Even children know that the Egyptian pharaohs ruled one of the greatest civilizations of antiquity. But few people know that the daily life of the ancient Egyptians consisted of a lot of oddities and paradoxes. Just like modern-day people might seek thrills and fortune at Wanted Win casino, the ancient Egyptians had their own forms of excitement and unexpected practices. For those who have ever wanted to experience the exhilaration of both relaxation and the rush of a gamble, Wanted Win offers a modern parallel to the thrill-seeking spirit of the past. Let’s explore some of the most surprising aspects of this ancient culture, where excitement and unexpected traditions were part of everyday life.
Bath of donkey's milk
Cleopatra, like any woman, wanted to look at all hundred. But instead of running round beauty parlours, she... she bathed in sour donkey's milk! ‘Ew,’ you say. No, it's not! Hundreds of donkeys and milkmaids worked hard every day so that the queen could have a bath. Sounds like the whims of a spoilt maiden, but in fact Cleopatra VII knew what she was doing.
Fermented milk produces an acid that exfoliates the skin. Cleopatra wasn't the only clever one. Emperor Nero's wife loved milk baths. And Napoleon's sister used donkey's milk for her skin care.
Hippo hunting
Imagine a wild and dangerous creature weighing a couple of tonnes that could burst onto your terrace at any moment. A nightmare? But that's how it was for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt - hippos regularly ruined their lives. These giants ruined crops, spoilt boats and gave out commoners for peanuts.’ No wonder that in Egyptian mythology the hippopotamus became one of the incarnations of the god of evil Seth, the personification of chaos and destruction.
Only the most desperate daredevils, including pharaohs, went hunting for hippos. To capture such an animal was considered an admirable feat. If successful, hunters received plenty of provisions. Though they hardly cared about gastronomic pleasures after such battles.
The problem is that the Egyptians had no serious long-range weapons. A bow was useless against a hippo's hide. You had to rely on spears, throwing them into its gaping maw. It is not surprising that this ancient ‘fun’ sometimes ended miserably. According to one legend, Pharaoh Menes himself died from injuries inflicted by a hippopotamus.
Liquid flatbread
In ancient Egyptian taverns, you wouldn't hear cries of ‘Hey, take my foamy mug away!’. The Egyptians' hoppy drinks bore little resemblance to those of today. They were made from unbaked barley or wheat cakes soaked in date juice and left to ferment. The thick mushy mass was drunk through hollow tubes, scooping out the residue from the bottom.
One can only imagine the builders of pyramids, who worked hard in the heat and after work quenched their thirst with this drink. For them such a sticky mass was included in their wages! It is not without reason that it is said that taste preferences are largely determined by cultural traditions. What seems unappetising to us may be considered a delicacy in another society.
A career woman
The ideal Egyptian woman was seen as a housewife who cooked and wove cloth. But many decided to go further and build a career. One of the most important female professions, for example, was that of a ‘sealer’. Locks had not yet been invented, so the ancient Egyptians hired women to seal important rooms with seals. To open them, they had to break the seals - a kind of ancient signalling.
The profession of brewer was also popular. Beer was revered not only for its flavour, but was also used in religious rituals. Ancient Egyptians loved ‘bread wine’, as Pliny the Elder said. Oh yes, let's not forget about medicine - Peseshet, the court physician of the Pharaohs of the IV Dynasty, supervised dentistry and obstetrics.
Husbands gave their wives away for debt
When building sacred pyramids in Ancient Egypt, the use of slave labour was unacceptable - these structures could only be built by free people, thus serving the gods. However, the practice of debt slavery still existed in everyday life. If a man could not pay his bills, it was common practice to go into the service of a creditor to work off the debt. But often men were extremely cynical - instead of themselves they gave into bondage ... their wives! their wives!
Just imagine: a simple Egyptian woman who had lived a righteous life was suddenly enslaved because her husband was an unreliable debtor. Poor women shed tears, working from dawn to dusk for their ‘employers’, for they could only be freed after they had worked off all their debt.
However, some enterprising women turned this situation to their advantage. By having an affair with the master, a woman could marry him and automatically gain her freedom! Perhaps this practice was a kind of prototype for the exciting plots of modern melodramas.
Pumpkin enema
Separate attention deserves enemas, which the Egyptians made an integral attribute of life in the III millennium BC. According to legend, the idea came after observing a bird ibis, washing the intestines with the help of beak and water. Humans picked up on the idea and started injecting liquids... not through the mouth.
They used bull bladders with tubes, pumpkins and even a special plant - ‘bottle gourd’, aka lagenaria. Constant enemas with beer were a sure way to catarrh and colitis, but the Egyptians considered it normal hygiene.
Hedgehog for dinner
The scarce pastures did not allow the Egyptians to raise a lot of livestock, so the diet was based on plant food. Only the wealthy and noble could afford beef for dinner. Why not pork? Egyptians considered pigs sacred animals and associated them with the goddess Isis.
Another interesting thing. The most coveted delicacy among the ancient Egyptians were... hedgehogs! They were baked in clay, took off the needles and ate them in the company of dates and ‘bread drinks’. Such an exotic delicacy!
Pregnancy test
In ancient Egypt, there was already a kind of pregnancy test! Imagine: a woman ‘moistens’ cereal seeds and then watches them grow. If they germinate faster than the control group - o-la-la-la, madam in an interesting position! Some modern scientists confirm that this method could determine pregnancy in 70-85% of cases. This is due to hormones in the urine of the expectant mother that stimulate plant growth.
Sculpture of the Middle Kingdom period ‘Mother and Child’, photo by F. Gurdon.
So much for the ancient Egyptians! But this test could not determine the sex of the child. Although the Egyptians tried: if oats grew faster, it meant a boy, and wheat - a girl. Funny misconceptions, aren't they?
Exotic grooming methods
The famous Cleopatra VII in the arsenal were such means from which modern beauty bloggers would faint! Here, for example, dried crocodile droppings. Yes, yes, you heard me. Cleo used it as a facial scrub. And for make-up, high lead shadows.
The Egyptians believed that make-up not only made the look irresistible, but also warded off evil spirits. But that's not all! When Cleo had an affair with Caesar, she decided to help him with his baldness. And with what do you think? A mixture of ground horse teeth, deer grey matter and bear fat! Poor Caesar must have smelt like a zoo.
Laxatives three times a month
The ancient Egyptians had ‘folk’ medicine. For example, they believed for a long time that all ailments came from the intestines. So they regularly took laxatives! Yes, you heard right. Castor oil was recommended to drink three times a month as a preventative. And if you had constipation or diarrhoea, you drank it every day. Similar things were treated similarly, the logic is ironclad.
Ancient Egypt is a living example of the way mankind has travelled in the struggle for freedom and individual rights. The legacy of this great civilisation is striking in its contrasts. But by preserving it, we draw knowledge for further development. ‘History teaches us...’ - those are not just words, are they?
The Ancient Egyptian Deodorant
Body odor was a significant concern for the ancient Egyptians, especially considering the hot climate they lived in. To combat this, they invented their own form of deodorant made from a mix of citrus, cinnamon, and herbs, applied directly to the skin. In some cases, they even used scented wax cones, which they wore on their heads and allowed to melt throughout the day, releasing a pleasant aroma.
Pet Mummification
We often associate mummification with pharaohs and nobility, but the ancient Egyptians extended this practice to their pets as well. Cats were particularly revered and often mummified when they died. Dogs, monkeys, and even birds were also mummified, ensuring that their owners could be accompanied by their beloved pets in the afterlife. It was believed that these animals held spiritual significance and could offer protection in the afterlife.
The Egyptian Love for Wigs
Wigs were an essential part of ancient Egyptian fashion, worn by both men and women. They were made from human hair, sheep’s wool, or plant fibers, and were often styled with intricate braids or curls. Egyptians shaved their heads to keep cool and avoid lice, so wigs served both a practical and aesthetic purpose. They also had a religious aspect, as priests had to be clean-shaven, and wearing a wig allowed them to maintain this standard while also adhering to social norms.
The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Egyptians believed in the power of curses, particularly when it came to their tombs. The curse of the pharaohs was a widespread belief that anyone who disturbed the tomb of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh would suffer bad luck or even death. This belief was reinforced when several members of the expedition that discovered King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 died under mysterious circumstances. However, modern research suggests that these deaths were more likely due to exposure to ancient molds and bacteria.
The Secret of Egyptian Blue
One of the most remarkable achievements of ancient Egyptian chemistry was the creation of "Egyptian Blue," one of the first synthetic pigments known to humanity. This vivid blue color was used extensively in art and decoration, symbolizing the Nile, the sky, and the divine. It was made by heating a mixture of sand, copper, and natron (a naturally occurring salt) to produce a brilliant blue glass that was then ground into powder. The secret of how to make Egyptian Blue was lost for many centuries, only to be rediscovered by modern scientists.
Ancient Egyptian Toothpaste
Oral hygiene was essential for the ancient Egyptians, who were among the first to develop a form of toothpaste. Their version was a mixture of ingredients like powdered ashes of ox hooves, burnt eggshells, pumice, and myrrh. This abrasive paste was used with a primitive toothbrush made from twigs, which would have helped to remove plaque but also likely wore down the enamel of their teeth. Despite their efforts, dental problems were common, likely due to their diet, which included a lot of coarse bread made from stone-ground flour that contained bits of grit.