Formed around 3150 BC, Egyptian culture is more than Cleopatra and sphynx cats. History books do a pretty good job of covering the important facts that shaped this great nation. Right now, we’re at the other spectrum, we’ll be focusing on the weird facts about Egyptian culture, the things you might want to know if you have a trivia night or if you want to annoy your friends with random trivia.
Cat worshippers
This is part of the well-known facts collection. But yes, Ancient Egyptians loved to take their love for cats to extreme levels. And this all due to their strong belief that cats had divine energy, meaning if you kill a cat, even by accident, you could get a death sentence.
Makeup for men
Yes, makeup for men. Long before eyeliner became a beauty staple, Egyptian men loved rocking raccoon eyes, but mind you, this was not a fashion fad, at least not entirely. They did so in order to protect their eyes from the scorching sun and potential infection. And if this is up your alley then also check out these weird beauty treatments from different cultures.
Beetle mania
Scarab beetles were all the rage back in the day. These gigantic bugs symbolize good luck and rebirth, so Egyptians were big fans of wearing beetle-related accessories like pendants and rings. Even their houses were adorned with beetle decoration, usually made from vibrant-colored ceramics.
Fake beards
Pharaohs, both male and female, wore fake beards. It may sound weird now but back then even the queens rocked them. These beards were a sign of divine connection, so wearing one cemented their status as a living god. Usually made from a mix of precious metals and stones, it was heavy and rather unpleasant so it was worn only for special occasions.
Beer fanatics
Egyptians loved their beer, for them it was more than just a drink for when you get together with the boys. They had beer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Laborers, like the ones who worked in construction, had a ration of around 10 pints a day, which is huge by today’s standards. Plus, it was safer than the water they had available!
Tomb raiding
Tomb robbing was a big issue in ancient Egypt and for a good reason. This is why so many pharaohs built decoy tombs or booby-trapped their real ones, thieves loved a good looting session. The irony is this “tradition” continues to this day.
Pet mummies
Imagine loving your pet so much that you decide mummifying it it would be the way to go. They often mummified them to accompany them in the afterlife. Cats were the most common choice, but dogs, birds, and even crocodiles were found to be mummified.
Perfumed cones worn on the head
People in ancient Egypt would wear cones of perfumed fat on their heads. As time passed, the cones would slowly melt, releasing pleasant-smelling oils. Historians are still debating the reason behind this: did they only wanted to create a nice impression or were they in fact performing a cleaning ritual? We have no clear answer so far.
Name erasing
Egyptians really hold grudges! If they believed that a pharaoh or even a common guy aka their neighbor did them wrong, they stoop to this. Destroying statues, chiseling out names from monuments, they did it all. We can consider it to be the beginning of cancel culture as we know it.
Ancient toothpaste
Egyptians were all about dental hygiene, but their toothpaste recipe was rather unique. The ingredients were: ox hooves, burnt eggshells, and ash. Not quite minty fresh…
Women’s rights
Ancient Egyptian women had more rights than many of their counterparts in other ancient civilizations. They could own property, run businesses, and even initiate divorce.
Honey cures all
Honey was the go-to medicine for Egyptians, being used to treat everything from wounds to sore throats and eye infections. Plus, it never spoils, so Egyptians considered it a gift from the gods.
Alternative to eyebrow pencil
Before Sephora, women in ancient Egypt would make their eyebrows stand out by drawing them with burnt almonds to get that perfect, dramatic arch. Add bold black eye contouring and you get a very intense look.
Lettuce love
In ancient Egypt, lettuce was considered an aphrodisiac and was associated with the fertility god Min. They believed it had special powers to boost virility, so it was a staple in love rituals.
Hippopotamus hunts
Hippos were one of the most feared animals in ancient Egypt, often seen as symbols of chaos. Pharaohs would organize massive hunts to show their power and control over these dangerous beasts.
Well, that’s all folks! These are our 15 surprising and weird facts about Egyptian culture. We hope you found them entertaining, useful or just good to know.
Have a good one!