and larch, new analysis reveals
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Chemical analyses have revealed the specific components ancient Egyptians used to embalm the dead, including exotic ingredients that were acquired through trading.
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