Myth Vs Reality
The real story of Ancient Egypt is far more fascinating than the myths we've absorbed through movies and cartoons. In fact, many of the things we think we know about Egypt don’t hold up under scrutiny. For example…
Ancient Egyptians Were Primitive
The ancient Egyptians were remarkably advanced in several fields, particularly medicine, engineering, and astronomy. Texts like the Edwin Smith Papyrus contain detailed surgical notes and anatomical observations dating back to 1600 BCE. On the engineering side, the construction of pyramids involved not just brute force but precise measurements and clever techniques.
Grook Da Oger, Wikimedia Commons
Ancient Egyptians Rode Camels
Contrary to popular imagery, camels were not part of ancient Egypt during its early and most iconic periods. In fact, camels weren’t domesticated in Egypt until well after the construction of the pyramids and other major monuments. For centuries, donkeys served as the primary means of transport.
Keith Schengili-Roberts, Wikimedia Commons
Egyptians Were Isolated From Other Cultures
Despite its desert borders, ancient Egypt was a thriving center of international trade and diplomacy from early on. The Egyptians maintained active contact with Nubia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and even far-off places like Afghanistan. Both maritime and overland routes ensured Egypt was connected to the wider Afro-Eurasian world.
Keith Schengili-Roberts, Wikimedia Commons
Cleopatra Was Egyptian
While Cleopatra is often celebrated as the last great Egyptian pharaoh, she wasn’t Egyptian by ancestry. She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty (Greek descendants) and was the first in her family to learn the Egyptian language. It was likely as a way to connect with her subjects.
Foley, Margaret, Wikimedia Commons
All Egyptians Were Ethnically The Same
Ancient Egypt’s population was far from homogeneous. Its location bridged Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, hence the DNA studies show that Egyptians in the north had genetic ties to Levantine and European populations, while those in the south were closer to Nubians. Foreign rule also played a huge role in this context.
Ägyptischer Maler um 1400 v. Chr., Wikimedia Commons
Pharaohs Were Always Male
Although many pharaohs were men, women also held the throne—sometimes as co-rulers, sometimes as sole sovereigns. Perhaps the most well-known (after Cleopatra) is Hatshepsut, who ruled for over two decades. To solidify her authority, she often presented herself in male clothing and adopted masculine titles.
Only Elites Had Legal Protection
The principle of Ma’at, or cosmic balance and justice, was central to Egyptian law and applied across social ranks. Surviving records show commoners actively participating in legal proceedings and being able to appeal decisions. In practice, while power still favored the elite, the legal framework was remarkably inclusive.
Women’s Rights Were Debated
In the same way, women’s legal rights weren’t the subject of debate, either. They were already established. Unlike many ancient societies, Egyptian women could own property, inherit land, sign contracts, and represent themselves in court. Marriage was treated as a civil agreement, and divorce was permitted without social stigma.
Internet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons
Slavery In Egypt Was Identical To American Slavery
While Egypt did practice forms of servitude, it lacked the racialized systems seen in the Americas. Many Egyptian slaves were war captives or criminals, and some of them even retained a few rights. The Egyptian language does not clearly distinguish between slave and servant; hence the ambiguity.
Pyramid Builders Were Slaves
The popular image of enslaved workers dragging massive stones under the desert sun is more myth than reality. In truth, the people who built the pyramids were skilled laborers, organized into crews and paid for their work. Archaeological discoveries—like workers' cemeteries and nearby dormitories are a testament to this.
All Pyramids Are In Giza
Giza’s pyramids may be the most famous, but they represent just a fraction of Egypt’s architectural legacy. The country is home to over 100 pyramids, spread across sites. Saqqara, for instance, hosts the world’s first large-scale stone pyramid, while Dahshur is home to the Bent and Red Pyramids, crucial in the evolution of pyramid design.
Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons
Everyone In Egypt Lived Near The Pyramids
While the pyramids dominate modern images of ancient Egypt, they weren’t at the center of daily life for most people. These structures were typically built in isolated desert areas, far from where the average Egyptian lived. And nearby worker villages, such as those at Giza, were just temporary settlements for the crews.
Norman de Garis Davies, Wikimedia Commons
The Pyramids Were Tombs Only
While it’s true that pyramids served as royal tombs, their role went far beyond burial. The iconic pyramid shape symbolized the sun’s rays, reinforcing the pharaoh’s connection to the sun god Ra and his divine status. Building these massive monuments was a political act that effectively showcased royal wealth.
Ricardo Liberato, Wikimedia Commons
Hieroglyphs Are Magical Spells
Despite popular belief, hieroglyphs were simply a formal writing system, used to record everything from tax documents to poetry. The script combined logograms, phonetic symbols, and classifiers, creating a rich and versatile language. While some hieroglyphs did have religious or protective uses, most of them conveyed practical information.
The “Curse Of The Pharaohs” Is Real
This myth took off after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, when Lord Carnarvon died shortly after the opening. His death, from an infected mosquito bite, was turned into a supernatural story even though most members of the expedition lived for decades afterward.
Harry Burton, Wikimedia Commons
The “Curse Of The Pharaohs” Is Real (Cont.)
Ancient Egyptian tombs rarely, if ever, mention curses. And when they do, the warnings are usually symbolic, aimed at preserving sacred space rather than threatening intruders with their lives. The so-called “curse” is more a case of media sensationalism than ancient reality.
Egypt Tour Magic, Wikimedia Commons
Egyptian Gods Were Evil Or Monstrous
Egyptian gods weren’t cast as purely good or evil. Instead, they reflected human emotions and cosmic principles. Deities like Ra and Ma’at symbolized the sun, truth, and cosmic order, while chaotic gods like Set and Apophis embodied necessary forces like storms and night—not evil, but balance within the universe.
Maler der Grabkammer der Nefertari, Wikimedia Commons
The Book Of The Dead Is A Book
Despite the name, the “Book of the Dead” is actually a collection of funerary texts (spells, prayers, etc.) intended to help the deceased navigate the afterlife. Known to the ancient Egyptians as “Spells of Coming Forth by Day,” these texts had no standardized version, and the content evolved from earlier sources.
Anubis Is The God Of Death
Anubis, the jackal-headed deity, is often misunderstood as the god of death. But in early Egyptian religion, he was responsible for preserving the body and guiding the soul. During actual embalming rituals, priests would wear jackal masks in his honor, symbolizing his protective role as a guide.
They Didn’t Have Written Laws
While we don’t have a surviving formal law code, Egyptian legal culture was both written and structured. Court records, legal contracts, and property deeds have survived from as early as the Old Kingdom. The pharaoh was considered the supreme judge, but practical authority was delegated to viziers and local magistrates.
Mummification Was For Everyone
While mummification is one of the most iconic aspects of ancient Egypt, it wasn’t accessible to the general population. The process was intricate, which means it was time-consuming and expensive. So, Pharaohs, nobles, and high-ranking officials typically received the most elaborate treatment.
Mummification Was For Everyone (Cont.)
Then there was the middle class, who could only afford a simplified version (during the Late Period and Ptolemaic era, as costs fell), while most ordinary Egyptians were buried in shallow graves, where the desert climate provided natural preservation.
Egyptian Tombs Were Filled With Traps
Despite what adventure films suggest, security measures within these tombs focused more on concealment and spiritual deterrents than physical danger. Tombs were often sealed behind false doors or hidden beneath layers of rock, and those inscriptions warning of divine punishment served more as symbolic deterrents rather than actual threats.
Harry Burton (English, 1879–1940), Wikimedia Commons
Cats Were Worshiped As Gods
Cats held a special place in Egyptian society, but they weren’t gods themselves. However, it is true that harming a cat, even accidentally, could carry legal consequences, since they were closely associated with the goddess Bastet. This is why many families mummified and buried their cats when they died.
Anonymous (Egypt)Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
