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Children get all excited about learning history and new facts. Ancient Egyptian history and culture are fascinating and appealing to people of all ages. In this post, we have curated some fun facts about ancient Egyptian pharaohs for kids. The information given below will pique your child’s interest and keep them engrossed for hours. So read on to learn some incredibly interesting facts and quiz your kids to add more fun.
Who Are Pharaohs?
Pharaohs were not only popular as supreme leaders of ancient Egypt who ruled the lower and upper Egypt for about 3000 years but also played a significant role in the country’s religion. Egyptians perceived Pharaohs as ancient deities who were popular for acting as an intermediary between common Egyptians and Gods (1).
Trivia6 Famous Pharaohs Of Ancient Egypt For Kids
Historians identify the timeline of Ancient Egypt considering the dynasties of Pharaohs. Here are some popular ancient Egypt pharaohs for kids.
1. Akhenaten:
Akhenaten was a popular pharaoh for considering the sun as the only God, and he was the father of King Tut. The pharaoh and his wife Nefertiti closed temples of the rest of the Gods (2).
2. Tutankhamun:
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Tutankhamun, also widely popular as King Tut, is famous for his intact tomb made of gold and placed inside a stone sarcophagus. Lots of Egyptian treasures that we discovered from this dynasty. King Tut became Pharaoh when he was nine years old, and he let people worship all the gods that his father banned (3).
3. Hatshepsut:
Hatshepsut, a popular lady Egyptian ruler, was regent for her son but eventually she gained the power of the Pharaoh and dressed in a similar way to a typical Pharaoh (4).
4. Amenhotep III:
Amenhotep III was Pharaoh for about 39 years and made Egypt powerful. During Amenhotep III’s rule, Egypt constructed many temples, expanded several cities, and established peace (5).
5. Ramses II:
Ramses II is popular for ruling Egypt for about 67 years, and he is popular even today for constructing several monuments and statues than any other ruler in ancient Egypt (6).
6. Cleopatra VII:
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Cleopatra VII, another famous lady Pharaoh, is popular as the last Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. She is also known for befriending Romans to maintain the power (7).
6 Fun Facts About Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs For Kids
Pharaohs and pyramids may instigate curiosity in your children. So, here are some interesting ancient Egyptian pharaohs facts for kids.
Fun Fact 1:
There were about 225 Pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt.
Fun Fact 2:
Pharaohs spent a lot of time preparing for their burial. The construction of their pyramid used to begin as soon as they took the throne. In the Old and the Medium Kingdom in the history of Egypt, the Pharaohs were buried in the Pyramids of Giza and Nile Delta. In the New Kingdom, the rulers were buried after their death in the Valley of the Kings in the secret tombs (8).
Did you know?
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Fun Fact 3:
Polygamy was allowed for Pharaohs. Chief wife was popular as ‘The King’s Principal Wife’ and other wives were popular as ‘King’s wife’. Wives, children, administrators, guards, tutors, and scribes used to reside in the Royal Harem (9).
Fun Fact 4:
The Palermo Stone is popular for comprising lots of ancient Kings of Egypt, mythical God-Kings, and Pharaohs for the initial five dynasties (10). It is engraved in hieroglyphics.
Fun Fact 5:
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Both male and female Pharaohs were popular for wearing eye make-up and wigs as their hair were maintained short to prevent lice (11).
Fun Fact 6:
Pharaohs wore the unique crown that had the appearance of a cobra goddess. The crown was meant only for Pharaohs since Egyptians believed that the cobra goddess would split flames at their enemies and safeguard them if the pharaoh would wear a crown with an image of the cobra goddess (12).
Pharaohs were the face of the Egyptian aristocracy for centuries. Their reign gave us some of the most remarkable creations of humankind, such as the pyramids and the Sphinx. Pharaohs’ lives and customs are still fascinating for everyone, including children. These facts can help pique their interests further, nudging them to read and explore more about the glorious history of the Pharaohs and Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was the first pharaoh of Egypt?
Many historians believe Menes, also known as Narmer, was Egypt’s first pharaoh during the Archaic Period (3100-2649 BC) (13).
2. What did female pharaohs wear?
Many records say that women in ancient Egypt wore sheath dresses made of linen, with those belonging to the upper class wearing longer dresses and finer cloth. For example, a statue of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut shows her wearing nemes-headcloth and the shendyt-kilt, all part of the ceremonial attire of an Egyptian king (14). Another statue has her wearing a khat–headcloth and a sheath dress She also wears a broad collar necklace, cuff bracelets, and wide anklets (15).
3. What did the pharaohs eat?
Ancient Egyptians are believed to have consumed a lot of vegetables and bread (16). There are very few records of the pharaohs’ diet, but findings suggest that the royals, including the elite, ate more meat than the lower classes (17).
4. How did the last pharaoh of Egypt die?
Ptolemy XV Caesar, son of Cleopatra VII, was the last pharaoh of Egypt. He is believed to have been executed in Alexandria following the orders of Octavian, who took over Egypt as its first Roman emperor (18).
Infographic: Intriguing Facts About Egyptian Pharaohs For Children
Egyptians have one of the most beautiful civilizations, including monuments, history, Gods, and Pharaohs. Pharaohs were the kings who ruled over Egyptians over time. Check out the infographic below for interesting facts about Egyptian Pharaohs for children. Save and share it with your children. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Pharaohs were believed to be the intermediaries between humans and gods and ruled ancient Egypt for around 3000 years.
- Some notable Egyptian pharaohs include Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, and Cleopatra VII.
- Pharaohs from the Old and Middle Kingdoms were entombed in pyramids, whereas the New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in concealed tombs.
- Both male and female pharaohs donned eye makeup and wigs.
- Pharaohs wore a crown that resembled a cobra goddess, as they believed that the cobra would spit flames at enemies to protect them.
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Learn about Ancient Egypt in this fun and informative video! Discover five amazing facts about this ancient civilization, from its incredible monuments to its fascinating gods.
