Ancient Egypt is famed for its massive pyramids, bandaged mummies, and sparkling treasures, all of which can be found in the area and the list below. People have been studying ancient Egypt and how the Egyptians lived for quite some time. However, archaeologists continue to unearth new artifacts and discoveries in Egypt on a daily basis to this day. On the other hand, Egypt's culture predates this period and has continued to thrive. Even though Egypt's dynasty has ruled for millennia, its language, writing, environment, religion, and borders have all changed, and the country still exists today.

10 Cleopatra Was Not Of Egyptian Descent

It's possible that one of the most renowned Egyptians of all time wasn't as Egyptian as most people believe. Although Cleopatra VII was nominally born in Alexandria, evidence indicates that she was descended from a line of Greek Macedonians, which she was known to be. It was possible to trace her ancestors back to Ptolemy I, a friend and associate of Alexander the Great. According to historical accounts, the Ptolemaic Dynasty is believed to have preserved their Greek traditions even while residing in Egypt. Cleopatra was one of the first family members to learn to speak Egyptian, as she was one of her father's closest associates. RELATED: Dive Deep Into Egypt's History At The Egyptian Museum

9 Ancient Egyptians Were Big Fans Of Board Games

Egyptians loved to unwind with a game of chess or backgammon after a long day on the Nile. A game of chess, Senet, was the most popular. This ancient game was played on a longboard painted with 30 squares and dated back to 3500 B.C. The players threw dice or used throwing sticks to roll them on the board to move their pieces. Although historians are still debating the laws of Senet, there is little disagreement about its popularity. Pharaohs like Tutankhamen even had game boards buried with them in their tombs depicting Queen Nefertari playing Senet.

8 Egyptians Maintained A Large Number Of Animals As Pets

Animals were revered by the Egyptians, who were one of the first civilizations to have pets in their homes. In addition to cats connected with the goddess Bastet, Egyptians held a special place in their hearts for other animals like lions, dogs, hawks, and even baboons. They were often mummified and buried with their owners following their death in the Egyptian home. Other animals were trained to assist humans in their daily tasks. For example, dogs and monkeys were used to aid Egyptian police personnel when they were patrolling.

7 Women And Men In Egypt Wore Cosmetics

The ancient Egyptians were no exception to the rule of vanity as men and women in ancient Egypt were well-known for indulging in excessive amounts of makeup, which they attributed to the gods Horus and Ra. Malachite and galena ores were ground into kohl, the base ingredient in these cosmetics. They also implemented wood, bone, and ivory. Both sexes wore scents made from oil or cinnamon. Aside from that, women also used red paint to tint their cheeks and henna to dye their hands and nails. Evidence supports the Egyptians' belief that their makeup had mystical healing abilities. RELATED: History, Food, Attractions: Full Guide To Exploring Egypt

6 It Is Believed That The Ancient Egyptians Established One Of The World's Earliest Peace Accords

Egypt and the Hittites struggled to dominate modern-day Syria for more than two centuries. The dispute led to costly battles like the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 B.C., but neither side emerged victorious by the time of the pharaoh Ramses II. A historic peace treaty was arranged in 1259 B.C. between Egyptian King Ramses II and Hittite King Hattusili III, while both nations faced external threats. As a result of this agreement, the two kingdoms agreed to work together in the case of a foreign attack. One of the oldest surviving peace agreements, the Egyptian-Hittite pact, can be exhibited above the entrance to the UN Security Council Chamber in New York.

5 Scribes Rarely Used Hieroglyphics In Their Writing

It took a long time to create hieroglyphic writing, which is a script made of hundreds of finely drawn images. The most important texts written in this ink were those found on tomb and temple walls, which included annals of royal victories. Egypt's scribes used hieratic writing on a daily basis, which is a reduced or shorthand variation of hieroglyphic writing. Later in the dynasty period, scribes began to use a basic form of hieratic called demotic until the end of the period.

4 The Egyptians Did Not Travel Using Camels

After the dynasty period, camels were rarely utilized in Egypt. Instead, the Egyptians relied on donkeys and on boats for transportation. They had a natural roadway in the form of the Nile, which ran through the heart of their lush territory. Wind and current helped those who were traveling from north to south and south to north. In fact, canals connected the river to nearby towns. Grass and massive stone blocks were transported by large wooden barges, while papyrus boats were used to transport people daily. RELATED: 10 Interesting Markets To Visit In Egypt

3 In Ancient Egypt, Women Were Also Allowed To Inherit The Throne

There have been at least three instances throughout history in which female monarchs have succeeded to the throne and exercised absolute royal authority and titulary in their right. Hatshepsut was the most powerful of these female kings, ruling Egypt for more than two decades during relative prosperity. It is possible that Sobeknefru, Hatshepsut, and Tausret were all referred to as "queens regnant" in the English language. When speaking of these ladies as "queens," it is improper to refer to them as such in Egyptian because the phrase "king's wife" refers to a "queen."

2 Old Egyptian Writing Was Divided Into Two Distinct Forms: Hieroglyphs And Hieratic Writing

Hieroglyphs were frequently employed as decorative displays on monuments and tombs throughout history. Scribes only used this type of writing in essential collections. However, hieratic writing was used from the beginning of the first dynasty until approximately 200 BCE. The hieratic script is a type of writing that is cursive and is mostly used by scribers in their daily writings. In fact, according to historical records, priests have been transcribing religious writings in hieratic writing for more than a thousand years.

1 The Ancient Egyptians Had A Pantheon Of Around 2,000 Deities

The gods and goddesses dominated everyday life in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian pantheon had more than 2,000 gods, so it's not unexpected that there were so many because even former pharaohs were considered gods during their time. In addition to the well-known deities like Horus, there are numerous lesser-known ones like Ra and Hathor and the lesser-known gods of Thoth and Anubis. In fact, the most prominent gods became state deities, while others were linked to a specific location, rite, or vocation. NEXT: The Lost Cities Of Egypt That We Still Haven't Found