How do we know so much about Ancient Egypt?

Child: The ancient Egyptian civilisation and language died out nearly 1,500 years ago. So, how do we know so much about them?

Teacher: The answer is right in front of you!

Child: What do you mean?

Teacher: This is the Rosetta Stone!

The writing on it says the same thing in three languages! Ancient Greek, Demotic, and Egyptian Hieroglyphs.

Before it was discovered, archaeologists couldn’t read Hieroglyphs or Demotic, but they could read ancient Greek!

By comparing the three texts, they could work out how hieroglyphic writing worked!

This means people have been able to read hieroglyphs and discover what life what like at the time.

Of course, we’ve learned a lot from the buildings and monuments of Ancient Egypt that are still standing. Like the pyramids! Or the Temples of Karnak!

People can still walk amongst the ruins of the ancient city of Luxor or visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut!

And we mustn’t forget the Sphinx! These places have lasted thousands of years, and survived war, theft, and extreme weather.

But you don’t have to go to Egypt to find ancient Egyptian artefacts. Museums across the UK hold a vast range of items!

Some of my favourites are the ones that tell us about everyday life back then. Like combs, jewellery and bottles of make-up.

Some of these things are over 5,000 years old, but it often feels like they could have been used yesterday!