Ancient Egyptian civilization emerged thousands of years ago and is one of the most brilliant ancient civilizations in history. Not only are they the creators of the pyramids, one of the wonders of the world, but the ancient Egyptians also invented many other remarkable things. This article will highlight the inventions from ancient Egypt that have changed human life, with impacts that are still present in our lives today.
Top 11 Inventions from Ancient Egypt Still Used Today
Eye Makeup
The ancient Egyptians believed that eye makeup would help individuals achieve longevity. Originating around 4000 BC, eye makeup remains popular to this day. Some cultures still use techniques similar to those employed by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. They combined soot with a mineral called galena to create kohl—a black ointment that is still widely used today. They also created green eye makeup by combining a mineral called malachite with galena.
For the ancient Egyptians, makeup was not only for women. In their society, appearance reflected social status, so those of higher social standing adorned themselves more elaborately. Fashion was part of the reason why Egyptians favored bold eye makeup. They believed that doing so could help cure eye diseases and prevent their eyes from being turned into those of evil spirits.
Writing
The act of painting to narrate or record is not new; as far back as 30,000 BC, ancient people in France and Spain began painting on cave walls to preserve information. However, Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first places to develop a writing system from this form of depiction.
The Egyptian writing system is a form of hieroglyphics, first appearing around 6000 BC. Hieroglyphics represent simple descriptions of the words they symbolize but have certain limitations. Over time, the Egyptians added other elements to their writing system, including characters that represented certain sounds and other symbols, allowing them to write names and abstract concepts.
Today, Egypt is well-known as the birthplace of carved writing (hieroglyphics), which includes letters, syllabic symbols, and ideograms—images that represent entire phrases—widely found in Egyptian tombs and many other places. These records provide insights into ancient Egyptian society, from politics to culture. Later, the French scholar Jean-François Champollion discovered the Rosetta Stone and successfully deciphered it, marking the end of a mysterious era of ancient Egypt that lasted nearly 1500 years.
Papyrus Paper
No one can deny that the Chinese changed the world with the invention of paper around 140 AD, but many do not know that the Egyptians created paper from the papyrus plant thousands of years earlier (reeds paper). Papyrus paper is ivory-colored, brownish-yellow, rigid yet flexible, and notably durable, made from the core of a reed called papyrus, which grows about 2-3 meters high along the banks of the Nile River. The sturdy and durable nature of papyrus was also used for making sails, sandals, carpets, and other essential items in ancient Egyptian life.
The ancient Egyptians kept the technique of making papyrus paper a secret to maintain their trading advantage with neighboring countries. However, in 1965, scientist Hassan Ragab discovered how the ancients produced papyrus sheets and attempted to revive this traditional craft in Egypt.
Calendar
In ancient times, calendars played a crucial role, helping people survive in the harsh natural environment. The ancient Egyptians used a calendar thousands of years BC to determine when the Nile River floods would occur, allowing them to implement appropriate farming measures.
The Egyptian calendar was designed to align with agricultural practices and was divided into three main seasons: inundation, growth, and harvest. Each season had four months, and each month was divided into 30 days, totaling 360 days in a year, which is a few days shorter than the actual year. The Egyptians added five additional days between the harvest and inundation seasons, designating these days as religious holidays to honor the offspring of the gods.
Plow
There is substantial evidence that the Egyptians and Sumerians were among the first societies to use the plow as early as 4000 BC. The first plows were improved from hand tools, making them too light and ineffective for tilling the soil. Moreover, it required four strong men to pull these plows.
However, everything changed around 2000 BC when the Egyptians first used oxen to pull the plow. Initially, they tied the plow to the horns, but this made it difficult for the livestock to breathe. Later, they improved by using a harness system for greater efficiency. The plow revolutionized agriculture in ancient Egypt, and along with the regular irrigation from the Nile, farming became significantly easier compared to other civilizations of the time.
Mathematical Rules
Today, humanity continues to use mathematical rules from ancient Egypt, such as fractions, natural numbers, multiplication, and division, among others.
Bowling
Archaeologists have discovered round, heavy stone balls resembling modern bowling balls in the tomb of an ancient Egyptian child. Bowling was a game enjoyed by people of all ages in ancient Egypt.
To this day, it remains a popular game in recreational areas.
Toothpaste
In ancient Egypt, there were no dentists, so they focused on maintaining oral hygiene. As a result, they invented toothpaste for daily use.
The ingredients of toothpaste were recorded in ancient Egyptian texts, and archaeologists have found toothbrushes in tombs from that era.
Mint for Fresh Breath
The ancient Egyptians frequently faced dental issues, resulting in bad breath. Much of this was due to the grinding stones and simple devices like mortars and pestles used for grinding flour and grains, which meant sand often found its way into the food of ancient Egyptians.
This fine layer of sand wore away tooth enamel, making teeth susceptible to decay and other ailments, leading to halitosis.
To combat this odor, the ancient Egyptians developed the first mint candies known to the world. They were made from a mixture of frankincense, cinnamon, and myrrh, then boiled with honey and shaped into small balls, similar to modern candies.
Locks
It is hard to imagine an era without locks, but they did not exist until ancient Egypt.
The locks of that time were much bulkier than modern ones. Some locks were over half a meter in size, quite heavy and large.
Shaving and Haircutting in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians were among the first known to historians for their practices of shaving and cutting hair extensively. Long hair was deemed unhygienic, and the heat in Egypt likely made maintaining long hair quite inconvenient.
As a result, a clean-shaven face became a fashionable trend. Hair was either cut short or shaved off completely, and priests typically shaved their entire bodies every three days.
Being hairless was also a symbol of status, while facial hair was associated with the lower classes. The practice of cutting hair required special, sharp tools, which is why ancient Egyptians are believed to have invented some of the first razors.
These razors were made from sharpened stone, fashioned into blades, and attached to wooden handles. They were later “modernized” with the invention of bronze blades.
Similarly, barbershops emerged, and wealthy individuals could summon someone to their homes for shaving or haircuts.
